Stevenage v Hartlepool Odds

Unbeaten Stevenage and Hartlepool lock horns at Broadhall Way on Saturday in what will be the first ever meeting between the sides.

The League One new boys have adapted nicely to life in England’s third tier, winning one and drawing two of their first three games. They were also just edged out in a seven-goal thriller by Peterborough in the Carling Cup and at 9/10 are firm favourites for this one.

The visitors are also yet to taste defeat, but unlike their hosts, Mick Wadsworth’s side have been unable to notch up a victory. 53/20 are not the worst odds in the world for a side who have far greater experience at this level and will no doubt be desperate to register that first win.

Pools held much-fancied Huddersfield last time out and the draw at 23/10 looks a pretty tasty option. Furthermore, Stevenage failed to hit the back of the net in their opening-day home draw with Exeter and a 0-0 at 3/2 or under 1.5 goals at 7/4 could both have some value in them.

An impressive 3-1 away victory for Boro over last year’s play-off semi-finalists Bournemouth on Tuesday made a few people stand up and take notice, with manager Graham Westley admitting he was proud and delighted with their first three points. A similar performance is not guaranteed, of course, but a £10 bet on the same scoreline in their clash with Hartlepool would pocket you a cool £160.

Even though Stevenage have one of the best first-half records in the league, don’t be surprised to see the boys from the north-east take the lead in this one. However, as they proved twice against MK Dons, betting on them to keep a hold of it may not be the safest option in the world. With that in mind, Hartlepool to be leading at half-time and Stevenage to be winning at full-time may just be worth a sneaky few quid at tempting odds of 25/1.

Alternatively, you could open a bwin account, use your £25 free bet on this outcome and pocket a tidy £650 if it materialises.

Gabri-El of a Signing

Gabri-El of a Signing

Thursday, 11 August 2011 09:10 Michael Weightman

Monday saw Newcastle complete their fifth signing of the summer transfer window as Gabriel Obertan ended his two year spell at Old Trafford by joining the Mags on a five year deal. It was a transfer that took fans from both sides by surprise and had a large number of Red Devils questioning why their club had let a talented youngster go.

However there were probably just as many Black and Whites wondering why he was brought in, especially when we are crying out for a centre forward and left back. The player himself certainly has something to prove after playing a bit-pat role over the last couple of years and it’s this hunger and desire that could make him a very shrewd acquisition.

Replacement

The way for any team to evolve is to make sure that those players coming in are better than those on their way out and those already there. With the exception of perhaps Joey Barton, it would be fair to say that Obertan is as good if not better than any of our other wingers. He has genuine Champions League experience and has been learning alongside the likes of Nani, Giggs and Valencia over the last two years. He may simply have not been given a fair crack of the whip at Man Utd and let’s not forget Fergie doesn’t always get it right, just ask Rossi and Forlan.

Furthermore after receiving £2million for a 26 year old Wayne Routledge, who has proved on numerous occasions that he can’t cut it at the top level, putting faith in a talented, hungry 22 year old is exactly the sort of business we should be doing.

Pace

The Gaffer has continually said that this is one element he is desperate to add to the team and it’s something Obertan has in abundance. Added to this the sharpness of Marveaux and Ben Arfa plus the energy of Tiote and Gosling and it really looks like a fresher and more mobile Newcastle midfield. It’s the main thing that frightens defenders and even those with lesser ability can compensate by simply having a quick pair of heels. Cast your mind back to the Robson era and remember the pace that ran though that side. The likes of Dyer, Bellamy, Robert, Lua Lua et al weren’t the greatest players ever to play in the league but their energy and speed frightened oppositions. If this could be re-created in the current crop of players then the Obertan addition could prove very valuable indeed.

Is he needed?

It’s most definitely a question that needs answering; with Jonas, Joey and Marveaux already at the club is a winger really the sort of player we should be going for. He won’t have any trouble fitting in being the fifth French speaking player to arrive this summer but there’s at least one of those who he’ll be battling with for a place in the starting line up. Given the injury problems encountered by both Marveaux and Ben Arfa it seems like sensible planning to bring in a similar sort of player and when all are fit it really does look like and tantalising  proposition.

Who next

Undoubtedly all us are hoping that there’s at least another couple of signings on the way and, keeping with the theme from earlier, that one of them is a pacey striker. If Obertan though does prove to be our final signing of the summer then questions need to be asked. However if the other faces do arrive then it has to be said that the Toon have bought a very good player, at a very good age and paid a very good price. He may not have shown what he was all about at Man Utd but there was certainly glimpses that made you stand up take notice. It’s this excitement and trickery that we are all hoping Ober-can show in Black and White.

Joey Barton: remedy on the field, poison off the field

Joey Barton: remedy on the field, poison off the field

Wednesday, 03 August 2011 20:22 Michael Weightman

So the offer of a free transfer away from the club seems to have done little to reduce the ill-feeling between Joey Barton and the board.

The player is still Tweeting to his heart’s content, calling in help from the likes of George Orwell for that inspirational quote. Whereas the board and club are doing what simply comes natural to them and saying nothing at all.

After the initial shock of the announcement, us fans have had a day or so to really digest what has gone on. A period of reflection, much like a jury being dismissed to make their decision, and similarly now it may also be time for a judgement.

Assistant boss John Carver claimed after last night’s friendly with Gateshead that morale was still high in the club. But with Barton suggesting via Twitter this morning that he may be prepared to stick around - it all points to more disharmony in the club only days before the start of a new campaign.

Team Harmony

The whole fiasco has once again taken focus away from our prime objective - making sure we are ready for the start of the season. Still at least two players short of a healthy squad and some unconvincing pre-season performances to our name, the Barton/Board feud now has us splashed all over the press. You also have to wonder what any potential signings are thinking about the way the club is being run and if it really is the best place for them to progress their careers.  It seems a far cry from the harmonious spirit we had this time last season, when all seemed to be pulling in the same direction.

What a Twit

There’ll be many a fan, not just in Newcastle, but across the footballing world that was delighted to see a footballer telling it how it is. A person brave enough to banish the banal response or the stock answer we normally come to expect. No doubting for the Toon Army it was a much needed insight into the running of our club and re-affirms the believe that he is one of those that cares.

Nevertheless, he is the employee and the club is the employer; a structure that has to be respected. Regardless of personal feeling, publicly biting the hand that feeds you is never going to be tolerated, especially from an owner as headstrong as Mike Ashley.

It was an easy to fight to pick and was always going to gather momentum given the delicate relationship between the fans and the owner. However after choosing to start it, there was only ever going to be one winner.

And this seems to be a common occurrence amongst the football alumni, Tweeting before thinking. Jose Enrique felt the sharp end of Alan Pardew’s tongue after announcing on the site that he wouldn’t be playing at Spurs last year. Ryan Babel stupidly put up a picture of Howard Webb in a Man Utd shirt just hours after his side’s defeat again the Red Devils. It seems as though footballers think they are above the law and there is no repercussion for their actions. They are paid to talk on the pitch and in Barton’s case that exactly where Newcastle United needs him. The whole thing was so brilliantly summed up by @LongBeachToon on Twitter in response to Barton’s comments who said : “@Joey7Barton agree with everything u said but mate u just put #NUFC in a difficult position. What did u think was going to happen?”

Is He Irreplaceable?

Even though Barton’s form last season cannot be argued, the previous three in a black and white shirt left much to be desired.  David Pleat said on TalkSPORT this morning that he could not believe Barton was causing so much of a fuss as ‘we are hardly talking about a Maradona‘.  Maybe a tad harsh because as leading goal maker in our side he could be seen as just as valuable. Yet credence must be given to this opinion; if based on purely on football ability, much like Nolan, Barton could be replaced. However the one thing that is difficult to replace, again much like our former captain, is the desire he shows for the cause and the pride they both admitting to feeling when pulling on those black and white stripes.

Conclusion

Therefore, looking at it purely from a business point of view- if you have a disruptive employee, who publicly criticises the hierarchy then unfortunately there’s only ever going to be one outcome.

Joey though is thinking like a fan, desperate to get the club back amongst the best and personally hurt when he sees it going in the wrong direction. Nevertheless fans are not on the club’s payroll and can quite rightly can voice their opinion on all matters, as they have no responsibility to consider the implications of what they say. Barton on the other hand does and it’s the crossing of this line on too many occasions that has ultimately seen his downfall.

Perhaps though we can take one small crumb of comfort; even though there is no evident sign, the board are aware and are listening to criticism. Whether they choose to accept it is another matter all together. However allowing a player to run amok cannot be tolerated and leaving the last word to sports journalist with the Journal & Evening Chronicle Mark Douglas: “No winners in Barton situation but he sealed his fate with his belligerent attitude over last 6 months.”

#enoughsaid

Alan Pardew: Nice Bloke- Ashley's Puppet

Alan Pardew: Nice Bloke - Ashley's Puppet

Thursday, 07 July 2011 19:34 Michael Weightman

With the constant starvation of any sort of communication coming out of St James’, it was refreshing to hear Alan Pardew answering fans’ questions on local radio this week, with extra credit given as it’s the first week of pre-season training.

Media attention is never something the Gaffer shies away from and whether it be his Cockney banter or his exuding confidence- the boss often comes across, in the words of Tim Nice but Dim, as a thoroughly nice bloke.

Yet, in spite of this there is still something unnerving when he speaks, something that makes you think- hang on is this actually you talking here.

It may be the scepticism that has been instilled in all fans throughout the Ashley regime, but Pardew’s party line stance still leaves many unanswered questions for supporters.

Transfers

The burning question for all Newcastle fans since January 31^st has been how and when that £35 million will be spent.  The manager said days before Carroll was sold that he would not be leaving, and when it happened, he was quick to reassure fans that the full amount would be spent- saying at the time: “This money has to be reinvested in the team, all of it, and he(Mike Ashley) has assured me of that. For the Newcastle fan, that is the most important message I can give today, that all that money will be used.”

Reassuring words and part of all of us wanted to believe that this would be the case; bring in 3 top draw players that could really push the team on, and this would of course be in addition to what we already have, not as a replacement.

However even though only one of our four new additions cost any money, Pardew claimed that a large chunk of the £35 million had gone, with agent’s fees being a main culprit in its disappearance.  Now regardless of how inflated football prices are surely the manager can not truly believe this to be the case. Surely he should be banging the Chairman’s door down demanding that more of that cash is spent, and let’s not forget the extra money the club will have received through season ticket sales, Premier League placing money and shirt sales.

But no, he was not just accepting of the situation but more than happy with it and this has to the worrying thing. Strong managers don’t accept a situation where a player is sold over their head on a broken promise: weak managers, out of their depth, do.

Managing Style

And this is the point- is Pardew strong enough to command the respect of the players if he himself is being puppeteered by his boss. Can he make the big decisions, the ruthless calls. Will he be able to manage egos and show he is the man to lead us forward.

For arguments sake let’s say he did try, but failed to get Ashley to buy; how can he get players to do what he wants. There’s no doubting the players could well like him, but respecting him as a boss is a different matter.

It does seem as though he has tried to flex his muscles somewhat though by clearly defining different playing roles within the club. Some players he said will be playing every game mentioning the likes of Barton and Coloccini. Others, such as Ranger & Best, will simply be squad players and although this may show us more of Pardew the man, it’s also a dangerous ploy excluding players before a ball has been kicked. It may be a way of Pardew showing his master that he won’t be pushed around and that this team is his. But he should be cautious if trying to be more Ashley like as the exclusion tactic has hardly won the chairman many fans so far.

Onwards and Upwards

With five years still left on his current deal and the fact he is perceived as Ashley’s man, it’s a fair bet to say Pardew is here to stay.

The problem being though is how long he can continue to be a ‘Yes Man’; Danny Wallace tried it when answering yes to everyone’s questions and soon got a smack in the face when someone asked if he wanted to sleep with his wife.

And although it may be more of a proverbial slap in the face, Pardew has to be wary of it coming his way if he does not exert some authority soon.

However the whole situation feels like a good guy/bad guy Hollywood film.  The likeable intern, promoted to a fancy new office in a role he probably shouldn’t be in. Going on to become the face of a corrupt organisation, but still able able to fumble his way through with his natural patter, seemingly unaware of the sinister events that are going on behind the scene.

Ok this may be slightly dramatic, but even though Pardew does claim to be his own man- it still seems to be another crafty Cockney who’s pulling all the strings