Triffic 'Arry!Venue: White Hart Lane, Tottenham. Date: Saturday 11th Feb, 2012. Kick-off: 5.30pm. Referee: Andre Marriner.
It would be tempting to think that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had been distracted by one or two other things this week whilst preparing his ‘Spurs squad for this weeks game, but that would probably be folly. With the weather and his other “distractions”, ‘Arry couldn’t even make it to Tottenham’s last game against Liverpool away, and they still drew 0-0 against the mighty Reds.
One could also say that the ‘Spurs supremo is having something of a “lucky” week too, up before the beak as a suspected tax evader one minute, and hot favourite as England manager the next. Though some might even think that the could be more damaging in the long run, a perfect way to ruin a glittering career if some of the previous incumbents are anything to go by. Even our own Silver Supremo, Alan Pardew, felt the need to rule himself out for some reason, though one or two of the media have been quick to link him not with the England job, but with a certain managerial position in North London which may or may not be coming up in the near future. But enough of such silliness, let’s get on with the game!
Ranger to be loaned out?Fellow Premier League new boys look to be targetting one of our own young guns, Nile Ranger, as they look to beef up their attack in an attempt to survive in the Premier League.
Talks have apparently taken place between Ian Holloway and Chris Hughton over the possibility of Ranger making the switch to Bloomfield Road, according to The Express.
It is widely expected that some of younger players will be moving out on loan to various clubs throughout the course of the season, and Nile Ranger always had an outside chance of being sent out on loan this season, perhaps to a team in the Championship.
If this report is to be believed then apparently not, and in that case you have to question the wisdom of loaning out a player to a team that will probably be knocking around the same part of the league table as us. It could come back and bite us on the arse, remember Lomano Lua Lua and Portsmouth anyone? (more…)
Dan Gosling - A surprise Newcastle target?A new rumour has started doing the rounds regarding Everton youngster Dan Gosling and a possible switch to Tyneside in the near future, according to Sky Sports.
Now I know what you’re thinking, and it’s probably along the same lines as what i am thinking, and that is that we have no chance of getting a player who is so highly coveted in England and should turn out to be a star in the future.
But did you know he could be available for free? No, neither did I! Apparently it stems from a contract wrangle at Goodison Park where Gosling was verbally offered a new deal, only for the final written offer to not be sent to him by the due date, meaning that he could be available for nothing, depending on the outcome of a Premier League ruling due to be held soon. (more…)
Kevin Nolan: Future captain?The captains armband is up for grabs at the minute after being left vacant by the now departed Nicky Butt, but who, in your opinion, is the most deserving and most likely candidate for the role next season?
Newcastle are kind of lucky in that regard as we have a lot of players who have played at the highest level for a long time, they know what it’s about and they know what is required. With pre-season just around the corner, it gives all the likely candidates a chance to push their credentials forward for the job.
Obviously Nicky Butt didn’t play too much of a part last season, but it still didn’t stop him being the captain. Part of the theory behind that is because we have a lot of ‘on the pitch’ leaders, which fortunately meant Nicky Butt didn’t need to be on the pitch to perform his ‘duties’. Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Steve Harper and Fabricio Coloccini all had turns in wearing the armband last season, and considering all of those look likely to kick off the new season with us then you would have to assume that one of them has to be in the running to be named the captain on a full-time basis. So let’s take a look at the options. (more…)
Carver - Back in Toon?Since our Championship winning season drew to a close a few weeks back, Newcastle United have had more coaches departing than the local bus station.
The latest one to break rank was Alan Thompson, who relinquishes his role as reserve-team coach in favour of a move up to Celtic where he will become Neil Lennon’s new less than glamorous assistant.
Thompson’s departure follows hot on the heels of another one of our backroom staff, Kenny Wharton, and that leaves us with only a manager, an assitant manager and a goalkeeping coach working behind the scenes with the players. So is this little backroom reshuffle Hughton’s chance to get his own men in? Something he didn’t have a chance to do when he first took on the role as manager. (more…)
