Archive for category: Thoughts and reflections.

De Jong rejects Magpies for Champions League Germans.

July 10th, 2012 | 38 Comments |

Luuk De Jong.
De Jong: Wants Gladbach and Champions League football.
Newcastle United striking target, Luuk de Jong, has discounted the idea of joining Europa League Newcastle United, telling German tabloid, “Bild” that he only wants a move to Champions League German side, Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Having written that, it was for German consumption in a German publication, though it certainly looks as if Newcastle’s plans for the striker are all but dead in the water now, especially with the club being now notoriously unwilling to meet the true valuation of players in terms of both fees and wage terms when the club is in the market for a player.

The Dutch hitman told Bild of his discussions with Gladbach’s coach, Lucien Favre, saying:

“I have spoken to Favre several times.”

“We talked about how he wanted me to play. I’m sure the way he wants to play fits perfectly with the fast pace that suits me. (more…)

Santon reveals on Roma rumours and Pardew’s right back conspiracy

July 7th, 2012 | 65 Comments |

Davide Santon.
Santon: Roma rebuffed and intrigue over right back slot.
Davide Santon has given an “exclusive” interview for Italian football site, “Calciomercato” (football market) which was published yesterday. In it, he lifts the lid on rumours linking him with Rome, as well as a making some telling remarks about Alan Pardew’s plans for the right back position amongst other things.

Firstly though, he spoke about his disappointment at missing out on a place in the Italian side for the recent European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine. After mentioning that Santon had returned to the command of Alan Pardew “to toil under the pale English sun” (very pale in the case of Tyneside), the interviewer, Marco Guidi, suggested that Santon would have gladly given up his holidays to join the Azzurri for the championships. Santon replied:

“It would have been great. But it wasn’t to be. Prandelli (Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli) has made his choices and I have limited myself to cheering for the Blues in front of the TV. They had a great tournament until the final. We must say that Spain is very strong and when we were down to 10 it was almost impossible to get a result.” (more…)

Danny Simpson Vs Mathieu Debuchy – Who’s better?

July 6th, 2012 | 55 Comments |

Mathieu Debuchy and Danny Simpson.
Debuchy and Simpson: Horses for courses.
With Newcastle United being strongly linked with Lille’s and France’s right back, Mathieu Debuchy, I thought it might be a good idea to make a comparison between the player and our existing first choice right back, Danny Simpson, who had a very good season overall with the Magpies, indeed, he was statistically the best right back in the Premiership of 2011-12 according to the “Premiership Index”.

I will be drawing on their relative statistics from last year, as well as my own experiences from what I have seen of Debuchy. Though it may seem somewhat unfair to compare the statistics of a player who played in France’s Ligue 1 to someone who played in the Premiership, nonetheless, on inspection it gives us a fair indication of the different discernable characteristics the two players, and what Debuchy might bring to the club on the right hand side of defence. (more…)

Pardew: Newcastle will be like Spain and Best’s a Blackburn player now

July 2nd, 2012 | 61 Comments |

Alan Pardew.
It's Pimms O'Clock for Pardew.
Well, Wimbledon born Alan Pardew loves a bit of tennis (or so he said), and often attends the Tennis championship his birthplace is famous for.

So, Radio 5’s Richard Bacon pulled him in for an interview during the station’s coverage of the latest Wimbledon tournament for a chat. In it he talked about tennis, the recent European football championships in Poland and the Ukraine, as well as some things which undoubtedly be of interest to Newcastle United fans about his tactical thinking for next season, as well as Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba, and also Leon Best’s move to Blackburn Rovers. Here, I’m dropping in at the point where Bacon “grilled” Pardew (sorry for that) on what he can take from the Spanish national side’s performances for his work with Newcastle United.

Take it away, Richard!

Richard Bacon: “As a manager, do you look at Spain and think ‘Do you know what, let’s nick that, whatever they’re doing, I’m going to borrow that’?” (more…)