Taken from an article about Poofy's whinge in today's Journal:

In stark contrast, Newcastle's own French connection love life in the North-East and United centre-half Alain Goma responded to Leboeuf's comments by claiming: "I am very settled here. It is more to do with the person than the place and, as far as I'm concerned, there is no problem with Newcastle.

''I know French players who have found it hard to adapt to English football but that is because of their character rather then the club or the community."

Goma and team-mate Didier Domi were quick to settle on Tyneside while keeper Lionel Perez has made the North-East his home for the last four years. [not like he's here for the money or anything]

Laurent Charvet has admitted to feeling homesick due to family problems but the former Chelsea player initially found it easy making the move from Stamford Bridge to St James's Park.

Just last month Domi told The Journal that Newcastle was 'cooler than Paris' and the French Under-21 international added: "I love the shopping and the socialising and these days I know so many people in Newcastle. I feel part of the city and I feel good."

One former United player who ultimately found North-East life tough was Spurs' winger David Ginola, but the former Paris St Germain star only became unsettled once his house had been burgled.

Leboeuf may champion London as the preferred destination for France's Premiership hopefuls but he is quick to criticise his own club.

In what hardly amounts to a glowing endorsement of football in the capital, he added: "In all my career I've never seen such horrible training conditions.

''We train in a place which is not functional and open to winds between the motorway.

"Even the coffee from the nearby plant smells. Every morning at 10.45 the coach must stop talking because Concorde is flying past." [Get the violins oot!]

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Answers

Le Poof

This guy has to take the biscuit as the most arrogant git in all Christendom. Just who the hell does he think he is?

Their is a wise phrase for people living in a foreign country that starts "when in Rome.....". As others who have lived abroad will testify, the one thing you don't do is "bite the hand that feeds you" - or it may just throttle you!! This man needs a serious lesson in humility - and urgently.

I once worked for a French company and found it largely populated by arrogant, opinionated smart-@rses like Le Poof - so, it could be catching.

BTW, did anyone see Le Poof's backward triple pike and solka when pushed in the chest by Babayoko last night in the vain attempt to have his opponent sent off? Real nice guy!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

No, already dozed off by then, but I did enjoy the magnificent pass accross his own box that almost resulted in a goal for Pires...hope to see it first hand at Wembley. Knacker. How overrated can you be?

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

I was going ballistic about the old tart at SJP last weekend. Can't stand him.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Interesting that during one of my summer stints in the Cirque du Soleil box office, we were quickly able to distinguish the French from the French Canadians purely by attitude. Long before we learned to distinguish the different accents.

I'll love it, just love it if we can stuff his nonsense down his throat and out the other end at Wembley.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Ciara

I've got a much better idea for where to stuff his arrogance. However, as we're new on here I'll be diplomatic - makes a change!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

It's not as if France is all like London is it? Something about one visting Rome springs to mind, I mean you didn't get Paul Gascoigne importing Broon and prawn cocktail flavour crisps whilst at lazio eh? All right gazza aside then Little bit o' broon nivva let ya doon eh?

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2000