December 2008 Archives

NEWCASTLE United's half-term report carries a simple message to a set of players who have been to hell and back during another rollercoaster campaign.

And, after picking up 22 points from 20 games, that message has to be: "Must do better."

The season to date already feels like an eternity to some on Tyneside.

Toon fans have watched Kevin Keegan go out, Joe Kinnear come in, the club go up for sale, then come back off the market and endured a flirtation with relegation - none of it for the faint-hearted - and none of it, as KK himself would say, was "in the brochure".

JOE Kinnear will learn the size of his January transfer budget this morning when he meets Newcastle United's top brass.

And The Journal understands the club are preparing moves for a trio of Championship transfer targets if the Magpies boss gets the green light to spend. After reversing his intention to sell the club, owner Mike Ashley is under intense pressure to provide Kinnear with funds to strengthen a squad ravaged by injury - and he will be aware that the indecision that has typified previous transfer windows must not be repeated.

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HAS a hero ever been so humiliated by his own?

Has a goalkeeper ever conceded five goals at home and still emerged from the debris as man of the match worthy of being decorated for valour?

If United want to retain the services of a loyal Shay Given beyond the upcoming transfer window, then exposing him to the sort of relentless bombardment he received for 90 minutes at the hands of a merciless Liverpool is not the way to do it.

Every Newcastle outfield player should hang his head - none more so than a shambolic, cobbled-together back four who were like chocolate teapots in the heat of Liverpool's firepower.

IT was not a shock to hear Mike Ashley no longer wants to sell up at Newcastle United. No, a shock is finding out Father Christmas appears to be stashing your Christmas presents at the bottom of mum's wardrobe and that he looks a little like your dad when he sneaks into your room in the middle of the night.

To be honest, I've suspected something like this was going to happen for several weeks, if not months. The economy is in disarray and it always appeared a little ambitious to expect anyone to splash out the best part of £300m when we are teetering on the brink of the worst recession/depression since the 1930s.

Ashley's announcement will not have gone down well with many of you I'm sure, but if he can't sell he has to stay, it's as simple as that.

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HE man himself has never been shy of using the odd cliche, so I'll not stand on ceremony now . . .

Thing is, you see, I reckon Newcastle United fans will only know what they had in Alan Oliver now that he's gone.

Any player who racked up 1100-odd appearances for the Magpies across three decades would be immortalised in stone on Northumberland Street.

Yet, for some, familiarity with Olly, who covered at least that many Newcastle league games for the Evening Chronicle, our sister paper, seemingly bred contempt.

So to say my colleague is long overdue his due, as he filed his final Chronicle match report today, is an understatement.

YOU can tell it's Christmas. Not by sports columnists compiling imaginary present lists for the sporting world or the first sighting of the summer holiday adverts in between the repeats on telly, but by the first round of managerial sackings in the Premier League.

As to the first point, you're safe. I've got a long barge pole at the end of comments about "there's only one Wise man at Newcastle".

MICHAEL Owen will delay making an announcement on his future at Newcastle United until the end of the season as the striker refuses to be pressurised into making a decision.

Although United boss Joe Kinnear remains confident Owen will eventually sign a new contract, he has not been given the definitive answer by the player he expected before the end of the year.

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LEGENDARY Newcastle United skipper Bob Moncur has tipped his modern-day equivalent Michael Owen to keep on doing what he does best in a black-and- white shirt.

The Fairs Cup-winning captain feels Owen will give the Magpies nothing but 100%.

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Newcastle fans will be relieved to know they no longer have to spend the Festive period worrying about the possibility they will attack the next person who wishes them a Merry Christmas.

What a difference a week makes. I head off for a break pondering the possibility Newcastle would be in the bottom three by the time I returned to work and instead the Magpies are up to the heady heights of twelfth spot and someone on my web chat on Monday even mentioned a possible push for a European place.

Ah, yes, the good old Newcastle United rollercoaster, full of stomach twisting highs and stomach churning lows. A couple of defeats and the manager is ready for the sack, but grab a couple of wins and they are better than Fabio Capello (copyright Mike Ashley).

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SUPER sub Damien Duff has revealed his delight after scoring his first Premier League goal at St James's Park.

Duff's cameo appearance was a massive contrast to his last run out on Tyneside when he was helpless to prevent Titus Bramble's later header going over the line against Wigan.

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