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Tuesday... not as maligned as Monday as it's not the start of the average work week... not as celebrated as Wednesday as it's not the tipping point of the week heading to the weekend. It's really kind of a worthless day... so let's skip it. Well... except for the part where we can't, it sounded like a good idea. Let's celebrate the glory that is Tuesday with some news. Who would have guessed that many of the stories today were derby related?
United were twice ahead through Michael Hoganson and JJ Hooper against Blackburn at St James’ Park last night, but the game required a penalty shoot-out to determine the identity of the semi-finalists. However, misses from Ben Sayer, Hooper and Hoganson resulted in a 3-0 win on penalties for Rovers. Watson told the Chronicle: "They’ll learn from last night. They’ll learn how to hold on to a lead a bit more and how to kill a game off when 2-1 up.
The U18s FA Youth Cup run came to an end yesterday, running into a bigger, stronger Blackburn Rovers squad. The still sit 5 points clear at the top of the Northern Section of the Academy League, however... so there's that. Attendance for the FA Youth Cup match on a Monday evening at St.James' Park was 2026. As I seem to recall, that was either the number of supporters that were arsed to show up for the scum's 5th round FA Cup tie or the number of pieces of debris that were blowing around the Stadium of Shite pitch that day.
Fabricio Coloccini pledges future to Newcastle - ESPN Soccernet
"Of course I want to stay," said Coloccini when asked if he would like to be a part of those plans. "We're speaking. It's a normal process. Everything is okay."
I'm not worrying about this just yet... but it would be staggering to lose Colo, especially if we qualify for Europe.
Newcastle United Striker Papiss Cisse Withdraws From Senegal Squad - Sky Tyne and Wear
Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse has withdrawn from the Senegal squad to face South Africa in Durban on Wednesday, February 29. The decision was made as a precaution after the striker was substituted in the second half of the 2-2 draw with Wolves after picking up a minor injury.
Papiss has been withdrawn, but Cheik Tiote is still heading back to Africa for an Ivory Coast friendly. I'm not a strong club guy in the club v. country row, but haven't they had enough of Mr. Tiote's time?
Newcastle boss backs Cisse to shoot down Sunderland - Newcastle United - Shields Gazette
In any case, Pardew is confident the in-form striker will be fit to face Sunderland in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby at St James’s Park after a full week of treatment. Cisse, so far, has a 100 per cent scoring record at the stadium, having also netted on his home debut against Aston Villa. And the 26-year-old, signed from German club Freiburg for £9m last month, has also made an impression on the training pitch in his short time at United. Cisse’s touch, awareness and, above all, striker’s instinct has heartened Pardew – and his team-mates.
It's an interesting conundrum for Alan Pardew this weekend. Assuming that Papiss Cisse passes fit, do you start Double Demba against the scum? Or- do you find an (improbable) starting spot for one Shola Ameobi, who has scored roughly 12, 320, 093 goals v. the scum?
Shane Ferguson focused only on huge games ahead - NUFC News - NUFC - JournalLive
Having been at Newcastle since he was 15, Ferguson knows what to expect. He said: "There is such a buzz about this game. Since I was a youngster it has always been highlighted. "I never knew what it was about until I was 15 and I love it too. The atmosphere walking to the ground is amazing. I just cannot wait for it. "From the fans the message you get is ‘Just finish above Sunderland!’ or ‘just beat them!’ It is great, you cannot beat it!"
Shane is likely to earn a second cap with Northern Ireland this midweek, but of course the real story is he has an opinion about the derby!
'Calm heads' needed for Tyne-Wear derby - NUFC News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive
Clark believes there is no hiding place for the losers of this fixture. And with yellow cards and dismissals commonplace down the years in the Tyne-Wear derby, he feels "calm heads" are needed on the day. He said: "It’s the one that everybody wants to win, it gives you the bragging rights. "It’s the one everybody wants to be successful in. "It’s about having the desire in the game and the commitment, but also having the calm heads. "Certainly nowadays you can get yellow or red-carded for the slightest thing. "It’s important that you can keep 11 players on the pitch to try to win the game. "You have to have the fire in the belly, but your head has to be nice and calm and cool."
Ya got to have that fiiiiiiirrrre in yer belly!
Tyne-Wear derby just as intense as Milan one – Santon - Newcastle United - Shields Gazette
"I played in three Milan derbies," Santon told the Gazette. "That will help me immensely, as I know what winning the derby means. "There are 90,000 people in the San Siro, and it doesn’t get much more intense. "It’s as intense as it is here – people talk about the game weeks in advance – and the fans go crazy about the game. "The team that lose? Well, their fans are very quiet, and the fans and the players don’t leave the house for two weeks after the game. "Everybody here’s talking about it – the fans and the other players – and I just can’t wait to be part of it. I’ve been thinking of this game for a long time."
"the fans and the players don't leave the house for two weeks after the game ]if they lose]" ... seems reasonable to me!
News day 2 down. Howay the lads!