Kit Parade: Newcastle United 2007-08 home shirt
The release dates for the new kits seems to get earlier and earlier each season. Newcastle's home shirt for next season is already available for pre-order ahead a 2 May launch. Out go the traditional stripy sleeves in favour of an a much more black affair. Think more zebra than bar-code for the 2007-08 season! Click here to pre-order. [Rob Parker]
March 27, 2007 in Kit parade, Newcastle United | Permalink | Comments (0)
Newcastle versus AZ Alkmaar goals video
Backheels, superlative flicks, diving heads, jinking runs, six goals... prior, you wouldn't have thought that we were talking about a Newcastle match would you? Well, for those of you who missed last nights UEFA Cup match between the Magpies and AZ Alkmaar, have (most of) the goals here.
March 9, 2007 in European football, Newcastle United, Video clips | Permalink | Comments (0)
Alan Shearer has a penalty shootout against Brian Clough
There's a headline I didn't expect to be writing this morning! What with Big Al now retired and Old Big 'Ead now sadly departed, you probably thought the chances of a penalty shootout between the pair was fairly unlikely. And you would be right!
The other Brian Clough is the pie-loving goalkeeper of West Jesmond AFC, BBC Sport's adopted part-timers. The 22-year-old Sunderland fan couldn't resist the opportunity to face a few Shearer penalties when the Newcastle legend joined them for a training session.
[Rob Parker]
March 1, 2007 in Funny old game, Newcastle United, Non League | Permalink | Comments (1)
Obscene season ticket prices to be slashed?
News reaches us that Premiership chairmen are going to be forced into cutting 'obscene' ticket prices because fans have just about had enough of being the victims of daylight robbery every weekend, and as a result, football has reached a tipping point.
Two top-flight chairmen have expressed the same view, both of whom predict price cuts all round next season. 'It is a serious issue that has reached saturation point across the country,' said Phil Gartside, chairman of Bolton. 'We feel duty bound to make a stance by reducing the cost for our season ticket holders, and I'm sure other clubs will follow suit next season and listen to public opinion.' But surely the tickets are inflated at the chairs' behest?
This weekend saw ManYoo fans protesting about the amount being charged to let their fans watch their side at Fulham. They were asked for a whopping £45 to watch their team, and that doesn't include travel and grub... although they hadn't got far to travel from Essex eh? Ho Ho Ho... I'll get me coat. A senior executive from another of the Premiership's 'big four' clubs told Observer Sport that prices could not go any higher. 'Officially we are monitoring the situation,' he said. 'But privately we have realised that ticket prices have reached their maximum, at least in the immediate future.'
These warnings come slap bang in the middle of an attendance slump. Despite an increased capacity at Arsenal and Manchester United, the average attendance is down from last year, and whilst the big four continue to sell out their games, the overall Premiership average is down by more than 1,000 year on year and now stands at 32,775, not including this weekend. What is causing fans to stay away? Well, once, you could watch the footy and not dent the wallet too much, and know exactly when you'd be going out. Basically, high prices and amended kick-off times to enable saturated TV coverage aren't encouraging fans to get down the ground.
Of course, a lot of money is generated by the TV rights, which obviously help clubs to bring in new players and the like. That said, the Premier League negotiated a new £600million, three-year deal for overseas TV rights to the Premiership. Add the £1.7 billion Sky and Setanta will pay to screen matches in Britain, and the £400m for internet and mobile phone rights, and it seems scandalous that ticket prices continually increase. Each club will be getting around £900m per season (starting in August).
Apart from drops in season ticket prices, a group are also want away matches addressed. The Football Supporters' Federation want a fixed price for all travelling supporters. 'Away fans in England are unique. You would not get 5,000 Milan supporters travelling to Juventus. If prices were to stay in line with the Taylor Report's recommendation, then £15 would be a fair price for those who travel to watch their team.' The report, published in January 1990 in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster, stated that 'it should be possible for seating to be £6'. With inflation, that would mean fans paying just £9.60 now, rather than the average of about £30.
So what's the answer? Well, looking at Germany's Bundesliga, the average attendance was approximately 40,000, which is superior to our league matches. In fact, it's about a quarter more fans in through the turnstiles, shouting for their team. German fans can buy tickets for as little as £10 or £15 for all games, and in some cases, terracing is being used, which gives a fan a feeling of real unity, as opposed to the sterile stadia over here. What is interesting is that the Bundesliga is renowned for its competitiveness, with many teams standing a chance of winning it. Should we look at the German model to fix our game? [Mof Gimmers]
February 26, 2007 in Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, News balls, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic | Permalink | Comments (2)
Bowyer and Dyer knock seven bells out of each other
With the Liverpool camp enlivened by a bit of swinging (of a golf club admittedly), it's worth looking back at another famous spat between team mates. There have been a few, but probably the best is the fine work of Lee Bowyer and Keiran Dyer who both earned themselves red cards after belting the crap out of each other on the pitch when Newcastle played Aston Villa.
February 22, 2007 in Classic Moments, Newcastle United, Video clips | Permalink | Comments (0)
Gazza to star in horror flick
Gazza, G8, Paul Gascoigne... whatever you call him these days... has apparently agreed to appear in and turn his hand to producing new movie Final Run. Gazza will make his big-screen debut as a survivor of an alien invasion alongside the oh so very lovely Lois Winstone (daughter of Ray). According to production company SjB Imperial Film Ltd, he will play a character "forced to choose between his own survival and that of the human race." The company added: "As a part of the key creative team, Paul’s input into the script and vision are invaluable. Gascoigne, a lifelong genre fan, lends his considerable expertise as both producer and feature actor." Let's hope he's half as good on the big screen as he was on the pitch eh?
February 22, 2007 in Cult Heroes, Newcastle United, News balls, Scotland, The Championship, Video clips | Permalink | Comments (0)
Glenn Roeder's Championship creche to open for business later this year
Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder is not content with his second career as a policeman and is offering his childminding services to various Championship managers. Roeder is scouring England's second-tier and hoping to snap up any half-decent youngsters he comes across.
The Magpies boss is reportedly stepping up his interest in Southampton's 17-year-old full back Gareth Bale. Roeder also watched 21-year-old West Brom defender Curtis Davies at the weekend and is also interested in highly-rated 18-year-old Derby midfielder Giles Barnes. [Rob Parker]
February 21, 2007 in Newcastle United, Rumours & gossip | Permalink | Comments (0)
Emre in race row again
The FA are to launch a second investigation into claims that Newcastle midfielder Emre used racist language. A newspaper report today alleged the Turkey international, who has already been charged by the FA with using racially-aggravated language during the defeat at Everton on December 30, made a comment to Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf during a game at St James' Park in October.
He is alleged to have called the Senegalese striker a "f***ing ape". An FA spokesman said: "We will be looking into these allegations and will be contacting El-Hadji Diouf to see if he wishes to provide us with a statement." The player's agent, Ahmet Bulut, insisted his client is innocent. He said: "This is not a true story." [Mof Gimmers]
February 16, 2007 in Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Newcastle United, News balls | Permalink | Comments (2)
Kit Parade: Zulte Waregem
Belgian outfit Zulte Waregem are Newcastle's opponents in the Uefa Cup tonight. Expect them to take to the pitch in this white with red and green trim shirt. Click here to buy it from the official website.
Click here to see them in action against Sparta Prague. [Rob Parker]
February 15, 2007 in Kit parade, Newcastle United | Permalink | Comments (1)
Oguchi Onyewu set for Newcastle move
USA centre-back Oguchi 'Gooch' Onyewu is expected to complete a loan move to Newcastle later today. The Standard Liege player is undergoing a medical at St James' Park and will sign for the club if he passes.
Moves to Chelsea and Fulham have not materialised, but the 24-year-old seems to have secured a move to the Premier League at last. Is it a good move for both parties, Pies fans? Here is Gooch talking to Nike about his game:
[Rob Parker]
January 29, 2007 in Newcastle United, Rumours & gossip | Permalink | Comments (0)