The Newcastle United Blog

164 responses so far ↓

• 1 seetow // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:04

  wall virginity! WOULD LOVE IT

• 2 Ally // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:08

  Sign Sign Sign

• 3 mad matty // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:08

  i told u 2 days ago he wud sign but no1 belived me

  lol

  am i good

• 4 Ally // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:09

  him and Jonas will pull the strings

• 5 Ally // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:10

  was that just a hunch matty or did u have inside info! lol

• 6 scottish mag // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:11

  it is the same comments from previous aticles about wot the agent said, just old news getting re run, but i would love for us to sign him and inler.

  them two in cm would be very well balanced as aimar could go on and attack whilst inler helped out the back four

• 7 ronaldeano // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:12

  If he gets back the form he had 5 years ago, he would be a great signing

• 8 Matthew // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:13

  I can see him going the same way as Duff.

  Avoid.

• 9 beye the great // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:13

  gidfhgfdcbphiungckrkjuhgnvkmnx,f,vmf,cdm,sz/ljijdcsldsxi,g

  hope we can sign him but unfortunately it looks unlikely as if you look at the last signing everything everything was done in a hush hush manner if we were interested the agent would probably not come out withn anything at all and is probably just tryin to get a higher deal for client which means giving off the impression other clubs are interseted hope i am wrong though

  come on aimar seriousely he is mint look him up on youtube

• 10 Mani // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:15

  His agent has said the same thing for over 2 weeks now, nothing has changed. There’s a big difference in showing interest and actually making a bid. Don’t get me wrong I would love for us to acquire a player of Aimar’s class and such, but I don’t think we are that serious about him if its taken this long and still not summited a formal bid.

  My only worry about Aimar (if we do sign him) is his lack of agression. People say you need to be fairly big and strong to play in the Premiership but I disagree. The main ingredient is agression. Without it you don’t stand a chance.

• 11 toon_fan_83 // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:18

  he would be a great buy for us. We dont have anyone at the moment who’s as creative as him and i think that we all know how much we missed that in our midd last season……………….
  Buy the lad KK!!!!

• 12 gavg // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:18

  he can get his valencia form back no problem working with KK wud work wonders for him and he is attacking minded something keegan loves

  i say bring him in can be a waste when he is a natural talent

• 13 Neil stewart // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:19

  they will sign him

  http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=764466

• 14 Ross G // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:20

  Deja Vu? Its the same bloody story you put up last week, as its the exact same quotes that FootyLatest have put in a story today and you have lapped it up, its just a repeat we are not interested in him, I would put money on us not signing him. He is at the exact same position the Emre was in when we got him from Inter. A player that has a will never live up to the expectations put on them. He is past his best, Id rather see Inler sign, he is younger, stronger, and hungrier.

• 15 GraemeR // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:20

  Mani - I think skill and fitness may come in over aggression - or else vinny jones would of captained englenas lol

  We should get Aimar and play him in the hole behind a front two of owen and derdiyok (I think Oba will go unfortunately)

• 16 Fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:20

  can’t wait for the season to get underwear.

• 17 ELFER // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:21

  I remember some statements from the press: “the scouting team includign keegan are not really after south american players…”

  what an understatement…isn’t it ironic that we already have signed one player and are after another one from argentina?

• 18 Lull // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:23

  Maybe just agent’s speculation or perhaps Newcastle made enquiries to lot of players just to cover-up our definite targets. I for one wouldn’t get hype of this. He’s 28, small-stature and I think he would struggle in premiership. If indeed he’ll signed, YAY! If not, it’s okay.

• 19 Fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:25

  After reading rumours on Martins and our argentinian connexions, i searched saviola
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javier_Saviola

  and found someone has made an entry we are linked with him.

• 20 craig chisholm // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:25

  same bloody quotes as last week - word for word nearly. great player, but has he lost his way like kluivert?? I think that if KK could get him playing the way we all know he can, the man is world class, was once the best - and is only just comign into his prime at 28. its just if he is motivated or not, its a massive question.

• 21 robertsa // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:29

  if we get aimar lets go for a hat trick of argentines with collocini

• 22 Fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:34

  Ed, why can’t we post links in comment box? Really annoying.

  Wiki says we are looking into Saviola too.

• 23 scottish mag // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:34

  barcalona have said that the only way that they would be able to buy adebayor is if they sell etoo that is good 4 us cos we would keep martins.

  however we could do deal with barcelona and arsenal by us getting etoo, barca getting adebayor and arsenal getting martins. like that is gonna happen lol

• 24 Hadji // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:34

  Best age for playmakers,lets get him

  ………………………..Given……………………………….
  ..Beye…………Collocini……Faye……Enrique
  ……………………….Inler………………………………….
  ….Jonas………………………………………Emre/Zog
  ………………………Aimar…………………………………
  …………….Owen…………..Martins/Guiza

• 25 Fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:34

  robertsa

  make that 4- saviola

• 26 Fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:35

  Barcelona should buy martins and we get etoo

• 27 scottish mag // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:36

  robertsa why not make it a quadruple of argies

  gutierrez
  aimar
  collocini
  diego milito

• 28 Fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:38

  milito that’s going to be another luque

• 29 Hadrian // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:48

  Last weeks quotes i think like .

  Whats the deal with keegans assistant manager then ? houghton was brought in as a coach, we have a major position needs filling and no reason as to why , not that im bothered about round going , just nobody being talked about to replace him .

• 30 normski1930z // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:49

  hell lets just go for broke and get messi….

• 31 WIGAZ // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:56

  Like the looks of ur team hadji! i’ve got a feelin that oba may piss off like, be a dam shame but would love guiza in black & white! he’s a good player who knows where the net is, for all oba’s hard work prolific he is not! we need to sign aimar! there’s no other players we could get out there whi could offer us that kind of creativity! i wonder if joe cole is surpless to requirements now deco is there? now that would be a player worthy of the no8 shirt! we could play him in a free role behind guiza/Viduka & owen! prob never get him though! aimar is more realistic!

• 32 KK // Jul 5, 2008 at 16:57

  we will buy in the next week- inler-4.5m, aimar-6m, evans,3.5m

  we will keep martins- he will sign new contract

• 33 nicky nicky // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:00

  http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-utd/newcastle-utd-news/2008/06/22/argentinian-star-keen-on-newcastle-move-79310-21130525/

  that’s poor speculation!!!!

  that was reported 2weeks ago by sundaysun!!!

• 34 Oba // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:03

  That quote is about as old as Keegan himself.

  I can almost guarantee that over the summer, very few players that we sign will be reported about beforehand. Aimar included. Like the Jonas transfer was.

  Inler could be the exception, although I wouldn’t be surprised if that didn’t materialise.

• 35 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:03

  I wouldn’t mind getting a tenner for every player who has said (via their agent) that they want to play for us.
  I suspect that if you go onto blogs for other clubs that the same players want to go to them.
  Its all window dressing.
  I’ll only believe it (as with Guteriez) when he has signed.

• 36 DanToon // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:06

  ……………Given

  Baye Faye Collocini Enrique

  ……Aimar Inler Gutirrez

  …………….Owen

  ……….Guiza Martins

  This is my team and i’m stickin’ with it.

• 37 ronaldeano // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:07

  @Bill F, i totaly agree mate, the Jonas signing was so hush hush, nobody knows who our targets are exept KK and the recruitment team

• 38 Sean09 // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:08

  @ RONALDENO: ITS RONALDINHO NOT RONALDENO

• 39 ToonKing // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:14

  DanToon, i sure fancy that team, it would be a dream if we can pull something like that off……except Guiza, i don’t ratre him at all, i rather we get {insert name}, Derdyok, Bent, Crouch, whatever.

• 40 DanToon // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:20

  We not Guiza anyway. Not after we stiffed Mallorca with the Gutierrez transfer, they’ll proberbly never deal with us again.

• 41 gordond // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:31

  If Martins does go i’d go for Roman Pavlyuchenko

• 42 fernando // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:32

  all the big teams in europe had agreed not to sign players on a webster. isnt it typical of little newcastle to go against the grain and potentially open up a can of worms. Newcastle really piss me off pretending to be a big club then doing that. I hope you get taken to court and still have to pay the 9 mill for jonas as expected. that wont leave kk to much money for transfers. In trying to do things on the cheap they have cocked things up for the resyt of the prem. I hope you have yet another poor season and kk walks in jan. A messiah he certainly aint!!!!!

• 43 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:33

  Dan - I like it but is Aimar really suited to play in that possition? I’d say you’d be better off sticking him in Owen’s possition, pushing Owen up next to Oba and putting Zog on the left! with a diamond midfield formation!

• 44 DanToon // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:38

  I don’t think Martins and Owen works when they side by side tho, good point about moving Aimar tho!

• 45 ronaldeano // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:40

  no mate, its ronaldeano

• 46 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:43

  Where’s this obsession with Collocini come from he is no way good enough, Has anybody watched him?

  Notice how everyone has shut up about how we should buy Gomis now people saw how he isnt good enough.

  I think People just look at their stats and as he has played for Argentina he must be good, Well he aint good enough.

  I would rather someone who makes less mistakes than Taylor and the other Young Defenders Edgar, Kadar and Tozer and will lead by example teaching them things they can use and pass on.

  A top CB like Lugano who plays in a shite league and maybe will leave Fenerbahce with Zico going.

  ——————–Given———————-
  —Beye—-Taylor—Lugano—Shorey—
  —-SWP—Barton—-Aimar—Gutierrez—
  ———-Owen————Viduka—————

  Subs: Harper, Faye, Enrique, Milner, N’Zogbia, Martins, Carroll

  Add a few more young ‘uns and were made.

• 47 Martin // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:45

  Thing is though - when have we ever seen Owen and Oba play together with a decent midfield in place and with good tactics being imposed?

  Before we’d have Sam’s boot it and chase it technique which was OK for Oba but Owen really needs the ball played in close and in the box…With the creativity of Aimar and the speed of Zog and Jonas we could see him getting a lot more action in the 6 yard box whilst Oba is still our outlet when the other team is pushing up our end!

  I reckon with a good creative midfielder they could play really well together!

• 48 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:45

  Fernando go **** yourself

• 49 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:47

  Roeder tried Owen and Martins together and it didnt work.

  The midfield we played was:

  —Dyer—-Parker——–Butt——Milner—

  Good enough for me.

• 50 51times // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:55

  That’s a bad midfield, Parker and Butt were both too defensive, Dyer and Milner aren’t out and out wingers so there was no balance to it.

• 51 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:58

  TBH i was just picking because if any of those four touched the ball i would have been surprised, We just kept givng the ball to harps to lump up at Owen and Martins and naturally they won nowt in the air against 6″3 Centre halves.

• 52 Chris F // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:59

  this stinks of an agent once again using our name to get another club to boost thier offer, frankly.

• 53 Chris // Jul 5, 2008 at 17:59

  Mad matty. You didn’t say we would sign him 2 days ago. You said it was breaking news on Sky. So don’t come back here with your Bullsh*t!

• 54 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:00

  Arsenal unbeaten season midfield.

  –Ljungberg—Vieira—Gilberto—-Pires

  Two defensive midfielders and no out and out wingers.

• 55 9 Shearer // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:07

  As it looks like we are making 4 transfers next wk. We are getting;
  Derdyok - 9m
  Aimar - 6.5m
  Inler -4.5m
  Skjelbred - 5m

  I would like 2 see Collocini come at SJP after the capture of Aimar.

  Starting line up.
  …………………Given…………………………
  Beye….Collocini……Faye………..Enrique
  Jonas…..Aimar………..Inler……….Milner
  ……………Owen(C)……….Martins…………..

  We will have that KK needs needs on pitch speed, skill and determination.
  The Squard:
  Gks:
  Given,Harper,Forster,Krul
  Def:
  Beye,Collocini,Faye,Enrique,Taylor,Nzogbia,Geremi,Cacapa,Edgar,Tozer,Kadar
  Mid:
  Jonas,Inler,Butt,Barton,Aimar,Milner,Lualau,Duff,Skjelbred
  Strikers:
  Owen,Martins,Derdyok,Viduka,,Caroll,Smith

• 56 pablo aimar // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:10

  go away fernando, if you dont like newcastle then whats the point in coming on and slagging them off, when this blog is dedicated to them? just shows anti newcastle some people are…. btw you do a great job ed, keep it up!

• 57 DanToon // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:13

  You need to play Owen up front with a target man or Martins up front with a target man, like Viduka last season only better! Them 2 together don’t work, there quite similar.

• 58 Gateshead Mag. // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:22

  Harper
  Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
  Jonas Inler Aimar Turan
  Owen Guiza.

  Howayyyyyyyy the lads!

• 59 ToonKing // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:30

  yes Craigg, i personally have watched Colloccini and he is more then than good enough, he’s been great especially the last 2 seasons.

• 60 t-g-w // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:32

  “US confirms link to Magpies”

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7489444.stm

  And @Fernando why come on another team’s Blog to be critical?! Nothing better to do?

  When was it agreed that no European clubs would sign players on Websters?! Got any evidence?

  Didn’t think so.

  Why else have the rule in place?

• 61 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:43

  Owen and Martins could work, the two could switch between main and support striker throughout the 90mins to throw the opposition off. We would need Gutierrez cutting in a lot to add height to our central attack and a decent playmaker to utilize Owens quick reactions and Martins’ pace

• 62 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:46

  i wouldnt worry about it 51times, fernando is probably a sad little pompey fan who had pasted gutierrez in to his next seasons starting 11, only to be bitterly disappointed when we stole him from them

• 63 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:48

  On a serious note though, we should table a 8 million bid for Gamst Pederson, he is the REAL talent in Blackburns midfield and a much better buy than the overpriced David Bentley

• 64 Black and White Blood // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:53

  @Matthew (8) - I’m with you… Avoid, has Duff written all over it! should we really be buying players whos form has been deteriorating for 5 years..?

• 65 The Entertainers // Jul 5, 2008 at 18:58

  Just my personal opinion but i would avoid this one.

  I was a big fan a few years ago but the guys career has just sunk and sunk year after year.

  I would rather have this young lad from Norway. However we do need a creative player

• 66 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:00

  Entertainers, what you think about Pederson? worth a try?

  Norwegian guy is a playmaker aswell aint he?

• 67 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:04

  I must admit the Webster comment had me wondering for a moment. But looking at it logically I would be surprised if there was some sort of gentlemens agreement between the “Top” clubs regarding them. The fact that clubs start panicking when players are coming to the end of their contracts suggests otherwise. They will offload them for as much as they can rather than lose them for next to nothing. I would suggest that a Webster is actually a more honourable option as the losing club does get something out of the deal.

  What the club perhaps should do is make face saving gesture and give Mallorca say £2m at least we wouldn’t look like the bad guys, which we aren’t as it happens.

• 68 AltaBatalJoneN // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:05

  I would love it if we bought Per Cilian. He is one of the brightest talent’s in Europe. He played in the Champ league last year and really impressed. He is someone you would enjoy watching at the toon cause he always tries to get forward, and he’s got an amazing engine. never stops running.. and he is an intelligent player to!!! No headless chicken like we’re used to!!

• 69 dougnufc // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:06

  @ AltaBaltaJoneN

  Plus, he loves the toon

• 70 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:09

  Pederson was amazing 2 seasons ago, not so much now, id still have him though.

• 71 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:18

  how much you reckon he would cost tom?

• 72 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:20

  £5mil, £6mil, £7mil, around there maybe.

• 73 Sav // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:24

  No sense blowing 5 mil on Aimar if there’s a possibility he’ll hang around the physio room and has gone off the boil. We need to cut the crap. We can’t expect KK to’work his magic’. Aimar has gone from world-beater to journeyman in about 3 or 4 years. If he wasn’t, sorry, but he wouldn’t be coming to us. The only way that we could afford to take a risk on him is if we had him on a loan with an option after a year.
  Otherwise get young eager players in. At least they’re fit, cost a lot less in wages and may have a resale value. No more fading stars.

• 74 Ross // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:25

  fernando-you’re clearly a complete pr!ck, but in trying to take the piss, you just contradict yourself..
  you claim all of the big clubs in europe made a pact not to use the rule, but then along come newcastle and do it.
  before claiming we’re not a big club..
  there’s no “pretending” we’re a big club or not. its an opinion throughout fans, or potential fact should you look at money involved within the club.
  how do we “pretend” to be a big club exactly?
  if we did it and we’re not a big club, why does it matter? apparently, like they said, none of the big clubs in europe have used it yet. so f*ck off and structure a decent argument before you come along mouthing off to us.

• 75 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:26

  Am sure KK will get the best out of Aimar.
  If we do get him it will have to be within the new transfer and wages structure of the club.
  We do need a little experience in amongst all the youth.

• 76 toontilidie // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:27

  I might be foolish but i think we are still in the mix for Arda Turan & Arshavin watch this space!!

• 77 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:28

  28… should be in his prime. Remember Phillipe Albert was 27 when KK signed him.
  Aimar got another 3 good years in him yet.

• 78 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:34

  really that cheap? i would be ecstatic if we could get him for under 8 million

• 79 Leo // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:37

  just a quick note on the comments keegan made about people who are ‘based’ in south america…

  am i right about that or wrong, i mean jonas is not based in south america and neither is aimar…

  so who knows.

• 80 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:38

  Spyro - Probably, consdering they are probably selling Bentley for about 12mil and he is there best player + Pederson hasnt been that great for 2 sesons.

• 81 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:41

  the thing is, i would have Pederson over Bentley any day, nicking Pederson for around 6million would be a touch

• 82 Joe_The_Geordie // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:49

  It’s got a certain element of risk to it, but all in all, its a risk I would be willing to take if I as part of the Newcastle management team.

• 83 Leo // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:49

  @ hadji comment no. 24

  did you realise that emre had left to join fenerbache…? just knocked me a bit there lol

• 84 Yahya Ahmad // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:52

  Look At Deco, he is 30 years old and Chelsea bought him for 8 Million and is in form!! But Aimar is just 2 years younger so we shouldnt judge him by his age!

• 85 micepie // Jul 5, 2008 at 19:58

  If we get 4 players in next week (9 Shearer) then great, but I think more realistically we might get 2!

• 86 Marc Hottiger // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:01

  What does everyone think of Cacapa? Worth another season?

  Just asking because beyond our regular back four of Beye, Faye, Taylor and Enrique we only have Cacapa and a bunch of kids.

• 87 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:20

  I for one certainly think cacapa has another season in him.
  He had a few bad games last season and it really knocked his confidence.
  If a player loses confidence then he ultimately loses form.
  When he is good he is good.

• 88 Geordie Nick // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:28

  @ CRAIGG ur totally wrong in sayin tht roeder tried owen and martins up front and it didnt work, i think ull find the season roeder was in charge was the same time tht owen was injured the whole season so when cud he possibly hav tried him up front with martins?????

• 89 Ben_BKK // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:29

  Have all of you that are putting down the teams you’d like to see realised that you have 1, maybe 2 English players in your line-ups?

  Personally it doesn’t bother me that much, if he’s good enough, sign him, but I wouldn’t want to become the next Arsenal…

• 90 Geordie Nick // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:32

  ben_bkk simple fact is mate, enlgish players are over rated, and very over priced. i dnt care wat nationality our players r as long as theyre good enough

• 91 Yahya Ahmad // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:33

  I think its time for Cacapa to go!

• 92 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:36

  What happened to the dream of 11 geordies in black n white shirts

• 93 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:48

  I repeat:

  Majority of English players = Overrated, overpriced, overpaid and dont have the hunger and desire of foreigners.

• 94 Jinal // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:51

  Werd Frankieboy. I don’t want our team to become another Chelsea or Arsenal.

• 95 Lacedaemonian // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:52

  Mallorca only owned half of Jonan Guttierrez, who was technically on loan to them from Velez. There appear to be very few facts around his ownership. Mallorca did some bad business when they failed to sell him in January. The writing was on the wall.

• 96 ToonTimbo // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:55

  One problem about Aimar is he is getting on in years!! Van der Vaart is still a better option in my opinion!!

  I hope we sign Per Ciljan Skjelbred!! He looks like a good young player!! There is a however!! He seems a bit of a pretty boy and may care more about his looks than his performance and he broke his leg pretty bad when he was younger!! I dont know much about these things but could a broken leg effect his future fitness!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efWHcYQdzwg

• 97 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:55

  Exactly

• 98 Mad_Magpie // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:57

  Unfortunately our academy just hasn’t produced so we have no choice but to look elsewhere. I agree there are few English players around at a reasonable price that could do a job for us, but there are some, maybe looking down the divisions couldn’t do any harm, where there are hungry players, reasonable priced.
  Hopefully, that’s what Wise is doing, finding bright future prospects like Spear and Tozer, but they are still a while off the first team, so looking abroad is the only answer really for the short term.

• 99 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 20:57

  ToonTimbo - Far from it, Skjelbred is a harrier, hes doesnt stop running and nipping at players heels, tackling and he keeps the game going.

• 100 ToonTimbo // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:01

  That good to hear!! It would have been a shame with someone with that potential to be hampered by a recurring injury!! There are a hell of alot more pictures of his six pack on youtube than of his football skills though!!

• 101 Ben_BKK // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:08

  “Personally it doesn’t bother me that much, if he’s good enough, sign him, but I wouldn’t want to become the next Arsenal…”

  I did say that, so there’s no need to go pointing out where I’m wrong

  I agree that English players are usually overpriced for what you get, just look at Gareth Barry, no way is he worth 18 million. Perhaps 10, at the very most.

  I’d just like to see a team with good English players in it, I’m sure most people would, and I don’t want to become another Arsenal, fielding a team with not one English player in the starting line up.

  Btw, just saw the smiley face at the bottom of the screen. Nice touch, Ed

• 102 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:09

  Buy them both then

• 103 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:11

  We will just have to settle for 9 Geordies

• 104 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:13

  Arsenal had one English player in their ranks and he was the weak link.
  He is the weak link at Chelski these days along with Ferrera of course

• 105 Mad_Magpie // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:15

  I don’t think we’ll ever be like Arsenal unless we appoint a foreign manager, which almost happened with Marcelino in march. Wenger and Benitez mostly buy French and Spanish players respectively because they can work with the players so easily. As long as KK is in charge I think we will maintain a British core to our team.

• 106 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:19

  Wasn’t there talk again recently about FIFA bringing back the 3 foreigners rule.
  It may be detrimental to the PL but it would goose the top four.

• 107 Mad_Magpie // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:43

  Talking of Per Skjelbred, he is likely to sign a contract extension, although new contracts hardly means anything these days. Also says we haven’t made any offers yet.

  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3781182,00.html

• 108 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:44

  “As long as KK is in charge I think we will maintain a British core to our team.”

  so for a couple more years maximum then

  i agree about the english points being made. Some English players are quality, but the fact is, if they are average, you pay the price of a good player, if they are good, then you pay the price of an excellent player, and so on. It just isn’t worth it anymore

  the only time it is ever worth it to invest in English talent is when they are young, but then again, look at Steven taylor, a young english player straight from the academy, geordie through and through, he has hardly been phenomenal, yet even he has just demanded a contract of 35k (what he was initially asking for was more weren’t it?), since when did he deserve such wages!? ridiculous

• 109 Hadji // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:45

  Leo…..He aint gone yet

• 110 ToonKing // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:47

  foreigner talk again…..getting bored with it really…..it’s either english players and crap league or multinational and the beast league in the world….. i prefer the latter..

• 111 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:51

  im the same toonking, im all for quality english players, but not average or overpriced ones just for the sake of the national team, sorry but nufc comes before england any day

• 112 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:56

  also, Geovanni has gone to hull on a free, why didnt we sign him up? would have been a good midfielder sub, and his wages cant be too high either

• 113 Mad_Magpie // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:56

  It depends on where you stand when it comes to the national team. Most of us on here can agree that the Toon is the only thing that really matters and the England national team comes way behind. This new ‘long-term plan’ for young players is made for our benefit only. Problems in English football is the quality of English players full stop. If they’re not good enough then don’t pick them. It should go on merit. The problem lies at grass-roots level anyway.

• 114 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 21:58

  Agree, otherwise we would never have been graced with the skills of Ronaldo, Zola, Di Canio, Ginola, Tino, Cantona etc…
  When was the last time we produced home grown comparable with them….
  George Best maybe.
  If FIFA was to reintroduce the 3 foreigners rule it would make it a more level playing field which would benefit the likes of us.

• 115 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:01

  No it wouldnt because them the top 4 would spend insane money on even mediocre english players just to build up their squad!

• 116 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:10

  Don’t agree Tom.
  When the ruling stood ( early - mid 90’s I think) the league was much more open than now as I remember.I can recall Chelsea and Arsenal having mediocre seasons.
  The big four as they are now were still big clubs but they had to fight to win the league( although Mank U seemed to do it regularly).
  Take the Russian Godfather out of the equation and where would Chelski be.
  There aren’t enough top English players of the quality to put the top four that far out in front.
  See my point.

• 117 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:20

  Geordie Nick

  I think youll find your wrong he played them together for a few games defo Reading and Blackburn and they did nowt and he resigned after the blackburn one.

  Sam also played them together a few times defo Spurs home and Reading away.

  Toonking you must have seen him on a good day he is no better than what we have, Whereas Lugano is exceptional.

• 118 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:22

  Coloccini is far better than Lugano, not to mention younger too.

• 119 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:25

  Frankie boy -Gazza

• 120 Spyro // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:27

  i have only seen Lugano a couple of times, and i didnt really pay much attention, either, what sort of defender is he?

  Coloccini is a good player but i do feel some people on here rate him highly merely because of his popular name

• 121 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:28

  Frankieboy you beat me to that

  The early years of the premiership was the best football ive seen, 95% British players and a hell of a lot more flair than now and as you said much more open.

  In the first 6 seasons of the premiership 3 teams won it Man Utd, Blackburn and Arsenal and Newcastle, Villa, Liverpool and Leeds finished in the top 3.

  Its Mourinho and Benitez that brought this 451 shite, Along with Allardyce.

  Cant moan about Wengers style of play but i can about his racist policy.

  Yes there have been some great players from abroad but there have been some awful ones hindering English talent.

• 122 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:29

  Collocini isnt a patch on Lugano he makes too many mistakes and has crap hair

• 123 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:29

  Spyro - Lets jus say Diego is less pleasng on the eye (dribbling and passing out of defence).

  Both are solid but Coloccini is better with the ball.

  Craigg - His hair is awesome you old man!

• 124 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:37

  I dont dislike Collocini but i think Lugano is class he impressed me when i first saw him against Liverpool in the World Club Champo final where he was man of the match.

  Won everything in the air, good positionally and talked the others through the game, Which is what i think Taylor and Edgar need together against West Ham they were like little boys lost.

  In the UEFA Cup the season before last we played Fenerbahce at SJP, I was looking forward to seeing him live and all i remember from that game was Ramage playing amazing, I never even noticed Lugano

• 125 Ashton // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:42

  Amoribieta is better than both collocini and lugano

• 126 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:47

  Tam - my apologies for the absent mind how did i forget gazza.Just posted comment referring to gazza on latest blog about Fat Sam on Bartons suicide risk.
  CRAIGG there was a lotrmore interest in the league title in those days and not just fighting for 5th place and the UEFA Cup or the inter - toto.

• 127 Albert Stigys // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:48

  You cant rate him that highly if you cant spell his name correctly Ashton. Its Amorebieta.

• 128 Neil Stewart // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:50

  breaking news: inler set to sign in next 48 hours for a fee of 4.5m

  but we will not get Ciljan Skjelbred he is signing new contract with rosenborg
  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3781182,00.html

• 129 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:55

  Neil Stewart, no offence but are you thick? You see an article that says they are interest and you say ‘they are definitely signing’, then you see an article saying they are signing a new contract and you say ‘they wont be signing’, i mean christ, use your common sense. Signing a new deal at this ime of the year boosts up their price.

• 130 Marc Hottiger // Jul 5, 2008 at 22:57

  Neil Stewart, what is the source for your breaking news?

• 131 Geordie Nick // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:00

  CRAIGG- u cant seriously be sayin martins and owen cant play together based on 2 games under roeder, when incase ur forgetting owen had been injured for a whole season so he was hardly at his best, hardly a fair judgement is it. a few games isnt enough time to judge a partnership, theyd hav to at least play 10 games or so to be able to tell wether they can play together properly

• 132 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:02

  I love that

  “no offence but are you thick?”

  How can calling someone thick not be offensive!

• 133 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:04

  ahahaha, had to say it, if hes thick he wouldnt find it offensive

• 134 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:04

  Frankie boy no apology needed there, you kinda forget about the football side of him at times. What with everything else going on.

• 135 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:08

  Neil might only be 14! Naive might have been a little bit better.

• 136 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:08

  It will never happen, The only chance they will ever have of playing together is an injury crisis.

  Owen is better off with a target man, His scoring record for England alongside Heskey is far superior than it is with Rooney, despite the fact that Rooney is a much better player.

• 137 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:08

  Aye Tam.
  He is a guy who needs and deserves help. Unlike some.

• 138 Ashton // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:12

  Albert Stigys

  piss off you little nerk what a difference one letter makes !

• 139 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:12

  Yip frankie just can’t think who you are on about there!

• 140 Frankieboy // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:12

  What about referring to Neil uneducated or juvenile delinquent,Would not say it to a 14 year olds face these days.. slash followed by 999 I need an ambulance.
  No offence Neil If you are only 14.

• 141 Geordie Nick // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:15

  i beg to differ craigg, i think thy cud well play together a bit this season, by the look of it we will be buyin a younger, unproven striker lyk derdiyok or sumeone, and i doubt keegan will drop martins to bring in sumone lyk tht while viduka is out, he will not play an unproven player week in week out instd of martins just because owen scores more wen with a target man

• 142 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:17

  Your forgetting our Gold dust former England striker.

  They may play well together, Im just saying i dont think they will get the chance

• 143 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:22

  Spot on G.nick KK will play those two first, you can’t just throw in an untried lad new to the country and league. Different matter if he bought an established premiership player- oh no just thought em Smith, Duff. Forget the last part just shows how tough it is to be a manager!

• 144 Geordie Gerrard7 // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:22

  alrite fella’s just a quick word on spear, we have got him and he is moving up here within the next 21 days. his parents have sold up and are also moving up with him, this is from a man i work with, who lives 3 doors down from spears parents property

• 145 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:32

  Nice one gg7 sounds like a proper prospect. I remember me mates dad (nufc scout ) telling the toon about Joe Cole. The parents asking price was a million! Sir John never took it any further, an awful lot of people knew about Joe Cole but he was there to be had. An awful lot of people know about Aaron Spear, if he is as good as Cole career wise -that would do for me.

• 146 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:36

  Well Joe Cole is england’s best player and to those who say i dont like players because they are english, he is one of my favourite players overall.

• 147 Geordie Gerrard7 // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:39

  i have played football at v.high levels myself and played against some of the most promising people of todays game, but when i watched spear, he really was a cut above anyone i have ever seen, such a good prospect. yeah, my mates old man is a die hard west ham fan, and he absoloutley worships joe cole, he has the videos of when west ham youth team won the fa cup, and joe cole was immense

• 148 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:42

  Too true TT, you are right about the values of England players. If we did get Inler for instance for 4 or 5 million-phew. I would put that against Hargreaves or Carrick or Barry and say we done pretty well.

• 149 Geordie Gerrard7 // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:44

  pompey have got crouchy.

• 150 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:47

  Signing Carrick would be 10 times bigger than Inler, Barry, Maradonna or Pele

  A local lad coming home is worth every penny.

• 151 Tom_Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:48

  I dont know where they are getting £4mil from for Inler because he is worth £10! Hes better than Barry IMO. But his release clause is £7.9mil so we’d probably have to pay that.

  Definitely worth it though.

• 152 Geordie Gerrard7 // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:50

  i remember i thought inler was a very unrealistic signing. with the amount of clubs that were rumoured to be after him

• 153 CRAIGG // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:51

  Are we definately after him because every time ive seen this mentioned, The Mirror are the ones running it and they are about as reliable as Chocolate teapots.

• 154 tam toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:56

  Yep you are right tom I am getting carried away with media spec about the price. He would cost a lot more than quoted but still a great buy at 8 to 10 mill.

• 155 Kiwi Toon // Jul 5, 2008 at 23:59

  Wow

  Check Pablo Aimars Wikipedia Page!
  Apparently we’ve signed him

  But wikipedia isn’t that reliable so it might be a fake………….

• 156 ToonLoon // Jul 6, 2008 at 1:18

  Fernando. WHo do u support? Coz why u appear on anoether teams website to slag them off–beats me, why waste ur time? U must be worried eh. Bet u support Spurs u wally

  hawaythelads

• 157 SwedeEric // Jul 6, 2008 at 2:07

  I would be happy to get aimar, if we don´t, my day will not be damaged…

  Pederson you guys are talking about in Blackburn, I gues it´s Morten Gamst PederSEN? Always like the look of him, hasn´t had the best seasons latly thou..

  Collocini would be amazing, always buy him on FM… To be seriasly, I realy like to look of him, both hair and as a player. Better than we have today in Taylor and Cacapa, and doesn´t sound to be that expensive either…

  Then I have to say about Aimars agent, think it sounds a bit as he just wants clubs to sart putting in bids. Newcastle have contacted us, but not put in a bid (after several weeks). Of course they contact players, they have probly contact agents to lods of players, doesn´t meen they are gonna bid on everyone of them. A

  And as some said earlier, it looks after Jonas signed Newcastle wants it to be quiet about ther transfers, if they indeed realy were after Aimar, they would probly have told the agent not to mention it in the media!

• 158 xfer // Jul 6, 2008 at 3:42

  No doubt hes a class player, but im not sure if he can handle the Premier League.

• 159 jon jo // Jul 6, 2008 at 9:58

  he would be great in prem leauge
  a player with his techincal ability can good in anyleauge

  he may not be at his best put hes a hell o a lot better then what we have got

  wg
  whats this about these take over talks
  someone approced the about buying the club

  if mike sell us he will be hunted andd beating

• 160 fernando // Jul 6, 2008 at 10:32

  toonloon. worried about what exactly. you were pants last season and despite your single signing have gone backwards. if you look at the bookies odds for newcastle challenging for the prem and the cups i think you will agree i have nothing to worry about. i cant find your odds for the uefa but hopefully you can let me know so i can decide wether i am worried or not!

• 161 Michael // Jul 6, 2008 at 15:39

  I heard this quote from his agent weeks ago, so it’s not a new development.

• 162 beye the great // Jul 6, 2008 at 15:58

  ok fernando our team is shit

  but you cannot say we are not a big club cos if u notice the 5 big clubs have been chosen for that european club thing that has replaced the g 14
  n u sound like a tit so im guessin u support either a spurs or chelsea supporter where both clubs are only slightly bigger than average i mean spurs since the prem has made absolutely no impact i mean ok we havent won anything we have deffinately made an impact on more than 1 occasion n u may say no 1 remembers the runners up or the ones who do ok well that is where you would be wrong every 2 remembers the entertainrs and every1 remembers th bobby robson era espcially in the champs league n chelsea are not a big club they are a succesful club but that does not neccesarily mean all that means is abramovic has spent more than others

• 163 fernando // Jul 6, 2008 at 18:55

  fans have long forgotton when you were called the entertainers(more for your cavalier approach than being a good team). Younger fans just know the club as being a joke. You are not one of the top 5 biggest teams in the prem. Everton are much bigger as are spurs, west ham, villa and city. I would have you on the same level as portsmouth and blackburn. I would argue that spurs have made an impact as there trophies prove. Dont tell me they are mickey mouse trophies cos you lot would celebrate as though you have won the world cup if you won it. Big teams win things. End of. Until you even win the carling cup you are not a big club, no matter how many finals you make. Football didnt start the day sky took over. Newcastle have only been in the top flight for 12-13 years. It would be fairer to look at what impact you have had in the top flight for say the past 25 years. I remember when you were close to being relegated from division 1 and you certainly werent filling your ground with your wonderful fans. I am 30 years old and in that time newcastle have won nothing so forgive me if i dont share your views on being a top club. Far from it infact.

• 164 Ricardo // Jul 6, 2008 at 20:21

  HAH ! you wish!!!!! Aimar will play only for BENFICA…then along in the season maybee Benfica and Newcastle play against each other…and Pablo will score..im sure he will!!!!