Bore draw! Norwich 0-0 Newcastle

No winners at Carrow Road
No winners at Carrow Road
Two poor sides played out an abysmal 0-0 draw at Carrow Road yesterday afternoon, although from a Newcastle United perspective it has to be viewed as a point gained.

That’s not a reflection on the game itself as both sides struggled to present any real goal threat but is instead more of a reflection on our form which has seen us fail to pick up points on far too many occasions this season.

Another couple of positive points were the fact that we kept a clean sheet – just the third of the season by my reckoning although that could be wrong – plus there was the reintroduction of Yohan Cabaye and a solid yet unspectacular debut from his pal Mathieu Debuchy. I’d also be tempted to say fair play to Fabricio Coloccini who put in a professional performance despite the speculation regarding his ongoing future at NUFC.

Newcastle did start brightly and put some early pressure on Norwich but the hosts soon woke up and matched the away side. It was Gabriel Obertan who had the first chance of the match in the 17th minute although Mark Bunn was equal to his snapshot and parried the ball away. Further chances for Papiss Cisse and Obertan again followed although neither were of any real danger to the Norwich goal.

At the other end Norwich didn’t really create much. Tim Krul had to be on hand to smother one through ball and James Perch tracked back excellently to take the ball off Wes Hoolahan’s toes just as the Norwich winger was about to pull the trigger eight yards out from goal.

As you can see, not a lot to write about in the first-half as Anthony Taylor blew for half-time ensuring the two sides went in at 0-0.

There were to be no changes for the start of the second-half as both sides remained unchanged although that did change ten minutes into the second period when Yohan Cabaye returned from injury at the expense of Gabriel Obertan. You know goalmouth action at both ends is scarce when you have to write a paragraph about a substitution!

Fabricio Coloccini and Sylvain Marveaux both had efforts for United although neither really threatened whilst at the other end Russell Martin struck the outside of Tim Krul’s post with a long-range effort and the Dutchman had to be on hand to smother Anthony Pilkington’s strike after the Norwich wideman danced into the United penalty area.

The best chance of the game cam in stoppage time as Norwich crossed deep into the box for Grant Holt to head back across goal nearly finding Pilkington at the back post although he was unable to direct his header on target.

Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination and you can see that both sides lack confidence. For a defence that has been leaking goals all season the clean sheet will do wonders for confidence and a point gained away from home in this league and in our situation is a good point in my eyes.

Next up we welcome Reading to St James’ Park next weekend in what is a must win game for both sides in fairness. It is a traditional “six-pointer” in pretty much every sense and Newcastle simply have to come out on top in that one!

Howay the lads!

Norwich: Mark Bunn, Russell Martin, Sebastien Bassong, Michael Turner, Javier Garrido, Anthony Pilkington, Bradley Johnson, Alexander Tettey, Ryan Snodgrass, Wes Hoolahan; Simeon Jackson

Subs: John Ruddy, Elliott Bennett, Leon Barnett, Ryan Bennett, Danny Fox, Harry Kane, Grant Holt

Newcastle: Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon; James Perch, Vurnon Anita; Gabriel Obertan, Sylvain Marveaux, Jonas Gutierrez; Papiss Cisse

Subs: Steve Harper, James Tavernier, Gael Bigirimana, Yohan Cabaye, Romain Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi, Nile Ranger

Attendance: 26,752

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

124 thoughts on “Bore draw! Norwich 0-0 Newcastle

  1. aye would take any point away from home but agree the game was a mess ime just hoping its not tomkins we are trying to get he was awful as 2nd half sub y/day and big sam coming out and saying there defence was bad and need to sign defenders 🙄

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  2. Ice ,Sunday and Daily Express say they want £10m for Tomkins 😯 If we pay that much for him I will go bonkers ,it’s a joke amount imo.

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  3. Toonsy .Yep, not much you can really say about yesterdays showings from either side ,both shot of confidence and boy it showed. Thought Colo put in a pro performance considering all the rumours and nice to hear the Toon Army chanting his name . Perch wasn’t bad either ,Cisse did lot’s of running but got no real service and that MUST be addressed as a matter of priority as should this whole Colo situation which is in danger of derailing our attempted relegation fight.

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  4. Ice 😆 How much will Richie play for ,how about 50 Big Macs and 10 family buckets of kfc and a bonus of 5 greggs pasties for every clean sheet. Mind you looking at Grant Holt ,reckon he might already be on that deal. 😉

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  5. Good write up of a boring draw Toonsy, but as you say there was a couple of positives.
    Re Thomkins as I said before I dont think a player that can’t get regular footie for the Hammers is the answer to our problems.

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  6. Kim – no way I’d pay £10m for Tomkins like – I’d feel robbed if we paid half that tbh. I don’t think he’s a bad player if played regularly and played at CB, coz I think WHU play him in midfield as well. He’s only 23 so will improve but I personally think Michael Dawson would be a very good addition for that kind of money but I don’t see us getting him like.
    I do think we may have to reduce our level of expectation in terms of the quality of player we can get as well. I think the likes of Sakho or Yanga Mbwia may well be out of our range now and the likes of Tomkins and Douglas may be as good as it gets in the position we find ourselves in.

    As for yesterday, I couldn’t help thinking that Ba could maybe have made the difference yesterday.
    A player with his quality who could have done something special to tip the balance. It was great to see Cabaye back – tho I don’t get taking Oba off when Jonas was having less influence on the game. But for me we need Benny back, we need Remy in sooner than later and we desperately need a goal scoring CF.
    You always hear “the team that scores goals avoids relegation”, I can’t see where our goals are coming from at the moment and that worries me as much as finding Colos replacement tbh.

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  7. re Tomkins he would be a good player fighting Taylor for a place alongside Colo. But if Colo goes we need MBaiwa or Sakho

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  8. Sharpy ,I agree we can’t attract the calibre of player we maybe could of back in the summer and that’s a crying shame as it’s a real missed opportunity imo. I’m not sure Tomkins is the answer to our CB problem ,he’s certainly no Colo that’s for sure , and if we payed £10m for Colo why would we pay that for Tomkins 😕 even allowing for the time that has passed since we got Colo £10m is still a joke price. No we have to try and aim a little higher if possible .

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  9. KIM@5 that would do for richies breakfast 😆 we need to pay “good”money for a decent c/b and tomkins doesnt fall into that class imo

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  10. Joey barton just tweeted,

    Good luck to Loic in Newcastle. Don’t worry i’ve told him what to expect. Great guy. Perfect club for him. #toonarmy

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  11. I’d held back on watching the obligatory YouTube clips of Remy until now (as it looks like we might actually get him) and I know how those things are edited, but he looks like what we were missing yesterday, a striker who can dribble a bit, turn a defender and either get a decent shot off or put the ball on someone elses boot ie cisse, because yesterday there was no one near him.

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  12. Stu I would be pretty confident that it’s a done deal if Joey tweeted that. I wonder what sloppy chops will make of the fact that Joey couldn’t hijack the deal 😆 😆 😆

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  13. remy in – ba gone

    debuchy in – simpson going

    apart from having another 2 frogs in the sqaud we’re not any further foward.

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  14. Johno – The exchange rate has dropped compared to the summer. I was getting €1.25 to the pound but now I only get € 1.19 so on that basis if we bought him earlier it would have been a few grand cheaper :mrgreen:

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  15. A good point
    An abysmal performance

    Taking everything into consideration it is better than we could have expected with the side we put out. Only one of our first choice attacking six started the game in Cisse. Put Remy and Ben Arfa up top along side him and a midfield three of Tiote Cabbaye and a new signing or Bigi and that is as good as we can get. Jonas Marveux Perch and Anita are squad players. Obertan should be sold or given away

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  16. Terrible game but quite frankly a point is fine. Gives us game time for cabaye he will be vital against reading gives debuchy time for reading as we sure as hell need to beat reading.

    If remy signs he ain’t going to be effective straightaway will take time to settle but we can always hope he did what cisse did! 😀

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  17. @F8Piraux: Loïc Rémy could sign to Newcastle tuesday or wednesday after his medical check. #NUFC
    @indykaila: I just placed a bet of £100 on Loic Remy ending up at #NUFC this January. Let hope my friend in France has received the correct information
    @indykaila: Check @Joey7Barton tweet on Remy. I guess my friend was spot on with advice 🙂 #NUFC

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  18. Toonsy
    If that’s the case, by my calculations (could well be wrong) then we’ve got Remy for £8.1m . That’s a deal and a half.

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  19. Translated from the official Marseille Twitter account:

    For @ lolympien_fr Remy returned to Marseille in transit then spinning into Newcastle for the transfer formalities # TeamOM

    Hopefully getting closer. French journos reckon it should be confirmed with in the next 48-72 hours.

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  20. Well ,Joey says he’s on his way here so must be true 😆 Wonder what Arry makes of his endorcement of the Toon to Remy 😉

    Hope he’s as good as his youtube clip and has his injury woes behind him ,we need him to hit the ground running , here’s hopeing anyway .HWTL 😀

    Next up a couple of CB’s please 😉

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  21. Tons if we stuck him on the Post Office credit card we would get 0% commission on the exchange rate. Be a even better deal 😆

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  22. Toonsy if we stuck him on the Post Office credit card we would get 0% commission on the exchange rate. Be a even better deal 😆

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  23. Good news on Remy but we really need another CB ASAP. Yesterday was a dire game but when you’re struggling a point away isn’t bad. Lets face it we’ve been shipping buckets of goals and we got a clean sheet while we’ve been losing lots of games and we didn’t lose. Both of those things are steps forward.

    The Reading game is a simple must win game. Performances and style of football do not matter anymore we just have to win that game.

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  24. @F8Piraux: OM President Vincent Labrune : “We have a agreement with Newcastle for the transfer of Rémy. Loïc can negotiate with them.” (RMC) #NUFC

    Fenwick’s window is now fully booked 😆

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  25. Francois Piraux ‏@F8Piraux

    Loïc Rémy just left OM squad at Sochaux. He said goodbye to all his teammates. #NUFC

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  26. @F8Piraux: Loïc Rémy just left OM squad at Sochaux. He said goodbye to all his teammates. #NUFC

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  27. Aye, Remy looks to be a big strong powerful lad with a trick or two and good in the air.

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  28. Roy,

    I agree, except for the fact that they will give the side more balance. Because Remy is comfortable playing as a wide forward. And Debuchy is comfortable with the ball in possession.

    If we get in a quality centre back and a decent versitile defender then I suppose we’ve done ok.

    However, if we lose Colo then again I’d consider it a transfer window in which we have simply stood still.

    I hope Colo stays until the summer.

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  29. I’m also not confident Pardew has the ability to set these players up in the best formation and motivation to get them playing their best.

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  30. It would be best if we could buy a scoring centre back. Lessen the pressure on the striker. Judging the face Remy isn’t really a 20 goal++ scorer….

    Hopefully he can have the same impact cisse did when first arrived during Jan transfer window. 😐

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  31. Remy is potentially a very good player but at the moment he is really not in good form. The last games i have seen from him, he was a little bit lost in the pitch, loose a lot of confidence. BUt i think in one month he can be very good, because he has a lot of pace and he knows how to use it.

    But why not buying Debuchy and Remy in the summer, we wouldn’t be in this position. Sometimes when you try to spare money you will pay more after all.

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  32. I don’t want to raise too many hopes but I’ve heard a rumour that we may have agreed a fee for Remy 😛 😆
    If true at €10m that’s a great price, but that depends on how much Ashley has set aside for Jan transfers.
    I like Barton’s tweet like, but I wonder what he’s warned him to expect?! – great fans, **** board maybe?! 😆
    2 CB a priority now I think.

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  33. http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Remy-om-et-newcastle-ok/342122

    here it is in L’equipe (courtesy of google translate)

    ‘Purchased 15.5 million in Nice (25% of any resale), Loic Remy Marseille could leave in the coming hours against 10.5 million euros. The OM has a tentative agreement with the Magpies . Now, the French international striker must agree with the English club. He praised his teammates and left Sochaux, Marseille where to play this Sunday. Vincent Labrune confirmed information on RMC’

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  34. ______________________Krul_____________________

    Debuchy_____Taylor____________Colo_________Santon

    _______________Cabaye_____Tiote________________

    Remy_______________Ben Arfa____________Marvauex

    ____________________Cisse_____________________

    Subs: Harper, New Defender, Perch, Anita, Obertan, Jonas, Bigi, Ameobi

    Wouldn’t mind seeing that team in February.

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  35. JJ – I think you’re gonna need to think of a replacement for Colo mate coz I think it’s just a matter of time before he’s gone.
    Other than that mate, I’d either swap Tiote with Anita or sign Sissoko and have him and Cabaye in there. Tiote gives too many silly freekicks away for me and picks up too many yellow cards.
    I think the front 4 though, and reckon Remy would settle quickly into that formation.
    That ‘new defender’ you have in the bench would be Bong or Pieters for me, and I’d hope for a new goal scoring CF in place of Ameobi on the bench, maybe Danny Graham.

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  36. Dave – Touché mate, fairs fair you acknowledged that the board get it right from time to time so I’m prepared to accept Barton was right and I was wrong.
    Who’s your money on to replace colo then, or should I say, who would you like to see?

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  37. Sharpy only pulling your leg mate 😀 as for Collo one part of me says that he’ll be away this week and thats why he played yesterday as he was told that they’ll let him go but they needed him to help them out.
    The other part thinks they will sort it that he has to stay for the rest of the season then is free to go, as for a replacement I can’t think of many I wouldn’t if we could get Lescot but wages might be a sticking point but I do think he is a good hard nut CB

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  38. See lescott’s on the bench again, if colo goes I reckon we should get him in on a six month loan, colo’s wages would sort out lescott’s, means we can sort out a proper replacement in the summer.

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  39. Well if Colo is going and i think he will be gone before the Villa game we should go all out for Ryan Shawcross that lad is good enough to replace Collo even if he is expensive that is the lad too do the job .
    What everyones thoughts on the new captain then ,one colo goes . I reckon Cabaye would be a good one .

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  40. Id agree andmag lescott would be fantastic replacement would much rather he was with colo now that would be superb!

    Debuchy – 5.5m
    Remy – 10m

    Thats alot of investment from an owner who doesnt care?

    Of course remy may still not come! he will see the snow and do a runner!

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  41. Dave/Andy – aye I’d be happy to see Lescott come in like, either loan or buying him.
    I do like Dawson as well but I think Lescott would be more likely to be allowed to leave.
    I have a sneaky suspicion that it may be 2 from Tomkins, Douglas, Bong or Pieters though

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  42. This is the bloke that was first with the Remy news – maybe Sissoko?
    @indykaila: Same source as this morning has told me Remy is done deal and also NUFC are looking at another player in the French league.No confirmed name

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  43. HBA- as I’ve said before I think they were trying get through the year on the cheap and wait on the new TV money before investing. Obviously that gamble failed and they appear to be trying now to fix that mistake. Still need a CB or maybe 2….

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  44. @GFN_France: Reports that #Dortmund have made a last ditch bid for Loic #Remy. Looking more into it. #NUFC

    It’s not over until the fat lady sings 😯

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  45. @GFN_France: Seems #Dortmund are too late. Even if a bid has been made, unlikely that #Marseille will consider it. #Remy #NUFC

    Jeeeeeeez 🙄

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  46. 3HW – someone posted yesterday that we are looking at up to 10 players in lige 1 mate, 5 senior players and 5 for the development team.
    I know the standard of the French league isn’t that of the EPL but if we can pick up players of the quality of Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Remy for the prices we’ve got them at I’m happy for us to ‘do it on the cheap’.

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  47. Aye Sharpy we certainly seem to have the French market taped and the experience and recommendation of HBA, Cabaye etc will make us an attractive proposition for others. I think we have 6 or 7 French players at the club, Cabaye, Marveaux, Debuchy, Obertan, Abeid,and hopefully Remy. Might have missed some 😆 should make for a good team spirit as long as it doesn’t get cliquey .

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  48. Sharpy We all know we should have had a CB and striker in during the summer and Pardew admitted they got it wrong at least we seem to be trying to rectify it now. If we get Remy in and a CB along with Debuchy and others coming back from injury then hopefully we will start climbing up the table. No doubt the regime are not going to overpay and if you look at the deals we’ve done for Cisse, Ben Arfa, Marveaux , Debuchy, Anita and hopefully Remy we’ve certainly got some bargains at below original asking price. The risk is we have to wait longer than we would like but then Ashley is a gambler.

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  49. 3HW – aye Arsenal saw a few years of success with a squad full of Frenchies so hopefully it may be our turn. Personally I don’t see Obertan or Abied doing a great deal for us and I’d loose nee tears if they were moved on.
    2 CBs from France for me – for the 1st team either Sakho or Yanga Mbwia and for the development team Kurt Zouma from St Etienne – 18yrs and would be ready for the 1st team in 12-18months IMO.
    Add Sissoko to that and I’d be double happy.

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  50. 3HW – Pardew said on MOTD last neet that they were talking to Colo this week about him leaving. I know Pardew won’t want to loose him, but I reckon Colo won’t have to convince the board too much. I think they’ll jump at the chance of cashing in the £16m new contract he’s on. They’ll know they could get someone younger for less than that like, and that’s still my concern. While they appear to be righting the summer wrong, they may still look to put money ahead of experience at CB.

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  51. Wouldnt mind a couple of non French signings coming in Holland’s Eredivise has some great young players that could be picked up for the same price as these French lads Bruno Martins Indie a young CB and Classie a box to box midfielder strong in the tackle and going forward similar to Cabaye both from Feyenoord . Maher a great technically gifted ACM from AZ and Finnbogasson a goal machine from Heereveen would all be great for our development squad and all could do a job when called into the first team .

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  52. Axel I said the same yesterday ,We shouldn’t restrict ourselves to France imo ,we should look at Norway ,Holland ,Spain and Belgium . I know Anita was from Dutch league but mainly we do over rely on recruiting from France.

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  53. Another couple of British players would not go amiss either ,we most be on our limit with the homegrown quota rule by now .

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  54. Axel – Aye I’ve also thought that too, think we should be looking at the likes of Phillips at Bpool and Redmond at Bham, neither club in a great position at the mo and may be looking to cash in

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  55. Redmond would be a quality addition. Surely we could persuade Clarky to let him go. Maybe send him a few young players til the end of the season so he doesn’t miss him as much. Sammi and Campbell maybe?

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  56. Debuchy – Good business. I think he will need to settle but we will see him hitting form in a few months. He won’t need as long as Enrique to play well, he has experience, has played in Champs League and for France and is 27. It won’t take him long to adjust to the prem, ready made first teamer like Cabaye. He looks strong and tough enough as well but hopefully the cards aren’t a regular thing, (that challenge was brutal 🙂 ) Could link up with Benny/Remy/Obertoon down the right. Can we now get something for Simpson? no point keeping him now to leave for nothing, Anita/Tavernier eventually R.Taylor back from injury.
    Remy- Fingers crossed the personal terms and medical go through smoothly. He might be similar to HBA and needs a change of scenery to find his form again. Looks like he would play in the wider role that we need to allow Cisse in the centre. Great signing if this comes off.
    Next- Need another defender/CB and Simpson can be sold/ included in a deal, I wonder if this is what Pardew has said to the board. Good business so far, need to keep it up to the end of the window.

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  57. AXEL
    I think we are okay still, players like Krul and Bigirimana are classed as homegrown they don’t even need to be British.

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  58. Oblong – aye that’s what I was thinking, plus if they sell Redmond it may mean they could keep hold of Butland a bit longer – he’s probably more vital to them than Redmond. I’d offer them a choice of Obertan, Sammi, Tav, Fergie or Campbell – **** it, take 2 of them on load and £5m for Redmond.

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  59. DJG – I’d still like to see us looking to pick up quality young English players. I personally love to see toon players wearing the 3 lions and the nation singing our players names.
    Has Bigi feature internationally yet?, I’m wondering if he’s gone England or not

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  60. ‘In April 2012, Bigirimana announced that he would like to play for Rwanda at international level.[10] He was later considered by Rwanda for the 2013 African Youth Championship qualification stage.[11] In October, Bigirimana stated that he had rejected an international call-up from Burundi due to political instability in the country.’ from wiki.

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  61. I don’t know if Bigi has decided who he will represent at international level yet. I hope he chooses England though when the time comes because I think he has a big future ahead of him. Also having Newcastle players in the England squad might give me more interest in watching them 😆

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