Woodgate Will NOT Re-Join Toon
By Tyne-Talk
January 26 2008
As reports flew around suggesting Jonathan Woodgate had re-signed for Newcastle United, his current team Middlesbrough eased their way into the fifth round of the FA Cup after a televised 2-0 in against Mansfield earlier today.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan had this week encouraged speculation linking Woodgate with a return to Tyneside after he gave the following comments:
"At the moment, he is one of a number of players we have talked about,"
Referring to the increased interest in the former Newcastle player by London side Spurs, Keegan said:
"I am not surprised others are interested. He is a great leader. He is 28 and I gave him his England debut and I know him well."
The last week or so have been fuelled by rumours than Jonathan initially started talks with Newcastle but then turned his attention to Tottenham. These however have been refuted by sources close to the 28year old who suggest that he has not travelled to London at all to discuss anything with any club, other reports suggested however that representatives for the player travelled instead.
Yesterday things changed when the news broke than Woodgate would NOT be signing a contract with Spurs despite confirmed that they were interested.
Woodgate is currently on £70,000 a week at Middlesbrough and questions had been raised as to whether Newcastle would be willing to pay that to such an injury prone player.
Woody played 37 games at Newcastle between 2002-2004 before moving to Spain to join Real Madrid for £13.4Million, he endured a nightmare start with injury forcing him out and then an own goal 13months later, in his comback match saw him sat on the sidelines once again. His break in Spain came in 2006 when he became a regular in the starting lineup. He moved to Middlesbrough on a 1 year loan deal at the beginning of the 2006/07 season which consequently became a permenant arrangement in April 2007, when he signed a 4 year deal.
The defender who has made 16 appearences for Boro this season and received 4 yellow cards has missed out on an appearence in this seasons FA Cup, were he to move to Newcastle the opportunity to feature in a cup game wouldnt occur until 2008/09.
Woodgate would have been joining former teammate Mark Viduka who moved from Middlesbrough last June as well as those he teamed up with in his previous appointment at the club.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has tonight confirmed he had given permission for Woodgate to speak with both Newcastle and Spurs:
"The latest is that we have given him permission to speak to Newcastle and to Tottenham.
I think a fee is agreed with Newcastle, but I don't know if a fee is agreed with Tottenham.
He has got a decision to make, whether he wants to be part of what we are doing or whether he wants to move on somewhere else."
We have got strength in the centre-half areas that's for sure, but it's most importantly about what Jonathan's feelings are.
If he wants to be part of what we are doing, then fantastic, and we are delighted to have him with us.
If he feels it's the right thing to move on, then he goes with our best wishes."
When asked if he had spoken to Woodgate about his decision to leave the club, Southgate said:
"I have done that throughout the season. I have had plenty of conversations with him.
He has got the opportunity now to make the decision he wants to make."
Keegan however announced after Newcastle's 3-0 Defeat to Arsenal that it was unlikely Woodgate would be joining him at Newcastle:
"I'm almost certain he's going to move somewhere else - it looks like we've lost him and I'm very disappointed.
You cast your bait on the end of the line. Sometimes you catch the fish and sometimes you don't.
But it doesn't look like he's going to come."
The tables have once again turned BACK to Spurs who appear to be the only other team in the running.
Erm...no he was down the road at white hart lane havin a medical!!!
British By Birth, Geordie By The Grace Of God
Part of me is disappointed coz he's a great player and would have done wonders for our defence and the progression of Taylor.
But part of me says it could have been a lucky escape. Wherever he's been he's had bad injury records and for the fees I've seen mentioned I don't know if it was worth how many games we will get from him a season, I do think that the injuries have affected him in some ways, looked rather rusty against us at times and had a slow reaction for vidukas goal.
Maybe we should look elsewhere for a decent CB. We did well to get the profit from the sale to Real Madrid after his last spell here. There must be some reason why boro are willing to let their best player go.
I find it hard to understand why spurs went in for him because the have a great defender with a just as bad injury record,anyone like to have a punt on how many league games the King and woodgate CB pairing will start?