Hughton Guides Newcastle Back To The Promised Land

Newcastle united returned to the Premier League triumphantly hoping to emulate the success of recent promoted teams like Reading, Birmingham City and Wolves. They hope they can avoid becoming the dreaded yo-yo club that promotion rivals West Brom have become.

United's charge to promotion was led by the much-maligned Chris Hughton. For much of his reign Hughton was criticised for his sides tactics and his team selections. Of course on Tyneside thing are never done easily. With his side on the verge of sealing promotion, the story that young striker Andy Carroll and club captain Steven Taylor were involved in a fight that left Carroll's hand broken had been splashed all over the papers. However, Hughton handled the entire situation admirably and never allowed off the field issues to distract his players from bouncing straight back from last year's relegation.

Hughton knew that he had a squad more than capable of dominating the Coca-Cola Championship but also knew that some fresh blood was required to get the best from his team. Key signings Danny Simpson and Mike Williamson helped shore up a defence that shipped little goals this season. The other major impact from Hughton's dealings was re-signing Danish international Peter Lovenkrands after the forward initially turned down the chance to extend his stay with the Magpies. Winger Wayne Routledge helped provide some additional creativity in the latter part of the season.

Hughton's greatest achievement this season was definitely the performances he got from players tat were so woefully out of form when the side were relegated. Stand-out performers Jose Enrique and Fabricio Coloccini looked nothing like the same defenders that defended like an under-eights team chasing after the ball. Enrique in particular had a magnificent season and should be a contender for player of the year. Kevin Nolan has already won a player of the year accolade and the Liverpudlian rediscovered the goal scoring form from midfield that had him talked about in terms of an England call-up a few years ago. Similarly, Jonas Gutierrez showed the kind of form that has led to Argentina coach Diego Maradonna claim the winger to be one of his 4 definites for his world cup squad. Gutierrez finally opened his account on Tyneside and the fans were then soon treated to his infamous Spiderman mask celebration when he scored against Barnsley.

Hughton proved this season that he can clearly work well with talented players who are motivated to play for the cause. With a few new signings next year could see Newcastle re-establish themselves in the top flight.

"Typical Germans" not really to blame Mr. Ferguson

Alex Ferguson's post-match interview after his side crashed out of the Champion's League would lead one to believe that Manchester United were cheated out of progression by Bayern. If you look at the incident that saw Rafael got his second booking it's quite clear that the young Brazilian's stupidity has got him sent off more than anything else. Already on a yellow card, the full-back pulls Ribery back, preventing any forward progress for the Frenchman. In anyone's book, as soft as it may appear, that offence is a yellow card. Yes the Bayern players do make it clear to the referee that the full-back is on a yellow card already but even still, the naivety of Rafael is clear for all to see. Why he so blatantly pulls on Ribery is beyond me, and he was already playing a high-risk game. In the first half after he was booked he was throwing himself into tackles all over the pitch, all of them fair where he won the ball it must be said but if any were mistimed he would have been gone quicker.

The red card was a turning point in the game but it also must be said that Bayern were growing into the game and looking like they could have scored regardless of the sending off. The secodn half was a lot more open than the first and Bayern's dangerous wide men Robben and Ribery, who had both been handled well by the United back four, were coming into the game more and more. The second half also saw Bayern begin to control the midfield. Van Bommel and Schweinsteiger started to pull the strings in the middle of the park. Of course with all the talk surrounding Ferguson's post-match comments, the wonder goal scored by Robben has been somewhat overlooked. The technical ability shown by the Dutch winger to control his volley was nothing short of sensational and was a goal certainly worthy of sending his side through.

Good News For England, Bad News For Man Utd

Reports emerging about the severity of Wayne Rooney's injury will be pleasing to English fans but horrifying for Manchester United fans. The initial reports say that Rooney has sprained an ankle and will be out for two to four weeks. The injury summed a pretty poor night for the league leaders as they fell to a late winner from Croatian international Ivica Ollic.

One of the most impressive things about Man Utd this season has been their strength in depth when player have been out injured. Problems in the back four were well documented in the earlier parts of the season but they managed to pull together and recover. The one constant this season has been the form and availability of Rooney. With such a tight title race and the key game with Chelsea this weekend, the wheels could come off for United. Rooney has been such an important cog in his sides push that could suffer severely without its top marksman.

Of course it is not all doom and gloom on the Rooney front. Fabio Cappello must be delighted because not only will his key man be fit for this summer's world cup, but he will also have had some rest. This injury could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for England's world cup hopes as it will mean that Rooney is fresher than he would have been come the tournament.

Ten under-rated players of the season

Below is a short list of players that have been integral parts of their team's success, or has been the best of a bad bunch on a struggling team. While some of these players won't be in the running for the player of the year awards come the end of the season, a couple of them arguably could be. This list is in no particular order and may contain a few holding midfielders, let's face it, they epitomise under-rated players.




Nigel De Jong (Manchester City)

The energetic Dutch midfielder raised a few eyebrows when he arrived from Hamburg last season. De Jong, however, has silenced the doubters with a string of consistent performances this season and has been in integral part of City's chase for fourth spot. His physicality in City's engine room is a huge factor in providing the likes of Bellamy and Tevez the quality of possession needed to fire their side to the top four.


Alexandre Song (Arsenal)

The young Cameroon international has come on leaps and bounds this season and his involvement in the Gunners free-flowing play is always huge. Song provides the side with the steel that they seemed to miss since Patrick Viera left and his presence is a calming influence in the young side. An old head on young shoulders.


Karl Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

I did warn that this list would include a lot of holding midfielders and the combative Henry deserves recognition for the role he has played in his side's fight to stay up. The club captain has adapted to life in the Premier League impressively and his inspirational play could lead his side to safety. Most of the plaudits in the Wolves side go to the goal-scoring exploits of defender Jody Craddock and the hard-working, honest endeavour of striker Kevin Doyle (you would think that should be the other way around) but Henry has played very well this season and could stay in the top division even if his team don't.


Carlos Cuellar (Aston Villa)

The tough Spanish defender had an up and down start to his career in England when he first joined from Scottish side Glasgow Rangers. He did adapt fairly quickly but he didn't start turning in the impressive performances that we have become accustomed to until he moved across to the right full-back berth he has now made his own. Villa's solid back-four does garner headlines, but more often than not those headlines concentrate on Cuellar's partners at the back; messrs Dunne, Collins and Warnock.


Stephen Carr (Birmingham City)

There is a case for any of the Birmingham back four that have done so brilliantly for the team but Carr gets in ahead of his team-mates because of the fact that he retired from football 2 years ago. The former Irish international returned last season to help Alex McGleish's side into the top flight and his play on the right hand side of the Blues' back four has been reminiscent of the player that made PFA team of the year in years gone past.


Aaron Hughes (Fulham)

The Northern Irishman has quietly gone about his business this season that has been such a success for the Cottagers. Hughes has played in every minute of every game this season and is a very important cog in Roy Hodgson's side. Hughes has been played all over the back four but has formed a very solid partnership with the towering Norwegian Brede Hangeland.


Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur)

Dawson's name has not been mentioned as a potential member of England's world cup squad but he has arguably been the most consistent English centre half in the Premier League this year. Dawson has not had it easy this season with the merry-go-round that is the centre half position at Spurs this season. Yes this is due to the struggles of Ledley King and yes he is worth it but it cannot be easy for Dawson playing with a new partner nearly every week and his form has not suffered.


Ji-Sung Park (Manchester United)

Yes I know it's easy to put him in after the weekend but the Korean sums up everything that is so good about Manchester United's squad. Whenever he is in the team his work-rate is second to none. Park has been out of the team this season with serious injuries but could be a vital cog in his sides hunt for another title.


Marc Wilson (Portsmouth)

Surprising to see a Portsmouth player on this list but the young Irish centre half has acquitted himself rather well in his first full season in top-flight football. Portsmouth are doomed to life in the Championship and I think all football fans hope that they can get themselves out this predicament. Perhaps if the people running the club showed as much grit and determination as Wilson has in the club's tough season, things may be a little better for the south coast club.


Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan Athletic)

Along with Hugo Rodallega, N'Zogbia has been a revelation for the most inconsistent team ever in the Premier League. N'Zogbia's talent was never in question at any stage in his career at Newcastle before and at Wigan now, although his mindset was. Wigan should survive this season and N'Zogbia's creativity has been a huge part of that. Basically when N'Zogbia plays well, so do Wigan. N'Zogbia probably won't be at Wigan next year, and boy will the Lancashire side miss him.

Messi's Magic Show Proves He's The Best

Last night's wonder show from Barcelona and Argentina wizard Lionel Messi proved that he really has the world at his feet. The master-class produced by the diminutive Messi was simply breath-taking as he inspired his side past Stuttgart into the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League.

Messi had a role in the first two goals in the Spanish sides 4-0 win on the night. Messi grabbed an excellent opener after only 12 minutes and had a hand in setting up Pedro for his sides' second. Messi got his name on the score-sheet for the second time on the hour, bringing his tally in the last four games to eight goals, before Bojan put the icing on the cake for the Catalan giants.

Last night's performance came hot on the heels after a hat-trick againts Valencia in the league at the weekend in another awesome display from the Argentine. Barcelona continue to fight for both La Liga and the Champions League and if Messi continues the form he has shown in his last few outings few would bet against them retaining both titles this season.

In a world cup year, Argentina must feel that even with the insane Diego Maradonna in charge, talent like Messi can inspire his nation to world cup glory. If Messi can continue this form he will rightly be known as the greatest player o the planet.

Michael Owen is Done for the Season - but he's "not" injury prone

If Michael Owen does leave Man Utd at the season - let's face it, he will - his search for a new team may require a new dossier to be sent out. When Owen left Newcastle last summer, his agent sent out a now infamous document outlining Owen's abilities and trying to put an end to the notion that he is injury prone. Next season's dossier cannot avoid the fact that Owen is now out for the rest of the season with the hamstring injury he picked up in the Carling Cup final.



It is sad to see a player with such undoubted ability struggle with injuries as much as Owen has. However, Owen has struggled with injuries his entire career. Ever since he first burst onto the scene at Liverpool, Owen's hamstrings caused him problems early on in his illustrious goal-scoring career at Anfield. An apparent fall-out with Rafael Benitez led to Owen leaving England for the little England being built in Madrid. (Real already had David Beckham and signed Jonathan Woodgate that summer too). Owen didn't get enough playing time in Spain so Tyneside came a calling. Newcastle paid Owen massive wages to fire them into Europe. Unfortunately, if a spell at any club underline the problems Owen had, it was his time at Newcastle. He spent more time on the physio table than the pitch and the fans began to grow weary of him. Owen's record when played at Newcastle was impressive for someone playing in a team that was struggling, 26 goals in 71 games. The problem was he wasn't on the pitch enough to justify the £16million transfer fee. He left last season to join Man Utd on a free transfer and struggled to get into the team until this injury ruled him out.



Regrettably, Owen's career looks like it will become a cautionary tale for any aspiring young footballer about playing too much too soon. When England lost to Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, Owen looked set to become one of the best players of his generation, now he looks like he has become one of the best "what could have been" players of his generation.

Weekend Preview

This week only sees five games played this weekend in the Premier League because of the F.A. cup fixtures. It is a big weekend for teams involved in the relegation dog-fight, with five of the bottom six clubs all in action.






Arsenal vs Burnley

Burnley are awful away from home, fact. They will not make a dramatic recovery this weekend and pull off a sensational upset. Their form in general has been poor of late and will at best try to frustrate their hosts for long periods. Arsenal showed their title-winning credentials in last week's come from behind away win. What happened to Aaron Ramsey was awful but Arsene "I didn't see it" Wenger must get his side to forget as best they can to continue their form and push for the title.

Prediction: Wenger's men win at a canter, the only question is by how many? 4-0


West Ham United vs Bolton Wanderers

Both sides have shown enough recently to suggest they have enough to pull themselves away from relegation. West Ham were plugging away while their squad was wearing thin, but clever signings in January and return to fitness of key players has breathed new life into the team. The Hammers home form is key to their survival and should see them press on to finish in mid-table. Bolton have convinced me under Owen Coyle that they be ok also. Coyle took his time to instill his philosophy on the squad but it seems to be paying off.

Prediction: Both teams are showing form lately but West Ham shade a close game. 2-0


Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester United

Mick McCarthy's high profile decision to field a weakened team away to United resulted in a loss and a ridiculous fine. This time around McCarthy will field a full team that probably deserved something out of their last home game to Chelsea. Alex Ferguson's charges come in off the back of their Carling Cup success will fancy their chances against the relegation battlers. Wolves defensive struggles will more than likely continue against one of the most in-form players in the world, Wayne Rooney.

Prediction: A brave Wolves side can't handle the Red Devils as Ferguson's side coast to victory. 0-3


Everton vs Hull City

Goodison Park is a very difficult place to get a result. Even when the Toffees are off form, not many teams make the trip to Merseyside and get a result. David Moyes' men will look to recover from their loss in Europe and put in a similar performance to the one that saw them beat Man Utd. Things are not looking good for Phil Brown's side. They have been struggling for form and will hope that new signing Amr Zaki and the returning Jimmy Bullard can inspire them to get the results needed to survive. Goals are a premium for the Tigers and will hope that Zaki can discover the goal scoring touch he had in his early days at Wigan.

Prediction: The Tigers as always put on a spirited display but can't handle a talented Everton side. 3-0


Wigan Athletic vs Liverpool

The awful pitch at the DW stadium has been re-laid and should make for some better football than was witnessed during Wigan's last home game. Wigan have been struggling for form and signs are not looking good for Roberto Martinez' side. They seem to have everything going against them, last week's dubious penalty for Birmingham an example, and now they face a Liverpool that has Fernando Torres coming back to fitness and form. The Spaniard's sensational goal scoring form will lift the Reds who have struggled for goals this year.

Prediction: Liverpool begin to find their form as Torres and Gerrard start to form the partnership that was so successful last year. 0-2