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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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Toon fans rallying on the party isle after lacklustre defeat

Posted by Lee on August 2, 2008 1:17 PM | 

So then all of a sudden the San Miguel has gone flat for the Newcastle United fans here in Majorca.

Like always Toon fans were rallying today but despite the glorious heat on this sun kissed island and the wonderful blue skies, it couldn't mask the disappointment of Friday's 1-0 defeat against Hertha Berlin.

Yes, it was only a friendly but the lack of adventure from Newcastle and more worryingly the lack of cutting edge made a defeat look inevitable as the game went on.

It made me think back to the FA Cup final in 1999 when Newcastle fans chanted: "All we are singing is give us a goal" as Manchester United put the lid on another trophy and our great fans left empty handed with empty pockets.

In a nutshell, a mammoth win for Newcastle (around five or six nowt) and a low scoring Hannover win against Hertha is the only thing that will result in Nicky Butt hoisting the trophy.

Other observations from the game were the performance of Tim Krul after coming off the bench for the dependable Steve Harper.

Krul was afforded a great reception, helped by his efforts against Doncaster, and he pulled off a couple of good stops against Hertha.

But Newcastle's problem these days isn't goalkeepers we've got four who could arguably hold their own between the sticks if needed.

It's the little issue of scoring goals that's the problem.

With Owen, Martins, Viduka and Carroll all unfit at the moment they were joined on Friday by Shola who pulled a hamstring.

That said, a Newcastle fan I know had branded Shola and Alan Smith as Can't Score Won't Score during pre-season games.

But for all that, I think a lot of Newcastle fans would A) like to see Ameobi do well and turn it round at the club he loves and B) see Smith reproduce some of the form that he showed at Leeds in front of goal which got him into the England squad.

On a more lighter note at the ONO Stadium last night - which for me looks like Gateshead Stadium with an A-level - it was good the hosts have kept up the English tradition of serving c*** burgers.

Unlike the joys of Premier League land where us fortunate and grateful hacks (well I know I am) get some top class dishes ahead of games, the hosts could only offer a few bottles of water.

For three Euros the burger looked good in size and menacingly tasty as it went down, so much so I had to get another one.

But as the game reached the hour mark just like the good old English tradition (and anybody who has had one of those exploding mince pies from the old black hut in The Corner knows what I'm talking about) the burgers were soon a big regret.

You might also be interested to know that the laid back Majorcans took almost 45 minutes to clear up a squashed plum in the corridor where Newcastle's paper thin squad were walking through to get on the bus.

Basically, millions of pounds worth of talent almost falling over just like the poor person who'd slipped on the stray piece of fruit the first time and crashed into a bin of water left by Hannover 96 crew members that had then crashed into a tangle of TV wires and open electricity!

It summed up a sweltering night in which some players lost three kilos in the heat.

Let's hope the final game with Real Mallorca is less turbulent and like the organisers suggested there are closer to the 7,000 fans there to see Newcastle - with our fans singing the Empty Seats song - claw back some pride.

It isn't the first time the Toon Army have been in grounds with loads of empty red seats and the unlikely event of winning the Mallorca Summer Cup won't sort life out on Tyneside, but it will help.

Finally below is a top 10 of randomness from this trip so far.

1) Shola emerging from the dressing room with a huge smile, sunglasses on and then delivering one the best Georide "ALREEEEEETTT" I've ever heard in my life.

2) Kevin Keegan picking out a TV crew member who looked like Terry Mac then telling his players it was Terry Mac's brother who lives out in Majorca, before the pair got a picture together.

3) Having to temporarily stop an interview with Sebastien Bassong in order to take a mobile phone picture for some young Spanish kid.

4) Bassong's delight at hearing Toon fans singing "46, 46 nobody know your name", and for the record he knows what it's all about now.

5) Steve Harper telling me that my head was so red in the ONO Stadium he struggled to pick me out from the stand surrounded by so many red seats

6) A portrait of Marcelino akin to one of Pele or Maradona celebrating the Toon flop's services to football hanging in the corridor at Real Mallorca to inspire young players

7) John Toshack paying a surprise visit to training to see Kevin Keegan and then being asked by a journalist in the Press conference if he could sense that he was in the training ground before hand due to the pair's claim they were telepathic in their Liverpool days!

8) Shay Given's cheesy smile for the camera on day one (maybe you have to see it, it's on the club website somewhere, or maybe you had to be there!)

9) Seeing Mikeal Forrsell (complete with iPod) with a face like a slapped backside round the corner from my hotel hours after their 4-2 defeat and thinking "It could be worse pal" after United had failed to trouble Hertha Berlin

10) The look on the face of a German hack when I asked if he'd heard of Jim Rosenthal after the teamsheet from Friday paraded Jan Rosenthal of Herth Berlin


Comments (6)

RAF Mark wrote...

I am really getting sick of hearing, well its only a friendly. We are supposed to be a premiership side, with pro players. RUBBISH I CRY. I have to ask this question but can someone explain to me what the definition of a premier player is and then pass it onto the NUFC dressing room. I look at the teams we are going to be plyaing next season and they are up for it already...our players are still on holiday. If this is the level at which OUR pro players are at fitness wise then I suggest that KK pencils in his diary and early start to training next season. I would say we had 3 or 4 players out there yesterday. Bassong, well if he is our next big defender then we are really sunk as he looked lost last night against players well below who he will face in the premiership..infact I thought he looked more like a past it George Foreman that a premier defender.

I had hoped that we would move forward and continue where we left of last season on the up! but I feel that alot of our players have let themselves go in the off season to the point that they are now way behind the rest of the teams. We have but 2 weeks to the start of the season and we don't have a team. More worring is that if this is what we can expect if we lose a few players through injury..then I can see alot of negatives coming from the stands and religation battle again this season. On current form we can forget Europe and in turn forget bringing in quality players which we badley need. I am saddened to say but at the moment I can not find many positives to take into the season, but can however think of a dozen negatives immediately. Come on guys (that includes Ashley) wear the shirt with pride or just go home and quit. HAWAY THE LADS. Ow Side note please give the captains arm band to Taylor as he knows what it means to wear a B&W shirt.

Posted by: RAF Mark  | August 2, 2008 3:24 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

If ever the problems at Newcastle have been laid bare, then last nights ‘performance’ in Mallorca was the time to take stock.

I don’t read much into pre-season, as it’s hard to tell how seriously players take it and it’s mainly about fitness anyway, but the word ‘professionalism’ must surely drive a player on to at least make a decent showing against a semi-decent German side.

‘The main problem at Newcastle has always been the defence‘- Well I would contest that oft trotted out remark, for Newcastles problems always start, when the side don’t look capable of scoring. And at the moment the thought of this club starting the season with Alan Smith and Shola Ameobi up front, doesn’t worry me- It bleeding TERRIFIES me!

We need a striker from somewhere, anywhere, buy one, steal one, create one, clone one from Alan Shearers toe-nail clippings at the training ground- I don’t care, but if we go into this season relying on Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and the goalless wonders, then expect Gordon Ramsay style profanity from me at 00.00.01 on September 1st.

*Mark Viduka- can’t string more than a couple of games together.

*Andy Carroll- One for the future, that shouldn’t be relied upon yet, but should get a few games under his belt.

*Shola Ameobi- finds the ball mystifying, either that or his laces are tied together, he’s soft, shy, shocking in the air and runs like someone’s got a hold of his shirt.

*Alan Smith- I don’t even believe he’s a footballer, Trade Descriptions need to investigate here as I’m yet to see him contribute anything (In any of the many positions he’s been tried in.

*Michael Owen- The one natural finisher at the club, who whilst I still think he’s past his best, will still get a great return, if given a partner and service and can stay fit.

*Obafemi Martins- The real future, if he gets his first touch sorted out, because we all know what his second touch can be like, when he’s got the goal in his sights.

For the current crop are just not good enough and have shown this, not last night in Mallorca, but over history at Newcastle United. FACT!!

Paul

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | August 2, 2008 3:58 PM

dick wrote...

smith has never scored in 3 years, we need strikers that can put ball in net at least every once every 2 or 3 games or we will be relagated

Posted by: dick  | August 2, 2008 4:09 PM

deansomething after having the pain wrote...

Hi lee, Hope yr enjoying yr work (or should that be holiday). I felt the urge to write something after suffering for 90 mins watching SMITH and MILNER. These two are HOPELESS!!!! Smith is far worse than milner, at least milner tries but he has such a poor end product its hard to believe he is a professional footballer let alone one that was supposed to be interesting liverpool!!! No chance. Time after time crosses went astray. Lots of fans like milner because he 'tries hard' and 'never gives up'. Well to all of those fans, we will NEVER win anything or finish in a good league position with players of his quality. How many assists does he get in a season?
And now for SMITH..... oh my god!!!! Was he ever a footballer??? He is finished, get him out of toon asap. I dont even care where he goes, i hope sunderland want him as he's just the player i like to see in a red and white shirt. He doesnt know where to make runs or how to go forward, what position would suit him?? Why bother playing him even in a friendly match, it would be far more useful giving a young lad a run out.
And on the shola situation..... Go anywhere as long as i dont have to see you in a black and white shirt ever again.
It'll be interesting to see if you post this as every time i have a go at milner it is never posted on yr blog..... guess you dont want to upset a mate? Truth is he's S**t.
Cheers

Posted by: deansomething after having the pain  | August 2, 2008 4:44 PM

brian t wrote...

Sounds like you are having fun out in majorca just a shame you had to sit and watch that ninety minutes of misery like the rest of us. Yes i know it was not our first eleven and Beye, Barton, Martins and Owen will all walk straight into the side but all the shortcomings of last season were there to see. Slow in getting it forward (you could hear on tv the bench instructing move it quicker) The movement up front was non existent. Butt died in the second half. Excusing the strikers a little no one from midfield ran past them to help or create space. It was just thoroughly miserable.
Our transfer trio need to get some hard work done and get the five players we need into this squad as i cannot face having to watch geremi, smith and ameobi any longer. I would rather have seen young kids like Donaldson, Donninger, Tozer and Godsmark who would have all put in a lot more pride and effort than those three lazy greedy people.

Posted by: brian t  | August 2, 2008 6:22 PM

Duncan Baines wrote...

Of course the fans would all like to see Smith do well (i.e. manage one goal next season or perhaps even have a Ronaldo style season of goalscoring and manage two) but it is unlikely to happen so that is why we want him to go!

Posted by: Duncan Baines  | August 3, 2008 4:26 PM

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