Newcastle United Back to Usual

The season started early again, with an Intertoto Cup game (the pre-qualifier for the UEFA Cup). We wouldn't be in this if we had managed a higher league placing last year, but given how bad we did until we got rid of Sounness, I guess we should be happy to have qualified for this one. Anyone involved in the World Cup got a couple of weeks off after their team got knocked out, so everyone is back yet.

Anyway, we managed a poor 1-1 draw with some team from Norway, and this was the home leg for us. Puts us in a tough spot for the next game as they have their away goal, but as we haven't even played any pre-season games this year yet, I'm hoping the first full competitive game gets the team another step closer to being fit.

One good thing to come out of the game was a decent goal for Albert Luque. He had a shocking time last season following a big money move from Spain - looked pretty decent in pre-season, then managed to tear his hamstring which kept him out of the team for a long time. He never fully recovered, his confidence suffered, and then he got more and more unhappy as the season wore on. It was semi-expected he might head back to Spain this summer, but it looks like he's around to stay. I'm hoping he does well, as we've got no recognized strikers (apart from a still not quite fit Shoela). I'm also hoping Freddie stumps up some cash for the manger, as our squad is pretty thin this year, and we need some reinforcements up front at the least (and a defender or two wouldn't go amiss). He should have a bit of money kicking around now that Shearer has left (although having to pay off all the managers every couple of years has probably cost a fortune).