November 2009 Archives
STEVE HARPER has sympathised with supporters after Newcastle United were handed an 834-mile round trip to face Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round.
But the long-serving stopper has pledged that Toon players will still be gunning for glory in the competition.
Harper hopes to be able to train this week after suffering a back spasm in the 3-0 win over Swansea City saw him subtituted at half-time.
MARLON Harewood has warned Newcastle United that the hard work to get back into the Premier League hasn't even begun yet - as he re-stated his desire to see out the season at St James' Park.
The on-loan striker scored twice to help United to a 3-0 defeat of Swansea City and provide Chris Hughton with a reminder of his ability after enduring a barren run in front of goal since his debut strike against QPR.
It extended United's advantage over third-placed Leicester City to eight points but Harewood has stressed that comfort zone can quickly evaporate, and feels there are far too many games left to start talking about promotion.
SO it's the visit of Swansea this week as Newcastle United try to stay at the top of the Championship and keep their good run of form going.
I'll be at St James' Park to bring you all the colour and drama from a game which promises to be another stern test of the Toon's title credentials.
The Swans are forth in the table under former midfield star Paolo Sousa and will be looking to mount their own promotion challenge ahead of the testing Christmas period.
It's a 3pm Saturday kick-off for the Magpies for the first time in what seems like ages, and of course it's not on TV, so why not join in here for a bit of banter.
And as an added bonus, we'll also have some Swansea fans watching and taking part as we're letting our sister paper get involved, so lets show them some real Geordie hospitality.
Just come back here from 2.45pm or click below to set a reminder.
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JONAS GUTIERREZ is hoping that he can put memories of his glaring miss at Deepdale behind him against Swansea City.
And he has promised fans he intends to whip out his Spiderman mask at St James' Park tomorrow if he nets against Paulo Sousa's boys.
The Argentine somehow blazed his late effort into the Bill Shankly Kop at Preston on Monday night when it looked easier to score.
Yet wing man Jonas says he hopes to tangle the Swans in his web when they visit St James' for the first time in a league game since 1984 and the playing days of Kevin Keegan.
CHRIS Hughton has re-assured Newcastle United fans that midfield talisman Kevin Nolan will not be leaving St James' Park after holding his first pre-transfer window briefing with Mike Ashley.
The United owner was at the club's Benfield Park training ground yesterday on a routine visit to talk shop with managing director Derek Llambias and Hughton - one of Ashley's first flying visits since confirming his appointment as permanent boss.
The United manager is looking to strengthen his squad, but is also aware of growing interest in one of his star performers, Kevin Nolan - with Everton boss David Moyes an interested onlooker as the midfielder produced a moment of inspiration to steal three points at Preston on Monday.
CHRIS HUGHTON will attempt to make Matt Kilgallon his first cash signing as Newcastle United boss.
The Toon manager tried to sign the Sheffield United ace, who is available for a nominal fee in January, in August before the transfer window slammed shut.
And he enquired about the former England Under-21 international and ex-Leeds United man ahead of tonight's transfer loan deadline.
MOVES to bring the World Cup to the North East kick off today as bosses hand in their bids to host the football tournament.
Delegates from Newcastle Gateshead and Sunderland have travelled to London to submit their formal applications to be included in England's bid to be a host city in either 2018 or 2022.
Officials have spent months producing detailed documents outlining what each area has to offer, including training bases, hotels and fan parks.
Now, the applications are being handed over at the new Wembley stadium during a series of special ceremonies.
Toon Legends including Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Jack Charlton are at the venue for the event, while Sunderland's delegation includes chairman Niall Quinn, striker Kenwyne Jones, and chief executive of Sunderland City Council Dave Smith.
We'll be providing live coverage from the capital and bringing you interviews with the main players as they seek to put the North East on the global stage.
We also want your thoughts on the bids, and with Newcastle United pushing for an immediate return to the Premier League, and Sunderland making moves towards the top half of the division, it's a great time for the region to highlight what we have to offer.
To get involved, come back here from 11.30am or click below to set a reminder.
STEVE Harper insists promotion is more important that winning the Championship as he expressed his delight at seeing Newcastle United prove they are tougher than they look this season.
The Magpies are top of the table, but are just two points above second-placed West Brom, and Harper is guarded against falling into the complacency trap.
And, while some have already begun to talk about this United side emulating the achievements of Kevin Keegan's 1993 Championship title-winning squad, Harper knows promotion is all that ultimately matters.
CHRIS HUGHTON is eyeing Saturday's home game with Swansea City as the ideal opportunity to hand Fabrice Pancrate his Newcastle United debut.
The Frenchman's first taste of life in the Coca-Cola Championship came at Preston North End on Monday night where he looked on from the bench as an unused sub at Deepdale.
Hughton has admitted it crossed his mind a couple of times to hand the 29-year-old former Paris St Germain winger his Toon bow, but with the game turning out to be a tight affair, he resisted.
STEVEN Taylor's growing understanding with Fabricio Coloccini is helping Newcastle United to "win ugly" - something which the 23-year-old hopes they continue to make a habit of this season.
The Magpies' latest 1-0 victory - at Preston North End on Monday - was far from a classic.
But a ninth clean sheet this term highlighted their new-found solidity. Taylor puts that down to a settled combination at the back, and singled out his much-maligned central defensive partner Coloccini for praise. "Preston threw a few different types of strikers at us, but I thought we dealt with them really well," commented Taylor. "I thought the defence was fantastic. Jose (Enrique) and Danny (Simpson) did really well, and I feel I've got a really good understanding with Coloccini at the minute.
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