'Pop'ular goalscorer!“Make it real” was the Coca-Cola slogan for 2005, and while that was arguably the year we began a slippery slide to Championship oblivion and the league that bears that famous brand name, tonight Newcastle United stepped three points and one game closer to making promotion back to the big time a reality. On a wet, windy but wonderful Monday evening, the 2-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest all but ends their hopes of overhauling us and barring a disaster all that should be left is a battle with West Brom for the title.
The Championship journey has been a humbling and perhaps necessary journey for some Mags but one season is just about enough, cheers all the same. While we’ve had some difficult games, none more so than tricky tests against the Tricky Trees, our lads have come through the test and are so close to a victorious 90 minutes which should culminate in a mathematically certain return to the top flight and a silent two fingers at those that wanted us to fail miserably. It would take a monumental 7-Up, if we were to fail to realise the dream of going back up at the first time of asking.
On a greasy surface and with the wind and rain driving across the pitch, Newcastle weathered both the elements and a determined Forest attack. Despite good possession for both sides though, neither side looked like breaking the deadlock and this Level 7’er is fairly certain he didn’t see a save from either keeper until after the hour. And when the deadlock was broken, to bring effervescence to both players and fans alike, who other than Shola ‘Offside’ Ameobi, returning from injury, would be more appropriate? With a neat turn, great control and a tidy finish to make it 1-0, proving yet again that if he can stay fit he offers us something our other strikers don’t. (more…)
Eye of the tiger?In an end-to-end encounter, it was Newcastle United’s very own light heavyweight, Andy Carroll, who weighed in with a devastating knockout to help United take all three points at the Keepmoat Stadium. After the much publicised training ground bust-up, it seemed unlikely that Carroll would play any part in the game, but Hughton was vindicated in his decision to include the striker by Carroll’s goal, which was the difference between the two sides.
Even though he included Carroll in his starting eleven, Hughton was forced into several other changes. Jose Enrique had a niggle from his previous hamstring injury and Ryan Taylor came in at right back, with Danny Simpson switching to left back. Tamas Kadar came in for Fitz Hall, who limped out of the Bristol City game and Hughton also opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation with Kevin Nolan playing off Andy Carroll, Leon Best making way for Nicky Butt, who partnered Guthrie in the middle of the park. (more…)
Planning ahead?Turbulent. One word to describe the roller-coaster ride of Mike Ashley’s reign at Newcastle United. But with various reports cropping up about players that we are looking at and with the return of the scouting system that brought us the likes of Tamas Kadar, Haris Vuckic and Nile Ranger, could this be the signal that Mike Ashley is prepared to stick with Newcastle for the forseeable future?
Recent reports have suggested that the newest addition to the scouting network, Graham Carr, has been a busy bee and is already compiling a list of players that would improve the team should we secure what looks to be a likely promotion. Names such as Jamie O’Hara, Pablo Hernandez from Valencia, Getafe’s Juan Albin, Yohan Cabaye from Lille aswell as youngsters like Adama Diakite, have all been linked with us in recent weeks, and all of these players fit the criteria which Ashley himself has talked of implementing. (more…)
Carroll rescues another point.It was another away day, another game where we looked below-par and another game in which we got something out of that we probably didn’t deserve. A share of the spoils at Ashton Gate this evening has gone a long way to saving my wife’s weekend as she claims I am ‘unbearable when Newcastle lose’, and I very easily could have been classed as ‘unbearable’ as the game panned out.
Some of you may be aware that my wife follows Portsmouth, yet she was there cheering even louder than I was when the ball hit the back of the net for the away side, perhaps through sheer relief that I may not be a moody git this weekend after all, although I claim it’s because I’m turning her into a Newcastle United fan. It’s frustrating, the 2,200 travelling fans looked like having very little return on their 600 mile investment, but yet again they head home happy. (more…)
I love Newcastle, I do....Our Spanish left back, Jose Enrique, has been talking of the love, affection and fear that drives his performances on the pitch. Jose has been one of the player’s of the season so far and has fast become a fan favourite with the Toon Army.
Looking back at the summer it would have been quite easy for Enrique to slope off back to Spain. He didn’t, and now Newcastle United are reaping the benefit of the Spaniard’s pace and link up play on the left side of the pitch. Enrique is only 24 years old still and somethimes that fact can be overlooked. Yes, he is good now but he still has time on his side and can get better still, and it appears Enrique feels so at home in Newcastle that he will be looking to stay for a long time.
“I’m so happy I decided to stay at Newcastle in the summer” Enrique said.
“I know we are only in the Championship, but I love the city and the club. All the foreign players hate the weather here, but it’s not just Newcastle, it’s England. I’m really settled here and I have no desire to go back to Spain. I’m happy at Newcastle, in England and in this team.”
It’s remakable how someone can feel so settled in such a short length of time. The three years he has been here could be described as ‘not the smoothest’ and you could easily understand if the former Villareal player decided to upsticks and move away, especially after seeing some of the protests, the ill-feeling, the relegation, and also having worked under no less than five different managers. Not bad in three years! (more…)
