Luque To Learn From Milner?

Last updated : 02 February 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

... on Wednesday we saw a carbon copy as PSV Eindhoven technical manager Stan Valckx failed in the club's last-ditch bid to sign Newcastle striker Albert Luque.

United chairman Freddy Shepherd scuppered the deal, just as he did on Milner, because once again the club failed to bring in a replacement. Luque maybe staying, but I'll give bets of odds-on that he doesn't start another match in the first team this campaign.

Valckx: "It is a very big pity, we had an agreement with Newcastle United about Luque but because the chairman was obstructive things fell through."

Glenn Roeder: "He had a move to PSV teed-up on the assumption that we could get someone, but when that didn't materialise he had to stay. I have spoken to the player and he knows the situation. He will have to buckle down and show me he is good enough for the team."

No-one can blame Roeder (or Shepherd), but perhaps this was the chance to put the player in the shop window so Newcastle could get a decent cheque for him in the summer. But then again look at the Milner deal that didn't happen ... it is probably the highlight of the season that it went wrong, because he is in stunning form.