Sports Direct:- Newcastle United fans could be about to get their wish to see manager Alan Pardew leave after the club are reported to have approached Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier.
Pardew has come under heavy criticism from Newcastle fans, who have been hostile towards the manager after a disappointing second half of the season which saw the Magpies endure a run of six straight defeats.
Christophe Galtier with his pet ferret
Despite still sitting ninth in the Premier League, tensions are high at St James' Park after fans performed a walk-out protest during the 3-0 win over Cardiff City last weekend and, despite Pardew planning for next season, it looks likely that Newcastle have different plans.
French newspaper L'Equipe are reporting on Friday that Newcastle have made an approach for Saint-Etienne boss Galtier, despite Pardew still having six years remaining on his contract after signing an eight-year deal in 2012.
Galtier has won the French League Cup with Saint-Etienne, who currently sit fourth in the Ligue 1 table, and is out of contract at the end of the season, therefore meaning that Newcastle would not have to pay any compensation to his club.
Premier League
1 Man City 83
2 Liverpool 81
3 Chelsea 79
4 Arsenal 76
5 Everton 69
6 Tottenham 66
7 Man Utd 63
8 Southampton 55
9 Newcastle 49
10 Stoke City 47
11 C Palace 44
12 West Ham 40
13 Swansea 39
14 Sunderland 38
15 A Villa 38
16 Hull City 37
17 West Brom 36
18 Norwich 33
19 Fulham 31
20 Cardiff 30
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ANFIELD - LIVERPOOL
What Is It Like For Away Supporters?
Away fans are located in the Anfield Road Stand at one end of the ground, where just under 2,000 seats are available, although this can be increased for cup games. This stand is also shared with home supporters, some of whom will be sitting in the small seated tier above the away fans. Malcolm Dawson a travelling Sunderland supporter adds; 'Try to avoid getting tickets sold as restricted view, for the rear rows of the Anfield Road Stand as it can be difficult to see the goals with people standing up in front of you'.
Kimberly Hill adds; 'Restricted view doesn't even begin to describe what it was like. The Wolves fans insisted on standing so it was like trying to watch the game through a letterbox!' The facilities within the stand are not bad. There is a Ladbrokes betting outlet and the refreshment kiosks sell a wide variety of burgers, hot dogs and pies, including a 'Scouse Pie'.
I have always found it to be a good day out at Anfield, getting the feeling that you are visiting one of the legendary venues in world football. This is enhanced with the teams coming out to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' reverberating around the ground, with the red and white scarves and flags of the fans displayed across the Kop, at the beginning of the match. The atmosphere is normally great, so sit back and enjoy the experience.
Where To Eat & Drink
The Arkles pub near to the ground (see directions by car), is known as the away fans pub, but as can be expected it can get extremely crowded. Mark Parsons a visiting Aston Villa fan adds; 'We arrived at the Arkles at about 1.15pm and already found it packed out, with fans queuing outside to get in. We asked a very helpful WPC for any other away friendly pubs and were told to go to the Flat Iron which was a five minute walk away. Although the pub was mostly full of Liverpool fans, the bars were mixed and all were very friendly. There is also a good chippy located on the other side of the road. To find this pub, turn left at the junction where Arkles is (with the ground over to your right down Anfield Road). Head away from the ground and the pub is down on the right hand side'. Otherwise located near to the away turnstiles is a food and drink area, which serves alcohol too. Alcohol is also available inside the stadium.
How To Get There By Car And Where To Park
Follow the M62 until you reach the end of the motorway (beware of a 50mph speed camera about a 1/4 of a mile from the end of the motorway). Then follow the A5058 towards Liverpool. After three miles turn left at the traffic lights into Utting Avenue (there is a McDonalds on the corner of this junction). Proceed for one mile and then turn right at the Arkles pub for the ground. If you arrive early (around 1pm) then there is street parking to be found. However recently a residents only parking scheme has been introduced in some streets around the ground, so check any signs first. Otherwise it as an idea to park in the streets around Goodison and walk across Stanley Park to Anfield, or you can park in a secure parking area at Goodison itself which costs £10.
Rob Campion informs me; 'I parked at The Dockers Club, home of Liverpool County Premier League side Waterloo Dock on Townsend Lane (A580) at a cost of £5. It is then a 15 minute walk to Anfield. I even watched Waterloo Dock v Old Xaverians first, before going to the Liverpool game'.
Post Code for SAT NAV: L4 0TH
By Train
Kirkdale station is the closest to the ground (just under a mile away). However, it may be more advisable to go to Sandhills Station as this has the benefit of a bus service to the ground, which runs for a couple of hours before and a couple of hours after a game and drops you within easy walking distance of the ground. Gary Beaumont adds; 'The best route for away fans from the city centre if they want to use public transport is definitely the Merseyrail Northern Line to Sandhills where they alight and catch the special Soccerbuses; trains can be caught from Liverpool Central and Moorfields. If fans are buying their train tickets in Liverpool, ask for a return to Anfield as opposed to Sandhills even though that's where you're getting off. The advantage of doing this is that the train ticket is valid also for the Soccerbus and the additional fare is only £1 return as opposed to £1 each way that you'd have to pay on the bus if you only bought your ticket to Sandhills. If fans want to get a taxi from Lime Street, they're about £7'. Both Sandhills & Kirkdale stations can be reached by first getting a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool Central and then changing there.
The main railway station in Liverpool is Lime Street which is located just over two miles away from the ground and so is quite a walk (although it is mostly downhill on the way back to the station), so either head for Sandhills or Kirkdale stations or jump in a taxi. Craig Hochkins adds; 'you can catch various buses from the bus station which is seven minutes walk away from the train station and is well signposted. Either the 17a 17b 17c or the 26 will drop you right outside the ground at a cost of about a £1. The buses are run by Arriva and the journey takes about 15 to 25 minutes dependant on traffic'. Paul Denman a visiting Hull City fan informs me; 'Although the No 17 Bus took only 15 minutes to reach Anfield from the station, after the game it took almost 50 minutes, as the roads were clogged with fans walking home. However, everyone was friendly. I wore my City shirt with pride, never felt threatened even on the bus and had great conversations with the Liverpool supporters.'
Walking Directions From Kirkdale Station:
On exiting from Kirkdale Station turn right and then cross the railway bridge, you will see a pub opposite called the 'Melrose Abbey', (which has been recommended). Walk up Westminster Road, alongside the pub and continue along it, passing the Elm Tree pub. Follow the road around the right hand bend and then turn left into Bradewell Street. At the end of Bradwell Street you will come to the busy County Road (A59). Cross over this road at the traffic lights and then go down the road to the left of the Aldi superstore. At the end of this road you will reach the A580 Walton Lane. You should be able to see Goodison Park over on your left and Stanley Park in front of you. Cross Walton Lane and either enter Stanley Park following the footpath through the park (keeping to the right), which will exit into Anfield Road and the away end. Or bear right down Walton Lane and then turn left down the road at the end of Stanley Park for the ground. Thanks to Jon Roche for providing these directions.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 3 CARDIFF CITY 0 (Shola Ameobi, Remy, S Taylor)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett (45' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (79' S Taylor), Gouffran (70' Gosling), Remy, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, de Jong, Elliot, Armstrong
ARSENAL 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (84' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Gosling (69' Shola Ameobi), Gouffran (89' Armstrong), Remy
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gosling (81' Armstrong), Tiote, Cisse (21' Debuchy), de Jong (40' Remy), Gouffran, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, S Taylor (61' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Anita, Gosling (73' Gouffran), Tiote, Dummett, Cisse (74' Armstrong), Shola Ameobi
Subs: de Jong, Haidara, Bigirimana, Elliot
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN UTD 4
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Tiote, Gosling, Anita, de Jong (61' Ben Arfa), Gouffran (85' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Dummett, Alnwick, Armstrong
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa (45' Santon), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (45' de Jong), Sissoko (78' Dummett), Gouffran, Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 0 EVERTON 3
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (75' Marveaux), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (90+1' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (58' Ben Arfa), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko (88' Marveaux), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (76' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (59' Ben Arfa), Cisse.
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor.
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (81' Marveaux), Gouffran, de Jong (86' Armstrong), Cisse (71' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, S Taylor, Alnwick
HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita, Gouffran, de Jong (90' Gosling), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Cheick Tiote (89' Gosling), Anita, Gouffran, Remy, Cisse (72' de Jong).
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 SPURS 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (45' Dummett), Anita, Sissoko, Gouffran, de Jong (63' Ben Arfa), Sammy Ameobi (71' Marveaux), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Shola Ameobi
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (40' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, S Taylor, Dummett, Anita (84' Marveaux), Santon, Ben Arfa (64' Gosling), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, de Jong.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (64' Dummett), Anita (74' Marveaux), Tiote, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi (45' de Jong), Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (75' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi (87' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Dummett, Armstrong
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye 2, Remy)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (74' Dummett), Tiote, Anita (60' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy (78' Ben Arfa)
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (82' Ben Arfa), Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita (73' Cisse), Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran (82' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45' Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara).
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan
SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
FA CUP
NEWCASTLE 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko (85' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (63' Obertan), Ben Arfa, Cisse (85' Remy).
Subs: Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett, Alnwick