Scottish Mag

Thats my concern. Whilst many feel we are to good to go downi cant say that i`m confident that the likes of Birmingham, Pompey, Everton, Boro etc etc are certainties to go down with the Mackems.

Odds have been cut to 25/1 now..

Souness.

Graeme Souness has warned that Newcastle's decision to spend nothing in the transfer window could leave his squad SIX players short. And that the club can all but forget about European qualification as a result. Shorn of funds to relieve a nightmare injury crisis, Souness last night painted a grim picture of the rest of an already bleak season. "I need another half a dozen players," said the United manager. "We need strengthening in all positions. But I have been told we have no money. "We need a new striker. We have been killed through injury. "We are short in all areas. We have problems . . ." Souness added: "Finishing in the top six will be very hard unless we get a great deal of luck. When you look at the long-term injuries we have got, it will be a long, hard second half of the season. "We will have to get our heads down and take what's coming our way. We have honest players and we will give everything - but on some days, that won't be good enough." Newcastle's empty transfer kitty has cost Souness the signing of Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci and, almost certainly, Charlton midfielder Danny Murphy. Instead, United are scouring Europe for free agents and youngsters, with French starlets Olivier N'Siabamfumu (Rennes) and Richard Soumah (Guingamp) catching his eye. Meanwhile, Swiss left-back Jose Goncalves - of FC Thun - has also been linked with a move to Tyneside.

Fenerbahce star Nicolas Anelka has admitted he is desperate to return to The Premiership, and the electric striker says he has his heart set on a move to Newcastle. The former Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City star has grown disillusioned with life in Turkey and has instructed his representatives to secure him a return to England - where he has enjoyed his most productive spells in the game. Everton have made no secret of their desire to snare the French international, but Anelka insists he will not move to Goodison and is set on a switch to Graeme Souness' Magpies. "I don't want to waste my time any more in the Turkish Championship," Anelka told the Daily Star. "The only trouble is that they don't want to sell me for nothing. But my brothers are trying to find me a club in England. "I have heard of Everton's interest, but I don't want to go there. "I want to get back into the Premiership and I would like that club to be Newcastle United." The Scot tried to sign Anelka before landing Albert Luque and Michael Owen in the summer, but a lengthy injury to the England star, as well as backup Shola Ameobi, has led Souness to reconsider his striking options and he could be tempted to resurrect his interest in the star who once moved to Real Madrid for £23 million as a 20-year-old.

To be fair though we are only 4 starting 11 players down..other teams have suffered this. Missing the likes of Moore, Bramble and Ameobi is no great loss IMO and just an excuse for the poor squad that the manager has left us with.

He totally lost it the other night, and one of the blokes in the house should have stepped in the way he was going on at Marsh. I know she's a total arsehole, but there's no excuse for a bloke to be carrying on like that towards her. Totally out of order. 79296[/snapback] I agree, he was bang out of order and the rest were cowards for not stepping in... The guy clearly needs professional help, hes lost the plot.

Would you not agree that the reason injuries are taking their toll is down to us having no strength in depth? One man is to blame for this - Souness. He has had a 50 million spending spree in which he has let go of more players than have been brought in to a squad in which in his own words he stated "Was not big enough". That is telling it like it is...

I still cant believe we can't afford to sack him. Yes we have spent an obscene amount of money, some could argue wasted, throughout the summer and no one wants a Leeds scenario..but each league placing is worth half a million pound surely the business at the club can see that the couple of million needed could easily be recouped. By installing a new man in charge and with some teamwork, tactics and confidence throughout the squad a rise up the table would quicly pay off Souness and his pals..

Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness fears Stephen Carr could be set for another spell on the sidelines. The former Spurs defender played nearly an hour of the club's FA Cup win over Mansfield, but was forced off at half-time against Fulham on Saturday. Carr had only returned to the side against The Stags following a hernia operation and now the 29-year-old has suffered a reaction to the surgery. "He's feeling that whole area again, so it's a concern for us," explained Souness. "It's a worrying injury to have. "Carr's got a big problem after today. At half-time he said he couldn't continue. "A couple of months ago he had a hernia operation then he damaged another muscle." On the plus side for Souness, Titus Bramble should be available against Blackburn after an ankle knock collected in training ruled him out of the loss to The Cottagers. "Titus went over on his ankle on Thursday," he added. "He'll be okay for next week."

Graeme Souness believes long-term injuries to key players are starting to take their toll on Newcastle United. The Magpies slumped to their ninth Premiership defeat of the season following a 1-0 loss to Fulham on Saturday. Souness was without the likes of Michael Owen, Kieron Dyer, Emre and Scott Parker for the clash and the Scot wishes the quartet were still at his disposal. "We realise the difficult situation we're in," he stated. "It's especially difficult when you're missing the players we're missing. "We have long-term injuries to key players. We've got 10 out at this time." Newcastle battled hard at Craven Cottage with only a late Steed Malbranque goal settling the contest, a strike Souness felt was hard on his side. "I think it was hard on us. It was a scrappy affair in the first half," he added. "We tried to put them under pressure and then they got their goal against the run of play. "I felt in the second half we were better than Fulham. We're just missing the difference at this level."

Aye he`ll probably be good next season in the Championship...

Ha ha! Boro and Sunderland both getting relegated (along with Brum) could be some compensation for this miserable seaon I suppose. 79172[/snapback] Are Boro that much worse than us? We couldn't beat them in our own backyard..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luque off O'Brien on

Is anyone surprised?

I don't want the likes of McLaren and Bruce getting sacked... 79161[/snapback] Wouldn't make much difference to us as Souness is going nowhere by the looks of things..

6-0 for Arsenal now..

Elliott coming on for Carr...

Boro getting hammered 4-0

Abdoulaye Meite remains hopeful he can resurrect a move to Newcastle United, despite his reluctance to withdraw from the African Cup of Nations. The Marseille defender is wanted by a trio of Premiership clubs, with Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers joining Newcastle in the hunt. Magpies boss Graeme Souness is loath to press ahead with his interest in Meite due to the stopper's desire to play for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations. That has scuppered any chance of a loan deal until the end of the season, but Meite appears keen on a permanent move to St James' Park. He readily admits he will not change his mind about representing his country, but is optimistic some form of deal can be reached before the close of the transfer window. "There are still contacts," Meite told L'Equipe. "But, of course, it is out of the question I will leave my national team. "My number one aim is the African Cup of Nations, but I have no worries. "January is not over. Anything can still happen. "If the Newcastle people really want me, they will hire me, and if we can find an agreement it will be with pleasure. "I would prefer a definitive transfer, but I am still open."

Carrs struggling now...

We are shit....

Seamus has a knock and is trying to run it off...

I took the squad from .com, seems hes on the bench after all..