Scottish Mag

Zenit St Petersburg have revealed that an English club are trying to land Alexander Kerzhakov. Sevilla are long-term admirers of the Russian international and are heading the queue of clubs trying to secure his signature. The Uefa Cup winners first bid for Kerzhakov in the summer, but they failed to convince Zenit to sell. Now the Russians are inclined to let the forward leave and have revealed that three other teams have bid along with Sevilla - including their city rivals Real Betis. Zenit's sporting director Konstantin Sarsaniya also claims Kerzhakov - a former Tottenham target - is again wanted in England. The identity of the Premiership club is not known, but some Russian sources have named Bolton and Newcastle as likely bidders. "We have got four bids for Alexander Kerzhakov," Sarsaniya revealed. "They are from Sevilla, Betis and two teams: one from England and one from France. "I can't broadcast these clubs according to terms of negotiations, but one of them is playing in Champions League." Sarsaniya also stated that Sevilla's initial offer has been rejected - but the player himself wants a move to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. "Sevilla made ridiculous offer for Alexander Kerzhakov," he added "They offered €1.5 million; other teams offer much more money, but Kerzhakov still wants to go only to Sevilla. "This summer Sevilla offered €9 million for Kerzhakov, but our board decided to reject bid. "We know that this is the way that Sevilla try to get new players whose contracts are close to expiring. "Sevilla offer unacceptable terms to clubs and at the same time asks the player to wait til the end of his contract, promising to sign him as a free agent. "If Kerzhakov won't go anywhere else he will stay at the club till end of his contract in December the 2007. Zenit won't sell Kerzhakov for €1.5 million, we aren't idiots"

Because if he wasn't a famous footballer he'd be in jail by now. Thats true, and so would quite a few of them tbh Aye! To be fair, it hasn't stopped some of them either! Ferguson, Pennant, et al. Ferguson went to jail tbh..

Aye he was shite at Barcelona wasn't he?

So much for the Group of Death...

How on Earth would they be able to make money doing that? If money is purely your game you don't buy a football club tbh. Exactly. The only way to make money in football is through success and the way we have hope of that is by investment. As for stripping our assets, do we actually have that many? Our squad value is worth considerably less than I think most of us supporters would like to think.

Titus Bramble has vowed to do all he can to earn a new contract at Newcastle United after insisting he never wants to leave the club despite the personal criticism he has been forced to endure at times in the past. Bramble, who will once again start in the centre of defence against Eintracht Frankfurt tonight, remains a popular figure among supporters despite a poor start to the season which appeared to suggest the centre back was slipping back into bad habits and damaging lapses in concentration. But the former England Under-21 international, who is out of contract at the end of the season and who can discuss a free transfer move with other clubs under the Bosman rule if a new deal has not been agreed by the New Year, is adamant he wants to prove he deserves to stay at the club he has grown to love. "I want to stay at Newcastle United," said Bramble, who at 24 is confident the best years of his career are ahead of him. "I love the club and I am settled in the North-East. Leaving Newcastle would be a massive wrench. There are not many better clubs to play your football at in Europe than Newcastle United. "I've grown up at this club, both as a footballer and a person and I'm not thinking about leaving. "I've not heard anything about a new contract yet and, to be honest, that isn't up to me. I've spoken to the manager and he's told me to go out there, play my football and prove to everyone that I deserve one. "That's all I can do. The rest is out of my hands, but I'm determined to show that I should stay a Newcastle player. "Hopefully something will be sorted out soon, but as I've said, all I can do is play well and see what happens." Bramble's blunders in the home game against Fulham earlier this season led to some calls for his removal but, with Glenn Roeder's support, the former Ipswich man has recovered his form and his confidence to play a pivotal role in a defence which has conceded only six goals in its last 11 games. There are few players who have attracted as much personal criticism as Bramble in the last few years, although much of it is born out of the frustration that he has the potential to establish himself as one of the best defenders in the Premiership if he can find the consistency. And Bramble is determined to show that he can handle the pressure after suggesting United defenders are always going to be singled out by the critics. He said: "You have to be strong to be a Newcastle defender, mentally it's tough because you probably get more criticism than at other clubs. Yes I've made mistakes, but I've always put my hand up and accepted the blame. "I've always been mentally strong, even when I was a kid. I've got my family to thank for that. I've been low at times because sometimes the criticism has gone too far in my opinion. "But I've got family, friends and team-mates who lift me up again. I've never buckled under the pressure and I never will. "If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't be so keen to stay." It remains to be seen whether Bramble will be offered a new deal by chairman Freddie Shepherd, but, for now, Bramble is concentrating on more immediate issues. A point in Frankfurt tonight would ensure Newcastle top their Uefa Cup group, which will mean they are paired against a team which finished third in their group and not a side coming from the Champions League. He added: "It's going to be tough in Frankfurt, but we want to finish top of the group because that will help us in the knockout phase. "We're on a decent run at the moment and we want to keep that momentum and take it into the league with us. "That run has been helped by a much-improved defence, although Bramble is reluctant to be singled out for special praise. "It's nice to see the defence has been praised in recent weeks. "We've played really well as a unit and the statistics show we've had one of the best defensive records in the Premiership over the last couple of months. "But it's not down to one individual. It's the whole team. I think the Arsenal game was probably the match where we proved a lot of people wrong. People expected us to get hammered there, but, although we were put under a lot of pressure, we repelled everything they threw at us."

Is that you Freddy?

When I seen this thread I clicked on it expecting to read that he was studying to become a lawyer..

Newcastle are being linked with a bid for Manchester United defender Wes Brown who could be on the move for £4million. The defender has become frustrated with his lack of first-team action at Old Trafford and has already held showdown talks with Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson over his future. The 27-year-old still has 18 months to run on his current deal with United but could be heading out of Old Trafford much sooner with a host of clubs said to be keen. Magpies boss Glenn Roeder is keen to strengthen his backline and will no doubt be keen on the versatile star should Ferguson make him available for transfer.

Marseille and Newcastle are reportedly interested in landing the services of Chelsea's defensive midfielder Lassana Diarra. The French Under-21 international is rated highly, but he is struggling to make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge. Marseille director of sport Jose Anigo is reported to have met with the player's agent and proposed a move for Diarra in the January transfer window could materialise. Chelsea could allow the player to go on loan until the end of the season in order to gain regular first team football. Marseille are said to be favourites to snap up Diarra but they face stiff competition not only from Premiership outfit Newcastle but also from Lille. Meanwhile, Marseille coach Albert Emon has been impressed by DC United's Brian Carroll, who has been on trial with the club since Sunday. Emon is currently searching for a defensive midfielder to replace the recently departed Sabri Lamouchi. "He has technical skills, seems comfortable and understands well what I ask him to do," Emon told the club's website. "This player has been recommended to us and has attracted interest already from a number of clubs. "We are going to take our time to decide and watch his game. "We will decide after 10 days." Injured striker Djibril Cisse took part in a match for the first time this season during a Marseille training session on Tuesday. However, Emon confirmed he will not resume playing for several weeks. "We will continue to follow the deadline we set. I will ask him what he felt," the coach said. "We will see how things will evolve during the next few training sessions." Cisse will meet with a doctor in December to assess his progress.

Emre had a decent game but for me this was due to having more options to pass to from his fellow team mates in Dyer, Martins etc and the fact he was having one of his "good games" where he was actually passing the ball to black and white shirts rather than giving it away to easy, something he can often be guilty of. For me Emre had a good game, however I feel that had very little to do with Parker being on or off the park..

So is this forum..

http://www.newcastle-online.com/belgravia-...nited-takeover/

Shay Given is disappointed Newcastle United did not sign Sol Campbell during the summer. Campbell opted to quit Arsenal during the close-season and, after much deliberation, plumped for a move to Portsmouth. The centre half was rumoured to be keen on a switch to Newcastle, but Glenn Roeder felt Campbell was too old at 32. Given, though, feels the powerful defender would have been a valuable addition to The Magpies' squad. And, ahead of Campbell's trip to St James' Park on Sunday, Given praised Pompey manager Harry Redknapp's ability to get the best out of ageing players. "Sol is an international defender and he would have been a good addition," said Given. "I don't know if it was a football decision he made in joining Pompey or because he wanted to stay down south for personal reasons. "But it shows Harry Redknapp is doing a great job again with the signings he made in the summer. "Players people may have thought were past it are proving people wrong. "Kanu is scoring goals for fun. Sol is brilliant at the back and David James is having a good season as well. "Harry deserves credit for getting the best out of these players."

TRANSFER RUMOURS Arsenal want to sign Seville midfield duo Puerto and Jesus Navas. (News of the World) West Ham have joined in the hunt for ex-England captain David Beckham. (Sunday Mirror) But Beckham could be on his way to LA Galaxy after the American side were given the green light to break their salary cap to sign him. (Sunday Express) And Blackburn striker Morten Gamst Pedersen has urged Becks to join Rovers. (News of the World) Chelsea are set to steal Monaco's teenage midfielder Serge Gakpe from under Barcelona's noses. (The People) Chelsea will fight Liverpool to sign Blackburn defender Lucas Neill. (Daily Star) Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will bid for Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy in January. (People) Liverpool are lining up a £1.6m swoop for Ipswich striker Billy Clarke. (News of the World) Tottenham are pondering a swap deal with Liverpool which would see Jermain Defoe and Craig Bellamy switch clubs. (Sunday Mirror) Spurs are also planning a £2m move for 6ft 8in Bayern Munich striker Stefan Maierhofer. (News of the World) Aston Villa are ready to bid £7m for Spurs striker Robbie Keane and £4m for Newcastle midfielder James Milner. (News of the World) Watford hope to sign Sheffield United striker Ade Akinbiyi. (News of the World) Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce is tracking Werder Bremen striker Ivan Klasnic. (News of the World) City are also set to offer QPR £1m for winger Lee Cook. (People) Wigan are interested in Celtic forward Shaun Maloney - but Newcastle and Sunderland also want him. (People) Newcastle will try to sign Everton striker James Beattie in January. (News of the World) Back to top OTHER GOSSIP No clubs will be named and shamed in Lord Stevens' probe into football corruption. (Sunday Mirror) Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate is not bothered if he ends up not playing for England again. (The People) Boro boss Gareth Southgate will sign a new five-year contract this week. (News of the World) Milan Mandaric, who is bidding to take over Leicester, wants to install Jamie Redknapp as the Foxes' manager. (News of the World) West Ham are to open talks about moving into the 2012 Olympic Stadium. (Observer) Hammers boss Alan Pardew will have £15m to spend on new players in the January transfer window. (People) Patrik Berger has played his last game for Aston Villa after a row with boss Martin O'Neill led to his loan move to Stoke. (News of the World AND FINALLY... Harry Kewell's wife is fronting a new glossy women's lifestyle magazine aimed at fellow footballers' wives and other rich folk. (News of the World) The relaunch party of Manchester United's revamped TV channel was held at bar called Blue. (News of the World)

Over the last few years he was one of their best players..

Are all the slatings of Ricksen, both on here and N-O, based on his performances or behavioural performances both on and off the pitch? Whilst he is no world beater, I'd take him over Carr in a minute tbh

I went to Uni with his daughter, she def got the looks from her mother..

Cheers for the link, with the permission of my boss I have got to spend the whole afternoon making South Park characters of each of the people in my work..

I rate Scott Brown quite highly, however once again the players being linked are midfielders..

Glenn Roeder is confident that Nicky Butt's Gallowgate rehabilitation is complete after insisting that a player who appeared to have burnt his bridges at St James's Park has become crucial in Newcastle's bid to salvage their season. The former England midfielder was told he had no future in the North-East when he was dispatched to Birmingham on a long-term loan deal by Graeme Souness 15 months ago but, with the hapless Scot having since been sacked, Butt has been handed a chance to revive his United career. Although Shay Given and Kieron Dyer took all the plaudits for their excellent performances in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal that has restored shattered confidence, an appreciative Roeder was keen to pinpoint the efforts of Butt as vital to his team's encouraging weekend result. The 31-year-old was barracked by a section of Newcastle fans upon his return from St Andrew's. But his manager believes that Butt has finally been forgiven for past indiscretions in a black-and-white shirt as a result of his determined displays in recent weeks. "The performance at Arsenal was perhaps best epitomised by a block by Nicky Butt in the first half that was absolutely magnificent," said Roeder (pictured right), who surprised the former Old Trafford favourite in April when he told him he would be given a second chance in the North-East. "If I was going to use video evidence to show young players how to come out and block a shot on the edge of their own area, that would be a great example. "He has done ever so well for us. When you work with Nicky Butt every day, you realise very quickly why he played for Manchester United and why he won so many medals. He is in his 30s now but he never goes back in after the main training session, he always stays out there and does extra work. He's a great example to our young players and to any young player. I think that our supporters are starting to see his value now, thankfully." It has not always been the case. Butt endured a difficult debut campaign at St James's Park that culminated in an insensitive response to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final at Cardiff last year. His refusal to applaud Newcastle's supporters at the final whistle caused great anger amongst the black-and-white ranks and, when Souness told Butt that he was not part of his plans, there were few tears shed. The wounds remained raw and, when the midfielder was booed by his own fans during a pre-season friendly against PSV Eindhoven in August, atonement appeared a forlorn hope. Yet some committed performances - most notably during backs-to-the-wall trips to Arsenal and Palermo - have helped him to win over even his fiercest critics. "From what I know of him, he would never intentionally upset our supporters," said Roeder. "He is such a good professional that he will show complete and utter loyalty to whatever shirt he is wearing. "On that day (in April 2005) he was playing against people he had grown up with, it was a bad defeat and what happened next was badly misinterpreted. It has taken a long time for our supporters to realise what he is about and I would like to think we can draw a line under it. I have a lot of time for him. "If you had a squad of 20 Nicky Butts, life would be a lot easier. The bottom line is that he loves playing football and I think that he has always wanted to play for Newcastle. I wasn't at the match where there were problems but having talked to the staff who were there, I think it was misunderstood." Butt's experience will be vital to United's hopes of reviving a troubled Premiership campaign and, although Emre will return from suspension for Thursday's Uefa Cup game against Celta Vigo, it would be a major surprise if the most-decorated player in Roeder's squad were to lose his place. "He holds us together, he links the back four and midfield together, he knows when to press and when to get tight and he gives whoever he is playing alongside licence to get forward," he added. "He is like an old warrior who has come out of the Alex Ferguson school. "When you saw the Manchester United players in the England camp, you knew who their manager was because of the way they conducted themselves. They acted how you would want professionals to act. He has been there and done it and I'm absolutely delighted with him."

From BBC. Anyone heard of the latter? And how much would we have to hand them for Maloney? Highly-rated, isn't he? Plays for Leicester, must be a world beater........ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Kisnorbo Followed Craig Levein down. Never stood out as being and good when playing in the SPL for Hearts.

Newcastle United are sweating on the fitness of their £5m man Damien Duff after Saturday's gritty draw with Arsenal. Along with central defender Craig Moore, Duff will have a scan tomorrow which will reveal just how long he is going to be sidelined. If, as expected, Moore is ruled out then United will only have THREE fit defenders for Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with Celta Vigo at St James' Park - Titus Bramble, Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage. Glenn Roeder, who must be wondering just how many more injuries United are going to suffer refused to talk about how long Duff and Moore will be out today. But he did say: "Duff and Moore will both have scans tomorrow when the swelling goes down on their injuries and if I was to say how long we will be without them I would be only guessing." My reading of the situation, though, is that at best, Duff will be out for a fortnight but if the scan reveals any cartilage damage it will be around six weeks. Certainly the Republic of Ireland international could hardly walk when he left the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night. Moore looked a lot better after being substituted in the last couple of minutes with what everyone could see was hamstring trouble. Added Roeder: "To be honest, while it is a case of wait and see, Craig Moore looks as though he will definitely miss our UEFA Cup tie on Thursday. "Celestine Babayaro is not under consideration for Celta Vigo or Portsmouth on Sunday, and while Stephen Carr is making good progress from his toe injury it is debatable whether he will be ready for Thursday." To add to United's woes Olivier Bernard has a hip injury and as a result he is unlikely to ever wear the black-and-white shirt again.

I still can't get over the fact that I'm seen as some sort of freak for NOT pissing all over the toilet seat/floor every time I go to the bathroom. Who was it that had the piss stained floorboards for missing the toilet so much? Clatty bastard..

Newcastle chief Glenn Roeder has revealed that keeper Steve Harper is likely to need surgery in the near future. Harper was pressed into action in September when Magpies number one Shay Given suffered a perforated bowel against West Ham. The keeper performed solidly in Given's stead, but he suffered a groin injury shortly after taking over the gloves and was forced to play through the pain barrier. Given returned against Arsenal on Saturday and after the game Roeder confirmed Harper is likely to head under the surgeon's knife. "Steve Harper was unfortunate not to play today," Roeder told Sky Sports News. "He has done really well for us. "He has carried an injury for five or six weeks and unfortunately he will probably need some surgery soon." With youngster Tim Krul in the treatment room with a knee injury, veteran Pavel Srnicek is likely to be asked to act as cover for Given.