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For the latest national and International football news check out team twaddle, for Newcastle United news, read on ........... The Toon's Ex teenage druggie plus RUUD Gullit , Alan SHEARER and NTL all made twaddle today.

Shearer scored two, but the new defence let three past them In Newcastle's final pre season friendly against German club VFL Bochum. Newcastle, who hadn't taken Sweeper Franck Dumas with them,due to a slight injury sustained against Stoke last week, reverted to a 4 - 4 - 2 formation, the starting 11 were. Harper Charvet .... Marcelino ..... Goma ....Domi Solano ....ketsbaia ....Speed .... Serrant Shearer .... Robinson. By all accounts it was another dull start, Shearer had his best game so far, getting two goals from open play. Unfortunately the defence still hasn't gelled, and despite Harper being fully fit he could do little if the players in front of him still insist on casually giving the ball away all to often .With only one week to go until the big kick off things are not looking too good. Charvet picked up a knee injury and with Griff suspended, the right wingback position is not as Gullit would have wanted. Problems also on the left with Serrant being given every chance to stake a claim for the forthcoming season, regrettably he just doesn't seem up to it. Hughes filled in for Charvet at half time,once again doing a steady job. Later in the second half Maric was given yet another chance to show what he can do, replacing Robinson. He again showed what he does best, makes a hash of things. I believe, he needs to start the season in the reserves, getting his mind and his game back together again. We all know that he is good player, just lacking in confidence. A few reserve games in the new Premiership reserves league with the pressure off him could see him regain the confidence that he once showed (for Zagreb). The last thing we need is another JDT, we already have one of those, and he has been conspicuous by his absence in the majority of the Pre season games. Surprisingly Dyer was also out of the reckoning last night, Ruud preferring to leave him behind in England to recuperate after what has been the most gruelling pre season training ever experienced. Indeed the poor results have been blamed on the players simply being too tired to give 100%. This policy by Ruud of pushing players as far as they can go,could well reap rewards later in the season, however all it has done to the uneducated such as myself is to tire the players out, many of whom have picked up niggling injuries. The following week is believed to be a week to wind down a bit, and for those little knocks to heal. It looks very unlikely that Ferguson, Glass or Given will be fit for the start of the campaign. Reports that Ferguson is finished have been laughed off by Newcastle's coaching staff, although the question posed to Gullit as to wether he would be interested in signing wantaway Leeds front man "Jimmy " Hasselbaink, was met with silence. It is strongly believed by many (including myself) that Gullit has a final player up his sleeve, to bring in this week. Hopefully this will bolster confidence both within the team, and amongst the fans. Replica shirt sales would go up as well . I don't though believe the "Jimmy" will be that player. Finally , to cheer all the toon fans up, "THE HEARTLESS ONE", has found a club that want him. Turkish club,Galatasaray are poised to sign Alex Pistone, although the fee is believed to be half of what Newcastle United paid at around £2.25 million, it is unlikely that it will be refused. George Georgiadis is finally on his way (again) The on / off saga with Greek club Salonika is said to have been resolved. They are believed to have offered Newcastle the £450,00 that Dalglish paid for him last year, which will be accepted by the Newcastle board.

Friday 30th August

Newcastle fly off to Germany today to play Bochum tomorrow. One player that won't be coming back with them is Marc Ziegler. The 24 year old German goalie won't be joining Newcastle after all. Ruud Gullit thought he did OK but was no better than Shay Given or Steve harper, who seems to be Gullit's along with the fans favorite. It is believed that Gullit will be looking for an older more experienced goalkeeper for Given and harper to hopefully learn from. This week has seen rumours of Diomede joining Newcastle, it is just that, a rumour. Ruud will be making another signing before the season starts, although I cannot reveal the identity, I believe that the signing will go down very well with the Newcastle fans. Expect an announcement very soon. Duncan Ferguson is likely to be given a first start in a strong team tomorrow. It is believed that he will play for around an hour with Paul Robinson, given another chance to claim a place for next season as United's Super Sub. Hopefully I will have some details in the early hours of Sunday morning regarding Saturday night match. Over the last couple of days I have taken a few pictures of St James' park. See the latest pictures here

Thursday 30th July

Stoke's match last night which we won 2 - 1 has a report on Away the lads, Ruud was once again in action, and I believe that he will register himself as a player. He was certainly one of the best on Display, and is 36 year old Too Old? As a reserve sweeper perhaps? The reserves were also in action last night against Boca junior juniors. They were outclassed by the young Argies, despite having Rob Lee and Nick the Greek in the team. they lost 2 - 1 A good sign was fully fit again Steve Harper back in goal. As for the rest of the team, there were a few unfamiliar names on the team sheet, as the cream of the youngsters were playing down at Stoke. I took a trip to St James's park today, the stadium is growing daily. I got a few pictures which I should have the site tomorrow. Finally, What do you do if you see someone in New Zealand wearing a Man U top? FIND OUT WHAT DAVE DID. And Finally ... Finally, Ruud has been busy today, negotiating for a new player, Expect an announcement probably tomorrow, if not, definitely by Monday night. If I reveal what I know, then I won't be told again (if you know what I mean).

Wednesday 28th July, (Vickworld)

Match reports on last nights game against Celtic are on the Match report link of TOONWORLD, many thanks to Macbeth for covering all of the recent games in Scotland. Tonight the first team play Stoke city It is likely to be a totally different team to last night although it won't be completely full of reserve team players as they are in Action against BOCA JUNIORS at croft park (Blyth). Hopefully I should have reports from both games on the match reports page shortly after the games. The big story today though has to be the front page news that a Newcastle starlet was uncovered in a random drugs test as a heroin addict. That was back in February, yesterday he was released from his contract by Newcastle United. It was front page news in many of the papers, I tend to agree with TEAM TWADDLE regarding this story.

Tuesday 28th July (zobworld)

Newcastle fans traveling to Celtic park tonight should be in for a treat Gullit is expected to field his strongest side tonight against t Kenny Dalglish and his glove puppet John "I'll take the blame when things go wrong"Barnes. A new keeper , German trialist Marc Ziegler will be in goal for Newcastle .He is here for two days and will play tonight and against Stoke tomorrow. Ruud Gullit will try to access wether or not he is as good if not better than our existing pair before splashing out on the Stuttgart number two. Ziegler is 23 and has played for the German Under 21 side he is believed to be available for a little over a million pound. Also back is Steve Harper who has declared himself fit, although Shay Given is still struggling and is doubtful for the start of the season. Nobby Solano has also returned to the team after a fortnights Holiday having been playing in rather well in the copa America this summer. Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson have travelled to Celtic, but it is not thought that either will be fit enough to play. The Defence and Centre of the field should hopefully be at full strength, with only Griffin and Glass still not fully fit., although Griff may well play some part in tomorrows game at his former chub Stoke City. Also tomorrow night Boca Junior juniors take on the Newcastle United reserves at Blyth's croft park. I am hoping to get details from all three games from fans at all of these matches.They can be posted onto a new page called Match reports. If you wish to post a report for any game. E mail me for a password, then post it at http://www.sportsonly.com/nb/2699/news.html to view your reports and those of others then check out the Match reports link on. http://www.soccer-uk.freeserve.co.uk/toon.htm

Monday 27th July

With the news that both main strikers AND both the main keepers could be out for the start of the season. News is breaking that Ruud is after an experienced keeper AND a young striker. With both Harper and Given, still injured , Perez performing erratically and No4 keeper Keen now a Carlisle player, Ruud Gullit has again been linked with ex England International goalkeeper Tim Flowers. The 32 year old Blackburn player is said to be available for £1.2 million and Ruud may well get the cheque book out this week to solve the goalkeeping crisis. I am sure that the Newcastle fans would feel in safer hands with Flowers in goal rather than start the season with the Lionel Perez between the sticks. Ruud has been looking around Europe for an experienced goalkeeper for the two younger lads to learn from but now Ruud looks set to bring Flowers to St James's On the striker front, alarmingly Alan Shearer looks likely to miss atleast the first game against Villa having twisted his ankle in Holland last week. The site of Shearer with an ice pack on his angle was played down as a small knock, but it could keep him out for a month meaning he could miss the first 3 games. Slightly better news is that Duncan Ferguson should manage at least 45 minutes against Celtic tomorrow. Paul Robinson looks like he will be lining up with Ferguson in the first half with Kets relieving him in the second. There have been worries around Tyneside that the injury prone front men may be the only big guns in Ruud's artillery for the forthcoming season. However if rumours from the midlands are to be believed all that could change in midweek. It is believed that on Wednesday, NTL will once again announce that they will be taking total control of Newcastle , and that news should be enough for the purse strings to be opened to allow Ruud Gullit to buy a long term target, Wolvehampton's Robbie Keane. Spurs are believed to be offering Ruel Fox and cash for the young Irishman, but Wolves want cash only, and providing the takeover of Newcastle United is sanctioned the £6 million fee for Robbie Keane will be met. That news is sure to bring relief to the long suffering Newcastle fans, who have been bemused at Newcastle's lack of adequate cover up front ever since Tino was sold, 18 months ago.

Sunday 25th July

Newcastle United are set to hit the big time financially, As the take over by U.S. media giants NTL is back on. NTL themselves have not officially announced anything, indeed they were quoted as saying,"We are happy to remain with our stake in Newcastle. The club are aware of our position and know we have no plans for buying the club outright" Don't you believe it though for once the restrictions are lifted they will swoop. The government report by the OFT is due to be announced on the 28th July. It is said to clarify rules on the takeover by football clubs and their is little doubt that NTL will be allowed to increase their stake from 6% to a total takeover of the club for an estimated £165 million. NTL will pounce immediately, and a takeover could be just days away. The takeover would give Ruud Gullit substantial funds to bring in whatever players he feels he needs to make the team one of the best in the world. The money has it seems already started to flow, with Alan shearer being given "A lot of money" to sign for the next 5 years. Now it seems Ruud will also be given a similar wadd to keep him at Newcastle for many years to come. It's been reported that he will be given over a million a year to stay as boss for the next 5 years. On top of that he is reputed as being offered a £500k Bonus if he can get Newcastle into the champions league. Ruud Gullit played for Newcastle United reserves yesterday. he came on as a second half substitute when they were 2 - 0 down and inspired them with some fine passing to gain a credible draw 2 - 2 . The last few games were not games that Ruud Gullit would gave wanted to arrange. However they were part of long standing arrangements that Newcastle wee committed to playing, Therefore he didn't risk his first choice team. All match reports are on Including the Reading game which saw Ruud play for the last 45 minutes, We have more pictures of Ruud in action coming to the page tomorrow. Many thanks to MIN for the report. O Tuesday Newcastle are expected to field a strong team against Celtic. Shay Given should be fully fit and there is a chance that Shearer will partner one of the youngsters upfront in a match that will be televised on Channel 5 in the UK. For those that don't see it a report will be posted by Macbeth . Next weekend Newcastle will play Stoke city in the penultimate pre season friendly . A report will be provided by Jacko . If you would like to contribute a report from forthcoming matches, please get in touch. I am thinking about starting up a separate MATCH REPORT message board, on which anyone can post their own match reports rather than send them to me and wait for me to put them on the web site. It will be located on the resurrected.

Friday 23rd July

Last night Newcastle were once again beaten . Perez was guilty of losing the Livingston game, last night he didn't do much better in 3 - 1 defeat against Dundee United was apparently Dabizas was the main culprit. As Gullit looks likely to be playing his 3 new defenders as 3 centre backs, He is still deciding on the reserve defenders. A final chance was given to Dabizas last night and he blew it. I would have thought that Hughes will now be regarded as the NO1 substitute Central defender, with Charvet and Beharall also in Ruud's plans. Midfield is still a mystery, Gullit seems to prefer 2 wingbacks, and 3 central midfielders. I think he will go for 1 defensive central midfielders and two attacking midfielders, with 2 forwards ahead of that. Obviously Shearer and Ferguson will be first choice with Kets as a likely sub, but if we should get another injury to either of them, who would play? Both Coppinger and Robinson have done OK, indeed Robinson looks likely to get another couple of chances against Reading tomorrow alongside Kets, and if he does well in that game he looks likely to get the nod alongside Shearer against Celtic on Tuesday. Midfield though is where most of the question marks still lie. Wingbacks most likely to play will be Domi and Griffin. Serrant has been tried again and still isn't up to it. So I would pencil in Barton as the No.1 Sub as he can play in any of the 3 defensive midfielder roles. In the centre Speed, despite playing poorly in pre season will no doubt be given the nod , leaving Dyer, Solano, Glass, McClen, Maric, Lee and Kerr to fight for the two remaining places. None of the above appear to be in the defensive mould so that is why I think there will be two attacking midfielders. I would plump for the first two in the list. Indeed Jamie McClen has played better than Maric, In my starting 11 from what we have seen so far I would go for (subs in brackets) (Given or Harper) Goma (Hughes) Dumas, Marcelino Griffin,.......... Speed (Barton) ............ Domi Dyer ......+ (Solano Or Glass) Ferguson ...............................Shearer (Kets) Also in the squad, McClen, Charvet, Lee and Robinson. As for Maric, he needs to improve. rapidly.

Earlier news