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Great past lures a star of the future


Scottish Mag
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David Rozehnal is relishing the chance to pull on a black-and-white shirt for the first time next season as he prepares to complete his £3m move to St James's Park.

 

The Paris-Saint Germain defender and his advisers were expected to arrive in the North-East last night and, with a medical having been arranged, Sam Allardyce will hope the deal proceeds without problems.

 

The United boss will be desperate to close the deal as soon as possible after a player who has made no secret of his ambitions to test his talents in Spain highlighted that his agreement with Newcastle is not yet binding.

 

Sevilla last week failed in an attempt to sign the Czech international. But although he remains keen to experience La Liga action at some time in his career, Rozehnal is excited about the challenges he will face on Tyneside after revealing he has a long-held affinity towards Newcastle.

 

"My dream has always been to play in Spain," admitted the 26-year-old, who is in line to become Allardyce's first defensive recruit following a successful meeting last week. "Nevertheless, when I was young I used to watch the Premier League as well.

 

"Manchester (United), Liverpool and Newcastle were all clubs I liked and I remember (watching) the legendary Alan Shearer. Newcastle is a really huge club and I take it (the impending transfer) as an appreciation of my work.

 

"After an unsuccessful season at PSG I take it as a kind of reward and I'm glad that it's this club. Newcastle has a rich history, great facilities and the club has a great name."

 

Rozehnal is expected to sign a four-year contract after officials at the Parc des Princes sanctioned his departure last week. A player capped 35 times at international level has long been an Allardyce target, with the 52-year-old having attempted to lure him to Bolton during his reign at the Reebok Stadium.

 

"It seems it is very close - although I haven't signed anything so far," added Rozehnal, who will be urged to put pen to paper as soon as possible, assuming his forthcoming medical proves successful. Once Allardyce is certain the deal has been closed, he will turn his attentions to his other targets.

 

A manager keen to sign four further defenders could return to France to do so. Marseille's Habib Beye is a confirmed target, while United continue to be credited with an interest in Alou Diarra.

 

The Senegal-born French international is desperate to quit Lyon this summer and the midfielder will have no shortage of admirers as he contemplates his future plans. As well as Newcastle, Portsmouth, Bordeaux, Monaco and Werder Bremen are all understood to be keen on the 25-year-old.

 

It is clear that Allardyce is searching far and wide as he bids to restructure his first-team squad and, with the European Under-21 Championship having ended in Holland at the weekend, further progress could soon be made.

 

Maceo Rigters, who helped the Dutch prevail on home soil, finished as the tournament's leading scorer and has caught the eye. The striker's representatives insist Newcastle have registered an interest, although 10 clubs are understood to be keen on the NAC Breda forward, who is reported to have a modest release clause in his contract.

 

Ajax's Ryan Babel has indicated that he is interested in moving to the Premier League this summer, although Dutch Under-21 coach Foppe de Haan has warned it is too soon for the Feyenoord favourite Royston Drenthe to succeed in England.

 

Frederic Kanoute has been touted as a target, although a striker whose goal against Getafe won Sevilla the Spanish Cup at the weekend is adamant he is going nowhere. The Frenchman insisted last night: "I've got two years on my contract and I'm not planning on moving."

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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :huh:

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :date:

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

 

You can't compare the fashion shoots though. Anyone else remember the '95 signings peddling whatever shit happened to be in the club shop that particular summer? :huh:

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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :(

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

 

You can't compare the fashion shoots though. Anyone else remember the '95 signings peddling whatever shit happened to be in the club shop that particular summer? :huh:

 

I'll never forget Daveeeeed struting down the catwalk in stonewashed denim and an unbuttoned dress top with the Newcastle crest on it :date: Closely followed by Steve Watson who looked like a grade A tit

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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :huh:

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

 

I was hugely optimistic when we signed Beasant, Thorn, Robertson and - O'Neil iirc. The season following was a disaster.

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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :huh:

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

 

I was hugely optimistic when we signed Beasant, Thorn, Robertson and - O'Neil iirc. The season following was a disaster.

It was Hendrie rather than O Neill. O Neill was already there. We sold Gazza then bought that lot. Got relegated.
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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :huh:

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

 

I was hugely optimistic when we signed Beasant, Thorn, Robertson and - O'Neil iirc. The season following was a disaster.

It was Hendrie rather than O Neill. O Neill was already there. We sold Gazza then bought that lot. Got relegated.

 

Cheers. Hendrie it was.

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Maybe it is just me but I feel the most optimistic following summer transfer dealings than I have since the summer of '95 when we bought Ferdinand, Ginola, Barton & Hislop. Like KK did back then, I think SA is addressing the issues and with very positive captures too! :huh:

 

The only comparable was the summer we signed Kluivert, Butt, Milner & Carr but that turned out to be a huge disappointment (compounded by the appointment of Souness soon afterwards).

 

I was hugely optimistic when we signed Beasant, Thorn, Robertson and - O'Neil iirc. The season following was a disaster.

It was Hendrie rather than O Neill. O Neill was already there. We sold Gazza then bought that lot. Got relegated.

 

Sold Goddard too which was a bigger travesty IMO! :date:

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How about the year we signed Dyer, Goma, Dumas, Domi and Marcelino. We had a great sounding new defense.....

 

 

:blink:

Marcelino was the only defender out of those who was shit though.

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