Chelsea: It Could Have Been Newcastle!
Firstly, congratulations to Chelsea
for winning the Premiership Title and breaking up the monotonous Manchester
United-Arsenal trend we have seen over the last ten years. Not only
have they played the best football this season they have taken English
football up a level with their exploits in Europe. They have great
players and a great exciting manager. But I can't help the green eyed
monster coming over me and thinking back to when Chelsea could have
been Newcastle United!
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Big Al Going Back To Blackburn
To play in a testimonial match that is. From Blackburn's
official website:
Two of Rovers most popular players
in modern times are set for an emotional Ewood Park reunion. Alan
Shearer and Tim Flowers, both key figures in the Premiership title
success of 1995, have agreed to play in an end-of-season testimonial
match for Tony Parkes on Tuesday May 17th.
Tony, who is putting together an all-star line-up to take on the current
Rovers squad on the big night, said: "To get confirmation from Alan
and Tim is a great start. They were both huge stars with Rovers and
they had no hesitation in agreeing to play. We hope to release more
confirmed names in the next few days."
Buying From Our Premiership Rivals - Blackburn Rovers
So Graeme Souness wants to bring in
players who have Premiership experience or who can perform in the
League, then? Well lets take a look at our Premiership rivals and
see who is available, who could be available and who we could potentially
attract. In the 4th instalment of a daily series, lets take a look
at Blackburn Rovers.
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Shearer Dropped, Kluivert To Start!
Graeme Souness quotes from the official NUFC site regarding the lineup
for tomorrow night's match at Craven Cottage against Fulham:
"Kluivert will start.
"I think I'll have to give Alan a rest."
United
(from): Ambrose, Ameobi, Boumsong, Brittain, Carr, Faye, Given,
Harper, Kluivert, Milner, N'Zogbia, O'Brien, Ramage, Robert, Shearer,
Taylor.
Hugo Viana's Future: New Twists & Turns
From yesterday's Chronicle:
Newcastle United have
failed to agree a deal with Sporting Lisbon for Hugo Viana - and that
means the Portuguese international could be back at St James' Park
next month.
The 22-year-old midfielder has been on loan with Sporting for this
season and United asked them for a decision on whether or not they
were going to buy Viana. That deadline expired last night and although
United were represented in Lisbon over the weekend, no offer was forthcoming.
Now United will contact other clubs who have asked them about Viana
and if nothing materialises they feel they will have no alternative
but to recall the player. It's the last thing they or the player wants
but United are not prepared to let Viana go for nothing after Sir
Bobby Robson paid £8.5m for him in the summer of 2002.
Indeed, a source in Lisbon told me today: "Sporting are skint and
they will be looking to get Viana for nothing."
United chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "We have kept our part of the
deal and Sporting have not made us any kind of offer for Hugo.
"We are now ready to listen to offers from other clubs. If there aren't
any he will get a letter telling him to report back with the rest
of the squad on June 22."
United feel that they would be within their rights to prevent Viana
playing in the UEFA Cup final at Sporting's own Jose Alvalade Stadium
on May 18 should they see off AZ Alkmaar in the semi-final second
leg when they take a 2-1 lead to Holland on Thursday.
Sporting are the club United have played more than any other in European
competitions and have a good relationship with the Lisbon outfit which
they are keen not to ruin. But United paid Sporting £8.5m up front
for Viana three years ago and they quite rightly would like as much
of this back as they can get.
Meanwhile Italian side Palermo have expressed an interest in
the midfielder. Club president Maurizio Zamparini had this to say:
"Viana is a player that interests us, we have spoken to
Newcastle, but the player preferred to remain in Portugal.
"If that situation changes, which at this time is looking likely,
we will once again seek talks with Newcastle.
"He is a player that excites us very much, and we feel he can
improve our team, which has performed excellently this year, but with
the right players, we can do even better next year."
Does Harper Know Something We Don't About Shay?
Quotes from Steve Harper yesterday regarding the goalkeeping position
at Newcastle.
Lifted from the BBC:
"Obviously, I want to play but
if Shay keeps doing the business then I will have to keep my head
down.
"But there has been transfer speculation as regards to Shay, so who
knows what the summer will bring.
"Just a phone call could have an effect on where Shay, or even I,
might be next season." |
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