Ben Arfa: Impressed with Newcastle United's support.Righty right, with there being no real football for a couple of weeks, there has been a massive gaping hole in all things Newcastle United F.C. so I thought that a bit of a round up was in order:
It seems that not only the French press (sacred bleu), but the fellow French Professional footballers, particularly the ones up for a move in the summer, and friends and international collegues of one Hatem Ben Arfa have been very immpressed by the way that Hatem has been treated by NUFC during his time injued. Not just because we had the balls to sign the lad whilst injured, but the fact that the Chairman, representatives of the club and even Mike Ashley himself have apprarently been to check on the lads recovery over the months he’s been rehabilitating over in Clairefontaine, the French centre of football excellence.
They seem truly immpressed, honestly, that we’ve pushed the boat out to make the lad aware of how much he is wanted and that he feels part of our great club.
Tavernier: Back from the mighty 'Heed.James Tavernier has been recalled back to his parent club a couple of weeks early from his loan to Gateshead F.C.
He only had ’til April 9th to go anyway, but owing to Newcastle’s dearth of defensive cover, it was thought to be best for the club to recall the lad.
Which seems fair enough.
He was, apparently, on a 24 hour call-back deal, so it’s come to pass. He could be much needed cover in our remaining games, starting at home to Wolves after the ‘early spring’ break(?).
The lad turned out 18 times for the ‘Heed and has returned with a glowing report from Gateshead manager Ian Bogie. He said of the player:
“Tavernier made a fantastic contribution during his time at Gateshead,”
“I have enjoyed watching him play and he will be a miss, but he only had a couple of weeks left of his loan deal.(more…)
Sol: Seasoned pro? Or past it?There have been a few words out there in the press about the possiblity of Sol Campbell ‘coming in from the cold’ and getting a game at Stoke City.
I didn’t realize he was ‘in the cold’, but we all know how the press like to paint these things. He hasn’t played since our great 3-1 win v Liverpool earlier in the season.
To me, he’s a well seasoned pro with a great reading of the game. He also barks orders really well and organizes things at the back. With him, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Fabricio Coloccini and Steve Harper on playing at the same time, it’s like having five captains on the pitch.
Some say he’s beyond his prime now, but I reckon he still does an excellent job, when called upon. After the last game v Everton i think it’s time to bring his experience to bear on proceedings. We looked messy at the back with Steven Taylor asked to do a RB job. He seemed drawn into the CB role all too often and we were exposed down out right by an in-form Arteta, who found plenty of space in which to maraud. I’m not saying Taylor is a bad player, he just looked out of place in that game. Plenty of us have asked for Taylor at RB for some time but it didn’t work out that time.
Can Taylor play there? Who knows? But if he does, he has to stay out right and focus.
Who's your favourite number 9?There’s a gap in the numbers down SJP way and we all know why.
It’s the biggest number, if you think about it, every other number after it is a compound of it and another number.
Yes, you’ve guessed it: 9.
After the last player to don the shirt wandered off to the Merseyside in January, we’ve been looking for someone to fill the gap. Obviously, no one is neccessarily gonna have it handed to them at this point in the season. But who is in the running?
Will it be someone not at the club yet?
Will one of the present strikers at the club step up and claim it? Should the damn thing have been retired along with the legend that is Alan Shearer? Did he make the prospect of filling that shirt number almost untenable? After his amazing breaking of the all time scoring record at the club, why wouldn’t it be a difficult act to follow?
There’s a hell of a lot of history ingrained in not only the actual wearing of the shirt by a regular human being, who plies their trade as a pro footballer. But also, in the sepia tinted memories and rose tinted dreams of Newcastle fans from time to this day. Are we piling way too much pressure on our number 9 shirt? After all, some players have come here to play and almost actively refused the number (M. Owen?). Maybe feeling that they really can’t live up to it, or don’t wanna try or don’t want the hefty responsibility that comes with it. Whilst others have tried to grab the thing in a brave attempt to live up to the lofty position, we as fans, have placed upon it. (more…)
Should we aim for Europe this season?Newcastle United are moving up the table and a European spot is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility, but is that what we really need?
After our great win at the expense of Birmingham on Tuesday night – a win that solidified our top 10 position and applied a little extra pressure on the teams above us, not least Bolton (our next home game) and the wearysiders, who are now within gobbin’ distance – it seems some fans are starting to turn their febrile minds towards the possibility of a return to European football action, via the ‘Europa League’.
Whilst that would undoubtedly expand, not only the coffers at Barrack Road, but the profile of the club once more, it would also give the fans some great away days and bragging rights.
But, is that what we really need right now?
After all, when we cast our minds back just a little, most saw this season as a NEW START for the club and, as such, would be happy with survival in the Premiership. Obviously others would beg to differ. (more…)
