"We need to get to 42 points"Newcastle United’s Jonas Gutierrez says that he’s happy at the club and targets 42 points as the primary aim for this season.
I had a bad day yesterday with my articles, first thinking it was still January and then placing Tunisia in the Middle East.
It was pretty bad away from the blog too. We’ve been doing a bit of redecorating and purchased a set of ‘stairway ladders’, which are in four sections that pivot around three points and are – as the name suggests – supposed to allow you to reach awkward places in stairwells and such. Yeah right. It’s like trying to wrestle a giant steel octopus and the damn things pinch your fingers at every opportunity.
First of all they’re very heavy so a lot of huffing and puffing is necessary to move them around the stairs in the first place and then, when you get them to roughly where you want them, you have to manage these three pivot points to arrange them into a shape that lets you paint wherever you’re trying to reach. Unfortunately, whatever geometry they’re built to accommodate doesn’t appear to exist in this reality. They simply wouldn’t assume any sort of useful shape and they irritated me beyond belief. (more…)
Dynamic duo or terrible two?Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has always divided opinion in the past, but what do we think of him now?
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy had some advice inscribed on the front of it for galactic residents challenged by such things as hyperspace bypasses, Vogon poetry, Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts and The Triple-Breasted Whore of Eroticon Six. It simply said: ‘Don’t Panic’.
I’m wondering if the same advice should be appear on the front of The Supporter’s Guide To Newcastle United. Or maybe ‘Divvent Panic’ would be better.
The reason I say this is because, as ever, there seems to be a divide between fans as to whether Ashley is right for the club, whether Pardew is any good, whether selling Carroll was good or bad, whether selling Enrique would be good, etc. etc. etc.
So what I’d like to do is look at the situation without emotion or sentiment. (more…)
Wearing black & white soonStephen Ireland anticipates being able to contribute to Newcastle United’s midfield very soon, whilst Hatem Ben Arfa’s comeback is delayed due to compassionate leave.
Stephen Ireland has been injured since he got here 3 weeks ago but it looks as if he’s nearing fitness now.
Apparently his recovery is going well and Ireland talked about it thusly:
“We thought it would be a couple of weeks.
“But I went running outside today at a decent level and decent pace, and I reckon it could be by the end of next week hopefully.
“I’ve just got to do a few more sessions and then see how far I can push it. If it goes well then I could be back soon.
“I haven’t got any specific game in mind. I’ve just got to take a day at a time really, because one day it could feel amazing and then the next day really bad. It’s quite strange, but I have to see how I feel on a day to day basis.
“I just need to get back on the field now. I’m frustrated with the injury I’ve got at the moment.(more…)
Wants to play Champion's League footballNewcastle United left back Jose Enrique gives a strong indication that he could be looking to transfer elsewhere in the summer.
Gossip and speculation can sometimes whip people up into a storm without anything of substance to back it up. Reading between the lines can often be a dangerous game too as, whilst the facts might be objective, what an individual reads into them is always subjective.
However, sometimes statements come out from players that leave little room for doubt as to their intentions, even if they do still require a subjective interpretation.
One such statement is from Jose Enrique as follows:
“It is flattering that Liverpool are interested.
“I’ve also heard that Manchester United and Aston Villa have asked about me.
“They are both big teams and I’m not closing the door on anyone. I’m ambitious and want to play in the Champions League.
“I want to win things. I’m OK at Newcastle but I aspire to more.” (more…)
Get your wallet out MikeJoey Barton has been urging Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to break the ‘stop-start’ nature of the club.
Thanks to the work of Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew, Joey Barton appears to be in the form of his life at the moment. He’s not one to mince words though and he’s been sending a clear message to Mike Ashley as to what he thinks he should do. Joey said:
“You don’t take four points from Ewood and St Andrew’s if you don’t have that character.
“This squad wants to keep pushing on but we need a squad to compete on all fronts. It’s up to the men upstairs to make sure we amass one and get the bodies in to challenge for Europe.”
“You need to spend money. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. So hopefully they spend it and spend it wisely.”
I think, Joey, there are plenty people who would argue – fairly or otherwise – that the monkeys are already here, wearing suits and running the club. (more…)
