Pre match STATS

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NEWCASTLE

LAST SEASON

Finished 11th in the Premiership last season. After finishing runners-up in 1995-6 and 1996-7 they have finished disappointingly 13th, 13th and 11th in the last three seasons.

They will be hoping not the make the same start as they did last season. They failed to win any of their opening 7 games, gaining only 1 point from a possible 21 in that time. 5 of those games were under Gullit, 1 under Steve Clarke and the other under Robson.

They finished last season unbeaten in their final 5 games (won 2, drawn 3). If they avoid defeat today they would equal their best unbeaten run in the Premiership since May 1997.

Despite their lowly finish, they ended up as the Premiership's 3rd top scorers with 63 goals. They failed to score in only 8 of their 38 Premiership games.

They are the last club to prevent Man Utd scoring at Old Trafford in a Premiership match, achieving a 0-0 draw in November 1998. Since then Man Utd have scored in their last 32 Premiership matches at Old Trafford.

Last season they were aiming to reach the FA Cup final for a 3rd successive season. Unfortunately they lost to eventual winners Chelsea to two Gus Poyet goals to one at Wembley in the semi-final.

AWAY

They had a terrible start away from home last season. They failed to win any of their opening 8 away games, losing the first 6 in a row, conceding 20 goals in those 6 games.

It wasn't until December 4 that they recorded their first away win of the season - a 1-0 win at Villa Park.

They failed to win any of their final 4 away games of last season. Their last away win was at Goodison Park (live on a Super Sunday) on March 19.

BOBBY ROBSON
Oldest manager in English League football - is 67 years old. This is his 33rd year in management.

Newcastle record in all comps: P45, W21, D12, L12

Managerial Honours:
(with Ipswich)
1977-78: FA Cup winner, 1980-81: UEFA Cup winner.
(with England)
1986: World Cup quarter-finals, 1990: World Cup semi-finals.
(with PSV)
1990-91: League winner, 1991-92: League winner.
(with Porto)
1994-95: League winner, 1995-96: League winner.
(with Barcelona)
1996-97: European Cup-Winners' Cup winner, 1996-97: Spanish Cup winner, 1997: Spanish Super Cup winner.

Was named Manager of the Month for February.

Signed a new contract on February 18. He has agreed a 12-month roll over contract with no expiry date.

Has a 100 per cent record against Man Utd as Newcastle manager - Played 1, Won 1. His last visit to Old Trafford as a manager for a competitive match was as Ipswich boss in a league match in September 1981 - they won 2-1 with goals from Alan Brazil and John Wark.

In April the club reported a pre-tax loss of #1.3million in the six months to January 31, from a profit of 5.6 million last time. It was due to a player trading deficit, which rose to #7.1 million from #0.5 million.

PRE-SEASON 

Ins
                    From                Fee
Carl Cort           Wimbledon           7m
Christian Bassedas  Velez Sarsfield     4m
Daniel Cordone      Racing Club         12-month loan


Outs
                    To                  Fee
Duncan Ferguson     Everton             3.75m
Alessandro Pistone  Everton             3m
Steve Howey         Man City            2m
Silvio Maric        FC Porto            2m
Paul Robinson       Wimbledon           1.5m
Temur Ketsbaia      Wolves              900,000
Stuart Elliott      Darlington          Free
David Cunningham    Livingston          Free

The club have played 5 pre-season friendlies, starting with a two-match tour of the United States. The results haven't been great: 

Date      Opponents           Result    Scorers
22/7      DC Utd (a)          L1-3      Cordone
26/7      Columbus Crew (a)   D2-2      Cort (2)
31/7      Burnley (a)         W1-0      Cort
5/8       Feyenoord (a)       L1-2      Lee
13/8      Espanyol (a)        L1-2      Shearer

OPENING PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES

After today's game they don't have to play any of the top 4 clubs from last season until they face Liverpool on November 25.

Today v Man Utd (a)
Wednesday v Derby (h)
Aug 26 v Tottenham (h)
Sep 6 v Coventry (a)
Sept 9 v Chelsea (h)
Sept 16 v Southampton (a)
Sept 23 v Charlton (h)
Sept 30 v Man City (a)
Oct 14 v Middlesbrough (a)
Oct 21 v Everton (h)
Oct 28 v West Ham (a)
Nov 4 v Ipswich (h)
Nov 11 v Leicester (a)
Nov 18 v Sunderland (h)
Nov 25 v Liverpool (h)

PLAYERS

WARREN BARTON

  • Cost #4m from Wimbledon in June 1995 - a then British record fee for a defender.
  • Won his three England caps in 1995 v Rep of Ireland, Sweden and Brazil.
  • Not scored for over two years, since in 3-1 Premiership defeat v Arsenal in April 1998.
  • Served two bans last season - missed 3 games after sending off at Coventry on Oct 16, 1999 and a further game after reaching five bookings.
  • Started 45 of the club's 51 games last season.
  • Was a member of the Wimbledon side which won at Old Trafford in

    CHRISTIAN BASSEDAS

  • Will be out of today's game. Fractured his right foot during the tour of the US last month. The foot had swollen badly but it was hoped that there was no break. Sadly this was not the case. Is expected to return in the middle of next month.
  • Signed from Velez Sarsfield for #4m in the summer.
  • Central midfielder. Is a full Argentine international. Didn't have work permit problems being of dual nationality with an Italian passport.
  • Made more than 300 appearances for Velez Sarsfeld, the club he joined as a boy, and picked up winners medals in four league championships, the Americas Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and Recopa in Japan.
  • Played for the Argentina under-23 side which won the Pan American Games title in 1995, and in the 1996 Olympic Games.
  • Has signed a five year deal, and is settling on Tyneside with wife Maria and nine month old son Franco.

    LAURENT CHARVET

  • Wing-back or central defender, cost #520,000 from Cannes in July 1998.
  • Spent 6 months on loan at Chelsea from January to July 1998. Scored twice in 13 games for the Blues. Was signed by Gullit twice, at Chelsea and Newcastle.
  • Won 1998 European Cup-Winners' honours during loan spell with Chelsea. Was an unused sub in final v Stuttgart.
  • Played only 5 times last season. His last app was in FA Cup at White Hart Lane in December 1999.
  • His only goal in 44 games for the club came in 2-2 Premiership draw at Middlesbrough in Dec 1998.

    DANIEL CORDONE

  • Signed from Argentinian side Racing Club Buenos Aires on a #500,000 12-month loan in the summer.
  • Argentinian striker. Has signed a one-year loan deal with the option for a further two years if the move works out.
  • Has had an impressive pre-season - has starred in their pre-season matches.
  • Joins Bassedas as the second Argentinian at St James' Park.

    CARL CORT

  • Signed from Wimbledon for #7m in the summer.
  • Has scored 3 goals in the pre-season friendlies.
  • Scored 25 goals in 93 games for Wimbledon.
  • Wimbledon's top scorer last season with 15 goals (9 in Premiership), but none in his final 7 apps. His last goal was for Wimbledon v Leicester on March 11.
  • Had been linked with moves to Tottenham and Leeds. Was understood to have been Leeds's mystery target earlier this year after chairman Peter Ridsdale revealed the club had made a #5million bid for an unnamed player.
  • England U-21 international (12 caps). Has an impressive scoring record for his country, with 8 goals, including 3 in 7 games last season.
  • Scored on full debut for Wimbledon, ironically in a 3-1 win at St James' Park in Sept 1997.
  • Was a member of the Wimbledon side, that despite being relegated, held Man Utd to two draws last season. Scored in the 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park last season.
  • If he plays today, he will be making the 100th senior app of his career (previously 93 for Newcastle and 6 for Lincoln).

    NIKOS DABIZAS

  • Cost #1.3m from Olympiakos in March 1998.
  • Is likely to be playing when Greece meet England in the upcoming 2002 World Cup qualifiers.
  • Sent off in 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford last season for dissent.
  • Capped 38 times by Greece (no goals). Won his 38th cap in friendly v Switzerland last Wednesday.
  • Was a virtual ever-present last season - missed just 9 of the club's 51 games.
  • Has scored 11 goals in 95 games for Newcastle.
  • Scored all of his 5 goals last season during a 11-game spell during Nov-Jan.

    DIDIER DOMI

  • Cost #3.25m from Paris St Germain in Dec 1998 (rising to #4m depending on apps).
  • Won French Cup, French League Cup and French Super Cup honours with Paris SG in 1998. .
  • Missed 11 games in November and December last season with a calf injury.
  • Current French U-21 international.
  • Has scored 4 goals in 54 games for Newcastle, the last 3 of which have come away.
  • Has missed most of pre-season with a cracked rib sustained on the US tour.

    KIERON DYER

  • Became former manager Gullit's first English signing at #6m from Ipswich in July 1999.
  • This is only his fifth season as a professional, since signing pro forms for Ipswich in Jan 1997.
  • Has scored 4 goals in 39 apps for Newcastle, but only once in 2000 (live on a Super Sunday at Goodison Park in March).
  • Played in England's first three internationals of last season (all starts). Debut v Luxembourg at Wembley on Sept 4, 1999. Missed play-off games v Scotland through injury. Won his 5th cap as a sub in friendly v Ukraine on May 31. Was left out of Euro 2000 squad.
  • Won his 11th cap for the Under-21's in play-off game v Yugoslavia on March 29.
  • Has been suffering with a shin splints problem during pre-season, and is facing a race against time to be fit for today's game.

    KEVIN GALLACHER

  • Signed from Blackburn for #700,000 in October 1999 (Robson's first signing as manager). Relegated from Premiership with Rovers in 1998-99.
  • Has 49 caps (8 goals) for Scotland. Capped six times last season. Won his 49th cap as a sub in friendly v Rep of Ireland on May 30. Missed second leg of Euro 2000 play-off v England at Wembley through suspension.
  • Has scored 3 goals in 25 games for Newcastle so far.
  • Has scored 131 goals in 499 career games (including his time in Scotland).
  • If he plays today, he will be making the 500th senior game of his career.
  • Had a good early record of scoring at Old Trafford. Scored for Blackburn here both in May 1993 (lost 3-1) and December 1993 (drew 1-1).

    DIEGO GAVILAN

  • Paraguayan youngster signed from Cerro Porteno for #1m at the end of January. He has signed a contract that will keep him at St James' Park until the end of the 2003-4 season.
  • His nickname is 'Pampero', which roughly translates into 'The Horse which goes like the wind'
  • Has played in England before - when Paraguay played West Ham and Arsenal in friendlies in December 1998.
  • Has played for the full Paraguayan international side, as well as the Under-20 (captain) and Under-17 sides.
  • Played against Solano when Paraguay lost 2-0 in Peru in a World Cup qualifier on March 29.
  • The 20 year-old impressed Robson whilst at St James' Park on trial.
  • Made his debut as a sub at the Stadium of Light on Feb 5. Scored his first goal for the club v Coventry on April 29.

    SHAY GIVEN

  • Cost #1.5m from Blackburn in July 1997.
  • Lost his place to Harper last season. Played in only 17 of the club's 51 games, but started 14 of the final 15 games in place of Harper.
  • Capped 25 times by Rep of Ireland. Capped only twice last season. Won his 25th cap in US Cup win over South Africa on June 11.
  • Missed opening two months of last season with a knee injury.

    STEPHEN GLASS

  • Signed from Aberdeen in July 1998 for #650,000.
  • Missed the start of last season with a knee injury. Played in only 12 games last season (10 as a sub) and subsequently handed in a transfer request. He has since requested that he be taken off the list.
  • Scored on his last start, v Spurs on Nov 28, 1999.
  • Won his first - and so far only - cap for Scotland as sub v the Faroe Islands in October 1998.

    ALAIN GOMA

  • Cost #4.7m from Paris St Germain in June 1999.
  • French international central defender (2 caps)
  • Played only 17 games last season. Started the opening 13 games, then suffered an Achilles' tendon injury which put him out for 5 months.
  • Yet to score his first goal for club (in 17 apps).

    ANDY GRIFFIN

  • Signed from Stoke for an initial fee of #1.5m in January 1998. The fee will rise by #500,000 on apps and another #250,000 if he is capped by England at senior level.
  • A product of Stoke's youth policy, he burst into the first-team aged 17 in 1996-97, keeping Nigel Worthington on the sidelines.
  • Former England Youth international.
  • Made his Newcastle debut v West Ham in February 1998, and went on to start a further 3 games at end of 1997-8.
  • Played in only 3 games last season - in 3 of final 4 games. Started v Arsenal on final day and scored - his first goal for the club.

    STEVE HARPER

  • Joined on free transfer from non-Lge Seaham Red Star in July 1993.
  • A qualified referee, he was sent-off in Worthington Cup, third round game at Birmingham on Oct 12, 1999 for a professional foul on Andrew Johnson.
  • Conceded 30 goals in 29 apps last season, keeping only 7 clean sheets.
  • Began last season as first choice. Held onto place for most of the time until February, when he picked up an ankle injury and subsequently lost his place to Given.

    AARON HUGHES

  • Signed pro with the club in March 1997. Now in his fifth season as a Newcastle professional.
  • Made his senior debut as sub v Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the Champions League in Nov 1997.
  • Capped 13 times by Northern Ireland. Won his 13th cap in friendly v Yugoslavia last Wednesday.
  • His only goals in 59 career apps to date came in 8-0 Premiership win v Sheff Wed on Sept 19, 1999, and at Goodison Park on March 19.
  • Started 15 of the final 16 games of last season at left-back.

    JOHN KARELSE

  • Goalkeeper, cost #750,000 from Dutch club, NAC Breda, in August 1999.
  • Made his Newcastle debut in 4-2 Super Sunday defeat at Southampton on Aug 15, 1999.
  • Made the last of his three apps last season in goalless draw at Highbury on October 30, 1999.

    ROB LEE

  • Signed from Charlton for #700,000 in Sept 1992.
  • His days at Newcastle seemed to be over, as the club failed to issue him a squad number at the start of last season, and was forced to train with the reserves.
  • Did not feature in any of the opening five games of last season under Gullit.
  • His first app of last season was in the 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford. He was wearing the number 37 shirt.
  • Since then he started all but 5 of Robson's 45 games in charge.
  • Has not scored in the Premiership for over two years, since v Chelsea in May 1998.
  • Won 21 caps for England (2 goals). Last capped v Luxembourg in October 1998. Scored at Wembley on his England debut, v Romania in October 1994.
  • His other England goal was scored at Old Trafford - in a 2-0 win over South Africa in May 1997.
  • Has scored 55 goals in 333 games for the club.

    JAMIE McCLEN

  • Has come up through the youth ranks at St James' Park.
  • Made his senior debut in 1-1 home league draw against Tottenham on April 5, 1999. Told only an hour before kick-off that he was playing.
  • Midfielder, he signed pro forms with the club in July 1997.
  • Made 12 apps last season (3 starts).
  • Yet to score first senior goal (in 13 apps).

    MARCELINO

  • Cost #5m from Real Mallorca in June 1999.
  • Played in only 15 games last season because of recurring thigh injury, then an ankle injury.
  • Central defender, played for Mallorca in the 1999 European Cup-Winners' Cup final defeat by Lazio at Villa Park. Was bitten by Dennis Wise in the semi-final win v Chelsea.
  • His transfer value has multiplied 25 times since his #200,000 move from his home-town club Sporting Gijon to Mallorca in 1996.
  • Made his international debut for Spain in Nov 1998, aged 27. Won his five caps in five successive games in 1998-99. Last cap was v San Marino in June 1999.
  • Yet to score in 15 games for the club.

    CARL SERRANT

  • England B international, cost #500,000 (rising to #600,000) from Oldham in July 1998.
  • Missed two months of last season between August and October with knee ligament damage (sustained after 15 mins v Soton on Aug 15).
  • Has made only 7 apps for Newcastle. His last app was as a sub in UEFA Cup game in Zurich in October 1999.
  • Played 15 times on loan at Bury in 1998-99, and went on loan to Stoke at end of last season (didn't make an app).

    ALAN SHEARER

  • Has scored 6 Premiership goals against Man Utd (3 for Blackburn and 3 for Newcastle), but none of them at Old Trafford.
  • Hasn't played much in pre-season. Came on as a 68th minute sub for Cort in the pre-season opener, against DC United. He then then missed the next three pre-season friendlies with a niggling knee injury. However, he returned against Espanyol last Sunday, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring on his 30th birthday.
  • Made his Newcastle debut in the 1996 Charity Shield defeat by Man Utd.
  • Club's top scorer last season with 30 goals in 50 apps, including 16 in his last 25 apps and 29 in his last 43. 30 goals is his best return in a season in a Newcastle shirt.
  • Has scored 86 goals in 153 games for Newcastle.
  • Needs one more goal for the 200th league goal of his career.
  • Has now scored 259 club career goals.
  • Scored the 300th goal of his career on final day of last season, v Arsenal.
  • Is the only Newcastle player to have started every game since Robson became manager.
  • Capped 63 times by England, scoring 30 goals. One of only 6 players to have scored 30 goals or more for England. He now officially retired from international football.
  • Sent-off for the first time in his career on the opening day of last season, v Aston Villa.
  • Only 9 of his 30 goals last season came away from St James' Park.
  • He and Ferguson scored 22 goals in the 37 games they were on the field together, and 17 in their last 18 together (Shearer 9, Ferguson 8).

    NOLBERTO SOLANO

  • Wing-back signed from Argentine club Boca Juniors for #2.5m on Aug 11, 1998 - Dalglish's last signing for the club.
  • The club had been resigned to being without him for today's match owing to his international commitments. He was also expected to miss the subsequent home games against Derby and Tottenham while away on World Cup qualifying duty. But he has now flown back to Tyneside following Peru's game against Venezuela on Wednesday (where they won 1-0) in order to line up for today's game.
  • Captain of his country. Made his debut for Peru aged 19.
  • Played against Gavilan when Peru beat Paraguay 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on March 29. He scored the opening goal.
  • Won three successive Championships in Peru with Sporting Cristal before joining Boca Juniors in 1997.
  • Scored 3 goals in his first 8 apps of last season. Then scored only 1 in his final 32 apps of last season.
  • Still has two years left on his contract. Man Utd are said to be interested in signing him.
  • Has scored 10 goals in 79 games for Newcastle.

    GARY SPEED

  • Cost #5.5m from Everton in February 1998.
  • Has 58 caps for Wales (3 goals). Won his 58th cap in friendly v Portugal on June 2. Started all 6 of their internationals last season.
  • Missed only two of the club's 51 games last season. Scored 13 goals (9 in Premiership) - finished up second top scorer. Only 5 of those 13 goals were scored away from St James' Park.



    -- Anonymous, August 19, 2000
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