Keegan's Boys vs Big Sam's Spoilers

Ah, those Wanderers won't let us play footie, will they...

As someone said: You can get Sam Allardyce out of Bolton, but you can't...

Nah, never mind. Ancient history that. But it's a fact that Bolton play...errr... a DIRECT game, to put it nicely...

They spoiled the party when Keegan came back, and it almost happened again in the first home league game of the new season...

In a game that just had to be boring, Shay Given again had to do wonders to give the rest of the lads momentum to go forward in a search of the victory.



And it was that man, Owen to build on a marvelous Shay penalty save and get the winner in front of the SJP crowd of 47.000+. After a long time there was less than 50.000 for a fome league game, and I hope it won't happen again anytime soon...

Recently I said that no player is worth 140k per week, but consider how the Newcastle fans feel now and how would they feel had it stayed 0-0 at SJP last Saturday... Now, is that difference worth 140k? Oh, yeah, it is!


Photos: Getty Images

Video highlights can be found here.

Next up: Coventry City away in the League Cup 3rd Round...

Cheer Up Manc Muppets....

We won four points out of six...

Well, saying it that way doesn't reveal much, does it?

Especially when we often couldn't manage 4/6 points in recent times, even with playing against teams like Derby, Sheffield United etc...

But, this is Keegan's Newcastle!!!!

Gosh, I wish I could be in Toon dressing room during Kevin's teamtalks. What on Earth do you say to the lot that gave away 11 goals in last two games against Manu to make them play like men, not like scared boys?

Well, ok, it wasn't quite the samo lot, but it's still newcastle XI, and those haven't done really well on this pitch...

First of all: Shay Given - fit again, aware, brave...just fantastic! I have to admit that I doubted that Shay will ever get back to his best, but thankfully he reassured me - and how! That double save from Rooney and Scholes was amazing. It's just like scoring a goal!

The new boys: Gutierrez, Guthrie and Coloccini... wow... I'm tryin' not to be euphoric, but they seem like massive signings already. Duff... N'Zogbia... well, it's like getting new players in when you compare their (non)performances last term...

Inspired, full of heart, pride and responsability. That is what we want to see, and that is what the lads gave us. And here is a special tribute to Obafemi Martins, who played despite his mother passing recently. He scored the goal for the fans, and the fans cheered him on and thus helping him to overcome a personal tragedy. It's all down to sticking together, isn't it?








Photos: Getty Images


Video highlights from the Manchester United game can be found here.

Summer Cup - We're Top Four, We Are

I wrote this some time ago, but didn't post it... Here goes....

With the opening game of the Premier League approaching, Newcastle United travelled to Majorca to find some fitness and form in the sunshine, and to play in a friendly tournament nicely named "Summer Cup 2008".

Looking at the photos taken during the Toon training sessions, seems like the lads had samo fun together as well as doing some hard pre-season work. Nice to see the group bonding, but the lack of firepower upfront left the fans frustrated, Newcastle goalless, and Kevin Keegan with some problems.

Two 1-0 defeats, to Hertha Berlin and the host, Mallorca showed that Ameobi and Smith probably couldn't score if they stayed on the pitch for a week...

And bla bla...

The friendlies versus PSV Eindhoven and Valencia CF gave us some hope ahread of the much awaited trip to Ol' Traff...

Still, few people could predict the outcome of the Manu match...