It will be great to have Steven Taylor back fit again, after recovering from his serious Achilles injury that he picked up in the final minutes of the games against Chelsea when we were 1-0 down.
Steven Taylor – back in training and looking good
Ir was because Steven couldn’t get back on defense because of his injury, that Chelsea scored the second goal, and then they got a third in added time, when we were down to 10 men – well that’s how I saw it in any case. 😀
Steven played his best football at Newcastle in that first part of the season, and if he can rekindle that form and stay fir, then no matter who may be brought in this summer, it could be that Coloccini and Taylor will be the central defenders for Newcastle.
But we heard yesterday form Mike Williamson that he’s up for the fight to get a starting position, and of course that’s exactly what we want – big competition for the starting places.
Ever since manager Alan Pardew arrived on Tyneside, he’s let it be known that Steven Taylor will be a big player for Newcastle, and in fact Alan helped to close the deal and Steven signed his new contract in late December of 2010.
So it’s not altogether surprising that the Newcastle manager is delighted to see Steven back on the training field, and he’s watched Steven in training the last couple of days, and he looks as good as ever, it seems.
The Newcastle manager had this to say to the local press today:
“I’m looking forward to having Steven running around and playing again.” “Having Steven back fit for pre-season is a big boost for us. He did very well last season before his injury.”
“He’s an important player for us, and we want everyone fit for what’s going to be a tough season.” “He’s hoping to have an injury-free season, and hopefully he will.”
And there’s has been a slight change in Newcastle’s pre-season friendlies, as the Evening Chronicle is reporting that FC Porto will not play Newcastle in the Algarve Stadium on 28th July, but that Braga will be our opponents instead.
A certain Hugo Viana plays for Braga, and the 29 year-old was in the Portugal squad for Euro 2012 squad.
Hugo Viana today
This is what Hugo looks like now, and while at Newcastle from 2002 until 2005 he didn’t have too much success, but he’s had a very decent career in Europe since he left Newcastle, and it will be good to see Hugo play again.
My son Neil was a big supporter of the Portuguese midfielder, and he has a cat named Hugo – yes you guessed it – he wasn’t named after Victor, the author of Les Miserables and other classics.
Wonder why Newcastle don’t release their pre-season schedule?
Here’s what we think it is:
Transfers Summer 2022 | ||
---|---|---|
INCOMING | ||
Player | Fee | Club |
Matt Targett | £15M | Aston Villa |
Nick Pope | £10M | Burnley |
Sven Botman | £30M | Lille |
Alexander Isak | £60M | Real Sociedad |
Total Fees Paid | £115M | |
OUTGOING | ||
Player | Fee | Club |
Dan Langley | Loan | Gateshead |
Isaac Hayden | Loan | Norwich City |
Freddie Woodman | £1M | Preston North End |
Jeff Hendrick | Loan | Reading |
Ciaran Clark | Loan | Sheffield United |
Dwight Gayle | Free | Stoke City |
Martin Dubravka | £2M - Loan | Manchester United |
Matty Longstaff | Loan | Colchester |
Kell Watts | Loan | Peterborough |
Fede Fernandez | Free | Elche |
Total Fees Received | £3M | |
Net Outlay | £112M | |
Comments welcome.
Note: Google has passed the site clean again after we removed two pieces of harmful code that they said contained malware, and it seems like an outside attack caused it all.
21 comments so far
Toonboy_84
Jul 10, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #1Hugo viana
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 10, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Comment #2Good to see the big man back in action, the article that I read on BBC also gives mention to Marveaux looking in good nick too. Hope both have an injury free season as they’ll be important players for us this year.
Toonboy_84
Jul 10, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Comment #3I really hope saylor stays fit too. Would have probably gone to the euros and we would probably be in the champions league if he didn’t get injured but hey…….all ifs and buts.
RobertLeeNo.7
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #4I don’t want to start Beattie’s panic attacks off again but.. reading between the lines we aren’t signing a CB.
Beattie when you read this… take it in. Most of the movement in the transfer window happens in August. Lille want to sign a RB then it will free up Debuchy. I hope we get him soon but don’t panic I am sure we will have an improved squad for the new season. I just hope we have a bigger squad than last season with better back up.
terencelim
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Comment #5I really hope he’s not the next Jonathan Woodgate. Sometimes it is funny when you scratch your head wondering how the hell did Saylor picked up injuries so easily while Jonas Gutierrez could still play week in and week out after being ridiculously tackled hundreds time from the opponents throughout the season.
MagpiesFlyHigh
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Comment #6I’m blowing into that brown paper bag like a demon….not signing a CB…..Beattie what will happen to us without the backup of a decent 6 goal a season CB….?
Peter
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #7does anyone know if any of these friendlies will be on tv or even online feeling suicidal not seeing mighty magpies for all this time
RobertLeeNo.7
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Comment #8CB, RB and none ACON ST/LW would do.
possibly a LB wouldn’t hurt.
I think Jonas will play a more central roll this season with Mr T and Cab.
Marveaux will play central or left side of pappisto when he comes on.
So defence very much priority
pieceofpapiss
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Comment #9Glad to see him back, big season for him. He should be on the fringes of the Englad squad by christmas.
Anyhoo, great banter today chaps. I’m off back to work.
Later.
RobertLeeNo.7
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Comment #10Peter
2 games will be shown on ESPN next week, Monaco and fenebache I believe.
excuse my turkish.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Comment #11RobLee
CB and RB reinforcements are very much a priority. It’d be great to see Tav push for a first team slot but I would be more comfortable knowing that we have 4 ball playing defenders (we need an upgrade in CB too although Taylor hasn’t got awful feet) but we do generally need another CB anyway.
Marveaux is still not certain to be over his injury worries so a bit more depth on LW would be a good thing as I too think that Guti will be a more central figure, played some excellent stuff there when he was played there.
Mark29Hungary
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Comment #12If Taylor can play 30-35 match/season he’ll be the best central back of the PL.
He was very unlucky with injuries so far in his career.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Comment #13Sorry I’d have to disagree, while if he did that he’d be capable of challenging for a place on the England team, he’ll never reach the standard of Kompany or Vidic. Might seem a bit harsh to the lad but it’s the way I see it
martoon
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Comment #14Joking aside, it is slightly worrying that we are moving out fringe players such as Lovenkrands & Guthrie and not replacing them let alone strengthening the squad.
It could well be we are gathering in funds before spending and using brinkmanship for our targets but still slightly worrying.
RobertLeeNo.7
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Comment #15I agree Ruddy Tayls ain’t gonna be the best in the PL he is a very good CB when on form he still loves a clumsy challenge every now and then but then Douglas seems to also.
I’d like to see us get a ball playing CB with pace, we really lack pace at the back. Would of love M’biwa. He can also play either full back position.
when it comes to more cover for mary Ober would come in on either flank and in the middle its about time Vukic started to come through who also plays wide left too..
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #16The key question with the young players for example Tav at RB or Vuckic at LW is can they make that step up just yet? I would love to see them given more of an opportunity and would even accept not making signings in these positions if it meant that we were going to bleed the youth through this season.
However, Tav hasn’t got Championship experience never mind Prem experience and is perhaps not quite ready yet thus necessitating buying an experienced RB and Vuckic, who has an abundance of talent, has injury concerns.
I desperately want to see Haris break through this season, as well as seeing the continual development of young Sammy, and Shane Ferguson. We have so many youngsters who can play LW and only a few first team players who can so we would also probably need to bolster that area. Having sold Leon to Blackburn we, of course, would need to strengthen there, and a pacy ball playing defender at CB would be music to all of our ears.
M’biwa is of that ilk, I’ve seen him a few times for Montpellier and have been very impressed, was amazed that he was cut from the French squad while Mexes, Rami, Koscielny were all selected, was utter madness.
RobertLeeNo.7
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:45 PM
Comment #17If we buy Debuchy we wouldn’t need to use Tav as back up we would still have Rylor or Perch.
nufc 11
Jul 10, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Comment #18Really hope we move for Hoillet now De jong is going elsewhere
GFH
Jul 10, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Comment #19Peter@7 Monaco match Monday 6-00 pm and Saturday 21st Fenerbahce 6-00pm , both on ESPN . NB I don’t know if thats 6-00 GMT or otherwise!
IITianToon
Jul 10, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #20Finally able to access the site.. was worried how long the virus threat would be there.. thanks Ed for fixing up everything !
Best thing abt Tayls is that he is a goalscoring defender.. And on a different note , did anyone of you used to watch WWE? Tayls putting his body on the line.. sometimes to the point of insanity, reminds me of Jeff Hardy 😛
obatoyou
Jul 10, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Comment #21good news after weeks of annoying unfruitful speculation! 🙂