Newcastle are in action again this evening (Thursday) with a game against Levadia Tallinn of Estonia in the second leg of the UEFA Cup first round proper.

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Newcastle United have signed up to Amisco Pro claim the Guardian newspaper - the sports management software not too dissimilar to ProZone which Toon fans may remember Sir Bobby Robson once fuming over because the club refused to install the software when he asked for it.

Other Premiership clubs to use Amisco apparently are Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham and according to the Amisco Pro official website:

See what cannot be seen! Do you want to finally be able to observe the movements of all the players and to measure their physical performances?

AMISCO PRO is the only one to answer these needs; it is the most powerful system of market analysis available.

Thanks to “intelligent sensors” AMISCO PRO allows a precise performance analysis of all the players during the full 90 minutes.

AMISCO PRO is superior to all existing video and/or statistical systems in that it produces a 2 dimension animation as well as exclusive tactical and fitness data.

Gain the immediate benefit of a unique knowledge base by opting for AMISCO PRO today. Several big European clubs have already, why don’t you?

Err, canny.

For more information visit here

Toon manager Glenn Roeder has today admitted his surprise over Kevin Bond’s rather hurried sacking by United, talking to Sky Sports News Roeder said:

“It (Bond’s sacking) was a surprise and there has been no time even to give that any thought whatsoever, not with the game coming up.”

Meanwhile one paper today claims that Roeder was less than impressed with Bond anyway, since appointing him. Although there were no quotes or anything to back up such a claim.

An in depth look at each individual performance from the 1-1 draw with Everton at St. James’ Park, rating the players, the manager, the opposition and the referee.

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The club have today terminated assistant manager Kevin Bond’s contract following the 49 year-old’s involvement in the BBC’s bungs documentary shown by Panorama last week.

A statement issued to the Stock Exchange this morning read:

Newcastle United has terminated Kevin Bond”s contract.

There is no further comment from the club.

Meanwhile Bond, chosen and hired by Roeder just 6 weeks ago, had this to say about the bungs enquiry and being sacked:

“I am extremely disappointed Newcastle have terminated my contract without any proper investigation into the allegations.

“My lawyers will shortly be going to court to compel the BBC to release full transcripts of the recordings.

“Rather than waiting for this and the outcome of any Football Association investigation, Newcastle have made their decision solely on the basis of a few sentences carefully selected and edited by Panorama.

“I intend to pursue all legal avenues to vindicate my reputation and restore my career and livelihood.”

Back at St. James’ Park Lee Clark is being talked about as a possible replacement for Bond, although what qualifications he has to do the job other than being a Geordie, are open to debate…

Kieron Dyer’s agent Jonathan Barnett has been suspended for 18 months by the FA over his involvement with the Ashley Cole to Chelsea tapping up saga.

From the BBC

Agent Jonathan Barnett has had his licence suspended for 18 months and been fined £100,000 for his role in the Ashley Cole tapping-up affair.

An independent Football Association disciplinary commission found Barnett had breached two rules regarding illegal approaches in January 2005.

Nine months of Barnett’s ban from acting as an agent have been suspended.

Cole - then of Arsenal - Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho have already been punished for their role in the meeting.

England defender Cole and his agent Barnett met with Mourinho, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and agent Pinhas Zahavi at the Royal Park Hotel in London in January 2005, while Cole was an Arsenal player.

The England full-back later signed a new contract with Arsenal but moved to Chelsea last month after a summer of protracted negotiations between the two clubs.

Barnett denied any wrongdoing but the commission found two misconduct charges against him proved - that he procured a breach of Premier League rule K5 regarding illegal approaches and that he was guilty of failing to respect the rights of a third party (Arsenal).

The commission said it was “wholly satisfied that Mr Barnett was a prime mover in the setting up of the meeting”.

It added that the second nine months of Barnett’s punishment will be suspended on condition that he does not, within the 18 month period, breach any Football Association rule.

Chelsea were fined £300,000 and handed a suspended three-point deduction when the Premier League investigated the case last year.

Mourinho and Cole were also fined £75,000 apiece, with Cole failing in an appeal against his punishment.

The FA said it does not have any jurisdiction over agent Zahavi, who was thought to be at the meeting to help broker a deal.

A drab, boring affair was predicted by many for this Sky Live match. With Everton playing five across the middle, few expected it to be a riveting game, with a chant from the East Stand more likely than a goalmouth scramble. However, with both sets of backlines clearly off form, this proved to be an open, flowing game, as end to end as any in the modern era at Gallowgate.

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As my reputation as a miserable old git may be at stake here, let me say straight away. There was a glimmer of light at the end of the St. James’ Park tunnel, and for once it may not have been a train. Is it possible that due to some horrendous mix up at the post office, attacking football is on its way back to Newcastle? What a glorious sight it was to see Martins, Milner and Rossi attacking the goal like…..like ….like actual strikers! Stunning. Just stunning. No Dyer? No Owen? No Duff? Now, down to business.

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A roundup of media reaction to United’s 1-1 draw with Everton at St. James’ Park on Sunday…

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An unlikely but much appreciated clean sheet at Upton Park sent the fourth instalment of this series on its way to an endless abyss beyond our reach. It seemed a very professional and efficient away performance, if not sparkling.

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