Aly Cissokho - On his way to Toon?Several reports in the French media, including Lyon’s “Le Progrès” this morning, have claimed that Olympique Lyonnais and their left back, Aly Cissokho, have agreed a deal with Newcastle United, and also that the player will be in Toon on Monday for a medical.
There was nothing definitive on a price, though OL are known to be looking for around €10 million (£8.5 million), or €9 million (£7.5 million) if pushed, which they certainly would be by our pasimonious fat controller, Mike Ashley. This would be a big loss on the €15 million they paid Portuguese F.C.Porto for him in 2009.
My decidedly dodgy translation of Le Progrès’ story (which I had to pay a subscription for) from it’s original French goes thus:
“Yesterday, he was declared withdrawn because of muscular pains, but unofficially it seems to be a “diplomatic” injury. Cissokho is in fact awaited for a medical visit at Newcastle on Monday and it is evident that in the valuation of the selling club (€9 million minimum), no risk was going to be run. Yesterday, Rémi (Garde – OL’s manager) recalled that he was an important player for the team, but that a transfer was possible.” (more…)
Carroll: That isn't an NUFC contract he's signing.Once again the tabloid media have attempted to test our credulity, this time with the risible idea that Liverpool would be willing to dispose of Andy Carroll for a fraction of the £35 million they paid for him just one year ago, and to Newcastle United of all clubs.
Firstly the figure of £20 million was bandied around by the media, then £15 million, then it even went as low as £10 million. However, whilst Derek Llambias, Mike Ashley and Alan Pardew are at the club, the chances of this happening must be slim to say the least.
For a start, there is such a thing as pride in business sometimes and Liverpool are still a proud club. They will hardly feel inclined to do Newcastle United any favours after Derek Llambias’ ill advised revelations in a Newcastle gastro pub. Just to remind you, when asked by a fan if Carroll was worth £30 million, the potty mouthed M.D. replied:
“No – he’s worth f*** all.”
Then, bragging how he and Mike Ashley took “control” of the hapless Merseyside club, who had just sold Fernando Torres for a record breaking £50 million to Chelsea, he then added: (more…)
Demba Ba: Running away from Toon? Not yet says Philippe Auclair.In an interview with “Talk Sport” radio, their French correspondent, Philippe Auclaair, who claims to know Demba Ba and his entourage well, tried to clarify comments made by Newcastle United hitman Demba Ba in a recent interview with French sports radio RNC.
In the interview he said he thought that the player would stay at Newcastle until the end of the season, but also expressed doubts that he would be a Newcastle United player beyind the New Year if his current form continued and his knee held out.
When asked about the player’s commnents, which you can see in full by following the link above if you don’t know them already, Auclair responded:
Blackpudding Rovers fans: Up for t'cup on Satda!Newcastle United will begin life without striker Demba Ba and midfielder Cheick Tiote in the FA Cup third round clash with Blackburn Rovers. Both are off to represent their countries (Senegal and The Ivory Coast) in the African Cup Of Nations.
But would either of them have been selected anyway even if they had been available?
The third round of the FA Cup used to be something which was seen as a major event in the English football calendar. Not only did it throw up the exciting possibility of a big club being drawn against a minnow, but for the bigger clubs it represented the first step in what could just possibly be a money-spinning path to the FA Cup Final – a fantastic day out in the full glare of the media, with all of the pomp, ceremony, posh new suits and possible glory that it throws up.
Sadly, times are changing and the romance of the FA Cup is changing with it – perhaps even sliding the same way that the League Cup has gone. Money is king in the modern game and some clubs are taking a different approach to the competition. As a result, we have seen teams shying away from fielding their best line-ups for fear of the extra injury risk to key players. For Premier League clubs, the difference in TV pay-outs attached to end of season league positions means that the risks are assessed more keenly.
Teams fighting relegation are in a particularly challenging situation, and often take the view that league matches have to be the priority. Which brings us nicely to Blackburn Rovers.
Better than Sports Direct anywayVirgin Money takes over where Northern Rock left off and sponsors Newcastle United’s shirts for the next two and a half seasons.
As you could no doubt tell by the shirts the team wore last night, Newcastle United have brokered a deal with Virgin Money until the end of the 2013/2014 season. Last night Derek Llambias said:
“We’re delighted to secure this new deal with Virgin Money and we look forward to enjoying a mutually beneficial partnership over the coming seasons. It is an excellent deal for both parties and we’re very happy to have them on board.“
He didn’t add anything about how ‘f****** horrible’ he can be this time.
Virgin, for their part, said:
“Now that Virgin Money and Northern Rock are united as one business, it gives us great pleasure to continue the shirt sponsorship of Newcastle United Football Club.
“The Northern Rock sponsorship started in 2003 and it is an important link to the North East which we are pleased to continue.
