12 months ago the Toon Army were buzzing. They had just defeated Stoke City 3-0 at St James' Park, brushing aside Tony Pulis men with consummate ease. At the heart was a midfield the envy of much of the Premier League. Yohan Cabaye, Cheicke Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonas Guitierrez were the pivot of a team that was enjoying a run of six unbeaten games conceding just one in the process.
There is always much debate surrounding the merits of Jermain Defoe. Twitter is awash with
comments about him being a flat track bully and is nothing more than an impact sub. While I agree
with some of the criticism levelled at him, I don't think Defoe has had enough opportunities at
Tottenham to judge him without some level of doubt.
If it was not for the collapse of Manchester City since the start of the year, a lot more
attention would be focused on the implosion that is taken place at White Hart Lane.
A couple of months ago Spurs were being talked up as a possible title contender. Then came the
"Harry for England" stories, and suddenly Spurs seem incapable of winning games anymore.
If it was not for the collapse of Manchester City since the start of the year, a lot more
attention would be focused on the implosion that is taken place at White Hart Lane.
A couple of months ago Spurs were being talked up as a possible title contender. Then came the
"Harry for England" stories, and suddenly Spurs seem incapable of winning games anymore.
Who says footballers don't know the value of anything? Newcastle defender James Perch was acutely aware that a fiver would be of great use to someone. It's just that nobody wanted to take it off him. The utility man found a £5 note on the St James' Park pitch during last night's 1-2 defeat to [...]
Mike Ashley cannot win for trying. Over the last couple of years he has moved into the background at Newcastle United and let Alan Pardew and his staff run the football side of the club. The results have been terrific, and recently Ashley rewarded Pardew for his efforts, buy giving him and his staff new eight-year contracts.
As if we needed another reason to stay glued to Sunday's match between Newcastle United and Manchester United. We now have another one. Alan Pardew promises that the Toon Army will go out with an all-out attack against Manchester United....
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It was not that long ago that Toon Army were up in arms over Mike Ashley and the Cockney Mafia's running of Newcastle United. But over the last couple of years Ashley has retreated to the background and let the football people run the club. No surprise then, that Newcastle's fortunes have turned up since Ashley let go of the reins.
We were sent this photo last night and expect to be around the Internet in the next few days and
it's valid too. This sign is in Sunderland too oh my! You would have believed it was dreamed up by
the Toon Army but no, it's a road sign in Sunderland that is [...]
Last season was  a huge success for Newcastle United as Alan Pardew got the Toon Army back into
Europe. We will have tickets to all the big Newcastle games this season, both home and away.
Newcastle 2012-13 Fixtures
August
18 Tottenham (H)
25 Chelsea (A)
September
1 Aston Villa (H)
15 Everton (A)
22 Norwich (H)
29 Reading (A)
October
6 Man Utd (H)
20 Sunderland (A)
27 West Brom (H)
November
3 Liverpool (A)
10 West Ham (H)
17 Swansea (H)
24 Southampton (A)
27 Stoke (A)
December
1 Wigan (H)
8 Fulham (A)
15 Man City (H)
22Â QPRÂ (H)
26 Man Utd (A)
29 Arsenal (A)
Wigan, in recent seasons have played a type of football which is pleasing to the eye. Since the
appointment of Roberto Martinez, he had taken the blueprint he developed at Swansea and imbued it
onto the Latics DNA. Their passing was amazing against Newcastle last weekend. Rarely kicking a
ball in anger, the Latics players played the ball out of defence into midfield, down the channels
and finally exploiting the openings with quick one-two wall passes.
Newcastle United's magical season continues as they beat Swansea City 2-0 today, a win that has
the Toon Army dreaming of Europe. The win lifted Newcastle above Chelsea into fifth place in the
league, just two points off Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for third.
Both Newcastle goals were scored by Papiss Demba Cisse, who is fast becoming the signing of the
season.
Newcastle United's magical season continues as they beat Swansea City 2-0 today, a win that has
the Toon Army dreaming of Europe. The win lifted Newcastle above Chelsea into fifth place in the
league, just two points off Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for third.
Both Newcastle goals were scored by Papiss Demba Cisse, who is fast becoming the signing of the
season.
Undeniably the scorer of the greatest goal against Newcastle
What gap? A win tonight will take us to within a point of them and it won't be a gap in between.
It would just be an ant hill or maybe 2 pile of rubbish. Well within our (Arsenal's) civic duty to
clear out the thrash in between and not forgetting the thrash that are currently sitting in
third.
Newcastle United defender Danny Simpson has lauded the club's traveling fans as they kept it
loud and proud at White Hart Lane throughout the Magpies' humiliating 5-0 defeat to the Spurs on
Saturday evening.
On a night when Simpson and his teammates could have broken into the league's top four with a
massive win, they came out stuttering in North London, conceding four first-half goals en route to
their disastrous loss.
Newcastle United are up to fifth in the Premier League after they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0,
while Arsenal's poor run of form continues as they were held 0-0 at Bolton.
Newcastle took a 12th-minute lead when Blackburn's Scott Dann deflected a 25-yard shot from Ryan
Taylor past stranded Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse (26) has become Newcastle's latest number 9 after signing
from Freiburg for £10m and if he can have just half the impact Senegal team-mate Demba Ba has
given the Toon Army it will be money well spent.
United are a top priced 1.75 with Paddy Power to bounce back from their humiliating defeat at
the hands of Blackburn and beat Newcastle at St James' tonight, and everything suggest they will do
just that.
New Year's Eve turned into a 70th birthday nightmare for Sir Alex when Steve Kean's men pulled off
the unthinkable, but if the past is anything to go by he will have read the riot act to the players
and they will respond with a victory.
David Anderson's Big Match Verdict: How Newcastle have exchanged false prophets for real
profits
The Toon Army were determined to have a laugh last night. In addition to the Âobligatory
shirtless contingent on a cold, wet Merseyside night, one fan was dressed as the Honey Monster and
another as Sesame Street's Big Bird.
Newcastle started this season strongly, confounding critics and pundits in the process. When Andy
Carroll left for better pastures with Liverpool, everyone predicted the end of the road for
Newcastle. Alan Pardew had his detractors and now he is actually being considered to be Capello's
successor as England manager.
Bolton Wnaderers 0 2 Newcastle United (Hatem Ben Arfa (69), Demba Ba (71) Newcastle United were in
their all black strip for this game, and enjoyed the backing of 4,000 travelling Geordies who
pretty much took over the ground at least in terms of noise! Â As a result of the Toon Army being
[...]
Two days on and the football world is still trying, and failing, to come to terms with the loss
of a legend.
Sunday's shocking news on the sudden death of Wales manager Gary Speed brought the country to a
stand-still. Since the announcement there has been an endless amount of tributes for the 42 year
old husband and father, showing just how much he meant to not only football, but the UK itself.
Here's a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly from week thirteen of the Premier League.
Note: Readers can follow Matt @thehackreport Cheers 1. Tim Krul: The Newcastle keeper's five
saves helped the Toon Army take a ...
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Newcastle lost their incredible 11-match unbeaten streak against Manchester City last weekend. Yet,
Alan Pardew's Toon Army had played very well. Just that they were up against a superior Blues side
that was world class in all department, from Joe Hart in goal right up to Sergio Aguero in attack.
Manchester United have an unbelievable record against Newcastle, so it's no surprise to see
bookmakers make them long-odds on favourites to win this weekend's game at a top priced 1.4.
The visitors have never won at Old Trafford in the Premier League losing 11 of their 17
visits.
It's a similar story overall, with United having won 13 and lost none of their last 17 matches
against Alan Pardew's side.
Newcastle United's attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa is ready to face his demons on Saturday
when the Toon army travel to the Etihad Stadium to face League leaders Manchester City, the
unsavoury scene where a vicious tackle from Nigel De Jong broke his leg in two places nearly a year
ago.
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes that off-field issues such as owner Mike Ashley's
decision to rename the legendary St. James' Park will not affect his players' focus on maintaining
their incredible form.
Along with runaway league leaders Manchester City, the Magpies are the only other unbeaten team
in the league.
In a move that is sure to further infuriate the Toon Army over his ownership of the club,
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has ended 119 years of Newcastle United history and heritage by
re-naming St James' Park the Sports Direct Arena.
Newcastle Chairman Derek Llambias says that Newcastle needed to sell the naming rights to St
James Park if its wants to compete with the top clubs in the Premier League:
"Roman Abramovich has more money than God but Chelsea are out there trying to re-brand Stamford
Bridge to bring in even more money" said Llambias.
In a move that is sure to further infuriate the Toon Army over his ownership of the club,
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has ended 119 years of Newcastle United history and heritage by
re-naming St James' Park the Sports Direct Arena.
Newcastle Chairman Derek Llambias says that Newcastle needed to sell the naming rights to St
James Park if its wants to compete with the top clubs in the Premier League:
"Roman Abramovich has more money than God but Chelsea are out there trying to re-brand Stamford
Bridge to bring in even more money" said Llambias.
Newcastle United's fine form in the premier league this season continues with another important
victory on the weekend, when they edged Everton 2-1 at St. James Park.
The three points not only puts them on third place with 25 points but also lifted the club's
confidence as although tough schedule awaits them after the International break, manager, Alan
Pardew, ensures that his player are more than ready to face the likes of Manchester City,
Manchester United and also Chelsea.
With the Manchester teams and Chelsea the next three fixtures, Demba Ba won't be celebrating
another hat trick anytime soon.
Not long ago, Newcastle United found itself relegated to the Championship and Mike Ashley
couldn't pay someone to take the team off his hands. (Ok, that's going a bit far.
Newcastle United kept up their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Everton. That's eleven matches
already and tongues are complimentary at the prowess of Alan Pardew in building a solid team spirit
in spite of losing Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Joey Barton in the summer. The Magpies remain the
only other team yet to be beaten this season.
Newcastle striker Nile Ranger's future is once again in jeopardy as club officials are set to
discuss his future after Ranger was arrested for being drunk and disorderly in October. "The press
are a joke" so said a whiter-than-white Nile Ranger on his official twitter page @NilePowerRanger;
let it be added without a hint of [.
Your immediate answer to the proposed question would most likely be a strict 'no'. And there are
a number of reasons why one would be inclined to give Newcastle United no higher than a fifth spot
on the log come May 2012.
But let's first give props to the men wearing the black and white stripes.
Newcastle's unbeaten start to the season has been nothing short of miraculous, and should they beat
Everton on Saturday lunchtime the toon army will be celebrating a side sitting second in the table.
These are the heady days of Philippe Albert. Prices of substantially longer than evens look
inviting.
Time for some quick hitters from the world of soccer business. The Sports Business Journal is
reporting that the Soccer Stadium, a network of soccer specific venues (made up of a number of MLS
franchises and the Rochester Rhinos), has realized some significant success though its effort to
jointly book concerts.
No, the whole AFR Team didn't come together to take over the Big Apple. Now that would be
writing a few thousand words about. But my brother and I, alongside a couple of friends, did enjoy
a few festivities and quite a bit of footy.
With many fans concerned at the lack of defensive cover with the Toon Army facing a war on four fronts this season (including an invasion of Europe), Alan Pardew has come out on the offensive once again. He revealed that the club's "failure" to bring in any new centre backs was actually intentional as it [.
