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'I will not sell until I can fill the gaps' says Allardyce


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EMRE is facing a race to be fit for Saturday’s league trip to Manchester United but his longer-term Newcastle future hangs on Sam Allardyce’s ability to sign a replacement before the end of the month.

 

The Turkish midfielder has failed to win a regular starting place under Allardyce and wants a move, with Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Monaco interested.

 

Shola Ameobi is another out of favour player in demand, with Middlesbrough and a host of Championship sides tracking the striker. But with his squad seriously depleted, Allardyce is adamant he will not sell anyone until replacements have arrived.

 

“I do not want to lose any players really, but I’m in the same boat as everyone else,” Allardyce explained. “If a large enough offer is made for one of my fringe players, and we can use the money to bring in a replacement who will strengthen the side, we will look at it. It all depends on how much is offered and who else is available.

 

“I certainly do not want to lose anyone and not replace them, we do not have a big enough squad to do that. It would have to be a sizeable offer to tempt me.”

 

Ameobi missed last night’s reserve team game against Sunderland with a knee injury, but the midfield is Allardyce’s biggest concern after Emre also sat out with an ankle problem. The Magpies are already without central midfielders Abdoulaye Faye, Geremi and Joey Barton on Saturday – the first two through African Cup of Nations duty, the latter following his arrest in December.

 

Barton’s therapist Peter Kay, who is looking after the 25-year-old until his court appearance on assault charges a week today, was yesterday quoted as saying of his prospects of an on-field return: “It will not be happening in the near future. There are bail guidelines we are adhering to and we’re concentrating on the work we need to do, which is going well.”

 

Nicky Butt is suspended for next Wednesday’s FA Cup third round replay against Stoke City after his 10th caution this season, potentially leaving Allardyce with no specialist central midfielders that night if Emre cannot shake off his problem.

 

Stephen Carr made his return from a hamstring injury for the reserves last night, however, playing the full 90 minutes, and Allardyce admitted the right-back’s recovery had come at an ideal moment. “It’s great timing to have Stephen Carr back as Habib Beye has gone away for the African Cup of Nations,” he noted. “Stephen is a very experienced player and it will be good to have him back in the first-team picture.

 

“He needs to work on his match fitness, but that is why the reserve team games are important to us. We will have a look at him over the next few days and then decide whether he plays against Manchester United.” Even with everyone fit this season, Newcastle’s midfield has looked unbalanced. Emre apart, the rest are combative players short on guile and goal threat, and the former Inter Milan star has brought little of either when he has played. Consequently, United have been linked with moves for Arsenal’s Lassana Diarra and Bolton Wanderers’ Kevin Nolan.

 

Diarra is agitating for a move because of a lack of first-team opportunities, as he did at Chelsea in August. Gunners boss Wenger is reluctant to sell and it seems inconceivable he would let him join Newcastle (Portsmouth are also interested) until after they potentially face them twice in four days.

 

The sides meet in the Premier League on January 29 at 7.45pm, and will do so in the FA Cup the previous Saturday at 3pm should Newcastle beat Stoke next week.

 

The potential Cup game will take place at the traditional time after BBC television overlooked it for live coverage. They will instead screen the fourth round ties at Mansfield Town (against Middlesbrough), Wigan Athletic, Manchester United and Sheffield United. Meanwhile, Wesley Ngo Baheng made his reserves debut last night and Allardyce pointed to the 18-year-old midfielder’s signing from Le Havre as an example of the work he is doing below first-team level.

 

“We’ve been waiting for his international clearance to come through, which has been frustrating,” he said. “He’s another one for the future following the signing of Ben Tozer this week and shows we are looking to strengthen at every level.”

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I feel a bit sorry for Shola, he's been completely frozen out of the first tea picture. I know he probably has had enough chances, and maybe isn't good enough, but I suppose I'll always have a soft spot for him after his perfomances in the Nou Camp, against Bayer Leverkusen and the good run he went on for Roeder.

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I feel a bit sorry for Shola, he's been completely frozen out of the first tea picture. I know he probably has had enough chances, and maybe isn't good enough, but I suppose I'll always have a soft spot for him after his perfomances in the Nou Camp, against Bayer Leverkusen and the good run he went on for Roeder.

As Holden alluded to he's obviously trying to piss him off so he leaves. Should have made the bench a few times given the injuries this season imo no matter what you think of him.

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I'm no Emre fan or one of these who believes he's the "creative outlet" we need in our team, but you would notice him a lot more if he was playing in say a team like Arsenal, whose players around him would compliment him well.

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I'm no Emre fan or one of these who believes he's the "creative outlet" we need in our team, but you would notice him a lot more if he was playing in say a team like Arsenal, whose players around him would compliment him well.

Not a big fan either but he's better in there than Smith and the likes of Geremi have been shocking in centre-mid too.

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I'm no Emre fan or one of these who believes he's the "creative outlet" we need in our team, but you would notice him a lot more if he was playing in say a team like Arsenal, whose players around him would compliment him well.

Not a big fan either but he's better in there than Smith and the likes of Geremi have been shocking in centre-mid too.

He does have a lot more ability mind than any of our central midfielders on the ball, which is really a damning state of our central midfield at the moment. If you watch him when he comes on, he makes some nifty passes that none of the others could even dream of making, yet he is just far too inconsistent with his game, and loses his rag far too often.

 

Perfect example against Citeh, he made a lovely ball near the end over the top to Owen who was just marginally offside, I mean first of all he actually anticipated the run of Owen, and actually executed the pass with ease, you'd see a lot of difference in Owen as well IMO if he had players around him who could pick out some of the runs he makes, as when you're watching him at the match, he does make a lot of clever runs, but we don't have the players to read the situation around him and who can actually pick him out.

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I'm no Emre fan or one of these who believes he's the "creative outlet" we need in our team, but you would notice him a lot more if he was playing in say a team like Arsenal, whose players around him would compliment him well.

Not a big fan either but he's better in there than Smith and the likes of Geremi have been shocking in centre-mid too.

He does have a lot more ability mind than any of our central midfielders on the ball, which is really a damning state of our central midfield at the moment. If you watch him when he comes on, he makes some nifty passes that none of the others could even dream of making, yet he is just far too inconsistent with his game, and loses his rag far too often.

 

Perfect example against Citeh, he made a lovely ball near the end over the top to Owen who was just marginally offside, I mean first of all he actually anticipated the run of Owen, and actually executed the pass with ease, you'd see a lot of difference in Owen as well IMO if he had players around him who could pick out some of the runs he makes, as when you're watching him at the match, he does make a lot of clever runs, but we don't have the players to read the situation around him and who can actually pick him out.

 

Ultimately Emre doesn't have the physique to cut it at the highest level so I am not fussed if he goes at all. Whoever comes in as a replacement will have a similar problem as a playmaker, and that is lack of movement around him and Allardyce not being a fan of bringing the ball out of defence, preferring to hoof it instead.

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Barton’s therapist Peter Kay, who is looking after the 25-year-old until his court appearance on assault charges a week today, was yesterday quoted as saying of his prospects of an on-field return: “It will not be happening in the near future. There are bail guidelines we are adhering to and we’re concentrating on the work we need to do, which is going well.”

 

Explains why he's still in the shit. I can't imagine having 'garlic bread' said at you for the millionth time is good therapy

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Allardyce: Toon duo not for sale

 

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has moved to warn clubs from thinking of making bids for star duo Steven Taylor and Obafemi Martins.

 

Tottenham are believed to be ready to ask about the 21-year-old Taylor's availability after being rebuffed by Middlesbrough over an enquiry about England international Jonathan Woodgate.

 

However, Allardyce has told the Evening Chronicle: "While they say everybody has got his price, I can tell them that Steven Taylor is not for sale."

 

Taylor is out of contract at the end of the season and has as yet been unable to agree a new deal with the club at which he emerged from the academy.

 

Allardyce worked hard during the summer to bring in defenders Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye, Claudio Cacapa, David Rozehnal and Jose Enrique.

 

However, Taylor's progression has been such that he has not only established himself as a crowd favourite but also as a key member of the team.

 

The Greenwich-born but Tyneside-raised player has repeatedly spoken of his desire to remain at the club but despite several rounds of talks between his father Alf and the club, no new agreement has been reached.

 

Spurs are not alone in their admiration of the youngster with West Ham and Chelsea also said to be keeping an eye on his situation.

 

That could prove the catalyst for Newcastle, having moved to tie up the likes of James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia and Nicky Butt in recent months, to finally conclude the matter.

 

Meanwhile, Allardyce has also insisted striker Martins is not for sale amid reports both Aston Villa and Manchester City are monitoring his situation.

 

The Nigeria international, who is currently away at a national team training camp in Malaga ahead of the African Nations Cup, was heavily linked with a move away from St James' Park during the summer after it was revealed there was a £13million get-out clause in his contract.

 

However, Allardyce said: "We have had no contact with Villa or City about Obafemi Martins, but I can tell them - and anybody else, for that matter - that he is not for sale."

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Stephen Carr made his return from a hamstring injury for the reserves last night, however, playing the full 90 minutes, and Allardyce admitted the right-back’s recovery had come at an ideal moment. “It’s great timing to have Stephen Carr back as Habib Beye has gone away for the African Cup of Nations,” he noted. “Stephen is a very experienced player and it will be good to have him back in the first-team picture.

 

F*** **F! Fill in those gaps you c**t

 

(PS I know he was't Sam's signing.) ;)

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I feel a bit sorry for Shola, he's been completely frozen out of the first tea picture. I know he probably has had enough chances, and maybe isn't good enough, but I suppose I'll always have a soft spot for him after his perfomances in the Nou Camp, against Bayer Leverkusen and the good run he went on for Roeder.

As Holden alluded to he's obviously trying to piss him off so he leaves. Should have made the bench a few times given the injuries this season imo no matter what you think of him.

The writing was on the was vs. Stoke: Carroll who'd just returned from a failed loan at Preston and Lua-Lua plucked from the stiffs selected ahead of him. Ouch!

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no great loss if you ask me, one of those players who, no matter how much they love the club, isn't good enough for us to keep. Sell him to a championship side, I think that it's his level and he'll do very well for himself there.

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I'm no Emre fan or one of these who believes he's the "creative outlet" we need in our team, but you would notice him a lot more if he was playing in say a team like Arsenal, whose players around him would compliment him well.

 

 

Not sure Wenger is into players who get knackered after 10 min.

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I'm no Emre fan or one of these who believes he's the "creative outlet" we need in our team, but you would notice him a lot more if he was playing in say a team like Arsenal, whose players around him would compliment him well.

 

 

Not sure Wenger is into players who get knackered after 10 min.

You know what I meant man.

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