£18m for Owen

Apparently Real Madrid has accepted a £18M bid for Owen from us. Of course, even then, that leaves the small matter of the player wanting to come to SJP, after saying all summer that Liverpool was his first choice, he wants to stay at Madrid to fight for a place, and NUFC is 3rd choice. Even if a move to SJP was considered, that was as a loan.

So, the scenario seems to be like this: Owen comes to SJP on loan for one season, score some goals, playing regularly, keeping his place in the England squad, leading England into the world cup, then leave NUFC back to Madrid again, or to Liverpool on a permanent transfer. In the grand scheme of things, where does that leave us? Without 2 strikers at the start of next season, Big al having retired, Owen's loan term over. Ameobi and Chopra to lead with any additional signings we can get. Doesnt that lead us back to square one next season as is the situation now. I have my doubts about the validty of the £18M bid, similiar to the bid we put in for the other striker in the scouser team last season. And we all remember how that ended up... Fat Fred, do not give us false hopes. We have had enough of that and empty promises. I will not believe Owen is a NUFC player (on loan/permanent) until I see a picture of him holding the black and white shirt at SJP for a press conference to announce his signing.

HTL

Nobby

Quote from O Leary: 'I signed Nobby Solano and I think for the price we paid I could not believe we did not have any more opposition for him.'

Yah.. Aston Villa got away with fire, signing nobby for a cheap fee(forgot the exact price). He went on to prepare very well for them last season, assisting and scoring in several games for Villa. Isnt that a sign of NUFC's transfer policies... Selling good players cheap, buying medicore, average players at high prices/being extorted by clubs cos they think we are rich...

We can see it coming...

courtesy of nufc.com

Let us transport you back to the heady days of 1998, when after a pre-season that including a trip to Bray, Newcastle opened their Premiership home programme with the visit of Charlton Athletic.

The London side had returned to top level football after winning the playoffs and were widely considered to be easy meat for a first success of the season, being well organised but lacking high-profile names.

Managed by a Scotsman, an inept United display frustrated home fans as we struggled to create anything positive - despite the dismissal of visiting defender Richard Rufus by.... you've guessed, Dermot Gallagher.

A week later we went to Chelsea and drew, before facing Liverpool in our next home game - by which time the axe had fallen on manager Kenny Dalglish.

We got screwed again.

Pardon my paranoid, but it seems that we, NUFC are the one club that has been at the recieving end of nonsense from the referees more than any other club in the league. What right does A. Ferguson or J. Mourinho has to say that referees hate their club? Hey, come on over to NUFC and you will get the real deal. Anyone who can provide evidence that their club has been screwed/undone by referees more than NUFC wins a prize from me.

[Drum rolls please, for the myopic referees of the Premier League]
Here's the evidence:
from nufc.com

Referee: Steve Bennett (very near London).

The latest episode in this plonka's chequered history of officiating Newcastle matches:

Nov 2000: Failed to dismiss Birmingham City's Ian Bennett after bringing down Alan Shearer as he rounded the 'keeper.

Jan 2001: Sent off two Newcastle players at White Hart Lane as we lost 4-2, Bennett also awarding two dubious Spurs penalties.

Nov 2003: Failed to award a penalty at Molineux as ex-mackem Craddock handled a cross in the box.

Aug 2004: Didn't spot Boro's Hasselbaink handle the ball into the net for a late equaliser at the Riverside.

Dec 2004: Arsenal at St.James' and Ashley Cole admitted he'd handled in his own box, but got away scot-free.

Aug 2005: Rivalled foolish colleague Rennie's sending off of Shearer with an unbelievable red card for Jenas. Dubious late penalty given against N'Zogbia.

Why does this official keep being given our London games to officiate (Arsenal, Tottenham, Charlton) when he's from just down the road? Tyneside whistler Mark Clattenberg has never reffed at St. James'

All that based on London-club-lover Steve Bennett's performances vs NUFC alone. I say he should never even ref a Toon game again, even the reserves.

This is the fourth instance we can remember of a red card awarded against a Newcastle player being withdrawn:

Gary Speed v Aston Villa (h) May 2001 - Another bloody Orpington official, Barry Knight - what is it about that place?

Alan Shearer v Charlton (a) December 2001. Having made the long journey from Essex, Andy D'Urso left his calling card.

Craig Bellamy v Arsenal (a) December 2001. Graeme Poll popped down from Tring for the evening and was suckered by Ashley Cole's dying swan act.

Jermaine Jenas v Arsenal (a) August 2005.

Amazing. Is there any club more wronged than NUFC??? As in the case of this recent game, it is totally good gesture of the abovementioned london-club-worshipper to reduce the card to a yellow. BUT, after making the club play with 10men for 60mins??? After giving a team that didnt look like they were going to score a dubious penalty??? Grrrr.. This is not the end and surely, we will come undone by more such referees decisions in the future..

Some comments on an article

Article from talkofthetyne

Key points to note from it and I totally agree with them.

If Shepherd can somehow pull off the signing of Boa Morte, then with him on the left, Dyer on the right, Emre, Parker and Jenas/Bowyer/someone who isn't a goldfish/mentally deranged in midfield and Shearer up front we should be a pretty decent side going forward.

Actually the midfield looks great now with the likes of Parker, Emre, Dyer, Jenas, Milner, N'Zogbia, Faye able to play. Any additional signings must be of quality to improve the sign, aka Boa Morte, etc..


Admittedly we're a bit short up front but I fancy that Ameobi, now playing free from injury and with a couple of confidence boosting goals under his belt, might regain the form he showed in the Champions League a couple of years back.

It really surprises me, but everyone's selective memory has forgotten what a class act Ameobi has been for the club during the champs league run and England U21s not counting an injury-filled last season. Once again, I got to add this: Ameobi was a more commited/willing to play half-fit player compared to I-came-to-Tyneside-to-sightsee-and-have-some-fun PK. Believe me, once a fully fit Ameobi regains his form and scores in a few games, every Ameobi basher of one season ago will be proclaiming him the next Shearer.

Thirdly, and brace yourselves for this one, perhaps Souness isn't the incompetent Scottish oaf some people say he is. Take his record in the transfer market so far - he's brought in Boumsong, Faye, Babayaro, Parker, Emre and Moore.

Hey man, Parker and Emre came to NUFC instead of Everton and potential Champs League soccer. You think it's totally down to Everton not being a charming attractive club/city. I say part of that is also due to GS and (I dread to say this) FS...

And look who he's got rid of: Bellamy (too loud), Robert (too inconsistent), O'Brien (too crap), and err Aaron Hughes, who is a good utility player but pretty average.

Totally agree with getting rid of the first 3 players. I still think Aaron Hughes, average as he is, is able to provide great cover for our defence. Given our luck with suspensions and injuries, I feel that the defence looks a little thin at the moment and we are going to suffer again near the end of the season when we are pushing for the 2 dosmetic cups and a European place...

It would be nice to think that everyone would just get behind the team, stop booing players, stop slagging off Souness (because like it or not he's going to be here for next few months at least), and support the team like we can.

Yes, pls. Whatever it is, we got to give our full support for the club, hence the players/manager/staff who represent the club at the moment. If we are not the ones shouting 'Toon Army', then who's going to do that? the SMBs? Manure gloryhunters? Nahhhhhh!!!!

It's us, the Geordies!!

(sing-a-long)
We are the Geordies, the Geordie Boot Boys,
Oh we are mental, Oh we are mad!!
We are the loyalist football supporters the world has ever heard~!!

Just something interesting and not everyone knows about.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sg_Review/message/1870

Can GS beat the odds?

Reproduced from nufc.com,

5th August 1998 - Kenny Dalglish takes his Newcastle team to Bray, wins.
27th August 1998 - Kenny Dalglish ceases to be the manager of Newcastle.

7th August 2004 - Graeme Souness takes his Blackburn team to Bray, wins.
6th September 2004 - Graeme Souness ceases to be the manager of Blackburn.

9th August 2005 - Graeme Souness takes his Newcastle team to Bray, wins......


GS has always been a fighter, be it in midfield for Liverpool or as a manager in Scotland, England and Turkey.
I dont know whether to be happy or sad when I see this article.. I dont know whether to pray that it becomes true or to hope that Bray will prove to be 3rd time(un)lucky.
Going by the chart, D day beckons by Early September...

Season starts; expectations;the team

A new season is starting. Or rather we have started it already having taken part in the Intertoto Cup and getting knocked out. Despite that, imo, it was good match practice as the competitiveness for a place in the UEFA Cup precededs meaningless friendlies. First game up in the league, we take on Arsenal. It will be a test of how GS has shaped up his team for this season by the display the team puts on at Highbury. Afterall he asked for a season to prove himself, and now he is in the season which he has to prove himself having gotten rid of some players and bringing others of his choice to SJP.

My expectations for this season are quite simple. Given the way the team has disappointed the fans in the past, defensive errors, players in fighting, media circus, Fat Fred talking his mouth off, etc, let's just put all this crap to a stop and let the players feet do the talking instead. Play to a standard that the fans love, conduct yourself on and off the pitch at a level worthy of the appluase from the Toon Army and as for Fat Fred, cut down on the dividends from the PLC you are getting and pump them back to the club for once!!

Looking at the team, seems like GS is going to play a 4-3-3/4-5-1 like style.

-----------------------------[keeper]
---------------------------Given/Harper

[leftback] ----------------[centre-backs] ---------------[rightbacks]
Carr/Taylor -----------Boumsong/Bramble ----------Babayaro/Coco
Rampage -----------------Moore/Taylor---------------- Elliot


[leftmid]------------------ [centremid] -------------------[rightmid]
Emre -------------------Parker/Dyer/Bowyer ---------Milner/Dyer
Jenas --------------------Jenas/Faye/Viana -----------Clark/Jenas
N'Zgobia/Viana---------------- Bowyer

[leftforward]---------------- [forward] ----------------[rightforward]
N'Zgobia/Ameobi ------------Shearer/Ameobi -------Milner/Ameobi
Chopra -----------------------Chopra-------------------- Bowyer


Any combinations of the above is probably how NUFC is going to turn up if GS plays 4-3-3.

I have my doubts about such a formation. Firstly, it kinda leaves us with too little cover at the back when opponents counterattack and this being NUFC, we always seems to lose the ball in the centre of the park for the opponents during key moments of the game and the next moment, the ball is in the net and Given is left looking frustrated. Will we see that even more often with a 4-3-3?

Also, opponents can strifle our attack if they play deeper at the back. However, one thing different from the past is that we actually have 2 class midfielders in Emre and Parker who can make things happen. I am sorry, KD and JJ, but we simply didnt have that with the 2 of u in the last season. I should leave my opinions on KD's headless chicken runs for another time. Based on just the Deportivo home game, I have to say that Emre and Parker are really class. I cant wait to see Dyer and Jenas regain their form and create havoc with them..

Having said all that, the best players/team are nothing if they are injuried. We seems to be lacking in depth even more this season than the past 2 years. And we all know why we failed 1) to win the UEFA Cup 2) falter as the season, the past 2 years. I dread to see history repeat itself. We need a top notch striker, another leftback at the very least. Somehow, the crystal ball in my head keeps seeing the image of Babayaro and Coco on the treatment table and Elliot left looking helplessly at leftback.....

Triange/Square/Pentagon?

Article seen in http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=232601

A complex transfer triangle is emerging, involving Man United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs and Fulham.

I would call that more of a Pentagon if these gossip mongers are to be believed. Bemoan the poor standard of web news-writers...

Why GS shouldnt be sacked now

Yah, sure sack the manager now. Just like we did with RG, KD and SBR in the past right when the season start. Small wonder NUFC managers are always strong contenders for 'first manager to be sacked' by the bookies.

And then see another manager come in, totally change the playing style, the backroom staff, bring in his own players, sell the old favourites, more boardroom tussles with Fat Fred throwing the odd pissing-off-the-fans comments to the press, coupled with comments from former players about how good the sacked manager was and how the new one is going to lose his job within months, add in a few off field scandals involving the players....................... And then you have the general story of what happens when NUFC sacks their manager early in the season.


1) GS hasnt bought players.

If the reports this summer about Anelka, Boa Morte, etc are true. I am going to side GS. We cannot allow other clubs to think that we are so hard up for players(but I admit we kinda are) that we are going to pay any amount for them.. Transfer fees for players is similiar to bargaining when u r shopping.. You and the shopowner haggle over the price, one qouting a low price, the latter a higher price and then argue and argue till you reach a compromise and get a deal. Sometimes the compromise is not reached and the item(player) is not sold. We are not Chelsea and probably never will be. We cant meet all the extortant prices clubs give.

2) Out of Europe, strength in depth
As the previous season, strength in depth in the squad is not there. Once suspensions and injuries crept in towards the end of the season, we just couldnt match the top clubs result for result. If you look at the EPL, only blues, arse and manure have strength in depth. The rest,even NUFC and pool just dont have that many players.

Also, imo, strength in depth is something that must be developed over a few seasons. Yes, GS might have realised we dont have strength in depth last season, but we simply couldnt just go buy 7-8 quality players to achieve that in one transfer window. Why? 1) Because the quality players are not there.. Sometimes for such players you have to wait for them to be available. 2) we are not attractive enough. when such a player turns up on the market, all the top clubs are viaing for them and will they wanna sign for us?


At the end of the day.
we r the geordies, the geordie boot boys,
oh we r mental, oh we r mad,
we r the loyalist football supporters the world has ever had!!

I am sad that we are out of Europe, however whoever the manager, whoever the chairman, whoever the players will be, the fans wil still remain black and white!

PS: Technically were we in Europe this season? I mean the Intertoto is a qualifying competition, so we are still trying to qualify for Europe when we were knocked out by Depo.. A point to ponder... Haha

Lee Clark; loyalty

Lee Clark is back at Tyneside on a month long contract... Yes, not much just a month. But the fact that one of the Toon Army's favourite player is back is great news.. The same guy who as a S***erland player worn a SMB T-shirt at our FA Cup final. And then after that the smbs had to sell him to Fulham where he became club captain before they decided not to extend his contract. He has always came back to SJP in warm appluase. This is one loyal player, something pretty hard to find today anywhere..