Saw this on FootballBC and thought you guys might be interested.

Newcastle: De La Pena to sign by Espen Andre Skjerve 07.12.2001 0:32 Lazio player Ivan De La Pena is flying in to Newcastle next week to sign a loan deal for the rest of the season.

The Spanish midfielder is free to join any club this summer on a Bosman free transfer.

Forbes

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Answers

Also mentioned here... Lazio Mania newsgroup

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Interesting....will believe it when I see it though :))

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

How old is he now? Senor Bassedas would seem to drop even further out of the equation. Perhaps he'll be doing a Marcelino

Marcelino 1. v. To disappear without trace 2. n. A complete waste of money 3. v. To whinge repeatedly about a minor infliction, such as a splinter, and use it as an excuse to not do any work

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

It'll be a big fillip to get someone like that but, like Gav, I'll believe it when I see it.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Gav's ALWAYS been a 'see it and believe it' kinda guy....

;-)

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Come on dougal, who is this "big fillip"? Who does he play for and how much will he cost? Is he a midfielder?

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

I'll believe Big Fillup will sign for us when I see it!

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Are you Gav in disguise?

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

i hope this is true.

with de la pena and dyer in mf the team will be very handy. top six potential. i never thought i'd say that this season.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

...I thought Big Philip was the coach of Brazil, wow, more (un)sexy football ;7)

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Big Phillipe never recovered from being surrounded by bbsers in the Strawbeery!

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

I'm Phillip and I'm pretty big, but I'm no midfielder...

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

Isn't he summat to do with the Queen?

I remember the first dirty joke I ever heard was about him but you have to be at least 50 to understand it.

What is the Queen's favourite record? "Magic Moments" on Phillips 12 inch!

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

De La Pena is classed as a creative midfielder. NOT a defensive, ball winning midfielder like we need.

-- Anonymous, December 07, 2001

....... I get it Jacko - unfortunately! ;o{]

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Was that 33, 45 or 78 rpm Clarky??? And did it have a big hole in the middle (which sometimes needs an adapter) or the more usual tiny one that you could oftem miss in the dark??

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

I recall a nerdy kid at school who was into collecting all sorts of 12" singles, coloured discs the works. Around at his house to listen to something he'd just bought and he couldn't get the disc to sit on the spindle as the middle hadn't been punched out correctly "that's the problem with these Virgin records" he said.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

..... those "small ones" are just dim, distant memories, Screach! ;0{]

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Before you start on the romance of Pathe newsreels:

De La Pena's plea to Robson By Mark Ryan

Ivan De La Pena has pleaded with his former coach Bobby Robson to rescue him from his Rome nightmare. The former Spanish Under-21 midfielder made it clear through his agent Manuel Ferrer that he wishes to join Newcastle United as soon as he can extricate himself from his Lazio contract.

De La Pena, 25, hit the big time under Robson at Barcelona but has been plunged into obscurity since his move to Italy last summer.

Ferrer said: 'Ivan wants to make the move to the Premiership and Newcastle are his first choice.'

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Well, you can't get much clearer than that! I think the ball's in your court Bobby. Unless of course the agent is lying.......

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

I wonder how much of his current £80k per week we'd be prepared to pay. He may take a paycut to play, but we still won't be looking at beans. In any event, it would be wonderful to see him in a Newcastle shirt.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

DLP still very highly rated here in Barcelona. He is described as being a bit like Sergi, creative and (here are the magic words) HARD WORKING.

Sign this man immediately...

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Softie's the great Serie A expertissimo, what's his view?

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

It's the sort of player that would motivate the likes of Dyer and Robert to raise their games. Bellamy would love it even more.

He's also got nee hair at all so Shearer will have something in common with him.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Just thought you might like to know that - despite the definition above - Marcelino was training yesterday morning. Er, well, I think training is what you'd have to call it anyway. Location: one of a well-known chain of leisure-centres, Castle Farm. Time: approx 10- 30am. Duration: dunno actually, he was in when I got there, spent about five minutes b*ggering around without doing anything, then left for the changing room after exchanging a few words with Gavilan. Oh yes, he was there as well - arrived more or less same time as me, spent about 15 minutes jogging on a treadmill, then left.

What the hell is it all about? Some sort of keep-them-vaguely-fit- until-they're-sold policy? Light fingernail rehab? I was going faster (and further) than wor Diego, and he must be a good 25 years younger. Do they train with the rest of them now or have they been banished? Is the truth out there?

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

In a way, it's quite good that they could be @rsed to go to training as the rest of the squad were travelling to Ipswich (I imagine). Gavilan is still coming back from an injury and has ambtitions to lay in the WC so I can understand why he was there. However why he only did 15 mins on the running m/c, I dunno. Perhaps he injured himself??

As for Farcelino - probably hoed oot the hoose by his missus for refusing to do the hoosework.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001

Screach - Marca can't do house work - his back can't take the strain of vacuuming.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001