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About this blog

Blog on the Tyne is dedicated to bring Toon fans everywhere the most up to date NUFC views, opinions and comment.

The author Lee Ryder, proudly born and bred on Tyneside, has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.

From the high octane atmosphere of St James' Park to the Premiership grounds up and down the country and into Europe - this Blog has been there.

But the coverage doesn't stop at first team level.

Blog on the Tyne is also proud to be there to witness the future of the club with regular coverage of Newcastle United's reserve side, as well as all things black and white.

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January 2007 Archives


Welcome aboard Gooch

Posted by Lee on January 31, 2007 11:20 AM

He's big, he looks hard and he looks like he'll take no grief from anybody.

And if he stops United conceding sloppy goals it can only be a good thing, right?

Welcome aboard Oguchi Onyewu.

The big American defender arrives at 24 as one of Standard Liege's best players but nobody can get too excited by that can they?

After all the Belgian League is hardly Serie A.

But move on we must.

Continue reading "Welcome aboard Gooch" »

Duffer back in business

Posted by Lee on January 29, 2007 9:38 AM

Damien DuffNewcastle United may not have signed any big names during the transfer window so far but the re-emergence of Damien Duff will be like, as we are sure to hear soon by pundits far and wide, signing a new player for Glenn Roeder.

Since Duff arrived from Chelsea in the summer the Irish winger has only shown us glimpses of what he can do.

Duff has yet to find his best form and like many others this season the only thing he's come across so far is injury woe.

But are we about to see exactly why he is rated so highly throughout the football world?

Continue reading "Duffer back in business" »

Over to you Harps

Posted by Lee on January 24, 2007 1:22 PM

Injuries at football clubs are supposed to come and go aren't they?

Well, not in Newcastle United's case and certainly not in the case of Shay Given.

True, they do come and go but that doesn't mean to say certain players won't suddenly pick up a different injury in a different place.

And why not chuck in a nice twist of irony as well?

That's twice our top stopper has been hurt against the Hammers!

Continue reading "Over to you Harps" »

Toon fans go for self-sooth option again

Posted by Lee on January 22, 2007 8:58 AM

It's funny the things you tell yourself to feel better after games like West Ham.

Obviously things could have been a lot worse after going 2-0 down before the first half an hour.

So it was no surprise to see, "It was a point gained in the circumstances" rolled out by many of the fans.

And although West Ham scored their first away goal for just over 15 hours a lot of people had to subscribe to this theory due to a spirited fightback.

But was this not very much a case of two points dropped?

Continue reading "Toon fans go for self-sooth option again" »

Did that just happen?

Posted by Lee on January 18, 2007 3:44 PM

Humiliating, demoralising, gut-wrenching, shocking, awful, heartbreaking and desperately disappointing.

Those are just some of the words to describe Newcastle United’s painful 5-1 hammering against Championship side Birmingham City.

I mean, where did that come from?

We knew it wouldn’t be a cakewalk but 5-1? Howay man!

Continue reading "Did that just happen?" »

We don't need no education!

Posted by Lee on January 16, 2007 2:32 PM

Is it just me or do you really want to see certain senior players back in the team at the expense of Newcastle United's super young guns?

They will get their chance against Birmingham in the FA Cup once more and there aren't too many Geordies complaining.

The kids have done fantastic since they come in but with Stephen Carr, Celestine Babayaro, Craig Moore and Titus Bramble all to come back, Glenn Roeder will have decisions to make when it comes to his team selection.

Like kids in all walks of life the likes of Paul Huntington, David Edgar and Matty Pattison have all put in solid but not, at times, perfect performances.

The same can be said for Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage.

However does it seem that long ago since the likes of Bramble, Babayaro and Carr were all being slated for the similar mistakes?

Continue reading "We don't need no education!" »

Na na na na na na na na Nicky, Nicky Butt, Nicky Butt, Nicky, Nicky Butt

Posted by Lee on January 15, 2007 4:05 PM

He didn't look like he gave a monkeys when he returned to Newcastle in the summer after a depressing season on loan with relegated Birmingham.

And even though Glenn Roeder welcomed him back with open arms, something wasn't quite right.

Could Nicky Butt ever be the player he was for Manchester United again?

The answer now is turning out to be yes, with the performance against Tottenham big proof that Butty is back and loving football again.

Continue reading "Na na na na na na na na Nicky, Nicky Butt, Nicky Butt, Nicky, Nicky Butt" »

Are United set for more White Hart Pain?

Posted by Lee on January 12, 2007 12:41 PM

Not since Jermaine Jenas - now with Spurs - fired home a last minute winner in North London have Newcastle got the better of Tottenham in their own backyard.

United have certainly had their moments at White Hart Lane in their Premiership years but none of them coming in the last three visits.

No goals, no points, no wins and a broken foot for Michael Owen is all United have to show for their efforts since 2003 and with another patched up squad heading for the capital it wouldn't be a surprise if that pain continued.

Continue reading "Are United set for more White Hart Pain?" »

Bend it like Bramble instead then?

Posted by Lee on January 11, 2007 1:49 PM

It was bound to do the rounds the minute Real Madrid said that David Beckham's future won't be in Spain.

And now with a lucrative move to LA Galaxy sealed, dreams of Beckham in black and white have faded.

Becks, Posh Spice and the kids won't be shopping in the Grainger Market at any point, unless they run seriously short of lighters, biros or pipe cleaning products or take a serious wrong turn on their way to Harrods!

I've got nothing against the Grainger Market and I am sure Becks hasn't either but the truth is the Toon were not interested in the former England captain - and on those wages they couldn't afford him.

Continue reading "Bend it like Bramble instead then?" »

Luque break

Posted by Lee on January 8, 2007 1:15 PM

He might have been a dream for headline writers everywhere but Albert Luque's nightmare stint on Tyneside could be about to grind to a shuddering halt.

United didn't get much change from £10million when they snapped him up from Deportivo la Coruna in the summer of 2005 but there was plenty hope that Luque would do the business in the Premiership after notching a half century of goals in Spain's La Liga.

But it never worked out that way did it?

Continue reading "Luque break" »

So many games, so few players for Roeder

Posted by Lee on January 8, 2007 8:52 AM

Not content with getting past Birmingham at the first time of asking at St Andrews, Newcastle decided on doing things the hard way in the FA Cup third round.

And now the squad will be tested to the limit with a replay on Wednesday week as the walking wounded are asked to keep moving forward.

However, what a chance United have to reach the last 16 after drawing Burnley or Reading in the fourth round should they get past Birmingham.

If the draw continues to be this kind by the time fifth round day comes injuries may be gone, new signings may be on board and who knows?

Michael Owen might get an additional game he wasn't expecting before the season is out in May.

But let's not get carried away.

It has to be said that United are exceeding their own and fans' expectations at the moment due to the injury trouble at St James' Park which has merely exposed just how wafer thin the squad actually is.

But after giving themselves the perfect platform to see off Championship form side Birmingham they threw away a guaranteed fourth round place against Steve Bruce's side and earned an extra game nobody really wanted.

Continue reading "So many games, so few players for Roeder" »

Name on the trophy?

Posted by Lee on January 5, 2007 9:27 AM

This is what it's all about!

The FA Cup third round and all of the cliches that go with it.

Banana skin tie, each round as it comes, a great leveller, giantkilling act and name on the trophy.

At Birmingham tomorrow some of them are sure to be wheeled out at St Andrews.

And awaiting Newcastle is a shocking surface that is just about to be ripped up for a new pitch - but only after Glenn Roeder's boys have played this epic tie.

Continue reading "Name on the trophy?" »

Man Yoo beauty!

Posted by Lee on January 2, 2007 11:54 AM

David EdgarOK, it wasn't Howay 5-0, and it was no where near the superb 4-3 win the last time we actually beat Man United - but it was still sweet as a nut.

Man United fans from far and very wide of course will probably snigger at the fact Newcastle fans were so happy with a point.

But given the fact that Newcastle are playing raw teenagers and still picking up points makes this a bit of a moral victory of sorts.

And if the scorchers scored by James Milner and David Edgar weren't enough to heat up a chilly St James' Park the general fighting spirit that gushed from the team throughout suggested there is still much more to come from a team that just keeps bouncing back.

Continue reading "Man Yoo beauty!" »

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