The Newcastle United Blog

161 responses so far ↓

• 1 Toon1978 // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:07

  The most negative times at NUFC i have ever known. M.Ashley has no interest in NUFC and couldn’t give two monkeys if Milner and Owen stays or goes. He is unwilling to buy players, if you work out how much he has spent and how much has come in you will see very little difference. Our club is in decline i’m afraid European football is a long way off with this idiot in charge. God help NUFC.

• 2 JonasTheGod // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:08

  I hope we are way of the mark here but this is a worrying time for us, if Keegan is not happy and feels he is being messed about we know what the outcome will be

• 3 Paul // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:14

  NOT HAPPY AT ALL!! I was really begining to look forwrd to this season and just look… not even upto the 3rd match and everything is going tits up already! Keegan knows football, Ashley doesn’t, Lambas doesn’t… why don’t they f**king listen to Keegan and give him what he wants!! We don’t have enough players, he won’t sign new player, he won’t keep our current players!! Makems signed 9 reasonably decent players now, if they finish above us I’m not going to be happy. Another sign, it’s clearly obvious… the set up in Necastle Utd does not work!!!

• 4 jeff // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:16

  Ed if that is all true then Ashley hjas got to go….Keegan will walk before too long…Ashley has bought a football club ffs….Its the team that controls the business side of it…if you have a good team the business will be booming…..On the Milner front though….The way Im reading it is he was offered a new contract which he happily signed last year,there seems to be a lot written that it said in 12 months that contract would be reviewed and this is something Milner is kicking up a fuss over….But my view is the toon still have every right not to increase it as well to be honest what exactly has he done to demand an increase??? He hasnt set the world alight in the last 12 months…Just like most people at work,you may or may not get an increase every year…..I just think Milner is being badly advised…….Sell him and get what you can…….

  If I was Keegan Id be beating down Ashleys door and demanding to know what is vision is for the club….If it didnt match Keegans then If I was Keegan Id walk….Im starting to think Ashley has bought into something that is even out of his depth……………Just my opinion though…

• 5 JonasTheGod // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:18

  This is a worrying time for the club, lets hope all the speculation is nonsense, we know what Keegan will do if he feels hes not being fully supported by the board.

• 6 Jeff // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:21

  the main thing at the moment is bringing in 3 more players
  if milner really want to move on, just let him go

• 7 WesToon // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:27

  PLS God let there be some GOOD F##king news today!!
  Ive never been this depressed before
  My Beloved Newcastle could be in some shite this season…NOT a F##king happy camper Lads

  FFS AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHH

• 8 JonnyToon // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:29

  Not happy with how this situations been dealt with atall. Dont think Milners completely wrong to ask for a new contract given how much hes played for us since his last one was created & its a shame its had to come to him asking for a transfer.

  Ashley obviously simply wants to clear up some of that debt he’s spoken about & views milner as being expendable as we have other wingers. But our squad is getting smaller by the second.

  Losing Milner will be bad enough, letting Owen go is ridiculous. Think all every Newcastle fan wants is for Keegan to be backed 100% in what he does & we will all be unhappy with this owner if we find that is not happening.

• 9 51times // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:34

  Why can’t things ever just run smoothly?

• 10 dingo // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:35

  Splash the cash Ash!

• 11 HalftimeBovril // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:37

  The thing i can’t understand is surley Ashley gave Kev the whole sales pitch back in January when Kev met up with Ashley to discuss his return. I remember reading that one of the main reasons that Kev came back was due to Ashleys vision and plans for the club and that they more than matched Kevs.

  If so why have the goal posts moved so dramatically in six months!!!

• 12 Sandy // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:41

  Mike Ashley is an idiot, luckily we’ve managed to hold on to N’Zogbia, but why would you give away Milner instead of giving him a new contract, I reckon his efforts have earnt it??? He is a very good player for someone so young, and if it wasn’t for Owen we wouldn’t have won any games so far this season!!!. It’s great to get players in like Guttierz and Coloccini in as well as some youg kids, but what’s the point if we’re just gonna sell the great players we have!!! Boy, I feel sorry for Kev.

• 13 Aussie Magpie Fan // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:47

  Surely Milner’s agent has released these comments to push Mike Ashley into increasing his wage packet… Does Milner relly want to leave? Or is he and his agent simply calling Ashley’s bluff?. My thoughts are if you don’t want to be at Newcastle and your hearts not in it.. Piss off and go!!

• 14 Ericles // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:47

  Another shambles and we can blame media pundits for some of it. What is going on behind the scenes? WE have Ashley blowing hot and cold and this new exec Llambias is now going to. This is not stability, especially as we have certain newspapers waiting to attack NUFC at the drop of a hat. We are too near the deadline. So - we must all put our strongest support behind KK. Stand by our team and show that us geordies are not for being either pissed off or pissed around with!

• 15 Michael // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:49

  Kevin should have let Alan Smith go.
  His over-generous wage would have been better spent keeping Owen and Milner.

• 16 Dave // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:50

  The Club need to make an official statement on whats going on, all this speculation is no good for the club or the fans

• 17 keltik // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:52

  ok, i think its time NUFC supporters staged a protest outside of SJP, we NEED to make this useless owner of ours and useless chairman realise that they are driving us into the ground, we will never compete with anyone if this shower of crap continues.

  Milner is one of the best wingers in the Prem and hes only 22, and we wont offer him a new contract? how much blue cheese have our owners consumed??!!?

  what the hell are these muppets doing that run our club?

  i would not blame Keegan if he walked out, im fed up of our owner who doesnt seem to give a damn about any of our players, im suprised that non of the fans have said anything to him at the game, if i got to my seat and saw Ashley sitting near me and i ask him what hes playing at, i wouldnt be dis-respectufl just question him about his obvious lack of financial commitment to out club.

  When the top flight clubs are buying english players because of the new FIFA rules on the horizon (a minimum of 5 english palyers will be required in the team) we seem to have no desire to keep them, it took Taylor a good 2 months to force them into offering him a new deal and hes NUFC through and through.

  I JUST HOPE TO GOD THAT THIS IS MILNER JUST TRYING TO ROCK THE BOAT AND FORCE THESE MUPPETS TO OFFER HIM A NEW CONTRACT.

  i love Milner, after all the pre-madonna useless bags of turd we have had over the past 5 years Milner is a diamond and a half.

  As NUfc.com says, hes just an average lad, with no criminal record, no car crashes, no on pitch brawls, no bling, nothing, just a great yorkshire lad who loves to play football and a game of darts.

  What will be criminal is if we let him leave, and then replace him with some unknown quantity.

  If Milner leaves it will be the lowest point for us Since FFS sacked Bobby Robson for no reason.

• 18 matthewT // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:54

  i wonder what make m.ashley not to give new contract to milner and owen. I mean, apart from the salary cost, what other thing stop him from doing so.

  

• 19 keltik // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:54

  oh, and another point.

  how we can let Milner go but keep players like Smith, Barton, Duff etc.. is just ridiculous in itself.

• 20 dave v // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:54

  If Kevin walks, so will a huge number of season ticket holders.
  Ashley you have been warned.

• 21 Leo Smith // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:56

  Ed, snap out of it! One little piece of “bad” news and everything comes crashing down, Mike Ashley has no ambition, KK about to walk! Noooo! Rubbish.

  Milner’s done this to get attention - he wants a new & improved contract. This means he wants to STAY. I think the nufc.co.uk statement is poorly worded, but it also gives the impression that the club wants him to stay. KK wants him to stay. MA has only ever publicly said that KK would be backed… conclusion: no problem.

  The media have been waiting for this; we’ve been quiet as a club the past week or so and no doom news. Suddenly, a player hands in a transfer request and we’re doomed as a club. It’s sickening it really is. You have a bit of a habit of this Ed. This site is fantastic and I’m on here every day for the latest news, but you really really overblow bad news sometimes, especially when there’s not been an update on anything for a while, such as this. You mustn’t take what the papers say as the truth, especially the mail (see true-faith.co.uk for a great article at the top about the mail’s coverage of nufc). They’ve taken the milner news and printed the worst case scenario as fact. Don’t let them get to you; think about the positives. It’s been a great start to the season, and the few transfers we’re going to get in the next few days will make it even better.

  Come on!

• 22 UTD111 // Aug 28, 2008 at 7:57

  How well is Ashley running the club? Well I’m still waiting for my season ticket that I paid for months ago….that just about sums it up for me. If Ashley thinks United fans will rally round with Wise at the helm - he’s a bigger fool than he looks….

• 23 nick // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:08

  I can’t believe people having a go at Ashley.
  It is KK’s petulant, huffy puffy side that is annoying me.

  Ashley hasn’t got 2 Billion. It’s all paper money (assets) seriously hit by the ”credit crunch”. Sports direct, like a lot of businesses has bombed in the current financial climate of the last 6 months.

  MA has paid off a huge amount of debt. These debts were created by Shepherd putting people on Hollywood wages. Well I’m very pleased we’re not going down that route any more.

  We’ve acquired 4 very good players and some excellent youngsters like Kadar not far off the first team squad.

  From 35k a week, Milner (barely 22) now wants 55k a week. No wonder he wanted it kept quiet.

  KK wouldn’t budge on Smith, Barton et al. A move that would have brought in nearly 30M in saved wages and selling fees.

  Owen is good but hardly ever available and is holding the club to ransom. 2 goals don’t change that fact.

  If Derdiyok and Saviola walked in the door, you’d forget about Milner in a blink.

• 24 Ericles // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:08

  If Milner wants to go then let him. If he turns down the chance to part of KK’s vision and achieve something with NUFC, then there is something wrong with the bloke! and the media are stirring it with enthusiasm. It seems there is a too much press speculation here. We must remember what Mark Twain said abut the newspapers. People who do not read them are uninformed. Those who do are misinformed. Rally behind KK and the team. Get Owen contracted and get some players in now!

• 25 TB // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:11

  From what I have read, I think you guys are missing the “behind the scenes” part to the story.

  Milner handed in his request on the 20th. That means ashley and KK knew about this a while ago. Is it any surprise that since that date, Keegan has spoke the world about Milner, and given him free reigns anywhere on the pitch to impress other clubs?

  I think keegan is aware of Ashleys plans more than you all think. People respect Keegan’s knowledge of the game, not ashleys.

  I personally believe that Keegan has been using the terrible/stupid/uninformed press to talk up Milner, knowing that milner wanted out. This has caused better teams (which benifits milner) to offer more money (which benifits the Toon) for him.

  If i’m correct, its good business on Ashley and KK’s part, and we can use the 9 or 10 million to get a midfielder that our coaching staff likes in our system… even if it means waiting til january.

  As for Owen, I don’t really understand the business side of it. I would assume that Ashley is hesitant to spend so much on a injury prone player. Yet, i see it as a win win situation resigning him to BIG money.

  For one, if he stays somewhat healthy, we have a world class scorer for the next handful of years, thats the easy part.

  Even if he does struggle with injuries, he still brings in money for the club due to his popularity. He is WIDELY known around the world, and it says alot for a club to be able to attract such a big name player.

  On top of that, if you add up what his earning at 120 or so thousand a week would be over 4 or 5 years, it would be about equal to bringing in a 50 or 60 thousand a week striker once the transfer fee is included as well. And what are the chances of that player knocking in goals like owen? or brining in kit sales like Owen?

  So, now that my novel has been written, my main points are… keegan in using the media to up Milners cost, thus getting us someone he wants more in return… and Ashley needs to bite the bullet and sign up little Mickey.

  rant over.

• 26 ELFER // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:13

  wow wow wow, please stop painting only in black! It won’t be the end of the world if we loose milner…personally I rate lualua much higher and we also have more than enough quality on the wings with geremi, zoggy, duff and jonas!!!

  Owen will be sorted out, I’m sure.

  If we get a quality central midfielder in exchange of the horrendus transfer fee of 10m £ for milner I’m happy. Another leftback and we are fine to challenge for europe!!

• 27 The Entertainers // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:16

  I’m delighted Ashely took over the club, he has done many things right in my eyes:

  *No debt
  *Brought in Keegan
  *Brought in professional board (Mort)
  *Brought in a recruitment team (Yes i like Wises team)
  *Good philosophy on new transfers
  *Rearranged stadium setup (sing section etc)
  *The cold shoulder given to the national press
  *Looking for more investment

  However there are areas we need to improve on:

  *The stubborn stance on contracts (its not just Milner)
  *The speed at which transfers are conducted (dispite having Wise & co there to do just that job)
  *The poor communications over the summer (they have there own outlet to speak with fans)
  *The appointment of Llambias (compared to Mort)

  I am still happy with the board and team, plus there are still more positives than negatives in my eyes.
  But dont underestimate the negatives, they are what concern the fans the most. The positives are nice touches, but the fans are concerned about:
  1) Results
  2)Current players
  3)New players

  And 2 of those priorities are included in my negatives at least!

  Ashleys doing well, but could do better, as my former teacher would say.

• 28 geordos // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:16

  I think we all need to judge MA at the end of the transfer window… By then we will know his intentions for the season… He can only be judged at this stage on the squad he provides Keegan with.

  The press always have a field day on Newcastle United… So it would be stupid to believe everything you read. Who knows, maybe they met yesterday and together decided that the wage demands he is making, versus what they can get in terms of transfer fee (and a replacement) have made the deal a no-brainer.

  The Owen deal will happen. It makes no sense to let him go, as the transfer fee for a player half as decent as Owen will outweigh his wages.

  I like most geordies have concerns and are getting naturally twitchy the closer the transfer deadline gets, but my gut says wait until its over… The we can either thank MA or going mental!!!

  The 4 players that we’ve got so far all look quality… And having watched the likes of Luque, Marcelino, Viana and Guivarch (I could go on!), I genuinely believe that quality is better than quantity in terms of the long term anyway… Surely if we do get a stack of injuries, we’d be better giving some experience to the young talent we are nuturing.

  All the best.

• 29 Estranged // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:22

  Worrying times… I for one can’t sleep at night & constantly think about wut players we will buy and wut formation we will play etc.

  Well like i said earlier Milner ain’t nuttin but a hound dog.

  We gotta sign Owen up though coz he is the franchise player as u wud put it in basketball terms.

  Signings will come guyz..Letz all jus be patient. Dun bash Ashley when u dun know wutz goin on behind da scenes…. Hez not stupid.. he knows abt the lack of crowd, lack of players etc.

  Last thing: Dun beleive in paper talk - tabloid.
  I was a journalist n trust me we were supposed to write such ‘juicy’ storis for it to be published..

  Howay

• 30 Ericles // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:23

  According to The Sun Kevin is to seek showdown talks with Wise over the sale of Milner. Why? It is nothing to with Wise. His job is youth recruitment with KK in charge of all other team transfers. If I demanded showdown talks with the Football Editor of the rag paper I know where i would be told to stick my head!

• 31 lesh // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:25

  Ok this is the Sun…. ‘Kevin Keegan is on collision course with Dennis Wise as he is seething over the prospect of losing James Milner’!

  Ok the paper may well be trying to stir things up again. But, if there is something in it we need to be worried.

  Not forgetting the big ‘if it’s trus’, let’s put this into context with MA’s supposed willingness to back KK, defining Wise’s role as young player recruitment, wanting success for NUFC, then what on earth’s going on?

  KK seems to be losing confidence in the liklihood of new faces coming in and ‘must soldier on’. Might he be feeling let down, is this a repeat of the ‘not like it said in the brochure’ scenario?

  Come on Mr Ashley, if you’re running the show, please show KK, show the fans, show the Sun et al that all’s going well at the club before its too late. The fans’ll cheer you but rest assured, you’ll see cheers turning too jeers and demos at SJP!

  Think about it eh, before its too late?

• 32 Mimo // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:26

  I think an important factor in both the Milner and Owen dramas is surely how much are they asking for? We know of the owners intention to bring the wage structure to one which he feels is right for the club so what is Ashley supposed to do if certain players refuse to accept the situation? Personally I don’t know how much James wants but it seems that Villa and maybe Liverpool are willing to pay him the money and stump up a transfer fee too. If thats the case then maybe we will have to accept that its going to be addios for certain players no matter what their ability. What I have seen so far is some very good players coming in at presumably the right wage levels and if this continues maybe its for the better and we should accept the new order. Mick McGuire is using his position at the PFA to protect his own interests which is plain wrong and for him in whatever capacity to tell Ashley that he can’t tell the public that James has put in a transfer request when James is a Newcastle player is pathetic in my opinion. McGuire talks about the appreciation due for the development of James but I suspect that includes a healthy percentage of the profit for himself and when an agent comes over all affronted and sensitive I have a tendency to reach for the smelling salts.

• 33 ToonEskimo // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:29

  TB and Nick, good points, KK like a used car salesman:

  “Superb runner, reliable, won’t let you down,
  1 careful owner”
  or
  “Wouldn’t touch this with a barge pole, failed it’s mot, probably need scrapped”

  If you want to flog something you talk it up y=to get a better price as TB says.
  Milner’s performance against Coventry probably stuck an extra £2million on the price tag……..

  Jonas and Collo’ ( 2 full Internationals) seem quite happy with their wages, Taylor has just been put on what Milner is on now……
  Is Milner one of our top 5 players to warrant extra cash? I think not.

• 34 Toon Graeme // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:31

  Lads, come on lets put this into persepective and look at the big picture.

  MA is a successful business man. He didnt get where he is without some savvi.

  NOT one person knows what was discussed so anything will be pure speculation.

  DO NOT let all the negativity take control. We have a huge game on Saturday to play and we need our players 100% focussed.

  If MA looses or wont offer to MO then he is a fool. Without him - to be blunt - we will be f*ckd!

  Its simple as we have no one else near his calibre.

  Sure people will agree and disagree.

  Keep the faith!!

• 35 ToonEskimo // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:32

  I’ve just spent 20 minutes writing an essay style post and it’s vanished……

• 36 Bosck // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:37

  ED I’ve got to say that i am disappointed that you have gone so negative about Mike Ashley all of a sudden. I agree we need to get the Owen contract sorted but in my opinion Milner should not get a new contract until he earns it. He got a new one last year which means he is level with Zogs and Taylor.

  Keegan may want to keep Milner but i doubt even he is willing to pay him over the odds wages. Milner is supposedly on around £30k a week so it is an absolute joke for him to say this is not enough, thats £1.5m a year, more than enough for a player with milners current record of achievement.

  Paying whatever wages a player demands does not equal ambition it equals spineless stupidity which will never take you anywhere as a club in the long term. milner currently earns as much as he deserves and should be happy with it, I am personally happy that we are not bowing to this demands unlike shepherd would have done.

  and since when has the daily mail been a reliable source of information about the behind the scenes affairs at newcastle. it is just the usual anti toon press speculation as we have had a good start to the season so they cannot attack our on pitch performances.

  if we can get £10m for milner take it, he is worth £7m max. we have guttierrez and geremi for the right and zogs and duff for the left so we have plenty of cover.

  why does us not bowing to milners demands mean we wont to owen. one is world class the other has some potential so the approach to each will be very different.

• 37 9 Shearer // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:37

  Hi hi hi………. MA knows whay he is doing and KK is never scared of losing any one if it will benefit the club look at Andy Cole he did it then what.

  Milner was never going to improve if you cant cross that ball you cant cross. so sell him. he has done nothing to get a pay rise. He wasnt even in the team that saved us from relegation.

  Bring in Tiago,Fellaini,Huntelaar and Poco/Tiawo. we have enough wingers.

• 38 The Entertainers // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:39

  http://WWW.NUFC.COM

  Have just written a very good and balanced article on the Milner debacle.

  And to boot sums up my current feelings

• 39 WesToon // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:41

  @ Estranged // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:22

  Mate i agree with you,i havent been able to sleep for days now
  Thats how much this football club means to me,i can’t bear to see whats gone on in the last few days!!
  I will ALWAYS support the Lads…ALWAYS
  But im SCARED… They still have till Monday though….PLS PLS PLS

• 40 Ericles // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:41

  There seems to be a delay on posts via the server methinks ToonEskimo. Mine vanished and then appeared. Is Dr Who in town?

• 41 Mohtools // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:41

  I agree with The Entertainers Newcastle is not as big as it was under Bobby Robson. We have been out of europe for 3 years, playing bad and having attitude problems. what MA is doing is the correct thing. He is building the club again. For that ‘to happen we need to be patient and supportive. We can make it into europe. If we “Soldier On” until the new year I am positive that MA will support Keegan to get the players that will insure our top 7 finish.

• 42 bettyswollocks // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:41

  I don’t know why people are jumping on MA’s back over this. If he folds on this one then we’ll have a load of players handing in transfer requests wanting a pay rise.

  Milner signed a deal less than a year ago that his agent negotiated for him. If he was not happy with the deal he shouldnt have signed it.

  I notice the agent trying to back track now saying the deal was negotiated 2 years ago. If that was the case then he has not done his job properly and is now trying to pass the buck onto us.

  An agent’s job is to get a deal that his client is going to be happy with for the course of that deal. If milner is not happy 10-11 months after signing a four year contract then quite simply the agent has not done his job.

• 43 Born Again Geordie // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:42

  Red top journalistic sensationalism in my opinion!!! KK knows what is going on behind the scenes - don’t forget it was Ashley that went after him to replace Fat Sham! Too many people want to read anything negative into Newcastle and everyone swallows it. Come on! Keep the faith - I have a strong feeling that if (and when) Milner does go then we have someone lined up to replace him. KK is playing the press at their own game ‘ don’t have a big enough squad…. ‘ etc and they love it, just love it - lol. Non of them had a sniff about the players we have already signed - NUFC and KK are taking the p**s out of the gutter press. Ho’way the toon !!!!!

• 44 WesToon // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:44

  ED,site still has probs mate!!

  My posts arent showing

• 45 hitman // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:45

  lads,our club is being run by a bunch of muppets,they have made keegan look like a right mug,with this milner carryon,total disgrace

• 46 tommo // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:46

  It’s difficult keeping the faith when you discover the club went public over Milner’s transfer request. Why? Presumably to alert other clubs other than Villa that the player is available.

  This is another shabby affair. If Smith is worth £60,000 a week then so too is Milner. Pay the guy what he’s worth. End of story. It’s also time that the Owen Affair was ended too. I long for the days when the Toon is no longer seen as a footballing soap opera. It’s embarrassing. There are a lot of positives but there are still too many negatives.

• 47 Ian // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:46

  The worst thing we have ever done is start talking about wages since Ashley came in, Barton and Smith are overpaid for poor results so it didnt work there, the top players are still here on the same wages but they cant get them to sign a new contract and no new ones of similar calibre are attracted, then to top it off the players that were happy on lower wages are now unsettled and want pay rises or out, what a complete balls up.

  To me no-one is running the club. Mort did a better job.

  I presume they have some more brilliant signings from the top quality players that Vetere seems to be able to target and for reasonable money, so I am waiting until the transfer window closes as I have faith in Vetere’s scouting ability and of course KK to select from those players, the rest of them look like a complete waste of space.

  I will wait and see.

• 48 ToonKing // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:46

  you guys are waaaaay overreacting…..4 days remaining in the window, shut up and let’s see where we are then. So far so good.

• 49 Ian // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:48

  Toon eskimo - it will have been a load of sh** anyhow!!!

• 50 hitman // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:48

  lads,our club is being run by a bunch of idiots,kk has been made to look like a right mug over this milner carryon..

• 51 ed_speed // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:48

  why all the doom and gloom?

  the press thrive on negativity, and we are feeding it to them!

  the glass is half full………

  regards,
  speed

• 52 Archie Brand // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:48

  Guys - relax - at least for the next 3 days!

  Ashley is a businessman - he does not want his club to end up in the championship.

  Milner signed a 4 year contract 1 year ago, now its not good enough. What happened to only keeping people who “want ” to play for us?

  While he does put in the work he’s hardly prolific. For 10 million we could get better.

  As for Owen - he has contributed twenty odd goals in 2 years. Hardly Andy Cole or Alan Shearer.

  So whats better - somone who only plays 20 games in a season but scores 10 goals - or someone who plays 45 and scores 18?

  While you’re getting all panicky and depressed dont forget that a couple of years ago we signed Owen and Solano on the last day of the window.

  If on the 2nd Sept things are still the same then by all means bitch then - hell, I’ll be there with you. But let the club try to sort it out first.

  Its not the end of the world.

  Yet!

• 53 James // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:49

  The one person we should all be having a go at is MILNER. He’s the one demanding more money for doing less (2 assists all season).

  Ashley has saved our club

  KK has turned us into a good footballing side

  I fully support the board over the Milner stance. He has no right to make demands on them at this stage.

  Ashley is taking us in the right direction. You only think he isn’t because you believe the negative press in the papers. He has a long term goal to BUILD a successful team that can compete with the top four…NOT BUY ONE WITH HOLLYWOOD WAGES.

• 54 DH7 Mags // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:49

  i know one thing. if we sell milner, dont offer owen a new contract, and do not buy any players before the window shuts, the newcastle fans will hound ashley out. it is evident to see that we are absolutely desperate for players. when will ashley wake up. abramavich, yeah chelsea had debt, but he wiped the debt out and he also spent money. look at the quality players that chelski have bought and they have won the league 2 times in the last 4 year, maybe going to win it again this year. so if we do not do any of the 3 points i mentioned, the crowd will get smaller and smaller and smaller. no newcastle fan wants to watch what we have watched for the last 4 year. bobby should never have been sacked in the first place. . in a nutshell, it has been proper trash and looks like it is going to get even worse.

• 55 The Entertainers // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:52

  Interesting point, when Toon eskimo suggested out of 5 players at the toon who would get a new contract.

  Lets say money was no object, Milner would definetley be in my top 5. My list is for survices rendered, not potential, or fleeting star appearences.

  1) Given
  2) Milner
  3) Oba
  4) Taylor
  5) Beye.

  Yes i would love to see Owen sign a new contract but my top 5 are the players who have put in 100% when played and play often with talent and passion. Milner easily comes into the category.

• 56 nightfall // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:52

  if milner’s doing that only to get a new contract, i say…f*** him… i mean..the guy has signed a new contratc 12 months ago… the club must not be held for ransom by any player…

  1 question..do we want mercenaries…or professionals who love the club? i mean..what he’s doing is just exploiting the club we love…(IF that’s true and he’s doing that to get a new contract).

• 57 James // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:52

  The only person to blame in all of this is MILNER. He is the one making demands on the board, when he has no right to.

  2 assists all season for a right winger that has Michael Owen to aim for is appalling.

  I fully support the board on this. Screw Milner, he thinks he’s bigger than the club….SEE YA!

  Ashley is taking this club in the right direction. He is trying to BUILD a team to compete with the top four. The same model Arsenal use.

  A lot of fans get annoyed because he is not taking the Chelsea approach and trying to BUY a team with HOLLYWOOD WAGES.

  I believe in Ashley and Keegan. Milner will be forgotton.

• 58 hitman // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:54

  the story up in the toon is keegan knew nothing about milner putting in for a transfer it all went through wise in london

• 59 James // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:55

  Everybody calm down please…

  The only person to blame in all of this is MILNER. He is the one making demands on the board, when he has no right to.

  2 assists all season for a right winger that has Michael Owen to aim for is appalling.

  I fully support the board on this. Screw Milner, he thinks he’s bigger than the club….SEE YA!

  Ashley is taking this club in the right direction. He is trying to BUILD a team to compete with the top four. The same model Arsenal use.

  A lot of fans get annoyed because he is not taking the Chelsea approach and trying to BUY a team with HOLLYWOOD WAGES.

  I believe in Ashley and Keegan. Milner will be forgotton.

• 60 steve // Aug 28, 2008 at 8:57

  Depends on how much Milner is asking for - it’s very easy for him to look at Barton, Duff, Smith and say give me parity with them.

  KK should have gotten rid of Barton, Smith and Duff

  Poor show by the club announcing this on the website after asking PFA and Milner to keep it quiet

  If we let Owen go it’ll be nothing short of disgraceful

• 61 Fat Ronaldo // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:01

  Milner is crap.

  If we get 10m for him from Puds that will be daylight robbery.

  We could buy 2 Spidermen for that sum of money.

  If the boy wants more dosh then he should sod off and warm the bench for Liverpool for the next 4 years.

  Milner is already overpaid, so good luck to him if he wants to carry the drinks for the rest of his career…

• 62 hitman // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:02

  keegan knew nothing about milner putting in a transfer it went through wise in london,well thats the story in the toon

• 63 ed speed // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:02

  archie that was as stirling post.

  regards,
  ed

• 64 kenny g // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:02

  Ashley out.

  .. and just for some of our bloggers the term is ‘prima donna’ as in first lady, not ‘pre-madonna’ as in before madge…

• 65 Estranged // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:04

  A source close to the player told The Journal it is “likely” Milner will leave St James’s Park by the time the transfer deadline expires on September 1 – with Premier League rivals Aston Villa almost certainly his destination.

  http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/08/28/milner-piles-on-pressure-for-boss-61634-21622690/

  So we assume Milner is leaving.. When Faye left we had his replacement lined up ala colo N faye probably knew he couldnt get in the first team with Colo….Do the math….Same case here.. we probably do have a replacement lined up..

  Oh yea Gala lost yesterday… i’ve got loads of turkish friendz sayin they need money..

  SWP/Turan?

  Stay optimistic please. These are the times us geordies shud be UNITED

  4 More days…

  Howay

• 66 ed speed // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:06

  i think this is an appropriate link for young jimmy.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHq7rgHOLk

  regards,
  edward speed

• 67 TB // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:08

  no hitman, the MEDIA have made keegan, ashley, and the club in general look stupid.

  If you take away every word we have read in the papers or seen on TV, or even discussed on this board, the transfer window has not been bad at all…

  We got a couple (thats right, only a couple) offers rejected… big deal, lots of teams do. Yet, instead of the media looking back on it and saying “gee, maybe ashley was smart not to offer modric as much as stupid spurs…” they bash us for being cheap and unambitious.

  The media loooves when the number 5-10 teams spend a ton of money during the window. Thus they can have stories about knocking on the top 4’s door, or stories about big money failing to produce.

  We finished mid table last year, have no europe to offer, and from the looks of our new front office, we arent willing to spend a ton in a stupid manner…

  that being said, we brought in 2 players that could make a top 4 team in Coloccini and Jonas. Add to that a couple great bargains in Guthrie and bassong, as well as a handful of reserve players to hope for the future.

  The way i see it, we really only need a few more moves, and they don’t even have to happen until january.

  Sure our depth is lacking, but it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to see how our team stacks up until the january window. For instance, we can definitely use Duff and LuaLua on the right while we let our scouts find a good use of our Milner transfer money.

  I’d also like to see Barton and Guthrie get some playtime together before dropping a ton of money on a top 4 reject.

  Everyone needs to calm down, and just let Owen and Shay keep saving us until january comes around

• 68 Kevin the Mag who lives in Sunderland // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:11

  I would sell Milner and buy Shaun Wright Phillips. He has a lot to prove and would add even more pace to our attack. Milner is slow not the best crosser of the ball and doesn’t get enough goals. I would also buy Skilbred.

• 69 Ian // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:12

  Wise is involved with all sales and purchasing of players unless his job role has changed during the window??

  We were told it was Wise in charge, Jiminez (contracts) and Vetere (foreign player chief scout type role), when did that change, what are the new arrangements?

  Who is in charge now?

• 70 James // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:13

  Calm down everyone…

  The only person to blame in all of this is MILNER. He is the one making demands on the board, when he has no right to.

  2 assists all season for a right winger that has Michael Owen to aim for is appalling.

  I fully support the board on this. Screw Milner, he thinks he’s bigger than the club….SEE YA!

  Ashley is taking this club in the right direction. He is trying to BUILD a team to compete with the top four. The same model Arsenal use.

  A lot of fans get annoyed because he is not taking the Chelsea approach and trying to BUY a team with HOLLYWOOD WAGES.

  I believe in Ashley and Keegan. Milner will be forgotton.

• 71 wigaz // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:20

  Estranged i’d like to be optimistic m8 but everyday the club seems to become more & more of a farce! Ed i hope is BS but if it’s not, Ashley is playing with fire & he’s going to get burned! KK will have his breaking point already in his mind & if MA continues the way he’s going he will reach it very soon, if KK walks we’re totally goosed!!! who else would want this job? it’s even more of a poison chalous than the england job! imagine KK walking & Wise stepping in to take charge? doesn’t even bare thinking about! I dont care about milner providing we get a better replacement in (SWP although looks like he’s goin to city/Lennon or Pennant (both have real pace & can cross better than jimmy) but we simply have to get Owen signed up! if Ashley & Co balls that up they should sell up & Piss off! KK will walk & we’ll be screwed! Still feel optimistic Estranged? LOL!!!

• 72 bennufc // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:21

  y dnt we just pay 3.5m and milner 4 ashley young or benayoon and 5m for milner or jst replace im with 8m lennon or 7.5m shaun wright phillips

• 73 Davies // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:23

  I’m glad nobody’s overreacting to the current media speculation, especially you Ed.

  Heaven knows what will happen if we lose one of our five wing men for millions more than we paid for him.

  Let’s just hope Jonas can do a better job on the right. Oh wait, he can.

  Christ there are some panic merchants here. There are still five days of the transfer window left. Chill.

• 74 dick // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:24

  yet more tales of self- inflicted woe in the press today, milner , owens contract put on ice will have to let him go for nothing in a few months, absolute madness, all is not well in board room. myself and a few others on this blog have been warning all is not well at toon, but still people have been burying their heads in the sand and believing stories leeked out about all these fantastic signings we will have, all pie in the sky

• 75 Matthew Tom // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:24

  It will be a shame if this all ends up in Milner leaving, but we will at least get top dollar for him. Much rather we found a way to agree new terms with him though as he is quality.

  But if he does go, could we maybe finally make a play to sign Arda Turan? I think he’s better than Milner.

  But overall this new wage policy is going to hurt us and no mistake. You simply cannot get the best players without being willing to pay the wages that other clubs will offer them.

  I am already resigned to losing Owen at the end of this season. Presumably the plan is to stuff the team with talented kids earning pennies and hope for the best?

  Disastrous policy if you ask me.

• 76 beyethegreat // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:24

  personally i dont know what to think i am so confuzed if milner wants to go then let him but that is not the view of keegan and keegan wants milner to stay which means ashley has to offer a new contract but he wont which in turn means keegan is not happy which also means as well as the 3 players we needed already( lb cam st ) we now need a replacement for milner and you know things are getting bad if ed (harrisson) starts writing negative articles

• 77 9 Shearer // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:25

  hi

• 78 Davies // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:26

  Well said James. I don’t understand the apparent mental block that stops people seeing that very point.

• 79 lee // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:27

  Fat Ash is running the football club like a pratt who knows absolutely nothing about running a football club… which is exactly what he is.

  He gets the ‘ker-ching’ factor whenever the chance to save a few quid presents itself. I understand he’s a shrewd business man (?) but surely you need to keep hold of your assets to hammer on and improve? Better squad = more revenue.

  Don’t get me wrong, i’m no real Milner fan, but, it is a sign of the rot that is obviously setting in at NUFC.

  Ash, if you don’t want the club sell up and f**k off, but for gods sake don’t batter it to its knees before you do.

• 80 Patrick // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:27

  Ed, so do you think we have more people coming in and we need that 10m from Milner? Anyway, at this point, as a toon fan, I think I am going to shut up until next week. It’s the way it should be: quiet the papers, quiet the negativity… till the dawn of Tuesday!

  With that being said, hopefully I could keep silent till then and talk to you guys later!

• 81 beyethegreat // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:27

  why are my comments not coming up

• 82 hitman // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:30

  if wor kev wasnt skint he would of walked by now..

• 83 Patrick // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:30

  Before I log off….
  @James, good things said. *thumbs up*

• 84 sirjasontoon // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:31

  I am just very very confused by what little we know about what goes on at our club..so confused that I can’t even think of anything to write on the blog this morning.

  I just want KK to be given the funds to build a good team he is doing an amazing job so far with a load of wounded soldiers,how well would he do with a few blank cheques from Mr ashley.

  KK won’t come back again if he leaves and I just feel that he has got to be getting close to the edge with events over the past few months and lack of 1st team investment.

  Please Mike leave the football to KK and watch him deliver a team that makes us proud again.

• 85 Patrick // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:31

  Don’t even pull Owen into this pool of water!! the news IS NEVER RELATED TO OWEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 86 magpie6699 // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:31

  Remember KK’s realism - we aren’t going to match the top 4 and remember the big buy and big name failures. Schevchenko or Kluivert anyone? If MA wants us to do an “Arsenal” - get some young ‘uns and and make a few into stars, build us up steadily as part of a longer term plan, who are we to say he’s wrong? The other approach (big token / panic buys / quick fix) hasn’t worked since KK was last here - and he acknowledges that the world has moved on. We must make consistent progress from a stable platform - boring as it sounds. Would we have felt happier if we’d bought Anton Ferdinand for £8 million? Don’t think so. Let’s just support the Toon and hope our good results and good fortune continue - I’d rather have an inspirational manager than some others around - and who was it who said he wanted his generals to be lucky rather than good? As for the papers…..*****!!

• 87 willowtoon // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:37

  When MA came in and said he wanted to run NUFC along the lines of Arsenal - Wenger style you all were delighted and agreed.

  Arsenal do not pay huge wages and bring in youth and develop players.

  NUFC are deliberatly telling the world they are not going to pay huge wages or inflated transfer fees.

  We are getting great players in on lower wages.

  Yes Owen is a sperate case due to his phenomenal record (When he plays). If he played every week then the top 4 would have him in there teams already.

  Barton is staying. KK won that battle and probably had to agree that it was either Barton or Milner or Smith to go.

  He may be happy to let all 3 go when the time is right and the valuation increases. Milner is the best chance of getting 10 million - Sell

  Get Smith scoring and increase his value and Sell in Jan.

  When Barton more talked about for football than thuggery then sell.

  Wenger sold Anelka for 23 mio and Arsenal fans were outraged. Then Henry came in for 2-3 Mio.

  Keegan sold Cole to Manure and there was outrage. Then came Shearer.

  I for one am behind Ashley and Kev who are still in my mind firmly together. Kev is brill at working the media

  He only walked away from one club - us and that was when FFS was given power - he was right. Ashely is no FFS - thank god

• 88 AdamCF // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:39

  No player or manager is bigger than the club.. If there are players that wish to leave then let them, it’s disappointing that KK is so close to his players because ultimately he may not make the right decisions with them i.e keeping Smith.

• 89 ToonEskimo // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:40

  Kenny g,
  I saw you at the Dominion theatre in the 80’s,
  Great show….

• 90 Graham // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:41

  For what thry’re worth. here’s my thoughts after a night sleeping on it…….

  1. If the PFA are so convinced that Milner had no option but to request a transfer, why didn’ they insist on a scaled increase in his wages due to his age & appearences. Bunch of plebs the lot of them! Hope they don’t see Milner as a slave! I still think Milner has gone about this the wrong way, but if you think you deserve a pay rise and your boss wont listen but someone else will……. even if you’d rather stay where you are, money talks

  2. Of course Keegans unhappy. I’m sure this wasn’t in the brochure when Ashley offered himt he job. But at the same time, i’m sure he wasn’t promissed a sack full of cash to spend at the same time.

  3. Whatever yesterdays meeting was for i’m pleased that its being kept under wraps. 2 years ago and the whole contants of the meeting would be on the back pages.

  4. I still think Ashley is doing what he’s doing for the long term future of both the club and himself. If we were to sell milner and not replace, and alsoo let Owen go for nowt, how much would that wipe off the clubs market value???? If Ashley had any intentions in selling, he would be keeping these players without a doubt.

  Despite all the doom and gloom I still think we’ll get a couple of players in on the last day. Yes I know its not ideal but there aren’t many clubs going daft in the transfer market. The current squad and any new players are gonna have to do the job until at least January at the earliest.

• 91 Rosco // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:42

  were Fu@@ed to be honest!

• 92 ToonEskimo // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:43

  How come it says 90 comments but when I click on there is only 86????
  Ed get the toolbox out my man…..

• 93 ToonEskimo // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:46

  Ed, not sure what is happening but this site is going to be wwwhhhhhheeeeeeeyyyyyyyy busier when it comes to transfer deadline time…
  hope it gets fixed….

• 94 dick // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:47

  only thing stopping KK walking he’s not that well off now, needs the money, he will stay till bitter end

• 95 amble_ball // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:49

  Will all of you please calm down and not believe everything you read in the ludicrous football press?

• 96 hitman // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:50

  at the end of the day it should be kk choice if he wants to let milner go not wise,thats the problem at the toon WISE

• 97 cam_toon // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:50

  Ian mate ur wrong. Wise is responcible for pullinging in 6 youth players a window. That is all.

• 98 bailey // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:51

  At the end of the day it is results on the pitch that will dictate true supporter reaction. Keep doing well and then we will be wondering what all the fuss was about. Yes it would be great if we did get WOW signings but I believe there is still a good team there and I wish sometimes that KK (no matter how much I admire him) would just continue doing what he does best and that is keep on providing a good attacking football team and getting the best out of the players he has.If Milner wants to go then let him whether we rate him or not because if a player wants to go what is the point in prolonging his unrest. If I remember correctly the reporting on Taylors increase was because he wanted parity with Milner. If it is not nipped in the bud then where does it end.
  One final thing: much as I like Milner I would be really annoyed if for example he played for another team and we were offering 10 million for him to come here. A “Milner” to me is only worth a “few “million at best like Guthrie.

• 99 Davies // Aug 28, 2008 at 9:52

  I’m backing Ashley whatever happens.

  If Milner goes and we don’t sign anybody else, it will be disappointing, but I believe we have the quality in our squad to keep us out of trouble until January, when players will almost certainly come.

  I’m really not ready to panic. Nobody else should be either, unless you want to believe all of the crap printed in The Sun, The Mail, The Mirror and all of the other idiot publications that don’t know what’s going on at St James’ Park.

• 100 ArtyH // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:00

  I am starting to loose interest in the whole football scene now. The latest developments at the toon just leave me sick to the stomach. I do not think it is fair what is happening with Milner, if he is to be sold for £10m he should be deserving the wages of a player worth £10m. I can see where he is coming from with the two new lads if they are on more than him.
  Should Milner go we will be down a good player and have to spend the same or more to get another player and then have to pay the wage that player would demand/expect. So why can they not give it to Milner? It just does not make economic sense. We would be a player down also a weeker squad. I give up!!!!!

• 101 35yrsofhurt // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:01

  There as always been a stink that surrounds the ownership of NUFC dating the pre-Westwood days. As long as we continue to turn up in our masses the owners will continue to take the piss out of us.
  Their is clearly a communictaion problem between KK and Cashley which I believe may prove fatal.
  It’s once again the fans that are left shaking their heads at the pathetic way this marvelous club is run. There is no vision or ambition to compete with the best, wake up and smell the coffee.

• 102 Dave Atkinson // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:03

  My God, all the negativity here! We have fellow fans saying they’ve never been so depressed. Boy, have they got short memories!

  Look, Let’s no get too excited. Milner is a very good player but he has flattered to deceive on too many ocassions. For a winger, he’s retty woeful when it comes to getting past players. He works his ass off though and is versatile so I’d vote to keep him but, it won’t be the end of the world if he goes.

  Keegan needs to keep calm. This man has enough managerial talent to pull the squad together and get them playing well. The Manure performance was outstanding and the movement on Tuesday night was excellent. No toys out of the pram please.

  It’s a tough ask to get players to move their families to the north if they’ve no experienc eof it. I live in the Midlands and they think Newcastole is a different coutntry (their loss). Things will continue to get better.

• 103 Matthew Tom // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:03

  Also, we can just turn Milner’s request down and make him see out his contract - it’s up to the Toon what to do with him.

  Three more years and then let him go on a free? Is that actually any worse than getting a fee for him now and spending it on a different player?

  Of course if the new player is guaranteed to be better than Milner, it makes a difference, but unless we got Arda Turan, who else is similar to Milner at the moment and also available?

  Oh God … please not Jermaine Pennant.

• 104 BenjiToon // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:08

  Ed - sorry marra, disappointed in this article. Seems most unlike your usual positivity!

  Lets get some facts here:

  1. Milner has asked for a wage increase then tried to force it by demanding atransfer - the club have not tried to sell him, in fact they only said a week or two ago they were determined not to, so that means its him that is rocking the boat at this crucial time regardless of who made his request public

  2. the club have known for a week that he wants to go, in which time he’s been allowed to play and praised to the heavens by KK - doesn’t sound like we’re treating him badly does it? If he goes he’s worth more. If he stays he knows his manager likes him.

  3. KK, Ashley, Lambias and Wise have met but we don’t know what they discussed, what their plans are or whether they agree or not over Milner - lets not jump to conclusions

  4. we HAVE signed 4 players this summer - unlike, say Everton. Colo and Jonas are both excellent acquisitions, improving the squad. Bassong and Guthrie are young and look great prospects. That’s good business.

  5. The backroom staff is now Keegan’s. The training regime is Keegan’s. The board is talking to the manager…and Keegan is still manager, is still positive and the team is starting to play his way.

  Can we please stop this panicking? OK, so lets say we sign no-one before next week and Milner leaves. We still have 3 wingers at the club with quality, and at least two others who can play out there. Plus we have a much improved defence and midfield overall.

  Perhaps more importantly we have NO DEBT, and aren’t about to go bust.

  Please, please, please get behind the club and KK and stop buying into the press hype. The Jounral this morning starts its article with “KEVIN Keegan’s plans for the season have been thrown into disarray”…how do they know? And why should one player wanting a new contract or to leave mean the wheels come off the whole bus? This is sensationalism and speculation.

  People calm down and just keep singing your hearts out the for Toon!

• 105 Whumpie // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:09

  WOOOAAH!!

  Let’s not panic yet - the press are having a field day speculating about a meeting, and we’re taking it all as gospel and jumping to conclusions.

  As far as I’m aware, nobody has published a single quote from anyone at NUFC since the match on Wednesday, let alone since this meeting. First rule of reading web reports: if they don’t quote anyone, they’re making it up.

  Yep, it looks b.awful. But let’s see what happens. Ashley’s not as green as he’s cabbage-looking, and he won’t de-value a £300k investment. For all we know, there will be a club statement shortly announcing new contracts for Owen, Milner and Harper.

  Ok. Get the pigs fuelled and cleared for take-off…

• 106 fip // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:10

  tbf the worse things are getting i can see KK walking.

  hes done it before he aint affraid!

• 107 sweendog // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:16

  Arda turan is coming for 13 mill .. done deal .. milner to villa 9.5 mill .. good business IMO .. then theres still the striker we’re gonna sign…
  everything is rosier when all the transfer info comes out .. ‘Mon the Toon…

• 108 AusGeordie // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:20

  simple matter of the fact is, the lad shouldn’t have 3 ferrari’s before he is 25.

  He’s on the same as zoggy and taylor neither of who put in a transfer request. Even zoggy has dug down and played out of position and is still slated by some.

  No-one deserves a pay rise after last season. Milner didn’t even play in the 10 good games that we had! I do like the lad, but if we can get better in. Maybe even a swap deal from Liverpool of Insua, Jack Hobbs and Pennant.

  That would let Zoggy move up, Guti to the right Enrique into LB with Insua looking to be a top talent for the future.

  Hobbs would be back up but more developed than tozer, and Kadar.

  Pennant wouldn’t really want but would help keep the bench warm and may even suprise a few people.
  At the very least it gives barton some one to have a few drinks with. Pennant can drive while joey jumps out and smacks a few kid’s :- teach the little buggers for not being at school!

  we could bolster the squad with this deal whilst not triggering another contract war between the rest of the players.

  Sheppard offered Milner a 30k contract just before he sell’s up. Then pisses of zoggy and taylor who want the same. No sooner does taylor get parity with him. Milner decide’s he wants more! Stand your ground Ashley! This would cost us millions more in the other contracts that we would have to renegotiate!!

• 109 Spyro // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:23

  stop with the negativity please, its getting old.

  If Milner wants to go a year after signing a new contract then good riddance. We can do much better than him and in truth he would have only held the club back anyway as he worked hard for us, but never really had the attributes to be a top class winger

  I see this as a blessing in disguise as we will now hopefully replace him with a quality player to match Jonas on the left.

• 110 sirjasontoon // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:26

  Sweendog…you are talking sh@te mate.

• 111 Kevin the Mag who lives in Sunderland // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:30

  I hope sweendog is right I would let Milner go if Turan was on his way

• 112 Hatty // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:31

  Why the hell does Milner deserve a new contract? The club are taking the right stance in my opinion.

• 113 Ian // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:33

  cam_toon well if i am it is down to this and many other statements saying that the ‘three wise men’ are in charge of player recruitment, as they use the word ‘assist’ for all of them, you say there are only ‘two wise men’??

  Here is one explanation but there are many more if you look:

  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2290355/Newcastle-confirm-Dennis-Wise-appointment.html

  I think someone is not reading the statements correctly, Wise is 100% in charge of the academy and ALSO assists in player recruitment for the main team.

  However replace assist with actually doing as there isnt anyone with any football experience to assist!!

  I think newcastle united mad.co.uk made a good point relating to Milner, ‘what does he know that we dont’ which all of a sudden made an enthusiastic player all for the club want to leave?

• 114 Born Again Geordie // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:33

  Why oh why oh why - does everyone believe the sh**e that is printed in the tabloids - they know it is only 4 days till the end of the transfer window and they need to sell papers! So what do they do? Print more lies and half truths about ??? who else but Newcastle United !!!! Please lads calm down Mike Ashley is no mug! Fact ! If Milner goes it will be a sound business deal as I am convinced we have someone already lined up - A) who is better, B) who wants to play for the club and C) will put bums on seats. Ashley is in this to enjoy himself but also to make money. Lets all wait and see what happens come Sept 2nd. Ho’way the lads !!!

• 115 clinta // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:40

  good article ed, agree completely and it’s how i see the current situation, exactly what i was trying to say yesterday, however you managed to word it a hell of alot better!

• 116 Ted Lawson // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:43

  I am a long time reader of this blog and am a Newcastle United fan living in the south. Almost daily for the last few years i have had to take abuse and defend my club.

  The current turn of events with James Milner has surprised but not annoyed me as much as you guys. James while a fine player and a hard worker lacks that extra 10% of class required to be a superstar. Over time he may hone the better points of his game to get this, but i don’t think he will be at what we all know he’s capable of until he is 27. but right now 35k a week is exactly what he should be on. 55k is unreasonable for a player who does not assist in more than 10 times or score more than 5, the club should stand firm.

  I think it is sensible for us to let him go and not risk damaging the fine team spirit which has been evident in our first few games this season. The first season in which i actually feel like we are actually trying to play football again and like the team has some balance.

  I know Keegan wants to keep him but then a manager wouldn’t let anyone go and would like 300 m to spend every year. But we don’t live in dreamland this is the real world. Notice how the notification came from the club AFTER the meeting with Ashley, Wise and Lambias. Keegan knew what was going on and he had a chance to fight his corner.

  10 Million is a good price for James and if we can use the money well then we will improve. The players we have signed this summer look very good, Colo, Jonas and Guthrie have been ace so far and we got them at very agreeable prices.

  It’s time for Newcastle to play a more patient game when it comes to signing players. We need to cut out the waste that we have had with rash and rushed signings in the past. We should only sign a player when the deal is right for the club, because no-one player is worth more than the club as a whole. The money we have wasted in the past with our old way of working must go close to a 100 Mill on transfers and wages.

  I feel more secure about the direction of Newcastle United now, than i have done since Sir Bob was at the club. Mike Ashley and the new organisation structure at the club seems to be working where things count ON THE PITCH.

  We are still unbeaten this year (although i expect arsenal to change that this weekend) and are playing some nice stuff. The sale of milner will allow Jonas to play on the right and also for us to push the Zog onto the left wing. He has far more talent than Milner and produces more in the last third.

  As one door closes another will always open, i won’t be to worried till after Monday night. I hope we make signings between now and then, but i also hope they are of the right quality and are at the right price.

• 117 Ian // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:45

  Everyone says stop panicking and I am not, I am presuming that they have players ready to sign, a replacement right winger or play Duff on that side (milners), and definately a striker.

  So I will wait till the window closes.

  However none of us can tell others not to worry, there are only a few days left and Owen isnt signing, Milner wants out and there is no talk of any signings or medicals.

  We should have sold Owen and brought in Cisse, we would have got some money for Owen and owned a contract on Cisse, which would be good business but no cost to us, we should have done that in the early weeks of the window, Cisse put a for sale sign out for all to see, other players arent.

  We then should have gone out and tried for a young superstar striker such as Huntelaar or similar and we could have tried to the last minute trying to secure a player like that, knowing we already had Cisse on the squad.

  Now we havent signed a new striker and Owen could walk in January, very poor business decisions and very naive management.

  Keegan will have had enough stress already this Summer to see him through the whole season.

  Still some still think Ashley is a brilliant tycoon and will come through in the end.

  We will all see at the end of the window. A copule of signings and everything will change and look brilliant, especially if Vetere and Keegan can agree on a good quality and an available striker.

• 118 tom tomb // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:53

  You could get Seb Larsson and Eren Derdiyok for the Milner money- lets hope that is what happens.

• 119 markus // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:55

  some songs for anyone going to the match on saturday…..

  “Mike Ash, wheres your cash….mike ash, wheres your cash!!”
  or

  “get your cash out for new lads, get your cash out, for new lads!”

• 120 Tom_Toon // Aug 28, 2008 at 10:59

  Listen if we get £10mil or more for Milner we are robbing wahtever team pays that for him.

  I’d be much more disappointed if N’Zogbia was the one leaving!

  N’Zogbia - Pace, technical ability, skill.

• 121 Jeff // Aug 28, 2008 at 11:00

  I am the only one that is starting to think this is a conspiracy to destroy Newcastle….

  We have heard all about the fact that Ashley is a closet Tottenham Fan and that Lambias is a West Ham Fan………..in fact is there anyone on the board that supports Newcastle………

  A load of Cockneys who seem determined to send Newcastle back to the dark ages.

• 122 Sav // Aug 28, 2008 at 11:16

  Willowtoon talking sense.

  But someone else above said, ‘If Smith is worth £60,000 a week then so too is Milner. Pay the guy what he’s worth.’ Sorry but its rubbish. Its how Leeds became Leeds. Smith is not worth that. If the manager has to deal day to day with his players, its a great buffer for him to leave contracts to somebody else. If Milner signed a 30k per week deal 12 months ago, why rock the boat at this difficult time?
  Give KK a chance to put his squad together.

  Clubs can’t be helfd to ransom no matter who the player. Standard Liege had a bunch of good young players (inluding the lad we’re supposed to be looking at) and I doubt any of them are on anywhere near 30k.
  Leave the dealings to Wise and Co. Even where the manager does the transfers, they know there is a budget. All this ‘I hand in my wish-list and see what happens’ is ridiculous. If a club buys this player, they can’t buy that player. If you buy one expensive player, is it better than 2 decent players. There’s always a budget.
  Milner needs to ‘Wise up’.

• 123 xfer // Aug 28, 2008 at 11:22

  I would suggest MA avoid sitting with the fans this weekend, cos if things don’t improve, we’ll see him dumped onto the pitch!

• 124 Smiler // Aug 28, 2008 at 11:27

  im unhappy aswell the bloody makems have spent more than us ashley just get lost, wot about this WOW signin he promised last week i still havent seen him yet

• 125 sweendog // Aug 28, 2008 at 11:40

  sirjasontoon .. wait n see ..

• 126 Tom Cairns // Aug 28, 2008 at 12:18

  Can everyone please stop blaming Mike Ashley! he’s an easy scapegoat yes if things go wrong but all this speculation of him being tight and not giving keegan the money is all just that, speculation. from the QUOTES we have all we know is that it has been hard attracting players here of the right caliber (not surprising considering our last couple of seasons). it is not ashleys fault if players dont want to come!!! if milner wants to leave its a shame but how can you blame ashley for that!? if owen is a greedy ******* and asks for ridiculous wages how can you blame ashley for that?! yes we need players in but everyone can see that but unluckily we’re not the desirable destination we once were and keegan will have to make us that again with the resources we have, and he knew this when he took the job so please less of this, keegans gonna walk ****!
  if someone from inside comes out and confirms that ashley will not stump up the money then fine i accept it and he should be linched but all this guessing and believing obviously stupid reporters is doing my nut in. keegan has openly backed ashley so why cant you guys?
  what fact do we know so far, he has rescued us financially, he has stated his goal of breaking the top four in the next couple of years, he has offered big money for woodgate, modric and collocini. all sounds pretty trust worthy to me.

  we’re having a really good start to the season and i cant believe somehow everyone is still being so negative!

• 127 SwedEric // Aug 28, 2008 at 12:19

  My god… They have a meeting and you guys make it sounds like MA and Keegan are enemies, and MA doesn´t what what´s best for the club.

  If I was the owner, and Milner come in and said he wanted a better deal, just a year after he had sign a improved one, I would have said no also, since he wasn´t better last year, the the year before, so whats the point?

  Then in a week we stand here with 3 new players, and everyone will say “phuu, and I was afraid we were having problems…”

• 128 DH7 Mags // Aug 28, 2008 at 12:20

  am starting to get bored of all this now. my thoughts are this. lets see what happens until monday night 12 midnight. if its not the way we are all h