New left-back needed at the ToonNewcastle United midfielder Joey Barton fires off some parting shots as he heads for the exit along with left-back Jose Enrique. The club must now look at how these players will be replaced (if indeed they will at all).
Joey Barton was given a two-week fine for his renegade Twittering yesterday, which probably comes as no surprise to anyone. It certainly didn’t surprise Barton himself who said:
“Ha ha the inevitable, 2 weeks wages fine has just arrived. Needless to say it shall be appealed forthwith.”
Barton also accused the club of releasing ‘false reports’ about the situation to the press, saying:
“Everyone here knows I speak the truth.
“I also have too much respect for my teammates and the fans to get in a tit for tat war with them. I have too much self-worth and dignity.”
He was also apparently quoting both Orwell and The Smiths on Twitter but this particular debacle is beginning to get on my nerves now so I won’t bother with the quotes. Barton was made to train alone yesterday and I reckon his inevitable exit will come quite soon. (more…)
Geordie runner, Mark Allison, at the Columbus game.At my request, site user ‘Geordiedug’, a Geordie currently living in the New York, has very kindly agreed to write about his time at the Columbus Crew game, and also with the lads at their hotel. Below are his impressions of both the game, and meeting the players. Many thanks Geordiedug! – workyticket.
As an expat geordie living in NYC for the last 9 months ‘soccer’ and supporting NUFC from the ‘States has taken a whole new meaning for me. After becoming a member of the Toon Army NYC fan club when I arrived, I have met a lot of different Newcastle fans from around the world and I’m very impressed with the knowledge and passion of the boys out here.
So with the Toon coming to the ‘States it was a perfect chance to get a summer fix of seeing Newcastle United live. Some made the trip for all 3 games; others like me could only do 1 so I met up with the gang in Columbus. (more…)
Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan in happier times.In his latest Tweets, Newcastle United has given his latest ‘insights’ on his dramatic transfer listing by the club, which I covered in a previous ‘blog. After announcing that he would be making an announcement about his future at the club at 4PM today, he was fashionably late, but eventually tweeted:
“Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata.”
“I am on a free but the honour of wearing those B+W stripes, surpasses that”
“One day the board might realise, what the shirt signifies. HONOUR and PRIDE. Thanks for your continued support……….. ”
Earlier today, the club announced on their official website that Barton had been transfer listed and that they had advised the player that he could leave the club on a free transfer. This has been motted for some time since the club had refused to offer Barton an extension on his latest contract, and his agent, Willie McKay announced that: (more…)
A little respect (just a little bit) Newcastle United have had a trying summer both on and off the pitch but how does that bode for the season ahead?
It’s a fine old kettle of fish isn’t it? This pre-season, that is. We’ve had some poor results on the pitch and the various missives from people like Nolan, Barton and Enrique have done little to enhance things off the pitch.
First up, the friendlies we’ve had. I’m not convinced as to how much of a yardstick for the coming season such games really are, but let’s hope they’re not a particularly accurate one.
One school of thought says friendlies are all about experimentation and that players don’t really get out of third gear for them, but another school of thought says that’s nonsense and that when players are on the pitch they’ll play with all they’ve got for a win.
When my mate – who currently lives in Hong Kong – visits, we traditionally have a ‘friendly’ 4-way competition that involves darts, pool, table football and – bizarrely – tennis. Whereas we might start off with a friendly game of darts, I can tell you that by the time we’re huffing and puffing in the fifth set of a tennis match it’s anything but friendly! (more…)
Haris Vuckic - potential star?Haris Vuckic: a name that top teams all across Europe were screaming out for. Trials with AC Milan, an interest from Manchester United and it was Newcastle United who landed his signature – a 16 year old Slovenian wonderkid.
Given his recent problems with injuries and fitness, a lot of people questioned whether or not “wonderkid” was a foregone conclusion and if he really is as good as he was touted to the fans. Haris, however, is taking all of that in his stride and during the three game tour of America, he is trying to change that.
A lot of 18 year olds at clubs tend to be fairly scrawny – their body waiting to fill out properly. Haris, on the other hand, has a frame that you would expect to find on a 25 year old midfielder – and he plays like one too.
Many of us may have seen the young lad play at reserve level and will know how he plays – direct, powerful, fast. (more…)
