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KRUL RULED OUT

The Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul could be facing a spell on the sidelines. This is a major blow for the club, who have aspirations for finishing in the top five or even in the top four this season. Newcastle United have made a strong start to the season, although he could only recently manage a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. Tim Krul has been one of the main reasons for Newcastle finishing in fifth position last season. The Dutch goalkeeper has become a tremendous presence at Tyneside after coming through the ranks at the club in the last few seasons.

He had been linked with a move to Manchester United (by Man Utd FC News)before he signed a new long-term deal with the club. Now, the manager Alan Pardew will have to be without the star goalkeeper at least for a few matches after he was injured in the recent international round of fixtures. He recently started in the 2-0 win over Turkey. However, just when it was thought that he will once again be part of the starting line-up against Hungary, he has suffered an elbow injury that has made him return to the Newcastle United injury table.

“I feel the best I’ve felt for a long time. We all knew that this season there was a chance to get games under our belts. I had a chat with the manager at the start of pre-season and he said there would be an opportunity. We all want to remind him we’re ready if needed. Having the extra games gives you that level of competitiveness. It’s good for everybody,” said the second choice goalkeeper at the club, Steve Harper. It is unlikely that Tim Krul will be part of the Newcastle United team that will take on Everton during the weekend.

ANITA SIGNS

Former Ajax midfielder, Vurnon Anita, has signed for Newcastle United. The manager of Newcastle United, Alan Pardew, has confirmed this news. The Dutchman has joined Newcastle on a contract of five years. After signing Anita, Pardew said that this young player has got amazing capabilities and he has massive hopes with Anita in the upcoming season. Newcastle United has bought Anita by paying 8.5 million Euros as the transfer fee to Ajax.

Anita had been with Ajax since 1999. He had joined the youth program of Ajax when he was just 10 years of age. He was included in the first choice squad of Ajax in the 2005-06 season. But, he didn’t get an opportunity to make his debut for Ajax in the earlier part of the season. He played his first match for Ajax in March 2006 against FC Groningen. But, Anita didn’t manage to get regular opportunities to play. In the next season, he played a few matches, but, in the 2007-08 season, he wasn’t given the opportunity to play even a single match. In the next season, many Ajax players were out of the team due to injuries. So, Anita got chance to feature in 16 matches for Ajax in the 2008-09 season. But, after the appointment of Martin Jol as the manager of Ajax in 2009, Anita became the regular member of the Ajax side. Jol was quite impressed with his performance and he gave him regular opportunities to play in the first team. In April 2011, Anita’s contract was extended by the club for the next 3 years. But, in July 2012, all of a sudden, Anita had said in the media that he didn’t want to play for Ajax any more.

After signing for Newcastle, Anita told the reporters that after being with Ajax for so many years, he wanted to have some change. So, he decided to leave Ajax. As per Anita, he wanted to play in the English premier League. He got the offer from Newcastle and he decided to sign for the club.

PARDEW WANTS CARROLL

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said that Liverpool should not be worrying about the prospect of facing a loss on their star striker Andy Carroll after it has emerged that Liverpool are not willing to consider which less than £ 20 million. Newcastle have emerged as the surprise front-runners to secure his signature of the former Toon star. Andy Carroll moved to Liverpool in a £ 35 million deal back in January 2011, which made him the most expensive British player. However, he has been a major disappointment at Anfield after he has failed to produce goals and has often been injured.

As a result, Liverpool are willing to cut their losses by selling the player. The arrival of new manager Brendan Rodgers also has thrown his future into doubt due to the fact that the former Swansea manager favours playing football on the ground, which is not necessarily going to get the best out of Andy Carroll, who is a player strong in the air. It is thought that Newcastle United were initially interested in loan deal, which could have been made permanent at the end of the season. However, Liverpool are demanding a permanent transfer and a transfer fee of £ 20 million, but Alan Pardew has said that they cannot expect such high transfer fee.

“[The Reading chairman] John Madejski used to say to me about certain players, ‘Just wipe your nose and move on’, and I think [Liverpool] are going to have to do that with Andy. I think it was obvious as soon as Brendan went into Liverpool that Andy’s time was going to have to be somewhere else. I think it’s quite right we’re involved in that,” said Alan Pardew, who has also promised fans that there will be no major departures from St James’s Park this summer.

COLOCCINI PROUD OF NEWCASTLE

Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini has said that he is extremely proud of his achievements with Newcastle United in the last few seasons. The 29-year-old was initially criticised a lot by the Newcastle United fans and the media. However, the Argentine defender has grown in stature since then to the position of being the club captain now. He was also extremely influential in helping Newcastle United finish in the fifth position in the Premier league. They came extremely close to securing Champions League football for the club, which is impressive considering they were in the Championship only a few seasons ago.

Fabricio Coloccini was a £ 10 million signing a few seasons ago, with many claiming that it was one of the worst transfers in the history of football. However, the Argentine has said that he is relieved that he has been able to satisfy his target, as he is his biggest critic. The defender arrived at the club back in 2008 and has become one of the established members of the squad in these four years. He has admitted that he struggled to adapt to life in England initially, but has grown extremely fond of the country in these four years.

“I knew I could play here, so I came. But the first year was hard. That’s why I wanted to be here – because I wanted to prove to myself I could play in this league. It was really difficult, but it wasn’t about how much (Newcastle) paid for me. I came here after playing in Italian and Spanish football and, for me, it was different. I’m happy at Newcastle – I think the future is good here,” said Coloccini. Fabricio Coloccini was given the captain’s armband after the departure of influential midfielder Kevin Nolan to West Ham United.

Gutierrez Poised for Europe

Newcastle United winger, Jonas Gutierrez, was a key figure in the side that qualified for the Europa League, last season, and now the Argentine is looking forward to the competition.

The Magpies, under manager, Alan Pardew, worked wonders last term, and superseded expectations of even their most positive supporters on Tyneside, as they finished in fifth place in the top flight.

With European football returning to Newcastle, there is a real buzz around the potential of this team, which has gone through some tough times in recent years, having endured a year in the Championship. Now things are on the up, Gutierrez is looking forward to the Europa League and believes the club deserve to be in the competition, following their exploits from last season.

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PARDEW WANTS EUROPE

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said that he is already looking forward to the next season after inching ever closer to qualifying for the Champions League this season. It has been a great 12 months for Newcastle United, as they have been able to reach closer towards the top four despite losing a number of top players. It was expected during the start of the season that Newcastle will struggle after losing the experience of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton in addition to the loss of Andy Carroll in January. However, they have made some shrewd signings and the tactics of Alan Pardew has been spot on.

Newcastle continued their winning run during the weekend as well, as they managed a splendid 3-0 win over Stoke City at the St James’s Park. This coupled with the 0-0 draw at both Arsenal and Chelsea meant that Newcastle are now ever closer to finishing in the top four. Their other contender, Tottenham, were also unable to avoid defeat against QPR. There has been a buzz around Newcastle this season, which has translated into the players according to Alan Pardew. He is very much looking forward to playing in the Champions League next season if they qualify. Pardew reckons that it will be much easier to convince players to come to Newcastle once they qualify for the Champions League.

“Football is important in this city. There are a lot of people out of work and, when you look elsewhere, it is a tough environment for businesses and for people to earn money but, when they come to the stadium, they see a team playing like we did today and it just lifts you and they can take that back into the workplace,” Pardew said after the Stoke City match, which has seen Newcastle rise to the fourth position in the table.

SIMPSON WANTS EUROPE

Newcastle United defender Danny Simpson has said that there is a real chance that his club can make it into Europe this season. Newcastle United have been a great story in the Premier league ever since their return to the top flight a few seasons ago. Many expected them to go back straight down to the Championship due to the huge number of financial problems they were having. However, they have managed a great story in the Premier league through some great transfer policies over the last couple of seasons. Even after the departure of many players like Andy Carroll, Newcastle United have kept their position in the top six.

Now, Danny Simpson has said that he wants to make sure that Newcastle qualify for Europe this season. It has been three years since Newcastle United were relegated to the Championship from the top flight, but this spectacular turnaround really surprises Danny Simpson, who arrived on a loan deal from Manchester United. Danny Simpson has said that playing against the likes of Plymouth and Barnsley, it is going to be a different experience playing against the top teams in Europe. Newcastle finished in the 12th position last season, while they are currently in the sixth position ahead of the likes of Liverpool and Everton.

“It would be massive for me to play in Europe. I came here when we were in the Championship. We won that, had a solid season finishing 12th, and to get into Europe in my third season would be fantastic. When you look at the improvement of the team in the last three years, it’s brilliant. If we can make Europe happen now it will be massive for me and the lads – and for everybody at the club,” Simpson told The Chronicle.

NAME CHANGE PROMPTS OUTRAGE

Newcastle United were once again back in the news when, following the removal of the St James Park sign at their ground, a fan was charged after using graffiti to write the words ‘St James’ on a part of the ground.

The decision to officially change the title of the historic ground from ‘St James Park’ to the ‘Sports Direct Arena’ has been met with outrage from the local Newcastle fans, with even the local council refusing to change the title on signs from St James Park.

The club’s managing director Derek Llambias has said that rebranding the stadium could bring in up to £10 million to the club, so it is a very worthwhile venture. All of the fuss over the rebranding of St James Park is something of a distraction the current Newcastle team, as they find themselves in a position in the table few would envisage them to be in at this point in the season.

There have been many high points of the season, such as the 3 – 0 demolition of Manchester United at home, the game that secured hero status for the Magpie striker Demba Ba. Ba has proved himself to be a high quality player, and the fact that Newcastle managed to sign him for free makes his success all the more sweeter.

He is bound to have many clubs chasing his signature in the Summer transfer window, but with Ba and fellow Senegalese forward Cisse showing signs of becoming a fearsome partnership, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be desperate to keep ahold of Ba. There is also likely to be interested in the midfielder Tiote as well, who has made a big impression so far in the Premier League, but he appears to have settled well in Newcastle.

PARDEW TARGETTING EUROPE

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has said that the club should be targeting a Europa League place in this season. Newcastle United made a fantastic start to the season and were in the top four only until recently. However, a few defeats on the bounce have meant that we have slipped out of their strong position at the start of the season.

Still, it is much better than any Newcastle United fan or owner Mike Ashley would have hoped at the start of the season. This has led manager Alan Pardew to believe that there is no reason for Newcastle United to be not challenging for the European places.

Despite missing a number of key players Newcastle United performed exceptionally well in their latest match against QPR. As a result of the 1-0 win, Newcastle United have moved into the fifth position in the table displacing Liverpool, who could only draw against Stoke city at home. Even better than the result was a fact that Alan Pardew could impart misery on the new manager Mark Hughes, who was just taking over at QPR. Newcastle United were one of the teams expected to struggle in the January and February months due to the loss of key players like Cheick Tiote and top scorer Demba Ba, but they showed incredible strength in depth to beat QPR.

“If we can manage to get a couple more wins when the boys are away and they can come back and give us a boost, who knows what we can achieve. We are sixth and that’s not just the result today but through 21 games. But we will never take our eye off things. We are not that naive,” Pardew said after the 1-0 win that took Newcastle United past Liverpool into the fifth position.

GUTHRIE: DOUBTERS INSPIRE US

Danny Guthrie, the Newcastle United midfielder, believes that it is the doubters of Newcastle Untied that inspire the club to play so well and give them their best start in the Premier League in their history. The defeat to Manchester City was their first this season and this incredible run of form just goes what can be done by a club who haven’t spent all that much money.

“People have been expecting us to trip up all season and that’s spurred us on,” said Guthrie. “Every week it seems as though people are saying, ‘This is the game where it’s going to end’. But we keep grinding results out and winning.”

It is this drive and desire to prove the doubters wrong that sees the Magpies currently rising so high up the table. Many people thought that without really investing the 35 million pounds they received from the transfer of Andy Carroll, they would really struggle for goals. This has not been the case, however, with the likes of Leon Best and Demba Ba proving able replacements for the out of form Liverpool striker.

The Newcastle start has been so fantastic that many people have been lining up Alan Pardew as the replacement of Fabio Capello for the England manager role. Whether these rumours are true or not, they go to show the extent of the influence Pardew and his men have had on the Premier League this season and the question that everybody is asking is when the run ends?

This question is exactly what is driving on the Magpies on and as long as there are doubters the boys in black and white will keep churning out the results.