Its teamtalk that writes but anyway. He is supposed to be furios over being left out of the last game of the season vs Soton. Even if its true or not I think was really a foolish decision not to play him. No reason whats so ever if Bobby doesnt want him to leave. And then its more fair to just tell the lad so.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2002

Answers

I think the main reason he didn't play at Southampton is that Shay Given needed to play to be ever present for the season, which is quite an achievement these days. The last thing you want to do during contract negotiations is upset the player, especially with their egos being so fragile and all that.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2002

Shame if he goes but I can't blame the lad. According to today's Journal he was furious that he wasn't selected at Southampton, and that he only found out when he read the team sheet. The Journal also says Given's deal is worth around 24k / week.

It's all gone quiet on the Distin front. I can't help thinking he'd be an idiot to go to City for a short term gain. He must know that if he proves himself at the Toon he'll be offered a better contract to keep him. If City go down where will that leave him? Division 1 or looking for a new club 'cos they can't afford his wages. Balance that against Champion's League football. I still hope we find a compromise and he stays.

Talking of contracts I wonder if Bellamy will be offered a better one in the light of last season's success?

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2002

This from dotcom:

You may have read a couple of stories today where Steve Harper has "announced" that he is determined to quit United. You'll notice these stories carry no quotes.

Steve has announced no such thing and while it's true to say he was disappointed at not playing at St. Mary's last Saturday (see piece below) the stories carried today are at worst fiction and at best the scurrilous work of his agent Jonathan Barnett.

We've emailed Barnett to ask him to explain the situation (and also his recent quotes about Dyer attracting bids from big foreign clubs). We've not offered him any filthy lucre for his opinions, so we're not expecting a reply....

Steve bleeds black and white and if he has to leave Newcastle in search of first team football, no-one will be more disappointed than him.

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2002

Isn't it truly amazing where these so-called "journalists" get their stories? So many of them seem to be based on wild speculation, or simply groundless assumptions - and yet we have an unfortunate tendency to believe that if it's in print there must be something to it.

Tangentially, this blerk Jonathon Barnett seems to be prize prat - another indication of the damage Agents are inflicting on the game. Tosser!

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2002

It's a shame we can't all collectively come together to rid the game of agents - who needs them?

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2002