LooneyToonArmy

cracking 2nd goal by Messi. 3rd was not too bad either. Zlatan? At least he scored from the spot in the end

would love to make it to the Boca Junior`s stadium La Bombanera someday. Must have been quite an atmosphere when you went? the fans look fanatical judging by what I`ve seen on TV here and there.

Latest bollox from the Sunday Sun. Must confess I don`t know a great deal about Juan Albin...........but us getting Pablo Hernandez from Valencia? . Not a fkin chance . Magpies plan swoop for two Spanish stars http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-utd/newcastle-utd-news/2010/03/21/magpies-plan-swoop-for-two-spanish-stars-79310-26075889/?

Watched quite alot of the South American qualifiers for the World Cup before and when the world cup comes around watch out for a Chilean player called Gary Medel (not a very Spanish sounding name I know ). He`s a defensive midfielder (though can play in defence too) for Boca Juniors and would be a very good buy IMO. Incidentally also named `The Pitbull` ala wor Jose. Might be available for a reasonable price. Matias Fernandez (playmaker) is another one. Hugely skilful on the ball. Was mainly a sub at Villarreal but doing well for Sporting Lisbon now so might be out of our price range (not that I expect us to be interested anyway). I`m guessing though Hughton will be targeting British players/players with Prem League experience which is fair enough in a way but hope we don`t dismiss buying a few young talented players from abroad. Thought that too. Strange why there hasn`t been more interest in him considering he`s a Serbian International and on a free now.

French? Just a matter of time before he sulks. Our record with (just about) every French player is terrible.

as long as Terry doesn't bang his wife/gf beforehand

JOSE Enrique is so happy to have stayed at Newcastle United last summer that he is already contemplating the possibility of spending the rest of his career on Tyneside. Enrique has developed into an outstanding left-back during his time at Newcastle and is arguably the best full-back playing outside of the Premier League. His performances this season – and at the end of the last – have established the former Spanish Under-21 international as a crowd favourite at St James’ Park and the former Villareal prospect has responded by claiming he never wants to leave. At 24, Enrique, in theory, still has his best years ahead of him, but he has formed a strong bond with the city and its football club during his three years in English football. “I’m so happy I decided to stay at Newcastle in the summer,” said Enrique, who returned to the starting line-up after a hamstring injury in the 3-0 win over Scunthorpe on Wednesday night. “I know we are only in the Championship, but I love the city and the club. All the foreign players hate the weather here, but it’s not just Newcastle, it’s England. I’m really settled here and I have no desire to go back to Spain. I’m happy at Newcastle, in England and in this team. “In my three seasons here I know the fans like me and I love that. That is more important for me than anything else, more important than trophies and cups.” Enrique is not the first foreign import to fall in love with the club and the city it calls home and it is clear Enrique’s words are not empty pledges of loyalty.

The wife of Middlesbrough captain Gary O'Neil has said she hopes the team loses so she can go on holiday. Boro are in contention for a place in the Championship promotion play-offs, which would mean O'Neil's season is extended by up to three weeks after the scheduled final day of May 2. The Sun reports that O'Neil's wife Donna wrote on her Facebook page: "holidays soon... please keep losing no play-offs xxx." Midfielder O'Neil was a £5 million signing from Portsmouth in 2007, and has played 31 league games this term. He underwent a hernia operation earlier in the season, and was playing within two weeks despite having 38 staples in his groin. Boro's hopes of delaying Donna's holiday look slim, however. They have won just once in their last six games, and are six points adrift of the final play-off position.

don't think he has ever been in better goal scoring form? His maximum goal tally for Rangers was 14 and he's already equalled that.

Peter Lovenkrands blow for Newcastle: Striker ruled out by ankle injury http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1259065/Peter-Lovenkrands-blow-Newcastle-Striker-ruled-ankle-injury.html?ITO=1490

This just in. Spanish Labour court has not given a disability ruling to De La Red, so Real Madrid will have to pay him the entirety of his contract. Also, Barça has had to pay €40m to the taxmaster after being found guilty of tax evasion (that was under our board of 15 years ago, though!). Any link? If that's true, justice exists... at least in this case.

As bad as Sheffield United turning down Diego Maradona

I highly doubt they'd let O'Hara go for the reported 3m. He's a London boy(or near enough) too so we'd have to convince him to move up here with other clubs I'm sure interested. And if he's willing to accept MA's new wage ceiling of 10k (?) max per week

Axl Rose http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mAnWOc4mtH0/SkugOqBBNvI/AAAAAAAAAHs/iL2uW4PRBmQ/s200/CARLOS+EL++LOBO+CORDONE.JPG Daniel Cordone http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/8/4/2/6/19826248-19826249-slarge.jpg

http://www.sport.co.uk/features/Football/876/Is_Mike_Ashley_steering_Newcastle_United_in_the_right_direction.aspx When you hear the words Mike Ashley and Newcastle in the same sentence you think of re-naming stadiums, relegation, resentment and regret. But what about renewed optimism, results, regained confidence and a return to the Premier League. It may be a surprise to many Newcastle fans that one could even consider the notion that Ashley has been a success on Tyneside. But this season has undoubtedly been the best in his short and eventful tenure. It has also seen him transform from beer-swilling fan to shrewd business man. If I have lost any of you, then my apologies. But I beg everyone to give this a chance and see how Mike Ashley is slowly steering the Geordies in the right direction. Financial saviour Firstly, in simple terms, he saved the club from going bankrupt. Had he not invested, Newcastle United could well have been following Portsmouth to the High Court. The finances of the previous regime were severely mismanaged; this was never truer than when they spent four year‘s worth of sponsorship money on a package to bring Michael Owen to the club. He has kept them going and although his choices have contributed to their demise, it was not the only factor. The rot had set in a long time before; all the way back to the sacking of Sir Bobby Robson for finishing fifth. Foresight Since Newcastle dropped out of the top flight, it has been rumoured that the club is losing over £500,000 per week. A deficit he had to cover with a £20 million cash injection from his own personal wealth. There was criticism when St James’ Park was re-named, but clubs need to sustain themselves and this is a simple way of raising finance. Brands such as Emirates, Reebok and Walkers have their names associated with football stadiums and the clubs concerned are financially better off as a result. Granted, the fact that in the short term he chose his own company meant he probably deserved the criticism. However in the long term, if this was to bring in extra capital that could be re-invested, then surely it‘s a good thing. Flash forward two years and this extra revenue has been spent on a new number 9 who scores the winning goal against Sunderland. Then find me a Newcastle fan who still says it was the wrong decision. Future Planning The darkest moment of Mr Ashley’s reign was the Kevin Keegan fiasco and the catalyst: Dennis Wise. Now although I disagree with the decision to appoint Wise and that players were signed based on YouTube clips; I do have sympathy for what the owner was trying to achieve. He wanted to change the perception of Newcastle; no longer would the likes of Luque, Boumsong, and Emre be allowed to come for bumper paydays. Top four rejects like Alan Smith and Nicky Butt would not be paid as though they were still amongst Europe’s elite. He wanted to bring in players with something to prove and widen the scouting network to find up and coming stars. This may not have been executed very well last season, but this campaign; he has got it spot on. Out are the overpaid, over hyped- Viduka, Martins, Geremi and Owen. In come Williamson, Routledge, Best and Simpson. All these players were bought at a good price and have their best years ahead. This is sensible business foresight and will give Newcastle a fantastic platform on which to build. Fresh Approach He seems to have followed this model with his manager too. Many will argue that it was more luck than judgement, but credit where it’s due. Ashley has stuck by Chris Hughton even when the decision made him even more unpopular with the Toon Army. It’s easy to forget, but cast your mind back and remember the clamour for Alan Shearer in the summer. This decision has been rewarded with the team sitting pretty at the top of the Championship and chants of ‘One Chris Hughton’ at the last home match, proves that certain sections are being won over. Final word Obviously cracks can be papered over with good results on the pitch and there’s no doubt that next season will prove a sterner test if they are promoted. However question marks still remain as to whether Ashley will try and sell up in the summer and re-coup some of his £250 million investment. The fact that even promotion will not make some fans forgive and forget, may also have an influence on his decision. Of course this is all guess work, but it would be nice to see everyone pulling in the same direction for once, all wanting the best for the club. Maybe the success of this season can be a blueprint for the future, the start of something great. But this is Newcastle United and if history tells us anything; there are undoubtedly more twists and turns to come.

Ivory Coast 0 - South Korea 2 the sooner they get Hiddink in the better. Nice result for Korea

should win though they have a fairly decent midfield in Hugo Colace, Anderson De Silva and Filipe Texieira on the wing that could cause a few dangers.

who? uruguayan international that signed for stoke in the summer 16th in League 1 as well. I`m sure having South American coaches in Gustavo Poyet and Taricco there helped a great deal

Crisis-club Portsmouth are offering financial advice to supporters on their website. Pompey, who are in administration and have huge debts, are advertising PFC Financial Services division, which claims to bring everyday financial solutions to fans' families. One supporter said: "It's got to be a sick joke."

Defender Coloccini must play in the World Cup MIKE WILLIAMSON has claimed Newcastle team-mate Fabricio Coloccini is a “worldclass player” plying his trade at Championship level. Coloccini claimed the man-of-the-match honours as the Magpies won 2-1 at Watford on Saturday to pull six points clear at the top of the Championship table. The Argentinian has been one of the stars of Newcastle’s season, with his imposing displays helping eradicate the memory of a difficult first season in the English game. Williamson was aware of Coloccini’s international credentials when he moved to Tyneside during the January transfer window, and after playing alongside the South American in United’s last three matches, the 26-year-old has been impressed by his partner’s abilities. “Everyone around the world knows about Fabricio and what he has to offer,” said Williamson, who has moved ahead of Fitz Hall in Newcastle’s central-defensive pecking order. “He is a top, top player and has helped me enormously. He’s made it easy for me. “For a player like me, to come in and play alongside a player that is world-class, which he is, has been absolutely ideal. I watch him, learn off him and hope he will help me develop my own game. “He doesn’t speak that much, but he knows the simple things. I hear his cries of the simple things, like ‘Man on’ or ‘Left shoulder’ and there is an understanding there. “But to be honest, I don’t need him to talk because I know where he is going to be, he is that consistent. You know he will be there if the ball goes over my head and vice-versa.” The pair will continue to develop their relationship on the training ground this week, even though Coloccini had hoped to be unavailable ahead of Saturday’s home game with Barnsley. The former Deportivo La Coruna centre-half was extremely disappointed to be omitted from Diego Maradona’s Argentina squad for this week’s international friendly in Germany. His exclusion has placed a major question mark over his involvement in this summer’s World Cup finals. Despite Maradona recalling Inter Milan defender Walter Samuel for his first cap since the 2006 World Cup for their final overseas warm-up game, Williamson feels Coloccini deserves to be involved in South Africa. “Without a doubt, he should be going to the World Cup,” he said. “He should also have been in the Argentina squad this week. In training, in a match, he is outstanding. “Some of the touches he shows on the ball, he is laid back, comfortable and is a joy to play alongside. It’s hard not to stand there and admire it. “It can be hard to settle into the English game when you have come from abroad, particularly in the Championship, but he has adapted. There’s not one part of his game that is lacking.”

Lack of glamour isn't what is stopping players from going to Germany. It is the lower wages that are doing that. It is nice to play in front of 70, 00 every week, but that's not worth giving up half your wage for. As long as German clubs stay financially prudent, there is no way they can compete in the modern market. Plus income tax is even higher in Germany than here, or so I heard (45%+(?))

Again, same as Taylor at RB, we have no idea whether Coloccini's as DM is waste of time - after a few games we may find he is very poor at it. We also have Guthrie, Barton, Smith and Butt all wanting to play there. Please correct me if I'm wrong but, Steven Taylor captained England Under 21's at Right Back and Coloccini has played Defensive Midfield at both club and international level. Colo has played right back (and right of a 3 man defence) a canny bit for Argentina too (especially when Zanetti was out of favour).

Paul Scharner? Out of contract in the summer and Stoke apparently want him

Plus if the Sheff Utd game is on a bank holiday monday then it will be jumping. Just what a group of young, handsome, well hung American boys are after I imagine.

BBC Gossip column Newcastle will attempt to hijack West Brom's bid to sign Wigan midfielder Jason Koumas, who has been told he can leave the DW Stadium.