July-August 2010

Well, our return to the Premier League was upon us, we had been handed two tough fixtures on paper to start with, Man Utd away followed by Aston Villa at home. From now and till the end of the season I will be reviewing each month in the Premier League. I don't expect many comments but I hope you enjoy the read, and I hope it brings back some good memories.

We started our pre-season away at Carlisle, Andy Carroll had been given the number 9 and we had only signed James Perch and Peter Lovenkrands. A very poor first half was put down to it being the first pre-season game, but in the second half, mostly reserves came out and finished the job, with goals from Best, Ranger and Vuckic.

NUFC then travelled to Norwich, with rumours going round that Hatem Ben Arfa was close to signing on loan for NUFC. We faced a 2-1 defeat at Norwich, another poor performance, Ameobi grabbing the equaliser at the time.

We then faced PSV Eindhoven at home, and this was when we realised that our squad needed adding to. A poor first half performance, going 2-0 down was worrying. The second half however, NUFC pulled it back to 2-2 with goals from Ryan Taylor and Leon Best, it finished at that and rumours had slowed down about Ben Arfa.

NUFC then travelled to Deportivo and won the Trofeo Teresa Herrera on penalties. On the Saturday after the game we travelled to Ibrox to face Rangers. 4000 Newcastle fans made the trip and made a lot of noise. Rangers won the game 2-1, going 2-0 up before former Rangers star Peter Lovenkrands brought one back. The team that started this game was to be the team that played at Manchester United just over a week later, we were far from convinced and were rather worried about the coming season, as we hadn't added anyone of significance to the squad.

We were hoping to wrap up the Ben Arfa signing before Manchester United away, the player travelled to Tyneside to try and wrap up the deal himself as he refused to train with Marseille. Back on the old 606, we were going wild every day, mixed emotions every time. Very good work from those who had friends in France and those who were translating anything that had Hatem Ben Arfa and Newcastle in the same paragraph, it was stressful but a lot of fun!

After everyone had played over the weekend, Blackpool winning their first game 4-0, Chelsea winning 6-0 against West Brom, we had to wait till the Monday to travel to the North West, but away we went. 1800 NUFC fans made the trip, we started well and were controlling Man Utd, Carroll missing a sitter. But then we just lost it, 2 first half goals from Man Utd killed the game, and Giggs with a great volley wrapping it up just before the end. We didn't read too much into it as it was Man Utd away, but we were criticised a lot in the media, most pundits tipping us to go down...

August 22nd, my birthday, Aston Villa at home. Revenge was on the cards for the vile taunts we had to suffer when the relegated us. It was still the same team that played at Man Utd. We didn't start well, giving away a penalty which John Carew blasted over, and as someone pointed out yesterday, his shot finally landed in Pakistan, hitting the hide and seek champion of the world 2001-2011 and killing him. And then, 2 minutes later, our season started, Barton bang, Nolan tap in, Carroll half volley into the bottom corner, Carroll bang, Nolan tap in, Carroll cool as you like! SIX NIL! Revenge was certainly sweet and we were back, back with a bang, and good bye to the Tash's of a few NUFC players.

Finally a breakthrough in the transfer market! But only after we knocked Accrington Stanley out of the League Cup with a 3-2 win, Ryan Taylor with a screamer and Lovenkrands and Ameobi getting the other 2, we avoided an upset infront of the SKY Cameras.

SIGNINGS! Cheik Tiote signed for £4m from Dutch Champions FC Twente, a defensive midfielder that nobody knew anything about. We knew he was a bruiser, but we didn't know what to expect. And finally, the man arrived, Hatem Ben Arfa signed on the morning of Wolves away on a season long loan, fantastic!!

Wolves away, we started well, had plenty of chances but just couldn't score and in typical Newcastle fashion, we went 1-0 down through Ebanks-Blake just before the half end. Second half came and we got a free kick on the left. Barton swung it in and there was Carroll with a fantastic header just inside the post which sent the travelling Toon Army wild. A 1-1 draw was fair, and we would have taken that beforehand.

NUFC were back in the PL, and the best was yet to come...

 

Good read, cheers. have some (attempted)Rep.

 

REP, enjoyed reading that!

 

I'll attempt some rep. Good article

Your birthday is the day before mine!

 

We are the coolest!

 

Not forgetting the introduction of RIP Barton's Tash.

 

actuelly i believe we signed tiote for 3.3 million.

 

Don't tell Tiote on me!

 

I'm telling, I'm telling!

 

Great read, brought good memories back

 

RIP Leazes

 

It's been nice knowing you, Tiote is at the door.

 

Before he destroys you can you ask him one question?

Daddy or Chips?

My life will never be complete until I know the answer to this magical question.

Hope he's quick.

Regards.

OT and Family.

 

Chips

 

Rep'd simply for taking the time to write such a masterpiece and having a birthday in August like Moi

 

Travel a bit:

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Eat calves brain:

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Get married:

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Find answer to Daddy or Chips:

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Put my head in between Cheryl Coles breasts and go 'blub blub blub':

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Not much left to do now.

Anyone know where Cheryl can be gotten?

 

Apparently she's at Ashley's.

 

Good read, enjoyed it! Great month.