Scottish Mag

GEREMI last night insisted that, despite having been appointed Newcastle’s captain this summer, he will not take regular first-team football for granted at St James’s Park. The Cameroon international has not missed a single minute for the Magpies this season but, having seen Sam Allardyce assemble a strong squad, an in-form footballer knows he will have to maintain his standards in order to retain his place. It is something Geremi is determined to do having spent too long on the Stamford Bridge sidelines during a four-year career at Chelsea in which he was, at times, a peripheral figure in Jose Mourinho’s plans. It was the chance to increase his involvement that persuaded the 28-year-old to head to the North-East this summer. But suggestions that Allardyce’s decision to hand him the armband will ensure a regular role have been dismissed, with Geremi adamant that being installed as St James’s Park skipper has no significance when it comes to team selection. “Being captain doesn’t mean you’re in the side every week,” explained the African, who has started and finished all five first-team fixtures this season. “You still have to work and you still have to earn your place. Being captain is a responsible job. You have to be the man and set a good example. “I decided to leave Chelsea because I wanted to join a club where I would get more games. I wasn’t a regular in the team at Chelsea and, when I got the chance to come here, I didn’t have to think for long. I spoke to the manager and he told me his plans and I agreed to come. It wasn’t a difficult decision. I was delighted when he made me his captain. But I won’t be in the Newcastle team unless I deserve to be.” Geremi’s performances so far this season have vindicated his selection, but with Joey Barton having yet to kick a ball for the club in a competitive fixture, the competition for places will further increase this month. It is something the club’s captain welcomes and, with Allardyce keen to challenge on three fronts this season, the versatile former Real Madrid schemer expects there will be times when he is asked to sit on the sidelines. “There are lots of matches in this league and there are the other competitions as well,” he said. “We need a big squad and we need cover in all positions. If you’re not playing, you need to rest and make sure you’re right when you get your chance. What we have here is a squad that can compete in all the competitions.” With competition in all positions, it remains to be seen whether Allardyce can keep all his senior players satisfied this season. Shay Given was frustrated having spent last weekend’s game against Wigan on the bench, Michael Owen was picked in preference to Obafemi Martins and Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye – the club’s eighth, ninth and final summer signings – will have to be accommodated in a defence that has impressed during the campaign’s opening month. United’s manager will hope all his players are as understanding as Geremi. The midfielder knows strength in depth is crucial and, although he is determined to retain his midfield place, he knows all will have roles to fulfil. “It was important to make those signings before the deadline because we’ve some injuries and we needed to strengthen,” added a player confident Newcastle can maintain their momentum. “To be a team with big ambition you have to have a good squad. We’ve signed two more great players and we will need them. “So far the season has gone well and everything’s good. We’ve got a new squad and we’re trying to gel together. What’s good is that even while we’re doing that, we’re getting results. By the time we’ve all gelled together, we’ll be even better.”

Please go to my Tache Wars page and give me support, abuse, money or just help me beat my fellow moustache growers in a fight for the best moustachio.. http://www.tacheback.com/Moustachio-Tachetastico

NEWCASTLE United heroes Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand are set to resume the strike partnership which saw them terrorise defences in the mid-90s for a special charity match at St. James' Park. The match is in aid of The Prince's Trust and is just one of many special sporting activities which have been organised to raise vital funds for the charity. Big Al and Sir Les will be joined by former United favourites Peter Beardsley, John Beresford, Philippe Albert, Marc Hottiger, Lee Clark and David Batty for the Duke of Northumberland versus the Earl of Durham match which takes place on Sunday, October 14 (kick-off 4pm). The game is part of the first year of The Prince's Trust Challenge Trophy 2007, raising money for disadvantaged young people in the North East. The events so far have seen teams of sports personalities and stars of stage and screen do battle in top sporting arenas across the region. Jonathan Edwards is the overall team coach for The Duke's Team and Steve Cram is the overall team coach for The Earl of Durham's Team across all four Challenge Trophy events. Duke of Northumberland football team manager Alan Shearer and Earl of Durham manager Jack Charlton have pulled together two dream teams of the top names in North East sport to play in the event. A celebrity golf tournament at Slaley Hall saw the Duke's team pick up the first trophy sponsored by Esh, while an all-star cricket game held at Durham Riverside last Sunday saw the Earl of Durham's team win the cricket trophy sponsored by Stratstone. A celebrity clay shoot will take place on September 24 in Northumberland. The Prince's Trust Challenge Trophy will also see the north and south of the region go head-to-head under the colours of the team presidents, His Grace, The Duke of Northumberland, who threw down the gauntlet to The Right Honourable, Earl of Durham, Lord Durham at St James's Park earlier this year. Prince's Trust regional council member Nigel Wilson, who is the creator and inspiration behind the challenge trophy, said: "The Prince's Trust Challenge Trophy celebrity football match is the fourth, final and by far the biggest event across all four of the 2007 charity games. "We are urging people in Sunderland to get behind their Earl of Durham team and come along for a full day of entertainment. They will also see one of the most impressive team line- ups the region has witnessed in years as well as raise money for The Prince's Trust." Tickets go on sale next Monday (September 10) from St James' Park Box Office (0191) 261 1571 or via www.nufc.co.uk priced at £12 for adults and £6 for children. Corporate hospitality tickets will be sold on a first come basis at £99 per person plus VAT. The evening celebration dinner featuring after dinner speakers from the celebrity teams and a football memorabilia auction is priced at £100 per person - Call (0191) 201 8682 for more details. For further information visit www.princes-trust.org.uk/trophy

I'm no fucking weegie..

Former referee Graham Poll says officials at last summer's World Cup were encouraged by Fifa to "look out for" England striker Peter Crouch. Crouch, 26, is banned for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday and Poll says that is no surprise. He told BBC 5live: "Fifa's head of refereeing said, 'look at Crouch, he's a pain and he gets away with a lot. We need to mark him out and look for him'. "We were shown videos of him. I tried to defend him, being English." Poll added: "Before last year's tournament in Germany, we watched England's warm-up games. "We had been out there for two or three weeks before, and it was pointed out the way he used his arms. "Now, Crouch has been picking up cautions in qualifying and is out of Saturday's match." Recalled Wigan striker Emile Heskey could be set to partner Michael Owen in Crouch's absence on Saturday. Crouch will be available when England take on Russia in another crucial Euro 2008 qualifier next Wednesday.

...is back!

NOBBY SOLANO has apologised to Newcastle United for not winning a trophy for them in his two stints at St James’ Park. In an emotional and exclusive interview with the Chronicle, the popular little Peruvian told me: “I will never forget the Newcastle United supporters. “They will always have a place in my heart, no matter where I am in the world.” Yet Solano insists he had changed his mind about leaving United and had decided to stay when West Ham came back in for him just hours before Friday’s midnight transfer deadline. The Chronicle revealed on August 9 that Solano wanted to leave “for family reasons” and that the Hammers were keen to sign him. It all happened very quickly on Friday, but I tracked Solano down as he waited in Madrid airport with his big pal, Chelsea’s Claudio Pizarro, on their way to Peru for the forthcoming friendlies with Bolivia and Colombia. He said today: “I only have one regret about my time at Newcastle United, and that is I did not help give the fans the trophy they deserve. “I have to say the Newcastle supporters were great to me and I can honestly say I always tried my very best for them. “The only reason I wanted to leave was because of my family, and they all seemed to understand this. “I know I am a professional footballer, but my family is very important to me. “While my daughter Luana was born in Birmingham during my time at Aston Villa, my son Madias was born and bred in Newcastle and he is a real Geordie boy. “They are in London and that is the only reason I wanted to go down there. “Yet on Friday morning I had changed my mind and I was convinced I would be staying – and I was happy with that. “Looking at the great squad Newcastle have, I accepted I would not play that many matches this season. “So for that reason and for my family, I thought it was best to go when West Ham came back in for me.” Solano went on: “While we did not win a trophy, I am going with a lot of great memories. “The best came in the Champions League with Sir Bobby Robson. “From a personal point of view, I did not score a better goal than the one against 1860 Munich in the Olympic Stadium in the InterToto Cup in 2001. “The goal which gave me the greatest pleasure, though, was probably the winner at Elland Road over Christmas that same year, when Kieron Dyer and myself created havoc against Leeds United.” After his trip back to Peru, Solano will make his Upton Park bow for West Ham against Middlesbrough. Then it is back to St James’ Park with fellow former United colleagues Craig Bellamy and Lee Bowyer and possibly Scott Parker – but not, of course, Dyer who has a broken leg – for the Premier League match with Sam Allardyce’s side on September 23. Solano added: “It will be great to come back so soon because everything happened so fast on Friday I did not have much time to say many goodbyes. “You never know, I might be back permanently one day as manager of Newcastle United. “Or as a coach if Alan Shearer is looking for one in years to come!”

With us coming up to a week of international football and some important games for the home nations, which sides if any do you see qualifying for the next Euro Championships or who is going to be glorious in defeat?

A photographer has unveiled plans to recreate a classic Old Firm moment at Hampden - using nudes. Alistair Devine is looking for nude volunteers to pose for the image which will celebrate a historic clash between Rangers and Celtic. Mr Devine organised a similar project last year where he photographed 30 nude volunteers in a bar in the name of art. The new event, which aims to raise awareness of anti-sectarianism, has been scheduled for later this month. In 1980, Mr Devine captured a famous scene of riots at an Old Firm Game at Hampden, with police on horses trying to halt fighting on the pitch. Almost 30 years on, his Stripped Naked project will aim to shoot a scene of nude Rangers and Celtic fans meeting in perfect harmony on the pitch. Stripped Naked will go down in history as one of the most exciting, debatable and cool pieces of art in our lifetime Mr Devine said: "Following on from the iconic image I captured in 1980 which highlighted all that is bad about the game and portrayed Scotland in a negative light, I am now going to capture what will be an iconic image of serious relevance to where Scotland as a country and a footballing nation is today." Hundreds of fans, male and female, will be asked to pose naked, their modesty protected only by carefully placed Rangers or Celtic scarves. The appeal is for participants aged over 18 and "of any shape or size". Oli Norman, managing director of events firm DADA, which is helping to organise the project, said: "Stripped Naked will go down in history as one of the most exciting, debatable and cool pieces of art in our lifetime."

Exactly what it says on the tin. Looking through the whole Toontastic forum who would you say is the most stupid poster?

Cheers to Sned and Rikko

Happy Birthday lads..

Bollocks, he's fucked off for the best reason in the world, to be closer to his children. There is no better reason than I can think of. His wife left him for whatever reason and took his kids to London, more power to Nobby for wanting to be nearer to them. No way, "Bollocks" is the fact that at his time in his career he couldn't have put it off for a couple more seasons. Nobby was one of my favourites but he's let us down by moving. Using his kids as an excuse is poor, as if he/they couldn't commute for a couple of years? It's that attitude that's fucked up a load of footballers these days. So you're telling me if your family was at one end of the country and you were at the other and there was a job that paid just aswell right next to your family you wouldn't move? Fuck off, man There's other things to take in to consideration - loyalty and the length of a footballer's career. I can see what you're getting at but it seems like a pointless upheaval to me for 2 years in the grand scheme of such a short career. Loyalty to who. The people who pay your wages, the people who cheer or boo you, or the children you brought into this world? The length of a footballers career can prove to be a damn sight longer than the lives of some children who leave this world through sickness, accidents, even murder. It's a question of priorities in a person's mind isn't it. In Nobby's mind he's done the right thing for his children and he's to be commended for that. If all talk about Nobbys personal life is true, his wife wouldn't have fucked off down south in the first place and he would not be going running after her. Nobby has been my favourite player for many years now and easily the most technically gifted player we have had in recent seasons but (again if true) why shouldn't we think we have been shafted out of one of our best players by his off the park behaviour. If it was Dyer, Bellamy, JJ etc they would be getting no end of abuse on here...

Happy Birthday dude.

Aye I was wondering why you were not in the Trent today until 2J told me. Have a good one mate.

You don't have to be the quickest to play at Centre Half, just look at the likes of Stubbs, Weir and Pressley

Papa Bouba Dioup signs for Pompey.

http://www.leedsunited.com/page/NewsroomDe...1103747,00.html

From the BBC

Faye to play against Barca, Lyon and Stuttgart in the Champions League