Scottish Mag

"Next year, injury-free, we will return to a season where European football is guaranteed"

Glenn Roeder last night vowed there will be no more Mr Nice Guy as he sets about delivering success to Newcastle next season - and wielding the axe this summer. The United boss's mild-mannered image has survived a rollercoaster first full year at St James's Park. But the quietly-spoken Cockney is promising to get mean and moody as he begins the serious business of putting together a squad with top six potential. "Being ruthless is easy for me, though that might come as a surprise to some people," insisted Roeder, who has warned EVERY Newcastle player that their futures are on the line between now and the end of the season. "People think I am nice-natured, and I am. But I have another side. "I don't have any problem whatsoever in letting people go. It's not a problem for me to tell players they aren't good enough to play for Newcastle. "If I can't do that, I am letting the club down. If players need to go, they will go - and it will be me who tells them." Roeder added: "Everyone is fighting for their place here next season. Everyone. "If they don't show me that they really are up to the challenge of playing for this club then they will be made available in the summer. "They have to show desire and motivation." Stars such as Shay Given, skipper Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer had been regarded as untouchable as Roeder planned his summer clear-out. But Newcastle's capitulations against AZ Alkmaar and Charlton riled him to the extent that he will now assess all players equally. "It's about time we made changes. It does everyone good," added Roeder. "A few players here need a new challenge. "We need to slide a few out and slide a few in." Despite Roeder's latest comments, Celestine Babayaro, Titus Bramble, Steve Carr, Emre, Albert Luque, Craig Moore and on-loan Oguchi Onyewu are the players likely to be moved on. But with Emre the only of those set to command a substantial fee, and United making a £6.9 million operating loss in the last six months, it remains to be seen what funds will be put at Roeder's disposal. "I haven't sat down with the chairman . . . but he has always backed and supported his manager, and I would like to think he would do the same this summer. "I need a few more players to be able to say this is now Glenn Roeder's squad. "At the moment, it is not."

Glenn Roeder last night guaranteed Newcastle fans European qualification next season . . . If the club stays relatively injury-free. The United boss concedes that a top-six finish is beyond his side this season, but sees it as a certainty next year - fitness permitting. "Next year, injury-free, we will return to a season where European football is guaranteed," promised Roeder. And the manager vowed to ride out any criticism that comes his way in the meantime. "If you do well you get a pat on the back and if you don't do well, you get a kick up the backside. That is football," he said. "You get judged every game. "I love football and the business, and I accept that responsibility. If you only want to get patted on the back, don't become a manager."

Was it careful buying though? When we were crying out for numbers at the back he wasted 5 million on Duff and god knows whatever wages and signing on fee. Bernard wasn't exactly the best signing and we have paid most probably half decent salaries to Rossi and Gooch who have played a minimal part. I also even doubt that Martins was signed as part of the "planning" of careful spending, more like one of the only strikers left available.

I would give The Trent a miss tomorrow then. Ritchies in town!

Oguchi Onyewu will not be welcomed back by Standard Liege if he does not earn a permanent contract with Newcastle United as the Belgian club want to sell him. United manager Glenn Roeder has admitted he took the American international on loan until the end of the season as a way to offer the player an extended trial on Tyneside, as they were unsure whether he could adapt to English football. But after two months and five games for the Magpies, it is far from certain Onyewu will be given a permanent deal, with Roeder warning last week the defender has still not done enough to prove he is good enough to play in the Premiership. Newcastle's manager insisted the 6ft 3in player had eight games left to show he can succeed in English football, eight games Liege will have a keen interest in. The Journal understands United, who are aiming to sign two new centre-backs in the summer, will keep either Titus Bramble or Onyewu, with Roeder yet to make a final decision. Bramble had been set for a new contract, but talks were called off after he was heavily criticised by Roeder in the aftermath of the Uefa Cup defeat by Alkmaar. Sources in Belgium, though, also suggest that Liege only agreed to allow Onyewu to move on loan to Newcastle in an effort to attract interest from other clubs. Liege have privately admitted they suspect Newcastle will not sign the player permanently in the summer, but they are still confident they will be able to find a buyer. A source in Belgium said: "Standard Liege do not want Oguchi to come back and he does not want to come back to Belgium. They want to sell him and, even though they know Newcastle might not sign him, they agreed to let him go on loan to attract interest from other clubs. "Whatever happens with Newcastle, Liege will sell him in the summer. He has been linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Marseille in the past and there are other clubs as well." The Belgians are committed to selling their centre-back to raise funds and believe there is still interest from major European clubs, even if the player has not made a huge impact in England so far. While Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would appear to be looking elsewhere for defensive recruits, reports in Belgium claim Real and Marseille are both still interested, with the former reportedly close to making an 8m euro bid last year. That would seem a little far-fetched given the Spanish club could have Jonathan Woodgate, who is on a season's loan at Middlesbrough, back at the Bernabeu instead, which might explain why Liege are still touting the player to clubs across the Continent. Meanwhile, Andrew Carroll is hoping to get another crack at first-team action before the end of the season as the teenager looks to continue his rapid progress at St James's Park. Carroll became the youngest player - at 17 years and 300 days - to play for United in Europe when he came on as a late substitute in the 1-0 win over Palermo. The Gateshead-born front man has since gone on to make his Premiership bow in the 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic and has made a total of four first-team appearances this season, as well as helping the Academy side reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup. And the former Joseph Swan School Pupil, who scored twice for the reserves in their 3-0 win over Sheffield United in midweek, is keen to make further strides into the first team in the coming weeks, despite the planned return of Michael Owen from injury. He said: "I've scored a couple of goals and if I keep working hard then hopefully I will get another first team run out. I've loved every minute playing for the first team and it's given me a taste for more. "It was good to get a win against Sheffield United and luckily I've scored two headers. It was a relief because I haven't scored for a while."

I will be there both pre and post match. Travelling back at 8pm so can enjoy a few drinks after the game for a change. Though it does mean I won't be home until after midnight Its going to be fun and games for me if there is any delays as I will be lucky to catch my connections..

I still reckon we'll see Viduka getting signed.

Happy Birthday dude

The laptop I posted is no longer available.

Does that mean we are stuck with Carr?

Poor mans Chopra tbh..

Newcastle United have rekindled their interest in Manchester United centre-back Wes Brown as Glenn Roeder looks to rebuild his defence in the summer. The Journal revealed in January that Roeder was keen on the England international, but the club failed to make a bid as they were told he would not be leaving Old Trafford in the middle of the season because of their European and FA Cup commitments. But that is likely to change in the summer, with Brown unable to hold down a regular starting place with the Red Devils. The 27-year-old will only have one year left on his contract in June and is unlikely to sign a new one while he is in and out of the first team. That will persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to part with a player he once described as the "best natural defender" he had ever worked with, although it remains to be seen whether Brown accepts a move to the North-East. Brown was part of the England squad in the summer and played in the 5-0 win over Andorra at Old Trafford in the autumn. But the former Manchester United youth team player, who can play at centre-back or right-back, has fallen well down the pecking order at international level and his advisers have suggested he needs a move to re-invigorate his career. Brown has made 154 League appearances for Manchester United and would have featured in far more had he not suffered two serious leg injuries since he made his debut nine years ago. If Brown, who has ten England caps, did move to the North-East, he would be reunited with former team-mate Nicky Butt, who left Old Trafford for St James's Park in the summer of 2004 when he also became a fringe player under Ferguson. Meanwhile, Roeder has taken a swipe at the attitude of some of his first-team squad following the capitulations to AZ Alkmaar and Charlton Athletic. United's performance in both games left a lot to be desired and Roeder's position has also been put under intense scrutiny as a result. Newcastle appeared to be struggling for motivation once they went a goal down and Roeder will not accept such weakness in his players. And Newcastle's manager has hit back at his under-performing stars, warning the unnamed individuals yesterday that they are in danger of being pushed out of his long-term plans. He said: "Generally speaking, since I became manager of this club last February and bearing in mind the number of injuries we have had, I have been delighted with the response from our squad of players. "This was shown in our results from February to the end of last season when we managed to finish seventh in the Premiership. "However, in our last two games in Alkmaar and at The Valley I was particularly disappointed with the attitude of two or three of our players - not all of them - when we went a goal behind. This is something I just will not accept. I know who these players are and it will not matter to me whether they have contracts or not - they will not feature in my long-term plans for this football club." Having played for and captained the club, Roeder also insists he knows exactly how the fans feel about a season which has failed to live up to expectations. "No-one wants this club to pick up some silverware more than me," he added.

Panic over the ticket has arrived. Get your earplugs at the ready for Saturday...

Not sure if I will be around at all now. Bridget sent me a ticket last Friday and still no sign of it.. Don't think I could be arsed with an 8 hour round trip just for a few drinks.

Are you having an affair with him like? Pearl necklace next. My boss is a she...

Result, just got my boss to buy one for me..

Glenn Roeder has warned Newcastle United that he will not tolerate having any "bottlers" at St James' Park. And the United boss has threatened that players not showing bravery or pulling their weight will be shown the door. This is in reply to a point put to Roeder during the Chronicle's exclusive question-and-answer session, with Matthew of Northumberland asking: "What are you going to do to instil some bottle throughout the team?" And it's certainly a fair question after some United heads most definitely went down when Charlton went ahead in their 2-0 victory at The Valley a week past Sunday. Indeed, Roeder says: "Generally speaking, since I became manager of this club last February and bearing in mind the number of injuries we have had, I have been delighted with the response from our squad of players. "This was shown in our results from February to the end of last season when, considering the position we were in, we managed to finish seventh in the Premiership. "However, in our last two games in Alkmaar and at The Valley I was particularly disappointed with the attitude of two or three of our players - not all of them - when we went a goal behind. "This is something I just will not accept. I know who these players are and it will not matter to me whether they have contracts or not - they will not feature in my long-term plans for this football club."

This is the one I recommended to HF

What do you expect when half of them piss all over their floorboards etc

A defiant Shay Given has insisted that Roy Keane's criticisms do not concern him as he prepares to captain his country for the first time at Croke Park tonight. The 30-year-old will lead Steve Staunton's side out against Slovakia this evening but, although the Gallowgate favourite will equal the Republic of Ireland's appearance record for goalkeepers when he wins his 80th cap, his achievement has not impressed Keane. Newcastle's number one yesterday came under attack from the Sunderland manager - with Keane insisting his former team-mate has `an agenda' and that he is looking for a `pat on the back' for reaching a personal milestone. The Black Cats boss - who once famously told Mick McCarthy `I don't do friendlies' - said he could not understand why Given continued to make himself available for all international fixtures, competitive or otherwise. But the United keeper has refused to let an unfathomable attack sour what promises to be a night to remember. Given said: "I haven't read his comments but I have got wind of them and I don't really want to comment on every single positive or negative remark personally. But once upon a time, players got stick for not wanting to play for their country. Now, you get stick if you do. It's a no-win situation. "Personally, I will be as proud to win my 80th cap as I was to win my first. There's personal pride in that and I want as many caps as possible. If that's so wrong, then so be it." Keane has been outspoken on all things Irish recently but while his criticisms of the FAI and Steve Staunton were understandable, his latest outburst came as a surprise. A model professional, Given's achievement is worth the highest praise. That he has represented Ireland on so many occasions underlines the depth of talents that have made him untouchable during his 11 years as a senior international. It is Pat Bonner's record that will be equalled in tonight's European Championship qualifier and a man who coaches Given in his role as the Republic's goalkeeping coach does not mind losing the distinction to such a fine player. "Shay probably has the ability to get another 40 caps," said Bonner, who knows his achievement will soon be dwarfed. He has already achieved a huge amount as a young man, and he's still relatively young in goalkeeping years. I'm delighted for him." The honour will be doubled in Dublin, with Given to wear a captain's armband that Keane donned with distinction in the absence of the suspended Robbie Keane. "I'm delighted to be captain," said a player who is vice-skipper to Scott Parker at St James's Park. "I didn't know until it was mentioned after the (Wales) game that Robbie was suspended and if this is the only time I do it I will be extremely proud. It isn't every day you lead your country out at Croke Park and it will be very special." Bonner is confident that Given will make the ideal captain. He added: "I know there is an argument about keepers being captains but Dino Zoff did it and was very successful and Peter Schmeichel did it with Denmark. Shay has all the qualities needed to be a successful skipper. He's the type of player who will thrive on the responsibility. He's of the perfect age to show his leadership qualities." Glenn Roeder will keep a close eye on Given's performance. The Irishman suffered an injured knee in a collision with Craig Bellamy at the weekend but, having missed Monday's training, he has been passed fit to face the Slovakians. Obafemi Martins has returned from Nigeria, with sources in Lagos claiming the striker required treatment at the weekend for an unspecified injury. Oguchi Onyewu has also returned from the United States. First-team training will resume tomorrow morning and Steven Taylor will play a prominent part. The defender missed the latest England Under-21 international with a calf complaint but has declared himself fit for this weekend's Premiership game against Manchester City. "I've been training this week and thankfully there has been no reaction," he said. "I will be okay (for Saturday's game). It's a massive game given our recent results and we need to win if we're going to push for Europe."

Glenn Roeder insists he has no plans to take either Sylvain Distin or Mikael Silvestre to Newcastle United. The Magpies manager has admitted he is hoping to strengthen his defence in the summer and was linked with the duo over the weekend. But Roeder revealed he will not be making any inroads to sign Manchester City's Distin or Manchester United's Silvestre. "Not one player I was linked with over the weekend was correct and I am not interested in Mikael Silvestre or Sylvain Distin," Roeder told the Evening Chronicle. Distin is out of contract at City in the summer and has yet to make a decision on his future, with Stuart Pearce hoping to persuade the Frenchman to stay. Silvestre, meanwhile, has not been a regular in The Red Devils' plans this term and is out for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury. Over the weekend, Roeder had scouts across Europe taking in Euro 2008 qualifiers, while the Magpies boss watched Portugal's 4-0 win over Belgium.

Leazes, is your site down just now? Or am I just banned for being an "admin wanker" on here...? *Edit, I can get on now*