BarryLFC

May 2007

Arsenal travelled to St James' Park looking to be the first side to win both Premiership games against United in the season. Michael Owen was fit enough to return to the bench for this, the season's penultimate game. It hardly seemed worthwhile.

As ever it was midway through the first half when Thierry Henry struck and as ever Newcastle were undiminished, fighting back with courage and vigour. First Obafemi Martins, then Eugeny Aldonin, then Martins again turned the tide after the interval and though it seemed to be tempting fate, Owen was introduced for injury time to a rapturous welcome.

With just a trip to Fulham remaining it seemed fifth place was in the bag, with three points back to Pompey and Villa and a much healthier goal difference. After a goalless first half, Michael Owen was one of three substitutes offered forty five minutes to make a difference, but none was effective enough as time expired on a draw, good enough to clinch fifth without need to consider any other results, clinching the one available UEFA Cup spot.

One sidenote: in training Michael Mifsud wrecked his cruciate - his reward? A free transfer, his contract nearing expiry in any case. Harsh, but necessary in these days of financial constraints.

retired_tanja

i dont ever do one players and i dont like lord of the rings per say

but im gonna try this sounds really ell thought out!

BarryLFC

May Stats

Newcastle 3-1 Arsenal Martins (2), Aldonin
Fulham 0-0 Newcastle

No transfer activity

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | ECC | Arsenal | | 38 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 87 | 35 | +52 | 85 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | ECC | Chelsea | | 38 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 67 | 26 | +41 | 79 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | ECC | Man Utd | | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 63 | 36 | +27 | 70 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | ECC | Liverpool | | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 48 | 32 | +16 | 65 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| 5th | EC | Newcastle | | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 47 | 33 | +14 | 60 | </pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | EV | Man City | | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 57 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Portsmouth | | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 60 | 53 | +7 | 56 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Wigan | | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 56 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Aston Villa | | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 56 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Everton | | 38 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 55 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Fulham | | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 46 | 47 | -1 | 54 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | EC | Middlesbrough | | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 52 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | West Ham | | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 50 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | EC | Tottenham | | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 45 | 51 | -6 | 45 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Blackburn | | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 36 | 49 | -13 | 38 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

BarryLFC

********...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Charlton | | 38 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 57 | 68 | -11 | 37 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Bolton | | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 47 | 78 | -31 | 35 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | R | Reading | | 38 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 43 | 73 | -30 | 32 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | R | Watford | | 38 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 36 | 73 | -37 | 30 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | R | Sheff Utd | | 38 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 74 | -42 | 28 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

retired_tanja

do we all post in here or what?

BarryLFC

how do you mean? If you're doing the challenge yourself, start your own story thread. If you want to ask or talk about my story post in here.

BarryLFC

June/July 2007

With Baggins relaxing on the beaches of Hobbiton it was time to reflect on a decent year and look forward to the next. The areas of the team that had been troublesome were right back and depth, to be blunt. Ian Harte's conversion to a right sided player had utterly failed, and he was shipped out to Charlton for less than a third of his initial purchase price.

With Mifsud and Cadamarteri released there was need for striking depth, particularly given Michael Owen's transfer request, and an old favourite - if we allow a generous definition of the word - returned, Carl Cort having left Wolves. Ronald Gomez came in from Costa Rica to complete the quartet, though technically not until August 2nd. Other departures included Gary Speed and Nobby Solano, each at the end of their contracts, and Craig Moore - released to make way for bargain buy, £700,000 Curtis Davies of West Brom.

Birmingham were working up until the eleventh hour to re-sign Julian Gray and Martin Taylor, but each opted to join Newcastle as squad players on free transfers, as did international players Patrik Berger (Czech Republic), Robert Koran (Slovenia) and Salomon Olembe (Cameroon). Hull's veteran forward Nick Barmby brought versatility and deals were struck to add Norwegian Daniel Braaten (Rosenborg) and Czech Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow) in the January window.

Roma had offers accepted for Shay Given and Leighton Baines, but failed to come up with sufficient cash to finalise either transaction, whilst Celestine Babayaro moved on loan to Premiership new boys Stoke, and Albert Luque to Osasuna. There was more to come before the games began...

BarryLFC

August 2007

The capture of Barcelona's Maxi Lopez on loan completed the shopping list for Baggins as he prepared his side to face Premiership virgins Preston in the league opener at St James' Park. With Owen concussed and Aldonin suspended after a red card against Doncaster in a friendly, it was a familiar looking eleven, with only three changes from the team that started on matchday 1 a year previous. Given in goals, Baines and Taylor in defence, Galca, Duff, Milner and Parker in midfield and Martins up front remained, whilst Harte's right back slot was occupied by Peter Ramage, Curtis Davies replaced Titus Bramble and Patrik Berger came in for Nolberto Solano.

After a four-goal salvo saw off Manchester City twelve months ago, Newcastle went on to have a great season. This time it took just forty five minutes to establish a four goal lead, Milner, Galca, Martins and Davies netting before the break. Steven Taylor charitably put through his own goal with twenty minutes to play, but there was to be no challenge to United's supremacy on the day.

The goalless draw at Fratton Park had been a key result in the run-in last term, but there was no danger of a repeat of that result as the sides shared three goals in the first half this time around, the home side edging in front twice, Scott Parker netting in between. A third Pompey goal ten minutes into the second period seemed to have resolved matters, but Patrik Berger netted just after the hour, and when Michael Owen was introduced with fifteen minutes to play the stage seemed set for his return to goalscoring form. Not that Portsmouth cared, scoring agin moments later to wrap up a thrilling encounter, 4-2.

With six players having netted in the first two games, it was at least a dangerous-looking offence in place, time would tell if playing just one friendly could prove a mistake, however.

BarryLFC

June-August Stats

Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Newcastle
Newcastle 4-1 Preston North End Milner, Galca, Martins, Davies
Portsmouth 4-2 Newcastle Parker, Berger

Transfers In

Curtis Davies, West Brom, £700K
Nick Barmby, Hull City, £100K
Martin Taylor, Birmingham City, Free Transfer
Julian Gray, Birmingham City, Free Transfer
Patrik Berger, Free Agent (Aston Villa)
Carl Cort, Free Agent (Wolves)
Robert Koran, Free Agent (Lillestrom)
Salomon Olembe, Free Agent (Marseille)
Ronald Gomez, Free Agent (APOEL Nicosia)
Maxi Lopez, Barcelona, Season-long loan

Transfers Out

Ian Harte, Charlton, £900K
Nolberto Solano, Getafe, Free Transfer
Liam Atkin, Luton Town, Free Transfer
Alan O'Brien, Cardiff City, Free Transfer
Michael Mifsud, Released
Gary Speed, Released
Danny Cadamarteri, Released
Craig Moore, Released
Phil Cave, Released
James Troisi, Released
Celestine Babayaro, Stoke City, Loan
Albert Luque, Osasuna, Loan
Glenn Reay, St Johnstone, Loan
Ross Cowan, St Johnstone, Loan
Dean Critchlow, St Johnstone, Loan
Andrew Carroll, St Johnstone, Loan
Mark Cook, St Johnstone, Loan
Lewis Marr, St Johnstone, Loan
Carl Finnigan, St Johnstone, Loan
Phil Huntington, St Johnstone, Loan
Kazenga LuaLua, St Johnstone, Loan
Matty Pattison, St Johnstone, Loan
Kris Gate, St Johnstone, Loan
David Edgar, St Johnstone, Loan
Callum Morris, St Johnstone, Loan
Darren Lough, St Johnstone, Loan
Chris Shanks, St Johnstone, Loan
Matthiew Grieve, St Johnstone, Loan
Mark Doninger, St Johnstone, Loan
Jonathan Godsmark, St Johnstone, Loan
Alex Francis, St Johnstone, Loan

BarryLFC

Hmm, ommited Doncaster scorers, which seems to have made it ignore the [/i] in there...

Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Newcastle Martins, Berger