Shepherd: 'I Will NOT Buy Anelka!'

Freddy Shepherd refuses to back his manager and sign Fenerbahce striker Nicolas Anelka because he feels Graeme Souness has spent enough without improving United's position. And rumour from St James' Park suggest the chairman has finally run short of patience.

Anelka’s reputation as being a ‘difficult character’ has got Shepherd thinking that we could return to the mess we were in just before Souness signed. Craig Bellamy, Olivier Bernard, Laurent Robert, Patrick Kluivert and Lee Bowyer are just five who didn't like working under Souness. Now it is said a few more, including Stephen Carr and Shay Given are getting itchy feet.

Considering the injury situation, Fat Fred says Newcastle are not to improve their squad during the ‘window’ unless Souness offloads, and this can only lead to speculation that Souness’s days are numbered.

Shepherd welcomes his manager's former employees Blackburn to St James’ Park this weekend, with a certain irony that Mark Hughes’ team are challenging for a European place and when Souness left them they were BOTTOM of the Premiership! And how the Blackburn fans would love to see Souness fall flat on his face on Saturday.