Punches Thrown And Joey Barton Not Involved Shock
What amazes me about the Andy Carroll vs Charles N'Zogbia punch up is not that it happened, it's not even that it happened in front of people who could ensure news of it could be leaked out, it's the fact it has happened at a time when Newcastle United are already struggling for any semblance of positive PR.
Firstly I'd like to apologise for my previous silence on the handbags and glad rags. I hadn't taken a vow or anything, I've just been spending some time getting to know my toilet as a result of a rather nasty stomach bug.
But I'm able to hammer away on a keyboard again now from the comfort of my bedroom so let's get stuck into this playground scrap with the relish of a tattooed dinner lady.
Now, you know me, never one to allow a conspiracy theory to gain any credence, but what if Charlie and Andy were actually put up to stage the fight. Come on, stranger things have happened.
They throw a few wild punches at each other in front of some visiting Carlisle players. The story gets out, fills the back pages for a while and everyone forgets the club have still failed to sign anyone in the January transfer window! Perfect news management if you ask me.
No, seriously, I'm sure that wasn't the case. From what I'm told, Charlie reacted badly to a late tackle from Andy, who was reacting badly to some mickey taking from Charlie. Children, children, children, come down dears, this is not a commercial.
To be fair, I'm sure there are a few people behind the scenes at United who are a little irritated by Charlie at the minute what with his regular briefings to the French press insisting he is wanted by clubs across Europe and is desperate to leave. Then again, given Carroll's recent crime against hair fashion, no wonder Charlie wanted to take a swing.
Storm in a tea cup it may have been and I'm sure you're sick and tired of hearing people in football saying these things happen regularly on the training ground, but why does it always seem to happen at Newcastle United?
Even when things were going well under Sir Bobby Robson there was a constant supply of media distractions from the so-called Brat Pack and who can forget the punch up between Laurent Robert and Andy Griffin?
Newcastle should just be concentrating on new signings and I wonder what Danish trialist Peter Lovenkrands thought about the whole thing? Apparently he played well against the Cumbrians. Maybe he was worried he'd get a smack if he didn't!
Oh well, no new signings, two excellent goalkeepers could be leaving, just another quiet week.... at least Joey Barton wasn't involved for a change!
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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.
Howay man Luke
Joey has kept his nose well and truly clean since, well he had that altercation in Liverpool over a year back....
No surprise to me that he wasnt involved...and yes he did have a go at Enrique on Saturday....Sure a certain Mr Keane had more than his fair share of rollokings to hand out over the years....what we need is leadership....and Joey is just the man to do that...
Time to step up to the plate son....and prove all that are still doubting you wrong....
Hey Luke,
Any news on the Italian and Argentinean internationals that we were promised would be playing in the same practice match? Or was that just another lie? JFK is looking more confused and bewildered every day. Apparently Queen Victoria just offered him a VC at dinner last night and Pele should be pulling on the black and white for a loan stint any second now. I dislike him more and more every time he opens his trap. I’m now thoroughly sick of him and see him for what he is; a set of lips and a voice box attached to Ashley's sphincter, solely charged with delivering his diarrhea to our ears. Sorry if that topic is a little delicate right now…. If anybody still believes that this discount sh*te sportswear flogger will run this club like a world class sporting organisation needs to have their head read.
Liked seeing Joey wear his heart on his sleeve last match, nothing worse than playing your guts out then watching some hot and cold loafing defender happily jogging along checking out the hot chicks in the crowd while his man scores. You needlessly dragged him into this for some reason, but I believe if we had two more like him and we’ll still be playing premier league next season.
The training ground fight plus Barton's explosion against Manuel is indicative of the deep turmoil engulfing our club at this time, or since Ashley assassinated Keegan. But what really needs addressing at this time are the GREEDY, SELFISH, SMALL-MINDED, BEER-SWILLING, PIE-EATING ORONS!!!!!!!...No not the board but the fans who can't control their big fat guts for 2 hours. I'm no saint but I have not, can not, will not give in to my early season vow to put nothing in Ashley's pockets until he's gone. I haven't bought a single program, something I loved, to fill my time leading up to a game and as a historical record that I WAS THERE THAT DAY!. I've sacrificed all of the pleasures associated with matchday to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!. I've watched how at first a handful of belly-loving morons stood defiantly at the bar as some supporters murmered insults at them, tantamount to 'SCABS'. Now you can't get to the toilets for queues at the bars, supporters are screaming blue murder at each other for jumping a place. GEORDIES WAKE UP! START AGAIN! All fanzines call for a total embargo on Ashley's merchandise. Take your own crisps, pasties, pies and pop for the bairns or take them for a big mac 'afterwards'....it'll be cheaper anyway than his prices. Have volunteers chant around the bar areas that this is contributing to our club's death. 'DON'T DRINK ASHLEY'S BEER, DON'T DRINK ASHLEY'S BEER! Wear T-shirts with the slogan on front, and 'DON'T BUY ASHLEY'S PIES' on the back. This will work if we have the real desire to save our club.
We desperately need a solid central midfielder.
We don't have mountains of cash from Ash to splash, so we're apparently looking at players in the circa £5m bracket.
JFK has made it clear we need proven Premiership experience if we're going to get out of our self-dug hole.
We can't possibly hope to compete for players with teams in the top half of the league, because of the state we're in. But we should still be able to see off most of the teams in the bottom half.
Jimmy Bullard, central midfielder, England international and consistent Premiership performer for YEARS is on the market. At approximately £5m. And only Hull seem to be in for him.
WHAT THE F ARE WE WAITING FOR???!!
Instead, apparently we might gamble £10m on yet another unproven (in the Premiership) foreign import. Why don't we try to "keep it simple" off the field as well as on it? Players like Bullard and Nicky Shorey would significantly strengthen our squad. More foreigners who we can't be sure will adjust to the Prem - unless they're freebies like Lowenbrau and worth a punt - is surey not what we need. Xisco anyone? There's a reason Villa are doing so well ...
Yes, I'm getting a bit sick of the Zog always being in the papers but you know what? The lad has a point when he said he's been at the toon for 4 years and he's had SIX different managers! If you're an old-hand happily picking up your £100k+ a week (mentioning no names) that might be OK, but I suppose a young lad who hoped he might be getting some decent coaching and doesn't get that kind of cash (so really needs trophies) might get a bit narked. Nothing will change until we get rid of the barrow-boy and get a management structure built for stability and success, not asset-stripping and quick profits.
I think most of you know my feelings on the Jimmy Bullard issue. I'd heard Newcastle were interested. The only reason I can think of for them not following up is his wages - main reason he wants to live Fulham.