The Newcastle United Blog

Written by Dr. Ed Harrison

8:40am Thursday, September 19th, 2013

Commented 5 times

Alan Pardew should be holding his press conference later today for the home match against Hull City on Saturday, and if Newcastle show the form they showed last Saturday at Villa park we must had a good shot at getting our fourth win in a row and our third in the league – and we could even be in the top six in the Premier League after five games played.

Alan Pardew – has got the lads playing well

It’s early days yet, we know, but the doom and gloom that was evident at the end of the transfer window is quickly being replaced with excitement and anticipation as Newcastle have won their last three games. and are currently 88th top of the league – the highest we have been in twelve months after a terrible campaign last season.

Newcastle fans were disappointed, frustrated and annoyed that Newcastle could only bring Loic Remy in on loan, but just think if we had not brought any players in during January and all the acquisitions has been in the summer for this year.

We would have said that signing Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Moussa Sissoko, Massadio Haidara, Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy in the summer would have been a very successful transfer window for us.

But because five of them were brought in early they have started the season with some experience of the Premier League, and that’s now showing through with some of their performances – and even Loic Remy had PL experience with QPR.

That;s one positive wat of looking at our transfer dealings this year, although we were still disappointed we could add to those players in the summer.

The game against Hull City is one we should win on paper, but these can often be the most difficult games to win, and Hull under Geordie manager Steve Bruce are a very decent side, with new acquisitions Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore from Tottenham have made a huge difference in their midfield.

It will not be easy on Saturday, but with indications there will be a crowd of over 50,000 at the game, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility we can win that game, and Geordie spirits will continue to soar – and that cannot be bad. 😀

Then we have Leeds United the following Wednesday at home in the Capital One Cup, and then a very tough game at Everton the following weekend.

What do you think?

Comments welcome.

You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com

5 comments so far

G
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:41 AM
Comment #1
Hard to believe, that if other results go our way, we could in theory go top, or certainly top 4.
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geordie157
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:42 AM
Comment #2
Slow down ed.
G, hope you are right about Cisse. The formation will definitely help as will Remy adding a bit more flair to the side. Fingers crossed Pardew sticks with this more attacking line up.
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G
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:47 AM
Comment #3
He should certainly play the 433 attacking formation for home games. If he is a little more cautious away from home, then I can understand that, but given the way we played away to Villa, then it should be the first formation for every game. Cisse has looked a little out of sorts lately, however, I think he is a confidence striker. Once he gets one, everything will click into place.
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G
Sep 19, 2013 at 8:50 AM
Comment #4
Still trying to work out how we are 88th top in a division with 20 teams like Ed? Double tap on the 8 button was it?
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Sav
Sep 19, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Comment #5
Don’t want to be negative, but weren’t the 5 January signings to make up for lack of activity the previous summer? By which time we were already under pressure and couldn’t get out of 3 cup competitions quick enough. So whether they were early signings for this year or late ones for last is debatable. Or has someone at Newcastle decided that January is now a better time to pick up those bargain transfers, rather than the summer window? Could be some sense in that.
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17 February, 2023

I have an update on what's happening with my treatment for prostate cancer.

Last week, my oncologist called me late in the day and said he thought it was best to terminate my treatment with radium 223 dichloride because it was having such a negative effect on my health - specifically my digestive system.

I had completed 3 of the planned 6 infusions.

They had looked at the bone scans and three CAT scans I had early last week, and they showed no signs of the cancer spread being slowed or stopped: in fact, it was continuing to spread and my PSA account continued to rise.

The only treatment left now is to go back and have another bout of chemotherapy with docetaxel being the medication used.

I understand this will be a 7-month job with 10 sessions 3 weeks apart - almost double my first chemo treatment in Apil 2017, when I has 6 treatmnts.

The problem I have is that I'm in a very poor physical state right now, due to my digestive system being basically torn apart by the radium 223.

The radium 223 has leaked into my digestive system and caused me to have severe diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn, and it was (is) very serious.

They said it was too dangerous to proceed with the radium 223 treatment, with little benefit being shown.

I am also suffering from severe exhaustion, basically, because I have zero testosterone, and all the treatments I've had for the cancer, have further lessened the energy available to me.

It reminds me of the saying that if cancer doesn’t kill you - the treatment will (laugh).

It will probably take up to 8 weeks to get back to a physical state where I can start chemotherapy, and that's where I am now, but the cancer continues to spread in the bones.

I've also been put in touch with the dietitian from UNC Healthcare, who will help me get back my health - she is very helpful.

So that's where it stands it's been quite a journey over 12 years and I think I've had almost every treatment available.

It has really taken a toll on my body and on my energy, but that's where it stands and obviously, I'll do the best I can in the upcoming months with chemo and hope I can get through it.

It is as it is - and another challenge in life.

Ed Harrison