After a sorry few seasons supporting this gruelling club, it’s time for a little indulgent nostalgia by remembering a few of the greats from the better days. Enjoy as we take a look back at some of our heroes from the Premiership years. Some excellent players narrowly miss out but here’s my top five…
Alan Shearer
There’s only one place to start isn’t there? Alan Shearer became Newcastle’s all-time record goal scorer in 2006 netting 206 goals for the club. That alone would set Shearer’s place in club folk law, but there is much more that cements Shearer as number one.
Club captain for several years, a leader of men, courageous, committed…a man who chose club over country. When others gave up, Shearer fought on like a bloodied warrior. It could have been very different. Should the club have backed Ruud Gullet, Shearer may well have been sold. Thankfully Gullet shot himself in the foot when dropping Shearer and Big Duncan Ferguson for the Tyne – Wear derby, which Newcastle subsequently lost. Gullet was disposed of and Newcastle hired Sir Bobby Robson. Shearer celebrated Robson’s arrival by scoring five against Sheffield Wednesday in his first game in charge. Shearer’s Newcastle career was back on track.
Big Al’s character was matched by his ability. Shearer’s right foot (no not me…his actual right foot) was mesmerising. He could strike the ball so accomplishedly in so many different ways. He could curl the ball with his instep (see his first ever goal for Newcastle against Wimbledon). He could swerve it with the outside (see goal vs Spurs in FA Cup Semi-Final), volley with the laces (goal vs Everton), volley with the instep (vs Villa and Schmeichel). He could place it and he could let fly with immense power. But the key to his success…he always hit the target.
He was solid with his left too and magnificent in the air. Considering he wasn’t the tallest of players, he had great timing and a desire to attack the ball.
Turning down Sir Alex at Manchester United in favour of a world record move to Keegan’s Newcastle in ’96, it’s a shame he was never rewarded with the silverware his talent deserved at Newcastle.
So our first signing is an unknown goalkeeper. Didn’t see that one coming at all. Goalie is probably our best covered position. Seems likely Krul and maybe Elliott are on the way out.
Georgio(Quote)
That one really has me beat can he stand up to ccc?? We have a keeper that was one the best in ccc,goes over my head this one
Icedog(Quote)
Don’t think we will ever see another big Al in our lifetime and totally loyal you just don’t get it now
Icedog(Quote)
Yeah this goalkeeper looks good on paper but £4.5m for a player where even if we sell Krul we still look pretty good for that position. But if it’s who Rafa wants, then so be it.
The stories of Townsend to Palace are starting to gather pace now.
If he does leave us, then anywhere but there!!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I love big Al & he is rightly a legend of the toon. But I have to say that Pedro & Rob Lee are 2 of my most favourite toon players of my time.
Pedro with Andy Cole was just different class, and for all his talent Beardsleys workrate was second to none.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aye mate the were great,pity he’s such a kiss ****,he cannot coach to save his life
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – I know mate. It guts me to see people speaking negative of one of my heroes, but I can’t disagree. As a player he was a legend, but as a coach & dutiful employee it’s pitiful 🙁
Sharpy17(Quote)
Football pundits **** me off so much!!.
Jamie Carragher is banging on about Iceland only have a population of 300k – big fecking deal, they had 11 players on the pitch the same as England you ***!!.
Just watch Jamie Redknapp saying Roy was the wrong man in the first place – well that’s not what he’s been saying for the last 4 fecking years mind!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Do England have a board of selectors for the squad, or is it all up to Roy?.
I seem to remember something about a panel of about 8 people including the likes of Trevor Brooking, but I can remember what their role is.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think it’s managers choice mate if it had been any other way there’s plenty snides in the FA would have let that slip,plus the press are forever sniffing round
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – yeah, that’s where my doubt comes from mate. If there was any suggestion others assisted with that squad selection, the media would have wrote about it. I’m sure there is still an FA panel, but not sure what they do?!.
He got it wrong like, that’s for sure. But I still think Rooney stating he wanted a midfield role threw a spanner in the works & Roy didn’t know how to deal with that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY yes seems a lot of talk of Townsend going think it will be into next week before anything concrete comes out,but I do think Krul will be going to Pardews den now it looks like we are going to sign a new keeper,that’s if Pardew isn’t going to throw his hat in for the England job
Icedog(Quote)
SHARPY Woy made a rod for his own back mate,said he would only take fit players playing for their clubs so he picks Whiltshire that played only 60 min in four months,takes Stirling who anybody with half a football brain knows all the kid has got is pace with no ability,might just as well picked Bolt,Rooney isn’t the player he was two years ago for this level,Hart is always prone to mistakes as he is at City and why he kept being dropped should played FF,so all in all it was all his own making plus he was never good at tactics when it came to better teams,but to beat by 1980 tactics beggers believe
Icedog(Quote)
Lovely article SRF,thanks, can’t really argue with your top 5 either. Though I did love Tino , Ferdinand and the spirit of Ketsbia and of course Pavel and Gary speed was a great player rip both of them.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Re- the goalkeeper signing, it’s obvious Krul is off then. We have seen some good players coming out of Belgium and he is seen as a future no 1 for Belgium so that’s heartening but can he cut it in the championship, who knows. Rafa obviously see’s something in him so we have to reserve judgement I think. It’s certainly one I hadn’t seen coming though.
Kimtoon(Quote)
KIM just watched a vid of his saves,what would worry me it just didn’t show him coming out to take high balls from corners free kicks ect,he will get plenty of those in the ccc,but hopefully Rafa has seen him do that
Icedog(Quote)
KRul said he’s going nowhere and is staying a the toon
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – that means he’ll be off next week then mate 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
It is interesting to see that they have obviously been scouting the Belgium league as well with this keeper coming in though.
I wonder if there are any other little nuggets we will pick up from over there?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Cheers for the read SRF. I agree with most of it, but for me Ginola was a flash in the pan. People think he achieved lots with us, but actually his output was limited. He contributed only 6 goals and only 1 assist over 2 seasons.
I think people just use him to visualise their memories of the entertainers era because he was good looking and charismatic – but in terms of actual footy contribution he was nowhere as good as the likes of Solano’s 90 goals or assists or Speed’s 41. He was also not very successful on the International scene. I would describe him as an icon of era, but not one of our greatest footballers.
Laurent Robert contributed 51 goals. Kieron Dyer contributed 50 and even Charles Nzogbia contributed 30 goals. All of the above also helped deliver Champions League football.
Shamrock(Quote)
So Hodgeson refused to do the press conferences post game. What a weasel.
Shamrock(Quote)
£34m for Saido Mane 😯
And if Palace have £31m for that Belgium CF then I’d be wanting considerably more than £10.5m for Townsend!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
He got away with it mate as he was throwing the towel in,thank god
Icedog(Quote)
Cannot change mate it’s written into his contract,unless they pull the Liverpool ploy and say it only allows a club to speak to him unless Townsend pushes it
Icedog(Quote)
god, yes Sham, how could I forget Nobby and Robert 😯
Kimtoon(Quote)
I know we are going further back but Scott Sellar & Liam O’Brien were personal favourites of mine too – along with Killer & Budgie 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’s exactly what they should do. Arsenal tried to sign Suarez for £40m which was his sell on clause but it took £60m from Barca to actually sign him. Don’t sell Rafa!
Georgio(Quote)
Next England manager my thought is Big Sam,plus it will make scum fans unhappy
Icedog(Quote)
I’m sure they said they would look at foreigners if Roy went. Let’s face it, going English has been an unmitigated disaster and any of the likes of Sam, Alan etc is just more of the same.
Shamrock(Quote)
Don’t know if Rafa will like it but toon have changed the sign on the managers office door to Rafa the gaffer it’s a strange one to call
Icedog(Quote)
I’m hoping that was just a bit of fun Ice and not an actual change. I know I would not be impressed at all If that were my office. He is not one of the lads. He’s the Boss.
Shamrock(Quote)
Aye mate he’s straight laced and very professional which is the way it should be imo
Icedog(Quote)
Elliot injured and out till the end of the year
Krul has not played for a year – will he be ready to start the season?
Woodman will be leaving soon
that leaves us with Darlow.
Should Darlow or Krul get injured/suspended before the end of the year then we would have a huge problem .
That’s why a new goalkeeper is a priority signing.
sidekick(Quote)
I am going against the consensus but I am not totally sold on Darlow. I think he did well after his first nightmare game and is a good shot stopper. He does flap a bit though, and was very hit and miss against Spurs, basically crumpling for that goal at the near post. I see him as backup, until he really proves himself.
Elliot is my number one but he is injured and as sidekick said Krul and Woodman are probably off. So that leaves us with 3 goalies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A lot of the press are saying Townsend is going to Palace does he want to be a full back as well as a winger,I know he bought a house in the area so Ime still a little hopeful he will stay
Icedog(Quote)
Shamrock from the last thread: yes it is true that Mr. Roy did not attend the Iceland game in Paris because he went sightseeing with Ray Lewington instead. They went to Notre Dame and on a river cruise because Ray had not been there before. When asked about it Mr. Roy said there was plenty of tape on that game so the team would be prepared. I can find a link if you want.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here is a write-up from the Independent basically saying what I said on the last thread:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/euro-2016-five-reasons-why-roy-hodgson-england-got-it-completely-wrong-in-france-a7107271.html
I will also say that every pundit and ex-player agreed that Rooney should play midfield and was still our best player. They backed Hodgson’s selections and his tactics until now. It is all in writing but they are acting like they never said it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ll take your word for it Eric. It’s quite believable considering how awful the performance was against them. He should never get job again if that’s the case. Complete recklessness and negligence on his part.
Shamrock(Quote)
What are the statistics on long range shots going in? I bet the percentage isn’t that high and yet England seemed to have a shoot on sight policy against Iceland. That was probably because there wasn’t a decent winger to spread the play and there was no space in the box. Maybe a poacher like Defoe would have been useful? I saw something once that of all the goals Ruud van Nistlerooy scored for Man U only 1 was from outside the box. I wonder what our shot conversion rate was at the Euro’s. Very low as they were always going for the spectacular.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
None of this is in retrospect either. The criticisms were said on here before and during the Euros and some of the press now and again questioned the selections and tactics. However, there was almost universal agreement from the ex-players that Roy was doing a good job and had got the selections right and that Rooney was now a midfielder. Keown wrote an article defending taking Wilshere and Barkley at the expense of Townsend and Drinkwater, even though it was not as straight choice and Sterling and Henderson could have been thrown into the mix.
Now they are walking it back or are keeping quiet like they never said it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Sun’s player ratings for last night. They gave Rooney an 8:
https://twitter.com/JamesDallESPN/status/747716654407229441/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC is that 8 out of 100 like, that’s all he would get off me and that’s being kind
Icedog(Quote)
BLOGMASTERS: How come there are links to articles on newsnow that do not appear on this site. There are two recent links about Thauvin and McClaren that do not appear on the website
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric the idea is that they don’t want to upset the regular posters by having us move threads every 2 minutes. They have threads for the regulars such as this one, on which comments are enabled and then they have click bait articles that are aimed at those that just love diving in for the gossip and then leaving. I think the system they are using now is working, as everybody is kept happy.
Shamrock(Quote)
Thanks Sham. I still don’t understand though as if you don’t check a news consolidation site such as newsnow you will miss the article that someone has spent time writing. Wouldn’t it make sense to have it linked somewhere on the main site. I know it might get confusing but my guess is that these guys want to generate some advertising revenue and they are not posting their articles on their main forum. Strange if you ask me.
Back To Mr. Roy. I was just listening to a Guardian podcast (won awards as best football podcast) and they were wondering why Roy went sightseeing when he should have been watching Iceland. My stupid question for him would have been if it had been France playing instead of Iceland would you have skipped the game? Of course not!!!!! Sorry to flog a dead horse but it just shows they were looking past Iceland and shows their arrogance and ineptitude.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So stories hotting up regarding Townsend?!
After what his dad said about him paying us back by staying i honestly would be truly pissed off with Andros if he left…
He was going no where fast and we resurrected his career.. what’s (hopefully) 1 season in the Championship? where hes spent most of his footballing career anyway..
If he leaves I hope he breaks his leg ans id out for a white 😯 😈
Gashley(Quote)
There has been a lot of complaining aboot Brexit lately. But what about Toonxit? We are out of the Prem. Is that good for us or the Prem? No. There should be a referendum to decide whether to put us back up and Sunderland in our place in the Championship. It’s for the best…..
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sunderland aren’t really good enough to be in the Prem anyway. And they don’t have Rafa. Now just be reasonable you mackem lot……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Plus we’re dead sexy in our black and whites….
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So we sign a keeper but looks like we lose Townsend. He was one I really wanted to keep but you can’t blame him for wanting to play in the PL.
If you look at the money Palace are looking at throwing around it just goes to show how much catching up we’re going to have to do providing we get up first time. Tough job.
Stuart79(Quote)
I think he might stay mate,if it had been a top six side then maybe anyway imo we will know by next week
Icedog(Quote)
It’s not clear Palace will get Townsend. I don’t think it’s a slam dunk. He’ll be thinking about this very carefully. The next couple of years are crucial for his development. Would you want to learn from Rafa or Alan Mildew? I know who I would pick.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So Gayle has agreed personal terms with toon looks like he may be coming then
Icedog(Quote)
Where have you seen that Ice?
Simon(Quote)
When I have seen Gayle I have been quite impressed. You can never really tell what a player is like when they play for Pardew as he is always defend first, even the wingers. That would be my worry if I were Townsend. Andros definitely puts a shift in but Pardew would have him as auxiliary right back first and winger second. He should call ben Arfa or even Obertan before talking to Palace.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Still waiting for Troy to come on and explain the England exit in the round of 16 rather than winning the whole thing. What was he used to do all of the time? “Tick, Tock”, “I am waiting”. and then accuse people of running away and not answering him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks Kim, appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed reading it.
SRF(Quote)
When Troy said England would win the Euros he said “mark my words, or mock my words”. It is difficult to do either when he is running scared. And he knows he has something to answer to, believe me. He is the first to mock and gloat if one of his predictions actually comes true. Thankfully, that is a very rare occurrence.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
HITC mate
Icedog(Quote)
Here you go mate
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/06/28/gb-newcastle-agree-dwight-gayle-terms/
Icedog(Quote)
Thanks Shamrock, Robert and Solano were superb for us weren’t they and would easily make my top 10. Some of Robert’s goals were out of this world, his two against Spurs spring to mind. I just have such fond memories of watching Ginola ghost past people. I’d never really seen a Newcastle player do that before. He defo had more than one assist though, I haven’t checked the stats but can remember two against Wimbledon and that brilliant pass for Tino’s goal in the 2nd Liverpool 4-3. I take your point that the others contributed more to the team though. Just wish he’d stayed longer, especially after seeing what he did at Spurs.
SRF(Quote)
Yes you are right SRF. He did assist more but the records are hard to find. I stand corrected. As for that Wimbledon game; https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hvYw3afMduE
This is how proper footy used to be played. Loads of effort. Pass and move, busting a gut and tracking back if the ball is lost – fighting for each other and the shirt.
Btw, don’t get me wrong. Ginola was still class and Nzogbia may have scored more for us, but he is not fit to lace Ginolas’s boots.
Shamrock(Quote)
Thanks Ice
Good read SRF, they were great days when those guys were playing. Let’s hope we can get players with similar passion and skill again. Think Andros could be one as long as he stays, takes the hit of a lower league for a season, but be known as a ledgend forever more
Simon(Quote)
Tempted to get the ‘So Close’ DVD out again and watch such a magnificent Newcastle side. Even fans of other teams loved watching us. Cheers Simon for the comments, I worry Townsend might leave but hope he stays. Sham, they were great days weren’t they? The football we played was just so good to watch. I was a big fan of Zog when he burst on the scene but Souness ruined his career. And Dyer was great until he got too big for his boots, he recently admitted how he regretted behaving for Bobby.
SRF(Quote)
https://youtu.be/qhhpg3adfNc
I’m sorry to take it back to politics for a moment, but I saw this and felt I had to share it with those who might not have. 😯
If this is the clown negotiating our future dealings with Europe then I reckon we are screwed – and if he’s not, then we need to take a gagging order out on him, coz he’s just pissing people off everywhere!!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: you will do your head in listening to Farage mate. There is a political void and he is hoping to step into it. The sooner they get the leaderships sorted the better.
Whenever I see him the words smug and self righteous always come to mind.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
PS: I could only watch the 1st minute and had to turn him off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
SRF Good read mate and I would have them all in my top team, the only thing that annoys me about this type article is that it makes you think back to how good we were?.
I don’t think we’ll ever get back to there, but I think under Rafa with proper backing we could get close.
As for Townsend I would be amazed if he even thought about going to Palace , I think he will be playing for us this season.
Big Dave(Quote)
SRF sorry Ime late in thanking you for a good thread,I can go quite a way back and saw many great players,used to be said toon always had good c/f and Boro always had real good c/h,the c/f that gave me the greatest pleasure were Al,Wyn Davis,Len White
Icedog(Quote)
Ime with B Dave I think Townsend will stay
Icedog(Quote)
He probably was as it meant his Daddy didn’t get the job.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Is that source reliable?
The author of the article is a person called Graeme Bailey, who describes himself on twitter (@GraemeBailey) as:
“Freelancer for Sunday tabloids and a few footballing sites. Proud @Boro fan and love a transfer story or two. Views my own”
I’m surprised that a bloke like this seems to know exactly what’s going on and yet none of the other (more reliable) sources were able to break the story themselves?
I’m taking this one with a large pinch of salt.
Chris G(Quote)
Photo circulating of Sels in the dressing room holding a shirt with his name on the back.
He’s either on a stadium tour, or that ones done 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
CHRIS G the daily express ran the story before he did mate
Icedog(Quote)
Andy – I’m amazed his dad hasn’t featured on the shortlist yet to be honest mate.
I’ve defo heard Jamie raving about Roy’s credentials as England manager over the last 4 years though. Then he fails & pretty boy jumps all over him.
Sharpy17(Quote)