Keegan

[mrtoad]

Let's wait and see, Mr Toad.

I'm still not exactly sure what Dennis Wise's role at the club is. It was supposed to be something along the lines of recruiting new players. Newcastle must be planning for next season as Wise has had experience in the lower leagues with Millwall and Leeds. His knowledge might come in useful if we get relegated.

Very true, Spit. It's still strange that these type of statemets have come out at such an early stage though. An interesting bit in the Guardian as well, which I have just added below.

Ashley 'desperate' for Keegan to turn sinking Newcastle around

Owner rules out sacking under-pressure manager

'No chance' of Wise taking role in technical area

Louise Taylor

Tuesday March 4, 2008

The Guardian

When footballers start reciting the mantra "we have to stand up and be counted" a relegation battle invariably looms and all is rarely well behind the scenes. Small wonder then that Newcastle United's Alan Smith trotted out that well-worn anthem yesterday.

Having relayed the message the former England forward - who has not scored a Premier League goal for almost three years - added: "We've got to go out and prove our worth; we've got to show everyone we want to fight for the cause.

"We've deserved criticism on occasions this season, but we're all big enough to accept it. Now it's up to us as a team, as players and as people to sort it out."

The it in question is Newcastle United's collection of three points from the last available 33 and the attendant plunge down the table that has left Kevin Keegan's side a mere three points above the relegation zone.

On Saturday evening Keegan - who has won none of his seven games since succeeding Sam Allardyce - was summoned to a private meeting with Mike Ashley, the club's owner, at St James' Park, where the pair talked without danger of their conversation being overhead by sharp-eared onlookers who had earlier spotted the pair chatting in the players' lounge.

Newcastle had just lost, arguably unluckily, at home to Blackburn Rovers whose manager, Mark Hughes, had been a serious candidate to replace Allardyce, and there was more than a touch of schadenfreude in the Tyneside air.

Billionaires such as Ashley are accustomed to employees telling them what they want to hear, but Keegan is no dissembler and when Newcastle's owner demanded reassurances that the team would not be relegated, the manager refused to be disingenuous.

Instead Keegan cited Ashley's failure to sign any new players in January, a lack of collective confidence and an awkward fixture list which sees Newcastle - at Liverpool on Saturday - playing six of their final 10 games matches away, as reasons why Premier League survival is not a given.

In some instances such honesty could prompt a parting of the ways but Ashley is understood to retain considerable faith in Keegan and will not contemplate dismissing him at what would be a ridiculously early juncture in his second managerial stint on Tyneside.

Instead a source close to Ashley yesterday emphasised the owner's determination to keep Keegan, insisting: "Mike has every confidence in Kevin Keegan. Mike is desperate to keep Kevin as his manager and if Newcastle do stay in the Premier League, he will provide the funds for him to buy new players in the close season and give the club a fresh start."

Meanwhile the combination of a generous salary, which is helping reinvigorate Keegan's Soccer Circus business in Glasgow, and a burning desire to confound those who dub him a serial quitter virtually rule out the possibility of the former England coach resigning.

Not that there would be many viable short-term alternatives. With Hughes - who may feel he had a fortunate escape - now almost certainly unwilling to walk out on Blackburn, Ashley would be forced to gamble on an out-of-work manager such as Glenn Hoddle, Steve McClaren or Terry Venables to perform a temporary firefighting mission.

It is a risk he apparently does not have the remotest inclination to take and it is also believed that there is "no chance" of Dennis Wise, the club's executive director (football) and former Leeds United manager, being asked to assume technical-area duties.

Keegan has been at pains to dismiss enduring suggestions that he is privately uneasy about Wise's appointment as the London-based scouting and youth development supremo, but there are already indications of cracks appearing in their relationship.

At the end of last week Lamine Diatti, a 32-year-old Senegal defender, arrived on Tyneside for a trial after being released by Besiktas in Turkey. Although Keegan has - unconvincingly - denied this, it is understood that the idea of signing Diatti, who, as a free agent, is available outside the transfer window, came from Wise's scouting team.

However, Newcastle's manager and his staff suspect the player is unsuited to the demands of the Premier League. Tellingly, yesterday Keegan said: "We will not be signing Diatta unless it is a worthwhile exercise."

Results may remain dismal but at least Ashley can rest assured he appointed a manager with a mind of his own.

Newcastle United's latest accounts reveal that almost three-quarters of the revenue generated by the club was spent on wages. A staggering 72% of income - or £62.5m - drained straight back out as salaries, with the players the principal beneficiaries. Analysts generally agree that football clubs should aim to spend at most 50% of revenue on wages but the recruitment of Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins in 2006 and Joey Barton in 2007 have proved particularly expensive. The first set of published accounts since Mike Ashley bought out the Hall family and Chris Mort succeeded Freddy Shepherd as chairman also show that, despite increased gate receipts and merchandising profits, Newcastle suffered an overall loss of £32.9m. After buying the club, Ashley was forced to invest a further £75m simply to ensure it remained a going concern. While Shepherd's pay-off will not be known until the next accounts are published, his annual salary exceeded £500,000.

[chavy]

money for old rope at Sid James's Park

[mrtoad]

money for old rope at Sid James's Park

Yeah, certainly is. Be intertesting to see how many more games he'll last if they keep on losing.

[bomber]

3 years, and a 150 million quid then Keegan will get us back to where we belong.

We will survive this season on the basis that there are still several teams below us that are even worse, and we are guaranteed 3 points when the mackems leave their 3rd world city for a few hours in the bright lights of Newcastle.

you will be already down by time the mackems visit your beutifull,cosmopolitan,stunning city ,the 3 points wont make any differance,the 3rd world boys will be laughing at your demise with great pleasure,just like we have all season,and many others,until the thick geordies get it into their thick heads that just because 50000 turn up that they have a right to be called a force in football.why not be happy just staying in the PL instead of being big headed and arrogant

[Prakanong]

3 years, and a 150 million quid then Keegan will get us back to where we belong.

We will survive this season on the basis that there are still several teams below us that are even worse, and we are guaranteed 3 points when the mackems leave their 3rd world city for a few hours in the bright lights of Newcastle.

you will be already down by time the mackems visit your beutifull,cosmopolitan,stunning city ,the 3 points wont make any differance,the 3rd world boys will be laughing at your demise with great pleasure,just like we have all season,and many others,until the thick geordies get it into their thick heads that just because 50000 turn up that they have a right to be called a force in football.why not be happy just staying in the PL instead of being big headed and arrogant

I would love to know where they belong?

They have won nothing for 40 years and the Inter City Fair's Cup was not exactly held in the same regard as the EUAFA Cup now.

We have to go back 60 years to seem them successful in the cup and back to the 1920's for a league win - so where do they really belong?

A middling PL club with an over inflated sense of their own worth.

As for Sunderland being 3rd world compared to Newcastle - thats a bit like Lahore slagging off Dakha - again and overinflated sense of their own worth for whom reality is a stranger.

[mrtoad]

^............and yet they still keep the faith with KK, which suggests a lot.

[Prakanong]

^............and yet they still keep the faith with KK, which suggests a lot.

I am fearful they will scrape a win against Liverpool, Keegan will be declared a messiah once again and they will pronounce next season they are challenging for the title with Ashley's millions!

[mrtoad]

^............and yet they still keep the faith with KK, which suggests a lot.

I am fearful they will scrape a win against Liverpool, Keegan will be declared a messiah once again and they will pronounce next season they are challenging for the title with Ashley's millions!

To be honest PK, If Rafa isn't a complete nobhead, then he will field his strongest team at the weekend, it's a really good chance for them to rack up their goal difference. Keegan is gone, finished, out of his depth although I'd like to see him try and walk on the water in some smelly klong in Bangkok.

[Prakanong]

^............and yet they still keep the faith with KK, which suggests a lot.

I am fearful they will scrape a win against Liverpool, Keegan will be declared a messiah once again and they will pronounce next season they are challenging for the title with Ashley's millions!

To be honest PK, If Rafa isn't a complete nobhead, then he will field his strongest team at the weekend, it's a really good chance for them to rack up their goal difference. Keegan is gone, finished, out of his depth although I'd like to see him try and walk on the water in some smelly klong in Bangkok.

I might even go to the Liverpool Bar in Boat Quay to watch it - I am going to a muslim wedding tomorrow so should be sober enough to stay up late

I can remember watching one of the 4-3 games on Samui I think it was - the Thai's kept swapping sides each time somebody scored

[scousemouse]

^............and yet they still keep the faith with KK, which suggests a lot.

I am fearful they will scrape a win against Liverpool, Keegan will be declared a messiah once again and they will pronounce next season they are challenging for the title with Ashley's millions!

To be honest PK, If Rafa isn't a complete nobhead, then he will field his strongest team at the weekend, it's a really good chance for them to rack up their goal difference. Keegan is gone, finished, out of his depth although I'd like to see him try and walk on the water in some smelly klong in Bangkok.

Hopefully not .

After mrtoad predicting a 5-1 win against Keegan and getting it RIGHT , I am predicting the same scoreline for Liverpool this saturday and Torres to get another hatrick .

[mrtoad]

^............and yet they still keep the faith with KK, which suggests a lot.

I am fearful they will scrape a win against Liverpool, Keegan will be declared a messiah once again and they will pronounce next season they are challenging for the title with Ashley's millions!

To be honest PK, If Rafa isn't a complete nobhead, then he will field his strongest team at the weekend, it's a really good chance for them to rack up their goal difference. Keegan is gone, finished, out of his depth although I'd like to see him try and walk on the water in some smelly klong in Bangkok.

Hopefully not .

After mrtoad predicting a 5-1 win against Keegan and getting it RIGHT , I am predicting the same scoreline for Liverpool this saturday and Torres to get another hatrick .

I have gon for 4-1 this weekend, although it could be more.

Think I'll pop into Chimes and see if Macca and his cronnies are in there this weekend, my mate's threatening to take me to a Spurs bar.

[kopite]

i think it could be 4 or 5 today. depending on the team that rafa picks. if he goes for it then takes gerrard and torres off after we are up then very possible i think.

torres to get another hat trick 16-1

[mrtoad]

Totall woeful. The Messiah is going to need to come up with a miracle if he is going to save them, I suppose with it being nearly Easter he may well have a trick or few up his sleeve. The Geordies will continue to keep faith in him though for some reason or other.

On a serious note, I can't see them picking up many points on the run in. They look like they have no fight or passion in them, and the team is totally devoid of any tactics. Once they conceed they totally capitulate. At least the teams like Birmingham, Fulham, Sunderland, Derby and Reading have a bit of fight in them, which is why I can see this lot going down.

[scousemouse]

Totall woeful. The Messiah is going to need to come up with a miracle if he is going to save them, I suppose with it being nearly Easter he may well have a trick or few up his sleeve. The Geordies will continue to keep faith in him though for some reason or other.

On a serious note, I can't see them picking up many points on the run in. They look like they have no fight or passion in them, and the team is totally devoid of any tactics. Once they conceed they totally capitulate. At least the teams like Birmingham, Fulham, Sunderland, Derby and Reading have a bit of fight in them, which is why I can see this lot going down.

I hope they don't go down but have to agree Mr T that the table is not looking good for Keegan , only 3 points out of the relegation zone having played a game more and they have the worse goal difference ( bar Derby ).

There next game is away to Birmingham which is a huge 6 pointer and the last 2 games of the season are against Chelski and the bluesh#te.

All in all , not looking good for the Geordies :

PGDPTS1Arsenal2836652Man Utd2843643Chelsea2725584Liverpool2933565Everton2822536Aston Villa2815487Blackburn293468Man City291459Portsmouth2894410West Ham2804011Tottenham2743212Middlesbrough28-172913Reading29-212814Newcastle29-262815Wigan28-162716Sunderland28-202717Birmingham28-102618Bolton28-142519Fulham29-232020Derby28-4410

[kopite]

Totall woeful. The Messiah is going to need to come up with a miracle if he is going to save them, I suppose with it being nearly Easter he may well have a trick or few up his sleeve. The Geordies will continue to keep faith in him though for some reason or other.

On a serious note, I can't see them picking up many points on the run in. They look like they have no fight or passion in them, and the team is totally devoid of any tactics. Once they conceed they totally capitulate. At least the teams like Birmingham, Fulham, Sunderland, Derby and Reading have a bit of fight in them, which is why I can see this lot going down.

yeah i know mate. as soon as they concede, its heads down and game over.

no fight about them at all. i agree with you, i think they will go down. most of the teams below them are in the same position every year, fighting to stay up, and they are at the moment.

but "the toon" look like they have given up allready.

[mrtoad]

Totall woeful. The Messiah is going to need to come up with a miracle if he is going to save them, I suppose with it being nearly Easter he may well have a trick or few up his sleeve. The Geordies will continue to keep faith in him though for some reason or other.

On a serious note, I can't see them picking up many points on the run in. They look like they have no fight or passion in them, and the team is totally devoid of any tactics. Once they conceed they totally capitulate. At least the teams like Birmingham, Fulham, Sunderland, Derby and Reading have a bit of fight in them, which is why I can see this lot going down.

yeah i know mate. as soon as they concede, its heads down and game over.

no fight about them at all. i agree with you, i think they will go down. most of the teams below them are in the same position every year, fighting to stay up, and they are at the moment.

but "the toon" look like they have given up allready.

It's amazing rally, when Allardyce left they were sitting comfortably in mid-table. Keegan was bought in to bring some spark into the way they play, and to move them up the table. I think in fairness t was a desperate appointment, as they couldn't get who they really wanted, and they knew that the Fans would accept Keegan totally. The problem is, can Keegan install any passion into this lot? His track record with England and Man City suggest otherwise.

[scousemouse]

Totall woeful. The Messiah is going to need to come up with a miracle if he is going to save them, I suppose with it being nearly Easter he may well have a trick or few up his sleeve. The Geordies will continue to keep faith in him though for some reason or other.

On a serious note, I can't see them picking up many points on the run in. They look like they have no fight or passion in them, and the team is totally devoid of any tactics. Once they conceed they totally capitulate. At least the teams like Birmingham, Fulham, Sunderland, Derby and Reading have a bit of fight in them, which is why I can see this lot going down.

yeah i know mate. as soon as they concede, its heads down and game over.

no fight about them at all. i agree with you, i think they will go down. most of the teams below them are in the same position every year, fighting to stay up, and they are at the moment.

but "the toon" look like they have given up allready.

It's amazing rally, when Allardyce left they were sitting comfortably in mid-table. Keegan was bought in to bring some spark into the way they play, and to move them up the table. I think in fairness t was a desperate appointment, as they couldn't get who they really wanted, and they knew that the Fans would accept Keegan totally. The problem is, can Keegan install any passion into this lot? His track record with England and Man City suggest otherwise.

Of the 28 points Newcastle have , Big Sam won 26 ......... right choice in getting rid of Sam ??.

[Richie1971]

Although Newcastle are a big team they are more likely to go down this season than win anything, although filled with allegedly quality players they just seem, well, disjointed as a team, take some of their signings:

Alan Smith - A striker? a midfielder? A waste of money and a Man Utd reject

Geremi - Past his prime and another cast off from the top 5

Nicky Butt - full of effort but I get the feeling he's treading water - yet another cast off from Man Utd

Duff - Another who did not make the grade at Chelsea

Milner - Best player in the team by a country mile, could play for the top teams

Owen - Went to Newcastle because they were the only British team who were willing to pay Real's ridiculous transfer fee.

Newcastle's form stems from the fact that a high proportion of their players have previously played for the top teams and the only reason they are at Newcastle is because they can match their previous paypackets.

Don't mean to sound cynical but Newcastle need to start from scratch.

[howtoescape]

Although Newcastle are a big team they are more likely to go down this season than win anything, although filled with allegedly quality players they just seem, well, disjointed as a team, take some of their signings:

Alan Smith - A striker? a midfielder? A waste of money and a Man Utd reject

Geremi - Past his prime and another cast off from the top 5

Nicky Butt - full of effort but I get the feeling he's treading water - yet another cast off from Man Utd

Duff - Another who did not make the grade at Chelsea

Milner - Best player in the team by a country mile, could play for the top teams

Owen - Went to Newcastle because they were the only British team who were willing to pay Real's ridiculous transfer fee.

Newcastle's form stems from the fact that a high proportion of their players have previously played for the top teams and the only reason they are at Newcastle is because they can match their previous paypackets.

Don't mean to sound cynical but Newcastle need to start from scratch.

Good post, i couldnt agree more, though Milner flatters to deceive and is just an average player.

Souness and Roeder are 2 of the worst managers in the history of the club and bought shockingly, the only player Allardyce bought that resembles a player is Beye the right back.

Boltons fixtures are the hardest out of all the bottom teams, and i think Newcastle arent the worst of the teams down there and will just make it, a draw at least v Brum is a must.

[Spit the Dog]

Although Newcastle are a big team they are more likely to go down this season than win anything, although filled with allegedly quality players they just seem, well, disjointed as a team, take some of their signings:

Alan Smith - A striker? a midfielder? A waste of money and a Man Utd reject

Geremi - Past his prime and another cast off from the top 5

Nicky Butt - full of effort but I get the feeling he's treading water - yet another cast off from Man Utd

Duff - Another who did not make the grade at Chelsea

Milner - Best player in the team by a country mile, could play for the top teams

Owen - Went to Newcastle because they were the only British team who were willing to pay Real's ridiculous transfer fee.

Newcastle's form stems from the fact that a high proportion of their players have previously played for the top teams and the only reason they are at Newcastle is because they can match their previous paypackets.

Don't mean to sound cynical but Newcastle need to start from scratch.

Good post, i couldnt agree more, though Milner flatters to deceive and is just an average player.

Souness and Roeder are 2 of the worst managers in the history of the club and bought shockingly, the only player Allardyce bought that resembles a player is Beye the right back.

Boltons fixtures are the hardest out of all the bottom teams, and i think Newcastle arent the worst of the teams down there and will just make it, a draw at least v Brum is a must.

I agree with both of you. I agree that the only decent player out of Allardyce's 9 signing was Beye. There are too many players just here for the paypackets. Probably the best thing for Newcastle now would be to have a clear out of all the <deleted> players that have been accumulated. Although being relegated to do this isn't the solution.

N'Zogbia has probably been the best player this season, but now he looks pissed off as he is constantly being moved around the team. Play him on the left instead of Duff. Either move Duff to left back or drop him.

I'm so frustrated with Alan Smith. Why did Sam and now Keegan keep on picking him? Martins is back from Africa and he is the best hope of Newcastle scoring goals. Please play Martins!!!!!

In midfield, Nicky Butt looks finished, Barton and Geremi just haven't produced and the only player that looks like he can create anything is Emre. He needs to get fit, show interest and hit form soon if Newcastle have any chance of staying up.

I know that everyone in Newcastle loves Steven Taylor because he is a Geordie lad wearing the black and white shirt but he is simply not good enough. He has been crap all season and I don't think that he will ever be a top class defender. Unfortunately as Keegan didn't buy a defender when he had the chance in the transfer window, Taylor is the best that we have.

[Prakanong]

Was there not a report out recently pointing to the salaries paid as a % of revenue being on the very high side?

Something like 80% of revenue paid as salary when a good business guide for a premier football club is around 50%.

[mrtoad]

"The Messiah" lives another day .

This could be the result that keeps them up, as it now looks like Fulham are joining Derby in the Championship. As for Bolton, they will still scrap on, and they may, just may reel another team in to send them down. Fascinating stuff as Sunderland, Boro and Reading win, but Birmingham and Wigan lose.

Sad thing is, that Keegan will be saluted for saving a team that he has taken into the relegation zone.

[howtoescape]

Sad thing is, that Keegan will be saluted for saving a team that he has taken into the relegation zone.

I was speaking to someone after Newcastle had about 20 points back in October and he said he is glad weve got so many already as this team is so bad they could easily get relegated. His prediction was what many thought and Allardyces players got them into that position.

See where Keegans gets the team in 2.5 years time then judge him, he has got them playing ok football already, and hopefully has got Duff and Smith on the transfer market ready to <deleted> them off in the summer.

I thought they dominated the game from start to finish today and could have won by 3 or 4 quite easily, they still need 7-8 more points to make sure they dont go down.

This is a link to Sam Allardyces home he is selling in County Durham, the one he bought upon get the Newcastle job, now look at the image on the bottom right and look at what is hanging from the wall, that is reason enough to get the sack the mackem bas***d!

http://www.pattinson.co.uk/thelarches/default.html

[mrtoad]

Sad thing is, that Keegan will be saluted for saving a team that he has taken into the relegation zone.

I was speaking to someone after Newcastle had about 20 points back in October and he said he is glad weve got so many already as this team is so bad they could easily get relegated. His prediction was what many thought and Allardyces players got them into that position.

See where Keegans gets the team in 2.5 years time then judge him, he has got them playing ok football already, and hopefully has got Duff and Smith on the transfer market ready to <deleted> them off in the summer.

I thought they dominated the game from start to finish today and could have won by 3 or 4 quite easily, they still need 7-8 more points to make sure they dont go down.

This is a link to Sam Allardyces home he is selling in County Durham, the one he bought upon get the Newcastle job, now look at the image on the bottom right and look at what is hanging from the wall, that is reason enough to get the sack the mackem bas***d!

http://www.pattinson.co.uk/thelarches/default.html

Bloody nice house though.

[Spit the Dog]

I was speaking to someone after Newcastle had about 20 points back in October and he said he is glad weve got so many already as this team is so bad they could easily get relegated. His prediction was what many thought and Allardyces players got them into that position.

http://www.pattinson.co.uk/thelarches/default.html

That is true! I fed up of listening to people going on about how great a manager Big Sam was. For anybody who actually watched Newcastle regularly, we could see that the team was over-acheiving and was in trouble. Being played off the park by Sunderland, Reading and Derby had the alarm bells ringing with most Toon fans. It would have been interesting to see how Newcastle would have performed if fat heid had remained in charge. In my opinion, I doubt that there would have been much points difference between Sam and Keegan. I'm not saying that Keegan is the long term answer, but Allardyce certainly wasn't.

As for the game yesterday, Fulham were pretty crap and Newcastle should have won by more. Unless there is a dramatic improvement with Fulham then it looks like they will be joining Derby in the Championship.

3 points against the mackems and another win somewhere else should be enough to keep the Toon up. They definitely look a lot more potent with Viduka and Martins instead of Smith playing and dare I say it that even Joey Barton and Geremi look to be hitting some form. Nevertheless, I won't count my chickens until it's mathematically certain that Newcastle will stay up.

[mrtoad]

Think that you lot will be okay now. Fulham are doomed, and Bolton are struggling for points and are now 4 behind the rest. Birmingham and Wigan are also looking like they have lost form, after picking up a few points. Sunderland and Newcastle to stay up, not sure if Keegan is the answear for next season though.

[howtoescape]

Theres no better available manager in England for the job so from that point of view give him the money and 2-3 years and see where we are then.

Its more important who the chairmen is and how deep his are as opposed to who the manager is.

[howtoescape]

I have just read this on teamtalk.com about our former manager, which highlights how fcuken thick he is and why Keegan has got such a major rebuilding project. This is the man who could have got Sol Campbell on a free and Jonathan Woodgate but opted for a left winger we didnt need instead.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...3359144,00.html

Roeder managed Ameobi during his spell at St James' Park and was keen to land his services for the Canaries only to miss out to the Championship leaders.

He said: "I would have liked Shola here but I was consistently told by Sam Allardyce and then Kevin Keegan that he would not be let out on loan and that he had a future at Newcastle.

"We were always promised a phone call if and when that changed and I found out at seven o'clock on Thursday morning that he was travelling down to Stoke to tie up a loan deal until the end of the season.

"I spoke to Dennis Wise at length and if he is telling me the truth the amount of loan fee that Stoke have paid is incredible.

"I have personally never heard of a higher fee for such a short period of time. Obviously Stoke are gambling that Shola can shoot them up into the Premier League automatically."

Roeder also claims that Stoke have agreed a deal worth a potential £5million to sign Ameobi permanently should they go up, with other reports suggesting the initial fee would be around £3million.

"He [Wise] is telling me that it's attached to potentially a £5 million transfer deal. And I've got to take him for his word," added Roeder.

"I know Dennis reasonably well and that's what he was telling me.

THEN AFTER LETTING THE WORLD KNOW STOKE'S BUSINESS HE GOES ONTO SAY

I'm not obliged to say what Stoke's business is with Newcastle, but it's mind-boggling the amount of money he's told me that Stoke have gambled on Shola to get them in the Premiership.

"Because I believe if they don't do it, there's no way that Stoke - as a Championship side - are going to carry through paying £5 million for a striker that's going to be in the Championship next year."

HOW CAN ANYONE PAY THIS MAN A 7 FIGURE SALARY, AND HE WAS CRAP AT FOOTBALL IN HIS DAY, HE USED TO RUN LIKE A DUCK.

[Spit the Dog]

I have just read this on teamtalk.com about our former manager, which highlights how fcuken thick he is and why Keegan has got such a major rebuilding project. This is the man who could have got Sol Campbell on a free and Jonathan Woodgate but opted for a left winger we didnt need instead.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...3359144,00.html

Roeder managed Ameobi during his spell at St James' Park and was keen to land his services for the Canaries only to miss out to the Championship leaders.

He said: "I would have liked Shola here but I was consistently told by Sam Allardyce and then Kevin Keegan that he would not be let out on loan and that he had a future at Newcastle.

"We were always promised a phone call if and when that changed and I found out at seven o'clock on Thursday morning that he was travelling down to Stoke to tie up a loan deal until the end of the season.

"I spoke to Dennis Wise at length and if he is telling me the truth the amount of loan fee that Stoke have paid is incredible.

"I have personally never heard of a higher fee for such a short period of time. Obviously Stoke are gambling that Shola can shoot them up into the Premier League automatically."

Roeder also claims that Stoke have agreed a deal worth a potential £5million to sign Ameobi permanently should they go up, with other reports suggesting the initial fee would be around £3million.

"He [Wise] is telling me that it's attached to potentially a £5 million transfer deal. And I've got to take him for his word," added Roeder.

"I know Dennis reasonably well and that's what he was telling me.

THEN AFTER LETTING THE WORLD KNOW STOKE'S BUSINESS HE GOES ONTO SAY

I'm not obliged to say what Stoke's business is with Newcastle, but it's mind-boggling the amount of money he's told me that Stoke have gambled on Shola to get them in the Premiership.

"Because I believe if they don't do it, there's no way that Stoke - as a Championship side - are going to carry through paying £5 million for a striker that's going to be in the Championship next year."

HOW CAN ANYONE PAY THIS MAN A 7 FIGURE SALARY, AND HE WAS CRAP AT FOOTBALL IN HIS DAY, HE USED TO RUN LIKE A DUCK.

It's hard to believe that Ameobi is 26 now. He was a promising youngster that never really fulfilled his promise. Being 6th choice striker at Newcastle in such a poor team shows how much his career has dipped. Anyway, i hope that he can regain some form at Stoke.

As for Roeder, he has done reasonably well at Norwich. He's taken them from the botom of the league to relative mid-table safety.

I hear that another ex-Toon manager, Big Sam, is going to be in the ESPN studio for the next 10 days or so. It's a pity that we have to suffer Somchai and Sparky match analysis at the weekends, but it should be interesting to hear what Sam says on Football Focus next week.

[howtoescape]

Personally from the first time i saw Amoebi i thought he was crap a poor mans Kanu (also sh7te) and was never going to be a top level footballer, he's meant to have been an up and coming player for 8 years now and has been given many chances whereas the equally untallented Chopra was just given a sniff. Andy Carroll is useless aswell and should be gotten rid of along with Peter Ramage, and Taylor should think himself lucky to get a 3 year contract no matter what money he is being offered.

Just because someone was born in the RVI, Freeman or Preston Hospital doesnt earn them the right to a contract no matter how good they are meant to be for team spirit.

PS 3 or 5 mill for Shiela Amoebi is the best bit of business this clubs ever done.