2010 - The year in review.Well, that is pretty much it for 2010 as the cover begins to close on a relatively stable yearbook for Newcastle United.
Yes, that’s right, this year has been pretty stable for us in comparison to years gone by, although there have been brief moments of turmoil spread throughout the year, just to keep things interesting.
I thought it might be a good idea to look back on the year and recount some of the events that have made us tear our hair out in frustration, brought a smile to our face, made us angry and so on.
Things went pretty smoothly for us in the first quarter of 2010. The January transfer window saw us strengthen the squad and cement our position as league leaders. Results were good, performances were largely good, we were playing some decent stuff and we were hammering some teams, namely Barnsley and Cardiff. (more…)
Well 2010 is nearly a piece of history as we prepare to welcome in the new year. So what better time is there than now to look back at he best goals of 2010?
Of course, some of these goals will have come in The Championship, which is where we are going to start with contender number one.
The yellow card - A familiar sight this season.Newcastle have had a habit of picking up yellow cards this season. In fact indiscipline has arguably played a large part in our season to date.
A quick glance at the ‘Fair Play’ table should tell us all we need to know. It doesn’t make for pretty reading, but Newcastle have racked up 45 yellow cards and one red card in their 19 games so far this season and sit second from bottom of that particular league. Add Joey Barton’s and Mike Williamson’s respective three match bans for violent conduct into the mix and things don’t look so pretty.
I think it’s pretty safe to rule out qualifying for Europe via the ‘back door’ for this season. Incidentally, the team currently leading the way in the Fair Play league is Fulham, closely followed by Blackpool. Imagine that eh? Mind you, with the way Blackpool have equipped themselves so far this season I wouldn’t rule anything out!
Anyway, I’m getting off track. The pitfalls of picking up so many yellow cards are pretty obvious, as evidenced by Kevin Nolan’s absence yesterday and the suspension of Cheik Tiote a few weeks back. Yellow cards equal suspensions, and with Andy Carroll and Joey Barton both just one away and Jonas Gutierrez, Fabricio Coloccini and Jose Enrique all two bookings away from picking their fifth booking of the season, the consequences could be disastrous. (more…)
Mike Ashley - Staying or selling?Just what is it with these new contracts at Newcastle? Since the summer we have seen Andy Carroll, Nile Ranger, Mike Williamson, Tim Krul and now Steven Taylor all tied down to long-term deals with the club.
This is, of course, good news for Newcastle United and gives us a bit of stability with regard to the playing staff going forward, but does it signal that there could be more going on behind the scenes? Could Mike Ashley be making the business more saleable?
There is no doubt that the offering of new, long-term contracts is good for the club, but it would also be good for Mike Ashley’s bank balance in the event of a sale. After all, a stable club with it’s best potential assets tied down to long-term deals would be worth a lot more money compared to a club that was floundering along with no forward planning. I mean, even the manager has a contract that could last over five years, although there is a rather cunning clause put in by Ashley that will allow Pardew to be disposed of for minimal compensation, something that would appeal to both Ashley and any new owner who will more than likely want to install their own man in the event of a change of ownership. (more…)
Have a cool yule!I’d just like to take this opportunity on behalf of all us here at NUFCBlog.org to wish each and every one of you a very merry christmas.
May you all have an excellent day tomorrow, or today if you happen to be in certain places around the globe, and enjoy the festivities with friends and family.
This place will still be going, so if you want to escape the festivities or if they are getting too much, then come on here and let off a bit of steam by chatting some football if you wish, although I anticipate that it could be rather quiet throughout the day so you may need to be patient.
Anyway, thanks for putting up with us and making this place what it is as it is you guys that makes the writing wothwhile. As a present I have prepared this picture of me wearing only a thong for you to feast your eyes upon.
Only kidding, don’t panic.
Seriously though, have a good one, and I’ll see you all on the other side in preparation for the game against Manchester City. (more…)
