Outplayed, outclassed and outfought; Newcastle United crashed and burned again at Reading on Monday night as they conceded defeat in a game that they could again have easily won by half time.

The biggest news was the return to the starting lineup of Michael Owen who played the full 95 minutes due to the injuries of Antoine Sibierski (suspected broken arm) and Emre (ankle injury) in the second half.

What are your views on the game? Who played well? who didn’t? Should Roeder still be manager in the morning? Is Owen the answer to our problems? What about Ameobi? Give us all your views and more; we want to hear from you.

No one can doubt the ambition and determination of Obafemi Martins at Newcastle United following two interviews this week which spelled out how he expects himself and United to perform in the Premiership next season.

Some may call him mad and some may say he needs to be checked into a mental hospital but if all of the players and coaching staff shared similar aspirations, perhaps some of it could be achieved within the next 12 months.

He certainly feels Newcastle have what it takes to succeed in England and end their trophy drought in the near future. Speaking to the Sun earlier this week he said:

“Where can Newcastle aim to be next season? Fight for the league title, play for a Champions League place and also target the FA and Carling Cups.

“We have the players, manager and fans to make it happen and I really think we can do it. Losing Owen and Shola was a terrible setback.

“But their return couldn’t come at a better time. I think we’ll form a great team.

“Shola was doing well before he went for surgery. I was getting used to playing with him but he will bring a lot to the squad.”

He is also looking forward to the impending return of Michael Owen which could come in Monday’s tie away to Reading. The former Inter Milan star believes he can hit it off with England International and strike a partnership to scare the rest of the Premiership. Speaking to the Sunday Sun this weekend, he said:

“I think we can become the most dangerous partnership in the Premiership. I really think we will be good together.

“Michael is different in style to any other striker I have played with, but I am really looking forward to being alongside him. He is one of the best strikers in the world.

“Good players can always play together, and we will help each other. I am short but I am very physical, while Michael isn’t. So I can be strong for him.

“My target this season is to score 20 goals and I’ve still got three games left to reach that. And next season I would like to score even more.

“But I think Michael will score more than me.”

Let’s see what happens.

Newcastle go to Reading on Monday night looking for their fifth away win in the Premiership this season having won only one of their last eight League games. The Magpies’ manager Glenn Roeder is finding his side underperforming massively this season and with the calls for his sacking and the fact that the club probably won’t be in Europe next season, will the players be able to step up to the plate against the Royals live on Sky Sports 1 in the last game of the weekend?

(more…)

Mike Riley of Leeds is the man who has been appointed to take charge of our televised Premiership clash with Reading on Monday night, for our first competitive visit to the Madejski Stadium.

This will be Riley’s first Newcastle game of the season, but actually the 4th time he’s been appointed to one of our games. He was removed from our games at Middlesbrough and Chelsea and our home game against Portsmouth at the last minute for varying reasons.

Last season he refereed 5 Newcastle games and dismissed a Newcastle player in 4 of them (Stephen Carr at home to Chelsea, Jean-Alain Boumsong at home to Liverpool, Celestine Babayaro away to Aston Villa and Steven Taylor at Blackburn).

Earlier in the season he was involved in the dramatic Reading-Chelsea clash at the Madejski which saw injuries to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, red cards for Andre Bikey and John Obi Mikel, and began a running battle between Jose Mourinho and Riley.

It’s a Monday evening, and I’ve been asked to make a contribution to what I am told is a new [ish] publication. As it is going to go out in the NE6 area of the city, I’m racking my brains to think of something that a westender from NE5 can say that is remotely interesting, other than something on the one thing that binds us all in this grand city of ours.

Newcastle United.

Aye, Newcastle United.

I could go on about the years I spent working at Longbenton when I was younger, and the Friday afternoons spending my dosh in the Newton when i took a half day. Well, thats about all I could say, because apart from one visit to the Chilli, many years ago, I’ve hardly set foot in the East End, unless you count the Corner House last Saturday night.

(more…)

Kieron Dyer, Joe Cole and Andrew Carroll went closest, but all were unable to break the deadlock in an entertaining game against the Premiership champions that meant that Newcastle remain unbeaten at home against the top four this season.

Impressive display, but how do you think things went? Taylor, Carroll and Bramble won plaudits, but who else did well? Who didn’t? Have your say…

An entertaining game witnessed a second-half Emre penalty prove to be only a consolation goal, after Newcastle had gone 2-0 down to Benjamin Mwaruwari and Matthew Taylor goals. The team selection was interesting today, with what appear to be tactical changes being made throughout. An improved second half performance from the Magpies wasn’t enough however.

What did you think of the team selection? Did Andy Carroll impress you? Have Your Say.

Four points from six over the Easter didn’t really satiate the majority of SJP and Roeder’s position at the helm of Newcastle’s foundering ship remains fragile. Talk of Sven Goran Eriksson being the leading man to replace him personally frightens me. Admittedly, that is largely influenced by his England side’s lack of vim, creativity or flamboyance. It would be replacing like with a far more expensive like. The possibility of one day dislodging him as manager would also be dear indeed.

(more…)

A second scoreless draw in Newcastle’s last three home fixtures saw the points shared on a sunny afternoon. The highlight of the game was perhaps a fantastic double save on the line by Nolberto Solano, and a cross-cum-shot from the sidelines by an impressive James Milner.

Arguably an entertaining goalless game, but how did the individuals do? How did Butt and Emre do together? What did you make of Glenn’s substitutions? How is Obafemi Martins getting along with his first season in English football almost up? Have your say!

Apologies for a lack of Ref Watch on Saturday, your humble correspondent was Absent Without Leave. Today, Howard Webb takes charge of his 4th United game of the season as Arsenal make the trip North for an Easter Monday Premiership clash.

The previous 3 saw us go down 2-0 and 2-1 at Villa and Bolton respectively, before beating Villa 3-1 in the SJP return.

A Steven Taylor header on 80 minutes, restored the lead the half-time lead that Obafemi Martin’s first-half volley had established, after Christian Nade had hauled the hosts level on 74 minutes. The goals were Newcastle’s first two in 5 games, and the victory over the lowly Blades lifts Newcastle into the top half.

6 games left until summer, have your say.

The latest SJP expansion, managerial discontent, supporter unrest and new kit unveiling have shown Newcastle to have a healthy and not unusual semblance for an ambitious Premiership club within striking range of the top four. All the meanwhile, footballing ordeals - as the matches are fast becoming, have shown just how hollow that exterior shell is.

Manchester City came to our current fortress of a stadium, and the ground was indeed well-furnished and neat. Mpenza put three more impalpable points on the Premiership table for Man City, however. Season tickets need renewing in the not too distant future and the specious soundbytes emanating from SJP, coupled with the lack of footballing triumph, will no doubt continue to leave the ever-improving ground appearing more gaudy than glorious.

(more…)

£300m of Newcastle’s money will be invested in an expansion of St. James’ Park that will boost the ground’s capacity up to at least 60,000 in a move that will keep Newcastle Utd’s average attendance, at least, amongst the elite of the league during a time where bigger and better stadiums are being erected left, right and centre. This will take place in a three-stage plan that will include a major conference room [possibly to accomodate large trophy signings], a hotel [perhaps to permanently house the media contingent in Newcastle’s soap opera life] and luxury apartments.

What do you think about this move? Could the money have been better invested? Are you pleased our capacity will rise? What effect, if any, will this have on the atmosphere inside SJP?

Emile Mpenza’s 80th minute strike settled a relatively unspectacular affair at SJP after both sides had created and spurned opportunities to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Ultimately, it was another loss at home that sees us perturbingly closer to the bottom three than the upper echelons of the league.

Have your say…