The Newcastle United Blog

69 responses so far ↓

• 1 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:04

  Bear in mind that the Woodgate story was started by Anal Oliver, not Newcastle, or even Woodgate’s Agent.

• 2 Ed Harrison // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:06

  James - right - but it’s good it’s been put out there - it may get Woodgate thinking about his career - which doesn’t seem to be going anywhere for a player so good.

• 3 gingergeordie // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:06

  should never have been sold to madrid

• 4 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:08

  ED - I love Woodgate and think he is the best defender I’ve seen in black & white. But why sell a player for £13 million to then have to pay almost the same amount to get them back.

  Of course if we had to pay £10-12 million to get him back and he stays fit for the next 3 years then it would be an amazing signing.

  The thing about Woodgate when he was playing for us, you could just relax cause you knew he would deal with whatever attacking play came his way.

  He reads the game better than any English Defender

• 5 toon1978 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:09

  Best defender i have seen in a black and white shirt when fit, would love him to come back and bring in Van Buyton aswell.

• 6 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:09

  PANDEV!

• 7 malaysian toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:10

  we made good profit selling him to real madrid… the problem was we didnt get any replacement for him then

• 8 windsz // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:13

  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3072969,00.html
  this gonna be interesting

• 9 Greg P // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:14

  The best defender ever to pull on tha black and white shirt, but I doubt very much whether ‘boro would dare sell him in the transfer window. Certainly should be targeted in the summer though (and I agree for more like £8-10m)

• 10 toon1978 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:17

  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MR0WownFJYw

  PANDEV looks good

• 11 Glenn // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:18

  Not another crock, we already have one in Owen.
  Yes he is a brilliant defender but not for us.

• 12 winds // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:19

  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3072969,00.html
  interesting!

• 13 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:21

  toon1978 - Pandev doesnt look half as good on youtube as he is in a game situation, hes adds so much to the team, not just scoring goals, but setting them up.

• 14 Graeme // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:21

  Ed, if Viduka and Smith are still playing for us at the start of the next season, I will be amazed. Their time is up, they are past their sell-by dates.

  Use them in exchange for a good player or 2; use Owen as well, if we get a great player (or 2) in return for the 3 of them.

• 15 Kash2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:21

  Woodgate was sold to Real because of something that happened in his personal life which he was doing with his then g/f Kate Lawler (who I had the pleasure of meeting and I totally realised that the story of woodgate was true) that Bobby Robson caught wind of. Just like the reason why Andy Cole was sold to Man Utd after KK caught wind of something similar.

  White Lines anyone????

• 16 Tez131 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:28

  Boro signed him for £7mil - i would offer £7million. Test their resolve..
  Or even better Ameobi and some cash…

  “Boro boss Gareth Southgate is a fan of Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi and a deal involving Woodgate to the Toon could see the striker go in the opposite direction. ”

  He was top class when fit for us, now he seems to have put his troubles behind him.

  But yet again another rumour out of nothing.

  I am just hoping for at least 2 players to help the squad until end of season.

• 17 Ashton // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:30

  Pandev is far better than chikhaoui imo

• 18 toon1978 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:31

  Tom_Toon that is good to know lets hoe it aint just talk because thats ll thats happened lately.

• 19 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:32

  Kash2 - read Bobby Robson’s book, the sale of Woodgate had nothing to do with white lines.

• 20 paul p // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:32

  what did i tell you all about woody eh. yeah i no its come from oliver, but there must be some truth in it as if you look at south shields gazzette and football 365 which does not tell porkies that much its on there as well. bring him back. him and taylor at the back will be some defence.

• 21 Hadrian // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:33

  cant offer more than boro payed for him !!! , he’s injury situation is no better , he’s not played cos of cramp .
  and as our kev would say ….

  ‘In some ways, cramp is worse than having a broken leg.’

• 22 tdt // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:34

  taylor-woody partnership sounds amazing to me!!!!!!!!!!!! hope its true

• 23 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:34

  I dunno cos Bayern want Chikhaoui and Pandev for the same position, Chikhaoui is better in midfield, Pandev is better up front. Both got pro’s and con’s, id be happy with either.

• 24 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:34

  What you have to remember more than anything about Woodgate :

  He was so impressive for Newcastle that Real Madrid (who can afford any defender) choose Woodgate over anyone else.

• 25 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:36

  Woodgate coulda been a legend, but couldn’t get across the only white line that counts!..Still worth a punt tho’!..

• 26 Kash2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:37

  @James - Thats just what I know, as do most of the taxi drivers in Newcastle!

• 27 broon ale // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:38

  this is lies because alan Oliver started it, I have just emailed him to tell him too. Ed, you should not use his storys for blog.

  any people wanting to tell Alan Oliver to jump off the tyne bridge can email him on alan.oliver@ncjmedia.co.uk

• 28 Kash2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:38

  Class defender though, was the better half of the Ferdinand-Woodgate partnership for Leeds that went to semi’s in CL.

  Who’s this Chikhaoui bloke? Is he really that good?

• 29 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:40

  LOL!..Nice one broon ale, keep putting it out there bro, Anal O-lover-Mackem!..

• 30 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:44

  Kash2, you’ll see Chikhaoui and hopefully Chermiti (if he aint banned) tonight vs our Senegal boys.

• 31 broon ale // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:45

  punk skunk, its funny you call him mackem, the football team i play for has the odd mackem playing for us.. they looked up alan oliver somewhere and found out he used to be a member of a sunderland fan club.

• 32 paul p // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:46

  we need to start and make signing’s as there is only 8 days left. They will have identified the names they want. Woogate will be either the 1st of second. I can see Dean Ashton been one of them. I can also see Carrick being allowed to leave Man U. Scholes is nearly fit, they have anderson, hargreeves, giggs, oshea who can play there, fletcher too, so I think they may let one of their midfielders go. Carrick may not have played that much had hargreeves been fit and there’s evidence to suggest that, so that could be another. I hope we manage to get bentley. he is someone who can put a good ball in the middle. also can create something and also is a dead ball specialist as we all saw when we went to blackburn in december. left back also is what we require either shorey or bridge. notice how all the players I have mentioned are english too. he is looking for english players with premier league experience who can all better our team, well these are better than what we have. then in the summer, we can get more additions, plus some youngsters in, we could then see a significant difference.

• 33 Kash2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:47

  Breaking news

  “Alan Oliver has been arrested on suspicion of INCEST. Police have evidence that his wife is actually his sister!”

  Typical mackem thing to do!

• 34 Hadrian // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:49

  tom_toon , we have no chance in getting chikhaoui if he plays well tonight . scouts are having a field day at the acn , zidan was good last night

• 35 Kash2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:50

  I really liked the look of that black fella from the Ghana game!

• 36 paul p // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:50

  woodgate story on talk of the tyne

  http://www.rivals.net/news/pgarticle.aspx?artid=2483_3073123

  and football 365

  http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_3073161,00.html

  p.s

  am not sticking up for anal oliver either. he is a anus and full of you no what.

• 37 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:51

  broon ale, well who woulda thunk it!..It totally rings true doesn’t it?..Is that gospel or are tou just trying to ‘ruin’ his already tattered reputation?..Funny as…mate, nice one!..I’ll have to mail him again & ask him!..

• 38 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:51

  paul p - Carrick will be coming in the summer. Not in jan.

• 39 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:53

  D’ya think Carrick will come?..Do we want him?..

• 40 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:53

  ahaha Kash.

  Hadrian - Chermiti is almost the same player as Zidan, but younger and will be better, watch for him.

• 41 Kash2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:54

  Carrick would be class, imagine a geordie spine to the team. Harper - Taylor - Carrick - Carroll

• 42 Michael // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:54

  I would love him back if he can stay fit this time around. The best defender I’ve seen play for Newcastle.

• 43 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:54

  D’ya think KK’s watching the acn?..

• 44 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:55

  Punk Skunk - I guarantee Carrick will be in a black and white shirt in August. Fergie only bought him at the time cause he couldn’t get Hargreaves. Now Hargreaves is there he is always picked ahead of Carrick.

  Carrick is a geordie and he will be coming home this summer.

  He will cost a fair whack (14m-18m), but he is coming.

• 45 broon ale // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:57

  punk! this is gospel according to the lads, he used to write for a fanzine called a love surpreme, which is a mackem fanzine. I would look him up myself but i dont want anyone walking past my desk and seeing i am looking up alan oliver and mackems,, thats how rumours start.

• 46 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:57

  KK will be watching the Senegal game cause of Faye and Beye. Remember he hasn’t seen them play yet. So if there are any playmakers on show they will be seen by KK

• 47 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 14:59

  Chikhaoui will be playing, but there nob coach plays him as a striker, hoepfully Chermit aint banned either.

• 48 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:08

  Right on James, i believe!..I like your reasoning, it makes sense!..I just get sick of all the media bollox & i guess it’s made me totally cynical of speculation!..

• 49 Ant // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:10

  Woody- top class, always was. I was happy to see him go…13m for a defender…we couldn’t pass it up.

  He was a magificent player for Newcastle and should not cost anywhere near 10m, if he would welcome a return he’d be nearer the 6-8m mark.

  As for Carrick, yes he played well at Spur and has played fine for Man U but over 14-18m? I don’t think so. Midfielders that aren’t particularly exciting don’t cost that much, I’d offer no more than 8m and look at making it an appearance based contract, so if he can’t produce what we want he isn’t as much of a waste of money as Boumsong

• 50 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:11

  Tom Toon - Now that we all finally get to see this Chiken guy you keep going on about, I hope Beye whispers in his ear :

  “Play well mate cause there’s a big money move to Newcastle if you do.”

• 51 paul p // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:11

  i also think kk will have took in last nights game as well with spurs and arsenal. he will have picked up a few things from last night. He will noticed players, noticed how arsenal played and how they conceeded the goals etc. i just hope we are ready for it saturday and have a right go at it, caus it could be a good time to play them after that. they had their 1st teamers who were available for selection out there. only rosicky, clichy, flamini missing.

• 52 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:12

  Ant - Manure will dedictate the price, not us. Whatever it is Ashley will pay it. Mort, Keegan, and especially Shearer are big fans of Carrick.

• 53 Tom_Toon // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:13

  He better play well or im in for it. Keep in mind his coach plays him as a striker but hes more of a creative midfielder, i think he will come deep though.

• 54 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:15

  Tom-Toon - you better text him and warn him, because the whole of the Geordie nation is watching this fella because of you.

• 55 Punk Skunk // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:17

  broon ale, aye i have heard of such a rag-The keyboard player in my band is a mackem ( i see it as aversion therapy!)…Well, well, well, Anal O-lover you little tinker!..Ha Ha!..

• 56 paul p // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:20

  just a thort. we would not be able to sign any africans anyway this transfer window, as they are all away until after the transfer window closes. so we would have to wait until the summer to bring any of them in.

• 57 James // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:22

  paul p - all african players can join up with their clubs in march at the latest

• 58 dave // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:31

  Nope don’t want him…Too injury prone…waste of money and space!

• 59 paul p // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:32

  cheers james. I thought they had to be signed on the dotted line by jan 31st thats all which is last day of the window as we all no. its exciting to be linked with all these players that we have been and its going to be an exciting time for all of us. lets hope we have success in the market. the more we get, the higher up we will finish in the league this season.

• 60 scott9 // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:39

  would be a great buy as long as we didnt pay to much for him cause his injuries are ridiculoud hes worse than owen if we bought him we would have to give him somethin like pay as u play. E.G 60 grand a week when you play 40 when you dont

• 61 nufctj // Jan 23, 2008 at 16:08

  more on this:

  Kevin Keegan is ready to test Middlesbrough’s resolve to hang on to England international Jonathan Woodgate.

  The new Newcastle boss has been linked with a improbable list of potential targets since his installation last Wednesday evening, but is understood to be preparing to lure a man who already knows all about St James’ Park back to Tyneside.

  Middlesbrough-born Woodgate, who celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday, agreed a £7million permanent switch to the Riverside Stadium from Real Madrid towards the end of last season after a hugely successful campaign on loan from the Bernabeu.

  He signed a four-year deal after regaining his best form - and briefly, his England place - the result of a sustained run of fitness, something which had deserted him both during his previous spell at Newcastle and with Real.

  However, the Magpies, whose defensive need remains as pressing as ever despite the attempts of successive managers to address the situation, are preparing to turn to him once again.

  Keegan, whose scouting staff are currently battling against the clock to identify targets before the January transfer window closes, handed Woodgate his senior international debut against Bulgaria back in 1999.

  He could be prepared to use striker Shola Ameobi as a makeweight in any deal to secure the defender’s return, although he knows he will face a fight to prise him from Boro boss Gareth Southgate’s grasp.

  Southgate is currently attempting to strengthen his own squad - Ameobi is a player whose situation he has monitored, although Heerenveen’s Afonso Alves is a much higher-profile target.

  The former England defender, who played alongside Woodgate when he made his international bow, has been told by chairman Steve Gibson that he does not need to sell any of his big-name players.

  Tottenham’s dogged pursuit of winger Stewart Downing has so far been rebuffed, and there is little doubt any approach for Woodgate would have to be too good to ignore before the manager could even consider it.

  However, Southgate freely admits that every player has his price, a fact which was proved when Everton came calling with a cheque for £11.25million for Ayegbeni Yakubu.

  In addition, a series of niggling injuries - he underwent knee surgery during the summer and has been sidelined by a succession of muscle problems - have interrupted Woodgate’s season.

  With David Wheater having emerged as a genuine Barclays Premier League player and £6million signing Robert Huth now fully fit, Boro have options at the back.

  But there is little doubt Newcastle owner Mike Ashley would have to dig deep to make the Teessiders even contemplate the possibility of allowing Woodgate to leave.

  The former Leeds player originally arrived at St James’ in a £9million switch from Elland Road in January 2003 and looked a class act until injuries took their toll.

  Then manager Sir Bobby Robson thought he had finally found the solution to the club’s problems at the back, and it was a major surprise when Real staged a £13.4million swoop to take him to Spain in October 2005.

  However, the thigh problem with which he landed in Madrid limited him to just a handful of appearances for the club, and Fabio Capello’s arrival as manager ultimately paved the way for his departure.

  While Keegan may have to go to the wire if he launches a bid for Woodgate, he will hope his former Boro team-mate Mark Viduka will be fit for a daunting double-header with Arsenal.

  The 32-year-old striker missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bolton with a calf injury sustained in training the previous day, leaving the manager with just 11 fit senior players.

  Alan Smith and Nicky Butt will be available after suspension for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round trip to the Emirates Stadium, which will be followed four days later by a return in the league.

  And there is an outside chance that Joey Barton, currently on bail after being charged with assault and affray, could figure this weekend with the conditions on his release from custody meaning has to be back at the Sporting Chance clinic in Hampshire by 7pm every night.

• 62 iain // Jan 23, 2008 at 16:10

  man utd will sell carrick imo for the right price as fergie wants that miguel veloso from sporting lisbon.

  wouldt be surprised though if we got carrick and fergie nicked maschereno from liverpool.

• 63 Grambo // Jan 23, 2008 at 16:10

  isn’t woodgate a boro fan??

  if he is he may not want to leave!!!

• 64 ObaFan2 // Jan 23, 2008 at 16:14

  James,”Remember he hasn’t seen them play yet” There used to be a thing called video, now you have dvd and can even watch football on ur pc!

  Amazing technology, still wonder if KK’s seen them play?
  Going on the games I’ve seen so far at ACN it isn’t going to be that impressive.

  As for the rumours, well that’s all they are runours! Very boring imo.

• 65 Ryan Syahril // Jan 23, 2008 at 16:50

  My crystal ball indicates that Woodgate will be the first signing in the new KK era… and bye bye Ameobi!

• 66 Gordon d // Jan 23, 2008 at 17:16

  Sky sports are saying Woodgate has spoken to Newecastle.

• 67 Leo* // Jan 23, 2008 at 17:27

  bloody hell i go out for a couple hours and theres big rumours go around, i wait around all morning for something to happen, i think i am going to go back out again with my fingers crossed that we are linked with ronaldinho haha joking

• 68 Frankieboy // Jan 23, 2008 at 17:54

  Woody is the best Enlgish defender around when he is fit. got to be worth a chance.
  People will say he turned us down for Boro at start of season but remember he opted for his home town club which he has supported all his life (just like Shearer and the toon). Had he turned us down for anybody else i would of said too late he blew it .
  Exactly the same scenario when Owen signed cos he was holding out for Liverpool, again had it of been anybody else I wouldn’t of wanted him here neither

• 69 keltik // Jan 23, 2008 at 18:47

  SKySPortsNews - NUFC Have spoken to Woody over the past 48 hours, SPurs also interested but negotiations with NUFC are much further advanced.

  Excellent news, Woody is the best CB ive ever seen in a Toon Strip.obviously the issue is keeping him fit……. GOod signing IMO, but for the £9mil reported>??

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