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Talked that up !

 

The Sunday Times:

 

Barton slips into talisman role for Newcastle

 

Carlisle 1 Newcastle 1

 

Simon Rushworth at Brunton Park

 

ANOTHER Saturday afternoon and another Newcastle United team-sheet missing its most famous name. Supporters of the black and white cause have become used to the regular, and often sustained, absences of Michael Owen during the England forward’s two unproductive campaigns on Tyneside, but a familiar situation becomes no less painful with time.

 

After the serious injuries of the past, a thigh strain should cause little concern, but Newcastle’s fans have long since learned to err on the side of caution as far as their favourite-in-waiting is concerned.

 

With neither Owen nor the former England Under21 forward Shola Ameobi available to face League One promotion hopefuls Carlisle United, Newcastle’s manager, Sam Allardyce, asked the unsettled duo Kieron Dyer and Obafemi Martins to carry the weight of the Magpies’ attack alongside the Academy graduate Andy Carroll.

 

All three spurned first-half opportunities but it was the identity of the visiting captain which proved the most curious aspect of a keenly-contested friendly.

 

Joey Barton, on police bail as an investigation into his alleged assault on former teammate Ousmane Dabo continues, does not appear to be the best-equipped leader of a traditionally disparate dressing room.

 

Where Barton was tipped to succeed renowned trouble-makers Craig Bellamy and Lee Bowyer as the Gallowgate End’s new antihero, it is increasingly apparent that Allardyce sees the England international as a possible heir to Alan Shearer. Whether the armband inspires maturity remains to be seen but Newcastle’s £5.8m close-season capture barely put a foot wrong during 69 minutes of controlled aggression.

 

What else Allardyce learned from this necessary exercise in preseason match fitness remained unclear. The Czech Republic international centre-half, David Rozehnal, was rarely asked to break sweat against an earnest yet limited Carlisle strikeforce.

 

However, the £2.9m summer signing from French side Paris St Germain was one of several Newcastle defenders at fault when the Carlisle defender, Danny Livesey, opened the scoring for the home team in the 56th minute with a powerful header.

 

Cameroon international Geremi made his Newcastle debut 12 minutes later and the midfielder, signed from Chelsea this summer, immediately tested Carlisle’s goalkeeper, Keiren Westwood, with a trademark free kick.

 

But it was the Peruvian midfielder, Nolberto Solano, who salvaged some pride for the Magpies with a fine right-footed volley in second-half stoppage time.

 

Carlisle United: Westwood; Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Aranalde; Bridge-Wilkinson, Thirlwell, Smith; Gall, Hackney, Graham. Substitutes: Howarth, Lumsdon, Carlton, Joyce, Arnison, McDermott, Dalton, Kirkup

 

Newcastle United: Harper; Carr, Rozehnal, Ramage, N’Zogbia; Butt, Solano, Barton; Martins, Carroll, Dyer. Substitutes: Milner, Geremi, Huntington, Forster, Krul, Bertram, Francis, Lough, LuaLua, Troisi

 

Scorers: Carlisle United: Livesey 56

 

Newcastle United: Solano 90

 

Referee: M Pike

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This is the sort of injury that's really annoying. Over time Big Sam and all his methods can reduce the avoidable injuries and get the players fitter and better conditioned, but there is absolutely fuck all he can do about the freak injuries that continually happen to our players.

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Its noticeable that players never used to break metatarsals, and back in the day the game was a lot tougher and people got a good kicking. It must be something to do with the modern lightweight boots they wear not offering enough protection.

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The stats on absences from this injury are frightening but the use of the word "partial" in .COM's description is hopeful.

 

Also I'd bet under previous regimes a rushed comeback would have lengthened the problem but I think Allardyce will hopefully prevent that.

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Wow.... this is really gutting, the one player who could really kick start our performances this season :lol:

 

Once again we are punished for any kind of anticipation or excitement we might have had!

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