For a change, a nice change actually, they aren’t questions about money or transfers or ambition. Instead they are answers to bread and butter questions, football questions no less, such as: How will our new signings integrate? What formation will we play? How will the fitness of some of our players holding up? And, most importantly, does it look like we’ve improved?
These are all interesting questions, which will hopefully be answered to our satisfaction over the coming weeks. Of course the real questions start being asked when the Premier League season kicks off in August, but for now we at least get more of a clue than what we have at the moment. I’ve highlighted a few key questions that I’ve been pondering over our football in the forthcoming season.
Who will get the nod in central defence?
This question is answered pretty easily in my opinion. As Zoe highlighted earlier, Steven Taylor enjoyed a purple patch at the back end of last season and was arguably our best performer. He had a chance to stake a claim for a first-team place, and in my opinion he took it with both hands. I reckon it will be him who partners Colo as we head into the later games of the pre-season campaign.
Of course Mike Williamson will not take it lightly and will want to compete for his place. After all, he has played a lot of football for us over the last season and a half and will not want to be displaced. Taylor has the shirt at the moment though, and it’s up to Williamson to try a wrestle it back from him.
How will our midfield operate?
This is a question which pretty much everyone has a different answer to. Midfield is clearly our strongest position at the moment so it will be interesting to see how they all fit in or whether we see a change in formation to assist in accommodating them all.
Will we see Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye being the two who sit that bit deeper and shield the back four whilst having licence to move forward? Will that then mean that we see a more advanced midfield three of say, Jonas Gutierrez, Sylvain Marveaux, and Hatem Ben Arfa operating behind the front man? Don’t forget we also have Joey Barton to fit in, plus a few highly coveted young lads who will no doubt want to feature at some stage. Hopefully we’ll start to see some answers to these questions.
Who will be number one?
Steve Harper? Tim Krul? Or as an outside bet, Fraser Forster? My own personal opinion is that it will be Krul, but it’s far from decided and it’s been said time and time again that all three of them will get the chance to stake their claim to be our main goalkeeper for the new season. An interesting battle awaits.
Injuries!
We’ve got a few players who have come back from a long time on the sidelines. Hatem Ben Arfa is the main one I’m talking about, but we also have Dan Gosling in that same category. Are their problems behind them? Or are they going to suffer and repercussions after being out for so long? I’d like to hope not but I guess you just never know.
Then there are the players who have question marks about their fitness, like Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux. Ba was described as a “ticking time bomb” by Tony Pulis who refused to sign the striker for Stoke due to his well documented knee problem. Incidentally Pulis signd Jonathan Woodgate the other day….
Sylvain Marveaux is the other one who has doubts surrounding him. He’s not played since November but was fit to feature towards the back end of last season. It’s not his fault that his club, Rennes, didn’t play him as he’d already told them he was leaving. Marveaux has passed two medicals over the summer so I’m hopeful that he is alright, but the news that he is being left out of the Darlington friendly will do little to soothe any concerns.
Those are just a few of my own personal questions that I’m waiting to see the answers to. Realistically we can only debate the answers at the moment, but soon we won’t have to and we’ll hopefully have proper answers to all of those questions supplied via the medium of actually watching football and not Twitter, rumour sites, accounts etc etc.
Strange concept I know!
Do you guys and gals have any burning football questions that you are waiting to see that answers to?
Not again 🙄
jay jay(Quote)
they say krul has been told hes no1 weather thats true is anyone guess,i do worry about injurys like with a couple of our signings 😕
icedog(Quote)
Jay Jay – What’s not again? 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
The Undersoil Heating was Paid for from the Olympic Fund Grant..According to Le’Equipe .
ashley is takeing us fans for a ride again 👿 👿
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
Check your inbox toonsy 😥
jay jay(Quote)
TOONSY hes spllt his pint @3 😀
icedog(Quote)
Loving the mention Toonsy 😆
Zoë Vicarage(Quote)
PIAG now shocks me m8 with this crowd
icedog(Quote)
Jay Jay – Got it. What’s wrong? 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
It’s just like this mate 😆
jay jay(Quote)
Everyone will be ****…or injured! 😆
witters(Quote)
Jay – No it isn’t. Yours looks at the team. This is just random questions that will soon be answered. I was just editing yours but my laptop appears to have given up the ghost for the evening 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Ok then mate, all is not lost 🙂
jay jay(Quote)
Witters – When you say ****, do you mean sold on for profit so Ashley can put more money in his back pocket? 😉
toonsy(Quote)
I think we will find out alot tomorrow and in USA. How good cabaye will be and how pards will set up the team. Let’s hope for some decent performances
Raffo(Quote)
well lads have we signed anyone yet 😆 whats the latest on Zog I heard he is going to Villa ? I wonder if cwarr will delete his account as he said 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – Of course he’ll delete it mate. He’ll be getting **** because he hasn’t paid the money promised to the Sir Bobby foundation as a result of one of his ridiculous claims 😆
toonsy(Quote)
I don’t drink on school nights icedog 🙂
jay jay(Quote)
Does anyone know what make up of a squad is going to Darlington tomorrow.
You get buggar all information from the official website.
Read earlier that Marveux and Xisco were not fit.
How the hell can Xisco not be fit please tell me
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
TlR – I’ll be doing something about that for tomorrow mate 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Aye Toonsy that as well 😀
witters(Quote)
How the hell can Xisco not be fit please tell me.
——————————–
He either sprained a thumb county his money or pulled a muscle laughing at Dennis Wise
MDS(Quote)
He seized up probably 😉
jay jay(Quote)
Must be a fecking hard life for Xisco eh? People say give him a chance when the **** hasn’t even got the nouse to stay fit. Not interested in football at all the little turd burgler 👿
toonsy(Quote)
Jay what made him seize up but, I heard on twitter it was a groin strain 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
tomo night is all about seeing HBA – buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Think Xisco needs to get out and play and f ucking break a neck doing so .. mebs he get a couple of goals and then sweet we won’t need to buy anyone .. how funny would that be if pardew came out and said, reet Xisco is playing sweet, we aren’t gon buy another striker … Bobbys bullshit bus would spring a leak and bust a gasket and Hitman would explode . . hahahaahah
TOONPIPES(Quote)
For anyone attending the matches stateside, I just got this message from the folks at toonarmyusa:
Alright fellow Toon fans – it’s almost time! We’re less than a week away from kickoff against Sporting KC next Wednesday, July 20th. Flights, hotels, tickets, all sorted out – now comes the fun part: events around the matches! Details are below for the events we’ve finalized and there are a few more hopefully coming together!
First Stop – Kansas City:
We’ve arranged for a get together for all Toon fans on Tuesday night before the match at Johnny’s Tavern at 1310 Grand Blvd. There will be drink specials with Newcastle Brown Ale and some selctions from a local KC brewery. If you’re getting in town the day before the match, it will be a good time to come down and share a pint or two. We’ll start getting there anytime after 5PM
On matchday, our friends at “I wish I was a Geordie” (www.newcastleunited.us) are sponsoring a pre-match tailgate, with some Newcastle Brown Ale being supplied by Village West Liquors of Kansas City (villagewestliquors.com). Follow them on Twitter (@NUFC_US) on match day for the exact location of the tailgate.
Also, Sporting KC have set up a VIP package for fans wishing to attend a training session on Tuesday the 19th for those fans who are also purchasing or already have a match ticket.
Package price – $100
-Practice at 7-8:30pm, and will last approximately 1 hour (start time subject to change).
-Guests have access to Field Club, and will sit in Field side seats for practice.
o Light appetizers will be provided, along with soda/water.
o Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase
-Autograph session to follow in Field Club after practice
Also Includes:
o Split SKC/NUFC commemorative scarf
o VIP Credential
To purchase your pass to this special practice/autograph session, please contact JAMES BRYANT of Sporting Kansas City at 913.951.3555 or [email protected]. Space is limited, so make your arrangements ASAP if you don’t want to miss out!
Orlando:
Events are still being finalized for Orlando. Look for updates from us on Facebook and Twitter as they come together!
Columbus:
Join us at Fourth Street Bar (Follow them @FourthStreetBar on Twitter) pre match for some food, drinks, games, and fun! Happy hour starts at 3 and we’ve arranged to have drink specials and some BBQ for purchase.
http://fourthstreetpatio.com/
1810 N 4th St
Columbus, OH 43201
We’ll also be heading back to the bar post match to continue the fun
MDS(Quote)
I think we will have a natural rotation with all the injuries we are used to have. Must be some sort of curse.
Ohh and Lualua going on loan to brighton???? with view to permenent deal.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
MDS – Speaking of you Americans, by god you are ignorant 😆
I’ve e-mailed loads of US based NUFC fan clubs about doing something together and not one of them had the courtesy to respond 👿
toonsy(Quote)
Xisco stunk on loan in Spain, so I’m not holding out much hope for him anymore. He will collect his Newcastle money and then sink into the lower leagues once he is a free agent.
BeeGuy(Quote)
Toonsy I think my mob is on opera ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Beeguy – I agree, and some would say fair play. I just can’t believe the lad doesn’t even look like he wants to bother. No effort or intent. Nothing. Cut the brake pipes on his car and get rid of the little waster 👿
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy…at least they didn’t fire air to ground missiles & blow you to smitherines 😆
witters(Quote)
They’re a bunch of jackasses. They never respond to me either. They have no organization, though I think the one group is looking for these friendlies as a way to start something
I do like that guy’s articles on the I Wish I Were A Geordie site- never even heard of that site until today.
MDS(Quote)
Dave – Your phone is that old it was around when Operas were first written 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Witters – I’ll not be allowed into the US anyway 🙂
MDS – Ignore him, like he ignored me 👿 Dies he know who I am 😆
toonsy(Quote)
LOL- I just saw he links Ed’s and .org but not yours. Fk him then- my loyalty’s right here 😉
MDS(Quote)
Toonsy 😆 apart from txting and phoning, all I know is how to get on to the blog with it, I thought the sat nav would have been handy but I dont know how to work it 😀 I hate new phones when my contract is up I normally give the kids the new phone when I renew
Big Dave(Quote)
MDS – It wasn’t even a link I was enquiring about. Link exchanges are ten a penny anyway. But anyway, it was ignored 🙄
toonsy(Quote)
Dave – Get with the new age man. Go on. You’ll not look back 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Like I said. Fk ’em
MDS(Quote)
evening lads
will the friendly be on the intenet tomora nyt u think??
dave we signed any1??
😀 😀 😀 😀
Army69(Quote)
Keegan was right – Pardew was never going to get the Carroll money. If Pardew is trying to convince us that agents fees and undersoil heating have taken it all we don’t believe it. Wages come from regular income not capital received and we have got rid of wages to Campbell, Kuqi, Nolan, Lualua, Routledge and aim to save more on Smith Best and Ranger.
What we are told just doesn’t add up.
Blaydonson(Quote)
press confrence: ashley & llambias announcing there engagement,telling everybody how in love they are!!! 😆 😆 😆
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
and the puppet pardew is the best man
pavel is a geordie(Quote)
Will the game be online… ❓
American geordie(Quote)
Be nice to see some football again. I’m well past reading the views of those who can foresee the future with clarity and who know the details of boardroom talks at NUFC and who can read the minds of managers, chairmen and owners.
I think our season will hinge on whether:
a) Players stay fit
b) The Frenchies settle
c) Pardew has the tactical nouse.
Howay les garcons!
Brisvegas(Quote)
In the latest press conference, pardew actually says, “I’ve been honest in terms of the money.”
Which obviously made me snort in derision, but then he goes on to talk about how the club’s accounts are set up to improve the team for the next 3 or so years…
That’s how the money is going right back into the club. It’s just not going to immediately at all. A$$holes
AndrewT(Quote)
The statement’s on the mirror site.
Sorry to talk about the money again. It just can’t go away
AndrewT(Quote)
My one question to the Newcastle hierachy will be how is a player worth 12mil in January worthless now?? Should have at least made an attempt for n’zogbia so I’m not happy at all
Stevieboitoon(Quote)
heard xisco hurt himself carrying his ill gotten gains to the bank lmao 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
STEVIEBOITOON
why should we when we have enough players who can play there be dumb to waste money on him
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)