Premiership Class or Championship Class

By Robert Norris

With Newcastle United's promotion all but sealed, which of the players that have got the club out of the Championship are capable of playing in the Premier League or will have to stay in the Championship.

Goalkeepers:

1: Steve Harper - Veteran keeper and if Newcastle were still playing in the Premiership this season, more than likely he would be heading to the World Cup this summer in South Africa. Has Premiership class, and should cut it at the top level as Newcastle's number 1 or number 2.

26: Tim Krul - Young promising keeper with undoubted talent, should be given the chance now to play in the rest of the Championship games with promotion already sealed. Looking at other young keepers in the Premiership that are playing, he is on par or better than Joe Hart, Wayne Hennessey and Asmir Begovic.

34: Fraser Forster - Been on loan to Norwich this season and has been the stand out keeper in League 1, should be sent out on loan for another season and next year at the higher level of the Championship.

Verdict: The goalkeepers are in good shape for the Premiership, but opinion is split with who out of Steve Harper and Tim Krul should be the number one for next season. I see Chris Hughton opting for the age and experience over youth and undoubted talent.

Defenders:

2: Fabricio Coloccini - Based on the season he has had and if Jonas is getting in the Argentina squad Fabricio should also be off to the World Cup, but missing out could be a blessing in disguise for Newcastle as if he did have a good tournament he could be tempted away. A season in a rough league that is the Championship I feel will have done wonders and helped him adapt to the English game. All depends if Ashley wants his wages off the wage bill, but if he doesn't, definite Premiership Class

3: Jose Enrique - Championship Defender of the Season and contender for Championship Player of the Season. Big clubs will be watching Enrique now, but from what I see and read Jose is happy at Newcastle and we are more than delighted to keep him. The speed and power of him makes him a Premiership Class player.

6: Mike Williamson - Bought by Portsmouth in 2009 for the Premiership and never played for them for 1 and half years because Portsmouth could not afford to play him. Joined Newcastle in the winter window and looks to be a real gem. A defender who doesn't look for attention just does his work and gets on with it. Could be next season's Roger Johnson and Scott Dann in the Premiership.

12: Danny Simpson - Chris Hughton's first transfer and has done Chris proud. The Manchester United youngster has done all you can ask for in the Championship, but this is the first player I have doubts about in the Premiership. I believe he lacks the pace for a modern day full back, but if he can build his partnership with Wayne Routledge, Routledge could do the running for the both of them. If another right back comes available Chris should look into him, but Danny should defiantly get his chance in the Premiership, if Steven Carr is still playing right back and in a top half time, there's hope for Simpson.

16: Ryan Taylor - Great Squad player for the Championship and can play in 4 or 5 positions, when not playing doesn't moan about not being played. If a good offer comes in for Ryan I would sell, but keeping hold of him would not be that much of a disaster. Injuries happen and with Newcastle is more often then the norm.

27: Steven Taylor - Nobody knows what has happened all we are led to believe is that he has a broken jaw and is feeding on liquids. Certainly Premiership class but whether that is with Newcastle or another Premier League club we will have to wait and see. If good money comes in for him I would consider the offer, but only if he is not going to sign a new contract.

28: Tamas Kadar - Could be the next Nemanja Vidic and in my eyes a defender who likes to play football, and also has a long range shot on him. Never been on a losing side for Newcastle and hopefully he can keep that going, but for next season I would send him out on loan for the full season in the Championship. A team like Doncaster would suit Tamas as they are a team fighting for promotion who likes to play football. Not Premiership class yet but will be.

Verdict: All depends on if Ashley want to keep Coloccini and if Steven Taylor wants to play at the same club as Andy Carroll. If one off these two defenders leave I feel we will need another two center backs. 4 center backs are needed in the Premiership and we will have 3 with Kadar on loan. A back up player to Enrique is needed, Van Aanohlt could be up for a season long loan, and a right back is needed to push Danny Simpson. (see below for transfer targets)

Midfield:

4: Kevin Nolan - Already been award the Championship player of the season, and probably the main reason Newcastle started so well in the Championship. Was once scouted for England and leveled with Lampard and Gerrard. His short career with Newcastle in the Premiership was blighted with a red card and then just playing in a team with no confidence. Is Premiership class

7: Joey Barton - Not played games so nothing to say on his season so far. Never shown what he can do in a Newcastle shirt, but if playing at his best level we know he can play. He is a Premiership player, the question is though whether that is at Newcastle or another club. That is the question Chris Hughton and Colin Colderwood have to decide, is he worth the potential hazards off the pitch.

8: Danny Guthrie - Played in the last 16 games and in the majority of these games Danny has played in his preferred position of center midfield, and while playing in this position he has flourished. He is a young player and still has time to get better and improve. He is a player with Premiership class and will still be in the Newcastle squad for the Premiership campaign.

10: Wayne Routledge - Got the speed and skill of Arron Lennon, Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright Phillips but like these 3 players he has lacked consistency. Since joining Newcastle he has performed in every game and assisted at least in a goal a game. If he can keep up this consistency and perform against better players, Newcastle could well be the place Wayne Rouledge makes his name and sticks at a club for more than a season or 2. Premiership class and will be a crowd favourite.

17: Alan Smith - Was a perfect player to start the season with as he had the fight and determination to win for Newcastle and to show other Championship clubs we were coming down lightly, but as the season has worn on he has picked up regular injuries. Subsequently as St James Park has turned more attacking Smith's lack of flair hasn't been missed. If you have 2 center midfielders willing to work up and down the pitch there is no real sign of a defensive midfielder being needed in the Championship. The question is will that change in the Premiership. He is a Premiership player but the point is whether he is right for the new Newcastle United.

18: Jonas Gutierrez - Argentinian International and off to the World Cup, and is one of the first names on the team sheet with Messi. Finally broke his goal duck in the Championship and the Spiderman mask was on show. Premiership class, but has to work on his final ball and crosses but will be a first team player for next year.

21: Fabrice Pancrate - Joined from PSG this year and scored a wonderful goal on his debut, but that's as much as Fabrice has done. His contract is up this summer and I feel its time to move on. He has been a great squad player this year and has never said a bad word about not playing and always seems to be smiling.

22: Nicky Butt - Has had an impressive career to date and I believe promotion should also be the final highlight of Nicky's playing career. Aged 35 at the moment he has been a great servant to the game, but not now that Newcastle have to move on to young fresh blood. If Nicky wanted to stay on as a coach at the club I would be more than happy to have him with his experience, but in the Premiership I can't see him playing more than half a dozen games.

25: Kazenga Lua Lua - Like his brother he Is erratic but has never been given his chance at Newcastle. Started to show promise at Brighton on loan but injury struck. A full season out on loan next season and see where it goes from there.

46: Haris Vuckic - Newcastle's most promising youth player but had a bad injury this year. Hopefully will play some part in a couple of games towards the end of this season. Only 17 but has been training with the Newcastle first team since his arrival at the club, which says a lot for a 17 year old. Like Tamas Kadar and Lua Lua I would send him out on loan and expect a big year from him in the year after.

Verdict: In midfield we have a lot of similar players but we have no real cover for wingers. With Nolan, Smith, Barton, and Guthrie all at the same speed and doing similar jobs for the team I can't see keeping all 4 being the best for the club. Creative flair is missing and we need players such as Mikel Arteta and Cesc Fabregas. If anything our center midfield is a poor man's Manchester United midfield. Personally I would move out Smith and Barton, and bring in 2 new faces and a winger who can play at both sides. (see below for transfer targets)

Forwards:

11: Peter Lovenkrands - One of the best signings for Newcastle and best value for money. His speed and his reading of Andy Carroll and Wayne Routledge's game is great as he can see when a pass is going to come. A squad player in the Premiership though.

20: Leon Best - Scored goals for a struggling Coventry team in the Championship but since his move to Newcastle has failed to live up to expectations, and due to the form of Lovenkrands and Carrroll has never been given a chance. Still only a fairly young player and will bag his first goal for Newcastle by the end of the season. Hughton's not going to sell a player he has just brought in in January. Whether he is Premiership class we will all have to wait and see.

23: Shola Ameobi - Some might say he has found his level in the Championship as anything he touches seems to end up in the back of the net, however once again with Shola he has picked up too many injuries. With the loss of Owen, Viduka and Martins this local lad may have thought for the first time in his Newcastle career that it was his time to shine and show what he can do. Proven he can score in the Premiership so will be a useful player for Newcastle, but once again a squad player.

24: Andy Carroll - Rumours he could be off to the World Cup with England. I feel that is unlikely but anything can happen in football. Can hold the ball up, find the net, and has got everything an old fashion striker has in his game. Needs to sort out his off-field problems though. Will play in the Premiership and will score goals.

30: Nile Ranger - A better prospect than Andy Carroll in striking terms I believe, however never given the chance this year when he has deserved it. Another young promising Newcastle player to be shipped out on loan to play in the Championship.

Verdict: Newcastle have always had a big name striker and during the summer the press will be relentless with this and throw names at us pretty much everyday. The strikers we have at the moment will all score goals but none are proven Premiership goal scorers and we will need to address this. (see below for transfer targets)

Transfer Targets:

Goalkeepers:

(None)

Defenders:

Nadir Belhadj (Cover for Enrique and Jonas on the left)

Gary Cahill

Madjid Bougherra

Patrick Van Aanholt (Loan)

Matthew Upson (If West Ham are relegated and on the cheap)

Midfielders:

Per Ciljan Skjelbred

Robert Snodgrass

Jamie O'hara

Forwards:

Romelu Lukaka

Kevin Doyle
Robbie Keane or Roman Pavlyuchenko

This is Newcastle United, what do you expect!

By Robert Norris

Newcastle United fans waking up this morning, would off expected to wake up with team news and headlines off how another win will help seal promotion back to the big time at Doncaster tonight, but instead fans woke up to headlines such as 'Sex text brawl leaves Taylor with broken jaw' and ' Taylor suffers broken jaw in Carroll bust-up'.

So Newcastle seemed to be heading back to the Premiership without being on the front pages of the national papers anymore especially with most of the primadonnas leaving the club in the summer, but just when everything seem done and dusted, a dagger has been struck straight into the heart of the promotion charge. So what does Chris Hughton do?

If this is true Andy Carroll need to have a good long look at himself, this is not the first time Carroll has made headlines off the field for the wrong reasons. In September 2008, Carroll was arrested by police on reports that a woman had been assaulted, and Carroll was later cautioned by police, and late in 2009 he was arrested in the aftermath of a nightclub brawl, accused of smashing a glass in a mans face and is due in court in the coming weeks for that incident. This also happening at the same time as having a child, which some would think would calm him down These are the incidents while not on club or country duty, but still at age of 21 hes done more! Hes been sent home from a England youth squad for breaking curfew, and with the training ground bust up with Taylor that is training ground bust up number 3. I know this happens at football training but 3 times at such a young age and with all 3 being high profile bust-ups, with Taylor, N'Zogbia and Ameobi.

Being called the young Duncan Ferguson might be something to boast about to your mates but not someone to grow up wanting to be. Carroll has a chance if Newcastle get promoted to be a massive icon and role model on Tyneside, and be a future England player especially if Capello continues to play a big man with Rooney up top, but that's a massive if, with incidents like this becoming a regular occurrence!

For a closer role model Carroll can look at his fellow strike partner Nile Ranger, this lad has been through a lot in his life and is younger than Carroll, and i believe has more potential than Carroll. Ranger a young boy from London, was involved in gangs and street crime and was sentenced to 11 weeks in a Young Offender's Institute, he return to football after that time but was released by Southampton for a bad attitude, lucky for Ranger Newcastle offered him a chance to continue his dream off becoming a footballer and has since settled down and is only committed to his football now, something Carroll need to follow.

For tonight Carroll should not play for Newcastle against Doncaster if these reports are true and with other players coming back from injury, he should be left out for long as he can't be seen to do what ever he want and still play. Hughton need to be strong and I'm sure the supporters will stand by what Hughton does, and this hopefully wont damage the Newcastle United promotion bid.

My 09/10 Football Predictions

By Robert Norris

The 09/10 season is entering the final weeks and the title race and relegation battles are on in all the leagues in England. This blog will show my predictions in how the season will end..



Premier League


Champions - Arsenal


Runners Up - Manchester United


3rd - Chelsea


4th - Manchester City


Relegation - Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley




The Premiership title battle will go down to the last couple of games but at the moment I just see the momentum swinging Arsenals way, referees decisions, late goals and with rumours Robin Van Persie back for the final games Arsenal look like they wont lose a game from now till the end of the season. The off field problems will cost Chelsea this season, a lot of the players don't seem to be playing at the top of there games or playing well together, and with talks about players being shipped out of the club in the summer no matter what happens some players just don't seem to care for Chelsea any more and once again with Essien out for most of the season that has cost them. Man Utd will push Arsenal right to the end of the season, but i just see Arsenal pipping it.



The 4th spot is up for grabs at the moment with Spurs, Villa, City and Liverpool. Spurs at the moment are in the driving seat they have the points on the board with a couple points clear but injuries are starting to mount at Spurs and I feel they could struggle and they have some tricky fixtures to play. Liverpool are a poor team at the moment with only 3 top players in Torres, Gerrard and Reina and with off field problems hiding the on field problems they will struggle to get into the Europa League let alone the Champions League this year. Aston Villa are going to fall short once again this year as they don't have the strikers to fire them into that final champions league spot and that is an area they will need to invest in the summers. So that leaves Manchester City to grab that final spot and i believe they have the players and manager to achieve this goal.



Relegation Portsmouth are down, nothing more needs to be said over them as that's for a different blog all together!.., so there's two more spots, Burnley and Hull are in them at this present point, and the only team i think they will catch is West Ham, but Burnley and Hull are two poor teams who don't really provide anything to the Premier League and I wont think they will be to sorely missed, especially with the teams that are on route to the Premiership and because of that West Ham will just survive this season, which I didn't want to say as West Ham off the field are a club I dislike, in the owners and people running the club. If Zola was back and left to get on with what he knows on the field West Ham would not be in this position, but i don't see Zola getting this.






Championship



Champions - Newcastle United

Runners Up - West Brom

Play-offs - Nottingham Forest, Leicester, Swansea and Cardiff City

Play-off Winners - Leicester

Relegation - Peterborough, Plymouth and Scunthorpe


Newcastle and West Brom have been the superior teams all the way through the Championship season, and Nottingham Forest challenge was always going to wilt at some point the surprise is that they have managed to keep it going for so long, but with next weeks fixture at St James Park against Newcastle, this should put an end to there hope off automatic promotion, and virtually seal promotion for Newcastle and West Brom.


The gap between the play-off teams and the challengers to get them is beginning to look unrecoverable for the sides outside the play-offs position with no team showing any real determination to get there and take advantage of Cardiff's iffy form. The play-off winners I feel will be Leicester and under Nigel Pearson they will have two successes promotions, Matty Fryatt could and that's only a could be fit for the play-offs and if he is that will give Leicester's fans, players and management a massive boost and help them seal promotion. Nottingham Forest have the strikers to seal promotion but it could be a couple games to much for the young squad Billy Davies has assembled.


The relegation battle in the Championship two places have already gone with Peterborough and Plymouth leaving them self to much to do with too little games to go. The final spot is going to be a battle to the end of the season but I just feel Scunthorpe are going to be the unlucky team to lose out. I just see other teams such as Sheffield Wednesday picking up more points in the remaining games.



League 1


Champions - Norwich

Runners Up - Leeds United

Play-offs - Millwall, Chalton, Huddersfield and Swindon

Play-off Winners - Huddersfield

Relegation - Stockport County, Wycombe, Exeter and Southend



League 2


Champions - Rochdale

Runner Up - Notts County

Play-offs - Bury, Rotherham, Chesterfield and Sherwsbury

Play-off Winners - Bury

Relegation - Grimsby and Darlington


FA Cup Winners - Chelsea


Champions League Final - Manchester United vs FC Barcelona


Champions League Winners - FC Bacelona