Jimbo

FFS Setanta need to put another 50p in the meter

Did you spot him in the crowd ? He's in front of Sam and Chris Mort, saw it on the telly just now. oh

Did you spot him in the crowd ?

I'm interested to see how Brock's favourite FM player Foti performs.

I'd agree, I presume Martins is on the bench for tactical reasons rather than for financial ones.

TEAMS NUFC: Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Charles N'Zogbia, David Rozehnal, Steven Taylor, Nobby Solano, James Milner, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka Subs: Oba Martins, Steve Harper, Albert Luque, Peter Ramage, David Edgar, Paul Huntington, Matty Pattison, James Troisi, Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi, Fraser Forster SAMP: Antonio Mirante, Luigi Sala, Stefano Lucchini, Alessandro Bastrini, Christian Maggio, Paolo Sammarco, Daniele Franceschini, Reto Ziegler, Salvatore Foti, Gennaro Delvecchio, Vincenzo Montella Subs: Luca Castellazzi, Sergio Volpi, Pietro Accardi, Andrea Poli, Claudio Bellucci, Luigi Sala, Angelo Palombo, Vladmir Koman, Andrea Caracciolo, Cristian Zenoni, Vincenzo Fiorillo Referee: Andre Marriner

Sam insists Toon still united Aug 5 2007 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun Sam Allardyce SAM ALLARDYCE insists Newcastle’s management and board remain United despite the breakdown of Keiron Dyer’s move to West Ham. The England star’s £6 million move to Upton Park was scuppered – though the Sunday Sun understands it could be resurrected – when the Hammers baulked at a late intervention by Mike Ashley, which hiked the price up by £2 million. However, West Ham boss Alan Curbishley insisted the deal was now “definitely off” – to his great frustration. He said: “We made an offer, had it accepted, agreed personal terms and the player passed a medical but it was pulled at the 11th hour by Newcastle – and there’s not much we can do about that. “It has never happened to me before. We are disappointed and the player is very disappointed, but it’s definitely off.” Allardyce (left) had already grown frustrated at the lack of funds available to him and the Magpies’ recent slow progress in the transfer market. But regardless of Ashley’s involvement in the Dyer situation and following the £6 million arrival of Alan Smith, and a similar-sized bid for Wigan’s Leighton Baines, Allardyce maintains relations with the United owner, and chairman Chris Mort, are fine. “Yeah they are listening, the process is pretty smooth now,” he said. “I compile a dossier, put together the information on a player and give it to Chris. “I then ask them to progress it. I’m talking to Chris once or twice a week at this stage, we all keep up to speed and we all know what’s happening and what direction we’re moving in. “We don’t want to miss a transfer by miscommunication. There is a lot of disruption by people trying to stop a transfer you’re trying to make happen. It was nice to do the Alan Smith deal in one day – it’s a miracle!” He added: “It’s a difficult period because we have so many balls in the air. Most fall by the wayside but I think it’s better to have more feelers out there. The more you have, the more success you will get.” Meanwhile, Michael Owen looks unlikely to be fit for the start of the Premier League season as he continues to struggle with a thigh strain.

NEWCASTLE have signed one left-back, according to reports in Spain, but could be on the verge of landing another – and it’s NOT Leighton Baines. La Liga side Villarreal claim to have agreed a £4 million, five-year deal with United for Spanish Under-21 international Jose Enrique; their club website read: “We want to thank Jose Enrique for his contributions to the club and wish him much luck in his footballing career.” But after the Magpies’ £5 million bid for Baines appeared to fail, Sevilla’s Serbian star Ivica Dragutinovic remains hopeful of securing a £2.5 million, three-year move to Tyneside after rejecting the offer of a new contract with the UEFA Cup holders. “I am happy in Sevilla but the English offer is very important in all aspects, not exclusively in terms of money,” said the 31-year-old. “It really is very complicated to reject the chance to join Newcastle. I have always wanted to play in England, the league is strong and for men like me the physical aspect is not a problem. “I know English football and Newcastle is one of the historic clubs and the objective will be to fight for a European position. The coach (Sam Allardyce) tried to sign me for Bolton during my stay in Belgium (with Standard Liege) so I am not unknown to him.”

Agreed, what a stunning welcome that was ! IM generally a well mannered and welcoming person, but as I am very fond of this forum and appreciate all that the admin do (suck up time) I took offence to a new member instantly making suggestions for improvements! No one knows as well as me how hard it is to be 'accepted' on here...When I joined toonchat years ago, I had loads of stick and some people were positively obnoxious! At times I admit I over-reacted to what was probably only teasing but its hard to appreciate a different type of humour sometimes. I 'get' it now Like it has been said, its been quiet on here lately because of a number of reasons...mainly being the close season but also like I've always said it is hard to contribute on any forum where there are a few prolific posters who know each other in person, the jokes become boring for others not 'in the know' or just boring because its the same old thing. I've seen several forums go this way, they have their hey day and then slowly decline for no apparent reason. I suppose there are only so many topics to discuss and the members know each other too well! Im not complaining its just what happens. Also like the great Gemmill said, perhaps people just outgrow forums and move on. I've not been on here so much the last few months cos I got bored of forums so I had abit of a break! What we need is for the forum 'lurkers' to join in, why not make the board only possible to read if you sign in? Perhaps that way we'd have some fresh input.....new people to get to know and for you lot to take the piss out of! I agree, as far as I'm concerned, the board is as good as the members make it, negative statements about the place fine, but rather than slag the place off I'd prefer people to start threads and contribute and improve the place rather than just say "its shit", a board is only as good as the membership makes it.

Apocalypto

Which were Arnies serious films? The non-comedy ones

Have fun Cath !

Agreed, what a stunning welcome that was !

Good to see Charlotte gets a good Toontastic welcome.......

Sounds almost as bad as shagging virgins all day.

Welcome Charlotte, spread the word.

Predator

Heard this earlier, apparently he rang Karen Brady straight away and asked if the paperwork for the deal had been completed, as they were still awaiting international clearance documents he scrapped the deal. Superb !

No and No.

Previous managers would probably have risked him.

The Times Kieron Dyer’s career edged dangerously close to limbo last night after complications arose with the England midfield player’s proposed transfer to West Ham United. On the day that Sam Allardyce completed the £6 million signing of Alan Smith, sources in London claimed that Newcastle United, at the behest of Mike Ashley, the club’s new owner, had dramatically raised their asking price for Dyer. Dyer, who has a long history of injury, spent yesterday undergoing rigorous medical tests, which he passed, before an expected £6 million move. But Ashley, unhappy with the way that West Ham have conducted business, reportedly demanded an increased fee of about £8 million. Dyer is in a precarious position. Having informed Allardyce that he wished to leave Newcastle for “family reasons” - his two children live in Ipswich - he has been targeted for abuse by some fans on Tyneside. The ramifications for Allardyce’s budget are unclear. After Smith’s arrival from Manchester United on a five-year contract, the Newcastle manager had hoped to attract a further four signings, all of them defenders. Michael Owen will miss the start of the season with a thigh injury that Allardyce described as a “tear”.

and you can't see N' Zogbia's left arm. Or his crotch. Exactly

and you can't see N' Zogbia's left arm.

I'll take that over this: