Jim Smith on 3-5-2
By Bob Yule 15 Oct 2006
The merits or otherwise of the 3-5-2 system is a subject that is never
out of the news for too long. Even though most top class teams now
favour four at the back as their first choice, on the continent as well
as in Britain, it is often advocated as the way forward in various
situations, as in the build up to the last two England games. It is
often proposed on this forum, and whilst it always looks tempting on
paper, there seems little appetite on the part of the game’s
professionals to give it a go.
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News: Wiley in the middle
By Paul Mosley 15 Oct 2006
Alan Wiley from Burntwood in Staffordshire takes charge of our game with Bolton Wanderers this afternoon at St James Park.
Wiley officiated us 5 times last season, one of which was our 3-1 win
over Wanderers in the corresponding fixture in March, with goals from
Nobby Solano, Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi. He also took charge
of our 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, home 1-1 draws against Villa and
Fulham, and our 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage.
Our record with
him is pretty good - we have lost just 4 of the 24 Newcastle games he
has refereed, winning 12 and drawing 8. He has also awarded us 7
penalties across those games, and given just 2 against us.
Wiley took charge of Bolton's 1-1 draw at Fulham in August, with each
side's goal being a penalty, Fulham's coming in added time.
Reserves: NUFC 0-0 Wigan
By Paul Mosley 10 Oct 2006
Some games are so uneventful that even journalists can't write enough
rubbish to make a match report. Such a game was our goalless
Reserve draw with Wigan at Kingston Park. It was a game of very
few chances, with returnee Pav Srnicek making a couple of fine saves
and preserving a clean sheet, while at the other end Mike Pollitt only
really had one save to make, from Carl Finnigan.
NUFC: Srnicek, Bertram, Bernard, Doninger, (sub Cavener 64) Huntington, Atkin, Troisi, Pattison, Finnigan, Carroll, Cave
Subs (not used): LuaLua, Cook, Edgar, Godsmark
Referee: Andy Haines (mackemland)
Attendance: 639
Next up for the lads is a Northumberland Senior Cup fixture against Walker Central at Kingston Park next Monday night, 7.30pm.
Your Shout: Bond's sacking
By Newcastle-Online Reader 09 Oct 2006
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.
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Timing: Our past, the present, our future?
By Newcastle-Online Reader 08 Oct 2006
By NE5
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?
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UEFA Cup Second Round Draw: Review
By Yorkie-Geordie 06 Oct 2006
Eek. Not exactly the nicest of draws for Newcastle was it? Plenty of negatives come out of this and unsurprisingly, considering the teams that were in the hat, there’s a fair chance that we might just get knocked out. But, it’s not all doom and gloom – so fear not! These sides are by no means world beaters, and they are not going to be looking forward to the task of playing Newcastle United...
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Sholstice - by Dhruv Jani
By Andrew Flintoff 04 Oct 2006
Or What They Bring To The Club: Shola Ameobi.
Sholstice, pretentious allegory and evolution.
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How To Score Past Newcastle: Part 7 Of A Plausible 38
By A.K. Dholakia 03 Oct 2006
This is becoming ridiculous.
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Reserves: Liverpool 1-4 NUFC
By Paul Mosley 03 Oct 2006
A young United side was led to an emphatic victory over a
more-experienced Liverpool outfit by an inspired Albert Luque at
Wrexham tonight.
United had the Spaniard in the side together with Olivier Bernard and
Matty Pattison, while Liverpool put out a strong-looking side including
Jermaine Pennant, Robbie Fowler, Bolo Zenden and Jerzy Dudek.
Luque gave us the lead from 30 yards after 25 minutes, and James Troisi
doubled that advantage 8 minutes later to put us 2 ahead into the break.
At the 3/4 point of the game, Luque struck from 35 yards this time to
make it 3-0 and, although Robbie Fowler grabbed a consolation in the
89th minute, Carl Finnigan ensured a 3-goal victory in the 1st added
minute.
NUFC - Cook, Bertram, Bernard,
Doninger (sub Critchlow 57), Huntington, Atkin, Troisi, Pattison,
Finnigan, Luque (sub Carroll 80), Cave
Subs (not used) - LuaLua, Morris, Francis
Liverpool - Dudek, Peltier (sub
Smith 7), Warnock (sub Darby 35), Roque, Paletta, Guthrie, Pennant (sub
Flynn 61), Zenden, Fowler, El Zhar, Threlfall
Subs (not used) - Hobbs, Roberts
Archie's Alternative Assessment - The Man Utd Massacre
By Archie Brand 03 Oct 2006
This little review took a day or two to complete. I've been drowning my
sorrows. A little more serious than usual, but it was a serious
shambles, and should be treated with the severity it deserves.
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Tony Green, Man Utd, 1972 and All That
By Bob Yule 03 Oct 2006
In the aftermath of yet another defeat at Old Trafford, one familiar statistic was trotted out - that we have not beaten Man U away since a 2-0 win in 1972. However, I’m one of the few fans that wears a smile whenever I hear this. You see, dear Reader, this old git was there.
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Views from the news: Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
By Andrew Flintoff 02 Oct 2006
Read, if you dare, the press reaction to Newcastle's devastatingly inevitable and predictable capitulation against Fergies men. Those of a nervous disposition should probably not look at this. I don't want to be guilty of causing mass-depression and suicide over Tyneside, but this particular edition of 'Views from the News' makes particularly gut-wrenching reading...
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UEFA Cup Second Round Draw: Preview
By Yorkie-Geordie 02 Oct 2006
So, Newcastle United find themselves in the UEFA Cup group stages for the second time in three years, having uncomfortably squeezed past Baltic minnows Ventspils and Levadia. The Magpies will be swimming in a much bigger pond come the Second Round though, as the European-Carling Cup hosts a selection of some of the strongest teams around.
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Snippets From Archie
By Archie Brand 01 Oct 2006
Last weekend, having totally lost interest in the 6 football matches that were being shown live on my satellite I started flicking. After all - the Lads were playing on Sunday, so there was nothing worth watching.
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Match Preview: Manchester United vs Newcastle United
By Alpal78 01 Oct 2006
The contrast between our previous game and the next one could not be greater. From the home comfort of SJP against minnows Levadia Talinn, we step into Old Trafford against Manchester. It's a good test to see if the team has made any progress as last season we were soundly even if not adequately reflected in the 2-0 scoreline.
Pre Match Talk - Glen Roeder:
"Manchester United have a great record at home, but two or three times during any one season, teams get results there that they were perhaps not expected to get and we will go there in a positive frame of mind on the back of playing well lately.
"The only defeat in the last four or five games has been Liverpool, so it is a game we should look forward to and be very aggressive in the way we attack it.
"But it is not a place you go and score two or three goals, so we have to make sure we limit the chances they get and, if we can play on the counter-attack and create one or two chances and take at least one of those chances, maybe we can have a good day."
Newcastle Squad:
Harper, Srnicek, Krul, Carr, Bernard, Bramble, Moore, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Duff, Emre, N'Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Ameobi, Martins, Sibierski, Luque.
In defence, Bramble will be suspended for the silly red card against Everton and Baba will serve the second game of his three match suspension. Solano and Dyer are still out with hamstring injuries and Rossi is ineligible to play.
Predicted Line Up:
Harper, Carr, Moore, Taylor, Ramage, Milner, Parker, Emre, Duff, Ameobi and Martins.
Key Areas of Battle:
To stand any chance, Emre and Parker must win the midfield duel against Carrick and Scholes and Ramage most probably playing at left back will have to turn in a miracle of a performace against Ronaldo. Then, there is that boy Rooney who is currently off form, but write him off at our peril.
Prediction:
One of those games, in which I would be happy to take a draw from and celebrate a goal even if it came off Ameobi's nose. Deep down though, I know Manchester has too much quality for us.
Honest Prediction: 3-1 to Manchester
Biased Toon Prediction: 2-2 with Emre scoring from a free kick and Martins with a last minute equalizer.
Referee Watch: Man Utd vs NUFC - Mike Dean
By Paul Mosley 30 Sep 2006
Mike Dean, from Heswall in the Wirrall, Cheshire, is 38 years old, and
takes charge of his 1st Newcastle match of the season as we travel to
Old Trafford to face Manchester United on October 1st in the
Premiership.
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Views from the news: Newcastle United 2-1 Levadia Tallinn
By Andrew Flintoff 30 Sep 2006
This week's roundup of media response and reaction to United's 2-1 victory over Levadia Tallinn in the UEFA Cup.
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Football Rules
By Bob Yule 30 Sep 2006
A strange thing happened the other day - I found myself agreeing with
Sepp Blatter. The occasion was his proposal to find an alternative to
penalty shoot-outs, and although he did not seem to come up with a
better idea, it was very encouraging that he’s prepared to at least try
and find something new.
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Archie's Alternative UEFA Assessment - Toon 2-1 Levadia Tallinn
By Archie Brand 30 Sep 2006
I would not normally be sufficiently enthusiastic to put pen to paper
- or should that be finger to keyboard - for the UEFA games, but in
all fairness to the team, Thursday's match merits a mention. Though a
very brief one.
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Lessons from the Bernabẽu - What Newcastle can learn from Madrid
By Alpal78 30 Sep 2006
As a Toon fan, nothing compares to standing amongst 51000 odd plus fellow fans in SJP (not at the moment though arguably), but sometimes it takes a new environment, a new stadium and watching another team live to appreciate what we don’t have and no doubt the game left me with quite a few questions? Enter Real Madrid V Dynamo Kiev in the Bernabẽu.
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Newcastle 2-1 Tallinn
By Andrew Flintoff 29 Sep 2006
Oba Martins scored his first goals at St James' Park (and what a pair of goals they were) as United wrapped up their progression to the group stage of the UEFA Cup with a 2-1 win over Levadia Tallinn.
Full match report and media response to follow...
Match Preview: Newcastle United vs Levadia Tallinn
By Jonny Hall 28 Sep 2006
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.
The game is live on Five with a 7:30pm kickoff for those going to St James Park this Evening.
Newcastle lead 1-0 from the 1st leg and are looking to progress to the UEFA Cup group stages.
Pre Match Talk - Glenn Roeder:
"I'll tell the players that the Talinn match is the reason I brought them back into training on June 28, and that I expect them to cross the winning line.
"It's a statistic that we have won our three away games and drawn our two matches in European competition at St James's Park this season.
"But don't forget we ran Ventspils ragged when they were here on a night our keeper Steve Harper never touched the ball."
Newcastle Squad:
Harper, Krul, Carr, Bernard, Bramble, Moore, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Parker, Butt, Duff, Emre, N'Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Ameobi, Martins, Sibierski, Luque.
Given, Solano, Babayaro and Owen are injured while Kieron Dyer and Olivier Bernard are yet to be fit. Although included in the squad, Duff and N'Zogbia have slight knocks while Ameobi and Parker are not expected to be risked and Rossi in legible to play.
Predicted Line Up:
Harper, Carr, Bramble, Taylor, Ramage, Milner, Butt, Emre, N'Zogbia, Martins, Sibierski.
Prediction:
I think that Newcastle will make it through with a 2-0 win, Martins and Emre to grab the goals. Howay the Lads!
Toon Player Ratings: NUFC 1-1 Everton
By Paul Mosley 26 Sep 2006
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.
On behalf of Gaz Pearson.
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Archie's Alternative Assessment - Everton at Home
By Archie Brand 26 Sep 2006
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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Everton (H) Official Match Report
By NSG 26 Sep 2006
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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Newcastle terminate their Bond with Kevin
By Andrew Flintoff 26 Sep 2006
Newcastle United have parted company with assistant manager Kevin Bond.
A statement on the official website today confirmed the reports which had been circulating over the weekend, after Bond was caught allegedly telling a BBC Panorama reporter that he would consider accepting bungs from agents.
The club has so far refused to comment any further.
Views from the news: Newcastle United 1-1 Everton
By Andrew Flintoff 25 Sep 2006
A roundup of media reaction to United's 1-1 draw with Everton at St. James' Park on Sunday...
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How To Score Past Newcastle: Parts 5 And 6 Of A Plausible 38 – Merseyside Special Edition
By A.K. Dholakia 25 Sep 2006
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.
The Merseyside double-header was nothing to look forward to as it turned out, even on the back of our ‘one-game-revival’. Harper capitulating to the wonder of Alonso’s super-strike – on his knees no less – prompted Moore to yield with mouth ajar as Cahill scuttled through in his rodent mien to nod the ball into a welcoming net.
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