Scottish Mag

German sports goods maker Adidas is to buy US rival Reebok in a €3.1 billion (£2.1 billion) deal. Industry watchers said Adidas, number two in the global sports goods industry, is making the acquisition in order to catch up on the top-selling brand, Nike, in the US. The deal will more than double Adidas's sales in North America and boost its basketball and sports lifestyle fashion business. It complements Adidas's strengths in Europe and Asia and its focus on sports such as football. Adidas is seen as a fashionable and cutting edge brand. Nike, with its swoosh, has a host of endorsements from American sports stars but Adidas believes it can disrupt the Nike success story there. The acquisition still needs to be approved by Reebok's shareholders - although this is likely - and competition regulators. With combined 2004 sales of roughly £6.2 billion, the combined group will close in on Nike's $13.7 billion (£7.7bn) in revenues in its 2004/05 business year to May.

I think we`ll see Emre get his first run out on the left wing..

Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim has told Newcastle United that they have no chance of landing Nicolas Anelka unless they activate his €20 release clause. Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has thus far refused to end his pursuit of the pacey Frenchman, despite the fact Fenerbahce have repeatedly stated that they are not prepared to sell. However, Yildirim has now gone on record to state that he absolutely no intention of letting Anelka walk away from a lucrative contract. With Michael Owen looking likely to quit Real Madrid this summer, Newcastle are thought to be ready to cement their interest but as for Anelka, it would appear the talented-but-temperamental hit-man is staying in Turkey for the foreseeable future. "I spoke to Anelka and told him that Newcastle have made an offer for him,'' Yildirim told TV station FBTV. ''I told him that everyone, the fans, are happy with him. He said he's happy with everything too. So that was the end of it. "I'm not selling him. However, he does have a €20 million release clause in his contract. ''That's the only way he can leave at the moment."

NEWCASTLE UNITED have reopened negotiations with Fulham regarding Luis Boa Morte’s proposed move to St James’ Park. Freddy Shepherd made contact yesterday with the London club, who rejected the Newcastle chairman’s opening bid of £3.5 million for the Portugal winger, and with the new Barclays Premiership season fast approaching, he is pressing to complete the deal by this weekend. Fulham are looking to sell one more player this summer and when Middlesbrough made an inquiry about Boa Morte, they were quoted a flat fee of £6 million for the forward, who is 28 tomorrow. That persuaded Steve McClaren, who had also expressed an interest in Pape Bouba Diop, to turn his attention elsewhere, but Newcastle believe a compromise will be reached. Newcastle have confirmed the signing of Lee Clark, their former midfield player, on a monthly contract, although the 32-year-old is expected to concentrate on working with the club’s reserve team and younger players.

BIRMINGHAM boss Steve Bruce is ready to rescue his old pal Nicky Butt from his Newcastle United misery. Bruce wants to take midfield general Butt to St Andrews in a £2million deal after hearing he was available at the end of a hard year at the Toon. Former Manchester United star Bruce still has faith in the England international and is willing to take him on if the move is right for the Blues. Butt wants to quit Newcastle where some fans have turned on him. He was mentioned in a swap for Matthew Upson last month but that fell through because the centre-half was rated at £10m. Now Birmingham want Butt in a straight deal and the size of the fee is being discussed at the top level as the clubs try to find a compromise. Former Old Trafford star Butt needs to play regularly - and under a boss who is backing him fully - if he is to stay in the England set-up.

Turkish international Emre has told Newcastle boss Graeme Souness he is fighting fit and ready to figure in tonight's Intertoto Cup semi-final second leg against Deportivo La Coruna. The Spaniards will take a 2-1 lead to St James' Park but Emre is confident that can be turned around on home soil. Fellow summer signing Scott Parker is also in the squad while Jermaine Jenas and Shola Ameobi return from injury lay-offs. It will be a tough game against Deportivo, but I think we will win it," Emre told the club's website, www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk. And he added of his own condition: "Physically I feel fine. I have been training hard, and I am ready for a game now. "I am in the squad for the game with Deportivo, so hopefully I will play in that. I need a game, but I don't know what the manager is planning on doing. "I am happy with my training. It has been tiring for me after a 30-day break, but I will be ready for the Arsenal game at the start of the season. "If the manager asks me to play against Deportivo then I will be ready for that game as well. I want to play and show the fans what I can do." The midfielder revealed he could not be happier with life on Tyneside, except for one thing. "I have been made to feel very welcome by everyone at the club, and the fans have also been good to me," he added. "I like Newcastle and I am moving out of my hotel this week into a house so that will help me settle more as well. "The only problem for me in Newcastle is the weather! In Turkey in August it is about 40 or 45 degrees - here in Newcastle it is much colder. I'm sure I will get used to it soon though."

How much wood would a wood cutter cut if a would cutter could cut wood .. she sells sea shells on the sea shore .. red lorry yellow lorry .. Do you know anymore?

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Aw ra best big man...

From .com

Newcastle have handed former star Lee Clark a short-term deal at St James' Park. Clark has penned a one-month deal with The Magpies after impressing in training. The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Fulham earlier this summer. Clark spent eight years at Newcastle after coming through the youth ranks, before he moved on to local rivals Sunderland. The talented midfielder will help out with the reserve team, as well as being available for the first team, and Clark is delighted to return to his boyhood heroes. "I've signed a short-term deal initially, but hopefully I'll be able to extend that," Clark told the club's official website. "It was disappointing the way things worked out at Fulham. I was captain down there, but they decided to trim the wage bill and unfortunately they couldn't offer me anything. "I enjoyed my time at Fulham, and after that there were a couple of offers here and there from different clubs when I was released. "But once the opportunity came along at Newcastle, obviously it was something that I couldn't turn down."

I would rather have had Stubbs than Moore...

Mark Viduka is in danger of being priced out of a move to Newcastle after it emerged Middlesbrough will only sanction his sale should they recoup the £4.5m they paid Leeds 12 months ago. Although Steve McClaren is understood to be receptive to the idea of using Nicky Butt as a makeweight in a prospective deal, the Teessiders will also demand £2.5m. Graeme Souness, determined to improve his limited striking options, has stepped up his efforts to land the Australian who represents a cut-price alternative to Nicolas Anelka. Yet Boro's high valuation of the 29-year-old could still prove prohibitive to a manager who will again approach tomorrow's Intertoto Cup semi-final second-leg against Deportivo La Coruña with Alan Shearer and Michael Chopra as his only available attackers. Viduka has been on United's list of potential signings all summer, yet it is only now the Magpies have launched their move for a player who endured a mixed first season on Teesside. The former Elland Road favourite started 15 league fixtures last term as a result of a succession of fitness problems. And following the £7.5m acquisition of Yakubu - a one-time Souness target - the chance to cut their losses on Viduka would appeal to Boro, who are trying to offload one of their growing band of strikers. But while there is much negotiating to be done, it is clear that the Teessiders hold all the aces. While keen on Butt, McClaren is not desperate to recruit the 30-year-old and, with the Magpies known to be in dire need of strikers, Boro are in a strong position. The deal is likely to hinge on the respective sides' valuation of Butt. The Riversiders believe that he is worth no more than £2m and, given the manner of his debut campaign in the North-East following a £2.5m switch from Manchester United, it would be hard to see how United could expect to receive any more for the former England international. The bottom line is that the Magpies are more keen to part company with Butt than Boro are to offload Viduka. It is a situation which will have severely reduced Freddie Shepherd's bargaining powers. United officials could feel that a package worth £4.5m is too high for a player who managed just 12 minutes of domestic football this year. And although Newcastle will attempt to reduce the size of the payment the Teessiders will be willing to accept, it will not be a simple task. Despite Shepherd's assertion last week that United will not increase their respective bids for Anelka and Luis Boa Morte, Souness has not yet given up hope that he will have both players on board in time to face Arsenal on August 14 and discussions are ongoing. But, although he remains a huge admirer of Michael Owen, the Magpies boss knows he has little chance of signing the striker should Manchester United firm up their interest. Newcastle could still benefit even if the England star does opt for a move to Old Trafford. For Owen's arrival would push Louis Saha yet further down the pecking order and could pave the way for Souness to strike a deal for the Frenchman, who has already come under consideration this summer. Saha's agent confirmed last month that Newcastle had made an approach for the striker. And although he insisted Saha was keen to remain at Old Trafford, he admitted the arrival of a new attacker could change the situation considerably.

Well, until you got your hands on it anyway...

Its a good idea for Liverpool too. Loaning to a premiership club is what we should have done with Milner and Ambrose last year.

Heres another for you...

Sunderland are closing in on the signing of Liverpool youngster Anthony Le Tallec. The French attacker is primed to join The Black Cats on a season-long loan after holding talks with the Premiership new boys on Monday. Le Tallec's advisors have confirmed the 20-year-old is poised to move to The Stadium of Light and will undergo a medical on Tuesday. The forward is being shipped out of Anfield by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to continue his footballing education. He spent the first half of last season on loan at St Etienne but returned to Merseyside after a troubled spell with Les Verts. Though Le Tallec has played in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers this summer, he is not a prominent member of Benitez's squad. Anderlecht had been linked with a loan offer for Le Tallec but Benitez feels the player will be better served by staying in The Premiership with Sunderland. Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy has been looking to add to his squad after the Wearside club won The Championship last term and Le Tallec would be his most high-profile capture to date.

Theres been many articles etc on "50 things to do before you die". Do you have a hit list? Maybe ... - Burning ambitions. - Places you wish to visit. - People you wish to see. - Things you would like to try.

Liz MacDonald is a munter...

Is that the boards JJ hes with?

Unless a miracle happens on Tuesday night heres a little song for the Celtic supporters... Clicky here...

Burberry Baseball Caps

Ipod DVD Roasting Some words that were not heard of 10 years ago, can you think of any others..

Sporting Lisbons winger has been linked with Fulham today, could this be a replacement for Boa Morte? Does anyone else think he would even be a good addition to our squad, being able to play both on the left and the right wings.