Alan Pardew: "Possibly that would be a fitting tribute for him, to get into that squad.
"It's a tough squad and an outstanding team, but he is showing the sort of form that could get him into that squad, no problem.
"There aren't too many who can hold a candle to him at the moment, the form he is in. If you were the opposition, you would have to start worrying about him defensively because he keeps coming at you.
"Let alone the other assets we have in the team offensively, you have to look after our left-back because he will raid and raid all day. He has been terrific for us."
BIRMINGHAM CITY - St Andrews
Directions & Car Parking
Leave the M6 at Junction 6 and take the A38(M) (known locally as the Aston Expressway) for Birmingham City Centre. Continue past the first turn off (Aston, Waterlinks) and then take the next turn off, for the Inner Ring Road.
Turn left at the island at the top of the slip road and take the Ring Road East, sign posted Coventry/Stratford. Continue along the ring road for two miles, crossing straight across three islands. At the fourth island (there is a large McDonalds on the far left hand corner) turn left into Coventry Road going towards Small Heath. Birmingham City's ground is about a 1/4 of a mile up this road on your left. The ground is well sign posted on the Inner Ring Road.
There is a small car park directly outside the entrance to the away end, but availability of space for cars is determined by how many away coaches are expected as they park in the same car park, which may mean for certain games that there is no space available for cars at all. There is though plenty of street parking off the left hand side of the ring road. Either around the small park at the third island you cross or along the road next to and behind the BP garage before the fourth island. Bear in mind that if you arrive after 1.30pm these areas are likely to be already full. There are some local schools and firms that offer parking facilities for around £5.
By Train
The nearest station is Bordesley, which is about a ten minute walk away from the ground, but is only served by trains from Birmingham Snow Hill and Birmingham Moor Street. Normally scheduled trains do not stop at Bordesley, so they don't show up on national timetables searches.
If you arrive at New Street Station in the city centre, either walk to Moor Street station (five minutes) take a taxi (about £6) or embark on the 20-25 minute walk to the ground.
As you come onto the concourse of New St station, bear to the left of the escalators and through the glass doors. Walk down towards to the end of the Station Service Road. Cross to the other side of the road at the bottom (where there is a new shopping centre) turn right and follow the purple pedestrian signs for Digbeth Coach Station. These will see you descending a flight of stairs at the side of the shopping centre on your left and then going down a road with the Markets on your right and a large church on your left. Follow this road around to the right and then take the next left to take you up to the main dual carriage way. Turn right along the dual carriageway, passing the impressive looking Crown Pub on your left. Cross over the dual carriageway to the Crown pub side of the road and continue walking away from the City Centre. You will come to a fork in the road where you want to bear left going underneath a railway bridge. Passing the Clements Arms on your left just continue straight down this road, crossing a large roundabout (with a McDonalds over on one corner). The entrance to the away section is further up the road on your left.
Otherwise you can take the following buses from the city centre; 57A, 58 & 60. These can be caught near to Moor Street Railway Station on Queensway.
Where To Drink
Most of the pubs near to the ground can be quite intimidating for away supporters and are not recommended. However there is the Brighton pub on the Coventry Road which does tolerate away fans in small numbers. This pub is about a ten minute walk away, going past Woolworths & Morrisons on your left. Simon a visiting Chelsea fan adds; 'On our last visit to St Andrews, we managed to find a friendly pub within proximity of the ground. The pub is called The Cricketers Arms and is about 10 minutes walk, maybe less. To find the pub (with your back to the away section) walk along the road ahead of you going away from the ground (not the road going right up by the stadium, but the road going towards Woolworths), until you get to Morrisons on your left. You can walk through Morrisons car park heading towards the store then join the road next to it, which is called Little Green Lane. The pub is 30 seconds from there on the left. The pub itself is shared between home and away fans but all the Birmingham fans were very friendly. The pub is small but you can drink outside where there are beer tables'.
It is best to drink in the city centre and get a taxi to the ground (about £6). If you are walking to the ground from the city centre, then you may care to stop at the Anchor Pub on Bradford Street.
PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES
Tuesday 15th February 2011
Birmingham City v Newcastle United 19:45
Sunday 20th February 2011
West Bromwich Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers 12:00
Tuesday 22nd February 2011
Blackpool v Tottenham Hotspur 20:00
Wednesday 23rd February 2011
Arsenal v Stoke City 19:45
Saturday 26th February 2011
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers 15:00
Everton v Sunderland 15:00
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers 15:00
Wigan Athletic v Manchester United 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackpool 15:00
Sunday 27th February 2011
West Ham United v Liverpool 13:30
Manchester City v Fulham
BLACKBURN R 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
BLACKBURN: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson, Hoilett (Pedersen 46), Nzonzi, Jermaine Jones, Dunn (Emerton 64), Kalinic, Santa Cruz (Roberts 46).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Grella, Mwaruwari, Hanley.
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Simpson (Perch 76), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 90), Lovenkrands (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Guthrie, Ferguson.
Att: 26,781
The strike-force of Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best drew a blank at Ewood Park on Saturday, as Alan Pardew tried to draw the best out of what he had available.
The Toon boss has limited options, and it's hardly his fault as he tries to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Judas wanted to leg it to Anfield, five minutes before the transfer window closed, and Shola got a smack in the face at Craven Cottage to leave him with a face like the Elephant Man.
So what do we have as options up front? I'd rather not go into what I think, because what's the point in moaning? We're stuck with what we've got, and we have to live with it.
Were we the better team at Blackburn? Without question, but Joey Barton hasn't got a lighthouse to aim for with his inch perfect crosses anymore. You don't see Carroll standing head and shoulders above everyone else in a packed penalty area, and the tactics have to be more devious these days.
We haven't adapted yet, but I'm sure it will come.
Paul Robinson pulled off a superb second half save to deny Newcastle victory on a day both sides had cause to be dissatisfied with a point.
Robinson's lightning reflexes helped him push a blistering Fabricio Coloccini drive over the bar in the 54th minute as the visitors dominated after the break.
Roque Santa Cruz had headed a ninth minute effort against the post for Rovers, who toiled for much of the afternoon while Peter Lovenkrands lofted a 14th minute effort onto the top of the bar.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew had been able to name an unchanged side following the stunning comeback against Arsenal last week, with stop-gap striker and former Rovers star Shefki Kuqi on the bench.
With Rovers having come off worse in a seven-goal thriller at Wigan, it was not surprising both teams started where they left off and produced a richly entertaining first quarter-hour.
Jermaine Jones' attempt at a Wayne Rooney-style overhead kick in the third minute failed to have quite the same impact as the American missed the ball and clattered Mike Williamson.
Newcastle came close two minutes later when Lovenkrands played in Jose Enrique down the left and his ball across the face of goal was palmed clear by Paul Robinson.
In what was warming into a feisty encounter, Cheik Tiote was warned for a rash challenge on Nikola Kalinic, and Kevin Nolan and David Dunn almost came to blows on the half-way line.
Rovers should have grabbed the lead in the ninth minute when captain Christopher Samba's flick in the box set up Santa Cruz for a header which struck Steve Harper's right-hand post.
Lovenkrands had an even better chance for the visitors on 14 minutes when he was put clear by Enrique but his left-foot lob over Robinson dropped onto the top of the bar.
As the fast pace continued Rovers had another chance when Dunn blazed over the bar after good work from Junior Hoilett down the Rovers left.
Michel Salgado gifted Newcastle an opening in the 25th minute with a wayward cross-field pass which let in Lovenkrands, but the Dane ran into Ryan Nelsen who cleared.
Nelsen headed away another cross from the dangerous Enrique as the game's early excitement faded with a series of minor infringements ruining any momentum the game could gather.
The visitors dominated from the start of the second period against a Blackburn side forced to make two changes due to injuries to Santa Cruz and Junior Hoilett.
Joey Barton had the first chance of the second half for Newcastle after Jonas Gutierrez's charge down the left, but Barton's swept left-foot effort sailed well over the bar.
Newcastle came closer on 54 when Coloccini chested down a Barton corner from the left and rammed a rising left-foot shot which Robinson did superbly to tip over the bar.
Barton almost found Best in the box on the end of a neat one-two and as Rovers struggled to clear it was Gutierrez's turn to fire the loose ball over the bar.
Rovers were being pinned back in their own half with captain Samba outstanding. But without the presence of Santa Cruz they were struggling to create anything in the visitors' half.
After completely dominating for the first half hour of the second half, Newcastle lived on their nerves in the 81st minute when a deep Pedersen corner caused chaos in the box.
If the near-miss was designed to belatedly stir the home side into life it failed to work as both Barton and Gutierrez were only let down at the other end by the quality of their final balls.
Pardew threw Kuqi into the fray for the three minutes of added time no doubt in the hope of a fairytale start in the black and white stripes but referee Stuart Atwell had other ideas.
NU-MAD will be releasing a new book next month covering Newcastle Utd's European history.
If anyone wants their name (or a family member) adding to the "Subscribers" page at the back - please e-mail us at:
Kevnumad@fsmail.net
Tuesday 15th February 2011
Birmingham v Newcastle 19.45
Saturday 26th February 2011
Newcastle v Bolton 15.00
Saturday 05th March 2011
Newcastle v Everton 15.00
Saturday 19th March 2011
Stoke City v Newcastle 15.00
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2010/11
PREMIERSHIP
BLACKBURN 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Simpson (Perch 76), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 90), Lovenkrands (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Guthrie, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 4 ARSENAL 4 (Barton 2 (2 pens), Best, Tiote)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Guthrie 89), Lovenkrands (Ranger 73).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 72), Ameobi (Ranger 13).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.
NEWCASTLE 1 SPURS 1 (Coloccini)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Guthrie (Perch 74), Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 65), Ameobi (Ranger 88).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Xisco, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Nolan)
Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Smith (Guthrie 37),Gutierrez (Gosling 90), Best (Lovenkrands 88), Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Routledge, Perch, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 5 WEST HAM 0 (Best 3, Nolan, Lovenkrands)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor (Williamson 46), Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez (Ferguson 66), Lovenkrands, Best (Ranger 64).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Routledge, Perch.
WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan (Smith 86), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Best 77), Lovenkrands (Routledge 70).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Williamson, Perch, Ranger.
TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Perch, Tiote (Lovenkrands 79), Barton, Routledge, Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (Ranger 67), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Xisco, Best, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 60), Barton, Tiote, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Guthrie, Perch, Smith, Best.
NEWCASTLE 3 LIVERPOOL 1 (Nolan, Barton, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Barton (Routledge 90), Nolan (Smith 87), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.
WEST BROM 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 74), Guthrie (Smith 73), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Best, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 1 CHELSEA 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Perch, Smith, Best, Kadar.
BOLTON 5 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 71), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (Campbell 77), Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 72).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Steven Taylor, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 0 FULHAM 0
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 76), Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Lovenkrands (Ranger 76).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Smith, Xisco, Steven Taylor.
NEWCASTLE 1 BLACKBURN 2 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote (Routledge 88), Gutierrez, Carroll,Ameobi (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.
ARSENAL 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 82).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.
NEWCASTLE 5 SUNDERLAND 1 (Nolan 3, Ameobi 2 - 1 pen)
Krul, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson,Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Ranger 86), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Nolan, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 2 WIGAN ATH 2 (Ameobi, Coloccini)
Krul, Perch (Ranger 89), Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 66), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ameobi 60), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Kadar.
MAN CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gutierrez)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini (Campbell 36), Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Routledge 7), Nolan (Carroll 76), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 1 STOKE CITY 2 (Nolan pen)
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 62), Barton, Tiote (Ameobi 74), Routledge, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ranger.
EVERTON 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Harper (Krul 35), Perch, Coloccini, Williamson,Jose Enrique, Routledge, Tiote, Barton,Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 84), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKPOOL 2
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 81), Smith (Lovenkrands 62), Barton, Gutierrez (Ben Arfa 73), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Tiote.
WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll (Ameobi 81).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Vuckic, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 6 ASTON VILLA 0 (Barton, Nolan 2, Carroll 3)
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 76), Smith (Ryan Taylor 76), Barton, Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Vuckic, Tavernier.
MAN UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Nolan (Ameobi 71), Barton,Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Vuckic, Ranger, Tavernier.
FA CUP
STEVENAGE 3 NEWCASTLE 1
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson, Barton, Smith (Tiote 58), Nolan, Routledge, Lovenkrands (Airey 78), Best (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Kadar, Ferguson.
CARLING CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 4
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Kadar, Ryan Taylor, Routledge (Gutierrez 56), Guthrie, Smith (Barton 71), Vuckic, Lovenkrands (Carroll 57), Ranger.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Tiote.
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (Ranger, R Taylor, Ameobi 2)
Krul, Ryan Taylor (Tiote 63), Campbell, Coloccini (Williamson 63), Ferguson (Barton 90), Ranger, Gutierrez, Vuckic, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Nolan, Carroll, Ben Arfa.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ryan Taylor, Ameobi, Lovenkrands)
Krul, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Tavernier, Ferguson, Ranger, Donaldson, Vuckic (Nolan 90), LuaLua, Ameobi,Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Williamson, Barton, Routledge, Perch, Smith.
PRE-SEASON
CARLISLE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Best, Ranger, Vuckic)
Harper (Krul 46), Tavernier (R Taylor 46), Coloccini (S Taylor 46) (Henderson 81), Williamson (Perch 46), Enrique (Ferguson 46), Inman (Routledge 46), Smith (Barton 46), Nolan (Guthrie 46), LuaLua (Vuckic 46) , Carroll (Best 46), Lovenkrands (Ranger 46).
NORWICH CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Krul, Taylor (Routledge 45), Tavernier, Coloccini (Williamson 45), Diaz (Ferguson 57); Ranger (Xisco 45), Barton (Smith 45), Nolan (Guthrie 45), Vuckic (Edmundsson 72); Best (Lovenkrands 45), Carroll (Ameobi 45).
NEWCASTLE 2 PSV EINDHOVEN 2 (R.Taylor, Best)
Harper, Perch, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Carroll, Xisco, Best, LuaLua, Krul, Vuckic, Ranger, Donaldson, Tavernier.
DEPORTIVO 0 NEWCASTLE 0 (NUFC win 5-4 on penalties - Lovenkrands, Nolan, Carroll, R Taylor, Barton)
Harper (Krul 46); R Taylor, Perch (Tavernier 52), Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Barton, Guthrie (Nolan 46), Xisco (Gutierrez 46); Carroll, Best (Lovenkrands 73). Subs (not used): Smith, Ferguson
RANGERS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46).
THE FUNNIEST GEORDIE BOOK OF THE DECADE .......
£7.99 (that includes post and packing) AND WE DONATE £1 PER COPY TO THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON CANCER FOUNDATION
The hilarious history of entertaining on the North-East of England Workingmen's club circuit.
The first rung on the ladder of dreams and aspirations, and it sure as hell isn’t Vegas or Madison Square Garden.
If you have never visited a Newcastle Workingmen’s club before, I’m sure the 170-plus pages in this book will be bloody confusing ... and have you in fits of laughter!
It features Sir Bobby Robson, Chubby Brown, and host of Geordie 'legends' just waiting to be discovered.
The Echo: "5 stars - absolute genius! I could not put this book down. The sort of Geordie humour the Toon is built on!"
Contact us for a special deal of £7.99 (and that includes post and packing) PLUS £1 goes to Sir Bobby's Cancer Foundation:
Or the book is available for £8.99 at Lulu.com:
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/are-you-affiliated/14302830