Colocho

If I racially abused a footballer in a footballer, and was caught by stewards/police - what kind of punishment would I receive?

What a mug... http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/117113/event-history/17/

Colo and Vertonghen at DM when Cabaye and Tiote are sold this summer.

Giroud wants to make the Euro 2012, I don't think he'll take the risk to quit Montpellier - this window - where he's playing week in, week out and doing the best season of his career. Agree, unfortunately. Isn't he from Languedoc-Roussillon, as well? I don't know. Before Montpellier, he played for Tours in Division 2. EDIT : he's from Chambéry, in Rhone-Alpes (wikipedia) Which is what, around 200 miles (350 km) away..? Could be wrong, but I believe there are direct flights from Newcastle to Chambery. Newcastle is very well deserved in that case (Chambery as well, I didn't know there was an airport there) There is indeed, I skied there about a few years ago. Beautiful place.

Giroud wants to make the Euro 2012, I don't think he'll take the risk to quit Montpellier - this window - where he's playing week in, week out and doing the best season of his career. Agree, unfortunately. Isn't he from Languedoc-Roussillon, as well? I don't know. Before Montpellier, he played for Tours in Division 2. EDIT : he's from Chambéry, in Rhone-Alpes (wikipedia) Which is what, around 200 miles (350 km) away..? Could be wrong, but I believe there are direct flights from Newcastle to Chambery.

Giroud wants to make the Euro 2012, I don't think he'll take the risk to quit Montpellier - this window - where he's playing week in, week out and doing the best season of his career. Agree, unfortunately. Isn't he from Languedoc-Roussillon, as well?

Is there any football you don't watch? I've only ever really followed English and French football. Starting watching Dutch football (occasionally) when we signed Tiote - and it became apparent that our scouting network is active there...

To choose : - Pardew wants to protect him and introduce him gradually - Pardew is more severe with him for his sake (the Mourinho method with Benzema) - Pardew has his gameplan in which Hatem isn't suitable - Pardew is punishing Hatem's bad attitude and non-professionalism Like Santon said, Pardew and Mourinho are similar...

Not convinced they'd bid before the window opens.

Best defender in Holland, imo.

Nicollin confirmed Giroud's release clause is €10m. If Ashley and Dekka had any sense they'd bid on New Year's day.

22nd.

Scarves for Ben Arfa's career.

Like the stadium sponsor they found in 2009...

Great news.

Blatently Mimi.

Good post. Completely agree. A major flaw in the argument that Ben Arfa has looked 'poor' is the fact said 'poor' performances were against two of the best teams in the league (he looked dangerous against City).

Chronicle headline: Davide Santon likens Alan Pardew to Mourinho Santon told the Chronicle: “Alan Pardew and Jose Mourinho are totally different." http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/12/20/davide-santon-likens-alan-pardew-to-mourinho-72703-29981397/#ixzz1h5EgUkCH

And replace him with who? Lovenkrands? Ben Arfa.

HBA should start instead of Best in support of Ba, or instead of Obertan. As simple as that really.

I don't know how the supposed '300% profit' rule affects 'free' transfers. What I do know is that when the club sign new players, they are signed with a targeted ROI of 300% (in terms of what they are signed for). I don't know if this includes wages, signing on fees etc.

Bloody hell, I was being facetious.

I don't want to say where I got this information from, but it's from someone I trust. It is a targeted ROI on any player that we sign, as of summer 2011. I've questioned Ryder's journalism on the phone to him and via Twitter. I did manage to get some interesting information (such as what I've already mentioned), but unfortunately he stopped taking my phone calls and blocked me on Twitter. The 'direct line' was from his mouth, he wasn't too pleased when I suggested that it still existed... Thanks.

Would hate it. What do you think of Maiga? Probably his biggest fan from looking around in Norwegian and English forums. Think he would fit in really well in a 4-4-2 with Demba on top. Will bring speed, directness , physical presence and top class aerial ability. As an English scout on Twitter said "Made for Premier League". Gutted we missed/let the boat go. Never been a big watcher of Sochaux, but share the same sentiments. In an ideal world we'd have Maiga at the club instead of Shola and Lovenkrands...

'Exclusives', in the form of 'access' to playing and coaching staff. As shite as most of it is (most player 'interviews' also come from Comms team), it sells. People will always want to read this kind of stuff, what the players and managers are thinking after/in the run up to games. It's as good as a monopoly for NCJ in the region. Journal, Chronicle, Sunday Sun all NCJ... The papers can't print quotes without club sign off - so cut out the middle man (i.e. the player). Remember when Santon signed and said "I never saw a Mackem in Milan!" Christ, it's all so contrived - how don't people see through it? Very little of what NCJ reports is 'journalism', however you define journalism these days... and most of the information that they report (print would be more fitting) on a daily basis, if not all is spoon-fed to them by the in-house PR team at the club. The 'direct line' between Oliver and Shepherd (that Ryder told me personally about) now exists between the communications (PR) team at the club and Douglas/Ryder. Ryder's own views are limited to his blog and webchats. NCJ cannot afford to bite the hand that feeds - and instead works as a sounding board for the club's agenda. As you may have already guessed, every press statement (including Llambias') from the club is written by Wendy Taylor and co. approved at boardroom level, and distributed to the press. I've been advised by a national tabloid sports journalist that they couldn't report such a story without some form of recording. Hardly the scandal of the century now, is it? Every sports desk at a local rag is utterly beholden to the Premier League club(s) that they report on. Only reason I'm talking about the maligned local press is because they would never report a 'scandal' in a full-blooded manner. What I find scandalous is the club having a targeted ROI on players.