Location - SJP     Kick Off – 3.00pm     Date – Saturday 9th September 2006    
Tickets - On General Sale     Coverage – BBC Radio Newcastle 95.4FM

After reading Everyone’s Talkin it seems there are a lot of you out there that have one or two strong opinions about the last couple of weeks at SJP. Allow me to bring a much-needed tonic. Our third game of the season sees us entertain Mohamed Al-Fayed’s Cottagers but unlike FFS and Glenn, Chris Coleman seems to have got his Maths right over the summer with six first team players departing (Goma, Legwinski, Malbranque, Rehman, Sava, Warner) and the same amount arriving (Bullard Lastuvka, Queudrue, Routledge, Runstrom, Zakuani). With only 3 goals scored in 3 games and a -3 goal difference it seems they are having some problems finding the net, which is great news. With The Journals very own Grant Mitchell (Luke Edwards) saying “I know it sounds very Cliché but there are no easy Premiership games any more” If you know it sounds Cliché don’t fu*kin say it then…. But it pains me to agree with him and if this season is to prove fruitful this is the type of game that we need to be wining comfortably even though Coleman has put together a strong Midfield.

I was looking with interest too see if the latest England international would bring yet more injury news but after coming to my senses I realised our only England regular is still nursing a bad leg stateside. The rest of our International players seem at first glance to have all landed back at Newcastle Airport over the weekend unscathed.

Last Season

Away (L) 1 - 0 (Malbranque)

Home (D) 1 – 1 (N’Zogbia) (McBride)

Likely Squads:

Fulham - Niemi, Lastuvka, Rosenior, Christanval, Pearce, Runstrom, Zakuani, Queudrue, Brown, Diop, Bullard, Boa Morte, John, McBride, Drobny, Volz, Bocanegra, Routledge

Man to Watch – Jimmy Bullard – Easily Wigan’s most influential player last season.

NUFC - Given, Harper, Carr, Bernard, Bramble, Moore, Taylor, Babayaro, Parker, Emre, Solano, Duff, Butt, N'Zogbia, Milner, Martins, Rossi, Luque, Sibierski.


Man to Watch – Gus Rossi – This young Italian will give Martins a run for his money in the pace stakes and a keen eye for goal.

Fitness News - Owen (Long Term), Dyer (End of September), Ameobi (Hip/Hamstring) Moore (Knee)

Other News – The next time the FA raises the portcullis that is the transfer window I will be reaching for the hangover remedies where alternatively Willy Mackay will be reaching for his mask, dueling pistols, swag bag. The future of our season for the next four months at least lays firmly in the hands of Mr. Roeder and our current band of hopefuls.

ES