Due a change in fortune?The weather might well stop this as a contest before it’s even begun, but given the start the teams have made to the season, allied with Gordon Strachan’s unenviable record at St James’ Park and our recent record at home against the Smogs, few would bet on a Boro win in Sunday’s Tyne-Tees derby. And of course this is the sort of occasion when that’s bound to happen.
Boro come into Sunday’s game with a number of key players missing – Sean St Ledger’s loan has now ended and he’s returned to Preston North End. Jonathan Franks and skipper Gary O’Neill should return but Jeremie Aliadiere, Didier Digard, Adam Johnson and Seb Hines miss out, while Chris Riggott is rated as doubtful.
Middlesbrough started the season brightly but their form has dipped, and they have found themselves mid-table. Their form under Strachan is also questionale having picked up 4 points from a possible 21. But they have been stronger away from home and their last away fixture included 3 of those points under Strachan when they thumped QPR, 5-1 at Loftus Road. (more…)
Old boy makes PilgrimageOur path to FA Cup glory could be thwarted by an old acquaintance, if reports are true that former Newcastle United coach John Carver is back in football. It’s been mentioned on .com that JC is going to be assistant to Paul Mariner at Plymouth Argyle, who has taken charge after Paul Sturrock was removed from the Home Park hotseat.
Carver coached our reserves and academy sides, before being promoted to assistant to Sir Bobby Robson, and stepped in as Caretaker when Robson was sacked. When Souness got the job, he then moved onto Leeds as first team coach before once again stepping in as Caretaker for Kevin Blackwell, who he then followed to Luton Town before taking up the role of head coach at MLS side Toronto. (more…)
Jack just the ticket?The rumours have been rife for a good week or so and probably mooted by optimistic supporters long before, that Newcastle United could be in for Arsenal’s highly-related Jack Wilshere. And according to our local press, he could well be on Chris Hughton’s radar.
Recently Arsene Wenger spoke to press and suggested that one option is to loan out the midfielder to a Championship club. And considering the lack of creativity in the side, it would seem a good option for Chris Hughton to try and bring Wilshere in, particularly as there may be no permanent incoming transfer alternatives in January.
Wenger admitted that it’s an interesting option for Wilshere to go out on loan to a team in the second tier and is keen for Wilshere to get more first-team football, saying: (more…)
Contributing well?In contrast to recent speculation that he might be shipped out in January, Chris Hughton expects Andy Carroll to play a big part in Newcastle’s drive for promotion. This comes after a bustling performance on Saturday against Barnsley, which saw him have a hand in both our goals.
However, he also inadvertently had a hand in their first goal and also a hand in a tussle on the deck with Barnsley centre-half Moore, who seemd none to pleased with Carroll’s conduct and had to be restrained by players from both sides. The result was a booking for both, which sees Carroll miss out on Middlesbrough’s visit at the weekend.
Having been dropped for the midweek game against Coventry, Carroll was undoubtedly a surprise inclusion on Saturday. Despite being his usual awkward and rangey self and spending much of the time on his backside, he put himself about and stuck two fingers up at detractors with his contribution to our goals. (more…)
Toon didn't need the Hassell!How very dare they! With their short arms and deep pockets, those tight Yorkshire gets refused to give us three points and Barnsley 2 Newcastle United 2, was probably as fair a result as we deserved in the end. Backed by a minibus short of 7,000 fans, it was set up for and Newcastle were probably expecting, a perfect return. As it happens, apart from a spell in the first half, Barnsley were more than good for their point and battered us for spells. And this time we couldn’t sneak a win, though we came very close and it took a last gasp equaliser to spoil all of the black and white fun.
With roughly 7,000 fans spilling down the A1 and from various parts of the country, there was promise of a special day out and as the masses gathered behind the North Stand (and West Stand) in the bright wintery sunshine, the mood was vibrant. Hughton made several changes to the team that played against Coventry, as Ryan Taylor game in for Danny Simpson, while Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll (a surprise inclusion) replaced Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Amoeobi. The formation began as a 4-5-1 with Nolan playing mostly as a second striker but as the game progressed he dropped deeper. (more…)
