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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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March 2008 Archives


Emre shows class as Toon kids finish off with Man U draw

Posted by Lee on March 31, 2008 10:10 PM

In front of nearly 3,000 people Adam Sadler's lads showed just why the hardcore of the Toon Army have had plenty of things to smile about during a disappointing season with the first team.

A 1-1 draw in their final Premier League Reserve game with Man U showed the young guns have made big strides this term.

Kids like Tamas Kadar, Wesley Ngo Baheng, Ben Tozer, Fraser Forster, Kazenga LuaLua and slightly more senior figures like Andy Carroll, David Edgar and Jonny Godsmark have given the Geordie faithful some hope for the future.

They couldn't finish with a win tonight and had to rely on an Emre strike to save a point.

But with a huge contingent of Junior Magpies at St James's Park chanting the name of Kevin Keegan the move to appoint the man who seems to bring a smile to every face is paying off.

Continue reading "Emre shows class as Toon kids finish off with Man U draw" »

Gan on man get carried away!

Posted by Lee on March 31, 2008 8:14 AM

The crazy world of Newcastle United will always mean that life as a Toon fan is always either really, really bad or like the trip to Spurs really, really good.

In fact Spurs summed up exactly what Newcastle were all about after the gung ho display at White Hart Lane left Tottenham rattled and with no answers to a superb attacking display.

A couple of people have said: "Don't get carried away."

But if you can't enjoy a rare away battering of Spurs and look ahead to a brighter future, exactly what is the point in following football?

Continue reading "Gan on man get carried away!" »

Newcastle dish out capital punishment at Spurs

Posted by Lee on March 30, 2008 4:46 PM

Newcastle United put in a wonderful display in the capital today as they pulled off an emphatic win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Nicky Butt’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time cancelled out Darren Bent’s opener with second half goals from Geremi, Michael Owen and Oba Martins making it a terrific day for the black and whites.

KK stuck with the team that had beaten Fulham last weekend with Owen, Mark Viudka and Martins all starting the game up front in an adventurous formation away from home – and it paid off in real style.

Continue reading "Newcastle dish out capital punishment at Spurs" »

The night that Seghill will never forget

Posted by Lee on March 28, 2008 9:46 PM

If you had a pound for every conversation that takes place this weekend in the pubs and clubs of Tyneside about Newcastle United and their trip to Spurs on Sunday, you'd probably be a canny rich Geordie!

Yet Toon fans in super Seghill had a priceless surprise visit from the King on Friday night as Kevin Keegan proved just why the Geordie nation love him to bits.

In Newcastle, KK is a figure that commands respect in every room he enters.

Or at least judging by the superb reception he received that is and being in Seghill to witness that triggered the usual question of just what would it be like if we actually win something?

KK shocked locals at Seghill Social Club to mingle with fans and help raise funds for Seghill Juniors FC, the club in which reserve team coach Adam Sadler began his own football education.

Continue reading "The night that Seghill will never forget" »

Stoke are doing the Ameobi

Posted by Lee on March 27, 2008 6:15 PM

Shola AmeobiEver since lanky Toon striker Shola Ameobi burst on to the scene at Newcastle United, Geordie fans have been divided over exactly what the Nigerian has to offer the black and whites.

The man who has his own personal song is certainly larger than life itself at times but has also been guilty of failing to make the cut during his Tyneside career.

Some fans absolutely love him, of which I am in that group, and some will be pleased to see him on the bus to Stoke on loan.

With Michael Owen, Oba Martins, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and rookie striker Andy Carroll all ahead of him, plus the promise of new faces in the summer, it's difficult to see where Shola fits in to United these days.

Continue reading "Stoke are doing the Ameobi" »

We're not out of the woods yet

Posted by Lee on March 27, 2008 8:42 AM

If such a thing as time travel existed I'd certainly be tempted to go back to almost 16 years ago to March 29 when Newcastle United had just scrapped it out with Sunderland to take three points many people felt were enough to keep the Magpies in the old Second Division.

Back then there was a feeling of relief in the air on Tyneside and that with more than a month left of the season, Newcastle were pretty much safe and they'd turned the corner - but it still came down to a white knuckle ride in the last two games against Pompey and Leicester City before you could rest properly.

Before you start, this isn't a negative rant to fuel any doom and gloom merchants but merely a reality check ahead of the vital game with Spurs.

Continue reading "We're not out of the woods yet" »

The naked truth for Toon fans

Posted by Lee on March 25, 2008 7:06 AM

The tired old cliche about waiting for a bus before two come out at once could well be the case on Sunday for Newcastle United at Spurs.

I mean after the dizzy heights of beating Fulham at the weekend the Geordie nation rediscovered what it was like to taste that winning feeling once more after a steady performance against the Cottagers.

Mike Ashley reportedly said: "Let's get naked and have a party!" as he entered the director's suite after the win before Toon fans drank the Bigg Market and the Quayside dry!

Continue reading "The naked truth for Toon fans" »

All smiles for the Geordie boys!

Posted by Lee on March 22, 2008 7:03 PM

If you're a Geordie right now you'll probably have a smile stretching from ear to ear.

It's been a long wait but finally we can all stop talking about December 15.

Make no mistake United were full value for three points today and it could have been a better scoreline, but we'll take this gratefully with both hands.

Mike Ashley and Chris Mort were both delighted and KK's reaction said it all on the final whistle.

Continue reading "All smiles for the Geordie boys!" »

Three points for Newcastle at last!

Posted by Lee on March 22, 2008 4:45 PM

NEWCASTLE UNITED finally recorded their first win under Kevin Keegan as Fulham left St James’s Park empty handed tonight.

Goals from Mark Viduka and Michael Owen sealed the three points as United took another step closer to safety in the Premier League.

United boss Kevin Keegan named an unchanged line up following the 1-1 draw with Fulham meaning Alan Smith was only a sub with Damien Duff not selected.

Continue reading "Three points for Newcastle at last!" »

The first step to safety?

Posted by Lee on March 20, 2008 9:47 PM

Doom and gloom merchants have had a field day at Newcastle United this season but enough has to be enough.

Surely the time has come to stick it right up those who have been revelling in the club's demise of late and make that first step to security.

Yes, Newcastle United shouldn't be talking about the words relegation but the cold facts are that this is a club going through a period of change (the umpteenth period of change maybe) and that a new owner, new managerial appointment and a clutch of new players signed by the previous manager, were always prone to struggle this season.

Continue reading "The first step to safety?" »

At last some fighting spirt

Posted by Lee on March 18, 2008 11:52 AM

It might not be anything to shout about for many of the great modern and ambitious football teams.

But as far as Newcastle United are concerned the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrews could be the most important point yet in the 2007/08 campaign.

Had Newcastle collapsed again at Birmingham it may not have been all over in mathematical terms yet it in terms of fighting spirit and team morale, there could have been a few towels thrown in from some quarters.

Yet after going a goal down in the first half the recent trend in terms of rolling over for the opposition didn't follow and Michael Owen's goal could have illuminated the back end of a dull winter into a spring that offers us hope.

Continue reading "At last some fighting spirt" »

The dreaded R word still haunting United fans

Posted by Lee on March 17, 2008 9:59 PM

NEWCASTLE UNITED were still thick in the relegation mire tonight but at least picked up a point against fellow relegation candidates Birmingham City.

In a typical game of two halves City dominated the first period and netted through James McFadden only for Newcastle to hit back through Michael Owen in the second half.

However, Kevin Keegan is still looking for his first win with the Fulham game at St James's Park still very much crucial to their chances of survival.

Continue reading "The dreaded R word still haunting United fans" »

We can't afford a Brum deal

Posted by Lee on March 16, 2008 10:52 AM

Beating Birmingham won't keep Newcastle United in the Premier League this seaon but it will certainly go a long way towards helping them do so.

But that said, there can't be a Geordie out there who is heading for St Andrews in a confident frame of mind given the dreadful sequence which sees the Mags fighting for their lives.

Just to add a bit of spice to it, it was Newcastle who sent City down back in 2006 - and they couldn't have created a better script when it comes to revenge, they'll love it if the beat us!

Basically, a City win sees them leapfrog Newcastle and push Kevin Keegan's side closer to the relegation trapdoor.

Continue reading "We can't afford a Brum deal" »

If you don't like the truth - look away now

Posted by Lee on March 9, 2008 2:12 PM

In the middle of the hysteria following Newcastle United's latest defeat Kevin Keegan pointed out that at least this mess is still in our own hands.

But Newcastle are still in with a real shout of being relegated for the first time since 1989.

We didn't expect to beat Liverpool and in the end we were lucky to get away with 3-0 with Steve Harper's brilliance the only reason why.

But the truth is that nothing has really changed in the world of Newcastle United when you start to look at things with a slightly clearer head.

Continue reading "If you don't like the truth - look away now" »

That sinking feeling

Posted by Lee on March 8, 2008 4:49 PM

Newcastle United were tonight plunged closer to the relegation zone following an easy win for Liverpool at Anfield.

The Champions League chasing Reds dominated the clash with United and had the game wrapped up before the break following goals from Jermaine Pennant and Fernando Torres.

Skipper Steven Gerrard killed the game off as a contest and although Newcastle rallied a little Liverpool could have still won the contest by a bigger margin.

Continue reading "That sinking feeling" »

And Smith scores his first for Newcastle!

Posted by Lee on March 7, 2008 8:51 AM

Right it's time to face the music!

It's Anfield tomorrow and unless something out of the ordinary happens, Newcastle will lose their clash with the team with Champions League ambitions.

The hope is that Liverpool will be distracted by their visit to the San Siro next week for the big one against Inter Milan (remember when we used to play teams like that?) and that perhaps Newcastle can just pluck something out of the fire.

Convinced?

Continue reading "And Smith scores his first for Newcastle!" »

Wig Wham Baheng!

Posted by Lee on March 6, 2008 10:29 PM

TOON KIDS BOOK PLACE IN THE FINAL

Lee Ryder reports from Whitley Park, Blue Flames Club

Watching Newcastle United's youngsters this season has certainly been light relief for some Toon fans this season and anybody who was at Whitley Park tonight watched the young Mags go the distance with battling Whitley Bay.

Reserve team coach Adam Sadler actually fielded his "reserves" with bigger guns such as David Edgar, Andy Carroll and Fraser Forster rested for the clash with Bay, Arsene Wenger eat your heart out!

But the Northumberland Senior Cup final is now expected to take place at St James's Park against Blyth Spartans when Sads could hand the big three a return!

Continue reading "Wig Wham Baheng!" »