Hatem Ben Arfa set for Newcastle return

We're as suprised as anyone.


Hatem Ben Arfa set to return to action for Newcastle - ESPN Soccernet

Hatem Ben Arfa will finally return to the Newcastle side almost a year after suffering a double leg break against Manchester City.

...Now he will pull on the black and white shirt on Wednesday night as Newcastle travel to struggling Championship side Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup.

It seems like the Carling Cup match will be his first introduction back into the team. I wouldn't expect him to start Premier League matches just yet. Pardew continues,

"What's important for him is to make sure he grabs the work-rate that we have got in the team. If he grabs that, he's got a good chance of getting into this team.

That's a shame with Rovers the visitors to St. James' Park this weekend.

However, when he does play, he'll be the attacking hub of the team. Likely he'll play off a lone-striker.

"He will have that number 10 role that Demba Ba did on Saturday and did very, very well for us, so that's where he's got good competition."

I've got Cabaye in my team at the moment, but if HBA comes through the Cup match unscathed, picking him up at 4.29 will be very tempting.  At the least he'll be a Barn Door selection with Newcastle's upcoming schedule including Rovers, @Wolves, Spurs, Wigan, @Stoke.

Season Preview - Newcastle United

Quick Reminder, Real Life

 A better than expected return to the Premier League for a team that was in all sorts of disarray when they went down two seasons ago. Incredibly a similar cast of odd characters that managed to get relegated amongst dysfunction and squandering of talent came back and not only stayed up but were good for 12th place despite losing their first choice keeper for a long stretch, their big off-season attacking acquisition for nearly the entire season, and selling their best forward in January. I don’t think even the most optimistic Geordie would have expected that finish if you’d told them that news ahead of the season.

Quick Reminder, Fantasy

 Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan had great return seasons in both the Premier League for real and as fantasy standouts. Their performances continued to be strong their prices came up but both were exceptional bargains for the first half of the season. Likewise, Andy Carroll was a revelation early in the season before getting hurt and then sold off to Liverpool for a ton of money in January. The lone real disappointment was Hatem Ben Arfa who got hurt early before we got much of a chance to find out if he might live up to the hype that surrounded his move to the Prem from Ligue 1.

Summer Changes

Newcastle Fall-Out Follow Up

In the wake of Joey Barton's being transfer listed by Newcastle United and Wayne Routledge signing for Swansea, I've been running the rule over the squad trying to piece together how they'll play in the upcoming season. This may get repeated in our season preview, but so be it. This is really more of a first draft documentation of my thought-process.

So it might be messy.

Barton Available for Free after Twitter Outburst

Newcastle United have confirmed that Joey Barton has been made available on a free transfer.

Relations between the club and the outspoken midfielder had already been strained following a breakdown of contract talks over the summer, with Barton taking to Twitter to air his frustrations.

The 28-year-old did so again following Sunday's friendly defeat at Leeds, hinting at widespread dressing-room discontent towards the Newcastle hierarchy, before saying he would make an announcement on his future at 4pm on Monday.

But the club pre-empted whatever Barton was going to say by announcing he is able to leave St James' Park a year out from the end of his contract.

Some of the "offending" tweets included these:

If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. There will be a time and a place.less than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyJoseph Barton
Joey7Barton

And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club. #hadenoughofcertainpeopleless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyJoseph Barton
Joey7Barton

If I wanted to leave, I'd just come out and say "I want to leave" Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation againless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet ReplyJoseph Barton
Joey7Barton

And he's at it again today.

One day the board might realise, what the shirt signifies. HONOUR and PRIDE. Thanks for your continued support........... #toonarmyless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyJoseph Barton
Joey7Barton

So... where will he end up? Liverpool is the obvious answer as they're collecting every English midfielder they can get their hands on. [To that point, do you think they're regretting the &poind;24 they've spent on Henderson and Adam?]

But seriously, what club couldn't use his talents? But what club will take the chance on him after his washing out with Manchester City and now Newcastle United?

Who are we kidding. Barton on a free? ANY club would take a chance. It's not even a question of who has money to spend! This is going to get silly, quickly!

Sunderland Analysis - Lots of Transfer Activity

I've already gone on record in thinking that NUFC are among the mid-table clubs that have done very well for themselves thus far.  They've gone from highly volatile and a bit long in the tooth to more solid if perhaps a little less potentially spectacular.  West Brom has quietly solidified themselves in the back with some solid acquisitions as well.  That brings us to Sunderland who have stepped up the pace dramatically in the last ten days with three (relatively) high profile signings in Connor Wickham, Seb Larsson, and Craig Gardner to go along with depth in Keiran Westwood and my new favorite Premier League player "Bishop Magic" Dong-won.

So, how to the new signings look? First of all, I really like the Wickham move.  Here's my logic:

Analysis: Ba to NUFC

While Jeremy is our resident NUFC supporter, he is out of pocket this week so I'm going to take over with my thoughts on the transfer of Demba Ba from WHU to St. James' Park.  Taken as a move by itself, there is little to do other than like it a lot.  NUFC is desperate for strikers and Ba was very effective over the second half of last season at Upton Park.  If he can stay healthy, I don't have any trouble seeing him match the goal total of the man he is, in essence, replacing - Andy Carroll. 

What could go wrong with this move? A couple of things:

Nolan to West Ham

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan set for West Ham after clubs agree fee

The Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan is undergoing a medical at West Ham ahead of completing a move to the Championship club.

West Ham targeted Newcastle's top scorer from last season after he rejected a new contract at St James' Park. Newcastle dismissed an initial bid for the 28-year-old as "derisory", but accepted a subsequent offer.

Nolan, who has two years remaining on his Newcastle contract, will be reunited with the former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce at Upton Park if the deal goes through.

I'm not sure why Nolan wants this move. Obviously money is always an issue - perhaps always THE issue. And Nolan knows Big Sam. But does he really want to be the best player in the Championship again? Hasn't he been there, done that?

Analysis: Newcastle Signing Cabaye

BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle United sign Yohan Cabaye from Lille on five-year deal - Goal.com

From the sounds of it, NUFC are preparing a bit of a midfield overhaul with Barton and Nolan's statuses in question, Ben Arfa coming back into the side and Cabaye on the way.  I've only seen Cabaye play for Lille sparingly but my sense is that he's Michael Carrick with a little more bite in the tackle.  He seems unlikely to make a major fantasy impact even if he is likely to play slightly further up the field than Carrick does for United.  With Tiote playing backstop, Cabaye might get up the field a bit but he certainly doesn't seem like a fit for a Scholes-like role immediately behind the forwards (the role Nolan currently has when he's not actually being deployed as a forward). 

Analysis: Overall, he sounds like a solid signing for the Magpies but for fantasy purposes, I'd stay away unless he shows something unexpected early.

UPDATE: Cabaye seems to be known as a penalty kick specialist. Good to know. -J

Season over for Ireland

Not that it ever really got started.

BBC Sport - Season over for Newcastle United's Stephen Ireland

Newcastle United have confirmed midfielder Stephen Ireland will miss the remainder of the Premier League season with an ankle injury.

But there's another enabler taken off the board.

Kudos

From Neal's Week Ahead post:

Nolan - I saw the old Joey Barton re-emerge in his cameo vs. Arsenal yesterday - he could easily have been sent off in under 20 minutes (as it was, he saw yellow for the less flagrant of his two bad fouls).  With a derby on tap this weekend, it feels like the time to shift to Nolan if you want a reasonably priced NUFC midfielder.

Does Nolan ever score just one goal in a match? It's either brace - or hat-trick - or nothing for him. So frustrating for fantasy purposes.

Simpson ready to return

Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Simpson ready to return

Danny Simpson is eyeing a recall to the Newcastle starting XI after breezing through a comeback game.

The full-back, who has been sidelined for six months with an ankle problem, stepped up his return with a run out in a behind-closed-doors clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday.

He was able to get 75 much-needed minutes under his belt in that contest and has experienced no adverse reaction to his first outing of the season.

Simpson is likely to be held back in the reserves until he recovers his full match sharpness, but the 23-year-old is delighted to be back in the frame.

Doesn't sound like he'll make the home match againt Wigan (shame) but one to watch in upcoming weeks.

Andy Carroll Fitness Doubt

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is struggling to be fit for today’s visit to Wolves.

The 20-year-old star, who scored his first Barclays Premier League hat-trick in last weekend’s 6-0 drubbing of Aston Villa, is struggling with an ankle injury.

Carroll picked up the knock in training on Thursday and was unable to take part in the final team session yesterday morning.

Justification

... not for the mustache.  There's no reasonable justification for that.  Rather, I'm having a hard time justifying having Joey Barton in my team. Especially in a week when I've also fielding Scholes in the midfield. So I'm trying to remember Barton of a few years ago, taking kicks and generally being a fantasy stud for Manchester City circa 2005-07.

Also helping is Newcastle's upcoming run of fixtures:

• @Wolves - not an easy task, but not @Che either
• Blackpool - you're in on this one, right?
• @Everton - not an easy task, but Eve may not have sorted out their by now typical early season issues yet
• Stoke - not an easy game, but not the hardest either especially at home
• @Manchester City - A player scoring against his old team? Not unheard of.
• Wigan - you're in on this one, right?
• @West Ham - see Blackpool and Wigan above (just like West Ham see Blackpool and Wigan above them in the table! Thanks, I'll be here all week.)
• Sunderland - derby, but at least it's the home leg. And Sunderland remain a lousy road team.

That takes us through to November, and who knows what the Premier League landscape will look like by then. But I'm feeling a litte better about Barton on the Barn Door. How about you?

Manchester United v. Newcastle United - Live

Updated below (after the jump) with second half "call" and post-match wrap up.

Neal Thurman: sigh - Rooney and Valencia in, Fabio out (apparently the Evra resting thing was a red herring)
Neal Thurman: O'Shea was the right choice
Jeremy Spitzberg: boo
Jeremy Spitzberg: well, if i had to pick 2 outta 3...
Jeremy Spitzberg: those would be the two
Neal Thurman: grr
Jeremy Spitzberg: espn3?
Neal Thurman: I'm still between internet providers so I don't have an ESPN3 account to use right now :-(
Jeremy Spitzberg: loading
Jeremy Spitzberg: nice
Jeremy Spitzberg: MAX BRETOS?
Jeremy Spitzberg: oh hell no
Neal Thurman: yeah, he went over to ESPN over the summer
Neal Thurman: just when you thought it was safe...
Jeremy Spitzberg: yuck
Jeremy Spitzberg: carroll is a big dude
Jeremy Spitzberg: not pretty either
Jeremy Spitzberg: fabio not even on the bench
Jeremy Spitzberg: sigh
Neal Thurman: oh well - my only non-starter of the weekend which puts me up on lots of people - now I can comfortably root for a ManYoo loss, Rooney RC, etc
Jeremy Spitzberg: comm shield Owen's swan song?
Neal Thurman: could be - nice of SAF to give him a send-off but would have been nice if he'd told any/everybody

United extend Evra break

United extend Evra break

United manager Ferguson has handed the 29-year-old an additional week off to allow his body to recover from the strain of a taxing season and the added demands of the World Cup.

"We decided to give Patrice more rest," confirmed Ferguson. "Over the last five years he has played an average of 55 games a year.

"This summer he has had the World Cup as well so we felt he deserved another week's rest.

"He started training yesterday and won't be available until into the season."

Emphasis mine. Does this make Fabio a good bet for week one, at home to Newcastle?

Magpies clinch Campbell deal

Sky Sports | Magpies clinch Campbell deal

Newcastle United have finalised the signing of veteran defender Sol Campbell on a one-year contract.

In keeping with the theme, it's another defender on the move. This is a good signing for Newcastle if their expectations aren't too high. Sol had a great impact on Arsenal over a short period of time. I don't think he has the legs for an entire season. But if he can be professional and an example of what a Premier League quality player does and how one has to prepare and play, then they'll get their money's worth out of him.

Newcastle set to sign Forest's James Perch

Newcastle set to sign Nottingham Forest's James Perch

Newcastle are set to start their summer recruitment drive with the signing of Nottingham Forest's James Perch.

The Magpies have agreed an undisclosed fee with the Championship side for the 24-year-old, who can play in midfield and across the back four.

Well, well, well. I don't expect Newcastle to be keeping many clean sheets next season, but if Perch does claim a midfield spot - that's where he played most regularly for Forest, and Nicky Butt has left the club - then he could be worth a look in for fantasy managers. The new Graham Alexander? Another Jack Rodwell perhaps.

We're Going Up

Newcastle United gained immediate promotion back to the Premier League without playing on Monday after Nottingham Forest's failure to beat Cardiff City in the Championship (second division).

A 0-0 draw between Forest and Cardiff at the City Ground meant league leaders Newcastle, who were facing Sheffield United later (7:45 p.m.), are guaranteed to finish in one of the two automatic promotion places a year after their relegation from the top flight.

"It's a wonderful achievement by everybody at this football club from day one this season," delighted Newcastle manager Chris Hughton told Sky Sports before his side's match.

"Everyone has had a real desire to get back to the division that everyone in this city believes we should be in. The title is important now ... and that's the target."

Newcastle, who have led the Championship for most of the season, have 86 points with six matches to play, three points clear of West Bromwich Albion, who seem set to go up with them.

Kit Watch

Who knew that tangerine and yellow were the new black?

Arsenal's new keeper shirt



Newcastle United's new away strip.

Strikers - Some Stricken, Some Stout

• Walcott and Eduardo back for Arsenal
• New blow for crocked Viduka
• Anichebe out for season