.............nearly had mesel' one on the train this evening. Toon swoop for £8M Carrick staring out at me - albeit from the back page of today's Sun. But as it was three roews away, I couldn't read the details.

However, when I get on the BBS, no mention, so I guess it was just the Lahdaan journos trying to hit the 'ammers while they are down.

But it did get me thinking. OK - MC has built a working relationship with Joe Cole. This could be seen as half of the England midfield for many years to come. But what if he was to come to Toon? With LKD, he could equally form half of the future England midfield for many years to come. And what better carrot to dangle in front of LKD when we are hoping to etend his contract.

Maybe it was the sun (small "s") or maybe it was The Sun ("big "S"). But it could be the answer to the questin Clarky posed the other night. It's also the type of high-profile (?) signing FS would love to make before the STs go on sale. Big question is, how much of a gamble would it be to splach out circa £8M on a 19 year-old? Can I have some of that hindsight please?

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Answers

It must be true!! Ronnie is carrying two stories about Carrick and Toon.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Well, one plus a screwey headline. What was that you said Clarky???

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Well the deal was that Prutton, although untried at this level, was out of our reach at 4m. If we are going to spend 8m on Carrick, I'd rather double it and go get Macca from Real Madrid.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Damned if I can remember Screach, but it must have been good - it's had two mentions on this thread already!

If you find out, let me know.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Taking a quick check over prior posts, I've already "signed" the following this week with Douggie's money:

Frank Lampard - £10mm
Robbie Elliott - free
Lee Clark - swap for GS
and now Michael Carrick - £8mm

Canny midfield, eh? Four good English players for £18, including three Geordies.

Oh yes, I've also sold Barton, Bassedas and Marcelino for a combined £5mm reducing my outlay to date to £13million.

Now, I need a left-sided striker/midfielder, a RB and big nasty CH. Got to catch a cyber- plane, so see yers later.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Your question was "Why would Michael Carrick want to come to Newcastle?". The other reference was to your (oft used) closing comment - in this case, particularly applicable to the gutter press.

So you'd sell LKD then Clarky, would you? No room in your m/f. WOuld Joe Cole do a better job than your lad Lee in m/f (albeit a bit more expensive)?

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

No, I'd keep Dyer, Screacher - he's not a central midfield player IMO. I'd play him either in Pedro's role, or on the right wing. I'd sell Solano in preference to YKD.

In fact if I sold Solano for £8mm, my total outlay would be down to £5mm, and the "Geordie factor" would have increased immeasurably.

There is a slight problem - I still doubt Carrick would come here when the alternatives became apparent, and even if he did I think WHU would get more than £8mm for him. I wouldn't be surprised if they got £12mm for him.

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2001

Clarky, it's not too late to pull out of the Farank lampard deal, you get the same player in Jamie Rednapp at £2m.

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2001