sempuki

2-0 Blackburn!

Does Newcastle World have any technicians working on matchdays to make sure their dedicated listeners all over the world are able to listen to their home town team serve up dross?

Tevez scores for the Spammers.

Is anyone getting Newcastle World working? Nowt happening over here in Japan.

The central defenders are a tad worrying!

Looks like Nobby likes Boca: Newcastle midfielder Nobby Solano wants to return to Boca Juniors at the end of next season. He told Radio Rivadavia: "I'm enthusiastic at the possibility of returning to Boca because I spent just a few months there and I had the bad taste of not having won anything in two seasons. "Football offers me another chance and I'd like to return. "My contract ends in 2008 and I'd like to go back to Argentina. The Boca fans are unique." Solano is a fans' favourite on Tyneside and has impressed this season with the way he has dropped back into a more unfamiliar full-back role. But it appears he has had enough of the Premiership and is itching for a move back to South America. He added: "I love Boca. I'd like to go back to Argentina because I love everything there: the passion, the football and the food."

His approach to the medical, training and coaching aspects, is the big reason for his success at Bolton and the biggest thing he would bring to Newcastle mate. Add to that the fact that Bolton have improved all the time he has been there, and he's a "stayer", which is also what we want. He manages players who are hard to handle, and is good in front of the press. Two huge things for a manager of Newcastle as well. How many players do you see wanting to leave Bolton ? And a lot of them are temperamental players ? He is in charge, he is the boss. Brian Clough he aint, but who is ? I think he is the man for us, 3 years too late though if he comes. I'm not so sure I think Pearson is a waste of space mind, but McDermott certainly is. Agree with all of that.

We all know Big Sam is great with everyone's rejects - Davies and Diouf to name but a few but could he really make wine out of water (or should that be sewage) with Bramble and Luque? Amazing if he could.

I can't see FF paying that - sadly. Sam rivals told he will cost £5m By DAVID FACEY May 01, 2007 BOLTON will be after £5million in compensation if Sam Allardyce joins Newcastle or Manchester City. Reebok chairman Phil Gartside said yesterday his departed manager’s £2m-a-year contract was still binding — even though he had accepted his resignation and made Big Sam’s No 2 Sammy Lee the club’s new boss. Allardyce’s 10-year deal has another 2½ years to run and he does not become a free agent until November 2009. Gartside, asked if Allardyce had indicated whether he had another job lined up, rapped: “He said he hasn’t. I would not be pleased if he did. We’d have to look closely at the circumstances.” Big Sam has been linked with Ray Ranson’s bid to buy Manchester City and a summer switch to Newcastle. Gartside added: “It was not my choice for him to go. But you have to ask him what he will do next. He is going to turn up somewhere. Don’t forget he has 2½ years left on his contract. We have a compromise agreement in place that just covers his resignation from this job.” Yet Gartside believes new boss Lee is potentially better than Allardyce. He declared: “When you lose a key member of your side, you replace him with someone better. That is where I am at.”

Playing in the French league.

Everton now 2-0!

Must be Diakhate! Don't cry for Lee, Argentina Apr 28 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Newcastle United coach Lee Clark heads off to South America next week with instructions to find a new Nobby Solano. Clark, assistant academy director Adam Sadler and education officer Jimmy Nelson fly out to Argentina a week on Monday. And their first port of call is to an academy in Buenos Aires before the United trio take up their invitation to visit Boca Juniors. It was from Boca Juniors that Kenny Dalglish signed Solano for £2.4m just before the start of the 1998 season. United boss Glenn Roeder told me today: "We are sending our people out to Argentina to see what it is all about." And Clark chipped in: "We are the only Premiership club to have been invited out to the academy in Buenos Aires where we will see the best three young players, aged between 16 and 20, from every South American country. "This is a splendid opportunity for us to go out there and it would be foolish to turn it down. "Everybody knows we signed Nobby from Boca Juniors and they have invited us to watch some of their training sessions. "And it goes without saying we would love to unearth and bring home another Nobby Solano." For me, Solano probably just edges ahead of George Robledo and Tino Asprilla as the greatest South American player United have had. Meanwhile United are not letting the grass grow beneath their feet in their search for new players for next season and all talk from people in the know is that they have beaten a host of clubs for the signature of Reading's out-of-contract midfielder Steve Sidwell. Clark was in France last Wednesday night where he took in Bordeaux's game with Nancy and he ran the rule over a defender. Indeed the Geordie boy has certainly been busy in his first season on the coaching side after hanging up his boots at the end of last season. He has now got his A coaching Licence and in September starts his Pro Licence which would qualify him to manage in the Premiership.

Have 3 former Newcastle players that I remember well: Garry Brady – Midfield >When Hamilton signed him on loan towards the end of the 1999-00 campaign, Brady looked out of his depth and was overrun by opposing midfielders. So, naturally, Hamilton brought him back to the club for a second loan spell at the start of the following season. He was no better second time around. Definitely Hamilton 's type of player. Des Hamilton – Midfield When Des Hamilton first came into professional football he was highly rated. An impressive spell at Bradford City saw him earn a move to Newcastle . But he didn't cut the mustard there and by the time he joined us on loan he looked like a Gus Caesar who had put on weight and was now playing in midfield. I don't know how much money he took home while he was here, but whatever it was it was too much. Paul Dalglish – Striker Dalglish arrived at the club as a young man with a very high opinion of himself, but as well as lacking ability he had a bad attitude. He had been on the books of Celtic, Liverpool and Newcastle solely because of links that his legendary father had with those clubs, and he thought he was too good to play anywhere else. Since leaving us, he has played for and/or had trials with at least 13 different clubs. A pale shadow of the player that his father was, but he probably still feels that he should walk into the best sides in the country.

Roeder meets Shepherd for transfer talks Apr 27 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Glenn Roeder and Freddy Shepherd were locked in talks today about potential signings for Newcastle United next season. Shepherd was at the club's training ground this morning and Roeder rushed through his Press conferences before going into a behind-closed-doors meeting with the United chairman. And the Chronicle can reveal today that this is the latest of a series of meetings between Roeder and Shepherd as United are determined to move quickly into the transfer market as soon as the season ends. It's the worst kept secret in football that United have beaten off competition from the likes of Everton, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and even Chelsea for Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell All Roeder would say on the subject of Sidwell today was: "I can understand why a lot of clubs are being linked with Steve Sidwell because he is a good player and he has had an outstanding season." Meanwhile, Roeder laughed off talk today that Kieron Dyer was on his way out of St James' Park and that Spurs were interested in buying him. The United boss said: "It's absolute nonsense about Spurs. And why, after spending so much time in getting Kieron Dyer back into business with us, should we consider selling him? "Kieron will definitely be with us next season. The only concern I have about him is that he plays a big part in our last three matches." The return of Dyer and Oba Martins' goals were the main reasons why United lifted themselves out of the relegation zone. And the United boss added: "Whenever Kieron is in the side he has the potential to open up opposing defences with one of his quick bursts or one clever little pass. "And there's no doubt in my mind that he is always a potential match-winner for us, no matter where he plays. "When he plays wide out on the right he always has the licence to wander inside and look for the ball, and the only time I insist on him staying wide is when Nobby Solano behind him has the ball." United's trio of keepers, Shay Given, Steve Harper and Pavel Srnicek, are going to do their bit for kids charities early next month. For they will feature in a question-and-answer session at a black-tie dinner at St James' Park on May 8, with the proceeds going to Metro Radio's Just For Kids charity. Tickets for the four-course meal and champagne reception are £65 each or £600 for a table of 10 and can be obtained from United on (0191) 201 8525

I thought Bramble did very well too - great point considering who we were playing against.

Better than what you've got. Would he be a Bosman? That was a gag wasn't it relating to Oliver's totally wrong prediction from a few years ago.

I can't believe they'd do that - not even we would do that - surely!

In-demand Sidwell set to make summer switch to Newcastle Jeremy Wilson and Louise Taylor Tuesday April 17, 2007 The Guardian Steve Sidwell is likely to leave the Madejski Stadium and move to Newcastle United this summer. Sidwell has attracted the interest of a number of Premiership clubs, but Newcastle have emerged as favourites to sign the former Arsenal trainee. Although Aston Villa, Everton, Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Spurs have all been monitoring the situation, it is believed that preliminary talks have already been held with Newcastle and that Sidwell favours a move to the north-east. The Newcastle manager, Glenn Roeder, believes Sidwell will add energy and steel to his team. At 24, Sidwell is also the right age to freshen up Newcastle's midfield. The move could come under jeopardy if there was a managerial change at Newcastle this summer but, despite speculation linking Sven-Goran Eriksson with the club, it is likely that Roeder will still be in charge at the beginning of next season. Sidwell is out of contract at the end of this season and, after he failed to agree new terms, Coppell has resigned himself to finding a replacement. He will, though, continue to pick the midfielder. "If Siddy goes I've got to get at least one more in and maybe two - I'll play Siddy again definitely," said Coppell. Sidwell was left out of Saturday's 1-0 win against Fulham, with Brynar Gunnarsson staking his claim for a place in the centre of Reading's midfield. "He [sidwell] has been playing all the games up until now and it's up to me to show I can do a job there," said Gunnarsson. "It's more than likely that Steve is leaving and that leaves me and James Harper in the midfield. Obviously the manager will buy one or get another player in, but if I do all right from now until the end of the season, I think I have a chance. I'd love to stay there [in central midfield] for the last four games." Roeder will tonight get a chance to assess the fitness of Michael Owen who is expected to play his first competitive match in 10 months when Newcastle's reserves travel to Middlesbrough. But the striker's return is in danger of being overshadowed by a bitter political battle. Owen, who could well make his first-team comeback at home to Chelsea on Sunday, finds himself caught in the middle of a club versus country row between Freddy Shepherd, Newcastle's chairman, and the Football Association. Dissatisfied with the amount of compensation his club has received from football's ruling body in the wake of the serious knee injury Owen sustained playing for England in the last World Cup, Shepherd has threatened to seek an injunction preventing the FA from selecting the striker for the May friendly against Brazil at Wembley and the European Championship qualifer in Estonia in June. Although the FA's insurers have paid Newcastle £50,000 a week since Owen's collapse last June, that represents just under half his weekly salary and the Tyneside club's insurance company has had to cover the remainder. Shepherd has also received about £1.5m from Fifa as compensation. Shepherd engaged the FA's help to persuade Fifa to cough up. Having banked up to £6m in insurance pay-outs and compensation for Owen's absence, this dictates that Newcastle's chairman - who originally demanded £20m in recompense from the FA - will base any injunction on the FA's failure to meet the striker's £150,000 medical bills. Meanwhile Newcastle, who are also likely to field Shola Ameobi, fit again after a hip operation, tonight will be without Damien Duff for the remainder of the campaign due to an ankle injury.

Newcastle rule out Owen move in the summer Louise Taylor Monday April 16, 2007 The Guardian Glenn Roeder yesterday poured scorn on stories suggesting that Michael Owen is poised to leave Newcastle United for Manchester United or Arsenal this summer. "It's all news to me," said Newcastle's manager. "But I certainly haven't waited all these months to write Michael Owen's name on my team-sheet to even contemplate selling him. Michael is a very big part of my plans for next season and I know he's been as frustrated as everyone else and can't wait to start playing for Newcastle again. Personally I can't wait to see him scoring goals for us that no one else can." Owen has targeted the visit of Chelsea on Sunday for his comeback and the striker should be fit to join up with England's squad for the end-of-season friendly with Brazil at Wembley and the vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia on June 6. However, Freddy Shepherd, Newcastle's chairman, is threatening to seek an injunction preventing the Football Association fielding Owen in those games if the ruling body continues to refuse to reimburse all, or at least part of, the £150,000 medical costs resulting from the treatment of the knee ligament injury Owen suffered at the World Cup. "They have not even paid the price of an aspirin for Michael since he left their care. They cut him loose as soon as he was put on the plane home," Shepherd said. "If the FA don't offer us a fair settlement we are prepared to go to court."

Getting paid out in The Telegraph: Portsmouth (1) 2 Newcastle United (0) 1 For a man who does not like to make excuses for his team, Glenn Roeder plays the injury card an awful lot. The Newcastle manager was left understandably frustrated by his side's listless performance at Fratton Park - which all but ends their push for Europe - but choosing to trot out the old St James' Park injury curse at the home of Harry Redknapp, a manager who consistently maximises the scant resources available to him, was never going to win him much sympathy. "The suggestion that we should have done better this season is rubbish," Roeder said. "We've done everything we can but there's other teams who haven't had injuries this year. "Please don't write that as an excuse. I don't make excuses. But the statistics will tell you that many of our players have been out for long, long periods." If that's not an excuse, what is? In any case, Roeder should be more worried about the players who are available than those who aren't. Even without Michael Owen - who will play in another friendly this week as he steps up his return from injury - Roeder was still able to call on the services of Obafemi Martins, a striker who cost £10 million. Behind him, Roeder deployed £5 million winger Damien Duff, Turkey international Emre, and England players past and future in Nicky Butt and James Milner. Hardly scraping the barrel. The one area where Newcastle were lightweight was in central defence, Steven Taylor and Craig Moore being no match for the invention of Kanu. In fact, he gave Moore such a torrid time that Roeder withdrew the Australian after 30 minutes, by which stage Benjani had already scored. Matt Taylor extended that lead on 59 minutes with a left-footed strike from 25 yards before Emre pulled one back from the penalty spot after Dejan Stefanovic had upended Milner. For Newcastle, Martins threatened sporadically but, in the main, he was well shackled by Portsmouth's rearguard of Stefanovic, Sol Campbell, Linvoy Primus and Lauren. "I think that must be the first time that combination has played together," said Redknapp, who could not resist the chance to rub salt into Roeder's wounds. "I know Newcastle spoke to Sol before us but they decided not to pursue it. I'm pleased they didn't take him." How Newcastle fans must covet a solid, imposing centre-back like Campbell. Or Lauren, for that matter, who moved to Fratton Park for a fraction of the price Newcastle paid for Titus Bramble. Redknapp, though, reserved his highest praise for goalkeeper David James, whose excellent save from Martins in the dying minutes denied Newcastle an unlikely point. James' quest to break David Seaman's record of 141 Premiership clean sheets continues, but it is only a matter of time. "He'll go on for another five years. I've never seen anything like him," marvelled Redknapp, who gently mocked Watford's attempt last week to lure James to Vicarage Road next season. "Yeah, I'm sure he'd love to play in the Championship!" Match details Portsmouth (4-4-2): James; Lauren, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic; O'Neil, Davis, Hughes, Taylor; Benjani (LuaLua 73), Kanu (Kranjcar 90). Subs: Ashdown, Pamarot, Mvuemba. Booked: Stefanovic, O'Neil. Newcastle (4-4-2): Harper; Solano, Taylor, Moore (Onyewu 30), Carr; Milner, Butt, Emre, Duff (Luque 81); N'Zogbia (Carroll 46), Martins. Subs: Srnicek, Babayaro. Man of the match: Kanu (Portsmouth). Referee: C Foy (Merseyside). Att: 20,165

United boss' scouting trip Apr 15 2007 By Neil Farrington, The Sunday Sun Glenn Roeder will fly off on a European scouting mission this week as he closes in on several summer transfer targets. The Newcastle boss will take in a league game on the Continent, either France or Italy, to run the rule over potential signings. And he last night insisted that United are in a position to move swiftly at the end of the season to land the men he wants. "Recruiting for next season is ongoing - we're watching players all the time," said Roeder, chasing three defenders and a midfielder. "I'm aware of potential signings playing in the Premiership and every weekend we're out and about in Europe. I'm making a trip into Europe on Wednesday following up on a couple of players. "This season we've clocked up more air miles watching players than ever before." Roeder, as revealed by the Sunday Sun last month, is confident of landing Reading's Steve Sidwell on a free. French sources suggest he is also keen on Nancy's left-sided central defender Pape Diakhate. But the United boss is also confident of an imminent off-field signing. "I hope to be able to make a key appointment in terms of scouting in the very near future," he said. "I think there will be more of a European flavour about our set-up."

I heard it labelled as a "dipping shot on the run" from 25-yards, but that could be wide of the mark. There's something in that response that tells me you're an Alan Oliver fan!

Owen back with a goal as Gretna game is runaway success George Caulkin It was a far cry from that famous heart-pounding moment against Argentina, or his hat-trick in Germany, but Michael Owen scored one of the most pivotal goals of his career yesterday. The venue was Newcastle United’s training ground and the opposition was provided by Gretna, but after a ten-month absence through injury, the centre forward did not care one jot. Having undergone surgery in the United States to repair the anterior cruciate ligament damage he suffered during England’s match against Sweden in the World Cup finals last June, having expended litres of sweat and hours of frustration in the gym, Owen has almost completed his rehabilitation. He played for 75 minutes against Newcastle’s Scottish opponents behind closed doors, apparently suffering no ill-effects. His goal, in a 4-1 victory, was described by observers as a dipping shot on the run, struck from a distance of more than 20 yards; Newcastle supporters will be drooling. He also turned provider for Shola Ameobi — whose return from a long-term hip complaint is also well ahead of schedule — who snapped up the rebound when another Owen effort was repelled. While Glenn Roeder, the manager, has consistently refused to put a timescale on Owen’s recuperation — announcing on Monday that plans to field him in a reserve-team match this week had been shelved — the 27-year-old remains on course to play some part in Newcastle’s home match against Chelsea on April 22. He is unlikely to be considered for this weekend’s match away to Portsmouth. Provided that he suffers no setbacks, Owen could have four matches to establish his fitness before the end of the season, raising the prospect of him being selected for the European Championship qualifying match in Estonia on June 6. He could also be involved on Thursday May 31, when England — the FA has continued to pay a sizeable chunk of his £110,000-a-week wages during his recovery — play Brazil in their first match at the refurbished Wembley Stadium. That prospect remains some distance away, however, but the initial reports of Owen’s comeback are hugely promising. Gretna, whose director of club development is Mick Wadsworth, who worked for Newcastle under Sir Bobby Robson — a spectator at their Scottish League first division game against St Johnstone on Saturday — were invited to Tyneside when Hartlepool United were unable to comply. “He didn’t look rusty at all,” Erik Paartalu, Gretna’s Australian midfield player, said. “In fact, he looked very sharp. He was going past defenders and it didn’t seem that he had been out for so long. We knew on Saturday that we would be playing Newcastle and that it was Owen’s comeback. It was a buzz. We didn’t get too stuck into him, but we did with the other lads. He combined well with Ameobi.” Albert Luque, Titus Bramble and Charles N’Zogbia also took part in a 90-minute match split into thirds. “If that’s what he’s like after ten months out of the game, I’d hate to play against a fully fit Michael Owen,” Gavin Skelton, the Gretna full back, said. “The goal was the hallmark of a great striker. It was just a half-chance, really, from the edge of the box, but in a flash he’d buried it in the bottom corner of the net with a right-foot shot. He didn’t smash it, it was just very clinical, brilliantly placed. “He looked very sharp throughout and while I can’t recall him having many more chances, his link-up play was excellent. And I didn’t notice him breathing heavily, either. Stamina-wise, you wouldn’t have thought that this was his comeback game. Obviously, he’s not going to be match fit, but to me he looks ready for the Premiership. “We’re not a bad side in our own right, but he’s the best we’ve played against. I’m glad I don’t come across forwards of his calibre every week.” Owen’s two years at Newcastle have been plagued by injury. Since his club-record £16 million signing from Real Madrid, he has started only ten matches in the Barclays Premiership, scoring seven goals. Owen will hope that yesterday represented a change in fortune.

You might be right.

From .com: Back in action: Strike duo return Tuesday morning saw both Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi make a playing return for Newcastle in a behind closed doors friendly match against Scottish side Gretna. More details to follow.