LooneyToonArmy

don`t know what happened to Pelizzoli tbh. I remember watching him for Atalanta (when we had Serie A on TV here )and he had massive potential and was touted as future no 1 for Italy, got capped by the national side a few time iirc at the time. Lost his confidence after a big money to Roma (did fine in his 1st season or so). Doni is a decent player, goal scoring midfielder but started showing his promise quite late on. Tacchinardi was very underrated , just did his job with no fuss IMO

considering he rejected Everton to join Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.

Mike Ashley is ready to defend his regime after relegation-threatened Newcastle banked an £8million transfer window profit. Football director Dennis Wise, recruited as Ashley's deal-maker, is under fire from fans - but a senior figure at the club insists the little Londoner will remain in his position, despite persistent rumours he could be on his way. United owner Ashley will send out managing director Derek Llambias this week to explain the club's January deals. Kevin Nolan and Wigan's Ryan Taylor have joined for around £5million, with Peter Lovenkrands in on a free. Charles N'Zogbia completed his switch to Wigan, for what boss Joe Kinnear claimed was around £7m, while Shay Given was sold to Manchester City for £6.5m. The fees will be paid by instalments over the next four years. Newcastle saw a last-ditch bid to land City's young midfielder Michael Johnson rejected yesterday, and were also knocked back in efforts to land Darren Bent from Spurs, with the club denying they tried to throw Oba Martins into the mix. A United delegation, led by Wise, failed to sign Albin Ebondo from Toulouse after a new FIFA registered agent cropped up, claiming to represent the player, and the French club hiked the price to £10m. Kinnear was happy with his signings, but ideally wanted a couple more in. He said: "I'm over the moon to get Ryan Taylor because he is still a young player but one with a lot of experience. "He's played nearly 200 career games and is still only 24. His versatility is tremendous, he can play on the left or the right, in defence or midfield. "He's a total footballer with two good feet and very good on the ball, which I like very much.

didnt Mike Ashley say he`d make a new statement after the transfer window? (Not the statement that we`d sign fk all )

posted that on the Martins thread earlier. Like how they`ve decided to put this news up today, perhaps to divert attention from the shambles that was yesterday

Tom De Mul (ex Ajax and Sevilla) who was linked with us signed for Genk on loan in the Belgian league.......sure he would have preferred to come to us West Brom signed Argentine right winger Juan Carlos Meneseguez........sure he`s gonna score against us on his debut

Rangers fans say his "his career was f***ed by making him play midfield" so lets play him there then....... this post from Danish_Magpie Danish_Magpie // Jan 24, 2009 at 2:16 PM Just want to clarify a few things about Løvenkrands since people have been asking about his position etc. in the past few days. I have watched this guy play a hundred times back in Denmark for AB, for the national team, for Rangers and in this first year or two at Schalke, and just wanted to shed some light on him. Of course everything can be argued since football is a game of opinions, but this is my evaluation of him as a player: Positions: Left forward in 4-3-3 (best position in my opinion), striker, or left-wing. As a striker: Løvenkrands’ greatest asset is his speed. Irrespective of the position he is playing, this is an important aspect of his game. As a striker, he compliments this speed with a good shot. Both from distance and more up-close, Løvenkrands strikes the ball pretty well and while he will never be highly prolific as a goalscorer, he will score some goals. His weaknesses as a striker are that he lacks physical strength and that he is not a great threat in the air. Therefore, he is most effective when played with a big man up front (and even more effective as left forward in 4-3-3). As a winger: Again, speed is a big part of his game. He does have a decent touch, but isn’t a great dribbler. Relies mainly on pace, and direct running and play on the wing. Again, he will get open for shots and take some of them. His work-rate is okay too, and if he can stay fit, he would be a good left-winger for us. Weakness: His crossing is not great so don’t expect the ‘Beckham-type’ winger.

When is the Nacho man back then (not that we`ll play him)? I`m sure said February or something.......at least Martins is back. Smith is supposed to be back and el Gordo Viduka is listed as available for selection on .com but I guess that`s a typo or they couldn`t be arsed to update the mountain injury list we keep accumuating.....hmmmm all the others like Barton/Guthrie/Owen/Beye we probably wont see until the last month of the season or so it seems.

Newcastle have been handed a boost with the news that Obafemi Martins could return from injury to face West Brom this weekend. The Nigerian hit-man has been out of action since suffering a hernia problem in the 3-0 win at Portsmouth in December. Martins underwent an operation on the injury in January and he has made a rapid recovery. The striker's return to fitness is a timely boost for Magpies boss Joe Kinnear, with Michael Owen currently sidelined with an ankle injury. "Hopefully we'll have Oba fit for West Brom (on Saturday) which is a big boost," Kinnear told the club's official website.

Newcastle's Mike Ashley urged to part with Dennis Wise Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, has been urged to accelerate his rehabilitation among the club's supporters by parting company with Dennis Wise. Wise's powerful position has been put in doubt after it was claimed Ashley was ready to say farewell to his executive director (football) and a fans' group said a parting of the ways would be warmly welcomed. "I'd be delighted if Mike Ashley cut Dennis Wise adrift and I'm sure all Newcastle fans would be delighted as well," Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, said. "He is a problem. He's the reason Kevin Keegan left. Ashley stuck by Dennis Wise and lost Kevin Keegan and I can guarantee that we wouldn't be in the situation we are now and fighting relegation had Keegan not left. Sticking by Dennis Wise is the main reason why Newcastle fans are against Ashley but this would show a different side to him. "Some of the players have come here because of Dennis Wise but the quality is just not there and he's also one of the reasons why there is nobody coming here." Wise quit as Leeds United manager to join the St James' Park board shortly after Kevin Keegan re-joined the Tyneside club in January last year. He won a power struggle with Keegan over transfer policy that prompted the Geordie icon to quit the club, a move that led supporters to turn on Ashley and his so-called 'Cockney Mafia'. Ashley returned to St James' Park for the first time since the furore erupted when Newcastle played Sunderland two days ago but Wise, 42, was nowhere to be seen, which was also the case when the sports retail tycoon watched his club in action at Manchester City last week. Despite fears for his safety, Ashley enjoyed a peaceful return to the North-East, thanks mainly to Shola Ameobi's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with their neighbours. It has also emerged that Wise surprisingly played no part in talks over a new contract for goalkeeper Steve Harper last week, suggesting he may have become a peripheral figure http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/newcastle/4437387/Newcastles-Mike-Ashley-urged-to-part-with-Dennis-Wise.html .

Quite the opposite infact. Atalanta are one of clubs in Italy that are famous for their youth system (they used to field 100% Italian sides until a few years back but even now don`t have many foreigners in their side). Here`s an article about them. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/atalanta-reap-benefit-of-wise-investment-629050.html Ricardo Montolivo, Roberto Donadoni, Alessio Tacchinardi, Ivan Pelizzoli, Domenico Morfeo , Cristiano Doni, Filippo Inzaghi, Adriano Bassetto, Gianni Comandini and Stefano Angeleri are some of the players that came through their youth system. Not all world class by all means but very decent players.

with our up and coming games, especially our next 4 home games where we`ll be lucky to take a point, then yes

we could still sign appiah?

Зенит»: Переход Андрея Аршавина в «Арсенал» не состоялся 02.02.2009 20:01 Сделка по переходу Андрея Аршавина в «Арсенал» не состоялась. Об этом «Фонтанке» заявили в пресс-службе ФК «Зенит». По словам главы пресс-службы Алексея Петрова, клубам и футболисту не удалось договориться. Трансферное окно в Англии закрывается, в связи с чем Андрею Аршавину предстоит вернуться в Россию и выполнять условия заключенного с «Зенитом» контакта. Zenit confirms no deal.

bbc Sunderland striker Michael Chopra has gone back to his spiritual home, Cardiff City, on loan until the end of the season.

How is Beye's career virtually over? He's 32 this year, and attempting to come back from a very serious knee injury. I just think he'll struggle, especially considering how long it took this year for his fitness and form to return. 32 isn't that old and he looks like quite an athletic player to me, so i think we'll get a couple more years out of him. like our Cafu (or is that S.Taylor)

been a slow day for most EPL clubs......nowt exciting so far

same with Giles Barnes. Hodgson has made some shrewd short term signings at least

apparently canny dangerous with his throw ins too

Watch JFk play him exclusively on the left ---- Ryan Taylor, meanwhile, is leaving Wigan after nearly four years at the club. Steve Bruce said: "it was one of those decisions that was quite easy to make really in the circumstances. Newcastle have made him a fantastic offer and I know he has been angling to try and play in his preferred position on the right side, which we haven't been able to do very regularly. "He is a superb striker of the ball and it is ironic how this game works sometimes. All that pain he has inflicted on Newcastle in the past has probably bought him a move there. He was always totally professional here and I wish him all the best in his new career."

until what time has the deadline been extended too? midnight?

Enrique Explains Jonas Gutierrez Partnership “It worked well against Sunderland for myself and Jonas,” “It works better for me when Jonas plays on the left because we have a great understanding. He works hard and drops back to cover for me.” “We communicate very well and, because he has played in La Liga, we can bring out the best in each other.” “It allows me to overlap and get forward, which is what my game was all about at Villarreal.” “But you have to have an understanding with who you play with to be able to do it and play well.” “The only thing is that we have not produced enough crosses, but in the games to come I think you will see more of that.”

NEWCASTLE’S derby man of the match Jonas Gutierrez has revealed he only wants to be judged on working hard for his team-mates ahead of their mammoth battle to fend off relegation. The Argentine winger’s lack of assists this season since joining from Real Mallorca has proved a frustration this term. But nobody can fault the South American’s work-rate or his graft off the ball. And with three yellow cards for Sunderland players booked for cynical fouls on the United ace, it proved the Black Cats did everything they could to stop the Argentina international. Jonas told the Chronicle: “I just want to work hard for the team and I think I did that along with rest of the players. “I felt good in the game but feel disappointed now because we didn’t win it for the fans. “I was told beforehand how important it was to win against Sunderland but at least we showed some fight. “The performance in the second half was better but in football the team that plays better doesn’t always win. “So we have to take a point.” Jonas emerged from the derby nursing a few bruises yet admits he is prepared to take the knocks. He said: “It happened a few times and some of their players were booked. “I can take it, I knew that when I came to England that players get kicked in the Premier League, especially in derby games. “But I was surprised that the referee didn’t produce a second yellow cards at times. “I have no complaints though. If I get kicked and there is no intention that’s fine – it’s a contact sport.” Meanwhile, Jonas is still confident that United can climb out of troubled waters at the wrong end of the table. He added: “I have heard some of the players talking about the last 14 games being like cup finals. “I agree with that. Every point we get helps us but we know that we must start winning games too. “It will be tough next week against West Brom because there is plenty at stake.”

many city fans are saying they`d snap our hands off if we offer 8m for him http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=107565

still wondering about the Argentine and Italian midfielders that were supposed to come in!