Scottish Mag

The agent of Sebastian Larsson has refuted speculation linking the Birmingham midfielder with a move to either Blackburn or Wigan. Per Jonsson confirmed the only Premier League side to have made an offer for the Sweden international are Newcastle, although there is also interest from abroad. Larsson’s preference is to remain in England but it may not be at Birmingham next season following Blues’ relegation from the top flight. “I have seen [the Blackburn link] in the English newspapers but I know nothing about that,” Jonsson told setantasports.com. “There are a lot of rumours at this time of year – the Wigan story is the same. “The only offer I know of is from Newcastle but I haven’t heard from them in the last week. “There is interest from abroad as well but Sebastian wants to stay in England. “It is still early in the window - we could know more at the end of July.”

Happy Birthday Dude. Hope you have your best shellsuit out for your big party!

Happy Birthday dude..

She sounds delightful. Well being the upstanding member of society he thinks he is, he'll be quick enough to point out his girlfriend after she does it to the police much like his incident outside Tiger Tiger.... Do tell. http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry299523

She sounds delightful. Well being the upstanding member of society he thinks he is, he'll be quick enough to point out his girlfriend after she does it to the police much like his incident outside Tiger Tiger....

I work both for a charity and with charities. Also get involved with several fundraising things and have been looking in to the possibility of starting a new charity up for Testicular Cancer but due to my workload in all other things I am involved in its keeps getting put to one side for the time being. However I also do not like "charity muggers" and feel they often give some charities a bad reputation rather than a good one. Also on a personal note the magazine I created and work on with young people in my area who are encouraged to write the content and get involved in a project that gives them a platform to voice their opinions as well as get them somewhere to show the good that they do is set to go national. It is filled with TV, Music, Movies etc as well as editorial content but also helps to promote volunteering and the charity sector and is distributed through the secondary schools, colleges, universities and youth clubs etc but after only a handful of issues due to positive feedback we are set to get it distributed across Scotland with an estimated circulation of 40,000 (its also great for getting me freebies and press passes too )

http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?...mp;#entry400588 Dunno if your dad is the one ITK or what like. As you say, it might have been on and got scuppered. Aye it might have been part of Fat Sams plan to turn us into Bolton but Keegan coming in changed things. I remember Given being very complimentary towards Keegan when he took over...

To be fair to Alex he told me about Keegan getting the job 24 hours before it broke even down to the length of his contract....

Not really. A few people apart the majority of it is just banter. Quite a few of us from both boards meet for drinks on matchdays.

"We" haven't done anything to get Andy Murray, he's a curly haired Jock tramp. What a surprise to see this character posting again Must be a right pain in the arse logging in and out though as different personas Check the IP address you fool. T Keith can you confirm the two IP addresses are different please. Unless I magically transport myself to London and back in 20 seconds. Whoa easy tiger! Who said anything about you? It was quite clear what you were suggesting ya wee bawbag.

"We" haven't done anything to get Andy Murray, he's a curly haired Jock tramp. What a surprise to see this character posting again Must be a right pain in the arse logging in and out though as different personas Check the IP address you fool. T Keith can you confirm the two IP addresses are different please. Unless I magically transport myself to London and back in 20 seconds. Whoa easy tiger! Who said anything about you?

"We" haven't done anything to get Andy Murray, he's a curly haired Jock tramp. What a surprise to see this character posting again Must be a right pain in the arse logging in and out though as different personas

I don't think he is a wank. His mate with the large head is though. Love you too, Stevie. How do you know I was talking about you? Well it was either him or James, as that boys got a "heid that looks an orange on a toothpick"...

Fairly confident he'll oblige you there. Got no chance this year imo. Reading in the paper this morning that he has aspirations to get at least into the Semi's. He is leagues behind Federer & Nadal. Personally Ive found him a bit of a tosser. I'm all for people being patriotic and he should be no different. But, I dont really support him any more than I do Federer. Though, I have found Federer to at least be quite down to earth and likeable (in interviews anyway....). Patriotic? He's not from our country. Not mine anyway. He's on about him being patriotic I think. The bookies aren't giving anything like, are they? Djokovic is about 9/2 and he's 3rd favourite. Ancic is mebbies worth an cheeky e/w bet (66/1). I thought that was a bit obvious like. He's Scottish and so patriotic to his own country. So did I But you would, you patronising wank

No! Ferdinand and Dawson Would have been just as well keeping Titus....

NEWCASTLE United have appointed former Walsall manager Richard Money to the newly-created post of Academy director – and handed him a key role in owner Mike Ashley’s blueprint for securing the future of the club. The highly-regarded Money was appointed over the weekend and The Journal has been informed that his remit includes overseeing every one of United’s youth teams from under-nine level through to the reserve side, which has been earmarked to become a testing ground for the club’s emerging young professionals in future seasons. With United owner Ashley targeting youth development as a key part of ensuring the club’s long-term health, bringing in Money with such wide-ranging responsibilities can be viewed as a significant appointment. Money will lead a large staff at St James’s Park including former Leeds United midfielder Alan Thompson, who has been appointed to coach the club’s under-15s and under-16s from next season. As yet, there is no word from the club about how Money’s appointment will affect the position of United’s current Academy manager Joe Joyce. For his part, Money is relishing the chance to shape United’s youth development programme. “It is a wonderful job and I’m relishing the chance to get started,” said Money. “This was too big a club to turn down. I have enjoyed being a manager for the last four years but this job at Newcastle is too big a challenge and too big an opportunity to turn down. “I have enjoyed my break (since leaving Walsall) – it was a very tough two years with a lot of hard work to do. And while I enjoyed being a manager this is at a different level and it is something I am relishing. I am really looking forward to it.” The club have begun to invest heavily in player acquisitions at youth level – with Ashley sanctioning an outlay of £250,000 to bring in Plymouth’s 15-year-old forward Aaron Spear. If Spear signs he will join Swindon prospect Ben Tozer, 18; Hungarian youth international Tamas Kadar, 18; French striker Wesley Ngo Baheng, 18; Italian forward Fabio Zamblera, 18; and 17-year-old Swedish goalkeeper Ole Soderberg – all signed since the turn of the year. Money, who holds the Uefa Academy director’s licence, has been out of work since resigning from the manager’s position at League One Walsall at the end of April. Although his name may not be familiar to many Newcastle supporters the 52-year-old performed admirably on a tight budget at the Bescot Stadium. But it is his work with young players that has secured him the role at St James’s Park. He was head of youth at Aston Villa and Coventry City before he moved to Sweden and Australia to pursue a career in management, and has extensive contacts in academy football. Meanwhile, Kevin Keegan will be looking for a swift resolution to the Shola Ameobi transfer saga this week. West Brom have made enquiries about the 26-year-old forward, and reports over the weekend claimed the Hawthorns would be Ameobi’s preferred destination. The Journal understands the club are still awaiting a firm bid for the player, who would command a fee in the region of £3m, but with Ameobi now back from his honeymoon there is expected to be progress this week. While Ameobi is set for the exit door, goalkeeper Shay Given has insisted he will not be departing Newcastle this summer. He was linked with a move to Arsenal a fortnight ago but has dismissed those reports. “I have no reason to leave,” he said. “I have three years left on my contract and I am very settled in the North East. “

Happy Birthday Penny

*Exhales strongly* £16+ new. I'll say £7 a series. Though I left a couple on the ferry and will have to check which ones I actually have. Let me know which ones you have mate. Cheers

How much are your Sopranos going for?

KEVIN Keegan returns to work this morning looking to kick-start Newcastle’s summer recruitment programme as the Magpies close in on Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon. But United’s manager could have a frustrating day at the office as long-term targets, Turkey’s attacking midfielder Arda and Russia’s Andrei Arshavin, are still no closer to coming to St James’s Park. Having missed out on Croatian midfielder Luka Modric back in May when the youngster elected to join Tottenham Hotspur, Keegan is desperate to bring more creativity to his midfield and believes Arda and Arshavin have the qualities needed to spark his new-look side into life. However, Modric’s arrival at Spurs should enable him to lure England international Lennon to the North East, which in turn would allow him to sell James Milner, with Aston Villa and Liverpool both interested in the hard-working winger. While United are also on the look-out for two full-backs and a centre-back, Keegan knows his plans for free-flowing attacking football hinge on his pursuit of a playmaker and he will be annoyed that United failed to land either Arda or Arshavin before the start of Euro 2008. Both players have enjoyed impressive tournaments and have attracted interest from clubs across Europe. Should Arsenal follow up their interest in either player, Keegan will almost certainly fail to win the battle to sign them as he cannot compete with the Gunners in terms of the Champions League football they can offer them. It also remains to be seen whether Newcastle have the financial clout to land such highly-rated players with Galatasaray believed to have raised the asking price for Arda to £15m, while Zenit St Petersburg are rumoured to be seeking as much as £20m for Arshavin after he helped guide Russia into the semi-finals of Euro 2008. The capture of Lennon would appear to be a safer bet. The former Leeds United prospect has lost his way at White Hart Lane and needs a fresh challenge. Lennon, still only 21, was regarded as one of the most exciting young players in Europe just two years ago following several eye-catching cameos during England’s World Cup campaign in Germany. And Keegan believes he is capable of rediscovering that sort of form if he comes to Tyneside. A bid of around £6m should be enough to persuade Spurs boss Juande Ramos to sell. Meanwhile, Steven Taylor is close to agreeing a new four-year contract at St James’s Park following a series of meetings with Newcastle’s executive director (football) Dennis Wise and head of recruitment Tony Jimenez. Much has been made in some quarters of Keegan’s absence from the contract meetings with Taylor and Newcastle skipper Michael Owen, but there is nothing unusual in this. Wise and Jimenez are employed precisely for this type of duty and, although there have been tensions in the past between the Taylor camp and the club, the relationship is now said to be cordial. Taylor is one of the lowest paid members of the senior squad at St James’s Park and fully deserves a new contract to remedy that considering his importance to the side over the last two years. However, the club were initially angered by Taylor’s demands he be put among the top earners at the club on more than £60,000 a week – an inflated figure for a defender who is only 22 and has much to learn before he can consider himself a top Premier League centre-back. The Journal understands a compromise has almost been reached which will see the most successful product of the club’s youth system in recent years earn a basic £25,000 a week.

CRISTIANO RONALDO LATEST Real Madrid have told Manchester United they will pay "whatever it takes" to get Cristiano Ronaldo but the Spaniards will make no approach until United say they are willing to sell. (Various) Ronaldo is expected to issue a statement on Monday or Tuesday to confirm his intention to move to Madrid. (Various) Former France captain Zinedine Zidane, for whom Real paid a record £45m fee in 2001, has said Ronaldo would be an ideal signing for the Spanish champions. (The Independent) Outgoing Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is taking over as Chelsea manager, has warned Manchester United that Ronaldo will "fulfil his dream whatever the difficulties". (The Guardian) TRANSFER RUMOURS Barcelona midfielder Deco is set to become new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari's first signing in a £12m deal. (The Sun) But Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has told Scolari to forget signing the Portugal midfielder as he is ready to sanction a £20m bid for Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin. (Daily Star) Russia's sports minister Vitaly Mutko has said it would be Arshavin's "dream" to play for Barcelona but revealed it was unlikely the Catalans would be able to improve on the Zenit St Petersburg player's £50,000-a-week, plus bonuses, salary. (The Guardian) Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has revealed the club are close to paying a record fee for a forward. Manchester United striker Louis Saha is a target. (The Times) Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Tottenham striker Darren Bent for around half of the £16m Spurs spent on the former Charlton player a year ago. (Daily Mirror) Bent could be making way for the arrival of David Villa as Spurs have reportedly offered Valencia £20m for the Spain striker. (Daily Telegraph) Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho, who has been told by Barcelona that he is free to leave, has admitted he would love to play in the Premier League but refused to say whether he fancies Manchester City or Chelsea. (Various) The transfer of Brazilian striker Jo to Manchester City has hit a few contractual snags as the CSKA Moscow player is subject to the same ownership issues as Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez. (The Times) Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is ready to pay £2m for Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul. (Daily Mirror) Midfielder Michael Ballack, who has one-year remaining on his Chelsea contract, has said he would like to see out the rest of his career at Stamford Bridge. (Various) Birmingham City insist James McFadden will not be leaving the club, despite reports that the striker does not want to play in the Championship. (Various) Jean-Claude Darcheville has vowed to fight for his place in the Rangers team, despite the arrival of Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty. (The Independent) Burnley boss Owen Coyle is hoping to sign Scunthorpe striker Martin Paterson, Norwich midfielder Darel Russell and Hearts winger Andy Driver. (Daily Mirror) Rangers have offered goalkeeper Allan McGregor a lucrative five-year deal worth around £20,000 a week. (Daily Record) OTHER GOSSIP When asked to explain how England beat Euro 2008 semi-finalists Russia 3-0 at Wembley last autumn, their coach Guus Hiddink mischievously replied: "England had a good day that day, their only one." AND FINALLY Restaurants in Basle sold out of food 45 minutes before Holland's quarter-final match with Russia on Saturday as there were more Oranje fans in Basle than residents. (Daily Express)