KaKa

Saviola would be a healthy risk I think, if we need an injection of pace. Rather than getting srewed over by Tottenham for Defoe. They just spent a lot on Darren Bent and so they will be asking too much for Defoe to get some of that cash back. Saviola on a free would be worth a shot. I've heard quite a few say he is too light weight but I'm not buying that. Those Argies are tough cookies and they seem to do well in our league. Saviola is also a very smart and savvy player.

Not so much other Brazilians, but other European based players who may have not considered us, but seeing us sign a player like Edmilson (if he is respected name) might make a few take notice of us again. Suppose like a kind of 'Keegan factor' as both Player and Manager. I understand where your coming from and it does make sense. Some Brazilians would be nice though. Diego?

So your saying we might be using Edmilson as bait to get another Brazilian here? While hoping his knee comes good ... Could be possible I guess. Kaka anyone?

Hehehe. Go on, admit it. You fancy him don't you. I fancy him in our midfield yes. I think it would be a shrewd move.

You think these sources have the completely wrong player? I'm hanging on for dear life here buddy! Out of interest when does Saviola's deal with Barca run out? Is it end of June as well? I know Sam tried to get him on loan at Bolton last season and so he rates him. If one of our littl'uns is leaving he may well be an option too. Gudjohnsen and Saviola would be a tidy bit of business.

Still think it's Motta. Until I see Edmilson being wheeled throught he door at St. James on a wheelchair I'm not buying it. It's gotta be Motta in my eyes. Maybe even both along with Eidur.

I think it is possible as long as we accept their valuation of the player? I would have thought anyway.

United ready for Owen swoop By GORDON SMART June 29, 2007 SAM ALLARDYCE is braced for a double raid on Newcastle strike duo Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen. Manchester United are set to offer £4million plus Alan Smith for Owen, while Arsenal have already lined up a £13m bid for Martins. The pair have buy-out clauses and Toon boss Allardyce said: “Everyone knows the clause situation Oba has. That leaves us in a very poor position. “If those clauses are invoked, there is nothing we can do about it. “I want to plan for Owen and Martins to start the season. “But at some point between now and the end of August, I might lose those types of players. That would be a massive blow.” United are on red alert as Owen, 26, has yet to comment on suggestions he could invoke his £9m get-out clause. Nigerian ace Martins, 22, has a £13m buy-out agreement — and Arsenal see him as Thierry Henry’s replacement. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007290817,00.html

Wow. This is exactly what I said was likely to be happened once that Alan Smith story came out and Alan Oliver said we would only get him if Owen/Martins left. I had a feelign a swap deal in some form or the other was on the cards with Owen going the other way. Wow indeed. More bothered about the post tbh. Oh I see. Totally missed that.

Wow. This is exactly what I said was likely to be happened once that Alan Smith story came out and Alan Oliver said we would only get him if Owen/Martins left. I had a feelign a swap deal in some form or the other was on the cards with Owen going the other way. Wow indeed. Stop bumming yourself, it's not happened yet Well I'm certainly not hoping it happens as we should be able to do a little better than that, but I can't help but feel it is inevitable. The good thing is that it would end all the speculation and we can just move on. I'll tell you when I started worrying ... when Udinese won the rights for Quagillera and they said they definitely weren't selling him. Man United were chasing him for £10 million. I had a feeling they would come in for Owen after that. On this occassion I wouldn't mind being wrong about this. Believe me!

Gudjohnsen, Viduka, Alan Smith and Shola. You might be looking at our strike force for next season right there ... certainly goals in that quartet but we wouldn't really have a potential 20 goal a season guy anymore. Aaaah well. I could live with it. Let's hope it pans out if this is indeed the case!

Wow. This is exactly what I said was likely to be happened once that Alan Smith story came out and Alan Oliver said we would only get him if Owen/Martins left. I had a feelign a swap deal in some form or the other was on the cards with Owen going the other way. Wow indeed.

Well I'll be damned ... Just been on the back pages of one of the papers tomorrow that Manchester United have offered Alan Smith and £4 million for that little toe rag Owen. I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it!!! Exactly as I had presumed (see above). It was so freakin' obvious! Alan Smith has returned from holiday yesterday and voila! I knew once we didn't deny the move for Alan Smith and instead Alan Oliver said we would only get him if Owen/Martins left that Owen would very likely be going to Man U with Alan Smith coming this way. So we potentially have a situation where Owen might be replaced by Smith and Oba martins by Gudjohnsen. What do you guys think about this???

Update: Motta is asking for a free transfer but Barcelona want a fee for him. Hence the hold up. If Barca demand a fee we will try and off load Luque onto them. Remember where you heard it first people!

It's Motta and he will essentially replace Emre. We will still get another DM most likely Diarra. Please don't make me have to tell you this again! Motta, Barton and Diarra midfield next year. Nailed on!

Motta is the same type of player, but is younger and hasn't quite fulfilled his potential at Barca and so will still have something to prove. Motta was signed from Brazil and because he never quite emerged as a first team star his wage demands will be very reasonable too. It absolutely has to be Motta, if we are indeed interested in a Barcelona defensive midfielder. Edmilson wouldn't make sense on any level. Has it been confirmed Motta will be available on a free then? The last I heard Barcelona said they would be open to offers for him. Also Oliver's article mentions the fact that the player has Italian heritage. I know for certain that Motta does (hence the name) but i'm not so sure about Edmilson. Is this the key evidence in this cock up! Will be interesting to see how this plays out ...

Oh my God! I think he actually has done! Just read Motta's Wikipedia thingy and it is eerily similar to Edmilsons. Check it out! Both Brazilians with Italian origins who have had some injury problems The only difference being Motta is only 24 and isn't currently injured and has been made available, while Edmilson is 31 is currently out for six months with a very serious injury. Motta:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiago_Motta This would be one of the funniest cock ups of all time. Anal would have outdone himself if this is what has happened. I am 90% sure it is too. What a tool!

Alan Oliver is nuts!!! I think it has to be Motta or this doesn't make any kind of sense. Motta was told yesterday he should look for another club as they have just signed Yaya toure and this news breaks out of nowhere so it must be Motta we are after if anyone at all! Motta won't be on a free and therefore Luque going the other way might indeed be a possibility which is something Oliver adheres to despite saying Edmilson would be on a free!(He is so befuddled he must be going senile). Edmilson is injured for six months and will be back at around the same time as Duff! So it makes absolutely no sense! He also has a history of really bad knee problems and at 31 you would think it would be very difficult for him to overcome this so this cannot be correct. Here's hoping it's Motta if anyone!

Are you sure this isn't a mixup and we are actually talking to Thiago Motta? Who is also a Brazilian DM that Barca have just agrred to let leave?

I think Sam wants to keep him which is why they are trying to give him a new deal. Owen on the other hand I think Sam wouldn't mind flogging asap.

Martins is going to make some feckers eat some freakin' sour humble pie I'll tell you that much. Some of you lot disgust me. Do you know the calibre of player we have on our hands here. Just because he isn't the most cultured footballer, that doesn't mean he isn't a good one. It's so easy to put all the blame on Oba. How many times did our pathetic team fail to get him the ball in decent positions? Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? Of course everytime he then got the ball he was so over eager and desperate to do something with it that he ultimately pressed too hard and messed up. Did you see his frustration at all? At least it meant something to him. He was desperate to do well for Newcastle. Wow ... a part of me hopes he leaves just to see what the response will be when he inevitably lights us up in every game he faces us. The better the whole team is as an attacking unit the better Martins will be. It cannot all be left to him. Yes, he will do some things that leave you scratching your head but the more opportunities you create for him the better he becomes and the more confident he is in his play. Martins is one of the most devastating and unpredictable players in the league.

Watch Bent end up at Arsenal.

We will play a 3-5-2 just like Allardyce did at Bolton before switching to a 4-4-2. Rozehnal, (Taylor/Hyypia) & Beye will be the three centre backs. The only way we might veer from this formation is if both Owens and Martins leave. In which case Sam might just get in personnel for a 4-3-3. 3-5-2 it is you heard it here first. Remember KaKa told you so when it goes down.

Nobby a better right-back??? You keep telling yourself that. Nobby was only applauded so much last year due to carr's wothlessness. Let's not fool ourselves Nobby was very average and didn't instill much confidence at all.

Minus Parker who we sold for £7 million. So would actually be £1.8 million. Outrageously good business.