LooneyToonArmy

not sure about us yet with team news but just heard that Gordon is out for them and Fulop starts. Lets pelt their goal early on to test him

Neil Warnock: Good managers always believe they can get best from bad boys What I Learnt This Week Saturday, 25 October 2008 1. Rogue element set a coaching challenge I've always been a big fan of Joey Barton as a player. If we had stayed up at Sheffield United I was going to pay £4m for him so that shows how highly I rate him. But I suppose, like many others, when I listen to his apologies I do say to myself: 'I wonder how long it will be before he is in trouble again?' I hope he means what he says because there are no more chances for Joey and I fear the worst if he does not take heed now. When I look at his life, if you take football away from it, I don't see what other way there is for him to go. Obviously he had already been in a few scrapes when I was thinking of signing him but you always think you can be the one to change a player, to settle him down, especially when you've been a manager for a few years. There have been a lot of players I've signed who other managers said, 'Don't touch him with a barge pole'. I bet I have got 90 per cent of them playing well, but some you can't win with. One ex-player had loads of ability but my staff told me not to waste my time with him. I spent the best part of two years trying to turn him around, getting him out of scrapes with the police when he went back home. In the end I had to let him go. I remember saying to him that there are two ways you can go, you can be a footballer and earn good money for 12-15 years, or end up in prison. Unfortunately he didn't take the first option which saddens me. An example of someone who did change his life around is Michael Brown, who played 150 league games for me at Sheffield United. He was coming up to 22 when I signed him. He'd been at Manchester City but he'd had a few problems in the Manchester area and I was warned off him. From the start I just classed him as a likeable rogue and trusted him completely. He gave me four good years before we sold him into the Premier League with Tottenham. He's now at Wigan but he's one of my ex-players I keep in touch with and I was pleased to hear last month that he has become a father for the first time with Ela, who is a wonderful wife. The baby's called Lally Biba. I hope I've spelt it right. It's a new one on me but that's Michael for you. I'm sure he will make a super Dad. It's often the case that you just need to get someone out of their environment and away from some bad influences. I remember Curtis Woodhouse at Sheffield United. A talented lad but he got into a load of scrapes. In the end I had to ban him from going home to Driffield. I always got the dreaded phone call on Sunday night or Monday: "PC Plod here". He was always a boxing fan. I'd hear he'd been sparring on an afternoon off so I'd bring him in to my office and ask him. He'd be stood there, black eye and fat lip, saying, "No Boss, not me". In the end he took up professional boxing. He's now combining playing football for Rushden & Diamonds with boxing. He's won all eight bouts and calls himself the "Driffield Destroyer". He's a lovely lad and I'm pleased he's doing well. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/neil-warnock-good-managers-always-believe-they-can-get-best-from-bad-boys-972825.html

SUNDERLAND FURY AT ASHLEY Saturday October 25,2008 Sunderland are still furious with Newcastle ahead of today’s derby after Toon owner Mike Ashley celebrated victory in last April’s fixture by leading a conga in front of Sunderland executives. Ashley persuaded several of his Newcastle directors and senior employees to follow him in the victory jig in the St James’ Park directors’ box. Several Sunderland officials, including chairman Niall Quinn, left the room as Ashley proceeded to rub their noses in the 2-0 defeat. One senior Wearside source said: “No one from Sunderland could believe it. Directors are not used to that sort of display. Mike Ashley and several Newcastle people started a conga, then started singing songs about their victory.” http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/67819

No Martins? Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Beye, Edgar, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa, Bassong, Tozer, Butt, Guthrie, Geremi, Duff, Barton, Jonas, Doninger, Xisco, Ameobi, Carroll, Donaldson, Ranger, Danquah. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7674086.stm

Keane backing for Barton Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has won backing from an unlikely source in the shape of Sunderland boss Roy Keane. Barton is in line to return to action against Sunderland this weekend, live on Sky Sports 1, after serving a six-game ban for his training-ground attack on former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo. The 26-year-old is determined to repay Newcastle's faith after they stood by him following his prison sentence for assaulting a teenager in Liverpool. Keane hopes Barton will grasp his chance of redemption and he believes Newcastle deserve credit for the support they have shown the former ex-City man. "He seems to have got good backing, particularly when Keegan was there," said Keane. "He'll have had good support and hopefully he'll take the chance. "Footballers are very privileged but as soon as you know it, it's gone. Over the last few years we've seen footballers go to prison. You have got to make the most of your career because, trust me, it is over very quickly. Choice "Hopefully he will take that choice. Sometimes the penny drops too late. "There is a big problem, particularly with ex-players. When the football stops, you still have these addictions. "There's not enough being done. "Players are human beings. They get less sympathy today because of what they earn."

Blackburn Rovers are hell-bent on signing Argentine midfielder Oscar Ahumada from River Plate, according to The People. The Ewood Park club were prompted to increase their scouting presence in South America after delighting in the form of Roque Santa Cruz last term and and have identified Ahumada as a priority target. Gaffer Paul Ince doesn't have ridiculous amounts of money to play with, but the 26-year-old could be available for around £4m, making him affordable. Ince has crippling injury problems in the midfield and is keen to reinforce his squad in January. The Guv'nor is said to be interested in Ahumada for his fiery presence, as well as his capable midfield play. The outspoken player was involved in a dispute with River Plate supporters this year and his often over-zealous tackling has landed him in hot water on several occasions.

give the lad a chance ffs! 172 games and 8 years quite clearly hasn`t been enough! -- AMEOBI PLEADS FOR CHANCE Forgotten man Shola Ameobi is desperate for a chance to prove he can be Newcastle's saviour. The 27-year-old has enjoyed the one-to-one attentions of interim manager Joe Kinnear at times in the last week after he vowed to turn him into a modern-day John Fashanu. That process cannot be completed quickly enough for the Magpies, who will be without £17million skipper Michael Owen for Monday night's Premier League clash with Manchester City as he recovers from a groin injury. Obafemi Martins has a chance of starting after returning to training from a knee problem, but Ameobi, who might have left the club during the summer as a succession of Championship suitors tested the water, is ready to remind people of the player he believes he can be. He said: "Football is a funny game at times. A week is a long time in football and I just take every week as it comes. "The game is about moving on and certainly, I thought that was the case for me, but it wasn't to be. "I have just got to make the most of where I am, I have always said that, and hopefully I can help this team climb up that table. "We have got a couple of important games coming up and I want to be as fit as possible to help us achieve maximum points in those two games." Ameobi has not scored a league goal for his home-town club - he arrived on Tyneside from Nigeria as a child - since his penalty in a 2-1 home defeat by Bolton on October 15, 2006, and his last from open play came against Everton three weeks earlier. However, with Australian Mark Viduka sidelined indefinitely, his physical prowess could be an asset, and that has been the focus for Kinnear. Ameobi said: "It's playing my position, it's getting me into the old habits again, the old routines I used to have and playing as a centre-forward, which is obviously where I want to play. "It's getting me playing up top and staying there and being a target man for the team. "I certainly enjoy playing that role and hopefully I will get a chance to play there a bit more." Ameobi might have ended his personal drought in the 2-2 draw at Everton last time out when, having come off the bench, he worked his way into an excellent position to claim a famous winner, only to square for the better-placed Charles N'Zogbia, who was denied by Leighton Baines' superb block. But that point at Goodison Park, which ended a run of five successive defeats, has had a galvanising effect at a club which is once again in turmoil. Ameobi said: "Obviously, it's been a tough four or five weeks for us as a club and certainly, the arrival of Joe Kinnear has livened the place up. "The result last Sunday was great for us and our confidence, the fightback we had there, and the morale in the camp has been raised. "Certainly, it is testament to what Joe has brought. He has brought a confidence back to us and hopefully we can carry that on and get a win tomorrow. "They [City] have had an injection of cash and have brought a few players in. They have some very good players now and it will be a tough match. "But we are at home, we are full of confidence again and it should be an exciting match in which hopefully, we can come out on top."

Reports in Greece claim Manchester United have firmed up their interest in Olympiakos starlet Kryiakos Papadopoulos. The centre-half is considered one of the best defensive prospects in European football. Still only 16, Papadopoulos is already part of the first-team squad at the Karaiskakis Stadium and became the youngest player in Greek League history last season. United have been keeping checks on Papadopoulos since he made his debut and they were one of a number of clubs to enquire about him over the summer. Now it is claimed by leading Greek sports paper Fos ton Spor that both United and Newcastle have made firm offers to the Athens side. It states that both Premier League clubs have confirmed they would be willing to pay €4million (£3.1million). It remains to be seen whether Olympiakos would be willing to talk, as Papadopoulos only recently signed a new long-term contract with a get-out clause of €6million (£4.6million) and that is likely to be the fee they demand for the youngster.

do you think Bassong more than Enrique at left back would be better equipped to handle SWP? He will certainly cause loads of problems

Also from that thread: Just today?, oh dear and "thanks AGAIN milner another f***ing waste." "MILNER YOU'RE GASH!" "Milner's been feckin awful!" "AND AGAIN f***ing WOEFUL. Milner back on the bench after this?" "Shocking shocking performance from Milner." "fuk off milner we dont want you! absolutely shite!"

"milner looks worth about 12p at the moment... " http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=45252&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=375

watching the Villa Portsmouth game at the moment.Villa all over them but Milner is having a shocker .... Assistant ref just been hit by a coin or something from the crowd

some nice points for my fantasy footie team then

almost 0-6 , Anelka scored but ruled offside. Still 20 mins left for Chelsea to score more

Belletti`s goal was top class....I remember us being in for him but when Chelsea came in for him it was a no goer. 0-5

Well Bassedas was capped 26 times and a regular in the mid 90`s with the Argentina national squad But I agree about Colo, can`t believe some people are doubting him.....really think he`ll turn out to be a top buy and prove the doubters wrong once we have some stability on and off the field

as much as I hate the kunt they have twisted completely what he said, as usual (tribalfootball, what do you expect) Here is the original of Diouf's interview to the Senegalese paper "L'Observateur". All in the frog language though http://www.lobservateur.sn/articles/...781&cat=sports

The South African businessman Jonathan Cleland said last night he was "hopeful" of completing a takeover of Newcastle United. Cleland is heading a consortium of investors and has been in contact with the investment bank Seymour Pierce, who are in charge of finding a new buyer for Newcastle, over securing a potential £300m deal. Cleland's interest in Newcastle was made public this month, only to be discredited when three South African billionaires, Johann Rupert, Brian Joffe and Vivian Imerman, who were also said to be involved in the consortium, stated they had no interest in buying out the current owner, Mike Ashley. The Cleland bid also took a knock from Keith Harris, the chairman of Seymour Pierce, who described it this week as not being a "serious" offer, but Cleland insists the takeover attempt is genuine - and having spent the past week in South Africa shoring up investment, claims to be in a position to move on to the St James' Park board with immediate effect. "We're hopeful of still doing a deal for Newcastle United very soon," Cleland told the Guardian, although he was unwilling to discuss who else was part of the consortium. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/18/premierleague-newcastleunited

http://i37.tinypic.com/v782uf.jpg http://i37.tinypic.com/1to9kh.jpg http://i37.tinypic.com/jrtjr8.jpg http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2008/oct/15/newcastleunited/neil_pollock-5677.jpg http://i35.tinypic.com/debpg1.jpg

Joe Kinnear 'will be in charge for months' Oct 17 2008 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle NICKY BUTT says he expects Joe Kinnear to be in charge of the Magpies for at least another two or three months. With talk of a potential sale still very much in the air on Tyneside, Toon players are blocking out the political situation in order to climb the Premier League table, with United still in the relegation zone. On Monday night against Manchester City, the former Wimbledon boss will take his seat in the dugout at St James’s Park for the first time after serving an FA ban that confined him to the stands against Blackburn and Everton. And with Kinnear set to take complete charge of his first game against Mark Hughes’ side, Butt was in an upbeat mood ahead of the Man City game. He said today: “We know he’s going to be here for at least two or three months and it’s a way of moving forward. “Although it’s not a perfect scenario, he’s come in for what’s going to be a difficult job for him and he’s done well so far. “You judge a man on his results and if we keep doing as well as we did in the second half against Everton we’ll be OK. “To be fair to Chris Hughton, he did a good job and it was just unfortunate that we were getting results we didn’t deserve.” Kinnear’s input in United’s last outing at Everton two weeks ago was evident with United unlucky not to pick up three points after a sterling fightback from 2-0 down. Now Butt would like to see more of the courage shown on Merseyside as he gets to grips with his old derby rivals from his Man United days. He added: “Joe’s come in now, and although it wasn’t a great performance against Everton, especially in the first half, we showed a bit of courage and came good in the second half. “It’s only early days, and we’ll see at the end of the time he’s here.” “At the minute Manchester City are on a high, and you can see all the things that are going to go for them in the future.”

Christian Manfredini

Newcastle have received a lift following the news concerning Michael Owen, with interim manager Joe Kinnear revealing Obafemi Martins could be fit to face Manchester City on Monday. Star striker Owen has been ruled out of Monday’s clash – live on Setanta Sports – after tweaking his groin in training. The news left Magpies fans wondering where Kinnear would turn for options, with Mark Viduka and Martins sidedlined, but the latter is on the brink of making a surprise return to action. The Nigerian was forecasted to be sidelined until November with a knee injury, but he has trained well this week and is in the squad to face Mark Hughes’ City. “Oba’s an option, and we’ve stepped up his training,” said Kinnear. “We were planning to keep him back but because this has happened he is in the first team squad, he did well yesterday and exceptionally well today as well. “He hasn’t needed any other further treatment on his knee so that’s a good sign. ”He is in my mind to be involved in the match against Man City.” http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/10/16/Prem-Kinnear-on-Martins/

he should be back for the City game according to Kinnear http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/sundaysun//tm_headline=joe-kinnear-rules-out-bringing-in-free-players&method=full&objectid=22022612&siteid=72703-name_page.html

Owen or Robinho?

No one even said that, they said the standard is dropping and in my opinion it is - Del Piero being top goal scorer last year says it all, when he is half the player he was before his injury. Plus Sheva, rated incredibly highly comes to Chelsea and does zilch. Looks too slow, lightweight and clumsy. So its a reasonable judgement to make imo. Woks both ways really.The likes of Bergkamp, Lehmann, Klinsmann and to a lesser extent Viera (quite poor in his 2nd stint) and Henry were all flops in Serie A (the latter it seems with Barca as well) but looked world class in our league. As for Del Piero being top scorer, he`s getting on just turning 33 but Shearer and Sheringham (at Man U) were near the top end of the scoring charts at that age too and they werent exactly in their prime