Towards the end of last season there were murmurings of Andy Carroll being awarded the coveted number 9 shirt. Previous Newcastle United players to wear the number 9 shirt were:

• Hughie Gallacher
• Albert Stubbins
• Jackie Milburn (Wor Jackie)
• Malcolm Macdonald
• David Kelly
• Les Ferdinand
• Alan Shearer

Has Andy Carroll done enough to put himself amongst these famous Newcastle players as owner of the Newcastle Number 9? According to Chris Hughton, the answer to that question is a most definite yes – as Carroll was today given the Number 9 shirt to wear for the Premier League 2010/2011 season.

The lad has had his problems, that much can’t be denied, but I don’t think anyone could doubt his commitment to the club, or his passion to score goals – and isn’t that what wearing the Number 9 shirt at Newcastle is all about?

I’ve been waiting a bit to write this post because it hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’re actually champions. It may sound daft, but after all the issues that happened during the summer, I feel more a sense of relief than anything else really.

I remember the relegation and the last game of the season against Villa like it was yesterday. I remember Phil Brown prancing around at Hull being glad to have finished above us and avoid relegation. I remember the turmoil last summer and wondering who was going to be chairman, owner, and manager of our fine football club.

We can now put those memories to bed. Say this and say it proudly: Newcastle United are champions of the Championship and are headed up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Feels good doesn’t it? It makes me proud to be a Geordie and proud of our fantastic football club. Proud of the hard work which has gone on behind the scenes by both the players and backroom staff. Proud that while the media tested and ridiculed the club on the back pages last year, Chris Hughton and his staff got on with it. Proud of our fans who traveled the length and breadth of the country to follow their club while they could have complained about watching Championship football.

Sir Bobby would have been proud.

Next season may be a struggle, and we should expect one, but we’re made of sterner stuff than this time 12 months ago. Anything less than what we’ve given this season won’t be good enough to survive. But I honestly feel that we can now push on from here. Why? Because everyone at the club is united. They all want the same thing – for Newcastle United to be a Premier League football club.

Howay the Toon

On a day which will live long in the memory of Toon fans, we were promoted back to the Premier League without having to kick a ball yesterday, and I must say, it feels great. I remember how I felt when we were relegated and it wasn’t a nice feeling. I also remember how fans of other clubs and media pundits were all too quick with their criticism, and how Newcastle were ‘going to do a Leeds’ and that we were headed for ruin.

I’m proud today to call myself a Geordie and Newcastle United fan. I’m proud that Newcastle United is my football club, and I’m proud of the players and playing staff who have worked tirelessly this season. Let’s not forget what kind of team spirit we had at the end of last season. What a difference a year makes. The players and staff seem to all be pulling in the same direction. The Chairman? We’ll have to wait and see about that one, the jury is still well and truly out. Hopefully he’ll put his hand in his pocket and give Chris Hughton a decent transfer fund.

You could see what it meant to Chris Hughton at the end of game interview, the guy was very emotional. We could do far worse than have him as manager.

I’m expecting a season of struggle next year. Not because I’m pessimistic, but because we haven’t played decent football this year and we’ve still won. Some of the mistakes made at a Championship level will get punished in the Premier League and as fans, we have to acknowledge that. It has been nice to get that winning feeling around the place though, and with a new influx of decent players we should be alright.

Wait, was there a game yesterday? Oh aye, Newcastle beat Sheffield United 2-1.

Election for the new trust board members is going on right now. If you would like to vote and haven’t yet done so, the deadline to vote is midnight on March 30th. Remember, every vote counts.

For more information see the NUST 2010 elections page.

Just when you thought things were going well for Newcastle United, out comes a revelation that two of the Geordie lads at the club have been involved in a bit of a bust-up. Steven Taylor has a suspected broken jaw while Andy Carroll is said to have damaged his hand.

Newcastle have sensibly kept schtum about the incident, preferring to deal with the matter internally. Alarmingly, wor Andy is becoming known to the national media for being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons – having recently been accused of assault in a Newcastle nightclub. In a small twist of fate, the ever provocative Joey Barton comes into contention for Tuesday’s game against Doncaster Rovers having not played since September.

We could do without this off the field nonsense, whether it’s kept behind closed doors or not. Nothing need distract us from the task at hand – making Newcastle United a Premier League club once more.

Newcastle United’s activity in the January transfer window can be described as less than spectacular. But, when you take a closer look at the details, it seems like there might be an actual thought process given to incoming transfers. Who would have thought it? Whatever your feelings for Mike Ashley, let’s put them a side for a moment and take a look at the players Newcastle have signed:

• Danny Simpson: 23 years old. Full-back. Fee paid: £750,000
• Mike Williamson: 26 years old. Defender. Fee Paid: £1,000,000
• Fitz Hall: 29 years old. Defender. Fee Paid: Loan deal until end of season.
• Wayne Routledge: 25 years old. Winger. Fee Paid: £1,500,000
• Patrick van Aanholt: 19 years old. Full-back. Fee Paid: 1 Month loan deal.
• Leon Best: 23 years old. Striker. Fee Paid: £750,000

The first thing that jumps out at me is the age of the players. Not one of them over 27 years old and have their best years ahead of them. Secondly, it’s a good mix. We’re short for defensive cover, so two loan deals work out well. The addition of Best and Routledge are uninspiring, though they both provide pace – something we’ve been lacking all season.

Best and Routledge are hardly prolific, and one has to wonder whether Best is just another Ameobi, and if he is, why are we signing players who are on a par with what we already have. Surely the point of the transfer window is to improve the team? Clearly these are squad additions. I would much rather have seen a loan deal for someone who has shown they are able to play in the Premier League (Vaughan), than someone who’s hardly setting the lower leagues alight with goals (Best). But, we can’t have everything, and if he can make a name for himself at the Toon, then good luck to the lad.

Would this squad be able to compete in the Premier League? Most likely not. But Mike Ashley’s refusal to pay over the top wages is at least making some financial sense. Victor Moses’ wage demands were apparently too much for a Championship club, and the way Wigan are playing, there’s no guarantee of their Premier League status.

We have to come to realise that the snowy days and Tino Asprilla walking in the front doors of St. James’s Park are gone, but that doesn’t negate success. Our priority is promotion, and with the players we added to the squad, we’re a lot better off than we were a month ago. Oh, getting rid of Geremi doesn’t do us any harm either.

*Player transfer fees are estimates.

The draw for the F.A Cup fourth round is as follows:

• Southampton v Ipswich Town
• Reading or Liverpool v Burnley
• Millwall or Derby County v Brentford or Doncaster Rovers
• Bristol City or Cardiff City v Leicester City
• Stoke City v Arsenal
• Notts County or Forest Green Rovers v Wigan
• Scunthorpe United v Manchester City
• West Bromwich Albion v Plymouth or Newcastle
• Everton v Nottingham Forest or Birmingham City
• Accrington Stanley or Gillingham v Fulham
• Bolton v Sheffield United or QPR
• Pompey or Coventry City v Sunderland
• Preston North End v Chelsea
• Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion
• Tranmere Rovers or Wolves v Crystal Palace
• Spurs v Leeds United

Not a bad draw for Newcastle, but it’s another unkind away trip that we could have done without.

This blog is very proud to promote the Newcastle United Supporters Trust. Mike Ashley lost my support and respect a long time ago. For the future of NUFC, it belongs to the people who care about it the most ~ the fans. That’s why the lads and lasses involved with the NUST get my full backing and support.

Howay the Toon.

The people linked with Newcastle United are either perpetually stupid or completely inept.

Barry Moat has finally broken his silence regarding the Newcastle United takeover and his failure to buy the club. In comments released yesterday Moat admitted that he too would consider selling the naming rights for St. James’s Park. Anything to make a few quid eh Barry?

It’s clear now that Barry Moat is more of the Mike Ashley variety and not the clever, astute businessman we all hoped he would be when he was first linked with buying the club. Let’s get one thing clear for any other businessman, tycoon or consortium interesting in buying NUFC: The name of St. James’s Park is not for sale.

Will someone show me where I can spend a few bob and invest money in the NUST? I have a better chance in the takeover of the club than Barry Moat ever had.

The Journal today published an article with quotes attributed to none other than our favorite cockney geezer, Derek Llambias.

With most sane Newcastle fans venting fury at the clubs efforts to sell naming rights to St. James’s Park next season, the club appear to be trying to alleviate some of the damage.

Llambias, when speaking to Sky Sports, explains the decision:

`We are just looking to explore and maximise all our revenues.“We’ve got a great opportunity at the moment because our sponsorships are coming to an end. So we have a kit sponsor, we have shirt sponsors and then we have stadium right sponsors.

“So our intention is to put a package together that would include for instance stadium rights with a jumbo screen included in that sponsorship which is great for the fans as well.

“Our intention is to have – for instance sportsdirect.com@ St James’ Park.

“We were never going to lose St James’ Park, it was always going to be @ St James’ Park.

I shouldn’t need to point out the obvious here, but why are we supposed to believe this load of guff when all they’ve said in the past has been total bollocks? Even if what Llambias has said is true, let’s say they only want to put the sponsorship name in front of St. James’s Park, it’s still making money off the the history and heritage of this fine football club.

We can’t let Mike Ashley continue to ruin Newcastle United. Support the lads on the field, give the fat blokes upstairs a protest like they’ve never seen before.

We’ll say this once if we have to say it a thousand times – it’s St. James’s Park or nothing.