LooneyToonArmy

Chron today says we`re not interested.

JOSÉ Enrique wants to see fresh blood at St James’ Park this summer, despite arguing Newcastle United are already good enough for the Premier League without it. Enrique wants to see United strengthen, but the Spaniard was careful to take the pressure off owner Mike Ashley by declaring that he will not lose any sleep if they do not. “We have a good team for the Championship – a very good team for this division,” said the man signed by Sam Allardyce from Villarreal in 2007. “We need players for next season in the Premier League, of course, but that is normal – every team will need new players. “It is not my work to say how many but I hope we will sign some new players because it is good to have a big squad. “But if we do not sign anyone, I don’t care because our team is full of good players.” Newcastle’s squad is packed with Premier League experience, something which has been apparent as they have outclassed Championship opposition all season. Fabrice Pancrate has never played in England’s top-flight, although he is unlikely to get the chance to rectify that next season. His current contract expires this summer and although Newcastle have　an option to extend it, it is one they are unlikely to take up. Mike Williamson is the only other senior squad member not to have played in the division, despite having been on the books of Portsmouth and Southampton in the top flight. If there are question marks about the Premier League qualities of those who stayed after relegation, they have proven their commitment when a notable few were quick to bail out, “Do I think the players who left the club regret it? I don’t know,” said Enrique. “What I can say is every player who stayed at Newcastle following relegation did so because they wanted to. They decided it was better to try and help the team win promotion than leave straight after relegation. That was the same for me. “I wanted to play in the Championship because I knew we had a great chance of getting straight back to the Premier League. Looking back now, I know it was the right decision. “Even last summer when I said I wanted to stay, I meant it. I don’t lie. People will now believe and realise why I did it.” He admits, though, it has been tough watching Premier League football on television. “For me, the worst games this season were the first ones,” he said. “I remember saying to Jonás (Gutiérrez) at the end of games ‘I still don’t believe we are in the Championship, it has not sunk in.’ It felt as if we were missing out on something because the Premier League is so massive. “But in many ways, it has not felt that we are out of it. We get nearly 50,000 coming here every week and away from home, there are always two or three thousand. It has never stopped feeling like a big club, a Premier League club.”

Guerrero's record isn't great. Isn't great but it isn't bad either. 27 goals in about 90 games. I think he would be the right sort of player we should be looking for. 1 in 3 is a very decent record IMO. speaking of Peruvian strikers. Remember Jefferson Farfan? doesn`t seem to be as prolific at Schalke unlike his PSV days but haven`t seen much of him lately. His strike partner ,Kuranyi is in excellent form (and available on a free )

apparently back from injury after playing in the reserves. Hopefully he`ll get a run out towards the end of the season.....

This. Work permits become an issue for anyone that isn't an established international. Completely different style of game too so adaptability would be an issue. ... and attitude of Brazilian players. Sometimes they're fat and unmotivated after they got the big money. Sometimes they simply go home because some of their relatives had died or something like that. There are without a doubt some hidden gems of talented footballers over there. IMO of the South American countries, the Argies/Paraguayans (harder working/used to the cooler climate - well the Argies anyway) are perhaps better suited to the EPL in comparison to the other countries like the Brazilians/Colombian players. As for the work permit issue, you are right. A higher proportion of Argentine players have (legitimate!) Spanish / Italian (in particular) passports though compared to the other countries though. Hope we don`t dismiss the idea of looking over there. Certainly there are some potential bargains to be had.

French players and us just don`t mix!. Just about every single one we`ve signed has always ended up whining to the newspapers and leaving.

Premier League - Niemi paid £450k for 90 minutes on bench Portsmouth have released Antti Niemi after the goalkeeper picked up nearly half a million pounds without making a first-team appearance. The Daily Mirror reports that the Finn signed a contract worth £14,000-a-week in August, but played just twice for the reserves and spent one Premier League match on the substitutes' bench - over the eight months he was at the club, Niemi received around £450,000. The 37-year-old was rewarded handsomely despite spending his time at Fratton Park as third choice keeper behind David James and Jamie Ashdown. Cash-strapped Pompey are in administration and narrowly averted being wound up after a catalogue of financial mismanagement left them with an unpaid £11 million tax bill. Administrator Andrew Andronikou has already axed 85 jobs at the club and is now looking to slim down the playing staff. Left-back Nadir Belhadj is expected to join Russian outfit CSKA Moscow, while on-loan striker Aruna Dindane cannot play because another appearance would trigger an automatic £4m bid for the Lens player. Earlier this month defender Dusko Tosic went on loan to Queen's Park Rangers after the Premier League refused to ratify him as a Portsmouth player following his arrival on a free transfer in February. Former chief executive Peter Storrie has also left the club. He was paid a reported seven-figure annual salary despite bearing, in Andronikou's words, "a large part of the responsibility" for Portsmouth's plight. The club's finances were plunged into chaos last summer after Franco-Russian businessman Sacha Gaydamak sold the club to Sulaiman Al-Fahim. The Premier League's bottom club Portsmouth are all but guaranteed to be relegated after being deducted nine points for going into administration. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31032010/58/premier-league-niemi-paid-450k-90-minutes-bench.html

That was brilliant. is that video still knocking around? don`t know if I can post the video but if you go to youtube and type - "Huckerby on KRON" - you`ll find it So legendary, he struggles to remember his name after the break. didn`t realise there was a follow up interview. Looks pretty embarassed "Huckerby on KRON 2nd Interview" - youtube

David Bentley? Looking at him now, I don`t think there`d be any worries in that regard. http://i42.tinypic.com/zxup.jpg

That was brilliant. is that video still knocking around? don`t know if I can post the video but if you go to youtube and type - "Huckerby on KRON" - you`ll find it

£60m according to Davies http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1262383/Billy-Davies-Newcastle-spend-60m-survive-top.html?ITO=1490

He is managing Bayern. And after his he probably will end up as the new head coach of the German national team. A Dutchman managing Germany? Will never happen. About as likely as Ferguson managing England. If Löw quits Germany after the World Cup (which is, imo very likely to happen) than I'm going to put my money on Van Gaal. As I'v said - he already said he would be interested. And I don't think it's that unlikely. you clearly don't know your history I know it. I know it very well. But it has changed. I know from many people that they would welcome Van Gaal as national coach. Also the media hasn't said anything against it. Still, it is unlikely to happen because he won't be allowed to leave Bayern. But if he was allowed to he would be a realistic candidate. What about Felix Magath? Very underated coach outside Germany at least. Did very well at Bayern, Wolfsburg of course and his current team Schalke are well in the title hunt. Felix "Meistermacher" Magath would and should never come here. He would have destroyed our whole team morale in 3 days pre-season. Players like Nolan would be dropped to the reserves. His training is said to be very hard (training with medicine balls and so on). The way his teams plays is awful. (Like Bolton under Sam Allardyce or now Stoke = sitting back and waiting for a late 1-0 winner) He might be successfull but I would never like to have him here. Hughton for long term I was talking about Magath for the German national team not us man

No chance of that, though. And, let's be honest, he's playing against very poor teams every week. Next year in the premiership will give him a better chance since the manager will also be open to try more personnel with the next major tournament two years away. Who is the current 1st choice left back for Spain? Capdevilla? I do doubt if Enrique would be called up, even if he is playing outstandingly well in the EPL as he is not at one of the "top" 4-5 clubs. Arteta never received a sniff of a call up when he was in top class form when the likes of Xavi/ Xabi Alonso were either injured/not in form etc and before Iniesta came on the scene even.

He is managing Bayern. And after his he probably will end up as the new head coach of the German national team. A Dutchman managing Germany? Will never happen. About as likely as Ferguson managing England. If Löw quits Germany after the World Cup (which is, imo very likely to happen) than I'm going to put my money on Van Gaal. As I'v said - he already said he would be interested. And I don't think it's that unlikely. you clearly don't know your history I know it. I know it very well. But it has changed. I know from many people that they would welcome Van Gaal as national coach. Also the media hasn't said anything against it. Still, it is unlikely to happen because he won't be allowed to leave Bayern. But if he was allowed to he would be a realistic candidate. What about Felix Magath? Very underated coach outside Germany at least. Did very well at Bayern, Wolfsburg of course and his current team Schalke are well in the title hunt.

Skysports.com understands Newcastle are one of a number of clubs tracking Swindon hot-shot Charlie Austin. Austin has been a revelation for Swindon since being snapped up from non-league Poole Town last October. The 20-year-old has scored a staggering 16 goals in 22 starts for Swindon and is regarded as one of the best young talents in the country. Austin's goalscoring exploits are understood to have caught the attention of a host of clubs higher up the football pyramid. Newcastle are believed to have watched Austin in action on a number of occasions this season, with Premier league Tottenham and Fulham also keeping tabs on the forward's progress. Championship promotion hopefuls Newcastle are understood to have watched Austin in action at the weekend against Hartlepool, with assistant boss Colin Calderwood an interested observer at Victoria Park. Swindon are keen to keep Austin as they battle for promotion from League One, with the prolific striker being rewarded with a new two-and-a-half year deal in February for his progress.

Wonder how 2 Tottenham rejects would fair in our lineup in O`hara and Taraabt Good player like but doesn`t want to play in England after this season has ended apparently ,as he said his style of play is not suited to the English game.

Spiderman fever set to sweep St James' Park http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2010/03/29/spiderman-fever-set-to-sweep-st-james-park-72703-26131232/? http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/nechronical/mar2010/3/3/chronicle-seller-graham-head-wearing-the-jonas-spiderman-mask-675969313.jpg

Is Jose Mourinho the new Kevin Keegan? Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan side are falling apart just like Kevin Keegan's Newcastle http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/early-doors/article/236088/

well it's from The Sun so...... JIMMY BULLARD is wanted by Newcastle this summer. Toon face promotion rivals Nottingham Forest at St James' Park tonight, almost dead certs to bounce straight back into the Premier League. And boss Chris Hughton is already looking to life back in the big-time with Hull midfield ace Bullard one of his top targets. Owner Mike Ashley is set to give Hughton £15million to go shopping. Bullard cost Hull £5m from Fulham two years ago and earns around £30,000 a week at the KC Stadium. That is small fry for Toon. Hughton said: "We have a lot of good players here but we are always looking to strengthen. I've got some big decisions to make. "We've got a scouting system set up to identify players doing well and there are ones we have on the radar once we've achieved promotion." After nine games unbeaten Newcastle have one foot back in the Premier League. Victory over third-placed Forest could see them promoted with a win at Peterborough on Saturday if Billy Davies' men lose at Bristol City. Hughton added: "To seal promotion in early April is a big achievement and a credit to all the hard work the lads have put in." http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2911122/Hughton-fancies-a-bit-of-Bully.html#ixzz0jXuNeN3j

must confess I have`t seen much of Doyle this season....has he really been that impressive? His goal scoring record isn`t that prolific but very decent I suppose. Wolves paid 6.5m for him and I`m sure Wolves would want more than that if he`s been doing as good as you say he his. And can you see MA fork about 6.5m+ on a player? I have my doubts.. He only just signed for Lazio 2 months ago....a bit strange to him being available on a free. Good player though.

QPR signed Serbian international Dusko Tosic on a free.

Hughton praise for Carroll Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has admitted his surprise at the speed of Andy Carroll's development as a striking force in the Championship. The 21-year-old's 16 goals this season have helped the Magpies to the top of the table and appear set to fire the club to an immediate return to the Premier League. Veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper praised Carroll on Thursday and announced that the striker can become a top player. Hughton has now also sung the praises of the youngster, who has been hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons after an alleged bust-up with team-mate Steven Taylor. The Newcastle boss said: "With Andy, what we always knew is that he has good qualities and he has good qualities to improve as a player. "How quickly he was going to take that on board, we didn't know, but what has helped is the amount of games he is now playing."

What if Taylor had? Same opinion?

anyone know if Vanden Borre is getting a look in at Portsmouth? I remember him being outstanding at Anderlecht at right back and in midfield but then a move to Fiorentina halted his progress.

Williamson Set For Early Return By Craig Hope MIKE Williamson could be set to ease Chris Hughton's defensive worries by making an early return from injury. The centre-back had been ruled out for up to four weeks having broken a bone in his hand during an accident at home earlier this month. But Williamson could now figure as early as Tuesday's game at Doncaster Rovers thanks to the use of a protective cast. And boss Hughton, who saw Fitz Hall pick up a hamstring injury during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Bristol City, explained: "Mike is very close. "We were hoping to have him for Saturday's game at Bristol City for the bench. "He wasn't quite ready for that but we're hoping to have him available for Doncaster. "He was been given clearance to play with a cast but we'll have to see how it feels ahead of Tuesday, although he is very close.