Ashley - Paid for signings out of his own pocket?Some fans said that last season was the most important for our club in a long long time. Other fans claim that this season is the most important we have had for a long long time.
I sit in the camp of the latter to be honest, although essentially both of those statements are correct.
If we hadn’t have got promoted last season then we wouldn’t have been able to say the second statement, so in that way they are very much linked. The importance of this season can’t be underestimated. Relegation would be dire and would set the club back a few years at least. Players that stayed around to “right the wrongs” of last time would be moved on, either by choice or neccessity, and I believe that it would be much much harder to bounce back should we end up relegated again. (more…)
Hughton needs to show some balls!Whilst some fans may still be reeling from the weekend loss at home to Blackpool, the reality is that it has now gone and there is absolutely zip that can be done about it.
Another reality is that as much as the stats suggest that we pretty much dominated the game and were unlucky to not get something, they don’t change the fact that we didn’t get anything out of a home game against a relegation rival.
That last part is the cause of most of the depressed feeling that is hanging around at the moment, in my opinion anyway. The loss on Saturday ruined my prediction coupon. I, and many others probably, had it down as a home win, but I always had the feeling that it would be a lot closer than a fair few were predicting. That loss now means we have to pick up some extra points on the road if we are to avoide getting sucked into the early season depression cycle of being near the bottom of the league. (more…)
D-d-d-don't believe the hype!In many ways, black and white are very appropriate colours for Newcastle United.
There is no middle ground as a general rule and many aspects of our club are over-hyped and under-hyped accordingly.
I think it is all bollocks personally and I think a bit of perspective is needed in all this.
Of course losing to Blackpool is disappointing – It wasn’t how the script was written. Most home defeats are disappointing in fairness, but at least there are plus points we can take out of the game, aswell as negative points to be fair.
At the end of the day, nothing will be decided by us losing yesterday as there are still 34 games to go. Right now it is how we bounce back in the next few games that is the most important factor in all this.
The stats say that we had 22 shots at goal and had 57% of the possesion. It didn’t matter in the end, but at least it shows we are still creating chances and trying to assert our own game. If we stopped doing that then I would be a hell of a lot more concerned about it all! (more…)
One of many missed chances against Blackpool.It was a day of frustration at St James’ Park today as Newcastle lost 2-0 to Ian Holloway’s Blackpool outfit – a defeat that spells the end of an 18-month unbeaten run at home.
An abject first-half performance followed by some abject finishing by Newcastle in the second-half sprinkled sporadically with some fantastic saves from Man of the Match Matt Gilks in the Blackpool goal all combined to leave the Toon Army empty-handed.
A crowd of nearly 50,000 turned up at St James’ Park, and most of them will have been wanting to catch a glimpse of our new signings, particularly Hatem Ben Arfa, in action. As things go, the crowd did get to see a bit of Ben Arfa action, and he looked rather good and showed some good touches during his time on the pitch although I am sure most will have wanted the lad to have a more memorable debut than he ended up having. (more…)
Welcome back Tangerine Army!Domestic football action resumes this weekend as Blackpool visit Newcastle in a battle of two recently promoted sides.
On the surface of it this game couldn’t have been at a more fitting time. A game at home in which Newcastle will be favourites for, a feel-good factor and sense of anticipation regarding our new signings and our steady start to the season all combine to make this match very eagerly anticipated indeed.
Whilst the game is anticipated, we must not forget the danger that Blackpool pose for us. It would be just like Newcastle to do something daft like lose tomorrow afternoon, well the Newastle of old certainly would have, although I have a sneaky feeling that this squad take nothing for granted and will give it their best shot a getting the three points. (more…)
