Update:
Seat warmer 

Monday saw John Carver confirmed by the club as head coach for the remaining sixteen games of the season:

Newcastle United can confirm that John Carver will take the role of head coach until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Managing director, Lee Charnley, said: "At the beginning of this process it was my desire and intention to appoint an individual to the position of head coach who would be available to start immediately.

"Having now explored at some length the options available to us at this time, the decision has been taken to defer the appointment of a permanent head coach until the end of the season.

"The head coach will be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of Newcastle United and it is vitally important that we get the right individual.

"John has a long history with the Club and has the full support of the board. Our goal for the season of a minimum top ten finish remains unchanged and we are confident that John, supported by the backroom staff, will be able to deliver this."

John Carver, said: "This is a proud day for me.

"I have worked with, and learnt from, the best manager that this football club has had in Sir Bobby Robson. I know what this Club means to this city and its people. I believe in my players and the staff I have around me.

"I am confident that we can deliver exciting successful football and look forward with relish to my role as head coach of this great football club."

The 50 year-old Tynesider took interim charge of the first team ahead of the home game with Burnley on New Years Day following the departure of Alan Pardew.

Seeing United draw 3-3 in his first game, Carver then presided over a 0-1 defeat at Leicester in the FA Cup, a 2-0 reverse at Chelsea and most recently the 2-1 home loss to Southampton.

Confirmation of his appointment until late May is seen as further evidence that the club's preferred candidate for the role on a permanent basis is unavailable at present - or that there's no desire to make any appointment and Carver is merely seeing out the season. 

Whether JC could make sufficient impact in that 20 game stretch to convince United that he's their man in the long term is doubtful, but he remains under contract until September 2020 and therefore in line to keep a post within the club - or receive a considerable payoff.

It also reinforces the managerial structure at the club, with no requirement for a manager to be in post when decisions over the future of players soon to be out of contract are made (a situation that Ryan Taylor, Jonas Gutierrez, Sammy Ameobi, Jak Alnwick, Adam Campbell, Remi Streete and Lubo Satka all face come June).

Unlikely lads:
Real deal for misfit Mag



Former Newcastle flop Xisco has moved again, dropping down to the Spanish Second Division and joining his hometown club, Real Mallorca on loan.

Now 28, Xisco is in his third season at Cordoba, scoring a total of eighteen goals during the first two and helping them seal a return to the Primera League in 2014. 

However he failed to win a regular first team place once back in the top flight this time round. Nine appearances included just a solitary start and Xisco's only goal of the season came against Real Sociedad back in October. 

Former Magpies finding new clubs this month:

David Edgar (loaned to Huddersfield by Birmingham)
Aidan Grant (free agent, joined Lincoln City)
Lewis Guy (left Gateshead, joined Barrow)

James Marwood (left St.Mirren, joined Forest Green)
Brandon Miele (free agent, joined Shamrock Rovers)
James Tavernier (loaned to Bristol City by Wigan)
Xisco (loaned to Real Mallorca by Cordoba)

Internationals:
England calls
for Toon teens

Magpies youngster Mackenzie Heaney is in the England U16 squad for a four team friendly tournament to be staged at the FA's St.Georges Park base next month.

The 16 year-old forward is included in a 20 name selection for fixtures against Switzerland on Monday February 16th, Slovakia two days later (both 1pm) and France on Saturday February 21st (2pm).

And fellow Newcastle player Paul Woolston has been included in England's U17 selection for the upcoming Algarve Tournament.

North Shields-born Wooly is one of two goalkeepers in the squad to face Holland on Friday 13th February, Portugal two days later and Germany on Tuesday 17th February.

Premier League:
Hull City (a)

The Magpies return to action on Saturday when they visit the KC Stadium for a Premier League fixture that is televised live on BT Sport.

Kick-off is at 12.45pm and all 2,500 away tickets have been sold. Note that since our last visit, travelling fans are now housed in the North East corner of the stadium rather than behind the goal as in previous seasons.  

City have publicised their support for a minutes' applause in the 18th minute in remembrance of Conor Ledger - an 18 year-old Tigers fan who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and sadly passed away late last year.

Paddy Power match betting is online here
 
Newcastle to win @ 17/10

(NB: quoted odds were accurate at the time of writing, but subject to fluctuation - click on the link above to display current live odds). 

Squad: Steven Taylor and Rolando Aarons remain out, while Siem de Jong, Rob Elliot, Gabriel Obertan and Ryan Taylor are back in training. 

HCFC: To follow. 

Robert Snodgrass, Mohamed Diame, Liam Rosenior, Abel Hernandez, Nikica Jelavic and James Chester all miss out due to injury, while there are doubts over Alex Bruce, Sone Aluko, Andy Robertson and Gaston Ramirez.

Like Newcastle, The Tigers also have a two week break ahead of this game, as a result of their FA Cup Third Round defeat at Arsenal.

Winning just two of their ten Premier League home games this season (2-0 against Crystal Palace and Everton), draws were achieved against Stoke (1-1), West Ham (2-2) and West Bromwich Albion (0-0).

Five teams have left Humberside with maximum points to date: Manchester City (2-4), Southampton (0-1), Spurs (1-2), Swansea (0-1) and Leicester (0-1). 

Referee: Phil Dowd - second appearance of the season for the Staffordshire whistler following the 1-1 draw at Burnley last month. 

Travel: To follow 

UK TV: Live on BT Sport

Overseas TV: To follow

UK Radio: Live commentary on BBC 5 Live

NE Radio: Live commentary on BBC Newcastle

Overseas Radio: Live commentary on talkSPORT

Other Premier League fixtures
(3pm unless specified): 

Sat 31.01.2015:
Crystal Palace v Everton
Liverpool v West Ham
Manchester United v Leicester City
Stoke City v QPR
mackems v Burnley Stadium of Light
West Bromwich Albion v Spurs
Chelsea v Manchester City (5.30pm) Sky

Sun 01.02.2015:
Arsenal v Aston Villa (1.30pm) Sky
Southampton v Swansea City (4pm) Sky

Stats: 

Toon @ Tigers - competitive games:

2013/14 won 4-1 Sissoko 2, Remy, Anita
2008/09 drew 1-1 (PL) S.Taylor
2008/09 drew 0-0 (FAC)
1990/91 lost 1-2 (Div 2) McGhee*
1989/90 won 1-0 (FAC) O'Brien*
1989/90 won 3-1 (Div 2) McGhee, Anderson, Brazil*
1976/77 drew 0-0 (ASC)*
1935/36 won 3-2 (Div 2) Pearson, Smith, Imrie+
1934/35 won 5-1 (FAC) Bott 2, Cairns, Pearson, og+
1934/35 drew 1-1 (Div 2) Pearson+
1929/30 lost 0-1 (FAC)+
1912/13 drew 0-0 (FAC)+

At KC Stadium unless specified
* At Boothferry Park
+ At Anlaby Road

Loan lads:
The borrowers

Adam Campbell / Callum Roberts (Gateshead)
Next game: Wrexham (h) FA Trophy, Wednesday. The winners travel to either Halifax Town or Dartford in the Fourth Round on Saturday February 7th, but that replay doesn't take place until Tuesday February 3rd.

Sylvain Marveaux (Guingamp)
Next game: tbc (injured)

Jamaal Lascelles, Karl Darlow (Nottingham Forest)
Next game: Millwall (h) Championship, Saturday.

Unlikely lad:
Eagles and Throstles hunting ex-Magpie

Update: Black Country newspaper the Express and Star suggested on Monday that West Brom were looking elsewhere after Palace offered Ameobi better terms.

Having returned to Tyneside barely halfway through his first season in Turkey, former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi is reported to have been offered a short-term contract in England by two of his former managers.

Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion are the two clubs in question, Alan Pardew keen to be reunited with his number 23 from Gallowgate.  

Tony Pulis meanwhile is seeking to increase his squad at the Hawthorns and has been linked with Shola, a player who spent time on loan at Stoke City in 2008 while Pulis was in charge at the Britannia. 

Both sides made it through to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup on Saturday - a competition Ameobi would be eligible to appear in.

Were a deal to be done, Ameobi could come up against Newcastle for the first time in his career in February (away at Palace) or May (at home to West Brom).

U18s:
Deja vu?

Although their Fifth Round tie against the mackems is still to be played, Newcastle's U18 side now know the identity of their possible opponents in the Quarter Finals, after the Sixth Round draw was conducted on Friday.

Dave Watson's side would enjoy home advantage against either Swansea City or Chelsea, who meet in a Fifth Round tie at Aldershot this coming Wednesday evening. 

The West Londoners are the current cup holders and ended Newcastle's interest in this competition at the Sixth Round stage last season, winning 3-2 at SJP.

United will face their red and white counterparts at the stadium of plight on Wednesday February 4th at 7pm.

Travelling fans will be accommodated in the South Stand. Access is via turnstiles 61 and 62 and admission costs £3 adults and £1 U16s & over-65s. 

A result must be achieved on the night, via extra time and penalties if needs be. 

FA Youth Cup Fifth Round draw:

27.01.2015 Nottingham Forest v Burnley
28.01.2015 Chelsea v Swansea City
30.01.2015 Liverpool v Birmingham City
30.01.2015 Manchester City v Stoke City
02.02.2015 Arsenal v Crewe Alexandra
04.02.2015 mackems v Newcastle United
date tbc Southampton v Leicester City
date tbc Spurs v Manchester United

FA Youth Cup Sixth Round draw:

Southampton or Leicester v Liverpool or Birmingham
mackems or Newcastle v Chelsea or Swansea
Man City or Stoke City v Arsenal or Crewe Alexandra
Nottingham Forest or Burnley v Spurs or Man United

U21s:
Reserves' Royals reverse

Reading U21s  4  Newcastle U21s  3

Match report

U18s:
Derby defeat

Derby U18s  3  Newcastle U18s  1



Goals online here (you tube)

Dave Watson's U18s side lost to their Derby counterparts on Saturday afternoon, despite taking the lead in a bruising encounter at the Rams' Oakwood Academy.

Jamie Cobain burst into the box to fire the yellow-clad Magpies ahead after 25 minutes but the Rams equalised just eight minutes later through Charles Vernam.

A defensive lapse then allowed the Rams to go ahead just five minutes into the second half through Kellan Gordon, Alex Babos wrapping up the points late on.

Full details to follow.

Thanks to Malc h for the images

Apology:
League Cup fiasco: Spurs say sorry

Tottenham Hotspur statement, Friday:

"We aim to deliver a great experience for all supporters at White Hart Lane and we would like to apologise to those Newcastle United supporters who experienced congestion at the turnstiles prior to our Capital One Cup tie on December 17th. 

"We are always pleased to work with the FSF (Football Supporters Federation) to resolve any issues and in this case we are pleased that we have been able to do so. 

"The safety of supporters is paramount and we will always seek to optimise our procedures to deliver the best experience for all fans attending matches at White Hart Lane."

This move follows contact between the FSF and Spurs regarding the events prompted by the detonation of a smoke canister in the away section of White Hart Lane.

That resulted in delayed entry for hundreds of blameless Toon fans - whose orderly reaction outside the ground prevented what was an inconvenience becoming a far more dangerous incident.

Many of those involved subsequently reported their observations and those accounts have played a part in Spurs altering their entrance procedure for away fans - thanks to everyone who bothered to make contact.

PS: the smoke bomber was identified and arrested.

Find more details online here

Money balls:
The only league table that really counts.... 



While headlines have been grabbed by news that United have returned to Deloitte's Top 20 Football Rich List, one line is enough to make the toon followers choke:

"Newcastle United are commercially in the strongest position in their history"

Never mind enjoyment or credibility, never mind winning or trying to win things, never mind that commercially weaker clubs like Swansea, Stoke, Southampton and West Ham are above us in the Premier League, as long as the figures add up, everything's tickety boo eh?

Deloitte's verdict on the Magpies:  

"Newcastle United return to the Money League in 19th place after increasing revenues by 35% to £129.7 million.

"On the pitch the Magpies endured a frustrating season; exiting both cup competitions in the early rounds, and suffering home and away defeats to arch rivals Sunderland before finally finishing in 10th place in the Premier League.

"Newcastle’s broadcast revenue, much like the other English clubs, increased significantly by £27.2 million (53%) to £78.2 million thanks to the new Premier League broadcast deals.

"This offset the loss of UEFA distributions (€5.3 million) as a result of Newcastle’s run to the quarter-final stages of the UEFA Europa League the previous season.

"Newcastle’s lack of European football in 2013/2014 resulted in four fewer home matches being played at St James’ Park, which decreased match-day revenue by 7% to £25.9 million.

"The St James’ Park average attendance of 50,688 for the Premier League season was the third highest in the division.

"Commercially, revenue increased by an impressive 50% to £25.6 million in 2013/2014. This was the first year of the controversial shirt sponsorship agreement with Wonga, as well as the continuation of long term partnerships with Puma and Thomas Cook, and the addition of online gaming brand 138.com.

"With Wonga and Thomas Cook already signed up to long term agreements, and Puma recently announcing a long term contract extension at the start of the 2014/2015 season, Newcastle United are commercially in the strongest position in their history.

"After being an ever present in the Money League until 2007/2008, the new Premier League broadcast deal has helped propel Newcastle United back into the Money League top 20 this year.

"Given the strong commercial performance of the club coupled with the Toon Army’s continuing support in their impressive numbers, Newcastle should be capable of an extended stay in the Money League in future editions."

Lee Charnley's mention of not being easy sellers was obviously referring to the owner, not players. 

There's no reason for Ashley to sell up given these figures - and were he to have a change of heart, the price tag would factoring in losing those revenues, taking it into the stratosphere. 

The City AM website provide their evaluation here

When considering the revenue versus net spend data reproduced though, consider this: Transfer values are based on media reports, as NUFC don't publish that data - leaving the integrity of that data highly questionable.

In plain terms, there's no guarantee as much was spent or recouped as is claimed - or vice versa of course. A flashy graphic and a totaliser on a TV news bulletin is as near as you'll get to knowing just how much the Anitas, Sissokos, Rivieres and Cabellas of this world cost. 

A summary of the latest Deloitte report and links to older reports is online here If you really want to be depressed have a look and look for clubs that remain trophyless. 

One name stands out - one seemingly intent on extending that inglorious record yet further. We are the ennui FC.

Black and white....and red:
Howay the vlads!

The Northern Echo's Scott Wilson has published his take on the Chronicle's Charnley piece, relocating Mike Ashley's HQ to the Kremlin in the process. Worth a read here

Communication:
Talking head

Three weeks into the search for a new Newcastle United manager/coach/scapegoat, club MD Lee Charnley has broken his silence in a question and answer session with the Evening Chronicle that can be read online here

Until this point, Charnley followed a similar path to owner Mike Ashley, with club-published minutes from fans forums the sole output from anyone in an executive role at SJP since Derek Llambias quit in June 2013, save for the statement confirming Charnley as MD online here

Fourteen questions and fourteen answers later though, it's a struggle to find anything new to chew over - with nothing of consequence regarding the vacant position, other than the equivalent of a "work in progress" sign.

Certainly anyone looking to be reinvigorated for the remainder of this season - or for a reason not to post off that direct debit cancellation - will be disappointed. A mere 16 games to go?, why the season's almost over!

An apparent retread of the job description devised for Alan Pardew following the departure of Chris Hughton is aired, while there's no attempt made to communicate on squad specifics eg the status of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Jonas Gutierrez, Facundo Ferreyra, Papiss Cisse etc.

In that regard, this Q & A differs from the February 2013 Chronicle one with Llambias, when he commented on specific players including Loic Remy and Demba Ba.

"I can’t envisage any player we want to retain leaving" (in January), if as we know, every player is for sale at the right price, then retaining them is the very last thing they'll do if the asking price is met.

And as for a line about being "difficult sellers", the loss of Yohan Cabaye to PSG was hardly complicated - except for the bit about JFK screwing up the transfer fee....

The issue of how a coach conducts themselves is flagged up as important, yet he claims nothing but total support for Pardew throughout his time in charge - despite the fact he felt it necessary to fine the guy £100K and issue a formal warning over his touchline antics at Hull.

The thorny issue of communication is also revisited, with an admission that the apologist role handed to Pardew affected his chances of winning over the fanbase.

But a vow to look at how the club communicates is in reality no different to comments from his predecessor given to the Chronicle in February 2009 - minus the apology then for failing to keep supporters informed. 

Paranoia over saying anything that can be used against him (remember that Llambias's declared intention in 2009 was to emulate Aston Villa) makes this 2015 attempt mostly meaningless. Speaking but not speaking.

The MD will be judged on the quality of his appointment and whether the managerial structure that he advocates succeeds in the eyes of supporters. 

Everything else - including what publishing the Q & A says about the current relationship between the club and the Chronicle - is window dressing. 

PS: Charnley on Pardew:

"....we moved on significantly as a club during his four years, on and off the field."

December 2010, 11th in the Premier League
January 2015, 11th in the Premier League 

Publications:
Ultimate....updates



Copies of "Newcastle United: The Ultimate Who's Who" are still available, priced at £32.50 from The Back Page shop on St. Andrews Street, via the Evening Chronicle front office and branches of Waterstones bookshop.

They can also be bought from the publisher here

PS: Any owners of "Newcastle United: The Ultimate Record" yet to receive the 2013/14 season update PDF can request it by emailing info@ultimatenewcastle.com

Anyone short of copies of the 2011/12 and 2012/13 season PDFs can also request those via that address.