Geordies in the Sauna - NUFC in the USA 2011

This summer saw NUFC head to the USA for their pre-season tour. I'm sure they headed here for a number of reasons - both to take advantage of the weather / facilities and also build on the fan base, which would bring financial benefits.

I was lucky enough to travel to Kansas city to watch the game against Sporting Kansas city and really enjoyed the experience. With the MLS being in mid-season the lads from Kansas were obviously very fit and were certainly more accustomed to playing in the ridiculous summer temperatures. The game was a good work out for NUFC in a quality little stadium and they certainly would he raised the profile of the club in a city that has accepted football as a major sport.

Most of the new signings featured and give a good first impression of themselves. Ba, Marveaux, Gosling and the young lad Abied all like look like good additions to squad and it will be great to see the fit into the squad.

It was great for ex-pat Mags currently living in the USA to get to see the lads play ,and enjoy some great banter and a good sing with the Toon Army.

Hats go off to the NUFC squad for spending time with the fans both before and after the game. I was able to have a chat with Danny Simpson, Ryan Taylor and Smudger - all great lads.

Other than the injury to Hatem Ben Arfa I think it was great for the club to head to the USA and overall it was a successful trip - hopefully it helped the lads prepare for the upcoming season.

Howay the lads'

Gems from the Championship

Todays Chronicle mentioned has us linked with 3 championship forwards. Connor Wickham, Jay Bothroyd and Shane Long

I certainly this its worth dipping into the championshop and picking off the top players from that league. Its been done in the past with Lescott, Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling etc..

I know this is a lower level however see seem to be doing plenty of scouting in the Dutch, German and French leagues which to be honest are about on par with the Championship.

I am not a big fan of Bothroyd - and he does not fit our blue print for future signings with him being 29. Shane long has been a round for a few years even though he is only 24. When Reading were knocking around in the premiership he always seemed to come off the bench and grab a goal - I'd have him and or course Connor Wickham who is young and could be expensive. These two lads are an improvement on what we currently have and will only get better over the years. They also are pretty realistic.

We have also been linked with Adel Taarabt and  the Welsh center half Ashley Williams from Swansea. If we can unearth some gems in the lower leagues then could have some talented lads on our hands without having to splash big money.

Routledge deal: Paving the way for Taarabt to move North?

Today saw some strange goings on at NUFC (again) as winger Wayne Routledge was released from his contract by 'mutual consent'. Wayne is currently on loan at QPR and he is adding so much to their promotion push in the Championship. He really is in good form right now and has added something to their team.

I am sure none of us expected Routledge to return to SJP and most of us view him as a player made for the Championship. However I also think none of us expected Routledge to be released from his contract which has enable him to sign a permanent contract at Lotus Road. Surely we could of sold Routledge for a transfer fee - 2m maybe? He certainly seems to be of value to QPR who are of course a very rich football club.

One thought might be that this is a sweetener to a deal that will see Adel Taarabt move to SJP this summer. Taarabt has had a great season for QPR and he certainly looks  out of place at that level. I am a fan and feel he would had that extra spark to our team - he is very creative and has goals in his locker.

I certainly would not pay the fees being branded about in the papers - to me we should go no higher that 7m. For this fee I'd love to land this player.

Everything just does not add up to me. Why release Routledge when we continue to carry players like Alan Smith and James Perch - surely these lads offer no more to squad than Routledge did so why not let them go?

Nothing would surprise me if there is a deal in place - but as with everything at NUFC you just never know!

Here is a video of Adel Taarabt - These silky skills would be on view at SJP

Could this be Newcastles starting 11 next season?

Team Sheet  4-5-1

GK Harper

RB Simpson

LB Enrique

CB Coloccini

CB Taylor (c)

DCM Tiote

CM Barton

RM Jarvis

LM Gutierrez 

AM Ben Arfa

F Bendtner

OR

4-4-2

HARPER

SIMPSON

COLO

TAYLOR

WARNOCK

JONAS

TIOTE

BEN ARFA

BARTON

ELMANDER

STURRIDGE

Shola Ameobi MTV Cribs

Sho-time

In recent years at NUFC no player divided opinions amongst fans more than Shola Ameobi.


The Newcastle born Nigerian international is in the best form of his career having played a big part in our promotion back to the premiership and helping fill the void after Andy Carroll's departure. Shola has always showed glimpses of what he can do - he is a talented player, however he is often labelled as lazy due to his languid style. Shola loves the club and the city and this is important to us the fans however I feel he will never have the ability to be the clubs number one striker. He has the physical attributes to bully opposition defenders - like he did against Wolves, and he also has a trick up his sleeve - but being able to deliver this on a regular basis as always been Ameobi's problem. He is worth keeping at the club as a squad player.


Pardew today claimed the Shola is as good as any of the forwards he had worked with. “He’s as good a striker I’ve ever worked with and he should take confidence from that because I’ve worked with a few good ’uns — Bobby Zamora, Tévez, Marlon Harewood, Sheringham,” said Pardew, following what he called a “magnificent” display against Wolves

“Every game Shola has played for me, he’s been excellent. Perhaps he hasn’t always been at his best, but he was fantastic for me against Wolves. It was a top, top performance. Shola talks well in the dressing room, he inspires players.”

I am all for Pardew building up the players, however I am sure Pardew is the only person in the world that would put Shola in the same category as Tevez and Teddy Sheringham. It also worries me slightly that Pardew is starting to believe that Shola is capable of being the clubs number 9. For me Lovenkrands should be sold, Ranger should be loaned out, Best and Ameobi should be squad players who back up two new forward signings.

United wise to shop in the bargain bin??

There are plenty of premiership players who will be free agents this summer. Domestically there are Seb Larrson, Johan Elmander, Zoltan Gera and Nigel Reo Coker. These lads are all solid premiership players with bags of experience. I would see Elmander and Larrson improving our team and Gera and Reo Coker bring handy additions to our squad. No doubt there are also many quality players around the world that will be free agents this summer


I have no problem with Pardew looking at these lads - and any other free agent this summer - so long as it means we are also buying other players. It is smart business to look at the free market and save money wherever we can if that then means we have more cash to spend on the high quality players we need to take the team to the next level.