Welcome one and all to this ‘Game On’ article which will take us through the highs and lows as we travel to local rivals 5under1and for today’s Premier league game (4pm kick-off), having lost the last four meetings with the Mackems – the latest of which came just before Christmas when Adam Johnson struck a last-gasp winner at the Gallowgate End to break our hearts again.
But John Carver is determined to change United’s fortunes today and was speaking ahead of today’s clash.
“Growing up as a Newcastle fan it’s the first fixture you look for on the list,” he said.
“As a manager it’s a proud moment. We all know it’s one of the biggest games in the North-East and so it’s something I’m more than looking forward to.
“Our record isn’t very good and so I’m looking to break that. I think we have more than enough in the dressing room to do so. It’s a big occasion and we don’t want to make it five losses in a row.”
Carver also rejected suggestions that his overseas stars will not understand the importance of the fixture against their neighbours from Wearside.
“There’s a lot of people out there that say our foreign players won’t understand what the derby means,.
“But the majority of players in our dressing room have played in at least one and we drum into all of them how important this fixture is.
“Hopefully over the last four games they’ll have felt a bit of hurt because I certainly have, and sometimes that’s what you need to spur you on.
“It’s a cup final for us and that’s how we’ll treat it. Any team of mine that goes up against Sunderland will not be faulted for lack of effort, determination or not knowing what it means to the Club and the fans. I’ll be driving those guys forward.”
Sunderland appointed **** Advocaat as their head coach last month following the departure of Gus Poyet from the Stadium of Light hot seat.
And while he and Carver may have seemed an unlikely pairing to be coming head-to-head at the start of the season, the latter believes he may hold the advantage.
“At least I know what this game means, whereas it’s ****’s first derby,” said Carver.
“He’s in a difficult situation because he’s only had a couple of weeks to get to know his players. I’m sure he’ll get them prepared, he’ll have been able to get a couple of things across and he’s got a boost in the return of Cattermole.
“Sunderland have outworked us in previous games and that’s not a good stat to have – I don’t like that.
“If we can cover anywhere near as much ground with the same intensity as we did against Arsenal then we have a great chance at winning.
“I think we have everything to play for. We have a lot to prove. It’s not good enough to lose the last four derby games and I’ll be banging that drum in the dressing room without a doubt.”
So with the talking out of the way it’s time to show what we have and make sure we don’t give them anymore bragging rights.
Howay the Lads
5under1and Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Vergini, Cattermole, Gomez, Larsson, Fletcher, Wickham, Defoe.
Subs Bridcutt, Johnson, Reveillere, Graham, Coates, Buckley, Mannone.
Newcastle United Krul, R.Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Sissoko (c), Gutierrez, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, Perez.
Subs Elliot, Anita, Abeid, Kemen, Obertan, Riviere, Armstrong.
Lee Ryder finally writes an article critical of the regime and Carver:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-1-0-newcastle-verdict-united-8986675?
What has this c@nt been doing during 2015? Sucking Ashley and Carver **** for the most part. Now the Chronicle finally find their balls again??? They had the P45dew front page a year ago and now they finally see the light AGAIN. These people are the most timid, ****-kissing lackeys it has ever been my misfortune to read. The whole lot of them, not just Ryder.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wouldn’t bother me if we got relegated this season. In fact it would hurt Ashley a whole lot more than it would hurt me. I’d still be here but he’d be absolutely livid.
No interest in anything that the club do until they show an ambition more than just survival.
Stuart79(Quote)
To be fair to Mark Douglas & Neil Cameron they have both been critical of the club and have stressed that Carver shouldn’t get the job
I personally don’t think he should be here full stop, It will narrow down the options knowing you’re having this clown foisted on you
CC(Quote)
Who’s decision is it to wear that minging silver grey strip anyway ?
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I assume it is nothing to do with Parver, he just does what he is told.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I kind on liked it when we wore our European kit at the sos a few years back just to **** them off but there way no need yesterday we could have worn white shorts/socks like we have on many occasions to avoid clashing
CC(Quote)
So the next 2 matches are against Liverpool and Spurs, who are fighting for a European spot. – (I assume they would both be happy to enter that competition ❓ 😕 )
I really don’t see us getting any points from either of them.
So our slide down the table will continue.
There is no panic at the club though, as I cant see any change in the bottom 3 clubs, – barring some freak results – from now until the end of the season.
I will be truly gutted though if blunderland finish above us, which is a very real possibility.
15th is looking nailed on for me.
Marvellous 👿
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I must say the team selection was a joke yesterday. Why play Gouffran in centre midfield when we had two central midfielders on the bench? Also why Colback at Left back? We needed him in midfield yesterday.
All in all a terrible day for everyone.
Stuart79(Quote)
To be fair I think we have enough points to stay up. Only because team’s like Burnley, QPR and Leicester have been much worse. We are slowly sliding down the league.
Terry(Quote)
I’m with Stuart79 it wouldn’t bother me if Newcastle got relegated. It’s our best chance of getting rid of Jabba
Terry(Quote)
Looking at the fixtures of the clubs below us: Ive got west brom finishing with on 38 points, Sunderland on 33, Hull on 31, villa on 34, Burnley on 35, QPR on 31 and bizarrely Leicester who have by far the best run in on 36
CC(Quote)
we’ll draw with spurs
Munich Mag(Quote)
When are Colo and cisse back ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Colo back for the spuds match (19/April)
Cisse back for Wet *** (9/May)
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/04/breaking-news-mike-ashley-out-campaign-launch-by-sack-pardew-group/
kimtoon(Quote)
It would bother me heaps if we got relegated! Cant believe people would want to cut of their noses to spite their face. .. ridiculous reasoning!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
What a joke we are that we had to risk a players well being because our tightwad owner failed to shore up our threadbare defence. 👿 http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-s-injury-concern-over-daryl-janmaat-ahead-of-liverpool-clash-1-7194586
kimtoon(Quote)
What difference does it make to supporters of we are mediocre in the PL or competitive in the Championship? I’m tired of watching pointless games of football.
It would also completely **** Ashley off and for that reason alone it would be worth it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Only QPR have conceded more goals than us. Anyone who still thinks we have a better squad than last season is totally deluded.
Stuart79(Quote)
Aussie, I hate the thought of relegation but I am more and more asking myself what are we even doing in the PL?. We have zero chance of silver ware or Europe so we just make up the numbers. Now you could say that for all clubs outside the top 6, but I bet the other clubs fans aren’t feeling the sense of apathy like a lot of ours are.
kimtoon(Quote)
What has happened to Toonsy? does anyone ever chat to him on facebook or anything?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, what happens if we are relegated and Ashley has to inject even more money to prop us up and his loan grows even larger? He isnt selling any time soon so I am going to hope that things will get better instead of wishing for the worst!
I can’t wait for this horrible season to be over! What a downer!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie, but every season is going this way mate, it’s soul destroying for the club not to mention the city I’d imagine. You and I are not living there it must feel so much worse to be in the fish bowl as it were. If we went down he would lose out on the tv cash and you just know that would sting him, plus he gets less publicity for his tat, he just might sell up this time. But like you say it could go the other way too. 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
This is taken from the weekend “losers” section of the Football365 website and gives an outsiders view of what is happening to our club. Seems like more and more of the football world are seeing us for what we have become. Enjoy:
“The saddest indictment of the malaise surrounding Newcastle United is that their derby defeat was not met with great anger by the majority of supporters. Nor sadness. Nor embarrassment. A fifth consecutive defeat to their hated rivals, and there was no outpouring of grief on Tyneside. Just nothingness; nothingness as far as the eye can see.
Under Mike Ashley, Newcastle have become a shell, the husk of a once great club. Not great in terms of league titles or trophies, but great in the eyes of the people. For so long they were an institution to adoring Geordies, who deemed St James’ Park their church. Now the ground casts a shadow over the city like the foreboding headquarters of a dictatorship.
The limp, listless defeat to Sunderland may well cause the eventual end of John Carver, an event fans will celebrate. Carver is synonymous with Ashley’s regime. The local accent and references to Bobby Robson and Gary Speed are cheap and convince nobody. Losing Pardew and appointing Carver was like sacking Ant to appoint Dec, as this column has said before.
Yet losing Carver, just like losing Pardew, doesn’t change the bigger picture. So long as the owner is happy to embrace mediocrity, Newcastle will continue to stagnate. Fewer players and managers will be tempted to walk through the door. They will remain a club catching moss.
More importantly, an increasing number of supporters will stop feeling angry or upset, and just feel nothing. It’s unthinkable to many in Newcastle, but the only way to force change is to vote with their feet.
The inaction of a billionaire owner persuading thousands of Geordie to fall out of love with Newcastle United might just be modern football’s greatest trick yet.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim, I just hope we get a half decent coach and our general play picks up… the whole Pardew/Carver coaching era needs a dirty great line drawn under it! Our general play has been shocking more often than not.. to me that sucks the life out of things more than anything!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Very true, Eric. People just pity us now and I still struggle to think of a worse owner than Ashley. He’s the enemy of football.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric@174, never a truer word was written, good piece and spot on.
kimtoon(Quote)
How would Jabba feel if the majority of supporters walked away and started to support Gateshead instead?, Would there be an appetite for such action?
kimtoon(Quote)
Interesting post on nufc.com blog from Average Contents. The club insist they have had no offers for the club but clearly they have.
Average_Contents // Apr 6, 2015 at 11:25 AM
Does anyone remember when I mentioned I knew the ex footballer backed by a consortium from the middle east who wanted to buy us but got “knocked back” after offering a decent amount. The price kept going up and then eventually they were priced out and totally ignored.
Bearing in mind we’d been relegated, sold players and got shot of most of the high earners off the wage bill.
He’s a ****, a liar and a greedy greedy scumbag.
I know this to be true after speaking to Steve (the wife’s uncle) at his sons wedding (I didn’t want to give his name out at the time as some probably wouldn’t of believed me and I didn’t want to betray his confidence) he made it crystal clear that the slug didn’t give a **** who he sold to as long as he got his money back he’d paid for the club and the debt plus a nice little bonus on top. A £50m bonus.
He also said his cronies were possibly some of the most unprofessional football people he’d ever come across. Not turning up for planned meetings, turning up late when they did, different prices each time, talking about the fan’s as if they didn’t exist and treating them with utter contempt.
Here’s the proof. But trust me he’s being nice about it here!
Profitable Group, through commercial director Steve McMahon, confirmed that they had put in an improved bid (17 July 2009):
“Former Liverpool and England midfielder McMahaon, the commercial director for the Singapore-based Profitable Group, says he wants to give the relegated Toon Army the ‘kiss of life’.
“Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias has previously played down the group’s chances of buying the club for the £100million asking price, but McMahon says they have lodged a ‘realistic offer’.
“‘Our people have been in London all week working with lawyers and attorneys. Make no doubt about it, the money is in place, we are for real.’
“‘We initially made a tentative bid and discussions then took place. We were told to come back and that’s what we’ve done. There has been a formal offer and and we want to get things done and dusted as quickly as possible.’”
Source: Daily Mail
However, another 11 days later, Profitable Group (Steve McMahon) confirmed they had ended their interest claiming not to have received any response from Mike Ashley after their improved bid was made (28 July 2009):
“We have pulled out. How long can you keep hanging on? We have put a bid in and we have had no communication, no response – nothing.
“‘It really is poor form from Newcastle, but if that’s the way they want to run their business, good luck to them.
“‘I just feel sorry for the supporters – they deserve much, much better. They deserve to know what is going on. We wanted to come in and turn the club round because it clearly needs something at the minute.’
“McMahon has also rejected suggestions that the Profitable Group had never provided proof of funds. ‘That is completely inaccurate.’“
Source: Daily Mail
kimtoon(Quote)
Steve McMahon, is full of ****…he coached Perth Glory a number of years ago and is a dodgey ***** if you ask me.. the mob he represents pretty much tells me everything I need to know by simply having him as a commercial director!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Carver’s making Pardew look like a tactical genius! 5 players from yesterday should never NEVER play again. The rest should be made to lick the streets of Newcastle clean.
georgio(Quote)
I wonder if Collocini and Ashley were both at the game yesterday ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM: I saw pictures of the training on Friday and Coloccini was there. At least they didn’t let him **** off back to Argentina for break after his stupid and reckless challenge got him suspended. Maybe Fatty and Colo were discussing the managers job at the Mackem game – remember his name was thrown into the hat at one point?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aussie, It doesn’t alter the fact that the regime lied again when saying there had been no offers and bare in mind that’s the one we’ve heard about.
kimtoon(Quote)
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/04/06/rangers-and-newcastle-united-fans-react-on-twitter-to-haris-vuck/
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11518037/Mike-Ashley-chooses-to-ignore-a-lot-at-NewcastleUnited-but-cannot-avoid-growing-relegation-fears.html
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=738jXIZEvIo&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
kimtoon(Quote)
Certainly relegation seems to be the only thing that Ashley would be bothered about. I’ll repeat, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference to me if we were playing in Championship as being in the PL is completely pointless for NUFC to be honest.
Its all about money at NUFC and I’m not too sure why as its not reflected on the pitch. So what’s the point?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79@188, do you genuinely wish the club to be relegated ? 😳 😳 😳 Why exactly ? A tad hysterical don’t you think ?
Why don’t you just stop going and start supporting someone else or doing something else on match days instead ? You would be quids in at the end of the day…
I’m sure I would prefer to see the toon playing in the Premier League against the greats in English football as opposed to the likes of Brentford, Bolton, Cardiff and Ipswich….
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM – Basically I can’t start supporting another team, why should I?
What I am actually saying is that it wouldn’t bother me if we got relegated. It would hurt Ashley much, much more and I believe that’s what he personally deserves.
Your point about watching the greats of English football is strange. If that’s the case you might as well go and support all the greats of English football. I go to Newcastle matches to watch NUFC, not the opposition.
So while we’re just bobbing along, not achieving anything or even wanting to achieve anything and just being used as a advertising billboard I couldn’t care less which division were in and because of that and because I am so angry at what Ashley has done I would like him to suffer like we have and that would happen if we got relegated.
Stuart79(Quote)
DAVE you are going to have to change the thread title “game on”mate,when is the last time we made a “game”of it,bloody long time imo 😉
icedog(Quote)
Don’t see relegation hurting Ashley more than it hurts the club, and in turn, us. As Aussie points out, all Ash then has to do is loan us another 100mil, and get us back up, and then he’s sticking around for even longer as he’s invested even more in us…
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – He doesn’t want to spend a penny on NUFC. It would kill him to have to pour more money into the club. In fact I doubt he would do it. I’m convinced he would sell the club as he would know that his way of running the club doesn’t work. His whole strategy is based on collecting the TV money and getting free advertising to hundreds of millions of viewers. He wouldn’t get that in the Championship.
Stuart79(Quote)
cc @ 161
Almost agree with your points prediction . I have three of Burnley , Hull, Leicester , QPR and Sunderland not getting past 34 points – making us already safe for this season.
I like that you have relegated Sunderland on 33 points 😆
sidekick(Quote)
I reckon Hull will go down. They have an absolutely horrendous run-in.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Stuart79@190, I find the fact that you don’t understand my point about wanting to see my team playing against the greats of English football well……strange. Of course I watch the toon when they play, and I have always gone to games to watch the toon. But it stands to reason that I t prefer to watch the toon v Man City, Man United, Liverpool etc etc than against Colchester Shrewsbury, Walsall etc. In fact I have been to all of those grounds following my beloved NUFC, and believe me it wasn’t much fun as a sporting spectacle (canny party though !)….
But hey, if you prefer to watch the toon in the Championship or wherever that’s your perogative… Stopping going to games in protest is one thing, but wishing relegation on us is another thing.
I worked it out the other day, and during Ashley’s reign I’ve probably contributed around 150 quid to the leeches pie fund, and the majority of that was at the beginning of his reign when we all thought he was the dogs bollocks…I’m quite proud of that 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
I wouldn’t want us to be relegated. I’m not sure it would drive Ashley out.
The best solution is to stay away.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, agree it’s the ONLY way he’ll get the message. We know money wise it’ll make little difference to him but the impact an empty stadium would have on his brand is another matter.
kimtoon(Quote)
Having witnessed too many gutless performances under the management of Pardew , it is very sad to see a Geordie shaming Tyneside with that same approach.
The only chance of Carver redeeming himself is to tender his resignation.
sidekick(Quote)
One win would ease everyone’s fears. Even though we are a shower, surely we can get one win.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@197 – 200 agree 100% with all of your posts 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
Troy – I’m not sure we can get the win. Most teams we play have something to play for. Add that to the fact we don’t create any chances and haven’t got any fit defenders and it’s not a good combination.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m sure we will get the win.
Munich Mag(Quote)
I watched the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the LA Galaxy this weekend 2-0. They are a brilliant young side who could now easily beat Newcastle. Shameful. The MLS is still a fairly weak league but compared with Newcastle the Whitecaps are a breath of fresh air. All done with brilliant scouting and an excellent young manager who knows what he’s doing.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Spot on Troy. Stop going to the games lads and that will drive Ashley out. There is no other way. Until there is an effective boycott this parasite is here to stay.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The toon fans are so split that despite trying to organise boycotts there will always be a large group of fans who turn up no matter what.
The only way for each supporter to have peace of mind is to take the difficult decision themselves and stay away.
It makes no sense to own a season ticket then keep turning up and whingeing…. eventually the light must go on surely ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Rivero is one of the best young strikers I’ve seen in a long time. Much better than Perez at this point, which is shocking to me. Perez has faded badly and looks lost at times now. Still has a bright future but probably not with Newcastle as we can’t be bothered bringing in a decent coaching staff.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sorry I should explain that Rivero is the Whitecaps new young striker. He leads the MLS in goals with 4 goals in 5 games. Makes extremely shrewd runs, can hold up the ball and has already scored goals with both feet and his head.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Everyone should have a look at the AshleyOut.com website. We need organized action now.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Anyone who isn’t disgusted with the state of the club now is just a muppet not a real supporter. Force Ashley out.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Well said Munich mate @206. The light bulb has to click on now. Thousands of empty seats will force Ashley’s hands. Take action now or lose the club to a parasite for years to come.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Match day boycotts are they only way. The PL have already said half empty stadiums aren’t acceptable for the brand and it would also cost Fatty a few million in income so we have to act. I can’t remember the last game I went to. We need to see attendances of 25,000 max to have major impact.
For the Spurs game the TV cameras need to see a half empty stadium.
Stuart79(Quote)
Fed up with getting to January and wishing the season was over . 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Just wondering if the Pardew haters still think he did such a **** job?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – the money is a drop in the ocean for him really, I just don’t see the guarantee of him going. If we got relegated and he did decide to go then great,but I can’t wish relegation on my own team on the off chance it happens.
Much better for everyone to stay away – and show their anger towards him whenever he shows himself.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – It’s not just about him selling. Although there’s more chance of him selling up if we’re relegated. It’s actually a way of hurting him. He might not sell up, but it would sure as hell make him feel like we have felt for the last 8 years.
Stuart79(Quote)
IMO the only way to hurt Jabba is by staying away and showing him we have had enough.
But I cant see it happening as there will always be 50000 fans turning up to prove to Jabba that they will still pay to see the ***** that is on offer.
I still cant get over yesterdays **** display and to make thinks worse I was at a family bbq earlier with a Manure fan and 2 Palace fans 😳
Big Dave(Quote)
Stuart – would it though? I’m not sure it would. And if he hates us as many seem to think, he might have a little chuckle to himself about Geordie tears. Oh sure, he’ll be pissed about the money – but it’s not the end of the world, it’ll all go back to him eventually, unless we spend years in the second division, and I certainly don’t want that.
Newkie(Quote)
Just watching palace besting city. Thinking just how much was Pardew shackled by the regime and the team disillusioned by the lack of ambition and total apathy. Palace under Pardew are doing well.
… And I for 1 will not be going to any of the matches this season … It helps that I’m in Dubai like…. 🙂
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
Newkie – This is a guy who is so obsessed with money that he stopped putting food on for the press and stopped complimentary tickets for players so I think it’s pretty obvious getting relegated would completely devastate him. It would be worse than that for him though. He would realise that his plan isn’t working and it’s not worth the hassle. He can’t do what he wants if the club is in the Championship. He would be incandescent with rage if he thought he would have to put more money into the club. He would know he wouldn’t get that money back because the value of the club wouldn’t get to the amount he had Spent on it.
In short it would be more of a disaster for him than for us, that’s for sure.
Stuart79(Quote)
Dubai – its sickening man it really is.
Its certainly getting to the point where I will have to admit Percy isn’t as **** as he looked here.
BUT WHY DID HE GO ALONG WITH IT FOR ALL THOSE YEARS ?
ffs
All I ever asked was for him to stand up to the fat greedy slug and make a stand.
Why all the BS to the media and the fans
we didn’t deserve any of that.
I would love it if he came out with a few home truths now
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
jesus that’s FT
2-1 Palace
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Taxi for Pelegrini now
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Palace win then, fack me they’ll get top 10 and we’re chomping at the bit just for 17th. Carver is a fucking disgrace, 9 points in a half season is an absolute joke.
Newkie(Quote)
The joke will be on Ashley if he gives Parver the job permanently tho
This is relegation form
Have no doubts
Crystal Palace are out of our reach now 🙁
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)