October 2008 Archives

NEWCASTLE United's two most senior outfield players, Michael Owen and Nicky Butt, returned to training today after their respective groin and ankle injuries.

But Joe Kinnear warned that, should the club captain and his vice-captain put themselves up for selection for Monday night's game with Aston Villa at St James's Park, they will not automatically walk straight into the side.

And the United interim boss revealed that Charles N'Zogbia's absence from first-team action in the past couple of games has been because the French Under-21 international has been suffering from a couple of "niggly injuries".

Continue reading »

WELL we have something to thank Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez for at least because, let's be honest, Kevin Keegan didn't know a thing about him before he took part in his first training session - Jonas Gutierrez.

The Argentinean was simply superb in the 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion until six weeks without football caught up with him in the second half and his heavy legs struggled to carry him around the pitch.

Hardworking, skilful, tough, the only problem with a player like this is holding on to him. When you consider this was only his sixth game in England and his first start since August, I thought the former Real Mallorca winger was sensational and has been all season.

Continue reading »

THEY finally did it, didn't they? Picked up a vital second victory of the season.

But not before Newcastle United nearly let the water in.

After a sparkling first half, things went badly wrong for United about the time Joe Kinnear stormed out of the dug-out and fell on to his backside over the water bottles.

Joe solved the problem. He moved the water bottles.

But the United manager found it much harder to come up with the tactics to stop the Baggies running all over his side in the second half.

Continue reading »

AND let's hope it continues!

3 points at last - a good result, and a great first-half performance against West Brom, and the faintest glimmer of hope from Joey Barton, (even if we were a bit shaky in patches).

Since ownership issues don't look anywhere near being resolved in the foreseeable future, we are going to all need to get gehind Joe Kinnear and see what he can do in the time available, however long that may be.

I personally don't have a problem with this; he seems to have calmed the lads down and got them playing decent football in spells, and I think this will only improve as he gets more players returning to fitness...

NOBODY will be getting too carried away with it but as far as Newcastle United's recovery is concerned the three points picked up against West Brom represent the moment that the Magpies beat the count and climbed back to their feet again.

Floored by Sunderland in their last game and sent tumbling to the canvas, Newcastle probably threw a few punches as well in the game with the Baggies - and now have the bit between their teeth once more.

And in the middle of it all was the man with so much to prove, Joey Barton.

Continue reading »

JOE KINNEAR will make a late decision on who will lead Newcastle United out in tonight's home game with West Brom.

Former skipper Geremi is out of the frame, leaving United's interim manager admitting it is a choice between keeper Shay Given and England Under-21 skipper Steven Taylor.

Kinnear has already settled on his team, but he said: "I've got a decision to make on my captain as Michael Owen and Nicky Butt are both unavailable.

Continue reading »

WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE CAPTAIN FOR THE GAME AGAINST WEST BROM?

AFTER a technological meltdown on Monday which prompted one member of staff to threaten to throw his computer out of the window in a hissy fit the post derby web chat will take place on Tuesday at 12pm.

Sorry for the problems on Monday, but it was out of our hands I'm afraid. Hope you've still got some comments to make and some questions to ask. You may even just want to talk about the WBA game and forget all about last weekend.

THE blue Monday feeling on Tyneside ended on somewhat of a positive note at Victoria Park tonight as one for the future in Samuel Ameobi gave evidence that he could follow in the footsteps of his big brother Shola against Hartlepool United.

In the wonderfully named Totesportcasino.com Cup it was 16-year-old Sammy who kept cup hopes alive for the second string with a double blast his big bro would have been proud of.

United had to fight back from behind though to do it after Hartlepool hit back from a goal down.

Continue reading »

HE WAS unable to avoid making a controversial return to the first team at Sunderland last weekend but Joey Barton will still make his first start for Newcastle in more than five months against West Bromwich Albion tonight.

Barton was predictably targeted by opposition fans during the 2-1 derby defeat on Saturday and while the troubled midfielder was more of a victim on that occasion, as he was pelted with coins and bottles as he warmed up, he inflamed the situation when he kissed his Newcastle badge in response.

That latest episode, though, has done nothing to dampen the support Barton has received in the dressing room with Cameroon international Geremi arguing the man he has known at Newcastle is a completely different person to the reputation he heard before they were team-mates.

Continue reading »

THE gap between Newcastle and Sunderland has grown to six points in the Premier League table, but it will only get bigger as these two bitter rivals appear to be heading in opposite directions.

Sunderland's derby win might be explained as a flukey one off by the most stubborn United fan, a rare cause for celebration on Wearside, an aberration, but there was nothing lucky about it. Sunderland were the better side and deserved their first home win over the old enemy in 28 years. As things stand, they won't have to wait nearly as long for their next one. The end of January at St James's Park perhaps?

The Black Cats look like a club on the up, they have built up momentum over the past two years and, although they still look short in certain areas and will probably finish somewhere in mid-table, they look like a stronger club on the whole, well run by chairman Niall Quinn and superbly managed by Roy Keane without any boardroom interference.

Continue reading »