smoggeordie

Edgar had a trial at Manure when he was 9, obviously not updated that site in 10 years

FA to investigate Emre 'racist' outburst allegations By JOHN EDWARDS Last updated at 17:17pm on 31st December 2006 FA chiefs are ready to investigate claims that a penalty area fracas at Goodison Park was sparked by a racist outburst by Newcastle midfielder Emre. Referee Dermot Gallagher had just awarded a 43rd-minute penalty, for a trip on Kieron Dyer, when several Everton players suddenly began jostling Emre in a flashpoint that briefly threatened to spiral out of control as others joined in. Everton keeper Tim Howard was one of the first to confront the 26-year old Turk, while Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott were just as incensed as tempers boiled over. Gallagher appeared to single out Emre as the chief culprit by beckoning him to the sidelines, prior to a consultation with his linesman that appeared to prove inconclusive. After a quick word between the two officials, Gallagher felt able to administer nothing more than a ticking off to the already-booked Emre, whose subsequent offer of a handshake was accepted by Yobo but brusquely rejected by Lescott. Feelings were still running high at half-time, as players of both sides became embroiled in heated exchanges in the tunnel before being ushered into their dressing rooms. Everton attempted to draw a veil over the furore by banning their players from discussing it, while manager David Moyes would only admit there had been "words exchanged" in the aftermath of the penalty award. An FA probe seems likely, though, after it emerged that fans behind Howard's goal, at the Gwladys Street end, had complained about Emre's conduct, alleging racist abuse towards one or more of Everton's coloured players. They have been advised to send their observations to Soho Square, and, if they do, an enquiry will surely follow into the cause of an ugly bout of pushing and finger pointing that took a couple of minutes to bring under control. An FA spokesman confirmed as much by saying: "We take any allegation of racism very seriously, and if we receive a complaint, we will look at it thoroughly." Emre's every touch was jeered for the rest of a game that went from bad to worse for Newcastle but had Everton followers heralding the arrival of another homegrown matchwinning marksman. When Obafemi Martins was finally cleared to take Newcastle's penalty, he ballooned it into the upper tier of the Gwladys seats, while a hamstring injury to Peter Ramage forced Nicky Butt to try his hand as a makeshift centre-half. The former England midfielder made a decent fist of it for 50-odd minutes but may have his work cut out maintaining it off for the full 90, against his old club Manchester United at St James' Park today. Newcastle were trailing to a scrambled ninth-minute opener from Victor Anichebe and were heading for their heaviest defeat of the season when the 18-year old struck again in the 58th minute, deflecting an Andy Johnson header against the underside of the bar and reacting swiftly to force home the rebound. He walked into a half-time rebuke from Moyes for not contributing enough and has obvious rough edges that need working on, but the Nigerian youngster has the makings of another Goodison goalscoring great, according to Phil Neville. "Victor is just a young kid, but he is already frightening the life out of defenders," said the Everton full-back, who wrapped up the scoring with a freak 62nd-minute goal that left one boot and ricocheted off the other before spinning over Shay Given. "He needs to keep improving, because defenders will start working him out, but he is a beast of a player, so strong and quick, and clever with it. He has every attribute you would want from a centre-forward, particularly at Everton, given the style of play we favour. "This club has a tradition of bringing through young centre-forwards, and we are lucky to have two emerging in the same mould, in Victor and James Vaughan. It suggests the future is very bright in the striking department." Neville urged Moyes to turn Howard's loan deal into a permanent signing after the Manchester United keeper denied Newcastle a 54th-minute equaliser with a flying save from James Milner's fierce drive. "Every time Tim has been called on this season, he has come up with an answer, and that is the sign of a top-class keeper," he said. "I always thought he was good, but he has got better coming here. Keepers thrive on playing continually, and he has had that with us. He knows he is going to be out there most weeks, and his confidence has grown accordingly. "I just hope we can sign him full-time now, because I don't see many better keepers anywhere in the Premiership. "As for my goal, I shot with my right foot, but it actually skidded off my left before looping over the keeper. I always get the mickey taken, because I am hopeless in front of goal. I don't even score in training. I'll get more stick now, but who cares? After going so long without a goal, you have to make the most of the moment." Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder attempted to make light of a worsening injury crisis that has left him with Steven Taylor as his only fit central defender for the visit of runaway leaders United. "I would have no hesitation playing Nicky Butt in any position, at full-back, let alone centre-half," he said. "I'm sure he will relish the thought of facing the Rooneys and Ronaldos at our place, because he is that sort of character, quiet and serious but great to have on your side. "There was no fuss about switching him from midfield against Everton. I just said: 'Nicky, I need you to do a job at centre-back' and he replied: 'No problem, boss, I'll get myself in there now.' I wouldn't have expected anything less, and he did it brilliantly."

Anyone got a link for this match?

Jonathan Woodgate admits he is in two minds about whether he wants to return to Real Madrid. The defender joined Middlesbrough on a season-long loan in the summer and Gareth Southgate has made no secret of the fact that he wants to secure Woodgate on a permanent basis. Woodgate also insists that he is loving life on Teesside and that it would be painful to be recalled to Spain. However, he still yearns to play in the UEFA Champions League and misses some of the great European nights he enjoyed at Real Madrid. "When you love a club as much as I love Middlesbrough and when you are happy, there are always two sides to the coin," Woodgate told the Daily Mail. "I am still ambitious but I do love it here. This is my home town and when I am not here I really do miss Middlesbrough. "Sometimes I think there is unfinished business with Madrid and the Champions League. Other times I just think it's not for me. I'd be away in a foreign land and away from all this. "I am like any player and I want to be happy and win things and be challenging for trophies. And while I've done okay here so far, we are down at the wrong end of the table. "As a player you have that burning desire to play at the top level and they do not come much bigger than the Champions League games. Once you have played in those you want them more and more." Woodgate also voiced his support for Southgate, who has struggled in his first season of management. "He is a great man manager and will prove to be a very good manager but he needs time," Woodgate explained. "He has inherited someone else's team and needs time to change it and make his own signings. When he has done that, he can be judged."

Maybe a lot of supporters come home for Christmas.... Then why hasn't spurs sold out?

I'm soopafantastic. Every game

I want to know where these tossers are for the other 18 home games a season.

Sold out soopafantastic

Rumours that he has done his crutiate are circling on the Boro boards.

Given Solano Taylor Ramage/Moore Duff Dyer Butt/Parker Emre Zog Owen Martins

Me, Flintoff and Rocker will be there in the lower tier.

Apparently Roeder told Oliver that the team is Given, Nobby, Bramble, Taylor, Ramage, Butt, Emre, Zog, Sib, Martins, Luque unless Milner passes a fitness test

His dads a neurosurgeon? Can you ask him whether its possible to put back the bit of brain related to sense they obviously removed from Roeder when he underwent his op. ...aye and stick a bit of tactical nouse in there as well

He's mocking me because I asked my dad to explain Shola's hip injury fully to me. I'm mocking him because he's a tit and fell for my edit

I'll ask yo momma

You're a sucker

Hahahaha Gemmill you tit

d'oh

Manchester United have accepted an offer from Cardiff City to take England striker Alan Smith on loan, BBC Sport Wales has learned. But a deal depends on the 26-year-old agreeing terms with the Bluebirds. Smith broke an ankle against Liverpool in February and has not played regularly since returning. Cardiff, who top the Championship, need cover as first-choice striker Steve Thompson will be out for most of November with an Achilles injury. The move is thought to have been instigated by Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, formerly Smith's chairman at Leeds. In his time at Leeds, Smith was sent off against Cardiff for elbowing Andy Legg in the Bluebirds' famous 2-1 FA Cup win at Ninian Park in January 2002. Smith is in need of regular football, but since returning to fitness in August he has struggled to force his way into Ferguson's thinking. He was substituted after 60 minutes in the shock Carling Cup defeat to Southend on Tuesday.

The smogger does not lie (except the whole league winning thingy)

It's ToonfanNorway from Newcastle online

Best one i've seen whilst in attendence was Shearer's volley against Villa.

He's worried