Duff wants Shearer. Damien Duff is the latest Newcastle player to complain about the drawn out takeover process and he called for Alan Shearer to be made manager while doing so. According to The Guardian he said:
“For me it definitely has to be Alan Shearer. The eight weeks I had with him I enjoyed them thoroughly. It was unfortunate we didn’t stay up but it was the most enjoyable eight weeks I’ve had [at Newcastle]. The training was great and there was proper professionalism. I think discipline was lacking over the last three years but he came in and changed things. Anyone who does come in and buy the club, he should be the main man.
“Time is not on our side. There are obviously [transfer] windows to think about. There are most likely going to be big changes but the start of the season is just three weeks away so we need him in now, not in three weeks’ time or four weeks’ time.”
Shearer certainly seems the popular choice amongst the players despite most of them saying he’s strict on discipline.
The club chose to respond to claims that only 15,000 season tickets had been sold with a press release of their own that reads as follows: (more…)
Team bondingSteven Taylor has been speaking out again, this time to reassure the fans that the off-field problems have actually brought the team closer together. According to Sky Sports he said:
“The fans at this moment probably think the club is a shambles and the players haven’t got a clue what is going on. They probably think we are fighting in training.
“But with us, it is completely different and I just wish they could even spend one day just looking at the training ground and the way we are going on with each other.
“It’s a much better team-bonding.”
Yesterday’s Sunday People carries an article about how Michael Owen feels like a 21 year old again now that he’s playing with Manchester United. (more…)
“You learn to understand the reaction but if you do step back, you think it is strange or unfair.
“When you are being relegated, nobody is interested in listening to you. But I knew it was all to do with me not scoring.
“If you don’t score and you don’t win, you are wrong to have a helicopter and fly home each week to see your kids. You are wrong to have a business outside of football. You are wrong to plan for the future.
“If the goals had been going in I would have been a great lad, popping home to see my three kids and be a family man on a Tuesday after training. I would have been thoughtful and innocent little things would not be misrepresented.”
Well as far as I’m concerned Owen’s missing the point. His lack of scoring might have been due to the fact that he wasn’t getting the service from a poor midfield but what about his disinterested attitude? Or the fact that as Captain he said little about any responsibility he felt for us being relegated and just cleared off as fast he could to play Champions League football while leaving us to rot in the Championship. (more…)
Profitable Group bids againA lot of the papers picked up on The Profitable Group’s alleged increased bid for Newcastle United yesterday. Steve McMahon, Profitable Group director, told The Chronicle:
“Our people have been in London all week working with lawyers and attorneys.
“And we have made them a realistic offer.
“We have been pushing ahead and, make no doubt about it, the money is in place – we are for real.
“We initially made a tentative bid to begin with, and discussions then took place. We were told to come back, and that’s what we have done.
“There has been a formal offer and we want to get things done and dusted as quickly as possible.”
If you’re interested you can read about The Profitable Group’s history on their web site, although the only thing on their site relating to Newcastle United is from the 10th June where they confirm their initial interest in buying the club. (more…)
Embargo?According to The Journal an embargo has been placed on all transfers until the new owners are in place.
They quote a ‘senior United source’ who says:
“There will be no players coming or going until the takeover has been completed. There will not be a firesale and it is up to the new owners and manager to decide who comes and who goes.
“The transfer market does not really get going until August, and Newcastle will not be doing any business until a buyer has been found. It is all on hold.”
This position was backed up by Alex Black, Alan Smith’s agent, who said:
“Newcastle United have put a sort of embargo on any players moving in or out of the club until the situation is resolved in terms of ownership.” (more…)
