One of the things that Chris Hughton was able to do last March was to quickly get over an altercation between Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor, and two days later had the lads win 1-0 in that vital game at Doncaster Rovers, and yes – Carroll scored a great winner after 59 minutes.
Steven Taylor– don’t believe everything you read
Such was the spirit in the side last season, and the ability of manager Chris Hughton to handle a crisis at the Newcastle club.
All kinds of rumors circulated about the altercation – and it wasn’t much really – just that Steven ended up with a broken jaw and Andy had both his hands bandaged – oh my goodness!
Steven talked about some of those rumors today:
“What I can say about it is ‘Don’t believe everything you’ve read and heard’,”“We have a fantastic team bond and everyone is happy. I’ve not got a problem with anyone at the football club.”
“People reading all of that stuff about me and Andy were probably amazed to see us standing together on the podium at the end of the season, but we’ve got a great understanding.”
“There’s a fantastic team spirit at Newcastle United and no one wants to put that under threat.”
That understanding is obviously when Andy throws the right hook, Steven ducks – something he obviously failed to do last March – hence the new understanding. 😀
Taylor came in for some criticism after that event, which was a bit of a surprise, and he did not address the rumours at the time, and of course says how easily Newcastle gained promotion after the late March incident.
Steven continued:
“There’s always rumours knocking about with this football club. I remember when I was younger it was Ronaldo and Rivaldo signing for Newcastle United,”
“The best thing is not to react to it and to just stick together. As a club we have been criticised in the past but as a football club now our attitude is to just keep quiet about it, let people write what they want to write and we’ll just get on with it.”
“It’s a successful strategy, as far as I’m concerned. Look where that got us last season.”
Taylor has been linked with a number of clubs this summer, as sports journalists made up their minds that one of the two local lads had to leave the club – but of course they will turn out to be incorrect on that score.
As we reported earlier this morning Taylor’s new contract is being negotiated on his behalf by his agent and he doesn’t seem too concerned about it, as he continued:
“There’s always things going on around contract negotiations. It’s all paper talk and you need to let things happen,”
“My agent Paul Stretford is taking care of things and my main focus is playing football for Newcastle United. That hasn’t changed.”
“I’m happy at Newcastle United – I’ve got another year left here and I just want to get back playing again.”
Steven is certainly looking forward to the new season, and after being out for 7 months with his knee injury he will look forward to a great upcoming season, which will certainly help the Newcastle side.
Steven continued:
“This is a new era for Newcastle United and I’m really, really looking forward to.” “I think we bounced back very well. We had a great season last year – unbeaten at home and made St James’ Park a fortress.”
“As players we’ve grown in confidence and I think we’ve learned from our mistakes during that season in the Championship.”
Steven’s right and all we have to do next season is show that same “never say die” spirit and we should do OK – in fact there’s a chance – a slight chance – that we’ll even do well – wouldn’t that be something!
Comments welcome.
Written from Plymouth, England.
122 comments so far
geordie_india
Jul 17, 2010 at 9:53 AM
Comment #1What an interview by Steven Taylor!!. Hope all the confusion behind taylor and carroll is solved. The team spirit within the squad can avoid a relegation and also can finish in a mid table position. Howay the lads
Sav
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Comment #2Someone send a copy of that interview to Louise Taylor….
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Comment #3Just watched Chris Hughtons interview with SSN and doesn’t he handle interviews well, answered evry question very well without giving much away, talks abnout players and injuries and handles transfer speculation well 😀
From what he said and what others have been saying maybe we could expect a team like this today
—————————-Harper———————–
—–Perch———–STaylor—Kadar—-Enrique–
——Routledge———Vuckic———-Barton—
—————————-Nolan———————–
——————Carroll———-Ranger————-
howay man
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Comment #4I agee turkish magpie. hedid very well although he mentioned that there will be no xisco today,is he injured again?
Sky missed a big chance to put him under a bit pressure by not asking him about gosling however they did ask him about sol campbell but I think they are about a year too late with that one.
howay man
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:44 PM
Comment #5is there any radio coverage of the game today?
coopertoon
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Comment #6any links
coopertoon
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Comment #7this is a link to the toon game injoy
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_cumbria/
howay man
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Comment #8sky sports news seem very keen on the idea of cambpell joining newcastle,are they trying to make something out of nothing or do they know something we don’t?
Newutd
Jul 17, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Comment #9No Xisco? God, let him be sold..
Newutd
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Comment #10NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Tavernier, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Smith, Inman, Nolan, LuaLua; Lovenkrands, Carroll.
Subs: Krul, Barton, Guthrie, Routledge, R Taylor, Best, S Taylor, Perch, Ranger, McLaughlin, Ferguson, Henderson, Vuckic.
Wow
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:02 PM
Comment #11I think this is the team today
—————————Harper———————–
Tavernier—-Coloccini—-Wiliamson—-Enrique
–LuaLua—-Inman—Nolan–Smith—Lovenkrands
Subs: Barton, Guthrie, Routledge, R Taylor, Best, Krul, S Taylor, Perch, Ranger ,McLaughline, Ferguson, Henderson and Vuckic
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:03 PM
Comment #12oops, and Carroll up front on his own 😛
—————————Harper———————–
Tavernier—-Coloccini—-Wiliamson—-Enrique
–LuaLua—-Inman—Nolan–Smith—Lovenkrands
—————————–Carroll———————-
Subs: Barton, Guthrie, Routledge, R Taylor, Best, Krul, S Taylor, Perch, Ranger ,McLaughline, Ferguson, Henderson and Vuckic
newcastle10
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:06 PM
Comment #13hughton hints at singing sol campbell
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Comment #14Why would Hughton start singing about Sol Campbell? 😉
newcastle10
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:10 PM
Comment #15he got asked on ssn and said “you never know”
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:13 PM
Comment #16sorry, i was trying to make a joke that u spelt SIGNIING wrong :S 😛
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Comment #17haha, as i try and correct you, i speel it wrong
SIGNING ;D
newcastle10
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM
Comment #18haha
gorskino10
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Comment #19Im glad Inman is playing amazing youngster and scores goals too, shame no Ranger.
howay man
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Comment #20gary madine’s gunna tear up williamson I fear
Newutd
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Comment #21No Sol, please.
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:29 PM
Comment #22Its pretty strange but why the hek is the game not on the official site to keep track of??
G-Man
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Comment #23Well, how much more depressing can this transfer window get ? Smithy compares us with Hull City, Williamson on Sky hoping for survival, Hughton stating 1, 0r 2 to sign, when clearly need a least 4 new quality players, & on Sol Campbell ” You never know ” jesus haven’t we already got a slow enough team……………….
howay man
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:32 PM
Comment #24i know its only a friendly but this doesn’t sound too promising, on a brighter note have you seen blackpools new wonga.com home kit it is just bad
JohnNUFC
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Comment #25Just listenin to the game on radio ¬ great news from the Carlisle game, 0-0 @half time, Coloccini doing well but no real threat from the lads. poor, lua-lua not at the races
Was in Irish papers that Hughton took the lads to Oxegen (music festival) near Dublin last week so wasn’t all hard work and cycling @ 6am!!
Malaysia-RASHID
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Comment #26waiting for vukic kick in…
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:56 PM
Comment #27Ya I hear Chris Hughton is going to make lots of changes at the half just like always. Giving James Perch Debut and playing Shane Ferguson and hopefully Haris Vuckic.
Newutd
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Comment #28Lua Lua meeting one of their best players tho. Simek is quality.
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 1:59 PM
Comment #29malaysia-rashid
Same here m8 🙂 I think he will score the game winner. Or we will bang in a couple of goals in second half as our danger players Routledge and Guthrie and Barton are now playing.
Malaysia-RASHID
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Comment #30Baro
Yaaa…waiting for wonder kid.
Malaysia-RASHID
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:05 PM
Comment #31http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10361~2094661,00.html
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Comment #322nd half team
——————————Krul———————–
R Taylor——–S Taylor—–Perch——Ferguson
Routledge——–Guthrie—–Barton—Vuckic—-
———————Ranger——Best——————-
11 changes then ;D
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Comment #33Malaysia-Rashid
Ya I been on that page since like 2nd minute. Best thing available.
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Comment #34OMG OMG BEST SCORES!!!!!!!!
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Comment #35Leon Best scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
newcastle10
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Comment #361-0 newcastle besttt !!
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Comment #37Out of everybody about time its Best!! As routledge sets it all up.
baro
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Comment #38Finally Nile Ranger is playing. Its been a while.
Malaysia-RASHID
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Comment #39NUFC 1- Carlisle 0
Turkish Magpie
Jul 17, 2010 at 2:11 PM
Comment #40Routledge with the assist, tearing up the defence already, WHAT A SIGNING!