Inexplicable joy!Mike Ashley will be a happy man after Newcastle managed to move on Geremi as early as the third day of January. High-earner Geremi has only made nine appearances for us this season and Turkish side, Ankaragücü have signed him on an 18-month deal, where he’ll join former Aston Villa and Man City forward Darius Vassell. Geremi played for another Turkish side, Gençlerbirliği in the late ’90s before he joined the Galaticos of Madrid.
Although there’s nothing on our official site, the Ankaragücü website announced earlier this (Sunday) evening that the signing is confirmed although it’s not yet clear whether they’ve paid anything for him. And Geremi will not be available for his new club, until after the African Nations Cup, in Angola this month.
Signed by Sam Allardyce in 2007 and even installed as captain, Geremi’s contract was due to run out in the summer and it will be a surprise if we have managed to persuade the Turkish side to part with any sort of substantial fee. Indeed the very fact that we have cleared down, in the region of £50-£60k-a-week wages will be a blessed relief to the board. And hopefully as a consequence that will kickstart activities, and money can be reinvested more effectively in this January transfer window. (more…)
Hoping for a bigger trophy?According to his column in the Mail on Sunday, Gary Lineker reckons Newcastle’s very own Steve Harper can be the next Steve Bull. Well not quite, but he does believe that Fabio Capello should cast an eye to the Championship doldrums, if he’s worried about his World Cup custodian as he faces a dearth in quality goalkeeprs.
While there have been other examples, Sir Bobby Robson notably selected Steve Bull to represent England in the 1990 World Cup despite him playing in the second flight at the time. And Lineker believes that Capello would do well to follow the example of not ignoring those outside the Premiership, provided they’re capable enough.
Lineker wrote:
“I wonder if Fabio Capello might take a leaf out of Bobby Robson’s book by casting his eye over a player who is excelling in the Championship while rivals are floundering in the Premier League.
“Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper has been one of the main reasons his side are heading back to the top flight.
“Finding goalkeepers is a world problem because of the way the game has changed, particularly in the movement of the ball.(more…)
Hawthorns next junction on 'Road to Wembley'Well it’s not really a bag anymore and we’re not even through to the 4th Round yet, but former Chelsea man Paul Elliott and comedian and Baggies fans, Frank Skinner between them managed to ‘bag’ Newcastle a difficult away tie should we overcome Plymouth in our 3rd Round replay.
Assuming we can beat Plymouth next week to make it through to the next round, we face a difficult trip to the Hawthorns just days after we’ll have played West Brom in our Championship crunch encounter at St James’. Frank Skinner, a big West Brom supporter pulled their ball our first to hand them home advantage, and despite both teams having more focus on promotion, there were easier ties to get.
Most Newcastle fans seem keen to drop out of this competition to allow us to concentrate on regaining Premiership status. However, I’m with Hughton on this one, and there’s nothing quite like a good cup run. I’m even fairly confident we could do quite well, and though we have to beat Plymouth first, I don’t see why we can’t go and win at the Hawthorns. And the last time my old man went to watch the Mags there in the cup, he always tells me it was like half the ground was full of Mags and it was a great day out as we marched on to the ’74 Cup Final. Mind you, the colours are quite similar… (more…)
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…)
