NUFC is one year old, and what a year it has been for Newcastle United! June of last year may have seemed like a strange time to start a ‘blog about Newcastle United, a time when the club had just been relegated, but at least no-one could blame us for being ‘glory hunters’!
It all started on June 1st with a simple welcome blog from myself, but this particular story won’t be a exercise in navel gazing about our own little website, it will be about a turbulent year in the history of our great club, as viewed through the lens of some of contributors, past and present.
Though relegation would hardly seem like the perfect time to ‘kick off’ with the site, there was of course much to write about in the crazy world which is Newcastle United. Mike Ashley caved in to fan pressure once again, and attempted to sell the club for a second time while it was being ripped apart by turmoil.
The first story I have chosen in this trip by memory lane was by ex-contributor, ‘Stardust’ on June 2nd, which covered a statement on Ashley’s second attempt to escape from his Geordie hell with little embellishment. Sir John’s statement cover quite a few of the issues of the time nicely. (more…)
Hughton can lead us to safety, according to YOU!It’s official, well almost official, that Newcastle will avoid relegation from the Premier League next season.
Votes have been cast in our poll which asked how YOU thought we would get on in the big league next season. The options were varied, with the most optimistic option perhaps being a Champions League qualification place, right through to the other end of the spectrum with the worst scenario being relegation.
I can tell you now, it has been the most popular poll in NUFCblog.org history, with 2,215 votes cast. And I can reveal that an impressive 92% of people who chose to vote believe we will be able to avoid the dreaded drop back into The Championship. Of course it is just a poll on the internet, but it does give a pretty good snapshot with regard to the general feeling of people who visit this site. (more…)
And the winner is...The goalposts are down, the World Cup is just around the corner, and the summer sun will soon be upon us. Yes it’s the end of the season, so what better time to announce the NUFCblog.org Player of the Season result?
It has been down to you, the reader, to decide the destination of this much coveted award. It’s only fair that we are the ones to pass judgement on how a player has played for us throughout the season, we know much more than the experts anyway. So it gives me great pleasure to announce that the winner of this award, as voted for by you and with 28% of the final vote is….. Jose Enrique.
I’m sure he is ecstatic knowing that he is now the proud owner of our coveted award, but as yet I have been unable to track down the Spaniard to ask him how he is feeling at what must be an emotional and triumphant time for him. Unfortunately he will have to wait to be presented with the widely respected trophy although I can give everyone an update on the progress of it’s construction. I can reveal that the finishing touches are being applied and all I need now to finish the trophy off are some nails, glue and some tin-foil. And to think my mother never rated Blue Peter and wondered why I used to watch it as a child, who’s laughing now eh mother? (more…)
NUFC Blog writers on the big rise and more!NUFC Blog writers, Debbie Rozario (Geordie Deb), Steve Thompson (Bowburnmag), Simon Baker (Toonsy) and Paul Newsome (Workyticket) have been interviewed along ESPN Star’s Alvin Lee for “The Fans’ Voice” on the ESPN Star website.
We answered questions such as “What is the best or worst your club can achieve in the Premier League next season?”, “Who is your key player?”, “Which area of the team do you think needs strengthening?” and many (well, a few) more.
Mike Ashley: Stick or twist? (pic by Paul Hutchinson)Now the transfer window is firmly shut and we know what sort of players we have to work with until the end of season, owner Mike Ashley’s plans have become much clearer… or have they? I’d like to focus on the Newcastle United part of Mike Ashley’s business empire, rather than his other companies, some of which have recently featured in a BBC documentary.
Mike Ashley’s tenure on Tyneside has been a troubled one to say the least. Seemingly riding into The Toon like a knight in shining armour, the billionaire investor the club needed to get us challenging towards the top of the Premier League. Unfortunately this didn’t happen, reports came out that Ashley never bothered to even glance at the clubs finances before signing up to buy the club. A look at the books would have revealed just exactly where the clubs finances were, and if it was feasable for him to conclude the purchase.
Not a great start then, and something that is arguably still having a knock on effect even now as the Sports Direct owner still wrestles to balance the books. Some will say fair play to him, he put his own money in to make the club more sustainable, and to correct his mistake. Others will say that it’s his mistake for not looking through the books first, a schoolboy error on his part and he, rightly, should cover the cost of his own mistake. (more…)
