Time will tell on that, but right now we have Tottenham Hotspur to take care of as they roll up to St James’ Park with a new man at the helm looking to arrest an alarming run of form at the Cathedral on the Hill.
Andre Villa-Boas is the new man in charge at White Hart Lane these days and he will bring his Lillywhites to Newcastle looking to improve on a rather abysmal league record that has seen them win just three games on Tyneside since the inception of the Premier League, with the last win coming way back in 2004! Since then there have been six meetings between the two sides in the North East with Newcastle tasting victory four times and the spoils being shared on the other two occasions.
Newcastle
New signing Vurnon Anita is fit and ready to play a part although I’m not sure whether he will be given the nod from the start having only arrived from Ajax yesterday. It’s possible though, and both manager and player have said that he could be an option due to his fitness levels built up with Ajax, and they know far more than many of us do.
Besides that the news for Newcastle is pretty grim. On the plus side, Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse look like they will be fine to feature. However Demba Ba is struggling with a shin complaint and Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote have trained this week but all have question marks over their fitness. Sammy Ameobi is definitely out.
Tottenham
The thing about Tottenham is that they are kind of rebuilding at the moment, and it’s a work in progress. Luka Modric is unlikely to play as he waits to finalise his protracted move to Real Madrid, but it’s up front where they have a problem with Jermaine Defoe being their only recognised first team striker at the moment.’Elsewhere Scott Parker is out but aside from that Villas-Boas has a full squad to choose from.
Final thoughts…
I’ll skip the history as I got carried away with myself and covered it earlier, so now it’s straight onto thoughts about the game itself.
If it wasn’t for the injuries I would be confident of a win for our boys to kick the season off with. This is not to say we can’t get a win regardless, but missing a few of our players hits us quite hard in certain areas and it kind of balances our Spurs’ relative weakness in attack.
Well I say weakness, but they still have Jermaine Defoe who has proved he is a top striker over the years and always seems to love playing against us, as does Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale. However the one area where we are going to be at our strongest is in defence with a first choice pairing of Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor flanked either side by Davide Santon and Danny Simpson protecting Tim Krul between the sticks.
It’s midfield where I worry though, especially in the centre and even more so should Yohan Cabaye and Cheik Tiote fail to make it. Personally I think Tiote will make it but Cabaye will miss out thanks to a lack of football in pre-season owing to tiredness, something that Tiote has managed to avoid while playing games throughout pre-season so his fitness should be at a higher level. If neither make it what are the options? Dan Gosling? Vurnon Anita? James Perch? I think so as I don’t think any of our young lads like Mehdi Abeid or Gael Bigirimana will be thrown in just yet.
Up front it’s simple really. No Demba Ba means Shola Ameobi will partner Papiss Cisse up front but before people scoff just remember Shola’s rocket from last season against the same opposition where he came off the bench and rescued a point for us. Shola Ameobi as a front two leaves me feeling less pensive than just playing Shola Ameobi up front on his own, put it that way!
In conclusion the time for talking and debate is nearly over, transfer speculation can take a back seat for at least a day or two and we can concentrate on that green piece of grass in the middle of St James’ Park once more. It’s been a long time coming…
Howay the lads!
Venue: St James’ Park
Date: Saturday, 18th August, 2012
Kick-off: 5:30pm – Live on ESPN
Newkie you’ve followed the toon long enough to know how quickly the wheels can come off the toon chariot mate… 🙁
I mean a few yonks ago we were basking in the Champs League giving it lowdy, thinking we’ve made it big, a few years later we’re getting cuffed by Southend and stuff….
By the way Chrissy Houghton is a legend…
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM @ 146 I have noticed a lot of ones saying that a lot of the bigger teams arn’t all that and that they have wasted money on this and that and some haven’t really strengthened 😀
as for SAF not caring about Manures future I think that total BS he cares as much about Manure as anyone and I think £20 mil to them will be chicken feed if he helps them win back the prem
Big Dave(Quote)
MM @ 149 😆 😆 as for Richie yeah it’s been quiet at times without him, hopefully it won’t be long till he’s back on slagging Aussie while we’re slagging him 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE so you took my advice @126 or chose to ignore it 😆 😆
MM my glass is always full took me a few yrs to knock wor lass in shape but shes learning 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Munich-Ahh right I get you-yeah I know, I’m always braced for an inevitable **** up around the corner and I don’t think Mikey will ever be able to shake that now, but there we go. I just meant enjoying the ride and being happy with what we did last year and what we could do this year, all positive stuff 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Ice…you would think Big D would know by now you’re always right mate… 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
Ice 🙄 sorry I only seen it there now I can ignore most things and very little gets to me but when I have pulled him up on it several times and he still hasn’t admitted that tells me it wasn’t a simple misquote but a lie and I hate Liars always have and always will 👿
MDS @ 125 sorry mate both well not really because if im misquoted normally if you bring it to someones attention they will admit there mistake or correct it but if they don’t and try to ignore it while still trying to make you out to be a ******** thats even worse than being told to get behind the team ( Lads) 😈
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie, you’re a steady lad and know where the toon are coming from…
Enjoy it while we can, cos contrary to what a lot of fans think, we are not traditionally one of the “big clubs”, though we did rattle a few cages last season…
In fact we have always done that, that’s the beauty of following the toon…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Yeah despite Manure’s debt they are THE global football brand, nobody else really comes close. 20 mil is pocket change, despite the debt. It is interesting in the fact that it could well hurt the futures of Hernandez and particularly Welbeck. Welbeck is overrated (what’s new, he’s english) and I’m not his biggest fan, but he’s young and he’s got talent, and he needs to keep playing. Looks like he’ll just be there for when Van Persies glass legs go again.
Newkie(Quote)
So Ice have you thought anymore about how long we should give Richie off when he gets back ? I know we were thinking about 2-3 days but should we give him that long ? 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Munich-Aye, all true (not sure about the steady lad bit 😉 ). Entertainment through good football and a general “circus” like appearance/approach to everything, with a bit of cage rattling to keep the big boys on their toes.
Hopefully some day soon one of them will trip and we can snatch a bit of glory too 😛
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie, to be honest, apart from a couple of FAC finals in years gone by, I reckon the Euro League could be a good outlet this season… 😉 Depends if we take it serious or not I suppose…
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM aye mate have aways enjoyed the toon ride and boy has it been a strange one most of the time,seen it all heard it all before over the yrs,yes its took a while to keep dave right but hes getting there slowly,hes used to stabbing people with needles and getting payed for it,i use knifes and dont even get credit for it 😀 😀 things not shared oot fair 😉
icedog(Quote)
DAVE ive thought on it and your reet,i think ill allow him two comments,want him to feel at home quickly 😀
icedog(Quote)
Ice what was it like for the 1st 10 yrs or so after we were formed ❓ as for stabbing people where your going wrong is that instead of just stabbing them you should advertise yours as scarification because people think they’re getting something cool and will pay good money for that 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Icedog/Big D…I always have to hark back to the poor lad getting the muckle Andy Cole tattoo the day before we sold him to Manure… 😕
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich-Yeah definitely, I mean you look at the teams that qualify and think why not? We’re one of the best sides that has qualified. Problem comes in with the CL drop outs. Fair enough they may not take it that seriously, but the fact that teams like City and Manure can drop into it just like that kind of undermines the whole thing….although it was nice that they both got dumped out of both competitions last year 😉
Newkie(Quote)
DAVE i still remember you pushing me in the pushchair when you went to get wor hughie to sign your footy top 😉
icedog(Quote)
Newkie…it’s out of order that the Champs League drop-outs get a second chance…but that’s money talking for you … 👿 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)
Iced@168… 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Night night peeps…. 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM I have a toon badge on my leg and I was going to get return of the king across the top and KK and the date at the bottom when he came 2nd time round 😆 but that wouldn’t be as bad,
Newkie I think we both agree that we should take the EL seriously and try to win it, as for the CL teams dropping into it imo thats just rewarding them for failure and isn’t fair
Big Dave(Quote)
Munich-Aye, they just do it to keep people interested I suppose. And by people I mean the armies of glory hunters across Europe 😆 🙄
Night dude, take it easy
Newkie(Quote)
MM so long old bean 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave-Aye exactly…hopefully we’ll have better luck with these random European sides than we seem to have with bloody non-prem clubs in the domestic cups 👿
Yup, all to cater to the big clubs and their trophy cabinets I guess 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
The wait is over for another year.
DJG(Quote)
It feels like xmas eve. 😛
DJG(Quote)
Newkie I think it demeans it and could stop other teams taking it more serious
Big Dave(Quote)
DJG-176 so true!
Dave-Yeah, and it’s quite the insult for smaller teams (which includes us I guess but I meant a lot smaller 😉 ) who work so hard in their own leagues to get a spot to play in Europe only to have an absolute giant drop down and usually rob them of their hard work. I can’t quite remember how it works, is it teams that finished third in the group stage of CL drop into it? Or was it third and fourth 😕 Think it might be both, 8 CL teams or so? 👿
Newkie(Quote)
Hello all, I’m very near Newcastle now (hiking up at Hadrian’s wall!) and coming to watch the game tomorrow!
Where’s a good place for a pre-game pint?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Finally! I’ve been trying to post that message for HOURS!
I’m up near Steel Rigg, if any of youse know the place–near Haltwhistle. I just had a pint if Cumberland Ale… Getting closer to the toon…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Fucking windy and wild out here… Why exactly did them Romans want to hold this place? It’s amazingly beautiful up here on the border o the national park… But there is nothing out here! I guess that’s the nature of frontiers.
Fuckingb beautiul though… We’ve been traveling around England for 10 days or so and my little woman likes it up here in the windy wilds the best.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC-I was gunna say, still walking at this hour? 😆
As for recommending anywhere I’m not much help, don’t spend much time in the toon unfortunately, the only place I go to before a match when I’m up there is my “local” which is actually a rugby club in Gateshead 😕
Newkie(Quote)
I don’t know if Gateshead will help for tomorrow but thanks Newkie!
Anybody else?
I just realized the clouds have blown over a bit and maybe I can see the lights of Newcastle from here! Going to wLk out to try to catch a few strays from the Perseid meteor shower…. Check in again shortly…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC
You have a multitude of bars in the toon before and after the game.
Shark Bar, Shearers, Rosie’s, Bodega and many more all next to the ground and chokka before the games with great atmospheres.
Avoid the Irish club afterwards though as you might bump into me wearing my trunks and cape. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Humpty @135, I have taken the time to go back and re-read two points that you pulled me up on.
My comment about your delivering a skip load of ***** was nothing to do with the Carroll cash saga. It was in response to your comment that every club has a wage cap and it was ludicrous to suggest otherwise. I couldn’t hack the hypocrisy of the Sweeping Statement Police coming out with that one and getting away with it, whilst sucking on helium. We had also been accused by Jon R of nit picking and my response was to him.
The reason for my comment about reeling you in like a catfish (followed by a smiley) was simply this. You kept going on “tell me your figures, we have should have IRO of £25M to £30M, justify your statement, we have made profits on players since the last accounts, show me where the money has gone, just look at the time since the last Carroll cash …” For bad, because you were nibbling big style for an argument, I thought I would first put Llambias’ arguments, which do have some degree of merit. Quite how much, I don’t know. Whilst they are not my arguments (hence the comment) I do not believe that your calculations are anywhere near as black and white as you make them out to be. Moreover, I felt anyone would find it difficult to forensically analyse the financial position to prove him wrong so wondered how you could be so dogmatic. Besides, you would only accuse me of twisting the argument or changing the point if I did not deal directly with the figures and the precise point you insisted on concentrating on. I knew that Llambias’ arguments had little to do with the reason I made my original statement, which I could justify in my own way, on my own terms, given the chance at any time.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Newkie @182
Which one? I probably know it.
DJG(Quote)
FSOTC – definitely avoid the Irish club afterwards
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Whey!
Cannit wait
Moreno(Quote)
Troy I can imagine you in Rosie’s with a sheepskin coat after the match, talking to any poor fecker that’ll listen. 😆
DJG(Quote)
Stood out on the B6318, looking for shooting stars, but no luck. May have seen a Roman ghost or two with my iPod flashlight…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
FSOTC-Yeah, basically I was saying I’m no help for a good place near the ground 😀
DJG-It’s the one in Low fell mate 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Great screamin’ Jesus, Troy, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that!
Hey, ain’t this Rodzers O’clock? Where is that sonumbitch?
It’s cold as a witch’s *** up here. Is this really August?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Supposed to be a nice day tomorrow afternoon. Heatwave daawn saawf.
DJG(Quote)
FSOTC, I am in Scotland mate and apart from the daily torrential downpour the weather is warm and dead canny.
Nowt like walking to work in the warmth in a coat. You have to as it’s been torrential downpour for about 3 months so you end up sweating your tits off with it being so bloody hot at the same time!
Moreno(Quote)
We used to go to The Goose for cheap doubles before the games. Haven’t got down there early enough for drinks before a game in ages though 🙁
Moreno(Quote)
Not sure if I want Krul in my fantasy team….21% of people have him now 😯
Newkie(Quote)
Anyone got a league for the premierleague fantasy footy to send me to join?
Moreno(Quote)
Same question as Moreno… 😀
Come on Toonsy stop slacking and sort one out for us 😎
Newkie(Quote)
I could just do one now but a bit short notice for the deadline to be in I think? I’ll have a look
Moreno(Quote)
Well. Another cloud break, but no shooing star omen….
Moreno, my hands are too cold to type much more here…
Current temp in my home turf, NYC, is 85F… How do you all manage?
Off to bed before my wife kills me…. Maybe see some of you tomorrow…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Right so code league is 1714976-385368 once you register Newkie, might just be me and thee though haha
Moreno(Quote)
One more thought… It looks like a beautiful day tomorrow for the game… Amazing…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
That’s fine, maybe we could call it the Shola Appreciation League? Think it’s just me and you in that too 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Canny name but already done and my team is called Shola’s Slayers 😈
Moreno(Quote)
FSOTC-Enjoy yourself buddy 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Ahh shame…Great name choice, almost as good as Santiago Munez FC 😉 Gunna have to get Shola in the team for the derby weeks though…
Newkie(Quote)
Double game week for Reading..hmm.. 😕
Newkie(Quote)
@DJG
I stand at the corner of stowell street with my loud haler and recite verses from Shakespeare.
I take the loud haler so I can be heard over B&B. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, when you and BB go to games, do you sit next to each other? If so, do you actually watch any of the footie or? 😆
Newkie(Quote)
@Dave
Surely the whole point of the “neggers” things was that you believed the likes of Carroll hadn’t been replaced? And that we had ruined the team spirit by selling Barton etc? Which you “may” have gone along with…
So if we finished 11th with Carroll then surely you expected us to finish considerably lower without him/Barton/Enrique/Nolan ❓
Again this may have been some other people last year. I find it hard to believe but I apologise if you weren’t one of them.
No drop the tiring act of dropping my name in when I’m not present at the blog.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
I’ll hold my hands up and say I said that…yet my opinion was based on cold hard facts about the conduct of the regime in the prior years.
They have recently seemed to learn from their mistakes and had success on a lot of calculated gambles (with our scout at the helm of that side of the operation) and for that we are a better team.
However, you are speaking with hindsight of events after the sale of those key players and we were speaking of the facts we knew at the time so it’s easy to look down on others for what they may have said with that benefit
Moreno(Quote)
@Moreno,
I’m not looking down on others for having view in the slightest, as you say it’s easy to judge with hindsight.
I’m more just urging caution as some expectations of our squad after one good year have escalated wildly.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
It’s tomorrow! Howay the lads.
Newcastle shirt on. Newcastle socks on. Television? good, still working. Only 15 hours to go.
And joined the nufcblog.co.uk Championship fantasy league. Aiming for a top 5 finish; anything else will be an abject failure. 😀 And if I finish below 10th I’ll show my **** in Fenwick’s window.
brisvegas(Quote)
@Moreno
The comments made in those years from the doubters was fully justified.
You can only play with the hand you were dealt with.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Begas
You love quoting me don’t you? 😆
So you wear the toon top and socks? 😯
Thats perverted! Get some trunks on man! 😆
Are there many footy fans in your neighbourhood?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Bris,
Nice one fella…I am working first game of the season and it’s televised..sickener
Troy,
There are still some things that are unforgivable that those lot have written in the annals of our history which a few good seasons haven’t swayed for me and likely never will!
Moreno(Quote)
Troy: You’re very quotable – I’ll give you that 😆
I know a few people around here, but only one pommie. Strangely, and I’ve wondered about this many times, most people I know are not Stralians by birth – Spanish, German, Greek, Maltese, Lithuanian. Been like that since I arrived here 30-odd years ago.In the main, the people I played football with were Greek, Arab, Malaysian, Croat, and few Scots.
The only Aussies I have ever known well were people I worked with.
brisvegas(Quote)
Bris-Sound’s like you’ve been lucky out there then 😉
Newkie(Quote)
It took me a few years to settle in Australia because I couldn’t speak broken English. 😆
Mind, there were a few who thought I couldn’t speak English at all. One guy, an Iraqi I think he was, once asked me if I spoke a dialect of German.
brisvegas(Quote)
And by then I thought I’d done well to lose my Geordie accent.
brisvegas(Quote)
Bris, when I lived out there most of my family also moved out, and three of my aunts had married Geordie lads before moving out there. The amount of times that aussies thought we were Irish or Scottish was unbelievable, apparently in school they thought my cousin was Scandinavian 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Fast forward 20 years, playing in an over 35s league, one of the guys from the club’s younger team was surprised to find out that I was English – he said he thought I was Australian, but with an education. 😆 😆 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
I was a youngun so I picked up that whiney accent pretty quick…now I’m stuck saying northern/aussie phrases with a sort of neutral/welsh accent. Right mongrel 😕
Newkie(Quote)
Aye, Newkie, I’ve been taken for Irish, Welsh, Scottish, German, Australian and, bizarely, Canadian.
brisvegas(Quote)
Australian with education? My god… 😆
All I seem to remember being taught was that the British came over and destroyed the aboriginies homes and their culture, but the noble Australian convicts managed to overthrow said government and nowadays don’t treat the “abbos” bad at all 🙄 😆
Meanwhile they still vote to keep the queen. I just don’t get em 😕
Newkie(Quote)