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The Czech Republic have managed to stave off elimination from Euro 2012 today with a rather convincing victory over Greece, though the scoreline was helped by a communication error between Petr Cech and his central defender which gifted Greece a goal in the second half. I have not linked the inevitable Krul to Chelsea story that will certainly be out there somewhere already.
Today- lots of Graham Carr, Yohan Cabaye, summer tour information and another link with a SPL player.
Graham Carr
The chief scout is one of Mike Ashley’s trusted aides and while speculation continues that Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye could be sold this summer, Carr said: "The impression I get from them is that there is nothing happening on that front. "We’ve looked as positive as bringing players in. "That’s what we are trying to do. "We’ve earmarked players with Alan and we’ll do our best to get them."
Graham Carr has been all over the news since his 8-year contract signing... there is no reason to doubt anything this man says, and if he says that there's nothing happening on the Tiote front, then I adjust my expectations that there is 0% chance Cheik stays to 15%. Here's hoping we really are building and not selling. It would be a true break from history if we managed to do so.
"I went to France-Serbia last week, and Cabaye has improved so much," he said. "They don’t get the games in the French League that they do in England. "It’s such a high tempo in the Premier League. He looked a really good player for the French national side, and you have to give that to the staff."
I wonder who Graham was out there scouting? Debuchy? A Serb? Certainly he wasn't there to scout Cabaye.
Staying power of Blackpool’s briefest boss - Football - Blackpool Gazette
Carr, father of TV’s Chatty Man Allan Carr, holds the record as Blackpool’s shortest-serving manager, surviving only 16 games at the start of the 1990-91 season. Now happily relocated on Tyneside, Graham believes there are exciting times ahead for the Toon and he thinks owner Mike Ashley should receive more credit.
I hadn't remembered Carr's connection to Blackpool... their loss (a long time ago) is our gain :)
Rumors
Victor Wanyama winning admiring glances from NUFC - NUFC News - NUFC - JournalLive
Wanyama particularly showed up well in Celtic’s Europa League campaign against the competition’s eventual winners Athletico Madrid and Serie A’s Udinese, who finished third in the Italian top league last season. The Kenyan, who played his country’s 1-0 defeat to Namibia in Friday’s World Cup qualifier, is an intelligent central defensive-minded midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and an excellent reader of the game. He has also performed well when asked to move back into central defence.
Wanyama was a name that had come up in January, but seemed rather unlikely at the time. It will be interesting to see where this story goes. Victor is 20 years old and Celtic are looking to value him very highly... I can't really see us paying in the £7-8m range unless we're stock sold that he is a player.
Ajax reject Newcastle United’s bid for Vurnon Anita - Newcastle United - Sunderland Echo
"I won’t reveal the amount of money offered," said Lulofs. "But I understand why Ajax have turned down this initial offer. It was not exactly irresistible." Ajax are understood to rate Anita – who was in Bert van Marwijk’s provisional Holland squad for Euro 2012 – in the £7-8m bracket. However, Newcastle could opt to look elsewhere for reinforcements rather than up their bid.
The Anita chase is taking on a familiar look- we have offered very low and been denied. I have a feeling I know the endgame here... but we shall wait and see.
Summer
Newcastle head for pre-season Algarve tournament - Newcastle United - Shields Gazette
NEWCASTLE United will take on crack European outfits FC Porto and Olympiacos in a pre-season tournament in Portugal, it was announced today. The club today confirmed its participation in the three-team Guadiana Torneo on the Algarve next month.