Scottish Mag

I`m not going anywhere......

I`ll be there around 1..

Roeder more likely. If Souness goes, his inept coaches a la Saunders, Murray etc would have to follow...

How exactly are they a better prospect?? 63123[/snapback] I think they have a more realistic chance of qualifying for Europe.... 63128[/snapback] If you have seen them play this season you would not be so confident. And even if they did they have no money and about 3 decent players in the existing squad if they are lucky.

How exactly are they a better prospect??

If he doesnt get a win on Saturday theres every chance he could end up out his job after the Gooners game which surely will end in defeat?

Exactly! The games against the likes of the Mackems, Man City and Blackburn were awful and on another day we would not have picked up the 3 points.

Fucking pathetic performance once again..

The frightening thing is that these days i am not shocked at how bad we are playing and i expect performances like this going into every game.

Well that was a joke...

Alan Shearer could be fielded as an emergency centre-half when New castle put their Carling Cup ambitions to the test at Wigan tonight as Graeme Souness attempts to man age a defensive crisis which threatens the club's in volvement in the compet ition. A manager already missing four senior stoppers with injuries has found himself with a major selection dilemma after it emerged that Titus Bramble has suffered a groin problem which has put his participation at the JJB Stadium in doubt. And with just three other defenders named in his 18- man squad last night, Souness will be forced to take radical action should the former England Under-21 international fail to recover his fitness in time for this evening's fourth-round tie. Souness will consider partnering Jean-Alain Boumsong with Peter Ramage and switching Nolberto Solano to the right- back role he has experience of while playing in South America. But the United boss is understood to favour leaving Ramage where he is and instead asking Shearer to drop into the heart of his defence. The prospect was discussed at the club's training ground yesterday. Souness will give Bramble as much time as possible to recover. But, given his horrendous luck with injuries this season, the Scot is keen to have a well-rehearsed contingency plan and his skipper has been sounded out about the situation already. With Steven Taylor, Stephen Carr, Celestine Babayaro and Craig Moore all sidelined, Newcastle's unfortunate manager will have no choice but to play someone out of position should Bramble, as expected, not make it. If it turns out to be Shearer, United will be below strength at the front as well as the back, and, with Michael Owen missing with a torn groin muscle, Michael Chopra will hope to get the nod to partner Shola Ameobi. For a manager keen to progress in the competition, the latest injury problems to beset his squad have come as a major blow. That familiar problems continue to blight his best efforts is the source of great frustration to Souness. Meanwhile, the British Olympic Association's medical staff have become the latest to try to get to the bottom of Kieron Dyer's injury problems. The 26-year-old has been sent to the Olympic Medical Institute in Harrow, Essex, in a bid to further investigate the problems blighting his career. Striker Michael Owen will also play no part when Newcastle United travel to Wigan Athletic in round four of the League Cup tonight. As recently as Sunday evening assistant manager Alan Murray declared himself "very hopeful" of having the club's record signing available, only for it to emerge he has torn a groin muscle. United say they are hopeful Dyer will be fit to face Arsenal a week on Saturday but sending the player to spend five days at the centre shows their desperation to finally resolve the saga. "Kieron is spending five days in the residential unit and is being constantly assessed," Souness revealed. "We did it just to make sure our staff are not missing anything. Another view on things would not do any harm. "Kieron has been around here with no end in sight for him so it is good to have a change of venue." The centre is designed to fast-track the recovery of injured athletes through individually-tailored programmes. Dyer is still to play consecutive matches for United this season as he struggles to overcome a problem manifesting itself in the hamstring. And although Dyer has refused to set a date for his return after a series of comeback dates have been and gone this season, Souness said: "I would think he could be in the running for the Arsenal game." And the Scot is now optimistic Owen will be available for Saturday's Premiership visit of Aston Villa after the groin problem which kept him out of the defeats at Chelsea and Everton proved more serious than first thought. "Two weeks ago this Friday he clipped a few balls into an empty net and felt something," Souness explained, "but we took him to London (for the Chelsea game) and at first we thought it would be a slight strain. It has turned out to be a tear, but we hope he is ready this weekend." Timescales for the predicted returns of injured United players have proved over-optimistic all season and it would seem highly unlikely anyone would return to fitness two weeks after a groin tear. Four to six weeks is a more normal recovery period for injuries of that nature. Souness, though, has been keen to stress Owen's problem is not a serious one. "Surgery was not considered for Michael Owen," he said. "Not at all. "It is a groin problem which was more than just a strain and he is extremely frustrated by it." The news comes three days after Albert Luque, the most long-term of United's absentees this term, made his return to first-team action as a second-half substitute.

5 appearances and 0 goals

Michael Owen has given Newcastle United a late scare as they prepare to go in against Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow. For the England striker, who sat out last Saturday's defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with groin trouble, missed yesterday's training session. There was no explanation from United as to why Owen did not train, but Graeme Souness will be desperate for him to make his 200th Premiership start tomorrow. For there is no doubt Everton will be wary of a strike-force of Owen and Alan Shearer, with the skipper definitely back after missing just one game following his hernia operation. Owen grabbed four goals for Liverpool in his last three visits to Goodison Park and if he does play and hits the target he will be the first player to score in four successive league games at Everton since the great Tom Finney did the trick for Preston North End from 1955-58. Meanwhile, there is no team in the Premiership Shearer has been more successful against then Everton. The United striker has put the ball into the Toffees' net on 10 occasions in the black and white shirt. Indeed, throughout his career with Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and United, Shearer has scored 17 league goals against Everton, equalling the record held by Charlie Buchan. No wonder Souness wants both Shearer and Owen in his line-up and he hopes to start with the following team at Goodison: Given, Ramage, Bramble, Boumsong, Babayaro; Solano, Parker, Emre, N'Zogbia; Owen, Shearer. Everton's big doubt is Tim Cahill, who scored in the corresponding game last season, with the Aussie international missing Saturday's 4-0 drubbing at West Brom because of a long-term groin problem. Everton boss David Moyes hopes to have Portuguese left-back Nuno Valente back in his side for the first time in a month following his knee injury. However, former United left-back Alessandro Pistone will not play again this year while Gary Naysmith, Matteo Ferrari and Lee Carsley are all out because of injury. The game is going out live on Sky Sports (not pay per view) and will have a 1-30 start. Like all games over the weekend, there will be a one-minute silence as a tribute to George Best, who died yesterday

The last time Newcastle fans were promised one of Graeme Souness' summer signings would be worth the wait once he was fully fit, they were not disappointed. Emre wasted little time winning over the Gallowgate End and now Albert Luque is hoping to do likewise. The last two months have been hugely frustrating not only for the fans and Souness, but also for Luque as he nursed the injured hamstring which has become something of a rite of passage for Newcastle players. The Spanish attacker - the rocket man according to his manager - is set to start on the bench at Goodison Park tomorrow desperate to start repaying his £9.5m transfer fee. "I've had a few difficult weeks due to the injury but now I'm ready to play again I am very eager to show the fans what I am made of," Luque said of his imminent return. "I turned up obviously wanting to do well as quickly as possible in a new country so it was especially disappointing to get such a bad injury which spoiled the beginning of my new experience." The former Deportivo La Coruña player pulled up 35 minutes into his second game in black-and-white, against Fulham in September. Rather than trotting out the well-worn line about not setting his own transfer fee, the Spanish international is eager to take on the responsibility his hefty price tag carries. "The club has invested heavily in my services but that sort of pressure gives me extra motivation," he said. "Now I just want to get myself fully fit and playing again. Then I am sure things will be fine. "The only way I can show I am worth it is on the pitch and I am determined to do so. "I realise the price Newcastle paid for me is quite big in terms of world football but I faced a similar scenario a few years ago when I moved from Mallorca to Deportivo," he said of his £9m switch to the Riazor. His new manager believes Luque will become a popular figure at St James's Park. "Luque will be very good for us," Souness asserted. "Given time he will make an enormous impact at Newcastle. "I see Luque as the type of player our crowd likes. He is good at set pieces and has a rocket in his boots. He will excite our supporters." The most intriguing aspect of Luque's reintroduction will be to see what position he establishes himself in. Initially, Luque seemed earmarked for a position on the left of a front three. But Michael Owen's signing and the subsequent switch to 4-4-2 could see him carve a niche as a striker or on either wing. Souness does not know what the future holds for him - and is unconcerned. "He will be somewhere in our attacking formation," is as much as the Scot was prepared to say. "I am not trying to be smart but good players work it out for themselves. "Luque may start on the left and move to the middle, then move out to the right, it all depends. He will have a licence to roam and cause problems for our opposition." It is a licence Luque is happy to have. "I can play as a second striker and on the left of midfield but I like to score goals so I prefer to play in as advanced a position as possible," he reasons. While Emre has wasted little time stamping his quality on the Premiership, Souness warned United's fans not to expect such instant results again. "This season he will make an impact, but he needs a few games to get going," he said. "He'll need some time to get used to what English football's about, and get used to regular football again." With Roy Keane gone, Alan Shearer going and Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry possibly nearing the end of their Premiership careers, Souness believes he has found English football a new star - or rather his former Liverpool team-mate turned Spanish TV mogul Michael Robinson has helped find one for him. "I am a big fan of Latin football players," said former Sampdoria midfielder Souness. "Some have a problem leaving their country. Argentine players generally only seem to do well in countries like Italy and Spain. "But Spanish players like Jose Antonio Reyes and the Liverpool players have come on in recent years and I have a very dear friend whose opinion I rate highly on Spanish football. Michael Robinson knows a lot more about Spanish players than I do. "He also knows about their characters and Albert would appear to be an extremely solid character." If Luque can live up to the glowing references of the former Anfield pair may be the wait will be worthwhile after all.

Graeme Souness will step up his efforts to sign Wayne Bridge from Chelsea after Celestine Babayaro refused to rule out the prospect of taking part in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations. The 27-year-old Babayaro has not played for Nigeria since he joined Newcastle in a £1m move from Chelsea 11 months ago. But he insisted last night he has not retired from international football - and could be receptive to the idea of returning to action with the Super Eagles. African football's flagship tournament will be held in Egypt in the New Year, and, if involved, Babayaro could be away for more than four weeks. "To be honest, I'm not sure what is happening yet," said Babayaro, who has missed two top-flight fixtures for the Magpies this season. "I heard there had been a report saying that I was definitely going to be involved but I haven't had a call from anyone yet so I will just have to wait and see. "But if I have retired from the team, it's news to me. I don't know anything about that. "The last time I was with them, I fell out with the coach but he has been sacked now." The tournament will take place between January 20 and February 10. But if he were selected, Babayaro would have to join up with his international colleagues at least a week before the start of the competition. That Robbie Elliott is the only other recognised left-back in United's first-team squad means Souness is determined to sign Bridge. Souness discussed the matter with Jose Mourinho following last weekend's defeat at Stamford Bridge. Newcastle defender Amdy Faye, who has started four league games this season, is also expected to take part in the African Cup of Nations with Senegal. Meanwhile, Newcastle have been linked with another African player, the Auxerre striker Benjamin Mwaruwari. Reports in France suggest United will make a move for the out-of-favour Zimbabwean in the New Year.

Graeme Souness has urged Jean-Alain Boumsong's critics to lay off the defender and revealed his admiration for the French international as he plays on in the face of off-field problems. The Scot is a huge fan of the 25-year-old - hardly surprising considering he persuaded his chairman to part with £8.5m to bring the centre-back from Glasgow Rangers - and has entrusted him with the captain's armband in Alan Shearer's absence. The former Auxerre player has missed only one game this season and will again be paired with Titus Bramble at the heart of Newcastle's defence when the Magpies travel to Everton tomorrow. Boumsong sat out the recent meeting with Birmingham City while his partner underwent an operation. And although he has been the subject of fierce criticism this season, notably from former United defensive coach Mark Lawrenson last week, Souness stressed there are mitigating circumstances. "He has had things going on in his personal life with a life-threatening problem for a person very dear to him and very close to him," Souness revealed. "I am not asking people to be kind to him just because of that but to accept he has a hell of a lot on his mind. The fact he is coming to work every day tells you everything you have to know about him." Even ignoring that, however, Souness believes the criticism of his most expensive defender is unjustified. "I understand some of the criticisms but we have kept six clean sheets this season and Jean-Alain (Boumsong) has partnered a 19-year-old (Steven Taylor) with a 21-year-old at right-back (Peter Ramage)," Souness said. The Newcastle manager has been hugely impressed by the centre-back's character in the 11 months the pair have been operating in tandem. "I am privileged to work with him as he is a proper person and a proper footballer," he added. "The supporters have to know he is a proper professional footballer and because of that he will make mistakes, but he is a pleasure to work with." ouness did acknowledge last week's 3-0 defeat to Chelsea had highlighted his team's defensive deficiencies. A hard-working performance against the champions was undermined by mistakes from Titus Bramble and Nolberto Solano which allowed Joe Cole and Hernan Crespo to give the Londoners a 2-0 lead. While Souness wants to see such mistakes eliminated, he admitted there is little he can do about it. "It is all about concentration and there is no training session you can put on for that," he said. "Good defenders have bells ringing in their head and lights flashing and that spells danger. The best defenders always think the worst at all times. "We have to eliminate the mistakes we have made, but they were poor goals to give away and that changed everything. "That is football at this level. If we made those mistakes against a lesser team we might have got away with it but Hernan Crespo is a world-class finisher. We gifted them that result because I felt it was a good time to play them." Souness is hoping to have some world-class finishers of his own on show at Goodison tomorrow with Michael Owen and Alan Shearer likely to be available again after recovering from the injuries that kept them out of the Chelsea game. Albert Luque is set for a place among the substitutes in the 1.30pm kick-off. The Spanish international has not played for the Magpies since injuring his hamstring against Fulham on September 10.

According to reports emanating from the French press, Newcastle are eyeing a January swoop for Benjamin Mwaruwari. The Auxerre striker fell out with his paymasters in the summer during negotiations for a new contract but eventually did concur on a deal until 2009. However, it has been reported that relations remain frosty and with Benjani struggling to recapture his best form this term, talk has been of a move in the New Year. Newcastle are believed to have monitored the pacey 27-year-old for some time and it seems unlikely that Auxerre boss Jacques Santini would hold much resolve should an offer be put in. Marseille are also mooted strongly as potential suitors, as are Borussia Dortmund, but as Newcastle search for an eventual successor to Alan Shearer it would appear they could have the edge. Whilst perhaps Benjani would be keen to remain in France, Marseille are on the lookout for a bigger name as they look to mount a serious title challenge. Liverpool's Djibril Cisse remains a long-term target, but having improved his form of late, it would seem Rafa Benitez is warming to the pacey but inconsistent Frenchman.

Real Betis winger Joaquin has revealed that Newcastle United have expressed their interest in luring him to St James' Park. The Spain international, who has previously been linked with a move to Chelsea, has said he is flattered by the constant attention he is receiving from various European clubs, but is not prepared to discuss his future at this stage of the season. "I cannot deny that the rumours are true," Joaquin confirmed. "It is stupid to talk about this because there has been no offer. At Christmas many things could happen, but right now there is little point in going on about it. "Although, at difficult times like this, it is always nice that a great Premiership side like Newcastle are interested in you. "These stories do appear every year though." Speculation in Spain suggests that Betis, who are perilously close to the bottom of La Liga, will look to bolster their squad in the January transfer window. They may therefore decide to sell their biggest asset to fund their spending, but it is unlikely Joaquin would be released for less than €15 million

Are we having a clique only piss up, or shall we invite anyone this time?

I`ll be there pre match. Union room? Trent?

I might have known you would want some...

Never mind Luque....is Viana a defensive midfielder?

He's not a striker or a left winger...hes a forward!