Toon Fans

FA Cup draws Toon away to Plymouth Argyle.  Well, Rory Fallon, you're going to the World Cup so I guess you don't need to go any further in this tournament.

Do we really want to go far in the FA cup or focus on the league?

I'd say League is the priority, but we're not in any other competition this season. So unless injuries threaten the small squad it doesn't hurt to give both a go - would be good to come up against an EPL side and see how this season's team performs.

Of course we want the FA Cup.  How else are we going into Europe next season? :)

You're obviously true Toon Army - let's not let reality cloud our judgement!

What, don't you believe in the romance of the FA cup?

OK.  Realistically, the club could do with the cash and credibility from a decent cup run.  There will be some new players coming in January (even if the transfer budget is zero, we can get free agents and take loans).  Extra games will keep them happy, and provide more opportunities for youngsters like Ranger to get starts.  If Premier competition is drawn, it should be regarded as a fine chance for the team to display - and develop! - its new fighting spirit.

I'm wedded to the FA Cup - first watched it on TV in 1973 (Mackems beating Leeds) and then watched religiously until I went to varsity (had field trips in May and sometimes listened on the radio if we could get a station).

Probably one of the few times that I've appreciated the gooners - or more accurately Liam Brady, destroying Man U.*

Would love to see Toon go as far as possible in the Cup competition but while Europe is a nice prize, Premier league has to be the goal both for team development of the current squad (or however many get retained next season) and also for the huge cash injection and hopefully a new owner to go with that.

edit: * in 1979

Junior822009-12-02 02:07:52

back in geordie-land today, and my cab driver was very happy with the result in the weekend.  Gutted that I was here the other week when they played Preston......in Preston, and I am here next week when they play Coventry.......in Coventry.  There have also been about 3 home games in weekends when I have been back in Manchester.  Garbage timing.

Home Games:

5 Dec - Watford
20 Dec - 'Boro
28 Dec - Derby
18 Jan - WBA
27 Jan - Palace
6 Feb - Cardiff
17 Feb - Coventry
20 Feb - Preston
6 Mar - Barnsley
17 Mar - Sc*nthorpe
27 Mar - Notts Forest
5 April - Sheffield Utd
10 April - Blackpool
24 April - Ipswich

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=707531&sec=england&cc=3436&cc=3436

"Campbell is confused why the possibility of joining Newcastle on a free transfer has suddenly disappeared."

Probably because Hughton suddenly realised what an unreliable, over the hill Judas tw@t Campbell is.

Possibly because there is now a transfer budget?  We can hope.

Previews for the Watford match have started appearing:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=268322&cc=3888
http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=PREV&id=475513

Bookies:
http://www.wsn.com/football/england/championship/newcastle-united_vs_watford-fc-odds/

Home team news (salient points from nufc.premiumtv.co.uk):
Squad almost at full strength.  Only Barton is totally out of contention.
Shola is in full training but missing match fitness.  I expect he'll start on the bench.

I would be surprised if Hughton is given any money. But glad they have ruled out Campbell. Hes totally over the hill.

Has anyone found a live stream for the match?
Tommy_Smyth2009-12-05 17:04:22

Can't find any live streams.  Chronicle, ESPN or Yahoo, again.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/11/24/mike-ashley-s-namesake-joins-toon-buy-out-72703-25239167/

Guess plans to sing "There's only one Mike Ashley" can be shelved indefinitely.

Maybe next season it will be sung for the right reason.

1 - 0 up at the half.  Lovenkrands with the goal, assist from Harewood.

edit:  To Lee Ryder's poll, "Who is United's hardest working player?" fans overwhelmingly chose Alan Smith (70%).
Stripes2009-12-06 05:01:31

Nolan sent off at 49, but Watford failed to take advantage.  Jonas played in Pancrate to kill the game at 83 minutes.

Still top, almost everyone fit.  Life is good!

Looks like a good crowd too (43k again).

I like this season's home strip compared with the last one.

This seasons home strip is awesome apart from the big ugly sponsor patch they stuck on.

Good win, West brom dropped points too

We've got a moment before the mid-week game to digest some club news.  Chronicle has a very informative article here http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/nufc-match-reports-results/nufc-match-analysis/2009/12/05/nufc-boss-hughton-back-on-leon-cort-trail-72703-25325997/

The story for public consumption appears to be that Sol's wage demands were unreasonable.

They're also carrying yet another story on NUST http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/12/05/20m-pledged-by-fans-trying-to-buy-newcastle-72703-25326382/

"we�ve been in talks with serious financial organisations and individuals in the city of Newcastle and London... We can reveal that we�re in discussions with the interested parties about next stages and the feasibility of the Trust�s aim of fans at the top table."

This has a familiar stink.

Oi! Carroll! No!

West Brom 0 Cardiff 2.
NUFC got the chance to go seven points clear tomorrow. No Nolan though. Hopefully, Hughton doesn't replace Nolan with Butt and instead pushes Guthrie into the middle and Pancrate gets the start out wide.

CMON THE TOON!

ESPN's preview http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=284382&cc=3436 saw you coming a mile off, Tommy: "[Newcastle] will be without key midfield Kevin Nolan, who is suspended after being sent off during Saturday's 2-0 win over Watford, with the fit-again Nicky Butt the most likely beneficiary."

Bookmakers give the lads home odds: http://www.wsn.com/football/england/newcastle-united/

Footy mad are pretty confident, too: http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=PREV&id=476246

Chronicle is casting a dim light on Carroll starting: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/12/08/ameobi-may-come-in-if-hughton-axes-carroll-72703-25345790/

Silly, silly boy.

I'm still picking the Baggies to go straight back up
all they have to do is channel the spirit of Cyril Regis
and they can join your mob back in the top flight

That's 7 on the trot and 7 on the top.  And a goal for Nile!

J82, you're knocking Carroll?  I don't know much about the incident - he was questioned by police and hasn't been charged with anything.  Frankly, too soon to say.

As for the Baggies, well, they might make it back up but they're not winning the Championship this year.

Not knocking him as in putting the boot in - he may be the innocent party (although it does not seem likely).

But very very disappointed that it's another case of a young footballer with a good career in front of him allowing this sort of thing to potentially ruin it. I don't know if he is a thug like Bowyer or Barton but the last thing the Toon needs is more off-field shenanigans that threaten the stability of a small squad.

It sounds like the common thing when an idoit picks a fight with a famous footballer as Carroll was the bloke to throw the second punch, more than likely in self defence (hopefully). Think its a minor incident and carroll will still turn out to be a hit at the toon.

Andy Carroll update here http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/12/10/andy-carroll-out-but-not-for-good-72703-25362226/

I'm going to go with "Silly boy".  (No need for a double-silly, yet.)

Hughton looks to be doing his best to straighten Andy out.  And he's right - strikers aren't too much of a problem right now.

edit: If Carroll needs an example of how footballers behave, he could do a lot worse than Steve Harper.  http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/12/10/steve-harper-we-have-to-keep-the-pack-at-bay-72703-25362255/
Stripes2009-12-11 15:44:26

Dropped points.  Had to happen, I guess.

Alright.  QPR, do us a favour, would you?

I feckin hate this weekend.

Blame Spurs and Welly.  An away draw isn't that bad.

The draw has helped.  I put away the razor.

Hosting Boro on the 20th.  They couldn't even beat Cardiff.

Before hearing the team news, I'll go in for 3-0.

Catching up with some transfer speculation (though this move is some way off): http://www.geordies.net/story.php?title=rangers-dire-financial-situation-leaves-them-at-risk-of-losing-kris-boyd--scotland---times-online

Don't think much of the article's suggestion that Boro will be able to use Premier League riches to woo Boyd.  However, Fenerbahce are also interested after having fired some of their players for being too kinky.

More general transfer stuff is at http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/4792363.January_quality_is_the_key_for_Hughton/.  The big sign being hung out is that we're not signing anyone.

Or at least, next to nobody will come in, and probably no money will be spent.

Typical.

The same article reveals that Adidas is sick of Ashley, too.  Good on them.
Stripes2009-12-15 15:37:55

"The same article reveals that Adidas is sick of Ashley, too."

If that article is true, im gutted Adidas have walked away and we are replacing them with Puma.

Why?  (do you have a parochial leaning for one of the Dasler brothers?) Junior822009-12-15 22:39:11

It's all a bit surreal at the moment.  Aside from Mr. Carroll's indiscretions, the players seem to be getting their heads down and doing the job.  Look at what Shola had to say:  http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/12/16/shola-ameobi-we-re-all-united-off-the-pitch-72703-25403473/

(In the same article, there's a note that Boro fans aren't hurrying to buy tickets for their away game.  Sign that they expect to lose, or just an indication of tough times in the North-East?)

Another transfer story (http://www.fansfc.com/story/17575.html) - apparently Vladimir Weiss the younger (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=81706&league=ENG.1&season=2009&cc=3436) is a loan target.  As there's no transfer fee involved, it could happen.