Another stiff test for the lads.Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle. Date: Weds 2nd January, 2013. Kick off: 8.00pm. Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorks). UK TV: Sky Sports.
Hello, good evening and welcome to our “match banter” for this evening’s game against Everton at St James’ Park.
Of course, this will be our first game of 2013, and the last of what has been a very tricky trio of games over the Christmas and New Year holidays, with the Magpies conceeding a whopping eleven goals in the first two. Well here’s hoping that 2013 starts on a better note than 2012 ended!
It will be tough though. Despite a narrow defeat in their last game against Chelsea, Everton’s recent form has been very good, with the record in their last six games (most recent first) being L|W|W|D|W|D, leaving them at sixth in the Premiership table going into this game. On the other hand, our recent record has been L|L|W|L|L|L, though if you only count Premiership games, it has been L|L|W|L|L|W which is slightly more respectable. (more…)
Metalist's Brazilian Benny, Taison.With the news that Newcastle United will be facing Metalist Kharkiv over two legs in the the next round of our Europa League campaign, I thought it might be a good idea to probe this side from the north east of Ukraine.
Going on what Alan Pardew said when he was interviewed about the draw, he seems to know buggerall about them. When probed on how much he know about Metalist, he replied:
“Not much really”
So, Alan, you may find this helpful!
Currently fourth in the Ukrainian Premier Liga (behind Shakhtar Donetsk, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Dynamo Kyiv), they finished third last season as they have for the last six seasons, always behind the big two Ukrainian giants, Dynamo Kyiv and Shaktar Donetsk.
Roughly, they are strong side who are more or less on the same kind of level as our toughest opponents in the group stage, Girondins de Bordeaux, who we beat 3-0 at home and lost to 2-0 at their place. (more…)
Just what we need right now!Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle. Date: Sat 15th December, 2012. Kick off: 12.45pm. Referee: Andre Marriner (W.Mids). UK TV: Sky Sports 2.
Newcastle United’s Christmas of horror begins with a visit from last season’s Premier League champions, and the only club whose name sounds like a Gay night at Rockshots, Man City.
As you may have noticed, our run of games over the Christmas period could be a nasty business. Following this one, we have what should be a bit if respite with another home game against troubled Queens Park Rangers, though it wouldn’t surprise me if their fightback under new manager, ‘Arry Redknapp, started against us. Then it’s the other Manchester away followed with a trip down to my neck of the woods, North London, to face Arsenal. Finally, for the first game of the new year, we have the not to be sniffed at Everton. The word is that Derek Llambias has a collection of out of work managers including Big Ron and Jim “Bald Eagle” Smith on speed dial in case it all goes “tits up” for our current Silver Supremo over the holiday period. Llambias might also go down the ex NUFC legend road tried before with Keegan and Shearer as Malcolm ‘Supermac’ MacDonald is no longer otherwise engaged since the “Legends” show was axed.
Shamone! Eeeh heh!Venue: Craven Cottage, London. Date: 10th December 2012. Kick off: 8:00pm. Referee: Lee Mason. UK TV: None.
After an much needed win and a much needed change in tactics in our last Premiership game against Wigan, we now find ourselves facing Fulham away, a team who despite a recent lack of form can be very tricky customers on their own turf.
History and recent form.
Fulham’s season has been a bit like our own, hence we find ourselves only separated by goal difference in the Premiership. It couldn’t have started better for Martin Jol with a 5-0 victory over his ex assistant Chris Hughton’s new Norwich side. Fast forwarding to today though, Fulham fans have had to endure seven Premiership games without a win now, the last one coming on 20th October against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, a 3-0 victory over 10 man Wigan helped to lift Newcastle United’s spirits last week, though that was the first victory in six Premiership games for the Magpies. (more…)
Stoke City - Big lads and long balls.Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke. Date: 28 November 2012. Kick off: 7:45pm. Referee: Howard Webb. UK TV: None.
This evening’s game will see Newcastle United seek to avoid their fourth defeat in a row against the Premiership’s tallest side, Stoke City, who are unbeaten in their last 13 games at the Britannia Stadium.
None of their recent games could be described as emphatic victories, with their biggest being a 2-0 defeat of Swansea at the end of last month. However, Alan Pardew needs a win more than at any time since he took over as manager in December 2010, and getting one against Stoke in their own back yard could prove to be a difficult propositon. The Magpies current injury situation hardly helps either, with no less than eight players on the treatment table. You can see all the details of the carnage amongst the mangled Magpies on the team news and squad section below.
So, moving on, lets take a more in depth look at recent form, as well as our previous results against the Potters at their home, the Brittania Stadium.
