Sunday, April 30, 2006
Cornwall 2006
The cottage had great vews over st Michaels Mount and for the first few days had a number of visitors
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The great striker debate
Well, with Alan's injury bringing an end to a great career peoples minds are already heading to who will attempt to replace him.
Despite his decreasing mobility there are few players who can match him in his ability to lead the line. Therefore this should be seen as a an opportunity to change the dynamic of our forward line, otherwise any striker would look a poor replacement.
Newcastle will hope that Michael Owen lines up in the black and white at the start of the new season as the prospect of replacing both our strikers just doesn't bare thinking about.
I still hope to see luque prove to the geordie fans what a good player he is, and given how his value has plummeted this season there seems to be little reason to sell him.
Chops has done well in recent weeks but three successive managers have failed to give the young lad a regular starting place so it may be better for him if he were to drop a division in order to play regular football. I wouldn't be concerned if he was to be offered a new short term deal as I do believe he can be a valuable squad member.
Shola has started 25 games this season (further 6 as sub) and has only produced 7 goals, that's a return of aprox 1 in 4 which is just not good enough for a top level striker. In much the same way as chopra I feel he could be useful in a squad system but feel that we may be better off cashing in on a player that isn't strong enough to lead the team.
At the start of this season we had the following forwards:
Despite his decreasing mobility there are few players who can match him in his ability to lead the line. Therefore this should be seen as a an opportunity to change the dynamic of our forward line, otherwise any striker would look a poor replacement.
Newcastle will hope that Michael Owen lines up in the black and white at the start of the new season as the prospect of replacing both our strikers just doesn't bare thinking about.
I still hope to see luque prove to the geordie fans what a good player he is, and given how his value has plummeted this season there seems to be little reason to sell him.
Chops has done well in recent weeks but three successive managers have failed to give the young lad a regular starting place so it may be better for him if he were to drop a division in order to play regular football. I wouldn't be concerned if he was to be offered a new short term deal as I do believe he can be a valuable squad member.
Shola has started 25 games this season (further 6 as sub) and has only produced 7 goals, that's a return of aprox 1 in 4 which is just not good enough for a top level striker. In much the same way as chopra I feel he could be useful in a squad system but feel that we may be better off cashing in on a player that isn't strong enough to lead the team.
At the start of this season we had the following forwards:
- Shearer
- Owen
- Luque
- Shola
- Chopra
Of those strikers I expect the following to start the new campaign:
- Owen
- Luque
- Shola / Chopra
If this is the case then we will need to bring in two new strikers, this could be 1 expensive 1 cheap or two mid range. I don't expect the board to sanction another huge outlay given the money spent last season.
Some names to consider:
- Harewood
- D. Bent
- Yakubu
- Beattie
- Trundle
- Kuyt
- Mido
- Zigic
- fowler
- Johnson
- Ronaldo
- Baros
- Defoe
So many of those players wont move, or will move to another side, but if football fans cant speculate at this time of year then life would be much duller....
GWIP
Full predictions
With 4 games remaining (5 for Bolton) predictions were made regarding the chase for Europe.
My predictions were as follows:
Newcastle (then 48 pts) - 57 pts
My predictions were as follows:
Newcastle (then 48 pts) - 57 pts
- Beat Sunderland (4-1, never a doubt)
- Beat West Brom
- Beat Brimingham
- Lose to Chelsea (would fancy some points if needed)
Bolton (then 48pts) - 56 pts
- Beat West Brom (0-0)
- Draw with Charlton
- loose to Spurs
- Draw with 'Borough
- Beat Birmingham
Wigan (then 48pts) - 54 pts
- loose to Villa (won 3-2)
- Beat Fulham
- Beat Portsmouth
- Lose to Arsenal
West Ham (then 49pts) - 53 pts
- Draw with Borough (lost 2-0)
- Lose to Liverpool
- Beat West Brom
- loose to Spurs
The Chase for Europe
With 4 games remaining (5 for Bolton) predictions were made regarding the chase for Europe.
My predictions were as follows:
Newcastle (then 48 pts) - 57 pts
My predictions were as follows:
Newcastle (then 48 pts) - 57 pts
- Beat Sunderland
- Beat West Brom
- Beat Brimingham
- Lose to Chelsea (although a draw is expected)
Bolton (then 48pts) - 56 pts
- Lose to West Brom
- Beat Charlton
- Draw with Spurs
- Draw with 'Borough
- Beat Birmingham
West Ham (then 49pts) - 56 pts
- Draw with 'Borough
- Lose to Liverpool
- Beat West Brom
- Beat Spurs
Wigan (then 48pts) - 55 pts
- Beat Villa
- Beat Fulham
- Draw with Portsmouth
- Lose to Arsenal
17 possible results, with 4 played I have a 50% hit rate. Lets see how close I was in a couple of weeks.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Shearer latest
Alan is due to have a scan on his knee this Thursday which is expected to confirm medial ligament damage. If this is proved to be the case Shearer will have played his last game in what has been a phenomenal career.
While all hope these fears prove to be unfounded, should he have kicked his last ball in anger then perhaps it is fitting that his last game saw him score and captain his side to a 4 - 1 away victory against Sunderland.
Amongst the less obvious facts, the record books will also show that the man approaching his 36th birthday scored 4 goals in his last four games at the highest level.
'If Alan Shearer's legs have gone then he's the best since Douglas Bader took to the skies.' John Gibson, Evening Chronicle.
While all hope these fears prove to be unfounded, should he have kicked his last ball in anger then perhaps it is fitting that his last game saw him score and captain his side to a 4 - 1 away victory against Sunderland.
Amongst the less obvious facts, the record books will also show that the man approaching his 36th birthday scored 4 goals in his last four games at the highest level.
'If Alan Shearer's legs have gone then he's the best since Douglas Bader took to the skies.' John Gibson, Evening Chronicle.
Fingers Crossed.
Round 1
Well with the first round of matches almost complete (Villa play on tuesday) AG and Gwip are tied with 1 correct and 2 wrong each.
Wigan vs Villa
Gwip - Villa Win
AG - Wigan Win
Newcastle stay in 7th place following the stalemate at the Hawthorns, this leaves Bolton 2pts adrift with a game in hand. Defeat to Boro has left West ham 2pts behind having played the same games. Wigan would move level with Newcastle on points and games (though have inferior goal difference) should they beat Villa.
Wigan vs Villa
Gwip - Villa Win
AG - Wigan Win
Newcastle stay in 7th place following the stalemate at the Hawthorns, this leaves Bolton 2pts adrift with a game in hand. Defeat to Boro has left West ham 2pts behind having played the same games. Wigan would move level with Newcastle on points and games (though have inferior goal difference) should they beat Villa.
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