Barton: Public enemy #1?Joey Barton, Newcastle United’s very own Enfant Terrible, was today announced to be literally top of the league. How come? you may ask. Isn’t he still injured?
Unfortunately the league in question has nothing to do with recent form, goals scored or assists made. Somewhat predictably it holds no honour either.
talkSPORT magazine decided to ask it’s readers, ‘Who is the player fans most love to hate’. With plenty of other contenders who have experienced the contempt and vitriol of fans up and down the country, talkSPORT readers believe that Merseyside’s finest, our very own scouse firebrand, should romp home the outright winner. Yes, the firey, unpredictable, off his head, midfield maestro; or thuggish, agressive lout; take your pick dependent on how you view him, Joseph Barton has beaten a string of other players to the not so illustrious title.
According to the survey published in today’s talkSPORT Magazine, Barton tops the poll, with Gary Neville second and Blackburn’s El-Hadji Diouf in third spot.
The Players Fans Most Love to Hate in full.(more…)
Hughton v Sousa: A defensive chess game at SJP?With 1983 the last time these two teams met in the league, it will be a rare encounter when the Toon and Swansea City meet at St James’s Park. With two naturally defensive minded managers pitting their wits against each other, we can no doubt expect a tight match from the two teams with the best defensive records in the league. In addition neither can be described as prolific in front of goal so little hope of a Keeganesque performance from either side.
The Swans are officially the in form team in the Championship winning 14 from the last 18 points and chasing their fourth successive victory.They’ve also chalked up an unequalled 10 clean sheets this season, half of which have been in goalless draws, so you have been warned. This defensive bias is clearly heavily influenced by Paulo Sousa the ex Portugal defensive midfield legend and good friend of Sir Bobby Robson. Sousa, who played for Sir Bobby at Sporting Lisbon and remained in regular contact with him until Sir Bobby’s death in July, was apppointed manager in the summer following the departure of Robert Martinez. (more…)
Preston North End: A proud history.Well the two week international break will eventually draw to a close for us Monday evening when Newcastle United will continue their quest for league domination, hoping for a win during their visit to Deepdale, home of Preston North End.
Preston started off the season well, but after having lost some of their early sharpness they will be looking to achieve their first home win since September. With their players returning from a fitness break in La Manga, let’s hope they don’t feel too refreshed when meeting us. 1980 is the last time the Lilywhites beat Newcastle at Deepdale although we have gone face to face there 34 times over the years with the Toon only notching up 12 wins in total.
Ex Toon coach and now North End manager, Alan Irvine, will have his latest recruit, Michael Tonge, available for selection. The 26-year old midfielder, on loan from Stoke, has not seen any action with the Potters in the Premier League this season, with just three Carling Cup appearances this season. (more…)
Modest Dave.Well after Worky posting that wonderful photo of one of my all time favourite players, I felt we couldn’t leave it at that. So, being a little indulgent, I wanted to share with you my reminiscences of a great Newcastle United footballer (and gorgeous guy), one of the best exports to make it out of France: David Ginola.
David joined Newcastle in 1995 in a £2.5 million move from Paris St Germain. He had been voted the French Player of the Year, and the French Players, Player of the year in 1994 (probably before they were booted out of the World Cup). By all accounts, he must have been happy to arrive in old Angleterre after being made a scapegoat for the French team missing out on a place in that year’s World Cup Finals. With France carefully playing out a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria, knowing they only needed a point to take them to the finals, they brought on Daveed as a late substitute, and yes, you guessed it, he tried an overly flamboyant pass to Cantona, which was intercepted, Bulgaria scored, and Les Bleus were going no where. National outrage followed and David decided in the circumstances he would scarper overseas. (more…)
Sheffield Utd's mascot, 'Captain Blade'.It appears that the current mutinous attitude of the Toon faithful is spreading around the country as fast as the H1N1 virus with the latest rumblings of discontent being voiced at Bramhall Lane, where more than 100 supporters stayed behind after Sheffield United’s last home match, to demonstrate at their recent poor form. With two draws and four defeats in their last six matches, they decided nothing less than the head of manager Kevin Blackwell delivered on a Sheffield steel platter would be acceptable.
His excuse of having had lots of players unavailable for selection due to injury is cutting no ice, even though United had 10 first team players missing for a recent match with Scunthorpe. Probably, the same fans payed homage to him at the end of last season when he led United to the play offs, after narrowly missing out on an automatic promotion spot. Fickle lot us footie fans.
So, the Blades go into this game on the back of a 4-3 home defeat by Cardiff City, having leaked no fewer than 10 goals in their last three games. (more…)
