Newcastle United Transfer Rumours and General Chat

kinaldo

Unbelievable crap from the Sun today, I can't believe this even made it to print. I know they're all London biased but surely this is taking the piss, Solano 5, Butt 4, Dyer 4!!! I've never read such drivel in my life, compare it to any other match report and I think it's quite clear Mark Irwin is the most bitter cockney in the entire English press.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007020273,00.html

GrumPy

Going over to see the Liverpool game in feb whats the story with buying tickets straight from the clubs website? they post em' out to ya?

kinaldo

Irish GrumPy wrote:

Going over to see the Liverpool game in feb whats the story with buying tickets straight from the clubs website? they post em' out to ya?

It depends on how close to match day you purchase them - more than a week and they post, I think. My Man Utd tickets got lost in the Christmas post but I emailed them and they had duplicates waiting for me at the ticket office. The Liverpool game is more likely to sell out so be sure to buy them as soon as they go on general sale.

kinaldo

Irish GrumPy wrote:

Any highlights uploaded on youtube yet? I didnt see em'

Match of the Day highlights

kinaldo

Classic Newcastle stuff tonight, same team that beat Spurs at the weekend are trailing 2-0 at home to Birmingham.

Shocking shocking shocking performance altogether, one of the worst I've ever seen. Brum could be about 5 nil up!

I don't particularly mind going out of the competition, less games = less injuries, but it's the embarrassing nature of this performance against a Championship side that I refuse to accept.

Pattison on the left is a joke. Where's Luque? He's fit but not even on the bench.

therecklessone

Any idea of the attendance kinaldo? Lots and lots of empty seats...

kinaldo

therecklessone wrote:

Any idea of the attendance kinaldo? Lots and lots of empty seats...

Hasn't been announced yet, about 40k expected. I can't blame people for not paying to see Steve Bruce's Championship fodder in a 3rd round game especially when it's live on BBC.

3-1 now, only positive is the great goal from Milner. Taylor's sending off is a mini-disaster for us as now our only competent defender will be suspended.

therecklessone

26,099 according to the Beeb website.

Shocking, regardless of the opposition.

kinaldo

therecklessone wrote:

26,099 according to the Beeb website.

Shocking, regardless of the opposition.

Steve Bruce on their pathetic turn-out:

"I was shocked - we can't have the FA Cup third round with 4,000 Newcastle fans and 16,000 people in the ground. It absolutely shocked me.

"But then again I bet there's a few grounds like it. FA Cup third round day used to be the biggest day. It used to be the biggest occasion of the lot. I suppose there will be people up and down the country scratching their heads thinking, 'Blooming heck,' when they see how many people turned up to this game.

"It's deeply upsetting and frustrating for me, and I suppose for everyone who wants to come and who can't come. I'm not just talking about Birmingham fans, I'm talking about Newcastle fans, Sunderland fans, Middlesbrough fans, wherever they are.

"It's just far too much money for the average man. Right across the board. We are going to lose people - they can't afford it. They used to be hanging off the rafters for games like this.

"We need to lower the prices. We need to lower them - absolutely - and let people back in who want to come and watch, but simply can't afford to.

"I've seen it repeatedly now in the Premier League, not just here, people simply can't afford to come and pay 30 quid or whatever it is for a ticket. We are going to drive the working man away from it, and that's the lifeblood of the game, as it's always been, not the prawn sandwich brigade as Roy Keane called them a few years ago.

"We've all seen attendances dwindling. When the Premier League started you always saw packed houses wherever you went, you couldn't get a ticket. You can now. In any ground you want, unless you're the big ones. I think we've got to look at the overall ticket price. I know we've got to pay wages, players' wages, managers' salaries, but we've got to do something because we're going to drive the average person away.

"It's quite obvious to see why. My supporters, well they've dug deep over Christmas, they've travelled to Southend and Ipswich. This is our third home game in 11 days and we have got another one against Leeds next week.

"People will say the players' wages should be lowered. Well, we get enough income off television and all the rest of it now. Yes, possibly, possibly, that's what it needs. If we all do it, then fine.

"It's not a conversation just for me and my board. This is a discussion that everyone needs to have because we are in danger of driving people away and killing it."

Fine sentiments and not much to argue with there - just a dozen or so years too late....

http://www.nufc.com/2006-07html/2007-01-06birmingham-afa3.html

therecklessone

Bruce wrote:

We need to lower the prices. We need to lower them - absolutely - and let people back in who want to come and watch, but simply can't afford to.

He's right. Prices at SJP tonight were £20 adults/£10 kids. Cheaper than everywhere for a PL game except kids entry to the family enclosure.

kinaldo

therecklessone wrote:

He's right. Prices at SJP tonight were £20 adults/£10 kids. Cheaper than everywhere for a PL game except kids entry to the family enclosure.

£20 to see that :eek: Jaysus!

I suppose they need to cover Luque's wages, but for what exactly I'm not too sure as clearly he's no longer on our playing roster.

Salmon

First of all, Im gonna try to forget that last night happened! I came across this on the official site:
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~966966,00.html.
Anyone have any theories as to who it could be?

Chucky the tree

"panic buys the wrong side of 30"


Didnt he buy Anton Siberski?

Blazer

Oh god!! What a disaster last night was..but we had it coming..we fluked it against Spurs on Sunday and over the last few weeks.
Quite frankly there needs to be massive backroom changes at Newcastle.
Watching them over their 10 or so last previous matcvhes is that they either lack the conviction or the ability to simply pass the ball and keep possession.
Last night they were maybe stringing 4 or 5 passes together at most and then hoofing the ball upfield to Martin's or Sibierski in the hope they'd get onto it.Then we were losing possession and as everyone knows if you don't have the ball the other team must have it and guess where they're going with it? It has to be back to basics,pass,pass,keep possesion and try to score goals..not lug the ball upfield on the offchance someone would get onto it..
The thing is we have the players definitely to get into the top 4 or 5 but the coaches are either not training them properly or the players can't be bothered.
I remember the days of KK when Newcastle could pass the ball and keep possession..(remember that fastastic 48 pass before scoring).
I honestly can't see Roeder lasting much longer and I think the best thing that could happen is to bring in a foreign coach with new backroom staff and start afresh. Any young Arsene Wengers out there by any chance?

eirebhoy

Salmon wrote:

First of all, Im gonna try to forget that last night happened! I came across this on the official site:
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~966966,00.html.
Anyone have any theories as to who it could be?

Distin? What's the rumours on the Newcastle forums?

Seaneh

Chucky the tree wrote:

"panic buys the wrong side of 30"


Didnt he buy Anton Siberski?

ROFL, that's harsh though, he's done well this season.

kinaldo

eirebhoy wrote:

Distin? What's the rumours on the Newcastle forums?

Lucas Neil maybe, not sure what age he is though. People on Toon forums aren't any wiser.

Salmon

Wouldnt mind us making a bid for curtis davis! We need to get back to basics and buy some quality young players from the lower leagues. Bobby had a great policy of buying quality young players e.g. dyer, Jenas, bramble (when purchased had great potential). I think we need to pick up a few players that are young and hungry for success and build up a team for a couple of years down the road. I guess previous managers have been reluctant to buy young players as they needed instant success. I hope roeder gets a chance to bring in a few quality new players!!!

kinaldo

Salmon wrote:

Wouldnt mind us making a bid for curtis davis!

Just how good or highly rated is he? I don't know anything about him but £6m, as quoted in the Daily Star today, seems like a lot of money for a Championship player. I suppose the usual English premium applies.

therecklessone

White knight turns and scarpers

The Belgravia Group investment fund has said it no longer intends to make an offer for Newcastle United.

Jersey-based Belgravia said that despite protracted negotiations with the club, it had been "unable to agree a price and transaction structure".

It added that it felt its planned offer would have been in the best interests of the club and its supporters.

It is the second firm to end takeover interest in Newcastle this year, after the Polygon hedge fund also pulled out.

kinaldo

Just seen that Taylor's suspension comes into effect immediately so we're kinda fücked tomorrow. Ramage is also a doubt and Emre still struggling with a calf injury.

Team could look like

Given

Carr --- Ramage --- Huntington --- Edgar

Solano --- Parker --- Butt --- Milner

Martins --- Dyer

or

Given

Carr --- Butt --- Huntington --- Edgar

Solano --- Parker --- Dyer --- Milner

Martins --- Sib

The return of Carr is most welcome (shockingly) but I'm very disappointed we haven't snapped up a defender or two yet.

West Ham have gone over 9 league games without an away goal, or 888 minutes to be precise, and have mustered up 1 goal and 2 points in total on their travels. A 3-0 defeat by Palermo and a 2-1 defeat at Chesterfield are other notable away results. So what better place tto change all that than against their beloved Roeder at SJP tomorrow?

I'm dreading this game now cos it's one of those teams we should be beating but I have no confidence in our ability to keep even West Ham from scoring, despite having already done them 2-0 this season. I just pray that Martins and Dyer bring their shooting boots with them cos there's goals in this one and we may need at least 3, but I'll settle for any sort of scrappy win.

kinaldo

A telling interview with Freddie Shepherd today. I pasted this from www.nufc.com as the Sunday Mirror online doesn't have it in full for some reason. Is it just me or are Newcastle the only team in the world (with the exception of Madrid presidents) that has a chairman constantly supplying the media with 'exclusive' interviews? Why is it that we hardly ever hear David Dein talk?

From Brian McNally, writing in the Sunday Mirror:

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has turned his sights on major shareholder Sir John Hall after successfully telling takeover suitors Belgravia to “put up or shut up.”

Shepherd’s resolute resistance to the secretive Jersey-based Belgravia Group saw them end their interest in a proposed £150 million takeover on Friday and now he has thrown down a similar challenge to his former ally Hall.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mirror, Shepherd, who has a 28 per cent stake, has urged Hall, whose family control 41.6 per cent of the shares, to make his future plans clear to supporters and shareholders of the Premiership club.

Hall has failed in attempts to sell the club to Belgravia and American hedge fund Polygon and Shepherd believes that the takeover uncertainty is making it impossible for him to run the club properly.

And Shepherd insists that Hall must go public on his position to prevent the crisis undermining manager Glenn Roeder and his players and costing the club money.

Shepherd said: “Sir John Hall has to decide what his role in the club is. The future of this club is in his hands. He has to decide whether he wants to stick or sell.

“For the sake of the club, the shareholders and supporters Sir John must decide quickly what he is going to do and make his position public.

"He is perfectly entitled to sell his shares to whom ever he wants. But if he wants to sell then he needs to say so and if, he doesn’t, good, let us all march on together.

“The uncertainty is making it hard for me to run the club. Sir John identified two potential buyers and it hasn’t worked. How many more potential buyers has the club cope with?”

Shepherd blames the offer period uncertainty for Newcastle’s poor season and lack of transfer activity.

He added: “The offer period has been damaging and difficult for everyone at the club.

"Everyone at the club from me as chairman down to the manager Glenn Roeder, the coaches, the players and our administrative staff have been left wondering whether they would have jobs when it was all over.

“If he lives to be 100 is Sir John going to keep trying to sell these shares. Are we going to have this uncertainty for ever? All I am asking of him is a clear decision.

“I want him to be honest with me and the supporters. The club simply can’t go on dealing with proposed buyers knocking on the door who turn out to be time-wasters. It is me who has to run the club on a day-to-day basis and this situation isn’t conducive to running a huge Premiership club.

“It has compromised our long-term planning. How can you prepare for the future with all this going on? It’s impossible.

“Our fans read that Belgravia were supposedly going to put £24 million in for new players in January. That conjecture created problems by raising fans expectations and causes clubs to raise their prices when we ask them about players.

“When you are a plc under offer there are certain rules that must be adhered to that means you must be very careful on expenditure. That has affected our ability to compete in the transfer market this season.

“It has also got in the way of progress in the partnership for our casino project with MGM. That is a £400-£500 million development and could bring 2,500 jobs to Tyneside.”

Shepherd insists that he would consider buying Hall’s shares if the price is right. He explained: “I have shown my commitment to Newcastle by buying shares in the club and I have never sold a share. I would consider buying the Hall shares at the correct price.

“I can’t prevent Sir John selling the shares he controls, but if the club I want it to be to the right people. As long as I am here I am going to do my best for the club.

“But at the same time I’m not going to let any would-be buyer take the Mickey out of this club or its supporters by raising false expectations.”

---

Freddy Shepherd has issued a dramatic “back us or bail out” ultimatum to the club’s major shareholder Sir John Hall.

In an exclusive Sunday Mirror interview Shepherd blames the constant takeover speculation surrounding aborted takeover bids from Jersey-based Belgravia and American hedge fund Polygon as a major contributory factor to Newcastle’s problems this season.

Shepherd, who owns 28 per cent of the club, has publicly challenged major shareholder Sir John Hall, actively trying to sell the 41.6 per cent stake he controls, to come clean on his future plans.

The Toon chairman insists he would consider buying Hall’s shares at “the correct price.” Hall has made an estimated £36 million from shares he paid around £3.5million to purchase and should collect more than double that amount when he finally sells out.

Shepherd said: “We can’t allow this uncertainty and speculation to continue for another 12 months. The business must go forward whether it is with me, Sir John or someone else.

“Sir John Hall must let the club and it supporters know what his plan is. It must be sorted. I will consider buying at the correct price.

“I am having to constantly act as a fireman rather than as a football club chairman. This is not a nuts and bolts factory that just affects the employees. This is major football club that affects the whole community.

“I am not prepared to put up with it. Sir John must explain his intentions. “There is a limit to how many offers can be made for the club. The uncertainty is undermining the credibility of the club as well as proving a major distraction and a financial cost. ”

On hearing of Belgravia’s pull-out on Friday, Sir John Hall’s said: "I do not know what I will do now. I will need to have a think before I can make any further comment."

Chardee MacDennis

ONE FOR SORROW, TWO FOR JOY
Newcastle have once again turned to West Brom in their quest for defensive reinforcements.

With Nobby Solano suspended from their next game - against Aston Villa - and Peter Ramage likely to be injured (and not very good anyway), Glenn Roeder insists he will bring in "at least two" signings - the first of which will be Curtis Davies.

The Magpies will apparently offer £9m plus Titus Bramble. So that works out at around £8m.

From Football 365 - Hilarious, but so true....

kinaldo

Roeder has confirmed his interest in Davies

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=443224&CPID=8&clid=4&lid=2&title=Magpies+confirm+Davies+fancy

I've been reading great things about him so here's hoping but I also hope Bramble stays (I know I'm in a minority).

evilhomer

I wouldn't pay £9 million for him, he has great potential, but for £9 million you can buy a proven centre-half, Richard Dunne would come cheaper then that and you could probably get another Centre-half with potential from the championship too.

MrJoeSoap

Davies is a class act, and if the club can afford £9m then it's a great signing.

kinaldo

taken from the nufc.com West Ham match report:

Back to Emre though, who remains absent while Luque was at least on the bench today - although for no clear purpose, save for making him turn up to the matches and perhaps saving a few euro in wages if he happened to flounce out again when the teamsheet was pinned up.

Currently there's not much difference between either player - with both entirely useless to our cause if they aren't playing. But while the amount of wedge the Spaniard trousers from us makes finding a new cash cow improbable, the Turk remains a sellable acquisition.

Disregarding our no-smoke-without-fire feeling about this whole racism thing and informed attempts at pre-judging the outcome from the Mail and other newspapers, nobody is going to come out of this well.

From where we are standing, it's not just the player in the dock, but to a certain extent the club and manager - and how they react if the verdict is a guilty one.

Roeder may now regret his post-match attempt at an apology to Everton and the consequent assertion that this matter was all over and done with - just as the FA investigators were arriving on Merseyside.

The worst scenario would be for Emre to join Luque in the unplayables, just at the time that he becomes an unsellable until the end of the season. But that's exactly what looks like happening.

If the man who currently owns our number five squad number was sacrificed for either cash or a part exchange to bring in a more orthodox defensive wearer of that shirt, we couldn't give a fig whether it was construed as an admission of guilt or not.

Unfortunately that remains something of a dream scenario. The likelihood is that the player will receive an extended club ban to go with the international one he's being serving, giving us yet another absentee from the squad. Fining him is cold comfort indeed.

And so it goes. It remains a constant wonder that we manage to get eleven players out on the field at the required time, never mind such worrying over such trifles as form, fitness, experience, position or winning matches.

Biffa
http://www.nufc.com/2006-07html/2007-01-20westham-h.html

This is worrying to say the least, he's easily one of our best players.

kinaldo

Jan 27 2007

By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle

Emre is out of Newcastle United's game with Aston Villa at St James' Park on Wednesday night in the latest injury setback for manager Glenn Roeder.

Roeder is not expecting to see the little midfielder back in a black-and-white shirt for another couple of weeks because of his calf injury, while Celestine Babayaro continues to drag his feet following his hamstring injury and a bout of flu.

But there was better news for Roeder regarding Damien Duff and Titus Bramble, who both came through a full-scale practice match at United's training ground yesterday to put themselves in contention for Wednesday night.

The pair both played 80 minutes, while Stephen Carr - who returned against West Ham last Saturday after his long lay-off with a foot injury - topped up his fitness, with Steven Taylor also getting a good work-out after serving his one-match suspension against the Hammers.

In my view, Emre has been terrific this season and so committed to United, but the Turkish international's situation has to be of increasing concern for Roeder, with the 26-year-old suffering from a calf problem and struggling to come to terms with the FA racism charge - which he is denying - hanging over him.

Before the West Ham game I said the longer Emre is out the harder it will be for him to return after he was "knocked sideways" by the racist allegations, and this remains the case.

Roeder said today: "Emre's on the treatment table, and I don't expect him back for a couple of weeks."

...continues

Still no signings but with Bramble and Duff back in contention I'm quite confident of beating Aston Villa this week. My biggest concern is the return of Stephen Carr in place of the suspended Solano...

evilhomer

Looks like we probably won't get anyone in, which is our own fault for some of the foolish money we have spent over the last few years.

At least Roeder isn't being foolish and just getting people for the sake of it.

I would still like to see the two loan signings he promised, just to bolster the squad until the summer.

Vokes

Newcastle are about to sign on loan US international defender Oguchi Onyewu (U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 2006 )

Limerick Dude

SofaKing wrote:

Newcastle are about to sign on loan US international defender Oguchi Onyewu (U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year 2006 )

He passed his medical today, the deal is done!!!!
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=445019&CPID=8&clid=4&lid=&title=Gooch+makes+Toon+move

apparently PSV are trying to get Luque on a loan deal before the window shuts.

Also we are meant to be getting Frederic Piquionne but St Etienne dont want to let him go on loan.

kinaldo

Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen has slammed Obafemi Martins for going AWOL for Tuesday's friendly against Ghana. He said he would report the Newcastle striker to FIFA, with strict new rules meaning he could risk a ban from club matches.

Eguavoen says Martins failed to join up with the squad for the game at Brentford's Griffin Park, and said he had not heard from him.

"He was invited but to my great surprise he is not here. He's nowhere to be found - he's not even in England," said Eguavoen.

"I will go to FIFA which is the highest authority in football, as this is the highest level of disrespect."

Nigeria's Daily Champion reports that he returned home to attend to his mother, who is unwell, and had been unable to make contact with his manager.

If Martins is found to have snubbed his country, he could face a domestic suspension.

Earlier this season, FIFA threatened to ban Chelsea's Claude Makelele for two matches for every France game he missed.

The midfielder had attempted to retire from international football but found himself called up by France anyway, a situation that led Jose Mourinho to describe Makelele as being treated like "a slave".

http://www.eurosport.com/football/premiership/2006-2007/sport_sto1078876.shtml

also

Meanwhile Emre has mounted his own defence via The Mirror, which on the face of it seems a) an admission of guilt b) based on an inherently flawed argument and c) an attempt at bringing his time in England to an end:

Emre has launched his defence against an FA charge of racism by saying it is "normal" for players to call each other "black" or "negro" in Turkey.

The Newcastle midfielder broke his silence on the controversy last night to say he is "not a racist" because he is a Muslim.

Emre says his best friend in Newcastle is Obafemi Martins, the club's Nigerian striker. If found guilty at a personal hearing later this season, he faces a lengthy ban.

He allegedly abused Everton's Joseph Yobo, Tim Howard and Jolean Lescott in a clash during Newcastle's defeat at Goodison in December.

Emre said: "I'm not racist. Because of my religion, I'm against racism. I gave my defence to the federation about this case, but I don't know whether I will get a ban.

"My best friend is Obafemi. He's also my room-mate, so how can anyone call me a racist? It's normal to say words like 'black' or 'negro' in Turkey but, when you say this in England, it's misunderstood."

Toon boss Glenn Roeder has said if anyone of his players is found guilty of racism he would throw them out, but he is standing by the player.

Emre added: " Newcastle offered me a contract even if I get a ban.

"I want to stay but, if I feel that everything is against me, I may have to think about my situation in England. I have had great support from the Prime Minister of Turkey.

http://www.nufc.com/

nufc.com have always been extremely anti-Emre as well as Luque, Robert etc. so I'd take their opinions there with a pinch of salt. Regardless, the possibility of losing our ex-Inter duo to domestic bans is not worth thinking about right now. Oh how me missed Emre against Fulham last week... the less said about that performance the better.

kinaldo

Condolences to Baba and his family over the death of his brother.

Limerick Dude

Aye same here.

Roeder may go for Kenny Miller of Celtic in the Summer, he has spoken about his interest in him.

'Gooch' looks like he is adapting very well to the team with 2 good performances plus he elbowed Bellamy which is always a good thing

When Bellamy complained, Gooch replyed "look at where your head is, I can't help it if you're so short you only come up to my elbow". Legend

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/journalsport/tm_headline=onyewu-gives-craig-elbow%26method=full%26objectid=18609562%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

Spaco

TG4 are showng the match tonight. Have to say, it's about time someone started showing them on the box. They've been brilliant in Europe this season.
And Dyer with a great shot there. Straight at the keeper unfortuneately.....

kinaldo

Just tuned in online. Luque is playing lol!

Spaco

he had loads of space on a header a few minutes ago, what does he do? fluffs it. Good god, he's given a chance and he looks like he doesn't care

kinaldo

Spaco wrote:

he had loads of space on a header a few minutes ago, what does he do? fluffs it. Good god, he's given a chance and he looks like he doesn't care

No matter what he does, even if he scored a hat-trick, he'll be dropped for the next game, so can he really be expected to care at this stage? When he scored against Sunderland he was dropped from squad. When he scored in the intertoto he was dropped from the squad. When he scored the winner in Palermo he was relegated to the bench for the 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Utd - our lowest point this season.

Spaco

it's unfortuneate. Hopefully g
they get the resukt against these guys. Was in Barcelona when espanyol thumped these guys 6-1.
But if they get a goal now they should mop the floor with them

Spaco

Super oba......
Great goal. Good work from duff to set that one up. It was a long time coming

Malmedicine

Why the hell cant we score penalties. As a matter of fact has shay ever saved a penalty . I'm racking my brains and cant think of one that stands out. Maybe Glenn might have a look at practicising this .

eirebhoy

Malmedicine wrote:

Why the hell cant we score penalties. As a matter of fact has shay ever saved a penalty . I'm racking my brains and cant think of one that stands out. Maybe Glenn might have a look at practicising this .

http://foot.ie/forums/showthread.php?t=23763

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Malmedicine

The Scientist wrote:

Good point but I wouldnt trade his shot stopping abilities for penno saving ability.
Cant be good at everything...

I agree entirely but its just strange that such a great keeper hasn't made a memorable penalty save . Still i would'nt swap him for any other keeper .

kinaldo

I think Given has saved about 3 or 4 penalties for Newcastle and one amazing save for Ireland against Cyprus. I guess that's quite low over 10 years. Anyway, I don't think we've ever had a problem scoring penalties. We even managed to win a shootout this season. I'd still be confident with Solano taking them.

Malmedicine

Yeah but we've also missed at least three in the Prem . 2 in one game if I'm not mistaken. I just think we might need a bit of practice thats all.

Limerick Dude

Poor game against boro, we missed chances once again and we should of picked up 3 points like against wigan. If we want europe next season then we will need to get maximum points from the rest of our premiership games.

We need a strong performance against AZ on thursday.

kinaldo

Another disappointing result but I had a feeling we would draw a second blank against a defense led by Woodgate. Is it worth downloading the highlights on a slow connection I wonder... it's proving exceedingly difficult to follow the mighty Toon down under. That said at least they have Newcastle Brown Ale available on tap

kinaldo

Malmedicine wrote:

Yeah but we've also missed at least three in the Prem . 2 in one game if I'm not mistaken. I just think we might need a bit of practice thats all.

I think you're mistaken alright. I'm racking my brains here and I don't remember us ever missing more than 1 penalty in 90 minutes. Don't forget our last win was a Solano penalty against Liverpool. And just before that a draw with West Ham featuring another Solano penalty.

kinaldo

The importance of tonight's game has just dawned on me now. King Louis and his troops come into this on the back of a 4-0 win at Utrecht over the weekend while we welcome back Emre. I expect he'll be raring to go after his 11 game absence and these are the sort of games where we really need someone in the midfield with his ability and technique. On the downside Stephen Carr looks set to return...