KaKa

Anelka and Owen would cost around £17 million due to their clauses. That would be really sick if Wenger pulled it off.

Guys chill out! It's not a sad day. We have enjoyed watching the guy in his prime and I actually think Arsenal are doing the right thing to let him go now. Mentally he just wasn't there last season. He had already left last summer. There will be new stars emerging as has always been the case through the years. That's what it's all about. I think people writing Arsenal off need to be careful too! Wenger is no mug! When Anelka left no one could have seen Henry emrge out of nowhere like he did. Wenger will do it again especially now they are losing such a great figure head who is also their captain. Expect some new faces to come in who will surprise a few people.

Wow! Well I am happy this is all happening now. If we are going to lose someone then at least it is happening early on and we will have a lot of time to get new recruits in. The Alan Smith rumour seems a lot more feasible at the moment.

I think Sam just really wants a target man with that battling mentality. Smiths aaproach is very similar to Kevin Davies who served Sam really well at Bolton.

How reliable is Viduka though and even Owen! as far as injuries and niggles go. Smith could play with either as he has the ability to hold the ball so can partner Owen, but at the same time has good anough mobility and a bit of pace so would compliment Viudka too. He will play quite a bit I would imagine. He will also start the season up front with Owen as Viduka will be recovering from his trip to Asia.

Agent is a proper piss taker. There is no Sevilla interest he is just trying to get a bigger signing on fee or something.

Don't think you will be getting it tbh. Smith will be on his way here I believe.

Read the article (link below) where Allardyce talks about his worries about Viduka not being ready for the start of next season. This along with the fact that Viduka isn't exactly guaranteed to play a full season due to niggles here and there I believe Sam sees Alan Smith as too good a deal to pass up as an alternative to Viduka. Don't think he fancied the idea of having to rely on Ameobi, I'm not sure he trusts him that much. I would expect Ameobi to be the one moving on shortly. http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/chroniclesport/tm_method=full%26objectid=19302003%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

A key point that has to be made is also the issue of first team appearances for their clubs. How many people get picked for England without playing regularly for their clubs? Taylor is practically a first team defender already, but Huddlestone doesn't look like he will be in ahead of Jenas and Zokora anytime soon, not for the next couple of seasons anyway. This works in Taylor's favour as well. Out of sight out of mind.

Is that what he was doing? fair enough, take cole, bridge, shorey and p. nevile from the list and add Onouyou to the list. His name is Onuoha for goodness sake!

Oba's value just went up to £20 million as the Nigerian coach has just excused him from ever having to play for Nigeria again!!! Surely that makes him a more valuable asset with no ANC to worry about and no AWOL scenarios right? June 22, 2007 COMMENT ON THIS STORY NIGERIA boss Berti Vogts says he would not blame Obafemi Martins if he quit international football. The Newcastle striker is recovering from the shock of an assassination attempt this week. Martins, 22, was lucky to escape with his life when his car was sprayed with bullets as he waited at a Lagos petrol station. Ex-Scotland boss Vogts, who lives in his German homeland, said: “Perhaps people will now understand why I do not want to live in Nigeria. “As a European, it is impossible to leave the hotel alone because you’d be sure to be assaulted.” The Nigerian FA provide Vogts with round-the-clock armed guards whenever he visits the country. He admitted: “I understand if Martins wants to stop coming to Nigeria.” http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007280790,00.html

I deleted those exact words from my post before I submitted it. Thought I was getting a bit ahead of myself Hope he can stay fit enough to take over from Distin as one of our first choice centre halves on a permenant basis next season. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever about his ability to play in the Premiership on a consistent basis. I hope so. Definitely in the mould of Sol Campbell. Hopefully he doesn't get lost in all the new money you are set to get. He should be given a chance or at the very least be the third choice centre back.

What makes you say this?

Overall he did have a better tournament I agree. He is a beast. The next Sol Campbell. Onuoha just killed Anton Ferdinands England career.

Try reading the rest of the page? thats all ican find online,why whats there ? This page man! Edit: The previous page now! right so i've read the rest of the page,several times now....what you getting at ? Think you need an early night pal.

Same.

Sorry I wasn't clear enough. There was a debate going on recently about who would make it into the England first team first. The Spurs guys thought Huddlestone had a better chance than Taylor. Needless to say I found this article quite interesting thats all. If thats the case than Taylor is far better then Huddlestone.. The thing is, Taylor plays in a position that England have more than enough players playing in already, Huddlestone on the other hand have a bigger chance of getting in not because he's a playing in a position that can still be filled. I think the midfield competition is just as tough with the likes of Carrick, Barton, Parker (even though I don't rate him), Jenas (though he hasn't really done much internationally), Gareth Barry etc. Not to mention his two under 21 teammates who he couldn't get in ahead of in Reo-Coker and Noble. If we played a 4-3-3 on the other hand then I would agree that Huddlestone had a much greater chance than Taylor, as I think this formation is far more suited to his abilities.

I'm happy for him and hopefully this should really lift his spirits and give him confidence going into next season. This along with our new coaching setup and some experienced defenders to help guide him and he should be well on his way. How bad did this tournament make Bentley look? Especially given the way the players fought for it at the end. Big mistake not going, Ashley Young looked great too and so now Bentley has extra competition.

Sorry I wasn't clear enough. There was a debate going on recently about who would make it into the England first team first. The Spurs guys thought Huddlestone had a better chance than Taylor. Needless to say I found this article quite interesting thats all.

Sorry but this deserved it's own thread ... Nuff said tbh.

I did It's no coincidence we are buying so many defenders capable of playing centre back too you know! I reckon a 3-5-2 is nailed on, particularly if Owen stays. I will actually be placing a bet on it. - Beye, Hyypia/Rozehnal & Taylor in a back three. - Dyer/Sagna, Barton, Diarra, Emre/Boateng & Baines in a midfield of five. - Owen and Viduka up front. Something along those lines is what I am expecting. Emre and Dyer could be on their way out I would imagine. what have i missed...we've bought a centre mid and a forward and were interested in a centre half and are interested in one maybe 2 more,minmum even to play with 4 at the back. Just my opinion buddy so you just sit back and relax ... when it comes to fruition don't be surprised or alarmed. Just appreciate the wisdom and foresight.

I did It's no coincidence we are buying so many defenders capable of playing centre back too you know! I reckon a 3-5-2 is nailed on, particularly if Owen stays. I will actually be placing a bet on it. - Beye, Hyypia/Rozehnal & Taylor in a back three. - Dyer/Sagna, Barton, Diarra, Emre/Boateng & Baines in a midfield of five. - Owen and Viduka up front. Something along those lines is what I am expecting. Emre and Dyer could be on their way out I would imagine.

Quite agree. If Owen stays I can't help but feel that Martins will go and someone like Rigters will come in. A youngster with potential. This will leave us with about an extra £12 million to play with. We aren't in Europe this year so Martins won't get many opportunities with Owen and Viduka in the first team. £60,000 a week to sit on the bench isn't good business.

Now he's staying? WHEN WILL THE MADNESS END! Re-sign the contract without a clause or we will have this back and forth crap all summer for goodness sake ... Owen sticking with Newcastle George Caulkin Newcastle United are increasingly confident that Michael Owen will remain at the club next season, a development that will provide early validation for the new regime at St James’ Park. While Manchester United and Liverpool harbour an interest in the England striker, other targets are being pursued more vigorously, allowing his present employers to plan for life with their record signing in tow. That news will be welcomed by Sam Allardyce, the manager, as well as by supporters, whose delight at the prospect of Mike Ashley’s £133 million takeover has been tempered by speculation surrounding Owen and Obafemi Martins, his teammate. Both forwards have release clauses in their respective contracts, but it is thought unlikely that Owen’s will be triggered this summer. United’s pursuit of the 27-year-old stretches back to the World Cup finals, when Owen suffered a serious knee injury. Liverpool rivalled Newcastle for his signature in the summer of 2005, but were not prepared to match the £16 million fee accepted by Real Madrid and it is understood that Rafael BenÍtez, the manager at Anfield, is ambivalent towards their former player. Public discussion regarding the existence of a £9 million get-out clause infuriated Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, who called upon Owen to commit himself to the club. That declaration has not followed, although Owen has never expressed any desire to leave Tyneside and used a recent column in The Times to confirm that he had enjoyed “a good chat” with Allardyce. Glenn Roeder’s replacement intends to transform the culture at Newcastle into a replica of the system he employed at Bolton Wanderers – where emphasis was placed on psychology, sports science and innovations in diet and fitness – and Owen has been impressed by his vision. In Mark Viduka and Joey Barton, there have already been two quality additions to the squad. Owen’s continued presence would also be a coup for Ashley, the billionaire businessman, who has assumed control at Newcastle. Ashley’s ambitions are high and that task will be assisted by Owen’s marketing potential and talent for scoring goals. Since joining Newcastle two years ago, he has been limited to 13 starts for the club because of injury and has acknowledged that he has yet to provide value for money. Martins could leave for £13 million, £3 million more than Roeder paid Inter Milan ten months ago. Juventus have been linked with the 22-year-old, who scored 17 goals in his first season at Newcastle, and Arsène Wenger’s admiration for the Nigeria forward may be hardened if Thierry Henry leaves Arsenal; Martins this week spoke of his desire to stay on Tyneside. If it is not dismantled, Allardyce’s striking quartet of Owen, Martins, Viduka and Shola Ameobi should be formidable and he has taken steps to bolster the rearguard. Having missed out on Tal Ben Haim, who joined Chelsea on a free transfer, he is expected to sign David Rozehnal, 26, the Paris St-Germain defender, for about £3 million and is also monitoring Sami Hyypia, of Liverpool, and Habib Beye, of Marseilles. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/newcastle/article1969201.ece

Too young so won't happen.