Eye of the tiger?In an end-to-end encounter, it was Newcastle United’s very own light heavyweight, Andy Carroll, who weighed in with a devastating knockout to help United take all three points at the Keepmoat Stadium. After the much publicised training ground bust-up, it seemed unlikely that Carroll would play any part in the game, but Hughton was vindicated in his decision to include the striker by Carroll’s goal, which was the difference between the two sides.
Even though he included Carroll in his starting eleven, Hughton was forced into several other changes. Jose Enrique had a niggle from his previous hamstring injury and Ryan Taylor came in at right back, with Danny Simpson switching to left back. Tamas Kadar came in for Fitz Hall, who limped out of the Bristol City game and Hughton also opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation with Kevin Nolan playing off Andy Carroll, Leon Best making way for Nicky Butt, who partnered Guthrie in the middle of the park. (more…)
Toon beware of sucker punch?And deep breath…, despite the furore surrounding an alleged attack by Andy Carroll on team-mate Steven Taylor, Newcastle United do still actually have a game tonight down at Doncaster Rovers. We’ll be making our league debut at the Keepmoat Stadium, in front of what is expected to be a season’s best attendance.
All the talk at the moment is around the allegations of a training ground bust-up between Taylor and Carroll, with the latter reportedly just out of hospital and suffering from a broken jaw. However, despite apparently having treatment to an injured hand and his future at the club put into question by press and supporters, Andy Carroll has joined the squad in Yorkshire, but it remains to be seen whether he will be involved in tonight’s game. (more…)
Headlines for the wrong reasons, again?Rumours reached the internet early this evening of a bust-up between Newcastle team-mates Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor. The altercation is thought to have happened at United’s training ground. It’s alleged that Andy Carroll has been treated for a hand injury at the RVI hospital. The injury is apparently due to a punch thrown at team-mate Steven Taylor who, as the rumours go, suffered a broken jaw.
It didn’t take long for news to spread and both the Mail and Times are now running with the story. Culkin is often a lot closer to the issues at the club and suggests a source close to Taylor is confirming that his jaw is thought to be broken.
It’s thought the club are refusing to comment but Caulkin understands a meeting, called by the club’s hierarchy, was held at the training ground, in which players and staff were warned not to discuss the episode publicly while an internal investigation was conducted. Without any confirmation, it’s all based on potentially vicious rumours and piecing information together. After all, Taylor is not thought to be at the stage where he’s involved in anything physical and if both injuries are confirmed then it doesn’t take a mathematical genius to come to a conclusion. (more…)
Unassumingly efficient?If anybody looks back and wonders when the tide of discontent finally turned, then last night’s game might well have been it. When the third Newcastle goal went in, there was a hearty and sincere rendition of ‘Walking in a Hughton Wonderland’ ringing around Level 7. For those who aren’t aware of the significance of that, it implies a form of acceptance from the most vocal part of the ground and arguably the most vociferous. Not perhaps, acceptance of those on the board but a firm nod of appreciation at the man who probably deserves it above anybody else.
The singing was spontaneous not contrived. It was a natural response to a moment when we ultimately put yet another win beyond any doubt. There was a relief in that chant, from fans who you sensed were previously ready, willing and able to let the manager know they had his back but unwilling to break ranks from those who lumped him in as part of the Ashley crew. It almost happened against Preston and there was a spattering of pro-Hughton singing but it was half-hearted and almost through gritted teeth. (more…)
Nice nosejob Andy...Will we seek to borrow back the services of Andy O’Brien from Bolton Wanderers? Chris Hughton has been speaking to the press and expressed his concern over the state of the current Newcastle injury list. Mike Williamson was the most recent casualty leading up to the smogs game at the weekend and when Coloccini limped off halfway through that game, Hughton had to contemplate the foreseeable future without a potential starting back four in Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique, Williamson and Colo.
The news is hopefully good on Enrique and he was reportedly close to a start on Saturday but having limped out of the Barnsley game having returned a little too soon and reporting a tightness in his hamstring, Hughton will be reluctant to put the Spaniard back in unless he’s absolutely certain of his fitness, though he appears confident he’s ready.
There’s no return date scheduled for Steven Taylor following his knee problem, and while the extent of Colo’s ‘dead leg’ is still unclear, Williamson is definitely out for at least a month with a broken hand. So with Enrique, Fitz Hall, Tamas Kadar, Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor the only senior players left confirmed as fit to fill the back four positions, it was almost inevitable that Hughton might look to bring in an emergency loan as extra cover. (more…)
