Newcastle United Blogs

'Hall of Fame' Part Nine - Newcastle United's 'Big Al'

FFC Towers HQ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:59:56 +0100

Football FanCast is introducing its new ‘hall of fame' which is a celebration of all the great players that have graced pitches in the British Isles in the last 30yrs.

The best thing about football is that is brings people together. For ten months you are locked together in one big family; all sharing the same dreams and hopes that your football club is going to succeed and whether your Newcastle or Mansfield; those same emotions are replicated throughout.

Is Kevin Keegan being let down at Newcastle United?

Rob Facey — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:01:00 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders why Newcastle are yet to make any significant transfers and asks whether Dennis Wise and the St James Park board are letting down Kevin Keegan.

As the Premier League transfers slowly start being announced, one club is noticeable by their absence. Newcastle United, who recovered just in time to clamber out of a surprise relegation battle last year, must surely start making waves in the market or else they could find themselves in trouble once more.

Should Newcastle be setting their sights a little higher?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:02:33 +0100

Football FanCast guest columnist David Rees is concerned at the lack of transfer activity at St James Park.

I'm sure that I am not the only Newcastle United fan who is slightly bemused with events at St James Park.
Every given day something new seems to occur, whether it is Chairman resigning, Taylor's contract talks or Ashley insisting players buy their suits, all important club matters no doubt but is it not about time we started buying players?

Is football management really on the agenda for Newcastle legend?

chris_mackin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:56:33 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Chris Mackin wonders if football management is really that high on the agenda for Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

Late on in the 2000-01 season, Newcastle United travelled to Sunderland's smashing little Stadium of Light for the second time in the ground's history. As befitting the occasion, the game was dreadful and quality deprived fare, all rough challenges and misplaced passes, raw intensity and nerves merging to create a blur out of the ball itself; at one point Warren Barton clattered into Sunderland's left winger, picked himself up and took a long and gazing look at his surroundings, as if reminding himself exactly what sport it was he was supposed to be competing in again.

Can we expect anything different from our beloved Newcastle?

chris_mackin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:53:31 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Chris Mackin reacts to the arrival of next season's fixture lists in the way he knows best.

Always the sporting highlight of any international free summer, next season's fixture list nevertheless feels like an uninvited intruder when it arrives during a major tournament football watching binge, propping itself up on the stool by the fridge and hoarding all the decent larger. "What? But, no, it's Austria Germany tonight, what are you doing here?" we ask, unapologetic with our curt tone and checking our watches pointedly. "Come back later, yeah?"

A Newcastle United Legend and forever in our hearts!

chris_mackin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:26:46 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Chris Mackin pays tribute to Newcastle United legend, Nolberto Solano and feels he will always be remembered fondly at St James Park.

As the Cristiano Ronaldo saga hurtles on with the quiet disposition and level headed calm of Davina on eviction night, Newcastle United supporters were left alone with their thoughts last week, forced to mourn the lack of contract renewal for Nolberto Solano at West Ham unaided by hyper active media coverage, commemorative middle page spreads or pushy relatives assuring us that they're there if we ever need to talk.

One thing is for sure, it is never a dull season at Newcastle United!

chris_mackin — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:41:17 +0100

Football FanCast columnist and Toon fan Chris Mackin looks back at a rather eventful season at St James Park.

As Portsmouth FA Cup victory brought down the curtain for yet another domestic season, it gives us all an opportunity to let the dust settle and work out where it all went wrong for our respective clubs. We at Football FanCast are doing our own review of each clubs season; and pinpointing all the positives and negatives to be taken from the 2007/08 campaign.

Why do Newcastle United never get their due respect?

Jim McKendry — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:17:58 +0100

Football FanCast columnist Jim McKendry cannot understand why Newcastle United never get the respect they duly deserve.

Kevin Keegan is very much an enigma in football and you really either love or loath him. I personally have great admiration and respect for the man, for the simple reason that in the modern day game it is rare that you are treated to such honesty. He is a man of principle, belief and wants his football club to play the right way without having to sacrifice style and effort to achieve his goals. What is so wrong with that? The Premier League would be a much better place, if managers all shared that philosophy.