Nearing first-team fitness?Davide Santon looks to be fairly fit after playing the full 90 minutes of a reserve game against Swansea and does Jonas’s interview indicate that Colo is angling for a longer contract?
Davide Santon completed the full 90 minutes of our reserve game against Swansea last night, which we won 5-3. Santon only had his knee drained earlier this week and it looks like he’s already reaching a level of fitness that could soon put him in line for a first-team start.
Nile Ranger – who, like Santon, had part of his body drained at some point in the past, although in Ranger’s case the part drained seems to be somewhat north of the neck – also played the full 90 minutes and scored from the penalty spot (the other goals were scored by Michael Richardson, Shane Ferguson, Dan Gosling and Greg McDermot). I’m not sure how much Nile Ranger figures in Alan Pardew’s plans after his recent spate of alleged misdemeanours but I suppose he’s another attacking option, albeit one that’s a fair way down the list. (more…)
Loves playing for NewcastleJonas signs a new contract with Newcastle United, much to Alan Pardew’s relief.
It seems that Jonas Gutierrez has managed to see eye to eye with the club in a way that Barton and Nolan couldn’t because the club has signed him up for another four years.
He’s previously expressed an interest in playing in Italy, but it seems his desire to stay at Newcastle overrides that. Jonas said:
“I’ve said many times that I love playing for Newcastle. I love the city, the fans and the team. So I had no hesitation in signing a new contract. It has been a good start to the season and this is a great place to be.
“I am proud that the manager and the board see me as part of the long-term future of Newcastle. I have always given my best here and I will always do that.” (more…)
It was fantastic, says DembaDemba Ba talks about his hat-trick for Newcastle United and how a happy squad is one of the keys to good performances on the pitch.
Shortly after yesterday’s 3-1 win over Blackburn the BBC interviewed Demba Ba and this is what he had to say:
Interviewer: Demba, your first goals for Newcastle and your first Premier League hat-trick – how does that feel?
Demba: It was fantastic, scoring a hat-trick here in these conditions and on this stage. It was fantastic.
Interviewer: Your team mates all signed the ball for you as well.
Demba: Yes, I’m very happy for that. The ball’s going to be home and the whole family is going to look at it and they’re going to be happy because they all came down from Paris to watch the game today, so I think they’ll be happy tonight.
Interviewer: It seem a happy team at Newcastle and all the players seem to get on. How important has that been with the good start that Newcastle have made this season? (more…)
Instead of Tiote?Is there a case for giving Dan Gosling a run in the Newcastle United midfield instead of Cheick Tiote who, this writer argues, isn’t having the best run of form?
In a recent interview, Cheick Toite has been saying he’s been enjoying his new partnership with Yohan Cabaye in the centre of midfield. Tiote said:
“Last week I think we played very well together. It is good and it is working well.
“Last season was different with Kevin Nolan, it was a different style of play. Kevin went forward more and scored goals.
“Yohan is a more technical player and uses a different style. They are both good players.
“But Yohan likes to play with the ball more – he brings the best out of me. If you are a winning team the most important area is the midfield.”
Now I will admit that I didn’t see the Villa game last weekend as I was otherwise engaged, but I have seen every other match this season and I thought that the Tiote-Cabaye partnership was something that needed work. (more…)
Hopeful of a startNewcastle United midfielder Danny Guthrie hopes for a start on Monday while Joey Barton has nothing but good things to say about Toon fans.
Danny Guthrie apparently had a good run in the reserves’ 4-3 defeat to the mackems this week and hopes he might be in Alan Pardew’s plans for Monday.
Guthrie said: “The main thing was to come through with no injuries or recurrences.
“It’s been about two months now and I really want to start kicking on.
“It’s been really tough just watching and doing my own mini pre-season next to the lads training.
“Hopefully I can now get involved on Monday.”
Personally, I think he’ll be lucky to make the bench on Monday but good luck to him anyway.
Meanwhile Joey Barton has nothing but praise for Newcastle fans and said:(more…)
