Jimmy Jimmy

As The Undertones once said :-

Little mummy's boy
He wasn't very old
Though he was very small
He did what he was told

Jimmy Jimmy
Jimmy Jimmy - Oooh
Jimmy Jimmy
Poor little Jimmy wouldn't let go

Unfortunately, Newcastle United have finally let poor Jimmy go, to Aston Villa, yesterday for £12m. Milner spent four years at SJP, with one season on loan at Villa, Newcastle paid £5m for him in the Leeds United fire sale and no doubt the amount of profit was significant in the sale. However, during those four years Milner has also become one of the most capped England U21 players, has grown in confidence and stature and has the ability to change a game with a shimmy and a dip of his shoulder.

Their can be no doubt that he has been treated badly by the club, loaned out to Villa, almost sold to them on the last day of the transfer window two years ago, played out of position by Allardyce and then apparently not getting the same type of pay deal of his peers. What has always been so impressive about Milner is that he hasn't played all this out in public, he hasn't let it affect what he does on the pitch and he has always 'done the right thing' - even down to submitting a transfer request last week - a move that will have cost him a few quid in loyalty bonuses. As the ever eloquent NUFC.com have said

In our eyes Milner's genuine graft and honesty provided an antidote to the feeling that we've signed mercenaries, thugs and conmen in recent years.

Its fitting that his final game for the Toon came in the Midlands, along with his final goal... In a game that will have left him cup-tied for his new employers. Shows that the boy has turned into a man and, for me, his presence will be sadly missed in the Black and White shirt.

The sale also brings in a horrible deja vu - there are 3 days left of the transfer window and Newcastle are selling one of their best players. Why, why, why?? In the mid-week game Newcastle squeaked past Coventry without playing any strikers (actually squeaked is a bit harsh... it was one of the most one sided games that I've ever seen go into extra time) until EMO came off the bench to get us through to the next round of the fizzy pop cup. So where is the logic of selling one of the more attacking players in an already depleted squad? Beats me, but it most certainly smacks of the type of short termism that we used to see so often under the previous ownership.

The fans have been promised a 'wow' signing... Keegan is still alluding to this

"It might not look like a positive move to fans at the moment but what will happen in the next two to three days will be positive."

I'm not so convinced - although during a bout of insomnia last night I was listening to Radio five's "Up all night" Some guy rang in and was convinced that Newcastle had let James Milner go, because we were on the point of signing.... David Beckham....

Laugh? I almost spilt my ovaltine...

Posh, shopping on Gosforth High St (don't think she'd fancy Sheilds Rd) - now their is an image to conjour with...

Wish List

Another week trundles by, and no new players have come into the squad - and the man with possibly the most unimaginative chant* has left the club for Lazio. David Rozehnal was another of those players who flattered to deceive. Good on the ball, but he had no idea of the pace of the Premiership and he'll do well at Lazio. So, that's Ramage, Emre (maybe) and Rozehnal gone, Barton banged up and rumours about Milner and Duff on their way..

The squad is shrinking by the day - I can only hope that after the Euro's have finished there is going to be an influx... But I won't be holding my breath.

My wish list? Left back, centre half, creative midfielder and a centre forward... How about Philipp Lahm, Richard Dunne, Jimmy Bullard and Dean Ashton (I've thought for years that he is the natural successor to Shearer). Will any of these come true? Very unlikely. The latest rumours (which I don't believe) are around Oliver Kapo from Birmingham City, Eidur Gudjohnsen from Barca, and Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg. Don't'exactly set the pluse racing do they? Anyway, Kapo will follow Steve Bruce to Wigan; Gudjohnsen will end up at Portsmouth with all the other journeymen and if Arshavin was any good he'd be on his way to Chelski.

Still, the fixture lists are out tomorrow. So that will give me some planning to do... I wonder if it will be Bolton or Wigan on Boxing Day? Cos that's what always seems to happen...

* Rozenhal's chant? "His tall, he's Czech, he'll break your **** neck - Rozehnal" The only accuracy in that statement was his nationality

Thats all folks

Well, the end of the season has happened and its SNAFU for the Toon... Its another season in the wilderness of mid table; another season without a shiny pot for the trophy cabinet; another season when the Brasso budget doesn't have to be increased.. And this year we almost made it into February with a flicker of hope.

The predicted defeat came at the Gunners, with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring against us...again. He's rapidly becoming one in a long line of players who love scoring against us - step forward Poyet, Owen (before he signed for us) and Paul Scholes. They always seemed to pop up and score at least one against us every time they see the black and white shirt in front of them. Apparently the display yesterday wasn't the worst and a bit of character and fight was shown - but we still ended up loosing.

So, as the transfer window starts to close, we have nothing to offer any potential new players in terms of being able to win something. However, does that really matter to those players who are likely to be pulling on the shirt in the near future? Nah - its just the size of the weekly armored car drop at the bank that attracts players to any Premiership football club. Its only the fans that care.

So, Kev, my request still says the same, buy us a decent left-back. At least you've stopped playing Charlie Zog there - but Jose Enrique isn't up to the job.. A monumental waste of Ashley's cash. So get rid and get someone else in.