Scottish Mag

Liverpool have cut their losses on Fernando Morientes and sold the striker to Valencia. Morientes' Anfield future has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks following a lacklustre time with The Reds. His agent appeared to intimate earlier this week that the 30-year-old would see out the remaining two years on his contract with the Premiership club. But Liverpool have now agreed to sell Morientes to Valencia for an undisclosed fee, after the forward was also linked with Real Betis and Espanyol. Reds boss Rafa Benitez splashed out £6.3 million to bring Morientes to Merseyside from Real Madrid in January 2005. Morientes, though, failed to provide a significant return on the investment as he mustered just 12 goals in 61 appearances. He struggled to adjust to the demands of Premiership football and has now returned to La Liga, where he forged a reputation as one of the most consistent goalscorers in the European game. The length of Morientes' contract has yet to be revealed and the move will be a boost to the player, who missed out on Spain's World Cup squad. His last appearance for Liverpool was in the FA Cup final when he came on as a substitute in the penalty shoot-out success over West Ham United.

Mr T - Treat Your Mother Right

I'd rather keep Bramble than Ramage.

If I book this restaurant they better bloody turn up, or they'll have me to deal with!! 141208[/snapback] Are we any closer to actual numbers for the meal?

Crystal Palace have accepted an £8.5 million offer from Bolton Wanderers for striker Andy Johnson. The Trotters' offer matches that made by Wigan Athletic just 24 hours earlier as the race for the England international hots up. Sam Allardyce is keen to bring Johnson to The Reebok Stadium to add to the club's attacking options but looked to have missed out when Wigan were granted permission to talk with the 25-year-old. Palace chairman Simon Jordan earlier this week announced at a press conference that there was interest in the striker, but none of the offers tabled had matched his valuation. However, both Wigan and Bolton have now met Jordan's price and Johnson is expected to travel to the North West on Friday after playing for England B in a friendly against Belarus at Reading's Madejski Stadium on Thursday evening. "Crystal Palace have accepted another bid for Andrew Johnson, after Bolton Wanderers offered £8.5 million for the player on Thursday," read a statement on Palace's official website. "The offer from Sam Allardyce's side matches the one made on Wednesday by Wigan Athletic, and therefore the 25-year-old now has permission to speak to both Lancashire clubs." Johnson's agent Leon Angel added: "He will meet the clubs who have offers accepted, and he will make his decision." Everton and Portsmouth were also interested but they will have to match the offers tabled by Bolton and Wigan if they are to have any chance of snatching Johnson from under the noses of the two Lancashire sides.

Whats the odds half the people do not turn up..?

define "crackers"... 141191[/snapback] Nothing interesting or "crackers" at all tbh, just talk alot! 141197[/snapback] I do not need the drink for that..

If i continue on my long road of sobriety does that mean I`ll be a "straight edged soldier" or whatever the stupid term is?

I may be wrong, but i do not think Ugly Mackems is much of a Parker fan..

Same here with Prison Break. I do watch Lost, but it's getting right on my tit-end that they're blatantly dragging it out because they know it's a money-spinner. Also, people are taking it far too seriously - all the hidden message stuff. It's a fairly heavy-handed piece of light entertainment, nothing more. 141074[/snapback] So you cannot be arsed with 22 episodes yet you buy six seasons of OZ?

SCOTT Parker has started his quest to be fit for Newcastle United's Intertoto Cup campaign after taking the first steps on his road to recovery. While many of his colleagues are relaxing on their summer holidays, the 25-year-old began doing some light running on Thursday as he looks to return to top condition after a bout of glandular fever. Parker missed the last seven games of the 2005/06 campaign, but his never-say-die approach won him huge backing among Geordie fans during his maiden term on Tyneside. And boss Glenn Roeder says the Londoner will "be even better" next season - when he wants to free the former Chelsea and Charlton man from being "pigeon-holed" as a defensive midfielder. The Toon gaffer told nufc.co.uk: "While most of the boys are now taking their holidays before coming back on June 28, Scott has already had his break in some ways while recovering from glandular fever. "He has started his return to fitness by doing some light running. It's very gentle at the moment and I would think he will pick it up gradually between now and June 28 when the players come back. "Knowing Scott, and his self-motivation, I would expect him to report back as near to full fitness as the other lads. He keeps in regular touch with myself and particularly Derek Wright. "Scott's target will be starting in our first Intertoto game, like it should be for all the other players. That's the goal to aim for." Parker made 32 appearances for Newcastle last term, even skippering the side in the absence of Alan Shearer during Roeder's caretaker regime. His final action of the season came at former club Charlton, when he signed off with a 30-yard screamer at The Valley for his second goal in a black and white shirt. Many fans have already earmarked the midfielder as a future captain, and while Roeder has still to decide who will take on the skipper's armband following the retirement of Alan Shearer, he believes we are still to see the best of the schemer. He added: "As well as Scott did in his first season, and he was terrific, people should trust me when I say he will be even better next time. "I saw the response he got from the fans when he played at St. James' Park last season when he was running round making tackles, displaying such effort and commitment." Although mainly used in a deeper role last term, Roeder also believes Parker is at his best when, like in his Charlton days, he was a box-to-box performer. He said: "I don't want Scott piegon-holed as a holiding midfielder. Scott Parker is not that. "Scott has the ability to get forward and to score goals from around the penalty area. The goal he scored at Charlton last season is an example of the shooting ability he possesses, so I want to see him around the box. "When he was at Charlton, the reason Chelsea paid so much money was because he was Charlton's driving force, a bit like Steven Gerrard is at Liverpool. "If Scott Parker played well, then Charlton played well. I saw them a lot in Scott's last season at Charlton and he was their Steven Gerrard, the one driving them on. "He's a player who commands huge respect in the dressing room. He's an intelligent lad and that makes him a potential leader."

Glenn Roeder has urged Newcastle United fans to be patient and keep cool throughout what he expects to be a long summer in the transfer market. Last summer Toon chairman Freddy Shepherd didn't act until the 11th hour of the transfer window on the final day of August to complete United's signings. But he still ended his summer business with £17m England ace Michael Owen in the bag as well clinching the return of fans' favourite Nobby Solano from Aston Villa for £1.5m. Those late arrivals came after United had captured Emre, Scott Parker, Lee Clark, Albert Luque and Craig Moore. And Shepherd reiterated at the press conference to unveil Roeder as new boss last week that every one of his managers has been backed with an adequate transfer kitty. Since Roeder took over the reins his persona has been cool, calm and collected in every respect, from dealing with unhappy players to substitutions and tactics when the heat has been well and truly on. And it is expected he will maintain that stance when it comes to wheeling and dealing in the transfer window. Roeder said today: "I want to improve the squad, the chairman will want to improve it. "We are not satisfied - we know we can improve it, but we have to be patient and ensure that the player is right for Newcastle. "What we must be certain of is that the players who come into the club achieve what we want them to achieve. "We have to take extra care that we don't bring players into the club who are not part of the Newcastle tradition." Roeder says that no player will be described as the final piece of the jigsaw this summer at Newcastle and admits he will always be on the look-out for new blood. The Toon boss is currently whittling down a short-list of targets, with United and Roeder linked with a fresh name everyday. And while Roeder is using experience and keeping his cards close to his chest, he revealed he would remain on red alert for new players even during the transfer window's four-month closure between the end of August and the start of January. He said today: "There isn't any manager - even if you asked Jose Mourinho - who would be satisfied. "You are never satisfied with your squad because you are always looking to improve. "The day you stop looking to improve is the day you should be walking away from the job." When Graeme Souness was appointed United boss in 2004, he said that the squad was the best he had ever inherited, but he failed to get the best out of them and ended up finishing in 14th place - Newcastle's worst ever Premiership final position. In comparison, Roeder took United from 15th to seventh despite taking on a squad made up for players signed by both Sir Bobby Robson and Souness. Roeder added: "I'm very happy to be starting off with this squad. The results in the 15 games in the league proved that this squad can achieve results." Roeder is also getting closer to an announcement on exactly who will be alongside him in the dug-out next season, with his backroom team to be unveiled in due course. And his predecessor as Academy coach is still to be sought.

If you want rules fuck off to N-O

NEWCASTLE United chairman Freddy Shepherd has dismissed newspaper reports claiming the club has rejected the chance to bring Jonathan Woodgate back to St. James' Park from Barcelona. The 26-year-old left Gallowgate for Real Madrid in August 2004, making him the most expensive sale in the Magpies' history when he moved to Spain. Injuries have blighted his time at the Bernabeu Stadium, prompting one national tabloid to report on Thursday that the England star had been offered back to United. But chairman Freddy Shepherd told nufc.co.uk: "These reports are simply not true, and it is important our fans know that. "The club has a great relationship, both with Jonathan, who was a very popular player in his time at Newcastle, and with Real Madrid, after our transfer dealings involving both Jonathan and Michael Owen in recent times. "But stories saying we have been offered Jonathan back - and that we have also rejected him - are completley inaccurate. "The close season is always the silly season when so much transfer speculation appears in newspapers."

Stolen from the BFF.. http://www.troublehomegrown.co.uk/play/3107/

Aye, love the place to bits. No particular recommendations though, I doubt you'll be after a weekend of hill-walking, sea life centres and Gothic pubs. 140851[/snapback] In edinburgh its pretty hard to avoid hill walking, its a city build on several hills. Plenty of nice pubs there, it is expensive though. Personally I prefer glasgow for a night out. 140856[/snapback] Last time I was out in Edinburgh when I was drinking I was paying about £4.20 for a vodka.

Was it not extremely childish for him to take all the food in the house and hide it when he was having a hissy fit the other night? What's the difference? 140850[/snapback] He's a fucking loon...Fact I have already heard a few stories about him from people who know/know of him and it is not meant to be an act he's a numpty "outside" the house too.

I thought the Casino thing was to do with the respective areas Newcastle, London, Glasgow etc and not football club related?

Now that he has left the Big Brother house I expect we will see Glasgow Mag returning to the forum soon.

On meeting Take That. "Mark was a right bouncey bouncey lad..."

Yeah... Yeah.... Yeah.......

Draw. Didn't you read it? 140250[/snapback] No I answered the question

Brazil.....

What with Carlton Cole expected to sign this week and Gareth Barry also being linked they are not messing about.

West Bromwich Albion have rejected a £3.5 million bid from Tottenham for defender Curtis Davies, it emerged on Wednesday. Reports recently have linked Spurs with the former Luton star, who enjoyed an accomplished first season in The Premiership, in spite of The Baggies' relegation. Martin Jol's side have now firmed up their interest with a substantial offer for the 21-year-old centre back, only for the bid to be turned down by the Black Country club. Albion paid Luton a £3 million fee last summer for the England Under-21 international and Bryan Robson's side appear determined to hang on to arguably their most prized asset. "We have turned down an offer from Tottenham for Curtis - he is not for sale," Robson told the club's official website. Albion chairman Jeremy Peace reiterated: "We have made it clear since the day we knew which division we will be playing in next season that it is our intention to strengthen the squad - not take it apart." Spurs have been busy in the transfer market already this summer having secured the £11 million services of Dimitar Berbatov and the club are also reportedly close to the capture of Chelsea striker Carlton Cole.