Optimistic Nut

My dad's just muttered "tw*t" at 1:33.

It's not a case of him getting a "fresh start", he's our 5th choice striker imo, 3 of our first 4 are out, so he's next in line...

GK - Given RB - Carr LB - Enrique CB - Taylor CB - Cacapa RM - Milner LM - Duff CM - Rozehnal CM - N'Zogbia CF - Ameobi CF - Owen

I'd take Carroll AND Ameobi ahead of Smith.

I know you hate Shola, but to pick a player who couldn't force his way ahead of Ormerod & Mellor in a side in the relegation-zone in the Championship ahead of Ameobi is a bit much...

He wasn't here under Bobby. :S

Looks like Owen's captain according to the Daily Mail. (not sure if they just mean for tomorrow or whether he's permanent)

I was only about 10-11 at the time, but one thing I never got was how Howey got picked for England and Peacock didn't.

Defoe would make sense only if Owen goes. Wright-Phillips would be an excellent signing.

Really think he should get a managerial job somewhere else. In the next couple of weeks it's more than likely either the Motherwell or Southampton jobs will become available, he should go for either one.

I remember that.... Douggie Hall wandering into the San Siro and announcing that he was here to sign Baggio for Newcastle... Those were the days.. Was it not the Stadio del Alpi? Sure it was Milan he moved to about a month after he tried that. Given his love for goalscoring Belgian centre-backs, van Buyten.

The Mirror reckon he'll bring in Gianfranco Zola as his number 2.

At least it looks like for once our "Plan B" might be better than our first one.

At least we know he's interested.

First direct quote from Deschamps...

Can't really remember. Just remember being impressed by Monaco & Porto all the way through that tournament. Think he'd have a presence about him as well and would be able to attract a higher calibre of player.

Or Houllier might have suggested him if he has decided to stay with the French FA.

I remember him playing an attacking system based around Prso, Giuly, Rothen & Morientes with Evra bombing forward stuffing Deportivo 8-3, going to Stamford Bridge in the Semi Final Second Leg and attacking Chelsea from the off. Can't say I saw much of his time at Juventus, but I'd be more than happy with this one.

Because I like his style of football, is a huge improvement on Hughes, Redknapp, Keegan & Shearer, and I could actually see him fancying the job.

Of all the links, this is the one that grabs me by the balls and f*cks me up the a*se the most. Get him in!

http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2008..._181148Dev.html The ex-Blues captain is in contact with Newcastle's directors, ready for management once again after his last two experiences at Monaco & Juventus. Newcastle are today looking for a manager, preferably foreign and possibly French "to give the Magpies a continental style that they don't have", and if the decision hasn't already been made, it's Deschamps, this Tuesday, who's ready to take over the leash. Contacts were first made on Sunday, just after the club's 6-0 hammering at Manchester United. Since then, British managers, both free and with clubs have been on the list, and the name of the ex-France captain was brought up with other names (such as Houllier). Deschamps is expected to arrive in England or elsewhere in the next few hours to at last meet up to finalise a deal. He will meet up with the club's owner Mike Ashley (who at 39 is the same age as him), and Chairman Chris Mort. In contact with Manchester City, another Premier League club, in the summer, he rejected the job for personal reasons, most notably because there were no French schools for his children. Although there are also none in Newcastle, Deschamps is desperate to return to management, and since it's not certain there'll be a host of clubs interested in a new manager at the end of the season, here lies a good opportunity to get back into it.

True, but he also plucked Hyypia from nowhere, took a chance on some kid called Riise, gambled on Finnan who had came right through the leagues...

Houllier DoF with Deschamps First Team Coach...dream team.

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/...lo/1014361.html In talks with Portsmouth.

I disagree. Why? Keegan was near the end of his career, Shearer was coming home, and Owen only came because we offered most. Signing a player who's been a regular for Barcelona for 3 seasons (and a key player at that), has won 2 Champions Leagues in 4 years, 2 La Liga's, etc. would be a coup and a half.