Kevin Nolan: Why in public?In a Mirror ‘exclusive’, former Newcastle captain, Kevin Nolan, has urged his former partner in crime, Joey Barton, to join Sam Allardyce’s ‘sexy football’ revolution at West Ham.
Nolan said:
“Would Joey Barton come here? Well, I came here, so I can’t see why Joey Barton would not come, it is a massive club.
“The way he has been treated over the last couple of years, he is probably looking for an escape.
“He knows I’m here, he knows Sam (who brought the player to St James’ park in June 2007) is here and what we are about – I can look after him and he can look after me!
“It would definitely be good for me. Joey is a great player to play alongside and he is a winner.
“He tells it straight, as people know, but deep down he is a lovely lad and I get on really well with him.
“He would be a great acquisition to the squad if we got him here.(more…)
Shoule we cut Pardew some slack?So a few weeks ago i decided that I was going to try and be as positive as possible about Newcastle United and to try and look on the bright side of life with regards to the current manager.
Reading this blog daily, and like most Toon fans, not in the North East, I crave even more than usual my daily fix of NUFC news. What I am noticing is that Alan Pardew is not only disliked, but he is hated by the majority of fans and has some very unrealistic expectations on his shoulders given the current regime hes working under. Every comment Pardew seems to make is scrutinised and analysed by the fans who are coming to the conclusions that he ‘talks far to much’, hes ‘patronising’, that he is an ‘Ashley propaganda machine’ and have already written him off as one of the Southern shandy drinkers ruining the club!
I cant agree, and in my positive frame of mind, as far as I can see he has not done much wrong in his relatively short term here, he was not my first or even fifth choice, but he is here now and I have a theory on why the fans should try to not be so negative about him and maybe lower expectations this season as its the clubs hierarchy, not Pardew, that clearly have the lack of ambition to move NUFC to the next level. (more…)
Is Barton a bad apple?Joey Barton’s tirades on Twitter has been very well publicised, as have many other players comments on the social networking sites. Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge and countless others from teams across the UK. This has prompted the Premier League to consider rules and regulations for the popular website.
Of course, everybody is entitled to their opinion and that does not differ because of your profession. Joey Barton, however, has taken it above and beyond “opinion” and turned the popular website into a media circus.
Just to get one thing straight: I don’t necessarily disagree with what he has to say. I do, however, think that somebody such as Barton should hold themselves with a little more tact, dignity and most importantly with a hell of a lot more professionalism.
Barton goes on about how much he loves the fans, the club and how he wears our famous strips with honour and pride – so why did he hold out on the contract back in January? Andy Carroll was sold on the last day and Barton himself had mentioned that he’d like to see his career out here – discussions were going on before then, presumably. (more…)
Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan in happier times.In his latest Tweets, Newcastle United has given his latest ‘insights’ on his dramatic transfer listing by the club, which I covered in a previous ‘blog. After announcing that he would be making an announcement about his future at the club at 4PM today, he was fashionably late, but eventually tweeted:
“Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata.”
“I am on a free but the honour of wearing those B+W stripes, surpasses that”
“One day the board might realise, what the shirt signifies. HONOUR and PRIDE. Thanks for your continued support……….. ”
Earlier today, the club announced on their official website that Barton had been transfer listed and that they had advised the player that he could leave the club on a free transfer. This has been motted for some time since the club had refused to offer Barton an extension on his latest contract, and his agent, Willie McKay announced that: (more…)
Llambias speak with forked tongue?Former Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan believes the club forced him to leave and that Derek Llambias reneged on a verbal agreement.
Kevin Nolan was of course dumped from Newcastle amidst something of a furore. The player has now come out and spoken about his departure:
“I envisaged spending the rest of my career at the club. I was settled, happy and I adored the supporters. I was captain of a huge club and played with a smashing group of lads I had untold respect for.
“But ultimately I was forced out because I lost trust in key people at the club and when you lose trust in people it’s almost impossible to regain it.
“From January and shortly following the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool, I was involved in ongoing discussions about signing a new contract between four and five years.
“I discussed the deal at length with managing director Derek Llambias and even shook hands on it. In my book when you do that man-to-man you expect them to see it through.(more…)
