'Pop'ular goalscorer!“Make it real” was the Coca-Cola slogan for 2005, and while that was arguably the year we began a slippery slide to Championship oblivion and the league that bears that famous brand name, tonight Newcastle United stepped three points and one game closer to making promotion back to the big time a reality. On a wet, windy but wonderful Monday evening, the 2-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest all but ends their hopes of overhauling us and barring a disaster all that should be left is a battle with West Brom for the title.
The Championship journey has been a humbling and perhaps necessary journey for some Mags but one season is just about enough, cheers all the same. While we’ve had some difficult games, none more so than tricky tests against the Tricky Trees, our lads have come through the test and are so close to a victorious 90 minutes which should culminate in a mathematically certain return to the top flight and a silent two fingers at those that wanted us to fail miserably. It would take a monumental 7-Up, if we were to fail to realise the dream of going back up at the first time of asking.
On a greasy surface and with the wind and rain driving across the pitch, Newcastle weathered both the elements and a determined Forest attack. Despite good possession for both sides though, neither side looked like breaking the deadlock and this Level 7’er is fairly certain he didn’t see a save from either keeper until after the hour. And when the deadlock was broken, to bring effervescence to both players and fans alike, who other than Shola ‘Offside’ Ameobi, returning from injury, would be more appropriate? With a neat turn, great control and a tidy finish to make it 1-0, proving yet again that if he can stay fit he offers us something our other strikers don’t. (more…)
Brilliant despite that awful strip.On a day when we could all but cement promotion back to the promised land of the Premiership if we emerge victorious from tonight’s titanic Tyne-Trees battle, perhaps we should look at who has put us within touching distance. Chris Hughton has been widely praised by fans and press (or at least until a certain journalist decided to pick up her poisoned pen) and rightly so. But for all Hughton’s good work, it’s the fellas out on the park who have and will continue to determine our future.
We ran a poll recently (on the right) for .org readers and contributors to vote on their ‘player of the season’ so far. Of course there may be yet more defining moments to come but even though there were some decent candidates, there are two clear front-runners at the moment. Which is perhaps not surprising, given the vocal support for these two players, with chants aimed at them being two of the loudest you’re likely to hear at games lately. (more…)
Eye of the tiger?In an end-to-end encounter, it was Newcastle United’s very own light heavyweight, Andy Carroll, who weighed in with a devastating knockout to help United take all three points at the Keepmoat Stadium. After the much publicised training ground bust-up, it seemed unlikely that Carroll would play any part in the game, but Hughton was vindicated in his decision to include the striker by Carroll’s goal, which was the difference between the two sides.
Even though he included Carroll in his starting eleven, Hughton was forced into several other changes. Jose Enrique had a niggle from his previous hamstring injury and Ryan Taylor came in at right back, with Danny Simpson switching to left back. Tamas Kadar came in for Fitz Hall, who limped out of the Bristol City game and Hughton also opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation with Kevin Nolan playing off Andy Carroll, Leon Best making way for Nicky Butt, who partnered Guthrie in the middle of the park. (more…)
Toon beware of sucker punch?And deep breath…, despite the furore surrounding an alleged attack by Andy Carroll on team-mate Steven Taylor, Newcastle United do still actually have a game tonight down at Doncaster Rovers. We’ll be making our league debut at the Keepmoat Stadium, in front of what is expected to be a season’s best attendance.
All the talk at the moment is around the allegations of a training ground bust-up between Taylor and Carroll, with the latter reportedly just out of hospital and suffering from a broken jaw. However, despite apparently having treatment to an injured hand and his future at the club put into question by press and supporters, Andy Carroll has joined the squad in Yorkshire, but it remains to be seen whether he will be involved in tonight’s game. (more…)
Headlines for the wrong reasons, again?Rumours reached the internet early this evening of a bust-up between Newcastle team-mates Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor. The altercation is thought to have happened at United’s training ground. It’s alleged that Andy Carroll has been treated for a hand injury at the RVI hospital. The injury is apparently due to a punch thrown at team-mate Steven Taylor who, as the rumours go, suffered a broken jaw.
It didn’t take long for news to spread and both the Mail and Times are now running with the story. Culkin is often a lot closer to the issues at the club and suggests a source close to Taylor is confirming that his jaw is thought to be broken.
It’s thought the club are refusing to comment but Caulkin understands a meeting, called by the club’s hierarchy, was held at the training ground, in which players and staff were warned not to discuss the episode publicly while an internal investigation was conducted. Without any confirmation, it’s all based on potentially vicious rumours and piecing information together. After all, Taylor is not thought to be at the stage where he’s involved in anything physical and if both injuries are confirmed then it doesn’t take a mathematical genius to come to a conclusion. (more…)
