Archive for category: NUFC youth and reserves.

Newcastle United v Leicester City Hong Kong Soccer Sevens final video

May 27th, 2013 | 17 Comments |

Well it was all going so well, though sadly, it wasn’t to be in the end.

Leicester City ended ended Newcastle United’s 11 game winning run in this competition with a 2-0 victory, the same scoreline as Newcastle’s win over Leicester earlier in the competition. It is unsure whether Alan Pardew called them in Hong Kong to gave them a special tactical briefing and pep talk before the final kicked off, though it could be a possibilty after their surprising decline after some very convincing, free scoring performances in the earlier rounds.

Anyway, congratulations to the Foxes.

Coach, Willie Donachie, had this to say after the disappointment: (more…)


Your complete guide to Newcastle United in the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens!

May 24th, 2013 | 69 Comments |


Hong Kong Soccer Sevens promo video.

As you may know already, a team of Newcastle United’s younger players led by Academy coach Willie Donachie will be competing once again in the seven a side “Hong Kong Soccer Sevens” this weekend, which is being held in (you guessed it) Hong Kong.

They will be defending their title for the main trophy, having won last year’s final against a side of Aston Villa youngsters (a video of that final is below). Here’s hoping we can make it two in a row! (more…)


Pardew reveals lack of defensive signings was a cunning stunt

September 14th, 2012 | 61 Comments |

Alan Pardew as Corporal Jones in "Dad's Army."
DON'T PANIC! DON'T PANIC!
With many fans concerned at the lack of defensive cover with the Toon Army facing a war on four fronts this season (including an invasion of Europe), Alan Pardew has come out on the offensive once again.

He revealed that the club’s “failure” to bring in any new centre backs was actually intentional as it would have inhibited the development of the club’s red hot Academy prospects, 20 year-old Bradford bomber, James Tavernier, and 17 year old sand dancing sensation, Remi Streete.

The Silver Supremo said:

“You have to look at a football club as a whole and there has to be a route to the first team otherwise you’re not going to progress as a club. I’ve opened up the route, especially with the Europa League, and told them ‘Come and take your chance.’

“This year I think is a year for the younger players to break through. Now if they don’t break through I might take a different policy next year but it is a great opportunity to break through with all the games we’ve got. (more…)


How was Newcastle United’s transfer window for you? Let us know!

September 2nd, 2012 | 47 Comments |

Vurnon Anita showing his new Newcastle shirt.
Little Vurn: NUFC's "marquee" signing in this window.
As you no doubt know only too well, the Summer transfer window ended at 11pm on Friday evening. But are you happy, or not, overall, with the comings and goings at the club?

Reviewing the ingoings and outgoings at Newcastle United during this particular window (see table below), nine players have left the club and four have come in. I have included Ryan Donaldson and Phil Airey in the nine outgoings as they both enjoyed at least one or two outings for the first team in the past, though I have omitted several other Academy players who were released by the club in the infamous “night of the long knives” at the Benton Academy, when at least seven young prospects were axed in one go, plus the slightly older Kadar.

Though the figures are approximate, the overall spend for the club seems to be a figure of around +£2.64 million to +£3.14 million. Looking at the individuals involved will always be something of a subjective thing, but having a bash at some kind of assesment, I would say that the club has lost three squad members who had been very handy for the club when the inevitable injuries occured, or when more regular choices were fulfilling international commitments in major competitions such as the Africa Cup of Nations. We also lost the all but redundant Alan Smith (and his huge wages), the talented but constantly on loan Fraser Forster, the once regarded as highly promising defender, Tamas Kadar, who never quite failed to live up to earlier expectations, as well the two bairns mentioned above. (more…)


Where has all that membership money gone, Derek?

August 2nd, 2012 | 52 Comments |

Newcastle United Academy.
What went wrong?
“We do not want to put prices up. People might say we have put membership up on the season tickets. But that is going straight into the Academy. It was discounted for the first year but that is going into the Academy because we need to find the money from somewhere.”

Said Derek Llambias defending the introduction of compulsory membership to buy season and away tickets, and also it’s subsequent increase from £15 to £25 after only a year.

There was also much bragging about the huge sums being invested in the Academy, with Newcastle seeking to emulate the Barcelona “la Masia” model started by Johan Cruyff, which has acheived so much success for the Catalan club. As we predicted back in June, and now know for sure, when it came to attaining “Elite Player Performance Plan” Category One status, it turned out that they didn’t even manage to emulate the Wolves, Stoke City and Blunderland models, with even Championship neighbours, Middlesbrough looking likely to achieve what Newcastle United couldn’t. The other clubs who have now been informed they have been successful are Fulham, Southampton and West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa, Reading, Bolton Wanderers, Norwich, West Brom and Watford still waiting to be audited by the organisation carrying out the inspections, “Foot Pass England.” Troubled Blackburn Rovers and Crystal Palace are the other clubs who have been told they have failed in their repective attempts to obtiain the highest designation.

So what went wrong? (more…)