2007–08 Newcastle United F.C. season

Newcastle United
2007–08 season
Chairman Chris Mort[1]
Manager Sam Allardyce
(left by mutual consent on 9 January)
Kevin Keegan
Premier League 12th
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Third Round
Top goalscorer League:
Michael Owen (11)
All:
Michael Owen (13)
Highest home attendance 52,307 (vs. Liverpool)
Lowest home attendance 30,523 (vs. Barnsley)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

During the 2007-08 season, Newcastle United participated in the Premier League. Newcastle started the season reasonably well under the management of Sam Allardyce and looked to be in the hunt for European places by the end of October, but a poor November saw the team slide down the table as fans began doubting Allardyce's ability. Despite a reasonable upturn in early December, the team fell further form wise and in the end Mike Ashley chose to terminate Allardyce's contract by mutual consent.

To the surprise of many football fans, the club re-appointed Kevin Keegan as manager, but he was unable to stop the team sliding down the league and fans begun to doubt the appointment. However, Keegan was able to save Newcastle from relegation and the club finished the season in 12th. The team kit for the 2007-08 season was produced by Adidas. The main shirt sponsor was Northern Rock.

Season summary

Sam Allardyce

Manager Sam Allardyce signed several players, including David Rozehnal, Caçapa, Habib Beye, Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Mark Viduka. The season started brightly for Newcastle, with two wins and two draws from their first five games, but they then became the first (and only) side to lose to Derby County that season. Newcastle won only five out of their next 25 Premier League games and could only draw with Derby in the reverse fixture. They also made a third round exit to Arsenal in the League Cup, but made a FA Cup third round draw with Championship club Stoke City. The game against Stoke, however, proved to be Allardyce's last in charge of Newcastle; three days later he was sacked by owner Mike Ashley after pressure from the fans, who were unimpressed with his exclusion of fan favourites from the starting line-up and poor results, despite Allardyce only having been there eight months.

Critics consistently questioned Allardyce's exit from the club, claiming he may not have been given the time needed to impact upon the club in the build-up to the next appointment.[2] There were a number of candidates lined up for the job, including Harry Redknapp, Didier Deschamps, Gérard Houllier and even former England and Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren. Redknapp turned down the opportunity to manage the club, claiming he felt his job at Portsmouth was yet to be completed.[3]

Kevin Keegan, April 2008

On 16 January, it was sensationally announced that Kevin Keegan would be returning to the club for a third time, after previous spells both as a player and manager.[4]

The announcement had an immediate impact. On that day the club had a scheduled FA Cup third round replay against Stoke City at home, which was not expected to reach even half capacity; but, upon distribution of the news, 20,000 extra tickets were sold within a couple of hours and the kick-off was delayed to allow the extra fans time to get into the game. The Keegan effect seemed to work on the pitch too as Newcastle convincingly beat Stoke 4–1, even though he was not in the dugout for the match, having arrived during the first half to sit with owner Mike Ashley and the directors.

Shortly after his appointment, Dennis Wise left his position as manager at Leeds United to become director of football at Newcastle. The creation of the new role at the club proved questionable amongst critics and fans, but both Wise and Keegan insisted that the manager would have the final say in all matters regarding the squad.[5] Further appointments saw Tony Jimenez join the club as the vice-president of player recruitment and Jeff Vetere as technical co-ordinator.[6] The idea was to complete a continental-style management structure working in support of Keegan, with Wise and Vetere making the initial assessment before calling in Jimenez to do the deal.[7] David Williamson was also appointed, as director of operations in April.[8]

Newcastle United players warming up at White Hart Lane prior to a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur, 30 March 2008

Keegan's comeback initially did not live up to expectations, with a run of eight games without a win, an FA Cup exit and talk even of a relegation battle. March proved to be a turning point, and, following a change to an attacking line-up with Owen supporting Martins and Viduka up front, the team started to produce results in time for Keegan to maintain his perfect record in the Tyne-Wear derby with a 2–0 home win on 20 April, which put Newcastle's survival beyond all doubt and allowed Keegan to plan for his stated contract length of the next three seasons at the club. With a 2–2 away draw for the following game at West Ham United, the eight-game run of no wins had been turned into a seven-game unbeaten run with two games left to the end of the season. In the final table, Newcastle occupied 12th place on 43 points.[9]

However, in April, Following speculation that Ashley had lost millions in a stock market venture, rumours of discontent with Wise and Ashley began to circulate after Keegan announced that he would not qualify for the Champions League, let alone challenge for the title, unless they provided him the financial backing required, which he was not receiving.[10]

On 22 May, Habib Beye, signed by Allardyce at the start of the season, was named Newcastle's player of the season based on fan votes to a poll organised by the Evening Chronicle.[11]

Chronological list of events

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fulham FC v Newcastle United FC, 16 Dec 2007.
N'Zogbia, Butt and Milner in the wall at Fulham, December 2007

Transfers

In

Date Player Previous club Cost
7 June 2007 Australia Mark VidukaEngland MiddlesbroughFree[12]
14 June 2007 England Joey BartonEngland Manchester City£5,500,000[13]
29 June 2007 Czech Republic David RozehnalFrance Paris Saint-Germain£2,900,000[15]
3 July 2007 Cameroon Geremi NjitapEngland ChelseaFree[16]
3 August 2007 England Alan SmithEngland Manchester United£6,000,000[17]
3 August 2007 Brazil CaçapaFrance LyonFree[18]
6 August 2007 Spain José EnriqueSpain Villarreal£6,300,000[19]
31 August 2007 Senegal Abdoulaye FayeEngland Bolton WanderersUndisclosed[20]
31 August 2007 Senegal Habib BeyeFrance MarseilleUndisclosed[21]
7 January 2008 England Ben TozerEngland Swindon TownUndisclosed[25]
8 January 2008 France Wesley Ngo BahengFrance Le HavreUndisclosed[26]
18 January 2008 Hungary Tamás KádárHungary Zalaegerszegi TE£900,000[29]
31 January 2008 Italy Fabio ZambleraItaly AtalantaUndisclosed
31 January 2008 Sweden Ole SöderbergSweden HäckenUndisclosed
7 March 2008 Senegal Lamine DiattaFree agentFree

Out

Date Player New club Cost
6 June 2007 England Scott ParkerEngland West Ham£7,000,000[36]
1 July 2007 Republic of Ireland Alan O'BrienScotland HibernianUndisclosed[37]
3 August 2007 Netherlands Tim KrulScotland FalkirkLoan (season)[38]
14 August 2007 England Andy CarrollEngland PrestonLoan (until 1 January 2008)[39]
16 August 2007 England Kieron DyerEngland West Ham£6,000,000[40]
25 August 2007 Spain Albert LuqueNetherlands AjaxUndisclosed[41]
31 August 2007 England Paul HuntingtonEngland Leeds UnitedUndisclosed[42]
31 August 2007 Peru Nolberto SolanoEngland West Ham UnitedUndisclosed[43]
15 November 2007 South Africa Matty PattisonEngland Norwich CityLoan (until 1 January 2008)
11 December 2007 Nigeria Celestine BabayaroUnited States Los Angeles Galaxy Released
4 January 2008 South Africa Matty PattisonEngland Norwich CityUndisclosed
31 January 2008 Czech Republic David RozehnalItaly LazioSeason loan
February 2008 Nigeria Shola AmeobiEngland Stoke CitySeason loan
6 May 2008 Republic of Ireland Stephen Carr--Released
6 May 2008 Australia James Troisi--Released
6 May 2008 England Peter RamageEngland Queens Park RangersReleased
15 May 2008 Senegal Lamine Diatta--Released

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Republic of Ireland GK Shay Given
3 Spain DF José Enrique
4 Czech Republic DF David Rozehnal
5 Turkey MF Emre Belözoğlu
6 Brazil DF Caçapa
7 England MF Joey Barton
9 Nigeria FW Obafemi Martins
10 England FW Michael Owen
11 Republic of Ireland MF Damien Duff
13 England GK Steve Harper
14 France MF Charles N'Zogbia
15 Senegal DF Lamine Diatta
16 England MF James Milner
17 England FW Alan Smith
No. Position Player
20 Cameroon DF Geremi Njitap
21 Senegal DF Habib Beye[44]
22 England MF Nicky Butt
23 England FW Shola Ameobi[45]
25 Senegal DF Abdoulaye Faye
26 England DF Peter Ramage
27 England DF Steven Taylor
30 Canada DF David Edgar
34 England GK Fraser Forster
35 England DF Ben Tozer
36 Australia FW Mark Viduka
38 Democratic Republic of the Congo MF Kazenga LuaLua
39 England FW Andy Carroll
40 Netherlands GK Tim Krul

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
2 Republic of Ireland DF Stephen Carr (released)
8 England MF Kieron Dyer (to West Ham United)
15 Peru MF Nolberto Solano (to West Ham United)
19 Spain FW Albert Luque (to Ajax)
No. Position Player
32 England DF Paul Huntington (to Leeds United)
33 Nigeria DF Celestine Babayaro (released)
35 South Africa MF Matty Pattison (to Norwich City)
37 Australia FW James Troisi (released)

Player of the season

Habib Beye was voted player of the season by visitors of the official Newcastle United website on 22 May 2008.[46]

Match results

Pre-season

Premier League


Last updated: 7 May 2008

FA Cup

League Cup

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier League FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK Republic of Ireland Shay Given 24 0 19 0 3 0 2 0
13 GK England Steve Harper 21 0 19+2 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 DF Republic of Ireland Stephen Carr 12 0 8+2 0 2 0 0 0
3 DF Spain Jose Enrique 28 0 18+5 0 3 0 2 0
4 DF Czech Republic David Rozehnal 25 0 16+5 0 1+2 0 1 0
6 DF Brazil Caçapa 22 2 16+3 1 2 1 1 0
15 DF Senegal Lamine Diatta 2 0 0+2 0 0 0 0 0
21 DF Senegal Habib Beye 30 1 27+2 1 0 0 1 0
25 DF Senegal Abdoulaye Faye 25 1 20+2 1 1 0 2 0
26 DF England Peter Ramage 3 0 0+3 0 0 0 0 0
27 DF England Steven Taylor 36 1 29+2 1 3 0 2 0
30 DF Canada David Edgar 6 0 2+3 0 0 0 0+1 0
Midfielders
5 MF Turkey Emre Belözoğlu 17 1 6+8 1 1 0 1+1 0
7 MF England Joey Barton 23 1 20+3 1 0 0 0 0
11 MF Republic of Ireland Damien Duff 19 1 12+4 0 3 1 0 0
14 MF France Charles N'Zogbia 37 3 27+5 3 3 0 2 0
16 MF England James Milner 32 3 25+4 2 2 1 1 0
20 MF Cameroon Geremi 28 1 24+3 1 0 0 1 0
22 MF England Nicky Butt 39 3 35 3 2 0 0+2 0
38 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo Kazenga LuaLua 5 0 0+2 0 0+3 0 0 0
Forwards
9 FW Nigeria Obafemi Martins 33 10 23+8 9 0 0 1+1 1
10 FW England Michael Owen 33 13 24+5 11 3 1 1 1
17 FW England Alan Smith 37 0 26+7 0 2 0 2 0
23 FW England Shola Ameobi 8 0 2+4 0 0 0 2 0
36 FW Australia Mark Viduka 28 7 19+7 7 2 0 0 0
39 FW England Andy Carroll 6 0 1+3 0 0+2 0 0 0
Players transferred out during the season
15 MF Peru Nolberto Solano 2 0 0+1 0 0 0 1 0

Last updated: 19 May 2008
Source: Competitions


Coaching staff

Position Staff
Manager England Kevin Keegan
Assistant Manager England Terry McDermott
First Team coach England Lee Clark
Goalkeeping Coach England Andy Woodman
Development Coach England John Carver
Reserve Team Coach Scotland Steve Clarke
Chief scout England Arthur Cox

Last updated: 3 May 2011
Source:

References

  1. 1 2 "Mort in for Shepherd at Newcastle". BBC Sport. 2007-07-24. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  2. ↑ Doyle, Paul (9 January 2008). "Allardyce cut adrift by Newcastle". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "Redknapp rejects Newcastle offer". BBC News. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Keegan returns as Newcastle boss". BBC News. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Wise gets powerful Newcastle role". BBC News. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Club Confirms Senior Appointments". Newcastle United. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  7. ↑ Hughes, Matt (29 January 2008). "Dennis Wise quits Leeds to sign up for Newcastle revolution". The Times. London. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  8. ↑ "Toon win for the race track wizard". Journal Live. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  9. ↑ "Football Results & Tables". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "SPORTSMAIL EXCLUSIVE: Keegan called to account - Newcastle owner Ashley demands showdown talks". Daily Mail. London. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Beye tops Toon fans' end of season poll". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  12. 1 2 "Viduka makes switch to Newcastle". BBC Sport. 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  13. 1 2 "Barton completes move to Magpies". BBC Sport. 2007-06-14. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  14. ↑ "Ashley ups Newcastle United stake". BBC News. 2007-06-29. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  15. 1 2 "Newcastle complete Rozehnal deal". BBC Sport. 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  16. 1 2 "Geremi clinches move to Newcastle". BBC Sport. 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  17. 1 2 "Newcastle seal £6m Smith transfer". BBC Sport. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
  18. 1 2 "Brazilian signs for Toon". nufc.co.uk. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  19. 1 2 "Magpies seal £6.3m Enrique switch". BBC Sport. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  20. 1 2 "Faye Signs For Magpies". Newcastle United. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  21. 1 2 "Marseille Skipper Completes Move". Newcastle United. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  22. ↑ "N'Zogbia signs new Newcastle deal". BBC Sport. 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  23. ↑ "Sadler New Second-String Coach". Newcastle United Official Website. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  24. ↑ "Barron Unveiled As New Keeper coach". Newcastle United Official Website. 2007-11-19. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  25. 1 2 "Tozer's Toon Transfer". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-01-07. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  26. 1 2 "Green Light For Wes". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-01-08. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  27. ↑ "Sam Allardyce - NUFC Official Statement". Newcastle United Official Website. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  28. ↑ "King Kev to make Toon return". Newcastle United F.C. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  29. 1 2 "Hungarian Starlet Completes Toon Move". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-01-18. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  30. ↑ "Terry Mac I Felt Like Crying When Coxy Came Back". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  31. ↑ "Club Confirms Senior Appointments". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  32. ↑ "Jefferies backs Gretna survival". scotsman.com. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  33. ↑ "Hughton Joins KK Backroom Team". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  34. ↑ "Lil Fuccillo Appointed Newcastle's Chief Scout". nufcblog.com. 21 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  35. ↑ "New Director Joins Magpies". Newcastle United Official Website. 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  36. ↑ "Parker joins West Ham". whufc.com. 2007-07-03. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  37. ↑ "Hibernian swoop to sign O'Brien". BBC Sport. 2007-07-25. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  38. ↑ "Falkirk sign up Wallner and Krul". BBC Sport. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  39. ↑ "Preston recruit striker Carroll". BBC Sport. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  40. ↑ "West Ham clinch deal to sign Dyer". BBC Sport. 2007-08-16. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  41. ↑ "Ajax & Newcastle agree Luque fee". BBC Sport. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
  42. ↑ "Window Watch: Defender Joins Leeds". Newcastle United. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  43. ↑ "Sol Bids Farewell To Toon". Newcastle United. 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  44. ↑ Beye was born in Suresnes, France, but also qualified to represent Senegal internationally and made his full international debut for Senegal in 2001.
  45. ↑ Ameobi was born in Zaria, Nigeria, but also qualified to represent England internationally and has represented them on U-21 level. However, he later opted to represent the country of his birth and made his full international debut for Nigeria in November 2012.
  46. ↑ Craig Hope (2008-05-13). "NUFC Player Of The Season Result". Newcastle United. Retrieved 2008-05-13.

External links

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