Most of the Newcastle players are back for pre-season training, and our first pre-season friendly game is at Oldham Athletic next Tuesday, and their ground has just been renamed SportsDirect.com Park after the announcement of a five-year sponsorship deal with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct retail company.
Now we know why Newcastle are playing Oldham next week.
SportsDirect.com Park – Oldham’s ground
It seems another way of Mike Ashley using Newcastle United to advertise his business to the world – but what’s new?
But onto more positive things – and we are hoping that Steven Taylor stays at the club this season, and can get back to the good form he has shown at Newcastle in patches in his ten years in the first team.
And Steven talked yesterday about some of our young players – who we hope will come through in the coming season.
This is what the Whitley Bay lad said on the Newcastle web-site:
“It is great for them to be training with us every day, just like they were towards the end of last season as well.” “Being in high-quality training sessions like ours are only going to benefit them.”
“It’s a very different environment for them, going from the Academy and Under-21 teams to the first team.” “It’s a different kettle of fish completely, so it is also good for us experienced professionals to pass on our knowledge to the young lads coming in.”
We do have a number of seemingly very good youngsters currently at the club, with local lad Adam Armstrong the one who has caught the eye this year.
It would be terrific if Adam, who turned 17 in February, can push for some games in the first team in this coming season.
Newcastle must be able to bring young players through the ranks via the Youth Academy, and it’s something we haven’t been too successful at – so far.
That could change next season.
Comments welcome.
Written while on vacation in England.
33 comments so far
IITianToon
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:15 AM
Comment #1Soccer Sauce ?@soccer_sauce 45m
More
Early reports coming into us suggest that Newcastle HAVE made a bid for Remy Cabella and that it has been accepted ‘in principal’ #NUFC
Nicollin’s principles? Having a laugh here are we? 😀
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:17 AM
Comment #2I am going start calling wor lass “Brazil”. She kicks off every five minutes!
Slank
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Comment #3REPOST
With an exchange rate of 1.26 Sterling to the Euro now is the time to buy in Europe.
I would imagine that Cabella is just fed up and itching to go after all the speculation which has been going on for months now.
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Comment #4IITian
He’s about as principled as Ashley. A business deal between them too must be carnage. The battle of hastings shed less blood!!
IITianToon
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:19 AM
Comment #5Ok so I really do not understand this: these transfer negotiations happen at the absolute top level right, closed door conference rooms and stuff.
How on earth do Twitter outlets get wind of these deals before official announcements are made? Does every board have a snitch?
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:19 AM
Comment #6Too=two*
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Comment #7Lilongwe…I assumed you would know what I meant…I assumed wrong I see!
…I have said my peace on the matter!
Slank
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Comment #8IITianToon
When principles come up against money there is generally only one winner.
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Comment #9IItian
there are always a few ‘tell tale twits’
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:21 AM
Comment #10We had the Wonga derby at Blackpool last summer, this year it is the Sports Direct Derby with Oldham. Makes you proud to be a Toon fan!
Slank
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Comment #11IITianToon @ 5
I doubt it is officials from our club. Perhaps theirs but my suspicions are on the agents.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Comment #12Tian,
It isn’t just boards that leak the details. Although they have every reason to. Players and there agents will do it as well.
Clubs will do it to try and spark other interest and start a bidding war. Agents will do the same to try and get bigger clubs interested, or just more clubs so they also get a bigger payday for them and their client.
Graeme
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Comment #13Another FCB promotion gimmic to get his tat shop on the TV!!!
Our Toon
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Comment #14Morning Chaps,
Markaccus good joke mate might refer to my other half in the same way, big Phil got his tactics horribly wrong.
Lilongwe – I’ve heard rumours that AP is not happy with HBA because he’s refusing to leave the club, my source claims that HBA apparently thinks he will play for the club again!!
Maybe he’s hoping AP will be offski after a couple of poor months?
Slank
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Comment #15Markaccus
Brazils have been for sometime a euphemisms for Tits.
More so now me thinks !
jazzyp
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:29 AM
Comment #16Wow its gone 9 and there is no negativity or doom and gloom yet. Keep up the optimism lads, it makes a refreshing change
Personally think the Cabella deal will be tied up this week. Then an all out assault on bringing in a Cf will begin
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:29 AM
Comment #17Our Toon…we can always hope mate 🙂
Lew Davies
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:30 AM
Comment #18Oscar Pestorius has a better defence than Brazil 😯
Rainrix
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:32 AM
Comment #19I don’t think anyone had seen a performance that bad in Brazil since Pitbull performed at the opening ceremony.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:33 AM
Comment #20Our Toon,
Possibly mate, but I can’t see Pardew going anytime soon, unless things go drastically wrong.
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Comment #21Robert Llewelyn had a good one on twitter earlier
“Most embarassing semi since my dad took me to see Brokeback Mountain”
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Comment #22Rainrix…that is not even that long ago mate 😉 lol
jazzyp
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:41 AM
Comment #23Definitely done the right thing sending young Dummett out on loan. Proves what we have all said that he nowhere near ready to make the step to the first team.
Ayew available for €4, maybe another possibility
lesh
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:42 AM
Comment #24wonder how much SD’s paying Oldham in sponsorship?
Maybe SD’ll consider paying us for advertising etc?
Just a random thought.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:48 AM
Comment #25Jazzyp mate…4€ you say?
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:49 AM
Comment #26Personally i’d be keeping away from african players for a while, until this corruption and fixing lark is clearer. Last thing we need is a corrupt player!
Rainrix
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:50 AM
Comment #27Jesper…. Poor Brazilians eh? First their homes get demolished, then their opening ceremony and now their team.
http://i.imgur.com/wNto1Nx.jpg
Our Toon
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:54 AM
Comment #28Markaccus
Do you not think corruption is rife in football at all levels?
Match fixing in Italy, lower league players here have been accused of corruption as well.
Personally I think FIFA is corrupt and so is EVERY organisation. So much money in the game now I think things like SPOT fixing are rife in the PL with first corner bets or cards bets etc. Does anyone else agree with my sentiments.
jazzyp
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:54 AM
Comment #29Jesper
Morning bud- yeah crazy price when you consider Snodgrass went for 8 mill and lallana for 30 mill. Yet again shows why we dont buy british
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jul 9, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Comment #30Rainrix…I know!
…bad things always come in threes 😉
You know I really didn’t believe my eyes last night when the score just kept changing. I thought how on earth can the home nation do this to its people? Unforgivable!
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Comment #31Markaccus,
What a ridiculous comment!! You do realise Europol are currently investigating 680 matches, with 380 of them taking place in Europe, some in the Champions league and in England? The other 300 are spread over South America, Africa and Asia. I guess we shouldn’t be buying anyone then. Just in case.
Markaccus
Jul 9, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Comment #32Lilongwe and others
I am merely stating my opinion, based on what has most recently been highlighted at the world cup. It isnt just the corruption either, the whole threatening strikes because of unpaid bonuses is a factor too. This happened with more than one african team. I am concerned about the plays attitude in general. I do not think my comment was rediculous at all.
Monk04NUFC
Jul 9, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Comment #33I’m so happy that it’s not SJP adopting that name