Most of the news today is concentrated on our important game with Aston Villa tomorrow evening.Also looks like Sam will sign his 8th player today (we’ve been saying this for about 3 days now) since the news is that Bolton’s Abdoulaye Faye is about to sign for Newcastle imminently, and has been on Tyneside for the last two days.
Also, those at the game tomorrow give an extra shout for Mark Allison when he does his lap of honor around St. James’ Park, before the game. Mark has raised just short of £25,000 for Charity – St. Benedict’s Hospice specifically, with his magnificent 874 miles run from John O’Groats to Land’s End. If you can give a donation for Mark and St. Benedict’s please do.
Mark has shown true Geordie grit and we’re proud of him!
Good article from George Caulkin of the Times about how Sam is locking the gates at Newcastle’s training ground at 9:45 am each day so the late stragglers have to buzz to get in. Also, Sam has stopped total access to the families and friends of the players at the Squash Club. Good – we’ll get them all ultra professional yet! By the way George writes excellent articles on Newcastle in the Times – he’s very very good and one of our favorite writers.
Sam Allardcye – making the club and players more professional each day
Article today about how Newcastle are poised to go for any player they want with lightning speed – if they become available by August 31st. That’s one thing we like about Chris Mort and his team – they are learning quickly from Sam, and have backed the manager who has said often how you have to move quickly for players to get them – and at a reasonable price. Whatever happens in the next two weeks it will be interesting to see who we land quickly in the January window – Edmilson hopefully for one.
Chris Mort and Sam – starting to work very well together in the transfer market – speed is key
We have a piece today on the wisdom of Sam’s handling of foreign players. Like he’s doing right now with Cacapa and Enrique, he is giving the players time to settle into their new environment, both on and off the pitch. He is not belaboring them with having to play until they have become fully acclimatized to their new surrounding. How many managers have the patience for this – even though it makes so much sense? Not many – but that’s one reason Sam gets the very best out of the players he brings into the club. His record at Bolton was excellent and we are sure it will be just as impressive at Newcastle.
Sam Allardyce – excellent record with foreign players – now we know why
We have our preview of the Newcastle United vs Aston Villa game for tomorrow evening. We are expecting all 3 points but we cannot get over-confident because Aston Villa are a good side and we’re not sure if we’ll perform with the same gusto and skill as we did at Bolton last week. We think we will but the main thing is the 3 points. next would be a clean sheet. Then if we win easily – like 4-0 – watch out because there’ll be all kinds of talk about Europe and top four and the like. Come to think of it that would be a good result so we could talk about that 😀 We’re saying a 3-1 win and we hope we’re being conservative – cannot wait for the game.
Geremi – we expect all three points against Aston Villa – captain Geremi can drive us to that win
A good interview from the Newcastle Journal this morning with Sam Allardyce. This time Sam speaks sensibly about injuries and uses Michael Owen as an example. Sam points out that the player is probably the worst one to say when he’s fit and ready to play. Sam indicates it’s his medical staff whom he listens to about when a player is ready. Michael is not match fit yet but we expect him to be introduced in the second half at tomorrow’s game. A goal would be very nice.
Michael Owen – still not match fit but will get games for England that should help
We’ve just updated our site to make it better and we’ve introduced blue headlines and a new header and various other improvements. We’ve now been in operation for about 4 months and believe me we’re learning all the time. We’ve had some good constructive feedback from some of our readers and we’ll keep doing our best on the site. Thanks to one of our readers, PhoonCK from Singapore, for creating the new header for us – we think it’s great.
An update on Mark Allison’s historic run from John O’ Groats to Land’s End on behalf of St. Benedict’s Hospice. Mark is now back home on Tyne-side. Here’s Mark’s web siteand if you can contribute to Mark’s efforts please do so at this just giving site The fund is creeping towards £25,000! Mark will be featured in the match program on Saturday evening and he’ll be at St. James’ Park on Saturday for a lap of honor before we take Aston Villa apart. Here’s some messages from some of Mark’s readers on his great effort:
Steve R – “Well done mate I just hope the Toon show half as much spirit as this in the new season.”
Jon L – “Forget those overpaid prima donnas, there’ll only be one star at St James’ on Saturday.”
Brigga Broggs – “Absolutely amazing! Makes me even more proud to be a Geordie.”
Mark Allison – gives thumbs up sign – raised almost £25,000 for charity – fabulous job
Finally here’s some funny football quotes – to lighten up the day 😀
“I was really surprised when the FA knocked on my doorbell.” – Michael Owen
“It’s great to get the first trophy under the bag.” – Michael Owen
“I hope we get a decision shortly – I will be dead soon.” – Stuart Pearce, on wanting to be Man City manager
“I don’t make promises, I promise results.” – Joe Royle
We always appreciate your comments on our Daily Update. Please keep your comments civil and decent because we have lots of youngsters reading the site – many thanks
Happy for Taylor to get in the England squad, think Milner should be in there ahead of Dyer and Downing, he’s very experianced at U21 level and Premiership plus he’s far more consistant can’t remember the last time he had a bad game. Why isn’t Carroll in any england squad u19’s or u20’s surely.
Great news for Taylor. Well deserved aswell. Agree Milner should be there also. Can’t see the Faye deal going through today. It’s just too quite, no rumours or anything. Mind you the way our staff work now nothing would surprise me. I would also like to see a RB in before the window shuts. Carr is definitely our weakest link.
Pity the club have only sold 45,000 tickets for tomorrows game. (Phone the ticket office if you dont believe me!)
Amazingly enough, as well as still selling tickets for tomorrows match against Villa, the club is still selling season tickets on the official Newcastle United website and are regularly advertising the tickets for sale on the radio.
Is this “the bubble bursting†in a big way at Newcastle or do you think that the public haven’t yet taken to Big Sam and the owners and are staying away out of loyalty to the previous regime.
An update on my health situation - we have terminated the PluVicto treatment halfway through, because of the severity of the side effects - diarrhea, vomiting, and acid reflux.
And there was no evidence the treatment was having any positive effect in stopping the prostate cancer from spreading in the bones.
There are no treatments left for me to go on.
I will go into home hospice care now and will have a hospice nurse visit me at home regularly to ensure I am as comfortable as possible and we will treat the side effects of the treatments I have had.
It's down the final stretch now, and I have run out of treatments, and nature will now take its course.
I hope Newcastle can get many wins this season from now on, and I am at peace with all of this.
Thanks for all your help through the years - it's very much appreciated
12 comments so far
Tom_Toon
Aug 17, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Comment #1Hopefully Faye will be ours by the end of the day. Good versatily and a much underrated player.
Now for a RB!
Soren
Aug 17, 2007 at 3:54 PM
Comment #2Steven Taylor has been called-up to the full England squad. Great to see him get in to the squad, because he deserves it.
Also hopefull on Faye, and as Tom_Toon says, now for a rb.
Bring on Villa!
squid
Aug 17, 2007 at 4:02 PM
Comment #3congrats to taylor, its well deserved. nice to see smith in there aswell. please get a rt bk sam. carrs not good enough.
aaron
Aug 17, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Comment #4Happy for Taylor to get in the England squad, think Milner should be in there ahead of Dyer and Downing, he’s very experianced at U21 level and Premiership plus he’s far more consistant can’t remember the last time he had a bad game. Why isn’t Carroll in any england squad u19’s or u20’s surely.
chris
Aug 17, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Comment #5Great news for Taylor. Well deserved aswell. Agree Milner should be there also.
Can’t see the Faye deal going through today. It’s just too quite, no rumours or anything. Mind you the way our staff work now nothing would surprise me. I would also like to see a RB in before the window shuts. Carr is definitely our weakest link.
Tom
Aug 17, 2007 at 4:34 PM
Comment #6Ed- Love the new header image, its quality… not to clear though 🙁
george t
Aug 17, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Comment #7Chris ………agree with you sentiments but i trust big sam to sort out the remaining defensive frailties before the window shuts….despair not
Howard Featherstone
Aug 17, 2007 at 5:28 PM
Comment #8Pity the club have only sold 45,000 tickets for tomorrows game.
(Phone the ticket office if you dont believe me!)
Amazingly enough, as well as still selling tickets for tomorrows match against Villa, the club is still selling season tickets on the official Newcastle United website and are regularly advertising the tickets for sale on the radio.
Is this “the bubble bursting†in a big way at Newcastle or do you think that the public haven’t yet taken to Big Sam and the owners and are staying away out of loyalty to the previous regime.
Sean
Aug 17, 2007 at 7:01 PM
Comment #9will enrique play tommorow?
oh and by the way your title for this article says “Major Newcastle News Stories – 17th August – 2006”
It should be 2007
Ed Harrison
Aug 17, 2007 at 8:24 PM
Comment #10Sean – whoops – I’m a year late! fixed – thanks.
Enrique is not not in the squad tomorrow – Sam wants to give him more time top acclimatize.
Lamesley Mag
Aug 18, 2007 at 7:48 AM
Comment #11Ed, your articles are excellent, well done mate……
I’m going for a 2-0 Newcastle win; Viduka goal in first half and an Owen goal (and not own goal!) in second.
Howard Featherstone
Aug 18, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Comment #12Told yer…..
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1094657,00.html
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