Isegrim

In a thread a couple of days I said that I feel indifferent and that losing the upcoming two games wouldn't seem so bad for me. Now we lost the first game and I feel devastated and got me a large whiskey to drown my sorrows.

It does however look good to the supporters, exactly what the purpose of this is. Can you imagine what the press would say about the supporters if they go out tonight and sing "Sack the board" on the day we have *made a record bid* for Michael Owen. The timing of it is perfect for a board under some much pressure and abuse from its supporters. 17410[/snapback] Caption competition...

I also don't think it's too clever to release statements about the transfer dealing on the website. It does look premature and shows how desperate the club is. The best deals are done in silence until they are confirmed by Jimbo's telly IMHO.

Agreed..... It doesn't make him a shitter player just because we're not his first choice, nor does it lessen my desire to see him playing for the club! Anyone who does want's to have a word with themselves! 17337[/snapback] My biggest gripe is the fact we are after a proven goalscoring striker when 20 goal a season Shola has just come back into contention from suspension? Are we buying Owen in case Shola gets injured again? Seems an expensive sub! 17342[/snapback]

Yep, and if they were in the position of Newcastle the fans would behave no different...

Hmm, only medical term or can he also say "That's some nice beer glasses you have there. Do you mind if I smash them over my head." in Spanish? That would be quite impressing... 17283[/snapback] impressIVE, Isegrim, impressIVE .......... 17286[/snapback] No comprendo. Soy alemán.

Hmm, only medical term or can he also say "That's some nice beer glasses you have there. Do you mind if I smash them over my head." in Spanish? That would be quite impressing...

What chance do you think Souness would have qualifying for the World Cup with Australia baring in mind they don't have an automatic qualifying spot...

Well, I am also one who is critical about overspending, but if the club has to pay over the odds then rather for Owen than for the likes of Luis Boa Morte and Nicolas Anelka.

I think the server problem is down to so many people wanting to whinge about the potential signing of Owen 17224[/snapback] They've closed the board down because someone mentioned Owen outside of the "Official" Owen thread. They're running searches for mentions of the word Owen in all other threads and will be re-opening the board when this problem has been eradicated. 17249[/snapback] If anybody's bored when they get the board back up how about starting a few Owen threads? 17254[/snapback] Nah, zey hav vays to keep you silent.

I think the first time when Robson really looked to address the problems was when he signed Butt and Carr. He also tried to sign other players like Seitaridis before but wasn't given the thump by the fat controller. Robson also thought to have solved the centre half problem with signing Woodgate, who was sold against his wish (a deal the only in hindsight seemed to work out).

Absolutely Spot On 17192[/snapback] Yes, I was prejudiced against him right from the start. Then he nearly conned me with his first appearance at the BBC where he said those charming things like "it's the best squad I've ever worked with", "it's about fine tuning", "I am the most attacking minded manager this club ever had" etc. pp. Though I rescinded my decision to give him time quickly again, because I have only seen rubbish performances. No game plan, no flair, no fitness...

Is it Brett Emerton? 17064[/snapback] Nah, most likely to be Paul Dickov...

You dumbasses. He probably wasn't talking about attacking-players but attacking players.

United agree record fee for Owen Aug 24 2005 By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle Newcastle United today agreed a club record fee in excess of £15m with Real Madrid for Michael Owen. United lodged the bid after Owen sensationally admitted that he will move to Newcastle - if a return to his former club Liverpool falls through. And while Liverpool may still be in the driving seat, the news that England's current centre forward is ready to join United on a season's loan is a tremendous boost to Freddy Shepherd, Graeme Souness and just as important the club's fans. A brief statement released by Newcastle this morning suggests that United are still hoping to land Owen on a permanent transfer rather than on loan, and that may yet prove a sticking point. The statement read: "We have met Real Madrid's asking price and conditions and the agreed fee would be a record transfer for Newcastle United. "It is now up to the player and his advisors." And still on the good news front, I understand that United have made a breakthrough in their bid to sign another striker apart from Owen, and this will happen in the next 24 hours. Certainly, United have not given up hope of still bringing in Albert Luque from Deportivo La Coruna after offering the Spanish club e12m - £8.5m - for the 27-year-old striker. But Owen was the talk of Tyneside today, and the 25-year-old striker has the blessing of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has promised to help him to try to seal the move back to Anfield. Failing that, the player is prepared to accept a one-year loan deal with Newcastle, with his first-team chances at the Bernabeu further limited by the summer signings of Robinho and Julio Baptista. Owen said today: "I met the Real Madrid president before last night's friendly at the Bernabeu and we discussed my future. "I said that my ideal situation was to start the season in the Real Madrid team and if not I would prefer to return to Liverpool. "The president understood and said he would try to help me achieve this. If the transfer cannot be finalised in time I have agreed to go to Newcastle United but only on a one-year loan. I need to be playing regularly in World Cup year. "I am most grateful to Senor Perez for his personal concern about my career. I have really enjoyed being part of his Real Madrid team." Owen scored 158 goals in 297 games for the Reds, before leaving the club for Madrid last summer. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists his main priority is to sign a centre-back and already has Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch as his frontline strikers. "I want other players first - I am happy with my five strikers even now Milan Baros has gone," the Spaniard said after his side's 3-2 aggregate win over CSKA Sofia in the Champions League last night. A return to Anfield for Owen would be popular among Liverpool supporters, who idolised the striker. He scored 16 goals for Real last season despite being used primarily as a substitute behind Raul and Ronaldo, and with Robinho and Julio Baptista now on board his prospects of first-team football diminished further. The Chronicle revealed a fortnight ago that Owen had told United privately that he was interested in joining them but only if Liverpool and Manchester United did not come in for him. Owen is also on record as saying he is an admirer of Graeme Souness. [What record? A medical one before he got his head checked?]

Except of that I think that Luque for the right money would have been a decent buy I agree that in contrast to all the other players mentioned so far this potential transfer gets me excited on the sporting level. I think we will pay over the odds, but at least we will get a fantastic player in return.

Apologies for appearing less than the full picnic hamper, but Owen's own words (reproduced faithfully on NUFC.com) are that it will be a loan at Newcastle if the deal to Liverpool cannot be done in time. The shite on .cock will probably just be banner waving in order to get some glory and encourage one or two season tickets to be bought. Cynical, moi? 17005[/snapback] The problem is that it's not just up to Owen to decide what sort of transfer deal it is. Whatever he said this morning, the sort of deal that apparently has been agreed between the clubs is a direct transfer. If Madrid will abstain from its demands when Michael Owen is saying that he is not interested in anything else than a loan deal is another scenario that isn't on the agenda - yet.

After agreeing a transfer sum I don't think a loan deal is on the table any more. As I said, I think it is an attempt of pricing Liverpool out of the market. I don't think you must be a genius to get this idea, in fact en contraire... Anyway, I'll remain sceptical about the deal going through and I don't think it is a clever piece of business. But hopefully it will work out for the better of Newcastle United.

Well if we spend over 16m for him I think it might make us the only bidder, because I can't see Liverpool pursuing their interest any further and making a 5m loss on a player they only sold one year ago. As much as I am excited about the prospect of seeing Owen at Newcastle I do think it is a desperate attempt of Fat Fred to appease the masses by doing economical nonsense.

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsD...~703883,00.html So much for paying over the odds...

To be fair we do have tactics. Hooooooooooooooooooooooooof..... 16930[/snapback] To quote the great man again: "It's not everyone's cup of tea but they get results, and if you're going to get something there, your defenders have to do well." Graeme, spot the difference between their and our hoofing game...

"It's a hard place to go," added Souness. "Bolton play a kind of football that suits the players they have there. Wow, what fantastic observation. This is called tactics. Maybe Newcastle should also start to play a kind of football that suits the players...

For a decent price Fatty wouldn't be a bad choice. But what we need is a striker who gives us a bit of pace up front not another centre forward that has the movement and velocity of a supertanker.

As long as I don't see Jimbo's TV I believe nothing!

Most sites say Souness is on a five year contract. I was under the impression that this was what was reported first but later said it was only a two year one. Has Alzheimer already settled in? Though I stumbled across a nice article... http://www.blueandwhites.com/news/article00172.htm