sempuki

Ashley will look like a prize t## if this one goes pear shaped! The silence is baffling though - I fear there maybe a snag or two to sort out.

It would be nice although I doubt he'd come.

Is the Daily Mail Editor a Mackem? HATCHET MAN: Clueless Ashley reaches new levels of inanity; Chelsea confirm Grant is alive and well; Argentina's Puppies are anything but cuddly; and why Arsenal are the wallies of the Premier League By Hatchet Man Last updated at 12:20 PM on 13th August 2008 Mike Ashley didn't need to provide any more proof that he is clueless in his running of Newcastle, but the owner has done it anyway. Mike Ashley Deluded: Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley. In a long-awaited interview in a new club magazine, he insists that the relationship between Kevin Keegan and Dennis Wise must work because there is so much to do at the club. Wise, apparently looks after the academy while Keegan is most at home on the training ground. In Ashley's deluded mind it seems there is no hint of a power conflict. Yet the former Millwall manager is scouting for first-team players and involved in recruitment. He is also seen as Keegan's successor. Maybe Ashley doesn't know any of that. After all, he bought Newcastle without knowing about the £27 million net debt owed on player trading carried out before he arrived. He also says he shows off the impressive girth of his midriff in tight-fitting club shirts and sits with the fans because he feels like they do. Of course, what retail billionaire from Buckinghamshire couldn't relate to those long-established regulars in the Gallowgate End.

Is he the one who said Taiwo was signing this week? Either Kev loves his left backs or someone is telling porkies.

Michael Dell - it's getting farcical now. Aston Villa back in hunt for James Milner Aug 13 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle James Milner ASTON Villa are ready to come back in and test Newcastle United’s resolve to hang on to their England Under-21 winger James Milner. The talk from The Midlands is that Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is ready to make a £6m offer for Milner – and this after he completed his seventh signing of the close season when he paid Rangers £7.8m for their Spanish central defender Carlos Cuellar. Cuellar was watched by Kevin Keegan and Terry McDermott in some of the Gers’ European games at the end of last season, but United instead turned to Fabricio Coloccini as their big-money buy for this problem position. The Chronicle reported last month that, after being linked with both Aston Villa and Liverpool, United’s top brass insisted Milner was staying at St James’s Park. And Keegan will do all he can to make sure Milner remains a United player in his paper-thin first-team squad, which could yet be strengthened by another player from Real Mallorca. But whether the United boss will let Abdoulaye Faye, subject of a £2m bid by Stoke City, head off to the Potteries remains to be seen. However, there was better news for Keegan as United target Stephen Warnock has handed in a transfer request at Blackburn. Warnock is fully aware of United’s interest and, after hearing his new manager Paul Ince say no-one will be following David Bentley and Brad Friedel out of the Ewood Park door, the former Liverpool player immediately slapped in a transfer request. One transfer that looks as though it will go through in the next 48 hours is not so good news. For Manchester United have agreed to pay Spurs £25m for their Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, and he was in the North West today to discus personal terms. If the deal does go through the $64,000 question is whether Sir Alex Ferguson, with Cristiano Ronaldo already ruled out and with Wayne Rooney doubtful because of a virus, will hand Berbatov his debut against Newcastle in Sunday’s opener at Old Trafford. But United could soon be again competing with the likes of Man U for the big-money players if Mike Ashley finds a new business partner. And he could have found one with news coming out of the City that the United owner is due to meet Dell Computer Corporations chief executive Michael Dell this week.

http://www.zerozero.pt/uk/jogador.php?edicao_id=0&epoca_id=137&id=418 31 - doesn't fit the profile. From reading several sites Taiwo, Larsson and Derdiyok do. I hope we get at least one of them.

"Them" - Coloccini and ?

What was your source? Drunken arsehole stood next to you at the bar in the pub after the match? Or was it someone even less credible? Even less credible - it was in The Sun!

The start of Sunday's guff: HOTLINE - TOON ON XAVI RADAR BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Barcelona star Xavi could be on his way to Newcastle. Agents acting on the player's behalf are trying to get him to the Premier League and the Magpies are on his hit-list. People Sport understands the Euro 2008-winning Spanish midfielder is unhappy at Barcelona and doesn't always see eye to eye with new boss Josep Guardiola. And the 28-year-old has instructed his representatives to seek out a lucrative move to England. Arsenal would seem a more suitable destination, with Arsene Wenger needing to bring in another midfielder, but Newcastle can blow the Gunners out of the water when it comes to hard cash.

It could be a while - Valencia probably haven't landed yet. I wonder if "A. Triallist" a.k.a. Mr. Dreads gets a run out?

Good - I hate Urawa almost as much as the mackems.

I'd like this to be true!!!

No real news from our friend Alan tonight. Apparently he's retiring next year.....

Is there a link for this?

Would like to think so. Fits the bill.

Bloody hell! Toon in new takeover talks? STEVE McMahon was today understood to be locked in talks with Newcastle United's hierarchy as a takeover seemingly edged closer. The former Liverpool midfielder was pictured in the St James's Park directors' box last night just days after the Singapore-based Profitable Group he is involved with was linked with a £260m takeover of Newcastle. United last night dismissed speculation that McMahon was there for talks on a buyout, and instead claimed McMahon was on Tyneside to advise the club on its Far East strategy. Owner Mike Ashley – who paid £130m for Newcastle last summer – has always denied he is keen to sell, but the billionaire admitted last month he is looking for investors to share the financial burden. However, a takeover is very much on the agenda, and the Gazette understands there have been hush-hush talks at the Copthorne Hotel on Newcastle's quayside over the past 24 hours. And should the Profitable Group – a global investment firm – take over United, then McMahon would be given a senior position at St James's Park. McMahon joined the firm as commercial director in charge of strategic sports investment earlier this year. The 46-year-old had spells as manager at Swindon Town and Blackpool after hanging up his boots.

Oh the joy! Colo seemingly in the bag and Smith off to Everton. Don't want Healy though.

Fingers well and truly crossed. I can wait until the last day of the window mind, as long as he does go. We've been linked with David Healy in the Chronicle today!

Real Madrid are preparing a final bid of £60m for Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo. (News of the World) Ronaldo will demand to be allowed to move to Real when he returns to United on Tuesday. (Telegraph) Tottenham must pay £19m to sign Zenit St Petersburg striker Andrei Arshavin as well as make him the highest-paid player in the world. (Mail) Tottenham midfielder Aaron Lennon is set to reject a move to Newcastle. (News of the World) Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari expects midfielder Frank Lampard to sign a new contract with the Blues. (News of the World) Scolari is also confident Didier Drogba will agree a new contract, which will see the striker pick up £100,000 a week. (Mail) Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill believes midfielder Gareth Barry will join Liverpool. (News of the World) But Arsenal will attempt to lure Barry to north London. (Express) Portsmouth are losing interest in Younes Kaboul because of Spurs' £7m valuation. (News of the World) Tottenham look set to fail with a £18m bid for West Ham striker Dean Ashton, who the Hammers insist is not for sale. (News of the World) Everton manager David Moyes will bid £3m for Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher. (News of the World) Fulham boss Roy Hodgson wants Everton striker Andy Johnson but for less than the £10.5m asking price. (Mail) Bolton have tried to negotiate a deal for Jonathan Greening from West Brom in part exchange for Abdoulaye Meite. (News of the World) Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will try to persuade former club Blackburn to sell him striker Roque Santa Cruz at a price of £12m. (News of the World) Blackburn will bid £3m for Oldham's Neal Eardley. (News of the World) West Brom have tabled a bid of £2m Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge. (News of the World) Newcastle want to sign Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos and have been told he will cost them £10m or £7m plus goalkeeper Shay Given. (Mail) Celtic defender Bobo Balde is being chased by Birmingham and Sunderland. (News of the World) Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is interested in signing Southampton winger Nathan Dyer. (News of the World) Birmingham are close to signing Spartak Moscow striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie on loan. (News of the World) Cardiff are on the verge of agreeing a deal for Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd. (News of the World) Swansea and Nottingham Forest are in a battle to sign Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince. (News of the World) Chesterfield want Spurs striker Andrew Barcham, but face competition for him Bournemouth. (News of the World) Hull are offering former Bolton midfielder Ivan Campo a £500,000 bonus to join them and keep them in the Premier League. (News of the World) Back to top OTHER GOSSIP Newcastle are at the centre of a £260m takeover battle between two of Asia's richest countries. (News of the World) West Ham will retire Bobby Moore's number six shirt for good next week. (News of the World) Back to top AND FINALLY Referee Uriah Rennie has refused to be "pensioned off" by the Premier League, who had said he was non longer required at the age of 48. The Sheffield official appealed against the ruling and won his case. (Various)

We played in the final that year but lost thanks to a certain KK.

Can't be any worse than last year - or can it?

FA Charge Joey Barton - Club Response NEWCASTLE United can confirm that it has received documentation from the Football Association stating that it is charging Joey Barton with misconduct in relation to the incident that occurred with Ousmane Dabo in May 2007, at a time when he was a registered player of Manchester City. The Club has sought clarification from the Football Association as to why this decision has been reached now, given the incident occurred nearly 15 months ago. Joey will be requesting a personal hearing in relation to the charge and the Club will be making no further comment on the matter at this time.

Nee progress on this like? He wouldn't be a bad choice for DM. Naturally Alan's headline would be along the lines of making plans for Nigel.....

I feel your pain brother. It's August tomorrow and well, everyone knows the rest.....