Archive for category: Rob Elliot.

Meet the new mission statement; Same as the old mission statement?

October 17th, 2011 | 52 Comments |

Newcastle United mission statement.
Same master plan for world domination.
In the wake of Newcastle United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, Managing Director, Derek Llambias, has released another club statement.

The statement once sgsin highlights the clubs finances, summer transfers, youth development, managing / coaching staff, training facilities and supporters. Basically, I’m still struggling to dissect the differences between this statement, and the recent Q&A with the Evening Chronicle a few months back.

Either way, it’s good to have some communication from boardroom to fans, and below I have included the whole statement for your viewing pleasure. I hasten to add also that the statement, unsurprisingly, has a little bit of information about our new under-soil heating.

Enjoy…

Introduction

Now that the summer transfer window has closed and the new Premier League season is underway, the board of Newcastle United Football Club wish to present this review of our progress and set out our aims for the 2011/12 campaign and beyond. (more…)


Harping on about Krul

October 7th, 2011 | 9 Comments |

Steve Harper happy to wait his turn.
Happy to wait his turn
Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper says he’s content to keep the bench warm for now and has nothing but praise for Tim Krul.

My esteemed colleague recently wrote an article about Steve Harper asking whether he is content playing second fiddle to Tim Krul at Newcastle or whether he may consider moving elsewhere.

And yesterday Steve Harper gave his reply. When asked if he’s prepared to sit on the bench, Harper said:

Of course. The club made the decision to start with Tim at the start of the season and he has been outstanding. You can’t take that away from him.

Some games he has been quiet but against Fulham, the cup game against Scunny, and Wolves he was outstanding.

He has played a big part in the start to the season and I will continue to help him. I know he’s said that. But I will help him as much as I can.

He is a big player for the future and if I can help get the best out of him then it will only benefit the club.(more…)


No.9 shirt – 17 year wait of expectation?

September 5th, 2011 | 18 Comments |

Camden Council: Scuppers No.9 hunt, for now.
Camden Council: Scuppers No.9 hunt, for now.
Right, so now as the dust settles on another tansfer window, where we made some great early progress with players such as Cabaye, Marveaux, Obertan, Abeid and Ba, and a couple of late window acquisitions in the shape of Elliot and Santon, we’re all set for the next big game in the stop/start beginning to this Premier League campaign.

The squads have been handed in to the FA and ‘set in stone’ until the January window creaks open for another round of harem scarem frittering of perfectly good cash on journeymen three-time losers and other teams ‘deadwood’. Can’t wait! (well, maybe I can as I can’t stand the way we have to do business these days).

Anyhoo, Yes, we could’ve done with a new striker to amply fill the legendary No.9 jersey here at Toon towers. But, it is what it is, so we have to just pick ourselves (jaws included) up off the floor, dust ourselves down and go with what we have now.

It’s a real pity actually, ‘cos i’d ’employed’ Mrs. FLiCK to ‘find’ us a new NO.9. A job she totally came up trumps with.

Alas, we couldn’t quite make the deadline in the registration of the ‘Great Black ‘n’ White hope’ in time for the squad lists. I put this down to the inefficiency of Camden Council and their collective inability to speed up the registry service down here in London Town. We were told that we had to form an orderly queue outside the Camden Town Hall and it could take as long as 6 weeks. I said:

“6 weeks? But the Toon need this lad now!” (more…)


Rob Elliot – Probing Newcastle United’s forgotten signing.

September 5th, 2011 | 10 Comments |

Rob Elliot at St James' Park.
Elliot: Tough fight for a place.
When two new players were officially signed by Newcastle United on August 30th, most of the attention was pointed in the direction of a certain ex Internazionale defender called Davide Santon, who has been compared in the past to no lesser figure than Paulo Maldini by legendary manager, Arrigo Sacchi.

This ‘blog certainly wasn’t the least guilty in that regard, however, I aim to put that right now with a feature focusing on the other signing of that day, ex Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot.

Elliot joined another ex member of the Charlton staff, goalkeeping coach, Andy Woodman, in what is becoming something of a Charlton mafia at St James’, with Alan Pardew previously working with Elliot and Woodman as manager of the South London ‘Addicks”. Until his move, the 25 year old Elliot had been on Charlton’s books since joining them as a 17 year old youth player from non league Erith Town. However, on becoming a professional player in 2004, he spent three years out on loan at Bishop’s Stortford, Notts County and Accrington Stanley respectively. (more…)


Bargain hunting for top strikers won’t work Derek

September 3rd, 2011 | 27 Comments |

Llambias: Understands fan's frustrations?
Llambias: Understands fan's frustrations?
Most of you will be aware by now that yesterday, Newcastle United’s Managing Director, Derek Llambias, issued a statement on the club’s performance in the latest transfer window. It read:

“Now that the transfer window has closed, we have had some time to reflect on the business we have conducted over the summer.

“Our aim was to secure young players who represented value for money and could add real strength to the squad. The majority of our transfer dealings were completed in the early part of the window and we feel we have signed some players of exceptional quality. Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux, Mehdi Abeid, Demba Ba and Gabriel Obertan were all brought in early and we have seen these players settle quickly into the squad and perform well on the pitch.

“Earlier this week we were delighted to sign Davide Santon from Inter Milan to fill our left-back position after the departure of Jose Enrique. Davide is an excellent young prospect and we’re sure he’ll be another superb addition to the squad. We also welcomed young goalkeeper Rob Elliot from Charlton Athletic who will help us retain healthy competition for that position after loaning out Fraser Forster to Celtic. (more…)