Archive for category: Interviews.

Newcastle United vs West Ham United match preview and match banter!

August 24th, 2013 | 119 Comments |

Newcastle United v West Ham United.
Pardew on probation.
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle.
Date: Sat 24th Aug, 2013.
Kick off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffs).
UK TV: None.

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to our “match banter” for today’s first home fixture of the Premier League season, which sees the Magpies taking on Fat Sam’s West Ham.

Pardew on probation.

In Alan Pardew’s last 12 competitive games with Newcastle United, his record is Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 7, Goals For 7, Goals against 26. With a record like that, the sharks should be circling, and I don’t mean the loan shark from Wronga, who, incidentally, will be staging their first Wronga “experience” at sunny St James’ Park today. One of their new half time pursuits for this season is called “Straight walking football,” where “two fans will race head to head through a course packed with obstacles to test their balance and skill. Whoever keeps their cool and finishes past Teenie and Tynie will take home £150″ (quote from the Hearts website). Think I’ll give that a miss next time I’m at St James’ Park. (more…)

Putting lipstick on a pig called “Wonga”

August 23rd, 2013 | 26 Comments |

Wonga loan Shark.
Wonga: Ticking the boxes for fans?
My latest ‘blog on metro.co.uk is now up!

Entitled “Is Wonga really Newcastle United’s greatest ever sponsor after only five weeks?” I reflect on the words of Newcastle United’s Financial Director John Irving, who recently said the following at a meeting to reassure Newcastle United fans about the club’s controversial sponsorship deal with Wonga:

“From a commercial impact, Wonga have had the money on the table and have been a lot more aggressive.

“It’s massively important to have people on board that want to get involved with us in terms of what we do with the fans and the foundation and what we do with the younger players.

“Wonga have only really been here five weeks and they have actually done considerably more than anyone ever has done in terms of investment and support.

“The gates have been unveiled… they renamed the stadium back to St James’ Park. Wonga tick the boxes. (more…)

The madness of Alan Pardew and the Three Stooges in Nice

August 21st, 2013 | 65 Comments |

NUFC Blog on metro.co.uk
NUFC Blog on metro.co.uk
My two latest blogs for metro.co.uk are now up!

The first one, entitled “Pardew – Is he deluded to the point of insanity?” takes a look at some of the talking points from Monday evening’s game with Manchester City. Talking points such as the gossip surrounding Yohan Cabaye and not least, something all we Newcastle United fans have become wearily familiar with, Alan Pardew’s total lack of a grip on reality in his post-match assessment of games.

The second one is called “Were Newcastle’s ‘Three Stooges’ in Nice to sell Cabaye or buy Cvitanich?” (The sub-editor changed the original title so don’t blame me!). Basically, it is my ruminations on what Newcastle United’s “Three Stooges,” Alan Pardew, Joe Kinnear and Graham Carr might have been doing at Nice airport, where they were spotted and photographed by a Northumbria University student and Toon fan who calls himself “Sewelly” on Twitta. (more…)