LooneyToonArmy

Keegan said he`s after 5 "top quality players" I wouldn`t count Giles Barnes as top quality tbh....he`s injury prone and he`s cant even make Derby`s starting XI every week either

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/04/15/keegan-keen-to-recruit-giles-barnes-61634-20764436/ NEWCASTLE United will again target Giles Barnes as a key figure in the second half of Kevin Keegan’s two-pronged transfer policy. The Magpies’ recent revival has been based around an experienced nucleus of Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka. Conscious of the lack of depth in his squad, Keegan is keen to add proven players but the club is also wary of the need for youthful vibrancy, and hope Barnes can contribute to that. Sam Allardyce signed nine players last summer, some of whom are just starting to bear fruit, and Keegan does not feel his squad needs major surgery to meet chairman Chris Mort’s demand that they compete for Uefa Cup qualification next term. “I’ve said all along I would be looking for four or five players,” said Keegan. “That’s all we need, but those four or five will have to be top quality. “That’s the priority in terms of strengthening, the very top end of the squad, but if we were able to do that, maybe we could also look at bringing a couple of youngsters in. It would be nice to balance our squad that way, and that’s the two different angles we’re going to be looking to address this summer. “You’re not going to be looking at the massive turn-over the club saw last summer. It’s going to be a case of making a few quality signings and a couple of younger faces who are more for the future.” Keegan is pleased by the experience and leadership in the squad he inherited. “I’ve got about five leaders in my team – Nicky and Michael, Geremi’s fantastic, and Habib Beye and Faye,” he enthused. “Viduka is quite experienced as well. So I’ve got a lot of good men who can lead the team.” Newcastle tried to sign 19-year-old Barnes in January but their valuation was way below Derby County’s. United will hope the Rams’ impending relegation allows them to negotiate a more realistic price for the attacking midfielder. Even when they turned down United’s offer, believed to be around £1.5m, Derby were planning to spend 2008-09 in the Championship. They probably hoped Barnes would justify a reputation earned in the Football League, but he has failed to do so. In a season restricted to just 14 league starts by form and fitness, Barnes has not stood out, scoring just once in the league and once in the FA Cup, against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. It has not deterred Newcastle, who stepped up their policy of bringing the best young talent to St James’s Park when Dennis Wise was appointed earlier this year. Of Newcastle’s ambitions next season, Mort said: “There will be a lot of clubs, maybe 10, looking at the top six. The Champions League positions are more difficult but I would hope we’ll be at least aiming for a Uefa Cup slot.” Meanwhile, two other clubs are hopeful of warding off Newcastle interest in their players with improved contracts. Reports in Belgium suggest national team sponsors Kia are determined to keep Moroccan Mbark Boussoufa in the league. The 23-year-old ex-Chelsea striker is at Anderlecht, and the car manufacturers are eager to keep it that way. “I know the size of contract Newcastle will offer Boussoufa,” claimed Kia’s managing director, Benoit Morenne. “The difference between it and what he earns at Anderlecht is not insurmountable. We want to make him one of our ambassadors. “It is the only way to keep players of his quality in Belgium. We don’t want to get in their (Anderlecht’s) way if they can do a good deal for him. But Newcastle want an answer from Boussoufa by the end of the week, so there is no time to lose.” Sven-Göran Eriksson is hopeful he can stop Keegan being reunited with former defender Richard Dunne by offering the Manchester City captain an extension to his contract, which expires next summer. “I am quite sure it will be sorted out, when I don’t know,” said the Swede. “He has become a special, special player for the club.”

plus they don`t even want him (which is why he was sent to River Plate) as he fell out with the coach. Might be able to get him for a bargain (similar circumstances to Ginola). I don`t think we could play him as an AMC though as he`s a bit lightweight. Either on the left or as a 2nd striker .He`d be cheaper than Zarate though. Or get Juan Arango of Real Mallorca

Premature joy robs Israeli team of football cup JERUSALEM (AFP) - Football fans celebrating what they thought was a cup final victory just minutes before the final whistle, cost Israeli team Beitar Jerusalem their winning trophy late on Sunday. (Advertisement) Four minutes before time, thousands of supporters rushed on to the pitch as Beitar was leading Maccabi Herzliya 1-0. Unable to clear the field so play could continue, the referee suspended the match, giving victory to Maccabi by default. The behaviour of the Beitar fans, well known for their excesses and far-right views, was all over the front pages of Israeli newspapers on Monday. "Those people are abnormal and idiots," said club owner Arcady Gaydamak, an Israeli-Russian billionaire who plans to stand as candidate for mayor of Jerusalem later this year. In November, the Israeli Football Association banned Beitar fans from two home matches after they booed through a minute's silence in memory of assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Some fans even sang songs praising Rabin's murder by Yigal Amir, a Jewish extremist who was jailed for life after he shot the Nobel peace laureate three times in the back following a Tel Aviv peace rally on November 4, 1995. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is a prominent supporter of Beitar but has spoken out against the behaviour of his fellow fans, who have been involved in repeated disturbances with followers of Israeli Arab clubs over the years. http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblisrisraeloffbeat&prov=afp&type=lgns

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...icle530647.ece All the best Emmanuel, you've been a tremendous servant for Arsenal FC and the Premiership in general. Good luck with whatever you choose to do next.

not according to `Arry....STFU! Portsmouth boss Redknapp: Owen being played out-of-position April 13, 2008 Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp believes Michael Owen is being played out-of-position at Newcastle United. He said: "If you are asking me if I could see Michael playing for England in that position then, no, I couldn't. "For me he's an on-the-shoulder striker who wants to make runs and get in there and score goals."

168 games ffs

seriously how many of you had heard of Bafetimbi Gomis before he was linked with us? Judging by previous posts recently everyone seems to know alot about him and therefore watch the French league week in week out. Either that or he`s particularly good on FM

Alex Del Piero, Juninho P ,Manuel Rui Costa and Paolo Maldini of the older generation that are still playing today Diego of Werder Bremen more recently

not sure how much of you watch La Liga but what about Juan Arango? Brilliant little playmaker that doesn`t get the recognition he deserves because he`s from one of the lesser known South American countries. Carlos Martins is also another one, attacking midfielder.....been one of the steals of the season in La Liga for Recreativo Huelva. Attacking midfielder also that was a product of the Sporting Lisbon system but fell out with their coach. In Serie A there`s a nifty Peruvian player called Juan Vargas (Catania) who can play anywhere on the left and defensive midfield. If we get rid of Zog it might be worth a look as he can cover at left back/left midfield I think the likes of Arango are more realistic than some of the names being bandied about like Ronaldinho which tiago? juve one? that one is s***... ranieri want to get rid of him soon He`s been starting in recent games. He played particularly well last week for them....not sure how he played against Juve the other night. I reckon he`s a good player though and he did fine when he had his chances at Chelsea, infact Mourinho didnt want him to go but he wanted first team football. Brilliant at Lyon which got him his move to Juve....maybe it was the wrong move but he`s not s a bad player at all IMO

went off after 25 mins with an injury yesterday. Stoke fans say it`s a blessing

Just brilliant it`s already been done like but still good

it`s a pity he`s decided to continue his intl career from a selfish Toon point of view. He could`ve done what Shearer and other have done by retiring and extending his career by 2 years or so at club level. His decision though

most have been mentioned but here`s another one: Ketsbaia scoring in the 119th minute of extra time against Dinamo Zagreb to put us into the Champions League

Asprilla elbowing and head-butting Keith Curle

Saeed Al-Owairan in the 94 world cup when he took on the whole team and scored

Seedorf Madrid`s goal against Atletico from fully 50 yeards Ginola`s against Ferenvaros Recoba`s 2 Inter Milan debut goals from miles out The Owen goal in the 98 World Cup against the Argies

from the sun like...but a positive report for once ---------- I'll snub Arsenal for Newcastle OBAFEMI MARTINS has snubbed a £15million move to Arsenal — because he wants to fire Newcastle back into Europe. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger suffered another blow when Toon’s in-demand striker played down interest from the Londoners — insisting he is happy on Tyneside. Manchester United and AC Milan are also willing to spend big on the speedy 23-year-old, who has more than two years left on his £60,000-a-week deal. Martins arrived at St James’ Park in 2006 in a £10m move from Inter Milan. He came close to quitting under Sam Allardyce but wants to help new boss Kevin Keegan steer the Toon into a European place next season. Martins’ advisor Chris Nathaniel said: “Several top clubs have made contact but Obafemi hasn’t indicated an interest in any of them and he has no intention of quitting the club.” http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1029048.ece

Playing football in Canada at only 32 having been turfed out of more clubs than anybody can remember in recent years ( cue alex to list them ). That's about rock bottom. that would be playing for the mackems

Newcastle after Luka Modric? price tag 20-30 M Euro, media in Croatia are saying that Tottenham are close to signing him for 23 M Euros but Newcastle are willing to pay more. No link sorry as its from a Croatian newcastle fan on another forum I post at...anyways it would be in Croatian if there was a link

that`s Marcelo Gallardo next to Robert I think. Gallardo was a brilliant player at his peak, bit surprised he didn`t make a big move from Monaco when he was a his best

apparently he had a pretty impressive debut for them even though they lost

his wife is Scottish and from Glasgow.....doubt she`s missing Britain though!

he has a pretty poor scoring record for the Socceroos though (stupid name like but anyway) . 11 intl goals since 1994 and playing against minnows like Samoa, Tonga ,Fiji and the Cook Islands.

speaking of Croatians.......what about Darijo Srna? He can play right wing/right back. Great free kick taker and crosser of the ball too and he`s been out of the limelight recently so maybe we can get him fairly cheap.......before the Euros of course where he`ll probably play extremely well and interest in him will be stoked up again