Scottish Mag

Graeme Souness has intimated that he could move for Danny Murphy should Lee Bowyer leave St James' Park in the transfer window. With several deals taking shape across The Premiership, the futures of both Murphy and Bowyer appear to be far from certain and could be decided within the next few weeks. Alan Curbishley has recently come out to express his ire at how media speculation has been mounting with regards to Murphy, with Newcastle and Manchester City having been strongly linked with the talented midfielder. Murphy enjoyed a fine start to the campaign, with talk of an England recall resurfacing, but in recent weeks - during Charlton's slump - has been reduced on occasion to a place on the bench. Talk had been that the player was hankering after a move back north but whilst this has been dismissed by Curbishley, Souness has now conceded that Murphy could be an option should Bowyer quit the North East. ''If, and it's a big if, Bowyer leaves then we will be one short in midfield,'' said Souness. ''Danny Murphy is a quality player, who has been in and is on the fringes of the England squad.'' If Murphy does make a move to Newcastle then ironically, Bowyer could be his replacement - as former club Charlton have always maintained a strong interest in the former Valley favourite. However, Portsmouth are also keen to bring tenacity to their midfield, courtesy of Bowyer, and it could yet prove to be a two-way fight for his services. Meanwhile, Souness has played down talk of a move for Marseille's Abdoulaye Meite, claiming that if he does move for a defender then he will most probably buy British.

Should we expect to see a Mansfield player linked in the morning??

Regardless of what team we put out, you can guarantee it`ll be another shite game...

He looked terrible in Mondays game IMO

I sent one in and it surprisingly was put up...

What ponce said that? 75252[/snapback] HTT

Are those views being deliberately hand-picked by Sky staff, or is that a genuine representaion of what people feel? 75203[/snapback] Well when we left St James Park on Monday, my mates were actually arguing with fellow season ticket holder about Souness. These supporters were claiming he was doing a good job and should get another 12 months at least... 75216[/snapback] I actually feel sick The thing is, these people obviously know how to use a computer, as they've emailed in. How come you've not managed to get them to sign up to Toontastic yet Ritchie? 75219[/snapback] It wouldn`t be worth the hassle remember...

Are those views being deliberately hand-picked by Sky staff, or is that a genuine representaion of what people feel? 75203[/snapback] Well when we left St James Park on Monday, my mates were actually arguing with fellow season ticket holder about Souness. These supporters were claiming he was doing a good job and should get another 12 months at least...

Souness - But we do have "dodgy characters" managing and coaching the team...

And Babayaros and Fayes...

After reading that again i just noticed who his agent is... I would love to know how much money that man has made from Newcastle since Souness took over..

Skysports.com can confirm Newcastle are looking to sign Marseille defender Abdoulaye Meite. The Magpies have held talks with Marseille over a move for the powerful defender and Meite is expected to fly into Newcastle to discuss a possible switch to St James' Park. Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is keen to shore up his leaky defence and sees Meite as the ideal man to do that as he can play anywhere across the back-line. Meite has been linked with a move to England for some time after impressing against Liverpool and Newcastle in the Uefa Cup two seasons ago. Bolton have been credited with an interest in Meite in the past, but Newcastle are hoping to win the race for his services. However, the deal could hinge on Meite's participation in the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. Newcastle are thought to be only willing to push through a deal if Meite decides not to play in the tournament and puts the club first. The player's agent Willie McKay revealed Newcastle have expressed an interest in the player and that a deal could happen. "I know Freddy Shepherd has spoken to [Marseille chairman] Pape Diouf about Meite and a deal could happen," McKay told skysports.com. "Meite would be keen on a move to Newcastle, but the deal could depend on whether or not he plays in the African Cup of Nations. "Newcastle want him now to help them out and they do not want to sign him and then see him go away with the Ivory Coast to the African Cup of Nations. "Meite is a top player and I think he is ideal to play in The Premiership, as he is strong and aggressive as he showed in the Uefa Cup against Liverpool and Newcastle."

Chris Sutton was allowed to leave Celtic due to A - His number of injuries in the last year - hardly what we needed, another striker in the physio room B - The fact him and Big John Hartson cant play together. Sutton and Larsson was a great partnership due to Larsson being Suttons legs, i really cant see Shearer therefore being an ideal partner for him..

Probably lying in a gutter somewhere with a can of Tennants Super Lager in his hand...

SAM Allardyce has slammed press speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle United. The Reebok boss has angrily distanced himself from reports claiming he has been lined up to replace Graeme Souness at St James' Park. "I just don't like having my name linked to a club where another manager is in a job," he said. "It's unfair on me, unfair on this club and unfair on Graeme Souness. It just adds to the pressures." Allardyce, who is a leading member of the League Managers' Association, added: "You can't stop speculation when there is a vacancy, but speculation before anything has happened is completely out of order." Despite his protests, Allardyce is still the talk of the Toon, where Souness was reported to have had "crisis talks" with chairman, Freddy Shepherd. But the Newcastle supremo gave no indication that a change of manager was imminent when he insisted it was "business as usual" at St James' Park. Allardyce, who turned down a chance to manage Newcastle 16 months ago, would be in the frame if Souness were to go, but sources on Tyneside suggest Shepherd is reluctant to go back to managers who have rejected him in the past.

Everyone seems to be convinced that our prayers will be answered if the likes of Le Guen, Hitzfield or Hiddink were to take over, but would this be the case? Yes we cant help to look at your Wenger, Benitez and Mourinho and the jobs they have done at their respective clubs but none of the clubs that they joined were in the mess that we currently find ourselves in. Both Liverpool and Chelsea were in the champions league when the manager took over. Whilst you can not argue with the success that Le Guen etc have had, compared to that of the British candidates, and that they may bring success in the long term but... Could it not be a major risk bringing in someone with very little knowledge of the English game when immediate stability is vital? (discuss)

GRAEME SOUNESS emerged from talks with Freddy Shepherd last night in a defiant mood about his position as manager of Newcastle United. Amid rumours of his imminent dismissal and with Tyneside awash with speculation, the Scot was adamant that he will not resign under any circumstances. “There’s not a chance of me walking away,” he said. “Not now, not ever.” Undermined by a series of injuries — Scott Parker underwent knee surgery yesterday and will be out for up to five weeks, joining the likes of Michael Owen, Emre Belözoglu, Kieron Dyer and Steven Taylor on the sidelines — Souness has found himself under increasing scrutiny from supporters and directors. His defence has not been assisted by a batch of mediocre results. Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by a weakened Wigan Athletic side in the Carling Cup at the end of November is a source of lingering annoyance among officials at St James’ Park and two victories in nine matches has heightened the air of fractiousness. Yesterday morning, Souness awoke to headlines anticipating his departure but, should he leave, it will not be of his own volition. The chairman, meanwhile, may have taken a small step back from the precipice. “Let me make something perfectly clear: there’s no chance of me resigning, no matter what happens,” Souness, whose side face an uncomfortable FA Cup tie against Mansfield Town this weekend, said. “I’ll say that again: no matter what happens. I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. I know that I’ve brought some very good players to this football club and I know that we’ve been desperately unlucky in terms of injuries, but I’m sticking at it. “We’ve had two operations in the space of a week — first Michael and then Scott — and if you look at the players we’ve got available at the moment, that tells you exactly where we are. We’ve only got two centre halves and, in Titus Bramble, one of them is having injections in his groin before he plays. We’re even struggling to get a midfield together for the Mansfield game. “We’re in desperate trouble, but it’s at times like this that you find out most about yourself and the people around you. We can’t undo what’s happened to Michael, to Scott, to Steven Taylor, Kieron Dyer or the others, but we can help each other and the best way to do that is by sticking together. This is a great club and supporters should know that I’m up for the challenge. I’ve never ducked a fight in my life.” While such an uncompromising stance is typical, it would be of little relevance if Shepherd decided to dispense with the man he chose to replace Sir Bobby Robson 16 months ago. There are obstacles in the path of that possibility; having invested around £38 million in the transfer market last summer, there is little appetite to spend a further £3 million on paying up the manager’s contract. It is not necessarily a black-and-white issue, however. There was no statement from Shepherd, either in support of Souness or otherwise, although the club were keen to point out that business was progressing as usual. A dearth of outstanding, available candidates would appear to dictate against any speedy resolution and while the atmosphere on Gallowgate is thick with recrimination, the fact that the manager held discussions with Shepherd suggests that Souness will remain for the Mansfield tie. Gossip about altercations with members of his side — Stephen Carr, the Ireland defender, is the latest — has had a corrosive effect on Souness and, at a time when so many players are injured, the apparent failure of any senior member of his coaching staff to attend Tuesday’s reserve-team match against Wolverhampton Wanderers appears careless. Glenn Roeder, the club’s academy director and a feasible caretaker manager, was present. Reinforcements to the depleted squad are needed, yet Newcastle are under pressure to reduce their wage bill, a cause that may be helped by Charlton Athletic renewing their interest in Lee Bowyer

Been playing as Wigan...still battling against relegation in my first season..

The football we have had to endure over the last 18 months or so has certainly turned me into a glass half empty person. I think the key thing will be getting Parker and Emre back in the team and Owen to perhaps score some goals at the very end of the season. But, i am genuinely worried. Yes stats can be made to sound how you want them to, but the one of only 6 points gained in the 10 matches Owen has missed is very worrying. That along with the appalling football we play i honestly cant say from match to match where the points are coming from. I look at the fixture list and i see no easy games at all, we all know we roll over and die when playing the big team (recent performance against Arsenal aside) and when it comes to playing the "smaller teams" who are wanting to battle away from being involved in the relegation dogfight themselves i fail to see us grind out battling performances with the current squad along, as we have seen in the run we had not so long ago where most were convinced we would got beat by Wigan, drew with Pompey etc. Whilst its obvious that Sunderland are down i dont see any other two teams as being stick ons to go down and whilst that remains i am worried...

Regardless of whether believe they should be at the club or not we have four midfielders who cost us well over 20 million on loan at other clubs... Nothing like strengthening an already small squad Mr Souness...

With no Emre or Faye it looks like a midfield of N Zogbia and Lee Clark...

Fuck if the fat man wants to save someone from the sack he should at least offer Taggard a job! At the moment the following managers are unemployed: Deschamps Hitzfield O'Neil Ranieri And those are just off the top off my head. Who was the manager that went to Porto last season and only lasted a month? He was good if I remember but didn't get on with the board their. 73705[/snapback] To be fair, we can all reel off unrealistic or just plain crap (Ranieri) candidates off the top of our heads. 73735[/snapback] If you weren't so latently Gemmill your opinon would actually be worth something. Since the initial speculation of SBR's sacking I've be championing for Deschamps as Newcastle manager. As for the unrealistic comment, why shouldn't we expect Shepherd to employ a world class manager? Or are you happy for the club to continue in mid-table existance? On Ranieri, if you look at his record pre the russian revolution it was quite good. He did great things with Valencia the 1st time and if you think about the fact Chelsea were challenging us for 4th/5th around 2001/02/03 and yet they were on the brink of bankruptcy. So yeah he's real crap just like your man lover 73737[/snapback] Ranieri was a gibbering idiot in his time at Chelsea. FACT! And so what if you've been championing Deschamps for years? Does that stand us in better stead of attracting him like, cos some Aussie midget with ginger dreads has been posting about him on a message board? And funnily enough I'd like a world class manager to get the job too. I just don't think we've got much hope of attracting one, hence I'm not posting lists of unrealistic candidates like you. 73738[/snapback] I might be a midget in your larger than average world Mr Greggs but I've told you before the ginger dreads are no longer Look I just posted a list of available world class managers and I'm always amazed that Deschamps is never mentioned. Gemmill, Newcastle's a bit like you, all it takes is a little courage, just like when you applied for that job that was a bit better than chief french fries fryer. Now you get the opportunity to add up some numbers for a living. 73740[/snapback] One again the term "world class" is being abused..

Since Wacky started posting porn; yes. 73377[/snapback] In all seriousness, I should imagine part of the job the PR department of the business is to investigate what is being said in the public sector (including internet forums). 73656[/snapback] Normally i would agree with that but we all know the PR department within the club is a joke...

Shola Ameobi is to have a scan on a hip injury after limping out of the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Monday. "It just came on gradually, I could feel it grinding during the first half," Ameobi told the club's website. "That was the problem I suffered with last season. When I had the operation I was told it could flare up again and that was eight months ago." Newcastle are already without a spate of players, including Michael Owen, who broke a bone in his foot on Saturday. Owen may be sidelined until April. Scott Parker (knee), Emre (hamstring), Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Steven Taylor (shoulder), Stephen Carr (hernia) and Craig Moore (hamstring) are also out injured, while Lee Bowyer is suspended for another two games. Amebi, 24, started on the left of midfield against Boro and was replaced by Charles N'Zogbia.