Time to end the Anfield hoodoo!Venue: Anfield, Liverpool. Date: Sunday, 4th November. Kick off: 4:00pm Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester). UK TV: Sky Sports.
This Sunday, NUFC attempt to right a good few wrongs against Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool at the home of the Red Bin Dippers.
Our record at Anfield is marginally better than that at Old Trafford unfortunately in reality its still poor. Since we joined the Premier League back in 1993 we have won only once in the red half of Merseyside and drawn twice from a total of eighteen league games. The one win came in our first season back in 93/94 with goals from Lee and Cole. Back in those days we were given the nickname “The Entertainers” by Sky Sports because of our fluid, positive, attacking play masterminded by KK. Nowadays the task of entertaining has passed on to Pardew and his contribution to open attacking football tends to be in the form of the “hoof” or “long ball”.
Despite having failed to ignite a talented team for more than 45 minutes in any game we’ve played this season, Pardew had his fingers crossed yesterday when interviewed on BBC Sport, as he had this to say: (more…)
Clarke returns to St James' Park.Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle. Date: Sunday, 28th Oct. Kick off: 3:00pm Referee: Chris Foy. UK TV: None.
The Toon return to Premier League action when the Baggies visit for a non-televised 3pm kickoff on Sunday.
The “Boing Boing” Baggies have proved a real thorn in our side at SJP in recent years and Alan Pardew will be looking for a first home win against them in three attempts. Their previous boss Roy Hodgson, who clearly had the advantage over our sad and sorry silver haired sycophant, went on to better things at the end of last season and Pardew will be trying to get the Toon back on track, after a faltering start, just so he can lay some claim to follow “Woy” into the England hot seat in the years to come.
After Hodgson’s departure to Soho Square/Wembley/Burton, the Throstles went out on a limb and found a replacement in former Toon assistant manager Steve Clarke. He managed one game for the Toon against Man Utd losing 1-5 at Old Trafford after sexy football manager Gullitt left the team in the lurch. Clarke’s baptism as a “No. 1” has been relatively successful. After eight games into the season he has guided West Bromwich to sixth place in the Premier League on the back of two wins, three defeats and a draw from their last six games in all competitions. However the Baggies are still looking for their first Premier League away win of the season and have won only one of their last nine away league games (since their 1-0 win at Anfield in April).
A Mackem after a typical Tyne-Wear derby.Venue: Stadium of Blight, Blunderland. Date: Sunday, 22nd Oct. Kick off: 1:30pm Referee: Martin Atkinson. UK TV: Sky Sports 1.
This will be referee Martin Atkinson’s second outing this season in charge of a Newcastle game, after handling our season opening home victory over Spurs.
His previous engagement with us was at SJP back in April when he presided over our 2-0 victory over Liverpool, booking Andy Carroll for trying to win a penalty and dismissing Jose Reina for losing his rag with James Perch. Earlier in the season, he red-carded Martin Olsson while refereeing Blackburn’s visit to SJP while also sending off Dan Gosling during our visit to Carrow Road.
Journey to the land that time forgot.
After what has seemed like an age, the Premier League returns this weekend for a round of full blooded, up and at ’em games and none will be more full or red blooded than the 147th Tyne Wear derby at the Stade du Merde on Sunday, 21st October. Both teams go into the game knowing that a win is the very minimum that their respective fans will demand and, if the players needed reminding, bragging rights will continue until April 13th next year when the unwashed will make their annual trip to civilisation for the return. (more…)
Them again.Venue: The Wonga Loan Shark Arena? Date: Sunday, 7th Oct. Kick off: 4:00pm Referee: Howard Webb (Manchester United). UK TV: Sky Sports 1.
Once again, Manchester United will, very helpfully, be bringing their own referee along for this game. Of course, I am referring to Howard Webb, who they also kindly brought along for the corresponding fixture at SJP back in January 2012, and who was also in charge of our most recent Premier League home loss, against Manchester City last May.
This will also be the second live televised game between the sides in two weeks, the last one of course being our League Cup exit against the Red Devils on the 26th of last month. Both teams were also in midweek European action, with the Mancs narrowly winning 2-1 against Cluj on Tuesday while Newcastle beat Bordeaux a little more emphatically on Thursday.
So, after a successful Europa League outing in which we managed 29 minutes of 4-3-3, will Pardew revert to the same old cautious 4-4-2 or risk giving his players another chance for a “breath of fresh air” by going for a positive attacking line up against the Red Devils? Interestingly, the last time we played the Reds at SJP was just after they’d suffered a 2-3 defeat at home (to Blackburn). So maybe the omens are looking good for us tomorrow?
Manchester United - Injury central recently.Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester. Date: Thurs, 26th Sept. Kick off: 7:45pm Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester). UK TV: Sky Sports.
The Toon begin this season’s League Cup campaign with a remarkably tough opening fixture away to the Mancs at Old Trafford. Kick-off is at 7.45pm and the tie, which will be settled on the night via extra time and penalties if required will be televised live on Sky TV.
It is widely accepted that Captain Colocinni will return for this trip to Manchester after a three match spell on the sidelines, which will be a relief to our beleaguered back four who had played three games in six days without him. Along with Colo it appears that wor Cheick will make his first appearance since the opening day win against Spurs and Pardew has hinted his “strong spine” will be completed with a start for Shola.
