NUFC 2-2 Norwich
Once again United left the field to a chorus of boos after letting
slip a 2-0 lead against Norwich City at St. James' Park to end the
game 2-2 with what can only be described as a disjointed, disorganised,
bereft of ideas performance that, even at this early stage of a make
or break Season, begs the question; where do we go from here?
Toon
Player Ratings
Full
Match Report
Team
Lineups & Match Facts
Fouls,
Possession, Shots, Corners & Saves
NUFC
Milestones From This Match
How
The Goals Were Scored
Match
Reaction From Sir Bobby
Match
Reaction From Nigel Worthington
Match
Reaction From The Toon Army
Bellamy Re-United
Craig Bellamy has backed down from his stance that he would have to
consider his position at United should we sign Wayne Rooney today
by declaring he was wrong to say such comments and that he will fight
for his place regardless.
Bellamy said:
"Every Newcastle United supporter knows just how committed I
am to the club.
"I absolutely love playing here and there is no way I am going
to ask for a transfer, whether Wayne Rooney comes or not.
"Yes, I suppose I spoke a bit out of turn on Wednesday night,
but people should put themselves in my position.
"Norwich were my first club and I still have a lot of affection
for them. But every player wants to beat their old club and I'm no
different.
"Obviously I thought we were going to do it and you can imagine
how I felt when we threw away a two-goal lead.
"To say I was frustrated is an understatement. Then suddenly
you have a microphone and a television camera thrust in front of you.
"That's what happened to me on Wednesday night - I am not the
first person, and I won't be the last, to say something in the heat
of the moment in circumstances like these."
Good! He's just saved me from writing an article venting my disgust
at his comments. Lets hope he means them.
UEFA Cup Draw: NUFC Vs Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin
Newcastle have been drawn against Israeli-Arab side Hapoel
Bnei Sakhnin FC in the first round of the UEFA Cup. The first
leg is at St. James' Park to be played on the 16th of September with
the second leg to be played on the 30th.
The Wimbledon Of Israeli Football
Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC Info
Sakhnin as they are commonly known as (as we are
by the phrase "The Toon") are the first Israeli-Arab team
ever to participate in the UEFA Cup after beating Albania's KS Partizani
6-1 on aggregate in the second round qualifying stages.
Sakhnin qualified for the UEFA Cup by winning the Israel State Cup,
beating Hapoel Haifa 4-1 in May, one of Israel's better known sides,
to become the first Israeli-Arab team to win a major Israeli Championship
after coming from the 3rd Division all the way to the Israeli Premier
League in successive Season's.
They currently don't have a stadium of their own and are, by professional
standards in Israel, a semi amateur club. When they played KS Partizani
they played at the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv
which holds 40,000 people.
Little is known of them but Sakhnin's team includes Jews, Christians,
Muslims and foreigners and their hardship and success are being celebrated
throughout Israel and the Arab world.
The Town Of Sakhnin
The troubled town of Sakhnin is a very old dating back 3,500 years.
The town is situated in the heart of the Galilee and is built over
three hills. It is 200-250 meters above sea level, and it is located
in a valley surrounded by mountains, the highest of them is 602 meters
high. Today there are over 20,000 inhabitants in Sakhnin.
Latest: Rooney Hands In Transfer Request
The BBC are reporting that United (Newcastle) target Wayne
Rooney has handed in a transfer request.
Quotes attributed to Rooney:
"This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel
the time is now right for me to move forward with my career.
"The Euros were a fantastic experience for me. It made me realise
I could play at the highest level. I hope that some day in the future
I could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported since
boyhood.
"To do that I need to be with a club that is playing in Europe every
year. I hope the Everton fans can come to understand my decision and
I hope the transfer fee Everton Football Club receive will help the
club move forward.
"The Everton fans have always been fantastic in their support of me.
I hope they respect my decision and I also hope that some day in the
future I could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported
since boyhood."
Meanwhile various reports today suggest Man Utd will increase their
bid to 25m plus David Bellion while others indicate we will match
that bid with Shola Ameobi thrown in as well.
Speaking to Sky Sports News earlier this afternoon Freddy
Shepherd had this to say:
"We are still waiting to hear from our friends at Everton to
see what is happening.
"You know as much as me, we put the bid in and we are waiting
to hear.
"I would hope (to sign him) yes of course. There is always time.
We have got until next Tuesday night until 3.30 to do it and I am
sure Everton will make up their mind before then.
"We never disclose that (the fee) that is between Everton and
Newcastle.
"Well it would be another Alan Shearer arriving on Tyneside wouldn't
it?
"You have always got to be optimistic as chairman of Newcastle
United believe me."
Bobby Ganning Nee Where
Rumours were circulating on the web, radio and around offices
yesterday that Sir Bobby was on the verge of resigning but speaking
in today's the Times, Bobby reveals he's not resigning - he's staying.
Check it out.
I stay and fight, Robson tells Newcastle
By George Caulkin
Sir Bobby Robson spent 90 minutes locked in negotiations with his
chairman yesterday, but as Tyneside swirled with feverish rumour and
bookmakers shuffled their odds on imminent managerial casualties,
the topics for discussion were not payoffs or resignations but tactics
in the transfer market.
If Robson is to part company with Newcastle United, no one has informed
him. Speculation mounted that, after a third disappointing result
in succession, a verbal spat with Craig Bellamy, the revelation that
his own contract would not be renewed, a dispute with Kieron Dyer,
an outbreak of conjunctivitis and a host of inter-related annoyances,
Robson had been considering his position as manager. It would be forgivable,
but it would be wrong. "I haven't resigned or offered to resign
and I have no intention of doing so," Robson told The Times.
"I don't do either. I don't intend to change the habit of a lifetime
and start breaking contracts. I had a meeting with the chairman this
morning, but that was about transfer acquisitions, nothing else. Walking
away from a problem simply isn't my style." If Robson's future
is the subject of public debate, it did not feature in early-morning
talks at St James' Park with Freddy Shepherd. Amid the controversy
clinging to the club, it is a thorny matter that will only dissipate
through victories and tomorrow's match away to Aston Villa has a weighty
feel to it. A two-week break for international fixtures and scope
for reflection follows immediately. Yet in spite of his difficulties,
Robson's resolve has not wavered.
"We've got a great group of players and too much quality for
the situation not to turn," he said. "I believe that and
I believe in my team. We could quite easily be sitting pretty with
nine points; we're not, we've got two. But we'll get it right, I've
no doubts about that. We're only three matches into the season and
we've got the Uefa Cup to look forward to as well. "I'm in fighting
form, but I've never been any different. What's been happening isn't
unbearable for me, not at all. What we need is for the dust to settle.
We're not getting the results our performances deserve and we're having
a rough time, but we'll ride those bumps together. If there are skirmishes
and twists and tales, then I can't help that. At the moment, everyone
seems to be doing Newcastle down and I don 't know why."
There has been bemusement from supporters that, with four experienced
centre forwards already on the books, Shepherd should have bid more
than £20 million for Wayne Rooney, especially with the club lacking
cover in defence after Jonathan Woodgate's move to Real Madrid. Robson
explained the logic. "Buying someone of Rooney's calibre would
have been unthinkable two or three years ago," he said, "because
what we're doing is challenging Manchester United for the best young
player around. That should be a cause for excitement here. "Of
course we're working on two fronts — we're perfectly well aware of
what we need in defence — but Rooney would be a fantastic investment
for the next ten years. We're serious about him, but we're also serious
about buying another centre half to bolster our squad. It's not easy
and we can't think about getting a (William) Gallas or a (Sol) Campbell,
because they're not available, but we're working very hard. We realise
that we need another top player in that position and we'll find one,
the best we can. We're working away on it."
Bellamy will meet Robson today after saying that he would consider
his future with the club should Rooney arrive. The Wales striker spoke
in frustration after Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Norwich City on Wednesday
night, but is happy to fight for his place. Alan Shearer, the captain,
is also trying to smooth troubled waters. "We have to stick together
as a dressing-room," he said. Defeat at Villa Park would stretch
Newcastle's dismal run to one win in 11 matches and leave the vultures
hovering. It may also present Shepherd with a dilemma, although mulling
over prospective new signings is not the traditional preamble to a
change of managers.
Even if his authority has been undermined, Robson's pride remains
untarnished. He will not slink away. "Look at our squad, look
at the players we've brought in this summer," he said. "We've
got real quality and not just for the short term. Just compare the
club to six years ago. It's a million miles away. Understanding, time
and patience are what we need now."
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Shearer: There Is Unity
Shearer quotes:
"We must not press the panic buttons. We have to all stay together
as a football club.
"We will get it right through hard work and determination. If
we do that we will get it right. There is disappointment in the dressing
room after this start. You would not expect anything different.
"Everyone is still together. Without doubt there is unity. We
are and we will come through this. There are no excuses.
"Two points from three games is not good enough, especially with
two home games. It is desperately hard to come back from a bad start
to the season.
"You cannot afford to give teams of the calibre of Arsenal a
head start. Along with Chelsea and Manchester United, they are very
difficult to peg back. We know that.
"I cannot put my finger on why things are not going right. It
could be just bad luck. Once we get our first win, the rest will follow.
It's getting the first win that is proving difficult."
Toon Hit Celtic For 10
Newcastle's reserves thrashed West Allotment Celtic 10-0
last night at Whitley Park in a friendly match, with Lewis Guy grabbing
himself 5 of the 10 goals.
Scorers: Guy (17, 37, 53, 62, 87) Gate (15) Brittain
(28) Bates (38) Howe (54) Smylie (85)
United: Bartlett, Gate, Cave (Baxter), Smylie, Taylor
(Edgar), Ramage, Brittain, Howe, Guy, Bates, Webster. Subs not used:
Smith, P.O'Brien.
Striker Off
Newcastle's Michael Chopra joined Division 2 side Barnsley
last night on a 1 month loan deal. Chopra is expected to make his
Tykes debut on Saturday when Hull City visit Oakwell Park and this
spell becomes his 3rd loan move having previously had stints with
Watford and then Nottingham Forest. Good luck Chops. |
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