Jimbo

I totally agree.

www.maydayfornurses.com Mayday for Nurses is the campaign to get Premiership footballers to donate one day's wages to a nurses’ hardship fund, here is the list of clubs and players that have sacrificed a days wage: Premiership Players: Arsenal – 3 players Theo Walcott, Thierry Henry, and Justin Hoyte Aston Villa – 2 players Steven Davis, Ashley Young Blackburn - 23 players including David Bentley and Morten Gamst Pedersen Bolton - 22 players including Nicky Hunt and Kevin Nolan Celtic – 1 player Neil Lennon Charlton – 8 players Matt Holland, Luke Young, Hermann Hreidarsson, Ben Thatcher, Darren Ambrose, Darren Bent, Marcus Bent, Scott Carson Chelsea - 0 players, donation from club to Mayday for Nurses Hardship fund Everton - 8 players on board including Alan Stubbs Fulham – 28 players, the entire first team squad Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Brown, Jimmy Bullard, Philippe Christanval, Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey, Papa Bouba Diop, Simon Elliott, Ahmad Elrich, Adam Federici, Heiðar Helguson, Claus Jensen, Collins John, Zat Knight, Jan Laštuvka, Brian McBride, Robert Milsom, Vincenzo Montella, Antti Niemi, Elliot Omozusi, Ian Pearce, Mark Pembridge, Franck Queudrue, Tomasz Radzinski, Liam Rosenior, Wayne Routledge, Alexey Smertin, Moritz Volz Liverpool - 12 players Craig Bellamy, Jamie Carragher, Peter Crouch, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Mark Gonzalez, Harry Kewell, Dirk Kuyt, Jermaine Pennant, Pepe Reina, John Arne Riise, Bolo Zenden Man City – 6 players Michael Ball, Joey Barton, Richard Dunne, Georgios Samaras, Nicky Weaver and Micah Richards Man Utd – 2 players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs Middlesborough - 0 players, manager Gareth Southgate on board Newcastle - 12 players Titus Bramble, Celestine Babayaro, Pavel Srnicek, Nicky Butt, Stephen Carr, Damien Duff, Shay Given, Stephen Harper, James Milner, Scott Parker, Peter Ramage, Nolberto Solano Portsmouth – 1 player David James Rangers – 2 players Gavin Rae and Barry Ferguson Reading – 27 players, the entire first team squad Mikkel Anderson, Alan Bennett, Andre Bikey, Oliver Bozanic, Aaron Brown, Bobby Convey, Ulises de la Cruz, Kevin Doyle, Michael Duberry, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Marcus Hahnemann, Greg Halford, John Halls, James Harper, Stephen Hunt, Ívar Ingimarsson, Seol Ki-Hyeon, Dave Kitson, Leroy Lita, Glen Little, Shane Long, Péter Máté, Graeme Murty, John Oster, Nicky Shorey, Steve Sidwell, Ibrahima Sonko Sheffield – 23 players Tottenham – 20 players including Paul Robinson and Jermaine Defoe Watford – 28 players, the entire first team squad including Malky Mackay West Ham - 26 players, the entire first team squad including Nigel Reo Coker Wigan – 1 player Arjan de Zeeuw Additional Supporters: (Those whose playing days are over, and other footie type people who have also commited their cash and got our thanks.) Steve McClaren, Aidy Boothroyd, Gareth Southgate, Terry Venables, Chris Coleman, Sir Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill, Sam Allardyce, Glenn Roeder, Gianluca Vialli, Freddy Shephard, Graeme le Saux, Jamie Redknapp, Andy Gray, Clive Tyldesley, Adrian Chiles, Geoff Shreeves, Tim Lovejoy, Ramon Vega, Terry Byrne, Alastair Campbell, Craig Cohon, Mohammed Al Fayed, Mike Forde, and the agents and advisors Sky Andrews, Tony Finnigan and Rob Segal.

I thought that was proctologists ?

I know what you mean, Luque is the type of player you could have seen Allardyce taking a gamble on at Bolton.

Wink? Barton can certainly strike well, just look at what he did to Ousmane Dabo's face !

From eBay

Charley being a twat, Lesley wanting to go home, other than that, not much.

Sam Allardyce did not shy away from recruiting players with questionable reputations during his time in charge of Bolton Wanderers and evidently he will not be afraid to do the same at Newcastle United, having lined up Joey Barton as his first signing since taking charge at St James’ Park three weeks ago. A formal bid to Manchester City is expected today, with the likelihood that the controversial midfield player will jump at the opportunity to fill the void left by Scott Parker’s £8.5 million transfer to West Ham United. West Ham registered an interest in Barton over the weekend as a fall-back option in case the Parker deal did not go through, but the Newcastle player is understood to have agreed personal terms last night, with a medical examination scheduled today. Newcastle are expected to make City a formal offer in the region of £5 million for Barton today, but no obstacles are foreseen, with the midfield player eager to move to Tyneside after an unhappy and controversial end to his career at the City of Manchester Stadium Barton won his first England cap as a substitute in the friendly match against Spain in February, but his excellent form for much of the season was overshadowed by problems off the pitch. He was arrested in March on suspicion of criminal assault and criminal damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver in Liverpool, while his City career was effectively ended by a training-ground incident on May 1, when he was alleged to have assaulted Ousmane Dabo, one of his teammates, during a practice match. City instantly suspended Barton, 24, for the remainder of the season and unofficially made him available for transfer, while Dabo requested that Greater Manchester Police press charges against him. Having also clashed off the pitch with Richard Dunne, the City captain, and Jamie Tandy, a former reserve-team player, Barton is widely viewed as a player with “baggage”, but Allardyce is clearly more concerned with his ability and attitude on the pitch, which include an insatiable desire for self-improvement. Since his suspension by City, which extended to being banned from the training ground, Barton is said to have put himself through a punishing fitness regime as he prepares to make the most of any second opportunity afforded to him elsewhere. Everton were the early favourites to sign Barton, having attempted to buy him in January, while there was also interest from Celtic and Sunderland. Barton is eager to use any transfer to relaunch a career that is in danger of being overshadowed by negative publicity. “It is disappointing that people have a certain opinion of me,” he said in an interview on Saturday, “but I meet countless people who, in all aspects of my life, will testify: ‘You’re not the person you’re made out to be’. “At certain times I don’t do myself any favours with incidents, but to make out I’m some kind of yob, some kind of psychopath for want of a better word, is so far from the truth it’s unreal.” Parker has had two successful seasons with Newcastle, the second as captain, but he was attracted by the idea of returning to his native London and becoming the first of what Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, hopes will be several eye-catching summer signings. Curbishley, who previously managed Parker at Charlton Athletic, also has a strong interest in Tim Cahill and Andrew Johnson, the Everton pair.

No wonder Bayern were content for Pizarro to go, they've signed Luca Toni from Fiorentina, quality striker !

Butt for me. Captain I mean....

Jeff Buckley - Grace (accoustic)

I'd never make a keeper captain in a million years.

"nice wooly gloves Mr Belözoğlu" "why thank you Mr Barton, lovely knuckle duster I must say"

The deal isn't finalised, no.

Sky Sports News understands that Joey Barton will sign for Newcastle United on Monday - assuming that captain Scott Parker completes his own move to West Ham. Sam Allardyce has instigated a transfer merry-go-round since arriving on Tyneside and, having opted to allow Parker to return to London, is on the brink of signing Manchester City's controversial midfielder Barton. The England international was suspended by City at the conclusion of the Premiership season after a training ground bust-up with team-mate Ousmane Dabo that left the Frenchman requiring hospital treatment. His latest transgression in a string of unsavoury incidents at Eastlands convinced the club to dispose of his services, and City subsequently admitted they were open to any offers which activated Barton's £5.5million release clause. Newcastle appear to have matched their asking price, and Allardyce is now on the brink of bringing Barton to the North East in his first signing since taking over from Glenn Roeder. However, Barton will only be confirmed as a Newcastle player on Monday if Parker - the player he will replace at St James' Park - completes a move to West Ham. Newcastle and West Ham have agreed a fee in the region of £8.5million for the midfielder who will link up with his former manager at Charlton, Alan Curbishley, if he joins The Hammers.

Breaking news on Talksport, Barton agree's to join Newcastle providing Parker completes West Ham switch.

In the conflict of interest sense ? I guess that if we were delisted from the stockexchange that wouldn't matter.

I hope you aren't doubting the validity of the information on wikipedia !!!

4.67 metres, thats about 15 feet tall, big lad !

As great as it sounds, I can't see it happening, Ashley hasn't taken over yet, we've still got the obsticle of Shepherd and his greed to contend with.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TT8s52yMgdo

TRANSFER RUMOURS Manchester United are set to beat Arsenal, Liverpool, Bolton, Valencia and Real Madrid to the signing of Barcelona's Argentine striker Javier Saviola, for a cut-price £7m (News of the World). Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will make a £2.5m offer to Portsmouth for midfielder Sean Davis, after missing out on Scott Brown and Joey Barton (Sunday People). Charlton striker Darren Bent will snub a bumper £60,000-a-week deal from West Ham to sign for London rivals Tottenham (News of the World). And that could prompt Hammers boss Alan Curbishley to turn his attentions to Jermain Defoe (News of the World). Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is making a shock move for Turkey's World Cup right-winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz, 27, who plays for Trabzonspor (Sunday People). Wigan boss Chris Hutchings is making a £2m move to sign exciting Sheffield Wednesday youngster Chris Brunt (Sunday People). West Ham and Portsmouth are keeping tabs on Reading's Irish winger Stephen Hunt, who only has a year left on his contract with the Royals (Sunday People). With Arsene Wenger's future at Arsenal still uncertain, Tomas Rosicky could be the first big-name exit from the Emirates Stadium, with Atletico Madrid keen to sign him (Sunday People). Derby boss Billy Davies wants to celebrate promotion to the Premiership by signing Matthew Etherington from West Ham for £2m (Sunday People). More to follow... OTHER GOSSIP Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein will be offered a role at Newcastle, should billionaire Mike Ashley's attempted takeover of the club prove successful (Sunday People). Liverpool fans have been condemned as the worst in Europe in a scathing Uefa report, following violent scenes at the recent Champions League final against AC Milan (News of the World). Back to top AND FINALLY Not one player at Chelsea, one of the richest football clubs in the world, agreed to contribute any of their wages to the 'May Day For Nurses' campaign, where footballers are asked to give a day's wages to hard-up Nurses. Of all the 556 Premiership players asked to help with the scheme, only 225 contributed.

The Chronicle.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has cut short his holiday to make an audacious 11th-hour attempt to snatch Mark Viduka from Newcastle’s grasp. Bruce was summoned back to St Andrew’s by chairman David Gold on Friday to offer Middlesbrough striker Viduka a three-year deal worth £5 million. Viduka, 31, is holding weekend talks with suitors before flying to America on holiday, where he will come to a decision. Although Newcastle are in pole position because Viduka is reluctant to leave his home in north Yorkshire, Birmingham believe they can take advantage of the uncertainty at St James’ Park. Sam Allardyce was appointed manager by chairman Freddy Shepherd, but the future of both is unclear following the arrival of billionaire Mike Ashley, who has bought 42 per cent of the club from the Hall family and is seeking to buy the club outright. The West Midlands is a hotbed of Premiership transfer activity. Bruce, who has been on holiday in Spain, has signed Fabrice Muamba and Stuart Parnaby this summer, although he looks like being pipped by Wigan for former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble. Across the city, Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill looks set to start his summer spending spree this week by signing West Ham skipper Nigel Reo-Coker for £7m. Reo-Coker put in a transfer request at Upton Park eight days ago and, as reported in last week’s Mail on Sunday, Villa were always favourites to land the 22-year-old midfielder. Villa have now opened talks with West Ham. Villa are also in the chase for Charlton’s England defender Luke Young, although West Ham boss Alan Curbishley was Young’s manager at The Valley and is keen to reunite him with Scott Parker, who is arriving from Newcastle. Manchester United may let teenage prospect Kieran Lee go out on loan to Stoke next season, while Liverpool will also allow England Under-20 goalkeeper Dave Martin to go out on loan. Everton are prepared to wait to get Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka, with manager David Moyes unwilling to pay more than £4.25m.

F.Y.P.