Senegalese international Lamine Diatta, who is 32 years old, is on trial with Newcastle and will play in a pre-arranged game this morning, before Kevin Keegan makes a decision as to whether to offer him a short term contract at Newcastle.
Lamine Diatta - D-day today
Newcastle United executive director Dennis Wise was apparently behind the offer of trials to the Senegal captain. The Guardian says the idea of signing Diatti, who is a free agent and therefore available outside the transfer window, came from Wise’s scouting team.
Since that’s their job, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if that piece of news was true.
But we hear different reports on whether Kevin and his team think Lamine is suited to the rigors of the Premier league, so we have no idea what Kevin thinks about the player.
Here is Diatta’s playing record:
Years Club App Goals 1998-1999 Toulouse FC 25 0 1999 Marseille 0 0 1999-2004 Stade Rennais 129 9 2004-2006 Olympique Lyonnais 32 0 2006-2007 St. Étienne 25 1 2007-2008 Besiktas JK 10 0 2000- Senegal 26 1
We expect a decision from Kevin some time today on whether he will offer a short term contract to Lamine. If we had to guess the outcome we’d say he will not be offered a contract. But we’ve been wrong before. 
Comments welcome.
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30 responses so far ↓
1 ronaldeano // Mar 4, 2008 at 12:42
If he is no better than what we already have, then whats the point?
Rozenhal has gone to Lazio and lets be honest, have we missed him?
I dont know if Diatta is good or bad because i havent seen him play, but if he dosent get a contract, he is probably shite. I trust KK’s judgement
2 Ashton // Mar 4, 2008 at 12:47
He is too old !
3 Kash2 // Mar 4, 2008 at 13:01
@Ronaldeano - Agreed, has to be more effective than what we already have and give a different sort of edge to the team.
@Ashton - Short-Term Contract!!!!
4 Elliott // Mar 4, 2008 at 13:12
I’m presuming he’s played a fair bit with Faye and Beye and he’s played with Cacapa too soo would prob settle very quickly. Maybe worth a punt.
Jaidi came in at the same age from some obscure club and had a real impact for a season.
5 Kash2 // Mar 4, 2008 at 13:23
Jaidi is immense and completely dominant in the air. You never know, he might sign, he might play decently well and he might score some goals too. Then we could always sell him for a nominal fee!
6 Stami // Mar 4, 2008 at 13:43
Id give him a go till the end of this season and see how he does. at least he will be familiar with 2 of our top defenders in Beye and Faye. he cant be that bad if he theCaptain of Senegal!
7 Betting on the Toon // Mar 4, 2008 at 13:44
He’s obviously come recommended from Faye, Beye and Cacapa so that’s why Keegan has decided to take a look at him. Not sure he impressed when playing in the 8-0 defeat for Besiktas at Liverpool earlier in the season though?
8 ObaFan2 // Mar 4, 2008 at 14:11
Some “news” items:
“Juande Ramos remains concerned about Ledley King’s long-term fitness and reports suggest he sees Taylor as a possible £6million capture. ”
Swap him for King?
“Scott McGeady, rated at £12million, is a prime target for Newcastle”
Celtic paid a reported £700k for the Aussie striker at the start of the season!
9 dingo // Mar 4, 2008 at 14:18
a little off topic but here are the bottom 8 clubs run-ins for the end of the season
NEWCASTLE (28 points, 28 games): Liverpool (a); Birmingham (a); Fulham (h); Tottenham (a); Reading (h); Portsmouth (a); Sunderland (h); West Ham (a); Chelsea (h); Man City (a).
WIGAN (27 points, 28 games): Arsenal (h); Bolton (h); Blackburn (a); Portsmouth (a); Birmingham (h); Chelsea (a); Tottenham (h); Reading (h); Aston Villa (a); Man U (h).
SUNDERLAND (27 points, 28 games): Everton (h); Chelsea (h); Aston Villa (a); West Ham (h); Fulham (a); Man City (h); Newcastle (a); Middlesbro (h); Bolton (a); Arsenal (h).
BIRMINGHAM (26 points, 28 games): Portsmouth (a); Newcastle (h); Reading (a); Man City (h); Wigan (a); Everton (h); Aston Villa (a); Liverpool (h); Fulham (a); Blackburn (h).
BOLTON (25 points, 28 games): Wigan (a); Man U (a); Manchester City (h); Arsenal (h); Aston Villa (a); West Ham (h); Middlesbro (a); Tottenham (a); Sunderland (h); Chelsea (a).
READING (25 points, 28 games): Man City (h); Liverpool (a); Birmingham (h); Blackburn (h); Newcastle (a); Fulham (a); Arsenal (a); Wigan (a) Tottenham (h); Derby (a).
FULHAM (19 points, 28 games): Blackburn (a); Everton (h); Newcastle (a); Derby (a); Sunderland (h); Reading (a); Liverpool (h); Man City (a); Birmingham (h); Portsmouth (a).
DERBY (10 points, 28 games): Man Utd (h); Chelsea (a); Middlesbro (a); Fulham (h): Everton (a); Aston Villa (h); West Ham (a); Arsenal (h); Blackburn (a); Reading (h).
10 Ashton // Mar 4, 2008 at 14:32
ObaFan2
I think you mean Aiden McGeady
because there is no player on planet earth called scott mcgeady !
11 ObaFan2 // Mar 4, 2008 at 14:36
oops I meant Scott McDonald I think, each news item seem to have different names for him
Maybe I’ll just call him Bruce
12 Rich // Mar 4, 2008 at 14:41
dingo - i was just looking at fixtures and predicting results how many points do you think we need? ive been kind to our rivals with results and looked at ours negatively and i think if we get 37 points we will def stay up!! We need 3 wins in our last 10 in my opinion.Maybe if we get 2 wins and a draw that will leave us on 35 that might just keep us up but i think 35 points will be the points total of the 3rd bottom club and i think that will be Bolton!!
13 ObaFan2 // Mar 4, 2008 at 14:46
Rich, I agree that we may well see a very low points total for 18th EPL place this season.
However harsh you are with our results and kind to others it still seems we’d stay up….. just.
We have to win atleast 2 games at least, I mean we have to, I can’t see us not winning any games this season but I wish this season was over and new players were coming in already
14 Betting on the Toon // Mar 4, 2008 at 15:11
Looking at the run-ins, I think we have to say Derby and Fulham are gone already and out of the others, our run in is tricky but potentially there’s 13 points there with wins v Fulham, Reading and Sunderland (home) and draws at Pompey, Birmingham, West Ham and City. That would be enough to stay up and must be a realistic aim with the players at Keegan’s disposal.
15 Rich // Mar 4, 2008 at 15:13
Totally Obafan2, i just want to see the back of this season with us still in the premierhip then look forward to better times ahead!! You are spot on in saying we must win 2 matches at least and then a draw or a win should see us through!! JUST!!
16 thelongshanks // Mar 4, 2008 at 15:18
With martins back i think we have what we have been lacking the last couple of months.I was never happy before with the toon drawing matches but this season i will take them gladly.
17 dingo // Mar 4, 2008 at 15:32
Rich Obafan2… i agree with you both as well…. however i think 3 wins and a draw will defo keep us safe… just 2 wins could put us in the muck as our goal difference is terrible!
18 micepie // Mar 4, 2008 at 15:44
Also very off-topic:
I don’t quite get it with the whole 40 points thing, although it is based on the history of Premiership relegation battles so fair enough I suppose. What if Bolton and Fulham lost virtually all of their remaining fixtures though?!
Anyway, I think we’ve got to play like we did against Blackburn in every game if we can, seemingly without fear for the most part, and expansive, attacking football. I’m encouraged that Owen at least got in scoring chances, and surely he’ll find more cutting edge soon. Just gotta find someone else who is much more likely to score too, or else give Smith intensive shooting and heading practice in training and try to instill in him the awareness and belief to score goals!
p.s - it doesn’t hurt to sign the Senegalese guy for a year
19 ObaFan2 // Mar 4, 2008 at 15:54
Atleast it seemed that some1 told Smith which way the goal was on Saturday
I’m optimistic, mainly because there are worse teams (unbelievably) in the league than us this season.
20 toonfan1 // Mar 4, 2008 at 16:22
betting on the toon- we hav already played city home and away lost both 3-1 and 0-2. we hav everton left as the last game and we wont get nuthin their
21 nightfall // Mar 4, 2008 at 17:19
why would we sign diatta…i mean..i don’t know him, but…why would we sign another defender when we have edgar playing for the reserve team…and kadar…and tozer… yes they are young, but look at bale, rooney, milner…they all started playing for seniors at the age of 16!
22 Leo // Mar 4, 2008 at 18:13
i dont understand all the downers on rozzy, i really liked him, also alot of people on hear rated him before he left, and all of a sudden have changed their tunes.
also i thought keegan said he was going to wait till thursday to decide on diatta
23 Hadji // Mar 4, 2008 at 18:32
I’ve just read that Kallstrom lost his place from Bodmer in Lyon.
Maybe a chance to get him in the summer along with Elmander in case Toulouse get relegated.
24 obafemimartins // Mar 4, 2008 at 18:38
this guy can score goals!!!!!!!!!!! we should play him upfront in emergency’s (whenever smith should be playing).
He has scored more goals than smith and doesnt do one every 2 1/2 years
25 Tom_Toon // Mar 4, 2008 at 18:43
Hadji, Kallstrom plays more or less every game and Cris is back for Lyon at CB so bodmer can move to CDM, they are playing defensively against Manure like most do, which is a good idea. Hes gets dropped for one game, completely tactical.
Rather buy Chermiti than Elmander.
26 mikeygd // Mar 4, 2008 at 18:51
yer agree with oba and rich as well the teams below us r thankfully really shit
27 thelongshanks // Mar 4, 2008 at 19:19
I hope we buy Chermiti ,cuz id like to see tom toons response to that one.Diatta sounds like a panic buy,something keegan said he never would do.
28 daiv // Mar 4, 2008 at 19:36
How bad are Newcastle… 3 points from 33. It must be Sams fault.. KK can do no wrong.
29 Ausgeordie // Mar 4, 2008 at 21:31
I think KK change in the way he wants the boys to play has taken time for them to take on board. Learning a new style could be hard I dont know. They certainly played well last week but I really think we need Viduka or Carroll up front with Owen or Martins. Smith simply does not cut it as a striker. He should be first subbed whenever he starts.
30 Mr Wrong // Mar 5, 2008 at 3:57
Is Paolo Maldini available? He’s only 38, so with Diatta and Maldini we could really build a solid defence for the future…
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