LooneyToonArmy

Sunday, Monday, Habib Beye!

Pity Carrol hasn`t been given a chance

i mentioned that on this thread not so long ago and got slated for suggesting him. Van Buyten? Linked with Villa in the papers.

Denmark - Bjorn Kristensen (not sure f he was sold the season before?) France -David Terrier Holland - Brian Pinas

mackems an arl

somebody must`ve hacked the site and reworded it. amazed to see something positive written about us

she used every commentary cliche in the book, that alone was an achievement in ten minutes.

-------------- WOMEN in football? No, leave them in the kitchen where they belong http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_02/oatleyGetty_228x286.jpg Woman are good for many things. Not just washing, ironing and cleaning. They do not make for good football commentators. Jacqui Oatley, reporting from Birmingham versus Manchester City on Match of the Day, showed why she should never be allowed near the microphone again. "There is nothing to shout and scream about here," she said from Saint Andrews. So why did she then spend the commentary shouting and screaming? Her tone of voice reminds me of Mrs Hatchet complaining when I'm late in from the pub. Her pitch (not the green one) is a shrill and a whine. The BBC are right to have given her a go. Now thank her for her efforts and give her a mop. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=550970&in_page_id=1779

Carrick SWP Mertesacker Shorey (if we have to bring in a left back) Mauro Zarate? Mario Gomez (target man) more than 4 I know.Not saying they`re all realistic like

Spurs boss shrugs off Newcastle hammering Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos says his sides defeat at the hands of Newcastle is not important. The Spaniard - who has already secured European qualification by wining the Carling Cup - says he is now assessing the attitude of his players, with little to play for in the league. "We're at a phase of the season that is not quite so important, so it's a chance to look at players and see the squad and make decisions for next season," he said.

Agreed. Plenty of full backs are still playing great despite being in their 30`s. Roma got rid of Cafu at 33 cos they thought he was to old yet he`s been playing superb for Milan 3 seasons on at 36 years of age!

we`ll of course be rescheduled as the last match with a couple minutes highlights at best and no analysis of course

serves you fkin right man

hopefully that`s put KK off signing Dawson for 8m

how was the goal? build up?

we need that 4th goal to kill the game. If they score their 2nd we`ll have no nails by the final whistle!

ok then....... --- Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano admits he's desperate to clinch a move to Real Madrid. The Brazilian's future is set to be soon decided as Sevilla agree to sell their minority share in his contract to the investment company that holds a controlling stake. "It is important for me to play for a club like Real Madrid, but I am calm, I am 28 years old and have a contract with Sevilla until 2009," admitted Fabiano.

ROBSON FURY AT SICK SILKMAN CONTROVERSIAL agent Barry Silkman has been branded a ‘sick fantasist' after his stomach-churning attack on Sir Bobby Robson. Silkman is at the centre of the scandal over the missing £65,000 from a transfer involving Premiership star Yakubu. And last week in Sport of the World he stunned the game by saying how he hoped Sir Bobby (right) would ‘suffer for f****** years' with cancer. His sickening statement centred on Clarence Acuna's 2001 transfer from Chile to Newcastle when Sir Bobby was in charge at St James' Park. But a friend of Sir Bobby's said: "When you've been in the game for as long as Bob has, nothing should surprise you. "This, though, has completely shocked him. Firstly, he had nothing to do with transfers at Newcastle, that was chairman Freddy Shepherd's job, so he wasn't involved with the Acuna deal. "Secondly, he never had a conversation with Silkman and he certainly would have remembered it if Silkman had used that kind of language. "He can't understand why Silkman is spinning these sick fantasies. "Bobby is one of the most revered figures in football - he doesn't deserve to be dragged into this by somebody like Silkman."

8m for Lennon and 8m for Dawson. bloody hope not

Tottenham weigh up summer raid for Newcastle striker Michael Owen Exclusive by Brian Mcnally and Simon Mullock 30/03/2008 http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/03/30/tottenham-weigh-up-summer-raid-for-newcastle-striker-michael-owen-98487-20367809/ Tottenham are weighing up a summer raid for Newcastle's £10million-rated striker Michael Owen. And the Geordies are setting up a bid to recruit Jermaine Beckford, Leeds United's goal sensation. Spurs, who entertain Newcastle today, have checked out injury-ravaged England striker Owen several times in recent weeks. Spurs transfer supremo Damien Comolli and boss Juande Ramos both view Owen as a possible replacement for Dimitar Berbatov if the Bulgarian ace moves in the summer. And, despite Kevin Keegan's claims that Newcastle should now be in contract talks with Owen, his Toon superiors have yet to make any new offer to the 28-year-old England striker, whose current four-year deal expires in June 2009. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley must decide whether to cash in on Owen, who can start negotiating a Bosman free transfer from January. Dennis Wise, Newcastle's director of football, worked with Beckford at Elland Road and has identified him as one of the emerging stars he wants to take to the Toon. Leeds want to offer Beckford a new contract but the lure of the Premier League may be irresistible to the 24-year-old striker.

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/2008/...lonso_off.html 20. Louis Saha (Man Utd) Five league goals and the odd flash of brilliance from the glass-legged Frenchman is simply not a good enough return. But can a player who is injured so regularly be classed as an underperformer? I think so. It may not be Saha's fault that his hamstrings ping every other week, but United fans are entitled to expect much more from one of their senior strikers. 19. Denilson (Arsenal) Based on last season's evidence, I really thought Denilson would have kicked on in 2007/08. But if anything he has regressed. The young Brazilian has featured in just nine league games this campaign, and I wonder what's gone wrong with his development. I know he's just 20 years old, but so is Cesc Fabregas. 18. Damien Duff (Newcastle Utd) I questioned Jose Mourinho's judgment when he allowed Duff to leave Chelsea and sign for Newcastle. Now I see where Jose was coming from: Duff by name, and these days he's Duff by nature. Since he first pulled on a black-and-white shirt, the Irishman has either been injured or underperformed. This season has been the same story - he has scored no league goals and featured in less than half of Newcastle's Prem matches. Must try harder. 17. Freddie Ljungberg (West Ham) More proof that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger usually knows exactly when to let a player go. Freddie just hasn't looked happy at West Ham, but to be fair to him, going from Wenger to Alan Curbishley is like going from a Ferrari to a Ford. One league goal so far is a surprising return for a midfielder who loves to get forward. There's no doubt that the razor-cheeked Swede has lost some pace; without that, he is nowhere near as effective. 16. Aaron Lennon (Spurs) I wonder if Lennon will ever be good enough to make it at international level. Indeed, I wonder if he'll ever be good enough to be signed by one of the big four English clubs. At the moment, there's no way that Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea or Liverpool would touch him. His crossing is terrible, he doesn't score goals (just two in the league this season), he can't tackle - all he offers is blinding pace, but his feet are faster than his brain. And the flash haircut and bling-bling earrings must go. 15. Michael Carrick (Man Utd) Some United fans may find Carrick's inclusion a tad harsh, but the cultured Englishman has not asserted his authority this season. He still finds it difficult to impose himself in a crowded midfield, although he can look great when he has time and space - with Carrick there is always the feeling that he could be doing more for his team. One league goal is not a good enough return either. 14. Liam Rosenior (Reading) Rosenior, who has played for England at junior level, was one of Fulham's better players for a couple of seasons. He looked like a natural leader, and his form pushed him into contention for selection to the full England squad. Then Lawrie Sanchez, in his wisdom, sold Rosenior to Reading - a decision that baffled many Fulham fans. Since then Liam has failed to make the grade under Steve Coppell, appearing in just 11 league games in 2007/08. 13. Paul Robinson (Spurs) As the first-choice goalkeeper for one of the stronger nations in world football, Robinson should be performing at a higher level. That bobble in Croatia in England's World Cup qualifier clearly affected his confidence, and he hasn't regained his form since - I'd argue that he left his best form in Leeds. Spurs have conceded more home goals this season (26 so far) than Derby County, a stat which says it all. Just as well they have Keane & Berbatov up front, eh? 12. Julius Aghahowa (Wigan Athletic) He's still only 26 (yeah, like I trust Nigerian birth certificates) and has played in a World Cup, but Aghahowa has been a major flop in his time at the JJB Stadium. He's played in 13 league games so far this season, but has yet to find the back of the net and show us his trademark, multiple-backflip celebration. Five years ago he was considered one of the brightest young prospects in Africa; now his career is in freefall. Surely Wigan will try to sell him this summer. 11. Andy Van der Meyde (Everton) Perhaps it's no surprise than Van Der Meyde has been anonymous this season. After all, it's been the same sorry story since he signed for Everton in 2005. His Wiki entry says it best: 'On August 18, Van der Meyde was suspended following a breach of club discipline, because had failed to appear at training, being fined two weeks' wages, a total for £50,000. To date, he has not made a first team appearance since and has been limited to just reserve team football.' The Dutchman's sad decline has been spectacular. 10. Marlon Harewood (Aston Villa) He's a Championship-level striker so I wonder what Villa boss Martin O'Neill saw in Not-So-Marvellous Marlon, to pay £4m to sign him from West Ham. Harewood has scored three league goals this season - a tally that reflects his indifferent form - and generally failed to win over any Villa fans. O'Neill must sell Harewood in the summer, even at a loss. 9. Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) The emergence of Javier Mascherano has been bad news for Alonso, who is experiencing by far his worst season since he signed for Liverpool. The Sun reports today that Real Madrid are keen on bringing Xabi to the Bernabeu in the summer, and it's a credible rumour - the Spaniard has been surplus to requirements for much of the 07/08 campaign and there's no doubt that his reputation has suffered, although he remains very popular with the majority of Reds' fans. 8. Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa) The Bulgarian has scored no goals this season, which is nowhere near good enough for an attacking midfielder who has featured in more than 20 league games. Petrov started brightly at Villa in 2006, when it seemed he could become a key player for them, but since then he has faded dramatically. I suppose he's been solid enough at time, but for a player at his peak (he's 28) who has captained his country many times, Villa should expect much more. Martin O'Neill remains supportive of the player he signed from Celtic for £6.5m, but even his patience must be wearing thin. 7. Gilberto Silva (Arsenal) I feel rather sorry for Gilberto, who was excellent for Arsenal in 2006/07. He deserved to be given the captain's armband after Thierry Henry's departure, but instead Arsene Wenger overlooked him for William Gallas. Since then, the Brazilian's form has dipped dramatically. He has lost his place to Mathieu Flamini and not once has he looked like getting it back. Even on the rare occasions when Gilberto has played, he has looked like a shadow of the man who held the Gunners together last season. 6. Andrei Voronin (Liverpool) It's clear that Voronin is not good enough to play for Liverpool. He's nearly a decent player, but doesn't have enough of anything to stand out, especially pace - that's why, despite a couple of impressive performances in pre-season, he has found himself behind Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Peter Crouch in the pecking order. Three league goals so far is a poor return, but I doubt he'll be given a chance to improve on that next season. 5. Claudio Pizarro (Chelsea) Pizarro has so far appeared in 21 league games for Chelsea. He has scored two goals, both against Brimingham City, home and away. In other words, the Peruvian striker has struggled badly, missing far more chances than he has taken. In his defence, a lot of his appearances have come as a substitute, but still, he has done precious little to win over Chelsea's fans. Not one of Jose Mourinho's best signings. 4. Leroy Lita (Reading) Leroy Lita - remember him? Last season he was outstanding for both Reading and England's U-21 side. Cut to this season and... er, he's magically vanished. Perhaps he started to believe his own hype, or maybe it's just that he's having a 'difficult second season', but either way, in 07/08 he's done absolutely nothing. Lita has featured in a few league games, but has scored zero goals. He's currently on loan at Charlton, and his future at the Madejski now looks bleak. 3. Darren Bent (Spurs) Bent has five league goals to his name so far this season. That is not a woeful tally (it's not great either), but bear in mind that two of those were scored to seal 4-0 wins for Spurs, in pressure-free situations. The fact is, Bent has had a dismal season, in which he has failed to put any pressure on Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, Tottenham's first-choice strike partnership. And when Jermain Defoe was a Spurs player, Bent was very much fourth-choice. Who pays almost £17m for a fourth-choice striker? Having said that, I still think Bent has a future at Spurs. He's not a bad player and will bounce back. 2. David Nugent (Portsmouth) Signed from Preston for £6m, seemingly on the basis of a couple of wonder goals, Nugent has proved that he is not ready to play in the top flight. He's scored no league goals this season, and Harry Redknapp obviously doesn't rate him. Nugent himself has blamed his crap showing on an old hernia injury, so I should really give him the benefit of the doubt. Even so, he has been one of the most conspicuous flops of the 07/08 campaign. 1. Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea) Sheva is the second Chelsea striker on this list - I guess that tells you why Avram Grant was so keen to sign Nicolas Anelka in the January transfer window. I expected Shevchenko to make some sort of mark when Didier Drogba went to Ghana for the African Cup of Nations, but he failed miserably. There's no doubt that the Ukraine legend is the biggest flop in the history of the Premier League, and this season he's cemented that status.

Up to 1m, if they go up via the play offs Come on Shola ---------- The staggering deal that makes Ameobi the most expensive loanee in English club history Stoke are so desperate to get into the Premier League they agreed to pay Newcastle a £575,000 'transfer fee'for their loan of Shola Ameobi, even though he may only be at the club for six weeks. It's a staggering deal that makes Ameobi the most expensive loanee in English club history. And the final figure for the striker, who has not scored for nearly 18 months, will approach £1million if Stoke go up via the play-offs, with a bonus due to Newcastle on promotion. But City chairman Peter Coates said: 'We wouldn'twant to look back and think we haven't had a go. We have done a deal and taken that risk. There are no guarantees but we're trying not to miss out.' In addition to the down-payment to Newcastle, Stoke will also meet the player's estimated £25,000-a-week wages until the end of the season on May 4. He will stay at the Britannia Stadium if the club reach the play-off final on May 24. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=549508&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow

Laurent Robert`s 2 spectacular volleys in the same game against Spurs in 03/04 season. I think they were both contenders for goal of the season. Immense

hopefully we got a nice tidy sum, 500k as some previous posters said http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_3359462,00.html -------------------------- Norwich manager Glenn Roeder has admitted his frustration at missing out on signing Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi. The former England U21 international has been a long term target for the Canaries boss, however the Magpies man agreed to join Championship rivals Stoke City on Thursday on a loan deal until the end of the season. Roeder managed Ameobi during his spell in charge at St James' Park and after missing out on the 26-year-old's services, revealed that Stoke have paid an 'incredible' fee for the Newcastle striker. He said: "I would have liked Shola here but I was consistently told by Sam Allardyce and then Kevin Keegan that he would not be let out on loan and that he had a future at Newcastle. Gamble "We were always promised a phone call if and when that changed and I found out at seven o'clock on Thursday morning that he was travelling down to Stoke to tie up a loan deal until the end of the season. "I spoke to Dennis Wise at length and if he is telling me the truth, the amount of loan fee that Stoke have paid is incredible. "I have personally never heard of a higher fee for such a short period of time. "Obviously Stoke are gambling that Shola can shoot them up into the Premier League automatically."

Shola: Move "Music To My Ears" SHOLA Ameobi says the call from Stoke City was "music to his ears" after a frustrating season on the fringes at Newcastle United. The striker – who had made just two appearances under Kevin Keegan, who last week told him he had to work harder to force his way into his plans – yesterday joined the promotion-chasing Championship club on an deadline day emergency loan until the end of the season. And his long St James's Park career – which has spanned eight seasons since his memorable debut against Chelsea in September 2000 – appears all but over, with Ameobi having dropped well down the pecking order this term under Sam Allardyce and now Keegan. But for the moment, all the 26-year-old – who has scored 46 goals for Newcastle – is focused on his helping Stoke into the Premier League for the first time. Ameobi said: "I've come here to give my all. I hope I've come here to add that extra quality to ensure this club goes into the Premiership next season. "First and foremost, I've come to score goals. "Hopefully, I can grab one or two and also bring in some of the play I know I can produce to help us reach that target of Premiership football. "I hope to get a few goals, a few assists and just work hard for the team, which I know the manager wants from all his players. "To be given the opportunity by the manager to come and play was music to my ears. "I'm just excited, and hopefully I can come and help the club get into the Premiership." The Potters are understood to have paid a six-figure fee to take the former England Under-21 international on loan. He has gone straight into Tony Pulis's squad for tomorrow's game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, and Ameobi is determined to make the most of his chance at the Britannia Stadium. He added: "Football's what matters to me, and I've been given the opportunity to get out of a club when I'm not playing. "I'm delighted to be here, regardless of whether it's the Premiership or Championship. "I know a few of the guys here, like Griff (Andy Griffin), and I heard it's a great club. I've been trying to get out and get a few games, so I was delighted when I got the phone call." Ameobi has another year left on his United contract, and should Stoke gain promotion, then Pulis may attempt to make the move permanent. http://www.shieldsgazette.com/nufc/Shola-Why-I-had-to.3924423.jp