Archive for category: General miscellany.

The Importance of Being North East Top Dog

January 16th, 2013 | 171 Comments |

Toon Top Dog.
A recent sighting of the currently missing Toon Top Dog.
It’s always intrigued me how individual NUFC fans see their club’s relationship with our eternal rivals down the road.

I mean we all chant ‘we hate Sunderland’ on match days but does the rivalry mean different things to fans living where they hardly ever come across the great unwashed such as the North bank of the Tyne or in the Milan area for instance; to people like myself who live on the proverbial front line in South Tyneside?

Not only is my local area positively crawling with them, I also had the great misfortune of  attending the University of Sunderland (which ironically very few Mackems attend as they have little concept of higher education) the high point being me and my mate walking across the queermouth bridge the day after the 5-1 derby with Newcastle tops on. Yes, we received a good mixture of cheers and death threats. So, as you can see I’ve had more than my fair share of exposure in recent times.

The more you interact with the other side, the more you get to see they will point to anything that indicates the Sunderland are superior to Newcastle in some way. Maybe its their endemic selective memories kicking in again or maybe, just maybe, its the fact that as of Saturday they are now 4 points ahead of us in the Premier League. My question is that while it’s obviously important to be successful as a club and attempt to win trophies; but is it also important to get ahead of and finish above Sunderland as well, or would many be happy to just take six points off them every season? (more…)


Five Newcastle United players make a stand over Israel

December 1st, 2012 | 127 Comments |

Papiss Cissé, Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tioté.
Cabaye, Cisse and Tiote: Three of NUFC's five signatories.
62 players from 37 clubs around the world have called on UEFA chief Michel Platini to strip Israel of their right to host the UEFA Under-21 European Championship in solidarity with the people of Gaza after the recent killings by Israel of over 100 Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

Of the 62, five Newcastle United players, as well as one ex-Newcastle United player (Leon Best), have been signatories to the statement condemning the slaughter. This is the second highest contingent of players on the list after French club, Olympique de Marseille (though there was no Joey Barton on the list). The Newcastle United signatories to the statement are Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye, Papiss Cissé, Sylvain Marveaux and finally, Cheikh Tioté. Strangely though, there is no Hatem Ben Arfa there.

The full statement, along with the list of 62 signatories and their clubs is below:

“We, as European football players, express our solidarity with the people of Gaza who are living under siege and denied basic human dignity and freedom. The latest Israeli bombardment of Gaza, resulting in the death of over a hundred civilians, was yet another stain on the world’s conscience. (more…)


Who’ll be gannin’ to Africa? Senegal vs Ivory Coast quality live stream

October 13th, 2012 | 19 Comments |

A high quality live stream of this evening’s second leg Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse’s Senegal, and Cheick Tiote’s Ivory Coast.

In case you don’t know, the outcome of this game could have important consequences for Newcastle United. If underdogs Senegal manage to overcome a two goal deficit (the first leg was 4-2 to the Ivorians), then the club could find that their only proper strikers during the ACON tournament proper, which will be held in South Africa from the 19th January to the 10 February, will be the Shola Ameobi and Academy hitman, Adam Campbell, though Shola’s brother Sammy can also play upfront at a push and Hatem Ben Arfa can act as a “second” striker. It’s not a great situation though. On the other hand, if favourites, Ivory Coast win, then we will be without key midfield enforcer, Cheick Tiote. Whoever goes, they will not be available for our games against Reading (19th Jan), Aston Villa (29th Jan), Chelsea (2nd Feb) and Tottenham (9th Feb).

Who do you think Newcastle United will miss more?

Looking forward to this evening’s game, Alan Pardew had this to say: (more…)


Knowing the enemy: FC Atromitos in action in the Greek cup final

August 23rd, 2012 | 6 Comments |

Greek Cup Final 2012 – Olympiacos 2 – 1 Atromitos (AET)

I just thought I’d include this post as a kind of addendum to Andymac’s excellent Atromios v Newcastle United match preview for this evening’s game, which kicks off at 6:00pm.

Atromitos have been losing finalists in the last two Greek Cup finals. The first one ended in a convincing 0-3 beating at the hands of Athenian neighbours, AEK Athens. However that game was more notable for real beatings as the infamous AEK hooligans decided to celebrate by starting a riot just before the end of the game, invading the pitch and attacking Atromitos players. (more…)


NUFC Blog featured in this week’s ZOO magazine

August 15th, 2012 | 42 Comments |

Zoo magazine cover.
NUFC Blog and tits - What more could you ask for?
This week’s edition of the gentleman breast lover’s journal of record, “ZOO” magazine, is carrying their “Massive team by team guide” for the forthcoming Premiership season.

When it came to Newcastle United, of course, it goes without saying that they came to NUFC Blog first to get a fan’s viewpoint of how our season will go.

As my colleague Hugh is away from the blog being a full time indentured geek at the moment, sadly, it was down to me to answer questions such as:

Player to watch?

New signing you’re most excited about?

Player you’d happily drive out of your club?

Premiership team you secretly admire?

Worst away day? (more…)