Spurs Villa & Arsenal On Standby As N'Zogbia Seeks Way Out Of Toon

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Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Aston Villa will all be on alert after Newcastle United player Charles N’Zogbia revealed that he is ready to quit the Magpies.

22-year-old N’Zogbia has been heavily tipped to leave St James’ Park this month, with Spurs along with the Gunners and Martin O’Neill’s Villans side all reportedly interested in the French Under-21 International.

While Arsenal’s interest in the versatile left-sided player seems to have cooled. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is well documented as looking for a solution to the problem on the left at White Hart Lane and sees N’Zogbia as a viable alternative to Stewart Downing, who looks set to remain at Middlesbrough.

Villa are also looking for a player with pace at left-back, with recent reports suggesting that O’Neill is ready to offer Villa misfit Nicky Shorey to Newcastle in a straight player swap.

Toon boss Joe Kinnear has always stated that none of Newcastle’s top players will be leaving in January, but is unlikely to keep N’Zogbia, who is determined to leave St James’ Park after four-and-a-half years.

N’Zogbia told www.lyoncapitale.fr: “There have been some changes at Newcastle recently. I have experienced six different managers in four years, and it is too much.

“Every season is getting worse and worse despite the lofty goals of the club. I therefore decided to leave, to try to find better exposure."

Ligue 1 Champions Lyon are also said to be interested in N’Zogbia, with the former Le Havre player conceding that his future ultimately depended on whether Newcastle are prepared to sell as he is under contract at the North East club until 2012.

“It is for the club to decide,” he added in L'Equipe.

“If Newcastle decide to keep me, I will stay. I will have no choice.

“I am waiting. They (Lyon) may actually have contacted my agent, but I did not get feedback.

“What is certain is that Lyon is a good club. Whether they really want me remains to be seen.”

Newcastle Desperate To Offload £5million Flop

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear is desperate for a Spanish club to make an offer for £5million Magpie misfit Xisco. Before Kinnear can bring in his own transfer targets to the Premier League club.

22-year-old Xisco arrived at the North East club in the summer from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna in an initial £5.7million deal. However, the Spanish Under-21 International has failed to make an impact in the Premiership, with the striker just featuring 4 times in the league for Newcastle this season, scoring the once on his Magpies debut against Hull City.



Xisco now looks certain to depart St James’ Park, having been brought in against former manager Kevin Keegan’s wishes in the summer. Kinnear has deemed the striker surplus to requirements at Newcastle and is eager recoup of much as the fee paid for Xisco in the summer.

“If we can get back somewhere near what we paid for the player we have in mind then I could go and get another player that I want for £5m,” said Kinnear, quoted in the Sunday Sun.

“One deal will automatically trigger the next one.

“So I’m banging on the door hoping that they (the buying club) will make a decision because the player that I want is wanted by other teams too.

“The last thing I want is to let someone else get in there before we do.”

Newcastle Boss Insists Given Is Not For Sale

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has once again declared that Republic of Ireland International goalkeeper Shay Given is not for sale, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all reportedly interested in securing the services of the shot-stopper this month.

Despite reports earlier on Friday that 32-year-old has become disillusioned with life at the Magpies after 11-years at St James’ Park, with Given’s lawyer hinting that the keeper was ready to quit the Toon. Kinnear has insisted that Given, who is under contract at the Premiership club until 2011, will not be leaving Newcastle.

Kinnear said: “I'm not sure of the facts that he (Kennedy) has said or how it's been interpreted, but what I will say is Shay is contracted until 2011.

“He is our player and he is going to stay our player, it's as simple as that.

“We are not interested at all (in selling him). I want to clear that - that is probably the last time I will be talking about it.

“He is here, he is our player and he is going to stay our player.

“He is an integral part of the team, he is the best goalkeeper by miles in the league, so why should we jeopardise our chances in the position we are in?

"It wouldn't make sense, so as far as I am concerned, he is going to stay our player.”

Newcastle To Swoop For French Teenager Sakho?

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear is planning to swoop for Paris St Germain’s teenage defender Mamadou Sakho, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The People.

The Magpies have already been linked with 18-year-old Sakho last April, with previous Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan keen on bringing the versatile defender to St James’ Park. With new boss Kinnear now reportedly ready to reignite the Premier League clubs interest in Sakho, who has already captained PSG making him the youngest captain in Ligue 1 history aged 17.

Newcastle are understood to have sent scouts to watch Sakho in action against Dutch side FC Twente in the UEFA Cup last week, with scouts from other Premiership clubs also at the game to watch the defender that can play as right-back or as a central defender.

Sakho has come through the youth system at PSG, joining the club as an 11-year-old and making his senior debut in 2007, with the defender, who is valued at around £6million already making 20 appearances for PSG during his fledgling career at the Parc des Princes.

Newcastle have already got French defender Sebastien Bassong at St James’ Park, who was a summer signing from FC Metz and should they follow up their initial interest in Sakho, will hope that the teenager can settle into the rigours of the Premier league as quickly as Bassong has at the Toon.

Kinnear Resigned To Losing Newcastle Striker

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has revealed that England International Michael Owen is looking at options away from St James’ Park, with the striker due to be offered an extension to his current contract at the Premier League club next week, which expires at the end of the season.

28-year-old Owen is among four players at the Magpies, who are out out of contact in the summer, with Nicky Butt, Shola Ameobi and steve harper also set to be offered new deals by Kinnear next week.

However, while Kinnear is confident that Harper, Ameobi and Butt, will all sign new contracts with the North East club the Toon chief is less upbeat about his chances of keeping former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Owen at St James’ Park.

Kinnear said: “We have heard lots of things, that Michael's agent has had lots of clubs on to him.

“Obviously, they will want to know what type of contract we are going to offer him.

“I won't go into those details now, but we will be offering him what we consider an excellent contract considering the climate of what is happening around all football clubs.

“But it will be up to Michael to make that decision.

“I am pretty confident that Shola Ameobi, Steve Harper and Nicky Butt will sign, it's now just down to Michael.

"Michael is well aware of that, so is his agent. They are well aware of my feelings on that, but the ball is in his court.

“I will find out, hopefully, on Tuesday.

"I'm not confident to be honest. I'm pretty confident about everybody else, but Michael is a different kettle of fish.

“He is looking at his options, I assume, but I won't go into those details until Tuesday.”

Owen To Get Take It Or Leave It Deal At Newcastle

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Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnaer is set to offer England International striker Michael Owen a take it or leave it deal after the Magpies Premier League clash with Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday.

28-year-old Newcastle captain Owen’s current deal with the Toon runs out at the end of the season and talks about extending the former Liverpool and Real Madrid players stay at St James’ Park have been put on hold until now.

Owen is one of four Newcastle players out of contract at the North East club next year, with Shola Ameobi, Steve Harper and Nicky Butt also coming to the end of their present deals at the Premiership club.

Manchester United along with Chelsea and Liverpool have been linked with a move for Owen next month in recent weeks, but Kinnear has revealed that he wants all four to stay at Newcastle, with captain Owen his biggest concern following the speculation surrounding his future at the Magpies.

Kinnear said: “I would like to get all players out of contract at the moment signed up this week.

“I have spent the last three or four days discussing offers on the table with the four players I want to stay and once I get those out of way I will look at the transfer market and I am then pretty confident I will have two new faces.

“The squad would be stronger with players back from injury but I need reinforcements that is for sure.

“I will put the ball in the players' court and offers will be made and then it is up to them to let me know if they will accept them.”

However, while Kinnear has declared that it will be up to Owen and the others if they accept new deals, Kinnear also insisted that Newcastle, will not be selling any of their best players, with Newcastle battling relegation from the Premier League.

“We won't be selling anybody here until we are out of the position we are in. We are fighting relegation with 10 others and I don't see the point in getting rid of our best players,” he added.

Newcastle To Make January Swoop For Argentine

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear is looking to add to his contingent of Argentines at the North East club, with Lucas Mareque of Independiente on the Magpies wish list when the transfer window reopens in January.

Newcastle already have two Argentines on the books at St James’ Park after the summer signings of Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini. Kinnear, who took over at the Toon from Kevin Keegan in September has been pleased with the way that Coloccini and Gutierrez have settled in the Premier League and is now ready to try and add left-back Mareque to his squad in January.


Kinnear said: “Lucas Mareque is a player we are looking to bring in from Independiente in the January transfer window and we are trying to find out what that would entail.

“He is 6ft 2ins and height is something we could do with in our back four.

“We have looked at the way our own Argentineans Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini have settled in and we have spoken to them about Mareque and they have given us glowing reports.”

25-year-old Mareque joined Independiente from FC Porto in 2008, having been on loan from the Liga Sagres Champions since 2007 and has made 52 appearances for the Diablos during his time at the Estadio Libertadores de America.

Owen Set For Newcastle Exit

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England International striker Michael Owen will not be signing a new contract at Premier League club Newcastle United, with Magpies boss Joe Kinnear admitting that Owen will be talking to other clubs in January.

Resigned to losing former Liverpool and Real Madrid player Owen, Kinnear has also revealed that, several other players at St James’ Park, who like 28-year-old Owen are in the final year of their contracts are set to decide on their futures at the North East club. These players include goalkeeper Steve Harper, strikers Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi along with former Manchester United player Nicky Butt.

Reports earlier this week said that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is ready to hand Kinnear £12million to spend on new players in January, but whoever departs or arrives at St James’ Park in January, Owen (left) will not be a Magpies player next season.

Kinnear told the Newcastle Journal: “I've not really had a chance to talk to the players about their contracts and I don't know what is going to happen. The players who are out of contract, I have spoken to a few of their agents. They are holding back as well. They are waiting to see what their options are in January and who comes in for them. They will make a decision then.

“I'm speaking to Shola's agent on Monday so we will see what happens there, but there isn't much I can do if the players have decided they want to see what else is there for them in January.

“I just hope I can get the players in I want because if we can get them we'll be smoking.”

Kinnear, who took over from Kevin Keegan at the Toon in September has also claimed that talks are underway to bring two transfer targets to the Premier League in January at £6million each. Money that was originally thought to not be available due to owner Mike Ashley’s eagerness to sell the Premiership club.

He added: "I have had a positive meeting with him [Ashley]. I put the case for bringing players in and we are talking to some players and their agents and clubs. We have to be ready when the window opens. I would like two to three players.

"I have given them the prices. I told them two players who cost six million each, which is £12m. He said fine, leave it with me. I will come back to you. There are players available who will help us and we will have to wait and see because I don't want to say much more.

“Mike was fine with it. We have got one who is 'umming and aah-ing, but we are still banging on the door and he is still a player we have identified.

“Instead of cash the club decided they'd come in for one of our players in an exchange. That would leave us stronger in one area and weaker in another. It would be straight swap. I am not sure we would benefit from losing another player.”

Newcastle v Stoke Premier League Preview: Can the Magpies Beat A Rejuvinated Potters Side At St James’ Park?

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Newcastle United, play Tony Pulis’ Stoke City in the Premier League at St James’ Park On Saturday.

Joe Kinnear’s Magpies go into this clash with Premier League debutantes Stoke, having drawn three, won one and lost one in their last five matches in the Premiership. Newcastle drew 0-0, last time out against Middlesbrough, in the North East derby at the Riverside Stadium, but welcomed back Australian International Mark Viduka to the side, who Kinnear hopes can score the goals to enable the Toon to climb up the table. Where they are currently in 17th place and just off the drop zone by virtue of goal difference.

Stoke will be pleased by their recent form in their first season in the Premier League, with the Potters only losing once in their last six league games to Manchester United 5-0 at Old Trafford. This run has seen them beat Arsenal, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion at the Britannia Stadium, while drawing away to Hull City and Wigan Athletic. This sees Pulis’ side in 14th place in the table, but still only three points of the relegation zone, with a win at St James’ Park vital if they are to steer clear of a relegation fight.

Newcastle will be without Damien Duff (groin), Alan Smith (achilles), Ignacio Gonzalez (achilles) and Joey Barton (knee) for the visit of the Potters, while Kinnear will wait to see if Shola Ameobi (ankle) and Xisco (groin) can recover in time to feature against Stoke.

Stoke are still without Liam Lawrence (ankle), but Pulis could have Ryan Shawcross (back) and Dave Kitson (knee) available for the trip to the North East in this crunch Premier League clash.

Newcastle United: (from) Given, Coloccini, Taylor, Enrique, Cacapa, Guthrie, Martins, Owen, Bassong, N’Zogbia, Gutierrez, Xisco, Harper, Geremi, Beye, Butt, Ameobi, Kadar, Edgar, Forster, Tozer, Viduka, LuaLua, Carroll

Stoke City: (from) Sorensen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Olofinjana, Cort, Whelan, Soares, Cresswell, Fuller, Sidibe, Kitson, Pugh, Pericard, Matteo, Shawcross, Diao, De Laet, Davies, Tonge, Delap, Diagne-Faye, Phillips, Wilkinson, Simonsen, Dickinson, Sonko

Newcastle To Go Double Dutch In January

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear is ready to go double Dutch in the January transfer window, with the Magpies boss revealing that his main targets to bring to St James’ Park next month all ply their trade in the Eredivisie.

61-year-old Kinnear, who has just signed a six-month extension at the Premier League club after replacing Kevin Keegan in September has insisted that any players arriving at the Toon in January must be proven and better than the players he already has at his disposal.

Kinnear told The Sun: “The players we are looking at now have got to be proven. We don’t want to chance our arm with 'maybes'.

“They are all playing in Holland and I believe that whoever I have identified will be better than we have got.”

Recent reports suggest that Ajax left-back Urby Emanuelson (see video) is on Kinnear’s list along with Tim de Cler, who plays for Feyenoord and is also a left-sided player. With Kinnear identifying the Magpies left side as a weakness and is keen to add a naturally left-sided defender to the Squad at Newcastle.

22-year-old Emanuelson is a product of the famous youth academy at the Amsterdam Arena and has made 91 appearances for Ajax in the Eredivisie since making his senior debut in 2005. Emanuelson has been capped by Holland 11 times, but despite playing a major part in the EURO 2008 qualifier’s for the Dutch did not make the final squad that participated in last summers tournament that was co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

30-year-old De Cler is also a Dutch International and has been at Feyenoord since joining from AZ Alkmaar in 2007 and has made 32 league appearances for De club van het volk.

Kinnear Reveals Shearer Newcastle Snub As He Signs Six-Month Extension At St James' Park

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has revealed that Magpies legend Alan Shearer turned down the opportunity to join the coaching staff at St James’ Park.

61-year-old Kinnear, who took over at the Toon after Kevin Keegan resigned in September had said last week that the door was “always open” for Shearer to return to Newcastle. However, Kinnear has now revealed that the former England International felt he was not ready to step into a coaching role at the North East club.

“[Shearer] said it was a very kind offer but wasn't ready for it yet, and I said,'That's fine',” Kinnear said.

Kinnear has just signed a six-month extension to his original short-term deal at the Magpies and has now suggested that he could bring someone else in on the coaching side at Newcastle.

Kinnear added: “There's a possibility I might bring someone else in on the coaching front now.”

Shearer spent over 10 years at St James’ Park, scoring 206 goals in 404 appearances during his time with Newcastle. The former Blackburn Rovers and Southampton player had stated in September that he would like to manage in the Premier League one day, but Kinnear is unconcerned at the striker being continually linked with the manager’s job at Newcastle, saying that it is never likely to go away.

“I said he would be welcome to come in any time to give the place a lift and work with our strikers,” he said.

“It was very honourable of Alan. Speculation linking him with the job is never going to go away and we're both aware of that.

“I told him he's more than welcome here and there's not a problem, there's no aggravation between us.”

Magpies To Swoop For Arsenal's Denilson & Roma's Riise?

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has been linked with January loan moves for John Arne Riise at AS Roma and Arsenal’s young midfielder Denilson (below), with the pair on the top of a list already handed to Magpies owner Mike Ashley.

61-year-old Kinnear has revealed that he has handed a list of potential targets to Ashley, despite not knowing if he will still be in charge at St James’ Park when the transfer window opens or if Ashley will still be in charge at the up for sale North East club.

Kinnear has not named the targets, but did reveal one was a Roma player believed to be former Liverpool defender Riise and the other player is understood to be Gunners Brazilian midfielder Denilson.

“I have already got my shortlist ready and I will be giving it to Mike,” Kinnear confirmed.

“We need two players in as soon as possible, and I have them in mind.

“One is with Roma and he is not in the team at the moment. The other is a player who has already scored against us this season.

“We need to strengthen the team and the squad, and if we can get them, they would be a big boost because both are top-class players.”

Norwegian International Riise left Anfield for the Stadio Olimpico during the summer for £4million, but is not guaranteed first-team football under Luciano Spalletti at the Giallorossi, with Kinnear revealing that he knows it would cost £2million to bring the Roma target to the Premier League.

“I know their agents and what they would be is loan deals from January until the end of the season. I already know the player in Rome would cost us £2 million to bring over here,” Kinnear added.

However, despite Kinnear claiming to have been a regular visitor to the Arsenal training ground during his time out of management and said to have a good relationship with the Frenchman. Kinnear might find it hard to persuade Wenger to let 20-year-old Denilson leave the Emirates Stadium on loan, with the midfielder featuring in 18 of the Gunners 21 matches so far this campaign.

Newcastle Boss Kinnear Slams "Disrespectful" Trapattoni

Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has claimed that Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been “disrespectful” to the Magpies after recommending goalkeeper Shay Given to clubs in his homeland of Italy.

Trapattoni revealed earlier this week that he had told two or three Serie A sides that Given would be a good proposition for Italian football and that they could do a lot worse than try to tempt the Irish shot stopper away from St James’ Park.

This has not gone down well with Kinnear, who has already warned off Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp from Given recently. With Kinnear claiming that Given, who has been at the Premier League club since 1997 is happy at the Toon and would be the last player he would want to lose.

Kinnear told The Independent: "It is disrespectful to the club. Shay has got two-and-a-half years left here, a long contract and he is very happy here.

“He is a big voice in the dressing room and a top-class goalkeeper. He's the last person we'd want to lose.

“What was my reaction? Something like he is a very good judge of a goalkeeper. Maybe he was trying to get on Shay Given's good side.”

Chelsea v Newcastle Premiership Preview: Drogba Starts Ban For Blues – Taylor & Xisco In Contention For Magpies

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Chelsea play, Joe Kinnear’s Newcastle United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Blues go into the clash with Necastle on the back of four straight wins in the Premiership, which sees Chelsea at the top of the Premier League on goal difference over nearest rivals Liverpool. Scolari will be looking for his Chelsea side to take all three points against the Magpies as the West London club chase their first title under Scolari.

Newcastle will hope to take something from their trip to Stamford Bridge, but are yet to win on their travels away from St James’ Park this season. The Magpies are just above the relegation zone on goal difference and need to start picking up results quickly on the road if they are to climb to safety in the league.

Scolari is unable to call on long-term injury Michael Essien (knee) along with Franco Di Santo (hamstring) and Alex (thigh) for the visit of Newcastle. Frank Lampard is also a doubt after missing the England clash with Germany with a rib injury, while Ashley Cole, Petr Cech, Joe Cole and defender’s Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano Belletti could be in contention for Chelsea if they can shake off their respective injuries in time. Striker Didier Drogba starts his three-match ban for the coin-throwing incident against Burnley in the Carling Cup.

The Magpies are still without Mark Viduka ,Alan Smith and Ignacio Gonzalez, who all have achilles problems, while Kinnear will also not have Joey Barton (knee) available for the trip to Chelsea. Late fitness tests will be given to defender Steven Taylor and Xisco, who are both expected to recover from groin strins in time for Saturday’s game.

Chelsea: (from) Cech, Ivanovic, A Cole, Cavarlho, Lampard, J Cole, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Sinclair, Bosingwa, Bridge, Ferreira, Deco, Kalou, Cudicini, Terry, Mineiro, Belletti, Anelka, Stoch, Woods

Newcastle United: (from) Given, Coloccini, Enrique, Cacapa, Guthrie, Martins, Owen, Duff, Bassong, Harper, N’Zogbia, Gutierrez, Xisco, Geremi, Beye, Taylor, Kadar, Edgar, Forster, Tozer, Carroll, LuaLua

Kinnear Warns Spurs Boss Redknapp Off Given, But Will That Be Enough?

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Since his arrival at Tottenham Hotspur as manager from Portsmouth, Harry Redknapp has been linked with a number of goalkeepers, with the former Pompey boss not convinced about error prone Brazilian International Heurelho Gomes.

Newcastle United’s keeper Shay Given along with Robert Green at West Ham United and Premier League Champions Manchester United’s Ben Foster have all been linked with Spurs, with Redknapp revealing that he would be interested in bringing Republic of Ireland International Given to White Hart Lane. Should he become available.

However, Magpies manager Joe Kinnear has declared that Given will not be allowed to leave St James’ Park should Spurs come calling in January, with Kinnear eager to keep Given, who is an integral part of the United team in the North East.

Kinnear, who used to play for Tottenham has even claimed that it would not be worth Redknapp’s time to even make the call to Newcastle, with Kinnear adamant that Given will stay at St James’ Park.

“I can save Harry the time and money and tell him not to bother even picking up the telephone, because there is no way Shay Given will be leaving this club,” Kinnear told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

“We want to build up Newcastle United and get good players in, not good players out.

“And why would he want to go to Spurs? This is a bigger club than Spurs.”

Recent reports however, suggest that the decision might not be down to the Newcastle boss alone, with it understood that Magpies owner Mike Ashley is keen to sell any assets at the North East club before he sells the club itself and a source close to Given recently revealing that the Irishman could leave Newcastle in order to win trophies.

A close friend of Given said: “Shay is widely regarded as one, if not the best, goalkeeper in the Premier League.

“Yet he has nothing to show for his ability as he has not won a major trophy in his entire career.

“He has always stated he is happy at Newcastle but the simple fact of the matter is he wants to win things. Although it will hurt him to do so, he is ready to leave Newcastle to achieve that.

“And he would be more than happy to go to a club like Tottenham where the club's potential under Harry is clearly enormous.”

So whether Kinnear can hold on to Given, who has been at Newcastle since 1997 remains to be seen as Given could choose to leave for Spurs if he feels his chances of collecting silverware are greater in North London.

Newcastle Boss Kinnear Warns Wait Until You Hear The Truth About Keegan

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Interim Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnear has revealed that the Toon army may turn against one of their favourite sons Kevin Keegan when statements about the former Magpies manager departure at Newcastle come to light.

Keegan was idolised at St James’ Park, both as a player and a manager of the North East club, with his decision to quit Newcastle in early September leading to fans calling for owner Mike Ashley to step down as chairman at the Premier League club.

Ashley promptly put Newcastle up for sale, with the sports magnate claiming that he no longer felt it was safe to watch the Magpies play with his family at St James’ Park, while insisting that he had invested sensibly in the club to ensure its long-term stability.

However, Kinnear has now come out and suggested that the Newcastle fans might look at Ashley in a different light once the facts surrounding Keegan’s departure emerge.

“I could tell you lots of things about (Keegan’s departure),” he told The News of the World.

“You will have to wait and see. You might be pleasantly surprised.

“You are making an assumption, like most of the journalists up here, and 75 percent of you are wrong.

“Wait until you see the statements. That is all I am saying. All will be revealed.

“Maybe Mike Ashley will be accepted. Maybe he will come back and won’t sell the place. Maybe he’ll invest in the club.

“Who knows? It only needs the team to go on a small run and people will easily forget.

“I am saying ‘forget’, but I don’t know what the man has done.

“It is difficult. He’s put £240 million into the club and he can’t come and watch the team, but he could make peace with the fans.

“It isn’t all of them. He hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip by the press.

“He is a down-to-earth fella who loves his football. His kids love it.

“I don’t know what mistakes he has made because I haven’t been here to look at them.”