June 2008 Archives

Kevin Keegan has been back at work for almost a week and we haven’t heard a peep, a squeak or even a whisper from him about transfers, Joey Barton or the knock on effects of the credit crunch on the global economy! Not that United’s normally affable manager is alone in going to ground over the last few weeks.

The last we heard about Roy Keane was that he was in New Zealand learning about rugby, so expect to see Dean Whitehead leading the Black Cats in a traditional rendition of the Haka when their Premier League campaign kicks off against Liverpool on August 16!

Following the trials and tribulations of football teams in the North East can be a taxing pastime full of disappointments, anti-climaxes and shattered dreams so why don’t you start supporting Durham County Cricket Club instead?

Look, I know it’s only cricket and this is a hotbed of football blah de blah de blah, but for once, get off the football message boards, tear yourself away from the European Championships and stop waiting for me to tell you about another player Newcastle are interested in signing, but who is about as likely to come to St James’s Park this summer as Elvis and get yourself down to Chester-le-Street.

At times you probably wonder why you do it, why you spend so much time, money and energy concerning yourself with the fortunes of a collection of individuals whose actions you ultimately cannot directly influence. This is common for most football fans, but it’s the cricket season so take a break.

Well the good news is that I’ve survived my stag do with all of my body hair intact and I didn’t have to spend a single second tied to lamp post naked. The bad news is that I’ve returned to work to find the transfer market remains as sluggish as ever.

Hopefully that is all going to change when Kevin Keegan and Roy Keane are back behind their desks next week and the European Championships draw to a close.

Talking of the Euros, my one man boycott continues. I’ve still not watched a single game and don’t intend to either.

Given the fact it's normally me who tries to give you answers to your questions and enquiries, I think it's time for a little change.

This weekend will see me celebrate my stag do in York with a weekend of high jinx - also known as heavy partying or getting hammered - and as part of the festivities we shall be visiting York races.

If you want some insight into what is going on at Newcastle United read my article in Wednesday's Journal. If you want something to do with Sunderland, there ain't much happening until Roy Keane gets back behind his desk, but there is plenty of cricket to keep people entertained. Failing that, you can fall back on Euro 2008 because I'm off!

Newcastle United fans are used to anti-climaxes so perhaps we should not be surprised by the lack of transfer activity at St James's Park so far this summer.

As ever, big things were expected from the Magpies as they look to build on the encouraging end to last season. Big moves made, exciting names arriving and the gradual construction of a squad which will compete for a Uefa Cup place next season.

Consistency is one of the buzz words in professional sport, but the only thing England’s cricket selectors seem to do at the moment is get things consistently wrong.

I haven’t written about cricket on this site for a while, but having enjoyed a Bank Holiday weekend and a week at home with my parents, I thought it was about time we put football in a little box under the stairs for a while.

My opening statement may appear a little strange when you consider England have won three out of their last four Test matches, but for once, I fear good results are papering over the cracks and propping up crumbling foundations before the whole thing comes crashing down against South Africa later this summer.