Author: isport

Newcastle United will be making the difficult trip to Anfield on the final weekend of 2011 in the Barclays Premier League. Even though a visit to Liverpool is always very tough, Newcastle United will have reasons to worry because they have just one victory in five matches.

The win over Bolton on Boxing Day was their first to stop the rot, which began with the defeat against Chelsea a few weeks ago. A number of injuries in a defensive department did not help things for Alan Pardew, but he seems to have stabilised things at Tyneside.

Newcastle United will most probably be up against former striker Andy Carroll given that Luis Suarez has been suspended for his obscene gestures during the match against Fulham. Andy Carroll has largely been disappointing since making his £ 35 million move from Liverpool almost a year ago. Recently, Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew admitted that he should be more than interested in taking Andy Carroll back to St James’s Park.

Newcastle United are going through a difficult place at the moment with a number of strikers either suffering from injuries or set to depart for the African cup of nations. As a result, Alan Pardew has been discussing the possibility of loan move for Andy Carroll, but he can be sure that the former Newcastle United striker will be the starting 11 for this match.

“Newcastle took a chance on Ba when he failed a medical at Stoke and they have been rewarded. I think he has been the pick of their signings this year but he’s not the only good player they have brought in. I’ve been impressed with Yohan Cabaye and a few others as well,” Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said when asked about Newcastle United’s transfer policy.

Newcastle striker Demba Ba believes his current side have a lot in common with the Hoffenheim team which shook up the Bundesliga in the 2008-09 season.

The German club were newly promoted but led the league at the halfway point of the season before cementing a seventh place finish, which was still beyond their expectations.

Ba’s personal contribution was 14 goals in 35 games and although Newcastle’s precise circumstances are not identical to those of Hoffenheim, he believes that there are a lot of common factors.

“What I saw in Hoffenheim is the same thing here,” Ba told BBC Newcastle.

“We have a young manager who knows how to manage and the team is similar, good footballers, good with the ball.”

As with his spell at Hoffenheim, Ba has been instrumental in Newcastle’s good fortunes this season, clocking up an impressive 11 goals in 16 games. Those tracking the African Cup of Nations betting will have been very impressed by his efforts.

His goals helped ensure Newcastle were unbeaten until they faced league-leaders Manchester City and a penalty against Manchester United in their next game saw the side grab a valuable point from a tough fixture.

He was back among the goals during the side’s trip to Norwich City, but his fantastic brace was in vein as defensive frailties saw Newcastle ship four goals to go down 4-2.

The Magpies may end up paying the price of Ba’s fine form though, with a call up for the African Cup of Nations looking almost certain for the Senegal striker and he could miss up to eight Premier League games if his national side go all the way.

Even though Newcastle United were going into a tough run of fixtures – which included the teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea – Newcastle have been able to maintain their strong run of form, and keep their position in the top four.

Even though they lost their unbeaten record against Manchester City, they did extremely well against Man Utd to come away with a draw. Whilst the penalty that led to the equaliser was highly disputable, Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa believes that there should be no reason why Newcastle shouldn’t challenge for the title. This comes as quite strong statement because Newcastle United were only promoted last season!

The Premier League has been won by just four clubs since its inception in 1992. Even though there may be a case for a change at the top of the helm, it is nothing but extremely tough to see Newcastle United going even close to winning the title. The 1-1 draw with Man Utd may have given them a great deal of confidence, but they need to be winning regularly right up until the end of the season.

Speaking after the win against Manchester United, Hatem Ben Arfa said “I think that if we gain in confidence, we can go far, and why not challenge for the title? I think the only thing that makes a difference is confidence. We really have great footballers here now, and if we carry on like this, then we can do something.”

Having completed almost a third of the campaign, Newcastle United are nine points behind leaders Manchester City.

Newcastle United striker scored a hatrick against Stoke City, but believes that there is much more to come from him.

A penalty in the 81st minute completed Demba’s hatrick, and won all three points for the Magpies, which helped them up to 3rd in the Premier League table. After 10 matches they are one of just two unbeaten teams in the league, and are on course to win a place in Europe next season.

Newcasle United fans are falling over themselves to meet Ba, who has only been at the club for a matter of months but has slotted in effortlessly. He believes that when he has fully settled, he will be able to score even more goals.

“I am playing at a good level but I can still get better, that is for sure. I am going to just continue working hard.”

“It’s going to be very tough to stay up where we are in the league, but at the moment we’re really enjoying it. I’m happy for the fans and for the club.”

Newcastle United loan star Hatem Ben Arfa says that he is pleased with the start that the club and himself have made this season. Ben Arfa, who is on a season-long loan at Newcastle from Marseille, marked his first start for the Magpies with a stunning winner in the 1-0 victory at Everton on Saturday.

The French international is settling into life on Tyneside and he is delighted with his start at his new club. “Sometimes in football you have to take a risk,” said Ben Arfa. “I knew about Newcastle United and when I came there for the first time, you could see how big it was.

“It may have been newly-promoted but it didn’t feel like it because there are so many good players at the club – and you could see that on Saturday.”

Newcastle United new boy Hatem Ben Arfa has said that he is not feeling bad about forcing Olympique Marseille because he badly wanted to join Newcastle United. Known as a mercurial individual, Ben Arfa went on strike from les Phoceens after they had turned down an approach from the Premier League club. Additionally, he threatened to quit football if the move didn’t take place.

Having moved from Olympique Lyonnais to OM in a not dissimilar manner two years previously, Ben Arfa doesn’t see a problem with the way he handled himself.

“At no time did I figure I had done something stupid,” Ben Arfa stated.

“The decision to possibly spend a year without playing, I took myself. I have a hard head, you know.”

The media have speculated that the player’s father has had an influence over his actions in recent days, but that’s been rejected by the winger.

“I’m not a kid, I’m 23 years old. The decisions come from me and only me. I am not manipulated by anyone,” Ben Arfa said.

It is believed that it is partly because of this transfer drama that Laurent Blanc has overlooked the player regularly considered French football’s enfant terrible for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers.

Newcastle have pulled off a major coup in the transfer market by signing young sensation, Dan Gosling on a free transfer. The 20-year-old was entitled to leave Everton on a free transfer after the club failed to give a written offer to the out-of-contract player by mid-May.

“It’s a brilliant move for me – now that the deal is done, I can’t wait to get started,” Gosling told the Newcastle club website.

“I’ve played at St James’ Park and know about the great atmosphere.”

He added: “Playing there in a black and white shirt is something I’ve thought about already and it will be a great day when I finally get to walk out in front of 50,000 fans.”

RANGERS believe Newcastle United have re-entered the race to sign striker Kris Boyd after Birmingham City turned their attentions elsewhere.

Boyd has been courted by City all summer and had expected to move to St Andrew’s when his contract at Ibrox expires at the end of June.

But Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is attempting to follow up the £6m signing of Nikola Zigic by beating Wolves to the £7m capture of Burnley’s Steven Fletcher, which would signal the end of his interest in Boyd.

A fortnight ago Newcastle had unofficially discounted making a move for Boyd, but towards the end of last week sources close to the player suggested Newcastle are in the market for him again.

Gylfi Sigurdsson insists he is happy to stay at Reading Football Club. The Icelandic international won many admirers during the 2009-2010 season after hitting 20 goals for the Royals, which has led to much speculation over his future.

It has recently been suggested that Premier League new-boys Newcastle United are prepared to pay £2million for his signature, as Chris Hughton plans for their top-flight return.

However, Sigurdsson insists he is prepared to reject all offers which may come this way during the window, as he looks to help his current club clinch promotion next season.

“I’ve got two more years on my contract,” said the midfielder. “I’m happy here and playing every week so I think it would be a good idea to stay here for another two seasons.

“I’ll just turn my phone off and enjoy the summer now. If we start next season properly then I think we will have a great chance to get into the Premier League.”