Bobby On Woody's Replacement & Rooney
Speaking at the Norwich pre-match press conference earlier
today, Bobby was quizzed about the need to replace Jonathan Woodgate
and Wayne Rooney. This is what he had to say:
On Woodgate's replacement:
"We're aware that we've lost Jonathan Woodgate. We're aware of
what we've lost and we're fully aware that we need to replace him,
and we are diligently working on that issue.
"You will appreciate it's not easy. You see names bandied about,
Gallas and the like - lovely. They're not available. It's easy to
pick out a name, but you've got to persuade the club to sell him.
"We're being quoted more money for some players than we got for
Jonathan Woodgate. Try. Come to my office and pick up the telephone.
"I see all these wonderful names and supporters writing in saying
'Buy him, buy him'. It's a lovely thought, but we're trying and we're
working away at it, to try to bring in the sort of player that we
want.
"We don't want to bring in a player who we know is not good enough
- there are plenty of those being shovelled at us, plenty.
"We've got 20 agents ringing us with players, players we don't
want, so we won't buy a player who we know after three weeks we'll
be saying 'What the hell have we bought him for? He's worse than what
we've got', so we won't do that.''
On Rooney:
"All I can do is literally confirm that an offer for £20
million has been made to Everton by Newcastle United Football Club.
"I understand that the offer has been rejected but I also understand
the chairman has still left the offer on the table and, beyond that,
there's not much more I can say.
"That's for a later stage of the day (talking about Rooney's
talents). If, and when, that transaction takes place in our favour.
"There's no point saying anything. It's quite irrelevant and
hypothetical. Let's get on with what's important in the next couple
of days.
"To some degree, the chairman has put his money where his mouth
is. £20 million cash is a sizeable offer in anybody's language.
"Some people are trying to buy a club for that in certain cities,
at the moment. A whole club, not one player.
"That's all I can say about it. As you saw in the European Championship,
he was the best young player in the tournament. He was sensational.
"But it's hypothetical and let's leave it at that.
"Lets get on with whats important in the next couple of days"
Wayne Rooney Offer: £20m Not A Penny More
That is the headline of today's Chronicle who claim Newcastle will
not budge on their £20m offer for Wayne Rooney. Despite reports
earlier today suggesting otherwise.
Chronicle quotes attributed to a club source:
"Everton have got our cash offer and now is it's up to them.
Don't forget that Liverpool have just sold Michael Owen for £8m
to Real Madrid, while England Skipper David Beckham only cost £25m
when he moved to Spain last Summer.
"We think that that £20m is a good price for Wayne Rooney,
especially when you take into consideration the likes of Manchester
United or Arsenal have made no move for him.
"the only club who could perhaps come up with more than £20m
is Chelsea and they have shown that they are not interested in Rooney
at this moment."
Meanwhile...
Newcastle have reacted strongly to press reports claiming our offer
for Rooney was a sideshow for Man Utd/Proactive. Check our the official
club statement from Nufc.co.uk
Newcastle United vehemently denies the allegations made in today's
Times that it has been involved in a conspiracy with Manchester United
and/or Proactive Sports Group about a potential sale of Wayne Rooney
by Everton.
Those allegations are offensive and absurd. The suggestion that Newcastle
United would be helping one of its main competitors secure one of
the most talented players in Europe is bizarre. The club has already
confirmed its interest in Rooney and the club has been working on
the bid for a number of weeks. He would be a tremendous asset to the
club.
Newcastle is taking the allegations of conspiracy very seriously and
is currently seeking legal advice.
Earlier Newcastle-Online wrote:
Just when you thought that the craziness at Newcastle had abated,
out comes the news that we have slapped in a £20m cash bid for
Everton's England No.9 Wayne Rooney with the Toffees knocking back
our bid.
A bid that Freddy Shepherd claims is "still on the table".
So what started as a rumour on Saturday in the Sun newspaper, has
now snow-balled into a mass media frenzy.
Today's Sun
claim we will up our bid to £30m. The Mirror claim we will up
our bid to £23m while the Times
and the Independent
both claim conspiracies.
And what of Toon supporters? Well judging from the e-mails I have
awoke to many see it as a publicity stunt to placate us while many
don't want the teenage striker - defenders Freddy?? Either way, as
Freddy said himself, this club is never dull and I'm sure we haven't
heard the last of this.
Scouts Honour
Speaking in today's Chronicle, United's chief scout Charlie
Woods claims:
"I have had 20 calls about a central defender and there are not
20 good central defenders out there."
So while Freddy Shepherd is off chasing a hot teen, our scout is out
patrolling the back lanes for for a centre-half. Great!
Toon Freak Show On It's Way
From today's Chronicle:
Former England coaches Sir Bobby Robson and Graham Taylor will
pit their wits against each other in a new reality TV show hosted
by Newcastle United.
The Match will see a squad of celebrities live and train at the Magpies'
training ground before lining up against a team of former pros at
St James' Park.
And the Chronicle can today exclusively reveal details for the show,
being produced by the makers of Big Brother. The 18-strong celebrity
squad, including actors Ralf Little and Gary Lucy, will first go on
a training camp before flying up to Tyneside, where they will live
for a week in October. Simon Webbe from boy band Blue; Calum Best
and Lee Latchford Evans from Steps; Jonathan Wilkes and M C Harvey
will also feature.
Graham Taylor will be their manager and will choose his starting 11
from the 18, with the others being voted off by viewers. They will
then take on a daunting team of former pros, including Paul Gascoigne,
Peter Beardsley, Bryan Robson and Mark Lawrenson.
James Baker, controller of Sky One said: "The Match is set to
take reality into a new league of entertaining event television."
The celebs will sleep, eat and train at Newcastle's academy centre
in Benton before the big match against the Premiership Legends XI
on October 10.
During the week they will live the life of Premiership stars, with
games of golf and nights on the town. Four times during the show,
presented by Ulrika Jonsson and Mark Durden-Smith, Taylor will nominate
three players to be up for eviction.
And the public will be able to decide who gets the red card by ringing
in to cast their votes. All proceeds from the show will go to children's
charities.
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "We're delighted that
our friends from Sky Television have chosen Newcastle United to host
The Match. Our facilities at St James' Park and the academy are second
to none and the decision to produce the programme on Tyneside reflects
United's standing in the game.
"It's certain to be a terrific programme which will have the
British public glued to their TV sets next season.
"We wish all those taking part the very best of luck and look
forward to extending our Geordie hospitality to one and all."
Initial chief executive Malcolm Gerrie, who is a Geordie, said: "I'm
delighted Initial will be working with Sky and NUFC on The Match.
This is an ambitious project and, in the spirit of Big Brother, Fame
Academy, The Games, and other Endemol successes, we will be bringing
our A-team to the production."
The Match kicks off on Sky One on October 3 with a 90-minute launch
programme, followed by six one-hour shows from Monday to Saturday.
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If Only He Was This Quick On The Pitch...
To add to those other Toon players who have been banned
from driving, now add the name of Titus Bramble, who received a 28
day driving ban this morning for doing 107mph on the A1. Bramble,
who has already been banned before, was also fined £395. |
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