Championship News - November 24
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Newcastle United climbed to the top of the Championship table after a hard earned 1-0 win against Preston. Kevin Nolan popped up with an all important goal for the Magpies. Preston on the other hand remained rooted to the twelfth spot in the league.
All is not as rosy at Ipswich though. Roy Keane is under tremendous pressure to perform having secured just one win in seventeen championship games so far. The club spokesperson had to deny rumours of Keane’s imminent sacking. Also, Portsmouth have called back keeper Asmir Begovic from Ipswich as they cope with the injury to their first choice keeper David James.
Bryan Hughes returned to Hull City after a month-long loan at Derby. Manager Nigel Clough had brought the 33-year midfielder on loan to bolster his midefield options which had been depleted by injuries. Hughes made three starts for the Rams during the loan period.
Newcastle have moved swiftly to sign former PSG striker Fabrice Pancrate after he impressed during his trial. He has signed a shortcontract till the end of the season with an option of a one-year
extension. The Magpies have also been tracking Portugese Under21 star Ukra who is contracted with FC Porto. The player has welcomed interest from Newcastle and has stated that he would consider any offer from abroad seriously.
In League One news, MK Dons have signed West Ham United midfielder Nigel Quashie on a loan deal. Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has been attracting a lot of interest from other clubs. But boss Simon Grayson has categorically ruled out a sale for the 25-year old. Beckford’s deal expires at the end of the season and he’s been stalling on a new contract. Brentford have snapped up Ipswich Town’s out-of-favour defender Pim Balkestein on a one-month loan deal. Also, Colchester United defender Pat Baldwin is set to join Bristol Rovers on loan till January.
Football League News - November 15
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Peterborough have confirmed the appointment of Mark Cooper as their new boss. Cooper joins the bottom placed team after having a successful stint with Kettering Town. He replaces Darren Ferguson, son of Sir Alex, who guided Posh to back to back promotions in the last two seasons. Peterborough find themselves four points from safety, with 16 games into season. In what could be a somewhat sensational coup, Newcastle United are pondering a move for free agent Sol Campbell. The 35-year old former England star expressed his desire to link up with Chris Hughton at Newcastle. Hughton has been seeking cover for the center back pairing of Coloccini and Taylor and having worked with Sol at Spurs, one can’t rule out this move. Hughton has also been linked with a move for PSG striker Fabrice Pancrate. Pancrate trained with Pompey in the pre-season and also had a trial stint with Sheffield United.
Watford youngster Lee Hodgson has signed a new three year contact that will keep him at the club till 2012. The 18-year old Northern Ireland U-21 international has made 12 appearances for Watford and came through the ranks at Vicarage Road. Another players who has extended his contract is Swansea captain Garry Monk. His new deal sees him stay at the Liberty Stadium till 2012. Charlton have snapped up Sheffield Wednesday striker Akpo Sodje on a loan deal, with a view to make the deal permanent.
In some other news, Lord Mawhinney has announced that he will step down as the chairman of the Football League on 15th March, after more than eight years in the job. Peter Whittingham, Grant Holt and Kasper Schemichel won Player of the League awards for October in the Championship, League One and League Two respectively.
Magpies keep on flying, A Man City youngster and John Still
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A month ago Newcastle were written off and were being endless compared to Leeds United. A relegation battle some said, League Two in a couple of season piped others; however it looks as if the joke is on them as the Toon Army maintain their 100% start to the season with a 1-0 win over, Leicester. A Danny Guthrie strike in the second half was enough to take Newcastle back to the top of the Championship table and gave betters a very reasonable price of 175/1 for the North-East club to go through this season unbeaten in the league.
In League One Manchester City defender Clayton McDonald has made the step down to join Walsall on a one month loan deal to get some playing time. At 6 foot 6 the giant defender is set to have a bright future with Mark Hughes’ side however much will be made of how he plays with Chris Hutchings’ Walsall team who will be aiming to stay in the division this season.
Finally the humorously named John Still has dismissed any notion that he will be joining Colchester as manager. In what is one of the most bizarre managerial changes of late Paul Lambert left Colchester to join Norwich. What was most strange about this was that Lamberts’ Colchester side had just beaten The Canaries 7-1 on the opening day of the season which led to Bryan Gunns sacking and days later the Scot left the Colchester Community Stadium for Norfolk. It looks, however, that
Dagenham and Redbridge fans can sleep easy as Still reiterated his commitment to the League Two side where he has been since 2004.
Toon takeover, A Lithuanian tragedy and Bryan Gunn
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Once again the Football League news is headlined by Newcastle who finally seem to be on the verge of a takeover as a announcement is expected to be made regarding the future of the club on Monday. Barry Moat has been eying up the club for some time and we should know by Monday evening is his bid to obtain ownership of the Magpies is successful or whether Mike Ashley will continue on for another year. Although things are looking up on the pitch for Newcastle and that is not something we have said in recent season. They have drawn one and won two of their three games so far in the Championship with Shola Ameobi scoring 4 goals in 2 games. Suddenly promotion doesn’t seem such a dream for the Toon Army now?
Tragedy struck in League One this week; well if you are a Bristol City fan anyway. Andreas Velicka suffered a serious knee ligament injury just six minutes into his Bristol City debut after joining from Rangers on loan. For one it robs City of a talented striker but two it robs Velicka of a great opportunity to show everyone that he is still a quality striker regardless of his spell at Ibrox.
Last but not least is the barmy decision making at Norwich. After being defeated 7-1 by Colchester on the opening day of the League One season the Norwich Board decided that Gunn was not up to the job and replaced him with, guess who, Colchester’s boss Paul Lambert. Think it’s strange? Welcome to the world of League football.
Newcastle (again), a moody Spaniard, Norwich and The Railwaymen
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One of the biggest stories and saga’s of the summer has been Newcastle United Football Club and their situation going from bad to worse on a weekly basis. However the loyal Toon Army received a rare piece of good news this week as Danny Simpson has joined on loan from Manchester United. The 22 year old spent an impressive season on loan at Blackburn Rovers last year and is hoping to establish himself in Newcastle’s right-back position as they battle for promotion. Also in the championship and club loyalty took another blow as West Brom’s record signing Borja Valero has stated his desire to leave The Hawthorns and instigate a move back to La Liga with Mallorca is preferred destination. “I prefer to play in Mallorca and not to be in the second division in England,” the 24-year-old said.
Moving down a notch and Norwich fresh from their 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Colchester received a welcome boost as they dismantled Yeovil Town 4-0 in the Carling Cup in midweek. Bryan Gunn’s future as boss may just be secure at the moment but defeat against Exeter on Saturday and the Norwich legend may well be joining the 2.4 million unemployed.
Finally we drop right down to League Two and Crewe Alexandria to be precise. The Railwaymen have adding some depth to their squad with the signing of defender Harry Worley on loan from Leicester. Manager Gudjon Thordarson will be hoping that the 6”3 centre back can add some steel to his defense as Crewe have lost their last 2 games.
Newcastle’s troubles, a misfiring Brazilian, City striker to League Two
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It is the eve of the new Championship season and Newcastle’s woes look set to continue for a while yet. Local businessman Barry Moat’s bid to buy the club is said to be 60-40 as Mike Ashley desperately tries to cling onto power. They still have no permanent manager and Habib Beye is on the verge of a move to Aston Villa. Could it get any worse? Staying in the Championship and misfiring Brazilian Alfonso Alves has one foot firmly out the door at The Riverside. Qatarian club Al-Ahli are on the brink of getting his signature as Gareth Southgate and Middlesbrough prepare to cut their losses with the striker who netted just 4 times last season.
Moving down a tier and the big news in League One is the MK Dons and their double swoop for Mathias Doumbe and Darren Powell. The two defenders are set to dive straight into the heart of Paul Ince’s defense in their opening game against Hartlepool on Saturday. As we dwell into the depths of League Two we find that one of Manchester City’s abundance of strikers has moved to Chesterfield on loan. No it isn’t one of their new muti-million pound signings or Craig Bellamy, but Donal McDermott. The 19 year old is tipped to have a bright future at City and will be hoping to get plenty of first team action in his three month spell in the football league’s lowest division.
Predictions for the coming season? West Brom are tipped to win the Championship, MK Dons to lift the League One trophy and Bury to find themselves at the zenith of League Two come May. Meanwhile Newcastle are 9/1 to be relegated; worth a tenner, surely?
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