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latest news and gossip . Right Click and select "RELOAD" |
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latest news and gossip . Right Click and select "RELOAD" |
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Saturday 14th August |
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Newcastle united sign a third goalkeeper, He is John Karelse who has signed a four year contract and has registered in time to join the squad for Sunday's game at Southampton, Factfile (by Stevo) Name: John Karelse pronounced Kah-rel-sur. Born: 17 May 1970 Partner: Anneke Children: a daughter, Eileen Previous clubs: Wemeldingen Position: Keeper Previous Coaches: Looyen, Verel, Carton, Jannsen, Pot, De Visser, Spelbo s, Rijsbergen, Neumann Best Coaches: Korebrits and Van Eenennaam (both Keeper coaches) Worst Coaches: I've not had a bad one, you learn something from them all. First Football Experience: Street Football Superstition: I'm always the first onto the pitch and I always do the same warming up routine. Favourite Club: Liverpool (before signing for us one hopes S) Favourite Stadium: Nou Camp Greatest Role model: Peter Schmiecel Best Player Ever: Marco Van Basten Underrated P layers: Players like Van Haalst (now of Ajax), Gaasbreek (NAC), and Bosz(ex NAC), they're hard working players that don't really stand out but are of great importance to their sides. Overrated Players: Don't exist in professional football Highe st point of your career: Winning Promotion with NAC Worst point of your career: Shoulder injury Supporters: The most important part of any football club Breda: A city I shall never leave (Oh yeah-Stevo) Favourite evening out: Go out for a few beers at 5, then have a meal out, then a few more late drinks. Political Preference: VVD (Dutch right-wing liberals, comparible with the Tories-Stevo) Hobbies/Free Time- Going to a sauna and fishing (going to a Sauna is pretty common here -Stevo) Telvision: Friends, X-Files, Sam Sam Internet: No Music: A bit of everything Favourite Film: Braveheart and Midnight Express Favourite Book: I never read Favourite Food: Mediterranean Shrimps, Salmon, Sole, Tacos Favourit e Drink: Beer, Orange Juice Best Personal Qualities: Honest, Direct, punctual. Worst Personal Qualities: Hot Tempered Ambitions: To get into Europe with NEC, and maybes play abroad. Well he got his wish, Newcastle signed him for £750,000 and he makes the bench for Sundays game. Rather impresive facts to bore your friends with. many thanks to Stevo for the info.
The Official Website actually put something very good on their site
FOR FREE, It's a computer generated virtual tour of the stadium, If
you have Real Audio, click on the link to the
virtual tour provided by the official site. I
have a few stills on my latest SJP picture page. Ruud Gullit didn't register as a player and we won't see him on the bench tomorrow. Indeed his girlfriend Estelle wants him to spend more time with her in Amsterdam, She would actually prefer him to quit Newcastle and concentrate on being a TV pundit. I bet he is really happy to see that all over the back pages of tomorrows papers. SILLY GIRL. |
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Friday 13th August |
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Ruud Gullit has been in training and may well put himself on the subs bench for Sundays game at Southampton. It is unlikely that he will start,but with injuries to Dumas and Marcellino it looks likely that he prefers to put himself on the bench rather than play another youngster such as Caldwell or Beharall. Did he register as a player though? there is still a shroud of secrecy around wether or not he registered before todays 12 noon deadline. Personally I don't think that he will play, although I think he would do a better job than most of the players in a black and white shirt,. we shall all see on Sunday's world wide televised match.
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Thursday 12th August |
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Freddie Shepherd joined Ruud Gullit in Brussels today to thrash out a deal for Belgium International keeper Geert de Vlieger. A fee of £500,000 was agreed for the 27 year old Andlelect keeper . Unfortunately the player didn't like the idea of playing second fiddle to either Shay Given or Steve Harper so the Newcastle contingent flew home without their man. Whilst the search for a third keeper goes on Newcastle fans are mystified why Gullit has not taken an interest in any of the young British strikers currently on the transfer merry go round. With Shearer struggling on his own and Duncan Ferguson's injury likely to keep him out until after the Man U game, Why hasn't Ruud been after a third striker of quality and youth to stand in when either of the preferred two front men are out of action. We have seen Geordie boy Michael Bridges go to Leeds for £5 million, He gets less than half of Shearer's salary , I am sure we could afford him..Indeed he has repaid part of that fee last night by getting a hat trick on his debut. Then as if to rub salt into the wound, Darren Huckerby, a player we let go for a mere £1million also goes to Leeds for what looks like a bargain fee of £4 million. (we get £500,000 sell on fee). He has proved his worth at Coventry and will be worth twice that next season. One more player in the super young striker category remains available and that is Robbie Keane. What's the betting Villa cough up £5.5 million for him and he goes on to be a huge star in world football. Why Gullit ignores these players is a total mystery? or is it. Word from the training ground is that Gullit has a trick up his sleeve for the Southampton game. Paul Robinson is very likely to start , but his partner up front is not going to be Alan Shearer, Ketsbaia or Ferguson. Robinson's long term strike partner Jamie Coppinger , whom he has scored with on many occasions both in the reserves and for Darlington before that, looks very likely to get his debut at Southampton on Sunday. Shearer is not to be dropped, The plan is to use Shearer in centre midfield for this single game alongside Speed, with Dyer and Solano on the flanks. Newcastle haven't won at the dell since 1972, I totally agree with trying out something new like this. Giving the kids a chance has got to be a no lose situation . If we win the Gullit is a genius, If we lose, it's the jinx of the Dell or the kids weren't ready. I can't wait till Sunday, I just hope Sky have fixed their blurred transmissions by then. Last Mondays pictures were atrocious. If it happens again, far from going digital, I'll be cancelling my subscription for good. and finally last week Nic Dabizas was said to be on the verge of joining Leicester for a reported fee of £1 million. Leicester backed out saying he wasn't worth it. It was believed that they valued him at £400,000. Well it's back on , I wouldn't like to hazard a guess on the amount, or if it will actually happen. |
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Wednesday 11th August |
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After the Spurs match on Monday night , Gullit gave the players a good bollocking on the way to the airport. He flew to Holland for a day off and the players flew home to practice their set pieces. Gullit was told to retract the statement made on TV that the result was the players fault. he did a U turn saying that it was his fault as he was the manager. |
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Tuesday 10th August |
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SPURS 3 NEWCASTLE 1 It's certainly not the end of the world losing the first two games of the season, There are still another 36 games left , indeed when I were a lad, I am sure that the newspapers didn't even start printing a league table until there were 3 or 4 games played. Indeed at the moment we are only 3 points off the top of the table, or joint 13th , depends which way you look at it. Two games lost maybe, but what if we win the next two? We could well be top. It's far to early to start worrying. Sure, there are a few problems to sort out, So what are the solutions? 1 Sack the manager, bring in someone new. he would no doubt dismiss half the coaching staff, get rid of half the players. Try to bring in some MORE players that fit in with his plans. .... and so on... No I don't think that is an option. For one thing WHO IS BETTER THAN GULLIT? 2 ... Get out the cheque book AGAIN and buy MORE players. Can you really buy lots of players all the time thinking that this will solve the problem? A lot of new players means even more time for them to find their feet and adjust to the others around them. Having said that there are a few areas that do need strengthening, but I think Gullit has to work with what he has, and mould a team full of good individuals into GOOD TEAM. 3 ... be patient, don't expect miracles. let Gullit work on the problems on the training ground,. I for one think that the performance on Saturday until Shearer was sent off was pretty good, And yesterdays performance in the first half hour was brilliant. Gullit knows what the problems are , He knows the good players from the bad, he knows when to introduce new players and when is the right time to play the youngsters such as Robinson (who we are all crying out for) He knows the areas in which we are weak and will I am sure strengthen those positions over the course of the season. But Panic buying 3 or 4 players at the moment isn't the solution. If we do then there will be more unsettled players to fit into the team. Some fit in straight away, others such as Maric will take longer . We have of course got Ferguson Glass and Howey, all 3 no doubt first choice players to come back into the reckoning. We have to be patient lads and lasses there is no realistic alternative. Keep the faith the season is still young and a top 6 place is still a strong possibility. (EVEN IF WE LOSE THE NEXT FEW GAMES) as long as we beat the MaKems, I'll be happy. |
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Monday 9th August |
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For Sale, West Highland Terrier puppy £350 Or swap for one practically new Newcastle United Season ticket. No I'm not joking, I've got two bitches that are both about to have puppies. They have excellent pedigrees having been bred with a prize winning champion dog. Normally they sell rather well £350 - £400 each but with both expecting at the same time, they may take a little longer to sell. I am taking this opportunity to offer all you disillusioned and fed up fans out there a chance to get something nice, cute and cuddly for the season ticket that you only recently purchased., but which has already given you so much grief. rather than suffer all year long with the stress of defeat for your football team, dispose of your ticket now while you have the chance to get something decent for it. Just think of the pleasure that such a swap would bring to you and your family. Each Saturday you could take it for long walks in the park, or down to the beach while the rest of your friends and family will be enduring such pain and strife. It will bring you , your family and your children so much closer together . In stark contrast you could spend your Saturdays getting stressed out, being put in a bad mood, by watching a football team constantly losing. By the end of the season you will be so grumpy that your wife will have left you, your Boss will have fired you and your friends will have deserted you. I am offering a single Season ticket holder a once in a lifetime deal. A Pedigree puppy for your Ticket. I am not joking, contact riks@globalnet.co.uk. |
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Sunday 8th August |
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My thoughts on yesterday are on MATCH OF THE WEEK along with some pictures Other match reports from yesterdays game are on TOONWORLD . (match reports thread) A few LARGE pictures from within St James Park. ARE HERE (600x400 images and 2 smaller ones) |
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Saturday 7th August |
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The Big Kick off, and Newcastle suffer a dreadful injustice. Alan Shearer is sent off, literally for nothing. We lose 1 - 0 against Villa more tomorrow. |
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Friday 6th August |
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Dabizas and Anderson have been sold. Although they have both been sold at a loss, most at Newcastle will be glad to see the back of them. Last night Andreas Anderson, was sold to IFK Gothenburg, for a Swedish record of £2 million. this is a loss of £1.0 million , but atleast he has gone. Although he tried hard he was just not good enough for the premier league. All but one of the Newcastle players will be happy at the move. Silvio Maric may feel that he could be this years player to moan about now that Adde has gone. Today it was announced that the Nick Dabizas has been sold to Leicester city for a knock down One million pound. That is another million lost , but again there was no future here for the defender that had clearly lost his confidence. Dabizas was actually the fans player of the year 2 years ago after a good start, that says something about Dalglish's dodgy purchases doesn't it? last year though Dabizas completely lost it , All the best to them both, hopefully they can start afresh at their new clubs. Ruud Gullit has actually managed to sneak out 10 players since the end of last season. To see the full comings and goings click on the MONEY PAGE, which lists all player transactions since Keegan started splashing out the cash back in 92.. I don't need to tell anyone that TOMORROW IS THE BIG KICK OFF DAY. Surprisingly there were a few tickets still for sale. Freddie Fletcher may be slightly worried by the apparent pessimism at the moment. In a season that sees 14,000 new seats becoming available at a cost of £42 million Newcastle United need to have a good year . He states that there are actually 16,000 on the list and urges any one wanting a seat to get on the waiting list as soon as possible. I am starting to have my doubts on wether or not all the seats will be taken. I would think that there are many thousand on the waiting list that use friends and relatives seats each week. When there seats become available next season will the original holders renew their tickets? Like I say we need a good season another bad year and there will be empty seats next season. I believe that Newcastle's pricing policy must also change. There has to be a huge family enclosure created with real discounts for the children. They are the fans of the future and giving them really good low priced seats will ensure that they get well and truly hooked. I would have thought that the away corner and the bottom half of the S J Hall stand would be a large enough area for a family stand. Also asking some of the players to acknowledge the kids after a game for a few minutes, possibly signing a few autographs and having a few pictures taken would be a nice touch. As it is at the moment at St James' park, if a parent takes their child it will cost atleast £540 a year for season tickets for the two of them making it the 3rd most costly club in the country to have a pair of "family " season tickets for. Charging at least £208 a year for a kids seat is far too much. Most other clubs in the premier league offer a half price childs ticket,. indeed Sheffield Wednesday's youngsters can get in for every game for £75 per season. I think the board must sit down and find a plan that will encourage more kids to attend after all they only have to give them 5 or 6 years of cheap seats, and a bit a entertainment and they will be hooked for life. With 60 years or more of full price seats it would be wise to start the kids off at a reasonable price. Think long term Mr Fletcher. (need a new PR manager? .... I'm Free) and Finally , if you were wondering why I haven't done this column, much this week, I have been updating the picture Gallery, with all the ins and out over the last 6 months it is taking longer than I thought. It should be just about up to date by now. CLICK HER FOR THE LATEST TEAM PHOTO along with hundreds of pictures of the Newcastle players. |
(click on image)