So, there could have a better weekend to have skipped out on, yes? Ah well. Here's to the Toon for extending their unbeaten run at to start the season! I didn't get to watch the match, so I'll have to abstain from much more comment on it, but suffice it to say, unbeaten is good.
I have taken a bit to dig through the last several days-- you may have seen a lot of these links, but I'll share anyway because I'm a giver. I've no ending for this beginning, so I take a small bow. Links after the jump!
A Couple of Match Related LInks
I know that this is kind of comment du jour these days, but I don't know about you... I never get tired of hearing how great our stadium's atmosphere is.
Shola Ameobi gets off the mark – and silences United team-mates! - Black & White - Shields Gazette
Even though I couldn't watch, I was checking in on the match as often as I could through the marvel of the iPhone. . . and I couldn't have been happier for Shola. I have the same affection for Shola as others may have for Stevie Harper, and I have spent many pennies at the Wishing Well hoping for extended health for him. Never seems to work, but maybe he's getting it out of the way early this year and he'll keep the form going through the season and pour in the goals.
Premier League Winners And Losers | News
Alan Pardew just sounded churlish when he criticised the four-second delay in the award of Tottenham's penalty at St James'. If he wants to go down that route then perhaps someone should finally ask him about Steven Taylor's behaviour and his awful gamesmanship. It's all very well Taylor being praised for admitting contact with Adebayor, but why then did he continue to berate Probert after the penalty was awarded. Why did he signal on day one of the season that Gervinho had elbowed Joey Barton when he admitted afterwards that he hadn't seen anything of the sort? What was he pointing at two weeks ago when he felled Steven Hunt and pretended he had only kicked the ball? If anyone wants to pause for thought on this one, wouldn't it be great if a player was finally punished for deliberately trying to deceive a referee?
I thought that this little diatribe was an interesting counterpoint to the Steven Taylor love that has been flying around lately (not necessarily on here, but on the Stevie for England circuit)
Player Specific Pieces
I don't know that I would say "the form of his life"... but surely it's as good as he's been over a number of matches since he's been in Newcastle, don't you think?
Ameobi deserves a better reputation, insists Newcastle boss - Black & White - Shields Gazette
For my thoughts, see Shola link above.
Ben Arfa ready to start – Pardew - Black & White - Jarrow and Hebburn Gazette
ALAN Pardew has warned Wigan Athletic that he could unleash Hatem Ben Arfa from the start when they visit St James’s Park.
UNLEASH THE HATEM!
Football | Euro 2012 | Pardew gives Trapattoni his Best | ESPNSTAR.com
This link is a little older, but is a counterpoint to the Best out of Ireland squad links that were floating about during International Week.
Gabriel Obertan says future is bright at NUFC - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive
More spirit and belief. . . It may be the cliche of the new season, but as long as it keeps us flying high in the league, I'm all-in.
Club Specific Links
The gift and the curse of Newcastle United – Telegraph Blogs
This is a bit longer of a read, but well worth the time. It investigates how the start to the season has affected different facets of the club, among other things.
Philippe Albert: Foreign stars reignited NUFC - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive
One of the best things about The Entertainers match and some of our legends Coming Home was that they have been re-opened as resources and quotes in everyday type writing. Either that, or Lee Ryder was quite industrious during the 24 hours he got to spend with those gentlemen a couple of weekends ago.
NUFC board release new mission statement - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive
A new mission statement has been issued by the board- I'm not certain that anything that they say here hasn't been spoken or written elsewhere, but now it's written down, so it's International Law. If you don't know the policies regarding player recruitment and whatnot, you should check this out.
"But for us as a club rash, short-term spending is not the answer and the days of Newcastle acquiring ‘trophy’ signings who command huge salaries for past successes on the pitch are over. "Such players have generated excitement and anticipation in the past but ultimately have left the club poorer and with little to show for it in terms of our standing in the league and cup competitions.
Things That Will Now Keep Me Up At Night And I Would Rather Not Think About But Now Can't Stop
The Cheick Of It: Can Toon Keep Tiote? | F365 Says
So uh, yeah. Let us just go ahead and keep Cheik, okay? OK.
Foreign owners seek end of Premier League relegation - thestar.com
Please please please please please please please please please please please please pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaase never let this happen. Seriously. I believe that as a supporter of a club that has recently suffered relegation, I should be all about this as we are currently in the top flight, but let me assure you that an end to promotion/relegation would cause a grievous injure to the supporter/club relationship. If I see word of this again, it may be that there is a call.. nay, a NEED for action. I trust you'll be with me.