Premiership in sight...I’ve just watched Barcelona beat Valencia 3-0 in a very ‘Messi’ encounter. The little Argentinian demonstrating why he’s considered arguably the best player on the planet, with a sublime hat-trick. Fast rewind to yesterday’s Tyne-Tees Derby and the football from both Newcastle and Middlesbrough was a million miles away from the football of the Spanish giants.
OK, so it was a derby and a scrappy affair isn’t unusual so what was I expecting? Not much to be honest, I’m just being facetious. And while I’m being honest, some of Boro’s play yesterday was actually quite tidy and Strachan has got them playing in the right way. In contrast, there wasn’t a lot to write home about from a black and white perspective in terms of the aesthetics. And yet, what we did see was yet another demonstration that we are almost inevitably going up.
That sounds a bit premature? I would probaby have agreed a few games ago but I’ve seen enough of late to suggest the ‘fat lady’ will be singing soon enough. It’s not about over-confidence or a lack of humility but the way we snatched a draw was enough to convince me that we have enough to make it happen. That it wasn’t pretty to watch is a moot point. Winners don’t always win pretty, that’s a given. And while there were some frustrating moments and Boro toyed with us at times, once again we had enough to get something out of the game. (more…)
Adama Diakite.It appears owner Mike Ashley has resurrected the scouting policy that was mentioned when he took over the club, the one where Newcastle United look towards younger players from throughout Europe that have a lot of potential and a profit margin in their sell on value.
We have already seen signs that this could work in the long term with players like Nile Ranger and Haris Vuckic both having been brought to the club under the same pretence and both looking like they could have strong career’s in the game.
Next up for the scouting networks attention is a young lad from France that goes by the name of Adama Diakite, currently playing with Lens. It appears our new scout Graham Carr has been over to France to watch the 19 year old in action and has given a positive report to the club about the young Frenchman.
Diakite plays up front or just behind the strikers but is yet to make an appearance for the Lens first team so it appears to be a case of ‘one for the future’ as the Toon try to lure the player to Tyneside and out of the clutches of Werder Bremen and Juventus, both of whom are said to be interested in the youngster. The fee would probably be decided by a tribunal who would decide how much compensation would need to be paid to Lens FC. (more…)
Does what it says on the card...Middlesbrough and Newcastle played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon leaving both team’s with a share of the points from the Tees/Tyne derby. It was very much a case of a lucky escape today as the home were arguably the better and will feel that they did enough to grab the 3 points.
It was another abject performance from the lads today although it’s hard to tell whether our own short-comings or Middlesbrough’s crisp play and pressing ability were the main contributing factors to it. Regardless of that we yet again came away from a game which could easily have been lost with a point in the bag, and with third-placed Nottingham Forest slipping up at Preston means the gap between automatic promotion and the play-off places has been extended to nine points. (more…)
Middlesbrough, on a clear day.Not much of a guide is needed for the 40 mile trip straight down the A19 to Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium. Viewed by us as the poor relation of the Tyne/Wear derby, it doesn’t mean that the Tyne/Tees derby should be taken any more lightly this time around as we go in search of 3 points to add to our tally.
As I said, straight down the A19 will do for you, and if your making your own way there you should be aware that you’ll be lucky to get any parking near the ground. There is some wasteland near to the Riverside that gets opened up for parking, other than that just park in the city centre and walk out to the ground.
Obviously, keep your colours covered if your walking to the ground on your own or if there are just a couple of you, or you could walk down to the train station and join in the police escort those travelling by train will receive and enjoy the sing song on the way. Same applies should you choose to go into the city centre for a drink. (more…)
Player's wages locked somewhere safe?A rather disturbing allegation has emerged from today’s Daily Mirror which claims that owner Mike Ashley is dangling the carrot of a pay-cut in front of the players should they win promotion to the Premier League. Usually it works the other way round, where players get either a bonus or pay rise for helping the club reach the Premier League and the riches it contains but it seems that this won’t be the case at Newcastle United.
Now you’ll forgive my scepticism as the Mirror has hardly been the last bastion of truth, but this rumour does seem to fit in with Ashley’s vision of how to run a football club, and we all know he is great at doing that!
If your ‘sarcasm meter’ blew up because of that last sentence then I apologise, but it shoudn’t detract from how potentially damaging this story could be whether it be truth or pure fabrication. Aimed at stars such as Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Jonas Gutierrez and Fabricio Coloccini the deal that is being offered is apparently an extension to their current deal but with no extra cash, so they will still be getting the same money from the contract just over a longer period of time. (more…)
