Another masked crusader?Early Monday morning news coming through on the last day of the transfer window, that Newcastle are close to signing Coventry City’s Leon Best. Sky Sports are reporting that the Republic of Ireland striker may be on his way to Tyneside with Chris Coleman unlikely to sign a new deal in the summer when his contract runs out.
The smogs were after Best early doors in the transfer window but SSN are suggesting that he will join us on a three-and-a-half year contract, should he pass his medical today. Having failed with the capture of Jermaine Beckford from Leeds and Victor Moses from Crystal Palace, Hughton looks to have turned his attentions to the next best thing available. Marlon Harewood would have been the obvious choice but for his untimely injury.
Twenty three year old Leon Best has had a fairly unspectacular career so far, starting off at Southamption but spending most of his time on loan, at QPR, Sheff Wed, Bournemouth and Yeovil respectively, before moving on to Coventry City in 2007. Almost three years later, he has 22 goals to his name in 102 appearances, while having represented his country four times. (more…)
Going, going...gone.It would seem Wigan’s Spanish gaffer, Roberto Martinez, could be expecting some added flair to his side, with news that Newcastle target, the talented and highly-rated winger-cum-striker Victor Moses from Crystal Palace, has signed for The Latics.
According to Sky Sports News, the player’s agent Tony Finnegan, has confirmed to them that the player has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Wigan, after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
Wigan were rumoured to be interested at the beginning of the week and were part of a handful of Premiership clubs with an apparent interest him. We’re alleged to have made a £1.5m bid, alongside Nottingham Forest and West Brom, all of which were turned down and it seems like Wigan were prepared to pay a fee of £2.5million to seal the deal.
The writing was on the wall really, after Palace boss Neil Warnock insisted he’d be going to a Premiership club, because of all the things he is, Warnock’s generally not a bullsh*tter. The move was expected to go through quickly, with the emphasis on the administrators trying to ease Palace’s financial burdens and it’s likely that more assets will leave before the end of the window. (more…)
Plenty to ponder?The Sky Sports team talked it up and went as far to say that ‘Leicester 0 Newcastle 0’ was the best goalless draw they’d seen for a long time. I think in their quieter moments, off camera, they might ask for their money back, and so might the fans. Because it was a bloody awful game of football from where I was sitting, and perish the thought that I almost travelled to watch that garbage.
It will be a long journey back home for those loyal Mags who had to sit through another unstimulating performance from our team. Even with the well worn cliche of ten men often being harder to play against, tonight was a perfect opportunity to get ourselves back on track and put some daylight between us and the chasers. Unfortunately we fell miles short of looking anything like taking the 3 points at any stage in the game, and if any team looked more likely to create something, it was Leicester.
We just look completely stale and while I’ve argued for months now that we’ve rarely looked like a good football team, we also now seem to have lost some of the hunger that was earning us points regardless of the style we played. (more…)
Mags poised to outfox The Foxes?Following a frenetic few days in the transfer window where we’ve seen more new players than you can shake a corner flag at, we get now get chance to see the buggers play. New loan signings Fitz Hall from QPR and Patrick Van Aanholt on loan from Chelsea, are in contention for a place in the first eigheen. Though the young Dutch left back has a good chance of starting, as Tamas Kadar is more comfortable in the middle.
Hall is likely to make the bench with Ryan Taylor expected to return to his more favoured right back berth. Expect Mike Willliamson to start again after a solid debut, following his protracted move from Portsmouth. Recent signing Wayne Routledge could be on the bench again, though we’re crying out for his pace.
Like yours truly, not all Toon fans are lucky enough to be there, although .org’s toonsy will be in attendance. More chance though for Sky viewers and bloggers to see the new boys, with the game being beamed out live on Sky Sports 1, kick off at 5.20pm. If anyone can find radio, video 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…)
Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side!Where will it all end? Newcastle United are making doubtful fans well and truly eat their words as yet another recruit signs on the dotted line. Chelsea’s young Dutch full back Patrick van Aanholt, is the newest loanee joining us initially on a one-month loan deal.
It would seem like this signals that Enrique could be knackered for at least a few weeks, after suffering what we hope is only a strain to his hamstring and nothing worse. van Aanholt was part of the Coventry side when we beat them at the Ricoh Arena in December and has spent the season on loan there so far.
According to reports, he’s been a regular for the Sky Blues and is also an international team-mate of Tim Krul, having played in the same Dutch U21 side. The highly-rated full back could well make his debut in our televised game with Leicester City tomorrow.
