September 2009 Archives

As cup exits go it was about as painful as being hit by a super soft pillow made of super soft feathers and wrapped in a super soft cotton case. For once, who cares if Newcastle United are out of the Carling Cup?

This season, probably more than any other, a long run in the competition would have been an unwanted distraction at best. It might have even turned into a disastrous expedition where the cost far outstrips the reward.

Let's face it, Newcastle never got close to winning it under Sir Bobby Robson so they were never going to do it with this lot were they. Harsh but fair I feel.

I promise I'll be giving my thoughts about Newcastle United's progress this season on here soon, but I'm snowed under today work wise so why don't you ask me some question directly via our webchat.

It starts at 12:30pm and goes on for an hour or so.....

Steve Bruce has every right to be feeling smug at the moment and, as with every manager digging at the coal face of English football, he should enjoy it while he can.

I don't things could have gone any better for Bruce since he arrived at the Stadium of Light bigging up his North East roots in, erm, Corbridge, Northumberland.

Yes, I know the team could have won at Stoke City and Peter Crouch could have popped up north with Abigal Clancy, but generally speaking he has had the ideal start to his new job.

I shall refrain from writing a blog about Newcastle's 1-0 win over Cardiff because I will be online for an hour this lunchtime to answer your questions directly.

Just follow the links from the Journal Live website to the live webchats and you can give me a grilling, pick my brains or simply tell me what an idiot I am.

Actually, I'd rather you didn't do that but freedom of speech and all that. Hopefully hear from plenty of you from 12:30 onwards

Things have rarely looked as serene at Newcastle United since Mike Ashley waddled through the door two years ago, but that should be when we all start to get scared.

Newcastle United are unbeaten, sit proudly at the top of the Coca Cola Championship and their previously ridiculed caretaker manager Chris Hughton is about to pick up a richly deserved Manager of the Month award for August - the first time a United boss has managed that since Sir Bobby Robson in 2003.

But is everything really as sound as it seems? Personally, I think we are about to find just how suited this United team is to life in English football's second tier.

They do not get the attention lavished on our football teams and they do not get anywhere near the same financial rewards for their success, but Durham are an example to them all.

Durham may play in front of small crowds in a small town just off the A1, but they are the flag bearers for North East sport and it is about time they got the praise their efforts deserve.

After years of struggle, firstly to become a first class county and then to be taken seriously once that battle had been won, Durham are in danger of becoming cricket's Manchester United.

I had been extremely impressed with Steve Bruce's transfer activity since he became Sunderland manager. However, I'm worried he may have dropped an almighty clanger this week.

As with all these things, only time will tell. I mean, most of us thought Pascal Chimbonda, Djibril Cisse and El Hadji Diouf would be good signings for the Black Cats 12 months ago.

I have to be honest. I didn't think Newcastle United had a prayer of mounting an early season promotion push with Chris Hughton as caretaker manager.

And, as I'm someone who has never particularly enjoyed being proven wrong, I can honestly say I've never been more pleasantly surprised by events at Newcastle.

I've never disliked the guy and have a huge amount of respect for the calm and calculated manner with which he has conducted himself while the rest of St James's Park has looked like a lunatic's asylum.