My Christmas Wishlist for Newcastle

• Survival is still the aim for Newcastle this season, despite us being in mid-table currently. So I would take 17^th now and anything higher is an additional bonus.
  
• Mike Ashley to sell the club to someone who knows football and is willing to invest properly in management and team alike.
  
• To keep all of star players, i.e. Carroll, Enrique, Nolan, Barton, Coloccini, Tiote
  
• Sell the likes of Smith, Guthrie to bring in better squad players.
  
• Chris Hughton to get another job in football, top bloke and deserves better than what he got recently.
  
• Players in key positions:
  
  • Striker partner for Carroll in mould of Craig Bellamy.
    
  • Left Winger who can cross the ball.
    
  • Right back.
    

Newcastle v Liverpool Match Report 11/12/2010

Only in the mad world of Newcastle United, that after a week which pushed most fans to the edge that the week would of end on a tremendous high for fans, players and management alike. The fans united for 90 mins to support the team, despite differing views on the events of the previous week. The key difference for me from the abject and gutless performance against West Brom was return of club captain Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton. Both players are key for differing reasons, Nolan firstly offers leadership on the pitch which no-one else in the squad can offer and Nolan offers that link-up between the strikers and midfield which no-one in CM can offer (apart from Ben Arfa maybe), this is despite his usual disappearance act from football games, but the guy scores goals and I won’t be complaining on that front. Barton offers a sound cross which no-one else can offer in the team, and also offers a driving force from midfield which drives the whole team forward. They both deny the chance of Danny Guthrie to spread his awful brand of football on a division that is way above his level.

The key moment of this game was not Fernando Torres awful miss, it was the introduction of Nile Ranger who caused Liverpool’s back 4 all kind of problems with his determination and just hassling of the opposition. I’ve been very impressed by Ranger despite the lack of goals from him. If we had the option of sending him to the Championship then I wouldn’t hesitate as if the guy can sort out his finishing then we could have a real talent on NUFC’s books but the lack of viable options of partners next to AC means he has to stay. What Ranger was simple he ran and pressured Liverpool’s back 4 into mistakes, they were not under any pressure with the lethargic Shola looking again that he’s carrying an injury. That pace and energy from Ranger seemed to lift the team and stadium, after NUFC had been batter for the 15 mins after the restart.

Two negatives from the performance were the individual performances of Campbell and Gutierrez. Campbell simply isn’t cut out for this level; the bounce on his back leading to the bin-dippers equalizer was comical and follows other errors in recent weeks. Gutierrez I’ve never been a fan of but we lack options and he seems to have got back into the comfort zone when he gets very sloppy, we had the option of dropping him earlier in the season (Everton Away) which brought about an up-turn in form (Man City Away), sadly we lack that option to at least January.

Ratings

Krul – 7 – Couldn’t do much about the goal, but did a very good save v Torres and was again very solid. I think Krul has done enough to deserve to stay in the team also having one eye on the future think we should be counting Tim as our Number 1.

Simpson - 7 - Best display for over a month.

Campbell - 5 - Sol may have the experience but his body has given up on him, and the comical defending for the goal was laughable if you weren't a Newcastle fan.

Taylor - 7 - Solid display from Taylor, think him and Coloccini should be our central pairing going forward.

Enrique - 7 - At home is very consistent and was again today.

Barton - 8.5 MOTM - Joey put in the type of combative performance we haven't seen from him since the Man City game. Certainly the best performance I've seen from him in a Toon shirt, long may it continue as his free-kicks and crossing are a valuable asset to the team.

Nolan - 7.5 - Brilliantly worked goal, and offers the link-up between midfield and strikers which no-one else in the team offers. Used to hate the guy for the way he goes missing, but I now see how valuable he is the team.

Tiote - 7.5 - Another good performance for the Eraser.

Gutiérrez - 6 - The lack of competition with Jonas on the LW means he can put in comfort zone performances and not be under pressure to perform. Last time he was dropped we saw a massive upturn in form. Needs kick-up the arse.

Carroll - 8 - Another fine performance from the best centre forward in England currently. Also showed to all of the Sky audience that killer left foot of his.

Ameobi - 5 - Another abject performance but Shola has looked injured for over a month, I think we need to get the guy fit again before we can be too critical of him.

Subs:

Ranger - 7.5 - Ranger has impressed on his cameos this season, and this was the best of the lot. His inclusion, pace and direct play rattled Liverpool's defence into some very clumsy errors. If the guy could finish we would have a very good striker on our hands, if we bring in a striker in January then a loan move to the championship could do him the world of good.

Manager:

Pardew - 7 - Was impressed with the way in which Pardew dealt with the whole occasion. Substitution of Ranger was key event of the game and one which he can be accredited for as Hughton would have likely waited longer.

Ashley/Llambias - 0 - CUNTS

Fans - 10 - Fantastic support for the team as what should be expected at all home games. The fans can be the 12th man in games like this. Should be a wake-up call for those who only sing in the big games.

This Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

A wise man from Manchester once said that, and this week’s events in the joke that is Mike Ashley’s regime at Newcastle United is starting to hurt fans loyalty with the actual club itself and for some with football altogether. This week’s events have hit home to most who thought that Ashley may have learnt from his lessons of 2008/2009, that actually the guy is a complete utter idiot with no clue on how to run a football club and quite frankly probably doesn’t even understand the game of football itself. The sacking of Chris Hughton was disgusting on a man who never complained of the tight restrictions he had to manage against, and was dignified in how he presented himself to the fans and media. As ever Hughton after the sacking was as dignified as ever and can certainly be proud of the achievements he made at Newcastle and will be forever in the history books for being the man that lead this team to the 5-1 demolition of our fierce neighbours Sunderland in what for me was the best footballing experience I’ve had in my life.

The actual decision to sack the manager is just mind-numbing in the fact this is the 1^st test in Hughton’s managerial career where he’s under pressure and any manager should be given the chance to see if they can turn it around and the quite simple fact we are in mid-table safety with their being for worse teams in the premiership this season. The performance against West Brom was dire, but that can be attributed to having a number of key players out and those who actually played having some shockers (i.e. Guthrie, Ameobi, Gutiérrez). The reasons given for the sacking are unproven with the main one being that Hughton is a coach and not a manager. Well if the guy had some coaches (after the Departure of Calderwood) which the board were not willing to sanction then maybe he could do his job in managing the team.

What cannot be in doubt now is the fact; Ashley & Llambias have had it in for Hughton all season and were just waiting for the right time to get rid. The rumours before the Arsenal cup game at the time seemed like rumours but now they have substance a contact on a Newcastle forum correctly reported then that a contract with Pardew had been agreed and the Newcastle hierarchy were just waiting for the right time to sack Hughton, they thought a drubbing off Arsenal would be the right time but as ever Hughton managed against the odds to win at Arsenal.

Going back now to what the effect of this week’s even on NUFC & the fans is this. I can see a split between the fans from those who say you should support your team no matter what and that of we need to protest & boycott to hit Ashley where it hurts. I’m in the latter camp, and I shall never ever be returning to St James’ Park while Ashley is associated in any way with the club and I shall not be spending any money in his businesses and those businesses where he has shares in (including a former employer of mine). I do understand the view of supporting the team no matter what, but I’m sick of this idiot pissing in mine and all NUFC fans again and again. I will always be an NUFC fan and will watch them on TV when I can, but actually spending the money which I work hard for on the club will not be on the agenda for me in the immediate future.

The boycotting of the club will not have an immediate effect this season thought I suspect we will see a big reduction in match-day sales, merchandise sales and ticket sales for individual games. The main effect will be next season when the 3 year season ticket scheme is at an end with many being locked into it for the past 3 years, and those season ticket holders this season not renewing. From the feedback of people and friends many have said they will not renew which is not surprising in the least, as you can only push people so far even the loyalist of fans until enough is enough. I suspect we will see around 20-25k maximum in attendances next season even if we do stay up (that is a big if now by the way). The loss of income will hit Ashley in the pocket and eventually the message will get to him, that if he wants to cut his losses then he has to sell-up ASAP and get the hell out of Newcastle & the North East in general. I don’t have a grudge against Pardew and would like to wish him the best of the luck (he’ll need it), but the stories coming out of Southampton are quite terrifying & his association with the Cockney mafia immediately puts him on the back foot. Newcastle as a club continue to shot themselves in the foot time and time again, and this time it could lead to utterly fateful consequences for the long-term support of many towards the club.

Week 1 Premiership Predictions

	GAMEWEEK 1 PREDICTIONS RES PTS
	Tottenham 2 - 2 Man City x2 14/08 (12:45) Aston Villa 1 - 1 West Ham x3 14/08 (15:00) Blackburn 1 - 2 Everton x3 14/08 (15:00) Bolton 1 - 0 Fulham x3 14/08 (15:00) Sunderland 2 - 1 Birmingham x3 14/08 (15:00) Wigan 2 - 0 Blackpool x3 14/08 (15:00) Wolves 1 - 2 Stoke City x3 14/08 (15:00) Chelsea 3 - 0 WBA x2 14/08 (17:30) Liverpool 1 - 2 Arsenal x2 15/08 (16:00) Man Utd 2 - 0 Newcastle x2 16/08 (20:00)