Ben Arfa: Not a winger, but is he a singer?Speaking in a rare interview, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, has declared that French-Tunisian wonder winger, Hatem Ben Arfa will have to show more “flashes of brilliance in training” before he’ll give him a first team start.
In a somewhat surprising change of tack from his recent gushing about the player’s abilties, Pardew said of his training sessions:
“He likes the group and he trusts us. Now it is a matter of when he is ready. He shows flashes of brilliance in training, but I want him to do it more often in training before I bring him in.
Although Ben Arfa has spent much of his career as a mostly left sided winger, impressing many of the great and the good in football in that role, Pardew is not impressed by the player on the flank, saying that he could only see him in a central role, continuing:
“My view is that he can’t play out wide. He has not got the relish for it and his best football comes through the middle.(more…)
Ashley: May be fat, but not a “Cockney”Has Mike Ashley reduced Newcastle United’s debt?
Hmmm.
Well, it has been several months since Newcastle United published their last set of audited accounts at Companies House (March 2011), and that was for 2009/10. However, at that time it did appear as if the debt had actually risen significantly, though it is hard to deny that the the club are in a somewhat less perilous position finacially since Mike Ashley took over the club from the gruesome twosome, Freddy Shepherd and Douglas Hall.
In June 2007 when Ashley finally gained full control of the club, it looked as if the club was £71 million in debt, however, after Ashley’s takeover, it became apparent that the mortgage on the ground had to be paid off, and the level of debt was actually £124 million. More details are available from the site NUFC Finances site.
In the last published set of accounts, published in March 2011 (for 2009/10), they revealed that the club’s net debt at that time stood at around £150 million, most of this figure being owed to a certain Mr.MJW.Ashley of Totteridge, Hertfordshire. It also revealed that despite a slightly misleading statement by Newcastle United in May 2010 which read: (more…)
Still an option?How many players do you think Newcastle United will recruit before the transfer window closes?
There seems to be a fair bit of ‘NUFC depression’ around this week, mainly due to the lack of transfer activity I suppose.
Having said that, it seems that we’re still pursuing Modibo Maiga despite Sochaux’s Chairman apparently rejecting out of hand any transfer for the player. Some reports are suggesting that we will submit a new £9.5m bid in order to try and find some cracks in Sochaux’s stance.
Furthermore, according to Alan Pardew, the ‘plan’ triggered by Enrique’s departure has sprung into action and a new left-back is being pursued with vigour. I’m not sure whether that’s Pieters or Cissokho but we have been told to expect that it will be a tough task to recruit a left-back due to other clubs “knowing we need one”.
So far during this transfer window we’ve brought in Cabaye, Marveaux, Obertan and Ba into the senior squad. And possibly Abeid, although I’m not sure whether he classes as a full first-team player yet.
There are now 12 days left in the transfer window and I wanted to gauge the optimism of Toon fans about those remaining 12 days with a poll. (more…)
Joey Barton - GoodbyeIn one of the most anticipated Tweets in human history, Newcastle United dissident, Joey Barton, has been on his Twitta page again. He once promised on there that he would “I will tell all when the time is right.” Earlier today on his Twitter page, he made a series of Tweets, saying first, somewhat mysteriously:
“I’ve seen this happen, in other people’s lives and now its happening in mine………..”The Smiths…….
Then the mundane:
“Training done for the day, off to buy some books and have a coffee.”
Later he then tweeted:
“I wont be commenting on situation at Newcastle again, as I feel it helps nobody and serves no purpose. Hope u all understand.”
Hmmm thinking.As lethal in front of goal as an African lion is to hunting down it’s prey, Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi has recently been quoted on next seasons expectations at St James’ Park.
I’m not entirely sure who was conducting the interview, but I came across it via the ‘BBC sport’ website. Our number 23 had this to say:
“We know it’s always more difficult the second season after you’ve been promoted.
“I think first and foremost we have to stay in the league.”
I think that is a fair enough point, I’m sure all of us would prefer Newcastle staying in the Premier League come the end of next season. The ‘second season syndrome’ is a fear in which I am relatively afraid of, Birmingham being the most recent examples of a strong first season, followed by a not so brilliant second season (although they actually won something).
Shola also commented:
“I think it’s good to build a base before you push on and hopefully we can do that with a good finish mid-table next season.”(more…)
