Beatts me
According to Radio 1 this morning (7.30) James Beattie was being lined up to be Newcastle's third new signing (together with Butt and Milner). However, by 8.00 that story had vanished from the news bulletin, and I can't find any more out about it anywhere.

This suggests that either the story is rubbish, or that someone has silenced the story in case it jeopordises the deal. Despite what I said yesterday about the risk of alienating Shearer, I'd still welcome Beattie with open arms to Newcastle, so I hope he's coming.

If not, que sera sera...

On a similar issue, I'm not entirely convinced by the current theory that we're going to play Kieron Dyer at right-back next season. I'm worried he lacks the discipline to play there, or the tackling/heading ability and concentration required of a defender.

However, as an attacking option, he'd scare the crap out of any defenders who had him overlapping Darren Ambrose, and he certainly has the energy to get up and down the pitch, so maybe it'd be worth a try.

He'd also stand a much better chance of getting in the England team as a right-back than a central midfielder, but whether that's enough of a justification for trying to teach him to tackle, head and concentrate, only time will tell.
- posted by Paul @ 10:14 am