Newcastle United - Toontalk

[yenyenpark]

wahahaha... good comparison there between dong zhuo and souney...

we need someone like liu bei and zhuge liang in our team... :(
think Chelsea boss is Chao Chao with plenty of army.. Manyoo and Arsenal both Lui Bei and Shun somthing that forms three kingdoms.. we r nothing but small country who tok we r strong and start to dream about title.. and end out.. eliminated :eek: !!!

[aqf]

Get lost souness!Even old man SBR is better than him.

[andy81]

Get lost souness!Even old man SBR is better than him.
Of coz Sir Bobby Robson is better than him. Dun use the word even here

[andy81]

Newcastle chief Freddy Shepherd has moved to deny speculation over Craig Bellamy's future after he was dropped for the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal

The Welshman was left out by manager Graeme Souness after voicing his disquiet over being repeatedly played out of position and walking off the training pitch last week.

The incident, the latest in Bellamy's chequered career on Tyneside, has sparked fresh suggestions he could be offloaded but Shepherd has insisted the matter was dealt with on Friday.

"There was a lengthy meeting on Friday between the manager, Craig Bellamy and myself," Shepherd said. "What was discussed at that meeting is an internal matter and will remain private within the confines of the club.

"As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the matter."

Bellamy and Souness both spoke out at Highbury after Newcastle had slipped to their first defeat of 2005 through Dennis Bergkamp's lone strike.

They revealed the situation came to a head when Bellamy walked off the training pitch on Thursday in protest at having to play in a wide midfield position and Souness claimed the player later told him he had an injury.

He was uncompromising when asked about the incident in his post-match press conference.

"Craig Bellamy is not happy in the position we are asking him to play sometimes, and he's gone about showing his displeasure in totally the wrong way, that's why he was not involved today," said the Scot.

"We're trying to create a team spirit at Newcastle, and I'm only interested in having players at the club who give everything for the cause. Sometimes you have have to play in a position that you may feel is not your best.

"Our supporters don't want to hear the petulance of a player saying he only wants to play in a certain position.

"They want to see 11 players out there working their socks off for the cause. Unfortunately, we're faced with the situation where that's not the case.

"I don't really want to talk about Craig Bellamy. We will address that situation next week. But my real concern is that we have just lost a match 1-0 to Arsenal."

However, Bellamy, who thought the problem had been resolved, also had his say after weeks of speculation linking the club with strikers and a suggestion that he could be dispensable.

"I've been told to do a job for the team - that's what I've tried to do," he said. "We get linked with centre forwards, I'm playing out of position and I want to go up front.

"It's probably selfish. I went to the manager and chairman and they said they weren't getting a forward.

"I feel I'm not doing myself justice in midfield, I feel for the midfield boys who have to sweep up for me because I'm so attack-minded.

"I got left out, but I am fully fit. I will play anywhere - I've proved that by playing 20 games out of position.

"I want to play for Newcastle, but I don't feel I'm doing the club justice in those positions.

"I walked off the training ground on Thursday to go and speak to the manager and the people upstairs.

"I thought it was resolved. I trained on Friday as normal and came here and found out I wasn't on the bench."

[andy81]

Newcastle's temperamental striker Craig Bellamy will not be kicked-out of the club despite his latest public feud with manager Graeme Souness.

Bellamy's future on Tyneside was under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons yet again as United went down to their first defeat of the year against Arsenal at Highbury.

A 19th-minute strike from veteran Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp settled the outcome in the home side's favour but the game was overshadowed by another fall out between Souness and Bellamy.

The Welshman was left out of the squad by Souness after voicing his disquiet over being repeatedly played out of position and walking off the training pitch last week.

The incident, the latest in Bellamy's chequered career on Tyneside, sparked fresh suggestions he could be offloaded but Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd insisted the matter was dealt with at a meeting on Friday.

"There was a lengthy meeting on Friday between the manager, Craig Bellamy and myself," Shepherd revealed.

"What was discussed at that meeting is an internal matter and will remain private within the confines of the club. As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the matter."

Earlier the United chairman had been quoted as saying that Bellamy was not for sale and that the player had been made fully aware of the club's position at the same meeting.

Shepherd said: "Craig Bellamy is not for sale. The manager and myself have had a little meeting with him and told him that.

"We cannot stop him being linked with other clubs or other clubs wanting him but what we can say is that we have had nobody ask about Craig Bellamy and if we had, it would not matter, because he is not for sale."

Bellamy's unhappiness can be traced back to October last year when the striker first made it known to Souness that he was unhappy playing second fiddle to a preferred strikeforce of skipper Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert.

Bellamy was forced to accept a midfield role and is alleged to have told close friends and team-mates in the Wales squad that he had even considered handing in a transfer request.

Bellamy was then at loggerheads with the Scot after unleashing a torrent of abuse at Souness when the United boss hauled him off at Charlton.

The latest row erupted when, fed-up with being asked to play right midfield, Bellamy is alleged to have feigned injury and then walked off the training pitch.

Souness said: "I don't really want to talk about Craig Bellamy. We will address that situation next week. But my real concern is that we have just lost a match 1-0 to Arsenal."

When quizzed over whether the 25-year-old Wales international striker still had a future at St James' Park, Souness said: "Craig Bellamy is contracted to the club. There was an incident on Friday which led to me having to have a meeting between the chairman, the player and myself.

"Craig Bellamy is not happy in the position we are asking him to play sometimes and he's gone about showing his displeasure in totally the wrong way, that's why he was not involved.

"Declaring himself injured on Friday and walking off on Friday, then being fit on Saturday. We're trying to create a team spirit at Newcastle, and I'm only interested in having players at the club who give everything for the cause.

"Our supporters don't want to hear the petulance of a player saying he only wants to play in a certain position. They want to see 11 players out there working their socks off for the cause. Unfortunately we're faced with the situation where that's not the case."

However, Bellamy was only too keen to explain his side of the story.

"I've been told to do a job for the team," he replied. "That's what I've tried to do.

"I'm playing out of position and I want to go up front. It's probably selfish. I went to the manager and chairman and they said they weren't getting a forward."

Bellamy denied that he had told Souness he was unfit to play against Arsenal and was anxious to reassure the fanatical Geordie fans that he wants to play for the club.

The striker insisted: "I got left out but I am fully fit. I will play anywhere, I've proved that by playing 20 games out of position, I want to play for Newcastle but I don't feel I'm doing the club justice in that position.

"I walked off the training ground to go and speak to the manager and the people upstairs. I thought it was resolved, I trained as normal and came here and found out I wasn't on the bench.

"Since the new manager has come here I've trained as hard as I can and do a job for the team. The fans know it, they've seen me play out of position week in and week out, I've not moaned or sulked.

"There comes a time when you want to play in your rightful position but you get on with it. It's a tough period at the moment but the last thing I want is the fans to think I don't want to play for Newcastle in any position."

[andy81]

Graeme Souness is keen to keep hold of Olivier Bernard and Andy O’Brien despite a bid from Birmingham boss Steve Bruce.

[dbchoong]

Who should take over as manager? Alan Shearer? Would he be able to do it?

:)

[andy81]

Who should take over as manager? Alan Shearer? Would he be able to do it?

:)
Maybe he is still not up to it. He can be an assistant 1st
2-3 years later he cna be a manager

[yenyenpark]

Who should take over as manager? Alan Shearer? Would he be able to do it?

:)
i will support Shearer to be player manager!!! :D

[yenyenpark]

Bellamy blasted by Shearer Jan 24 2005




By Paul Gilder, The Journal


Alan Shearer has warned Craig Bellamy the consequences of his latest indiscretion could be dire.

And Newcastle captain Shearer insisted yesterday only players fully committed to the cause are welcome at the club.

Welsh international Bellamy played no part at Arsenal yesterday, having stormed out of a training session on Friday.

This followed an argument with manager Graeme Souness regarding his role in the team.

It was not Bellamy's first clash with Souness since the Scot arrived in September. The pair were involved in one showdown ahead of a Uefa Cup trip to Athens to face Panionios and another during a Premiership fixture at Charlton.

But it could have been Bellamy's last bust-up, for Souness has vowed to take action this week.

Shearer said: "Craig declared himself injured on Friday dinner time and then was fit on Saturday morning.

"The manager - like everyone at Newcastle United - only wants players who want to play for the club, whether it's in the position they want to play in or not.

"We all want to go in the same direction, we all want success for Newcastle United, and if anyone doesn't want that, the manager will replace them with other players."

With the United manager having grown tired of the striker's tantrums, it seems that the £6m man's days on Tyneside could be numbered.

Souness retains the support of his captain, with Shearer adding: "I think the manager has done a good job. You never get a job when things are going right at a football club.

"Graeme came to Newcastle and knew about one or two problems and he is trying his hardest to sort them out. If anyone can do it, he can."

for this time, i think Shearer should NOT say anything about the dispute and leave them to resolve themselves..

[andy81]

hmm now shearer comes into the picture
is he trying to help to lift some pressure off souness?

[Coolsmurf]

granted that bellamy action's mimicked that of dyer similar response earlier to SBR of playing him out of position, bellamy action has not provoked a similar act of protests yet from nufc toon army.

what does this say? souness is in the wrong, not bellamy. or vice versa. i hope the fans will indicate in our next home game or over the internet.

even shearer, my idol and club captain has jumped in the picture, defending souness, is he preserving his own interests in the hope of securing a job next season as part of the coaching staff?

[Ultimate10002000]

Shearer could be the new manager when he decided to retire from being a player...think he got go and attend some courses to train as a club manager.

[yenyenpark]

granted that bellamy action's mimicked that of dyer similar response earlier to SBR of playing him out of position, bellamy action has not provoked a similar act of protests yet from nufc toon army.

what does this say? souness is in the wrong, not bellamy. or vice versa. i hope the fans will indicate in our next home game or over the internet.

even shearer, my idol and club captain has jumped in the picture, defending souness, is he preserving his own interests in the hope of securing a job next season as part of the coaching staff?
hmm.. i also think Shearer like saying too much this season.. may b he hope all players can play their parts to help Newcastle move up?? or bcos he had chosen to get rid of SBR and must help the manager now.. or watsoever..

sigh.. things r like going abit out of control.. think SOuness should ban all news to press.. got problem settle in the dressing room.. just like SAF did on Beckham case, agree??

[yenyenpark]

hmm now shearer comes into the picture
is he trying to help to lift some pressure off souness?
hmm... probably he might think he will b in souness shoes some time very soon?? :s22:

[yenyenpark]

Shearer could be the new manager when he decided to retire from being a player...think he got go and attend some courses to train as a club manager.
think now all big club managers need some kind of licence (issit called coaching license??) to lead a team or club...

[yenyenpark]

Faye closes in on Newcastle move


Portsmouth midfielder Amdy Faye is still in talks with Newcastle over a move to the troubled Premiership club.

A deal of around £2million is understood to have been proposed by the Magpies.


A statement on Portsmouth's official club website read: 'Amdy Faye is in still in talks with Newcastle today concerning a move to St James' Park.

'Faye travelled up to the north-east for talks with Graeme Souness following discussions between the two clubs. He had earlier last week pledged allegiance to Pompey - but had a change of heart when Newcastle got in contact.'

The south-coast club may consider a move for Russian striker Dmitri Bulykin.

The 25-year-old is keen to secure a transfer to England but has so far been unable to strike a deal with either Bolton or Crystal Palace, where he recently had a trial.

His club Dynamo Moscow are understood to be interested in only a permanent deal and for a fee in the region of £1.5million.

Although Bulykin has spent some time at Fratton Park, Portsmouth today maintained he has not yet been officially taken on trial.

Chairman Milan Mandaric said: 'Dmitri has been with us for a few days. He is just the type we need - a top-class target man, excellent in the box,' Mandaric told Sky Sports.

Another player linked with a move away from Fratton is Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller.

A switch to rivals Southampton to re-unite him with former boss Harry Redknapp could be hastened should any deal for Bulykin be completed before the end of the January transfer window.

[yenyenpark]

Bellamy in liar war
By CHARLIE WYETT

CRAIG BELLAMY accused boss Graeme Souness of not telling the truth as war erupted at Newcastle.

Souness axed Bellamy, saying the Wales star claimed he was injured.

The Toon chief insisted: “He declared himself injured on Friday, walked off from training on Friday and then said he was fit on Saturday.”

But amazingly Bellamy hit back immediately on Sky TV.

The Wales star said: “I’m disappointed. I didn’t say I was injured. I got left out but I am fully fit and I want to play.”

The bust-up happened live on TV. Presenter Richard Keys said: “Someone is not telling the truth.”

Souness insisted Bellamy claimed he picked up an injury on Friday only to do a U-turn the following day.

He said: “There was an incident on Friday, which led to me having to have a meeting between the chairman, the player and myself. That will remain private.

“Craig Bellamy is not happy in the positions we are asking him to play sometimes. And he has gone about showing his displeasure in totally the wrong way.

“We are trying to create a team spirit at Newcastle. I will only have players at the club who will give everything for the club.

“Sometimes you have to play in a position you feel maybe is not your best position. But if it is for the club, that is all that matters.

“Our supporters don’t want to hear about petulance and people saying I don’t want to play in a certain position. They want to see 11 players out there working their socks off for a cause.”

Souness was speaking to the written Press following the Highbury defeat when he was told Bellamy was doing a live TV interview, Souey said: “That’s interesting. I hope he tells the truth.”

But Bellamy insisted he does not want to leave Newcastle.

He said: “I want to play for Newcastle. I’ve shown that by playing 20-odd games out of position this year.

“I’ve tried to keep silent, but it’s been a long day for me and it’s been a tough one. I walked off the training ground which I don’t want to go into, and went to speak to the manager.”

It is the second major bust-up between Souness and Bellamy since the Scot took charge at St James’ Park in September.

The hitman, 25, clearly mouthed “you fu**ing pri**” at Souness when the Toon boss substituted him at Charlton in a 1-1 draw in October.

But the row surely spells the end of Bellamy’s Newcastle career.

Aston Villa, having lost out to Everton for James Beattie, are keen to sign him before the end of the transfer window.

Tottenham would also be interested — but only if they lost one of their current strikers.

sad sad... seems Bellamy r lying he's injured and blah blah blah.. think there r still more news to come.. sad.. sad..

[andy81]

what is Newcastle doing. To perform well on the pitch they better get their off the field problem solve 1st. If not they r going nowhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stiop acting like kids!!!!!!!!
fuk!!!!

[Ultimate10002000]

think now all big club managers need some kind of licence (issit called coaching license??) to lead a team or club...

Yes i think it is call professional coaching license plus a cert or something, you will get it when you sign up for the course and graduate with a pass.

[Ultimate10002000]

what is Newcastle doing. To perform well on the pitch they better get their off the field problem solve 1st. If not they r going nowhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stiop acting like kids!!!!!!!!
fuk!!!!

Well Newcastle got too much internal conflicts liaoz and all these will do the team no good. I would say they better quickly settle all this, spend too much time in this kind of thing is consider to be total wastage.

[Shadow04]

what is Newcastle doing. To perform well on the pitch they better get their off the field problem solve 1st. If not they r going nowhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stiop acting like kids!!!!!!!!
fuk!!!!
yea.... we have increasingly more problems off pitch ever since that retard took over....

makes me wonder if its the players or the manager... nothing(at least not to this extend) happened during SBR's management... but now Souness had taken over for less than 6 months and put us in the headlines... but for all the farking wrong reasons.....

[dreamer75]

more bad news....oh pls..Bernard dun go...sighz!!!!

Newcastle United has accepted bids of £400,000 from both Celtic and Birmingham for contract rebel Olivier Bernard.

The French defender meets Celtic manager Martin O’Neill this week following weekend talks with Brum boss Steve Bruce.

http://www.worldfootballers.com/news.php?id=1851

[dreamer75]

Faye in Toon for medical - we can't afford another injury prone purchase
Story by Craig Hope (website editor)
24 January 2005

Amdy Faye looks set to complete his switch from Portsmouth to Newcastle United with question marks remaining over the players' history of injuries



Reports are suggesting that Senegalese midfielder Amdy Faye is in Newcastle today to undergo a medical and tie up the loose ends of his £2 million move to St.James’ Park.

A player who has already failed a medical whilst in the process of a move to Fulham last year will no doubt pass our inspection with flying colours only to be sidelined in the coming weeks.

Negative? Probably. But we need look no further than Babayaro and Boumsong to support this pessimistic prediction.

Faye’s arrival will hopefully release Jermaine Jenas from the constraints of defensive responsibility that are currently enforced upon him and allow the England star to make his presence felt at the other end of the field.

hope he is not injury prone :x

[Ultimate10002000]

more bad news....oh pls..Bernard dun go...sighz!!!!

Newcastle United has accepted bids of £400,000 from both Celtic and Birmingham for contract rebel Olivier Bernard.

The French defender meets Celtic manager Martin O’Neill this week following weekend talks with Brum boss Steve Bruce.

http://www.worldfootballers.com/news.php?id=1851

Well he is very determine to leave Newcastle. Go Celtic ba it is a very good place and club to play football with an excellent manager.

[Ultimate10002000]

Faye in Toon for medical - we can't afford another injury prone purchase
Story by Craig Hope (website editor)
24 January 2005

Amdy Faye looks set to complete his switch from Portsmouth to Newcastle United with question marks remaining over the players' history of injuries



Reports are suggesting that Senegalese midfielder Amdy Faye is in Newcastle today to undergo a medical and tie up the loose ends of his £2 million move to St.James’ Park.

A player who has already failed a medical whilst in the process of a move to Fulham last year will no doubt pass our inspection with flying colours only to be sidelined in the coming weeks.

Negative? Probably. But we need look no further than Babayaro and Boumsong to support this pessimistic prediction.

Faye’s arrival will hopefully release Jermaine Jenas from the constraints of defensive responsibility that are currently enforced upon him and allow the England star to make his presence felt at the other end of the field.

hope he is not injury prone :x

Hope this is a good buy and makes no mistake about it, in case regret later on in the season. No more 2nd Woodgate for Newcastle who is famous to be injury prone.

[dreamer75]

I hope that Bellamy apologises and is offered forgiveness by manager, chairman, team-mates and fans alike.

The question remains though, if and when Bellamy does indeed apologise, will he be selected in a forward role?

I feel there’s going to be a few more spins of the media merry-go-round before that question becomes an issue.

What Bellamy has done is a disgrace however – he has let everyone down. I am not at all condoning what he has done. But I do sincerely hope that the matter is resolved as quickly as possible and that Craig Bellamy (our top goalscorer in the league this season) is reverted to a striker’s position alongside Alan Shearer and we can once again witness the rewards of a partnership that was once heralded as the most effective in the Premiership.

[Ultimate10002000]

Just hope this issue will be resolve quickly, as this is kinda childish behavior.

[Korn123]

Bellamy is a highly effective striker. His commitment off the ball and his pace is a real asset for us. I seriously hope Shearer reconsiders his comments. I would dread the day when Bellamy leaves. It would probably start an exodus of players... Bernard, Robert, Dyer, and in the worst case, a frustrated Given would call it quits as well. I regard all of them as our best players. Bernard definitely deputised well for Baba against Arse. Why can't we have a manager better @ man-management?

I dun like a manager in the mould of SAF or More-urine-ho in NUFC. One's a megalomanic, the other's an egoistic S-hole. I really hope tt someone of proven quality comes along to coach this beloved team of mine. Not so much for the monetary rewards as for the love of the team (and/or game, i suppose).

It all boils down to the Chairman, tho. He likes a quick fix. Look at Kluivert, Souness, Milner and Carr. All were impulse signings. Like buying second hand cars without going for test drives. The first two stink to high heaven. Milner's too inexperienced, and Carr has been bogged down by injury. Where does that leave us?
Cry, and my heart bleeds black and white...

[andy81]

Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy has admitted that his career on Tyneside may be over after his latest clash with manager Graeme Souness.

Craig Bellamy: Future in doubt (NealSimpson/Empics)

The 25-year-old was today dealing with the fall-out of his training ground showdown with the Scot, in which he admits saying he would feign injury, which prompted Souness to leave him out of the 16 at Highbury.


'I know Graeme Souness is the manager and that he cannot go, so it's possible they want to get rid of me and I'm on my way out,' Bellamy told the Evening Chronicle.

'But I can categorically say that I have never refused to play for Newcastle United.

'In fact, I'll play anywhere for the club - something I have done all season. I saw what happened to Kieron Dyer and do you think I want another situation like that? It just does not make sense.

'And why did I go all the way to Arsenal if I had no intention of playing? At Arsenal, the manager at first told the television before the game that I was injured yet after the match he backtracked on this.

'I went with the manager to see the chairman on Friday afternoon because I wanted to get things resolved. I wanted to see if I had a future here because I want to stay.

'Yes, I did say I was going to feign an injury. But actually doing it is something completely different.

'Players say these things all the time when they are looking for an excuse.'


No Bellamy pls stay, we will be behid u. That fuking scot shld go!!!

[andy81]

I feel sorry for Newcastle United.
Seeing defenders like Andy O Brien and Bamble really saddens me. To me they shld be playing for clubs like WBA or Norwich.
And zogbia pls stay in the reserve side.

[ZhiQiang]

loss to arsenal is a blow...

outburst of bellamy is another blow...

sale of bernard is another one

how many more blows can we take??????

[andy81]

Bounsong out for at least 4 weeks
fuk!!!!

[andy81]

The case for a new defence was unarguable. Newcastle United have conceded 41 Premiership goals, a total exceeded only by West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City. It is unacceptable for a side who started the season with aspirations of a top four finish.

Jean-Alain Boumsong: Hamstrung. (JohnWalton/Empics)

For Graeme Souness, condemned for the porousness of Bobby Robson's creaking, leaky defence, January could not come soon enough. Enter Celestine Babayaro and Jean-Alain Boumsong. With a week remaining of the transfer window, the signing of a second centre back has been mooted, though Souness' offers for Manchester City's Sylvain Distin have been rebuffed. When right-back Stephen Carr is finally fit - even if it is next season - Newcastle will have an entirely new back four.


That is no guarantee of success. St James' Park has been a graveyard for central defenders over the past decade; the Spaniard Marcelino, capable of being sidelined by the most insignificant of injuries, perhaps the worst of an undistinguished bunch.

The problems with their predecessors were apparent in more than just the 'goals against' column. Bolton were especially adept at exploiting Newcastle's lack of height. Robbie Elliott, who, at just five foot 10, lacks both the stature and the speed for top-flight defenders, had been pressed into service as an emergency central defender while Ronny Johnsen, discarded by Aston Villa, was a short-term signing.

Conclusions that Newcastle were missing Jonathan Woodgate, however, are simplistic: the £14 million they received softened the blow and has financed Souness' spending in the January sales. The injuries that have delayed his Real Madrid debut would not have augured well for the Newcastle rearguard this season, but Souness' rebuilding has gone beyond simply signing another centre-half.

Left back Olivier Bernard appears to have exhausted the patience of Souness with a long-running contract dispute. Hence the arrival of Babayaro, a similarly quick full back who overlaps enthusiastically.

There are greater differences between the elegant Woodgate and the more muscular Boumsong, his belated replacement in the centre of defence. One, unfortunate, constant may be injuries; the hamstrung Frenchman made an early exit against Arsenal, an unfortunate conclusion to an encouraging performance. Boumsong is likely to be absent for a month, further hampering Newcastle's attempts to shore up their back four.

Souness' predilection for signing Rangers players - often for seemingly inflated prices - has provoked comment. But Boumsong's pacey pursuit of Thierry Henry and dogged determination against Dennis Bergkamp on Sunday suggested that £8 million may not be an unrealistic valuation.

Perhaps to counter Henry, who habitually favours the left wing, Boumsoung was deployed as the right-sided centre back at Highbury. His earlier appearances for Newcastle, however, came just inside Babayaro. Were Manchester City to reconsider the £5 million offer for the left-footed Distin - and again, Souness cannot be accused of being parsimonious - that role would surely be earmarked for him.

Blessed with pace as well as height, the City captain has all the attributes of a top central defender, but is not one. It is a description that could apply to Titus Bramble, though the latter is more prone to costly lapses. His capacity to induce panic among team-mates notwithstanding, Souness, with rather ambitious rhetoric, suggested this month could be the start of an alliance of longevity and distinction.


Titus Bramble: Error prone. (NealSimpson/Empics)


'Bramble is 23, Boumsong is 25,' he told the Sunday Times. 'They could form a partnership to play here for the next seven or eight years and be the rock that this club can build a fantastic team on.' It is a heady boast, even though Souness had already described Boumsong as a potential captain of Newcastle before he had made his debut.

Still more contentious was the Newcastle manager's view that Bramble has excelled over the previous six games. Booked and taken off at half-time against non-league Yeading, Bramble's clumsiness could have brought Southampton a penalty the following week; converting his promise and potential into pedigree performances still appears an optimistic aim.

The robust Steven Taylor is deputising for Carr on the right and, at just 19, should shoulder less blame for Newcastle's dreadful defensive record. In any case, Souness' interest in Portsmouth's Amdy Faye indicates that he believes the back four need more assistance. A giant figure, the Senegalese defensive midfielder would surely help Newcastle defend set pieces better.

But the responsibility for defending long, high balls better - a basic flaw in recent years - falls to the central defenders. Communication has been a perennial problem, too; it appeared to epitomise the lack of understanding among Newcastle defenders when Boumsong, on his home debut, blocked a goalbound Taylor shot.

With their alliance in its formative stages, they can be excused. It was notable at Highbury, however, that one striker was often left isolated against a full back at the back post when both central defenders were dragged out of position.

And regardless of the individuals who comprise his new-look defence, or their price tags, greater organisation is surely Souness' main objective. Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City, each with a cheaper back four, have all conceded at least 15 fewer league goals.

The former Blackburn manager has been vocal in his attempts to address the culture of player power at St James' Park, but changing the Newcastle tradition of questionable defending is, if anything, more important.

[andy81]

Craig Bellamy has accused Graeme Souness of 'lying' to turn the fans against him and force him out of the club.

The Newcastle boss dropped Bellamy from Sunday's clash with Arsenal, claiming that Bellamy had feigned injury in an attempt to get out of the game.

Bellamy admits that he threatened to feign injury but says he did not follow through with his threat - and would never refuse to play for Newcastle.

"When I sat on the coach and heard the reports of what the manager was saying I was in shock," Bellamy told Sky Sports News.

"I thought 'not only has he gone behind my back, he's lying'.

"I don't want the fans to think for one minute that I wouldn't play for this club. I'd play anywhere for this club, even in goal.

"It's a very difficult situation for me at the moment but I'd never ask to leave this club.

"This club means so much to me. I couldn't do it because I know I couldn't come back here and play against Newcastle. It would hurt too much.

"I've kept my nose clean this season. I've just got on with it and trained the best I can.

"It seems I'm not particularly wanted by a certain person but the only way he can seem to do it is by turning the fans against me."

Souness gave a television interview in which he claimed that Bellamy had acted 'petulantly' and claimed to be injured to avoid playing on the right side of midfield.

Craig is not happy in the position we are asking him to play sometimes - he's gone about showing his displeasure in totally the wrong way," said Souness.

"I'm not happy with Craig. He has let me down, the players down and most of all the supporters.

"There was an incident which led to me having to have a meeting between the chairman, the player and myself.

"He declared himself injured on Friday and walked off - then he was fit on Saturday.

"We're trying to create a team spirit at Newcastle, and I'm only interested in having players at the club who give everything for the cause."

http://www.football365.com/news/premiership_news/story_141339.shtml

[andy81]

I will believe in Bellamy. That fuking scot use this kinda tactic. Descipable fuker.
I am really angry, sack that souney and bring a new manager in!!!

[ZhiQiang]

I will believe in Bellamy. That fuking scot use this kinda tactic. Descipable fuker.
I am really angry, sack that souney and bring a new manager in!!!

i think i set liao...

if these players tio sack, i quit...

bellamy and robert...

i really bth to see these news which last time i only saw it happening @ balckburn...

[andy81]

u quit?
as in?

[andy81]

It saddens me to see Newcastle in this state.
But i will still be behind them.

[SirAlex]

Beware of the buffoon Freddy Shepard but especially that Shearer... he's a political schemer that one... he had his divisive nature as England captain, sowing discord and disharmony... and everyone knows that he got poor Sir Bobby the sack.

Souey's a great tryer, but he can't keep unity with that sh**e Shearer scheming and playing favourites in the dressing and board room.

You watch the soap opera take its course so long as that backstabber is around... I wouldn't turn my back on him in a hurry... ;)

[andy81]

Take care of ur own soap opera with that French, come 1st Feb i will be rooting for Arsenal with a Newcastle jersey on.

[ticcan]

I think Souness is ****ing up your club badly at the moment. all the quarrels and disharmany between him and Robert and now Bellamy. And they are your key players and he left both of them in the reserves. :s22:

[dreamer75]

I think Souness is ****ing up your club badly at the moment. all the quarrels and disharmany between him and Robert and now Bellamy. And they are your key players and he left both of them in the reserves. :s22:

even supporters of other clubs also agree with us...Souness...u shld go :mad:

[dreamer75]

How true???

Shepherd: Bellamy not leaving



Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has moved quickly to diffuse speculation linking striker Craig Bellamy with a move away from the club following another public fall out with manager Graeme Souness.

Bellamy was reportedly dropped from the Magpies line up by Souness for his resistance to fill the left midfield role in the match against Arsenal but the Welsh international insists he was left out of the line up for no apparent reason.

The fall out between the pair then led to rumours suggesting Bellamy was planning to leave St James Park in the transfer window only for Shepherd to reiterate that the club have no desire to sell one of their best players.

“There was a lengthy meeting on Friday between the manager, Craig Bellamy and myself,” Shepherd said.

“What was discussed at that meeting is an internal matter and will remain private within the confines of the club. As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the matter.”

“Craig Bellamy is not for sale. The manager and myself have had a little meeting with him and told him that.”

“We cannot stop him being linked with other clubs or other clubs wanting him but what we can say is that we have had nobody ask about Craig Bellamy and if we had, it would not matter, because he is not for sale.”


http://www.robbieslater.com/news.php?NewsID=2615

[dreamer75]

Newcastle United to punish ‘cheat’ Bellamy
22:39 January, 24, 2005


The Welsh international has been involved in a huge bust-up with the hierarchy at St James’ Park, and chairman Freddy Shepherd seems to be running out of patience with the player – and fast.

"I wish to put the record straight," said Shepherd. "Bellamy walked off the training ground saying his hamstring was tight but what he failed to reveal in his interview is that he had told other members of the squad before training that he had intended to feign injury.

"When Graeme Souness discovered this he immediately ordered Bellamy to attend a meeting with us in my office. At that meeting he admitted to Graeme and I that he told players he was going to feign an injury and walk off.

"He also agreed at that meeting to apologise to his team-mates for his behaviour but he didn't and that resulted in the action taken by the manager at the weekend which I fully support. In my book this is cheating on the club, the supporters, the manager and the player's own team-mates.

"Bellamy is paid extremely well by Newcastle United Football Club. I consider his behaviour to be totally unacceptable and totally unprofessional. The player will now face internal discipline by the club."

http://www.fansfc.com/frontpage/frontpagenews.asp?newsid=135567

[Ultimate10002000]

Well Souness must change his attitude if he wants to continue to have a job and hold up his rice bowl in Newcastle, if he really get sack i believe he will be jobless for quite a long period. Currently there is not much club interested in him nor is there any club looking for a new manager.

[dreamer75]

Bitter clash of egos has led to Newcastle's dirty linen being aired in public once more. Tim Rich reports

25 January 2005

All footballers have egos but those of centre-forwards are sharper and more fragile than any others. Even when he was winning the European Golden Boot at Sunderland, Kevin Phillips's pre-match routine consisted of watching videos of himself scoring, just to convince himself he still possessed that instinctive touch.

Craig Bellamy has never seemed constrained by such bouts of self-doubt. Once, as his partnership with Alan Shearer began to transform Newcastle from mid-table irrelevancy to members of the Champions' League, he was told by a television interviewer that crowds at St James' Park loved goalscorers and if he kept this up he could become a hero on Tyneside. "But I am a hero already," came the instant reply.

Sunday afternoon at Highbury saw the Welsh striker in the decidedly unheroic role of spectator, muffled against the January chill, having declared himself unfit after being told he was playing on the right wing before changing his mind on the eve of the match. This impressed his manager, Graeme Souness, not at all.

If Bellamy, who, to the astonishment of his team-mates, got off the team bus at Highbury to give a television interview attacking his manager after being told that Souness had criticised him publicly, expected the waters to be smoothed over yesterday, he was mistaken. The Newcastle chairman, Freddy Shepherd, may have issued a statement denying he would be put on the transfer list but, as Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole discovered at Blackburn, Souness does not do conciliation.

The Newcastle manager denounced Bellamy, effectively calling him a liar and making it unlikely he could ever play happily for the club again. He said: "After Friday's press conference at St James' Park, I arrived at the training ground to find Craig Bellamy in the dressing-room with his boots off.

"He told me he felt his hamstring was a bit tight but my first-team coach, Dean Saunders, informed me that Bellamy had told other players in the dressing-room he was going to feign an injury. I took him to see the chairman on Friday afternoon at St James' Park and he admitted to both of us that this was true. I asked him in front of the chairman if he had feigned an injury. He said 'yes'.

"I told Bellamy that he had to apologise to the rest of the players but then I found out later he had not done so. That was on Friday teatime and that's when I decided he wasn't going to be in my team at Arsenal. If he had apologised, he would have been."

Souness stated that this was not the first time he had questioned Bellamy's desire to play for Newcastle. Last month he pulled out of a match with Liverpool after allegedly straining a back muscle warming up at Anfield yet was training the following day. This month Bellamy failed to turn up for training the day before a game against Southampton, claiming he was affected by a stomach bug but still played. Souness also accused him of attempting to unsettle his two new signings, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Celestine Babayaro.

"Bellamy said in front of Babayaro and Boumsong that this was a rubbish club with a rubbish manager," Souness said. "I asked him what all this was about and he told me he was upset at the speculation he was going to be sold or used as a makeweight in a transfer. I told him on Friday that I wanted him here but on my terms and those terms are that everyone is pulling together and not acting in a confrontational manner or sniping away all the time."

This is Souness's third run-in with Bellamy, who insulted his manager after being substituted at Charlton, which was then followed by a reported stand-up fight between the two men at the club's training ground. If Souness was brought in to discipline Newcastle, he appears to be failing off the pitch as well as on it. On his arrival, he was told the club was tired of washing its filthy linen in public; but this morning the soiled sheets seem to stretch the length of Hadrian's Wall.

It should not be forgotten that there were sound tactical reasons for Souness wanting to play Bellamy out of position at Highbury. As Arsène Wenger has noted with a certain weariness, most sides now play five across the middle and a lone striker to stifle his Arsenal side and this kind of containing operation must have represented Souness's best chance of success. Last month, when Arsenal were fortunate to grind out a 1-0 victory at St James' Park, Newcastle employed precisely that formation with Bellamy deployed on the right, a position he has regularly occupied for Wales.

Bellamy said yesterday he did not want to endure the same treatment meted out to Kieron Dyer, who was howled down when appearing for England at St James' Park a few days after telling Sir Bobby Robson he did not want to play on the right wing in the opening fixture of the season at Middlesbrough. After Souness's comments, it is unlikely the Gallowgate End will ever rise to him again.

If Shepherd holds the line for the last few days of the transfer window, then Bellamy, like Dyer, will exist in a kind of uneasy limbo with his manager until the summer. However, as Robbie Savage, another turbulent Welshman, has demonstrated, if a player is determined to leave there is little his club can do but exact the highest price for his services. "I know Graeme Souness is the manager and he cannot go, so it's possible they want to get rid of me and I'm on my way out," Bellamy said yesterday.

And yet amid all the furore, there must be a shard of sympathy for the boy from an impoverished Cardiff council estate, who has felt he has to fight for every scrap of recognition. The first Newcastle player to demand to feature in every match was not Bellamy or Dyer but Alan Shearer, who on the club's pre-season tour of Thailand greeted the arrival of Patrick Kluivert with an announcement he would not be part of any striker rotation. Yesterday, Shearer, who in Geordie eyes is an icon of selflessness, publicly threatened that players who did not fit in with Souness's policies would be sold.

When Robson, after paying Coventry £6m for his services, paired Bellamy with Shearer, Newcastle won 17 of the first 25 matches the two men played together, with the former's pace creating space in the penalty area that the Newcastle captain gorged himself on. Without that combination, it is debatable whether Champions' League football would have returned to Tyneside.

Had Shepherd not disregarded Robson and signed Kluivert, another ego, edgy, monumental and fragile, for a salary of some £3.5m a year there is no reason to suppose matters would have come to such a head so quickly. As Shearer is effectively undroppable, Bellamy found himself discarded too frequently for Kluivert.

The Amsterdammer would not understand the cricketing phrase, "flat-track bully" but that is what he has proved. Of his eight goals for Newcastle, half have come against the Arab-Israeli part-timers of Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin; of the rest, two were against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion, while another against Liverpool was patently offside. In other dressing-rooms, they would have shook their heads and said nothing - but Craig Douglas Bellamy, the steelworker's son from the unpolished end of Cardiff, has never been one for suffering in silence.

THE UNFORGIVEN: HOW SOUNESS GETS EVEN

GRAHAM ROBERTS (Rangers) 1988: Roberts felt Souness's wrath after defeat to Aberdeen. Souness said: "You'll never play for this club again." He didn't.

MARK WRIGHT (Liverpool) 1992: Wright lost the captaincy because Souness felt he was not popular enough in the dressing-room.

DAVID DUNN (Blackburn) 2003: Souness hated Dunn's "playboy lifestyle", questioning his commitment. He was transferred to Birmingham later that summer.

ANDY COLE (Blackburn) 2004: Cole returned from a training camp two days early. Souness was not consulted and accused Cole of going behind his back. Cole complained to the Professional Footballers' Association. Reduced to training with the reserves, he was sold to Fulham.

DWIGHT YORKE (Blackburn) 2004: Yorke reacted angrily to a challenge from the Scot in training. A verbal exchange resulted and the pair had to be separated. Yorke rarely started again and was transferred to Birmingham.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/newcastle/story.jsp?story=604244

[dreamer75]

THE UNFORGIVEN: HOW SOUNESS GETS EVEN

GRAHAM ROBERTS (Rangers) 1988: Roberts felt Souness's wrath after defeat to Aberdeen. Souness said: "You'll never play for this club again." He didn't.

MARK WRIGHT (Liverpool) 1992: Wright lost the captaincy because Souness felt he was not popular enough in the dressing-room.

DAVID DUNN (Blackburn) 2003: Souness hated Dunn's "playboy lifestyle", questioning his commitment. He was transferred to Birmingham later that summer.

ANDY COLE (Blackburn) 2004: Cole returned from a training camp two days early. Souness was not consulted and accused Cole of going behind his back. Cole complained to the Professional Footballers' Association. Reduced to training with the reserves, he was sold to Fulham.

DWIGHT YORKE (Blackburn) 2004: Yorke reacted angrily to a challenge from the Scot in training. A verbal exchange resulted and the pair had to be separated. Yorke rarely started again and was transferred to Birmingham.

[dreamer75]

By George Caulkin


NEWCASTLE UNITED have become experts at losing this season. In Sir Bobby Robson, they lost a fine manager. Despite his battle against injury, Jonathan Woodgate, their best defender, was lost to Real Madrid. They have lost nine matches in the Barclays Premiership and are about to lose Craig Bellamy, their most influential player. Along the way, they have lost the plot.

Yesterday’s extraordinary developments dredged new depths of desperation, when manager, chairman and leading player took to the airwaves to brief against each other, to accuse each other of spinning untruths, to unpick a pathetic dispute in public. Bellamy will leave St James’ Park, because there can be no way back after accusing Graeme Souness of “lying”, but there has been a failure of management throughout the club.

Robson’s position was undermined by an injudicious comment from Freddy Shepherd before a ball was kicked, while Souness arrived with a reputation for instilling discipline, a quality that has not been much in evidence.

Shepherd described Bellamy as being “like a boxer throwing a match” in feigning injury before Sunday’s 1-0 defeat away to Arsenal, but that was to gloss over a complex situation. Newcastle are a club crammed with forceful personalties, huge egos and damaged goods and Newcastle is a city obsessed with the sport. As Bellamy said recently: “This club is always ready to blow.”

The touchpaper was lit at the start of last season, when Newcastle were unable to qualify for the group phase of the Champions League and, since that point, they have been engulfed by malaise; Robson’s spat with Alan Shearer, shenanigans in London hotel rooms, Kieron Dyer’s refusal to play on the right wing. It has been a wearing 18 months.

The irony here is that it was Bellamy’s desperation to remain at Newcastle that will seal his departure. When he read last Friday that he might be sold to fund the prospective transfer of Yakubu Ayegbeni, of Portsmouth, he arrived at the club’s training ground depressed and manufactured a hamstring injury to secure a meeting with Souness and Shepherd. From that moment, events spiralled from his control.

“This club is my life,” Bellamy said yesterday. “I love playing for this club.” The 25-year-old was being genuine and that raw emotion will also be lost. As usual, the biggest losers of all are the supporters.


CHANGING TIMES

Bellamy on Souness (September 7, 2004): “I was a big Liverpool fan and he was incredible. As a player he was superb, unreal. I have idolised Mark Hughes and it is similar with Graeme Souness”

Bellamy to Souness (October 17, 2004): “You f*****g p***k" — mouthed at the bench when he was substituted against Charlton Athletic”

Newcastle’s record under Souness:

P 28 W 13 L 8 D 7

Newcastle's league position when Souness joined: 12th. Today: 12th

Bellamy under Souness: Played: 24, 8 goals. Starts: 23. Substitute: 1, Substituted: 6. Goal ratio: 1 in 3 (previously 1 in 4)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-1455482,00.html

[dreamer75]

Newcastle’s record under Souness: P 28 W 13 L 8 D 7

Newcastle's league position when Souness joined: 12th. Today: 12th

[dreamer75]

Story by Craig Hope (website editor)
24 January 2005

A brief respite from the Craig Bellamy saga as Michael Owen comes out on top of our recent poll question



Although it may be difficult to find any alternative news to that of Craig Bellamy’s fallout with Graeme Souness, the results of our latest poll perhaps take on more significance given the events of the past 24 hours.

When asked who you would like to replace Alan Shearer out of our recent transfer targets the clear favourite to emerge was Michael Owen. The Real Madrid forward scooped 62% of the votes with Yakubu collecting 20%, Luis Boa Morte just 1.5% and the remaining 16% going for the ‘other’ option.

If Bellamy were to leave I believe it would show this club up to be the unprofessional act that it ultimately is and, in the long term, would deter players of Owen’s calibre from joining the club.

For Bellamy to leave would be a travesty. He is arguably our most effective player and, unlike Dyer, will have the backing of a large section of our supporters.

From top to bottom Newcastle United are so far removed from the professional approach adopted by the top three clubs – how on earth do we ever hope to catch up on the pitch when our off the pitch performance is so mismanaged and lacking in authority?

http://www.newcastleutd-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=201337

[dreamer75]

for our club and fans' sake...PLS SACK FAT SHEP AND SOUNESS!!!!!!

[Ultimate10002000]

Then invite Bobby Robson back to the club ? hahaha...i think he is still jobless at this moment..he should consider to have his retirement

[dreamer75]

Then invite Bobby Robson back to the club ? hahaha...i think he is still jobless at this moment..he should consider to have his retirement

get Hitzfield lah..

[yenyenpark]

Story by Craig Hope (website editor)
24 January 2005

A brief respite from the Craig Bellamy saga as Michael Owen comes out on top of our recent poll question



Although it may be difficult to find any alternative news to that of Craig Bellamy’s fallout with Graeme Souness, the results of our latest poll perhaps take on more significance given the events of the past 24 hours.

When asked who you would like to replace Alan Shearer out of our recent transfer targets the clear favourite to emerge was Michael Owen. The Real Madrid forward scooped 62% of the votes with Yakubu collecting 20%, Luis Boa Morte just 1.5% and the remaining 16% going for the ‘other’ option.

If Bellamy were to leave I believe it would show this club up to be the unprofessional act that it ultimately is and, in the long term, would deter players of Owen’s calibre from joining the club.

For Bellamy to leave would be a travesty. He is arguably our most effective player and, unlike Dyer, will have the backing of a large section of our supporters.

From top to bottom Newcastle United are so far removed from the professional approach adopted by the top three clubs – how on earth do we ever hope to catch up on the pitch when our off the pitch performance is so mismanaged and lacking in authority?

http://www.newcastleutd-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=201337


i think Newcastle United FC share will "lau sai" if Bellamy sold.. :eek: but will boom if Souness leave.. so wat will Sherperd think?? he knows wat is good and bad in this case since he's businessman.. SOuness sold Andy Cole and Dwight Yoke and let see where r they now?? F*CK u, Souness!!!! i dun care if u r good or bad previously but dun try to play children game, like u.. dislike u... b fren u, no b fren u game at St James Park!!!! :s27:

[yenyenpark]

Newcastle’s record under Souness: P 28 W 13 L 8 D 7

Newcastle's league position when Souness joined: 12th. Today: 12th
the position might b the same, but at least we dun fear of getting relegated this season.. anyway, i hope souness know wat to do next.. shut up and spend more time on how to win games!!

[yenyenpark]

get Hitzfield lah..
but will he want to come since we r no longer in Europe place (probably) next season.. :o

[Theychosenone]

Always thought that Robert will be the first to go under the Sour-ness dictatorship.. didn't expect Bellamy to be the pioneer.

[Ultimate10002000]

Very hard to say ler...use money to attract him over.

[yenyenpark]

Bellamy fears for toon career Jan 24 2005




By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle


Craig Bellamy has admitted that he fears his Newcastle United career is over after his very public fall-out with Graeme Souness.

And United could well be forced to sell their Welsh international as they feel he has challenged the position of the manager.

But an emotional Bellamy told me today:

That he felt betrayed and was being made a scapegoat;

Insisted he did not want a Kieron Dyer situation and that he had never refused to play in any position for the club;

Admitted he had told Souness and Freddy Shepherd that he would feign an injury;

That he did not want to rot in the reserves and that he still wanted to stay at St James' Park.

Speaking after the United party arrived in Newcastle last night, Bellamy said: "I know Graeme Souness is the manager and that he cannot go so it's possible they want to get rid of me and I'm on my way out.

"But I can categorically say that I have never refused to play for Newcastle United.

"In fact, I'll play anywhere for the club - something I have done all season.

"I saw what happened to Kieron Dyer and do you think I want another situation like that? It just does not make sense.

"And why did I go all the way to Arsenal if I had no intention of playing? At Arsenal, the manager at first told the television before the game that I was injured yet after the match he backtracked on this.

"I went with the manager to see the chairman on Friday afternoon because I wanted to get things resolved. I wanted to see if I had a future here because I want to stay.

"Yes, I did say I was going to feign an injury. But actually doing it is something completely different.

"Players say these things all the time when they are looking for an excuse.

"The manager told me I wasn't going to be in his team at Arsenal on Friday afternoon as he had a game plan which involved Shola Ameobi coming in at the far post and I respected that.

"But I at least expected to be on the substitute's bench and when I found out I wasn't I was shocked."

Just where United go from here goodness knows, and the irony of it is that Bellamy's former club Coventry City are the next visitors to St James' Park in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie.

When I asked Bellamy if there was any way this could be resolved, he replied: "I don't know. I want to play for this club but I don't know if the manager wants me to play.

"I could find I am training with the youth team in the immediate future but I have two and a half years of my contract to run and I don't want to rot in the reserves.

"I have tried to stay out of trouble this season. I never go out socially, I train as hard as anyone and I have been playing out of position for most of the season. But I don't want to be made out to be a bad egg and I don't want to be used as an excuse or as a scapegoat.

"However, what I also know is that I can still look at myself in the mirror."

dun be sad, Bellamy.. if u really have to go.. u have to go.. we had seen many of our beloved players leave.. and we wish we can go like them but can't.. sad.. if u can find better place elsewhere, all the best to u... may b u will have better development than here with us... sigh sigh.. all the best if u really go..

[yenyenpark]

Always thought that Robert will be the first to go under the Sour-ness dictatorship.. didn't expect Bellamy to be the pioneer.
think if Bellamy hav to go, many clubs will offer their bid.. think even Liverpool or Manyoo will b interested!!!

[Theychosenone]

Sour-ness the terrorist

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/gallery/2003/09/10/gsouness3.gif


Sour-ness the dictator/fuhrer

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/test19/Sourness.jpg

[andy81]

Bellamy fears for toon career Jan 24 2005




By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle


Craig Bellamy has admitted that he fears his Newcastle United career is over after his very public fall-out with Graeme Souness.

And United could well be forced to sell their Welsh international as they feel he has challenged the position of the manager.

But an emotional Bellamy told me today:

That he felt betrayed and was being made a scapegoat;

Insisted he did not want a Kieron Dyer situation and that he had never refused to play in any position for the club;

Admitted he had told Souness and Freddy Shepherd that he would feign an injury;

That he did not want to rot in the reserves and that he still wanted to stay at St James' Park.

Speaking after the United party arrived in Newcastle last night, Bellamy said: "I know Graeme Souness is the manager and that he cannot go so it's possible they want to get rid of me and I'm on my way out.

"But I can categorically say that I have never refused to play for Newcastle United.

"In fact, I'll play anywhere for the club - something I have done all season.

"I saw what happened to Kieron Dyer and do you think I want another situation like that? It just does not make sense.

"And why did I go all the way to Arsenal if I had no intention of playing? At Arsenal, the manager at first told the television before the game that I was injured yet after the match he backtracked on this.

"I went with the manager to see the chairman on Friday afternoon because I wanted to get things resolved. I wanted to see if I had a future here because I want to stay.

"Yes, I did say I was going to feign an injury. But actually doing it is something completely different.

"Players say these things all the time when they are looking for an excuse.

"The manager told me I wasn't going to be in his team at Arsenal on Friday afternoon as he had a game plan which involved Shola Ameobi coming in at the far post and I respected that.

"But I at least expected to be on the substitute's bench and when I found out I wasn't I was shocked."

Just where United go from here goodness knows, and the irony of it is that Bellamy's former club Coventry City are the next visitors to St James' Park in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie.

When I asked Bellamy if there was any way this could be resolved, he replied: "I don't know. I want to play for this club but I don't know if the manager wants me to play.

"I could find I am training with the youth team in the immediate future but I have two and a half years of my contract to run and I don't want to rot in the reserves.

"I have tried to stay out of trouble this season. I never go out socially, I train as hard as anyone and I have been playing out of position for most of the season. But I don't want to be made out to be a bad egg and I don't want to be used as an excuse or as a scapegoat.

"However, what I also know is that I can still look at myself in the mirror."

dun be sad, Bellamy.. if u really have to go.. u have to go.. we had seen many of our beloved players leave.. and we wish we can go like them but can't.. sad.. if u can find better place elsewhere, all the best to u... may b u will have better development than here with us... sigh sigh.. all the best if u really go..
Yes we believed you will play anywhere for Newcastle!!!
I beg shep to sack that Souney!!!

[andy81]

Sour-ness the terrorist

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/gallery/2003/09/10/gsouness3.gif


Sour-ness the dictator/fuhrer

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/test19/Sourness.jpg
wahahaha fuking good 1!!!
Osouny Bin Grame!!!

[andy81]

think if Bellamy hav to go, many clubs will offer their bid.. think even Liverpool or Manyoo will b interested!!!
He say he will be sad if he have to come back to St James Park to play against Newcastle.
This sentence touches my heart.

[Shadow04]

knn... if bellamy gone i dunno wtf is going to happen to this club liao... F**K sia that retard... even our current top league scorer can be sold, then no player is safe liao... screw that S-hole..

[Shadow04]

Yes we believed you will play anywhere for Newcastle!!!
I beg shep to sack that Souney!!!
ccb... souness shouldnt have even been hired in the first place... come here only know how to kp this player, kp that player... NO farking results to show... only know how to show our fave players the door... screw him.

[andy81]

ya this fuker is destorying Newcastle
Shep was an idiot to sack SBR so early in the season.

[yenyenpark]

sad lah.. think Souness want to sratch a new squad.. but sad that he's not good at it AT ALL!!!

[dreamer75]

sack Shep and Souness...enuff said!!!!!

[yenyenpark]

Get out of Toon
By SHAUN CUSTIS


GRAEME SOUNESS last night told Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd: I want Craig Bellamy out of Toon — now!

In one of the most explosive days in the club’s history, Bellamy accused his boss on TV of lying for a second time.

Furious Souness then phoned Shepherd to tell him Bellamy was ‘nothing but trouble’ and the player had to go.

On a day when both sides traded bitter insults, the clash boiled over into open warfare.

okay.. who to go, Sherperd.. u decide liao..

[andy81]

fuk lah if every manager 1 2 scratch a new squad everytime
the hard word doone by the previous manager is wasted

[andy81]

Get out of Toon!!!! Fuking Souney!!!

[yenyenpark]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2005040307,00.html

think the story is going.. going..

[andy81]

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is hoping to make Newcastle defender Olivier Bernard his fifth signing during the January transfer window.
Bruce has confirmed Blues have made an inquiry for the French player who is out of contract at the end of the season.


The 25-five-year-old played for Newcastle in Sunday's 1-0 Barclays Premiership defeat by champions Arsenal at Highbury.

But the left-back has generally been out of the first-team picture since refusing to commit himself to a new five-year deal worth more than £5million.

Bernard's current deal runs out in the summer and it has been reported that he could leave for £400,000 during January.

Bruce confirmed: 'Olivier Bernard is a player we've made an inquiry about. He was in Newcastle's team yesterday (Sunday) so, whether anything will materialise with that, we are not quite sure.

'Talks will still be ongoing and, if we can do something regarding signing Bernard, then we will try and do it.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=322869&cc=4716

Bernard joined Newcastle on a free transfer from Lyon in October 2000 as a midfielder and spent three months on loan later that same season with Darlington.

Bruce is determined Blues will not be short of numbers for the second half of the season and earlier today signed Arsenal midfielder Jermaine Pennant on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

The Birmingham manager has already signed Robbie Blake for £1.5million from Burnley and taken young Finnish striker Njazi Kuqi to St Andrews.

But Bruce has rubbished claims he is also poised to land Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer, whose team-mate Salif Diao moved to St Andrews on loan last week.

The City chief said: 'Smicer is a non-starter. I don't know where that story has come from.'

[yenyenpark]

i want peace in Newcastle.. we got Conventry to play soon.. pls stop all this!!! sad..

[andy81]

NEWCASTLE favourite Mick Quinn has branded Craig Bellamy “a little brat” and “a poisonous piece of work.”


Quinn, who scored 59 league goals in 110 appearances for the Toon between 1989-92, said: “I have had dealings with him in the past and he is as horrible as he comes across in the media.

"Craig Bellamy is a poisonous piece of work.

“Souness defends him by saying he has an injury even though he does not have to do that.

"So what does the little brat do? He comes out and, publicly, says he was fit. His attitude stinks.”

JUST SHUT UP AND ITS NONE OF UR BUSINESS!!!

[dreamer75]

Faye In Newcastle Talks

1/25/2005 2:50:00 AM
Pompey midfielder Amdy Faye is in contract talks with Newcastle as it is believed Portsmouth accepted a £2m bid for the player.

Newcastle, who have also reportedly been chasing Pompey's striker Yakubu, concentrated on targeting the tough-tackling midfielder after Nicky Butt was ruled out of the rest of the season.

hope he is not injury-prone

http://www.goal.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=43965

[Coolsmurf]

faye may not be injury-prone, but any player who ends up at newcastle recently will go to the treatment for a few weeks of stay definitely!

[dreamer75]

faye may not be injury-prone, but any player who ends up at newcastle recently will go to the treatment for a few weeks of stay definitely!

let's pray this doesn't happen to him...ever...

a player's worse nightmare is INJURY!!

sighz..are we jinxed or wat?

[dreamer75]

By Henry Winter (Filed: 25/01/2005)


Craig Bellamy's relationship with the Newcastle United coaching staff has deteriorated so badly that he has been nicknamed "Tourette's" in the dressing-room because of his swearing. This soubriquet will offend genuine sufferers of a complicated condition, including Manchester United's Tim Howard, but then delicacy and political correctness have rarely troubled football squads, particularly one as narcissistic as Newcastle's.

Pointing the finger: Graeme Souness has accused Craig Bellamy of feigning injury

It is not simply Bellamy's foul and busy mouth that angers those who have to work with him. It is the arrogance, the comments about wages, the trash-talking of his bosses that incenses Graeme Souness and his coaches. No wonder Souness once pinned Bellamy to the wall of the gym. And now Bellamy refuses to bow to his manager's tactical demands.

Souness, famously, was a player who gave everything for the cause: every last drop of blood, his own and occasionally his opponent's. Unlike Souness, Bellamy fails to understand that the team are more important than the individual (incidentally, the first rule in Jose Mourinho's private bible on successful management).

Bellamy can make engaging company, conversing intelligently on his profession, and there is logic in his argument that he flourishes more through the middle than when fielded out wide. Yet the right to determine who plays where on match-day is written into Souness's contract, not Bellamy's. When stars overrule the manager and seek to dictate the team's direction, anarchy rules. Look at Real Madrid.

Newcastle beware. The famous North-East club resemble a Wild West film with Souness as the new, not universally popular sheriff facing a shoot-out with Bellamy, the lippy outlaw. Gunfight at Gallowgate. The Toon ain't big enough for the both of them.

Bellamy's concerns are understandable but his public outbursts are unforgiveable. They undermine team spirit. Bellamy's phantom hamstring strain bemused his team-mates. "Craig declared himself injured on Friday dinner-time but then was fit somehow on Saturday morning," said Newcastle's captain, Alan Shearer. The word "somehow" arrived with a lit fuse. "The manager and everyone only wants players who want to play here," Shearer added, even if "it's in a position you don't want to play in".

Barring a spectacularly grovelling mea culpa confession from Bellamy, it is hard to see how he and Souness can continue working together, particularly in the wake of another caustic interview by the player in which he effectively called his manager a liar. If Bellamy stays without apologising or accepting team orders, Souness's credibility will be badly damaged.

If Bellamy leaves, Souness's position will be strengthened but the team weakened. The Welshman may be a pain but he remains Newcastle's sharpest attacker. Shearer is willing but slowing. Patrick Kluivert is all flicks and faded glory. Shola Ameobi is promising but not ready yet. Yet if Souness backtracks and unleashes Bellamy through the middle, the player's tantrum will have paid off.

The chairman, Freddy Shepherd, deserves great praise for intervening yesterday, backing Souness and castigating Bellamy, who should open his eyes and look around. He should watch how Chelsea's Damien Duff races towards a Premiership medal while operating enthusiastically out of position, a left-footer shining on the right. Bellamy should also learn from Arsenal's Robert Pires, who unhesitatingly switched from his favoured left to the right to fill in for the injured Freddie Ljungberg. Much closer to home, Bellamy should take inspiration from the fine example of Jermaine Jenas. This creative force, an England international, has tempered much of his playmaking tendencies to anchor midfield in the absence of Nicky Butt.

It would be reassuring to view Bellamy's mutiny as an isolated incident, a spectacular local difficulty confined to the footballing zoo that is St James' Park. Yet it is symptomatic of the conceit of the Premiership's brat-pack that includes wasted talents like Kieron Dyer and Jermaine Pennant. Victory for Souness over Bellamy would be a triumph for all those managers struggling to handle cocky, opinionated millionaires.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=D&xml=/sport/2005/01/25/sfnwin25.xml

[Ultimate10002000]

I think it got to do with the training the player is undergoing...din help to strengthen up their body much to reduce the chances of getting injuries.

[dreamer75]

The chairman, Freddy Shepherd, deserves great praise for intervening yesterday, backing Souness and castigating Bellamy, who should open his eyes and look around. He should watch how Chelsea's Damien Duff races towards a Premiership medal while operating enthusiastically out of position, a left-footer shining on the right. Bellamy should also learn from Arsenal's Robert Pires, who unhesitatingly switched from his favoured left to the right to fill in for the injured Freddie Ljungberg. Much closer to home, Bellamy should take inspiration from the fine example of Jermaine Jenas. This creative force, an England international, has tempered much of his playmaking tendencies to anchor midfield in the absence of Nicky Butt.

[andy81]

Who is speaking the true here is the important point
we may not know

[Ultimate10002000]

Ai yah....there is alot of mind games and politics here in soccer now. The best is dont believe anyone of them...just heck care

[martinweng]

wah..dis is hot sia..

internal conflicts has begun..

my only advise to shearer is: dun wait until may..do it now..

[dreamer75]

Who is speaking the true here is the important point
we may not know

yah..no1 knows...

[andy81]

Ai yah....there is alot of mind games and politics here in soccer now. The best is dont believe anyone of them...just heck care
How can we just hack care when such things is happening in Newcastle
I do not noe abt u been whoose fan but it certainly pains ME to see Newcastle in this state
so how can i HECK CARE HERE.

[andy81]

Celtic and Birmingham have both had £400,000 bids accepted for Newcastle left-back Olivier Bernard - the Frenchman will meet Celtic boss Martin O'Neill this week after weekend talks with Birmingham boss Steve Bruce.

[andy81]

Craig Bellamy looks to have played his last game for Newcastle after chairman Freddy Shepherd accused him of "cheating" the club, the supporters, manager Graeme Souness and his team-mates.

Newcastle are furious that the 25-year-old Welshman chose to elaborate on the weekend's controversy, in which he was dropped from the squad for the clash with Arsenal after feigning injury, in a television interview, and Shepherd has come out with all guns blazing.

"I wish to put the record straight regarding the Bellamy situation," he said. "He walked off the training ground saying his hamstring was tight, but what he failed to reveal in his interview was that he had told other members of the squad before training that he intended to feign injury."

He added: "When Graeme Souness discovered this, he immediately ordered Bellamy to attend a meeting with us in my office.

"At that meeting, Bellamy admitted to Graeme and I that he had told the players that he was going to 'fake' an injury in training and walk off. He also agreed at that meeting to apologise to his team-mates for his behaviour.

"He didn't do this which resulted in the action taken by the manager at the weekend, which I fully support.

"In my book, this is cheating on the club, the supporters, the manager and the player's own team-mates.

"Craig Bellamy is paid extremely well by Newcastle United and I consider his behaviour to be totally unacceptable and totally unprofessional. The player will now face internal discipline by the club."

http://www.football365.com/news/story_141348.shtml

So now Bellamy is the 1 lying?

[andy81]

JEAN Alain Boumsong is keeping his fingers crossed that his hamstring injury isn't too serious after limping off at Highbury on Sunday.

The former Rangers centre back was forced to come off after 68 minutes after pulling*up holding his hamstring,*and he now faces an anxious wait to see how long the injury will keep him out for.

"I felt the hamstring so it was the right decision to come off straight away," said the French international.

"It is too soon to see how it is.*I will have to wait a couple of days and see*what happens, but hopefully*I won't be out for too long."

Boumsong made his third appearance for United after playing against Yeading and Southampton since moving from Ibrox, and*it was his toughest test yet against Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

He added: "It was a tough game against Arsenal, and it was not the result we wanted.

"But we showed good spirit and stayed together as a team.

"At times we played some good stuff, but we did not make that many chances, certainly not as many as Arsenal did.

"Shay Given*showed what a good goalkeeper he is to make some great saves, but it was a pity we could not score.

"There were many positives to take from the game, even though we lost, and if we can take that into the next*few matches*and show that togetherness then we will be OK."

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~617713,00.html

[andy81]

BIRTHDAY boy Steven Taylor was happy not to pick up a red card to go with his collection of birthday cards in United's 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at Highbury on Sunday afternoon.

Taylor turned 19 on Sunday, and picked up his fourth caution of the season for pulling back Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira.

And as the first half heated up with some spicy challenges from both sides, Taylor was withdrawn at half time as*Graeme Souness feared a second booking for the youngster.

"The gaffer did the right thing to take me off," said Taylor.

"I got the booking midway through the first half, and after that I think the referee was looking to send me off if i did anything else.

"Against a team like Arsenal with world-class players all over the park, you cannot afford to mis-time a challenge or you're down to 10 men.

"It was a tough game for us, and had it not been for Shay Given, the scoreline could have been a lot worse for us.

"We didn't create a lot of chances over the course of the 90 minutes, though we could still have pinched a point near the end when Lee Bowyer had that chance.

"We've had a good little run since the New Year, and hopefully we can get that going again starting against Coventry on Saturday."

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~617724,00.html

[yenyenpark]

sian lah.. think souness can't handle any player esp those hot tempered.. his solution is to meeting with boss and let boss decide make me very unhappy..

imagine ur manager cannot handle the staff, everytime conference, meeting to find solution.. WTF.. it only wasting of time.. if i were Bellamy, i will leave.. it's better to leave.. although as fan, i very sad he leave.. robert leave, and dyer leave.. everyone leave except Bramble.. and may b i will stop watching EPL for next few years.. until Sherperd leave!!!

[andy81]

dun think dyer will leave lah
most prob leave will be bellamy, robert and benard
benard may be the 1st 1

[hwaa]

sian lah.. think souness can't handle any player esp those hot tempered.. his solution is to meeting with boss and let boss decide make me very unhappy..

imagine ur manager cannot handle the staff, everytime conference, meeting to find solution.. WTF.. it only wasting of time.. if i were Bellamy, i will leave.. it's better to leave.. although as fan, i very sad he leave.. robert leave, and dyer leave.. everyone leave except Bramble.. and may b i will stop watching EPL for next few years.. until Sherperd leave!!!

that fugker souness is the main culprit imo, after he single handedly destroy blackburn, he's now here to destroy newcastle, quite sad to see that. coz althou i am a pool fan, mapgies is the other team i support and like, and i seriously hope they'll be able to push up the table in matches to come!

i think dyer cant play well in centre mid, he shld be playing in the right .. and nowadyas he play like damn low morale liddat, super sian sian face, grr i used to like him alot!!

[yenyenpark]

how many bad boys we have?? Bellamy, Bowyer, Dyer and probably Kluivert!!!

[yenyenpark]

that fugker souness is the main culprit imo, after he single handedly destroy blackburn, he's now here to destroy newcastle, quite sad to see that. coz althou i am a pool fan, mapgies is the other team i support and like, and i seriously hope they'll be able to push up the table in matches to come!

i think dyer cant play well in centre mid, he shld be playing in the right .. and nowadyas he play like damn low morale liddat, super sian sian face, grr i used to like him alot!!
wat to do.. i can't see anyone not low morale except Bowyer... i can only see him higher morale than others..

[hwaa]

how many bad boys we have?? Bellamy, Bowyer, Dyer and probably Kluivert!!!

shearer, asprilla?

[hwaa]

wat to do.. i can't see anyone not low morale except Bowyer... i can only see him higher morale than others..

why souness die die don't want dyer play right?

[yenyenpark]

shearer, asprilla?
hur?? why shearer?? anyway, i totally lose hope on Newcastle after seeing this kind of confict.. think it's game over for us liao.. :o

[yenyenpark]

why souness die die don't want dyer play right?
with his current form, play right, left middle front back also no different.. sian ah..

[hwaa]

hur?? why shearer?? anyway, i totally lose hope on Newcastle after seeing this kind of confict.. think it's game over for us liao.. :o

lol, he gives me those kind of big boss, lao da feeling!

[hwaa]

with his current form, play right, left middle front back also no different.. sian ah..

then maybe it's abt time he should leave ... for some new and fresh challenge, souness like buay gum with everybody in da club except for shearer.

[andy81]

then maybe it's abt time he should leave ... for some new and fresh challenge, souness like buay gum with everybody in da club except for shearer.
No he shld not leave
i hope he can play right
tts where he is best at

[yenyenpark]

then maybe it's abt time he should leave ... for some new and fresh challenge, souness like buay gum with everybody in da club except for shearer.
who wants to pay as high as he getting now?? i trying to sell him off in FM2005 only get Dyer refused to go as he's paid very high here in St James Park.. :s27:

[yenyenpark]

No he shld not leave
i hope he can play right
tts where he is best at
no clubs want him as his wage is too high.. :s8:

[dreamer75]

No he shld not leave
i hope he can play right
tts where he is best at

dyer shld go...wasting our money..

[Fresnel]

Daveaha...i hope u r reading this...pls send our grievances to NUFC Singapore...and hopefully to NUFC UK....then...hopefully we will be heard.

[Coolsmurf]

hur?? why shearer?? anyway, i totally lose hope on Newcastle after seeing this kind of confict.. think it's game over for us liao.. :o

u dun see shearer quiet quiet type, he is always pulling some strings behind everyone's back...still he's my idol..

seems like bellamy is now regarded as the fall-guy, everyone is just ganging up on him...

[andy81]

they shld let their football do the talking but dun seem the case now

[yenyenpark]

they shld let their football do the talking but dun seem the case now
sigh sigh.. think their legs can talk.. so they use their mouth instead...

wonder wat will happen when we play Conventry.. if lost.. then.. :s22: may b a lost will fasten SOuness out of St James Park..

fuker Sherperd.. why on Earth bringing Souness to St James Park at the first place?? :s27:

[Ultimate10002000]

why souness die die don't want dyer play right?

Dyer performance recently has never been good, you think the manager wants to send him out to the pitch. Also it is due to the playing position the manager has allocated to him which has been rejected by Dyer. I think sooner or later Dyer will be offload. Newcastle will have quite a number of players that will get sold. We shall wait and see.

[Coolsmurf]

sigh sigh.. think their legs can talk.. so they use their mouth instead...

wonder wat will happen when we play Conventry.. if lost.. then.. :s22: may b a lost will fasten SOuness out of St James Park..

fuker Sherperd.. why on Earth bringing Souness to St James Park at the first place?? :s27:

to bring peace and stability. but it just seems to create even more instability!

[Ultimate10002000]

Actually i remember Souness is not the first choice Newcastle want as the new manager that time.

[yenyenpark]

to bring peace and stability. but it just seems to create even more instability!
to sell player when he is not happy or disobedient, i think i also know how to do it... why dun employ me, sherperd?? just pay me one month 5K pound, i will ur slave.. :s27:

[andy81]

Actually i remember Souness is not the first choice Newcastle want as the new manager that time.
Of coz he is not the 1st choice
Big Sam was i think

[yenyenpark]

Actually i remember Souness is not the first choice Newcastle want as the new manager that time.
dunno how come he's coming too.. there r plenty of quality manager and yet.. :s27:

[yenyenpark]

Of coz he is not the 1st choice
Big Sam was i think
yalor.. but kena snubbed and see.. both team r somewhere at nowhere.. sad.. :o

[Fresnel]

oh pls..Steve bruce, Sam alligator, Grame "Sh_ITA_SS_LAME_DI_CK" SOuness are all relegation / mid tabler managers....fc _UK out man these guys

[Ultimate10002000]

So who you people think is the best person to be the Manager for Newcastle ?

[andy81]

So who you people think is the best person to be the Manager for Newcastle ?
maybe they can get hitz

[aqf]

Robson questions public spat

Sir Bobby Robson has questioned whether Newcastle manager Graeme Souness was right to go public and involve chairman Freddy Shepherd in his bitter row with Craig Bellamy.

The former St James' Park boss fears neither player nor manager - both of whom have given frank TV interviews - have acted in the best interests of the club after Bellamy faked an injury during training on Friday.

Robson said: "I am not sure these situations should be aired in public.

"Graeme is trying to keep everybody happy. Sometimes you just can't do that."

Robson, who was axed in August, conceded that the latest clash between the pair was hardly unexpected.

"What's happened doesn't come as a surprise because he and Graeme had a fall-out almost as soon as Graeme took over.

"At one stage I gather he had Craig by the throat and threw him to the ground, so they didn't exactly start on a good footing."

Robson has a degree of sympathy for Bellamy, who has been asked to play a wide midfield role, claiming that "in many ways he is the best striker at the club" and describing him as "an asset".

"It isn't his best position. He isn't scoring goals and so he is becoming frustrated," Robson told the Daily Mail.

But he urged the Wales international to respect the authority which Souness, as manager, should command.

"Players cannot decide they don't want to play because of what the manager is asking them to do. I had that with Kieron Dyer. A player has to do as he is told," said Robson.

"But I am not sure taking a player to see the chairman is the right thing to do.

"When I had my problems with Dyer I attempted to deal with it myself. The manager runs the team."

[o0SpaceY0o]

Souness then claimed that Bellamy had greeted his two new signings as follows:

"Bellamy said in front of Babayaro and Boumsong that this was a rubbish club with a rubbish manager.



Source: Nufc.com :s13:

Rubbish manager i agree....rubbish club??? I beg to differ ;)

[o0SpaceY0o]

Premiership:
Faye on way - confirmed



Portsmouth's official website confirmed on Monday that midfielder Amdy Faye was on his way to becoming a toon player;

Pompey midfield man Amdy Faye is in still in talks with Newcastle today (Monday) concerning a move to St James Park.

Faye travelled up to the North East for talks with Graham Souness following discussions between the two clubs.

He had earlier last week pledged allegiance to Pompey but had a change of heart when Newcastle got in contact.

The 27 year-old Senegal international was suspended on Saturday and didn't feature in Pompey's 3-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge.

He didn't appear in the FA Cup third round for Pompey meaning that if the deal is completed this week, Faye will be eligible to make his Newcastle debut against Coventry on Saturday.

As for Yakubu, that one looks dead now after Newcastle were unwilling to match Pompey's valuation of £10m.

[dreamer75]

By Scott Wilson

THERE comes a time when the integrity of a football club must be put before the need to placate a talented individual and, despite all of Craig Bellamy's undoubted ability, that time is now.

If Newcastle United is to retain any semblance of dignity and respect, Bellamy must be severely sanctioned for his conduct over the last four days.

Even a contrite apology and promise to make amends in the future might not be enough.

After publicly accusing his manager of lying, it is difficult to see how Bellamy can ever play under Graeme Souness again.

The alternative is to accept that players can do whatever they like, whenever they like, and to leave a manager installed specifically to enforce discipline as a neutered puppet unable to counter the rising wave of player power.

Despite Freddy Shepherd's initial attempts to placate both parties, it is safe to assume that one of the two main protagonists will be ushered out of St James' Park before the end of the month.

And, after the United chairman publicly accused Bellamy of "cheating the club", it is even safer to assume that will not be Souness.

Bellamy has had his run-ins with the club before. He famously hurled a chair at John Carver in the departure lounge of Newcastle Airport last season and launched a volley of obscenities in Souness' direction after being substituted at Charlton in October.

On each occasion he escaped with a mild censure, but the sensitive nature of this weekend's dispute and the level of vitriol which manager and player have directed at each other makes any notion of a kiss and make up unlikely in the extreme.

Even Newcastle's fans - so supportive of Bellamy's fiery temperament in the past - seem to accept that he has gone too far this time.

Not only is the player accused of brandishing both the club and its manager "rubbish", he has admitted to threatening to feign injury rather than play out of position.

The fans' treatment of Kieron Dyer has shown how dimly they view that aberration, and Bellamy would be assured of an even hotter reception were he to take the field against his former club Coventry this weekend.

Shepherd's comments make that scenario extremely unlikely and, instead, Bellamy is set to continue his career away from Tyneside.

In the short term, Newcastle will suffer from losing Bellamy's pace and desire.

No other player runs opposition defences ragged in the way that he does.

But, in the long term, re-establishing managerial pre-eminence and showing that dissent and petulance will not be tolerated will be worth so much more.

For far too long now, anything that Newcastle's players have achieved on the pitch has been over-shadowed by salacious rumours of what they have been getting up to off it.

If Shepherd and Souness are serious about wanting to turn over a new leaf, they will have no better chance of making a stand.

Perhaps then, Newcastle United can reurn to being a football club rather than a backdrop for chaos and controversy.

http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/the_north_east/sport/football/newcastle/news/250105a.html

[dreamer75]

The only question following the past weekend’s blow-out between Graeme Souness and Craig Bellamy is simply: What took so long?

From what we can gather, Bellamy is unhappy about being asked to play on the right side of midfield, and chose to express himself in very Bellamy-esque fashion. And Souness’s response, of course, contained the requisite doses of hard-man menace necessary to maintain his image as an intimidator.

Is it any accident that, when spell-checking a document containing the name of "Souness," the spell-checker tries to change the word to "Sourness?"

According to Souness: "Craig is not happy in the position we are asking him to play sometimes - he's gone about showing his displeasure in totally the wrong way." This, apparently, involved feigning injury during training on Friday, then turning up fit the following day in preparation for Sunday’s match against Arsenal.

An interesting battle for the hearts of the Newcastle supporters ensued. According to Souness, the supporters agree with his position that Bellamy should be prepared to play wherever he is told by the Man Who Would Be Graeme. And strangely enough, Bellamy feels that the supporters back him and his dodgy barnet, not Souness.

Souness: "I'm not happy with Craig. He has let me down, the players down and most of all the supporters. Our supporters don’t want to hear the petulance of a player saying he only wants to play in a certain position."

Bellamy: "The fans know it, they've seen me play out of position week-in and week-out. I've not moaned or sulked - I've got on with it."

One wonders what the Toon support really thinks...

Given the general run of sentiment against the modern Premiership footballer and his astronomical wage packets, the Geordie jury is probably weighing in heavily against Bellamy.

The player, with a well-founded reputation for whingeing at every opportunity, tossed all his toys from the pram because he did not get his way in choice of position, sorry in choice of his position, because clearly, Bellamy thinks centre-forward is his position to play. Indeed, his lamentable defense of his conduct bears this out all too clearly:

"I went to the manager and chairman and they said they weren’t getting a forward. We get linked with centre-forwards, which is the club’s priority. I’m playing out of position, and I want to go up front." said Bella. Choice nickname, that one.

Doesn’t leave too much room for doubt, does it? Although one is tempted to admire Bellamy for his forthrightness as he makes a mug of himself in the national media; no cliche or innuendo for dear Craig, just flat-out "gimme, gimme, gimme..."

Further bombshells arrived on the Monday, with Bellamy accusing Souness of "downright lying," in reference to his alleged injury-feigning. And perhaps worst of all, from Bellamy’s perspective anyway, apparently Souness was happy about leaving Bellamy out against Arsenal, given that he told Bellamy, with "a smile on his face," that he was not in the squad at all for the Arsenal match.

Demonstrating his wonderful gift for sticking his nose in where it’s not wanted, Gordon Taylor, Professional Footballers’ Association Chief and Man Most Likely To Angle Any Appearance in the Media, came out in support of Bellamy, and his alleged persecution by the Horrible, No-Good, Very-Bad Souness.

"I sympathise with his feelings as a former player. It was just the way it was handled that has caused it to blow up." said Taylor.

You don’t say? Passing out medals for stating the obvious down the PFA, then? And don’t miss the chance to remind everyone you played once, Gordon.

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at the meeting between Bellamy, Souness, and the genius Freddie Sheppard; one can only imagine what must have transpired. Did they talk at all, or merely throw whatever was handy at each other?

But Souness must realize that he has turned the incident with Bellamy into a test of validation of his tenure at Newcastle. Souness had already dealt with a Bellamy tantrum earlier this season, memorably referring to the player as a "dope," and might feel that he is entitled to the support of the Chairman in dealing with the latest spoiled brat display from the wayward Welsh winger, sorry, centre-forward.

Not so sure that relying on Freddie Sheppard to take any course of action remotely resembling a commonsensical one is a safe wager. And with Newcastle in disappointing 12th position in the table, scrapping for the crumbs of a UEFA Cup place, a mandate on the Reign of Souness might not be forthcoming.

Mind you, Souness has done some good; Little waster has not been photographed relieving himself in the street for weeks...

Bill Urban

http://www.squarefootball.net/content/article/article.asp?aid=1593

[aqf]

I'm on my way, insists defender Bernard

Olivier Bernard has admitted that he has played his last game for Newcastle United and believes he will be sold before the transfer window closes on Monday.

United have agreed a fee of £400,000 with both Celtic and Birmingham City and have given them permission to speak to the 25-year-old defender.

And with Celtic trying to buy Stephane Henchoz from Liverpool today, Birmingham are favourites to sign Bernard.

Indeed Bernard's Belgian agent was bombarded by telephone calls from Brum's Geordie boss Steve Bruce yesterday. I am told that Bruce is desperate to sign Bernard because he only has former Ipswich man Jamie Clapham and ex-Celtic left back Olivier Trebily, who was embarrassingly substituted midway through the first half at St James' Park last month, at his disposal.

Bernard was called back into the United team for Sunday's game with Arsenal at Highbury when his replacement Celestine Babayaro reported with a hamstring injury - and his attitude was absolutely first class.

And he told me today: "It was disappointing to lose at Arsenal because that was probably my last game for Newcastle United and I feel quite sad.

"I have heard I could go and they have asked me to find somewhere else and I think I will probably go this week.

"I don't want to go but they don't want me anymore and I have just got to get on with my life and find a new club."

Meanwhile, United's signing of Amdy Faye from Portsmouth was held up yesterday because the player's medical records had not arrived from Fratton Park.

As a result United could not conduct their own medical and this was happening today although I understand that personal terms had been agreed.

Faye actually turned up at Kingston Park last night and watched United Reserves draw 1-1 with Sunderland.

[Fresnel]

wtf??? I think bernard is a very much improved player...and he's sold for just 400k??? I'm beginning to think this whole thing in NUFC is getting insane!

[revenant]

wtf??? I think bernard is a very much improved player...and he's sold for just 400k??? I'm beginning to think this whole thing in NUFC is getting insane!

Cause his contract ends this season?

[yenyenpark]

Robson questions public spat

Sir Bobby Robson has questioned whether Newcastle manager Graeme Souness was right to go public and involve chairman Freddy Shepherd in his bitter row with Craig Bellamy.

The former St James' Park boss fears neither player nor manager - both of whom have given frank TV interviews - have acted in the best interests of the club after Bellamy faked an injury during training on Friday.

Robson said: "I am not sure these situations should be aired in public.

"Graeme is trying to keep everybody happy. Sometimes you just can't do that."

Robson, who was axed in August, conceded that the latest clash between the pair was hardly unexpected.

"What's happened doesn't come as a surprise because he and Graeme had a fall-out almost as soon as Graeme took over.

"At one stage I gather he had Craig by the throat and threw him to the ground, so they didn't exactly start on a good footing."

Robson has a degree of sympathy for Bellamy, who has been asked to play a wide midfield role, claiming that "in many ways he is the best striker at the club" and describing him as "an asset".

"It isn't his best position. He isn't scoring goals and so he is becoming frustrated," Robson told the Daily Mail.

But he urged the Wales international to respect the authority which Souness, as manager, should command.

"Players cannot decide they don't want to play because of what the manager is asking them to do. I had that with Kieron Dyer. A player has to do as he is told," said Robson.

"But I am not sure taking a player to see the chairman is the right thing to do.

"When I had my problems with Dyer I attempted to deal with it myself. The manager runs the team."

i salute u, SBR although i think u shud go at earlier season.. and although i no regret of my thinking.. i do feel darn sad for supporting an unprofessional manager (sourness) for some time..

sigh.. i really dunno wat to think about Souness.. i am happy that he signed two defenders in Jan... but i really NOT happy at all how he acted on Bellamy...

even bigger news last season who involved orgies party and police case, SBR handled them with my thumb up!!!! u reserve the Sir title who i think Souness who can't never think of being 1% of it..

[yenyenpark]

Cause his contract ends this season?
i agree.. the contract thingy drag too long.. sigh.. by the way, did Babayaro injure :eek: also??

think we can forget about this season liao.. think even Schenvoke or Ronaldo or even Ferdinard come also no use liao.. come then injured.. those healthy will want to quarrel.. manager r blind putting out of position and can't decide thing himself but.. boss boss boss.. :s27:

[yenyenpark]

So who you people think is the best person to be the Manager for Newcastle ?
do u think wat we want, we will get it?? then i want Sherperd and Souness go..

[Shadow04]

who wants to pay as high as he getting now?? i trying to sell him off in FM2005 only get Dyer refused to go as he's paid very high here in St James Park.. :s27:
:s13: i got him off my wage budget by offering him to Brimingham for 2.8 million...

very happy to see the last of him in the game.... his stats in FM2005 is crap sia... somemore the wage so high... heng brimingham bid, abo i mutaul termination liao... :s8:

[yenyenpark]

Fool Jan 25 2005




By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle


Newcastle United slapped an £80,000 fine on Craig Bellamy today and branded their contro-versial striker "a fool" for appearing on TV and accusing the manager Graeme Souness of being a liar.

But United have stopped short of putting Bellamy on the transfer list even though, in an official statement, chairman Freddy Shepherd accused the Welsh striker of cheating the club, the supporters, the manager and his own team-mates.

Shepherd was still clearly furious today when he told me: "When Bellamy turns up at the training ground today he will be met with a fine of two weeks' wages which is the maximum we can give him.

"But this is not about money. It is about a player thinking that he is bigger than a football club.

"Well, let me tell you that no individual be it the chairman, the manager or a player is bigger than Newcastle United Football Club even if that player is a multi-millionaire.

"Craig Bellamy was a fool to go on television yesterday afternoon. We told him not to do it and as far as we are aware his agent advised him not to do it."

Speaking for the first time since Sunday's match at Arsenal, Souness told me today: "I would have no future here if I let any player decide when he was or was not going to train or when he was or was not going to play."

Bellamy branded Souness a "liar" for saying before Sunday's match at Highbury that he was injured and then back-tracking after the game.

Souness added: "We had a meeting on Friday afternoon and agreed to keep a lid on it all in the best interests of the club and the player himself.

"And by saying he was injured when I was interviewed before the game at Arsenal I was trying to protect him. He's a fool if he cannot see that. Just like he was foolish by going on television."

Shepherd revealed that had Bellamy not gone on Sky Television yesterday then there was a chance that everything could still have been smoothed over.

Added the United chairman: "Before yesterday afternoon there would have been no public action taken against Craig Bellamy and everything was going to be handled internally.

"But like a fool he went on television and took on the whole club and there is no way I can accept that."

[Shadow04]

yalor.. but kena snubbed and see.. both team r somewhere at nowhere.. sad.. :o
you know whats the best part?

the farking Souness isnt even linked to us during that period......... wonder how the fark he got in...

[yenyenpark]

:s13: i got him off my wage budget by offering him to Brimingham for 2.8 million...

very happy to see the last of him in the game.... his stats in FM2005 is crap sia... somemore the wage so high... heng brimingham bid, abo i mutaul termination liao... :s8:
sian lei.. i got two club bidding.. i chose aston villa as they bid 6 millions but they can afford his wage..

[Shadow04]

Souness then claimed that Bellamy had greeted his two new signings as follows:

"Bellamy said in front of Babayaro and Boumsong that this was a rubbish club with a rubbish manager.



Source: Nufc.com :s13:

Rubbish manager i agree....rubbish club??? I beg to differ ;)
i dont think he said rubbish club ba.... its a well known fact that he loves nufc very much... but he got the rubbish manager one right....

[yenyenpark]

you know whats the best part?

the farking Souness isnt even linked to us during that period......... wonder how the fark he got in...
ya lor.. many of us here curse and sway.. and luckily we won some games and the noise stop for some time.. but again the noise is back.. :D

[Shadow04]

Cause his contract ends this season?
yup... his contract ending this season... and we could lose him for free if we did not offload him before the transfer window closes..

[yenyenpark]

i dont think he said rubbish club ba.... its a well known fact that he loves nufc very much... but he got the rubbish manager one right....
agree.. may b his meaning of "club" is the management.. like we dun like some countries, mainly bcos the leaders or the government.. =:p

[Shadow04]

sian lei.. i got two club bidding.. i chose aston villa as they bid 6 millions but they can afford his wage..
:eek: 6million so high? sian.. i started nufc 2 times... 1st time cant even find a bidder, released him via mutual terminaion... 2nd round i use nufc only brimingham willing to bid...

[yenyenpark]

:eek: 6million so high? sian.. i started nufc 2 times... 1st time cant even find a bidder, released him via mutual terminaion... 2nd round i use nufc only brimingham willing to bid...
but he's still in my team.. :s8: another bidding 4.6 millions but kena me snubbed.. :D

i bought Boumsong and Robert Huth before season start.. will wan to buy Lahm if got more budget.. :D

[yenyenpark]

Craig: I have got nothing to apologise for Jan 25 2005




By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle


Craig Bellamy's last chance of staying with Newcastle United has disappeared after the controversial Welsh striker refused to apologise to the club.

And he told me today; "There's no doubt about it I am out of here."

I spoke to Bellamy last night after the Chronicle published explosive claims from him and manager Graeme Souness and in the wake of Sky Sports News' "exclusive" interview last night.

Bellamy called Souness a "liar" and the only way back for the striker is to make a public apology to Souness, chairman Freddy Shepherd , his United colleagues and the fans.

But he told me: " I won't apologise because I have done nothing wrong."

When Bellamy swore at Souness again in full view of the TV cameras when he was substituted at Charlton, the player made a public "I'm sorry" apology through the Chronicle.

And when I spoke to Bellamy's agent Steve Horner yesterday he agreed that the only way his client could save his United career was to apologise again.

But when I put this to Bellamy last night he could not have been more adamant that he will not apologise.

However, he also admitted: "I am dreading going into training today because I know I am not wanted."

[yenyenpark]

Magpies confirm Bellamy fine
by James Pearson - created on 25 Jan 2005

Newcastle United have confirmed they have fined striker Craig Bellamy two weeks' wages.
The Wales international forward pockets £40,000-a-week on Tyneside meaning a whopping £80,000 fine for the 25-year-old.
Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd has stated the row is not about money, but the player believing he is bigger than the club.
Bellamy was fuming at manager Graeme Souness over the weekend after being left out of the side that faced Arsenal on Sunday.
The striker felt someone was turning the club's supporters against him for which he issued his side of the story, which has now landed him with a hefty fine.
"When Bellamy turns up at the training ground today [Tuesday], he will be met with a fine of two weeks' wages, which is the maximum we can give him," Shepherd told the Evening Chronicle.
"This is not about money. It is about a player thinking that he is bigger than a football club.
"Well, let me tell you that no individual, be it the chairman, the manager or a player is bigger than Newcastle United Football Club, even if that player is a multi-millionaire.
"Craig Bellamy was a fool to go on television yesterday afternoon. We told him not to do it and as far as we are aware, his agent advised him not to do it."

[Shadow04]

but he's still in my team.. :s8: another bidding 4.6 millions but kena me snubbed.. :D

i bought Boumsong and Robert Huth before season start.. will wan to buy Lahm if got more budget.. :D
haha.. if you want to offload him can accept that bid la... dont think you'll fetch higher price liaoz.. his stats really crap in this game... i replaced him with van de meyde for 4.5million, 2nd season..

[Shadow04]

knn... really hope Bellamy wont be shown the door... he's my fave player in nufc... i like him more than shearer.. :look:

[yenyenpark]

knn... really hope Bellamy wont be shown the door... he's my fave player in nufc... i like him more than shearer.. :look:
think he wont be going.. as Shearer might retire.. and we might hav shortage of strikers as transfer window is closing.. we can't sell without buying..

[martinweng]

Who do u support?

Bellamy or Souey?

my heart is wif bellamy..i tink souey can quit football..he's a piece of living crap..

[Ultimate10002000]

Personally i will want to see Bellamy stay and Souness go.

[Shadow04]

Who do u support?

Bellamy or Souey?

my heart is wif bellamy..i tink souey can quit football..he's a piece of living crap..
for me Bellamy obviously...

1. he's my fave player
2. it doesnt take a genius to know that Souness is crap

even though i do think that Bellamy should play where ever his manager ask him to, the manager should look for a winger, instead of Yakubu who is a striker, so that Bellamy can move back the his natural position..

[dreamer75]

Souness and Sheperd OUT!!!

[andy81]

wtf??? I think bernard is a very much improved player...and he's sold for just 400k??? I'm beginning to think this whole thing in NUFC is getting insane!
Ya coz his contract expires in less than 6 months.
If not u think Kuffor so cheap only 500K

[andy81]

"But I am not sure taking a player to see the chairman is the right thing to do.

"When I had my problems with Dyer I attempted to deal with it myself. The manager runs the team."

Ya kaoz sia suay sia i agree with SBR

Even in army KNN a 3SG cannot handle his man bring to PC. Sia Suay

Machiam Chairman doing the job

[andy81]

kaoz that souney sia suay boh. Y must bring Bellamy go see chairman.
As a chairman he shld solve the problem at his level mah
Kaoz

[dreamer75]

Bellamy fined 80k pounds

[dreamer75]

Olivier Bernard has all but admitted that his Tyneside career is over and is expecting to leave the club before the transfer deadline on Monday



Newcastle have accepted offers of £400,000 from both Celtic and Birmingham with little mention of previous interest from Italian giants Juventus.

It will be a sorry end for a player we picked up as a 21 year old from Lyon in 2000. Without knowing the specifics of the contractual differences between player and club, it is a sign of the mismanagement at Newcastle United that arguably two of our most influential players, Bellamy and Bernard, will leave St.James’ in the coming week.



It appears, reading in between the lines of comments attributed to Bernard, that he is neither keen on a switch to Celtic or Steve Bruce’s Blues. Indeed, both would be regarded as a downward move by the Frenchman who is keen to launch an international career that has so far seen him named in preliminary squads but yet to gain his first cap.


Can we afford to sell Bernard now? Babayaro is injured and Robert is out of form. Bernard has looked equally comfortable in a left sided midfield position when the situation has deemed necessary. His pace and power will be a valuable addition to any team and an unquestionable miss from our own.

http://www.newcastleutd-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=201448

[dreamer75]

Bernard leaving....sad...

[andy81]

Norwich today ruled out the prospect of Craig Bellamy returning to Carrow Road after his spat at Newcastle.

The Wales star began his career with Norwich before departing in a £6.5million deal to Coventry in 2001.

Even though Bellamy could be on his way out of Newcastle following the row over whether or not he faked injury to avoid having to play in midfield, it appears that Norwich would not consider bidding for their old boy.

Manager Nigel Worthington said in the Eastern Daily Press: 'It's a lovely dream - but it is a dream that will never happen at Norwich City.

'He'll be on a decent salary at Newcastle and I should think he will either stay there or get a permanent move to a club on a sizeable transfer fee.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=322890&cc=4716

[andy81]

Aston Villa fans' chief Jonathan Fear believes Craig Bellamy 'is the kind of player we are missing' amid speculation that the Midlands club may bid for the controversial Newcastle striker.

Bellamy's future at St James' Park appears to be hanging by a thread after his massive public fall-out with Magpies manager Graeme Souness, although he has not been put up for sale.

Villa are reported to be monitoring the situation and their manager David O'Leary has £6million to spend after failing to land James Beattie who opted instead to move from Southampton to Everton.

There have been no signals or comment coming out of Villa Park but Fear, the official spokesman for Villa Fans' Combined, has no doubt that Bellamy would enhance the current squad.

He told reporters: 'Everyone seems to be saying that we are not going to get any players in January but a nasty, snarling, aggressive type of player like Craig Bellamy is what Villa have been missing.

'Amongst the current players, we don't seem to have anyone who gets angry if things are not going well. The players are all very nice and too polite.

'Like against Manchester United at the weekend, we seem to stand back and admire quality opposition.

'Villa also lack pace with Darius Vassell out injured for so long and there is no doubt that Craig Bellamy would offer that kind of pace.

'Whether his arrival, if that were to happen, would be universal amongst supporters, I am not sure. I think it depends on which version of the stories coming out of Newcastle that you listen to.

'But we are desperate to get a new striker in and, before the current fall-out he has had, I thought that Craig Bellamy would be a good shout.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=322896&cc=4716

[andy81]

The Newcastle dressing room has not been one of the most harmonious in recent seasons and it was only a matter of time before Graeme Souness, an abrasive character himself, was at loggerheads with one of the star names. But Souness arrived at Newcastle with his eyes wide open.

Pain in the neck: Bellamy and Souness do not see eye to eye (JohnWalton/Empics)
Craig Bellamy has always been a prime candidate for a ruckus. In Bellamy you have a character that is never afraid to voice his displeasure. His on-field demeanour is one of a yapping dog; you're never going to shut him up and he's the scourge of referees and opposing players alike.

Then we take Souness, as a player famed for getting stuck-in and in management never a man to idly sit back and let a squad member get the upper hand. Just ask Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, David Dunn, Andy Todd and Garry Flitcroft - to name a few - who all had their own personal tête-à-tête on the training ground while Souness was in charge at Blackburn Rover.

Bellamy had already spoken of leaving Newcastle during their doomed-to-failure bid for Wayne Rooney. He issued an 'it's him of me' warning in a post-match interview. But he's not going to learn to keep his mouth shut. Even former Toon manager Sir Bobby Robson was moved to call him the 'gobbiest' player he'd ever coached.

In October, just one month and six matches into Souness' reign at St James' Park, Bellamy was seen to mouth a torrent of obscenities towards the bench after being substituted just after the hour in the 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic.

Souness ordered the Wales international to 'sort himself out', but two days later they clashed on the training ground. It was a clear indication of what was to come.

It was only a matter of time before Bellamy's latest bug bear exploded. And there was a pre-cursor to Friday's bust-up when earlier in the week, in a TV interview recorded for Five's John Barnes' Football Night, the forward openly spoke of his disappointment at being deployed out wide on the right.

Although Bellamy stated that he would have to play where the manager told him to, there was no doubt that being dumped on the wing was beginning to rankle.

Strange, then, that he never appeared so upset at having to fill that role with Wales.

This weekend Bellamy allegedly attempted to feign injury in order to avoid playing for Newcastle - an action that is a disgrace, simply unforgivable. Here we have a player paid a reputed £40,000-a-week, has the adulation of a footballing public known for their passion for the game and has a responsibility both to the game and to his paymasters - both those supporters and the hierarchy on Tyneside.

And the suggestion that it's not the first time he's tried this trick - the first instance being prior to the defeat at Liverpool just over a month ago - begs the question as to why a player of his standing would want to miss, of all games, the big away days at Anfield and Highbury?

“ 'I just thought "Not only has he gone behind my back, in front of my face, he's lying". ”
— Bellamy hits back following Graeme Souness' remarks

Without doubt Bellamy is a striker and Newcastle have missed his pace in the forward line, but that's beside the point.

The Magpies wasted no time in fining Bellamy the maximum £80,000 - two weeks' wages - when he arrived at the club's Darsley Park training headquarters on Tuesday but have stopped short, so far, of placing him on the transfer list.

But the fact that he did not train with the rest of the squad, coupled with the comments of chairman Freddy Shepherd, suggest his future does look bleak.

Shepherd said: 'Let me tell you that no individual, be it the chairman, the manager or a player is bigger than Newcastle United Football Club, even if that player is a multi-millionaire.'

Perhaps the defining moment in this saga came on Monday evening, with Bellamy giving what can only be described as an ill-advised interview to Sky Sports. During the dialogue Bellamy called Souness a liar and appears to sealed his own fate.

'I couldn't believe it, I was in shock,' Bellamy said in retort to Souness' comments about the feigning of injury. 'I just thought "Not only has he gone behind my back, right in front of my face, he's lying". I'd do anything to play for this club, even if it's in goal.'

It's a dubious claim to say the least, if not a little confusing semantically, going on the events of the past 48 hours. And, as stated by Shepherd: 'Craig Bellamy was a fool to go on television.'

It's a case of déjà vu for the Geordies. In August it was Kieron Dyer who refused to play out on the right - except on that occasion it was, remarkably, the player's actual position.

This difference is that Dyer issued an apology and knuckled down. He had to endure the boos of the Newcastle fans during England's friendly with Ukraine at St James' only a few days after his misplaced show of indignation.

Craig Bellamy: Talked his way out of St James'? (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)

In Bellamy's case he's chosen to stoke the flames of the argument by going on record both to refute the previous account of the incident and to also brand Souness a liar.

Newcastle now have something of a dilemma. Although the 25-year-old has had more than his fair share of injury problems, most notably a series of knee complaints, they know that selling Bellamy would be strengthening the opposition.

On Bellamy's part, he is at one of the Premiership's bigger clubs and is not going to be wanted by one of the 'runaway three'. Therefore, by changing clubs, is he really going to improve his prospects?

Aston Villa have immediately been linked with the former Norwich City and Coventry City player. But after being snubbed by James Beattie and more recently Salif Diao there has to be questions over the club's ambition and appeal.

They still have the £6million from the Beattie bid burning a hole in their pocket and it should be enough to persuade Newcastle to sell, but Villa Park may not match the player's personal requirements.

If Bellamy does remain at St James' there are many bridges to be rebuilt, not only with Souness but also within the dressing room. It would appear there was little hesitation on the part of others within the squad to 'grass' on Bellamy after he concocted the mystery injury.

Skipper Alan Shearer, who has so great influence within the club, was quick to condemn Bellamy's actions. So if he has few friends at the club how can he possibly stay?

Souness is not going to bow to such petulance and throw Bellamy back into the front line. He is far more likely to hand that role to Patrick Kluivert as the Dutchman returns to full fitness. Souness will not allow the player to get his way in such fractious circumstances.

And it could get worse for Bellamy's forward thinking should Portsmouth striker Yakubu Ayegbini make his way north from the south coast before the end of the month. Of course, the Magpies could opt to move for the Nigerian hotshot with the cash from the sale of their wayward star.

No player should try and undermine the club they play for by controlling team selection, even if Bellamy's position is, quite clearly, in the forward line.

Players are there to play and managers to manage. Perhaps Bellamy should think on that.

But Bellamy will never learn. 'I won't apologise because I have done nothing wrong,' he told the Evening Chronicle on Tuesday evening. 'There's no doubt about it, I am out of here.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=322916&cc=4716

[andy81]

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness today secured his third signing of this transfer window after Portsmouth midfielder Amdy Faye completed his medical.

The 27-year-old has signed a four-year deal after agreeing personal terms and will go straight into the squad for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Coventry.

'We are delighted to have him on board and he will be a really valuable addition to our squad,' said Souness. 'Amdy is a defensive midfield player which is an area we have been looking to strengthen.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=322927&cc=4716

[Elspectro]

Bellamy is a great talent ..but with brain of a prick...

Having disagreement with the manager for playing him out of position is understandable.. but to feign injury and then complain to the MEDIA about it calling the manager a " liar" is certainly not helpful and stupid...He might as well sign his own transfer form out..

Such behaviour is certainly disruptive to the team's morale..especially when the club is not performing well on the field...

What's with ppl like Bellamy and Dyer? I say sell him ...Does he think he can play for a bigger club then Newcastle? Do you think SAF,Wenger or Mourinho wold even tolerate such insolent behaviour from an individual ...Newcastle are the biggest team he would ever have a chance to play for ...Do you think Arsenal,MU,Chelsea or Liverpool would even have him given his history and records...

Bye bye Bellamy .. you were a great talent but you are a prick..

[andy81]

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/70/ee/0,,10278~454256,00.jpg

The look of Souney makes me sick
Hope after signing faye jenas can play back to his more suited attacking role and play well from there.

[andy81]

UNITED boss Graeme Souness was happy to finalise his third signing of the month after Amdy Faye put pen to paper at St. James' Park on Tuesday.

Faye, who watched United's reserves in action on Monday evening, has been handed the number 15 shirt after completing his move from Portsmouth.

And Souness was delighted to tie up the signing of the tough-tackling Senegalese international.

"We are delighted to have him on board and he will be a really valuable addition to our squad," said Souness.

"Amdy is a defensive midfield player which is an area we have been looking to strengthen "

[Elspectro]

Bellamy blasted by Shearer Jan 24 2005




By Paul Gilder, The Journal


Alan Shearer has warned Craig Bellamy the consequences of his latest indiscretion could be dire.

And Newcastle captain Shearer insisted yesterday only players fully committed to the cause are welcome at the club.

Welsh international Bellamy played no part at Arsenal yesterday, having stormed out of a training session on Friday.

This followed an argument with manager Graeme Souness regarding his role in the team.

It was not Bellamy's first clash with Souness since the Scot arrived in September. The pair were involved in one showdown ahead of a Uefa Cup trip to Athens to face Panionios and another during a Premiership fixture at Charlton.

But it could have been Bellamy's last bust-up, for Souness has vowed to take action this week.

Shearer said: "Craig declared himself injured on Friday dinner time and then was fit on Saturday morning.

"The manager - like everyone at Newcastle United - only wants players who want to play for the club, whether it's in the position they want to play in or not.

"We all want to go in the same direction, we all want success for Newcastle United, and if anyone doesn't want that, the manager will replace them with other players."

With the United manager having grown tired of the striker's tantrums, it seems that the £6m man's days on Tyneside could be numbered.

Souness retains the support of his captain, with Shearer adding: "I think the manager has done a good job. You never get a job when things are going right at a football club.

"Graeme came to Newcastle and knew about one or two problems and he is trying his hardest to sort them out. If anyone can do it, he can."

[andy81]

eh this was old news

[Shadow04]

ya lo... posted quite some pages back liao....

[Elspectro]

ok paiseh! :)

[andy81]

Aston Villa fans' chief Jonathan Fear believes Craig Bellamy 'is the kind of player we are missing' amid speculation that the Midlands club may bid for the controversial Newcastle striker.

Bellamy's future at St James' Park appears to be hanging by a thread after his massive public fall-out with Magpies manager Graeme Souness, although he has not been put up for sale.

Villa are reported to be monitoring the situation and their manager David O'Leary has £6million to spend after failing to land James Beattie who opted instead to move from Southampton to Everton.

There have been no signals or comment coming out of Villa Park but Fear, the official spokesman for Villa Fans' Combined, has no doubt that Bellamy would enhance the current squad.

He told reporters: 'Everyone seems to be saying that we are not going to get any players in January but a nasty, snarling, aggressive type of player like Craig Bellamy is what Villa have been missing.

'Amongst the current players, we don't seem to have anyone who gets angry if things are not going well. The players are all very nice and too polite.

'Like against Manchester United at the weekend, we seem to stand back and admire quality opposition.

'Villa also lack pace with Darius Vassell out injured for so long and there is no doubt that Craig Bellamy would offer that kind of pace.

'Whether his arrival, if that were to happen, would be universal amongst supporters, I am not sure. I think it depends on which version of the stories coming out of Newcastle that you listen to.

'But we are desperate to get a new striker in and, before the current fall-out he has had, I thought that Craig Bellamy would be a good shout.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=322896&cc=4716
wah kao if now sell bellamy to villa
then villa must be damn lucky

[martinweng]

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/70/ee/0,,10278~454256,00.jpg

The look of Souney makes me sick
Hope after signing faye jenas can play back to his more suited attacking role and play well from there.

3rd blackie signed. We can't play in europe, especially italy anymore..

[Ultimate10002000]

Newcastle seems to like Black Players alot, go and count how many there are in the team.

[yenyenpark]

if Alex Ferguson got problem with Stam, Beckham or whoever, then bring them to see their chairman..

if Wenger got problem with Anelka, Pennant, also bring to see their boss...

if every club follows the footsteps of Sourness, wonder wat is the manager for???? and he DARE to tell us he brought Bellamy to chairman!!! &*^%$#*&

[andy81]

Newcastle seems to like Black Players alot, go and count how many there are in the team.
not more than arsenal

[yenyenpark]

wah kao if now sell bellamy to villa
then villa must be damn lucky
of course lor.. Everton got Beattie for 6 millions but Aston Villa got Bellamy also for 6 millions.. Beattie is like one season wonder nia.. but Bellamy still scoring.. and is one of the fastest forward.. only got some temper problem..

[andy81]

of course lor.. Everton got Beattie for 6 millions but Aston Villa got Bellamy also for 6 millions.. Beattie is like one season wonder nia.. but Bellamy still scoring.. and is one of the fastest forward.. only got some temper problem..
i disagree beattie is a one season wonder
but 6 million for bellamy is too little
even the fuking yakubu is 10M

[yenyenpark]

i disagree beattie is a one season wonder
but 6 million for bellamy is too little
even the fuking yakubu is 10M
well, i used to like Beattie one.. but he kind of like Kevin Philip.. goal draught now.. :s8:

[andy81]

well, i used to like Beattie one.. but he kind of like Kevin Philip.. goal draught now.. :s8:
henry also goal drought now mah
every striker will go thru this transition

[Shadow04]

3rd blackie signed. We can't play in europe, especially italy anymore..
i think you meant Lazio specifically.... havent seen other italian clubs being over racists, i feel it unfair to brand the entire italian clubs as racist just because of one or two black sheep... maybe Madrid also to a certain extend as they have shown in the not so distant past..

[Shadow04]

henry also goal drought now mah
every striker will go thru this transition
henry really sway la... sunday have alot of superb chances... but Given really in top form that day... so too bad, his goal drought continues....

[yenyenpark]

Cole: Bell has to go

TOON IN TURMOIL

ANDY COLE says Craig Bellamy has no choice but to quit Newcastle.

Striker Cole, 33, fell out with Graeme Souness at Blackburn.

He knew it was a fight he would never win, so jumped ship to Fulham in the summer on a free transfer.

Cole said: “In my last season at Blackburn, I was at a stage where I wasn’t bothered whether I was in the game or not, because the relationship I had with the guy up there was never going to work.

“It was a vicious circle. He tried to dominate someone he couldn’t dominate. He couldn’t dominate me. That’s just the way I am. I won’t be dominated by someone I don’t like.

“So, in the end, we just went round and round.

“It became obvious the best thing for the pair of us was to go our separate ways.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the says of fans.. INTERESTING

Your yells

GRAEME SOUNESS has added nothing to the club since joining. Craig Bellamy has always been a negative and disruptive influence and it was only due to Bobby Robson’s patience and man-management skills that he has lasted this long. Get rid of BOTH.
Paul Dosreis

THERE is only one person to blame for everything going wrong at Newcastle — and that is Souness. Bellamy is wasted on the wing and should be up front. Hopefully Souness will get the bullet at the end of the season and we can get a top-class manager.
Andrew Foley, Co Durham

BELLAMY’S a spoilt brat and, the way he’s carrying on, no one will want him.
Aaron, Bolton

THERE has got to be something wrong with Souness. Arguments with Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and David Dunn at Blackburn — and now Bellamy. The man is ruining Newcastle United.
Michael Ryan

THERE are thousands of youngsters who would love to play for Newcastle. Bellamy mistakenly thinks he is irreplaceable. Let him rot in the reserves.
Alan Miller

BELLAMY earns more in a week than the vast majority of fans make in one year and I expect more from a player.
Jesper, Sweden

TROUBLE follows Souness and we need to get shot of him NOW before we follow the same route as Blackburn have. His man-management skills are zero.
Nicky Wilson, Stevenage

BELLAMY is a perfect example of what huge wages and a vastly over-inflated ego lead to. For £40,000 a week, he should clean the toilets if he is told to.
Pat Smith

AS a Blackburn fan, it’s easy to see what Souness is doing. He’s getting rid of all the players he thinks are trouble-makers — like he did with Yorke, Cole and Dunn.
Mark Pye, Blackburn

GOOD riddance to bad rubbish. Get shot of Bellamy now and let’s get some team spirit back.
Dave Spratt

IT’S a slight on all manhood to call this petulant upstart a man! I can’t believe this situation has been allowed to develop.
Stephen Douglas

BELLAMY is a yob and a lout. The sorry fact, however, is that there will always be a club prepared to pay his inflated wages.
David Thomson, Ware

[hwaa]

oh pls..Steve bruce, Sam alligator, Grame "Sh_ITA_SS_LAME_DI_CK" SOuness are all relegation / mid tabler managers....fc _UK out man these guys

that guy is a fugking dickhead lar , instead of dyer he want die die wants bellamy on da right. he's screwing the club big time. worse than GH.

letting robson go was a big mistake, and signing souness is a bigger one ....

[hwaa]

Dyer performance recently has never been good, you think the manager wants to send him out to the pitch. Also it is due to the playing position the manager has allocated to him which has been rejected by Dyer. I think sooner or later Dyer will be offload. Newcastle will have quite a number of players that will get sold. We shall wait and see.


he's not performing in the centre, that's why can let him try the role he favours and maybe he'll get his form back, he's pacey fast and good on the right leh imo .. imo i prefer him over becks. :D

[andy81]

ya if i was paid 40K pound per week
call me wash toilet also dun mind haah

[yenyenpark]

henry really sway la... sunday have alot of superb chances... but Given really in top form that day... so too bad, his goal drought continues....
not sway already.. they won already mah.. :s8:

[yenyenpark]

ya if i was paid 40K pound per week
call me wash toilet also dun mind haah
u give me half, i wash the toilet for u also can.. :s13:

[Shadow04]

not sway already.. they won already mah.. :s8:
no la.. sway as in Henry's goal drought is still on going, not whether arsenal won or not...

to be honest, i'm very very surprised he didnt get on the scoresheet.... his touches, composure and shots all beri chio in that match....

[Coolsmurf]

...Personally as a Charlton season ticket holder I couldn’t give a monkeys what happens at Newcastle but I cannot help feeling that dear old Bellamy is being hung out to dry.

That he cares about his football and the club who pays him is not in question. He spouted abuse at Souness when he was substituted at Charlton earlier this season. Since he was the best player on the park, I was glad to see the back of him but as a substitution it made no sense at all except to gratify the ego of a manager who once won trophies donkeys years ago.

Souness is no different from all the other managers who were once great footballers who now think they are great managers. The Keegans, Reids, Bryan Robsons of this world are all failing and have previously failed to set the managerial world alight. Management has moved on - it is time they did too. Take a look at the top four in the Premiership and name a manager there who was a great player? Look at Middlesbrough and the beloved Charlton for that matter.

Bellamy is a great player who needs strong management. By strong Mr Souness, that means guidance and discipline not grabbing him by the throat and wrestling him to the ground.

Likewise the Shearers of this world are getting in on the act desperate not to rock the Newcastle boat. After all Alan aren’t we retiring at the end of this season? Presumably you fancy another job with your current employer.

Newcastle are no better now, and probably worse, since Sir Bobby was removed. Look at the classic performance of Titus Bramble against Yeading. Wherever Souness goes there are rows, disputes and let's face it, violence. Bellamy is just another on an ever-growing list.

If Newcastle want to get rid of one of their best players because of an ego clash that is up to them. It might be better however if they removed the managerial ego before the whole place spontaneously combusts.
Philip Johnson

most of the fans are berating bellamy pack of lies and his history of violence, only a minority like the above and me myself believes that souness is the root of the problem however...

[andy81]

i honestly think souness is the fuker

[yenyenpark]

most of the fans are berating bellamy pack of lies and his history of violence, only a minority like the above and me myself believes that souness is the root of the problem however...
agree with u.. we dun need a manager, wat we need is a leader.. Souness dun have the quality to be a leader at all.. :s27:

[andy81]

Although with all this problems i think we will be able to beat Coventry this Saturday.

[Coolsmurf]

only andy cole has stepped out in defence of bellamy so far i see...but then again andy cole was one of the players souness famously fell out with at blackburn...

seems like bellamy has played his last game..

[andy81]

maybe he can defy the odds and souness get sack
but like this also not gd
if this happens the next manager taking over will be vwey cham

[Coolsmurf]

highly unlikely, bellamy is gone, say goodbye to him!

solano gone, woodgate gone, bellamy gone soon, bernard going soon, shearer retiring...

newcastle is falling to pieces

[aqf]

Sian no happy days since souness take over

[andy81]

Outspoken striker Craig Bellamy has signaled the end of his Newcastle United career by refusing to grasp the olive branch offered by manager Graham Souness, but Liverpool are rumoured to be ready with a rescue package.

Craig Bellamy: On the way out. (MiekEgerton/Empics)
Bellamy refused to apologise for labeling Souness a 'liar' after the coach claimed his striker had feigned injury to avoid playing out of position - an outburst that cost Bellamy an £80,000 fine.

'I won't apologise because I have done nothing wrong,' Bellamy said. 'I know I am not wanted.'

'There's no doubt about it, I am out of here.'

The former Coventry and Norwich forward did not train with the rest of the first-team squad on Tuesday, instead working in the gym.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez could offer a refuge for the disgruntled Welshman after striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle joined £14million striker Djibril Cisse on a lengthy injury list following Tuesday night's 1-0 Carling Cup win at Watford.

With less then a week left of the transfer window, Liverpool will have to move fast to secure Bellamy's services and are looking for a cut-price deal.

Newcastle would normally value the the 25-year-old in the £10m class, but his furious fall-out with Souness means that the cost will drop.

The Mirror claim the Anfield club would do business at around £4m to £5m in an attempt to add some sparkle to their lacklustre forward line.

The Guardian reports that up to seven Premiership sides would be willing to pay Bellamy's £40,000-per-week wages, but none will pay the £6m Newcastle are asking for the player.

However, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd revealed on Wednesday that it has been very quiet since he threw the doors open for offers for his hot-headed striker.

Only Coca-Cola Championship side Stoke City have offered Bellamy another chance in the form of a loan deal.

'We haven't had a serious offer for him in the last 48 hours,' Shepherd told the Journal. 'There has been one enquiry with a view to a loan deal, but that's it.

'There has not been one major club express any interest in him whatsoever. If something does happen in that respect, then we'll consider the offer or offers.

'But nobody is kicking my door down and the fax machine is quiet. He's damaged his reputation - hopefully, not beyond repair.'

It is understood informal inquiries have been forthcoming from several potential employers, although with time running short before the closure of the transfer window.

Shepherd's anger over the situation remains unabated and there appears now to be little room for manoeuvre.

'When Craig said what he said, just where did he think he could go from here?' he said. 'Where could he possibly have a better career right now?

'Time is a great healer and if Craig moves on, so be it. But as far as his Newcastle career is concerned, it will be very, very difficult.'


no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kraze]

sigh.... i'm hating souness..

[martinweng]

Can shepherd step out of Britishism?

Only Gullit (3-4months in charge) has been the only foreign coach since i ever start supporting newcastle.

Keegan, Daglish, Robson, Souey.

[Fresnel]

we wail and moan and nothing is heard....the only way for our wish that Souney gets the sack is NUFC falls badly...and after Craig leaves, i hope we lose many many matches (we got nothing to play for liao, face it)....but not relegated...THEN GET THE MOTHER UGLY A_SSLICKIN' FACE OF A FC_UKER SOUNESS SACKED!!!!!!! KNN CCB SHI_TE HEAD!!!!!! CANNOT STAND THE SIGHT OF HIM MAN!!!!! BUT OH I LOVE NUFC TO SEE THIS GUY IN CHARGE!!!

[yenyenpark]

Pompey to make Bellamy bid
Wednesday January 26 2005


Portsmouth will ask Newcastle today if they can take troubled striker Craig Bellamy on loan as they bid to save themselves from a relegation battle.

And Football365 has learned that the south coast club are now willing to listen to offers for Yakubu Ayegbeni as the Nigerian striker has been distracted by rumours linking him with big clubs.

Pompey want around £8m for Ayegbeni, and Newcastle would seem his obvious destination - especially if they can persuade the north-east club to part with Bellamy on loan.

The Welsh international looks unlikely to play for the Toon again after refusing to apologise to the club or the manager for calling Graeme Souness a liar and feigning injury.

Chairman Freddie Shepherd revealed that he had not received any firm offers - except from Championship side Stoke City about a loan deal - but hinted that he would listen to any reasonable bids for Bellamy.

"There's been one enquiry with a view to a loan deal, but there has not been one major club interested in signing him," Shepherd told the Newcastle Journal.

"If something does happen in that respect then we'll consider the offer.

"Nobody is kicking my door down and the fax machine is quiet.

"He's damaged his reputation - hopefully, not beyond repair - but it's all gone very quiet and there have been no serious enquiries and no firm offers."

But all that could change when Portsmouth make their offer. The two clubs are on good terms after the completion of the Amdy Faye deal - a transfer exclusively revealed on F365 last week.

Meanwhile, joining Faye on the road out of Portsmouth will be defender David Unsworth, who will join Ipswich on loan for the rest of the season.

Pompey becomes another Newcastle while Newcastle becoming Pompey?? if Bellamy moved, he will partner LuaLua, former Toon player to play forward!!!

[Shadow04]

omfg... Bellamy is going........ :(:(

[yenyenpark]

Can shepherd step out of Britishism?

Only Gullit (3-4months in charge) has been the only foreign coach since i ever start supporting newcastle.

Keegan, Daglish, Robson, Souey.
even GUllit kena sacked in about 3-4 months.. i think we should tolerate Souness too much too..

while Shearer made SBR leave (according to SBR), Bellamy went to the wrong way of getting rid of Souness.. :s31:

[heygal]

we wail and moan and nothing is heard....the only way for our wish that Souney gets the sack is NUFC falls badly...and after Craig leaves, i hope we lose many many matches (we got nothing to play for liao, face it)....but not relegated...THEN GET THE MOTHER UGLY A_SSLICKIN' FACE OF A FC_UKER SOUNESS SACKED!!!!!!! KNN CCB SHI_TE HEAD!!!!!! CANNOT STAND THE SIGHT OF HIM MAN!!!!! BUT OH I LOVE NUFC TO SEE THIS GUY IN CHARGE!!!

look how he gt the once mighty liverpool to a mere legacy. pray hard man, my hearts r with u guys. really understand how u guys feel

[aqf]

Y is bellamy going instead of souness, i think the next one to fall out will souness will be either robert or kluivert

[Shadow04]

look how he gt the once mighty liverpool to a mere legacy. pray hard man, my hearts r with u guys. really understand how u guys feel
actually the liverpool part hor.. is really he sway.. i guess he just took over at a wrong time.. liverpool is on the decline and their squad is filled with aging players.. a shadow of their glory days...

BUT.. nufc on the other hand..........

[yenyenpark]

'Very quiet' on Bellamy front
Wednesday January 26 2005

Only Stoke City have offered Newcastle rebel Craig Bellamy another chance in English football in the immediate aftermath of his war of words with manager Graeme Souness.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd threw open the exit door at St James' Park on Tuesday after Bellamy apparently sealed his own fate by refusing to apologise for his tirade.

However, amid speculation that Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa are among a posse of clubs ready to end his misery on Tyneside, it emerged that only one English club - understood to be Coca-Cola Championship outfit Stoke - had made an enquiry up until Tuesday night.

"We haven't had a serious offer for him in the last 48 hours," Shepherd told the Journal. "There has been one enquiry with a view to a loan deal, but that's it.

"There has not been one major club express any interest in him whatsoever. Nobody is kicking my door down and the fax machine is quiet. He's damaged his reputation - hopefully, not beyond repair."

However it is understood informal inquiries have been forthcoming from several potential employers, although with time running short before the closure of the transfer window, things will have to move quickly if the Welshman is to be moved on.

But there seems to be little appetite on either side for the player to remain at the club and his departure, even on a short-term basis, seems inevitable.

Shepherd's anger over the situation remains unabated and there appears now to be little room for manoeuvre.

"When Craig said what he said, just where did he think he could go from here?" he said. "Where could he possibly have a better career right now?

"Time is a great healer and if Craig moves on, so be it. But as far as his Newcastle career is concerned, it will be very, very difficult."

this Sherperd still dun wanna to stop from there.. fukk.. well i dun think Bellamy no have buyer at all.. think even Manyoo will happy to have him as well if price is right..

[Shadow04]

'Very quiet' on Bellamy front
Wednesday January 26 2005

Only Stoke City have offered Newcastle rebel Craig Bellamy another chance in English football in the immediate aftermath of his war of words with manager Graeme Souness.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd threw open the exit door at St James' Park on Tuesday after Bellamy apparently sealed his own fate by refusing to apologise for his tirade.

However, amid speculation that Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa are among a posse of clubs ready to end his misery on Tyneside, it emerged that only one English club - understood to be Coca-Cola Championship outfit Stoke - had made an enquiry up until Tuesday night.

"We haven't had a serious offer for him in the last 48 hours," Shepherd told the Journal. "There has been one enquiry with a view to a loan deal, but that's it.

"There has not been one major club express any interest in him whatsoever. Nobody is kicking my door down and the fax machine is quiet. He's damaged his reputation - hopefully, not beyond repair."

However it is understood informal inquiries have been forthcoming from several potential employers, although with time running short before the closure of the transfer window, things will have to move quickly if the Welshman is to be moved on.

But there seems to be little appetite on either side for the player to remain at the club and his departure, even on a short-term basis, seems inevitable.

Shepherd's anger over the situation remains unabated and there appears now to be little room for manoeuvre.

"When Craig said what he said, just where did he think he could go from here?" he said. "Where could he possibly have a better career right now?

"Time is a great healer and if Craig moves on, so be it. But as far as his Newcastle career is concerned, it will be very, very difficult."

this Sherperd still dun wanna to stop from there.. fukk.. well i dun think Bellamy no have buyer at all.. think even Manyoo will happy to have him as well if price is right..
i jsut farking wish its Souness that is gone. :s8:

[yenyenpark]

actually the liverpool part hor.. is really he sway.. i guess he just took over at a wrong time.. liverpool is on the decline and their squad is filled with aging players.. a shadow of their glory days...

BUT.. nufc on the other hand..........
think even the best Liverpool for him, he also broke them into pieces.. he dunno anything but grab ppl on throat, arguing with players just bcos he tok he's a great player. :s8:

i heard about Pele, Klinsmann, Maradona, and plenty more, but never heard of great player of the name of SOurness.. :s27:

[yenyenpark]

Fans fear Bellamy departure
Wednesday January 26 2005
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Newcastle will lose a key player if Craig Bellamy's latest misdemeanour costs him his career on Tyneside.

That is the view of Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association, as the repercussions of the Welshman's blazing row with manager Graeme Souness continue to rock Tyneside.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd labelled Bellamy a fool and fined him £80,000 for lambasting his manager on live television, a decision which seems certain to result in his exit from St James' Park.

However, while admitting that the 25-year-old has been the architect of his own downfall, Gilmour insisted that the club would be a losing a big performer.

"I am biased because I disagreed with the appointment of Souness in the first place, but this is not one-sided," he said.

"There are problems on both sides. Bellamy was out of order for saying what he did. He tends to court publicity and he should never have said what he said.

"I was always told never slag off your gaffer without having a word with your gaffer first. However, it seems as though Souness has had something against Bellamy since the day he came here.

"You ask any Newcastle fan what their preferred pairing would be up front and it is Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy every time.

"That is the position he wants to play in and that was the argument. He makes a difference. He is one of the fastest forwards in this country at the moment. Once you put the ball in the right spot, he's away.

"There is a choice - one of them has to go and given that choice, it is going to be the player rather than the manager."
at least there is a fan club who voiced our concern there.. bros, dun worry, we r not only fans angry..

[yenyenpark]

think both of them dun click from the start..

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=322916&cc=4716

[donald83]

Bellamy is a huge asset to Newcastle. He's so fast that he terrifies defenders. I don't know who's gonna replace him man... :(

[Coolsmurf]

Bellamy is a huge asset to Newcastle. He's so fast that he terrifies defenders. I don't know who's gonna replace him man... :(

frankly no one can replace him...his personality, his commitment to win, his ability to irritate opponents and his terrific pace

[Shadow04]

Bellamy is indispensible to the club....

i cant imagine the likes of Yakubu(who has got to be Sourness' first choice striker) filling the shoes of Bellamy...

[donald83]

Do you think it's really Souness's problem? I don't think he's a good enough manager though..

[donald83]

Bellamy is indispensible to the club....

i cant imagine the likes of Yakubu(who has got to be Sourness' first choice striker) filling the shoes of Bellamy...

Yakubu is crap. So is Amdy Faye. :P

[Shadow04]

Do you think it's really Souness's problem? I don't think he's a good enough manager though..
Souness is the problem imo.... noticed how he somehow managed to piss off his club's player no matter where he is...

[Ultimate10002000]

Yakubu can never replace the position of Bellamy but at least he can be a backup and sub Shearer when needed.

[donald83]

We need a manager like Mourinho! Kluivert doesn't live up to his expectations also leh.. Flop!

[Shadow04]

We need a manager like Mourinho! Kluivert doesn't live up to his expectations also leh.. Flop!
yaya.. i would also like to see him take our Souness... even though i know its impossible... :(

kluivert has classy touches... but his form also on-off de... see him happy den perform, not happy jiu play like a headless chicken... if he is more consistent i would say it's natuaral for him to succeed Shearer..

[andy81]

i just cannot understand y he rather let ameobi play than bellamy
what is he thinking. fuk man.

[andy81]

Kluivert is a good player. He still has the touches but dunno wat happen to him nowadays.

[donald83]

I feel that Kluivert is abit clumsy in his movements. I don't see any determination in him like chasing for balls etc. Frankly speaking i got a shock when they appointed Souness as manager. I think BR is much better than him.

[andy81]

I feel that Kluivert is abit clumsy in his movements. I don't see any determination in him like chasing for balls etc. Frankly speaking i got a shock when they appointed Souness as manager. I think BR is much better than him.
ya dunno y they so early go sack robson
kaoz.
they made a mistake!!!

[donald83]

They should get a good DC to replace Bramble. A good defensive midfielder and a top notch striker. We should also learn how to protect our leads like Chelsea. Even better, we should get a winger like Robben. :P

[Shadow04]

They should get a good DC to replace Bramble. A good defensive midfielder and a top notch striker. We should also learn how to protect our leads like Chelsea. Even better, we should get a winger like Robben. :P
.... asking too much liao... winger like Robben hard to find and given our current "reputation", i would i think it's hard to attract players of that calibre here..

and.... protecting leads has never been our forte... i lost counts of how many times we throw away a 1 goal lead in the final minutes to give our opponent a point..

[Fresnel]

isn't there no one here who can bring up our sorrows to UK fan club,etc? Amplify our wish to see SOUNESS LEAVE THE %*)$*#@)$(@!#

[Ultimate10002000]

We need a manager like Mourinho! Kluivert doesn't live up to his expectations also leh.. Flop!

Kluivert is no longer an ace anymore so please do not expect much from him.

[Coolsmurf]

howaythetoon.com had already closed down due to souness appointment as manager...

[dreamer75]

howaythetoon.com had already closed down due to souness appointment as manager...

yes...the admin of the board quit...he muz be damn sian of souness's appt

[dreamer75]

howaythetoon.com had already closed down due to souness appointment as manager...



btw...old news leh..

[yenyenpark]

souness sway ppl.. dun come here... some many players injured.. does he know how to train players??? i saw the pic he grab the back neck of Bellamy.. and r very angry, no manager can do tat.. it's against the law as well as a pro.. go to HELL, souness...

i am very sad liao, may b one or two strikers injured for some time will b better, then we can play 2 forwards instead of 3... as we tried to b happy tat all 4 forwards r fit again, sad things happened.. sad..

[yenyenpark]

the Jan transfer is a failure.. bought three, played two EPL games, win one.. got 3 more points and two injured while third one still yet to show his debut.. wat the ****..

[dreamer75]

this coming mon is the jan transfer deadline?

[yenyenpark]

this coming mon is the jan transfer deadline?
yalor... think Bellamy will stay with us.. :D

[dreamer75]

yalor... think Bellamy will stay with us.. :D

many things can happen esp near the wee hrs of the transfer window

[kraze]

i know this is OT but when i played career mode in Fifa2005 on my ngage, Bellamy's my top scorer, kluivert cant score for nuts kept missing =/

sigh~ hope bellamy stays.

[Coolsmurf]

Graeme Souness: Britain's Second Most Popular Man
I'm with Bellamy on this one, I think that Graeme Souness is an awful idiot and I don't know why Newcastle appointed him in the first place. He has caused nothing but trouble wherever he goes and I don't think he's too bright either as he once tried to sign some bloke that said he was George Weah's cousin, he's mad about buying Sylvain Distin and he sold David Dunn to Birmingham.

If I supported Newcastle I'd be praying that Souness gets knocked down by a car or that he has a heart attack - otherwise it's going be a long few seasons ahead!
John Fullarton


...I would just like to say Souness is a joke of a manager. Here is the man who single-handedly brought Liverpool to the edge of the abyss. What has he achieved? I can’t think of anything worthwhile to mention. Bellamy is clearly an extremely talented player and it is obvious that Souness is just jealous. He simply does not have the same level of skill in his managerial abilities.

Let us not forget that the same situation arose at Blackburn with Souness picking on both Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, two players as important to the team just as Bellamy is with Newcastle. What happened to Blackburn last season as a result? They hovered above the relegation zone. What has happened to Newcastle? They are hovering above the relegation zone.

Souness is quite clearly the problem, two managerial jobs in a row, same result - relegation contenders from a position of European aspirations.
Eóin McLaughlin, Éire


...Having seen what a complete mess Souness made of his time at Southampton, I'm not surprised that it's all going tits up at the Toon. Indeed, Souness was so dreadful at The Dell that he even fell for the infamous Ali Dia incident where a player (Dia), claiming to be George Weah's cousin, was given a trial and subsequently a place on the bench - even though Souey had seen little or any of the player in action. Dia came on, was truly appalling, and was taken off again. That was the last we saw of him.

Souness was an animal on the pitch and appears to be unable to command any respect off it. Bellamy is, as BIG Mick Quinn says in today's Current Bun, a 'spoilt brat' but Souness should not escape without criticism from this whole sorry affair.

Dealing with difficult players is part of the game today, whether managers like it or not. By paying the salaries they do to players barely out of Huggies, clubs shouldn't be surprised when said players throw their Buzz Lightyears out of the pram. But these incidents should be dealt with in private. It's as simple as that.

Unfortunately Craig and Graeme can't resist a little time at the forefront of the latest Premiership controversy and hence you have the mess we are currently watching unfold.

Bellamy should be sold (if, God forbid, any fool wants him - 'Arry, stay well clear) and Souness should concentrate his efforts on keeping the club in the top five, which is what the Geordie fans (possibly the most passionate fans in the country) truly deserve.
Melders, a Southampton fan

letters from newcastle fans to football365.com, mirrors the same as the majority of us here in the forum feels!

[hwaa]

highly unlikely, bellamy is gone, say goodbye to him!

solano gone, woodgate gone, bellamy gone soon, bernard going soon, shearer retiring...

newcastle is falling to pieces

lol, dunch worries man, i believe you guys will hang on tight till the fugker leaves!

hopefully, after bellamy no one else will clash with him ...

[yenyenpark]

letters from newcastle fans to football365.com, mirrors the same as the majority of us here in the forum feels!
i think not all r Newcastle fans here.. but again, even those NOT Toon fans also hated him so much, why the blinded Sherperd still asking him to come??

I hope Bellamy made the thing bigger before he left, and eventually we will also see Souness out... Bellamy, do me a flavour talk him more and LOUD!!!! for us.. pls.. :D

[yenyenpark]

lol, dunch worries man, i believe you guys will hang on tight till the fugker leaves!

hopefully, after bellamy no one else will clash with him ...
sian lah.. i hope to see some young talented manager with more young and hungry players.. then we will able to fight for a silverware!!

[yenyenpark]

i know this is OT but when i played career mode in Fifa2005 on my ngage, Bellamy's my top scorer, kluivert cant score for nuts kept missing =/

sigh~ hope bellamy stays.
for me FM2005, Kluivert r superb.. and Bellamy comes second.. Bellamy and Kluivert play 1-2 kills all games!!!

[yenyenpark]

£7m price tag on Bellamy Jan 26 2005




By Miles Starforth, The Evening Chronicle


Newcastle United will not let outcast Craig Bellamy leave on the cheap - the Magpies having slapped a £7m price tag on the striker.

Bellamy's days on Tyneside look numbered following his public spat with manager Graeme Souness over his omission against Arsenal on Sunday, the player having refused to apologise to his boss.

The club, however, has stopped short of putting the controversial player, who has been fined two weeks wages, on the transfer list.

With the January transfer window closing on Monday, it looks likely Bellamy will remain at the club until the end of the season unless a serious bid arrives on chairman Freddy Shepherd's desk by the close of play today.

United, yet to receive an offer for the 25-year-old, would be left with a race against the clock to sign a replacement if the Welshman left at this late stage.

A club insider said: "Any club thinking they can use the situation to get Craig Bellamy on the cheap is wasting its time.

"He has been told in no uncertain terms by the chairman his behaviour was unacceptable and he has let everyone down.

"He has not been transfer-listed by the club and there have not been any bids made for him.

"However, anyone thinking he is available for nothing should think again. He is worth £7-8m on the market, so why would he be sold for a penny less?"

Yesterday Bellamy trained on his own away from his team-mates and the international striker was also absent from a team meeting at the club's training ground at which Souness reminded his players of the way he expects them to conduct themselves.

Both Shepherd and captain Alan Shearer have publicly backed Souness and should Bellamy remain on Tyneside beyond Monday the odds are the former Norwich City frontman will be on his way in the summer.

He had appeared on live television to accuse his boss of lying, Souness having blamed his omission from the starting line-up at Highbury on a hamstring problem to keep a lid on a private meeting involving himself, Shepherd and Bellamy.

Bellamy, increasingly unhappy at his role on the right side of midfield, had walked off the training pitch on Friday claiming he had felt his hamstring and later went to see Shepherd with his manager.

He went on to admit to Souness and Shepherd he would feign injury but insisted he had stopped short of doing so, then went on TV on Sunday to claim he had been fit for the Arsenal game.

Should Bellamy stay then Souness will be presented with a dilemma over his involvement in the team, with Bellamy's former club Coventry next up at St James' Park on Saturday in the fourth round of FA Cup.

The player still retains support from the terraces, with opinion on Tyneside divided and United rarely look the same side without the 10-goal man in their line up.

Souness gave his players the day off today and Bellamy is likely to be back in full training tomorrow when United resume preparations for Coventry, the club from whom Bellamy joined Newcastle for £6.5m in 2001.

[hwaa]

£7m price tag on Bellamy Jan 26 2005




By Miles Starforth, The Evening Chronicle


Newcastle United will not let outcast Craig Bellamy leave on the cheap - the Magpies having slapped a £7m price tag on the striker.

Bellamy's days on Tyneside look numbered following his public spat with manager Graeme Souness over his omission against Arsenal on Sunday, the player having refused to apologise to his boss.

The club, however, has stopped short of putting the controversial player, who has been fined two weeks wages, on the transfer list.

With the January transfer window closing on Monday, it looks likely Bellamy will remain at the club until the end of the season unless a serious bid arrives on chairman Freddy Shepherd's desk by the close of play today.

United, yet to receive an offer for the 25-year-old, would be left with a race against the clock to sign a replacement if the Welshman left at this late stage.

A club insider said: "Any club thinking they can use the situation to get Craig Bellamy on the cheap is wasting its time.

"He has been told in no uncertain terms by the chairman his behaviour was unacceptable and he has let everyone down.

"He has not been transfer-listed by the club and there have not been any bids made for him.

"However, anyone thinking he is available for nothing should think again. He is worth £7-8m on the market, so why would he be sold for a penny less?"

Yesterday Bellamy trained on his own away from his team-mates and the international striker was also absent from a team meeting at the club's training ground at which Souness reminded his players of the way he expects them to conduct themselves.

Both Shepherd and captain Alan Shearer have publicly backed Souness and should Bellamy remain on Tyneside beyond Monday the odds are the former Norwich City frontman will be on his way in the summer.

He had appeared on live television to accuse his boss of lying, Souness having blamed his omission from the starting line-up at Highbury on a hamstring problem to keep a lid on a private meeting involving himself, Shepherd and Bellamy.

Bellamy, increasingly unhappy at his role on the right side of midfield, had walked off the training pitch on Friday claiming he had felt his hamstring and later went to see Shepherd with his manager.

He went on to admit to Souness and Shepherd he would feign injury but insisted he had stopped short of doing so, then went on TV on Sunday to claim he had been fit for the Arsenal game.

Should Bellamy stay then Souness will be presented with a dilemma over his involvement in the team, with Bellamy's former club Coventry next up at St James' Park on Saturday in the fourth round of FA Cup.

The player still retains support from the terraces, with opinion on Tyneside divided and United rarely look the same side without the 10-goal man in their line up.

Souness gave his players the day off today and Bellamy is likely to be back in full training tomorrow when United resume preparations for Coventry, the club from whom Bellamy joined Newcastle for £6.5m in 2001.

siao liao by doing that, if nobody wants him then he lan lan haf to remain there ... then souness and him will tio more .. :o

[hwaa]

sian lah.. i hope to see some young talented manager with more young and hungry players.. then we will able to fight for a silverware!!


all this will happen only when the souness leaves, lol my friend is magpies's fan and i kena influenced by him also became interested in newcastle's stuffs. :D

quite pissed of to see souness destroy blackburn, then just zhao lang like that without any respondsibility one knn. he made dunn leave, made cole and yorke leave, then blackburn almost relegated, he see got chance liao quickly siam blackbun just leave like that, bloody phua bak kia.

[yenyenpark]

all this will happen only when the souness leaves, lol my friend is magpies's fan and i kena influenced by him also became interested in newcastle's stuffs. :D

quite pissed of to see souness destroy blackburn, then just zhao lang like that without any respondsibility one knn. he made dunn leave, made cole and yorke leave, then blackburn almost relegated, he see got chance liao quickly siam blackbun just leave like that, bloody phua bak kia.
sigh.. sigh.. very sad.. we r the laughing stock when we signed him.. not openly but surely in their heart... :s8:

[yenyenpark]

siao liao by doing that, if nobody wants him then he lan lan haf to remain there ... then souness and him will tio more .. :o
Rovers wanna loan him.. may b it's good for him too..

[dreamer75]

By ANDREW DILLON
and JANINE SELF

CRAIG BELLAMY could face sworn enemy Graeme Souness in court.

The furious Newcastle striker may have grounds to sue the club for trying to force him out, a top lawyer has warned.

Bellamy’s Toon career is finished after his row with boss Souey over tactics.

Julian Spalter, of sports law firm Quastels, said: “If Bellamy was advised that the way he has been treated is unlawful, the club could be in breach of his contract.

“If he were advised to that effect, he may well resign and claim damages."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2005041246,00.html

[dreamer75]

By BEN KINSELLA

CRAIG BELLAMY’S dad last night insisted: “We’re proud of our son and he has done nothing to be ashamed of.”

Ex-steelworks manager Doug Bellamy, 50, jumped to the defence of Craig, who has been fined £80,000 after his row with Newcastle boss Graeme Souness.

Doug has been Craig’s biggest fan since he showed promise as a young player, ferrying him to matches all over the country as he tried to make the grade.

He said: “Craig has nothing to be ashamed of and can hold his head high. No one is bigger than a football club but the only thing he has done is to stick up for himself.

“He can be a bit of a hothead at times but he has been 100 per cent honest in his row with Newcastle.

“Playing football means everything to him and the only thing that happened on Sunday was that Souness stopped him from playing football.” Souness accused Bellamy of cheating by feigning injury in training because he was being asked to play out of position — an accusation denied by the player. Bellamy retaliated quickly by accusing Souness of lying.

The player’s dad added: “In the last three years, when Craig has played up front, Newcastle qualified for Europe.

“A lot of people in the Newcastle area would say much of that success has been down to Craig.”

Doug and wife Angela have tried to keep up Craig’s spirits in telephone conversations from their home in Cardiff. Doug added: “We’re proud of him. He believes he had every right to say what he did and we agree with him.

“Believe me, the only thing Craig wants to do is play football for Newcastle United.

“He has never said he will not play out of position for Newcastle. He was simply asking Souness the question about why he wasn’t being picked in his best position.

“Craig’s attitude has always been ‘I will play in any position I’m asked to, but I’m more effective up front’.

“At no stage has Craig feigned an injury and at no stage has he said he won’t play for Newcastle.

“He wants nothing more than to pull on the black-and-white jersey of Newcastle.

“The fans know that Craig gives 110 per cent in every single match he plays.

“Yes, we know he can be feisty. But what would Craig be without that in his character?

“He’s been outspoken on this issue — but there are always two sides to every story.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2005041142,00.html

[dreamer75]

By William Gordon
Date: 26/1/2005

Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd has turned the heat OFF Graeme Souness and Craig Bellamy by putting the blame for the current problems on ... Sir Bobby Robson!

After the bust up between the manager and the player the club fined Bellamy £80,000 and ordered him to train with United's youngsters.

The ex-Coventry City player seems unlikely to play against his old side in the FA Cup on Saturday, and it was thought the club would consider any offer that was put their way for him. But ... it seems no-ne wants him.

Stoke City have tried to take him on loan, and although it could be one way to keep him and Souness apart for the near future, it's hardly a good move for Newcastle United Football Club.

Shepherd, in an amazing interview where it seemed he was out to rub Bellamy's nose in it, said Premiership clubs have shunned the striker.

Although hinting the club could be stuck with a potentially disruptive white elephant for the remainder of the first season, he said Bellamy would not go for less than £7m. He cost United £6m.

But Shepherd made the outspoken comment that Sir Bobby Robson should have nipped the trouble in the bud some time ago.

FREDDIE SHEPHERD: "I'm standing by my actions. You can't have anarchy in the dressing room.

"But this whole situation is a throwback to the previous manager's reign when certain players took liberties.

"Graeme has had to come in here and clear that up.

"It's all gone very quiet. There have been no serious enquiries and no firm offers for Craig Bellamy. If a club does express an interest then we will listen to what they have to say but nothing looks like happening."

Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa are said to be among a posse of clubs ready to end his misery on Tyneside, but with the transfer window set to close very soon, they had better be quick.

http://newcastleunited.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=893&p=2&stid=8371590

[dreamer75]

THE RANGERS THEORY ON BOUMSONG

By D.Taylor
Date: 26/1/2005

I think I've heard it all now ... the reason why Jean Alain Boumsong suffered a hamstring problem against Arsenal is because the Frenchman "played for Rangers and he isn't used to high-tempo football". That's the theory of one reporter. What do you think?

JEAN ALAIN BOUMSONG: "I haven't had an injury like this for a few years now and to get one so soon after joining a new club makes it doubly disappointing.

"It all happened out of the blue when I tried to take a ball in the air. "I thought we played well at Arsenal. We played as a team and we were together.

"I have only just come but I think we have a good team with great potential.

"I've started two Premiership games now and really it is just what I expected it to be. It's a high standard and you have to be ready every game.

"But these are the sort of games you have to play in week in week out if you are going to improve."

http://newcastleunited.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=893&p=2&stid=8371581

[dreamer75]

THE FAYE FACT FILE

By Evening Chronicle
Date: 26/1/2005

The Evening Chronicle have come up with some interesting facts on Newcastle new signing Amby Faye. For example he once played for Portsmouth under the name Andy Henry!

1) Amdy Faye's first appearance for Portsmouth was cloaked in secrecy, with then boss Harry Redknapp wanting to throw rivals clubs off the scent. Redknapp named defensive midfielder Faye, on trial at Fratton Park, as Andy Henry on his team-sheet for a pre-season friendly at Kilmarnock in July 2003 to confuse scouts. Redknapp was later hauled over the coals by the FA for the stunt.

2) Faye had spent the previous five years in France with Auxerre, where he had been a team-mate of fellow new signing Jean Alain Boumsong, before joining Pompey in a £1.5m deal. He had begun his career at Monaco before moving Fréjus, and then on to Auxerre.

3) While at Auxerre the Senegal midfielder, who has eight caps, made his international debut against Egypt in a World Cup qualifier in May 2001. Faye went on to play in the 2002 African Nations Cup, starting for Senegal in the final and missing a penalty in the shootout which saw Cameroon lift the cup, and travelled to Japan for the World Cup later that year. He did not feature in Senegal's win over champions France, but came off the bench against Uruguay and started against Sweden.

4) Faye collected a French Cup winners medal in 2003, but missed last year's African Nations Cup in Tunisia through injury.

5) The 27-year-old, did not play in Pompey's FA Cup third round tie against Gillingham, and will be eligible to play for Newcastle against Coventry City in the fourth round on Saturday.

6) Dakar-born Faye, who has been handed the No. 15 jersey, made a total of 52 appearances for Pompey during his time on the South Coast, with 21 of those coming in the current campaign.

http://newcastleunited.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=893&p=2&stid=8371582