Not leaving, says HughtonThe takeover farce is, as usual, suffering from conflicting press opinions.
First we hear from newspapers like The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Journal that Ashley arrived at the training ground in his gunship to join Llambias and Moat in takeover talks. Then The Chronicle comes along and says Ashley isn’t there for takeover talks at all but is merely dealing with some ‘routine paperwork’. The Chronicle’s ‘United source’ said:
“It is nothing to get excited about, it was a routine visit, Mike was here to sign some paperwork relating to Damien Duff’s transfer and the launch of the third kit.
“It is not the first time he has been at the training ground recently, and it won’t be the last.”
And Chris Hughton said of the visit:
“He came in, wished everyone the best for the Sheffield Wednesday game, and just wanted to tell people he wouldn’t be at the match.”
So make of that what you will. I am however going to speculate. I think the reports about the takeover being sorted out by the end of this week are probably true. I would imagine that Ashley, if he stays, or any new owner would want at least a week to deal on the transfer market and I think if Ashley feels the bids are going nowhere by the end of this week he’ll pull the plug on the sale. So I’m thinking we’ll hear one way or the other by Monday at the latest. (more…)
Off to Spain perhapsAs far as the sale saga goes, this week really must be it.
I can’t believe Ashley would let it run into the last week of the transfer window to sell the club, leaving mere days to strengthen the extremely threadbare squad. According to press articles of late, ‘D-Day’ is either today, tomorrow or Friday. Thursday is reported to be upset about being overlooked.
So what’s the latest? Well there’s nothing much new. Yesterday’s Journal claims that Barclays Bank will make a decision about Moat’s loan by Wednesday and claims that Shearer will be manager in time for the Crystal Palace match on Saturday if Barclays gives it the thumbs-up.
Meanwhile it seems that Joe Kinnear has been telling ‘friends in football’ that he will be manager by the end of this week if the sale falls through.
Personally I have no faith in Barclays. When I was 18 I applied for a loan from them myself in order to buy a MkI 3-litre Capri and they turned me down. If they couldn’t afford to lend me £700 I can’t see how they can lend Barry Moat £20m. (more…)
Sir Bobby: Always in the eye of the media.“Managing England was very different to managing a club. For one thing, it took me two years to adjust to the job. It was lonely. You didn’t see your players for months sometimes and then the chance you had for any coaching work with them was almost non-existent.” Sir Bobby Robson – ‘Farewell but not Goodbye’ 2005.
Robson’s long reign as England manager was an eventful one with many great moments, some great runs, a few disappointing patches (inevitably followed by huge vitriol from the press), often followed by inspirational tactical switches and salvation. But, alas, it always seemed to be bad lack that got Bobby in the end, whether it was ‘divine intervention’ on behalf of Diego Maradona, disallowed goals or Oscar winning acting performances (and slightly better penalty taking it must be said) from the Germans. Though Bobby himself was far too much of a gentleman to condemn the great Franz Beckenbauer’s supreme gamesmanship, he wasn’t above criticising Maradona when he questioned the role of God’s hand in that famous goal of 1986:
“It wasn’t the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it… That day, Maradona was diminished in my eyes forever.”(more…)
Enrique: Want's Guti in front of him.Newcastle United’s post Reading love-in continued today, when full-back, Jose Enrique spoke passionately of his “understanding” with gangly Argentinian wing wizard, Jonas Gutierrez.
Speaking to Sand-dancer’s daily, The Shields Gazette, He declared that Guti is the man he would most like to have in front of him as Toon’s Championship season unfolds. Gutierrez has recently been linked with a return to the Premiership with Portsmouth.
However, Toon’s Spanish speaking dynamic duo have formed a very close bond since Guti joined the team at the beginning of last season, and Enrique certainly doesn’t seem to be very keen on losing his left sided partner to the Posh. He also expressed a personal wish for some additions to the much depleted Newcastle squad, after the recent player exodus. He said:
“When Jonas plays, I understand very well how to play with him, I want him to stay because he is very good for the team.
“I play on the left like him, and we play similar football. He has played in Spain, so he understands my game. (more…)
Shola: Chuckle Brothers love in.Newcastle United hat-rick hero, Shola Ameobi, has issued a plea to stick with Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood in the dug-out.
Speaking in the afterglow of his hat-rick demolition of Reading on Saturday, which he dedicated to his mentor, the late, great Sir Bobby Robson, Shola said:
“Chris and Colin have done some fantastic things in what is an impossible situation” adding “If the owner doesn’t sell the club we’ve got two guys there who we believe in.”
“There’s been a lot of turmoil upstairs and it’s something we as players can’t do anything about. All I have seen is that the lads really respect Chris and Colin. It’d be great to have a manager but if that doesn’t happen we have got two guys there who can lift us and get us winning games to get back into the Premier League. I’ve seen a response. Even players you’d assume wouldn’t want to be here.”(more…)
