From Sky Sports: CLUB PLAYS DOWN TALK OF CORT MOVE

Newcastle have played down talk that they are about to enter the race to sign Wimbledon striker Carl Cort. Reports on Wednesday morning claim that manager Bobby Robson is considering fighting Tottenham and Leicester for the #6million rated 22-year-old, but while the former England manager is certainly working hard behind the scenes to improve his squad, the club have said that there has been no official bid for the England Under-21 star.

Cort, adamant in his desire to leave Selhurst Park, is almost certain to have his wish granted, but as far as Newcastle are concerned, he will not be coming to St James Park.

"There is nothing happening with Carl Cort, but we are still hoping to make a further signing before the start of the new season," a spokesman said.

However Robson has watched Cort in the past and is committed to bringing young talent to the club. He also wants to make full use of Alan Shearer, who retired from international football after Euro 2000 to concentrate on playing for Newcastle.

That means giving him the right partner and Duncan Fergusons long-running injury problems have sparked suggestions that Robson will be prepared to sell the Scot in order to slash the wage bill, which in turn would fund a move for Cort.

Once again though, this has been denied by Newcastle.

"Duncan Ferguson is a Newcastle United player and as far as we are concerned, that's the way it stays," said the spokesman. SO, it would appear that we don't want Cort so it must be Mpenza as Bobby has talked about him?! What worries me slightly is that the spokesman said we hope to make A further signing. So if Mpenza comes then that would appear to be the lot for the close season signings.

Defence as it is as long as Domi stays and I presume that Bassedas is a left midfielder!! Hopefully the first friendly will tell us more about the new signings and their positions.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Answers

I'm pig sick of rumour and counter rumour, the sole use of which is to sell bloody newspapers.
So, here finally is the universal post:

INSERT ANY OF THE NAMES PROVIDED INTO THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:

Newcastle United are tracking......
Newcastle United are negotiating terms with......
Newcastle United are close to signing......
Newcastle are playing down rumours connecting them with......
Reports linking Newcastle United with ................ are wide of the mark.
Newcastle United have denied making a bid for .......
Newcastle United have signed .......

...... Sergi Rebrov
...... Peter Lovenkranz
...... Davor Suker
...... Robert Pires
...... Mark Viduka
...... Michael Bridges
...... Luis Enrique
...... Guardiola
...... Bart Goor
...... Robbie Fowler
...... Carl Cort
...... Emile Mpenza
...... Jan Koller
...... Joa Pinto
...... Craig Bellamy
...... Jimmy Greaves
...... Ian St John
...... Lord Lucan


-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Clarky.......

You forgot Shergar!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

He's already been sold, probably at a couple of burger vans in the Bigg Market!

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Superb Clarky.....just superb :))

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

The Fiver makes NUFC transfer activity transparent

CHOCKS HOWAY!

Pay attention! Squadron leader Fiver here, with some dashed important news for you all, so buck up and buckle down. See this blackboard to my right covered in pointy arrows? Yes? Well this represents the transfer activities of club A and club B. But for our purposes, we'll call them Newcastle and Spurs.

Now club A, that's Newcastle, have a strong interest in Belgian johnny Emile Mpenza. I will denote him with an X. According to reports in the North East, manager Bobby Robson and chairman Freddie Shepherd are today in Germany (I think we all know where that is, what?!) talking over an #8m move with his club FC Schalke. But according to reports in London, which I will denote with an X, Spurs are hoping to hijack the deal. Hijack! Where?

According to my chappie on the inside, person X would prefer a move to destination X, a transfer I will denote with an X. "Emile told me that Schalke is OK but he doesn't feel very comfortable in Germany", whispered Belgian agent Marc Wilmots. "He would like to sign the contract with Tottenham within the next few days."

Which could leave Newcastle fishing in the canal with a spatula. But, be prepared, cub scout law, Newcastle have a dashed cunning back-up plan. Yes, they have Wimbledon's Carl Cort in their cross hairs. Like Mpenza, this chappy bunks in Lanky House, so I will denote his long legs with an X. But, and I will denote this back door banditry with an X, the jolly Magpies face competition from a rival club who want to sign not only Cort but Dons full-back Ben Thatcher too.

"We are not denying we have been speaking to Wimbledon and it is true that we have an offer on the table," said the director of football at this mystery club. "We are waiting to see if the bid is accepted so that we can speak to the players." But who are these bally fiends, whom I will denote with an X? Why none other than the Hotspurs of Tottenham. Yes, the very same! So X +X times X minus X = X. But keep it to yourselves - careless talk costs quids don't you know.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

But Clarky, any mention of Henry to Newcastle?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Wasn't Henry the naughty green engine who didn't do what the fat controller wanted?

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000