sempuki

Sidwell's hijacked By ANDREW DILLON May 07, 2007 JOSE MOURINHO has hijacked Newcastle’s bid to sign Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell. And the Chelsea boss is convinced he has got his man by offering him £50,000 a week. Sidwell, 24, will be out of contract in a few weeks and available on a free transfer. Newcastle were favourites to sign the ex-Arsenal trainee for months but Chelsea have stepped in and topped the Toon’s £40,000-a-week offer. The move for playmaker Sidwell also reopens the uncertainty around midfield ace Frank Lampard’s future at Stamford Bridge. Lampard, 28, has still not signed a new contract at Chelsea with Spanish giants Barcelona keen on the England star. Mourinho has already put the wheels in motion to start rebuilding his team after losing his grip on the Premiership title and yet another season of disappointment in the Champions League. Sidwell has been a key figure helping Reading consolidate in their first Premiership season and it has not gone unnoticed at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho has always insisted on having an English spine to his team. Sidwell was born on Chelsea’s doorstep in Wandsworth — and would be a ready replacement for Lampard. Reading have offered Sidwell £25,000 a week to sign a new deal — but the ambitious player is holding out in a bid to secure a big-money move. Sidwell's hijacked Great news for Chelsea. I have been clamouring for months for my club to step in. Sidwell is a great player and on a free which an added bonus. Let's hope that the Sun for once is proved right. Posted_by: sifctops

Agree with that too.

Good of him to resign, did the decent thing unlike Souness.

Can't disagree with any of that: Voting with their feet Newcastle 0 Blackburn 2 "It's been a dreadful season." The words of Glenn Roeder after his side extended their scoreless home sequence to 470 minutes and made it one win in their last ten games. An early header from Kieron Dyer and a goal line clearance after the break to deny Michael Owen a comeback goal were rare highlights for another 50,000+ crowd who suffered in the sunshine. Not for the first time this season, an average team found rich pickings in our defence - Rovers netting through Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts, while Steve Harper did well to deny Morten Gamst Pedersen. With no chance of relegation or European qualification, United had an opportunity to end their home season on a high note and provide some crumbs of comfort in the form of a victory and a half-way committed display. That they singularly failed to do so shows the obvious contempt that the players hold their manager and their public. Clad in their new kit and with many of the crowd having forked out to wear replicas, Newcastle churned out another mediocre, listless, disjointed runt of a performance. Booed off at the interval, discontented home fans vented their displeasure at both Dyer and Bramble when the former Ipswich pair were subbed. And with the ground starting to empty after United went two behind, a chorus of boos erupted at the final whistle and further abuse greeted the PA announcement asking fans to remain in their seats for a post-match parade. Those who did remain in the stadium gave the team some grief, but with the likes of Given, Taylor and Krul leading the way, those boos gave way to some polite applause. The lack of anger from the stands though is perhaps the most telling aspect of this miserable finale - resignation is the word. It remains to be seen how many season holders remain in a rotten fettle when the renewals come through the door - certainly nobody will have been inspired to invest a brass farthing in the club after this display. We wrap things up at basement side Watford next Sunday - Roeder returning to his former employers for what looks like being his 52nd and final league match in charge of Newcastle. While he can point at ill-luck on the injury front, this defeat provided further damning evidence that Roeder is unable to organise these players and has failed to inspire loyalty among them. He's got nowhere to go.

Of course it will go wrong for us, it always does.

Apparently it's inoperable this time but he's hopeful the treatment will keep it under control.

Horrible news, poor bloke. Best wishes to a true Geordie legend.

Newcastle 0, Blackburn 2 May 5 2007 By Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle Newcastle United ended their home campaign in lacklustre fashion today at St James' Park when they crashed against Blackburn Rovers. A goal in each half was enough to condemn United to their first home defeat on the final day at Gallowgate since 1991. The defeat means United will play out their final game at Watford next Sunday with nothing to play for with their last chance to qualify for Europe also going up in smoke against the Lancashire side. Chants of sack the board rang out from certain sections of the Geordie crowd on a frustrating afternoon for the Magpies. United manager Glenn Roeder was able to name Michael Owen on his team sheet for the first time since December 2005 at St James' Park. But Stephen Taylor was missing with a dead leg. And than meant a start for Oguchi Onyewu. And midfielders Scott Parker and Nicky Butt also returned to the fray. Blackburn went in 1-0 up at the break but United did have their chances in the first half. On six minutes Steven Carr crossed from the left hand side but Kieron Dyer sent a stooping header straight at Brad Friedel. On 14 minutes though it was the visitors who snatched the lead amidst controversial circumstances. A Stephen Warnock left wing cross who headed home by Benni McCartney but the player looked yards offside to infuriate Glenn Roeder. Rovers held onto the lead and United continued their search for an equaliser after the interval. Eight minutes into the second period Parker's cross fell to Onyewu but the American headed high over the bar. With 22 minutes left Owen went round Friedel but his headed cleared off the line by Christopher Samba. Four minutes later and it looked like it was game over when Jason Roberts headed home David Bentley's cross from the right to double the Rovers lead. United wasted another good chance late on when Martins crashed one wide of the goal at Gallowgate. Newcastle: Harper, Solano, Onyewu, Bramble (Ramage 70), Carr, Dyer (Ameobi 70), Butt, Parker, Milner, Owen, Martins. Blackburn: Friedel, Tugay (Gallagher 88), Nelson, Emerton, McCartney (Derbyshire 66), Bentley, Pedersen, Mokoena, Samba, Warnock, Roberts (Nonda 85). Attendance: 51,226.

Roeder gets no respite Newcastle 0 Blackburn 2Paul Forsyth at St James’ Park As he prepares for the summer of speculation that is part and parcel of managing Newcastle United, Glenn Roeder didn’t need to sign off with a defeat in his final home match of the season. A goal in each half – the first by Benni McCarthy, the second by Jason Roberts – so dismayed the natives that when the players remained on the pitch to thank them for their season-long support, few were left in the stadium. Newcastle’s ineptitude in front of goal again combined with defensive carelessness to cost them dear. Three points for Blackburn keep alive the Lancashire side’s hopes of qualifying for Europe, but the biggest winner could be Sam Allardyce, who has been linked with the Newcastle job. Not even Michael Owen, making his first appearance at St James’ Park since recovering from injury, could come to Roeder’s rescue. It was Owen’s first appearance at St James’ since December 2005, only his 12th for Newcastle in all. His anxiety to make an impression during a frustrating first half was evident in his uncharacteristically petulant response to the attentions of Christopher Samba. The England striker, who reacted furiously to one particular challenge by Blackburn’s towering central defender, had only two sniffs of goal in that opening period. His intelligent flick set up Scott Parker, who responded with a weak shot at the goalkeeper, and when Brad Friedel could only parry a low cross, Owen’s effort on the rebound was too high. A free kick by James Milner was pushed away by Friedel, who also blocked an early header by Kieron Dyer, and there was no sign of an end to the goal drought that has afflicted Newcastle recently. Roeder’s priority is to tighten his rearguard. Despite an earlier promise not to waste the club’s money on players over 26, he has identified a need for experience, with Sol Campbell and Sami Hyypia touted as possible signings. Whether either would have averted Blackburn’s opener, after only seven minutes, is open to debate. Titus Bramble and Oguchi Onyewu, neither of whom is expected to be at St James’ Park next season, were rightly aggrieved by the decision to allow McCarthy’s goal, but the way in which they executed the offside trap was too cute for their own good. When Stephen Warnock was fed by Morten Gamst Pedersen, the Rovers full-back swung in a looping cross that the back four decided to neglect. All in the penalty box stood still, with the exception of McCarthy, who had time and space to sidefoot the ball home. In the silence that followed, the South African striker had the good grace to look surprised by the absence of a flag. The next time McCarthy scampered clear of the defensive line, setting up Roberts with an easy chance which the striker duly converted, there were ironic cheers from the home support as the assistant referee this time raised his arm. Earlier, when Pedersen met a cross by Roberts, Newcastle had only their goalkeeper to thank for preventing a goal. The pattern continued into the second half. David Bentley split Newcastle’s defence with a pass to McCarthy, who was halted only by an offside flag that Blackburn manager Mark Hughes couldn’t believe. Then, when Nolberto Solano misjudged a cross by Bentley, Pedersen chested the ball down and screwed his shot across the penalty box. As a paper aeroplane drifted over the heads of those in the main stand, Newcastle weren’t capturing the imagination, and Owen knew it. After bursting past Ryan Nelsen, he made such a hash of the resulting cross that he booted an advertising hording in disgust. There were claims for a penalty when Owen was felled by Nelsen, and further anguish when he nipped in ahead of Friedel to release an angled shot that Samba headed off the line. Roeder replaced Dyer with Shola Ameobi and Bramble with Peter Ramage, but if the manager expected that to shore up his defence he was mistaken. They looked softer than ever with 18 minutes left when Bentley chipped a cross into the six-yard area and Roberts rose alone to head past Steve Harper. Match Stats Star man: Jason Roberts (Blackburn) Scorers: Blackburn: McCarthy 14, Roberts 73 Referee: M Atkinson Attendance: 51,226 Yellow cards: Newcastle: Butt Blackburn:Warnock, Roberts Player ratings: Newcastle:Harper 7, Solano 5, Onyewu 5, Bramble 5 (Ramage 69min), Carr 6, Dyer 6 (Ameobi 69min), Parker 7, Butt 7, Milner 8, Owen 7, Martins 6 Blackburn:Friedel 7, Emerton 6, Samba 7, Nelsen 7, Warnock 7, Bentley 7, Tugay 6 (Gallagher 84min), Mokoena 6, Pedersen 6, Roberts 8 (Nonda 85min), McCarthy 7

Newcastle Utd 0 Blackburn Rovers 2: Roberts rises to put Roeder in firing line Allardyce's sudden availability could tempt Newcastle chairman into investing in new manager By Simon Turnbull at St James' Park Published: 06 May 2007 The next scheduled fixture at Newcastle United's home ground will have Chrissie Hynde on stage, no doubt singing: "I'll stand by you." It remains to be seen whether Freddy Shepherd will be sitting in the stands mouthing the same sentiment, with Glenn Roeder still installed as team manager at St James' Park. The Newcastle chairman may well have assured Roeder that his job was secure, but that was before Sam Allardyce became available on the managerial market, before Sunderland clinched promotion, and before goals by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts consigned the Magpies to their 17th League defeat of the season yesterday. The one-time pretenders have never suffered so many losses in a Premiership campaign and need to win at Watford next Sunday to avoid finishing with their lowest points total since their promotion 14 years ago. Even with Michael Owen in their ranks yesterday, they could not break a goalscoring duck in League matches at St James' that stretches back to 10 February - their longest blank on home ground since 1951. At the final whistle, booing rose in a crescendo as Roeder and his players gathered in the centre circle to thank the Toon Army for their home support throughout the season. There were chants of "Sack the board" and "We want Shepherd out" inside the ground and then several choruses of "Taxi for Roeder" as disgruntled fans gathered outside the main entrance afterwards to protest. It was the first whiff of dissent against the Newcastle manager and it could prove significant. Shepherd decided to promote Roeder from caretaker when the fans started chanting the name of the temporary manager. If the chairman has brass in pocket, it seems unlikely that Roeder will be the one who will be spending it this summer. "Of course I can understand the fans' frustration," Roeder said, when informed of the chants against him. "I understand where they're coming from. They want a winning Newcastle team. I absolutely want a winning Newcastle team." The trouble is Newcastle have won just once in 10 Premiership matches now. It might have been different for them yesterday if Kieron Dyer had buried the opportunity that came his way in the fifth minute. Blackburn were in front in the 14th minute. It was difficult to tell whether Oguchi Onyewu was playing McCarthy on-side when Stephen Warnock hoisted a cross from the left but the assistant referee kept his flag by his side and the South African Rover beat Steve Harper. All of which left Newcastle needing to chase the game but struggling to get a grip against Mark Hughes' smartly organised Rovers. Just before the interval the Magpies did spark fleetingly to life, Owen flicking a ball through for Scott Parker to shoot tamely at Brad Friedel. There were boos at the sound of the half-time whistle and only briefly did the mood of depression threaten to lift in the second half. Owen came close to equalising in the 68th minute, chesting a Nolberto Solano through-ball round the advancing Friedel, only to have his angled shot headed off the line by Christopher Samba. When Roberts rose to head home David Bentley's right-wing cross four minutes later, the game was up for Newcastle. Whether the same can be said for their manager, only time will tell. There was no sign of a taxi waiting for him last night, but it is fair to assume that the meter is ticking.

Newcastle fall as Allardyce looms By Louise Taylor at St James' Park, Sunday Telegraph Last Updated: 11:43pm BST 05/05/2007 Match summary Have your say Read comments Newcastle United (0) 0 Blackburn Rovers (1) 2 How Sam Allardyce must have revelled in this latest setback for Glenn Roeder. Yet whether 'Big Sam', who resigned as Bolton's manager last Sunday and is reputedly rather keen on a move north-east, would be the right man to take charge of Newcastle remains highly debatable. Party-pooper: Jason Roberts scored Blackburn's second to spoil Michal Owen's return to St James' Park Allardyce's abrasively pragmatic brand of percentage football is highly unlikely to appeal to the Toon Army but Roeder - who, after all the injuries suffered by his players this season surely deserves a chance to rebuild the club his way - could definitely have done without this latest defeat at a time when his chairman, Freddy Shepherd, seems a little twitchy. Widely booed by those fans who had not already departed during a distinctly half-hearted post-match 'lap of honour', Newcastle ended the season in ignominy and having failed to score a Premiership goal here since February. Small wonder disaffected supporters subsequently protested outside main reception. "I understand their frustration, we're on a very poor run and can't score," admitted Roeder. "But it doesn't make me lose confidence. I'm very much still the same person who led this team to a fantastic finish last season." No such problems for Mark Hughes, Blackburn's much-coveted manager, whose team, with Christopher Samba and Morten Gamst Pedersen particularly impressive, seem set fair for Inter-Toto, and perhaps even Uefa, Cup qualification after preventing Michael Owen from marking his home comeback with a goal. The England striker started his second game since recovering from a knee injury sustained at the World Cup last June but Blackburn's Benni McCarthy opened the scoring. Despite looking suspiciously offside when Stephen Warnock directed an angled ball into the area, the South African controlled it before beating Steve Harper from close range. Generally well contained by the towering Samba, little was seen of Owen until the brink of half-time when he pounced on a rebound but failed to get the ball down sufficiently and sent it ballooning over the bar. Understandable ring-rustiness aside, Owen, who has gained a stone of sheer muscle during his rehabilitation and whom Roeder will discourage from playing for England B at Burnley later this month, received distinctly sub-standard service. He captured the overall mood early in the second period by kicking an advertising hoarding in disgust after a promising burst down the left wing - in which his acceleration looked impressively sharp - ended with a loss of control. Owen, though, would later have equalised after rounding Brad Friedel, had the back-pedalling Samba not done extremely well to head his angled shot off the line. Soon afterwards Jason Roberts stole in front of Peter Ramage and defied Steve Harper with a header after David Bentley sashayed, unimpeded, down the right before dispatching a chipped cross in the scorer's direction. It was yet another case of appallingly slapdash Newcastle defending. Match summary Man of the match: Christopher Samba. Assisted by Ryan Nelsen, he ensured Michael Owen's home comeback was not a scoring one. Also displayed an impressively sure and, sometimes skilful, touch for such a big man. Knew when to kick the ball into row x and when to play it out of defence. A great signing by Mark Hughes for £400,000 from Hertha Berlin. Moment of the match: In the second half when Samba headed Owen's goalbound, angled, shot off the line. Rating: 6/10

Summarise if you would, please... Blaming poor finishing and confidence for last few results, feels for the fans, understands, sounds really rocked, keeps half repeating himself, and is speaking very low. Talking about things going against us this season. Says he can't do anything about speculation about his job, not worried about his job because its out of his control anyway, says he just has to keep his head up, etc. Just used the word "flipping" and sounds really vexed now. Sounds like a broken man.

I'm looking forward to the end of this season!

He'd go up in my estimation if he did.

I think FF is worried the Mackems will overtake us - he'll be panning himself (then again so will I) if it happens and may feel inclined to act decisively for once. I honestly think Roeder will go and he knows it.

Sure looks like. Maybe Freddy warned him that today was his last chance? A tragic picture. He's done his best but he's obviously not good enough and we move on to the next manager brave enough to take the hot seat. Seriously, what a job eh?

Wor Freddy is a bit sensitive to protests - I remember his spiel in the Chronicle after the Sheffield United debacle. With the season ticket renewal forms coming through the doors imminently I can sense him doing something to reel in / keep what punters he's got. Either by sacking Roeder or signing some big name player. I hope it's the former and Allardyce or whoever has the full pre-season to prepare.

I just hope there's a get-out clause so we can ditch him without getting screwed over like we did with Souness.

I don't think we attack too well either.

We should change our name to "Newcastle 0" - how many games haven't we scored in this season? I shudder to think.

What will today's excuses be? That horrible away team tried to score goals?

I know there's been a lot of competition but was that our worst "performance" this season?

Maybe they won't bother with the "lap of thanks" as there'll be nobody left. If they do they'll get a tasty reaction.

The striking thing is that we've been consistently bad. Wigan and Charlton who are both in shocking form and we are the only side they have beaten in recent matches.

Shameful, hopefully not long before the end of Roeder.