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Post by Bismarck on Dec 13, 2007 19:16:49 GMT
Newcastle United have put highly-rated South African international midfielder Lance Davids on a week’s trial.
The 22-year-old, who plays for Djurgardens in Sweden, has just finished a trial at Blackburn Rovers.
Djurgardens' sporting director Bosse Andersson told Expressen: "Newcastle has sent an invitation to Lance and he will be on trial there all this week.
"He was at Blackburn last week and they were happy with what they saw and now he will spend a week in Newcastle, that is our agreement.
"We have not received any offers yet though, these are only trial invitations."
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 13, 2007 19:27:20 GMT
Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has ruled out signing Barcelona’s Brazilian star Edmilson in January but has revealed interest to sign him in next summer.
The 31-year-old defensive midfielder, who is yet to play this season after having a knee surgery in the summer, was fiercely linked with a move to St James’ Park during the summer and reports suggested that a move had been agreed.
However, the Toon boss has confirmed that the former Sao Paulo and Lyon player is not heading for Newcastle in the New Year winter transfer window.
"I am afraid Edmilson is now not an option for us in January," he said on the club’s official website.
"He has not played at all this season and it would be too much of a risk to bring him here next month.
"But I will certainly be interested in going for him in the summer."
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Post by arover on Dec 14, 2007 15:26:55 GMT
Martins plunders. Great photo if you ask me.
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Post by andynufcfan on Dec 15, 2007 14:11:43 GMT
nice idea bissy with every prem side getting a thread i will only be posting on a few tho
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Post by andynufcfan on Dec 16, 2007 16:10:49 GMT
Weve signed ben tozer a 17 year old left back from swindon for 1.2 million he had a trial with everton earlier on in the season
it says this on the swindon website
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 18, 2007 19:34:01 GMT
Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has ruled out a move for Ipswich striker Jonathan Walters and Zalaegerszeg Torna Egylet defender Tamas Kadar. He has also hinted that defender Ben Tozer would be loaned out once he is signed from Swindon.
Walters, 24, was at Bolton during Allardyce’s reign at the Reebok Stadium and speculation claimed that he could be reunited with his former boss at St James’ Park.
But Big Sam has dismissed the recent reports. "I had Jonathan with me at Bolton Wanderers and I'm delighted that he's doing so well with Ipswich, but he's not someone I'm looking to bring here," he said on the club’s official website, adding that 17-year-old Hungarian defender Kadar is "not on his radar" at present.
Allardyce also hailed 17-year-old Tozer as ‘one for the future’ as his move to the Magpies apparently, is on the verge of completion.
The move which brings Tozer to the North-East is said to be worth around £1million and could be sealed in the next couple of days.
"He is only 17 and he is obviously one for the future," Allardyce told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
"And yes, there is a possibility Ben will be allowed to go out on loan.
"But first we want him to stay here for two or three weeks so that we can look at him and he can look at us."
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 21, 2007 18:39:42 GMT
After the success at Fulham, Newcastle United defender David Rozehnal is certain that the Magpies are on the right path to improve their Premier League standing.
Newcastle’s defence has faced lot of criticism in the ongoing season but the 1-0 win at Craven Cottage on Saturday has come as a tonic Sam Allardyce's side needed while going into the busy festive period.
Especially Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa, who returned from injury for the London trip, did well to redeem himself after the nightmarish performance against Portsmouth.
Rozehnal told The Journal: "To get the three points is the most important thing, but in many ways, the 1-0 score is just great for the team.
"It's been a long time since we kept a clean sheet, so that is something we are very pleased with. The longer it goes on, the more people talk about it and the more you think about it.
"It might sound strange as a defender to say it, but if we won 5-4 every game, I'd be happy because the victory is the most important thing in any football game.”
"But, for our heads and confidence, it is better that we keep a clean sheet. We haven't done that enough this season and we have created pressure for ourselves."
The Czech Republic international added: "First of all, Claudio is a great player. What happened to him is a big pity. He made some mistakes, but football is like that.
"Sometimes you can look like the worst footballer in the world, you make mistakes and people think you are terrible.
"But he is a great player and a strong player. We saw against Fulham, he did a great job. I felt really good playing close to him. He has a lot of experience, there is big pressure on us and we need this type of big player on the pitch."
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 21, 2007 18:40:13 GMT
Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce is not sure striker Michael Owen will be back against Derby County in the Premiership at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Along with Owen, who has been out after suffering a thigh injury during England's friendly in Austria last month, The Toon boss is also looking for the return of injured defenders Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye and Stephen Carr, for the festive season.
Big Sam said in the Evening Chronicle: “Hopefully Michael’s going to get back into some form of training this week, and Derby might still be a bit soon, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”
“Certainly, we’d hope to have Steven Taylor and possibly Abdoulaye Faye and Stephen Carr back," he added.
“We’ll try to get them into training as quickly as we can, because the games are coming thick and fast.”
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 21, 2007 18:40:47 GMT
Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has ruled out a move for Ipswich striker Jonathan Walters and Zalaegerszeg Torna Egylet defender Tamas Kadar. He has also hinted that defender Ben Tozer would be loaned out once he is signed from Swindon.
Walters, 24, was at Bolton during Allardyce’s reign at the Reebok Stadium and speculation claimed that he could be reunited with his former boss at St James’ Park.
But Big Sam has dismissed the recent reports. "I had Jonathan with me at Bolton Wanderers and I'm delighted that he's doing so well with Ipswich, but he's not someone I'm looking to bring here," he said on the club’s official website, adding that 17-year-old Hungarian defender Kadar is "not on his radar" at present.
Allardyce also hailed 17-year-old Tozer as ‘one for the future’ as his move to the Magpies apparently, is on the verge of completion.
The move which brings Tozer to the North-East is said to be worth around £1million and could be sealed in the next couple of days.
"He is only 17 and he is obviously one for the future," Allardyce told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
"And yes, there is a possibility Ben will be allowed to go out on loan.
"But first we want him to stay here for two or three weeks so that we can look at him and he can look at us."
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 21, 2007 18:41:21 GMT
Striker Michael Owen will still be on the sidelines as Newcastle United take on bottom club Derby County in the Premiership at St James’ Park on Sunday.
The 28-year-old England international is yet to recover from the thigh problem, which he had picked on international duty last month.
Toon boss Sam Allardyce had earlier hoped to get Owen back for the Rams clash but he has admitted that the former Liverpool and Real Madrid player will not be back in training until the end of this week.
While the Magpies had a few other injury concerns and on the way to returning back to boost Allardyce’s side after playing in the reserves against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, Owen missed out on the practice game.
"A number of players featured in a practice game but Michael Owen was not one of them," Allardyce told the club's official website.
"The thigh strain has taken a little longer than we thought to heal and he won't be back in training until the end of the week.
"We'd hoped he would be able to play in the practice match and then against Derby, but we'll just have to be patient with him."
On the recovery of winger Damien Duff, who is aiming to return to first team action following a foot injury way back in April, Allardyce said: "Damien played another 90 minutes and is getting stronger, but I don't think he will be involved at all against Derby at the weekend."
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 24, 2007 17:11:54 GMT
Damien Duff’s return from a long-term injury, has made Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce feel that the winger is like a new member of his squad.
Allardyce started the Republic of Ireland international on bench in Sunday's Premiership draw against bottom club Derby County at home.
The 28-year-old, who had suffered a career-threatening foot injury in April, came on as replacement to Nicky Butt in the 68th minute and looked quite lively.
Allardyce told the Gazette: "Damien's a quality, top drawer Premiership player.
"For me, it's like having a new player. He's worked exceptionally hard, and got himself right up there. He got on the pitch, and didn't look out of place I'm glad to say.
"It looks good for the future, and I hope he steers clear from injury."
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Post by hallmackem on Dec 28, 2007 10:13:09 GMT
I see Joey Barton's been arrested again. Assualt i think... again.
How many more times can he get away with it?
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Post by Wolvensam on Dec 28, 2007 13:09:35 GMT
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton has been refused bail and remanded in custody until 3rd January.
Barton was charged with common assault and affray after being arrested by Merseyside Police in Liverpool in the early hours of Thursday morning following an incident in the city centre.
The 25-year-old will now miss Newcastle's next two games after being refused bail by Liverpool City Magistrates Court on Friday.
Barton will definitely be absent for Newcastle's trip to Chelsea on Saturday and he will also be unavailable for the match with Manchester City at St James' Park on 2nd Janaury.
Risk
The Magpies star, who moved to St James' Park in the summer from City, has only recently returned to Newcastle's first team after the beginning of his season was disrupted by injury.
Magistrate Carol Myers said there were no conditions to satisfy the requirements of the Bail Act.
She said there was a substantial risk of Barton offending again because the new offences took place while on bail.
Myers added: "I also have to consider the safety of the public - you (Barton) lashed out indiscriminately."
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Post by likeasharkinafunnyhat on Dec 28, 2007 13:10:03 GMT
Hopefully no longer...
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 28, 2007 13:48:49 GMT
I see Joey Barton's been arrested again. Assualt i think... again. How many more times can he get away with it? Barton remanded on assault charge The England midfielder was one of three people arrested Newcastle and England midfielder Joey Barton has been remanded in custody charged with assault. The footballer, 25, is accused of common assault and affray and appeared before Liverpool magistrates following an incident in Church Street. He was arrested on Thursday with his brother Andrew, 19, and Nadine Wilson, 27, from Huyton, Merseyside. The player will reappear on 3 January and misses the visit to Chelsea and Wednesday's tie with Manchester City. The court was told that CCTV operators tracked Mr Barton and a group of his friends in Church Street at 0530 GMT on Thursday. A confrontation was said to have taken place in a McDonald's restaurant. The player, of Widnes, Cheshire, was outside when an unknown man made a gesture towards him. Gwyn Lewis, defending, said he was the victim of a "great deal of provocation" and was being "goaded" in the street. A girl in his group was then assaulted in the street. The goading was said to have taken the form of taunting over the conviction of his half-brother Michael for the murder of Anthony Walker in 2005. A spokesman for Newcastle United said the club was not making any comment.
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Post by Bismarck on Dec 31, 2007 14:11:12 GMT
Chelsea scored a lucky 2-1 win over Newcastle United in their Premiership game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The match was evenly poised at 1-1 in the last five minutes when a controversial goal from Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou decided the result in favour of Avram Grant’s side.
Newcastle looked the brighter of the two sides in the initial exchanges with Obafemi Martins and Damien Duff coming close to the Blues goal only to see keeper Hilario and defender Alex deny them respectively.
Chelsea’s initial chance fell to Michael Ballack, who was captaining the side in the absence of injured John Terry and Frank Lampard, when Shaun Wright-Phillips cut back the ball to the Germany midfielder at the edge of the box only to see him blazing over.
Martins was then threaded with a brilliant ball by Nicky Butt, but the Nigerian hit-man failed to get past Alex in the Blues box.
Shay Given made a save in the 20th minute when Kalou curled a shot straight at the Toon keeper.
Minute later, Mikel’s deflected shot from 20 yards, was nicely palmed away by Given as the home side began asserting themselves on the proceedings.
Brazil defender Alex made a good contact with his header off a free-kick from right from Joe Cole, in the 27th minute however he could not beat Given.
But a minute later, the Blues opened the scoring as Michael Essien found the target from six yards as the Ghanaian pounced upon the opportunity that arose from Wright-Phillips’ shot deflecting off Kalou while keeper Given was wrong-footed, reacting to the initial shot.
Joe Cole moved menacingly towards the rival citadel with Kalou slipping in almost a perfect pass for the England winger from the left channel, but Claudio Cacapa made an important clearance in the nick of time in the 41st minute.
In the next minute, Cacapa almost turned up a provider but Martins’ shot was wide of the target.
At the other end, Wright-Phillips missed an open chance at the back post, heading wide from a superb cross from Joe Cole from left side.
In the first minute of the second period, Given showed great alertness as he prevented a spectacular own goal from Butt, who retracted to clear a cross from Wright-Phillips, but his attempted clearance looked to be heading for the back of the net.
Toon defender Habib Beye averted danger in the 54th minute as Joe Cole’s grounder was on target.
In the 55th minute, the Toon came up with their equaliser as Butt bundled the ball home past defender Wayne Bridge, after Charles N'Zogbia had done the hard work down the left flank and sent in a pass inside the Blues box where Martins also had a touch on the ball as keeper Hilario was beaten.
Ballack made a surging run through the centre and connected with a cross from Wright-Phillips from right flank, but Given was equal to the task of stopping the grounder in the 64th minute.
The home side upped the ante after that and Wright-Phillips was a shade shorter of making enough ground from the right to meet a cross from Kalou near the face of the goal in the 67th minute.
But the visitors also showed an attacking intent and in the 69th minute, Blues right-back Juliano Belletti had to come up with a crucial sliding clearance to thwart Martins’ attempt to set up Duff in the six-yard box.
Striker Michael Owen made his return from a lengthy absence with a thigh problem, which he suffered while playing for England in a friendly in Austria, as he came on in the 74th minute.
Bridge’s cross from left flank dipped more when Alex, who attacked well, anticipated while making a contact and as such his header took a bounce and sailed over the bar in the 80th minute.
Kalou’s goal in the 87th minute turned out to be the winner for the Blues but it looked a controversial decision from the linesman as the Chelsea forward was in an off-side position.
Teams:
Chelsea: Henrique Hilario, Alex, Juliano Belletti, Tal Ben-Haim, Wayne Bridge, Michael Ballack (Scott Sinclair 76), Joe Cole (Claudio Pizarro 65), Michael Essien, John Mikel Obi, Shaun Wright-Phillips (Steve Sidwell 90), Salomon Kalou.
Substitutes not used: Rhys Taylor, Paulo Ferreira.
Newcastle: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Claudio Cacapa, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Damien Duff (Mark Viduka 89), Abdoulaye Faye, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Obafemi Martins (Michael Owen 74), Alan Smith (David Rozehnal 70).
Substitutes not used: Steve Harper, Belozoglu Emre.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 1, 2008 17:00:14 GMT
While Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce seems to be the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next manager to be sacked this season, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Martin Jol is reportedly harbouring a desire to take charge at St James’ Park.
The Toon are going through another inconsistent season and their draw with bottom club Derby County and loss to Wigan Athletic, over the Christmas period has firmly put the pressure back on Allardyce, who was appointed in the job over the summer before Mike Ashley bought the club.
As such, there is fierce speculation that Ashley might get a man of his choice at the helm if Big Sam does not get the desired results.
The Magpies are away at Chelsea in the Premiership today.
Jol was himself sacked by Spurs in late October as the Dutchman paid the price for the disastrous start the north London club got off to this season despite finishing fifth in the last two seasons.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 2, 2008 16:54:42 GMT
Newcastle United winger Damien Duff wants to play as many games as possible after returning to action from a lengthy injury lay-off.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international suffered a career-threatening foot injury way back in April, and worked his way up to full fitness to return to action as a substitute against Derby on December 23.
Toon boss Sam Allardyce described Duff return is like having a new signing over the hectic festive period.
And the former Chelsea star is keen to show his value over the remainder of the season.
"It's been busy, but that doesn't bother me because I'm just delighted to be playing again," he said.
"Now we have got some big games in the new year and I am looking forward to it.
"When you have been out for so long, you really appreciate playing again.
"We have got another busy month coming up and we have to build on that Chelsea performance and hopefully get a win in front of our own fans against Manchester City on Wednesday."
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Post by Wolvensam on Jan 2, 2008 22:46:01 GMT
Allardyce, who only joined the Magpies from Bolton in the summer, is already forced to worry about whether he will still have a job from one week to another, which is something that Eriksson can understand but not agree with.
"Sam Allardyce has thick skin and he can stand up to what is happening there and will resolve it,’ said the former England coach. “Everyone knows he is a great manager. The job he did for Bolton was fantastic. The thing with jobs like that is if you win you are fantastic and if you lose it is the opposite, there is never anything in between.
"People might say would anyone choose to manage Newcastle? But then you might say would anyone choose to manage England?,” added Eriksson, in reference to recent comments made by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Manchester United boss openly wondered why anyone would want to take the reigns at St. James Park, as he reckons that the job carries the weight of expectation of one of the Big Four clubs, but without the resources to back it up.
“For me they are both dream jobs,” Eriksson added. “You are talking about a big club, a fantastic stadium and support, nobody would ever say no to that job. Although I would emphasise I am happy where I am."
Despite his words of compassion, Eriksson will take Manchester City to St James’s Park intent on condemning Newcastle to a third successive defeat.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 3, 2008 16:17:27 GMT
It may not stand out like other, more celebrated years, but 1955 was not a bad one for films. Spencer Tracy showed some form in Bad Day at Black Rock, and Cary Grant sparkled in To Catch a Thief. Otto Preminger made The Man with the Golden Arm, which was considered very red meat at the time, and Hollywood's twin monarchs, John Ford (Mister Roberts), and Billy Wilder (The Seven Year Itch), left their mark.
In the pop charts Bill Haley, the oldest teenager in town, mopped his brow in between rockin' around the clock, and Tennessee Ernie Ford gave us Sixteen Tons, with its much-imitated line: "If you see me comin', better step asi-de." In the wider world, the first McDonald's opened in Illinois (thank you, Illinois), and the Russians, having lost overall control of Berlin, established the Warsaw Pact.
In England, a year before the humiliation of Suez that revealed Britain's diminished role in the world, Anthony Eden had succeeded Winston Churchill as Prime Minister, and Ralph Vaughan Williams was composing his eighth symphony. And, though it turned up few trees at the time, Newcastle United won the FA Cup.
Despite all the hot air that blows out of Tyneside, as though through the funnel of one of the ships they used to make up there, that pot remains their last domestic honour, though they did land the Inter City Fairs Cup (the Uefa Cup, by another name) in 1969. It is worth noting that little fact when we are asked to believe, as we so often are, that Newcastle are a big club.
It's all right. They're only joking. Since that glorious day at Wembley, 53 long years ago, when Jackie Milburn scored in the first minute against Manchester City to lead the charge to a third Cup triumph in five years and prompt a general shaking of rattles, this 'big' club has won no domestic honour.
Oxford United, now languishing in the Blue Square Premier League, have. Stoke City have, and Queens Park Rangers and Coventry City and seven other clubs who currently belong to the old second division. Heavens above, even Sunderland have; hopeless old Sunderland. But the giants who live at St James' Park have won three-eighths of four-tenths of bugger all.
advertisementSo it is easy to sympathise with Sam Allardyce, the latest man foolish enough to imagine he can salvage this stricken tanker, when he acknowledges that his position is in danger. In such danger, he knows, that if the players he has recently criticised for their lack of spirit and talent lose their next tie in the tournament that is embedded so deeply in the club's collective memory, when they go to Stoke on Sunday, it is likely that he will walk home with his head under one arm.
Things must be bad when the club's chairman, Chris Mort, declares that the speculation concerning Allardyce is making him laugh, a sure sign that his fingers are itching. Meanwhile, everybody else is roaring at the demeaning spectacle of Mike Ashley attending matches in a black and white shirt. Perhaps Mort should organise a whip-round to buy him a suit, a shirt and a tie. Newcastle may be a long way from London, where both men make their living, but there are such things as gentlemen's outfitters. At the moment the owner's 'man of the people' act is making the club a laughing stock.
If Allardyce is told to clear his desk, and if Alan Shearer is invited to place his centre-forward's behind in the hot seat that 'Big Sam' has kept nicely warmed, what then? Does anybody really think that, by invoking the grand names of yesteryear, starting with St Jackie of Milburn, Newcastle will, in some mysterious way as yet unspecified, cease to be underachievers?
We've been here before, not 'alf! Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness: Newcastle have not exactly been starved of big names. Shearer was indeed a wonderful player, but he has no experience of management, which is such a notoriously difficult craft that even Robson was eventually (and shamefully) deemed inadequate.
Pipe dreams, that's all they are. A local hero Shearer might be, and rightly, because nobody could have given more to the cause than he did for 10 years, but the depth and ferocity of local pride has not availed them much in the past 50 years, and it won't in the next 50.
Shearer played in two FA Cup finals, when Newcastle submitted so meekly to Arsenal and Manchester United that their reputation remains diminished to this day. They didn't come out to play on either occasion, any more than they did in 1974 when Malcolm Macdonald boasted they would have Liverpool for toast. Instead Liverpool put a fried egg on top and munched them whole.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 3, 2008 19:27:29 GMT
When Sam Allardyce was appointed manager of Newcastle United in the summer, optimism soared high and buoyancy was swelling. But five months later optimism has ebbed away to pessimism and disappointment to such a degree that Big Sam’s future at St. James’ Park is under a massive grey cloud of doubt.
The ridiculously stark truth is that the man himself admits that he is under pressure. Big Sam has been feeling the heat for several weeks now and his relationship with the club’s owner Mike Ashley is speculated to be at a nadir over the sensitive issue of whether to sign new players in the January transfer window. However, for the first time, Allardyce has come out and publicly stated that he could be sacked should results do not improve soon. This is what the former Bolton manager had to say:
”The support is great, but at the end of the day, the pressure still mounts, it mounts despite that support. A team like us should not be losing at home. A team like us should not be losing three games on the trot. I am not daft enough not to know that I am in the results business and I need to win some football matches. That’s clear, but I will have to look at the encouraging performances today and at Chelsea and look to get the right decisions from the players at the right times. With that and a bit of luck, we can look to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal, but we are creating chances.”
The frank confession comes in the wake of the Magpies’ third defeat in a row in the Premier League. Newcastle lost at home for the third time in the league this season on Wednesday when they were defeated 2-0 by this season’s big risers Manchester City. The result means that Newcastle stay in 11th with 26 points from 21 matches. Although they look safe from relegation worries, the main concern is that they have to perform a miracle to carve out a UEFA Cup spot for themselves.
Big Sam wants money to spend in the January transfer market and while Ashley earlier refused to open the floodgates and allow his manager to lash out more money, club chairman Chris Mort has now acceded that some money will be poured onto Allardyce’s hands. At the same time, Mort has emphasised the current squad’s need to improve performance, saying:
”I would expect us to make a couple of further additions to the squad in January. But like any other club, we would prefer to add players in the summer transfer window than in January so that players have a chance to settle into the team. And January is always a more difficult time to extract high-quality players from their current clubs. With the strength we have in the squad, I am hopeful that the team will soon settle into a winning run that will push us back up the table to where we should be”
It would be naïve for Newcastle to sack Allardyce although the heat must be maintained on the manager as well as on the players. But can the Magpies improve with new signings? They are certainly better than mid-table also-rans but how can they resurrect the current losing rot?
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 4, 2008 13:49:36 GMT
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has urged the club to keep faith with under-fire manager Sam Allardyce. Allardyce admitted the pressure was mounting after the Magpies lost to Manchester City at home on Wednesday - their third successive defeat.
But Butt said: "Things will never improve unless he's given time. I've been here for three-and-a-half years and I've had four managers.
"Sooner or later someone has got to say this is the manager we're standing by."
Newcastle face high-flying Championship side Stoke in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and defeat would make Allardyce's position even more precarious after only seven months in charge.
However, Butt, who spent 11 years under Sir Alex Ferguson at former club Manchester United, is convinced stability is the key to long-term success.
"If you look at all the big teams, like United and Arsenal, they're the clubs that have stood by managers for a long time," he said.
"If we do that, I'm sure we'll do it right."
The 32-year-old added: "These are tough times at the moment but all of us in the dressing room just have to stand up and be counted.
"Lately, there have been signs we are improving. Had we taken one of our chances when we lost 2-0 against Manchester City on Wednesday, it could have been a different story. We didn't and we have to kick on."
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 7, 2008 12:41:30 GMT
Newcastle United will be without experienced midfielder Nicky Butt for two games due to suspension and manager Sam Allardyce admitted that it is a "massive blow".
The 32-year-old former England international picked up his 10th booking of the season last night in the FA Cup third round draw at Stoke City, and will now miss next Wednesday's replay with the Potters as well as the Premiership clash with Bolton Wanderers at St.James' Park four days later.
Allardyce told Newcastle World TV: "We've got a couple of injuries at the moment and we've got the four lads going away to the African Cup of Nations, so to lose Nicky for two games is a massive blow.
"I thought the tackle he was booked for was rather harsh but we have to get on with it.
"Nicky has been tremendous this season and he'll be a miss but we'll have to cope as best we can."
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 8, 2008 12:00:32 GMT
When Steven Taylor flung himself across the sodden goalmouth at Stoke's Britannia Stadium to block Jon Parkin's shot, the thought occurred that it could yet prove Sam Allardyce's Kevin Brock moment. A dreadful back-pass from an Oxford midfielder sparked a complete reversal in Howard Kendall's fortunes. Titles and trophies followed at Everton yet, while Taylor averted defeat for Allardyce at Stoke, though his team-mates showed an unusual level of spirit and despite the ovation it earned their manager from the travelling fans, it probably only delayed the inevitable for Allardyce. The inevitability, that is, of his departure from St James' Park. Though below par, results are not sufficiently poor to justify his dismissal, but the feeling that Allardyce's position is untenable is increasing. He is not a bad manager, but Newcastle verge on being unmanageable and the current incumbent is spectacularly ill-suited to a club he does not understand. Yet part of the rationale for Allardyce was that he was an outsider. It was an attempt to correct such flaws as wretched defending and habitually losing many of the most significant players to injuries. In neither respect has he prospered and with the former Bolton manager not proving powerful enough to quell the player power in the dressing room, Allardyce's methods have been left open to examination and his choices subject to criticism. While the supporters have long treasured goalscorers and wingers, Allardyce seems to identify more with Alan Smith, once an exciting attacking talent but no more than a spoiler in the midfield now. His preference for a phalanx of defensive midfielders conflicts with the Newcastle ethos. Indeed, two have been made captain - Geremi and Smith - an indication of Allardyce's emphasis, though neither player has produced the performances to indicate why he is ranked above his peers. But both, too, are among nine summer signings, his attempt to impose the soldiers of the new regime upon the club. In the process, another aspect of Allardyce's reputation has been damaged. There were numerous failures in the transfer market at Bolton but, Mario Jardel excepted, they were invariably cheap and overshadowed by a remarkable assortment of high-profile successes. At Newcastle, however, money has been available and it has been squandered. Of the arrivals, it is hard to identify a triumph - Mark Viduka's occasional goals and Abdoulaye Faye's resilience making them the closest equivalents - and there are rather more candidates for the unwelcome tag of his worst buy; Jose Enrique, with some dreadful defending, was the frontrunner until Joey Barton found an alternative method of surging to the front of that particular field. Barton is no stranger to the headlines but, as Allardyce has discovered, managing the sixth biggest club in the North-West doesn't involve the same level of scrutiny as Newcastle do. A small-club mentality appears to have accompanied him to Tyneside. Allardyce's is an essentially negative mindset, based on stopping opponents play. Newcastle, in contrast, have long displayed a fixation both with themselves and, more admirably, constructive football. His authority reduced by inadequate signings and the continued concession of goals, Allardyce has been unable to broker an uneasy truce by selecting flair players. The confusion is epitomised by the position on the right wing, which has been occupied by Barton, Charles N'Zogbia and Obafemi Martins, none a specialist there. Caught between the 4-5-1 he fine-tuned at Bolton and the 4-4-2 that Newcastle's tradition dictates, he has been unable to commit to either. His actions, like those of Steve McClaren at England, have been those of a ditherer, even containing a disastrous flirtation with 3-5-2, against Liverpool. There has been no sense of consistency of thought, let alone of performance. Never previously lacking in self-confidence, Allardyce is believed to be taken aback at both the scale and the harsh nature of the criticism. But the desperate cannot afford to harbour grudges and his continued refusal to speak to the BBC's radio stations has hindered his cause. Not that all of his rhetoric that has been heard is justified. Having recruited three of the club's four Africans, his complaints about the African Nations Cup lack merit. Nor, considering their very different styles of play, should disingenuous comments about Manchester City also playing 4-5-1 be heeded. Calls for patience, while logical, just ignore the realities of Newcastle United. Yet Allardyce deserves sympathy in some respects. He inherited the problems of Michael Owen, whose status and salary can dictate team selection when others have a superior case or, at the least, greater match fitness, and Alan Shearer. It is to the former captain's discredit that he has never quashed the speculation while the spectre of Shearer has hung over Allardyce. In one respect, it may be beneficial for Newcastle to appoint him just to save an alternative successor from being undermined by his advocates. Shearer's candidacy appears to be based on three factors; he's from Newcastle, he scored a lot of goals and he's not Sam Allardyce. None provide any indication of his excellence as a manager, because there is no evidence as yet. And as Bryan Robson's enduring troubles show, an inspirational presence on the pitch often finds it difficult to exert the same influence in the dugout. Having his acolytes in the dressing room as a player does not equate to the man-management skills to deal with up to 20 internationals of very different character. Bland comments on Match Of The Day do not suggest a tactical mastermind and while Allardyce's transfer market record is far from perfect, Shearer has never purchased a player. If, as the former chairman Freddy Shepherd said, Newcastle is one of the top eight club jobs in the world, it would be like giving a learner driver the keys to a Ferrari for the Monaco Grand Prix. Such are the demands of a unique job that Newcastle require an experienced manager with a crowd-pleasing belief in attacking football, yet sufficiently independent-minded to ignore the hysteria and who is, above all, capable of delivering that elusive trophy. Most of those who meet those strict criteria already possess one of the elite jobs in world football. But neither Sam Allardyce nor Alan Shearer qualify.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 8, 2008 12:37:28 GMT
Newcastle United are on the trail of Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra as manager Sam Allardyce looks to add creativity to his midfield.
The Magpies are yet to table an offer for the 22-year-old France international, but have made an enquiry about a player who has been in their sights for some time.
Former boss Glenn Roeder tried to bring the then Chelsea player to St James' Park during his time in charge, and now Allardyce is ready to test Arsene Wenger's resolve to hang on to him.
However, the city's evening newspaper, the Evening Chronicle, is reporting that Portsmouth are also on the former Le Havre man's trail.
Diarra joined the Gunners during the final hours of the summer transfer window, but has made only 13 appearances to date - and just eight of them starts.
However, he has played twice against Newcastle this season, featuring for the full 90 minutes of a 2-0 Carling Cup third round victory for the Londoners at the Emirates Stadium in September and then in a 1-1 Premier League draw on Tyneside last month.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 8, 2008 13:41:12 GMT
Under-fire Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce is reportedly planning to offer his former club Bolton Wanderers £5 million for midfielder Kevin Nolan.
Nolan is enduring a rocky time with some Bolton fans at the Reebok and although Wanderers boss Gary Megson has publicly backed him - and Nolan himself has reiterated his wish to fight for Bolton - a move may be best all round.
Allardyce has already gone back to his ex-employers to take defender Abdoulaye Faye and a number of backroom staff to Tyneside.
Nolan could be next to follow Allardyce to St James' Park, with the Magpies' boss seeing in the 25-year-old midfielder the qualities he wants to add to his midfield.
Nolan was a key man under Allardyce at Bolton, but his career seems to have drifted sideways lately. He has only scored three goals so far this season but is clearly a player Allardyce respects.
There is mounting uncertainty about the Newcastle future of Joey Barton - and possibly Emre too - so a move for Nolan could make sense.
Newcastle have not adequately replaced the drive of Scott Parker in midfield, and Nolan, given a new lease of life, could bring something that is currently lacking as the Magpies continue to toil.
The fact that the Liverpudlian midfielder has been targeted by the boo-boys at Bolton lately after some below-par performances could mean Nolan is amenable to a switch, and a new challenge.
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Post by arover on Jan 8, 2008 14:05:08 GMT
Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear.
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Post by Bismarck on Jan 9, 2008 19:07:42 GMT
Allardyce, 53, will leave with immediate effect with first-team coach Nigel Pearson taking charge against Manchester United at the weekend.
Newcastle United chairman Chris Mort told the club's website: "Mike and I would like to place on record our thanks for Sam's efforts and wish him well for the future.
"A new manager has not yet been appointed at Newcastle United. We will make a further announcement on the managerial position when appropriate."
Sam Allardyce said: "I am disappointed to be leaving Newcastle United but I wish the club all the best for the remainder of the season and for the future."
News of Allardyce's departure came just days after he received assurances from Mike Ashley and Mort that his job was safe after a difficult first half of the season.
Allardyce arrived at St James' Park on a three-year contract in May last year and set about formulating a long-term plan - which he forecast would take between three and five years to complete.
Crucially, however, he had been appointed by Freddy Shepherd, the long-standing chairman whose own reign was to draw to a close after Ashley completed a £134.4million takeover.
Allardyce was told to get on with his job and was allowed to sign nine players during the summer, although a total investment of around £26million was offset by sales which reduced the net figure to around £10million.
However, a run of just eight victories and six draws in 24 games proved too little return for the club's new hierarchy, and the Magpies are now looking for their eighth manager in 11 years.
The name of former striker Alan Shearer is certain to be placed at the head of the bookmakers' list of candidates to take over, although rumours have been rife on Tyneside for some days that former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was being lined up.
Shearer is currently out of the country on holiday after being repeatedly linked with the job as Allardyce came under intense pressure.
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Post by Tyler on Jan 9, 2008 19:12:59 GMT
What an absolute joke of a club.No sucess in 50 odd years and the fans won't give the gaffer 2 seasons.
He was right when he said it's a 3 to 5 year job being in charge of a car crash of a football club
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Jan 9, 2008 20:06:26 GMT
I don't know what Newcastle fans expect. They want a new manager to turn them into a top 4 side in 10 minutes - it's pathetic. I feel sorry for the real fans who don't jump on the back of a manager after 5 seconds.
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