Newcastle United Transfer Rumours, Half Truths and Lies

Updating the Sky story on Robert, reports are that NUFC and Benfica have agreed an undisclosed fee for the winger, and that personal terms are all that remains, as Harry Redknapp is willing to let us cancel the loan deal.

Would Laurent be willing to go, though? He's moaned about wanting to return to France several times this season.

Well, the reports hint that Le Sulk may be in Lisbon already in an attempt to hammer out a contract.

That's good, because we need the money. I wonder if we're targeting any strikers for a loan. I can't see Al, Luque, Shola and Chops doing much until April, especially not the last two. But maybe we'll learn to not depend too much on Owen (and Alan) for goals during this time and it will make us a stronger team for next season.

Eh, bad news on the Robert thing, aside from he's no longer our problem in any way, shape, or form. The Guardian seems to be convinced he's going to Benfica on a free transfer. That doesn't help us at all in the funds department, and you'd think that we'd at least get SOMETHING for him if Benfica were interested in him, and not vice versa.

How can he go on a free if he's still got 6 months left on his contract? We can't possibly be so desperate to offload him that we won't accept money for him, can we? I mean, I know Souey and Freddie don't care for him, but you don't have to like a player to make money off him.

Well, Souness hates him, so I wouldn't be surprised. But if Benfica approached Newcastle, there HAS to be money involved. It surely wasn't as simple as 'We'll take him and give you nothing,' 'Deal!'...or was it?

Anelka pines for England

Time to re-start the predictable 'Anelka to Newcastle' rumor, and the equally predictable NUFC fan 'Oh, God, not Anelka' backlash.

...hasn't Shepherd said that there is no money available? Anelka would be worth a good £8 million or so I am sure.

Perhaps that 'no funds' statement only applies if Souness is still in charge?

I can see it now, Keegan comes in to manage when Sam decides he doesn't want to leave Bolton, brings Anelka in...it'll be Man City all over again.

All jest aside Anelka, from the waist down, is more or less a Shearer-type forward in terms of size. He's tall, gets his haul of goals, and might link up well with Owen when he comes back from the foot injury. I know they were together at Liverpool for a year but I don't know if they played together terribly often.

All that would matter is whether the funds are there, and whether Anelka's head is on straight were the funds made available to go for him. As much as I hate headcases, there aren't too many better options out there.

Freddie's not dumb enough to hand him over for nothing.

I don't know that Graeme's man-management skills (or lack thereof) and Anelka's fiery disposition would be a good thing. Graeme has made it clear he doesn't care how talented a player is, he cares about that player's attitude, and Anelka comes with steamer trunks for baggage in that department.

Yes, but who's to say that Souness is even going to be around for Anelka were he to come to Newcastle (which is still probably a longshot at best right now)? All the talk of him getting sacked has started picking up steam.

If only because I don't know that Sam would come over mid-season, I want Graeme to stick it out. I kind of like the inept curmudgeon. Don't ask me why, because even I don't know. But he always has the look of someone who is completely out of his league and hasn't a clue how to handle the task. Maybe I pity the man, and maybe I fear that his firing would upset a dressing room that already beset by problems. And maybe the fact that Emre said he came here for Souey makes me worried he'll get pissy.

Radio Marca is reporting a deal involving Luque to Real Madrid.

We definitely need the money, but we also need a forward who's not way past the wrong side of 30.

So are Real going with the controversial 2-0-7 system?

2-1-7. You forgot Becks won't be benched (unless you counted him as a forward).

He'll be suspended or shaggin the nanny

My guess is that he'd play as the left winger in Lopez Caro's 4-2-3-1 system, but that's supposedly what we signed Cassano for. Maybe LC intends to rotate Zidane and Cassano as the attacking midfielder, as Zidane can no longer go a full 90.

The Chronicle suggests that one move Newcastle could make to alleviate the depth crisis would be to recall Viana from Valencia, as he's not exactly setting the world ablaze in Spain and Valencia might be willing to shred the loan deal. Not exactly sure what it would accomplish in terms of an improvement in quality, but at least he'd be another healthy body.

He is lack for a better word aweful on the left. He in noway looks like a winger no matter which league your playing in.

Did I mis-hear the announcers in the WBA-Villa game? I could have sworn they said "Angel may be Owen's replacement" but they could have meant "Angel may be Baros' replacement" in the game that was being played.

Thx,

Jay!

About face on Souness?

Graeme makes no bones about the Mirror being full of crap, but they're the first to suggest that Freddy has decided not to sack Souness at this time. Also a couple of transfer moves hinted at.

Maybe recalling Milner first could help...


Also, Meite is coming in. I won't make a judgement as players coming from France are so hit and miss these days. I thought Diop would be a absolute flop at Fulham while Cisse was gonna set Liverpool on fire...

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?...ke move for Meite&channel=skysports_home_page

Okay, first Souness wasn't getting any transfer kitty, then he was getting sacked, then he wasn't getting sacked (at least not yet), and now we're buying players, possibly? I think FF''s gone mad.