Todays Newspaper Rumours...

[Guest johnson293]

Manchester United have made the first move in an attempt to sign Michael Owen from Newcastle for £7m. (News of the World)

 

AC Milan have ruled out a move for Dimitar Berbatov, saying Tottenham's valuation of £30m is too high. (News of the World)

 

Barcelona and Chelsea, however, are prepared to meet Spurs' valuation of the Bulgarian striker. (The Observer)

 

Samuel Eto'o is the man manager Juande Ramos wants to replace Berbatov and Tottenham are seeking sponsors in a bid to meet the Cameroon striker's £100,000-a-week wage demands. (The People)

 

Arsene Wenger wants to sign Atletico Madrid's 18-year-old attacking midfielder Ignacio Camacho. He could cost Arsenal £15m, even though he only played 11 times for the Spanish club. (The People)

 

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, the younger brother of Kolo Toure, is also wanted by Wenger. (The People)

 

Peter Crouch will buy out the remaining year of his Liverpool contract and move abroad, with Spanish club Villarreal reportedly interested in the striker. (The People)

 

If Chelsea lose out to Man Utd in the race for the title then Blues fans can console themselves that they have beaten their rivals to the signature of Porto right back Jose Bosingwa. The club have agreed a fee of £15.9m for the Portugal international. (The Observer)

 

The Stamford Bridge club are also eyeing a £20m move for Bosingwa's club and international team-mate, winger Ricardo Quaresma. (News of the World)

 

Arsenal could get Manchester City defender Richard Dunne for as little as £1m. (News of the World)

 

Tottenham are lining up a bid for Espanyol centre-half Marc Torrejon. (News of the World)

 

Newcastle have had a £9m bid rejected by St Etienne for striker Bafetimbi Gomis and the French club are holding out for £17m. (The People)

 

Portsmouth are hoping to land Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul in a cut-price deal. (The People)

 

Spurs boss Juande Ramos will offer Tom Huddlestone in exchange for Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson. (The People)

 

Edgar Davids could be in line for a shock move back to the Premier League with Kevin Keegan's Newcastle. (The People)

 

Stephen Ireland is a target for Bolton and the Manchester City midfielder would cost in the region of £4m. (The People)

 

Leeds are set to sign Liechtenstein captain Martin Stocklasa, who is available on a free transfer from Dynamo Dresden. (The Observer)

 

 

OTHER GOSSIP

Michael Owen will run down his contract and leave Newcastle on a free rather than take a pay cut. (Sunday Express)

 

Avram Grant may choose to walk away from Chelsea at the end of the season whatever the results of their Premier League and Champions League deciders. (Mail on Sunday)

 

 

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra wants axed Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson at Eastlands. (Sunday Express)

 

While City could offer Jose Mourinho a way back into management as a move to Italy or Spain appears unlikely. (Sunday Telegraph)

 

Benfica are confident that Eriksson will be become their new manager next season. (The Observer)

 

Fabio Capello wants Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher to come out of international retirement to join England's World Cup qualifying campaign. (The People)

 

Ian Holloway will be sacked as manager of Leicester City when he meets with chairman Milan Mandaric tomorrow. (The Observer)

 

Sheffield United want to appoint former England manager Steve McLaren as their director of football. (Daily Star Sunday)

 

AND FINALLY

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan turned down the chance to buy Manchester United for £11m in the late 1980s. (Sunday Express)

 

Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has said he is planning on becoming a fireman once he retires from playing football. "Some people might think I'm mad to go from a footballer's life to that of a fire-fighter," he said. "People probably don't realise the training and dedication that goes into it. (The People)

 

Chelsea manager Avram Grant, not normally known for his outlandish behaviour, could be seen dancing for joy if Chelsea win the Premier League title today. "The first time I won the title in Israel, I danced on the table," he said. "It's very spontaneous when you celebrate. Some people like to dance, some like to jump and sing. It's an emotional time when you win something." (The People)

 

 

 

Didn't take long for the Owen to Manyoo rumours to start again! 

[Syrette]

Greatest sources going really.

[Tooj]

Avram. 

[Guest SB]

United aim to land Toon striker for £7million

 

FERGIE LAUNCHES OWEN BID

By ANDY DUNN and DAVID HARRISON

 

MANCHESTER UNITED have taken the first steps in a sensational move to sign Michael Owen.

 

Informal contact has been made between United and Owen's representatives over a summer transfer.

 

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes he can snap up the England striker for a cut-price £7million and is pushing for a speedy conclusion to the deal.

 

The United boss is convinced Owen can provide the missing ingredient to his strike force – a penalty box predator who can convert half chances.

 

Fergie confirmed this week that an Owen-type striker was high on his list of summer targets.

 

Louis Saha looks certain to be unloaded and Sir Alex said: "We will buy. Along with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, we may need experience in one forward position, somebody to take over from Ryan Giggs eventually."

 

Owen's recent goal-scoring form has convinced Fergie he can still cut it at the highest level. However, he would probably want to sign the striker on an incentive-based contract, dependent on games and goals.

 

Immediate

United's interest comes at a time when Owen's future at Newcastle has been thrown into serious doubt.

 

Talks have yet to begin on a new contract and the indications are that he will be expected to take a £40,000-a-week cut on his £120,000-a-week earnings.

 

That will be rejected by Owen and he will either press for an immediate move or see out the last year of his deal and go for free in 2009.

 

Meanwhile, Fergie will pick up a £500,000 bonus if he leads United to the double and nd his weekly wages will rise from £70,000 to £90,000.

 

[Guest SB]

Fabio Capello wants Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher to come out of international retirement to join England's World Cup qualifying campaign. (The People) -it'd be great if they came back, especialy Scholes.

 

Sheffield United want to appoint former England manager Steve McLaren as their director of football. (Daily Star Sunday) -  mackems.gif

[Guest johnson293]

Edgar Davids?? 

[Thespence]

Some of this may double up on the above but Teamtalks paper section is now better than the Beebs.

 

SUNDAY MIRROR

 

Chelsea are set to ditch Nicolas Anelka.

 

Arsenal are set to make a £10million swoop for Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez.

 

Sheffield United are planning a £5million summer swoop for Peter Halmosi, Krisztian Timar and Dean Brill.

 

Liverpool are set to offer Maik Taylor an unlikely Premier League lifeline if Birmingham are relegated.

 

Chelsea have won the race to sign Portugal defender Jose Bosingwa.

 

Roy Keane is planning a £10million double swoop for Reading duo Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt.

 

Fabio Capello wants to welcome back Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes into the England fold.

 

THE PEOPLE

 

Sven-Goran Eriksson has started his goodbyes, leaving the Manchester City fans in no doubt that he is heading for the exit.

 

Thierry Henry is to have showdown talks with Barcelona about his future.

 

Peter Crouch is considering buying out the final year of his Liverpool contract and moving abroad.

 

Glen Little wants to leave Reading when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

 

Younes Kaboul will be allowed to leave Tottenham for Portsmouth.

 

Middlesbrough are set to move for Watford skipper Jay DeMerit.

 

Bolton are prepared to move for Manchester City's Stephen Ireland.

 

Arsenal are ready to make an audacious bid for Atletico Madrid's Ignacio Camacho.

 

Tottenham are offering Tom Huddlestone to Middlesbrough in a bid to secure left-winger Adam Johnson.

 

Ipswich are set to sign Leicester defender Gareth McAuley.

 

Stoke City want Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop and are offering £1.5million.

 

SUNDAY EXPRESS

 

Bill Kenwright is seeking urgent talks with David Moyes over claims that Everton are dragging their heels on a new contract for their manager.

 

Michael Owen will run his Newcastle contract down and leave on a free rather than take a pay cut.

 

Wigan owner Dave Whelan has revealed he could have bought 51% of Manchester United for £11million in the late 1980s.

 

NEWS OF THE WORLD

 

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is ready to clear out the big earners who do little to justify their salaries.

 

Manchester United have taken the first steps towards signing Michael Owen.

 

Mathieu Flamini admits he would have stayed at Arsenal if they had won the Premier League title.

 

Gareth Barry will tell Aston Villa this week that he wants to join Liverpool.

 

AC Milan have told Tottenham that Dimitar Berbatov is not worth £30million.

 

Arsenal are weighing up a £1million deal for Manchester City captain Richard Dunne.

 

Tottenham are eyeing Espanyol centre-half Marc Torrejon.

 

Sammy Lee is set to be Liverpool's new assistant manager.

 

Stoke chairman Peter Coates could axe Shola Ameobi's proposed £4million move to the Britannia Stadium.

 

Walsall want Ian Holloway as their new boss if he is sacked by Leicester.

 

Aston Villa have lined up a £2.5million raid for Leicester duo Joe Mattock and Richard Spearman.

 

Chelsea have put Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma at the top of their summer shopping list.

 

Sunderland are prepared to sell Kieran Richardson and Paul McShane.  

 

Villarreal say that Sol Campbell will join them when his Portsmouth contract runs out next month.

 

Derby are set to swoop for Tottenham's Anthony Gardner.

 

THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

 

Avram Grant may leave Chelsea on his own terms at the end of the season.

 

Angry Manchester City fans have marched on Eastlands in support of Sven-Goran Eriksson

 

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/interactiveEditorial/0,16398,3209,00.html

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Sell Owen, buy Anelka.

 

Or don't sell Owen as he has been instrumental in our recent turnaround in form.

[Greg]

United aim to land Toon striker for £7million

 

FERGIE LAUNCHES OWEN BID

By ANDY DUNN and DAVID HARRISON

 

MANCHESTER UNITED have taken the first steps in a sensational move to sign Michael Owen.

 

Informal contact has been made between United and Owen's representatives over a summer transfer.

 

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes he can snap up the England striker for a cut-price £7million and is pushing for a speedy conclusion to the deal.

 

The United boss is convinced Owen can provide the missing ingredient to his strike force – a penalty box predator who can convert half chances.

 

Fergie confirmed this week that an Owen-type striker was high on his list of summer targets.

 

Louis Saha looks certain to be unloaded and Sir Alex said: "We will buy. Along with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, we may need experience in one forward position, somebody to take over from Ryan Giggs eventually."

 

Owen's recent goal-scoring form has convinced Fergie he can still cut it at the highest level. However, he would probably want to sign the striker on an incentive-based contract, dependent on games and goals.

 

Immediate

United's interest comes at a time when Owen's future at Newcastle has been thrown into serious doubt.

 

Talks have yet to begin on a new contract and the indications are that he will be expected to take a £40,000-a-week cut on his £120,000-a-week earnings.

 

That will be rejected by Owen and he will either press for an immediate move or see out the last year of his deal and go for free in 2009.

 

Meanwhile, Fergie will pick up a £500,000 bonus if he leads United to the double and nd his weekly wages will rise from £70,000 to £90,000.

 

 

Get them done for tapping up.

[Thespence]

THE mood was polite if hardly convivial. In fact, Mike Ashley and Kevin Keegan sat about as far from each other as it's possible to be on a round table.

 

They exchanged nods and a couple of glances but, for most of Friday night, Ashley was engrossed in conversation with Gareth Southgate while Keegan spent his time signing autographs and chatting with Newcastle fans.

 

gThen again, billionaire owner and Toon manager had spent most of the day in each other's company with Keegan, it's fair to say, doing far more listening than talking.

 

So by the time they arrived at a fund-raising event for Sir Bobby Robson's cancer charity, there was nothing else that needed saying.

 

Keegan was under no illusion as to what was expected — indeed demanded — of him.

Madness

Ashley spelt out in no uncertain terms the million-pound madness at Newcastle was over... for good.

 

A strict blueprint had been set down at the meeting as the Sports Direct chief categorically stressed he will not sanction big-money moves for high-earning, established stars.

 

Instead, he told his team to scour the world to recruit the best up-and-coming talent.

 

A Newcastle insider said: "Mike Ashley is convinced there is a better way forward than just splashing the cash.

 

"That's what the club has always done in the past — and it's got them nowhere. So now there will be a massive shift in the way the club is run.

 

"There will be no more Michael Owen-style deals. Instead the club will be competing to capture the best youngsters and turn them into big stars.

 

"Look at what Arsene Wenger has done at Arsenal. He has made them a major force in England and Europe without breaking the bank.

 

"He's a master at finding undiscovered stars, buying them in cheap and then selling them on years later for huge fees.

 

Silverware

"Look at what David Moyes has achieved at Everton. The same goes for Villa and Blackburn. Mike knows we have to be realistic and admit we cannot compete financially with the likes of United and Chelsea.

 

"Arsenal and Liverpool are also in a different league because they cash in on the Champions League. The top four enjoy first pick of the best players because they offer Champions League action and a chance of silverware.

 

"So we can't compete financially and we can't compete when it comes to attracting the top stars. But we can beat them in other ways. Look at Wigan and Antonio Valencia. United are said to be ready to pay £14m for him.

 

"I'm sure we'd like him here, too, but we need to be signing the likes of Valencia early.

 

"It will be difficult but we are sure if Villa, Everton, Tottenham, Blackburn and even Wigan can do it, so can we."

 

Nightmare

Our top source added: "When Mike bought the club it was £100m in debt and the wage bill was an incredible £70m out of a turnover of £90m.

 

"That's because the people here had chased the dream but ended up in a nightmare. As a result it was a failing, fading club on and off the pitch. Newcastle were one of the three or four biggest spenders in the Premier League but never one of the top sides.

 

"They had the fifth biggest wage bill in the league but did they finish fifth? Nowhere near."

 

Newcastle broke the British record to lure Alan Shearer for £15m and then splashed out £16m for Michael Owen.

 

Since arriving from Real Madrid, Owen's £120,000-a-week wages total another £16m.

 

With just 40 appearances to his name, he has cost £800,000 per match with his 19 goals working out at an incredible £1.7m a strike.

 

The Toon source added: "No one's blaming Michael but someone has to pick up the tab — and it is a helluva big tab.

 

Plan

"Obafemi Martins cost £7m, Alan Smith £6m and Damien Duff £5m and they are all on more than £50,000 a week. So are Mark Viduka, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Emre and Shay Given.

 

"So it's a club that's spent big, paid big, acted big but delivered oh so little. Surely no one needs reminding this club hasn't won a thing since 1969!

 

"Now it is a different story. Mike has a proper, professional business plan and Kevin Keegan is a part of it. But throwing money around irresponsibly is definitely NOT."

 

"Kevin was given a full briefing of that plan when he was offered the job and he was happy.

 

"And yes it's fair to say he has been reminded of the way forward on Friday, but in a good meeting where again everyone emerged happy.

 

"Now we are all going off to put those plans into operation so we can look forward to making real progress next season."

http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?action=post;topic=52644.0;num_replies=6

 

 

 

 

 

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

Edgar Davids?  What the fuck?

 

I refuse to acknowledge that NOTW article as long as it has that cunt Dunn's name at the top of it.

[Tisd09]

No more big money signings then Mr Club Insider?

 

What about the club record bid for Luka Modric?

[Guest king harry]

One of them reporters is a very good friend of Owens, which means he may off got them to write it, so his contract talks with newcastle, improve in his favour.

[SUPERTOON]

Not a club in the world will pay the wages Owen is on so he is going to be on less whatever he decides

 

i wouldnt be bothered if we sold Owen and Bought Anelka

[Guest SB]

They are talking about it now on Sunday Supplement. The one bloke that was on (don't know his name) said that he felt this story had a lot of credibility because David Harrison, who knows Michael well, was invovled with the story, both him and Andy Dunn seemed to think that it would be a good deal for both sides. Patrick Barclay came out with his usual cr*p about Michael and said he was passed it etc and why would Man Utd want him. He said that he thought this story had come from Michael and it was wishful thinking from Michael. Andy Dunn came back and said he could confirm that this story definitely didn't come from Michael, and stuck up for Michael, as did the other bloke.

 

They said they are going to talk about what Michael leaving Newcastle would mean to Newcastle later.    

 

[Thespence]

If our Chairmans programme notes & today's reports are to believed our new negotiating team has offered more £££'s per week (couldn't off bright lights of London though*) to Modric & Woodgate but they expect our captain to take pay cut mackems.gif

 

*=The Chairman's remarks about the bright lights of London were rather strange as the Owner, himself, Wise, Tony J &  the new geeky vice chairman are all based in London. How can any of them sell the Newcastle/North East as place to live when none of them fuckers do is beyond me. Maybe it is better if we recruit youngsters or people from the 3rd world as they wont be as fussy compared to players who have alternative options.

[SUPERTOON]

Cant really see Man Utd wanting him

 

they have Tevez and Rooney and would be going for a target man type

[Guest LucaAltieri]

United aim to land Toon striker for £7million

 

FERGIE LAUNCHES OWEN BID

By ANDY DUNN and DAVID HARRISON

 

MANCHESTER UNITED have taken the first steps in a sensational move to sign Michael Owen.

 

Informal contact has been made between United and Owen's representatives over a summer transfer.

 

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes he can snap up the England striker for a cut-price £7million and is pushing for a speedy conclusion to the deal.

The United boss is convinced Owen can provide the missing ingredient to his strike force – a penalty box predator who can convert half chances.

 

Fergie confirmed this week that an Owen-type striker was high on his list of summer targets.

 

Louis Saha looks certain to be unloaded and Sir Alex said: "We will buy. Along with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, we may need experience in one forward position, somebody to take over from Ryan Giggs eventually."

 

Owen's recent goal-scoring form has convinced Fergie he can still cut it at the highest level. However, he would probably want to sign the striker on an incentive-based contract, dependent on games and goals.

 

Immediate

United's interest comes at a time when Owen's future at Newcastle has been thrown into serious doubt.

 

Talks have yet to begin on a new contract and the indications are that he will be expected to take a £40,000-a-week cut on his £120,000-a-week earnings.

 

That will be rejected by Owen and he will either press for an immediate move or see out the last year of his deal and go for free in 2009.

 

Meanwhile, Fergie will pick up a £500,000 bonus if he leads United to the double and nd his weekly wages will rise from £70,000 to £90,000.

 

 

I like Owen but he clearly isn't "a penalty box predator who can convert half chances." Whoever wrote that article obviously knows nowt about football, Michael Owen, and probably has difficulty feeding himself. His editor should consider getting his care worker to write these articles for him.

[Thespence]

Cant really see Man Utd wanting him

 

they have Tevez and Rooney and would be going for a target man type

 

He would replace Saha who isnt a target man.

[SUPERTOON]

Cant really see Man Utd wanting him

 

they have Tevez and Rooney and would be going for a target man type

 

He would replace Saha who isnt a target man.

 

He can hold up the ball and is very good at heading which owen isnt

[Thespence]

Cant really see Man Utd wanting him

 

they have Tevez and Rooney and would be going for a target man type

 

He would replace Saha who isnt a target man.

 

He can hold up the ball and is very good at heading which owen isnt

 

Saha does not hold the ball up at all & I cant recall him heading that much either. Heading goals in, I would say Owen is better.

 

You do know I am talking about Louis Saha who plays for Man United.

[biggs]

If our Chairmans programme notes & today's reports are to believed our new negotiating team has offered more £££'s per week (couldn't off bright lights of London though*) to Modric & Woodgate but they expect our captain to take pay cut mackems.gif

 

*=The Chairman's remarks about the bright lights of London were rather strange as the Owner, himself, Wise, Tony J &  the new geeky vice chairman are all based in London. How can any of them sell the Newcastle/North East as place to live when none of them fuckers do is beyond me. Maybe it is better if we recruit youngsters or people from the 3rd world as they wont be as fussy compared to players who have alternative options.

We can just throw the thirld world players into the west end to live and they will think its paradise and a multi- cultural metropolis compared to there homeland .

[James]

The Chief Football Writer at NOTW is obsessed with Chelsea.

 

With that in mind, I wouldn't put it past them to have a story with the purpose of unsettling the Manyoo strikers.

 

Where are the quotes?

 

All I see is Fergie wanting a long term replacement for Giggs.

[Guest shearer_united]

I think Man Utd know too well Michael Owen would be a risk to them and there's a chance he would spend more time in injury than on the field.

[Teasy]

THE mood was polite if hardly convivial. In fact, Mike Ashley and Kevin Keegan sat about as far from each other as it's possible to be on a round table.

 

They exchanged nods and a couple of glances but, for most of Friday night, Ashley was engrossed in conversation with Gareth Southgate while Keegan spent his time signing autographs and chatting with Newcastle fans.

 

gThen again, billionaire owner and Toon manager had spent most of the day in each other's company with Keegan, it's fair to say, doing far more listening than talking.

 

So by the time they arrived at a fund-raising event for Sir Bobby Robson's cancer charity, there was nothing else that needed saying.

 

Keegan was under no illusion as to what was expected — indeed demanded — of him.

Madness

Ashley spelt out in no uncertain terms the million-pound madness at Newcastle was over... for good.

 

A strict blueprint had been set down at the meeting as the Sports Direct chief categorically stressed he will not sanction big-money moves for high-earning, established stars.

 

Instead, he told his team to scour the world to recruit the best up-and-coming talent.

 

A Newcastle insider said: "Mike Ashley is convinced there is a better way forward than just splashing the cash.

 

"That's what the club has always done in the past — and it's got them nowhere. So now there will be a massive shift in the way the club is run.

 

"There will be no more Michael Owen-style deals. Instead the club will be competing to capture the best youngsters and turn them into big stars.

 

"Look at what Arsene Wenger has done at Arsenal. He has made them a major force in England and Europe without breaking the bank.

 

"He's a master at finding undiscovered stars, buying them in cheap and then selling them on years later for huge fees.

 

Silverware

"Look at what David Moyes has achieved at Everton. The same goes for Villa and Blackburn. Mike knows we have to be realistic and admit we cannot compete financially with the likes of United and Chelsea.

 

"Arsenal and Liverpool are also in a different league because they cash in on the Champions League. The top four enjoy first pick of the best players because they offer Champions League action and a chance of silverware.

 

"So we can't compete financially and we can't compete when it comes to attracting the top stars. But we can beat them in other ways. Look at Wigan and Antonio Valencia. United are said to be ready to pay £14m for him.

 

"I'm sure we'd like him here, too, but we need to be signing the likes of Valencia early.

 

"It will be difficult but we are sure if Villa, Everton, Tottenham, Blackburn and even Wigan can do it, so can we."

 

Nightmare

Our top source added: "When Mike bought the club it was £100m in debt and the wage bill was an incredible £70m out of a turnover of £90m.

 

"That's because the people here had chased the dream but ended up in a nightmare. As a result it was a failing, fading club on and off the pitch. Newcastle were one of the three or four biggest spenders in the Premier League but never one of the top sides.

 

"They had the fifth biggest wage bill in the league but did they finish fifth? Nowhere near."

 

Newcastle broke the British record to lure Alan Shearer for £15m and then splashed out £16m for Michael Owen.

 

Since arriving from Real Madrid, Owen's £120,000-a-week wages total another £16m.

 

With just 40 appearances to his name, he has cost £800,000 per match with his 19 goals working out at an incredible £1.7m a strike.

 

The Toon source added: "No one's blaming Michael but someone has to pick up the tab — and it is a helluva big tab.

 

Plan

"Obafemi Martins cost £7m, Alan Smith £6m and Damien Duff £5m and they are all on more than £50,000 a week. So are Mark Viduka, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Emre and Shay Given.

 

"So it's a club that's spent big, paid big, acted big but delivered oh so little. Surely no one needs reminding this club hasn't won a thing since 1969!

 

"Now it is a different story. Mike has a proper, professional business plan and Kevin Keegan is a part of it. But throwing money around irresponsibly is definitely NOT."

 

"Kevin was given a full briefing of that plan when he was offered the job and he was happy.

 

"And yes it's fair to say he has been reminded of the way forward on Friday, but in a good meeting where again everyone emerged happy.

 

"Now we are all going off to put those plans into operation so we can look forward to making real progress next season."

http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?action=post;topic=52644.0;num_replies=6

 

 

 

 

 

 

A "top source" that doesn't even know basic facts about the club