Full Match Preview: Spurs Vs NUFC
After Thursday's win in Europe United
turn their attentions back to the League where wins have been scarce,
especially on the road. A 2-0 win over Crystal Palace back in November
2003 was the last time Newcastle won on away soil in the Premiership
and tomorrow, they'll be looking to make it a double in London as
they take on Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Not a great hunting ground for the troops in Black & White but we
do have two wins at the Lane in the last 5 visits and if we are to
rescue anything from our League campaign, namely a European qualification
spot, we simply have to win.
Given favourable results today (9th), Graeme Souness' men could go
as high as 8th in the table with a victory over the entertaining,
and amiable Martin Jol's side. Spurs themselves will be looking to
exact some revenge over our rather fortuitous FA Cup Quarter-Final
victory a few weeks back which many predicted ended their season.
But they lie just 6 points off 6th place with a game in hand and a
win over Newcastle is a must if they are to move in on that all important
UEFA Cup place.
With United missing Dyer, Bowyer and Taylor through suspension for
their red cards at St. James' Park in the 3-0 defeat to Villa as well
as injury concerns over Given, Babayaro, Ameobi and Kluivert, Spurs
will fancy their chances but they too have injury concerns of their
own and neither side will be fielding their strongest 11.
A win for Spurs would bring a premature end to our League campaign.
A win for United could well see us fighting it out on 3 fronts for
the first time in our history.
Full
Match Preview
Likely
Lineup
Key
Player Battles
NUFC
Squad News & Pre-Match Reaction
Spurs
Squad News & Pre-Match Reaction
The
Referee Steve Bennett
Last
Season
Last
5 Meetings At White Hart Lane
NUFC
Vs Villa Head To Head All-Time Record
Last
10 Games Form Guide
Match
Prediction
Pre-Match
Chat With A Spurs Fan!
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Behind Enemy Lines: Pre-Match Chat With A Spurs
Fan
Newcastle-Online.com teamed up with
David Soanes once again, the Editor of a Tottenham Hotspur supporters
website - THFC Online - to get his views on Spurs, Newcastle United,
tomorrow's Premiership match at White Hart Lane and more. This is
what David had to say...
[Read
More +]
Dodgy Ref!
From the official FA website:
Referee Matt Messias
has been suspended for 14 days from 07 April for less than proficiently
applying the Laws of the Game.
The suspension relates to his actions in incorrectly showing the yellow
card twice to Portsmouth's Aiyegbeni Yakubu during the match against
Newcastle United on 19 March.
Money Worries For Freddy Shepherd & Co?
Lost in the plethora of Bowyer & Dyer news was a startling revelation
from United Chairman Freddy Shepherd that the club's wages to turnover
ratio had rising to over the recommended 50% mark. Shepherd, speaking
last week on United's half-term financial results had this to say:
"We have just gone over the 50% wage ratio. The reason for
that was settling up with Sir Bobby Robson.
"If you take out the £2.1m to pay him off, the wage ratio would be
at 47%. Our target has always been 50%."
With some confusion still remaining over Sir Bobby's actual settlement
with one camp (United) saying they have settled up and the other (Sir
Bobby and the League Managers Association) saying no the club haven't,
just where does our wages to turnover ratio stand at the moment and
where will it stand in the near future?
It's very important that the ratio remains below 50%, very important
and without Champions League revenue and possibly UEFA Cup football
to look forward to next season, slashing the wage bill could well
become a significant Summer activity, rather than adding to it.
This could well spell the end for Patrick Kluivert and one or two
other big earners and a tightening of the purse strings...
Well Done Toon Fans
Give yourselves a pat on the back Toon fans for turning away many
disgruntled reporters on Thursday night. Aye there was some sorry
looking bitter mugs who left St. James' Park sickened that they couldn't
write any more of their unsavoury, patronsing and club in turmoil
headlines. Sickened that those who matter most slammed down their
collective hammer like a judge on the case of Bowyer and Dyer, returning
a not guilty verdict.
And while I'm in no doubt many who cheered Dyer and Bowyer did so
because they have indeed forgiving the pair of idiots I'd like to
think the vote of confidence if you like was mainly a two-fingered
solute to the media and the outside world than a real true show of
forgiveness. A show of defiance perhaps?
Are Bowyer and Dyer out of the woods now? I doubt it, they will or
should get their comeuppance in the Summer. But for now we've put
a lid on the whole sorry episode and have drawn a line under it.
To all those who cheered, well done. I expected boos and jeers as
I'm sure the media and outside world did too.
Newcastle United: A Destroyer Of Talent &
Dreams?
I'm a big fan of Jermaine Jenas and have saw enough in him to
convince me that he has all the attributes to make it yet watching
him lately all I see is an average player struggling badly who,
based on these performances, just isn't going to make it. And
that saddens me because Newcastle United have invested £5m into
bringing a hugely promising youngster to Tyneside, one who has
shown he has all the ability in the world. Winning PFA Young
player of the year, scoring some terrific goals along the way
and overshadowing players like Patrick Vieira were all notches
on his burgeoning rise to super stardom.
[Read
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