sempuki

3 quotes from the Chronicle in the summer. It's obvious we really wanted to buy him but were told no. If we have enough money left and are not put off by his injury you'd have to imagine we'll be trying to sign him, probably along with many other teams. Meanwhile, Magpies boss Glenn Roeder has revealed Darren Bent was top of his summer shopping list. "When the season finished we made an enquiry," said Roeder, who is under fierce pressure from fans to boost his attacking options. "But we were told there was no chance - no chance at any price." And the names have come thick and fast. Dirk Kuyt. Ruud van Nistelrooy. Dean Ashton. Jermain Defoe. Darren Bent. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Fernando Torres. Well, let's throw a bit of light on these. Glenn Roeder would have loved Van Nistelrooy and Bent. But there was no way £12m was going to be allocated for one player. United would like Darren Bent from Charlton Athletic, but there is no chance of the England international arriving at St James' Park as he now has a £15m price tag around his neck.

i think there's only 1 edition now anyway? In my foolish optimism I thought they might have a player or two ready for the FA Cup, considering the injury crisis. Maybe next week then.

There's nowt in the Chronicle on this or any other transfers tonight - at least in the first edition.

Agree - would take him every time over Crouch. He's got an excellent record although I'm not sure we have enough cash. Maybe Bridge on loan, a nominal fee for Ben Haim or Distin and perhaps with Luque being shipped out we might have enough left. I'd even give them Carr and Babayaro although I'm sure that would inflate the price.

Blown out by Wes Brown: Wes rules out move Jan 5 2007 By Luke Edwards, The Journal Glenn Roeder has admitted Newcastle United may have to rely on loan signings to fill the gaping holes in their squad as Wes Brown became the latest player to distance himself from a January move to St James's Park last night. Roeder has never confirmed or denied that he is interested in the Manchester United defender, but The Journal understands he is one of the players wanted by Newcastle's manager. But Brown, like Liverpool striker Peter Crouch earlier this week, has insisted he is happy to stay where he is, despite the fact he would gain far more first-team football at St James's Park. "I'm a Manchester lad and Old Trafford is still the only place for me," said the England international, who is only on the fringes of the first-team squad at Manchester United. "My contract runs to 2008 and I would love to see out my career at (Manchester) United - I've no intention of going anywhere else. It's going great at the moment - everyone's enjoying themselves and there's a cracking team spirit in the dressing room." Brown's comments may mean little if Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson decides he wants to sell him. But with Manchester United still involved in the title race, the Champions League and the FA Cup, the Scot is unlikely to want to weaken his squad. Despite Brown's fall from grace - Ferguson once described him as the best natural defender in British football - he is still highly-rated at the club. The 27-year-old did hold talks with Ferguson last month about his future after losing his place in the side to Nemanja Vidic and that may well have alerted Roeder to his possible availability. Roeder knows he needs to sign a centre-back, a left-back and a tall striker during the January transfer window and he is unlikely to give up on Brown until the window closes at the end of the month. However, it is difficult to see where Newcastle can go for the quality of player they are after as clubs are always reluctant to sell in the middle of the season when they know they will also struggle to strengthen. And, with Roeder refusing to buy simply to solve his short-term problems, he conceded yesterday that he may have to fall back on the limited loan market or head abroad. He said: "There are not a lot of quality players out there at the moment, but this does not mean we cannot find two or three players who will suit our needs. "We have had Seppe Rossi on loan but can still take another couple in this transfer window and that's what we may have to do. "What I do not want to do is to sign players who we will be lumbered with for the next three-and-a-half years. There is a saying in football that while you cannot hide good players, you cannot get rid of bad players and we want to avoid that." Meanwhile, Nicky Butt and Emre will be given until the last possible moment to prove their fitness ahead of the tricky-looking trip to face Championship-leaders Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round tomorrow. Emre has been struggling with a groin strain and Nicky Butt has still not trained because of the swollen ankle that forced him to miss the 2-2 draw against his former club Manchester United on New Year's Day. With Scott Parker suspended for the tie, Newcastle need one of the due to declare themselves fit, or Roeder will have to give another Academy player, South African Matty Pattison, a start at St Andrews. Butt is believed to be the more likely to recover in time, but Roeder insists he has not ruled his Turkish international midfielder out of things. He said: "Emre is touch and go but we haven't given up on him."

COLLINS JOHN has rejected a £2million move to Watford after they failed to match his personal demands, writes BEN KINSELLA. The Fulham ace held talks with the rock-bottom Hornets last night but will not lower his £20,000- a-week wage demands. The Cottagers are keen to sell John, 21, and had agreed a fee with Watford earlier in the day. Watford chief Aidy Boothroyd still hopes to resurrect the deal but will have to break the club’s salary cap to do so. John has started just nine league games this season after falling out with boss Chris Coleman. Coleman said: "Collins’ agent told us he wanted to leave and we accepted a good offer for him. "The disappointing thing from my point of view was that Collins told his agent he had spoken to me about it, which he hadn’t. "Collins has got it all to do in terms of proving himself." Coleman has snapped up legendary Roma striker Vincenzo Montella, 32, on a six-month loan deal.

Mascherano has looked pretty poor in the admittedly fleeting appearances I've seen him play in.

Adie Boothroyd said he made bids for 3 players yesterday so you'd have to think Watford are favourites.

Denied by Oliver in August - maybe we've changed our minds. Toon chief's dual mission Aug 16 2006 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Newcastle United's top brass Freddy Shepherd and Glenn Roeder flew to Dublin today on a double mission. The United pair are going to Lansdowne Road to watch Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt in Holland's friendly with the Republic of Ireland. And United have chartered their own 10-seater plane so that they can bring Irish pair Stephen Carr and Alan O'Brien straight back to Tyneside after the game. United are hoping the first part of their mission is not in vain, as they wait to see whether Dutch coach Marco van Basten plays Kuyt in his starting line-up. Before leaving Newcastle airport at 9am this morning Shepherd told me: "Originally we had four players - Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Damien Duff and Alan O'Brien - in Dublin tonight and we made arrangements to take our own plane across and bring them home which, in the current situation, seems to be the best thing to do. "And while Shay and Damien are back at our training ground for treatment, we have gone ahead with our original plan so that Stephen and Alan will be with the first-team squad tomorrow." Both Shepherd and Roeder have admitted how hard they are finding it to bring in the quality player they want at St James' Park. But they are not the only ones, with Middlesbrough having to give Sylvain Distin a weekly wage of £50,000 to take the former United central defender from Manchester City. The latest of a never-ending list of strikers to be linked with United is Fulham's 20-year-old Collins John, but the Dutch-born player is not what Roeder is looking for.

He's supposed to have a major attitude problem but he's got a decent record, mainly as a sub, until this season at least.

Beat me to it - could it be us? COTTAGERS ACCEPT JOHN BID By Tom Adams - Created on 4 Jan 2007 Fulham have accepted a bid from an unnamed Premiership club for Dutch striker Collins John. The Cottagers moved to sign Vincenzo Montella on loan from Roma on Thursday and the arrival of the Italian has seemingly paved the way for John to end his time at Craven Cottage. John has scored just once so far this season for Chris Coleman's side, with the Cottagers boss preferring Heidar Helguson and Brian McBride in attack for the majority of the season. Coleman denied that Fulham had received any approaches for John at the start of the week, but the London side have now accepted a bid from an unnamed party as they look to offload the 21-year-old. Watford have been strongly linked with the former Twente Entschede starlet in the past, and Adrian Boothroyd is known to be searching for striking reinforcements after the serious injury to Marlon King. Story Tools: Print Email this page Messageboards

Brown is decent enough (although with very peculiar hair). He's injury-prone though and if he joined us he'd probably impale himself on the pen he used to sign his contract.

He keeps mentioning Crouch and it would be typical of us to blow all of our cash on a forward.

Looking like loans - can Oliver not write a piece without saying "wide of the mark"? No panic buys insists Glenn Jan 4 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Glenn Roeder has insisted that Newcastle United will not be making any "short-term panic buys" in this month's transfer window. And this despite the fact that the United squad goes into the second half of the season absolutely decimated by injuries and with the fans impatient for new faces. Roeder is trying to give United a solid base for the future, but because of all the club's injuries he has to balance the long-term plan with his immediate needs. And he told me today: "There are not a lot of quality players out there at the moment, but this does not mean we cannot find two or three players who will suit our needs. "We have had Seppe Rossi on loan but can still take another couple in this transfer window and that's what we may have to do. "What I do not want to do is to sign players who we will be lumbered with for the next three-and-a-half years. "There is a saying in football that while you cannot hide good players, you cannot get rid of bad players, and we want to avoid that." As revealed in the Chronicle on December 12, United are still keeping tabs on Peter Crouch's situation at Liverpool, and I hear the Merseyside outfit have been asking about Mark Viduka just in case they sell their England striker. Certainly Crouch's claim that he is happy at Anfield was to be expected. But my information is that if Rafael Benitez does not want him, then the beanpole striker would jump at the chance to come to St James' and form a little and large partnership with Oba Martins and Michael Owen. But United have not renewed their interest in Viduka, and talk of them being interested in Everton's James Beattie and Kevin Davies at Bolton Wanderers is pie in the sky. And no matter how many phones calls Joey Barton's agent Willie McKay makes to Tyneside, the Manchester City midfielder will not be coming to St James' Park. United's priority is a couple of defenders, but talk that Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson, Steve Warnock, Chris Riggott and Jonathan Woodgate are heading this way is wide of the mark. :wullie: There has also been talk in London that Fulham are interested in Titus Bramble, but Roeder says: "We are not in a position to let any of our players go." Roeder has to try and get the best out of Albert Luque, but I am sure that if a Spanish club wanted to take him on loan with a view to a permanent move then United would agree to this.

Excellent!

SOUTHAMPTON are prepared to make Gareth Bale their highest paid player after turning down bids from Spurs and Manchester United. Wales left-back Bale, 17, will be handed a new deal until 2009. Saints dismissed Tottenham’s £3million bid before rejecting United’s £5m offer.

EXCLUSIVE Hammers to land £9.8m SWP By IAN McGARRY and SHAUN CUSTIS January 04, 2007 WEST HAM believe they have landed Shaun Wright-Phillips in a £9.8million deal. The Upton Park club have agreed the fee with Chelsea. SunSport can reveal Hammers chief Alan Curbishley is confident of signing Wright-Phillips, 24, and is just awaiting permission to finalise the player’s personal terms. West Ham’s new owner Eggert Magnusson and Chelsea have ironed out the transfer. But Blues boss Jose Mourinho has yet to give his permission for the sale. He is wary of losing another player when Joe Cole could miss the rest of the season through injury and Dutch star Arjen Robben is out with a muscle tear. Mourinho wants to bring in a top-quality replacement before saying ‘Yes’ to Wright-Phillips going. Porto’s Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma is a Mourinho target. But he is ineligible to play in the Champions League, as he is cup-tied. West Ham are desperate to add the flying Wright-Phillips to their struggling squad in a bid to stave off relegation. Maugnusson believes investing such a huge sum would be a clear sign of the club’s faith in Curbishley, despite Monday’s six-goal thrashing at Reading. Wright-Phillips, keen to remain in London, has another option if the Hammers move breaks down. Newcastle have made a late attempt to scupper it by trying to get the player on loan. The Geordies would be happy to take him for six months while he weighs up his options and, in the meantime, allow him the chance to prove his worth as a Premiership player. Toon boss Glenn Roeder has made his interest clear and is awaiting a reply from Chelsea. Wright-Phillips has already let it be known he is cool on any possible return to former club Manchester City. Newcastle are also keen to net Manchester United’s England defender Wes Brown, while Everton’s James Beattie could also become a target if they fail to capture Liverpool’s Peter Crouch.

How the F*** does that automatically make him one of the best in the league now. Just speaks volumes for how shit our keepers have been. You didn't answer the question.

Why not try quoting so that people know who your talking to? Also who do you think should start ahead of Edgar in our current state?, the tooth fairy maybe? Finally you do realise that Edgar is a right footed central defender/defensive midfielder and he was playing at left back. Yet he still did very well. Well said - his second professional game against the league leaders where he had a solid game and his goal earned us a point. I don't know what else anyone can ask especially as there weren't any more defenders.

Bullshit How to argue your point, backing up your opinion....... Can't kick, can't command his box, absolutely F***ING WOEFUL at penalties and in general no presence whatsoever. He's just a shot-stopper, that's it. I've made my feelings on Given heard pretty often. Although our best ever keeper. Name one better.

Could this be a sign that we've got very little cash to spend? With Boya also mentioned it makes me wonder if we are adopting the Arsene Wenger route of trying to sign unknown players and trying to develop them. Nice idea but I'm not sure we could pull it off.

We already have an Irish fatty in defence. Can't say I've even heard of the lad (and no I'm not FF)!

It doesn't surprise me but I wish they'd hurry up - I'm spending far too long on here trying to get some news!

Obviously no mackem players make the list. I'd be keen on any of them bar Upson who is too injury-prone for my liking.

And no talk of new signings: In middle of new crisis Jan 3 2007 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Glenn Roeder put his defensive problems to one side today - to worry about what sort of midfield he will be able to put out in Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at Birmingham City. United have skipper Scott Parker suspended, while both Emre and Nicky Butt are doubtful for what is sure to be a difficult game against the Championship leaders at St Andrews. And United's current injury plight was summed up when Titus Bramble reported back for training after his calf injury yesterday - and was promptly sent home because he was feeling under the weather. Roeder gave his first-team players yesterday off, but the manager was still at the training ground - and his first port of call was the treatment room. And he told me today: "Emre is feeling pain in his groin and it is touch and go whether he will make it at Birmingham City on Saturday. "Obviously, we knew at Everton on Saturday that when Scotty Parker was booked he would not be able to play at St Andrews. "But Nicky Butt is desperate to play, having been on loan there last season. "He is hoping that the ankle injury which kept him out against his other old club Manchester United on Monday will be OK." Roeder will not have any of his walking wounded back in time for the trip to Birmingham. The first player he expects to see back in a black-and-white shirt from an injury list that continues to grow is left-back Celestine Babayaro for the visit to Spurs a week on Sunday for the game at White Hart Lane, where he had a nightmare time last New Year's Eve after coming on as a second-half substitute. Roeder adds: "Titus Bramble came in for what we hoped would be a very light training session yesterday but he had all the symptoms of the flu, so taking into consideration our current situation we soon packed him back off home. "It's almost at the stage where we will be saying: `Will the last man standing please turn out the lights' and it looks as though the way things are going that man could be me." Meanwhile the word from Merseyside today was that Everton are not keen to get involved in any investigation regarding claims of racial abuse by Emre at Goodison Park on Saturday.