Crisis on Tyneside
Much has been made out about the damaging problems taking place at Newcastle United at this moment in time with club owner Mike Ashley prepared now to sell the club for more than £400million. The value seems to be falling every day though, considering they were sent crashing out of the Carling Cup after a midweek defeat to Tottenham, as well as their poor league form which leaves them rooted to 19th place in the table. No doubt, having an actual manager could, should and would help the situation, but Ashley is unable to lure even Terry Venebales to take over for the foreseeable future. Instead Joe Kinnear - a man who has not managed for four years - has stepped in for the interim.
What does a club in such a state of crisis do? Well, firstly, I’d get rid of the club if I was Mike Ashley! A Nigerian Consortium are already said to be prepared to pay around 350m for Newcastle, so why wait for 400m? The longer Ashley holds out, the worse affect it will have on the team, the fans and collectively the club. Newcastle really need some confidence and morale-boosting sessions. They desperately need that win which would put a smile on the face of the fans, and would make the players feel proud. Basically, they just need a lift. This home game could well work in their favour, if the Newcastle faithful raise their voices and get behind their beloved Magpies. But another poor performance would lead to continued calls and pleas to rid Newcastle of Mike Ashley, who is probably the least-likes man in the North East at the moment!
Ince’s Rovers Revolution
When Paul Ince took the managerial reigns at Blackburn Rovers, fans were not expecting miracles. Precisely, fans aren’t getting any miracles either, with Rovers previously having lost against West Ham and Arsenal in the league, conceding four goals per each of those games. But Rovers fans were able to witness a turnaround at Ewood Park, as the attitude and style of the players changed which lead them to a hardfought victory over Fulham as well as an even sweeter Carling Cup triumph over Everton.
These 1-0 wins may not sound as attractive as the scorelines suggest, but Rovers have been playing some good stuff. For one, Blackburn now have some quality attacking players, with Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts, Derbyshire, Fowler, Pedersen and Villanueva all able to get forward and score goals. Chilean Villanueva looks a good player and is apparently a real set-piece expert. With so many exciting players in a more threatening outlook, Blackburn are sure to entertain this season.
FORM GUIDE
Newcastle United
24th September v Tottenham (H) LOST 2-1 (Carling Cup)
20th September v West Ham (A) LOST 3-1 (Premiership)
13th September v Hull (H) LOST 2-1 (Premiership)
30th August v Arsenal (A) LOST 3-0 (Premiership)
26th August v Coventry (A) WON 3-2 (Carling Cup)
23 August v Bolton (H) WON 1-0 (Premiership)
Blackburn Rovers
24th September v Everton (H) WON 1-0 (Carling Cup)
20th September v Fulham (H) WON 1-0 (Premiership)
13th September v Arsenal (H) LOST 4-0 (Premiership)
30th August v West Ham (A) LOST 4-1 (Premiership)
27th August v Grimsby (H) WON 4-1 (Carling Cup)
23rd August v Hull (H) DRAW 1-1 (Premiership)
TEAM NEWS
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