More like Ginola perhaps?Alan Pardew wants to recruit flair players to Newcastle United to get ‘bums off seats’.
Alan Pardew has previously expressed his desire to bring more ‘flair players’ into the team and he seems to be continuing in that vein with his recent comments. Pardew said:
“Next year the most important thing is that we improve.
“The period that I’ve been here has been fantastic with the size of our squad we’ve had.
“We need some offensive players. One or two players that Newcastle have always had, gets bums off seats players, that little moment that lifts you.
“Players like Beardsley, Gascoigne and Waddle but they’re expensive and difficult to purchase.
“We’re competing with Champions League clubs to get those sorts of players.
“Hopefully we can get one or two of those in and keep the basis of the squad we’ve got here who have been brilliant.
“Securing the good players we’ve got here isn’t easy either, we need a squad big enough to attack one of the cups.
“This year though we didn’t have a squad big enough, in the modern game you must have 20-22 quality players.” (more…)
9th - 14th possibleWhat are the permutations for Newcastle United’s finishing position this season?
I am a bit of a geek and the thought of permutations makes me moist with anticipation. I therefore had to inflict said permutations upon NUFCBlog’s readers.
Realistically, we will finish somewhere between 9th and 14th in the Premier League this season.
The fact that a span of 5 places all rests on the final is perhaps an indication of how close things have been outside of the top 6 or so this season.
The matches that affect us this weekend are:
Newcastle v West Brom (obviously) Stoke v Wigan Bolton v Man City
And if we don’t win, the following matches could affect our finishing position too:
Aston Villa v Liverpool West Ham v Sunderland(more…)
20th JulyNewcastle United’s pre-season tour of The States includes matches in Kansas City, Orlando and Columbus.
Newcastle’s pre-season fixture list includes a tour of the United States, with three matches lined up.
On Wednesday 20th July 2011 the Toon take on Sporting Kansas City at the Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas. The stadium is brand new, allegedly costing $200m, and Sporting Kansas City actually managed to beat Manchester United last summer.
SKC are in the top US league, having been there since the league’s inception in 1996, and having won that league three times. Ex-Millwall, Palace and Southampton striker/midfielder Ryan Smith plays for them. (more…)
What colour stripes will he wear?The Zog may be heading the Mackemland, Lyon are after Enrique and Pardew still wants Bothroyd. Allegedly.
According to that paragon of virtue The Daily Mail, we might fail in out attempts to sign Charles N’Zogbia from Wigan.
Based on absolutely no evidence, quotes, ‘club sources’ or anything else that I can see, The Mail suggests that Bruce and the baboons from Wearside lead both Juventus and Newcastle in the race to sign the £10m-rated player.
Clearly no player would actually choose to go to Sunderland over Newcastle (or Juventus), so my sympathy goes to The Zog if Martinez and Whelan send him there kicking and screaming.
Is there a team anywhere that doesn’t want Jose Enrique? If the press is to be believed he seems like the most in-demand player in the Premiership and his list suitors has been extended with alleged interest from Olympique Lyon.
Lyon currently have Ahly Cissokho at left-back but rumour has it that he’s on his way to Inter Milan in the summer. (more…)
Shearer (right)Former Newcastle United number 9 Alan Shearer is shocked that Madam Tussauds waxwork looks just like him.
Madame Tussauds’ sculptors have spent four months creating a carbon copy of Alan Shearer for their waxworks in Blackpool. The man himself went to unveil the waxwork and was suitably impressed, saying:
“I think they’ve done such a great job its scary.
“It’s weird looking at yourself and thinking how incredibly alike it is.
“The figure is so realistic and accurate, the sculpting team have done an amazing job and I hope the public like it too.
“They take a million different measurements of everything and then do the cast which takes a few hours but we did it all in a day in London.(more…)
