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Luke Edwards is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.

As well as football, Luke also regularly takes a wry look at the biggest sports stories from across the North-East and beyond. From cricket to rugby and basketball to boxing, some are criticised and some are praised.

Sometimes provocative, sometimes laugh-aloud funny, but always interesting Luke Who's Talking also gives you the chance to interact with Luke and have your say on all the major sporting issues.

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March 2007 Archives


End Of An Era At The Riverside

Posted by Luke on March 1, 2007 2:10 PM

So you can take the Yorkshireman out of Yorkshire but it seems you will never be able to take the Yorkshire out of the Yorkshireman.

After six years, two promotions, two relegations and nurturing the emergence of three international cricketers, Martyn Moxon has finally been lured back home to Headingley to head a new-look regime as Director of Cricket.

Quite why the former England batsman has decided the time is right to return home is unclear – because he has resisted their overtures several times in the past – but what is crystal is he will be sorely missed at Chester-le-Street.

Continue reading "End Of An Era At The Riverside" »

The Best I've Seen

Posted by Luke on March 2, 2007 6:24 PM

Newcastle United have had plenty to regret in the transfer market this season but perhaps the biggest of all was the failure to re-sign Jonathan Woodgate from Real Madrid.

The reasons behind Woodgate's decision are clear, if you believe those who see things in black and white - funny because I thought everyone saw things in colour but anyway - and more complex if you like your stories to have a little more of a sub-text to them.

In the first camp, Woodie's decision was simply made because, after two injury ravaged seasons in Spain, he wanted to play for his hometown club.

But in the second, Woodgate's decision was made because he was more impressed by what Boro had to offer and because he did not feel as wanted by Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder as he was by Gareth Southgate.

Continue reading "The Best I've Seen" »

Crunch Time

Posted by Luke on March 5, 2007 4:15 PM

After the pre-season work-out of the Intertoto Cup, the ridiculously convoluted group stage and the run-out against a part-time team from Belgium, Newcastle face their first real test in the Uefa Cup this week.

AZ Alkmaar may be half Newcastle’s size in terms of turnover, support and stadium, but they are a proven and highly dangerous European outfit who, like the Magpies, have become consistent participants in the latter stages of European football’s Champions League consolation prize.

Having fought so hard to qualify last season, the Uefa Cup always looked like it was going to be pivotal in Newcastle’s season and this two-leg tie will define Glenn Roeder’s first full campaign as manager.

It is not only Newcastle’s last chance of silverware, it is their last chance for excitement and the last opportunity to take a place in the national spotlight.

Continue reading "Crunch Time" »

Pat My Back And I'll Break Your Fingers

Posted by Luke on March 6, 2007 5:06 PM

As Newcastle and Middlesbrough were boring each other into submission in the Tyne-Tees derby on Saturday, Sunderland were making another step back towards the Premiership with a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion.

Now, I know there are some Newcastle supporters who disagree, but I believe that can only be a good thing. A great thing for Sunderland supporters, obviously, but a good thing for North-East sport as a whole.

Whatever you thought of Roy Keane as a player and a person before he arrived on Wearside, I don’t think anyone can fail to admire what he has done at the Stadium of Light.

Continue reading "Pat My Back And I'll Break Your Fingers" »

It's Not Over Until The Fat Lady Does Her Stuff

Posted by Luke on March 9, 2007 3:49 PM

I didn't see a fat lady at St James's Park, a couple of mildly overweight ones stuffing their faces with over-priced pies and pints of warm lager, but not a really fat one and certainly not a fat one singing, so I can only assume Newcastle United's Uefa Cup tie against AZ Alkmaar isn't over just yet.

Of course, we all knew that as soon as the referee - the same one incidentally who was in charge of England World Cup game against Sweden when Michael Owen's knee buckled - decided to give a dubious second-half penalty which Alkmaar converted at the third attempt.

With two away goals Louis van Gaal's side will still feel they have a chance of progressing with a 2-0 win in Holland, but given the ease with which the Magpies sliced through their defence on Thursday night, Glenn Roeder is understandably convinced they will be able to score in the away leg as well. I would tend to agree with him.

Continue reading "It's Not Over Until The Fat Lady Does Her Stuff" »

Empty Seats

Posted by Luke on March 12, 2007 1:04 PM

With no major trophies in almost 40 years - look the Intertoto plaque does not fall into the major trophy category alright?! - Newcastle United have clung doggedly to their big club status on the basis of turnover and attendances.

Regularly among the 15 richest clubs in Europe, Newcastle have the financial might to compete with the most powerful clubs on the continent. They also have the fanbase, with 52,000 people filling St James's Park for every Premiership game, a crowd which is looked upon enviously around England and across Europe.

Turnover and attendances are naturally linked, but is it a sign of the growing ambivalence this season that the Magpies could not attract more than 29,000 to their Uefa Cup game against AZ Alkmaar?

Continue reading "Empty Seats" »

Do As I Say Not What I Did

Posted by Luke on March 13, 2007 11:39 AM

A lot has been made of Roy Keane's decision to leave three players behind when the team bus left for Barnsley last week, with some even brave enough to suggest in the post-match press conference at Oakwell that Sunderland's manager was a hypocrite.

Brave words indeed, but maybe some people are starting to get a little bit lippy, just as some of his players had started to take liberties with their time keeping.

Continue reading "Do As I Say Not What I Did" »

Fight Fire With Fire

Posted by Luke on March 14, 2007 10:57 AM

Given the Dutch's liberal attitude towards sex and drugs it is tempting to suggest that AZ Alkmaar's defenders and their shaky goalkeeper Boy Waterman have spent a little too much time on the wacky backy as they appear to have suffered a case of severe short-term memory loss and forgotten the importance of defending.

That, of course, is just a cheap gag at the expense of a nation who, as far as I'm concerned, could show the rest of the world, particularly the United States, a thing or two about how to fight a drug war. Sadly, that would be straying into the world of politics and the next thing you know I'll be describing the Iraq War as a fight over a huge petrol station, with America aiming to become the pump attendants!

But anyway, back to football and Newcastle United's vitally important Uefa Cup game against AZ Alkmaar a team who, dare I suggest it, play with the same sort of defensive abandonment as one of Ossie Ardiles' ambitious sides and with the same onus on exciting, entertaining football as a certain Kevin Keegan.

Continue reading "Fight Fire With Fire" »

False Hope And False Dreams

Posted by Luke on March 16, 2007 10:33 AM

So that is that then. The end of Newcastle's Uefa Cup campaign and the end of yet another trophy dream. The end of the illusion, the end of the false hope, the end of the foolish belief that a squad which has been desperately short in numbers and quality could succeed where so many before them had failed.

Football is full of dreamers and romantics, those who believe in the impossible and unlikely, but football is ultimately a game won by the realists and the pragmatics and, to put it short and to put it bluntly, Newcastle simply aren't good enough to win anything.

Continue reading "False Hope And False Dreams" »

Don't Drink And Sail

Posted by Luke on March 19, 2007 3:22 PM

England cricketer gets drunk after defeat, goes for early-hours jaunt on pedalo and falls into the sea and is rescued. Andrew Flintoff says sorry and admits he is ashamed about his behaviour.

Newcastle United lose against AZ Alkmaar and Charlton. Supporters wish players and manager would get pissed, go for an early-hours jaunt in the North Sea - but really aren't that bothered if they are rescued!

Continue reading "Don't Drink And Sail" »

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Posted by Luke on March 19, 2007 3:35 PM

When Shay Given finally emerged from the away dressing room at Charlton Athletic on Sunday he quickly blurted out he had nothing to say to the Press. Disappointing, because I have newspaper pages to fill, but understandable, given the fact Newcastle’s goalkeeper would have struggled to say anything remotely complimentary about his team-mates after the 2-0 defeat at The Valley.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I admire Given’s stance. Newcastle’s vice-captain is normally one of the best, honest and most plain-speaking commentators on affairs at St James’s Park but, having already apologised to the fans for the defeat in Alkmaar a few days earlier, he simply couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to repeat more empty words about putting things right or mutter the same tired old phrases about letting the club down.

Continue reading "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" »

Automatic Promotion Or The Play Offs?

Posted by Luke on March 21, 2007 1:40 PM

It is probably best none of us mention it to Roy Keane as he doesn't like people talking about ifs, buts and what might bes, but some of us have been talking excitedly about Sunderland getting promoted this season.

Roy probably wouldn’t mind a general discussion about the Black Cats’ chances of returning to the Premiership. He has, after all, mentioned it himself a few times recently. The problem is, we’ve been going into rather more specific detail and I’m not sure he would like the tone of our talk.

Continue reading "Automatic Promotion Or The Play Offs?" »

A Question For Glenn Roeder Please

Posted by Luke on March 22, 2007 11:27 AM

I'm going to Newcastle's training ground on Friday morning to interview Glenn Roeder and thought it would be good to give you the opportunity to ask your own questions given everything that has happened in the last week.

If you have something you would like to put to the United boss please leave a comment on this site before 9am on Friday morning and I'll select a couple and ask them for you.

Hopefully Glenn will answer them as honestly as he can and I'll put the replies, along with the names of the people whose questions were selected, up on the site on Friday.

Get your thinking caps on and please tell as many people as you can because the more questions I get the better.

Roeder - The Response Is Here

Posted by Luke on March 23, 2007 12:15 PM

Sorry about the wait, but here are the answers to some of the questions you asked me to put to Glenn Roeder on Friday. There were more than 4,000 words from Newcastle's manager so look out for the rest of it in The Journal in the coming days.

Once again, thanks for the magnificent response to my request for questions and they make fascinating reading, even without answers.

Believe it or not, I’ve always been under the impression that it is the views of the fans that really matter. All we journalists can do is prompt debate and offer our own opinions.

I’m just sorry I couldn’t ask any more of them, although it’s something I’m hoping to repeat in the future. I'm just as interested to know what you think about Roeder’s responses.

Continue reading "Roeder - The Response Is Here" »

I'd Rather Watch Kenya

Posted by Luke on March 26, 2007 12:01 PM

England are good aren't they? Top side, big name players with international reputations, a manager who won the Carling Cup, wow, everything would appear to be in place for World domination!

Except, like the bad guys, girls, hamsters, mice, cats and radioactive jelly in a children's cartoon, England's bid for global domination is always doomed to fail as a result of incompetence, arrogance and the inability to follow a simple plan.

Continue reading "I'd Rather Watch Kenya" »

Drop Him Like Something Really Hot

Posted by Luke on March 28, 2007 2:18 PM

There are those of you out there in internet land who can't look beyond the footballing highs and lows of your football club and I sympathise I do, when Newcastle are struggling and Sunderland have a promotion to worry about, it's understandable.

But, regardless of what is happening at the Stadium of Light and St James’s Park this week - very little is the correct answer - I’ve spent the last few days getting hot and bothered about England.

It’s partly to do with results and performances and it has plenty to do with Steve “worst comb over since Sven Goran Eriksson) McClaren, but, believe it or not, he is not the main target for my bile.

Continue reading "Drop Him Like Something Really Hot" »

Roy Keane vs Shay Given

Posted by Luke on March 29, 2007 12:15 PM

Roy Keane has spoken a lot of sense since he became a manager. He has been articulate when expressing his views and often humorous in his observations, but I wonder whether the Irishman regrets what he said about Shay Given this week?

Sorry, Keane doesn’t do regret, just as he doesn’t do friends, but for the first time since he arrived at Sunderland I feel he has said something he shouldn’t have when it comes to his former international teammate.

Continue reading "Roy Keane vs Shay Given" »