exactly.

thats why money could play a key role in any possible move. he dont seem like that kind of bloke but you never know do you.

He is a good player but he does get his share of injuries. Not sure how much he would cost aswel

Our past record on signing defenders is as bad as it gets. Im not sure about Alves but for 20m+ he has to be something special.

I cant understand why keegan would say he only wants 2 or 3 players and then pay this much for a defender.

A good manager could get that squad into the Uefa Cup or at least the top half with say £15-20m to spend.

They are basically set up front and in midfield still have a wealth of talent if someone can get them playing.

Duff, Emre, Barton, Butt, Martins, Owen, Viduka, Smith and so on are great, great players and are easilly as good on paper as Everton's set up.

Defense is the problem but Vidic cost only 7m from Spartak Moscow, Skrtel was cheap, Evra cost about 6m, Sagna was under 5m I think. That entire world class back line could have been assembled for around 20m.

Brilliant cheap defenders are out there if a manager knows where to look and knows a good player when he sees one.

Newcastle are to release Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage and James Troisi at the end of the season.

The contracts of the trio run out this summer and Magpies manager Kevin Keegan has confirmed that they will not be offered new deals. "We wanted to keep Rammy but he wants to play regular football and I couldn't guarantee that here," Keegan told the club website. "He goes with our best wishes, as does Stephen Carr, who's been a great pro." Right-back Carr, who moved to Tyneside from Tottenham in August 2004, has endured an injury-hit campaign in which the 31-year-old has made only 10 starts and two appearances as a substitute. "He wasn't offered a contract and I explained the reasons why," added Keegan. Defender Ramage, 24, and midfielder Troisi, 19, are both products of the club's youth academy.
Troisi has failed to make an appearance for the Newcastle first team and has been let go as Keegan looks to improve his squad. "James Troisi has gone to play for Australia in the Olympics but he has not been offered a contract," said Keegan. Keegan is expected to have funds at his disposal during the summer and has already stated he is planning a number of signings as he attempts to get the club challenging for a European berth next season. "If I can get three or four players in to add to what I have got here - and we have that bit of luck you need with no injuries to key players - then we might be able to win the second division of the Premier League," he said after the 2-0 loss to Chelsea on Monday.

i just finished reading about that. Im happy to see the back of Ramage and Carr. Ramage was a local lad but he was even too poor for our defence. Carr has just lost it and now that we have Beye we can say bye to him. I would have offered Troisi a contract though. I have been to a few reserve matches this season and when i have seen him hes been pretty good. I would have gave him a 2 year deal and see how he developes. I hope he does well in the Olympics and gets a contract at a good club. My mate plays for the reserves and if we are not keeping Troisi on then i cant see him getting a contract aswel. Looks like the standards are going up.

Haha, i like that. He's right though, the top 4 are so ahead they aren't even within reach. Blame Roman and Rafa. Before they came to England, Chelsea and Liverpool hadn't cemented those places.

You're right. A lot of top class defenders cost under £10. You can add Agger and Heinze to that list as well.

Here's a list of defenders they could sign. I posted it over 3 months ago, so some circumstances have changed:


Defence

They need a leader. I thought Rozenhal would be a superb signing, however it didn't work out. I've also been thoroughly unimpressed by Taylor, and would look for 2 centre backs, instead of finding a partner for him. Getting two new fullbacks goes without saying. Their defence is a shambles.

Mensah - someone i rate highly, he is a leader, and is of the calibre Newcastle can attract. one of the best centre backs in the French league.

Cris - another very good centre back, but hasn't featured much for Lyon this season, so could look for a way out.

Chimbonda - looks likely to leave Tottenham, and Newcastle are the favourites to sign him.

Ben Haim - good defender, did very well with Bolton, but is way down in the pecking order at Chelsea, so would probably welcome a move to Newcastle.

Rocha - another good defender, proved his worth at the top level in the Champions League for Benfica, but hasn't really settled or had a look in at Tottenham. Is likely to leave.

Meira - superb defender, internationally experience with Portugal, and one of the best centre backs in the German league. Maybe wouldn't want to leave Stuttgart, but you never know - plenty of top class players have left for inferior teams in the premiership. He could relish the challenge or the attractions it offers.

Naldo - another very good centre back currently playing for a far better team than Newcastle, but you never know.

Burdisso - Argentina international, down in the pecking order at Inter. Could leave for first team football.

Riise - possibly leaving Liverpool.

Brown - wants more money, Man Utd aren't willing to pay it. Newcastle probably would. He's impressed me this season, and can play at fullback and in the centre.

Steinsson - someone i really like. I think he is a very good fullback, and i've not been able to say this yet, but moving to Newcastle would be a step up!

Stefanovic - quite a good defender - will probably get relegated with Fulham. Cheap, and could be used as cover.

Lauren - behind Jonhson at Portsmouth - knows what it's like to pay for a big team with pressure on him. Maybe want to leave for first team football.

Hyypia - getting on a bit, and could possibly leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Helguera - stiff competition at Valencia - could look to follow fellow Spaniards Luque and Enrique...





I've heard Newcastle are interested in Metzelder. He has been injured a lot for Real Madrid, but he is a good player.

good list sticky. I think we need three defenders. Im happy with Beye, Taylor and Enrique, but the rest we have are crap. really crap!

If you're looking for players, Liverpool are having a boot sale with a few bargains...

Crouch would come at a cut-down price because of his contract; reportedly £8million. He could link up well with Martins and/or Owen, replacing Viduka.

Finnan would be available for a couple of mil, and playing part way to his ability of previous seasons would be a fantastic addition to your defence. Although you seem happy with Beye who's of the same position. Competition doesn't hurt though.

You could purchase Pennant for around £6million. I'm not sure but i don't think the right-wing is your strongest point, with your main wingers i can think of (Duff, N'Zogbia, Milner) all left-sided. And, although unpopular, would be comfortably good enough to start regularly in a side outside of the top four.

Always Riise too, if, like Finnan, he isn't offloaded to Villa. Would give Enrique some real competition.

Just trying to offload some of our deadwood on you... But on a serious note i think Pennant would be a very good buy for you. Although it depends on formation you intend on using, as currently it's been more of a 4-3-3 without wingers i think.

i would take some of them. Its hard to say what system we are gonna play next year. The best winger we have is Milner, who is right footed but can play on both (mainly right though). He has been great, even though he doesnt get the public credit that other english wingers have got in the past. Im not sure about pennant. Just havnt seen that much of him although he had a great game against Birm. I would take the two defenders. Can finnan play right and left?. Competition would be good because we only have the two full backs.
I have always wanted Crouch at Newcastle. I got told my someone inside Newcastle that he was close to coming to us and he changed his mind at the last minute to sign for you guys. If this is the case he might be interested again. He would be good with Owen and Martins.

We won't do a Leeds - Mort:

Apparently Newcastle and Chelsea have joined ManU in the race for sporting midfielder Miguel Veloso's signature

Viduka out for 6 months

Damn, looks like he may as well retire then, he wont come back as good from this sort of injury at his age

I fancy their chances...

Im not trying to be negative, but why would he come to Newcastle.

Especially when Spurs want him weve already beaten Newcastle too Modric and Woodgate.

I doubt he will sign for Newcaslte but you never know.

Viduka getting injured could temp Keegan into splashing out on Crouch.