July 2007 Archives
Getting ready for the long road to Hull and back and by the way, what happened to the money?
Posted by Lee on July 31, 2007 9:03 AM
At one point there was talk of us playing in the Amsterdam Tournament but instead we are all heading down to Hull!
Clearly Newcastle United have gone out of fashion in Europe and after last season's 13th place finish, it's no surprise.
The current climate - which can change very quickly round here - is in doom and gloom mode at the moment.
Big Sam is not getting any money to spend right now despite hope and talk from those around Mike Ashley - before he took full control of the club - that the manager would be backed, we are still waiting for the "big one" to come out of the bag.
The manager is still heading into the new season with his defence looking extremely light and lacking depth.
But Ashley and his new chairman Chris Mort seem to be cool on the situation.
The questions though have quickly moved to just when are they going to get the cheque book out?
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
Don't want to Harp on about transfers but...
Posted by Lee on July 27, 2007 8:05 AM
If Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley didn't know that the need to strengthen his squad has reached emergency status, he does now.
Michael Owen and Kieron Dyer - who appears to have reached the end - watched on from the stands in the 4-1 win over Celtic.
But the fact that Newcastle ended the night with just EIGHT regular outfield players on the field underlined just how weak the squad is going into the season.
Steve Harper ended the night in attack and Tim Krul could well have joined him as Newcastle finished with 10 players following Steven Taylor's injury.
And considering youngsters like James Troisi, Andy Carroll, Matty Pattison and David Edgar were in that number, Ashley's need for new blood has never been greater.
Continue reading "Don't want to Harp on about transfers but..." »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Goodnight said Fred
Posted by Lee on July 24, 2007 7:34 PM
It's the news that thousands of fans have been dreaming about for almost nine years.
Freddy Shepherd is history at St James’ Park.
The role of chairman was always going to be a difficult one to follow MetroCentre tycoon Sir John Hall and there have been plenty of ups and downs since the Geordie chief stepped down.
Unfortunately for Newcastle United’s incredible support there have been more downs that ups.
Continue reading "Goodnight said Fred" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Different season, same old injuries
Posted by Lee on July 23, 2007 8:19 AM
So just two games in and we are currently without Michael Owen (again) and Joey Barton with a damaged foot.
Oh, and just for good measure James Milner got injured in the warm-up at Carlisle and Shay Given and Shola Ameobi also have niggles already.
Thankfully - Barton aside - most of United's players are being left out as a precaution but that won't stop Toon fans saying: "Here we go again" as we head into the new season with fresh injury grief.
Continue reading "Different season, same old injuries" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Nobby spares blushes
Posted by Lee on July 21, 2007 6:33 PM
Carlisle United 1, Newcastle United 1
Nobby Solano rescued Newcastle United today with an injury-time equaliser against League One outfit Carlisle United.
Sam Allardyce was thankful for his South American star after the Cumbrians came close to inflicting a pre-season defeat in the Newcastle manager’s second game in charge.
Joey Barton captained Newcastle today at Brunton Park with Shay Given and Shola Ameobi rested and Michael Owen out with a thigh injury.
Continue reading "Nobby spares blushes" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Now or never for Dyer
Posted by Lee on July 20, 2007 8:47 AM
Confusion surrounds the future of Kieron Dyer after the player was spotted being consoled at Victoria Park by Toon coach Nigel Pearson.
Make no doubts, Dyer was one of the top men against Pools and his cool running and dribbling through the middle and out wide defied opinions Sam Allardyce will adopt a long ball/long pass system at Newcastle United.
Yet no sooner had the game finished a clearly distressed Dyer was walked on to the pitch and away from the watching media for a one on one with Pearson, sparking panic that no sooner is Dyer back up on his feet, there's another problem.
And no sooner is there a problem, West Ham start sniffing.
Continue reading "Now or never for Dyer" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Easy pickings
Posted by Lee on July 18, 2007 2:13 PM
Not one of the Toon Army who ventured down the A19 last night is getting carried away but most people connected with the black and whites, enjoyed the trip to Victoria Park last night.
Even going a goal down to James Brown's opener - a player United looked at last season - could not dampen the atmosphere in the Rink End.
Joey Barton looked lively, Kieron Dyer ran them ragged, Zoggy looked interested (a big thing), Shola grabbed his goals and Michael Owen not only pulled on a black and white shirt, he also slotted in his first Toon goal since the hat-trick at West Ham.
Good luck to the Hartlepool United players and Town End fans but quite rightly this was an easy win for the Toon.
Continue reading "Easy pickings" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Turn on, Toon in, Cops Out!!
Posted by Lee on July 17, 2007 8:54 AM
It seems like five minutes ago since we were walking away from Watford on the back of controversy.
Glenn Roeder had resigned days earlier and Charles N' Zogbia and Oba Martins had fell out with Nigel Pearson before the final game of the season.
So, with United's first friendly about to kick off, is it a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire?
Going into United's next game at Hartlepool, new manager Sam Allardyce guides his new team out on the back of yesterday's police raid at St James' Park with Newcastle seemingly at the centre of a corruption investigation, although the club clearly stated "The Club itself is not the subject of the investigation."
But for many the sound of the referee's whistle at Victoria Park will be music to their ears because finally, it's all about the game we love again, for now.
Continue reading "Turn on, Toon in, Cops Out!!" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Chopping and changing
Posted by Lee on July 12, 2007 1:16 PM
So Sunderland's first big strike in the transfer market is a player who could hardly hit a barn door in the Premiership in the eyes of thousands of Geordie fans.
OK, he didn't get a run in the team like some players have but given Michael Chopra's reputation as a predator, the chances he did get - he didn't take.
Chops did brilliantly for Cardiff last season but what evidence or erroneous information has been provided for Sunderland to splash out a big chunk of their kitty to make the Geordie a Black Cat and expect him to repeat it in the Premiership?
Would I be erroneous or ridiculous to report that Sunderland have wasted their money on signing a player that couldn't cut the cloth in the Premiership?
Don't get me wrong, every Geordie wanted Chops to get it right at Newcastle, but now what will Toon fans want?
Good luck to Chopra and a huge pat on the back to him for being so brave.
Not only to go out and attempt to prove the world wrong but also to win over the Sunderland fans who are still reeling from THAT goal in the 4-1 demolition job in the derby last time around!
I mean if 206 goal Shearer is c*** according to those on the Wear, where exactly does that leave Chops?
Continue reading "Chopping and changing" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
We really are top of the flops!
Posted by Lee on July 11, 2007 10:47 AM
Well Sam Allardyce can't really do much worse can he?
Or at least that's what the rest of the country thinks about our transfer market history and most Toon fans simply have to agree with them when it comes to the Times' recent poll on the 20 worst ever players to play in the Premiership.
This lot somehow slipped through the net for the original worst ever top 50 but United figure prominently in the latest fix of rubbish players.
Newcastle have always been a very easy target for critics to throw the knives at.
Whether it's 38 trophy-less years, shocking managers, player behaviour, schoolboy defending, our own players fighting with each other on the pitch, our own fans being slated for buying shirts at their own club, we always get it with both barrels!
But as much as you try to defend your corner when it comes to Toon players you will find it difficult to disagree with this lot.
Here we go.
Continue reading "We really are top of the flops!" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Giving it the big one
Posted by Lee on July 6, 2007 1:42 PM
Newcastle United's transformation at board room level is more or less complete with Mike Ashley clearly running the show at St James' Park, albeit behind the scenes.
This week the man Ashley opted to front the new Newcastle United, was London lawyer Chris Mort, who quickly got to work by meeting the media circus at St James' Park to underline the exact intentions of the new board.
Mort skimmed over a variety of subjects during his first public appearance but the message was clear that more much needed signings WILL follow the arrivals of Mark Viduka, Geremi, David Rozenhal and Joey Barton.
And rumblings this week are that a big name player could follow as Ashley looks to make a statement that will "shock the football world".
But hold on, after months of certain sections of fans (particularly faceless fans on the internet) starting one campaign after another to remove the previous board.
Now it appears that even positive talk of new signings will be met by a similar tidal wave of negativity.
Continue reading "Giving it the big one" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Dignified silence? You're having a laugh!
Posted by Lee on July 4, 2007 12:34 PM
Well that dignified silence didn't last long did it?
Just weeks after resigning from Newcastle United after a woeful run of form, Glenn Roeder has come out of the woodwork to slam Sam Allardyce - before a ball has even been kicked.
Glenn did well to lead United away from relegation and into Europe but we all know what happened after that.
This has sour grapes written all over it and any respect the Geordie public did have left for GR must surely be in question today after what can only be described as a stupid and pointless attack on Big Sam.
Roeder says: "It's a sad excuse for Sam to ask the fans to be patient while he builds the team for the next five years.
"I think the supporters of Newcastle United will be angry at being asked to be patient. All they have ever done is show patience.
"The current squad finished last season well enough to be playing in Europe this season. Without so many injuries, we would have qualified again for Europe."
What? We played well enough to be play in Europe? Where? Reading? Portsmouth? Alkmaar? Charlton? Fulham? Wigan? Everton? Bolton?
Or was it at home to Man City? Boro? Blackburn? Sheff United? Charlton?
Continue reading "Dignified silence? You're having a laugh!" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit
Ger in man, that's a hat-trick!
Posted by Lee on July 3, 2007 2:17 PM
So, Newcastle United 3, Middlesbrough 0 and that's before a ball has even been kicked.
First it was Mark Viduka, then Joey Barton and now Riverside old boy Geremi, who is the latest to join Big Sam's revolution at St James' Park and not to join Gareth Southgate and the lads on Teesside.
United jetted out to Austria today for their boot camp in Stegersbach but the Cameroon World Cup star wasn't on board their 9am flight to Graz this morning from Newcastle Airport.
The former Chelsea ace was putting his feet up after helping his country to qualify for the African Nations next year in Ghana but will be ready to rock and roll in the Toon's pre-season freindlies.
Continue reading "Ger in man, that's a hat-trick!" »
- Post to:
- del.icio.us
- Digg
- Newsvine
- Nowpublic
- Reddit