After early pressure from Aston Vanilla which saw a penalty gien against Newcastle. John Carew skying the resulting kick well above Steve Harpers goal.

This sparked Newcastle to life.

Guttierez slipped the ball onto Barton 25 yards out on the left, Barton tees up the shot and BANG! top left hand corner. What an amazing strike. This puts the homeside in front just three minutes after the missed penalty.

31 mins into the game and a throw in to Guttierez 25 yards out on the left, who crosses in to back post. Carroll there to head back across goal for Nolan to head past Friedel to get Newcastles second.

34 mins, just three minutes later... Newcastle get a corner, Barton swings in aball from the right hand side, Mike Williamson heads the ball down towards Carroll in the middle. Richard Dunne could have cleared but made a hash of the clearance and Andy Carroll slotted the ball home for Newcastles third.

Newcastle were strong and dominant throughout the first half of the game.

68 minutes into the game... A long ball in towards Villas box was partially cleared but Williamson knocks it back in for Dunne to miss it, Carroll to latch on and lash the ball home from 15 yards for a brace.

87 mins - Goal for Nolan....!!!! Newcastle take a corner from the left and Nolan scrambles the ball home to complete a rout.

90+ - in extra time Carroll gets his hat-trick. The big number 9 passes the ball out from the right flank for Xisco on the left to return the ball to Carroll on the right side of the box and he calmly slots home his third goal past Friedel for a well deserved Hat-Trick.

All this with the former No. 9 - Alan Shearer watching on from the stands. Who would have expected a score like this against a team who did so well last season.....?

Final Score Newcastle United 6 - Aston Vanilla 0 - a very plain display from the travelling Villains.

UP THE TOON!!!!!
HOWAY THE LADS!!!!

After clinching promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Chris Hughton has been told he has money to spend to strengthen.

I welcome this news and trust fans (like myself) will be hoping Chris Hughton will be able to brng in players to help keep us in the league, whilst strengthening over the next few seasons.

Sol Campbell has joined Newcastle - despite ridicule from sections of fans (not just Toon fans) about his weight.

Campbell vows to get back into full fitness after recently getting married in the North East.

Two other players we have got in areJames Perch, who has looked good in pre-season and Ryan Gosling on a free transfer from Everton. Gosling will be out recovering from a ligament injury for the first half of the season.

The other good news is that not only did Newcastle United win the championship (with ease) but also went to La Coruná, Spain to play Deportivo at the Riazor Stadium for the Trofeo Teresa Herrera.

Newcastle won this on penalties, securing Chris Hughton his second trophy in 3 months.

This Blog will be back up and running and for those who visited, sorry for going missing - but welcome back!!!!

Michael Owen is optimistic that Newcastle can build on the battling point they picked up at Birmingham.

The 1-1 draw at St Andrews means that the Magpies have now gone 13 games without a win in the league and ensures that they remain in a relegation battle.

However, after a disappointing first-half display against the Blues, Newcastle will be encouraged by the way they fought back to snatch a point in the second period.

Their skipper, who grabbed the vital equaliser on Monday, is adamant there is enough quality within the squad to pull themselves clear of danger and expects Kevin Keegan's side to start moving away from the drop zone in the coming weeks

"I'm confident that we have the quality but obviously over the last few weeks even quality players have been lacking the belief and confidence that can turn even quality players into ones that are playing averagely at best," Owen said in the Daily Telegraph.

"Hopefully that goal gives us a bit of belief because in the second half our defending was great, we passed the ball around great and we were much better than we were in the first half.

"The position we are in obviously warrants looking over our shoulder but hopefully we can look back at the end of the season and think to ourselves, 'well, what was the worry about because we've pulled well clear.' That's the target and obviously a point is not ideal, but with them being below us it's not a bad result.

Breathing space

"If we can take that second-half performance into our own stadium in front of 50,000 Geordies supporting us [on Saturday against fellow strugglers Fulham], we will have a great chance.

"We looked at this week and even though we aimed for six points we thought if we get four points it would certainly push us up a few places and give us a big bit of breathing space."

On a personal note, Owen was pleased to be back among the goals at St Andrews after failing to find the target in his previous five outings.

"I had two chances and scored one so I would probably take that return if I could every week," he said.

If you do think that then sign the petition on-line at the following address and make that vote count!!!!!



http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/index.asp

CAPTAIN OWEN

Newcastle ace Michael Owen was pleased to end his scoring drought against Middlesbrough, but was disappointed not to win.


Owen broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with a fine header from Emre's free-kick, The Magpies' first goal since Kevin Keegan's return.

However, it was not enough to claim the points with Robert Huth's late header snatching a draw for Boro at St James' Park.

Owen thought he had scored in the opening minutes, but the effort did not stand as referee Mike Dean deemed the striker to have fouled Mark Schwarzer in the build-up.

"It was frustrating not to win. The first half was poor, for both sides really," he told Sky Sports.

"I didn't feel as though I pushed him too hard. It is a contact sport.

"It was frustrating to get that chalked off and not to get the win.

"One thing I will always do is work hard for the team."

Owen is now set to link-up with Fabio Capello's England squad and he is looking forward to featuring against Switzerland.

"I've got to fly down now. It's nice to be in the squad, especially in Capello's first game in charge," he concluded.

Newcastle United ace Michael Owen says the club's players are determined to turn around their poor run of form.


Despite the return of fans' favourite Kevin Keegan as manager, Newcastle have maintain their inconsistency in the Premier League.

While Owen says their form will not be transformed overnight, he insists there is the quality in the squad to start improving on their current position.

"You cannot wave a magic wand because there is a lot of work to do," Owen said in the News of the World.

"Kevin is a great manager and there is no doubt in my mind something exciting will be built here.





"He will give everyone a spark. Obviously it's hard to become confident when you are playing Arsenal twice in such a short space of time.

"Results have not been as good as they should have been and we are disappointed with our position in the Premier League.

"With the players we have, we are better than our league position suggests - and we will turn it round sooner rather than later.

"While some of the lads may be struggling for confidence at the moment, one of his great strengths is getting the best out of players."

Rafael van der Vaart

Van der Vaart is under contract until 2010, but due to a clause in his contract he can leave the Nordbank Arena at the end of the season for £1.1million.


And the 24-year-old has rejected a contract extension with Hamburg and is believed to desire a move away from Germany


While you're at it......



Eidur Gugjohnsen......

Eidur Gudjohnsen is happy he stayed at Barcelona, despite admitting that he is probabley not the striker the club need.


The former Chelsea and Bolton man rejected the chance to leave Camp Nou last summer and has been rewarded with an extended run as a midfielder.

Gudjohnsen joined the club as a striker, but believes he is now giving coach Frank Rijkaard a new option with his late runs into the penalty area.

"I was probably not the No.9 that Barcelona needed," he stated. "It was normal that we played 4-4-2 at Chelsea and I was the second striker."

"Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta and Deco are great players, with strong technique and all the same size, making them similar players.

"I am different, a different option, but in the end it is down to the coach."



GET HIM IN KING KEV!!!!!!!!!

David Rozehnal is 'convinced' Kevin Keegan's 'natural authority' will ensure Newcastle United climb the Premier League table.

The Magpies' poor start to the season led to the departure of Sam Allardyce, with Keegan sensationally returning as manager earlier this month.

Newcastle currently sit 12th in the table and have picked up just two league wins in their previous 14 fixtures.

But Rozehnal, who was brought to St James' Park by Allardyce last summer, is positive Keegan will turn the club's fortunes around.

Natural authority

"He has natural authority; that is why he is a legend of English and world football," Rozehnal told Pravo.

"To us players he is more like a friend, like one of us.

"For example, the preparation for the Bolton game was completely different to what it was under Sam Allardyce.

"Keegan was sitting amongst us, spoke to each of us and told each player what he wanted from him to play in the game, cheered him and motivated as if he was an older team-mate.

"This is exactly what we needed in this period of time. I am convinced that under him we will go up."

Midfield dream

Rozehnal also explained that he realised a dream last Saturday when he played in midfield against Bolton Wanderers.

"After nearly a year I played in centre midfield. It was also one of my dreams, to play in this position, and this dream has come true," he concluded.

Skysports.com understands that Newcastle have opened talks about talking Jonathan Woodgate back to Tyneside.

In news that will shock many Middlesbrough fans, Boro seem set to let the England defender depart The Riverside.

Woodgate rejected the chance to re-join Newcastle in 2007 when he opted instead to pen a permanent deal with Boro - where he had spent the previous season on loan from Real Madrid.

However, Woodgate is understood to have become increasingly unsettled with life under Gareth Southgate at Boro and he could now be set to depart his hometown club.

With David Wheater and Roberth Huth performing admirably, and with Chris Riggott and Emmanuel Pogagtetz, also available to him - Southgate has seemingly decided that he can do without Woodgate.

Woodgate spent 18 months with Newcastle up to August 2004 - when Madrid paid more than £13million to secure his services.

Advanced

Tottenham are also thought to have expressed their interest, but a deal with Newcastle is much further advanced and Woodgate is reported to have met Magpies officials in the last 48 hours.

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan handed Woodgate his England debut and he has remained a firm fan ever since, with the player still popular with the Toon Army following his earlier stint.

Boro paid around £7million last summer to take Woodgate from the Spanish capital and they are set to make profit on the 27-year-old with a fee of up to £9million being suggested.

Despite the fact Boro are well stocked in central defence, and they would make money, the move is likely to be met with dismay by many sections of the Boro faithful who are still licking their wounds from Mark Viduka's decision to swap Teesside for Tyneside last summer.

Lazio striker Goran Pandev claims Newcastle United have launched a bid for his services.

The Macedonia international's future has been the source of much debate of late after he revealed interest from Bayern Munich.

Liverpool and Valencia were also mooted as admirers of the 24-year-old, who has scored eight goals in 16 Serie A appearances this season.

But reports now suggest that new Magpies manager Kevin Keegan has identified Pandev as an ideal recruit for his St James' Park revolution.

Pandev says a decision regarding his future is not solely in his hands, but intimated Newcastle are keen on an immediate deal.

Anything's possible

"This morning the people from the club told me about the offer from Newcastle," Pandev told Makedonski Sport.

"Keegan's club want the negotiations to start soon, but I don't know anything about the figures and a possible sum.

"I am used to offers lately, but I don't decide, so this time it's not up to me again.

"Several days ago we agreed with Lazio for me to stay up to June, but anything is possible."

Macedonian reports suggest Newcastle would be willing to pay 15million euros (£11.2m) for Pandev, who joined Lazio in 2004.

Mark Viduka has not been included in Australia's preliminary squad for the World Cup qualifier against Qatar next month.

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has named 39 players in his selection, which will be whittled down before the game on 6th February.

Eight players based in England have been picked, with Liverpool winger Harry Kewell, Everton's Tim Cahill and West Ham's Lucas Neill among those set to travel.

However, Viduka has been left out as Newcastle are due to play Middlesbrough on the Sunday before the midweek match.

Viduka is thought to be considering international retirement and Verbeek is keen to look at as many players as possible.

20 players from Australia's domestic A-League are in the squad.

"I have deliberately kept the squad big to give us maximum flexibility until match day," said Verbeek.

"I have been very pleased with the way the local players have responded to what we're trying to do in the recent training camps we've had.

"I want to give them every opportunity to state their claim to be part of the final 18-man squad which must be named on match day."

Los Angeles Galaxy president Alexi Lalas has insisted David Beckham is not for sale to Newcastle or anyone else.

Beckham has been linked with a move to the Magpies as new manager Kevin Keegan launches his search for new recruits.

Newcastle privately dismissed the rumours, and Lalas has reiterated that Beckham is simply not for sale.

He told Sky Sports News: "I can confidently say there is absolutely no truth in the speculation linking David with a move to Newcastle United.

"David is gearing up for his 100th game for England and we are very proud and excited for him.

No contact

"We have had no contact from any representatives for Newcastle United, but I recognise that there will always be speculation surrounding him.

"Every indication I have received from David is that he and his family are enjoying life in America and in Los Angeles.

"He wouldn't be put out on loan to another club - that is not an option - and David is not for sale at any price.

"David is not someone we are grooming and looking to sell on."

Newcastle have dismissed reports linking David Beckham with a move to St James' Park.

Kevin Keegan replaced Sam Allardyce as Magpies manager last week and is now looking to strengthen his squad before the close of the transfer window.

A number of high-profile names have already been linked with moves to Newcastle and speculation has suggested that Beckham was one of those firmly in Keegan's sights.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has been training with Arsenal in recent weeks during the Major League Soccer off-season.

He played under Keegan for England and it was reported that Newcastle were lining up a short-term deal for him.

However, Newcastle chairman Chris Mort has rubbished the story.

"There's no truth Newcastle United are interested in signing David Beckham," Mort said.





DAVID BECKHAM L A GALAXY

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is keen to rekindle his 'fantastic relationship' with Alan Shearer after breaking an 18-month silence between the duo.

Shearer revealed on Saturday that he has spoken with Keegan about a role on The Magpies coaching staff.

The pair spoke briefly on Friday for the first time since Keegan agreed to take the St James' Park job for a second time.

However, Keegan has admitted that the duo's relationship diminished following a fall-out in the summer of 2006.

Keegan, who signed Shearer for £15million from Blackburn Rovers in July 1996 during his first stint as Newcastle boss, offended the former striker after he failed to attend his testimonial against Celtic.

But Keegan is ready to end the 18-month rift which has seen the once close duo rarely contact each other.

Animosity

"I would like to think there is no animosity there but if you are asking me if Alan rings me as much as he used to, then no he doesn't," he said.

"I couldn't come to Alan's testimonial as I was on a family holiday in the US and I didn't come back for it."

"Things like that, sadly, may have affected him. But it hasn't affected me and I want to talk with Alan."

"It is possibly true that it did offend him in some way. But flying all the way from America is something I would not have expected him to do for me."

"If that is the reason he doesn't ring me anymore, then that disappoints me. But I will ring him and ask him."

Honest

"I would like to think we are great friends - from the minute I met him and signed him in David Platt's farmhouse in Cheshire. We had a fantastic relationship and a very honest one."

"There is an involvement for Alan at this football club. That involvement at the moment could be on his terms."

"I know he would be a fantastic person to have around the club and help people in the art of goal-scoring and finishing - and just talking to the players."

"If he cannot be there on Saturday because he has television work then he can't even think of himself as a No.2."

"But I will probably say: 'I am here now, do you see any role for yourself?' that would be the sensible approach but Alan and I need to have that conversation."

Shearer as manager

Keegan went on to discuss whether he sees the potential appointment of Shearer as a way of grooming the 37-year-old for the manager's job on Tyneside.

"People talk about Alan being my successor and if you ask the Geordie public they will say yes to that," he continued.

"I had a conversation with Alan about management and the manager's job at Newcastle. I said to him, 'It will come for you one day, you don't have to go looking for it'."

Kevin Keegan has confirmed that Michael Owen will take the captain's armband in his first game back as Newcastle boss.

The Magpies face Bolton in Saturday's late kick-off in the Premier League and all eyes will be on Keegan and his return to management.

Geremi was handed the skipper's role by previous boss Sam Allarydce - but he is away on African Cup of Nations duty, so Keegan was left with the task of picking a new captain and he opted for Owen.

The striker and Keegan have previously not seen eye-to-eye as they clashed during their time together with England - a fact confirmed in Owen's autobiography.

However, Keegan insists he is excited about working with Owen again and he has underlined that by making the 27-year-old his first captain.

Right guy



"Not only will he play, I will make him captain. He is the right guy to lead us - and that tells you what I think of him," insisted Keegan.

"I know people will try to make something of the stuff in his book, but people who know me know it will not bother me - any more than it will bother me if it is right to bring Alan Shearer here as No.2.

"Other people might say, 'He will be a threat to you'. It won't bother me."

Alan Shearer has admitted that he has spoken to Kevin Keegan about a role on the Newcastle United coaching staff.

The pair spoke briefly on Friday for the first time since Keegan agreed to take the St James' Park job for a second time.

Keegan had promised the Toon Army that he would speak to the legendary striker about the prospect of becoming his number two at a press conference last week and now appears to have made the first move.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said that the pair had not discussed a specific role as yet but that further talks were planned.

Busy man

"I've got to ring him when I get back at the end of the week," he said

"I'll sit down with him at the end of the week and we'll discuss it and see what's best for everyone."

He added: "He's (Kevin) been that busy. He's gone into the football club, he's got that many staff there, he doesn't know some of their names.

"He had a huge game today, which was far more important than speaking to any individual."

Experience vital


Shearer, who has previously expressed a desire to enter coaching only if he could land a managerial role believes that the club have got the right man for the job in Keegan and would welcome the opportunity to work with him.

He added: "It'll be experience. Newcastle said they were looking for experience in the first place. They've certainly got that with Kevin. He's been round the block a bit."

Alan Shearer insists Michael Owen will be in 'dreamland' while playing under Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan.

Owen was highly critical of Keegan,after playing under his new boss for England.

However, Shearer does not believe there will be a problem between the pair and feels that Owen will benefit from the creativity Keegan will bring to St James' Park.

"They are both adults and what was said in the past won't be a problem," Shearer said.

All over

"I think Michael wanted to play more games while Keegan was in charge of England - everyone does."

"But that is all over. I am sure Michael will love playing in a Kevin Keegan side because it will be designed to go forward, get balls into the box and score goals."

"And there are very few players better than Michael at putting the ball in the net."

"Newcastle haven't created a great deal of chances for him since he came to the club. But as long as he stays fit all that is about to change."

Rocking

"I know what it's like to play in a Kevin Keegan team. As a centre forward, you're in dreamland."

Shearer is also expecting Keegan to swiftly turn around Newcastle's flagging fortunes and is anticipating an exciting atmosphere on Tyneside for Saturday's home Premier League clash with Bolton.

"The place will be rocking on Saturday," Shearer added.

"Kevin's return is what everyone on Tyneside wanted. His personality and enthusiasm will get everyone going. He connects with people and he will certainly galvanise the dressing room."

Another mad week on Tyneside - only Geordies can whip up this kind of excitement and fanaticism with the surprise return of their King Kev.

But if you were to read between the lines at the start of the week, certainly after Harry Redknapp turned the job down, Mike Ashley had to give the supporters something to lift them.

And there were two major candidates for that in the Toon Army's eyes: Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan, or both.

When the club were saying they wanted someone with experience that pretty much ruled out Shearer and then left the way clear for Kevin to come back in.

So in that respect I wasn't surprised that they went for Kevin as that's what the fans wanted, but giving the fans what they want isn't always the best thing.

A lot has been said and written about Keegan having to adjust to life back in the big time, but I don't agree that he is 'yesterday's man' - the lad's 56, he's still a young man!


He's only been out the game three years and the Premier League hasn't changed as much in that time as some make out.

Difficult

In saying that, the job description that he's got at Newcastle is different to when he took charge for the first time and I just think that he's going to find it much more difficult than he did last time around.

He had nothing to lose when he took charge in 1992 as the team were rock-bottom and looked like they were going to be relegated from the old second division.

But he got the wheels in motion, got them on a roll, they survived the drop and were promoted to the Premier League the following season.

As we saw with Roy Keane at Sunderland last season, you can do that if you get the right bandwagon rolling. But what Kevin did was keep that going when he got Newcastle back to the top flight.

So from that respect, he hasn't got as much to do in terms of turning things around as Newcastle are in the top half of the Premier League.

But the fans want success so he will have to hit the ground running. It's a lot more difficult to get players in and make a team click in the Premier League than it is in the second tier.

He is inheriting a decent squad, with players like Michael Owen, Shay Given, Damien Duff, James Milner, there's a lot of good players at the club, but they've had good players for a while and they haven't been able to prosper and be successful.

But Kevin will go in there and give them a different mind-frame. He'll be positive and up-beat and will try to get them playing with a freedom that they haven't been playing with.

Whether that's going to be good enough, plus whoever Kevin brings in of course, to turn it round we'll have to wait and see.

I hope he does well - I really do - because he's good for the game.

But we've seen him walk away from England and from Fulham. He didn't make it at Man City at all, so there are some doubts there. All in all, it is a gamble - but when you bring any manager in it's a gamble.

Rant



The Premier League has missed Keegan. Certainly when he was at Newcastle he was great for the game with his battles with Fergie and the mind games that were going on there which culminated in Kevin's famous 'I'd love it if we beat them. Love it!' outburst on Sky Sports.

Andy Gray conducted that interview from the studio with Richard Keys and both were taken totally by surprise by his reaction.

Andy Gray had asked him a couple of questions about the game and he was quite happy to answer them.

As Richard started to develop the interview a bit more he just seemed to be getting more tense and it was almost as if Richard sussed out that Kevin certainly had something he wanted to get off his chest.

Keysie kept probing away and eventually Kevin let rip and it has now become legendary!

The Kevin rant and the Big Ron rant are the ones that people remember and talk about all the time.

Whether he can take Newcastle back to that level again I don't know, but make no mistake about it, that will be his intention.

Nobody knows the Toon Army better than Kevin and I'm not so sure about the popular notion that the fans just want exciting football and don't care about winning anything - I would be amazed if that was the case.

He's a hero, a Newcastle legend - Special K. He can do no wrong and I would hate Kevin's reputation on Tyneside to be tarnished by failure. But he'll give it his best shot and if he can get it going I'll be delighted.

Even if he fails trying 100 per cent to give the fans what they want, I think they will forgive him for that.

After all, he is King Kev.

Kevin Keegan believes his 'understanding' of the Geordie nation will help him bring success to Newcastle.

Keegan made a sensational return to St James' Park for his second stint as manager on Wednesday, 11 years after his first spell came to an end.

The former England, Manchester City and Fulham boss steps into the vacancy created by Sam Allardyce's departure after just 24 games at the helm.

And Keegan, who became a legend on Tyneside during his playing days, believes he knows how to keep the Toon Army on side, but has warned he must be given time to achieve success.

Dreams

He told talksport: "It's a big job. It's a great club and people outside the region don't understand it."

"You listen to the phone-ins and people talking about it. They're people who don't understand this place, they don't understand the Geordies."

"I do. This is my third time here, my dad was a Geordie so I understand them and I know what they want. I know what they don't want as well."

"As long as they are realistic and a little bit patient as well, I think we can try again to help them have dreams again that we could possibly win something."

Keegan admitted that ending his self-imposed exile from football, which began when he left Manchester City in 2005, was an easy decision to make once he had heard the plans of Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.

Unfinished business

"I wouldn't say it was a big decision, I love this club, I don't think anyone would ever doubt that, so from that point of view it was very easy. I had to make a decision and in the end it was a very easy one. I met the owner, I like him very much, I met the chairman, and I just asked them what they felt was needed, particularly the owner, Mike Ashley - I just asked 'what do you want from your football club?"

"Having spent an hour with him that convinced me it was right to come back. I've maybe got a little bit of unfinished business here. Everyone's got opinions on the game of football and what people should and shouldn't do. But I think this is right."

Excited

Keegan accepts he is on a steep learning curve ahead of Saturday's home Premier League meeting with Bolton, but believes he already has an excellent group of players at his disposal.

He said: "We'll have a good look at it, we'll have a good look at the squad. I'm going to learn a lot in a short space of time and we've got a big game on Saturday."

"I've certainly inherited a really strong, talented group of players, which is something I didn't have when I came last time."

"When I came last time we were wondering whether we could fill the stadium. That's not the problem here, it'll be trying to get the stadium big enough if we can put the football on and get any success here!"

"It's very, very exciting. I'm just as excited as when I came to play here and when I came to manage here!"