Scottish Mag

Happy Birthday Big Yin

I thought it was canny as well. Really? I didn't think it was anything special and for long spells of the match pretty quiet.

Seamus is the worst for just "hoofing" it up the park and often just giving the ball back to the opposition.

Why what happened?

Thats right, I'm English, not British, not Scotish, not Welsh not Irish. With that accent who the fuck are you trying to kid..

Everyone's off form for Spurs. If he doesn't get service, he can't perform. On top of which, I think last season was a flash in the pan for him and this season's showing is closer to his actual skill. I wouldn't have him. He gets an 8 on the mag scale though for having a personalized shirt, loving Shearer, etc. I assume you never seen much of him at Bayer Leverkusen?

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is ready to make a £220million swoop for sportwear firm Umbro. Ashley paid £133m for control of United in the summer, and his Sports Direct business is said to be behind a bid for the England shirt manufacturers. Sports Direct already sell more than 60 per cent of England shirts, with sales likely to fall if England fail to qualify for Euro 2008. Umbro, sponsors of Alan Shearer, said: "In response to recent speculation, the board of Umbro confirms that it has received an approach which may or may not lead to an offer being made." One City analyst said: "Sports Direct has 15 per cent of the share capital of Umbro so it is likely to be them." Newcastle's current shirt manufacturer is adidas and Ashley is unlikely to retain that deal if he buys Umbro. Sports Direct refused to comment on the takeover speculation.

PAUL KEMSLEY is ready to launch a bid for Tottenham with Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley. Multi-millionaire property developer Kemsley quit as Spurs vice-chairman this week after being blamed for the Juande Ramos fiasco. Old friends Ashley and Kemsley are currently working together on a project to build a casino in Las Vegas. And while billionaire Ashley bought a controlling interest in Toon in June, he is a lifelong Tottenham fan. It was Kemsley who set up the ill-fated meeting between Spurs and Seville boss Ramos in August. And he finally resigned this week after clashing with chairman Daniel Levy over the fall-out from that not-so-secret rendezvous. Meanwhile, Spurs boss Martin Jol has told Levy: “You should give me a profit-sharing bonus, not a golden handshake.” The under-fire Dutchman got some rare praise for helping the club post £28million profits last year. He said: “I don’t need a pat on the back as long as I get a nice bonus to buy my family some presents.”

Arrests for football hooliganism have risen for the first time in four years, according to Home Office figures. Almost 3,800 people were held last season - 300 (8%) more than in 2005/06. Public disorder and missile throwing was up, but violent disorder fell. The Home Office said the rise was the result of a "tougher police approach to anti-social and disorderly behaviour". The club with the most fans arrested was Manchester United (195), followed by Chelsea (135) and Sunderland (119). Newcastle and Tottenham came next in the list, both with 117. The figures show that total attendance at football matches involving English and Welsh clubs and international teams increased by 5% to more than 38.6 million last season. The Home Office said the 3,788 arrests represent just 0.01% of spectators. Among the overall figure, arrests for public disorder leapt by 25% to 1,700. But the number of arrests for violent disorder fell to 337, the lowest ever figure, from 358 in 2005/06. Tottenham had the most fans arrested for this offence (30), while Manchester United had the most held for public disorder (98). Arrests for racist chanting dropped from 55 to 41, but those for throwing missiles rose from 68 to 97. The number of football banning orders imposed in 2006/07 was down by a third to 644. There were 3,203 hooligans subjected to the orders on 9 August, down from 3,387 in 2005/06, all of whom were prevented from attending domestic and international matches. The most banning orders were at Leeds United, after an extra 30 were handed out in the course of the season to take their total to 118. Cardiff City had the second-most with 114, followed by Millwall (111) and Stoke City (102). Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said he was "pleased" to see fewer arrests for violent disorder. "Great progress has been achieved in recent years which have helped us to achieve a 46% decrease in arrests for football violence in the last three seasons," he said. Mr Coaker added that he was particularly encouraged by the effectiveness of football banning orders. "Overall arrests represent 0.01% of all seats sold," he said. "I am pleased that the police are targeting the kind of low-level anti-social behaviour that can spoil the football experience for fans."

No chance, I hope they lose and lose badly. They hate us with a passion and there's no way on this planet I'd want them to do well - my sister-in-law's a jock and she typified their attitude for me when she purposefully went out and bought an Argentina shirt when we played the dirty South Americans in the last competative match we had with them. It's nice to have the other 'home' nations in tournaments with us but I'd never support them. Same old, same old...

ALAN SMITH has been urged to add patience to his defensive game rather than carry on in the over-exuberant manner which has earned him his first ban in Newcastle United colours. Since Smith arrived in a £6m move from Manchester United in August, he has been booked in five out of the 11 matches he's played for his new club. Allardyce does not want to change Smith too much, but he does believe an element of his tenacity on the field can be taken away in an attempt to avoid suspensions. Smith's fifth yellow card in the 3-2 win over Everton on October 7 means he misses the visit of Tottenham on Monday night. "It is part of his game," said Allardyce. "You can't take the devilment out of him or you lose some of the player but there is something about staying on your feet, rather than lunging, because today it doesn't matter whether it is a good tackle or a bad tackle. It is in the rules that you can tackle that way but it is in the minds of almost every referee that you can't. It doesn't come from them - the referees - it comes from their bosses. It comes from people higher up telling them to stamp it out." With Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi almost certainly ruled out with calf problems, Smith has missed his chance to start up front against Spurs. And Allardyce wants to see him return to action at Reading on October 27 - the eve of his 27th birthday - having learned from his ban. "The physical side of the game has become a real problem, but if Alan can just curb it a bit it would help," said Allardyce. "The next time a suspension comes around it will be two games. Three suspensions this year equals four to six games and that is why we need him to show a little bit more self-control." With Smith suspended and both Viduka and Ameobi nursing injuries, Allardyce could have to pair Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins together on Monday night. While Newcastle are well blessed with strikers, there is still a possibility that Eidur Gudjohnsen could arrive on Tyneside in the January transfer window. The Icelandic international has had his opportunities limited at Barcelona this season and the Spanish club's technical secretary, Txiki Beguristain, has admitted the player could leave. Allardyce was part of a Newcastle delegation which spent time in Barcelona in the summer negotiating a deal for Brazilian defender Edmilson, a transfer which could come to fruition. Any Allardyce move for Gudjohnsen, also courted by West Ham, is likely to hinge on whether attacking midfielder Emre is still at the club. The Turkish international is understood to be angling for a move in January and Newcastle could sell if the offer is right. That would pave the way for Gudjohsen, who can also play in midfield, to move to Newcastle.

That reminded me so much of our performance against Derby. Scotland could not string to passes together in the whole match. I am not being bitter but I really didn't think Georgia were "that good", we however were fucking awful. The full backs were awful, though Alexander was playing out of position but Murty was terrible (again). McFadden, whilst he tried, and Maloney gave the ball away far to cheaply and Miller and Pearson were hardly in the game. Fletcher did not look anywhere near fit enough either. Oh well it looks like the dream may be over and I predict another "glorious in defeat" performance by us against the World Champions at Hampden.

Order status: Awaiting stock

Just had an e-mail to say mine is on its way

Four England football fans have been beaten up in Moscow ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifying match with Russia, the Foreign Office has said. A spokesman said two of the fans had been treated and released and the two others were expected to leave the hospital on Wednesday. None of the supporters are thought to have suffered serious injuries. A total of 6,000 police officers will be stationed around the stadium on Wednesday to prevent crowd trouble.

Whats the chances on him getting a job here?

Bolton have parted company with manager Sammy Lee "by mutual consent", according to a statement on the Premier League club's website.

I was thinking of getting one of the "Venga" buses down for the match on the 23rd Dec as the cheapest single that day is coming up at around £50.

They get to play 'diddy' teams and still move up places, how fair is that? the methododly is published - all you have to do is to choose who you want to play - you still have to win mind - an England home defeat at Wembley by Andorra wouldn't help much............ I know how it works, the post was in reference to previous discussions and banter with Zathras about the good ole U.S. of A and their qualification.

I've clearly missed the history, but why exactly is he getting this abuse because his mate is a cock? How much abuse is he getting though? From what I see most of the posts have been calling his pal a wanker for what he done, Mancs was blatantly tongue in cheek and him and S.O have been winding each other up. I hardly see it as him being a "victim"...

Cath is going to be seething Aye, what "carazee" mates he has...

Celestine Babayaro is fighting to salvage his Newcastle United career. The injury-plagued defender – who has not kicked a ball in anger for the club since March, and never been fit enough to make any of Sam Allardyce's squads – is close to his latest comeback for the Magpies. And Allardyce says the left-back – who has been dogged by niggling groin and hamstring problems – must now stay fit if he has any chance of earning a place in his side. He said: "He's training and no longer injured. "But having not played competitive action for such a long time, he's short of match fitness. "This now is the last go at it for Celestine." Babayaro was signed by Graeme Souness from Chelsea in January 2005, and he has another season left on his United contract after the current campaign. Injuries have stopped him establishing himself under Souness and his successors, with the 29-year-old having made just 45 league starts for the club. However, Allardyce – who has already revived the St James's Park career of Charles N'Zogbia – says the door is still open for Babayaro to stake his claim, but he admits time is running out. Allardyce is conscious that he will lose a number of players to the African Nations Cup in January. Babayaro, technically, still could be called up by Nigeria, though he has not played for his country since the 2004 ANC, when he was sent home for "indiscipline" along with Yakubu, then at Portsmouth. Allardyce said: "There's a possibility that we may need Celestine in January. "We'll have four players away at the African Nations then, but we have to get him match-fit and then keep him that way. "The squad will be short in January, and we'll need all of what we have left to stay fit after what will have been a gruelling December programme." Allardyce signed full-back Jose Enrique Villarreal in the summer, and Babayaro also faces competition from Charles N'Zogbia, used out of position at left-back this season. Babayaro's last appearance for Newcastle came in the 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City at St James's Park on March 31.

Sam Allardyce has defended the entertainment on offer at St James's Park this season. Newcastle United have made an unbeaten start to the season at home under their new manager, and are back in action on Monday when Tottenham Hotspur are the visitors to Gallowgate. But some supporters have bemoaned a lack of creativity under Allardyce. Allardyce, however, has rubbished his suggestion, and called upon the statistics from their 3-2 home win over Everton to back his case. He said: "We had 19 attempts at goal against Everton in our last game, 10 of them on target, and we have scored three very good goals in the end. "We dominated the last game, apart from the start of the second half period, but we got control back and kept control. "We need to keep on improving defensively, and not to concede sloppy goals. "If we can do that, it'll put us in good stead for the next couple of months." Scoring goals proved a problem for United under Glenn Roeder last term, but Allardyce believes his team will have no worries on that count this season. And he says his biggest concern is stopping them at the other end. Allardyce added: "Scoring goals is a problem towards last season, but we've laid that to rest. "Obviously, we scored three against Everton and three against West Ham. "We still have to tighten up at home and away, and defensively we'd like to be more solid. It's an area which we need to be better in. "Injuries have caused a bit of disruption in the team, but as a squad we have to stick together."

I seen in the paper this morning that he is sniffing about Paris Hilton..