BLACKBURN ROVERS  -  NEWCASTLE  UNITED  4 : 3 (Posle 90 minuta 2:2)

photo: gettyimages

Rezervni golman Newcastle United-a, Steve Harper, otišao je na pozajmicu od mesec dana u Brighton and Hove Albion. 

Harper je već debitovao za Brighton u ponedeljak uveče u porazu svog novog tima od West Ham United-a, rezultatom 0:1. Gol za "čekićare" je postigao Kevin Nolan. 

NEWCASTLE  UNITED  -  WIGAN  ATHLETIC  1 : 0

Po prvi put na St James' Park-u sa Strawberry Corner-a, čula se pesma: "Alan Pardew's Black and White Army". Prvi gol u dresu Newcastle United-a, postigao je Yohan Cabaye, fantastičnim udarcem sa ivice šesnaesterca, pogodivši desne rašlje gola golmana Wigan-a, Al Habsi-a, u 81. minutu, što je bilo dovoljno da Newcastle United pobedi Wigan Athletic rezultatom 1:0.

Alan Pardew je na gotovo dupke pun St James' Park izveo sledećih XI: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba.

Međutim, nije sve bilo tako ružičasto na ovom meču za Newcastle Unted. Wigan je odlično otvorio meč, stvorivši dve odlične prilike u prvom poluvremenu. Prvu već u petom minutu, propustio je da realizuje, nekadašnja meta crno-belih, Victor Moses, koji je odlično šitirao sa sedam metara, ali je Krul maestralno reagovao, odbivši loptu rukom u korner.

Nešto kasnije i Rodallega je pokušao, ali je njegov udarac završio pored Krul-ovog gola.

Najbolju priliku u prvom poluvremenu za Newcastle United, imao je Leon Best, koji je na odličan centaršut sa levog boka, od strane Jonas Gutierrez-a, sa pet metara, glavom uputio udarac, ali je golman Wigan-a, Al Habsi, nekako odbranio njegov udarac.

Pred kraj poluvremena i Ryan Taylor je iz slobodnog udarca pokušao da postigne gol, ekipi za koju je nekada igrao, ali je lopta ipak prošla dva metra pored desne stative Al Habsi-evog gola.

Poluvreme: 0 : 0

Već na početku drugog poluvremena, u igru je ušao Hatem Ben Arfa, dok je u svlačionici ostao Leon Best.

Ova izmena, kao da je stvorila više prostora za igrače Newcastle United-a u veznom redu i već posle nekoliko minuta, Demba Ba je posle centaršuta sa levog boka, glavom uputio udarac, ali na samoj gol liniji Al Habsi mu brani udarac.

Međutim i Wigan je sredinom drugog poluvremena, počeo da kontroliše igru, dok je Steven Taylor muku mučio sa krvarenjem iz nosa, koje je zaradio posle jednog duela sa odbranom WIgan-a

U 68. minutu, Pardew iz igre izvlači Demba Ba-u. U igru je uz aplauze ušao Shola Ameobi. Osam minuta kasnije, uz olakšanje sa tribina, iz igre je izašao veliki potrošač lopti i čovek koji je gotovo neupotrebljiv Gabriel Obertan. Umesto njega, u igru je ušao, omaleni Sylvain Marveaux.

Te izmene su, vrlo brzo urodile plodom, jer je upravo Marveaux, u šesnaestercu gostiju sjajno primio jednu dugu loptu na grudi, prosledivši je nogom do Yohan Cabaye-a, koji je filigrantskim udarcem sa ivice šesnaesterca, nešto malo sa desne strane, desnom nogom, smestio loptu u desne rašlje Al Habsi-evog gola, za erupciju oduševljenja na St James' Park-u. Newcastle United je u 81. minutu poveo sa 1:0.

Međutim, Wigan se nije predavao. Gotovo da su izjednačili u 88. minutu, preko Mohamed Diame-a, koji je sa pet metara, glavom neometan šutirao pored Krul-ovog gola.

Sudija Neil Swarbrick je utakmicu produžio za četiri minuta u kojem su igrači Newcastle United-a znalački sačuvali prednost.


Konačan rezultat: 1 : 0


NUFC: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 76), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 46), Ba (Shola Ameobi 68).
Subs n/u: Harper, Santon, Perch, Smith.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Jones, Watson (McArthur 82), Diame, Moses, Rodallega, Crusat (Sammon 82).
Subs n/u: Pollitt, Thomas, Maloney, Gomez, Lopez.

Man of the Match: Yohan Cabaye

Sudija: Neil Swarbrick

Gledalaca: 48,321 (verovali ili ne, ovo je najveća poseta ove sezone. 400 Wigan-ovih navijača, došlo je da posmatra, šesti uzastopni poraz svog tima)

P.S.
Posle devetog kola i dalje smo neporaženi sa sakupljenih 19 bodova. Nalazimo se na četvrtom mestu, odmah iz Chelsea koji ima isti broj bodova, koji ima bolju gol razliku ali i utakmicu manje. Posle ovog kola, nećemo pasti ispod četvrtog mesta. Strpljivom igrom, došli smo do nova tri boda. Nismo srlljali. Ko je očekivao goleadu na ovom meču, grdno se prevario. Bitna je pobeda. 19 bodova je skoro pa pola od onih magičnih 40, za opstanak. Ali, mi pucamo na visoko, jer mi smo Newcastle United. Na St James' Park-u su se ponovo vratili osmesi. Na St James' Park-u se ponovo igra odličan fudbal. Na St James' Park-u ponovo svima drhte noge. Na St James' Park-u igra naš jedan i jedini Newcastle United. Uživajmo u ovome, nadamo se da će ova magija potrajati još dugo dugo.

photo: nufc.co.uk

NEWCASTLE  UNITED  -  TOTTENHAM  HOTSPUR  2 : 2

Dva puta je Tottenham vodio, dva puta je Newcastle United sustizao prednost gostiju, u fantastičnom meču na St James' Park-u, gde je na kraju utakmice rezultat glasio 2:2.

Alan Pardew je na St James' Park izveo sledećih XI: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba.

U prvih pola sata igre, nije viđen Bog zna kakav fudbal. Šta više, bilo je vrlo malo prilika na obe strane. Newcastle je pripretio udarcem Cabaye-a sa distance, ali je lopta završila preko gola.

Baš kada se činilo da će se na poluvreme otići bez golova, Tottenham stiže do vođstva. Coloccini je dodao loptu do Cabaye-a, koji je bio neoprezan, dozvolivši da mu Adebayor oduzme loptu. Visoki Emmanuel se stuštio ka golu Newcastle-a, prevario Steven Taylor-a, koji ga je sapleo u svom šesnaestercu a sudija Lee Probert je sa zadrškom od nekoliko sekundi ipak dosudio jedanesterac za goste. Steven Taylor je prošao bez žutog kartona a mogao je vrlo lako da dobije i crveni. Siguran izvođač jedanesterca za Tottenham bio je Rafael van der Vaart-a koji je poslao Krul-a u jednu a loptu u drugu stranu, za 0:1, minut 40.

Poluvreme: 0 : 1

Međutim, već u 48. minutu, sjajni Jonas Gutierrez probija po levom boku, uspeva da centrira na peterac, gde se nalazio Demba Ba koji u mrežu šalje i loptu i Bred Friedel-a, izjednačivši tako rezultat na 1:1. Demba Ba ponovo ljubi travu na St James' Park-u.

Meč je išao ka remiju ali Tottenham ponovo dolazi u vođstvo preko rezerviste Jermain Defoe-a u 68. minutu, koji je sa dvadesetak metara odličnim udarcem matirao Krul-a, za 1:2.

Tri minuta kasnije Alan Pardew vrši dvostruku izmenu, vadeći iz igre napadačku duo Best / Ba, uvodeći u igru Ben Arfa-u i Shola Ameobi-a.

U 77. minutu, umesto Danny Simpson-a, za Newcastle United debitovao je Davide Santon, zauzevši poziciju desnog beka.

Svi su mislili da će Tottenham odneti ceo plen sa St James' Park-a, ali ne i Newcastle-ov rezervista Shola Ameobi, koji je u 86. minutu, filigrantskim udarcem levom nogom, sa ivice šesnaesterca, iskosa sa leve strane, savladao nemoćnog Bred Friedel-a, za konačnih 2:2.

Oba tima su imali prilike da dođu do sva tri boda. Defoe je sjajno šutirao sa sedam-osam metara, ali je Krul zaustavio njegov udarac, dok je na drugoj strani Coloccini šutirao iz okreta ali pored gola, samo za uzdahe na stadionu.

U petom minutu sudijske nadoknade, Shola Ameobi pogađa u ruku Livermore-a, ali uprkos svim protestima, činilio se, da bi dosuđen penal bio čist poklon. Remi je ipak najpravedniji rezultat, ove fantastične utakmice.


Konačan rezultat: 2 : 2


NUFC: Krul,Simpson (Santon 77),Steven Taylor,Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71),Ba (Ben Arfa 71).

THFC: Friedel,Walker,Kaboul,King (Bassong 30),Assou-Ekotto, Livermore, Parker,Modric,Bale,Van der Vaart (Defoe 63), Adebayor (Pavlyuchenko 89)

Man of the match: Fabricio Coloccini

Sudija: Lee Probert

Gledalaca: 46, 420 (3,500 gostujućih navijača. Na tribinama je bio i Gazza, dok su u akciji Pokažimo Rasizmu Crveni Karton učestvovali Olivier Bernard, John Beresford i Les Ferdinand)

P.S.
Posle osmog kola, Newcastle United je i dalje neporažen. Zauzimamo odlično četvrto mesto sa 16 bodova. Sledeći meč igramo takođe na St James' Park-u, sledeće subote, protiv posrnulog Wigan-a. Nadamo se pobedi i osvajanju nova tri boda.

photo: dailymail

Introduction

Now that the summer transfer window has closed and the new Premier League season is underway, the board of Newcastle United Football Club wish to present this review of our progress and set out our aims for the 2011/12 campaign and beyond.

Our return to top flight football was an exciting and successful one. Our target last season was to maintain Premier League status and we achieved that, and more. Finishing 12th in the Premier League was a significant achievement for a newly-promoted club.

Success requires real team effort and we witnessed that right across the club - from the spirit and determination in the dressing room and the passionate support in the stands, to the often unsung efforts of the hundreds of staff we have working for the Club through the week and on matchdays.

Everyone associated with Newcastle United wants success for this Club and we can assure supporters that the board is fully committed to achieving that success.

To make our ambitions clear to supporters and stakeholders, our aim for the 2011/2012 season is at least a top ten finish in the Barclays Premier League.

 

Club Finances

When Mike Ashley bought Newcastle United in 2007 he arrived with a clear five-year plan to get Newcastle United on a sound financial footing and the Club is now in far better shape financially than it has been for many years.

Our aim is to make Newcastle United self-financing. We cannot continue to acquire debt year after year and rely on additional financial support from the owner.

In 2008/09 we reported an operating loss before player trading of £37.7m. In 2009/10 that loss was £33.5m. Once audited, our accounts for 2010/11 are expected to show an operating loss of just £4.7m and this year we hope we will be close to breaking even.

We are pleased that the Club is working towards being able to operate within the boundaries of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, even during these challenging economic times.

Over the coming year we will continue to build the Club sustainably - on and off the field. We have a realistic view of what we can achieve at Newcastle and the time-frame required to achieve it. We have a strict spending policy and will not take a reckless approach which permits spending beyond our means. It is a sensible long-term plan for success and we have absolute confidence that this is the right model for Newcastle United.

 

Summer transfers

Our priority during the summer transfer window was to secure exciting young players with huge potential that add real strength to the squad.

There are certain perceived 'big' clubs that have no financial constraints whatsoever. But for us as a club rash, short-term spending is not the answer and the days of Newcastle United acquiring 'trophy' signings who command huge salaries for past successes on the pitch are over.

Such players have generated excitement and anticipation in the past, of course, but ultimately they have left the Club poorer and with little to show for it in terms of our standing in the league and cup competitions.

Our focus now is to bring in players who can develop and fulfil their potential at Newcastle United. This does not however discount players of any age who we feel can add experience to the squad.

The board, the manager, our technical staff and our scouting team worked very well together to ensure we brought in seven top class players who represented excellent potential for the Club.

Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux, Demba Ba and Gabriel Obertan were all brought in early in the window and they have settled quickly into the squad and performed well on the pitch. Medhi Abeid, another early signing, is already showing that he is a great prospect and we hope he will be pushing for a place in the first team this year.

We were delighted to bring Davide Santon from Inter Milan to the Club towards the end of the window and we are looking forward to seeing him perform over the coming weeks. We also brought in goalkeeper Rob Elliot from Charlton Athletic who is ensuring we have healthy competition for the number one spot.

Unlike many clubs in England, we endeavour to pay transfer fees in a timely manner rather than spreading payments over an unrealistic number of years. This is a far healthier financial model which gives us greater certainty over spending in future years. When Mike Ashley took over the Club, we were still paying fees for players who had already left. This is now, thankfully, a thing of the past. However the same cannot be said for all of the players we sell to other clubs, for whom we ordinarily receive dated payments over a period of years.

The Club's considerable wage bill this season has risen by seven per cent as a result of the salaries of our new signings and the wage increases awarded to existing players on new deals, such as the six-and-a-half year deal we agreed with Cheik Tiote in February.

 

Manager and coaching staff

The board was pleased to appoint Alan Pardew as the manager of Newcastle United in December 2010. Since arriving at the Club, Alan has strengthened the coaching and backroom staff and has implemented a number of new techniques which have transformed training procedures at the Club.

Alan Pardew, John Carver and the rest of our senior coaching staff, together with Graham Carr, our chief scout, are all on long-term contracts. This brings stability to the Club and shows the faith we have in these individuals.

 

Youth development

We have some excellent young players amongst our current crop who have come through the Club's Academy system, some of whom have now broken into the first team, including Sammy Ameobi, Shane Ferguson and James Tavernier.

The board will continue to focus on strengthening the Development Squad to make sure we identify and nurture the region's wealth of talented youngsters, as well as bringing some of Europe's most exciting young prospects to Newcastle.

 

Training facilities

Last year the team experienced interruptions to their training schedule due to heavy snowfall and freezing conditions. Over the summer months we installed undersoil heating at the training ground which will ensure that winter training schedules this season are less adversely affected by bad weather.

Investment in our analytical equipment and staffing is reaping benefits too. We now have far greater statistical information about the team thanks to high-tech monitoring equipment and computer analysis, which means we can tailor training programmes to individual players and get the maximum performance from the team.

 

Supporters

Our supporters yet again demonstrated tremendous loyalty and commitment to the team last season, with attendances at St. James' Park averaging close on 48,000. This support is greatly appreciated and is the envy of many clubs up and down the country. It would be impressive in any year, but during a recession when personal finances are still so stretched, it is even more so. The board, the manager and the players would like to thank fans sincerely for their support.

The board introduced a groundbreaking ten-year fixed-price deal for season tickets this year, for the first time payable in 12 monthly instalments. This was a genuine initiative aimed at rewarding fans' loyalty, providing them with some long-term certainty on ticket pricing, and offering more manageable monthly payments so that fans could continue to support the team at a time when the economic climate is making financial decisions even tougher for our supporters and their families. It has proved extremely popular, with more than two-thirds of all season tickets holders having taken advantage of this deal.

The capacity of the Family Enclosure has been increased from 5,000 to 6,500 seats, making it the largest dedicated family area in the Premier League. Demand for tickets in this area during the 2010/11 season regularly outstripped supply, and we wanted to ensure that all families who wished to enjoy football at St. James' Park could do so in a family-friendly environment. As a result of this initiative we now have an additional 1,000 children and their parents as season ticket holders in the Family Enclosure this year.

There is also now a new section of seating for supporters aged between 18 and 21-years-old. Season ticket prices in this section are more than £200 cheaper than a full adult season ticket in order to help young adults make the transition from the family enclosure to full adult seating at a price they can afford.

These initiatives are our way of thanking the fans for their support and making their visits to Newcastle United Football Club more accessible and affordable.

 

Conclusion

The 2010/11 season was a positive one for Newcastle United on and off the pitch. Our targets for the season were exceeded as the Club consolidated its position in the Premier League. We have set ourselves the target of at least a top ten finish this season and all our efforts will go into achieving that. The excellent start the team has already made in our first few fixtures bodes very well.

We are fully aware that Newcastle United holds a unique place in the lives of Geordies around the world. Our supporters are the lifeblood of the Club and the board understands that it has been charged with ensuring their Club is properly run and continues its growth both on and off the field over the next year and beyond.

In declaring our aims for this season we are demonstrating our commitment to taking this Club forward from what is now becoming a stronger and more healthy position.

photo: nufc.co.uk