Monday, 5 September 2005
What have I missed?
2 weeks away from the computer, apart from 5 minutes after the Middlesbro' game and what have I missed? Two great results of course against Boro and at home to Wigan. The performances making the 6 points all the more sweeter.
Darren Bent and Luke Young in the England squad for the latest round of World Cup Qualifiers. By all accounts Young had a solid game against the Welsh and should gain his 4th cap against N. Ireland in Belfast on Wednesday. Bent has yet to get of the bench but it has been a dream start to the season for the boy and what a fillip it will be if our new captain can become a regular England squad member. See interview here, where Young talks about the Wales game and Curbs' chances of becoming the next England manager.
Darren Ambrose, whilst suspended for us, had another excellent game for the U21's, although Sky Sports tells me tonight that he is doubtful for the game with Germany onTuesday. Don't like the sound of that.
The transfer deadline passed and Curbs' made his 10th summer signing. Jay Bothroyd meets the tried and trusted Curbishley mantra of young player with something to prove, although he has the same temperamental monkey on his back as Franny Jeffers. Overall with Jeffers up in Glasgow, hopefully gaining confidence and goals and not night club memberships and Bothroyd a fairly risk free experiment, this could be sound business.
Still weird though that despite a reasonably good pre-season for the Scouser, temper tantrum at Brentford aside, he did not feature in the 16 for any of the three league games so far.
17-year old Icelandic midfielder Rurik Gislason has signed a two-year contract for a fee of up to £180,000 from HK Kopavogur. Young 'keeper Darren Randolph also went to Accrington Stanley on a months loan.
After the Chelsea game, at which I will be at, we start this season's exciting foray into the Carling Cup. Hartlepool are our first opponents in Round 2 at the Valley. I won't tempt fate here by commenting on us and the Cups, but lets just get past the round(s) when the flood lights don't have to come on until half-time eh?
Lastly I can't help but ask, like others, what possessed 20,000 Geordies to skip work and welcome Michael Owen to St James Park. There has never been any doubting their loyalty to their club, despite being treated like shit by the people in power there, but it was a very strange reaction.
Fat Freddy comparing the signing's of Shearer and Owen as similar events only further underlines the differences of Newcastle then and Newcastle of now. Shearer turned down Man United and joined at that time the 2nd best club in the country, with no one feeling the need to risk unemployment and flock to St James' to welcome him.
Owen openly courted a move to anywhere but Newcastle but Liverpool's couldn't care less attitude and Real Madrid's clever negotiations have resulted in him joining the Premiership's current 2nd worse team.
It is a strange set of circumstances indeed and further shows the subtle shift in footballing power in the last 10 years. ¶ 21:31
Darren Bent and Luke Young in the England squad for the latest round of World Cup Qualifiers. By all accounts Young had a solid game against the Welsh and should gain his 4th cap against N. Ireland in Belfast on Wednesday. Bent has yet to get of the bench but it has been a dream start to the season for the boy and what a fillip it will be if our new captain can become a regular England squad member. See interview here, where Young talks about the Wales game and Curbs' chances of becoming the next England manager.
Darren Ambrose, whilst suspended for us, had another excellent game for the U21's, although Sky Sports tells me tonight that he is doubtful for the game with Germany onTuesday. Don't like the sound of that.
The transfer deadline passed and Curbs' made his 10th summer signing. Jay Bothroyd meets the tried and trusted Curbishley mantra of young player with something to prove, although he has the same temperamental monkey on his back as Franny Jeffers. Overall with Jeffers up in Glasgow, hopefully gaining confidence and goals and not night club memberships and Bothroyd a fairly risk free experiment, this could be sound business.
Still weird though that despite a reasonably good pre-season for the Scouser, temper tantrum at Brentford aside, he did not feature in the 16 for any of the three league games so far.
17-year old Icelandic midfielder Rurik Gislason has signed a two-year contract for a fee of up to £180,000 from HK Kopavogur. Young 'keeper Darren Randolph also went to Accrington Stanley on a months loan.
After the Chelsea game, at which I will be at, we start this season's exciting foray into the Carling Cup. Hartlepool are our first opponents in Round 2 at the Valley. I won't tempt fate here by commenting on us and the Cups, but lets just get past the round(s) when the flood lights don't have to come on until half-time eh?
Lastly I can't help but ask, like others, what possessed 20,000 Geordies to skip work and welcome Michael Owen to St James Park. There has never been any doubting their loyalty to their club, despite being treated like shit by the people in power there, but it was a very strange reaction.
Fat Freddy comparing the signing's of Shearer and Owen as similar events only further underlines the differences of Newcastle then and Newcastle of now. Shearer turned down Man United and joined at that time the 2nd best club in the country, with no one feeling the need to risk unemployment and flock to St James' to welcome him.
Owen openly courted a move to anywhere but Newcastle but Liverpool's couldn't care less attitude and Real Madrid's clever negotiations have resulted in him joining the Premiership's current 2nd worse team.
It is a strange set of circumstances indeed and further shows the subtle shift in footballing power in the last 10 years. ¶ 21:31
