Only The Contract To Sort Out
Chris Hughton talking to BBC Radio 19th Oct
"Discussions have taken place, and hopefully discussions will continue, An opportunity to turn it from a temporary role to a full-time role is very exciting for me.
We've had a good start to the season and that gives you optimism and confidence, It's a good reaction I've got from most quarters so it gives you more of a lift to take this job and, of course, complete this job."
Jonas Gutierrez Focused on Newcastle
talking to nufcTV 19th Oct
"I was very happy after getting to the World Cup and I wanted to celebrate with another win on Saturday. It was a very hard game, though, and we didn't play as well as we have been. I thought we did better after half-time and we should have got a draw at least. But it is good that we have another match on Tuesday (at Scunthorpe).
It was fantastic on Wednesday and it was dream to get to the World Cup, But Argentina is finished now and I must focus on Newcastle. I want to get us back up and that is all I am thinking about. It was very nice for Diego Maradona to say that I am going to the World Cup. But I can't stop, I have to keep on playing my best for Newcastle and I must keep up my form."
Mike Ashley The Times Article
as reported by The Chronicle 19th Oct
"I have to put £20m a year into the club — I spend more than every other fan put together puts into the club each year. If you can’t pay up front to buy the club, you can’t afford it. Of course I regret it (buying NUFC). I never said I was an expert in football clubs. I tried my best. But I accept my best was woefully short.
Chris (Hughton) deserves a shot at the title — he has done a great job. But if I keep the club I will have the final say on players. I am the one who has to fund the club. Meanwhile talking about Moat's chances of buying United, Ashley said: Barry Moat has been driving me mad for two years. If he wants to buy the club, he has got a one off opportunity to come up with the cash, £80 million up front."
Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle 0
The City Ground
Saturday 17th October Kick-off 5:20pm
12th Championship Game of the season
Poor first half display followed by good second half, deserved a draw however games last 90 minutes.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton:
"We paid the price for a poor first-half performance when they were much better than us. I just wanted to get the players in without conceding a goal and see if we could change and improve things. But Forest scoring just before half-time left us with a bigger challenge and although we responded to it, we just could not get the break. We knew how difficult it would be because they have been on an excellent run but we were looking to get something. It's not pleasant to be leaving here without something but we are still at the end of the table where we want to be."
Full Match Report to Follow
Alan Shearer 'Not that Question Again'
talking at Wallsend Boys Club Charity Night, The Chronicle 17th Oct
“I can’t revolve my life around that (Newcastle Manager's Job / Ashley Sale) any more because I have other things going on. If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Listen, that’s (his blueprint for United’s future) all gone now. Whatever has happened has happened.
“If anything else happens then it does – I will just get on with it. For now, good luck to whoever is doing the job. And at the moment Chris Hughton is doing a great job. They’ve had a great start to the season. I think without any doubt everybody would have taken the position they are in now. So if they can build on that, then it will be great.
I think they have been playing very well. It would have been amazing if they had won their last two games. It would have given them a great cushion at the top of the Championship. But they’ve now got a really tough game against Nottingham Forest.
There’s no reason why they can’t go there and win that game due to the way they are playing. They’re full of confidence – and why shouldn’t they be? I am as delighted as anybody with the start that they’ve had.”
Caretaker Moves To Plan Stage 3
Chris Hughton talking to nufcTV 16th Oct
"When the fixtures came out we looked at the season and broke it down into segments. We set ourselves some targets of where we wanted to be and how many points we wanted to have.
We're on course so far but the most important thing is that we're at the right end of the table come the end of the season. We've got five games coming up now in just three weeks and it could be a crucial part of the season. It's all about maintaining our form and protecting our position at the top of the league. But the only way we'll do that is by continuing to win games and get the points that we need.
We're on the back of the international break and you never quite know how you'll come out of it. But we're hoping we get straight back into the swing of things and that starts by giving a good account of ourselves at Notts Forest on Saturday."
Harewood Goes Home
talking to nufcTV
"It would be great to score because all strikers love goals, no matter who it's against, I've got a good record at Forest and, of course, it helps playing somewhere you're so familiar with. I had a great time at Forest and it's a very special place for me. I grew up there and still have a lot of friends and family in Nottingham so it will be divided loyalties for some of them on Saturday.
The lads have been excellent with me, It's an easy group to settle in to and I'm loving it. I just hope I can get a run of games and start scoring some goals. We need to get back to winning ways on Saturday because the two draws were disappointing. But we're still top and in a very good position to kick on from here."
Danny Guthrie To Kick On
talking to nufcTV 16th Oct
"I'd missed the start of the season because of injury but came back in against Crystal Palace. We won the next three games and I scored in two of them. I couldn't have had a better return really and I was on a high going into the international break.
That was a disappointing game (QQPR Home) for me because of the penalty, But it's one of those things and I'm ready to take another when that chance comes around - hopefully as soon as possible. All I want now is to stay fit and stay in the team because I felt fantastic earlier in the season; I was playing well and scoring goals. We've dropped points in the last two matches but we're still top. We have to take advantage of that and kick on during these next five games, starting at Notts Forest on Saturday."
World Cup Hero 'Jonas' To Return
Chris Hughton talking to The Chronicle 15th Oct
“It’s something we hope to tap into, of course. Gutierrez always returns back late from Argentina, and he won’t be back until Friday late afternoon. Obviously, we’re waiting on that one.
But I think he’s a fit individual and he can still feature for us, too. He played on Saturday against Peru and he played last night. If he comes through fine with no problems, then I think we’ll be grateful for the time he had playing for us against Bristol City and QPR. He had been out for a little while. He was involved in the two games, and having come back from the injury, he still wasn’t up to speed with match play. But that’s Jonas – he gets stronger and fitter with each game.
I think it’s been a benefit for us that he has played. It’s always a difficult one – it’s a long flight back, and he doesn’t arrive until Friday, but he’s a very fit individual. And for certain if he’s ready he can make a big, big impact for us at Nottingham Forest.”
Fitness Update
Chris Hughton talking to The Chronicle 15th Oct
"Steven Taylor has a hamstring problem but we're refusing to rule him out and it's the same for Colo. We'll see if we can get him involved with the main group first and get him up and running before we rule him out of Saturday. Zurab is fine and so is Jonas Gutierrez. "Marlon is fine and he was set to train today."
Coach Chris Calderwood Returns to Forest
talking to The Chronicle 15th Oct
“Everybody on the playing side is feeling good about themselves. They are buoyant and confident and that’s the good side of it. The realisation, though, is that this is only a small period of the season so far.
I think everybody wanted to start the season well. I don’t think it has ever been so important for a club to start well like we have. For a club that was in our situation, it had to be a positive start.
With the international fixtures it has broken the season up nicely into little segments. There are now five games until the next break so we can review where we are then. It manages itself.”
Kevin Nolan Repeats Message
talking to The Chronicle
“We know we’re up against it in every game we play. I heard Ian Holloway saying after Blackpool became the only team to beat us this season, that beating Newcastle was better than being in the Champions League! I find that sort of thing astounding. But that’s what we’re up against. People want to beat us and when people do or even get a draw you can see by the way they celebrate what it means to them.
There are a lot of experienced lads here. They’ve played in the Premier League and they know that each team will give their all against us. Teams won’t hide against us they will come and try to make a name for themselves.
So far we’ve done fantastically well. I’ve said it before, and probably sound like a broken record, but we can’t get carried away. We need to keep plugging away up until Christmas and see where we are from there.
There’s a tight-knit group here and everybody supports each other. We’re all enjoying the football and we are trying to get the fans what they want, which is results. Hopefully, once it all settles down we can also add some fluidity to our play as well.”
Match Preview
Nottingham Forest Away
The City Ground
Saturday 17th October Kick-off 5:20pm
12th Championship Game of the season
Forest are are managed by Billy Davies and ex Mag and promotion hero from 1993 David Kelly.
Returning from international duty, Andy Carroll, Ryan Donaldson and Jonas Gutterrez will all be on an high after helping their countries win during the week. On the home training front things are not so good. Reported injuries to Steven Taylor and Marlon Harewood puts our paper thin squad under greater stress than any time during this current campaign.
Chris Hughton Comments
talking about 'That Job' to The Chronicle 13th Oct
“It’s business as usual. The best way to approach it is to keep doing the job I’m doing. I’ve continually stated I’ll do it for as long as I’m asked. The most important thing for me is results, and keeping the team at this end of the table. Everything around that, for me, comes second, and when there are definite things to be said, they’ll be said.
It was always something I thought about, but I’ve always been guided by the situation that I’ve been in. I’ve stayed in the area I’ve stayed in, but it’s something that’s been on my mind. It’s never been the most important thing for me – that’s been staying in the game, and doing the best job I can in whatever position I’m in. I’m happy to stay for as long as I’m asked to stay.”
Fitness Update
Chris Hughton talking to The Chronicle 13th Oct
- Coloccini hasn’t trained with the team yet. We’re hoping that he’ll get to train with the team on Thursday, and he’s touch and go. Apart from that, we should be OK.
- Jose Enrique is fine – he is back training and will play at Forest.
- Danny Simpson hasn’t trained so much lately, but he trained today.
- Danny Guthrie missed a day last week after he got a kick, but he’s fine,
- While Nile Ranger has had a virus and missed England duty.
- Joey Barton and Shola Ameobi are obviously the long-term injuries that everybody knows about."