Two points clearNewcastle United’s 1-0 win last night wasn’t pretty but it did the job. Newcastle go back to the top of the table, clear by 2 points.
Hughton had this to say about last night’s game:
“It was an ugly win. Sheffield play a style which makes it difficult. You have to be strong and resilient.
“For the majority of the game I thought we handled everything they threw at us. We’ve just got to make sure we keep up the performances and stay where we are.”
I suppose he’s right. We did handle everything they threw at us inasmuch as we didn’t concede a goal, although Sheffield United only really looked dangerous in that respect at the end of the game when Harper produced some good saves. (more…)
Sharp as a Blade tonight!Once again, Newcastle United managed to leave us feeling slightly underwhelmed, and yet still went top of the league after taking all three points at Bramall Lane. The fact that we managed to grind out a 1-0 win against the red and white half of Sheffield was largely down to luck at their end, resilience at our’s and some brilliance from Stevie Harper.
After a fairly forgettable first half, in which Sheffield looked probably the more organised and potent force (though I use that term lightly). This despite their having several absences while we had generally a strong squad to pick from, though Hughton again left me scratching my head with his decisions. Not for the first time this season, the opposition seemed to move the ball sharper than us an didn’t look out of ideas once they crossed the halfway line. But for all their endeavour, the score remained 0-0 at half-time.
Newcastle came out and were the better side at the start of the second half and though there should have been a foul awarded as Kevin Nolan robbed Walker, Ryan Taylor nonetheless took full advantage and our second slice of luck was about to occur as his shot from 25 yards took a wicked deflection of Morgan, with Ian Bennett rooted to the spot in the Sheffield goal, the ball nestled into the far corner.
Sheffield threw everything but the kitchen sink at us in the dying minutes but we held on strongly due to resolute defending and some heroics in the goal from Harper. (more…)
"Not the player I used to be"Alan Smith was been talking to the press a lot last weekend saying, amongst other things, that Newcastle United must get promoted at the first attempt or risk ‘doing a Leeds’. Smith said:
“It’s vital we get back up at the first attempt. You look at what’s happened to my old club Leeds United to see the damage that is done if you stay down for a few seasons. Hopefully they are on their way back.
“Sheffield United are similar, a huge club outside the Premier League. Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich, Nottingham Forest are all the same.
“It’s massively important to get back up as soon as possible. If we don’t get promoted you always have the risk of players seeing a future elsewhere. If we don’t get promoted this season we will have failed.”
In an honest self-appraisal Smith admitted that he’s not the player he used to be.
“I am an honest person, I know that I’m not as good as I was, simple as that.
“I know I’ll never be able to get back to as good as I was in terms of that two to five per cent that takes you to the very top – international level, Champions League level.
“I could still play there but my injury will restrict me from competing at the very highest level.
“As soon as I did my injury I knew that. I spoke to [Sir] Alex Ferguson about it and we both knew that it would be so difficult to play at that standard, week in week out.” (more…)
Spinning his web elsewhere?According to press speculation, Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez, is preparing for a move away from St James’ Park (or whatever it might be called by then). As the January transfer window looms, we will inevitably watch with wary eyes, as the likelihood of some departures is high, but the subjects still unknown. It seems like the Argentinian is the first our big-name and high-salaried players to sound out suitors, following rumours of interest from Roma.
Despite sticking around and working gallantly (?) as a regular starter for Hughton in the second tier, while other big names deserted us, it seems now he too is ‘ready for a new challenge’. His agent, Pedro Jimenez-Bravo, is quoted by The People as saying:
“We know European clubs are interested.
“We have held meetings with Newcastle but there is an option for the player to leave – although it must be a good offer.”
I think most regular contributors to the blog, will know my feelings on Gutierrez. While I acknowledge he gets a sweat on, I feel much of this is down to ‘being seen to get a sweat on’ and he actually does a lot of his hard work at the wrong times. As for his ability, you will hear a lot of fans talking about flattering to deceive and the phrase is made for Jonas. Doing the simple thing and making the ball do the work are often alien to him. (more…)
'The Adidas Arena'?Alan Oliver is running an article in The People claiming that all the money from the stadium naming rights will go straight to Chris Hughton to spend on the Newcastle United squad.
Ashley has apparently insisted the naming rights won’t go cheap and he’s looking for £6m a season before he’ll sell off our heritage.
A Toon source (that lad again) said:
“But all he is asking is for the fans to sit back and take a realistic look at the situation.
“It is costing him £3m a month out of his own pocket to run Newcastle and he is trying to look at other ways of raising revenue – the St James’ Park name is one of his few valuable assets.
“But he is not going to flog the name of the stadium to the first bidder.
“He is looking for a significant figure for the stadium naming rights and if he gets it, all the money will go to help Chris Hughton strengthen the team.” (more…)
