Author: isport

KEEP ON WINNING

Newcastle United need to have an intense winning mentality next season if they are to improve on the fifth place finish that they achieved last season according to defender Mike Williamson.

The defender was one of the key numbers of the Newcastle United squad that finished in the fifth position last season, while they also came agonisingly close to finishing in the top four. Even though, in hindsight, finishing in the fourth position would not have provided them with Champions League football, it has breathed a new life of confidence within the team. Mike Williamson is hoping that the club better the result achieved last season.

However, he has stressed the presence of a winning mentality if they are to finish ahead of the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool on the table. Only the top three are guaranteed a place in the Champions League group stages, while the fourth placed team will have to play a qualifying match. The fourth placed team will also not get the opportunity to play in the qualifying matches if a team from England wins the Champions League, as Chelsea did last season. Newcastle lost the last three matches of the campaign to finish in the fifth position.

“It’s about physically and mentally getting up to scratch, but everyone wants to get into the winning mentality – that’s the way we work. The gaffer wants us to breed that. We have to be looking to win every time we step out on the pitch, regardless of whether it’s a friendly or a competitive fixture. Everyone is vying for places at the moment and trying to impress the manager – this is a big few weeks for the players,” said Mike Williamson ahead of the start of the new season. Newcastle have the ability to qualify for the Europa league group stages.

Expert view – England

It’s most perturbing to be a Englishman this summer. After years of watching teams packed with dormant talent performing wildly below their potential, I don’t really know what to make of this lot.

They’re not really very good at football, but they do seem to try hard and that’s all I’ve ever asked as a supporter. It’s actually a lot like watching Leyton Orient, this.

More than enough has been written about those ‘two banks of four’ for me to give tactics a wide berth this week. England’s strength – and I’m being serious here – is their mental fortitude. No, really. To come back from 1-2 down to Sweden when I believed them to be down and out was genuinely impressive.

They don’t panic, they don’t crumble and if they carry on like this, forging decent results in the white heat of pressure, they might just secure the pre-tournament aim of a dignified quarter-final exit.

Of course, the last two matches will mean nothing at all if they lose to Andriy Shevchenko and his cronies in the final game. It’s certainly going to be a risky encounter, especially with that home support.

That said, I’m starting to feel an odd sense of confidence in Roy Hodgson’s mob, a weird vibe that they might be able to stand in front of tens of thousands of baying hostiles and hold the line. I realise, of course, that believing in the English football team is a phenomenon that almost always precedes a crashing disappointment and weeks of self-loathing, but what the hell.

Yes, The Three Lions can get the draw they need to progress to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. In fact, sod it, they can sneak a 1-0 win. There, I’ve said it. Oh God, what’s become of me?

Score prediction: England 1-0 Ukraine
England to win at 2.05; England 1-0 at 8.00; Wayne Rooney to score first at 5.75.

Ukrainian perspective
The equation for Ukraine is simple: beat England and qualify for the quarter finals or fall at the first hurdle. Without wanting to sound obvious, the key to making that prospect a reality is one man – Andriy Shevchenko. Without the quality of service that the former AC Milan star received in the 2-1 win over Sweden, the Ukrainians looked tame opponents.

Wide men Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka saw little of the ball and when they had the opportunity, their service was woeful. Even so, Shevchenko created his side’s best chances, almost from nothing, and the co-hosts’ fans will be desperately hoping that the national hero isn’t struggling for fitness after two games in a week.

Assuming his captain and main threat is fit, Oleh Blokhin may well be considering some changes in personnel ahead of this match. Andriy Voronin was far from effective against France and might lose his spot in the team to the more physical Artem Milevskiy.

CAN WE REPEAT SUCCESS

Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has said that he is hoping that the club can replicate the success they have had the last season in the next season as well. It has been a tremendous season for Newcastle United, as they very nearly secured a place in the top four.

It would have been unthinkable a few seasons ago when they were relegated to the Championship. However, diligent transfer policy coupled with a great manager has transformed their fortunes in recent times. The arrival of Cisse in the January transfer window almost propelled them to the top four finish.

However, three defeats in the final four matches of the campaign ensured that they had to be content with a fifth place finish as supposed to a fourth place finish.

Newcastle United are once again expected to be busy in the transfer window when it comes to both buying and selling players. Despite losing a number of high profile players like Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll in the past one year, Newcastle have been able to challenge for the best prize of all. Fabricio Coloccini reckons that the club can do the same once again next season, even if they lose some of the top players like Cisse.

“I enjoyed it, especially because we got qualification for the Europa League. For me that was very important. Overall, it was a consistent season. I think a lot of teams found it tough to beat us and that was important. Next season, we will try and do the same,” Coloccini said in a recent interview. Newcastle have made their first step in bringing in new players in the transfer window after announcing the signing of Romain Amalfitano from Reims. “I am very happy to be a Newcastle player. I have seen a bit of the city already and it is a change from France, but one I am really looking forward to,” said Amalfitano.

NEWCASTLE NEED TO REGROUP

Newcastle United defender Danny Simpson has said that the club should be quickly recover from their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Wigan Athletic during the weekend in order to realise their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Newcastle United have been the most surprising club this season after they have managed to stay in the top five for most of the season. However, a slump by Tottenham during the last few weeks has meant that Newcastle have had the opportunity to seal the fourth position in the table, which would have been amazing given the spending they have done in the transfer market in comparison with the contenders.

Yet, the club suffered a horrible defeat at the hands of Wigan during the weekend. It was totally out of the blue for Alan Pardew and his men, as they slipped to a 3-0 score within the quarter of an hour against Wigan.

Franco di Santo then ploughed on the misery for Newcastle after scoring a sensational goal from outside the box. The 4-0 defeat was especially painful for Newcastle given the way they have been playing in the last few weeks. Newcastle came into the match against Wigan on the back of six straight victories.

“We don’t want it to be a good season, we want it to be an excellent season. We’ve still got a great chance to kick on and surprise a few people. We’ve got to bounce back, as players, fans and staff and go to Chelsea on Wednesday to do our best. We can’t get too negative and disappointed, because we’re still in the mix. We’ve come a long way up to now and we’ve got to put it behind us,” the 25-year-old Simpson said ahead of the meeting with Chelsea on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge.

TIOTE WANTS TO STAY

Newcastle United midfielder Cheik Tiote has said that he is very much enjoying his life at Newcastle United and would not be interested in a move in the summer.

Chelsea have been showing a lot of interest in signing the midfielder for more than a year now, and it is thought that they will be coming in with a concrete bid in the summer.

However, the Ivory Coast international has said that he would like to stay with Newcastle United, as it provides him with the best opportunity to play regular football. This news is likely to come as a major blow to Chelsea and their hopes of reinvigorating their ageing squad.

The 25-year-old midfielder has been one of the best players in the Premier league ever since moving to Newcastle United for just £ 3.5 million in the summer of 2010. However, he is expected to cost upwards of £ 20 million if Chelsea were to agree a fee for him. Following the latest statement by the midfielder, though, it is highly unlikely that Chelsea will be persuading in signing the player. The latest football odds make Tiote odds-on to stay at St James Park.

Cheik Tiote has been one of the reasons for Newcastle United to be challenging at the top of the table for a Champions League position this season. The club are currently in the fifth position separated from the top four only on goal difference.

“My future is at Newcastle. I’m playing for Newcastle and I have to finish this season strongly and help the team get into Europe. If we do that, it will be good for the club and the fans. We are in a great position now,” Tiote said in a recent statement.

Yohan Cabaye arrived at Newcastle United in the summer and Tiote has formed a great partnership with him in the centre of midfield.

TAYLOR GETS LONG-TERM DEAL

Newcastle United have announced that midfielder Ryan Taylor has agreed an extension to his current deal. Ryan Taylor has now signed a new contract that will see his stay at the Tyneside extended by two years.

This comes as a welcome news for both Newcastle United fans and manager Alan Pardew, who has shown a lot of belief in the player.

Alan Pardew has been one of the best managers in the Premier league this season. Despite having a very limited budget at a Newcastle United, he has been able to get the team closer to the top four. Ryan Taylor has been a major part of the success Newcastle United have had this season.

Ryan Taylor joined Newcastle United back in 2009 from Wigan athletic. He is capable of playing on both sides of midfield and is widely known for his free kick taking abilities. So far, the 27-year-old midfielder has been featured in 25 appearances in the league alone for Newcastle United, thus making him one of the regular faces in the squad.

Newcastle United also recently persuaded goalkeeper Tim Krul and central defender Fabricio Coloccini to new contracts last week. Ryan Taylor becomes the latest to join in the list of players committing their future to the Tyneside club.

“I am delighted to secure a contract extension for Ryan. He has been outstanding for me this season wherever I have asked him to play. Ryan is a fantastic player who is firmly in the hearts of our fans, not only for his derby winner against Sunderland but also because of some excellent performances in the Newcastle shirt,” manager Alan Pardew said on the official website of the club. Newcastle will be hoping to make it into the top five if not into the top four this season.

SIMPSON CONFIDENT AHEAD OF ARSENAL CLASH

Newcastle United’s Danny Simpson said that he is extremely confident that Newcastle United can achieve a positive result against Arsenal on Monday night.

Newcastle United will be travelling to the Emirates stadium for the Monday night match with Arsenal.

Arsenal are some of the inform teams in the Premier league right now, and they come into the match with three victories against top teams. Arsenal have won against Tottenham, Liverpool, and AC Milan in their last three matches. The latest in-play Premier League betting odds make Arsenal the favourites for the third position, which would have been almost unthinkable two months ago.

Arsenal were beaten Tottenham by a massive 10 points, but Arsene Wenger’s men have now reduced the advantage Tottenham have to just four points. They will move to within one point of Tottenham with victory against Newcastle United, but Danny Simpson has said that the north-east club are more than capable of destroying the hopes of Arsenal on Monday.

Newcastle themselves come into the match on a good run of form, which has seen them continuously challenge for the top four positions alongside the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool. However, Alan Pardew will be aware of the fact that their top four ambitions will be realistically destroyed with a defeat against Arsenal on Monday night.

“We go there expecting a hard game. But we know with the squad we have got, we will be up for it and looking to get a result. There’s no reason why we can’t come away from the game with something. We’ve picked up two points at home from our last two games, so we haven’t lost and we are looking to kick on,” Danny Simpson said ahead of the match with Arsenal.

Newcastle United are five points behind Arsenal at this stage of the season, which is quite impressive.

GOLD REVEALS DEMBA CLAUSE

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has made a sensational claim that former West Ham United striker and current Newcastle United leading goal scorer Demba Ba has released clause in his contract of just around £ 7 million.

There have been many rumours circulating in the world of football that Demba Ba has only a £ 7 million release clause.

It has today he confirmed by the former Birmingham city co-owner David Sullivan. Demba Ba arrived on a free transfer from West Ham United in the summer. He was extremely close to joining Stoke City, who decided to pull out at the last minute on the concerns of his knee condition.

Demba Ba, however, has been a revelation at Newcastle United, who have been missing £ 35 million striker Andy Carroll a lot during the back end of last season. The arrival of Demba Ba has been such a addition to the Newcastle United squad in such a way that they are now challenging for the Champions League positions.

It would have been unimaginable only two years ago when Newcastle United were back in the Championship after being relegated from the Premier league. Many were suggesting that it will be tough for Newcastle United to retain their Premier league position after their arrival, but Demba Ba’s spectacular form has seen them rise to the position of being a challenge for the Champions League position.

“This didn’t work for anyone except Demba Ba… and Newcastle. I’m told he’s got a £7m get-out at Newcastle and he gets half the money over that. They keep denying it but I think you’ll see in the summer he will leave Newcastle or he’ll get a monstrous rise to stay there,” West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan said in a recent interview.

DEMBA STAYING IN NEWCASTLE

Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has said that he is not looking to leave the north-east club at this moment and has laughed off any rumours suggesting that he might move soon.

Demba Ba arrived on a free transfer from West Ham United in the summer, and he has been one of the best signings of the summer.

So far, he has been extremely crucial towards Newcastle United climbing of the table and also making a challenge for the Champions League positions. Luckily, Newcastle United did not miss him for a long due to the African cup of nations, as the striker returned from international duty after this international team got excelled from the competition at a very early stage.

Immediately after his return, Demba Ba scored the winner in the match against Aston Villa during the weekend, thus once again stressing his importance to the club. Demba Ba has quickly enabled Newcastle United fans to forget the memory of Andy Carroll, who moved to Liverpool in a £ 35 million deal just over a year ago. There were questions about the fitness of Demba Ba before he signed for Newcastle United, but the gamble Alan Pardew took with the Senegalese striker seems to have paid off.

It has been recently revealed that Demba Ba could leave Newcastle United for as little as £ 7 million due to a clause in his contract (whihc I personally have been tempted to stick some free Premier League bets on!) but it seems he is happy at the club, especially now his intenational team-mate has joined him in Toon.

“I am really, really happy for Papiss. It’s really important to score for a new club early on; when you come in and score right away you feel much better. It helps a lot and his was a goal of real class on the perfect return to Newcastle for me,” Demba Ba said after the match when his fellow Senegalese player Cisse scored the opening goal.

NEWCASTLE SPONSORED BY VIRGIN

Newcastle United have agreed to a £ 20 million shirt sponsorship deal with Virgin Money for a period believed to be around two years, after a breakthrough in the contract negotiations between the two parties.

Newcastle and Virgin had been locked in contract talks for weeks before the owner of Virgin Sir Richard Branson agreed to bail out cash-stricken Newcastle based bank Northern Rock and buy all the shares.

According to the reports that were received, the deal was concluded late on Tuesday, the 3rd of January, 2012 when Virgin Money agreed to meet the demands of the club and signed on the dotted line.

The club played its first match with their shirt emblazoned with the logo of the new sponsors in the 3-0 rout of English champions Manchester United on the 4th of January – a shock result that allowed some fans to make serious money by backing Newcastle at some of the best online football betting odds this season.

The new shirt sponsorship deal has gone a long way in securing the club’s financial stability, coming as quickly as it does after a deal to rename the famous St. James’ Park to the Sports Direct Arena was concluded a couple of months back, bringing in extra cash for the club.

Northern Rock, which had been the shirt sponsors for the club for almost eight years in a deal that ran until the end of the current season, was taken over by Virgin Money on New Year’s Day this year and this led to complications in their contractual obligations with the club.

It is believed that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will offer Virgin Money the chance to combine their shirt sponsorship deal with the naming rights of the stadium and bring an end to the controversy over renaming the stadium.