Maybe a Magpie?…provided that Leeds can sign a replacement for him. Considering the fractious relationship between Leeds boss Simon Grayson and his start turn upfront, Beckford’s departure seems all the more inevitable. With his contract up at the end of the season, the consensus is that he will leave for pastures new to prove himself at a higher level.
Already with a goalscoring record better than a goal every other game since his move from non-league football, Beckford has continued to score goals this term to help Leeds push for promotion back to the big time. Despite a slow start to his Leeds career, Beckford is hitting the sort of form that has a number of suitors watching. Reports very but there are some who think he can do the business in the Championship and even perhaps the Premiership.
Beckford doesn’t come without baggage though and as is often the case, appears to sometimes believe his own press a bit too much. That in itself has caused a rift between him and his gaffer, as has his reluctance to sign a new contract. (more…)
'Road to Wembley' slightly longer now...John Anderson probably summed it up nicely towards the end of his Radio Newcastle commentary, that both managers would have been happy with a draw before this game. But as the referee blew the final whistle with the score at 0-0, it will surely be Plymouth boss Paul Mariner who will be happier than his Newcastle counterpart Chris Hughton. Obviously this despite the inconvenience for their fans of another 800-mile-round-trip to St James’ for the replay, a week on Wednesday.
The FA Cup throws the form book out of the window, and even though Plymouth have improved in recent games, that suited them due to their lowly position. Newcastle, conversely at the summit of the Championship, made several changes to protect the squad from a demanding run-in ahead. And so if anything, with home advantage, you’d have been excused for putting Plymouth as favourites. However, Hughton still fielded a strong team, and but for some good goalkeeping and wayward finishing, we did enough to win this game. (more…)
Howay the New Year!This time ten years ago, we were staring into a brand new millenium and the late great Sir Bobby Robson was halfway through the first season of his popular reign as manager at Newcastle United. The slightly uninspiring capture of Diego Gavilan was the only January transfer that Robson made and the little Paraguayan never made the impact he would have hoped for at St James’. Sir Bobby, conversely, went on to create one of the most exciting sides of a Toon generation.
Despite falling short as Keegan had done back in the ’90s, with his wealth of experience, Robson played a brand of football that the supporters could once again get behind. And the football wasn’t just good to watch but effective as we flirted with European and domestic success. But of course, the end of his reign was somewhat soured by it’s nature as many fans welcomed the decision feeling he’d lost the dressing room, and he was unceremoniously dumped by Freddy Shepherd.
2000 actually saw Robson get rid of one of our most infamous and old-fashioned bad-boys, Duncan Ferguson, but the new millenium brought the advent of a new type of bad-boy. The ‘noughties’ became the decade of the ‘naughties’ as Robson built his side around ‘bling boys’, such as the likes of Keiron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas, Titus Bramble and Craig Bellamy. (more…)
Merry Krismas?We’ve been linked to him a couple of times over the last 18 months or so, but there’s renewed speculation that Chris Hughton could be interested in bringing Ranger’s striker Kris Boyd to Newcastle. And this time there would appear to be more substance to the story.
Ex-Toon player Darren Jackson, spoke to press last week to say that he though St James’ would be an ideal place for Boyd to make his next step:
“I’m sure Newcastle will be looking to bring in a couple of players in January just to give them that extra strength and depth ahead of the run-in.
“Boyd’s goals would certainly help them back to the Premiership and let’s face it, that’s where a club like Newcastle should be.
“And if he does go to Newcastle then he’s going to a very special place and club.
“I class Celtic and Rangers along with Manchester United and Liverpool in terms of stature and size.
“But in terms of expectation and supporters there’s no bigger club than Newcastle.”(more…)
Mr Reliable?Derek Llambias has made a timely statement to suggest that Chris Hughton will be backed in his bid to bolster Newcastle United’s bid for promotion at the first attempt. Llambias has also spoken about his belief that the fans are coming around to some sort of acceptance of Ashley, due to the stirling work of Hughton so far this season and insisted that Mike Ashley is committed to giving Hughton everything required to get the club promoted.
Having been impressed with the start we’ve made to this campaign, it would appear that they do not want to jeopardise the good work and insists that there are no plans to let any players leave in January.
He also apparently revealed (though he’s not quoted), that they are close to finalising permanent moves for at least two players ahead of the January transfer window, with Sheffield United centre-back Matthew Kilgallon on the verge of sealing a switch to the North East.
“We have been absolutely delighted with the job that Chris has done,”
“There is a fantastic spirit in the camp and he has managed to change the whole atmosphere surrounding the club. It seems like a different place to what it was a few months ago.
“To see a crowd of nearly 50,000 people inside St James’ Park last weekend was tremendous and shows what a fantastic football club this is.(more…)
