Rumour has it that the Toon are in for Swindon’s young striker Charlie Austin. The 20 year old joined Swindon from non-league Poole Town. He’s recently came to the limelight because of his 16 goals in 22 starts.

Austin has been watched by Newcastle several times this season, most recently last weekend against Hartlepool.

He certainly fits Mike Ashley’s transfer policy – a young up and comer, who the club could sell on for a profit. But is this the kind of signing we need to be making? If we’re to stay up in the Premier League (should we get promoted) we need to sign proven Premier League players. While Austin would certainly be a good buy for the future, the task of leading our front line next against Premier League defenders needs to be done by a proven player, otherwise it could well be a season of survival.

Newcastle, guilty of missing some great chances to put the game away, ended 2009 firing blanks. There was plenty of endeavour, and arguably we’ve played worse and won, but the match against Derby was one that won’t be remembered fondly by many NUFC fans.

Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, and Nile Ranger were the Newcastle players who failed to take their chances.

However, I reckon that we can take some positives out of the game. Yes, West Brom gained some ground on us, but if someone had offered you the position we’re in now at the start of the season, would you have taken it? I know I would. After last season left a bitter taste in my mouth all summer, it’s great to have the promotion job half done.

One thing that should be recognised though is that we need to bring in a couple of players to strengthen the first team. We’ve been fairly fortunate with injuries and still have Joey Barton to return, but there’s just over four months of hard work to come and we’re going to need some reinforcements.

An attendance of 47,505 were on hand to see the game. A Championship game which was shown on the telly, played in bitterly cold conditions, and right after Christmas. Best fans in the country? By a country mile.

Swansea came into yesterday’s game on the end of an eleven game unbeaten run thanks to one of the league’s most stingiest defences. NUFC meanwhile, were looking to cement their place at the top of the Coca Cola Championship.

A crowd of 42,616, were in attendance as the St. James’s faithful showed some of the Premier League big boys just how much they love their club.

The Toon managed to get off to a great start and the game was all but over as a contest thanks to headed goals from Marlon Harewood with Peter Lovenkrands also getting on the scoresheet. Some lapse defending allowed Harewood to get in and score, and then a cross by Jonas (finally) saw Lovenkrands score from close range. Not satisfied with two, Newcastle went for a third and Harewood again was there with the finish.

Cedric van der Gun and Andrea Orlandi did have attempts at goal for Swansea though as ‘Keeper Steve Harper was called into action to produce some important saves. Harper was replaced at half-time by Tim Krul after still complaining about a back injury.

Swansea came into it and enjoyed the majority of the possession. Danny Simpson made sure that Newcastle came away with a clean sheet after heading off the line. Swansea seemed incapable of producing the quality in the final third and just couldn’t manage to get past the Newcastle defence.

Another three points and we further extend the space between us and third place to eight points. Watford at home are up next and we’ll look to keep the run going. The league is definitely starting to take shape as ourselves and West Brom look clear favourites to get promoted at the first time of asking.

Update: The official site now confirms that Pancrate has signed a deal that will see him spend the rest of the season at Newcastle with an option to extend.

When Barry Moat‘s Newcastle United takeover bid failed, a lot of supporters feared that without money to invest in players, we’d struggle to add to our already depleted squad. The current Newcastle squad is probably just good enough to get out of the Championship, but without further investment, it’s looking bleak for our future Premier League survival.

One thing that we’ve lacked this season is pace. Only Lovenkrands possesses any kind of natural speed, and in games where other teams shut up shop, a burst of speed can often make the difference. Fortunately, a French bloke called Fabrice Pancrate looks like he’s got bags of pace, which Chris Hughton has certainly picked up on during training and Pancrate’s debut against Hartlepool reserves earlier in the week.

Hopefully this deal can go through, and Hughton has gone on record saying he’d make a decision by the end of this week, so it looks like we’ll find out soon enough.

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.

As voices of discontent gathered at the back of the Milburn stand before the game, they were equally as vociferous in their support for their team once they got inside the ground. The second largest attendance of the day (43,067) certainly made their feelings known.

The Newcastle fans had something to shout about other than the owner as Jonas Gutierrez ran from the halfway, and finished with a shot that went past ‘Keeper Joe Lewis. The shot took a deflection but it’s thought that Jonas will be given credit for the goal (please dubious goals panel?).

NUFC kept up the pressure as the fans bayed for blood and they got what they were looking for when Andy Carroll headed in a Danny Guthrie corner. Newcastle went in 2-0 up at the half and continued in similar fashion in the second-half thanks to a quality strike from Danny Simpson. Simpson, on loan from Manchester United, cut in from the right and hit a shot that ended up in the top corner.

Peterboro managed to claw one back on the 80th minute with Dean Keats finding the back of the net with a close range finish. It was too little too soon though as Newcastle United took all three points and maintained their top of the table position. The Toon are clear at the top of the Coca Cola Championship by two points, and six points clear of the teams in a play-off position.

No points however were given to the Toon stewards as they made Newcastle fans who unfurled anti-Ashley banners take them down. I don’t know about anyone else, but freedom of speech is a right – just not at St James’s Park, apparently.

Dull. Uninspiring. Inept.

All words than can sum up tonight’s performance. It’s really gone beyond who scored for / against us anymore. It’s now down to attitude and application. Sadly for Newcastle United fans, both our coaching staff and players are completely incapable of showing either.

Marlon Harewood, who was void of any kind of class at all against Nottingham Forest was rightly dropped. Therein lies the problem. Once we drop one player, the person who comes in to replace him is equally as unmotivated and lacking in talent – and we lay that blame at the door of Chris Hughton, Colin Calderwood and most of all, Mike Ashley.

The failure to invest in both coaching and playing staff is now bearing fruit. A club down the road have sacked their manager and they’re fourth in the Championship. What’s going to happen if we fail to win this weekend? The St James’s Park hot seat could reach boiling point – it’s going to be interesting to see who cracks first.

To those players who wanted Chris Hughton to be given a crack at the manager’s job, I hope you’re happy – because it certainly doesn’t show.

Nottingham Forest put a dent in our title ambitions as what appeared to be a very unmotivated Newcastle side struggled early on.

Forest had the best of the first half and were unfortunate to only go in to the half-time break with a one goal lead. Newcastle were guilty of:

• Giving away possession (Are you listening Marlon Harewood?)
• Not making the best of our chances
• Woeful passing

I listened to the game on Radio Newcastle where John Carver was doing the commentary. I wish he was in the dugout instead – what a waste of a footballing brain. How he’s not employed I have no idea. His comments were spot on.

Unlike the Scousers who played at the Mackems, we don’t have the misfortune of blaming a big red balloon. Instead, the Newcastle United players have to take a long hard look at themselves and realise teams aren’t just going to roll over for us. They’re going to fight and scrap for every ball. I sometimes wonder if our midfield want to do the same.

Forest are a decent side, but there’s no doubt that we should at least have managed a point here. Coming away with nothing just adds salt in the wound – especially with West Brom winning. We have to get back to winning ways midweek against Scunthorpe – otherwise there’ll be fingers pointed at Chris Hughton (perhaps rightfully so).

One thing this game did suggest, is that we’re still woefully lacking in investment – from the coaching side all the way down to the players. When our first choice central defenders aren’t available and we struggle this badly, it doesn’t bode well.

It certainly feels like a long time since we last had something to write about. No progress on the takeover and no Championship games has meant it’s been a pretty boring two weeks. Fear not though, the real football is back!

Newcastle’s caretaker boss Chris Hughton has some decisions to make regarding the fitness of certain players and their inclusion in the squad for tomorrow depends on their passing a fitness test today.

The players in question are Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini. Should these two Newcastle players not make it, Zurab Khizanishvili and Tamas Kadar would be more than willing to step in. Jonas Gutierrez, fit from national team duty with Argentiaa, will be a welcome return. Hopefully he’ll be in the same vein of form and help the Toon carve open the Forest defence.

Prediction:

I think this one will be tight. 1-2 in favour of Newcastle.

Our much improved Spanish left-back Jose Enrique has spoken today of how Newcastle United have yet to hit top gear.

Enrique, speaking to the Chronicle, says that the players are determined to put last season’s disappointment behind them. Despite drawing our last two home games, we are unbeaten at home.

But what more would the Toon fans expect? We have a squad that should walk this league. Forget about the comments last season saying we wouldn’t have the bottle for the Championship, we’ve already proven that we’re not just going to roll over. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, it’s not even Christmas yet.

Our position is promising. But we’ve heard from players before and how they’re going to do it for the fans – well, there comes to a point where the talking has to be done on the football field, where it matters the most. Lets hope the lads can keep the good run going and not let the boardroom shenanigans become distracting. Howay the Toon!