Wednesday, June 13, 2001 Don't talk to me about Newcastle By Colin Wood

Everton misfit Francis Jeffers has delivered an astonishing snub to Newcastle United by insisting he does not even want to discuss a proposed £8million transfer to St James' Park. Jeffers: Toon snub (RossKinnaird/Allsport) Newcastle manager Bobby Robson targeted the young striker to sharpen an attack that struggled for goals most of last season and immediately scheduled talks once he had a bid accepted.

But Jeffers has made it clear he wants to join a club capable of challenging for the top honours and he doesn't believe Newcastle fit that category.

It's a brazen rejection for elder statesman Robson, from a largely unproven player who has scored just 18 Premiership goals and about whom there are serious doubts over his ability to stay fit for anything approaching a full season.

Jeffers' preferred option is Arsenal, and he is ready to hang on in the hope that they eventually come up with an acceptable offer.

They are ready to meet the valuation, but so far have proposed a deal on an instalment plan because of the player's trouble with injuries. Hard-up Everton need the cash in one payment.

Sunderland, where manager Peter Reid makes no secret of his admiration for Jeffers, could also move in to provide him with an alternative if Arsenal fail to agree a fee.

Reid has shown in the past that he will not be rushed by his old club, waiting for months after Don Hutchison was transfer-listed before clinching his signing last summer.

Everton showed how much they wanted to keep local boy and life-long fan Jeffers, by offering a contract that would have made him the highest-paid player in their history.

But he rejected that deal and they are disappointed he is not yet ready to move because they want money to finance manager Walter Smith's summer plans.

Canadian striker Tomasz Radzinski could be part of those plans. He is set to leave Anderlecht for £3 million after helping them win the Belgian title, but Everton can only hope the 27-year-old is not snapped up by another club before they find the money.

Everton look certain to sell Norwegian goalkeeper Thomas Myhre to Danish champions FC Copenhagen for £1m.

England defender Michael Ball could also be put up for sale unless he lowers his wage demands. He wants a new deal at more than £30,000- a- week, but Everton's directors look certain to make it clear at a board meeting today they will not give in to his demands.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Answers

There. That should liven up todays discussions if the talk regarding Dyer dies down.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001

Always felt a bit uneasy about being linked to Jeffers cause for some reason he just seems to me as a kid who's gotten a bit too big for his britches. Looking for a fast buck and fast glory without really taking time to develop his talents. I could be very wrong. It's just a feeling. I'm not terribly upset that he won't come to us.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Hooray!

This guy has not been proven, is injury prone and appears to have an attitude problem. Mind you, i wonder how much strength there is in that report?

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

The bottom line accrued from yesterday's discussions in my view is that we are never going to attract this sort of talent when we are not in Europe.

We have to convince the outside world that despite the poor showing last season we can challenge for European football. To do that we are going to have to invest quite heavily in the first team and other facilities.

But where is the starting point? Training facilities would be a good start!

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

The Everton fans didn't seem too bothered about losing Jeffers neither should we - mouthy little scouse git.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Ya, now he can sod off =[

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Couldn't help notice a complete lack of quotation marks, if anything can be read into that I'm the one to do it 7c;

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

So by lunchtime Jeffers will have returned from his holiday for talks with Robson and Shepherd and will sign a five year contract!

I'm getting more and more worried about the possibility of this transfer.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

No tears being shed here.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Please permit me this opportunity to LMAO.

I don't rate Jeffers, a jumped it little unfit twot with an average goal-scoring record, but it is extremely funny in light of Dougie Hall's "Koller" comments.

ML3

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

F**k him.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

I'd save your laughter until you sign another couple of decent forwards. How do you think you'll do with only Kevin Phillips as the strikeforce next year, if he doesn't move on himself that is?

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

If you seriously think we will have only Kevin Phillips up front next year, you're either a) madly optimistic or b) just talking the talk.

Even in a worst-case scenario, we have Scotland's centre forward playing in midfield and two promising under-21 internationals in the reserves.

What's more, I fully expect Superkev to return to his prolific ways after last season's "lean" spell and will return to remind you of this prediction.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Surely you're ont anticipating Hutchison to play up front for you next year are you? How many strikers would you say you needed to sign?

I don't disagree about Phillips although his partnership with Quinn who seems to make Phillips tick, looks over due to Quinn's back problems.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Well he won't have any international distractions to hinder him, ML#3.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

can i say it again?

Jeffers, you're a big eared tosser

that feels better...

ml, i'm sending some renumeration back with my dad (he's on holiday here), it's a safer option than trusting posta español!

jeffers, twat, jeffers, twat...

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Not at all DeBuilder. I expect us to sign this frog from Bordeaux or use the much maligned (although in truth he has never let us down) Danny Dichio before resorting to Hutchison up front. To be honest, I would like Hutchison to play up there a bit more, especially against top six opposition, where having a striker that drops deep can pay dividends.

I wouldn't write off Quinny just yet. His general fitness levels are good, but he has a specific back injury that needs rest.

ML3

PS Not biting, Clarky.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Renumeration - lovely jubbly!:oD

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

So I take it that when this "renumeration" gets here you will become ML4?

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

LOL.:) Padron my spelling.

ML3

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

There's absolutely nowt new in this Jeffers story. We've already been told that he would rather go up the Arse. We've also been told that the Highbury offer does not satisfy Everton. No new quotes from the lad himself, just an old story rejigged. The lad's agent is probably just messing about, either to get a bigger offer from Wenger or Monkeyheed or to get us to up his personal wedge.

No doubt whoever he ends up playing for will turn out to be:

"My first choice, a really big club with big aspirations, fantastic fans blah blah blah......."

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

I'd guess the sunderland fans would much rather Jefefrs went to Arsenal because if he doesn't then Wenger will carry on down his shopping list and eventually hit SK.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

God what a slant by a fuck wit journo! (I want to meet him, chin him, hospitalise him)

As always trying hard to make Arsenal to be always be percieved more glamourous. As always trying hard to make the public believe they are the second biggest club after Man Utd, LOL. (IS he paid by Arsenal, or is that me just tapping in to irony?)

Yeah, that club has the 'second best team' over 38games.

BUT WE ARE THE SECOND BIGGEST CLUB, 'INDEPENDENTLY OUR FANS FINANCIALLY SUPPORT OUR CLUB BETTER THAN ARSENAL,' yet they get percieved as the club which players want to go to??????????

AT THE END OF THE DAY MR WOOD(DAILY MAIL, LONDON PROPERGANDA FUCKWIT) ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY 'IN A SHORT CAREER,' AND NOT ABOUT SLANTS. AND WE CAN MAKE MORE THAN ARSENAL IDEPENDENTLY, SO I GUESS THAT GIVES US MORE POTENTIAL. My guess is the fuckwit journo is frightened of this little fact. (Does anyone agree that some -like that fuck wit- people would rather not face the truth? They would rather live in a fantasy?)

Obviously there is not anyone on this BBS thats impartial, but impartially ask yourselves if you can, which club has the more potential over the long run? the independently stronger Newcastle, or the independently weaker Arsenal?

Just wait Mr Wood, just watch Mr Wood, are you not scared that we have the second biggest potential in britain - you back stabbing tosser????

My bet is this is a slant on quotes which were taken out of context....

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

I cannot agree.

Arsenal have unveiled plans to move to a new 60,000 capacity stadium and are now consistently in the Champions League which will earn them even more money. They offer the chance to play alongside truly World Class players whereas we offer the chance to play alongside a fading Alan Shearer and a possibly soon to be departed sometimes England International.

????

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Never mind having training facilities that our own players were drooling over when we used them to prepare for the FA semi 2 seasons ago.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Undersoil heated training pitch! It's a different league almost.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

De Builder,

Before I begin the Dyer stuations a slant too.

Just like the Cort slant he originally wasnt too keen on a move to the Toon;

Just like the old Shearer slants;

Just like Ginola was originally going to Arsenal, and the Ferdinand to Spurs slants.

-----------------------------

The stadium which will come in '4to 5 years,' they will move from their so called '38000' seater (as if that old shit heap holds 38000! The word 'spin,' and phrase 'Big club' comes to mind) to a new stadium which apparently will holds 60000. P.S. It would be great to see if this new 45000 (going on the proportions 28000=38000, as Arsenal do, e.g 60000x(28000 divided by 38000)) seater they are building gets full every week, like ours!

-------------------

P.S. the reason we havent got world class players with good attitudes is down to bad management not anything else, they have been lucky to have Wenger, we were unfortunate to have KD and RG.

Imagine we had Wenger!!!!!! In my opinion we would not have had to sell Overmars and Petit to balance the books like they have (did you see the spin when this happened, eg. 'the time is right to move from one of the biggest clubs in the world to another' slant. LOL at its predictability)

They are in to the champions league fair enough, BUT take out this dependent monies along with the premiership cash,

you'll see that independently we (NUFC FANS) put in a hell of a lot more money than them (Arsenal fans). We deserve the spin as the big club not them.

Infact Arsenal over 100years have not been much bigger than Spur (yep the Spurs who got 28000 on Hoddles return).

My advise to anyone is, watch for this deceptful spin before reading in to owt

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Don't you think we had our fair share of spin when we nearly won the Premiership?

We mucked that up and here we are and it's got nowt to do with the size of our support, as you say it's down to management.

The fact of the matter is, there are quite a few clubs better placed than us to compete in the transfer market.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Highbury DOES hold 38000 - the fact that only about 25000 of the people inside can actually see the pitch is beside the point. And the Arse WILL be granted planning permission to build a 60000 seater at nearby Ashburton Grove (there's a group of 'Dolly' style protesters forming some sort of action-group but ultimately Islington Council will do anything to keep Premiership footy in their borough). Can't even begin to count the trophies they've won since we last spotted any silverware, CL qualification annualy, the smartest manager in Europe, Thiery Henry, Paddy Viera, 30 million in the bank earning interest from the sale of Petit, Anelka and Overmarrs and the glittering attraction of a London address to attract world footballing stars....do you want me to continue? Let's not delude ourselves here, if Jeffers does end up at St.James' it'll only be because Arsenal didn't fancy him.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

I have to disagree re: Arsenal not filling Ashburton Grove. They have a majority stake in the SE glory-seeking market as well as a strong loyal fan-base, large proportion of "second-team" season ticket holders (northerners and overseas immigrants who have converted to watching Arsenal since moving to London) and are well placed to benefit from "football tourism".

Two of my best mates are old-school Arsenal fans and have not seen two consecutive games for years. The Arsenal ST waiting list is five years long.

What irks me in the case of SAFC (no doubt applies to NUFC) is that we are not making the capacity advantage count more while we have the initiative. Arsenal aside, the likes of Southampton, Everton, Leicester are planning new, high-capacity grounds and may make ground on us.

ML3

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

DeB. we did have spin but it was patronising spin eg. Great fans, the best but....they are going to lose Keegan to England or,

the one I remember is this spin, Newcastle are the parma of the premiership!!! If anyone watches Italian football, they will see that Parma have good team but average 20000 etc. and cant compete with AC Milan etc..

What a shocking bit of spin, LOL. We've never had a league crowd under capacity since the premiership formed whilst we've been in the premiership, WE'VE been 2x as ambitious as Arsenal(it would be neglegent not too), we probably still are (perhaps this is why the press still give out questionable slants?) And our independent revenue streams has always been stronger than (that strike through thingy)AC Milan(that strike through thingy/)Arsenals, LOL.

Wor lad DSS,

THe so called adresses bias mean nowt, If your getting 30grand a week, I would live Mackemside on the wear with the chimp and the inbreds, if I was getting that money.

And anyway what has London got that Newcastle hasnt??? SERIOUSLY! (remove any London press slant)

Also consider this slant a ploy on the weaker Arsenal (and less brave) trying hard for Mr Jeffers agent to ask for 10grand more, us to get frustrated, and tell him to piss off.

THEN BOOM, the (strike through thingy)AC Milan(Strike through thingy) Arsenal, stepping in and giving him what we were to pay him originally.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

I'm afraid romance and loyalty is ruling your head T.Smith.
DSS is quite correct - sadly, the London address does matter to the majority of "Johnnies", despite how we might assess the relative merits of the Toon versus Cockneyland - our assessment counts for nothing.
As for us being twice as ambitious as Arsenal - if you measure ambition by the amount of money Fred & Doug have p*ssed against the wall, then we've been unbelievably ambitious. However, we've also been staggeringly unsuccessful in comparison to Arsenal with regard to actually winning trophies and competing regularly in the CL.
The reason? They are a very well managed Club, from top to bottom, and that provides a firm platform for the kind of continuing success we can only dream about.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Clarky,

So If Mr Shepherd could offer you 45grand a week in Newcastle, near our International airport, our Big market, our shopping complexes in Gateshead and Eldon square, our countryside, our posh living areas. and Arsenal could at best only offer you 35 to 40 grand a week WHERE would you go?

The worlds a small place, if you getting 45grand a week its the money that gives you freedom, not the post code.

(THAT POSH BOLD WRITING THINGY) WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT HERE :)(THAT POSH BOLD WRITING THINGY

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Clarky,

So If Mr Shepherd could offer you 45grand a week in Newcastle, near our International airport, our Big market, our shopping complexes in Gateshead and Eldon square, our countryside, our posh living areas. and Arsenal could at best only offer you 35 to 40 grand a week WHERE would you go?

The worlds a small place, if you getting 45grand a week its the money that gives you freedom, not the post code.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT HERE

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

T.Smith,
I understand what you're saying, and you don't need to sell me on the merits of the Toon. However, many top foreigners will only come to England if they can play for a Lahndan Club - irrational, unreasonable, nonsensical, based on ignorance and stereotypes - yes. However, I'm afraid it's fact - in many cases, but not all - and I agree with you, if Freddie offers £10 grand pw more than Chewsee then some players would take it.

The problem is that the sort of player we're talking about usually has a choice of Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Paris or Munich. For these guys London can be an acceptable alternative for a couple of years, but not Manchester or Liverpool, never mind Newcastle.

I guess the good news is that only so many Johnnies can play for Arsenal, Chewsee and Spurs - and those who don't want to come here can fog off as far as I'm concerned. Frankly, we don't need their kind.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

Jeffers can take his greedy self to London and stay there as far as I'm concerned.

Considering Carl Cort had banged in 20 goals for Wimbledon the season before, £7m for Cort is a bargain compared to Jeffers.

-- Anonymous, June 13, 2001

10m to the Arse. Well if that's the way he wants to play it.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

I now strongly sense young Jugs had been tapped up a long time ago. What a waste of feckin time. That feckin shell suit wearing, sly, devious, greedy scouse wanker.

He's probably agreed to Arsenal about 6month ago and even if we offered Everton 15million, he had probably already set his sights on Arsenal.

Perhaps our 8million offer was a dual favour between the good friends Shepherd and Kenwood - to suss out if he had been tapped up earlier, to make it look like we are in the market, and to up Arsenals suspected offer???????

Or am I just to suspicious?

What ever the outcome young Jugs has went to the club with less potential, he's seriously made a big mistake LOL. But who cares about mistakes if you get paid good to make them eh Jeffers?

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

Looks like a plausible conspiracy theory to me, T.Smith.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

and in return Everton will reputedly offer £5m for Marcelino to provoke Barca into offering £8m to ensure they get their man

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

what's all this bollocks about jeffers? this greedy little scouser nonsense is getting really irritating.

if you were 21, a potential england player would you want to play for everton?

or put it another way, if a competitor of your current firm offered better working conditions, more competent colleagues, a more successful company and a big pay rise would you turn it down?

professional footballers are just that - professionals clubs have to earn loyalty from their best players. why do you think adams, keown dixon viera bergkamp have stayed at arsenal so long. or why have beckham, scholes etc. at manu?

think about it and get lives

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

........ that's the end of that thread then!

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001