brummie

I think this is the press seeing Chimbonda is available then looking at who needs a RB right now. I think he's a decent player, he's just got a bit of a 'tude, which I don't think MON will like

Lerner wanted Klinsmann at first, but then changed his tune when he realised all the other interested buyers wanted MON. Ashley must have been in a very tricky situation here though - he probably backed the manager enough to give him more time, but didn't have enough belief in him to let him spend however many millions in the transfer window. Looked at from that point of view, the timing probably makes sense (although it is easy to put together a convincing argument to the contrary).

That's an interesting point. This doesn't stand up to any scrutiny other than raw figures, however observe this: Big Sam at Newcastle this season, league and cup (24 games) Won 8, Drew 6 and Lost 10 = 30 "points" MON last season, league and cup (24 games) Won 7, Drew 10 and Lost 7 = 31 "points" ie virtually identical. Obviously, this takes absolutely no account of the quality of football played and what it was like to watch - I can imagine it was poor, and I suspect it was the deciding factor in this case, and also takes no account of the assets both managers started the season with, but his results weren't actually that bad (and again, I acknowledge the flukiness of some of them).

The Krankies? morweena banks used to on "absolutely" Now she could quite probably have my body to use and abuse if she played her cards right.

Mellberg has been in Turin today sorting out his move to Juventus. Why is he leaving? Money/family/ambition? He's a free agent, and 31. His last big contract. He's been with us for 7 years and probably sees Laursen, Davies, Cahill as our CBs of the future. He's also been played out of position all season which probably doesn't help Wish him all the best, he is a top, top man, Olof.

Terry Mac is surely part man, part cockroach. That man would survive nuclear armageddon unscathed.

did you miss his stint at Real Madrid? Well teepee is danish as well as I am, and Laursen is a good defender, but he is very injury prone, and with the luck we have with injuries in Newcastle, he must be a no go. i agree with michael on this one - i think that laursen only once has played more than 20 matches in a season. and that was with ac milan, who has the best medical facility in the world of football. the following three years with them (milan, from 2001 to 2004) he played a whopping ten matches but he is definately a good player, but i'm just worried about his fittness. He's currently on a run over over 30 consecutive matches with us. He had a terrible knee injury whilst at Milan. The knee he injured with us was actually the other one. He's not going anywhere, though.

Mellberg has been in Turin today sorting out his move to Juventus.

You do right to hope not, Karj. The man is a cunt.

Top British manager? I can't believe nobody has mentioned Tommy Brown. Although the woman in disguise thing might put Ashley off.

Aye, O'Neill. You've moved from daggers through the heart to sledgehammers to the back of the head.

Why would Ashley need to "go through the proper channels" for Venables? He isn't currently in a job is he, so I wouldn't bother with that wager if I were you. I saw that on SSN after I had posted. It has, of course, thrown my wager plans into FLUX.

I love you, but that post is worth a banning. Janitor!! That is like a dagger through my heart!

"Club will go through the proper channels to appoint their man" so therefore already in a job?

Terry Venables is the name that stands out for me as 1. I can imagine Ashley (who appears to be a bit nouveau in his status as a football fan) being blown away by his interest. 2. He is available. 3. He is English. In fact, I am tempted to wager a small yet meaningful sum on money on it.

I don't see how Defoe could be labelled 'awful' by any definition, tbh.

Chimbonda is a good player, but is a Charlie Big Bollocks and would be trouble. I don't think Defoe would leave London.

Give us a kiss x

Spurs fans are unbelievably deluded. I'm a better defender than Kaboul, and I can barely stand up without there being a can of ale waiting for me once I finish the maneouvre.

I feel this is the crux of disagreement in his contract talks with us (ie length of contract).

The Pinochet thread on SMB has been comedy gold on almost every other football forum in existence.

Laursen and Bouma were the two good things to come from the DOL years. Fucking hell, i hated that cunt with a passion. Imagine having a manager who'd tell you regularly that you couldn't compete with Boro. And people wonder why we think MON is the messiah. *wink*

I think he is off to Juventus. I'd hate to see him playing for another English club. It wouldn't feel right.

He's angling for a better deal in his current contract negotiations, that's all. Laursen won't be going anywhere. Mellberg will, though. And, worryingly, Gary Cahill probably will as well. Zat Knight is never, ever going to get the nod ahead of Martin Laursen, in this or any parellel universe

Those picking Gareth Barry might do well to reflect on the fact that he has been mediocre for the last six weeks or so. *struck down as punishment for sacrilege*