LooneyToonArmy

would you take Juande Ramos then? Browsing a Spurs forum earlier and most of them want him out and possibly replaced with Poyet!

do you ever listen to the World Soccer phone in with Tim Vickery? (knows everything on South American football-Radio 5 Live) It`s usually on in the early hours on Saturdays but BBC have a podcast in which you can download the show/or part of it http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/wf/ Good interview anyway.....bit of a shocking phone line though

Hughton not interested in Newcastle United job Sep 18 2008 By Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle CHRIS Hughton has indicated he is not interested in taking the Newcastle United job on a full-time basis. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/09/18/hughton-not-interested-in-newcastle-united-job-72703-21849091/

bah, only the 48th richest person in the world. He`s a pauper compared to Anil Ambani http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasser_Al-Kharafi

Martins out....Duff back .......ffs why can`t it be the other way around Duff Returns But Oba Out By Craig Hope DAMIEN Duff has handed caretaker coach Chris Hughton a fitness boost ahead of Saturday's trip to West Ham - but Nigerian striker Oba Martins will not figure at Upton Park. Duff, missing since injuring his knee during last month's 1-0 victory over Bolton, has trained with his Magpie colleagues this week and is included in the black and white squad which travels to East London. "Damien has had a good week," former Hammers defender Hughton told nufcTV. "He has trained well and is fit to be included in the squad for West Ham." http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1396513,00.html

Magpies let surprise package Zaki slip through their hands Sep 18 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal THE credibility of Newcastle United’s specialist recruitment team has been dealt a blow after it was revealed they missed out on a chance to sign Amr Zaki – the Egyptian international striker who has made a flying start to life in the Premier League with Wigan. The presence of Dennis Wise and, to a lesser extent Tony Jimenez, heading up Newcastle’s recruitment efforts has been a festering sore to United fans, with their influence over transfer matters one of the major factors in Kevin Keegan’s resignation. While owner Mike Ashley praised his appointments for the “first class” job they have done in their recruitment roles, missing out on Zaki – who has scored four goals in three Premier League games – is a further illustration of the teething problems suffered by United’s management structure. The Journal understands that in the early months of the summer Newcastle were given a glowing recommendation of the El Zamalek striker, but while United’s recruitment team delayed a decision, Wigan were able to steal a march on them. Steve Bruce’s success certainly seems like a triumph for the more traditional approach to player acquisitions championed by Wigan and their owner Dave Whelan. Bruce works alongside a general manager but has the final say on transfers, and it was that relationship which allowed Wigan to trump United, who instead turned their attention to Villareal’s Spain under-21 striker Xisco. As made clear by Ashley in his statement on Sunday, United do not have the funds to rival the big four in the transfer market. Instead they have turned their attention to the global market, with a particular focus on Spain. The imposing Zaki, who first came to United’s attention two years ago, would certainly qualify as one of the “rough diamonds” that Wise and Jimenez have been charged with unearthing, but on this occasion it appears as if they missed out. Wise’s role is officially described as executive director (football) but his precise remit is yet another issue clouded in mystery. While he has no input in first-team selection or coaching, the former Millwall manager has substantial influence over transfers – brokering deals both for the first team and the club’s Academy. Wise was reported to be at the Valley on Saturday watching Wolves’ England under-21 winger Michael Kightly but The Journal understands he was not in attendance. While Wise does make scouting trips on behalf of the club, his circle of influence would appear to spread wider than merely player recruitment. As well as being credited with a major role in the hunt for Keegan’s successor – hence the thus far unsubstantiated link with Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince – he is also with Ashley in Dubai hunting for a new owner. It presents a confusing picture of a management structure that, after a disappointing summer in the transfer market, has been discredited in the eyes of most supporters.

good news for us West Ham striker Dean Ashton will be out for up to four weeks after twisting his ankle in new manager Gianfranco Zola's first training session. (The Sun)

Guardian running with the O`Leary story now --- David O'Leary may be offered an opportunity to rehabilitate his managerial career at Newcastle United. Derek Llambias, the club's managing director, is a long-standing friend of the Irishman and he and Newcastle's board are giving serious thought to offering O'Leary a short-term contract. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/18/newcastleunited.premierleague

Magpies keen on another Mallorcan by Laurent Picard, 17 September 2008 Reports in Spain claim that Newcastle United negotiated the transfer of Mallorca striker Achille Webo but finally missed out on his services on transfer deadline day. The Cameroon international is believed to be rated at £8 million despite a series of injuries wasting his last season. Webo’s manager Gregorio Manzano sees the African as a key player in his squad and has named him in his list of vice-captains. Mallorca lost a host of key players this summer, including The Magpies’ new star Jonas Gutierrez, West Brom’s Borja Valero as well as Daniel Guiza and Fernando Navarro. http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/09/17/PremLiga-Webo-linked-to-Newcastle/

Modric has looked a bit disappointing since he`s been there.....

Hull's Fagan in justice call after Newcastle bad-boy Guthrie avoids lengthy ban for horror challenge Danny Guthrie, who has escaped further punishment from the FA for the challenge that broke Craig Fagan’s leg, has still to apologise in person for the tackle. The FA ruled they could not add to Guthrie’s three-game ban for violent conduct, despite citing the incident that saw Ben Thatcher suspended for eight games after knocking out Pedro Mendez two years ago. Fagan will not play for another three months and he revealed: 'He's come out and said he wants to speak to me, but he sent me a text message on Monday night saying he’s disappointed with what's happened. 'In my eyes, that text message doesn't do the justice of what a phone call does. I'm not saying that he hasn't tried to apologise, but maybe it could be different.' The Football Association had been expected to extend Newcastle midfielder Guthrie’s ban, but a statement said: 'Every sending off carries an automatic sanction under the current regulations. The FA doesn't have the power to extend automatic suspensions. 'The only circumstances in which we could take any further action would be to issue an additional charge against a player. This occurs only in exceptional cases, such as Ben Thatcher's challenge on Mendes in 2006.' Fagan, in his second spell in the top-flight, added: 'I was starting to feel comfortable in the Premier League for the first time. I never really had that at Derby. 'I've been enjoying it all season. Everything was feeling good and falling into place. I felt I was starting to show what I can do. As so often happens in football though, when you're doing well, something like this can come along and spoil things. 'I took one look at the fixture list and I was devastated. We've got games against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham that I'll miss. Those are the games you're desperate to play in. 'I'm devastated that I'll be missing the games, but I've got to concentrate on getting back as quickly as possible.' The 21-year-old was dismissed in stoppage time during the Magpies' 2-1 home defeat on Saturday after taking a wild swing at Fagan, who was left with a fractured left leg. The Football Association confirmed that it can take no further action on top of a mandatory three-match suspension for the red card. A spokesman said: 'Every sending off carries an automatic sanction under the current regulations. 'The FA doesn't have the power to extend automatic suspensions. The only circumstances in which we could take any further action would be to issue an additional charge against a player. 'This occurs only in exceptional cases, such as Ben Thatcher's challenge on Pedro Mendes in 2006.' However, the FA spokesman also confirmed that an ongoing review of their disciplinary procedures could see a sliding scale introduced to increase punishments for serious offences. He said: 'We are currently reviewing disciplinary procedures with a view to potential changes for next season and a sliding scale for red-card offences is one of the options under consideration.' Thatcher, then at Manchester City, was handed an eight-match FA ban with another 15 games suspended for two years in 2006 after a challenge which left Portsmouth's Mendes concussed and requiring neurological tests. Guthrie will miss the managerless Magpies' Barclays Premier League clashes with West Ham and Blackburn, and Tottenham's Carling Cup visit to St James' Park. Today's news will come as a relief to beleaguered caretaker boss Chris Hughton, who may be able to welcome back Obafemi Martins and Damien Duff for Saturday's trip to Upton Park. But he will still be without the banned Joey Barton and the injured Mark Viduka, Jonas Gutierrez, Habib Beye, Alan Smith, Jose Enrique and Andy Carroll. http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1056934/Fagan-justice-bad-boy-Guthrie-avoids-lengthy-ban-horror-challenge.html

what a lucky ba$tard.....was certain it would be extended to a 5 match ban or something. I suppose that apology he made helped

Xisco distracted by Toon turmoil Summer signing striving to maintain focus Spanish striker Xisco admits the off-field distractions at Newcastle are having a damaging effect upon the St James' Park squad. The Magpies remain without a manager following the resignation of Kevin Keegan earlier in September, and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley recently announced that he was looking to sell the club. It is reported Ashley is asking for a fee in the region of £481million and that he is in discussions with a Dubai-based group of investors, but Tyneside fans are continuing to voice concerns. The Toon Army staged angry protests against Ashley in last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Hull, a game in which summer signing Xisco marked his debut with a goal. And the former Deportivo La Coruna player confesses that the boardroom trauma is a disruptive influence, telling Marca: "The players are on the outskirts of all this, and these are things that don't help the team. Reaction "We have to try to remain focused and play well in the games ahead. Then, when things are sorted, then we'll look at it. "Now we have to concentrate on getting a good streak of results and nothing else." And the 22-year-old was surprised by the reaction of members of the home crowd last weekend. "It was a feeling that I had never experienced before. I have seen few places so animated," Xisco added. "It's a pity that we couldn't win the game because then my debut would have been perfect. I'm happy to have scored a goal but the joy wasn't complete."

Newcastle United bosses spotted in Dubai Sep 16 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle NEWCASTLE United’s big three of Mike Ashley, Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez were yesterday spotted in Dubai – one of the places where they are hoping to sell the club. But the word from all the financial institutions is that Ashley is going to find it difficult to sell United for a variety of reasons, including the credit crunch and the terrible state of affairs at St James’s. I hear Ashley is countering that by calling in former Football League chairman Keith Harris, who has successfully brokered the selling of a couple of clubs lately. I also heard from a top foreign manager yesterday, indicating he would be prepared to come to St James’s as Kevin Keegan’s successor. But it looks as though that potential candidates will be few and far between after Ashley’s announcement on Sunday tea-time that he was going to sell the club. Kevin Keegan is keeping his head down after Friday’s meeting with Ashley in London and he is taking a few days’ break in the Spanish sunshine. In the meantime, all the United fans can do is to hang on the words of managing director Derek Llambias when he said at Newcastle Airport last Saturday night: “We might have something to say during the week.”

Boost for fans as Habib Beye avoids operation Sep 16 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle NEWCASTLE United have finally received some much-needed good news. For fears that their influential right-back Habib Beye was going to need an operation on his Achilles tendon were allayed by a relieved caretaker manager Chris Hughton today. But Hughton was still unable to say just when the defender, who was the player of last season in a Chronicle fans’ poll, will be ready to return to action. Beye has been plagued by his Achilles since pre-season, when he had an injection on the problem, and as a result he only played in United’s last two friendlies. However, the Senegal international is United’s only recognised senior right-back, and Kevin Keegan had little option but to press him into action from the start of the season, despite the 30-year-old’s lack of fitness. Not surprisingly, this has been counter-productive, and Beye missed Senegal’s two World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. But Beye has been optimistic that all he needed was three weeks’ rest. Hughton was forced to play central defender David Edgar at right-back against Hull, and the 21-year-old could be pressed into service again at West Ham on Saturday, although Steven Taylor has been used in this position. Meanwhile, Jonas Gutierrez, who it was feared had dislocated his shoulder on international duty with Argentina last week, is expected to be out for around a month. He bravely turned up with his arm in a sling at St James’s Park on Saturday, but he is returning to Argentina for treatment after picking up the injury against Peru last Wednesday night. A statement from the Argentina Football Federation said today: “Homero De Agostino, the doctor of the national team, confirmed that he checked Jonas Gutierrez, who has a little fracture in the right clavicle. “With the allowance of his club Newcastle, Jonas will stay in Buenos Aires to be treated by the national team’s medical staff. “He should rest for 20 days and will have the rehabilitation treatment under doctor De Agostino.” This led Hughton to add: “Jonas has taken a very heavy whack on his shoulder and it’s something that’s still being assessed. “The initial reports were that it was dislocated, but it hasn’t.” Meanwhile, the only players likely to return from injury for Upton Park are Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins. Hughton said: “The closest at the moment would probably be Martins, and we’re hopeful of having him and Damien Duff back. “They would be the closest, and we are not expecting Alan Smith or Mark Viduka back.” Danny Guthrie will get his three-match ban over quickly at West Ham on Saturday, the Carling Cup tie with Spurs a week tomorrow and the home game with Blackburn Rovers in 11 days’ time. That is unless until the Football Association increase the ban for the horrific double challenge which broke Hull City’s Craig Fagan’s leg on Saturday. A spokesman said: “We are looking at the incident and have the right to alter the suspension if necessary.” Hughton admitted Guthrie got caught up in the “emotion” of Saturday’s game. He said: “Danny’s a terrific lad, as I think most of us know, and that’s not in his nature. “I think it was just the emotion of the game. It was quite physical at times, but I think that went with the whole afternoon, and he’s a young man who just got caught up in it.”

could have been as hell of lot worse had the early reports been due so Im happy with 3 weeks

Thaksin Shinawatra Sadly that could well be right

He looks a bit more than neat and tidy, he was looking to make quite incisive passes from what I saw, and isn't he supposed to have a few goals in him as well? My only reservation is how mobile is he? None of our central midfielders are particularly quick these days and it's a quality we badly miss. 45 goals in 170 appearances for his old club albeit in the Uruguayan league. Not sure how mobile he is but if he`s a playmaker hopefully we`ll be seeing him thread some nice through balls to our strikers.Hoping to see more of him over the next few games with Guthrie out.....but I wouldn`t be surprised to see Butt and Geremi in centre midfield now

Mongs http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00007/ashley4_516x350_7779a.jpg

he can bring Valencia, Palacios, Zaki with him too......doubt he would have a say though Cracking buys by Bruce for those 3 players and bought for next to nowt

Good on him. Fagan can piss off and die. aye, 3 match ban which is just what we need with our paper think squad.....ffs

GAME OVER

ffs Guthrie......fkin tw`t....no need for that

Xisco header from Geremi cross but over the bar

Marlon King off, Zayatte on