Giraffidae

agreed. He’s a good player, can’t see us splashing out the required to replace him with anyone as good. Seems like a lot of people have the same attitude towards him as they had with Milner.

isn’t the finance sourced by the Red Knight Group to buy out Man U basically the same thing though?

yeh, whatever happened to dogs diets that stopped that! and ‘trendies’ always wearing white socks and the bouncers would never let them in with them on.

Manchester United and Liverpool linked with Newcastle target Hatem Ben Arfa By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 10:40 AM on 24th August 2010 Hatem Ben Arfa has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United or Liverpool. The Marseille playmaker has been offered a deal by Werder Bremen and a 'top Premier League club' - which his agent Michel Ouazine indicated was not Newcastle United. The Geordies wanted to take the France international on a season-long loan, but angered Marseille with their offer. Big guns: Arfa could be heading for Manchester United or Liverpool Bremen had a £6.6million bid for Ben Arfa accepted after selling Mesut Ozil to Real Madrid, but the player's stock has risen since an impressive performance and goal for France in their 2-1 defeat by Norway earlier this month. Ouazine said the identity of the English team making a move would be a 'big surprise', with reports in France suggesting either Liverpool or Manchester United would be the ones making the bid. Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be a long-term admirer of the 23-year-old, who has also been offered to Everton and other Premier League teams this summer. 'Negotiations are continuing,' said Ouazine. 'We are finalising the contract.' Ben Arfa comes with issues. He is currently refusing to play for Marseille in a bid to force a move and is training alone away from his employers. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...?#ixzz0xW3Sbtbb like you can trust a statement from an agent of a player in Ben Arfa’s position a few days before the transfer deadline?

Carroll looks top class in the making, well played to him. His aerial power, finishing ability, vision and work rate were top class. unfortunately he won’t be getting man marked by a rookie only playing his 3rd game in his career every week. Probably set Ciaran Clark’s career back a few years!

Breaking: Cheick Tioté towards England? Well, he was still by far the best player in recent games (and potentially that he had since his arrival in Enschede), so anyway as soon as the boss a bit of time typing. Cheick Tioté missing today on the training of FC Twente and according to the Tubantia be due to an imminent transfer to Newcastle United. Previously, although West Bromwich Albion in the market for steel Ivorian. — off some FC Twente blog possibility of already been signed, just waiting for international clearance?

to me Given was forced to leave us, he could see the way that the club was being run into the ground by Ashley and his mates, he made a stand against them and had to go.

getting proper messy now. seems like a true L’enfant terrible.

He told Sky Sports News: "There isn't anything. We are aware of the speculation and that he has been linked to us but he is very much a Marseille player. There hasn't been any direct contact." meaning that negotiations could be between us and Marseille, and the players agent, but not directly with the player as he’s a Marseille player — and probably non of our negotiating team could speak the lingo anyway. Hughton is following club policy of saying nowt to anyone, but is in danger of falling into another club policy — of being a liar at any given moment — "There isn't anything” — hmmm. Marseille have got him in he shop window tonight so anything could happen (it’s on ESPN tonight I believe).

I dread to think of who Ashley has got to negotiate for the club!

What's to talk about, we pay his wages and that's it. GIRAFFIDAE, there's no way with 6 strikers in our squad that we'll sign another one. The only scenario I can see where that would happen would be if Shola and Best are sold. They won't sell Lovenkrands or Carroll, and we're stuck with Xisco. with those six we’ll never stay up. Carroll — is Ok’ish with a great future potential. Lovenkrands — in recent years has only ever been an impact substitute. The other 4 — hmmmm........

if we’ve got him in on the cheap, great. More money available now for our desperate need for a goalscorer?

if there are 18 blokes called John in the room, but one of them insists they’re the only one who should be called John, you would always regard that bloke as an absolute tosser. When you go to Old Trafford the place is full of ‘One United’. People form Manchester hate being the shortened title of ‘Man’ for Manchester — so Man U or Man City it is then.

happy enough with this signing. our big problem is that he’s the best signing we’ve made this summer — and we’re well short of quality.

whenever I see someone in a City shirt I have to ask them what they’re for.

why do City have 3?

they only put those stars on in 1998, it went unnoticed at the time because they were in the lower leagues. Brazil started it off after 1970.

Chez should be doing this. Before reconsidering the Blues, the former Lyons man must first concentrate on his future with the club. Claimed to be leaving for Newcastle or Werder Bremen, the Clamart native said "do not believe what is said or written in the papers about the transfer window". That doesn't interest me. Those that make lines are like weather vanes, they sing your praises then pull you down 3 days later." very Cantonaesque! would he pass Kevin Nolan’s personality requirements that he harped on about so often last season?

seeing that Forest shirt with their earned 2 gold stars on it next to the Man City shirt with their 3 gold stars pisses me off — there should be rules about that, cheeky gits. I’m not trying to hijack this into another “our clubs bigger than theirs” mindless discussion, but how they ever got away with it rankles me. Although there are no official guides for displaying the stars, City and their ‘for decorative reasons’ is pathetic.

James seemed to miss quite a few games for Pompey last season. He’s a different class to Harper though.

he’s had a back problem since before he joined Arsenal. It’s been getting progressively worse throughout his career. Nice pension top-up for him. Don’t suppose he’s realised how many Irish there are in NY!

David Pleat is the head of their Acquisitions Panel which was set up after David Platt wasted millions when he was in charge. Billy Davies accepted this set up when he was appointed, as the manager he does recommend potential targets to the panel — they ignore him — and he then goes on one of his infamous rants.

those mackems really believe Tyneside sees Moat as a hero!!!! never mind the shite he’s been up to in the last week, he’d only just got out of prison for assaulting a 9 year old girl FFS.

at the moment I can only see Blackpool ending up below us — so 19th.

Mate I think you're on the wrong thread, what the fuck are you on about ? I see, you’re ‘straightening’ up your image to help your career path.