Toon take on Stevenage in the cupIt’s all the fun of the FA Cup today as Newcastle United visit Broadhall Way to take on League Two’s Stevenage.
Newcastle are 73 places above Stevenage who currently sit at 13th in League Two in what is their first season in the Football League.
This is the only Premier League v League Two tie of the round and I suspect neutrals will be hoping it results in a ‘Giant Killing’.
Truth is, it’s never as easy as the gulf in league positions would suggest to go to these places and dominate, so we should not be complacent.
We last played Stevenage in the FA Cup in 1998 when the then non-league team held us to a 1-1 draw to force a replay that we won 2-1 at home. Kenny Dalglish – our manager at the time – didn’t fancy that game at all and he complained about all manner of things from the size of the stadium to the quality of the balls. Kenny liked a good moan. (more…)
Leeds winger in Smith swap?Speculation is a popular January pastime in football and the latest transfer rumours have Newcastle United interested in Leeds winger Max Gradel with a possible move the other way for Alan Smith.
The rumour, courtesy of Sky Sports, does beg some questions though, the first of which being whether Leeds – currently 5th in the Championship – would actually sell someone who could be pivotal to their promotion push.
In fact, when Toon interest was first mentioned at the end of last year, Leeds boss Simon Grayson stated that Gradel is not for sale, but the rumour fails to go away and now Alan Smith has been added into the equation.
From what I can gather, Smith would only be loaned to Leeds for the rest of the season but that could act as a sweetener if Pardew is determined to secure the services of Gradel.
Gradel – a 23 year old from the Ivory Coast – has been in fine form this season, notching up 7 goals in 19 games and providing exemplary service to the strikers from the wing.
Gradel came out of the Leicester City youth academy and made a name for himself on loan to Bournmouth before being first loaned to and then signed up permanently by Leeds on a contract that runs until the summer of 2012. Gradel has admitted he’d welcome a move to the Premiership ‘at some stage’ but – wisely perhaps – has said nothing beyond that. (more…)
Carroll commits to The ToonAndy Carroll has insisted that he’s staying at Newcastle United despite the replacement of Chris Hughton with Alan Pardew as manager.
Carroll was in a buoyant mood yesterday, no doubt helped by the fact that the CPS have dropped the latest assault charge against him due to a lack of evidence.
In an interview with The Chronicle he appeared to confirm his commitment to the club.
“I’m just going to go out there and carry on doing what I have been doing. I’ve always worked towards being where I am now, and want to stay here – it’s as simple as that.”
Carroll expressed his appreciation for all that Chris Hughton had done for him – both on and off the pitch – and then turned his focus to the new manager.
“He’s gone now, and I just need to keep on working on what he’s taught me, and with the new manager, I’ve got to listen to him,” said Carroll.
He then went on to talk about Saturday’s game against Liverpool:
“All the lads stuck together after what’s happened. To play the way we did against Liverpool was great.” (more…)
Doh, why did I take this job?Alan Pardew has had a few things to say about how he intends to approach matters at Newcastle United.
First of all, apparently other managers have been telling him he’s mad to take the job:
“I’ve had a lot of texts from managers saying ‘you must be mad going there’. But it’s one of the top five clubs in England. It’s a daunting prospect but something I couldn’t turn down.”
Given that the club is run by clowns and the rate at which we get through managers it’s hard to argue with suggestions that he should be carted off to somewhere where they hand out regular cups of tea and strong medication.
He then goes on to say:
“The problem I’m going to have initially is the players.
“I need to get my message across quickly and with clarity so as not to get any resentment at a time when they are doing reasonably well.
“The battles I need to win are on the pitch. I understood what was going to happen if I took the job.” (more…)
Alan Pardew - New Toon ManagerWhat we all expected has happened and Alan Pardew has been appointed as manager of Newcastle United on a five and half year deal.
It seems the circus is back at St James’ Park and the fans are being served up another custard pie in the face from the clown at the top.
It’s easy to see why we’re the laughing stock of the Premier League.
The recipe is simple. For dinner, take one perfectly good manager who gets us promoted from the Championship at the first attempt, settles us into a mid-table Premier League position and wins over the fans. Then sack him.
Then for pudding, take one unemployed manager with a mediocre record and hardly much more Premier League experience than the one you just sacked. Then employ him.
It works every time as a recipe for making a club a laughing stock. I think I’ll pass on the cheese and biscuits.
Either way we look at it though, Chris Hughton’s era is over and Alan Pardew’s is about to begin.
The official announcement from the club is as follows: (more…)
