Vuckic: Has to play a part on Sunday.Sunday will see Newcastle United signing off from the Championship as we travel down to London to play QPR in what is essentially a meaningless game for both sides.
So perhaps this could be the time to see the likes of Slovenian wonderkid, Haris Vuckic, tasting first team action? There will be no better time to blood one or two of the younger players in a competitive environment, and we already know that Tim Krul will be one player who will get his chance on Sunday. There has been much clamour to see more of our most aspiring youth players in the form of Vuckic himself, Tim Krul and Tamas Kadar, and many believe that giving these youngsters the competitive games they need to develop will secure their future at Newcastle United. Indeed there have already been links of a move away from Tyneside for all three players, with Vuckic being the latest target of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the last few days. (more…)
St James' will be rocking against Ipswich.The final home game of the season looks set to be the stage for the biggest party seen on Tyneside for many years as Newcastle United take on Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town outfit. Of course, there isn’t just the match to be considered tomorrow as we also get the chance to see our players lift the Championship trophy on home turf in front of what will be a fifty-thousand plus crowd.
Should we remain unbeaten tomorrow, then we will have set another three records, one for becoming the first team to gain promotion to the Premier League with an unbeaten home record, another one will see us grabbing the record of the biggest Championship attendance in history, a record we already hold but look set to improve upon, and the final one will see us become the first Championship team to have 1 million fans pass through our turnstiles in a season. Add that to the records we have already set this season, such as being the team to secure promotion in the least amount of games, and the list looks really quite impressive, and indicative of the fact that maybe, just maybe, we do belong in the Premier League, even if the result’s of last season suggested otherwise. (more…)
Vučkić: He shoots, he scores!Newcastle United’s most precocious young talent, Haris Vučkić, has been back in the spotlight after several month on the sidelines with injuries to both his knee and his ankle. Firstly, he has reputedly been attracting interest from no lesser team than Manchester United, and secondly he scored the first goals since his layoff, two in the reserves fixture with Huddersfield; but more on that story later.
Speaking on the reported interest from the Red Devils, Vučkić commented to the Slovenian ‘Ekipa’:
“I heard the news about United wanting me, but if I’m honest, then I must confess I haven’t had any contact with them. I only know what was written in the press.”(more…)
Vuckic in action again.Newcastle United’s versatile young attacking player, Haris Vučkić, has finally returned after over five months on the sidelines thanks to a fairly serious double knee and ankle injury.
Haris made his return as a late substitute in an under 18s game where the bairns were defeated 4-1 by the youngsters of Nottingham Forest at a windswept Benton training ground. Haris will also be eligible for next week’s semi final of the FA Youth Cup with Aston Villa next week.
While he has only made two appearences for the first team so far, his talent is prodigious. A playmaking midfield player and second striker in the mould of one of the greatest of all United players, Peter Beardsley, Vučkić is not a player with great pace, however his balance and ease on the ball, along with his vision, passing and shooting have made many at the club see him as the brightest of the Academy talents, and a very important part of Newcastle United’s future. (more…)
Will Chris Hughton roll the dice in the middle of the park?I’m sure I will be met with many in agreement when I say that right now, our main problem is in the middle of the park. It’s a position that blights us in my opinion, filled with high earners and also very over-subscribed. As it stands right now, we have Nicky Butt, Alan Smith, Kevin Nolan, Danny Guthrie, the imminent return of Joey Barton from a long standing injury, and likewise with young Haris Vuckic.
So, what’s the problem?
Realistically, you just have to look at those players and it becomes obvious. 6 players jostling for 2 positions in the starting XI, that’s what I mean about over-subscribed. On paper, you could argue that the players we have in the middle should be bossing this league. The fact is that they are not, be it through old age, lack of form, injury or being played out of position or any other reason for that matter, it’s no excuse for the tame midfield we seem to have at the minute. (more…)
