Forget Damien Duff, We Need Nobby Solano!
Well, not quite Solano himself. Although the very thought of the little
Peruvian making a return home would be appealing in itself - hell,
I'd be the first to carry him on my shoulders across the Tyne Bridge
and up Barrack Road, he's small enough. No, we need a player with
all those skills that he possesed and showed at St. James' Park. Forget
Damien Duff, we already have a capable left-winger - it's CREATIVITY,
CRAFT, GUILE, SPARKLE
and CLEVERNESS that we need - and badly. In the form
of a *playmaker. More to the point one Lee Bowyer needs this player
because it is he (and ultimetly us) who will benefit most from having
a Solono-esque player in the team. [More
+]
Bellamy Says Sorry To Souness & Toon Army
Speaking in today's Chronicle, Craig Bellamy has issued what looks
like an apology of some sorts to both Graeme Souness and us supporters
in what can only be described as a heart-felt outpouring of his feelings.
Whether this will undo any damage that may have been caused, remains
to be seen.
Bellamy said:
"I was out of order for what I did at The Valley on Sunday and I want
to apologise to the manager.
"I knew within 10 seconds what I did was wrong and I have tried
to say so, but really I haven't had the chance because of other things
that have happened.
"My outburst wasn't really aimed at the manager on Sunday but
more at the situation.
"Call me old-fashioned if you want, but my view when a player
is substituted is that he has been ineffective and I didn't feel I
was ineffective against Charlton.
"I know there is only so much the club and the fans can take
and I know I have been to blame for what has happened in the past.
But I also know that I have achieved nothing in this game.
"And not only that, but I know I will never get a better club
than Newcastle United. There is no other club I want to play for and
it would be a dream for me to stay here for the rest of my career.
"I haven't any problems with what the manager is trying to
do. My own personal situation has changed so much that I hardly ever
go out these days.
"Since the arrival of Patrick Kluivert we have a lot of top
strikers here and I have never been as determined at any time in my
career as I am at this moment in time.
"I can only look at the next two and a half years I have left
on my contract here and hope to help this club win something."
"There are two routes I can go down and I know which one I
will be taking.
"I have never failed to give 100% whichever club I have been
to - and that includes Newcastle United.
"They are a fantastic club with fantastic fans and I want to
be part of a Newcastle United team that wins something.
"And my only thoughts today are tonight's match here in Athens and
giving everything I can for the club, the fans and the manager."
& Souness Accepts Apology & Bellamy Stays
- On 1 Condition...
In light of Craig Bellamy's appology (above), Graeme Souness, speaking
to Sky Sports, insists that he wants Bellamy to stay and has accepted
his apology but the little Welshman has to strart toeing the line.
Souness said:
"I want him here. You can't give up on players like him just because
you've had the kind of spat we've had.
"I want him at the club but it has to be on my terms.
"Of course (I accept the apology). Look, we're a football club
filled with good players. If you've got good players what comes hand-in-hand
with that is a big ego.
"You have to deal with it. I'm not happy with his reaction
to being substituted. I don't think it will be a problem in the future
and I don't expect it to happen again.
"My reason for substituting him, I don't really have to explain
it to anyone, but he had played two games for Wales prior to Charlton
and they were both very hard games. Unfortunately for Wales, they
lost both of them so psychologically he couldn't be right.
"He'd given us 70 minutes and scored a good goal. We've got
another hard game tonight followed by a hard game on Sunday and then
Wednesday against Norwich.
"The players fail to see the bigger picture sometimes.
"He'll play (tonight) and I hope he plays as well as he did against
Charlton. He's a cracking little player; fiery, with a genuine desire
to do well in this game but he has to learn there are rules you have
to adhere to."
Who else is sick of this? Lets hope that's the end of it and this
episode of the NUFC soap opera doesn't get a second series.
Sir Bobby On Craig Bellamy's 'Temper'
Interesting quotes from Sir Bobby today about Bellamy's argumentative
nature:
"I fear Craig will never change - and don't talk to me about trying.
"We must have spoken on 30 or so occasions as I tried to appeal to
his better nature.
"I have handed him hefty fines - but at the end of the day I'd love
him to be remembered for his football.
"He is a great player, one who excites supporters.
"I would always stand by him because he has genuine talent, with unbelievable
pace and a burning desire to win something, hopefully still for Newcastle
United.
"But, unfortunately, he does seem to bring problems upon himself.
He is the only man I know who could start an argument with himself.
"He always has his own point of view, he is always invariably right
and is never wrong. It wasn't worth arguing with him. He could be
so infuriating.
"Craig is so dogmatic he won't have it that he could possibly be wrong.
And that can rub almost anyone up the wrong way."
Ruud Gullit: Same Old Newcastle
Quotes from former boss Ruud Gullit concerning the so-called fracas
between Bellamy and Souness. Gullit said:
"When I was at Newcastle it was a more difficult period than at Chelsea.
The reason I resigned from Newcastle is still happening at the moment.
"The reasons for leaving there meant it was the right thing to
do. After four or five years it has not changed, the same things are
happening.
"The interviews I have seen recently with Robson show me that nothing
has changed.
"Despite not having the right attitude from some of the players at
Newcastle, I still managed to get into the FA Cup final and that was
an achievement during a difficult time.
"That helped me a lot as a coach to see what can happen with a group
like that."
Chopra On The Mark For Barnsley
Toon striker Michael Chopra, on loan at Barnsley,
scored his 2nd goal for the Oakwell side last night in a 3-1 defeat
at home to Doncaster Rovers. Chopra, initially on loan for one-month
and extended to a second, has now played 11 games for the Yorkshire
side. Well done that lad!
Sir Les Grabs Treble In 6-1 Win - 9 Years Ago Today
9 years ago to this day Newcastle entertained Vinnie Jones and his
Wimbledon side at St. James' Park and resoundingly thrashed the London
team 6-1 with Les Ferdinand getting himself a hat-trick, scoring for
the 7th successive game. The other goals come from Steve Howyey, Lee
Clark and Philippe Albert with Wimbledon's consolation coming from
Marcus Gayle. That win was United's 7th in succession. Toon supporters
will remember Vinnie Jones taking over the goalies jersey from Heald
after he picked up a red card - with Jones conceding 3 goals. Great
afternoon.
Teams:
United: Hislop, Barton, Beresford, Howey (Albert), Peacock, Clark
(Sellars), Gillespie, Lee (Hottiger), Ferdinand, Sellars, Ginola.
Wimbledon: Heald, Cunningham, Mcallister, (Talbot), Jones, Perry (Goodman),
Reeves, Fitzgerald, Gayle, Earle, Harford, Holdsworth.
Att: 36,433
United of course went onto finish second in the League, after leading
the table for the vast majority. So close, yet so far... |
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
 |
 |
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
