5/5/2008 English Premier League Live - Newcastle vs Chelsea

This penultimate online live commentary English Premier League match for both Newcastle and Chelsea will provide more intriguing twist to a dramatic title race that has seen more action and drama in many live soccer matches in a season than put together in five seasons as so many teams were in it until the last two months. Of course, there really were only three teams who were in it by then but that has been one more than most of the last two or three seasons, and the live soccer games on TV threw up so many surprises that it has been incredible viewing for all soccer fans. Now there are only two left in the race and even then there is an overwhelming favourite for the title from fans, referees and managers' opinions and it certainly is not the team involved in this live commentary and online TV English Premier League match between Newcastle and Chelsea at Tyneside.

What Avram Grant might do now is perhaps look to the future beyond this live commentary and live streaming radio telecast English Premier League match between Newcastle and Chelsea as if he believes he will still be manager of Chelsea next season, he will need to look for a fresh batch of players to replace the likes of Didier Drogba and possibly Frank Lampard who could all move elsewhere and the bid for Lionel Messi might set hearts and paces alight but the truth is that it is unlikely Barcelona will let the Argentinian wizard move. Without Ronaldinho and Messi, Barcelona would likely deteriorate further unless they manage to get Jose Mourinho who can install robots in Barcelona and they will still win, although it might be a different situation for the home fans as they prefer dramatic high scoring action such as in a live online streaming Newcastle United vs Liverpool game. But for the moment, the Blues have to concentrate on this live commentary and live streaming TV broadcast English Premier League match between Newcastle and Chelsea and try to win their last away game in order to make this title race looking close.

5/4/2008 English Premier League Live - Newcastle United vs Reading

It's all joy and happiness at Tyneside now with Kevin Keegan close to justifying his Messiah tag but it will have to continue with another win in this live commentary and radio broadcast English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Reading in order for him to have a permanent tag around his neck with that term otherwise it would just be another temporary relief for the long suffering Newcastle fans before another season of woe befalls them in 2008/2009. The manner in which the team fashioned the win last week against Spurs was spectacular, and certainly not something that most people would have expected after weeks and months of terrible football and even worse defending. To show how different the display was from a typical Newcastle outing this season, even Nicky Butt scored, and Obafemi Martins was fantastic in his solo goal against the mighty Spurs after a brilliant long pass.

Relegation is almost a distant memory now but if they trip in this live commentary and TV telecast English Premier League game between Newcastle United and Reading and the other teams in the relegation battle were to pick up points this week, then it might be another harrowing weekend next week although honestly, it would be akin to winning the jackpot if Newcastle were to really go down this season, such are the chances for them to be in that position. Reading were in a similar position just a few weeks back but have quietly gone about their business and are also another team that look safe at this stage of the season and are actually in good condition for this live commentary and live streaming radio broadcast English Premier League match between Newcastle United and Reading and they will want to snatch at least a point off Kevin Keegan's side to continue their good form. Steve Coppell has managed to get out of one of the worst runs he has experienced with any club in his long managerial career and must breathe a sigh of relief after having spent months not getting the results he would have hoped for with many different tactics and strategies but they have all finally paid off and in time to I must say as they prepare for this live commentary and live streaming TV telecast EPL matchup between Newcastle United and Reading as the long season winds down and the more deserving teams are starting to pull their act together and make a concerted attempt to stay in the EPL.

22/3/2008 English Premier League - Newcastle United vs Fulham

Kevin Keegan has raised the stakes with this live online radio commentary match between Newcastle United and Fulham in the English Premier League by telling the media and everyone that would listen that it was worth more than a six pointer and if they were not to win the game, the season would quickly go downhill for the club. This might place a lot of pressure on his players and given their continued poor performance, it might be interesting to see what kind of effect Keegan's cries might have on his team. For the fans watching this game between Newcaste and Fulham live, it might be a nail biting affair knowing that their team really cannot afford to drop any more points at home, and in fact, have to win them all or face the dreaded drop down to the League Championship, where a club of Newcastle's stature will be loathe to spend even more time in. A lot will depend on players like Michael Owen and Mark Viduka, whether they will stand up to be counted and play their hearts out for a club which has stuck through them and paid them big pay packets despite their lack of results.

Roy Hodgson enjoyed a sweet home win last week against Everton but games like this live online radio commentary fixture between Newcastle United and Fulham are the ones that will really make the difference come the end of the season. Assuming all the relegation threatened teams win their home games, then those who get results from their away games will stand out on top and that is what Hodgson will be aiming for with Fulham today. Knowing that they face a team struggling for any sort of form will also provide them with some encouragement, but a wounded tiger becomes more dangerous than one happy with its lot. Brian McBride will once again be depended on to lead the line for Fulham in this live online radio commentary match between Newcastle United and Fulham and if the team can play as disciplined as they did last week, there will be a good chance of them getting at least a share of the spoils. Newcastle has been shaky and nervous for months now, and the key would be to put them under intense pressure at the start and try to score an early goal.

17/3/2008 English Premier League - Birmingham vs Newcastle

Birmingham looks to pile on the pressure for Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan in this live online commentary and radio broadcast English Premier League clash between Birmingham and Newcastle and in the process put some daylight between themselves and the relegation threatened pack. What would happen if Birmingham were to win this game, as expected, is that Newcastle will then find themselves staring at a real possibility of playing their football in the League Championship next season, if they have not already woken up to that possibility. On current form, Birmingham has gotten better results and performances compared to Newcastle and Kevin Keegan appears to be out of his depth in his second managerial spell at Tyneside. The additional burden of being saddled with a bunch of under performing or just plain bad players have also not helped his cause but his lack of understanding or acceptance of modern soccer strategy has led to him trapping himself in a corner. It would be hard to imagine that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will tolerate more of this sorry state of affairs at the club and already rumours of him abandoning Newcastle have surfaced.

Birmingham have no such problems and the whole club, manager and team are all concentrating on one goal this season and that is to avoid relegation, continuing with another three valuable points from this live online commentary and live TV English Premier League soccer match between Birmingham and Newcastle. Most of the media focus has been on Martin Taylor's horrible tackle on Eduardo which have put the Croatian striker out of action for close to a year, which might incidentally take some heat and pressure off the other players while they try to score some vital points in order to move away from the chasing pack. This live online commentary and live TV match between Birmingham and Newcastle could rightly be called a relegation six pointer as with a win, Birmingham can leapfrog over Newcastle and move nearer the mid table position, while Newcastle could get some breathing space if they win it instead. However, with Birmingham at home and Newcastle absolutely dreadful away, all signs point to the Tyneside club being asked the questions tonight and perhaps another step towards the beginning of the end for both club and manager.

EPL 9/2/2008 - Aston Villa vs Newcastle

This live commentary and play by play soccer match in the English Premier League between two rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle should be a hotly contested and interesting one as one team is flying high at the moment while the other is still struggling despite having a supposed messiah arrive at the club. Aston Villa did not do so well last week when they got beat by an inferior team and lost new England recruit Gabriel Agbonlahor to injury and he will be missing for quite a number of matches due to this and that deprives Aston Villa of a lot of pace for their frontline in this live radio broadcast match as Jon Carew may be big, experienced and has a finishing touch but he sure as hell does not have the pace anymore at his age. But Aston Villa is a determined team that plays together and they will be playing in front of their own fans at home in front of a live global audience so you can be sure that they will play hard and go for Newcastle's throat, especially since Newcastle has been struggling for years.

Despite Kevin Keegan's arrival as the new Newcastle manager in a live commentary and TV telecast soccer game and fans were hoping for a miraculous turnaround, Newcastle still find themselves struggling to create any chances, score any goals and even worse, win any points. They are dropping straight down to the English Championship if they are not careful about it, and without buying any good player of note in the January transfer window, they are open to dangerous bad results. Obafemi Martins is back from the African Nations Cup to lead the Newcastle strikeforce as the crooked midget lookalike Michael Owen is still firing blanks on most cases despite scoring last weekend. It might provide more firepower with Martins' return but it might do nothing, considering how Obafemi Martins was firing blanks anyway in the African Nations Cup and leading Nigeria to defeat.

This live commentary and radio broadcast English Premier League game between Aston Villa and Newcastle might look hard to call considering you have two teams of repute and two managers of even greater repute. However, it is really very simple and you cannot honestly see anything beyond an Aston Villa win and a resounding one at that. Newcastle still looks disgustingly disorganised even in last week's live commentary and TV telecast game and this would be a great weakness against an organised and well drilled team in Aston Villa. Quite simply nothing less than a two goal victory for Aston Villa over Newcastle.

EPL 3/2/2008 - Newcastle vs Middlesbrough

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan will continue in this live commentary and radio broadcast soccer game in the English Premier League between Newcastle and Middlesbrough to try to revive the flagging fortunes of the once proud Tyneside team. However, he will have his hands full as most of his players are second rate and despite the return to the team from suspension of the one player that might have some creativity in his play Emre of Turkey, he might still struggle to provide any attacking flair to this team made up mostly of workhorses who have gone past their use by date such as Nicky Butt and Alan Smith and Mark Viduka and Michael Owen. Mark Viduka is the worst of the lot as he is one big lazy guy who should not even be plying his trade anymore in the English Premier League but managers who try to rely on ex players have fallen for his money grubbing ways. Michael Owen will soon be headed his way as well as he has made no real effort in recovering from his injury and regaining his old form and it appears that the guy is already contented with life and just waiting to grow old and spend his money at the race tracks.

Middlesbrough on the other hand continues to chug along in this live commentary and TV telecast soccer game in the English Premier League against Newcastle as Gareth Southgate has shown some wheeling and dealing and gotten a striker from the Dutch League Alves as he becomes another manager trying to emulate Alex Ferguson in finding the next Dutch League big thing who might be able to replicate Nistelrooy's success previously. But we all know the Dutch League is actually semi professional in nature for teams other than the top few and it is easier to score goals there. But we shall see how good Alves is, if he gets to play in the first place. That said, Middlesbrough might not struggle as they have let go Woodgate to Tottenham but since Southgate believes he has capable replacements we shall see how Middlesbrough performs after this.

It is hard to pick a winner in this live commentary and radio broadcast soccer game in the English Premier League between Newcastle and Middlesbrough but since Newcastle is at home in front of their adoring fans who are just as culpable for the team's failures, they might have a chance against Middlesbrough especially since the away team has suffered some losses in personnel. However, Newcastle is short on confidence since they have struggled to win or get any goals but you must remember they were facing current league leaders Arsenal twice in the last three games and it is never easy to get anything from that team. We should have an entertaining live commentary and TV telecast English Premier League soccer match tonight between Newcastle and Middlesbrough with maybe many goals but you might get none too seeing as how both teams are currently struggling to score.

EPL 29/1/2008 - Arsenal vs Newcastle

In this midweek English Premier League live commentary and play by play soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium, it will be the second encounter between the two teams within a matter of days as they played each other over the weekend in the FA Cup, in which Arsenal triumphed and coasted to an easy 3-0 victory with in-form striker Adebayour scoring two goals and setting up another. Kevin Keegan's second coming as the Newcastle messiah looks set to be totally flat as he struggles to cope with a side devoid of quality and with mediocrity the byword as a result of Sam Allardyce's questionable transfer buys. Arsenal are still without many of their key players but whichever team they choose to field tonight, it should still have the main lynchpins of Fabregas and Almunia and they should still not have too many problems with Newcastle.

Newcastle on the other hand are desperate enough to consider playing Joey Barton after being allowed out on bail but even then it hardly looks as if the enfant terrible will make any difference to Kevin Keegan's side in this crucial English Premier League live commentary and radio broadcast soccer match. In fact, it might be a crunch match already for Keegan in just his second EPL match in charge - if Newcastle loses again, the reality will set in and the fans should start to realise however much you wish to watch beautiful attacking soccer, if the team you have is rubbish, you will get rubbish. While some of the blame would have to be laid at Allardyce's feet, much of the fault also goes to the Newcastle regime which have allowed too many mediocre players to be bought and rot in the club. As a result, it would be a good result at the end of the season if Keegan were to bring the team away from relegation troubles. Remember, Kevin Keegan did not do that well at Manchester City anyway.

We expect some more goals in this English Premier League live commentary and radio broadcast soccer match between Arsenal and Newcastle. While a live TV telecast might be in order, the consolation is the thought that Arsenal should romp to another fine victory and apply continued pressure on Manchester United, or face the thought of the Red Devils running away with the English Premier League title again. An Arsenal victory in this live commentary and radio broadcast soccer match no less.

FA Cup 26/1/2008 - Arsenal vs Newcastle

This pulsating live commentary and play by play soccer match in the FA Cup today between two English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Newcastle will be a monumental battle as both teams seek to climb out of disappointment and despair they had dug themselves into. Arsenal look to put their Carling Cup semi final disappointing loss and thrashing to North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur by overwhelming Newcastle and go into the next round of the FA Cup. They also try to put behind scenes of dissention between their own players in particular Adebayour, Bendtner and Gallas by showing a united front and winning the game. The truth is, while Adebayour can be quite an arrogant individual seeing as how he thinks he has replaced Thierry Henry, Bendtner looks like a crazed skinhead himself. The young Danish striker is also said to have an attitude problem and if he thinks he has already made it in soccer, then Arsene Wenger will have no hesitation in getting rid of him, since he obviously prefers African players for their athleticism.


Newcastle themselves hope to ride on their new messiah Kevin Keegan's momentum and achieve what could be a shocker of a result by beating Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in this live commentary and radio broadcast and TV telecast FA Cup match. It will be a shock because Newcastle are no longer a force in football at the moment and can be categorised as also-rans. Unless Keegan can steady the ship, stop the injuries, and get some decent footballers in, they will continue to be so with or without Keegan's flowing football. Any team that has Nicky Butt and Alan Smith together in a midfield smacks of destructive football and that would normally help to get some results except for the fact that one has faded after initial promises after leaving Manchester United, while the other is nothing but a hooligan who often plays without any brains.


Due to the fact that Kevin Keegan has not gotten any new reinforcements for this live FA Cup commentary game, and that they still struggled in their previous league game last week at home against of all teams Bolton Wanderers, it would be difficult for Newcastle to get any result from this game. The likely outcome is that Arsenal will hardly move out of second gear and score a convincing two or three goal victory. Unless Keegan can inspire his team sufficiently well enough and perhaps get a draw to bring it back home, otherwise they are in danger of getting buried by a young Arsenal team looking to recover from their mid week trauma. Still, you never know if Arsene Wenger will field his best team, so it might be that this FA Cup live commentary and radio broadcast game might give us an upset result as well.

EPl 19/1/2008 - Newcastle vs Bolton

This must be the live commentary and play by play live radio broadcast and tv telecast that everyone is waiting for tonight in the English Premier League (EPL) between Newcastle and Bolton. It is the second coming of the Newcastle messiah Kevin Keegan after having been appointed the new Newcastle manager and all fans on Tyneside and waiting in anticipation and bated breath for the return of beautiful football as how it is supposed to be played - fantasy attacking soccer with the intention to score more goals than the opposition to win instead of scoring one and defending like your life depends on it which is not what Newcastle fans want to watch after paying their hard earned money after a long week at work. They want to be entertained and so do we football fans and Kevin Keegan is the man for the job. Even though he has shown time and again his naivety in modern football but the man knows what the fans want and that is beautiful attacking football with lots of goals and drama.

Bolton will be at the end of the stick and in this live commentary and radio broadcast they will have no chance against the Mighty Mouse Kevin Keegan. Even though Newcastle misses multiple key players out through suspension and international duty from the African Nations Cup but I believe Keegan has the motivational prowess and skill to galvanise his squad and he might have pulled a masterstroke by naming Michael Owen as captain. You never know if it might work but who knows anyway it might be the move that actually finally revives the little man's flagging career and injury problems. Let us hope and pray that we see Owen inspired and play to his potential again by leading Newcastle to a resounding win over Bolton.

I have nothing much to say about Bolton they are a hardworking team and hard to beat but Gary Megson is a manager and man that most fans hate because you know he is only out for money. He left his previous club after only a very very short time there because Bolton offered him more money. You can bet Bolton will do their best to spoil the party tonight but I hope not and that Newcastle fans will come out in numbers and roar their team to victory. In fact, I do hope Bolton goes down only because you hate to play against a spoiling team like them and you will see that in full view again during the live commentary and live telecast game tonight between Newcastle and Bolton.

FA Cup 16/1/2008 - Newcastle vs Stoke

Given that this live commentary and play by play will be held at Newcastle's home ground against Stoke in the FA Cup, it should not come as a surprise that most would believe Newcastle to win comfortably despite their problems. However, the news is that Newcastle have even more problems for this match and that's speaking a lot considering how they got absolutely buried at Old Trafford over the weekend. Caretaker manager Nigel Pearson has virtually half the first team out through injury, suspension or unavailability due to the African Nations Cup. Included among the usual stalwarts missing are Alan Smith, Nicky Butt, Ab Faye, Geremi and Martins. However, it might not make much of a difference seeing how the team struggled even with these players included.

Stoke did well in forcing a draw in the first meeting against Newcastle, and it was seen during the live match telecast that they caused Newcastle all sorts of problems and were unlucky not to cause a major upset. However, tonight might see them get that chance again and it would be an even bigger result due to Stoke playing away, even if Newcastle is currently engulfed in a major crisis.

Highlights EPL 12/1/2008 - Manchester United vs Newcastle

6 goals for Manchester United vs Newcastle was what I predicted and how it actually ended up as these soccer EPL highlights will show you. Newcastle were horrible and had no answer to Alex Ferguson's half-time rant as his charges ran the Tyneside cardboard 'toons ragged in the second half. Now I am going to put my money on Manchester United winning the EPL for sure they are virtually unstoppable the only way they can lose is if they decide to have an orgy party so as to get some naughty kid to Sunderland and watch them lose even more. I am also going to put my money on Ronaldo winning the top scorer award and title in the EPL as he makes scoring look easy now even easier than crossing a soccer ball which we all know he's no good in. This Manchester United team makes playing soccer look so easy it is hilarious. Even the Korean Park Ji Sung looks good playing in the soccer team when we all know he is nothing more than a hardworking utility player. But the best example of how successful Alex Ferguson's system is when you have a horrid player like Darren Fletcher stay in the squad and sometimes play in the team because he is Scottish and stays there to collect medals without doing much when he should just go to another team for regular first team football but he can still be Scotland captain as a Manchester United reserve so why bother? Now for the highlights:

So now that you have seen the highlights of the EPL 12/1/2008 game between Manchester United and Newcastle, if you are still a Newcastle fan, I guess you will be having nightmares from now till you get a decent manager who can achieve results immediately. Now that could be asking for something more than Liverpool winning a 19th English title, wouldn't it?

EPL 12/1/2008 - Manchester United vs Newcastle

This live commentary and play by play radio telecast of the EPL game between Manchester United and Newcastle should see another nail into the coffin of the Tyneside team. We expect to see another easy win by Manchester United and perhaps 5 to 6 goals smashed in. Newcastle have no chance in hell with Sam Allardyce now gone and Nigel "Who" Pearson in temporary charge of the team. Man U TV female presenter has just made fun of Newcastle but saying that Harry Redknapp would be making a mistake joining Newcastle when Portsmouth are a bigger club than Newcastle. Now how's that for an insult!

Sit back and enjoy the live commentary and live radio telecast of the Manchester United and Newcastle game, as the Red Devils will practically tear Newcastle apart.

Newcastle New Manager Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp will be the new Newcastle manager. It takes more than a man to take up the job. You need someone crazy or supremely confident of himself. Harry Redknapp is halfway between those two. And judging from reliable sources, the bookmaking odds are that Harry Redknapp will be Newcastle manager. We all know what happened a while back when there were suspicions of odds fixing relating to his appointment at Portsmouth. This might be a similar case looking at the flow of bets going on him.

An insider from Newcastle also mentioned that the new appointment will be "British", as Harry is. Of course, that is quite a long shot, but if you align what Harry said that he was recently approached to manage a massive club but turned it down, and that former Spurs vice-chairman Paul Kemsley had recommended him to the club before Ramos was approached, and that Mike Ashley is good pals with Kemsley, then you have further strong argument for this to happen.

And finally, you have the 'Redknapp' catchphrase where you know things are developing but nobody's saying anything. "I really do not know anything about this." Yes Harry, sure. But say that you do not want the job. You didn't.

If Redknapp does become Newcastle manager, I wonder if he can continue to have the Midas touch. Of course, we all know that he's pretty nifty with bringing small unfashionable clubs like West Ham and Portsmouth to mid-table respectability, and sometimes Europe. But Newcastle is something else (and that's only because the club and fans think so). However, seeing as how Redknapp's recent transfer policy has concentrated on African flair, perhaps this could provide some sort of attacking entertainment that Tyneside demands.

Harry Redknapp the new Newcastle Manager - can you picture that?

Sam Allardyce Sacked By Newcastle

Sam Allardyce has been sacked by Newcastle and it was all predicted by the Soccer Rag when the appointment was first made. He was never ever the right choice for a club with fans still living in past glories and thinking they can play their way out of trouble and toward glorydom. Newcastle no longer has the money (despite some owners with decently deep pockets) nor the allure for established quality players to choose it as their next destination. Don't even talk to me about Michael Owen. The guy is clearly washed up and should not even be in Newcastle reserves much less the England team. If you know him from his Liverpool days, he relies solely on speed. Bad first touch, and practically everything else (now). Robbie Fowler might have been a clown, but he became God because he had everything, except a good first touch.

Now who will replace Allardyce at Newcastle? I am not sure if anyone would come close. Would Jose Mourinho be a candidate? Given his propensity for the Midas touch, perhaps the one person who could really revive this sorry club would be Mourinho. Mourinho for Newcastle manager? Seriously, can Newcastle fans accept dour but winning football? Doubtful. And after London life, I don't think Mourinho's family would fancy the grey skies of Tyneside.

Now a possible one could be Rafael Benitez. Why? No wait. He loves to pump the ball up to his strikers. No no for the cultured Newcastle football fans.

I think they might do well to ask Sir Bobby Robson back. Except that a decent guy like him should not be subjected to such a cursed seat anymore. Definitely the most jinxed and cursed seat in football - that of being Newcastle football manager.

English FA Cup 6/1/2008 - Stoke vs Newcastle

A battling performance by the strugglers from Newcastle have stayed the hand of execution on Sam Allardyce. It might actually save him the job and lead to an "Alex Ferguson", but in truth, I only see it as just some extra money for him before he finally gets booted out of the Tyneside soccer club. The simple fact is that Allardyce does not have the style that would buy Newcastle fans over, and this is a club that is really run by fans. They chase their managers out of the job before any real results could be had.

For Allardyce and his counterpart at Liverpool, most of the better players would not want to join their clubs. Torre would be an exception to the rule, but just as much as players have become mercenaries in today's game, they also know that the clubs that win trophies are the ones who can afford to pay them more. It just goes to show how much Liverpool might have wasted on average players since winning the Champions League.

FA Cup 5/1/2008 - FA Cup Magic Is Upon Us Again

Or is it? While the FA Cup will always have its place in history and we will never forget the magical moments when the giants were shot down. However, when was the last time we really saw a major upset in the FA Cup? Meaning that, a first team from one of the big EPL teams slipping on banana skins laid by the true minnows of the lower division?

The real reason why the FA Cup has lost its allure is because the leading EPL teams no longer see it as a trophy worth winning. Sure, it can be a substitute if you no longer have a chance being Champions of England (e.g. Liverpool and Chelsea). But with the Big Four consistently fielding weakened sides until the final, losing to a minnow really does not mean much of an upset except in name. After all, most of the second string sides they put out are disjointed and prone to upsets anyway. Despite this, in recent seasons, how often do you still see the four teams winning the competition come May?

However, the competition remains a temporary financial boost for the smaller clubs. What they all want is a shot at the EPL teams (unless it's Middlesbrough or Derby) with the increase gate takings and publicity. Perhaps the biggest winner this weekend would be QPR, although it would depend if London's Manchester United could see enough fans wanting to see them playing such a team. It could be the best time for them to get some goal action though, seeing as how that has dried up somewhat recently.

Much of the attention has been focused on Liverpool's Benitez and Newcastle's Big Sam as their futures are on the line. It might be safe to say that Benitez should have a walk in the park with his cup expertise (and really, he is only good at that in England) against a team hovering on extinction in Luton (who incidentally, might see this as a blessing too with a top team visiting). Sam Allardyce though, looks set for the sack. Winning this game might not be enough - he has to win it in style. If they struggle (as I expect them to), no doubt the fans would turn on the heat.

And what of Manchester United? They visit Villa Park, and in truth, another easy win on the card. But O'Neill's team has been a ninja waiting to pounce in the shadows. I smell an upset, or is it, really?

EPL 2/1/2008 - Newcastle vs Manchester City

If Newcastle cannot beat the worst away team in the English Premier League next to Derby, Big Sam should get the sack and the team should be relegated. Yes, Liverpool didn't beat Manchester City either, but they had Elano in the team and they were at home. The Blues are dreadful away and their influential playmaker might be benched for a rest (Sven seems to be looking for his lost England touch), while world-class striker Emile Mpenza could be slated for a return?

Newcastle needs enfant terrible Joey Barton back in the team for an injection of hooligan heat - without him they can huff and puff all they want but even three little pigs could blow a house down faster than a crocked Michael Owen and bumbling Martins.

Big Sam has been exposed - it's a good thing he would never be considered for the England post. There are too many English managers like him - excel with average, budget-constrained teams because there are no high expectations, and then flop disastrously when they get all the money they want once hired by a larger and higher profile club. The reason is obvious - they are not good judges of quality players.

Anyway, that said, looks for Newcastle to come out storming for the first half and take a comfortable lead before getting rocked by Manchester City. Still, I can see the Magpies squeaking out a home win.

EPL 29/12/2007 - Chelsea vs Newcastle

In a game that has already been hailed widely as Sam Allardyce's last game as Newcastle manager (those media guys are always at it - why read them when you can read the Soccer Rag?), facing Chelsea tonight at Stamford Bridge could in fact be Big Sam's defining moment in becoming the most successful Newcastle manager in recent times.

And why not? Chelsea are shorn of their 'Special Spine' with Drogba, Terry and now Lampard out of the team through injury. Add to that they have basically a backup defensive line playing and you can start to see the first home EPL defeat for Chelsea in ages.

div>And Tal Ben Haim might play. Big Sam would know how to break him (if he's not already broken) - perhaps that quicksilver Obafemi Martins could run a few rings round the leaden footed Israeli.

We know by now that Chelsea won't have much of a team tonight and Essien should play in defence (if Avram is really a football manager), but the Tyneside circus act hardly seems better off. Barton continues to clamour for a jail cell and Michael Owen remains sitting on the bench laughing his way to the bank as clubs like Newcastle still think he can play football. But what makes you wonder is why hasn't Big Sam ignored all naysayers and put his Bolton blueprint in place? Newcastle isn't any much better in terms of attractive football (they only contribute to the goals conceded department) so getting results first should be first and foremost.

The problem with Newcastle is the fans. They should stop getting on the team and back them instead, bad play or not. Let Big Sam put in players in the mold of Kevin Davies and Nolan. After all, Newcastle does not belong in the Big Four of English soccer so attractive soccer really isn't for them anymore.


No defenders at Stamford Bridge, no real good players at Newcastle. This usually means goals goals goals but there're also strikers with the calibre of Shevchenko so you wonder. Still, a little flutter on over the total should provide some excitement.

Allardyce Learns What It's Like To Be At Big Club

Sam Allardyce has made his managerial career with a small club like Bolton. His teams have been the model of 'anti-football' as Lionel Messi would claim - tight defensive units with long balls pumped forward to unsettle any defence with terrier-like strikers that aim more to irritate than to entertain.

When he was dismissed from England reckoning due to his link with transfer dealing scandals, the big Englishman was indignant on his treatment. In truth, he realised that being at an unfancied club like Bolton would never look good on his resume. When the chance at Newcastle came, he jumped on it, hoping that it'd bring him more recognition of his abilities.

Little did he realise that choosing the right 'big club' to be at would matter more than just going to any, especially one that is clearly riding on past glories. And with results not going his way, he now faces an uphill task to build on his achievements at Bolton. He has also realised that decisions do not often go the way of bigger clubs just because they are... well, bigger.

Allardyce would complain no end at Bolton - cursing their lack of luck at big decisions. Bolton was a small unfancied club that no one liked, he said. Who would give them a penalty? Instead, they often get penalised for fouls that big clubs get away with, according to him.

So moving to Newcastle should help with that. Those thousands of decisions that went against him should disappear right now.

Well, Newcastle went down to Reading last night in the EPL, and Allardyce bemoaned his club's luckless attempt to get a penalty when Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann collided with Michael Owen.

Unfortunately, being at a club like Newcastle, big while it might be (in a certain part of England), it is also mighty unpopular.

How about joining Manchester United's backroom staff, Allardyce?