Magpies release Campbell and Kuqi

Magpies release veteran pair - Yahoo! Eurosport

Newcastle have confirmed that Sol Campbell and Shefki Kuqi have left the club.

The 36-year-old former England defender and the 34-year-old one-time Finland striker have not been offered new deals after their respective short spells at St James' Park.

In a stroke, answering the long-burning question, the scourge of pub trivia night players, "What ever happened to Sol Campbell?". It is hard to believe that a year ago he was a factor as Arsenal progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Danny Guthrie gets chance against Spurs

Danny Guthrie gets chance against Tottenham - NUFC Latest News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

ALAN PARDEW will hand Danny Guthrie the chance to revive his season against Spurs at St James’ Park on Saturday.

However, Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor are rated "extremely doubtful" with thigh and hamstring problems.

Hard-working midfielder Guthrie caught the eye in the Wear-Tyne derby and, with Alan Smith ruled out of the encounter with Harry Redknapp’s side and Cheik Tiote still banned, the Shropshire- born player has done enough to impress his manager in just under an hour against the Black Cats.

Pardew – who also has Dan Gosling fit and available – told the Chronicle: "Danny Guthrie will play.

"He was excellent in the second half at Sunderland.

"And I hope he will take it into Saturday."

For what it's worth, there's your Newcastle update. Guthrie is 5 in the fantasy game and if I were looking for a midfielder at that enabling price I would take David Hoilett, who has been putting up good points for his price and whose Blackburn host West Brom this weekend.

Season Preview: Newcastle

Overall Outlook - Welcome back from exile to a team that, on talent, we could never figure out how they ended up in the Championship in the first place.  I guess they took dysfunctional to an entirely new level.  Hopefully for their sakes, they're ready to reverse some of the sins of their recent past and come back stronger (and perhaps more realistic) for their exile.  The talent on hand is certainly better than their fellow partners in promotion Blackpool and West Brom and it is also probably better than a few of the sides that finished the season toward the bottom of the Premier League last season but avoided the drop - we're looking at you Rovers, Wolves, and maybe West Ham.  That said, there's nothing that says that the Magpies' talent won't continue to be degraded by dysfunction once the going gets rough.  Still, my prediction is that they finish between 14th and 16th in their bounce back season.

Magpies grab Gosling

Magpies grab Gosling

Newcastle United have completed the signing of former Everton midfielder Dan Gosling on a four-year contract.

Skysports.com reported on Wednesday that the promising 20-year-old was close to agreeing a switch to St James' Park.

He has now put the finishing touches to the move, becoming the Magpies' second summer signing in the process - following James Perch's arrival from Nottingham Forest.

Gosling is a fantasy favorite from his time at Everton, having been listed in the fantasy game as a defender but getting his playing time - such that it was - in the midfield. He also had a knack for scoring big goals. Which was nice too. But before you rush out and pick him up for your side, just remember that a) NUFC had a pretty settled midfield last year with Nolan, Gutierrez, Smith and Guthrie, and b)

While Gosling is keen to get going, Newcastle supporters will have to wait some time yet before seeing him in action as he is still nursing his way back to full fitness following a serious knee injury.

Two good moves

The F365 Transfer Blog: Friday August 7

08.10: Morning everyone. Couple of things from last night to let you know about before we get on to the real business of bulls**t pedalling - Sebastian Bassong has completed his move from Newcastle to Spurs for about £8million, while Newcastle have also accepted a bid from Hull for their other good defender, Habib Beye.

In addition to the move for Bassong that we have discussed previously in this space, it looks like Beye will be on his way back to the Prem with Hull. That's at least two good moves this week for Hull who have otherwise had a pretty frustrating summer. Beye was a pretty good fantasy player for a pretty useless NUFC team last season so no reason to think he won't be at least as good for Hull this season. Who knows, maybe we'll see a few stretches like the one they had at the beginning of last season that saw them essentially accumulate enough points to stay up before November.

Why not more NUFC transfers out?

Image via Wikipedia

The Chuckles Gossip

Hull want to sign Habib Beye from Newcastle...

Among other items found in the always amusing Football365 gossip column is this note about Habib Beye being a target for Hull. Sort of makes you wonder why more of NUFC's useful pieces (insert your own joke here) haven't been the subject of more rumors. I suppose it may have to do with the fact that the club is in such a mess that no one is sure who is making the decisions but still, Transfer Rumors tend to be pretty much baseless so why not more involving Newcastle?

I'd personally think that Beye (Villa?), Bassong (who, to be fair, has appeared in the rumor mill pretty regularly with Arsenal, Spurs, and Fulham all rumors), Guthrie (Sunderland?), Geremi (Pompey), Guttierrez (Stoke or WHU?), Ryan Taylor (Everton?), and Nolan (Big Sam reunion at Rovers?) would all be useful additions to Premier League sides. They may not all be starters and some are likely overpaid for the role that they are currently best suited for. That said, it would seem that NUFC need the money and there are plenty of teams that need to improve the depth of their squads.

Just something to ponder this morning while we're waiting for some actual news. Plus, I figured I should write something about a team other than Arsenal as I warm up for the new season.