Jose looking bullish in a fetching yellow.Jose Enrique could make a return to the squad after missing out on the last six matches. The 24-year-old and £6.5million-rated Spanish left-back, has been one of Newcastle’s best players this season, but with initially no natural replacement it was feared that the Spanish defender, nicknamed ‘The Bull’, would be a big loss.
Chris Hughton brought in Chelsea’s young left-back, Van Aanholt, 19, who had a previous loan spell at Coventry City to cover the position for a month. The young Dutchman has done well when called upon and has turned in some decent performances considering the shoes he’s been filling in the position.
Hughton will have the option to extend Van Aanholt’s loan from an initial one month period to until the end of the season. Personally, I’d like to see him given the opportunity here as he won’t feature for Chelsea (injuries permitting) and there’s always the danger of Enrique falling to injury again.
Enrique’s last game for Newcastle was the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, now nearly over a month ago. Hughton has the decision to instantly bring Jose back for his guaranteed experience, or stick with Van Aanholt who hasn’t really put a foot wrong. However, seeing as Hughton only rates Enrique as “hopeful” for Watford, it would be assumed that in keeping with his usual ‘safe approach’, the manager will stick with Van Aanholt. (more…)
Back down to earth with a bump!Newcastle’s Andy Carroll demonstrated his no-nonsense approach and was a handful all night for his opponents, who suffered from the striker’s ability in the air. With flailing elbows and brute force, the opposition was left nursing their wounds as Carroll strolled off triumphantly.
With an early brace to his name and having picked up the MOTM award…ah hang on, I’m getting my evenings confused, this isn’t a match report is it…
News coming in that Andy Carroll has been charged with assault following the ‘incident’ in Blu Bambu back in December. The striker is accused of attacking a bloke and though the various rumours differ in their descriptions, it’s always remained likely that he’d be getting charged for something. Whether it was handbags after cocktails or something a bit more serious should become clear fairly soon. (more…)
So who fancies living up to this then?A topic doing the rounds at the moment with regards our beloved club, is something that’s been mooted all season by Newcastle fans. One of the most revered privileges bestowed upon many a Tyneside legend, is to wear the No.9 shirt and to experience the adulation of the black and white masses.
Of course wearing it, is only part of the ‘legend’ process, the striker has to perform and hopefully do what No.9s do best and that’s score goals. We haven’t always had someone to fill the shirt, and in days before squad numbers, the like of Rob McDonald and Frank Pingel were blessed with the opportunity to say they wore the famous shirt. And as we pretty much all agreed in the our recent review article, we’re struggling at the moment for somone to do it justice.
It seems like Chris Hughton also agrees and the absence of the No.9 shirt at the moment is a conscious decision on his part. According to him: (more…)
Another masked crusader?Early Monday morning news coming through on the last day of the transfer window, that Newcastle are close to signing Coventry City’s Leon Best. Sky Sports are reporting that the Republic of Ireland striker may be on his way to Tyneside with Chris Coleman unlikely to sign a new deal in the summer when his contract runs out.
The smogs were after Best early doors in the transfer window but SSN are suggesting that he will join us on a three-and-a-half year contract, should he pass his medical today. Having failed with the capture of Jermaine Beckford from Leeds and Victor Moses from Crystal Palace, Hughton looks to have turned his attentions to the next best thing available. Marlon Harewood would have been the obvious choice but for his untimely injury.
Twenty three year old Leon Best has had a fairly unspectacular career so far, starting off at Southamption but spending most of his time on loan, at QPR, Sheff Wed, Bournemouth and Yeovil respectively, before moving on to Coventry City in 2007. Almost three years later, he has 22 goals to his name in 102 appearances, while having represented his country four times. (more…)
Going, going...gone.It would seem Wigan’s Spanish gaffer, Roberto Martinez, could be expecting some added flair to his side, with news that Newcastle target, the talented and highly-rated winger-cum-striker Victor Moses from Crystal Palace, has signed for The Latics.
According to Sky Sports News, the player’s agent Tony Finnegan, has confirmed to them that the player has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Wigan, after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
Wigan were rumoured to be interested at the beginning of the week and were part of a handful of Premiership clubs with an apparent interest him. We’re alleged to have made a £1.5m bid, alongside Nottingham Forest and West Brom, all of which were turned down and it seems like Wigan were prepared to pay a fee of £2.5million to seal the deal.
The writing was on the wall really, after Palace boss Neil Warnock insisted he’d be going to a Premiership club, because of all the things he is, Warnock’s generally not a bullsh*tter. The move was expected to go through quickly, with the emphasis on the administrators trying to ease Palace’s financial burdens and it’s likely that more assets will leave before the end of the window. (more…)
