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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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November 2007 Archives


A night spent walking in a Keegan wonderland

Posted by Lee on November 30, 2007 9:42 AM

keegan1.jpgEvery now and again we are all guilty of sticking on the rose tinted spectacles but when it comes to reminiscing the Kevin Keegan era in Newcastle, you will not find too many people that have too many bad memories.

They are mainly all good, the feel good factor couldn't have been any higher for much of his tenure.

OK there were ups and downs, we nearly went into Division Three and we lost the title by a whisker but if most of us had the choice we'd go through it all again.

Keegan to a lot of people will always be Mr Newcastle.

Continue reading "A night spent walking in a Keegan wonderland" »

We're still here - now any danger of a performance?

Posted by Lee on November 28, 2007 9:14 AM

Newcastle United fans have never been backwards in going forwards.

And when they don't see what they like, they'll make sure people know about as football legends Ossie Ardiles, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness all very well know.

It's something that Big Sam is now also acutely aware of too.

So with 6,000 Geordies dedicating the bulk of their weekend (and a fistful of cash just weeks away from Christmas) to the black and white cause - isn't it time United served up a decent performance?

Continue reading "We're still here - now any danger of a performance?" »

The alternative Bez and Ryder show makes a Happy Tuesday

Posted by Lee on November 27, 2007 4:41 PM

Warren Barton, Lee Ryder, John Beresford.jpgIt isn't every day you get the chance to spend the day with two Newcastle United favourites but today I was invited to NUFC to spend the day as a Toon player.

It only seemed five minutes ago that I was sat in the Press box lambasting the lads after the 3-0 defeat against Liverpool but at least this gave me an idea of just what life is like for Premier League players of today.

The two guys in charge of the operation - which has now been extended to Toon fans as well -are well known figures in Warren Barton and John Beresford.

Continue reading "The alternative Bez and Ryder show makes a Happy Tuesday" »

What next for Newcastle fans?

Posted by Lee on November 25, 2007 3:11 PM

Talking about Newcastle United is certainly a touchy subject at the minute but it's fairly obvious that if Sam Allardyce didn't know what us Geordies are all about before the Liverpool debacle, which comes not that long after the Pompey debacle, he should now.

Unfortunately patience is not on the menu on Tyneside and it's easy to see why after the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

Basically if you are experienced enough to have watched Newcastle win a trophy (and I'm not talking about the Northumberland Senior Cup) you are old enough to be a some of the current player's mam or dad, or if we are talking about a domestic trophy a grandad, grandmother or even a great grandad or great grandmother!

Put it this way it was a long time ago - but to be fair the frustrations and abuse that came the way of Big Sam against Liverpool weren't even about the trophy drought because most people have actually threw the towel in on seeing United win something - it was all about the performance and the fear that this team - like the one before it - is going nowhere.

Continue reading "What next for Newcastle fans?" »

Newcastle fans turn up the heat on Big Sam

Posted by Lee on November 24, 2007 2:40 PM

Sam Allardyce was the target of angry Newcastle United fans today after Liverpool pulled off an easy win on Tyneside.

The fact that Pepe Reina wasn’t even tested in the Liverpool goal summed up a miserable day at the office for Big Sam as the Merseysiders could have left a rain swept St James’s Park with an even bigger scoreline.

The Geordie crowd then turned on Allardyce when they chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing” and “Big Sam for England.”

And Liverpool fans were also happy to join in when they chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and “You should have stayed at the Reebok.”

Continue reading "Newcastle fans turn up the heat on Big Sam" »

McClaren farce makes Newcastle's problems look straight forward

Posted by Lee on November 22, 2007 10:16 AM

It was always going to be a shambles.

And it isn't often that this Newcastle United blog strays to international football.

But with our own manager Sam Allardyce now on the FA's shortlist to take over how can you ignore a farce that makes Newcastle United's problems look straight forward?

And should Michael Owen remain a Newcastle United player - and I know there aren't many who would put their house on it - surely a summer of rest for a player bombarded by injuries sustained on international duty can only be a good thing?

Continue reading "McClaren farce makes Newcastle's problems look straight forward" »

Newcastle's injury luck during international fortnight takes the biscuit

Posted by Lee on November 21, 2007 12:45 PM

No matter what walk of life you're in - you always seem to get kicked when you're down.

And that has to be the case for Newcastle United with Steven Taylor now the latest injury victim of another international break to forget.

Taylor's back problem sustained in Portugal means he will miss the Liverpool game on Saturday and like Michael Owen before him may be facing a stint on the sidelines for several weeks.

But like Owen, it isn't the first time for Taylor and never mind lightning striking twice!

This is now the FOURTH time it's happened involving both Owen and Taylor when it comes to international duty!

Continue reading "Newcastle's injury luck during international fortnight takes the biscuit" »

Owen injury was an accident waiting to happen

Posted by Lee on November 18, 2007 2:28 PM

I don't think there are too many Geordies who will be surprised by the injury to Michael Owen.

Annoyed yes, but the pointless trip to Austria and the disaster that went with it was always on the cards.

And if anybody was going to get injured admit it, your gut reaction would have said it would be Owen.

Why?

Because that's what gut reactions do when it comes to our players going away to represent their countries - and it's not like it hasn't happened before.

Continue reading "Owen injury was an accident waiting to happen" »

It wasn't nice to look at but do Newcastle fans care?

Posted by Lee on November 12, 2007 3:10 PM

Well the Tyne-Wear derby certainly wasn't pretty was it?

But Newcastle United's blushes were saved by a fortunate James Milner equaliser and the cross bar.

In the end the Toon fans were in great voice singing "get the drinks in for the lads" to the black and white clad Mike Ashley but we were pretty close to a horrible result.

Sunderland will never get a better chance to beat Newcastle and for Sam Allardyce and his team the hope has to be we can get our season up and running again when the international break is done and dusted.

Continue reading "It wasn't nice to look at but do Newcastle fans care?" »

Milner saves the day for Newcastle

Posted by Lee on November 10, 2007 9:40 AM

Lee Ryder reports from the Stadium of Light

Newcastle United fans had to be content with a 1-1 draw on Wearside today as James Milner secured a point in an emotionally charged derby at the Stadium of Light.

United had gone behind to Danny Higginbotham in the second half but Milner's goal saved the day for Big Sam and Co as streets emptied on both Tyneside and Wearside alike to take in the first Tyne-Wear clash of the season.

Continue reading "Milner saves the day for Newcastle" »

Defeat isn't an option for Newcastle United

Posted by Lee on November 9, 2007 9:10 AM

They reckon that defeat in tomorrow's Tyne-Wear derby is simply unthinkable.

But no matter how confident you are about tomorrow's big clash at the Stadium of Light, defeat will have crossed your mind at some stage.

It certainly has for me.

For every moment of thinking about 3,000 sets of keys being waved about at 4-1, I've had a Marco Gabbiadini moment.

And for every moment thinking of that Mackem with his corner flags, Eric Gates has crept into my head - mullet as well.

Every Liam O'Brien free-kick has been clouded with a Niall Quinn or a Kevin Phillips and so on and so on.

Losing isn't on the menu for the Geordies this time.

Continue reading "Defeat isn't an option for Newcastle United" »

Will Mike Ashley put his shirt on it for Newcastle?

Posted by Lee on November 8, 2007 7:07 PM

mikeashley.jpg

So Sunderland say that Mike Ashley can only wear his Toon top if he goes in the away end.

After admitting he didn't mind if Ashley pulled on the black and white shirt Niall Quinn has now opted out of giving the idea the green light to wear it in the directors box - like he has been able to everywhere else in the Premier League.

So the big question is should Wor Mike wear his Toon top on the Wear?

Well let's be honest if he can survive Blu Bambu and the Quayside he can survive the travelling Toon Army.

And he will be more than welcome if he did by the Geordie public - after all he couldn't have done much more to get his feet under the table on Tyneside could he?

Sunderland say that wearing the top in the prawn sandwich area would be against club rules but would it be the same if it was any other club coming to the Stadium of Light?

Continue reading "Will Mike Ashley put his shirt on it for Newcastle?" »

We need battlers - not bottlers

Posted by Lee on November 7, 2007 12:28 PM

The Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light will come down to one thing and one thing only.

And that is exactly who wants it the most and who has the most bottle.

Sunderland are still wounded from the last time the two sides met on Wearside and United - who are reeling from the Pompey game - romped to a 4-1 win in April 2006.

That day was the last time anybody saw Alan Shearer kick a football in the Premier League - but his last touch proved to be smashing home a penalty to put Newcastle 2-1 up.

That requires bottle and Shearer certainly had it in abundance but to be fair to the rest of his side everybody rose to the occasion that day - even Albert Luque who scored a rare goal in black and white!

Continue reading "We need battlers - not bottlers" »

No Wear to run and no place to hide

Posted by Lee on November 4, 2007 10:12 AM

There was no hiding place for Newcastle United after their 4-1 defeat against Portsmouth and Sam Allardyce has now got six days to sort things out for the biggest game of the season at the Stadium of Light.

Big Sam's tactical input since he took over had meant United were unbeaten at St James's Park this season before yesterday's farce unfolded.

And although Toon fans aren't yet convinced about the style of play Newcastle are playing in this new era, winning football matches keeps managers in jobs and smiles on the faces of supporters.

How you win sometimes doesn't matter but how you lose, like Newcastle did against Pompey, matters dearly to the folk of Tyneside.

Defeat when a team is exhausted on the full time whistle, when they are soaked in sweat, blood and snot and have attempted to block every tackle, keep every ball in touch and challenged for every single header still won't make you flavour of the month.

But it will at least show your watching public you care and make them a little bit more forgiving.

Continue reading "No Wear to run and no place to hide" »

Toon fans head for the exits

Posted by Lee on November 3, 2007 4:18 PM

Newcastle United were soundly beaten in their own back yard today by Portsmouth after the south coast side stormed into a 3-0 lead in just 11 minutes.

United's unbeaten home streak came to end in awful fashion as some fans headed for the exits long before the final whistle had sounded.

The 4-1 win for Pompey left Big Sam furious and leaves him with serious work to do on the training ground ahead of next week's derby trip to Sunderland.

Continue reading "Toon fans head for the exits" »

Once more unto the breach, dear friends

Posted by Lee on November 1, 2007 9:38 AM

Supporting Newcastle United has always been a rollercoaster experience but this season there have been more ups and downs than Sunderland's Premier League history book.

United of course have never moved from the top flight since the 1993/94 season when Kevin Keegan took us back where we belong yet our placing in the Premiership can only be described as slippery to say the least.

Match days at St James's Park for fans never come without nervous energy before and after kick off for a variety of different reasons (hangovers, pre-match intoxication, fear of losing, disappointment of failing etc) and that is no different for the visit of Pompey.

Continue reading "Once more unto the breach, dear friends" »