It was a successful season for Newcastle on the pitch last year, winning the Championship title and bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Manager Chris Hughton got the Magpies playing good football, and a team that included Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith and Steve Harper was far too experienced for the other Championship sides. England U21 international Andy Carroll was banging in the goals as well, but off the pitch he was earning a bad reputation for himself. The major incident of the season came when the striker was alleged to have punched Newcastle teammate Steven Taylor and broken the defender’s jaw. Well Taylor is back in pre-season training for the Toon and here he is in Ireland, sharpening his boxing skills with youngster Tamas Kadar for a rematch in the future perhaps?
Leave your suggestions below…
This week you can win a £50 iTunes Voucher!
Our prize has been provided by VoucherCodes.co.uk (www.vouchercodes.co.uk), a money saving website who have vouchers for restaurant, high street and online discounts. This weekend you can get 15% off the England and France kits at Kitbag (http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/kitbag.com).
To see the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and Conditions click here.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
And check out our Caption Competition Gallery for some inspiration and to see the winners so far.
Last week’s winner: Gord – click here to see all entries
The PFA have certainly opened up a whole can of worms in vocalising their support of the Rooney Rule this week- a rule that dictates that each Football League club has to mandatorily interview a black candidate for each managerial position. While trying not to get too bogged down in the whole affirmative action issue, the thing that troubles me about this issue is the rather tricky position that it places clubs boards and Chairman in the future.
The statistic of the week – 25% of players in the Football League black, yet just 2% of it’s managers are from a black or from an ethnic minority background (Chris Hughton and Chris Powell). It’s abundantly clear that this is an issue that needs addressing.
The Rooney Rule (named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who is white but was the driving force behind getting more black coaches into the NFL at coaching level) certainly offers that. It isn’t a form of a positive discrimination, as some spectators have decried, it merely offers a person from an ethnic or minority background the chance of an interview. It doesn’t stipulate anywhere the need to employ a manager due to the nature of his colour or race. Nor does it impose any obligation on the clubs to do so. It is merely a tool to grant a fairer and broader process to try and go some way to addressing the disparities that our game has when compared with the rest of society. If no candidate from an ethnic minority applies for a position, as I understand it, the club in question are free to choose from whoever applies.
Some fans are troubled by this latest development though. Not because they are racist, but because they feel that it grants an unfair advantage to candidates that are less qualified than others. While understandable to an extent, it is complete folly to suggest that underqualified managers will get the job due to the nature of the colour of their skin. It simply opens more doors to people that may have had problems advancing their careers in the past.
The problematic position it places Chairman in the future though in is the only aspect of the rule that troubles me. To put it in another context, if you work in an office and are forced to interview a candidate rather than choose to interview a candidate, does that then make you more or less likely to hire them in the future? It’s human nature to approach something that you are forced to do with both a hint of suspicion and trepidation; this process would prove no different.
Also, what happens if five years further down the line, after the implementation of this policy, that the figures stay relatively the same? Does this then imply that football clubs are institutionally racist? At what point is the new rule adjudged to have been a success? There are many potential political potholes that may require negotiating further down the road with a policy like this.
In relation to the aforementioned statistic – is there actually any quantifiable evidence to suggest that Chairman aren’t already interviewing black candidates for available jobs? Because if there isn’t, then this rule change could prove quite controversial with some clubs. When Sir Alex Ferguson eventually retires at Man Utd, does that mean Paul Ince is granted an obligatory interview due to his past connection with the club on the account of his race? When does progression give way to tokenism? And at what point does it become both patronising and insulting towards the candidate?
Without trying to labour the point too much, how is the above statistic even relevant to todays game? Surely the 2% in management now is indicative of a time where the Football League didn’t comprise of 25% black players. As time goes on and the next generation of players begin to approach retirement, surely we are bound to see an increase in the number of black players considering entering both coaching and management. It could well turn out that the Rooney Rule may be entirely redundant in five to ten years time due to the process simply occuring more naturally as time goes by. While the overall aim may be admirable, is it one that really requires legislating on?
[ad_pod id=’vip-2′ align=’centre’]
The rule change may represent a foot in the door, an equal opportunity and a fairer system from the candidates point of view, but from the perspective of the employers, it does back them into more of a corner. It could have a negative effect on Chairman, or those in charge of hiring and firing in the future. Enforcing a change of proceedure on a group of people (Chairman) that may have been unwilling to embrace the solution in the first place could prove extremely problematic. Chairman very rarely accept the help of outside influences and the PFA may be venturing too far with this one.
Promoting change and instigating a rule are two very different things. The main problem is not the fans questioning the effect this rule may have. Nor is it the enforcement of a rule promoting a fairer system for black coaches, it is the reaction that may take place at board level at clubs all across the land and the repurcussions it could have on the game further down the line.
Increasing pressure and scrutiny on a Chairman’s selection policies with regards to hiring coaches and managers could have an adverse effect on the very problem that this rule is trying to address.
John Barnes didn’t get hired at Celtic because he was black. He didn’t get fired because he was black either. He was fired because it turns out that he’s not very good at this football management lark, great player though he was.
And that is the wider issue that needs addressing here; the opportunities afforded to players of prestige and the fact that their roles often far outweigh their expertise on the coaching front. Surely the issue that needs addressing is the amount of ex-pros that get jobs in management based entirely on their ability on the pitch and the subsequent lack of opportunity afforded to first-time coaches trying to break through intocoaching and management. Are Steve Bruce and Roy Keane (please forgive the Sunderland bias with this one) really better equipped to be successful football managers at Premier League level than John Coleman at Accrington Stanley or Dario Gradi at Crewe? A successful playing career does not always equate to a successful coaching career, but it does supply a helpful leg up in getting started out.
The two black managers currently operating in the Football League have both taken different routes to where they are now. Chris Powell gained his current position through recognition of his efforts as a player at Charlton. He acquired this position a lot sooner than what is normally deemed neccessary experience-wise due to his standing at the club.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Whereas Chris Hughton worked his way around various clubs coaching staffs, admittedly after a successful playing career, and took the longer route. His success at Newcastle was the culmination of years of hard graft at coaching level, which is what made his baffling dismissal last term all the more difficult to comprehend.
The Rooney Rule could prove a step in the right direction. After all, it simply affords candidates the opportunity of an interview, nothing more. However, with concerns to football management and race, please forgive the pun, but things are rarely as clear as black and white. The myriad of issues with implementing a policy such as this may have yet to fully avail themselves and while the aim may be laudable, in practice, it may be something that simply requires a little more time and patience.
You can follow me on Twitter at – http://twitter.com/#!/JamesMcManus1
If you fancy a flutter on any of the Premier League action this weekend then look no further. There is a full Premier League programme for a change so there are plenty of opportunities to have a bet, so here are some of the odds to consider…
The early kick off in the Premier League is an all Midlands affair as Carling Cup winners Birmingham City – yes, you read that right – host neighbours West Brom at St Andrew’s. Not the biggest ‘derby’ on the calendar by any means, but two teams that are still in relegation trouble.
Roy Hodgson has overseen two 1-1 draws since his move to the Hawthorns and the Baggies have certainly defended better as a unit since his arrival. However, Birmingham are the kings of set-pieces and everybody knows Albion can’t defend them – Roger Johnson over to you.
Arsenal and Sunderland meet at the Emirates with both teams carrying a host of injuries. This time last week Arsenal were 6/1 to win nothing this season, but they’re now trading at odds-on (8/11) to do just that. The Gunners were helped big time by Chelsea in midweek and we’re 8/1 that the title is decided by goal difference.
The big game on Sunday is at Anfield and it’s sure to be a hard fought affair. Sir Alex wasn’t too happy in midweek and he’s 8/5 to leave Liverpool with all three points, but their very average away record would put me off a meaty bet at that price.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Gerard Houllier has taken plenty of stick over his team selection at Eastlands, and 1 clean sheet in the last 18 will hardly encourage punters to back Villa at the Reebok at 11/5, but Ashley Young has found the net the last five times that he’s faced Bolton and the Midlands side can pinch a point here.
After winning promotion to the Championship last season Leeds have already been busy recruiting four new players on free transfers, but will it be enough for the upcoming season?
The players Leeds have signed are goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, defenders Federico Bessone and Paul Connolly and striker Billy Paynter. Schmeichel comes after winning promotion from League 2 with Notts County; he was named in the PFA League 2 Team Of The Year and was one of the key reasons County gained promotion. He looked able to hold his own in the Premiership when he was given his debut by Manchester City three years ago aged just 20, but he never got a fair chance at City as goalkeepers Shay Given and Joe Hart overtook him in the pecking order. Schmeichel could turn out to be a good goalkeeper and Leeds have done very well to sign him.
As for the defenders both Bessone and Connolly are experienced Championship defenders, Connolly more so having spent most of his career there. The right back joins from Derby where he has been a solid performer and even had as spell as their team captain. Bessone is an Argentine left back who spent there last two years with a successful spell at Swansea where the club were unlucky to miss out on the play-offs twice. Leeds have had a few problems at left-back with Ben Parker suffering injuries and midfielder Andy Hughes having to deputise there in his absence, so the signing of Bessone was very much needed.
Upfront they have recruited Billy Paynter as the man to replace last season’s top scorer Jermaine Beckford who has left the club for Everton. Paynter scored 29 goals for Swindon last season who reached the play-off final with the help from his goals. However last season has been his most and only prolific season and with him also going up a division it will be interesting to see whether or not he can cope with the weight of expectation.
All the signings have been shrewd and as it stands you feel that Leeds will be good enough to stay in the division and perhaps more. They also have a few players that were too good for League 1 last season like Patrick Kisnorbo, Johnny Howson, Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel. If they can add a few more players in particular another striker and make one or two clever loan signings then they could be capable of making a push for the play-offs. One player in particular they might want to look at signing is Gary Hooper, the Scunthorpe striker has scored 50 goals in the last two seasons and at just 22-years-old could be one for the future. Bringing in another striker will also take the pressure off Billy Paynter and at the same time give them more options in attack.
No doubt manager Simon Grayson will be looking to add more recruits to his squad so depending on just who he gets in it could have a big say on their season. It’s hard to tell at the moment where Leeds will be challenging next season but the fans can rest assured that the team they have is at least good enough to stay up.
Follow me on Twitter
Get the latest Championship news on Twitter
Click image below to see a gallery of the Brazilian babes at the World Cup
Chris Hughton ’s sacking seems like an awfully long time ago now. Newcastle fans were devastated and opposition fans were perplexed. It was a move that just didn’t appear to make any sense. During his brief reign at the club Hughton had done a stand-up job and deserved better treatment. When I ask if Ashley was right to sack Hughton, I don’t mean was he right in the moral sense, because Chris had done nothing to merit his dismissal. But surely it is worth considering that it may actually have been the best move for the club?
Many Newcastle fans were flabbergasted with Alan Pardew ’s appointment and saw him as something of a step-down in class. He has turned out to be anything but. Discounting the second-half of last season where he seemed to be biding his time until the summer, he’s had an excellent start to his Newcastle tenure.
I remember fans at the time claiming that Pardew couldn’t match Hughton in terms of man management, but it strikes me that Pardew’s getting the most he possibly can out of each and every one of his players right now. Furthermore, I can’t help but feel that Pardew is tactically more astute that Hughton too. Not such a step-down after all.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]
Hughton had managed to obtain the backing of both players and fans, something of a rare occurrence on Tyneside and deserved more of a chance to show what he could do. Mike Ashley ’s decision to send him packing could well have triggered a mutiny in the dressing room and potentially another relegation for the club. It was simply awful timing.
Luckily Pardew proved to be a better manager than most people thought and over the course of his ten months in charge he has more than proven that he knows how to galvanise a dressing room. It’s not like Pardew has had an easy ride. He has overseen some high profile departures that led fans to question the future of the team.
Instead, Newcastle has only grown stronger and Pardew deserves a healthy share of the credit for how the club has improved. Given his professionalism and ability, is there anybody out there who really believes that Hughton is the better manager?
Still, that doesn’t make the decision to sack Chris any more right. Strange that what first appeared to be a moment of madness may end up being one of the best decisions of Ashley’s career.
Article courtesy of Harry Cloke from This is Futbol
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been handed a four-match suspension for headbutting Tottenham assistant Joe Jordan.Gattuso fronted UEFA’s disciplinary committee with a charge of gross unsporting conduct following the ugly incident, which occurred in the aftermath of Milan’s 1-0 loss at home to Tottenham last Tuesday.The defeat left Milan on the brink of Champions League elimination, with the Serie A leaders set to visit Spurs for the return leg of their last-16 tie next week.Gattuso was already suspended from the trip to White Hart Lane having received his third caution of the competition in the first leg.The ban will apply to four UEFA club competition matches following next week’s return leg, meaning Gattuso will be available for the Champions League final at Wembley should Milan progress that far.A statement on UEFA’s official website said the 33-year-old was found to have ‘assaulted’ Jordan after the match. The Italian later blamed his outburst on racist remarks allegedly made by the Spurs assistant coach, a charge Jordon denied.Gattuso has three days to lodge an appeal.
Bill Shankly once said of Everton: “If they were playing down the bottom of my garden- I’d draw the curtains.”
While that may have been true from every Liverpool manager’s benchmark, the prospect of the Netherlands training in my ‘garden‘ made me do anything but draw the curtains.
Staying in Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg for the duration of the World Cup, I was informed that the Dutch team would be training in the stadium next to my block.
Despite a trip being organized by the tutor who’s leading the newsroom I’m working on for the next four weeks, which involved looking at Lions and Elephants, I decided I could always see Elephants anytime, but how often do you get the chance to see Dirk Kuyt miss from 2 yards?
So after grabbing a ticket from the University office- which was for the Grandstand seating no less- I joined the many assembled Dutch fans in the queue as we waited to be let in.
Holland are well supported here in South Africa as many white South Africans or Afrikaans are descended from the Dutch.
The Dutch fans mainly seemed to be South African residents although there were still a few who’d made the trip from the country that gave us legalized weed and clogs.
After two Wits Uni’ students and I had taken our seats in the Grandstand- think Unibond Prem- we waited for about fifteen minutes before the team arrived on the pitch.
Looking out into the ‘Sea of Orange’, sorry I promised myself I wasn’t going to say that but couldn’t help it- it struck me that there must’ve been at least a few thousand who’d turned up to see Bert Van Marwijk’s men.
As the team walked onto the pitch the sound of vuvuzela’s –which had already been blaring intermittently- rose to a crescendo –with the shouts of ‘Robin’ or ‘Ryan’ or ‘Manchester United’ -for some inexplicable reason- barely audible.
The training session itself was fairly routine stuff, a bit of jogging and sprinting followed by passing and a bit of ‘keep ball.’
While the players had a bit of a breather I spoke to a couple of fans to see how they viewed their team’s chances.
After finally finding three lads from Holland- at the tenth time of asking- I got the lowdown on just whether they thought they really could go all the way.
Moike Sovavacs – I think that’s its name but to be honest he’s a little drowned out by vuvuzula’s – from Rotterdam.
When asked how well he thinks Holland will do he says he believes they will be champions, pointing at his friend before adding he is from Brazil and even he thinks Holland are the best.
Speaking about the group he says with a big smile that he thinks it’s very easy and not until the second round does he expect any difficulty.
When I ask him which is the best Dutch player his smile fades slightly : “Robben….but he don’t come here.
“Other than him Van Persie, he is the best one now, he will make the goals now.”
When I ask him which teams he’s wary of, he lists Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Spain.
Jose Antonio is one of Moike’s friends and he tells me that he believes Holland will go far stating he’s “90 per cent confident we will win.”
Again he believes the group stages will be easy and laments the loss of Robben but believes Wesley Sneijder is good enough to shoulder the burden, he also expects to meet Argentina in the final.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It’s now time for the Dutch team to play a match against each other so after the player’s move the goalposts to the edge of the 18 yard box, the game kicks off.
It was a fairly routine affair, with Dirk Kuyt volleying wide from two yards, Robin Van Persie looking a tad rusty to be perfectly honest and Sneijder holding onto the ball well. Klaas Jan Huntelaar rifled a first half winner, while Rafael Van Der Vaart hit the bar from twenty yards with the last kick of the game. There was a slightly shaky moment for the assembled fans when Sneijder started limping and holding his foot after a challenge but he soon ran it off. Overall the Dutch looked pretty impressive with Sneijder and Van Der Vaart being particular stand-outs.
I grabbed another fan just before the end and asked him the same questions I’d posed earlier- he was a little bit more pessimistic than the previous two, stating that he was worried about Argentina and Brazil- although he felt confident that they’d get through the group easily.
The team then did a lap with much of the crowds chanting seemingly reserved for Robin Van Persie- although it was difficult to hear much as there were a few vuvuzela battles going on near me.
It struck me that none of the fans I’d spoken to, including the two South African students I’d gone to the session with, rated England as one of the top teams, maybe that’s a good thing, but who knows?
The sun was shining as we left the stadium to the sound of more vuvuzela’s- yes they do get very annoying and I’m dreading to think what several thousand are going to sound like- all in all not a bad way to spend a Wednesday afternoon.
“You’d think he was a Spanish player, a real European player.” beamed Brendan Rodgers as he finally captured the signature of Joe Allen on Friday night. South Wales’ very own version of Xavi was finally in his possession once again. Yet are the Kop faithful convinced by the Northern Irishman’s transfer policy that has seen acquire two players he is accustomed to working with? Are his targets really that limited? Theres a clear distinction as to the direction Rodgers wants to take the Reds in next term after offloading a number of senior players and replacing them with 22-year-old Allen and 21-year-old striker Fabio Borini. But at a combined £25 million there have been comparisons to the reckless spending that ultimately cost predecessor Kenny Dalglish his position in the Anfield dugout. Theres even talk of Daniel Agger being sacrificed in order to fund more signings on the scale of Allen and Borini – in terms of age and price. Will this strategy really take the club back into the Champions League? Answers on a postcard…
This week on FFC can Stewart Downing finally live up to his hefty price tag next term and how much would it cost Roberto Mancini to prise Agger away from Merseyside?
[divider]
Best of FFC
The Top 15 Players Who Only Look ‘Good On MOTD’
A bitter pill worth swallowing for Liverpool?
Liverpool’s new vision is impressive…given the time
Why Liverpool must hit the ground running
A long-term trend of rotten transfers at Anfield
The Boy’s a bit special…Jack Robinson
Make or break time for Liverpool ace
Does Liverpool star really have a price?
City need ridiculous offer to get Daniel Agger
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
The Most Important Signing of the Summer? – Live 4 Liverpool
Confirmed: £29m 30-goal star striker ‘wants to leave’ La Liga. Sign him, FSG! – Liverpool Kop
LFC – Living within our means – This is Anfield
Brendan Rodgers Stats 2008-2012: Entire career to date. Good enough…? – Liverpool Kop
Exclusive John Henry Q&A – The Tomkins Times
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
700 Examples Of Passion & Commitment, In Red – Live 4 Liverpool
Charlie Adam: The Latest Victim of Bullying in the Managers’ Playground? – This is Anfield
Signed! But Is Joe Allen Worth £15m? – Live4Liverpool
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“You’d think he was a Spanish player, a real European player. I would have paid many more millions for this kid. He is a unique player in that he’s a British player who doesn’t give the ball away. When he comes into this team you’ll see the difference he can make. He’s incredible on the ball, his intelligence for a 22-year-old is frightening, his game understanding is very, very good and he’s in love with the football. He loves the ball.”Brendan Rodgers lauds over new signing Joe Allen.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle looks set to fine striker Ivan Klasnic, after the forward was given a straight red card for an altercation with Marc Tierney in The Trotters 2-1 defeat against Norwich.
The Croatia international was given his marching orders in the first half on Saturday, whilst his team were 2-0 down, and Coyle is not happy with his player.
“The skipper [Kevin Davies] and Tuncay both had to be sacrificed because of Ivan’s folly in getting himself sent off. Will I fine him? He certainly knows my feelings on the subject,” the Scot told The Telegraph.
“Sometimes, you can understand it when a young boy gets caught up in the heat of the moment, but he is an experienced player. He is a seasoned international who has played at the very highest level all his career.
“That is when you have to use your experience, because going down to 10 men when you are already 2-0 behind is not exactly ideal,” he stated.
Coyle has revealed that Klasnic is repentant after the sending off, but this may not be enough to avoid the 31-year-old getting a fine.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“He is full of remorse, but the bottom line is, you’ve got to keep your full personnel on the pitch. It is tough enough in this league as it is,” he concluded.
Alan Pardew insists that new signing Shefki Kuqi is not a replacement for departed striker Andy Carroll.
The 34-year-old Finn, who signed on a free transfer on Thursday morning, goes straight into Newcastle’s threadbare squad for the game with Blackburn on Saturday.
Newcastle star Carroll left the club last week to join Liverpool for 35 million pounds but his late exit in the transfer window meant that the Magpies did not have enough time to react to his sale.
And this woe was compounded when striker Shola Ameobi broke his cheekbone at Fulham, leaving Pardew with just Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and youngster Nile Ranger in his frontline.
“Shefki brings us valuable cover – what he can bring is experience and presence,” Pardew said.
“With Shola injured we lack a bit of presence. Shefki is a guy who is a real gentleman and a character and anybody who has worked with him will know that. That was important.”
“We needed to bring in somebody that might be able to handle the group that we’ve got. We have a group that are honest and if you don’t do something right you will be told.’
“Not just by the coaching staff but the players as well.”
Pardew admits he has reviewed the enthralling 4-4 draw with Arsenal and still can’t believe that his side clawed a point out of the game.
‘I think even Arsenal’s coaching team were the same as us when they looked back on it – looking back in disbelief,” he said.
“It was an amazing day and we’ve come out the right end of it.”
“We ended the game on a positive but you’d hate to be on the other end of that.”
“We didn’t start well and we documented those reasons.’
“The comeback and the character that we showed was magnificent.”
Pardew has made the headlines this week for tearing into his team so loudly that it was even heard in the Arsenal dressing room.
“I said at half-time what any Newcastle fan would have said at that time,” he revealed.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
‘There was a couple of tactical things in there but not too many. It’s a day that will live long in the memory. Not just what happened in the dressing but what happened on the pitch because it doesn’t matter what’s said in the dressing room, it’s the reaction on the pitch.”
“You need to see people respond to criticism and adulation in the same way.”
“We did that and it was a joy to watch in the second half.”
Newcastle head to Blackburn and could even be unchanged from the side that drew with the Gunners.
Best has been passed fit to play but defender Steven Taylor must wait another fortnight to make his return from a hamstring injury.