Have you ever heard of the football manager who used 33 different back four schemes in one season?

Have you ever heard of the football manager who used 10 different centre-back partnerships in one season?

Well I must admit I haven’t; I don’t know about you. Of course we are talking about Newcastle United and our genius manager Glenn Roeder.

(more…)

So we’re fourth from bottom, having won two, drawn two and lost the other six, we’re making pretty hefty losses and things are looking well and truly bleak. Given this situation, not to mention the possible takeover of the club by Belgravia or some other group, it would appear that Freddy Shepherd is likely to have a few decisions to make over the coming weeks and months.

(more…)

Shepherd is running this club down both on and off the field; he basically doesn’t know what he’s doing. The only thing that he seems worried about is what he can take from the club in terms of money and prestige; surely, both have now dried up.

(more…)

As Freddy Mercury would tell us if he was still alive “another one bites the dust.” Only weeks after joining the club Kevin Bond has left and in rather dubious circumstances too. It really could only happen at Newcastle United FC.

(more…)

Success? What is it, in football terms, in Newcastle United terms, in the eyes of supporters. Do you think if we don’t win a trophy we have failed? Do you think that playing in Europe and being one of the clubs’ capturing the focus of fans all over the country is success or failure? Or do you expect it? If you expect it, why do you expect it? And therefore if you do expect it, why do you think we haven’t always expected it?

(more…)

The season through the crystal ball of an Optimistic Nut

August
After a successful trip to Latvia, Glenn Roeder confirms he is close to signing 3 or 4 players in the next 7-10 days.

(more…)

Newcastle supporter Craig Doyle writes in with his thoughts on the whole away day experience of following the Magpies in Oslo.

(more…)

Cast your mind back to the season of 1975/76, which is the season when Newcastle United sacked Joe Harvey and replaced him with the then Blackburn Rovers manager, Gordon Lee.

(more…)

Newcastle United is a unique club. All over the country, there is a great jealousy of the club, not in terms of silverware, but what the club means to the people, and how important the club is to the community. It could be argued that there isn’t a club in British football, where the role of the club as regards to the cities economic, social, and general feel-good factors, is more prominent than on Tyneside.

(more…)

I am personally pleased with the Roeder appointment. Firstly because it is a step back in the right direction, secondly because there is no false promises, no “best squad of players I’ve worked with” or “sexy football.”

(more…)

Read about Newcastle’s supporters in the news, and the likelihood is that, more often than not, you’ll find the prefix ‘long-suffering’ attached. Perhaps those journalists have just been listening to the wrong fans; although, in fairness to them, a certain undercurrent of matyr-ish stoicism seems to flow throughout our current fanbase; to be a Newcastle supporter is to be suffering!

(more…)

Newcastle-Online.com forum member Mick had this to say regarding the appointment of caretaker manager Glenn Roeder as Graeme Souness’ long-term successor.

(more…)

Newcastle-Online.com reader TJ writes in bemoaning the FA Premier League rules that has seen Everton allowed permission to sign goalkeeper Sander Westerveld on loan as emergency cover after suffering a number of injuries and suspensions between the sticks.

(more…)

Newcastle-Online.com reader and forum member ‘Andrew Flintoff’ writes in to assess Graeme Souness’ last few months at the club, citing his refusal to play with width and pace in particular, character traits Andrew believes to be what Newcastle is all about, as one of the major reasons for his downfall, before warning Freddy Shepherd he must get the next one right.

(more…)

Newcastle-Online.com reader Hugo W, writes in to bemoan the small town mentality at Newcastle United, within the walls of St. James’ Park, the local media and even fans themselves.

(more…)