Jimbo

It seems like this place, in its various forms has been here forever, but when you try and put a date on it, in football sense it all seems so recent.

IF Zoggy and Given are added to that, then Keegan must have cut the best part of 200K out of the wage bill without losing any of his first team. Good work. Not fussed about making any big name signings. It's what I've slated Shepherd for in the past. I'm bothered about the squad not being improved, and although that doesn't automatically mean big names, the first team does need shoring up.

I agree, and although there is a lot of deadwood at the club that needs pruning, and running costs needing to be cut, I am starting to wonder exactly what Ashley's agenda and the club is, with season ticket prices going up and talk of players wages being reduced and the only strong links with players are youth players, it seems Ashley wants things done on the cheap.

Mike Ashley will step into the void left by Newcastle chairman Chris Mort, who will step down next week, and take complete control of the club. Ashley had promised to take a backseat after his £133 million takeover last June. He immediately appointed Mort, a city lawyer, to oversee a huge structural change at St James’ Park that has moved Newcastle’s powerbase to London. Mort will be replaced in title by Derek Llambias but it is Ashley whose influence will be far greater than in the previous 12 months, in which his new club stagnated. Mike Ashley Ashley wants to create a leaner business than the one he inherited, which had a £70 million debt hanging over it. Kevin Keegan told the billionaire he wanted a stronger working relationship with the boardroom when he was summonsed to London for crisis talks at the season’s close. Now the Sports Direct magnate will personally take boardroom matters in hand. Mort could rejoin him on the board in October, but it will be Ashley’s influence that will be stamped over Newcastle by then. Keegan, who has told friends he will not quit, despite his frustration at largely being a figurehead, has yet to be promised substantial backing in the transfer market and there remain differences within the club in transfer policy. Ashley will now have the final say on all fees and any new contracts, including those for Michael Owen and Stephen Taylor, who both have just 12 months left on their remaining deals. Newcastle forward Obafemi Martins will be fit for the start of the new season, with his ankle problem expected to have cleared in time for pre-season training. The Nigerian forward has attracted interest from Arsene Wenger and has not signed a new deal at St James’ Park. Newcastle’s move for Bafetimbi Gomis puts his future in doubt.

In Bruges http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/ Think Father Ted does Pulp Fiction Loved it.

Congratulations, just need to get working on your handwriting, you're not a proper doctor until its completely illegible.

Norwich Evening News: New twist in Ameobi saga DAVID CUFFLEY, EVENING NEWS SPORT 12 June 2008 10:52 Striker Shola Ameobi's departure from Newcastle appears to have moved a step nearer with his removal from the list of first team players on the club's official website. But it remains doubtful whether Norwich City have the financial clout to enter the bidding for the 26-year-old Nigerian-born forward. Fresh reports suggest Newcastle will offload the striker for an initial £2m - but that City's East Anglian rivals, Ipswich Town, have followed up their initial interest with an offer rising to £3.5m based on appearances and promotion to the Premiership. Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is on holiday but reports in the North East claim Town are prepared to pay £2m plus another £1m based on appearances and a final £500,000 payment if they clinch top-flight football. Ipswich have refused to comment. Ameobi's absence from the squad list suggests he is surplus to requirements at St James' Park after a disappointing six-game loan stint at Championship runners-up Stoke at the end of last season. Instead, Keegan is believed to be keen to recruit France's £10m-rated St Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis. Ameobi's agent, Steve Denos, told the Evening News earlier this week that the player would relish a reunion with City boss Glenn Roeder but insisted there had been no approach from Carrow Road. Denos was not available for comment last night. Roeder has said he believes Ameobi is a Premier League player - and he may be putting all his eggs in one basket at upwards of £2m for one player, plus salary. Meanwhile, striker Martin Paterson, another player Roeder admires, has been told he is going nowhere by Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton despite his written transfer request and public comments on his desire for a return to the Championship. “In light of recent interviews, Iron chairman Steve Wharton has spoken to Martin Paterson and explained the club's position to him,” said a club statement. “There is nothing further to add other than to re-iterate that Martin is not for sale.” Leeds United are reported to be ready to offer former England striker Andy Cole a two-year player-coach deal at Elland Road. The 36-year-old had been linked with the Canaries, where former Newcastle team-mate Lee Clark is assistant manager. Cole joined Sunderland on a one-year contract last summer. He spent the second half of the season on loan at Burnley but declined a permanent move. He is understood to be keen to stay in the north for family reasons.

Too old, if he was 15 and in Swindon reserves, we'd have him.

Considering the shit a lot of the managers get, can you blame him? I doubt we'll ever see him in management tbh. Sure he's doing his badges but I think that's something he's doing in his spare time more as option to be able to chose to get into management rather than it being the path he wants to take. At the moment, media work seems more suited to him. The media option seems more suited to him ? Are you fucking serious ? The bloke is a walking cure for insomnia ! He's as dull as fuck ! I said 'suited to him'... didn't say 'suited to the viewers' Fair point.

Bastard, you keep on reminding me how shite I am.

Considering the shit a lot of the managers get, can you blame him? I doubt we'll ever see him in management tbh. Sure he's doing his badges but I think that's something he's doing in his spare time more as option to be able to chose to get into management rather than it being the path he wants to take. At the moment, media work seems more suited to him. The media option seems more suited to him ? Are you fucking serious ? The bloke is a walking cure for insomnia ! He's as dull as fuck !

Just O2 I believe.

Possibly. but I get the feeling he's bigging himself up again.

No doubt the fish will say he's had better.

Skysports.com understands that Derby County are leading the race to sign Newcastle striker Andy Carroll. The 19-year-old is set to leave St James' Park this summer and a host of clubs from the Championship are battling it out for his signature. Norwich and Ipswich are also thought to be interested but Derby are in pole position. Derby are looking to bring in a number of new faces which also include Stockport front-man Liam Dickinson. However, the Hatters insist they have not received any offers for the highly-rated 22-year-old. No bids "We are a little bit disappointed that there are clubs expressing their interest through other means but from our point of view there have been no bids and Liam is not for sale," said Stockport managing director Mark Maguire. "I don't think any club could actually afford Liam so he will remain an integral part of our plans going forward. "It has not been long since he signed an extended contracted and we are looking forward to him playing another key role for us next season in what is a young and developing side."

Surely a missed opportunity to get someone to suck the venom out of it.

I'm sure if Allardyce gets the Blackburn job he'll be circling like an obsese vulture ready to snap him up.

Joey Barton refuses Newcastle's £30k per week pay cut By Alan Nixon 11/06/2008 Related Articles Joey Barton put his future on the line last night by rejecting Newcastle's demand for a £30,000-a-week pay cut - pushing Toon towards sacking him. The jailed midfielder, 25, is unhappy that he is being asked to give up £6million during the remainder of his contract in a measure that smacks of saving money as much as punishment. Barton refused to speak to Newcastle officials yesterday when they gave him a 'sign or else' ultimatum - and the Scouser is prepared to stand his ground. Barton missed the deadline to accept Newcastle's offer of a revised deal - and now the Toon management will start the process of terminating his contract. However Barton will not take that lying down, despite serving a six-month sentence in Liverpool's Walton jail. Advertisement Sources close to him say he feels the penalty is far too high - and he doubts Newcastle's motives for coming up with the pay cut suggestion. The fact that Toon offered him a deal to stay weakens their hand if they try to sack him, especially as he could be out of prison for pre-season.

Fuck me, that Alexandra is the most hateful piece of shit I think I have ever witnessed.

Emre, injured ? who'd have thunk it.......

Sergio Ramos ? the Real Madrid defender, absolute quality, possibly the best defender in La Liga.

No great surprise at all, but David Villa looks absolute quality.

Purple ?