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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.

One word - NO!

It'd better be short term - he's 34 years old!

We need reinforcementsJan 3 2007 By Luke Edwards, The Journal Shay Given has urged Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd to move rapidly in the transfer market after the Irishman admitted the squad was on the verge of breaking point because of injuries. The Journal understands that Manchester United's England international Wes Brown is a Newcastle transfer target, with Middlesbrough's Chris Riggott another who is interesting boss Glenn Roeder as he attempts to boost his defencive options this month. Southampton's wonder-kid Gareth Bale is another wanted by the Magpies manager and, while the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid have been following the 17-year-old's progress, United could benefit from the fact the youngster has privately intimated he wants to join a club who will give him regular first-team football. But it is up front that Newcastle's plans are causing the most confusion, with Peter Crouch adamant he will not be leaving Liverpool, while Everton manager David Moyes has insisted James Beattie is not for sale, despite dropping him for the 3-0 win over Newcastle last Saturday. United's makeshift side did a magnificent job against aspiring champions Manchester United on New Year's Day, with rookie defender David Edgar's late strike securing a battling draw. But Given, who has returned far quicker than usual from a groin problem to ease his manager's plight, warned they cannot maintain their revival unless re-enforcements arrive to bolster a squad which has performed valiantly to cope without so many key players in recent weeks. "Our team was strung together against Manchester United, we were struggling to get the bare minimum of players out there," said Given, who was full of praise for young defensive trio Edgar, Paul Huntington and Steven Taylor after their determined effort against the Red Devils. "The treatment table has never been so busy during the whole time I have been with the club. I walked in there on Sunday and there was a board up with all the names on, and there were more injured players than fit players, which is no exaggeration. It's really bad and I can't put my finger on why." He continued: "It would be nice to get a few new players this month - but even nicer to get some in this week so that they don't get cup-tied after the FA Cup games on Saturday. "I don't know what the craic is in terms of new signings but we all know that we need to get some new players in and pretty quickly. The chairman is aware of that and he has said before he wants to strengthen in January. "The manager has his targets as well and in an ideal world we would get them in this week, but that doesn't always happen. You could see against Manchester United that we only had 11 fit players to put in, we need new faces to add numbers to a small squad. "There are a few players on the treatment table who aren't far away and, if we get the right quality of player as well, then that will help the squad no end. It's not just about numbers, it's about the calibre of players coming in, too." Newcastle's medical staff will work frantically to get players back in time for the tricky looking FA Cup trip to Birmingham City, although captain Scott Parker is suspended and Nicky Butt is struggling with an ankle injury. But Given is full of admiration for the way the squad has rallied around each other in the club's time of need. He said: "Manchester United are a top team and they had their full squad up here, but we showed real character. We stuck together when we had to and we certainly deserved a point and could have actually won. "It's nice, because I think they will be champions, if not champions then they will be very, very close. They have been on fire recently, beating teams up and scoring lots and lots of goals. They scored two against us but we gave them a real fight. "The lads deserve a lot of credit because we had a lot of young lads out there but they stood up, were counted and became men. They had to do that. There was no alternative."

Given hoping for reality cheque By MARTIN BLACKBURN January 03, 2007 SHAY GIVEN is praying Newcastle open the cheque book and bring in new players this week. The keeper admits the current injury crisis is the worst he has known in 10 years at St James’ Park. Despite being without 12 senior players, Glenn Roeder’s battle-scarred troops still scrapped their way to a 2-2 draw with Premiership leaders Manchester United on New Year’s Day. But Given reckons the time is right to bring in new faces ahead of the FA Cup tie with Championship leaders Birmingham at the weekend. He said: “It would be nice to get a couple of new players in this week so they don’t get cup-tied after the games on Saturday. “I don’t know what the crack is in terms of new signings but we all know we need to get some new players in quickly. “The chairman is aware of that and he has said before he wants to strengthen. The manager has his targets and in an ideal world we would get them in this week. “You could see against United we only had 11 fit players to put in — there are more injured players than fit players. “We need new faces to add numbers to a small squad. If we get the great quality of player as well, then that will help the squad no end. “It’s not just about numbers, it’s about the calibre of players coming in, too. We need both, we need new faces but we also need good players as well.” With Newcastle in the bottom half of the table and out of the Carling Cup, Given feels Saturday’s FA Cup clash at St Andrew’s is vital to their season. He said: “It is a huge week for the club and hopefully we will get a few players back. “The treatment table has never been so busy during the whole time I have been with the club. “I can’t put my finger on why. that’s the way it is.” Given himself has played through the pain barrier at Everton and against Manchester United despite struggling with a groin injury. He also suffered a tear in his bowel during the game at West Ham in September, which sidelined him for two months. Michael Owen, Damien Duff, Shola Ameobi, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Carr are among the 12 Toon stars currently on the treatment table. Meanwhile, Given had some words of advice for new Toon hero David Edgar, 19, who scored a stunning equaliser against United. He said: “David is a right-footed centre-back playing at left-back and that sums it up. To come in and get the equaliser is fairytale stuff. “He has had a great game but he has to progress as a player now. “He has to build on it and use the experience he gets from playing football matches. “But it’s a great start for him to grab the equaliser against Manchester United.”

From .com: Glenn's number not up yet... 21st January 2006: Newcastle lie 14th in the Premiership, having taken 26 points from their 22 league games, winning 7, losing 10 and drawing 5. Their goal difference is -5; their top scorer has 7 goals. One match later and we'd sacked our manager. 2nd January 2007: Newcastle lie 14th in the Premiership, having taken 26 points from their 22 league games, winning 7, losing 10 and drawing 5. Their goal difference is -5; their top scorer has 7 goals.

Dream day for Edgar. Pulled a Santiago Munez, he did. Totally agree. I don't want to go over the top but he made very few mistakes and looked composed.

Thought Huntington looked a bit shaky and with Edgar doing what he did he could edge him out for Brum, providing we don't sign anyone of course.

Great start to 2007!

According to another board the talk at St James' right now is that we've bid 5m for Upson and 8m for Curtis Davies!

You've spelled "optimistic" wrong in the message on your avatar! Where? Unconvincing!