Oaks

I think Liverpool because, they will have to sign big hitters. If we sign a few £8-10 million players we will(probably) improve. Liverpool need a few £15-25 million to take them to the next level to challenge for that title, and not just be a cup team.

On NRC. I maybe putting 2 + 2 together and getting 5, but Sky keep saying we're favorites, and they have interviewed him today.

I hope Villa but think Liverpool.

Wheres Hot Shots, my personal favorite.

Just watched an exclusive with Reo-Coker on SSN. Said he didn't know where his future lay but that it wasn't at West Ham. Said that he was concentrating on the u21's and that it was up to clubs to agree a deal with WHU and he'd take it from there. SSN also said that we're favourites to sign him.

Havn't seen anything to suggest that he wants to go to Newcastle, can anyone link this Sun article?

NIGEL REO-COKER has begged Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce to end his West Ham nightmare.

Reo-Coker is desperate to quit Upton Park and would love the chance to link up with Allardyce at St James’ Park.

Big Sam, who continues to track Manchester City bad-boy Joey Barton, tried to land the England Under-21 skipper for Bolton last season but Hammers boss Alan Curbishley refused to let him go.

Now, with Scott Parker on his way to East London, Reo-Coker wants a chance to fill the void.

New Trotters boss Sammy Lee continues to keep tabs on the midfielder, 23, who is available for around £8million.

His agent Tony Finnegan said: “Sam Allardyce knows how to get in contact with Nigel and we would welcome a call.

“If Sam said he wanted to speak, Nigel would be on the train in a shot. It would be very interesting to see what his plans are for Newcastle.â€

Meanwhile, Mike Ashley’s Toon takeover moved a step closer last night when the club’s board agreed to consider his offer.

A statement released to the Stock Exchange said: “The board of Newcastle United announces that there was a meeting with Mike Ashley and his team at which there was a useful and constructive discussion.

“The board will now consider its response to the offer from St James Holdings Ltd.â€

Ashley owns a 41.6 per cent stake in the club after buying Sir John Hall’s shares. He will release a statement to shareholders next week detailing his vision for Newcastle.

Stock Exchange rules say the 43-year-old must submit a formal takeover bid.

He is hopeful of further progress by the end of next week.

sopi

i'll be pleased to sign him, but for 8 million i'm not so sure?

he should be 4 million max, and considering he is transfer listed and west ham already have a ready made replacement joining in parker, i don't see why he should be costing 8 million pounds

His had a similar career as Davis. Although i think the lad has a little more to his game, i think £8 million is too much.

the sun has the highest percentage of correct football gossip(i read it somewhere)

wasnt The Sun, was it?

Nope it was on a website somewhere. Done by someone with way too much time.

From the Guardian, something I class as a more 'official' newspaper. I might be wrong, but I believe it more than the Sun/Mirror etc.

NRC looks as though he is going to be our first summer signing. Would we still be interested in Barton if this deal goes through?

I'd very much like to see Barton here aswel, but in NRC I think we are getting a cracking little player, that is full of energy. Some people on these boards question his attitude etc, as that is all we see. For me, something at West Ham has gone seriously wrong, but he was linked with most of the big boys this time last year after a SUPERB season. He was excellent in the FA Cup Final from what I can remember. He is some much needed energy our team has needed since Boateng left.

I think we're going to love NRC should he sign, which I suspect he will.

By the way the sun has the highest percentage of correct football gossip(i read it somewhere), but that was only about 30%, The Mirror from what i remember had one of the lowest, which i believe.

Aston Villa have emerged as favourites to sign Nigel Reo-Coker and are expected to agree a deal worth about £8m with West Ham United for the England Under-21 captain next week. Reo-Coker has submitted a transfer request at West Ham and, although he has been strongly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, it is understood Villa are close to winning the race for his signature.

Martin O'Neill returns from holiday today keen to complete the deal, which would take his spending since arriving at the club last summer beyond £20m. The Villa manager is set to embark on a major rebuilding programme before the new season and, with midfield a key area to strengthen, has earmarked Reo-Coker as the first piece of the jigsaw. It is believed that the 23-year-old is excited by the prospect of playing under O'Neill.

lxvb

A players peak years are usually between 27 & 30 but that doesn't negate my final sentence above.

Yes but we are light years from winning anything. We have to build a team/squad for the future. Signing 31 year old players are for now.

Second choice to whom?!

I dont know, but signing or attempting to sign a 31 year old seems like were going for second best to me.

But it means we're also buying the finished article that can go straight out on the pitch and contribute immediately - not to mention single-handedly solving our troublesome rightback slot. We can't buy all promising youngsters. The average age of the CL winning Milan team was 31.

I would say that a players peek years are between 27 and 30, and his past that. But as i said his a good player.

I would be embarrassed by Shambles signing.

Second choice to whom?!

I dont know, but signing or attempting to sign a 31 year old seems like were going for second best to me.

Villa linked with Finnan raid

May 31, 2007

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is reportedly interesting in pinching Irish full back Steve Finnan from Liverpool.

Finnan is on the verge of agreeing a new contract at Anfield after helping the Reds to last week’s Uefa Champions League final.

However, manager Rafa Benitez has already signed a potential replacement for the 31-year-old defender in the shape of Alvaro Arbeloa - and rumours continue to link the Spaniard with a big-money move for Sevilla’s brilliant Brazilian Daniel Alves.

And that has prompted O’Neill to intervene with an offer to take the former Fulham star to Villa Park.

Thursday’s Irish Sun reports that the Villa chief is willing to splash out €3.8m, or approximately St£2.5m, to land the Irish star this summer.

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrossthewater/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=27943

Would really welcome this signing. He sets up so many of Liverpool's goals, aswel as being a very good defender! Older than I thought, but for that kinda money, I'd take him. There's a reason why he is normally one of the most expensive defenders on fantasy premierleague!! lol.

Im really not that bothered about us not signing anyone just over 10 days after the season has finished, i will be a little apprehensive if we haven't signed anyone before the end of July, and thats a long way off.

I WANT A **** SIGNING NOW AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

General,

Please could you confirm that our kit deal is with Nike directly, and not with the third party supplier, Just Sports Group, that Fulham have signed a deal with?

Cheers!

nike are paying us £5 million a year for 5 years.

Hi General,

I was just wondering whether there is any update on the official web site change? Whether someone has been chosen to host it and what new things it could include?

Kewell was awesome at Leeds, but hasn't done anything since.

That's true if you count scoring in the World Cup and winning a Champions League medal as nothing.

Fact is this: Kewell has some injury concerns. He has spent most of his time at Anfield on rehabilitation for different conditions.

After the latest surgery, he is now fit again. And a fit again Kewell is an immense player.

Question is: Is it worth the gamble? Abso-bloody-lutely!

Yeah all 23 mins of it. Then guess what??? He got injured.

Why are people suddenly happy with Liverpool's cast-offs?

We eventually hope to compete with clubs like Liverpool for CL spots, so why should we try and do that with players that have failed to do exactly that for them?

To be honest i would be happy with, Bellamy, but only for £6-7 million, i think his an improvement in what we have, and bring in a new dimension to our game. I would take a risk on Kewell if he was free, but i dont think he is so why bother.

Just because they havent worked at 1 club doesnt mean they wont at another. Bellamy scored 18 goals the season before last at Blackburn. Shows to me, when playing really the way he wants/likes to be played, he can score goals.

But even so i still hope we can/will do better.

i think we will sign someone i really do.............................i mean we must.......................surely.

Jags no deal...yet

Still time for us to sign a very good young player....

I wonder, on a general basis that is, if MON has several choices for each position he wants filled (which he obviously has), should he move for his 2nd choice in a situation where the transfer situation of his 1st choice might need longer to sort out? In order not to lose the 2nd choice as well I mean. Then if you buy your 2nd choice, suddenly it turns out you could have got your 1st.

I don't think we should be very surprised if it turns out that we have to wait a while before we see anything happening. Unless of course MON decides to bring in a Steven Naismith or a Billy Sharp, which probably will take shorter to sort out.

Say if Jagielka is 2nd choice for RB and Micah Richards is 1st. Would (or should) MON go for Jagielka before Everton gets him, or should he wait until the Man.City takeover is sorted and the new manager allows (or not) Richards to leave, and risk losing Jagielka?

Or if the Sneijder to Valencia thing drags out, should MON go for his 2nd choice instead(whoever it might be) and risk losing out on both?

Assuming all names are targets of course.

Ok Jagielka could make a good right back, but its not his position. He really isn't tried and tested there. Although his a decent player, i seriously dont think he would or should get into out first team. I hope for better targets this summer i really do.

Even dirty Leeds fans will tell you that Kewell only turned it on for them when the cameras turned up

He rarely even does that for his "boyhood team"

Is true my Uncle is a Leeds fan, and he said that very thing(before he left them, it must be said).

I talked to Bolton fans before a game against us, and they said the same about Jay Jay Ocatcha, look where he is now.

Micah Richards is our no 1 target thats the rumours in Manchester.

I haven't heard any of these rumours!

I know people who work for Oldham Athletic, and they have a sell on clause he was in there youth team.

If they knew about it surely it would be almost done, i.e their about to get some bucks! :?

I think they are waiting for the takeover.

When was the last time we signed an England international?

Gavin McCann

Hummmm his just a 1 cap wonder.

Micah Richards is our no 1 target thats the rumours in Manchester.

I haven't heard any of these rumours!

I know people who work for Oldham Athletic, and they have a sell on clause he was in there youth team.

If they knew about it surely it would be almost done, i.e their about to get some bucks! :?

I think they are waiting for the takeover.

When was the last time we signed an England international?