Newcastle United

Newcastle draw in Athens heat

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:06:15 +0000

Our five year wait for European football ended tonight with a 1 v 1 draw in Athens against Atromitos. It was 38C during the day in the Greek capital and the temperature barely dropped approaching the 2000 local kick off time. Alan Pardew surprised a few by including Papiss Cisse in the starting XI. There was a shock start for 212 year old Steve Harper too, 16 months since he last started a game for the Mags. Before the game he joked that some of the lads have started calling him 'cocoon' because of it! 17 year old local lad Adam Campbell had been rumoured to make a start, but he had to make do with a spot on the bench. Anita and Bigirimana, who from my perspective looked like twins during the game, also made their first starts since signing for the club. Lineup: Krul, Tavernier, Perch, Williamson, R.Taylor, Bigirimana, Anita, Marveaux (Gutierrez 70), Obertan, Gosling (Amalfitano 64), Cisse (Campbell 77). Unused Subs : Krul, Santon, Cabaye, S.Taylor. The first 20 minutes of the game were largely unremarkable with the heat clearly having an impact on the pace and style of the game. We kept possession well without ever really looking to threaten. There were a lot of short balls between the midfield and the back four. Twenty minutes in, a deep cross from Tavernier out from the right exposed Itandje as he tried to gather it with one hand! This led to a number of aerial assaults throughout the game be it from corners, open play and throw ins.

Return to Europe - Atromitos

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:15:37 +0000

We make our long awaited return to European football this coming Thursday evening with a tie in Athens against Atromitos. Unbelievably it is over five years since we last competed in continental football when we were eliminated from the UEFA cup last 16 on away goals by AZ Alkmaar under the management of Glenn Roeder in March 2007 (we blew a 3 goal lead in the tie!) At the time we were used to it and many of us took it for granted - oh how we've missed it! So, who are Atromitos?

Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:12:40 +0000

Newcastle lineup: Krul, Simpson, Perch, S.Taylor, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (Anita 71), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Ba (Obertan 85), Cisse. Tottenham lineup: Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Bale, Sigurdsson (Van der Vaart 68), Livermore, Sandro (Kane 85), Defoe. Premier League football returned to a sunny St James' Park on Saturday afternoon and it was a dream start to the season for the home side with three points bagged. There had been fitness doubts surrounding Ben Arfa and Cabaye before the game but both players were in the starting lineup. Coloccini missed out through injury and was surprisingly replaced by James Perch with Mike Williamson only taking up a spot on the bench. For Spurs AVB surprisingly opted to start with Gallas ahead of summer signing Vertonghen.

Season preview

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:22:07 +0000

Premier League football is back! Even the Euros and Olympics weren't enough to stop me pining for a competitive Newcastle game. Last season was one of the most enjoyable in recent years. We started off strongly and spent the majority of the season in the top 6 - who would have thought that we would be in with a chance of a Champions League spot right up until the final day of the season? We ended up with a 5th placed finish and a return to European football. Marvellous. So what about this coming season? Our success in 11/12 was triggered by a strong, unbeaten run at the start. We have a more difficult start this time around - the opener with Spurs at home is no more difficult than our matchup against Arsenal was last year, but the potential 3,500 mile round trip to Athens for our Europa League with Atromitos less than 48 hours before a game at Stamford Bridge vs the European Champions is a big ask. As I write this Newcastle are waiting to hear whether the club have been successful in their attempt to have the Europa League fixtures reversed meaning that the first leg tie would be at home in between the Spurs and Chelsea games. Whatever the order this is a tough schedule. Then again none of us are complaining, we will enjoy the ride!

Pressure and patience

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:30:37 +0000

In ten days time we kick of our 2012/13 Premier League campaign at home to Spurs and I can hardly wait. Almost everything surrounding the club of late has been positive - a strong 2011/12 season, European qualification, great morale amongst the players and fans and most importantly, so far, no high profile sales - even the Demba Clause has been and gone. We have brought in some high potential youngsters who will almost surely contribute to our Europa and League Cup campaigns and we have been linked with high quality first team additions such as Debuchy and Andy Carroll, though we have not yet agreed deals with any senior players and our squad needs to be strengthened in one or two areas.

The Carroll conundrum

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:50:34 +0000

Unless you've been on Mars for a few days, you will have heard that we have declared firm interest in re-signing our former number nine - Andy Carroll. This has split fans opinions on Twitter, Facebook, phone ins - every forum for opinion has been inundated. The local paper polled opinion on whether the fans would like to see big Andy plying his trade on Tyneside once again - 67% voted in the positive. My thoughts? If the price is right (£15 million maximum) I would have him back straight away.

Alan Pardew - from an unpopular appointment to multiple award winner

Thu, 31 May 2012 21:43:59 +0000

A couple of weeks ago a taxi picked me up at Heathrow airport and my conversation with the driver, an elderly Chelsea fan, was something like this: Driver: "Noocarsew are doing well ay? Bet you're not slagging Pardew now ay? Cockney mafia and that ay? None of you wanted 'im did you ay? Bet you aww feel darft now ay?" Me: "You show me a person who from day one believed that Pardew was capable of this and I'll show you a liar." He then went on to say that he was born in Blackpool but moved South as a kid so that's why he supports 'Chewsee'. He was also furious that Hodgson got the England job and not "Arry the choice of the people" but that hasn't really got anything to do with this blog! I stand by the point I made to the driver and I'm the first to admit I got it completely wrong on Pardiola. Who honestly didn't? A win ratio of 26% in season one after he arrived in December coupled with a cup exit to Stevenage and I was even less convinced.

Managing expectations

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:32:06 +0000

We are ahead of schedule. Not many of us foresaw our fantastic 5th placed finish and only a few more people predicted the meteoric rise in the popularity of our manager. In a pre season note that I wrote last summer for 442 magazine, I said that a 7th placed finish for 2011/12 would have been a fantastic season - but where now after a season in which we massively exceeded expectations? In my end of season 'awards' blog I asked you to comment on your expectations for next season. As ever, the response was mixed with some concerned about the number of games we will face as we embark on a Europa League campaign and others looking to push onwards and upwards into the top 4. Alan Pardew has been looking to play down expectations: “Expectations are going to be higher,” Pardew said. “People will be aware of us and that is one of the biggest challenges we are going to have next season. We are going to find it harder.” I have to agree with the boss.

The Newcastle end of season awards results - as voted by you!

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:46:31 +0000

Thanks for all of the feedback on the questions that I posed last week - I received a number of comments here on ESPNsoccernet, Tweets and texts with all of your nominations. Here are the winners:

Your favourite moments needed - end of season review

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:28:06 +0000

That's it! We are all done. In the Champions League race until the very last day of the season and an amazing 5th placed finish getting us back into European football, not to mention the gaffa collecting both the Barclays and LMA Manager of the Year awards. I for one can not wait to visit some random towns around the Continent with NUFC next season. Over the next few days I will be working on two new Blogs - one about the boss and the other being a full season review. I'd really like you to leave comment on your moments of the season: Your NUFC player of the year and why? Your most improved NUFC player? Most promising NUFC youngster? Your NUFC goal of the season (and there are PLENTY of candidates!) Your favourite game of the season? Your favourite moment of the season? And what you expect next term..... Leave your comments (as long or as short as you like) on here, or on my Twitter page @MarcSDuffy

A fantastic season, whatever the outcome

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:49:42 +0000

No matter what happens from here on in, this has been an absolutely fantastic season. I was confident that we would make progress in 2011/12. I optimistically forecast a 7th placed finish for this season and most of you agreed, yet here we are with only four games remaining in with a real chance of making the Champions League qualifiers. That would be beyond even our most optimistic supporters wildest dreams. As close as we are, it will still be very difficult. We have the most difficult run in with 3 of the top 7 to play against (2 of them away from home) and tomorrows battle with relegation threatened Wigan who have gained some superb victories of late. Not to mention the fact that a 4th placed finish would not be enough if Chelsea beat Bayern in the Champions League final! We can do it. We have the momentum and the lads are playing with a freedom that is surprising considering what is on the line for the football club. How have we risen from relegation to top 4 candidates in only a few short years? I take a look at some of the factors behind our progress:

Wor Africans - from Lomano to Papiss

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:18:02 +0000

What a season we are having! Isn't it great? Some superb football and featuring in the top six pretty much throughout. We can thank a lot of people for this - not least the African contingent in our side. Tiote has been here the longest and battles through each and every game as if his life is at stake. Then in came Demba - now that lad can play and he even brings his friends with him. His Senegal team mate Papiss Cisse has been a tremendous addition to the squad, coming in at a vital time and (at time of writing) averaging a goal per game! Where did it all start with African footballers coming in to play for NUFC? Not that long ago actually. Here is a list of all African footballers who have played in the Newcastle United first team, in chronological order (and before you jump in, I have not included Shola who, despite being born in Nigeria has only ever represented England at international levels nor have I included Kaz LuaLua who has yet to commit his future to England or his place of birth, DR Congo) And as ever - if I have missed someone please let me know!

LuaLua ©

The worst imported lineup in our history?

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:45:27 +0000

Settling into the Premier League proves to be tough for many footballers when arriving from overseas. Sometimes they settle after a rough spell - Colo and Enrique are great examples of that, but other times they are gone before we really even noticed they were here. Over the years we have endured more than our fair share of imported flops and here is a team that pound for pound are arguably the worst of them!:

3 into 1 in the centre of midfield and the importance of Cheick Tiote

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:57:29 +0000

Danny Guthrie's stock has been rising in the opinion of many Newcastle fans recently with some solid Premier League performances. So how do his numbers stack up vs his two heart-of-the-midfield comrades? I have taken a look at Danny's stats (individual, team and only looking at games started in the Premier League) this season and compared them to Cabaye and Tiote - there are some interesting learnings:

I answer questions for a Spurs fan-site ahead of Saturday

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:27 +0000

Below are some questions that I answered for the excellent Spurs supporters site 'What a Fantastic Run' Check their site out at http://whatafantasticrun.com/ WAFR: Welcome back once more to What A Fantastic Run. After a little dip in form in December (4 points out of a possible 18) you managed to pick up another good run in January and find yourself back in the mix for a Top 4 finish. You must be pretty pleased? Absolutely. I was expecting some improvement this season after some shrewd signings, but to be where we are right now exceeds the expectations of even the most hardcore optimists! WAFR: In your last interview you felt that Newcastle would perhaps have an upper-mid table finish, are you stating to believe that Newcastle could maybe push themselves in to at least a Europa League spot now we have crossed the half way mark? A lot depends on our injury situation. A starting XI of Krul, Simpson, Santon, Colo, S Taylor, Jonas, Marveaux, Cabaye, Tiote, Ba, Cisse would be a match for anyone, but beyond that we don’t have great depth. Taylor and Marveaux are now out for the rest of the season with Ryan Taylor and Leon Best picking up knocks last week we are very thin. To be fair to the lads who have stepped in (Guthrie and co) they have done very well hence our decent past month, but it will be tough to maintain our form. I think we will finish 7th with an outside chance of Europa – that would be improvement vs last year and we are moving in the right direction. WAFR: It has been a remarkable season so far for Newcastle, with all the focus directed at Tottenham this past week and in light of recent events down at The FA; Pardew for England? No. Pardew is doing a great job up here, but he has been in the role little over a year. He needs to achieve a lot more in his career than he has for him to hit those heights in my opinion! That’s also the reason I don’t think Harry should be given the job. Another foreign coach would be my preference – Hiddink. WAFR: We talked a few times about Mike Ashley and the fans perception of him, his dealings with the club and so on, I am guess the way things are right now the heat is off him? Yes, things are suspiciously quiet. Even quite positive with the arrival of Cisse and no major out-goings. People are starting to buy in to Ashley’s current policy of buying low priced/ high potential players (Tiote and Cabaye combined cost £12million less than Jordan Henderson) but it takes a long time to forgive and forget relegation. In previous quiet periods he has unleashed bombshells such as the Hughton sacking or the stadium renaming, so a lot of people sometimes worry about what might be around the corner. Hopefully nothing……. WAFR: With Spurs certain to leave White Hart Lane in the next few years what was the Newcastle fans response to the recent name change at St James Park? Mixed – the majority were angered by it as were a lot of supporters of other clubs and some of the media. The local council refuse to acknowledge the new name. My thoughts are that if they bring in money that is properly invested, then crack on! However at the moment it appears to be a free advertising vehicle for Ashley’s company, which I am not comfortable with. Besides, it will always be St James’ Park to most. WAFR: Papiss Demba Cisse’s Newcastle career got of to a flyer against Villa last weekend which naturally has got a lot of pundits very excited. Goal aside, did his overall performance give the impression there is more to come or is he potentially going to be your version of Danny Rose? Considering he had only been back from the ACoN for a couple of days and he came on earlier than expected, he looked very promising. His touch was decent and his movement very good. It would have been nice to ease him in, but we may not have that luxury now. In many ways he looked very Andy Cole-like. WAFR: Typically Harry Redknapp couldn’t keep his mouth shut when asked about Djemba Ba with a lot of talk around this minimum release clause in his contract. Do you think Newcastle will move to make sure they do not lose him during the summer? Having failed medicals within the past 18 months in both Germany and England, there is obviously a problem there. It is one thing taking Demba on a free as we did, quite another paying £10+m for him as someone else would have to, so for that reason he might well stay. Not to mention the fact that Cisse is a good friend of his. Having said that, who knows what is going to happen?! The bloke is a phenomenon. WAFR: What has been the highlight of your season up to this point? Probably the Man United game. Quite a few of us fancied a result, but to obliterate them in the way that we did was tremendous. Ba and Cabaye’s goals were incredible and the atmosphere was as good as it gets. WAFR: Like Newcastle, Spurs fans are generally pretty surprised as to where we are right now – what is your assessment of our season? Superb. After missing out on the Champions League last season, a few Spurs fans that I know feared that the club had missed the chance to progress and were questioning Redknapp. The Modric scenario then came in to play and to bounce back from those things and move on in the way that you have is quite exceptional – I was particularly impressed by your performance at home to Liverpool. WAFR: And as always, let have a score prediction As good a season as we are having, we go in to this game without Steve Taylor, Cabaye and Tiote –I fear the worst. 3 v 1 (my record of forecasting NUFC defeats this season is working brilliantly for us in the other direction!) Follow @MarcSDuffy