smoggeordie

Signing for Spurs apparently

Quite happy with the first half performance, created some good chances and kept Arsenal at bay. Second half Arsenal stepped it up a gear and we just couldn't deal with it. Like people have said, time to look for some creativity.

I'm sure it wouldn't stop the deal like if Boro wanted that in.

Match just goes down as void and coupon is still valid. Mansfield battering Boro here, unfortunate to be behind.

Jonathan Woodgate is in talks with Newcastle after their £7m bid for the defender was accepted by Middlesbrough, reports BBC Radio Newcastle. Woodgate, who left the Magpies to join Real Madrid in 2004, looks set for a return to the club having reportedly turned down a move to Tottenham. Spurs had also had an offer for the England international accepted. Woodgate, 28, was not included in Middlesbrough's squad for their FA Cup match at Mansfield on Saturday. On Thursday, Boro manager Gareth Southgate insisted he was under no pressure to sell any of his players. "We wouldn't let anybody go unless we thought we were suitably covered in that position or had somebody else coming in who we thought could replace the player that was going," he said. Southgate has other options in defence, with David Wheater, Robert Huth, Emanuel Pogatetz and Matthew Bates all competing for places. Woodgate joined hometown team Boro for £7m from Real last summer, after an impressive campaign on loan from the Spanish club last season.

Chronicle: MIDDLESBROUGH defender Jonathan Woodgate has stalled on a £7m move to Spurs – and could yet get his wish to play for Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United. Jonathan Woodgate It is believed that United last night contacted Boro chairman Steve Gibson about the 28-year-old England international, although neither club would confirm this today. Spurs had their bid accepted by Middlesbrough for Woodgate yesterday and they were expecting the former Leeds United, Newcastle United and Real Madrid defender to travel to London. But Woodgate did not make the journey with Middlesbrough, saying it was because of treatment for an injury which kept him out of their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Mansfield today. However, sources close to Woodgate say he would love the chance to play again for Keegan – the man who handed him the first of his six England caps against Bulgaria in 1999. The Chronicle revealed United's interest in their former central defender on Wednesday, but yesterday it looked as though he was on his way to Spurs. But the fact that Woodgate is prepared to turn his back on the bright lights of London, and the chance to play for a Spurs side which is on the way up, is testimony to the pulling power of Keegan. I was told at the beginning of the week that Keegan's three targets were Woodgate, Jermain Defoe and David Bentley – and what a difference this little trio would make to the United squad. But it looks like Woodgate is the best bet. Cockney boy Defoe is very much a home bird, yet he was ready to join United a couple of years ago when his former West Ham boss Glenn Roeder was in charge at St James’s Park. And as far as Bentley is concerned, Blackburn Rovers have made it very clear that they will pull out all the stops to keep their England winger. This leaves Woodgate, and the prospect of a central defensive pairing with England Under-21 skipper Steven Taylor certainly looks very appealing. But the ball is very much in the court of Middlesbrough now. Gareth Southgate and Steve Gibson know that Woodgate is not happy at the Riverside Stadium – and so do the Boro supporters. Woodgate is injured at the moment but he hopes to be fit for next weekend – when Middlesbrough come to St James’s Park for their Tyne-Tees derby on Sunday lunch-time. With the transfer window slamming shut again on Thursday, everything has to be sorted out before then. Middlesbrough would not want Woodgate to play against them if a move to United was completed, but any transfer would be permanent and really they would be powerless to stop it.

Aye i'll be there mate

You going down Osborne Road for it mate?

Would love it if he came back. I know he's not been in top form for boro, but tbh he's coasting there. I've got full confidence in KK that he could get him back to top form if he came back. Would be gutted if we lost out to Spurs for him.

You are, unfortunately.

Usual guff in here I reckon he'll go with: Given Carr Taylor Cacapa Enrique Milner Butt Zoggy Duff Smith Owen 3-1 to Arsenal

Quality quotes

Good news is true, but skysports.com isn't the most reliable of sites.

1727: Nice move from Senegal, working some space down the right. Newcastle's Habib Beye in plenty of space. Just knock in a decent ball, mate. Oh, OK then, smash it about 30 yards out of play. Our lads doing well then.

I was wondering when someone would notice it

Past year and a half he seems to have lost his injury tag but had a slump in form tbh.

From our favourite Journo MIDDLESBROUGH are bracing themselves for a bid from Newcastle United for their England centre-half Jonathan Woodgate. Jonathan Woodgate That was the news coming out of Teesside today as Kevin Keegan and his right-hand men Terry McDermott and Arthur Cox scour Europe for a top central defender. And on his day – and when he is fit – they do not come any better than Woodgate who, of course, had a short spell at St James’s Park after Sir Bobby Robson paid £9m to bring him from Leeds United in January 2003. It was Keegan who gave Woodgate his England debut against Bulgaria in 1999, and there is no doubt that he rates the Middlesbrough defender who celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday very highly indeed. The word coming out of Teesside is that Woodgate is disenchanted with life at the Riverside Stadium, and that he would be interested in a move back to United. Woodgate was Middlesbrough vice-captain, but when regular skipper George Boateng lost his place Gareth Southgate has been reluctant to throw him the armband. United striker Shola Ameobi has a lot of fans among managers both in the Premier League and the Championship. Southgate is one of them and if he gives in on his fight to keep Woodgate at Middlesbrough, then he is likely to insist on the United striker going in the opposite direction. Obviously, Middlesbrough would fight to keep Woodgate, just as they did when United and Glenn Roeder first wanted Mark Viduka in the summer of 2006. Woodgate only started 28 games for United in the Premier League, but he is still the best central defender I have seen in a black-and-white shirt in the last 30 years. As far as signings are concerned Keegan could hardly have picked a worse time to return as United manager with the transfer window slamming shut again a week tomorrow. But today was a big day for United central defender Steven Taylor who chalked up his 22nd birthday. And Taylor will be relishing clashing with Emmanuel Adebayor on Saturday – if Arsene Wenger plays the Togo striker. But Taylor will not have any inferiority complex when he heads for The Emirates after scoring United’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at St James’s Park early last month. Meanwhile, United fans are really showing their support for Keegan. For the club announced today that they have sold out their full allocation of 5,000 tickets for Saturday’s tie at The Emirates.

It really was like Escape to Victory, and nearly was the same old story. In November up this thread I wrote we'd have a 100% record if it went on HT scores, we were 4-0 up at HT in this game. What a bastard ref though, meek as fuck, gave them everything, we had 2 good goals disallowed, and NSG was penalised for having the ball at his feet 10 seconds when no such rule exists. For 28 quid you would think the cunts could sort a decent ref out. There's a good few teams in our league are cunts. When we got promoted we played a team in MACKEM shorts, what a disgrace, have they got no where in fuckin Pennywell to play or the Croooaaahtree Leisurrr Centurrr?? Another team in our league "The Firm" biggest cuntish 5 a side team we've ever played, they have one gobby old bastard at the back, 3 subs, and are genuinely the biggest nobheads I've played against. As I was discussing with the lads after the last game when we lost 8-3, their was no grace from them fuck all, and I'm making sure the next game is a bloodbath, simple as that, fuckin arseholes. Pincer are tossers too. That was pathetic. Ball at me feet for 8 or 9 seconds, then I picked it up "he's had the ball 10 seconds". Didn't know it was against the rules to keep posession like.

And we've got Pincer and The Firm coming up in the next fortnight. Make or break time like, if we can get 9 points from the next 3 games we're well in the promotion hunt. Big ask though. But if we've got all 6 players available we're better than any team in our league IMO.

Riise is overrated because he scores the odd good goal.

Manchester City have denied that Micah Richards is about to sign a new long-term contract. (0903 GMT - Manchester Evening News)

I did, it was in yesterdays papers

1. Im up ridiculously early to go to the library to revise. 2 Yesterdays exam went pretty well 3 Tomorrows exam is the last till June 4 Im going to be sooooooooo drunk tomorrow night 5 I'm going to look for an Offy in Jesmond tomorrow that sells Keo

Beeb match report from Sheff Wed vs Derby: Derby beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 on penalties at Hillsborough to set up an FA fourth round encounter with Preston. Craig Fagan slotted home the winning spot-kick after Lewis Price saved Glenn Whelan and Kenny Kunt's efforts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7197858.stm