From TeamTalkBollox:

West Ham starlet Michael Carrick says that reports linking him with a move to Newcastle are understandable, but also completely untrue. Carrick enjoyed an extended run in The Hammers first team last season and has ruled out a move to the North East at this time in his career. The 19-year-old midfielder, who got his England chance in the friendly against Mexico, said: "I was there on trial when I was young but I decided not to sign for them because they didn't have a reserve team and I didn't think I had much chance of breaking through to the first team. "In the end that has paid off because of what I have achieved at West Ham. "It would be silly for me to go to Newcastle now because I might find myself on the bench instead of in the West Ham first team," he modestly added in The Mirror. Carrick added that the speculation stemmed from the fact that he was born in the Newcastle area and supported The Magpies when he was a boy.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Answers

So he now he is a West Ham fan or what?

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

I really thought we were going to get Carrick after Redknapp left West Ham, but now I'm not so sure. He'd easily get into the first team here (unless he slips into some really bad form)

I think he's enjoying the talk about him and is possibly just playing it down to make him look like a proffesional. He would be left nowhere if he said he was sick of West Ham and Newcastle was his only club and then we turned him down.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Yeah, I don't think I'd read too much into his comments. He may feel differently when a new manager comes in, brings in some more experienced players and drops him back to the bench again. I think we'd have had a decent chance of getting him if we could have made a strong bid right after Redknapp left, and given Carrick a realistic expectation of playing alot of games. Sounds to me like he's commenting on the speculation more than any coversation he may (not!) have had with NUFC.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Ya, good points. We always want our players to really show and say the dont want to go anywhere and else and you really cant blame Carrick for saying so about West Ham. Just hope it isnt true :p

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

Tosser.

Unless he signs for us, of course, in which case he's a clever lad.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2001

What I can't understand is that Carrick only says it would be a bad move for him because he gets first team games for West Ham and if he came here he wouldn't get that guarantee!!

Christ if he thinks he can't walk straight into out first team he really does have a problem.

This lad will sign as long as he is made aware of how poor our midfield really is!!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001