A few less than happy Toon supporters wrote in to Newcastle-Online as
well as the forum following the news that our away allocation has
been cut for Saturday's game at Middlesbrough due to persistent standing
at the Riverside. As promised I have collated the views and published
them. Check out the responses.
P.S Thanks to all who wrote in and anyone who would like to take issue
with this debate there is a website called Stand
Up-Sit Down that you may find interesting.
Hughes Signs Up - Now For Bernard!
NUFC have confirmed that Aaron Hughes has signed
a new improved deal which will see his pay packet increase on his
contract that runs until the 2006-07 Season.
Hughes had this to say:
"I am very happy to have signed the new contract and am looking
forward immensely to the new season. We have a good squad here at
St. James' Park and hope to have a successful season both domestically
and in Europe."
Just Olivier Bernard's contract to sort out now...
Bernard, Robert & Kluivert Miss Out
Having been called-up for the provisional France squad on Monday,
new French coach Raymond Domenech has dropped Laurent Robert
and Olivier Bernard from his final squad to take
on Bosnia in Rennes next Wednesday. No surprises there then. Patrick
Kluivert, also called up for Holland's provisional squad,
has also been dropped from their final squad who take on Sweden in
Rasunda. England will name their squad to take on the Ukraine at SPJ
on the 18th late Saturday evening.
Latest Toon Injury Update
United centre-half Steven Taylor has definitely been
ruled out of Saturday's game against Middlesbrough report the Chronicle
having failed to recover in time from his foot injury and the 18-year
old isn't expected to be fit for another week or so. New boy Stephen
Carr however has declared his full fitness and looks set
to make his full debut at the Riverside with Aaron Hughes moving to
the heart of the defence to partner Robbie Elliott.
Talk of Nicky Butt and Jermaine Jenas
being struck down with Conjunctivitis are as of yet unconfounded -
fingers XX.
Typical FA With Their Cap In Hand
According to today's Chronicle, England manager Sven 'Gets it out
for the ladies' Eriksson is planning to hand Toon striker Shola Ameobi
an England cap next Wednesday where his England side take on the Ukraine
at St. James' Park. Other Toon players who could feature are Nicky
Butt and Kieron Dyer, but no mention of James Milner or surprisingly
Shola either. Read on...
Sven's quotes:
"This is a very important match for England. It is our only
get-together after Euro 2004 and before our World Cup campaign gets
under way.
"It means I must look at players who can be our future. It is
the only chance I have. We must build on the camaraderie which already
exists. Our time in the North East at Slaley Hall will be very precious."
Sven on Butt and Dyer:
"I am delighted he has joined Newcastle. That is good for me.
He did not play enough at Old Trafford last season and that did not
help him. He needed games.
"As for Dyer, he has been in every England squad I have selected when
he has been fit. That is how important I think he is to our squad
overall. Dyer has been very unlucky with injuries and he needs to
stay clear of them this season.
"I know - I am faced with the same problem on the left side of
midfield.
"We must come to Newcastle without Scholes, Sol Campbell, Wayne
Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate. That is not ideal but
it gives me the opportunity to see who else we have."
Sven on Woodgate:
"He is a fantastic player and it must be remembered he is
still young. He is only 24.
"He can still have an international career if he can find an
answer to his persistent problems."
Sven on the Geordie crowd as he calls it:
"The Geordie crowd were wonderful and shouted us on to victory.
They are very passionate about football. I love the atmosphere they
generate and while Newcastle are their club they are patriotic about
their country as well.
"All the players talked about how good their reception had been and
we know it will happen again.
"This match is not a nothing game. It is our only get-together before
our World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland next month. That
means the time we have together is vital."
If you are by now, as I was, wondering where the quotes are saying
that Shola will pick up a cap - there aren't any. Not from the Chronicle
anyway. Team Talk however did atribute the following quotes to Sven
regarding Shola:
"Shola has always been in my thoughts. I like him. He's a very
interesting player in the way he performs. He's tall but he has good
skills.
"His progression from England's Under-21 side was always bound
to come this season at some stage. It is time."
I seem to remember Sven saying exactly the same thing a few months
back...me thinks Team Talk have read the Chronicle an hour or so before
Icnewcastle updated their website and rehashed old quotes from their
database in an attempt to get an exclusive.
Anyway...
So the usual sound bites from the England manager then, proclaiming
the friendly an important game, patronizing the "Geordie crowd"
and using the local paper to sell a game (with the promise of playing
Toon players). A game incidentally that hasn't went down too well
in these parts. Typical FA!
Me cynical - never ;)
Stephen Carr: NUFC Didn't Need Selling To Me
Speaking to the official NUFC website, Carr said:
"It wasn't a difficult decision leaving Tottenham, it's not as if
I am going downhill, I am going to a massive club with massive potential
and it is a great opportunity for me.
"I have been there a long time and I am used to everything and everybody
there, but sometimes you can get into a routine and it doesn't do
anything for your career so that is why when this move came up I had
to go for it.
"Even though there has been a lot written in the papers and in the
media about me coming here, I didn't worry about it because until
I got that phone call saying that a deal had been done between the
two clubs, my mind was still focused on playing for Tottenham, but
like I said earlier, Newcastle didn't need selling to me, they are
a great club with great potential.
Carr on his fellow Republic of Ireland team-mates Shay Given and Andy
O'Brien:
"I had a few words with them when we were on international duty, but
they did not influence my decision. The move had to be right for me
and my family and it was my decision in the end."
Hugo-ing Back
Remember that young Portuguese midfielder we signed from Sporting
Lisbon for £8.5m then loaned him back to them last month? Well
he wants to come back. Not now but after his year long loan stint
expires.
Viana quotes:
"I have not played my last match for Newcastle.
"I only agreed to extend my contract because I'm convinced I
will play for the club in the future. Last season was difficult but
it is not the end as far as I am concerned.
"I want to recapture my best form with Sporting and then I will
return to St James's Park with a point to prove."
"Things are looking up. I'm very excited to be part of the 2004
Olympics and looking forward to a good season with Sporting.
"I also think Newcastle have made four excellent signings this
summer and I'm hoping the club will have a far better season.
"United need to be in the top three because of the size of the
club and the passion of the fans. I'm confident the lads will go far
in the Uefa Cup again and I wish them all the luck in the world."
Meanwhile Viana is over in Athens representing his Country in the
2004 Olympics.
Portugal are in group D and their fixtures lineup like this:
Iraq Vs Portugal (Tonight)
Morocco Vs Portugal (Sunday 15th of August)
Costa Rica Vs Portugal (Wednesday 18th of August) |
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