Back down to earth with a bump!Newcastle’s Andy Carroll demonstrated his no-nonsense approach and was a handful all night for his opponents, who suffered from the striker’s ability in the air. With flailing elbows and brute force, the opposition was left nursing their wounds as Carroll strolled off triumphantly.
With an early brace to his name and having picked up the MOTM award…ah hang on, I’m getting my evenings confused, this isn’t a match report is it…
News coming in that Andy Carroll has been charged with assault following the ‘incident’ in Blu Bambu back in December. The striker is accused of attacking a bloke and though the various rumours differ in their descriptions, it’s always remained likely that he’d be getting charged for something. Whether it was handbags after cocktails or something a bit more serious should become clear fairly soon. (more…)
On top of his game. A bit of argy-bargy was about all Cardiff City fans had to take away with them tonight, after they were badly let down by their team. Newcastle 5 Cardiff 1, reads like a thrashing and a thrashing it was.
Right from the outset, we looked the far superior team, in fact we stamped our authority so early, that yours truly missed the first goal and had to make do with the other four to savour. And after three goals in the first fifteen minutes, there was never any way back into this for the Bluebirds.
Chris Hughton made a whole host of changes, which ultimately provided us with more fluency and critically, more pace. Danny Simpson returned at right back with Ryan Taylor dropping to the bench. In came Fitz Hall making a full debut at the back, alongside Williamson. Coloccini was rested, after complaining of problems with a hamstring injury which has threatened since before Christmas. Nolan and Guthrie started in the middle of the park, with neither Smith or Butt anywhere in sight. Gutierrez returned on the left and Leon Best also made his debut, paired upfront with Andy Carroll. (more…)
Taffs in Toon!Newcastle face Cardiff City tonight with a chance to kickstart us after an indifferent spell in the New Year, though Cardiff are almost certain to prove difficult opponents. And there could be a chance for a number of changes, following a disappointing draw down at Leicester, which was seen as two points dropped rather than one gained.
Yours truly will be in attendance and off shortly to frequent a local establishment in search of sustenance before the match, so if anyone is around and wants to buy the beers, I’m your charity. No tv coverage this evening, so if anyone can find radio links etc to the game for people who don’t have it, I’m sure that would be appreciated.
As ever, this can be the place to come together during the match and p*ss and moan, as we usually do. (more…)
So who fancies living up to this then?A topic doing the rounds at the moment with regards our beloved club, is something that’s been mooted all season by Newcastle fans. One of the most revered privileges bestowed upon many a Tyneside legend, is to wear the No.9 shirt and to experience the adulation of the black and white masses.
Of course wearing it, is only part of the ‘legend’ process, the striker has to perform and hopefully do what No.9s do best and that’s score goals. We haven’t always had someone to fill the shirt, and in days before squad numbers, the like of Rob McDonald and Frank Pingel were blessed with the opportunity to say they wore the famous shirt. And as we pretty much all agreed in the our recent review article, we’re struggling at the moment for somone to do it justice.
It seems like Chris Hughton also agrees and the absence of the No.9 shirt at the moment is a conscious decision on his part. According to him: (more…)
Best regards Leon!Amid hopes of a last-ditch attempt at acquiring Jermaine Beckford from Leeds or a more proven goal-poacher, Newcastle have opted for the less likely choice of Coventry City’s Leon Best. The official site has confirmed what Sky Sports had been reporting this morning, and after passing a medical, Best takes the No.20 shirt after signing a three-and-a-half year deal for an ‘undisclosed fee’.
The Irish international will go into the squad for Friday and assuming there are no more departures from St James’, Hughton will be spoiled for choice in terms of numbers. Quite what Best offers us in comparison to the current target-man style range we currently have, is open to debate. And there have been as many grumbles as there have been open-minded optimism.
Certainly, he seems to have offered Ashley the more prudent financial option, while still suggesting that we are sticking with our ‘younger player with potential’ model. It remains to be seen if Best can repay him by performing and realising some potential at St James’. (more…)
