Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Jenas gone, Nobby not coming home

Jermaine Jenas has finally gotten his wish to leave us. 8 million pounds for a player who has promised so much but delivered little. Too little. Good money if you ask me.

From Soccernet --

The two clubs have agreed an £7million fee for the England midfielder, who has signed a five-year contract with Spurs, and that money will go a long way to helping Newcastle fund the purchase of Michael Owen from Real Madrid.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness wished Jenas all the best for his future career at White Hart Lane.

'I'm sorry to see him go,' he said. 'I enjoyed the 12 months I spent working with JJ. I'm sorry he didn't see his long-term future with us. We didn't want him to leave, but he's a big boy and it was his choice.

'He has made his decision, and everyone at this club from the chairman down wishes him all the best in his career at Tottenham Hotspur.'


Read the full report here.

On the other hand, Solano was tipped to return to St James Park. Villa was willing to part company with Solano, for the same fee they paid including a season long loan deal for James Milner.

From Icnewcastle --

Meanwhile, Solano, who no longer plays for Peru and is not away on international duty, was ready to rush to Tyneside today from the Midlands and make a return to St James' Park.

But Villa manager David O'Leary would only do a deal on the want-away Solano if he could get Milner, who he brought through the ranks at Elland Road in his time as Leeds boss.

O'Leary would have been happy to take Milner on loan for 12 months before returning him to St James' Park but United see the England Under-21 international as a vital part of their future.



So Souness thinks that Milner will play an important role this season. I think it would have been a good move for him to gain more experience because he can definitely use them. And furthermore its only a loan move. He could come back a better player. Solano would have added firepower and creativity into a team that is lacking creativity and imagination to break even the weakest of defence.

Perhaps Souness thinks that we could use a pair of younger legs. Solano will be turning 31 soon. But in my opinion, this decision might costs us. To a lesser extent perhaps. We'll see.......

In the meantime, no more excuses for Souness now.............

Owen is a geordie

After months or in fact weeks of hanging on the hope of signing Owen, we have finally achieved what was first thought as a unrealistic target. Similar to the Rooney bid we had last season.

From Nufc.com --

Amazing scenes at St. James' Park today as Michael Owen became a Newcastle player for the next four years and signed his contract that contains no get-out clauses.

Owen said all the right things as a very negative press conference was handled well by our smiling new no.10 with Freddy Shepherd having to intervene at one point when an ITV reporter pushed Owen on whether he would stay more than a year.

Inside the stadium a packed Sir John Hall stand waited for the striker to appear in a black and white shirt although early arrivals had a brief glimpse just after 11am.

He duly arrived on the pitch clad in the home kit just before 1.00pm and in front of what must have been something like 15,000 fans, he was interviewed on a hastily constructed platform.


When i first got the news, i was so over the moon. Dreams turned to reality......

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Fight we will

Tonight will be a crunch game. We go into the game without any goals, any confindence and 1 point to show for after 3 games. So tonight, we shall kick off our season. Well, there is a problem though. Its the manure scums....

After the Bolton farcical, i was at crossroads again, over the situation of our current beleguered manager. Same time last season, saw us losing to Villa 4-2 and the imminent departure of Sir Bobby Robson. We have to score and get something out of the game. Don't mind losing the game but with pride and dignity restored. We have to after what has been calamity of a start to the season.

Quotes from Nufc.com --

On the anniversary of Sir Bobby Robson's last game in charge of Newcastle United, we go looking for our first home win since March 5th - and our first goal of the season - when Alex Ferguson's boys are on Tyneside.

With just one win in our last 13 Premiership games we come up against a side who are looking to maintain their 100% start to the season after beating Everton and Aston Villa without conceding a goal.


We will fight on and fight till the end. After all, it's only the 4th game of the season. I hope the players will not surrender meekly yet again. It's time to kick some manure butts...

For some of us, last season's last game in charge for Sir Bobby Robson was one bitter pill for us to swallow. Recalling memories of the sad day makes me want to shed a tear.

From Nufc.com --

2004 Aston Villa (a)
2-4 (2-1)
Premiership
Kluivert(28), O'Brien(36)
Mellberg(4), Cole(53), Barry(71), Angel(82)
36,305
Bobby Robson chose the same method as his predecessor to bring to an end his time in charge at Newcastle - by dropping Alan Shearer to the bench. And like with Ruud Gullit, it almost worked with United going 2-1 up at Villa Park after being behind early on.

But Bobby's luck ran out with the score at 2-2. Craig Bellamy scampered in on goal and when ex-mackem Tommy Sorensen came out, the 'keeper handled outside of his box - an automatic red card but incredibly referee Mike Riley only gave a yellow.

From then on, we capitulated to a degree that was even extraordinary for Newcastle, leaving fans bemused and frustrated. Not many were calling for Sir Bobby to get the chop but something had to give....


The match report was superbly written. Truth hurts. Read it.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Aren't we a big club anymore?

Of course we are. Although newspapers here seem to have a different view on that. Was reading The New Paper on friday and there was a column of the big teams in the premier league. And yeap, it doesn't include Newcastle. Why? There are a few reasons for that.

When we promoted to the premier league in 1993, no one expected us to finish in the top 5. From then onwards, we never looked back. The Kevin Keegan took us a level up and we were challenging for the league. Then came our big break in season 95/96, when we could and should have won the league but like any newcastle fan will tell u, fate always conspire against us. Up until today.....

So, we finish runners-up twice behind the manure scums and we were classified as the one of the big teams. Then came the black days of Kenny Daglish and Ruud Gullit. For almost 4 years, we were in the shadows and everyone acted like they didn't know us. And those newcastle fans who supported during the halcyon days of Kevin Keegan disappeared. Well, not me and many others. We stuck to the team through hell and heaven.

Then came along Bobby Robson. He transformed a team who was on the brink of relegation although we had a team which was too good for relegation. Season 99/00 was a 'stabilising the ship' period. The next season, 2000/01 was a transition period. 2001/02 was to be our year. We finished 4th in the league and qualified for the champions league qualifier. That season saw us (re)gaining our tag as the 'Entertainers'. And we were also known as the comeback kings, in no less than 15 matches, we came back from a losing position to win games.

The next season 2002/03, saw us finishing 3rd ahead of Chelsea and making history in the champions league. We became the first team to lose the first 3 matches and still qualify for the next round of group matches. Terrific.

Well, at that point in time , you would think that we were going to bigger and better things. Who wouldn't thought of that right? And as always, like i say earlier, fate always conspire against us. Season 2003/04 was a season of underachieving. At the start of the season, the board thouhght that it wasn't necessary to buy any new players to strenghtened the team except for the lone acquisition of Bowyer for free. And at the same time, Chelsea who finished behind us the previous season, went out with guns blazing, buying all the quality players they could lay their hands on. And so were other big teams.

Look at where Chelsea are now and where we are. Unbelievable.......
We literally fell from grace. Literally. For me, that season when we didn't strenghtened when we supposed to saw us tumbling down. And till today, we are still falling..............When will it stop?

Owen please

After putting in a bid of an excess of 15 million pounds, which has been accepted by Real Madrid, we now wait the decision by Owen himself. I still can't understand why he is holding out for a move back to Liverpool when clearly, Rafa Benitez doesn't want a another striker on board. Despite reports linking a move out, Cisse was quoted as saying that he wants to stay at Liverpool. This morning's match against CSKA Mosocw in which he scored two goals and created another proves it. Liverpool don't need any more strikers even though Milan Baros have moved to Villa.

If Owen wanrs first team football, guaranteed 100%, he should move to the North East. He will be worshipped and with the chance of being a toon legend. Aren't we a big enough club? Ok, perhaps the lure of Champion league football is not there and this is because of the club inability to foresee what was going to happen.

See new Owen reports.

Deal Done, finally....

No, not the Michael Owen deal but Luque's. After much anticipation, the transfer has been finalised with the player passing the medical test and could be in line to start the crunch game on sunday. The fee quoted by various media sources is around €14m / £9.5m.

Born in Terrassa, Barcelona, joined Barca as a youngster but discarded by then -coach Louis van Gaal at the age of 19.

Signed for Mallorca in 1997, played for the B team and then first team in 1999 was
loaned to Málaga.

Played for Spain's side in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning a silver medal.

Returned to Mallorca to become a first team regular in 2001.

Selected for Spanish side in June 2002 and made two appearances in the World Cup finals as a sub (v South Africa and the Republic of Ireland).

Moved to Deportivo a few months later and established himself in the first team for the 2003/04 season, making a sub appearance in Euro 2004 for Spain (v Portugal).

Barcelona then attempted to re-sign Luque but failed to match his valuation. He's also been linked with close season moves to Real Madrid, Liverpool, Seville and Atletico Madrid.

Luque featured for Spain earlier this month, as they won 2-0 n Gijon against Uruguay.

He's expected to be included in the Spanish squad for games against Canada (Santander, Saturday Sept 3rd) and Serbia & Montenegro (Madrid, Weds Sept 7th) - the latter one being a World Cup qualifier.


So, if Luque has taken the number 20 shirt, who is in line to wear the still-vacant number 10 jersey at Newcastle?

What the hell?!!

After watching the Bolton farcical, i was just totally clueless. What the hell were these players serving? A plate of shit i suppose. I was disgusted with some of the players poor attitude and lack of desire especially. The Arsenal game now seems a distant memory. Too many were under-performing and looking at how things are, i can't see any other thing other than a defeat on sunday. So much for optimism.

All of us are losing faith in the team, especially the manager and chairman. We have been in this situation before and by god, we will stand together and fight this together. We shall not let repeat this again. Lesson has to be learn. Yeah, try telling that to the players......

From Nufc.com --

You don't know what you're doing

Already the mood of cautious optimism tinged with relief that could be sensed after the season opener at Highbury seems vague and distant.

Returning from London that Sunday evening 10 days ago, there was at least a sense that we'd been genuinely denied the chance of taking something from the game by bungling officialdom.

And pleasingly, there had been talk of a pre-match dressing room bonding session, with rallying calls from unexpected quarters, followed by some demonstrable on-pitch togetherness.

However that was severely diluted by the miserable interlude that was the West Ham game, when the sun shone but the mood among the faithful lengthened in tandem with the shadows cast over the pitch by the stands.

And there was nothing that vaguely smelt of Toon spirit tonight, from a Magpies side as collectively out of sorts and off-colour as their green away garb.

Quite simply, this was one of those games one looks back on in wonderment at how we managed to fill almost 100 minutes of play with absolutely nothing admirable or memorable to show for it.


Souness should take the blame for this defeat. His inept ability to bring out the best of a player is evident. Questions over tactics and formations have to be raised. This is just not good enough.



To blame all of our ills on the lack of a striker provides a convenient excuse for the well-paid professionals who showed themselves up at the Reebok as they did against West Ham.

Had someone been capable of getting the ball into the box (as opposed to the opposite stand), then a bloke who has scored one or two goals in the past might have remembered how to do it.

Michael Owen would be worshipped at this club - but he's not the messiah.

Even the sons of Nazareth carpenters (and Gosforth sheet metal workers) need a helping hand if they're to perform their miracles.


How true...

Read the report here.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Sir Bobby Robson

Watch Football Focus on ESPN this morning and there was a topic on Newcastle, in regards to the release of Sir Bobby Robson's autobiography. It's sad to hear what actually happened and how things wents bad which eventually led to the departure of SBR.

Couldn't thank him enough for what he has done for our club. And it is his club. Too bad he wasn't allowed to lead us to greater glory.

As a devoted fan, i just find it hard to take especially in the direction of where the club is heading and how quick our downfall has been.


I just hope things will be as rosy as the day SBR walked into our club. God bless him...and may he be with us, always.........


I am getting
this book and i think all
newcastle fans
should get one.

Biting the dust

At last, the much-anticipated signing of Luque from Deportivo will not go through. Yet again, because both clubs were unable to come to an agreement over the fee. Bollocks. Same goes to Fenerbache. Holding us out for a ransom. The longer this continues, the longer our season is going to be.

Quotes from Nufc.com --

"I understand that yesterday our final offer was rejected, so I think this one's finished.

"We have made a fantastic offer for the player.

"Really there is a limit on how much you can spend on one player. Our valuation is different to their valuation. He is their player right now. At this point, we think that's too much."


That's Souness conceding defeat in the signing. And if i'm not wrong, we offered much more for Luque than Boa Morte, when he is or was our most sought after target. So Luque is done with, who else.

There is a column on the Michael Owen situation.....
Excerpts Soccernet --


Owen's options are now few and far between. A measure of this is the recent links with West Ham United and Wigan Athletic - even the Premiership's least attractive clubs are starting to think they might have a sniff. Of course, they don't.


The Chester-born striker has officially rejected a return to Merseyside with Everton and as the Premiership's top clubs continue to show little interest Newcastle is beginning to look like the most realistic option if he does leave Spain.


Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United appear to have closed their cheque books for the summer, certainly as far as the striking department is concerned.


Despite strong links with a move to Old Trafford, any hopes of moving to United have probably been ruined by the latest injury to Louis Saha. Sir Alex Ferguson would probably have had to sell a striker to bring one in, with the disappointing Saha the obvious choice - but he will be on the treatment table for a number of weeks yet.


And with Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy both looking hungry at the start of the new season it's hard to see Owen fitting into the United side.


Over at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho, despite lacking a truly great striker in his multi-million pound squad, has made Michael Essien his final capture of the transfer window.


The Chelsea boss believes the firepower of Hernan Crespo, Didier Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen can see him through for now - but in the long-term he must surely see a world class forward as his target.


And despite Arsenal being over-reliant on Thierry Henry, Arsene Wenger seems happy to share the goals of the second striker between Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie and Jose Antonio Reyes. In any event the centre of both midfield and defence, as well as a long-term successor to David Seaman, must remain his priority in the transfer market.
Read more here.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Hammer out

Another disapponting start especially the result. After an outstanding display at the defeat in Highbury last week, we were expected to secure 3 points and again, we were left disappointed. I haven't catch the game yet but from the reports i've read, don't think everything is going well.

From Soccernet--
That Newcastle badly misfired is not in any doubt, but it would be churlish not to acknowledge the Hammers' performance, with Danny Gabbidon outstanding at the back and Marlon Harewood giving Jean-Alain Boumsong the sternest of examinations.

They were well worth their point, and despite the fact that he was several players short of his best 11, the gaps in Souness' squad were cruelly exposed by a side which was, after all, playing Coca-Cola Championship football last season.

The Magpies lacked bite in attack, invention in midfield and were not entirely convincing at the back, and that does not bode well for a season which has started badly and could get worse before it gets better.


How can we get any points against Bolton and Manu U in the next few games if we play like this? No strikers apart from Shearer, no midfield creativity how? how??

The only positives that i can dig up from this game is, we kept a clean sheet. First in god knows how many games. Other than that, there's nothing good we can say. I think all of us can see clearly what is the problem. Goals and creativity. None..... as of now..

Luque is expected to be sign in the next few days, hopefully in time for the Bolton match. Is he going to be a good signing? Is this just a desperate attempt to get us, the fans excited about new arrivals, in order to cover up our failed attempts in the transfer of other high-profile players? This signing could well be another failure. Well, that will be another story....

I can forsee something is coming but what?

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Moving up a level

The signing of Scott Parker this is definitely a great welcome although the position is the least of our worries. Eversince, Rob Lee left us, he has left a void, a very important one i must add. Rob Lee gave us the steel in midfield that was needed and one that was missing throughout last season. Nicky Butt was brought in to do a job and he didn't lived up to his reputation. But even during Sir Bobby Robson's last few seasons here, we were lacking the player to drive us forward from the heart of midfield and to provide much needed cover for our centre backs. Rob Lee did his job and well enough that he became an adopted Geordie.

I see Scott Parker as Rob Lee's replacement and he could be better than Lee himself. He has all the attributes that Lee has except Lee's scoring record. But that will not be a problem if we have other players to do that job and perhaps he could nick in a few.

From Newcastle-Online--
Scott Parker was the first player through the door and although his position seemed to be the least of our worries many were still excited by this signing, we had beaten off some pretty stiff competition for this player and what a player we have signed!

This is a player of true class, a real battler but someone with that touch and composure of a playmaker. A player who may not have the greatest of scoring records but when he does score he does it with style. The man is a driving force in midfield, a man who really has a passion to win. I have heard him called a "poor man's Steven Gerrard" but at the end of the day, if Sunday's performance against Arsenal at Highbury is anything to go by, the poor man must have just won big!

Although as said this was probably the last position we needed to add to, the addition of Parker will in my opinion take us up another level. True great teams always have a very strong spine and Parker added to Given, Boumsong and Shearer completes that spine. Although seemingly not a shouter Scott is the type of player who will lead by example and his great passion and commitment can only be a good thing for the rest of the youth in our midfield.

I feel this is definitely a player who we can build a successful team around and with his partnership with Emre looking promising - if not more than the one formed by Boumsong and Bramble last year - we can only begin to start to imagine some of the high tempo, steel in the middle, possession football we are about to be treated to.

Parker is the driving force we have lacked since Rob Lee left Newcastle. Welcome to Toon Scott.


No doubt in my mind that Scott Parker can be a legend like Rob Lee. We need players of his character and composure. And i'm sure we will go on to bigger and better things with this type of player.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Bits and Pieces

Its 2 more weeks to the closing of the transfer window and we are yet to bring in a striker. The Anelka story has resurfaced and Fenerbache insisted that he would not come cheap. 6 million pounds should do the business. Meanwhile, our chances of landing Michael Owen have been dealt with a severe blow when Rafa Benitez insisted that he might make a move for Owen if Milan Baros moves to Villa. Talks are still going on between Milan and Villa but who really cares.

Also, news of a change of match official for our next game has been changed.
From Nufc.com

From the official Premier League website on Wednesday afternoon, an apparent outbreak of common sense:

Newcastle United v West Ham United
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
KICK OFF: 15:00 Sat 20 Aug

Liverpool v Sunderland
Referee: Barry Knight
KICK OFF: 15:00 Sat 20 Aug

In the wake of the furore following Sunday's game, the FA have altered their original plan to send Barry Knight to Tyneside next Saturday.

Steve Bennett doesn't have a game....


Good news. There have been a certain over-reaction but i think for what he inflicted on us, there's will be no remorse if he returns to St James Park. So, for Steve Bennet, saying sorry ain't just goona cut it. Same thing last season and this now, he will just be added to our list of most hated referee.

Meanwhile, the Jenas saga continues......

Monday, August 15, 2005

Pain in the Arse

After watching the game for 80 minutes, i was confindent that we could go home with a point but all that evaporated when ref Steve Bennet gave a penalty which never was(even according to tv replays) against N'zogbia. Once again, fate conspired to screw our season yet again, like last season's opener at the smogs.

The scoreline is a bit flattering considering that we did well throughout the match except for the last ten minutes. Although this time, its the ref that change the game. Firstly, he sent Jenas off for a challenge which in my opinion is a fair one although replays shows how excruciating the tackle looked like. The reaction on Gilberto's face doesn't help. But latest news have confirmed that the red card has been rescinded. And rightly so.. Take a look ----->





So, up until that point, we managed to match Arsenal. Some plusses to take from the match. Even after half time, Arsenal weren't able to break us down despite us defending doggedly but not really stretched. Boumsong and Taylor will definitely go a long way this season. Both played admirably well and we will see more of this i'm sure.

So 10 minutes to go and Steve Bennet decided to award a penalty which never was in my opinion. And Henry steps up and scored with Given getting a fingertip to it. And what do we do next? Concede a second goal and made it look like a comfortable win. Title for next post--- 'Return of the hated oaf'

Toon Player Ratings vs Arsenal(a)

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Pre-match: Arsenal vs Newcastle

Finally, the season is underway. 8 games was played yesterday with some surprising results and some surprising comments. Like for example, after their 2 nil away win at Pompey, Spurs has been touted as a champions league 4th spot contender. I'm surprised at that but then again, perhaps their performance might proved me wrong. That's fine but if Spurs are on the up, just where does that leaves us? To make it worse, we are up against a Vieira-less Arsenal side that is still better than us in all departments except maybe our midfield are on par with theirs.

This time last season, we were struggling to field our first eleven against Middlesboro. Needing a defender to fill up the gap when Woodgate left, fast forward to a year later, we now need a striker (perhaps 2 strikers) to fill up the gap left by Bellamy and Kluivert. And much more worryingly, we are yet to replace Solano. And now, we also need to replace Robert. So all in all, we are pretty much in-balanced. Its too obvious that we need players in badly to avoid another calamitous season.

Injuries and suspension at this point of time does not help either. Bramble is out but there are cover for that. In midfield, we have adequate cover for everyone. Up front, Ameobi is suspended for 2 games while Chopra is out, possible up to 6 weeks. Left Shearer, to battle for himself. The area we will struggle if we don't find a replacement soon.

I presume that Given is fit to play. In defence, we are still short of a left back. Coco is a no go after he went back home despite Inter willingness to pay his wages for us. Babayaro is back, according to reports, but still lacking the heart to play for us. Elliot....err....

In midfield, i expect us to play a 5 man midfield or a flat 3. Emre will definitely play with Parker as the holding midfielder. Jenas could play if he is in theright frame of mind. Dyer could be push to play alongside Shearer. And as we all know, we need pace and power. Just look at the magical seasons we had with Sir Bobby, just what pace can do for a team. But with Bellamy gone, Dyer is the main man to provide the pace in the team. And lastly, i expect Milner to play a pivotal role in delivering the crosses for Shearer and perhaps getting one or two goal for himself.

At least with Bowyer, N'Zogbia, Harper on the bench. Not too bad eh....

I don't ecpect us to win but if we let Arsenal come at us and if they do score a goal, we must not crumble. Looking back at the team that we might put out tonight, i think we are good for a draw and also, better than a Spurs team. Howay the lads...

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Bad Omen?

The season feels like its over after we were knocked out of europe even before the actual season begins. I can't help but think that we were sort in a similar position back in 1999, during Ruud Gullit's atrocious time here. But then again, the team we had back then were lacking in quality and talent compared to the one we have now. But with the season opener against Arsenal just three days away, our team looks to be unbalanced despite the acqusitions of some quality players, most notably Emre.

Despite all the claims linking us with Michael Owen, we still need two more strikers after letting go Bellamy and Kluivert. In another world, we wouldn't have done it but in reality, we had to. At least according to our gaffer.

Also with news that we have aborted the loan signing of Coco, we are also short in the left-back department. So, was it a good idea to sell Hughes?

Souness knows that time is running out and he needs to show what he's got this season cos' there won't be any season left for him. Not after this at least.

I just hope that we will get to bring more players perhaps not now but anytime this season to fight back into the top 6 again. *fingers crossed*

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Toon Players Rating vs Deportivo

Given: 6 Can't blame him for both goals although he did play his role in giving the first goal away. Abit hesistant about claiming the ball but overall nothin much.

Carr: 6 Was his usual self but makes me wonder whether we need a better right back than him to get into the top 6. Need someone to fight for his position.

Elliot: 5 Woeful. Can't get a pass to his team mates. Whenever Parker or Emre starts a move, he would end it with an atrocious pass. Responsible for the second goal.

Taylor: 7 Assured and composed. Got himself booked for a stupid challenge but nevertheless, what we need in the defence now.

Boumsong: 7 Looking more and more the defender that we thought he would be. Good.

Emre: 8 My man of the match. A good performance despite this being the handful of matches he has played throughout the year. More to come from him. Defnitely.

Bowyer: 7 Worked hard and tried to work something out. Played in an unfamiliar role, behind Shearer. Trying to win over the fans over last season's debacle.

Faye: 5 Not good enough in my opinion. Still trying to find his feet. Needs to find it quickly. Now with Butt gone, Parker will get to play his position but Faye is more an anchor man than Parker and he needs to prove it.

Milner: 7 Finally broke his goal scoring duck. Worked hard and like Bowyer, tried to work something out of nothing. Some decent crosses but confidence boosted with the goal.

Shearer: 6 Needs a good a partner. Can't play as a lone striker. Getting older and can't depend on him to get the goals alone. Needs better service also.

Parker: 7.5 Did his best despite not being 100% fit. Over-enthusiastic at times but it was good to see a player so determine to do something for the team. A young Rob Lee in my eyes, or even better.

Substitutes:
Ameobi: 6 Back from a hip injury which hampered his performance last season. With his usual style of twisting and turning, he still needs to find his goal scoring instinct which is sadly, non-existent.

N'Zogbia: 5 Surprised at his omission but always full of running. Is just gonna get better.*fingers crossed*

Brittain: 0 Came on and the ref blew the final whistle.

The Boss:
Souness: 6 Came up with a 4-3-3 formation which didn't really worked until the lucky break with the goal. Sub-standard defending again costs us the game. The team looks un-balanced. And it is so obvious that we need more players to turn the season around.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Depor-ted

A season without any european football for our great talisman where this will be his last season. You will have to crinched your teeth at that thought and unfortunately that is the reality. Despite losing the way we did like so often last season, there were some plusses to take from the game. Abysmal defending again let us down. This time it comes from the flanks where Elliot was caught out too often by the quick-feet Munitis. Elliot's inability to find a team mate with a simple pass is a cause for concern. With Babarayo seemingly not in the first team picture, we are in seriously need of a left back. And this is back up with the imminent arrival of Francesco Coco from Inter.

Scott Parker and Emre gave a good account of themselves in front of the home crowd. Scott Parker might still be some way from being 100% fit but he still did better than Faye who still haven't find his feet yet. We saw Emre's quality in this un-balanced side which is so obvious considering the amount of chances that we had and Bowyer's link up play with Shearer and Milner. Milner as usual, working hard but still lack that final touch although he did get himself a goal despite claims of offside. Camera replays showed that was the case.

And like so often we have seen it again and again, we concede a goal right before half time. Jorge Andrade getting his second in two games against us. We started out the second half by presenting to them a goal that sealed their spot in the final. Elliot's weak backpass didn't reach Given and although Carr manage to block Tristan's effort, Munitis was there to walk the ball in. Game set and over.

From then onwards, we lacked imagination and creativity to break down the defence let alone get a shot on goal. More work to be done before the kick off at Highbury.
It was also confirmed shortly after the final whistle that Marseille had beaten Lazio 3-0 in France to secure a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Pre match: Newcastle vs Deportivo

One goal, a cleansheet is enough to put us through to the final of the intertoto cup. After this, it would either be Marseille or Lazio, who are tied at 1-1 going into the second leg in France. Will the players be up for tonight's game or will it be just another disappointing game like we are used to nowadays? A defeat means out of europe this season. Mr Souness's head will be one step closer to the chopping board. Or perhaps it might be a blessing in disguise for us to do well domestically.

Scott Parker and Emre might be given run out tonight and this is definitely one of the plusses together with the return of Jenas. Having said that, Souness would have one eye on the league opener at Highbury. Cautions must be taken with there players who in my opinion are not really back to full fitness.

Last week's lost wasn't really a game of the highest quality but we did get a goal which could prove vital tonight. One player who will definitely not be playing is Butt. Birmigham have taken him on a season long loan. Very disappointing season for him in all honesty. We expected much of him but was served with some shit displays. Or maybe we expected too much from him.

With Shearer and Chopra as our recognised fit strikers, things are not looking too bright upfront. Ameobi is back in the squad but i don't expect him to play any part tonight.

If we can keep it tight at the back and counter attack and sneak a goal, we might go through. Much will depend on Steven Taylor and Boumsong. I say we'll sneak a goal with Shearer getting it.Newcastle to win it 1 nil.