sempuki

The thing is why are Middlesbrough parting quite freely with their player of last season? They aren't trying very hard to keep him which suggests to me that they know something we don't. Could be a lucky escape.

I'm pretty sure it's Rob Shepherd, not Shephard. An example that the article is probably not exactly accurate.

I can't see Smith doing what Sibierski did last season. Two very different players although I know which one I prefer.

He must be taking a pay cut to go there which seems rather unusual.

Do you think he might not like us, what with being from Boro. I know he signed for us before but this will be the second time he'll have turned us down.

It's started!: Woody Snubs Keegan By Rob Shephard KEVIN KEEGAN has been snubbed AGAIN as his Newcastle revolution threatens to implode after just two games. Jonathan Woodgate has turned down a move back to St James' Park to sign for Spurs in a £7million deal. And some players were dismayed at new Newcastle boss Keegan's farcical tactical team meeting ahead of yesterday's 3-0 FA Cup fourth round drubbing at Arsenal. A Toon insider said: "The players were waiting for Kevin to give his instructions but all he said was: ‘Arsenal are a great passing team. We must make sure we pass the ball better than them.' "That was it. There were no specific tactics, no work on set pieces...the players were stunned." Newcastle have failed to score in both games since Keegan took over. And Middlesbrough defender Woodgate's decision to snub him comes just 24 hours after Alan Shearer rejected Keegan's offer to be his No 2. Keegan confessed: "I tried to bring in one new face and it was Woodgate, but I don't think I have been successful and it looks like we've lost out to Spurs. "It wasn't a question of money, it was purely down to where the boy wanted to go. "I wanted Wood-gate as the first part of the jigsaw. Spurs and us both had bids accepted but it looks like I've not got him." Woodgate, 28, was left out of Boro's team that beat Mansfield 2-0 yesterday and was set to undergo a medical last night. Boro boss Gareth Southgate confirmed: "There was a fee agreed with Newcastle but it was Jonathan's decision."

A massive disapppointment would be an understatement.

No Wembley again.

Nearly 4.

Why are we so crap in the second half?

Butt O.G!

"Poor defending by Rozehnal".

That's that.

Fee agreed according to Southgate.

Rafa's gone if it stays like that.

Smith off the line! Am I hearing things?

Looks like a cracking player to me. Keegan said he wanted Premiership players only although didn't rule out exceptional players from overseas - clearly this describes Modric. Any foundation to this?

According to everyone's favourite journalist they are Woodgate, Bentley and Defoe: Woody waits on Keegan Jan 26 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle MIDDLESBROUGH defender Jonathan Woodgate has stalled on a £7m move to Spurs – and could yet get his wish to play for Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United. Jonathan Woodgate It is believed that United last night contacted Boro chairman Steve Gibson about the 28-year-old England international, although neither club would confirm this today. Spurs had their bid accepted by Middlesbrough for Woodgate yesterday and they were expecting the former Leeds United, Newcastle United and Real Madrid defender to travel to London. But Woodgate did not make the journey with Middlesbrough, saying it was because of treatment for an injury which kept him out of their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Mansfield today. However, sources close to Woodgate say he would love the chance to play again for Keegan – the man who handed him the first of his six England caps against Bulgaria in 1999. The Chronicle revealed United's interest in their former central defender on Wednesday, but yesterday it looked as though he was on his way to Spurs. But the fact that Woodgate is prepared to turn his back on the bright lights of London, and the chance to play for a Spurs side which is on the way up, is testimony to the pulling power of Keegan. I was told at the beginning of the week that Keegan's three targets were Woodgate, Jermain Defoe and David Bentley – and what a difference this little trio would make to the United squad. But it looks like Woodgate is the best bet. Cockney boy Defoe is very much a home bird, yet he was ready to join United a couple of years ago when his former West Ham boss Glenn Roeder was in charge at St James’s Park. And as far as Bentley is concerned, Blackburn Rovers have made it very clear that they will pull out all the stops to keep their England winger. This leaves Woodgate, and the prospect of a central defensive pairing with England Under-21 skipper Steven Taylor certainly looks very appealing. But the ball is very much in the court of Middlesbrough now. Gareth Southgate and Steve Gibson know that Woodgate is not happy at the Riverside Stadium – and so do the Boro supporters. Woodgate is injured at the moment but he hopes to be fit for next weekend – when Middlesbrough come to St James’s Park for their Tyne-Tees derby on Sunday lunch-time. With the transfer window slamming shut again on Thursday, everything has to be sorted out before then. Middlesbrough would not want Woodgate to play against them if a move to United was completed, but any transfer would be permanent and really they would be powerless to stop it.

Isn't he always? A great player when he plays although I'm not sure what to think about this.....

From .com: Incoming: Woodgate on way back? We hear that Jonathan Woodgate is on his way back to Tyneside after the player rejected an offer from Tottenham. Confirmation had come on Friday that former Magpies defender Woodgate had been given permission by his club Middlesbrough to speak with Spurs over a transfer. This followed a public statement from the Riverside on Thursday that no bids had been received for any of Southgate's smoggie squad at that point - amid media claims that Newcastle were looking at Woodgate. Other sources claimed that Newcastle had enquired about the 28 year-old Teessider earlier this week, but thought he was over-valued at the allegedly-quoted £8m. Should Woodgate return, it might have implications for Cacapa - current wearer of the no.6 shirt. When Woodgate left Newcastle for Real Madrid for £13.4m in August 2004, Freddy Shepherd declared that his shirt would be kept ready for his return. We'll see....

Looks to be on!

Now Pablo Aimar - although this would again contradict what Keegan said in the Journal today as he has no Premiership experience: Liverpool & Newcastle Interested In Real Zaragoza’s Aimar: Report Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is reportedly eyeing up a move for Real Zaragoza playmaker Pablo Aimar. The 28-year-old Argentina international had played under Benitez at Valencia, but moved to Zaragoza in July 2006. According to the Liverpool Echo, Benitez is alerted of the availability of Aimar and as such the Spaniard is weighing a swoop and with £9m reportedly being close to be available from Momo Sissoko’s immiment move out of Anfield, the Merseysiders could make the move before the transfer window shuts next Thursday. Newcastle United are also reportedly interested in Aimar, who was once dubbed by Argentina legend Diego Maradona as his “legitimate successor as the world's best player."

Ian Holloway always tells it as it is: TOUCHLINE SPAT WITH GLENN ROEDER During Leicester's 0-0 draw at Norwich last Saturday. He was bang out of order. He came down out of the stand and swore at me and said 'stop trying to get people sent off you...something or other'. I wasn't (trying to get anyone sent off). My goalie, Ben Alnwick, had got two-footed by Darel Russell, reacted unprofessionally and dived on the bloke, which he had no reason to do. And then this melee happened. Clarky (Norwich assistant manager Lee Clark), who I know really well, was saying my goalie should be sent off - so he was trying to get someone red carded - and he had a laugh about it with me. Then his manager came running down after another two-footed tackle by Darel Russell, who is sometimes a bit over-competitive - although I love that in people. He really wants to win and I haven't got a problem with that. I just pointed out to the referee that it was another two-footed tackle but I didn't try to get him sent off. I was complaining about the tackle on my goalie. So Glenn came down shouting at me and he was bang out of order. He did it for effect, he did it to affect the fans around him, and I more than told him so. I said 'who the hell do you think you are?' after the game. But never mind. Good luck to him and good luck to his team. They clawed their way back from five points adrift at the bottom of the table, so well done to them.

Where did you see the Barnes link?

The odds of Smith scoring or those two fit, playing in the first team. Which odds are longer?