Can the North East side bounce back from utter rubbishness?

“It’s disappointing and embarrassing,” said Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton following Newcastle Utd’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Around 1,500 Geordies made the long journey to Brisbane Road (and Derek Llambias made the relatively short journey from his Essex country pile), where they witnessed their beloved side lose to a League One side in highly lethargic fashion. A poor result considering the fact that the team was extremely similar to the one that played in the Premiership last season.

Despite getting knocked for six on Saturday, most bookies are putting Newcastle as favourites to win the Championship next season. On the basis of this kind of performance, however, Leyton Orient fans can probably look forward to taking six points from Mike Ashley’s woeful bunch in League One in 2010/11.

So, will Newcastle make it back to the promised land, or are they about to start a lengthy period in the Football League wilderness? Let us know your thoughts below…

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

David Villa to Manchester United
The Daily Mirror are reporting that Sir Alex Ferguson wants Valencia striker David Villa “above all other options” to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez and claim that he is willing to match whatever Barcelona offer for the Spanish international.

The Spoiler Truth-o-meter: Villa is reluctant to test himself abroad and said recently: ”Next season I will play in Spain because it is the league that is best for me. I will not go abroad.” If he leaves the Mestalla this summer, it will almost certainly be for either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Samuel Eto’o to Manchester City
Barcelona’s attempts to sign Villa are good news for Manchester City, with the Telegraph claiming that Pep Guardiola will let Samuel Eto’o go if the Spain

A chance to get excited months before anything actually happens

Tottenham have finally been granted their wish to kick-off a Premier League campaign at home but Liverpool will be the visitors for their first opener at White Hart Lane since 2004.

Spurs fans can take some comfort though from the fact Arsenal have been given a challenging away game on the opening weekend against Everton.

Wolves are the only promoted side who start at home - against West Ham - and the last five to have done so have avoided defeat. Every new arrival who has opened their campaign on the road over the last three seasons has lost and Birmingham and Burnley face tough trips to Man United and Stoke.

Which chosen few will jump ship?

With as many as four clubs still in the race to join West Brom in the Championship next season, Premier League vultures are already circling in preparation to pick off the relegated teams’ best players. The Spoiler has a look at 5 players who are likely to continue plying their trade in the top flight whatever the outcome on Sunday. Jeremie Aliadiere need not apply.

Sunderland: Kenwyne Jones

Kenwyne Jones’ importance to Sunderland has been underlined by his bagging 9 goals in the league this season, despite spending the first few months on the physio’s table. Although Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recently denied he was still interested in the 24-year-old striker after a failed transfer bid in January, speculation over Roman Pavlyuchenko’s imminent exit from White Hart Lane is rife, and a move could still be on the cards.

Brazilians demonstrate cavalier attitude to health and safety

Following a 1-1 draw with Santos on Sunday, Corinthians were delighted to win their thirty-first Sao Paolo State Championship.

To celebrate this hard-earned achievement, captain William took the trophy  - believed to have been modelled on a pimp cup - up on a crane so everyone in the stadium could get a good look. Unfortunately, the combination of streamers, ticker tape and open flames left the captain covered in a lot more fire than usual.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident. However, (Fat) Ronaldo - who may or may not have been deemed too heavy to put on the crane - spoke out about the piss-poor safety standards:

“It was obvious that it was going to catch fire,” he told a news conference.

“They should have thought of something better.

“William could have been burned and, instead of celebrating, we could now be visiting him in hospital.”

“I lament the disorganisation,” added Ronaldo, who was surrounded by reporters and cameramen as the final whistle went.

“I didn’t have the chance to celebrate with our supporters, I kept getting hit by microphones.”

[Marca and The Guardian]

Click here to hear his interview on the day the Blades went down

If you type “Neil Warnock takes the blame” into Google, about 90% of the results are examples of the former Sheffield United manager passing the buck to either his players, the referee, an authority or the biased Southern media.

This week the Crystal Palace boss was again pointing the finger by claiming that he would still be a Premier League manager right now if it wasn’t for Carlos Tevez, meaning he should be entitled to compensation.

The Spoiler was certain though that at some point Warnock must have accepted that he and his team’s own shortcomings had led to their relegation and eventually we tracked down an acknowledgement of blame in his interview with BBC South Yorkshire on the final day of the 2006-07 season.

While you may require Real Player to listen, Warnock’s key comments were:

• “Everybody’s played their part this season in giving goals away and

  

There’s more proof that the Carlos Tevez affair will never end

West Ham hoped to finally draw a line under the Carlos Tevez saga by paying Sheffield United compensation but that only appears to have made matters worse. Leeds chairman Ken Bates has today confirmed that they are seeking advice because they sold the Blades Rob Hulse, Matthew Kilgallon and Ian Bennett and would have been due additional payments if they had survived.

The three players in question obviously didn’t do enough that season to convince anyone of their top-flight credentials because like Neil Warnock, who insists he would still be in the Premier League now if it wasn’t for Tevez, they currently ply their trade in the Championship.

The Hammers’ decision to risk upsetting fans by changing tact and settling with Sheffield United was motivated by the belief it would make it easier to sell the club. However, with Leeds and Warnock already looking to make money from yesterday’s development, it looks like the gamble may backfire spectacularly.

Don’t all rush at once to sign up for Championship football

Good news, Spurs fans! According to your official club website, season ticket prices will be frozen for the next two years, and the reduced VAT rate saving will also be passed on to supporters.

The club say the uncharacteristic generosity is down to their “acute awareness of the current economic climate,” and they wish to keep White Hart Lane full during these hard times.

Wait a minute - surely the big-spending club needs all the revenue it can get at the moment? Could it be that the price freezes and two-year season ticket packages are a way of ensuring continued revenues in the event of an impromptu exit from the Premier League?

No, of course not! Bad, cynical Spoiler! Tottenham just want to thank the loyal fans who are already being outrageously overcharged…