This was always billed as a nostalgic game between two of Bobby Robson’s former clubs. Ipswich’s North Stand today was renamed the Sir Bobby Robson Stand and how they could have done with the former England manager’s know-how.

Kevin Nolan, in arguably his best game for Newcastle, managed to grab a hat-trick, and Ryan Taylor added his name to the scoresheet with a cracking free-kick, we’ve been waiting for one of those for ages.

The Toon always had the upper hand and once the first goal went in, it was always looking likely that Ipswich would capitulate. Sure enough, Newcastle went in at half-time 3-0 up thanks in part to a quickfire double from Kevin Nolan. Nolan completed his hat-trick in the second-half with a short range finish with Nile Ranger being the provider.

It was only left for us to see out the second half and we did so with ease with Nolan grabbing his third and Newcastle’s fourth. Marlon Harewood made his debut appearance towards the end of the game and by all accounts, looked very lively.

Roy Keane, still looking for his first win of the new season will be left wondering just what he has to do. Newcastle United on the other hand are continuing their fine run of form with Alan Smith looking as committed as ever wearing the captain’s armband.

Newcastle, unbeaten this season travel down to London to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Last week, Neil Warnock, Palace’s manager was justifiably infuriated by the goal scored by young Spears which was disallowed. Let’s hope the refs will be equally in our favour tomorrow!

NUFC Team News: Barton won’t feature for the Toon, while young Andy Carroll and Nicky Butt are expected to take some part in the game. I wouldn’t mind starting with the same team that beat Sheff Wed earlier in the week – let’s keep this momentum going.

Palace Team News: One of Bobby Robson’s signings, Darren Ambrose, has made a great start to the season scoring four goals in four appearances. Watch the lad go and have an absolute stormer, it would be typical.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 – Newcastle United 2

It is with great sadness that one of the true great men of football passed away peacefully yesterday in his sleep. The word legend is often one that is overused, in Sir Bobby’s case, it fits the man exactly.

Respected worldwide by players, coaches and fans, Sir Bobby Robson was held in the highest regard. His passion for the game was unequaled, his desire to succeed unsurpassed, yet he remained a true gentleman. You would be hard pushed to find anyone with a bad word to say about Sir Bobby.

A career that took him to the upper echelons of European football, Sir Bobby took Ipswich Town from a sleepy East Anglian family club, to a dominant force in Europe. At Barcelona he got the best out of Ronaldo and mentored Jose Mourinho. He won league titles with PSV Eindhoven and Porto and was remarkably successful at Sporting Lisbon. One of Sir Bobby’s greatest football achievements however was taking England to a World Cup semi-final at Italia 1990. The furthest England had ever been since Sir Alf Ramsey when they won it in 1966 and the furthest they have been to-date.

Described as a footballing pioneer, Sir Bobby returned to his beloved Newcastle in 1999, saving them from relegation and leading them to consecutive Champions League appearances. Newcastle were a top six club for three years in a row until a spate of bad results saw Sir Bobby sacked in 2004. To many, this was the start of the downfall to which Newcastle United now find themselves (and I’m inclined to agree).

Ultimately, as courageous as Sir Bobby was, there was one opponent which got the better of him. Having fought cancer four times and won, Sir Bobby was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

Fittingly, his last public appearance was at St. James’s Park on Sunday July 26th, 2009 for a charity match which brought together the two teams of the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Looking frail and in his wheelchair, Sir Bobby was smiling from ear to ear. One can only imagine the pain he was in – but, he was proud to be in front of his people, the Geordies, to whom he gave so much and continues to do so despite his passing.

On a call in radio show yesterday, a quote that will most likely sum up the Geordie people and Sir Bobby was spoken:

He didn’t lose his battle with cancer. He won 4-1.

There’s only one, Bobby Robson… one Bobby Robson
Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Robson wonderland.

Gan canny bonnie lad.

Speaking before the charity game for Sir Bobby Robson’s charity, Shearer said:

“I am the same as everyone else, I am in limbo. I don’t know what is going on.

“Everyone is telling me there are people in to buy the club. If that is the case, then great.”

“I want it sorted out as quickly as everyone else does.

“I’m a fan like everyone else and I don’t like to see the situation the club is in.”

This is a damning indictment of the situation Newcastle United finds itself in. If the favourite to become the next boss knows just as much as the next bloke on the street, then it’s no wonder we’re up the creek without a paddle. You just can’t run a football club that way.

Hopefully the Geordies present at St. James’s Park when we play Leeds this week will let their opinions be known. Something needs to be done and quick. Forget the start of the season, there’s only five weeks left for the new manager to operate in the transfer window. If nothing happens before then (worse case scenario), then things could look very, very bleak for NUFC.