Jimbo

But I wish it were. NotW doesn't often get the bad ones right, it'd be too much too ask they've suddenly developed journalistic ability. It's not the first time that American bidders have been mentioned lately, although it's the News of the world, they might not be far off the mark with this one.

News of the world NEWCASTLE will be owned by Americans by the New Year. Two groups looking to buy the Toon have made hush-hush trips to Tyneside and both are prepared to meet Mike Ashley’s £280million asking price. They hope to take control in early 2009, so they can be a major force in the January transfer window. The American groups, one an international company based in the States as we revealed two weeks ago, will now try to reach an agreement with owner Ashley. The two parties have not met the controversial Sports Direct billionaire. But talks have advanced to such a level that Seymour Pierce, the brokers selling the club, expect due diligence — the process of going through the books in minute detail — to begin very shortly. But no decision has yet been made on the future of interim boss Joe Kinnear and neither group has discussed the managerial position. Keith Harris, the chairman of Seymour Pierce, said: “It is a good estimate to say the club will be sold by January. Attractive “There is serious interest expressed by two parties and work is going on with them. One group approached me and I approached one group. “The change in the level of the dollar versus sterling has made it much more attractive to buy sterling assets at this time. “The new owner wants to be in a position to make an assessment of what adjustments need to be made in January.” The deal will still represent a profit for Ashley, who bought the club for £134m 18 months ago and spent around £100m paying off debts.

Zoiks !

I've got to agree, when I saw Spinal Tap for the first time I seriously wondered what the hell all the fuss was about.

Lidl is doing bottles of Hobgoblin for £1 each for those that like ale.

BBC Live Text updates: 1614: "There's a worrying rumour kicking about in the stands here that Roy Keane is set to take the Geordies job!" Dave at the Stadium of Light, via text on 81111

Vegas 2 is the one to go for, Vegas is pretty poor in comparison, I think Vegas 2 is a bit more tactical than COD, I love it, it has shoot'em value as well as need to think your way around problems.

I would be at all surprised of this turned out to be true, Keith Harris's last statement suggested that the likely buyer could well be American, and Shearer would be a natural choice for some folk.

The Weigh in

Agreed.

You're just bitter that I called Gladiator. That's the beauty of opinion, but Gladiator is one of my favourites.

2001: A space odyssey Pish

Best of Roy Jones Jnr Best of Joe Calzaghe

Its in New York so there is a chance it might be slightly earlier but I still expect it to start about 3am. Not sure about who's going to win at all, I think Jones has become a bit chinny over the years, but he's been up and down in weight so much fighting at Heavyweight, Light Heavy, Super Middle, I think Saturday he'll be at more of his natural weight, I think his punch power might trouble Calzaghe, but for me it's a real toss of a coin as to who will win.

Really? Where is this evidence? ahem...

ditto Quite a few people seem to be getting them at the moment. Can't wait for it to get here, my current MP3 player is fucked so I have been listening to the same 16 songs for about 3 weeks! Just got one today

The Wire *puts tin hat on*

Are there any "classic" movies, books, albums or TV shows that are considered classics that just leave you thinking, Meh ?

Agreed, O'Neill is following the Clough blueprint by over achieving with average players, I rate O'Neill very very highly. But just to echo what others have said about Milner, £12m for a midfielder that doesn't score, can't cross, can't take a freekick and fails to beat the first defender from a corner is just fantastic from our point of view.

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in talks to direct and star in a remake of Chan-wook Park's belting 2004 revenge thriller, Oldboy. DreamWorks is currently in negotiations to secure the remake rights, and the movie would be distributed by Universal. Spielberg has started looking for a writer. So it looks like it's real, it's happening. And we're utterly stunned. Not least because, as well as being compelling, bold, and utterly brilliant, Oldboy is the sort of uncompromising, dark thriller that would represent a huge risk for the previously attached team of Justin Lin and Nic Cage, let alone the most bankable director-star team in the world. Which, if you're wondering, is exactly what Smith and Spielberg represent

CHELSEA are weighing up a shock move for Michael Owen in January. Boss Phil Scolari has been told budget cuts mean he has around £10million to spend on new players. The Blues value 28-year-old Owen — who is out of contract next summer — at between £3m-5m. Scolari is keen to recruit a top-class striker to cover for Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka. His first choice was Brazil striker Luis Fabiano but Seville’s price tag of £25m has made that move impossible. There is concern at Stamford Bridge about Owen’s injury record but they will monitor his fitness and form in the coming weeks before deciding on an offer. Owen, who earns £108,000 a week at St James’ Park, is unlikely to be offered a similar salary at Chelsea. Financial restructuring and worries over the number of matches he has played mean a smaller deal will be offered. A weekly wage of £60,000 could then be topped up by a playing bonus to £100,000. Chelsea may face competition from Spurs, though, who are also on the look-out for a striker. Boss Harry Redknapp knows a move for Owen would be cheaper than signing Jermaine Defoe, who is valued at £12m by Portsmouth. Owen, fit again after a groin injury, believes Newcastle will continue to head up the table. He said: “We know we’re a decent team. If we have a good run, fifth, sixth or seventh place is not impossible.”

Cuellar, Young and Milner? How are they shocking, Not much wrong with them as players, just hellishly over priced in my opinion, perhaps double what they were worth.

I've chopped and changed between virus checkers over the years and I've found some pick up viruses that others miss. None seem to be perfect, but Nod32 is the best I've tried thus far.

And boro, seriously, £6m for Luke Young ?