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.

What more can you say right now about the results Newcastle are getting other than I hope it lasts!

Goals from Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger’s first goal for the club solidified our lead at the top of the Championship to seven points, and 12 points ahead of third place. Once again, Steve Harper proved he’s still got what it takes, as he once more kept another clean sheet. Harper for England? I would really like to see a goalkeeper in better form than Steve right now, I reckon you’d be hard pressed to find one.

I have to admit, I’m not Chris Hughton’s biggest fan, but he (and the rest of the staff) deserve a lot of credit for the way they’ve motivated the Newcastle squad, and brought about results at the same time. From what was a ragtag down-and-out group of players when we were relegated are now a determined group of lads who seem like they’re willing to give their all for Newcastle United.

Long may it continue.

You see that great big ditch down there? The one big enough to swallow St. James’s Park? That’s how far my heart sank when I heard the news that Chris Hughton was offered the manager’s job on a permanent basis.

Firstly, this is a huge backwards step and reeks of the lack of ambition wafting out from the Gallowgate. If there was ever a sign that we are a disfunctional club with no ambition whatsoever, this is it. I mean, it’s hardly inspiring is it? The only, and I really do mean only, positive you could take from this, is that the players who were wanting Chris Hughton to be made gaffer (the same Newcastle players to blame for shoddy performances), will now get their way. They better bloody put in decent shifts or there’ll be hell to pay.

Chris Hughton is a nice guy and a good coach. He is not a manager. Newcastle fans, is this really where you see our future? From where I’m standing things are looking bleak right now.

Hope beyond hope is that Barry Moat manages to obtain the resources to takeover NUFC and then we can build for the future.

Ashley out.

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.

The ongoing saga between Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United reached a conclusion today with the ‘winner’ being Kevin Keegan. It was decided that the former Newcastle boss was constructively dismissed. In other words, the club owe Mr Keegan two million quid.

However, what’s more revealing and possibly a damning inditement at just how much of a shambles the club is, was revealed by Keegan’s statement after the panel’s verdict. In it, he explains that he was forced to sanction the signing of a player ‘to do a favour’ for two South-American agents.

I think the club have came out of this one with with their reputation definitely tarnished, and their wallets lighter, but the monetary payment could certainly have been a lot worse. Hopefully, now that the Keegan saga has reached a conclusion, we can make significant progress with the takeover of Newcastle United. Something I’m sure we can all agree on.

The Telegraph are reporting today that a takeover bid, led by Tyneside businessman Barry Moat is close to completion.

Unfortunately, there are no sources or quotes that are directly attributable to anyone, so we have to consider this latest piece of ‘news’ regarding Newcastle’s takeover like we have done with all the other ‘close to completion’ news – it’s a load of bollocks until we know otherwise.