Head and shoulders above the restAlreet, so that’s a bit of a bold statement but doesn’t it feel like it at the minute? Not quite literally, but I mean we were relatively average today and yet I didn’t doubt the outcome swinging in our favour at any point and it’s been a long time since a black and white first eleven had me thinking that way.
Confidence breeds confidence and it’s flooding through the squad and team at the moment and to the spectator they look as if they feel unbeatable. I’ve long been a detractor of Coloccini but today he stuck my opinion right where the sun doesn’t shine. Not just because of his well-earned and well-worked winner but for the sheer guts and determination he showed in his defensive duties, and he wasn’t alone. The entire squad looked like they’d be prepared to play until they dropped to protect the win and I genuinely couldn’t see Cardiff breaking through and much of that was due to our dogged defending and endeavour.
Perhaps again, much of today’s result was about toothless opposition as it was about our own display. Certainly they had prolonged periods of possession after the half hour point but I was always felt comfortable. It wasn’t exactly ‘total football’ again either but a win is a win, especially when you’re travelling to the likes of Cardiff. They had some talent on show but ultimately were fairly blunt in the final third. (more…)
Off to Spain perhapsAs far as the sale saga goes, this week really must be it.
I can’t believe Ashley would let it run into the last week of the transfer window to sell the club, leaving mere days to strengthen the extremely threadbare squad. According to press articles of late, ‘D-Day’ is either today, tomorrow or Friday. Thursday is reported to be upset about being overlooked.
So what’s the latest? Well there’s nothing much new. Yesterday’s Journal claims that Barclays Bank will make a decision about Moat’s loan by Wednesday and claims that Shearer will be manager in time for the Crystal Palace match on Saturday if Barclays gives it the thumbs-up.
Meanwhile it seems that Joe Kinnear has been telling ‘friends in football’ that he will be manager by the end of this week if the sale falls through.
Personally I have no faith in Barclays. When I was 18 I applied for a loan from them myself in order to buy a MkI 3-litre Capri and they turned me down. If they couldn’t afford to lend me £700 I can’t see how they can lend Barry Moat £20m. (more…)
Praying for justice?It appears our esteemed right-back Habib Beye has been under the microscope of various interested parties in the recent days for very different reasons.
Just today, it’s reported that he is being courted by Portsmouth and Hull City for a summer move. However, in the meantime, he’s also potentially in the bad books with the FA, who it would seem took a different view to Chris Hughton and Lee Clark about the behaviour of the players involved in the ‘brawl’ on Tuesday night at The Galpharm Stadium.
Of course, Habib was at the centre of the controversy and allegedly his actions sparked the whole thing off. As I’ve mentioned previously, due to my need for sustenance, I was halfway to buying my pie when it all kicked off and didn’t really see what initially caused it.
However, alerted by the excited crowd reaction and turning to watch, what I did see was that the players looked pretty upset and though Beye might struggle with the local vernacular, should he seek local interpretation, his body language suggested he would have been saying “I’m ganna rip off yor heid and s***e doon your neck pal”.
This is the official line –
The Football Association is to investigate the trouble which flared during and after Tuesday night’s friendly clash between Huddersfield and Newcastle.
Visitor's BeyeUndoubtedly, the most exciting thing to happen at our game last night wasn’t the actual football. It was the handbags at half time and at the end of the game.
The first tussle involved Habib Beye who was incensed enough to remonstrate with Huddersfield skipper Peter Clarke following an earlier disagreement. Whether that was something said at a free kick or a challenge either one of them didn’t like, is unclear.
Certainly I didn’t see the flashpoint because I was halfway up the stairs to get my pie (which incidentally were out of stock!). But both players looked fairly agitated and keen to get at each other. Which resulted in a 20-man melee (I love that word) that involved police and stewards and continued down the tunnel. Beye didn’t reappear for the second half but as I suggested in my earlier report of the game, I got the impression that was the original plan regardless.
The second incident involved Coloccini and former Gateshead forward Lee Novak with the striker reportedly suffering a cut to his chin. It came as a surprise to me just how close these two actually got and that there was physical damage as it was dispersed relatively quickly and there didn’t seem to be much in it. The exact cause of that incident is also unclear. What is clear though is that this was a relatively bad-tempered affair considering the nature of the game. (more…)
