The Newcastle United Blog

82 responses so far ↓

• 1 natedawg // Jul 10, 2008 at 23:33

  i really dunno and i’am not even sure if kk does my if i was to guess i reckon he might prefer harps just get the feeling

• 2 scottish mag // Jul 10, 2008 at 23:35

  this is getting confusing

  i think u should do a re-launch of the site or something ed this is getting really hard to keep up with

• 3 Tom_Toon // Jul 10, 2008 at 23:35

  Harps = 1

• 4 Slam Dunc // Jul 10, 2008 at 23:36

  The squads a bit small, we need more players.

  News on Joey Barton, he’s not getting out early:

  http://www.trophy4toon.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=288.0

• 5 toonoot // Jul 10, 2008 at 23:37

  The banner is lousy. That isn’t SJP and the Ed Harrison’s Blog statement is a bit of a sycophantic ego embarrassment Ed. Please change it back.

• 6 domtoon // Jul 10, 2008 at 23:49

  I think the banner’s cool.

  And I reckon Harper should be given a run (excuse the pun). Won’t happen though.

• 7 Dan // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:00

  Ed Yours is/used to be the best site for an informed educated estimation for what is going on at NUFC. Recently you have been pandering to local British Press. Unfortunatly we have been subject to unqualified nonsence sometimes Copy and pasted from other sites.
  1) the only player we have signed noone knew anythinhg about!
  2) All this nosense about Ashley is because he is a multi v rich man with enemies in the business because they do not like the way he does business, i.e make money (there obviously are peple in the London press trying to devalue his assets)
  3) I fail to belive the Smoggies would sign a player when KK was interested.

  Wait and see the transfer window has only been open a while.

  The summer transfer window has for ages been the best time to be an fan (unfortunaltly) as we have signed brilliant players. Waut and see

• 8 gloryhunter // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:04

  Well said Dan. I think that the site is going down the tube. Sad.

• 9 ObaFan2 // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:09

  toonoot, wasn’ t really worth saying once let alone twice.

  Dan, read the section to your right TRANSFER RUMORS as Ed explains he will cover most of the rubbish printed in the tabloids etc. over the summer “silly” season.

  Harps V Shay… close call but Harper had the better season last year for sure but Shay was still suffering from his injury.

• 10 Dan // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:10

  I would not go that far we ALL get excited with transfer rumers but I feel a little more prudence would be advisable I.E Amir I love the Stats ED provides

• 11 Dan // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:14

  I can’t read every thing. But will should go with Shay every time. But if if was not for him Harper WOULD be england keeper, But we should be thankful, Shay has kept us SO SO many games, with the exception of Schmichal he is the best keeper

• 12 Maggie // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:18

  Sorry its off topic - but I thought this was a surprising /interesting quote from Times online! - Ashley, who bought the club 14 months ago for £137 million, also denied rumours that he is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. “It’s not true,” he said. “I absolutely hate Spurs and always have done.”

• 13 ksmit // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:21

  I really don’t understand what you are all complaining about! The banner looks good and Ed has said that he is going to be rotating his banners. If you don’t like the talk about all of the transfers then don’t read them. This site seems to have been designed so that toon fans can get together and chat. Ed has never said that he knows what the club will do and I think that he is just giving us all an opportunity to discuss rumors and facts. If you’re unhappy with the site then don’t browse it. That’s the beauty of the internet… if you don’t want to look then don’t. If you would prefer a site that doesn’t cover all of these rumors then go to nufc.com as they don’t usually cover anywhere close to as many. I personally love this site as I live half way across the world from Newcastle and usually don’t have the chance to hear what other people think. I know that I’m not a regular poster but I am a regular to the site and read every article and most of the comments. Keep up the great work Ed and thank you for your hard work on this site!

• 14 DC Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:27

  ksmit well said

  Maggie where’s the link? If that is true, Ashley just shot up in my book and I already liked the guy!

• 15 DC Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:29

  Yes Ed, pay no attention to the haters.

  I envy you and hopefully in about 30 years I can follow in your footsteps and start my own NUFC blog, thanks for the inspiration!

• 16 Dan // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:31

  ED don’ t get me wrong your coverage of our young players is second to none. And if you don’t
  feature all our transfer (prospective) rumours , you would have very little to talk about otherwise. All I am saying is that, for once we seem to have peopel in place who conduct tranfers the way they should be done rather han spashed all across the back pages.

  Bring on ??????????????????????????????????????????

• 17 Maggie // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:33

  DC Magpie - sorry haven’t worked out how to link yet - but do a search of MA on Times online - it’s in the report of the intervfiew that’s getting a fair bit of coverage this morning. Maybe he reads our blog after all!

• 18 Tom_Toon // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:35

  Dan - If you dont like it you know where to go.

• 19 Leo // Jul 11, 2008 at 0:44

  yep tom toon, if you dont like it dan- off you pop

  to use a london term- jog on

  the whole harper given thing is like opening the preverbial can of worms

  i pick harper because i like him more- atleast im honest, but if given is back to his best then i would have to probably take given

• 20 DC Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:04

  Yea Harper has to start the season as number 1 and I wouldn’t bet against him seeking some assurances before signing his new deal.

  Shame about Inler, sounds like he wants to stay in Italy.

• 21 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:04

  I would imagine that KK will start the season with Shay. I slightly prefer Steve but there aint much in it. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see either Forster or Krul getting run outs
  pre-season and if they shine whos knows what will happen next.

• 22 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:07

  And Ed ignore the morons, probably non Toon fans trying a wind-up.

• 23 domtoon // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:09

  Oh yes. The man IS a legend:

  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article4312304.ece

  Ashley, who bought the club 14 months ago for £137 million, also denied rumours that he is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. “It’s not true,” he said. “I absolutely hate Spurs and always have done.”

  He says alot by saying very little. It’s just his way.

  And what are you on about Dan? This site rocks man!

• 24 Tom_Toon // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:13

  The man is a ledgend when hes shows us about £20mil net in transfers, not £20mil including sales (so aboot £5mil).

• 25 domtoon // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:15

  Trust.

• 26 Hadrian // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:17

  what stadium is that in the left of the banner ?

  and i wish mike would give a proper bloody interview to the nufc website or something .
  that spurs thing has been used against him for months , and a neat little sentance puts it to bed .
  we have had takeover rumor after takeover rumor , brushed off as ‘absolute nonsense’ , only to find he is interested in selling a share of newcastle .

  wish he would treat us like adults and be straight with us for a change , i reckon he’d have a much smoother ride .

• 27 Tom_Toon // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:18

  Veltins Arena, my head hurts from saying it so many times

  Ed - Can i ask why you ave the Veltins Arena in your banner?

• 28 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:25

  Tom Toon, I reckon you must be suffering from RCS. Repetative Comment Syndrome.

  Does make you wonder if some people actually read other peoples comments.

• 29 Hadrian // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:32

  what stadium is that ? in the left of the banner ?

• 30 reillers // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:35

  I don’t know. I think that Harper played good last season, but there’s a reason he’s been kept on the bench by Given. I think we all know that a fully fit Shay is better then a fully fit Harper. I’ve more then a wee bit of a feeling that he’ll start Given. I hope he will Harper’s a good wee lad but I just don’t think that he’s as good as Shay, and I get that he should be rewarded for playing well last season, but like, that was last season.

  He’s been working hard all summer while everyone else is on holidays and apart from a wee trip to Donegal towards the end of the season, he’s gone know where. He’s been working really hard, is apparently looking very good and you can tell when you talk to the wee fella that he really, really wants the no.1 spot.

  He’s over the injury now, I honestly believe that now, I didn’t before. Now I do. I think he’ll use the Irish games to show us that. He’s worked really, really hard to get back. Harper had a good season last season, and did well like, but that was last season and I get why a lot of ye want him to start over Given, because ye think that if he plays and plays well, then he might get a go at the English no.1 spot and then..happy days, and I know if there’s not much between to keepers and it’s a choice of if ye’d rather the English no.1 or the Irish no.1, there’s no doubt who ye’d pick and I get that but, and that’s probably why ye’d all pick him and not to mention the fact that he’s a Geordie, which is understandable I suppose, but to be honest, I don’t think any player should be picked on last season form. It’s now, who’s best now, who’s faster, stronger, sharper..etc, not on who did what last season and so on. Like I’m a wee bit biased myself but I honestly believe that best form against best form, keeper against keeper, Given is better then Harper. In my opinion anyway.

• 31 ObaFan2 // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:45

  Great piece with quotes from MA, I know we think he’s ours but he does have other business interests and that’ll be why he’s been interviewed elsewhere I suppose.

  Would be good to get an exclusive sometime though…..

• 32 Spyro // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:45

  as i said when the news first broke, the Inler stories were bulls**t!

• 33 Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:46

  Good night Hadrian.

• 34 ObaFan2 // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:49

  Not sure Hadrian, don’t look like SJP.

• 35 Spyro // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:49

  i would love to see what stories came out if this site stopped running, i really do believe half of the stoires are made up when journo’s come on this site and read peoples comments.

• 36 domtoon // Jul 11, 2008 at 1:52

  Language!!

• 37 DC Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 2:04

  hope ur joking obafan2

  RCS, heard that one before
  Bill F SPLASH MORE CASH ASH

• 38 DC Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 2:07

  reillers you make a good point but its hard for a bit of sentiment not to seep in as Harper has been such a great servant over the years but based purely on ability a super fit shay gets it every time

• 39 micepie // Jul 11, 2008 at 2:15

  It’s all doom at the moment because we may have limited funds for transfers. But isn’t that part of the challenge, to find gems for very little (a-la-Wenger, for example?). Not easy but it can be done, and we have a big enough recruitment/soouting team…

• 40 Sav // Jul 11, 2008 at 2:16

  Perhaps Ashley is talking down expectations by the likes of Owen, Willie McKay and prospective signings and their mendacious, grasping clubs.
  Ed, - don’t mind the few knuckle-draggers your excellent site attracts.

• 41 ObaFan2 // Jul 11, 2008 at 2:17

  

• 42 reillers // Jul 11, 2008 at 2:23

  Micepie ..
  This may sound like more then a wee bit of a stupid idea but, on the transfer market, why not look left instead of looking on mainland Europe. Some very good players have come out of Ireland, and I don’t mean, the likes of Given or Duff, I mean, from the Eircom League, the likes of Kevin Doyle, Hunt, Long, O Donovan, a bucket load of Wolves players and Championship players. People complain about players being too expensive, and all the good players wanting to go to the top 4 clubs, but no one really looks do they. Coppell looked all right and he got Doyle with Long for a few grand, Keane looked and got Roy O Donovan, for again, nothing.
  Everyone complains about the transfer market but no one really looks do they. Everyone goes for the same thing.
  The likes of Doyle settled in really quickly, the Eircom League, it’s sounds like charity I know but there are some very good players there, who’d jump at the chance, would be very cheap, are used to getting battered around a bit and if it doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of the world.

• 43 DC Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 3:16

  3 irovians worth looking at who played at the u21 tournament in touolon:
  Kone CM
  Sekou Cisse S
  ?? LB

  All looked fantastic talents

• 44 Patrick // Jul 11, 2008 at 4:24

  As well, we can always look into the lower ranks for more good players. Someone mentioned Joe Ledley and Jermaine Beckford. Yes these are potential star players.

  Besides, where is Aaron Spear now? Is he now living in Tyneside?

• 45 S.PARKER // Jul 11, 2008 at 5:27

  I love this guy..we should keep him…

  is there any other good No.2 goalkeeper like Harper?? I don’t think so.

• 46 sirjasontoon // Jul 11, 2008 at 8:31

  Top six,top eight no chance !
  That is just spin and I bet the players and kevin are terrified of what next season throws at them.

  I am not a betting man but i would comfortably bet a few quid on newcastle failing to break into the top ten next season if we do not spend.

  Why does ashley need investors?

  It is because newcastle is just a toy that he is already bored with and has no plans to spend big either in this window or any other.

  Fat fred may have been a nasty bit of work but by god he knew how to splash his cash.

• 47 steve // Jul 11, 2008 at 8:41

  just a thought………. any body else think that rangers singing danny shittu from watford will pave the way for us to sign Carlos Cuellar??

• 48 M4RK0 // Jul 11, 2008 at 8:45

  Hi to all Newcastle’s fan….i’m a italian newcastle fan :D…..what do u think about recoba??? It’s like ex Lauren Robert!!

• 49 AndyNUFC // Jul 11, 2008 at 8:47

  Sirjasontoon, yeah, and look what state Shepherd got us in. And for us to not break into top half of the table would really be deemed a failure. I truly cannot see Kevin Keegan, as he, and every other anticipating fan, looks to go into his second season with the club, would expect anything less than top ten, or even top 8 for that matter. Kevin Keegan isn’t like that, it’s not his style, he’s got a style for winning and playing good, and if he’s not the man to get us into the top 8, looking onto top 6 season after, I can honestly say I don’t know who is. Harper is first choice goalkeeper for his utter loyalty and love for the club… in fact, scrap that, it doesn’t matter how long he’s been at the club, you’d have to be living under a rock to not notice his performances for us. He is truly the most underrated goalkeeper in the league, give him a good run in the team this season and maybe the even so-called England manager might notice some real competition for David James. Putting Shay back in would be only on reputation and i’m safe in the knowledge Keegan’s a better managaer than that and wouldn’t do it, unlike spineless Big Sam.

• 50 dicks // Jul 11, 2008 at 8:48

  looks like we will have to go into this season with less of a squad than we had last year and that was quite hairy, never thought i’d see the day when the toons got the smallest squad in the premiership

• 51 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:05

  @Andynufc- You say keegan has a style for winning and playing good football. What the hell was he playing at when managing england and man city? Football has changed since you had that good season 12 years ago. It will be impossible for kk to do what he did back then again. In my opinion(its my opinion so dont jump on me) he wont last the season.

• 52 Lull // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:08

  @Fernando- bla…bla..bla..bla..

• 53 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:09

  @ Lull.thats a constructive argument. Were you on the debating team at school?

• 54 Lull // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:13

  How do you know? My team win the nationals

• 55 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:21

  Has anyone looked at the skysports betting pages. They make interesting reading especially the odds on the teams to win the league without the so called big 4. Also interesting to see the top goal scorer markets. Oba iss 33/1 and owen 28/1. They also do a market on who will finish highest out of boro,sunderland and newcastle. Not much to chose between them according to the bookies.

• 56 John // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:21

  Fernando your just getting boring now….Why don’t you come out and admit you love the toon….

  I’ve never seen a sopporter off another club ( crap one at that ) spend so much time on another club’s blog…

  Admit it now, you want to change alliance’s. would’nt blame you either

• 57 Lull // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:26

  come on Fernando. A number of my friends have done that too, now they are Toon fan like me

• 58 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:29

  It is tiring on spurscommunity as there is a lot of back slapping and rejoicing at the players who will be unveiled over the next week or so. They have a dedicated itk (in the know)section so we are aware of who we are very close to signing. The banter isnt great on there at the moment. I have an understanding that i wont be banned from here as long as i dont wind you lot uptp much so get used to my presence.

• 59 51times // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:32

  If he does wind us up, he’s on the train off to Poland.

• 60 AndyNUFC // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:32

  Of course it is impossible for Keegan to take us to second, you will not find one fan who thinks that, and I certainly don’t. And you said yourself, for other teams, he fell apart. But it’s this club, his club, where he will always get the most support, have the most passion, and get the most out of the players. I know he will last the season, because every toon fan knows, he knows, and Mike Ashley knows, that if he were kicked out for anything but a season worse than Derby or Sunderland or something drastic, then we as the fans would truly kick off. He just is the manager for us. I can’t really put much substance into my argument now but, i’ll be more than happy to come back to you on the matter this time next year.

• 61 toonfan1 // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:33

  does anyone know anything about a player called sebastien bassong who plays for FC Metz in france. the times is saying that he is on trial with us.

• 62 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:33

  @john. I actually did own a newcastle shirt about 10 years ago. I went on holiday in tenerife and saw all these geordie birds all over this bloke in a newcastle shirt so for my next holiday abroad(tenerife again) i bought a newcastle top(the shame) The magic of the newcastle top didnt help me to get laid so it was thrown in the bin on my return to england. I could just be ugly of course.

• 63 Punk Skunk // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:36

  Ignore the PLEB!.. Jog on…Back to ‘Nam!..

• 64 Lull // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:39

  @Fernando- that was sad, you are a one sad man…lol

• 65 Graham // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:39

  Fernando - the only time you seem to wind people up is when you spout nonsense. Most people that come on this site (and Ed of course) have an undertstanding of football in some way shape or form and can’t be arsed to tolerate clap trap.

  Banter is one thing but talking tommy rot is another.

  As for Shay V Harps - i reckon Steve will be no. 1 come the start of the season. Given doesn’t seem to have the confidence he used to since his injury 18 months ago or so. Until he recaptures that Harps will stay no. 1

• 66 AndyNUFC // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:41

  Just a thought, probably been mentioned a million times before, but has Ed thought about opening a new page or site in the format of a forum or something like what the BBC have but without the time limit posting rule and idiots that ruin it? It’s all good commenting on articles and such but it seems to me it’s used very much like a forum, any plans? Just interested, thanks.

• 67 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:44

  Tommy rot! Clap trap! haha

  I am giving my opinions and because you disagree you all get over excited. The bookies seem to agree with me on where our clubs are heading. But hey they are probably just out to wind you up aswell.

• 68 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:48

  Andynufc. I didnt sat he would get the sack i reckon he might walk because if he isnt doing the job he would rather let someone else who can. There will be a lot of money spent this summer with some unfashionable teams spending loads such as portsmouth, boro, sunderland, city etc. If you cant match there spending or attract players on the cheap you could be in trouble. it doesnt help that you have some tricky fixtures in your first 5 games.

• 69 AndyNUFC // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:49

  Nah come on Fernando, I think we all know aswell as you that you’re a reject and nobody likes you at your own club so you have to come to ours and pretend. It’s ok, being ugly isn’t that bad, I wouldn’t know myself but I can imagine the pain you must suffer. Maybe you should just spend your money on escorts instead of Toon tops and holidays of rejection? I can imagine you, walking along the beach, rival team top on, tears flooding down your face, despising the Geordie nation for pulling the birds in Tenerife. Oh the shame. Get used to my presence aswell

• 70 Danish_Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:53

  At least we haven’t signed Robbie Fowler?

• 71 51times // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:54

  Honestly, what the hell is Ince thinking?

• 72 ken from jarrow // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:56

  Re Fernando is this you on Caughtoffside
  I agree newcastle are a joke of a club. I bet they welcome him back with open arms. Having worked in newcastle i can confirm the geordies as a whole are racist , aggressive tossers. They will make him feel at home. Barton is a parasite who will get a hideing one day from spomeone who isnt younger than him.
  Ed this is a newcastle blog, people like this should not be allowed
  http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/286744564?-11058

• 73 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:56

  Andynufc. If only hooking up with an escort was that easy. I have a very small tail you see. Its like a little button mushroom. This is very theraputic.

• 74 Lull // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:57

  Should we sign Shearer?

• 75 Fernando // Jul 11, 2008 at 9:58

  @KEN FROM JARROW. Where have i written that. So you have written on there pretending to be me and then used that as an attempt to get me thrown off here.
  Get a life pal!

• 76 AndyNUFC // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:00

  Haha Lull as daft as it sounds, if we had have gotten relegated last season then it would have been worth it just for one more season with Shearer winning promotion I reckon.

• 77 Punk Skunk // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:00

  On current form: Harper over Given!..

• 78 Punk Skunk // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:06

  Taylor!..Y’ve got ya’ new contract, now zip it!..

• 79 ken from jarrow // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:09

  Hey Fernando my apologies if it not you, but I read this blog all the time and hate when people pretend to be a supporters only to slag off nufc elsewhere. This is a blog for NUFC supporters and not spurs, hammers or any other supporters

• 80 Danish_Magpie // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:09

  I was delighted when Blackburn brough in Ince. He will be utter shite with them and finish below us. Robbie Fowler?? He has got Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts, and Derbyshire… why Fowler?? If anything he should have brought in a QUALITY starting striker to partner Santa Cruz, and then gotten rid of Roberts or McCarthy..

  Ince has almost no manegerial experience (1 year at MK Dons and player-coach at Macclesfiel or something??) Come on..

• 81 Davies // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:09

  I have to say, Fernando seems alright. He doesn’t seem to be geniunely trying to wind anybody up. I’ve heard worse bickering from some of the regulars on here.

  I’m afraid I posted a comment on another site referring to him as a nuisance, however, having read through his comments on this particular feed, he really hasn’t said anything particularly contraversial, nor has he tried to rub “that” trophy in our faces.

  If they won’t have you at the Spurs forums, I, at least, am happy to have you here. Just as long as you continue to be respectful of the black and white. You are, of course, welcome to switch allegance any time you like.

  Regarding the keeper situation; both are excellent. I really don’t care who we have between the posts out of the two of them. Keegan has a headache in that department.

• 82 Punk Skunk // Jul 11, 2008 at 10:20

  ffs WASTED our money!..
  …He didn’t go splashing any of his own!..

Leave a Comment