Coxaux

Oh the lads at the Sun also went with the headline "civil wor." Just off to cringe in the background.

From the Sun: KEVIN KEEGAN is on a collision course with Mike Ashley over the sale of Alan Smith to Everton. Smith looks set to seal his £2million switch within the next 24 hours. But the move has angered boss Keegan and Dennis Wise, who both want to keep him in their threadbare squad. On Wednesday, Keegan insisted Smith was going nowhere — only for owner Ashley to put his foot down and demand the former Manchester United man is flogged off. Smith, 27, has been a flop at St James’ Park since his £6m move from Old Trafford last summer and has not scored in 37 games. But Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins are all crocked so, at present, he is the Toon’s ONLY fit striker. Smith is keen on Everton and would have moved there last summer if the Toffees had the funds. Director of football Wise has taken Keegan’s side in the row, which casts yet another black cloud over Tyneside. Keegan spectacularly clashed with billionaire Ashley at the end of last season and was summoned for heated clear-the-air talks. But this summer Keegan has continued to look disillusioned over transfers and had no idea when asked over the weekend how close Argie ace Fabricio Collocini is to moving to Newcastle. The boardroom uncertainty at the Toon also continues to create problems with Steve McMahon, currently working for Singapore investors Profitable Group and seen at St James’ Park for Wednesday’s friendly against PSV. They have been linked — along with Indian Anil Ambani — with a £260m buyout. But the former Liverpool star said: “We are forging a commercial tie-up with the club. “We are hoping to be a strategic partner of Newcastle in the Far East. “If we were going to target any club outside of the top four, it would be Newcastle. "But I can categorically say I am not involved in buying the club and will not become director of football. “I would love to be. It would make good sense because there is always something happening there — but I am not. “What we want to do is turn Newcastle into Asia’s favourite club.” Keegan, meanwhile, reckons Joey Barton needs just one month to get ready for a controversial return. Midfielder Barton must work on his match-fitness after being released from jail. He will not take part in Newcastle’s last pre-season clash against Valencia on Saturday or the opening-day game at Manchester United. Barton’s return to the first-team squad could coincide with the FA hitting him with an expected 15-game ban for his assault on Ousmane Dabo. But King Kev has no problem about sparking outrage in the Premier League by letting the bad-boy, 25, off the leash when he can. He said: “Joey’s fine but he won’t be featuring in any games until we get him match-fit. He came back for training last Wednesday as we flew out to Mallorca. “There is no way he can regain match-fitness between now and the start of the season. There’s no way it would be sensible to give him a game at the moment. "With the injuries we’ve got you would throw him in to a friendly like the PSV game but that would be crazy because he’s got to get match-fit. “Normally you need a month to five weeks to get match-fit and that’s why we bring the players back for pre-season training five weeks before and then we play some games. “The hard part for Joey and the lads who have been injured is the games have gone now and you almost have to do it all in training. “His training and attitude have been excellent while I’ve been at this club. He just wants to get back to playing football.”

A quick snippet from the article: "Did you not hear me before? Of course when I claimed I was looking for a joint investment in the club, I actually intended to declare my wish to sell it." "That is why I have spent so much in Newcastle, so I can intensify my hatred of the club, the fans and the area. It's hard for me to admit but I actually wish St. James Park would actually spontaneously combust with everyone related to the area inside. I manage this by passing my time burning the club crest as well as the odd effigy of our manger Kevin Keegan." "I only appointed Kevin to mess with his psyche. I appointed executives to confuse and disorientate him and plan to deny him of any kind of budget to crush his spirit. I will add further confusing by secretly signing an Argentinian gentleman our scout described as being half decent. We know Kevin doesn't like his South Americans"

The lad a load of bollocks to be fair, may as well buy Boumsong back. How can the club move forward with such an inept signing?

Mear quibbles such as your opinion on this topic are irrelevant. The quote loving question avoiding machine is already in full flow and he can't be stopped.

Jesus wept, change the mothefucking record. Another thread in tatters, my social life is on the mill stone as it is I don't need this shit boring me to death to top the whole thing off. I'm off to whinge about imminent signing of Coloccini.

I get your point. Although Owen and Viduka will get injuries I still think it will be difficult to sell the forth strikers spot to any young lad with ambition. Like you say though we could use the lure of the premier league. Also the wages don't bother me but in the context of a "back up" striker do you really want to be paying £6 million. Personally it wouldn't bother me, but I can't see KK or Mike biting.

In fairness I'd take Davies over Taylor, Carew over Viduka and Barry over any of our midfielders.

Keegan said on Wednesday: "Smiffy is propa mint like. The toffee pinchin bastards couldn't buy him for all the money in da world." Or words to that effect.

Again though, the chances are he'll want some guarantee on playing a decent amount of games. Plus we'll have to stump up a fair bit of wedge to get him by the sounds of it.

Get away man, classic straw man rubbish in your last sentence there. Not wanting Healy isn't deluded at all. He's proven nothing in the Premier League so far, and is certainly not going to improve much at 29. Much rather spend the money on someone young and with potential. Even if they end up moving elsewhere at least they'll have some value. In fact I'd rather see our own youngsters given a proper go than bring in the likes of David Healy. Your correct, not wanting Healy isn't deluded, but the notion that anyone above his bracket of class would enjoy growing old on our bench is. Obviously I exaggerated in the last sentence but its what I do best I'm afraid. The problem is I'm struggling to think of an up and coming striker who would tick all the boxes, that doesn't mean there ain't one, but ideally you'd like someone with experience of the league (someone like Anichebe would be ideal as I've mentioned in countless threads but would he be availble and willing to take the step down).

Might be a silly suggestion but do you think Everton would bite at a couple of million plus Smith for Anichebe, would do me nicely as a replacement.

Might be a silly suggestion but do you think Everton would bite at a couple of million plus Smith for Anichebe, would do me nicely as a replacement.

Agreed, Healy fits the bill perfectly for 4th striker, hes proven he can score goals on occasion. But only if he is prepared to be backup and no f***ing mong who expects first team. Doubt he'll come though but for the right price i wouldnt mind. LOL, the thing is he's not proven at all, I don't have any facts or figures in front of me right at the mo, but I would bet my bottom dollar that both Smith and Shola have scored more prem goals over their careers than Healy. Unfortunately our 4th choice striker needs to be of a high standard as because of the appalling injury record of our first choices, he'll get more than his fair share of games. Both Smith and Shola have shown that they are not up to the job, Healy is no better than them, Fulham want shot of him FFS, it's not like he can't get a game at Chelsea or Manure, it's Fulham !!! Personally I would splurge and make a bid for Kuyt, apparently Liverpool were willing to sell, they are after 16mill, 12 -14 mill might get him. But if that's too rich for us then bring in a prospect like that Swiss lad, that I have no idea how to spell his name. Kev: So Dirk as your aware we've agreed a fee for you, before we give your our terms we'd like to hear why you want to join Newcastle. Kuyt: Well I'm that an ex-manager has been stalking me for many, many years which of course makes me feel oddly warm inside. Kev: Excellent, so the plan is we're going to stick you on the bench as a 4th choice striker on the off chance Mark or Michael get injured, but I can assure you are new seats are fitted with heaters. Kuyt: What about the wage? Kev: Lets say (amount Healy would demand) Kuyt: Fantastic it's a career ambition to warm the bench for Mark Viduka at a club that are pushing to break into the top ten for a severely reduced wage. Kev: Welcome aboard.

And this thread proves how deluded our fans have become. I really can't understand how Healy would no be good back in comparison to what we already have. We're trying to push into the top half of the table not the fucking Champions League. Three very good strikers with a experienced handy back would hardly be disastrous now would it. Actually why not go for Benzema or Guiza because they'd come over and warm our bench wouldn't they (and yes I'm aware Guiza has already moved this summer)?

Villa needed to address the full back areas as well as adding a bit of quality in depth to the back four in general, today they made a very positive start to doing that. Providing Young and Carew can stay fit for the rest of the season it could well be a very productive one.

i love this, i do HOW are spurs the same then? i'd loooooooove to hear it What did Spurs do very well last season? Scored goals in vast quantities. So what have they done, bought a number of creative midfielders, to help them score vast quantities of goals. Will they score more than they did last season, who knows, maybe not due to selling their most proven goal scorer. What did Spurs also do well last season? Conceded goals by the hat full. So what have they done? Nothing. There's no strength in midfield to protect the back four and they've actually brought no one in to strengthen the back line. It's like us really, buying an aging defensive midfielder a striker who can score goals and a bit of pace upfront. What's the point when we're already well stocked in those areas. It's the problem areas you need to address to advance as a team.

You can have as many individuals as you want, the fact is they have to work as a unit. I feel Villa have this. If Portsmouth's front pairing combine with the solid defense and midfield they might be onto something. Everton still look solid but badly need to add some pace and creativity to the team and Spurs look like they're in exactly the same position as last year.

how villa? really, what have they actually got? Balance, strength, pace, organization and damn good manager.

Villa by a mile, might have said Pompey had they not sold Muntari

Still think when everyone is fully fit Villa have the best eleven outside the top four, if only they had a bit of depth.

This is why I'd take him, but only if we have no better options for the 4th striker. I'm sure there must be a youth striker who is a bit better that could do a good job from the bench for us. Smith/Ameobi must be sold before the transfer window closes. Anyone human that isn't physically retarded is better than Smith and Ameobi, we sell Smith, we then go out and buy a player who's capable of challenging the strikers we already have, if not we may aswell keep the useless b******. Can you think of a Striker as good as Oba, Owen or Viduka willing to sit on the bench, its pointless, we'll end with a situation Spurs were in a year back. I never said they had to be as good as, I said someone capable of challenging them, I personally think we need another striker on that level anyway, I can't imagine Viduka playing too many games. Same crack though even if someone has the capability of challenging them, he most of a fair bit of ability, he ain't going to want to spend his time sitting on the bench for a mid-table PL club. But I agree with the Viduka comment, he needs to be replaced preferably. If West Ham weren't after silly money for Ashton he'd be perfect for the job.

This is why I'd take him, but only if we have no better options for the 4th striker. I'm sure there must be a youth striker who is a bit better that could do a good job from the bench for us. Smith/Ameobi must be sold before the transfer window closes. Anyone human that isn't physically retarded is better than Smith and Ameobi, we sell Smith, we then go out and buy a player who's capable of challenging the strikers we already have, if not we may aswell keep the useless b******. Can you think of a Striker as good as Oba, Owen or Viduka willing to sit on the bench, its pointless, we'll end with a situation Spurs were in a year back.

1. Toon Ultras caused no hassle at all last night = FACT 2. Toon Ultras HELPED create a decent little atmosphere last night = FACT 3. Toon Ultras Misbehaving = NOT A FACT 4. Everyone within the corner including TU booing the police officer who threw a young lad out for asking for his ball back = FACT My opinion on it all was that the police and stewards did get a bit heavy handed due to the sheer amount of numbers which congregated within the corner. We delibratley never went to our seats until just before kick off and it was totally EMPTY. Not even the first block was full , there was about 30 Toon Ultras. Once we began singing etc people started leaving their seats to join in , suddenyl 30 turned into 530. Then once it began to rain , people in the front of the Gallowgate began to move up. Try and get your facts right before talking lots of s**** ON. I heard the Toon Ultras did cause hassle = FACT Toon Ultras create an atmosphere but there's always the risk factor = FACT Most of the Toon Ultras behaved perfectly fine, but some use the name to start acting like twats = FACT Your only the second person I spoke to at the game and both had biased opinions. Thing is no matter how much you deny it there's always going to be a small faction of the Toon Ultras that cause trouble as they feel that's what it's all about. Perhaps a change of name might help but it could run deeper than that.