Harry 'The Bung' has long been a fan of Steven Taylor, and I'm sure our Geordie Boy wonders if things on the international scene could have been better for him if Redknapp had been given the job.
Taylor is ready to lead from the back as Newcastle United attempt to right the wrongs of last season.
Steven Taylor: “We know last season wasn’t good enough.
“The fans want a reaction, and we want to perform and show them we need business.
“For the boys, it was a big kick up the backside. It’s tough, and that’s how it should be.
“The only thing we can do is stick together inside that dressing room.
“I living everyone’s dream – I’m still wearing the shirt.
“I’m delighted to be back for pre-season. It’s my 10th one now. I’ve just got to keep kicking on.
“I’ve been here since I was nine. JC (John Carver) was my first manager. Now I’m here with him again.
“Like I’ve said before, I just want to be ready for every challenge that comes my way. Competition’s high, and that’s how it should be.
“I kept myself strong last season with the help of the fitness department.
“They’re on my tail every morning making me do this, that and the other. It’s tough, but it’s worth it.
“The main thing is that everyone comes through the Motherwell game with no injuries and a bit of fitness.
“It’ll keep us ticking over, and get us ready for Portugal.
“It’ll be nice to get the winning mentality back. The gaffer and coaches are trying to drill it into us in everything we do. Every drill is competitive, and that’s how it should be.”
WE TELL IT AS IT IS - NO BULLSHIT!
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PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES:
Motherwell (A) July 16
Rio Ave (A) July 20
Pacos Ferreira (A) July 23
Blackpool (A) July 29
St Mirren (A) July 31
Braga (H) August 10
Only 5% Wanted Pardew - What's The Percentage Now? PLEASE VOTE
Mike Ashley stunned us all ... and I mean ALL ... when he sacked Chris Hughton and brought in Alan Pardew.
Apparently, Ashley knows Pardew from a London casino the pair used to visit, and the former West Ham boss talked his way into the job.
At the time the appointment was made, ourselves (NU-MAD) and the Chronicle held a poll to ask the Newcastle fans if they were happy with the new manager.
Both polls showed only 5% of Toon fans were happy, and if the truth was known, I'd say 3% of those were Mackems gatecrashing the voting!
So ... with Pardew two and half years into the job ... has he turned the voting around? Has he won you over?
We were still in the relegation dog-fight until Swansea won at Wigan a week before the season ended, and there was growing concern after heavy home defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool.
Pardew gave his excuses, saying his squad was "wafer thin and too small to tackle a long season".
Yet on Thursday - having lost Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, James Perch and Dan Gosling on the way to Crystal Palace (FOUR PLAYERS LESS) he said: "I'm not too concerned because we have a big squad".
Confused? We certainly were.
So click the button - PLEASE VOTE.
Is he the man for the job ... or not?
VOTE HERE ....
http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/interactive/voting_polls.asp