Number 1 - Comments

Lewis Holtby scored a late goal on his debut as Newcastle beat West Ham in a close encounter in East London.

A tight clash was ultimately decided by a late goal from the visitor's £12million summer signing from Schalke, who had just been about to be replaced by Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and it will be a debut to remember for him in his first game in English football.

It quickly puts Newcastle back on the winning path after they were beaten by Manchester United on Saturday, and continues West Ham's winless start to the Premier League season.

This game had been rearranged from the season's opening week following Newcastle's Champions League qualifier in France. In that time, Newcastle have been busy, with the team reaching the Champions League group stages and signing Holtby and Hatem Ben Arfa for fees that will eventually reach £23million.

Holtby and fellow new boy Lorenzo Ariaudo made full starts for the team, while Ben Arfa started the game as a substitute. But it was a previous big money buy with Newcastle's first opportunity of the match, with Luis Suarez picking up Holtby's through-ball and hitting a powerful shot that Rob Green did very well to turn off target.

West Ham were booed off the field after defeat by Burnley on Saturday, and came close to keeping some of the wolves from their door when Jonathan Spector cued up Dean Ashton, only for the striker to head the ball off target.

Rasmus Elm then tried his luck for the home team, but the Swedish midfielder's dangerous swerving drive was equalled by the flying Green. Long-rangers was still a game Newcastle were attempting, with Jose Enrique trying his own luck from distance, but his drive landed wide of the mark.

Gary Johnson has been criticised for his bizarre substitutions at times, and he did so again on the quarter hour mark when Paolo Assuncao was removed on the quarter hour mark despite no sign of injury.

It didn't seem to make much of a difference, and Newcastle were close when James Milner raced around the defence but couldn't make the shot beat Green.

A chance then seemed to present itself for Ashton, but Ariuado's superb defensive intervention denied him a free run at goal.

Newcastle did attempt to put pressure on the home goal with a corner and penalty box running, but when a chance did come, it came from outside the box from Danny Simpson, and it was an inaccurate strike from the Magpies' right-back into the stands.

The first half dwindled to the end as the two teams begun to cancel each other out, but Newcastle were the team looking likelier to make something happen out of the contest.

The sensation the visitors looked likelier to make a push for the points continued when Elm decided to smash another long-ranger, and again needed a flying stop from Green to deny him.

Jack Collison then had a chance fall to him as West Ham broke to the other end of the stadium, only for the midfielder to fail to get anywhere close to the goal with his header.

Newcastle's lively attack was still causing West Ham problems, but the Hammers were doing enough to limit them to long shots, as happened when Elm saw a drive deflected off target for a corner.

West Ham then tested the goalkeeper for the first time, but failed to do it convincingly, with Ashton's header too easy a stop for Tim Krul.

Radoslav Kovac hit an effort away from the goal in unconvincing fashion, before substitute Ben Arfa teed up Suarez, who in turn forced a flying stop out of Green.

With ten minutes to go, it looked as though the game would drift to a scoreless draw, but then Newcastle found the way through in a very rudimentary fashion. A very long kick by Krul eventually landed through to Holtby, who drifted away from the defence before striking the ball into the bottom corner.

A debut goal for the German winger, who will have been delighted his final contribution before being substituted was a goal at the end of a promising debut in English football.

West Ham finally had chances, but captain Scott Parker was hopelessly off target with a driver before Paul Scharner couldn't beat Krul with his effort.

Injury time did see Newcastle hanging on to an extent, but West Ham were only able to come up with a wayward Parker driver and a Scharner effort straight at Krul.

It was enough for Newcastle to take three points from the game in East London, as they look to make sense of their busy expensive summer. It was a reasonable showing from the Magpies, and they will be looking for even better things when they resume after the internationals with a clash against bogey side Everton, and their Champions League opener against Juventus in Italy.

West Ham: Green - Chretien (Faubert 40), Kovac (Tomkins 58), Radoi, Upson, Spector - Collison, Assuncao (Scharner 15), Parker - Ashton, Diamanti
Subs not used: Murray, Nouble, Raul, Hines

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Ariaudo, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Bender - Milner (Schaars 90), Suarez, Holtby (Dembele 82) - Donaldson (Ben Arfa 62)
Subs not used: Begovic, Edgar, Jones, Carroll
Booked: Elm

Scorer: Holtby (81)

Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 34,634

Yeah - despite buying LH, a part of me still wanted Hatem playing in a Newcastle shirt. Its going to be a slight squad shift and will mean selling in January, but we can just about afford it, and he's a quality player, so why the fuck not.

Newcastle have signed Marseille's French winger Hatem Ben Arfa for £11million.

The Frenchman will move for an initial fee of £3.5million, that will rise in installment payments over the next 24 months. He will wear the number 11 shirt at St. James' Park, which was vacated by Damien Duff earlier on deadline day.

Ben Arfa, 25, is the second player to move from Marseille to the Premier League after Loic Remy joined Manchester City earlier in the summer from the French giants.

Ben Arfa made 110 league appearances for OM after joining from Lyon for £10.5million in 2008, and scored 23 goals. He missed the final five months of last season with a broken leg, but has started well this season, with one goal in the first two games of the new Ligue 1 season. However, after Marseille failed to make the European positions last season, Ben Arfa had wanted to leave.

There had been talks Ben Arfa was initially going to join before they signed Lewis Holtby, but the club have decided to splash out on both the attacking midfielders ahead of what is likely to be a very busy season for the club.

Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said, "Hatem is a fantastic player and like Lewis and James, will be a player to try and make us ready for a major assault at the top of the table. This is something the fans will want to see us try to do, and something we want to do.

"When we were alerted Hatem would be available for surprisingly less money than we were expecting, and wanted to move, we knew we wanted him to come to St. James' Park. He is a very highly quality player and I look forward to being able to play him in games for Newcastle United."

Its been a busy 48 hours for Newcastle, with the club signing Ben Arfa, Holtby and Carl Jenkinson, and making the loan signing of Italian centre back Lorenzo Ariuado. The club have also sold Damien Duff to Leeds, agreed a deal to sell Mikkel Thygesen to FC Koln in January, and have loaned highly promising youngsters Liam Henderson and Jun Zhang to feeder club Dunfermiline in the Scottish First Division.

Marseille have rejected a part-exchange deal from Newcastle that would've seen Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Dembele swap clubs.

Newcastle were believed to have offered a fee of £6.5million plus the Belgian international for the highly-rated 25-year-old French winger, but Marseille have announced they have rejected the swap move.

Ben Arfa had been a reported target of Newcastle before they confirmed the signing of German winger Lewis Holtby yesterday afternoon, and many had expected the move to have died, but Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has still decided to make offers to bring the Frenchman to St. James' Park.

The club have also confirmed a deal to sell the Danish winger Mikkel Thygesen in January. Thygesen, who was one of Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signings at St. James' Park and is out of contract in the summer, will join German side FC Koln in January for £2million.

Leeds have signed Newcastle and Ireland winger Damien Duff for a fee of half a million pounds.

Duff, 33, was out of contract at the end of the season at St. James' Park, and following the big money signings of James Milner and Lewis Holtby, Newcastle decided to cash in on the former Chelsea player.

He has signed a one year contract with the Yorkshire club, with Newcastle believed to be paying £3.500 a week towards his wages.

Duff joined Newcastle in 2006 from Chelsea for £5million and made 122 league appearances in his time at the club. The most important of his nine goals was on the final day of the 2008/09 season, where he scored a last minute goal to keep Newcastle in the Premier League.

He has also made 102 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team, and has been called up to the latest squad ahead of their opening World Cup qualifier against Belarus on September 12th.

Italy U21 centre back Lorenzo Ariaudo has been joined Newcastle on a season long loan from Juventus.

Ariaudo will join the Magpies on a season long loan move from the Italian giants, and will wear the number 25 shirt at St. James' Park, although he will not be eligible for the Champions League.

The Magpies will pay a loan fee of £2.1million, and the move is confirmed less than 12 hours after target Andre Bikey rejected a contract offer from Newcastle to join Manchester United.

Newcastle manager Sven-Goran Eriksson confirmed he is intending to use the player as back-up to the club's main central defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Sebastien Bassong, but with Vertonghen injured, its likely the Italian defender could make his debut on Wednesday against West Ham United.

Ariaudo has been a Juventus player since 1998 and has made 17 appearances since breaking through into the first team in the 2008/09 season. He has also made 26 league appearances in a loan spell with Empoli. This is his first role in professional football in Italy.

I needed a left winger for the 4-2-3-1 I usually use, as Dembele felt like he didn't belong there, Suarez is better in CAM/FW role, Milner and Obertan are better as RW's, and Duff is a player I am looking to sell. So, there.

Eh, maybe.

Though as last poster said, Keane v Viera was a classic animosity. It all feels a bit less in your face with aggression now, although with some players, its not for the want of trying.

I'm bewildered by it - is it a troll or do they actually believe what they're writing?

So, LH is just what we'll do.

Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of Schalke winger Lewis Holtby for £12million.

The German winger has signed a four year contract at St. James' Park after making the big money move from the Ruhr Valley to England, and he will wear the number 14 shirt at St. James' Park.

Holtby joined Schalke in 2009 from Aachen for £2.6million and made 96 league appearances in his four year spell with the club, scoring 31 times. He has also played for the German side in Europe, with games played in the 2010/11 Champions League.

Holtby, whose father was an English soldier based in Germany, has said he is delighted to move to England.

Speaking to the club's official website, he said, "I am delighted to come to England and with a team that will be in Europe. It is hard to leave Schalke, where I have spent four very happy years, but I am excited by the challenge of coming to the land my dad was very glowing of in football, and coming to a team like Newcastle, who had a great season last year and who look like being a force in English football."

Newcastle have also confirmed the signing of Finnish full-back Carl Jenkinson on a free transfer. The 20-year-old right back was released by Charlton at the end of last season, and has moved to the North East on a three year contract.

At the same time as signing Holtby, Newcastle had also been linked with a move to sign French international Hatem Ben Arfa from Marseille. Newcastle did not comment on rumours linking the Frenchman with a move to St. James' Park.

Gone Girl

I read the book last week and thought it awesome so was hoping for good things. Much as I preferred the novel, the film was an entertainingly psychotic pantomime, which worked. Agreed with Rosamund Pike being a great show stealer.

I heard. Outrageous.

I liked it. It was just Groundhog Day with the Matrix aliens and played almost like a video game, but it was really good, and certainly better than the dour Oblivion was.

His contract would actually be £5,000-a-week more. But he is cheaper by £1.5million, and the initial fee (I normally avoid installments deals but on this instance I'm doing it for both these ones) is also £2.5million less.

So...




Which would make a better signing?

I have said I'm leaning towards Holtby because Ben Arfa is ineligible for the Champions League as this is after the player registration cut off (annoying, given Marseille aren't in any European competition), and having simmed ones where I've bought them, my backroom staff like him more in the left wing position this signing would be for. But I like HBA in real life and he is worth more off the bat.

Everton have confirmed the signing of Hungarian centre-back Tamas Kadar from Newcastle for £4.7million.

There had been speculation that the Toffees' attempts to sign the Newcastle defender had broken down, with a deal having been agreed a few weeks ago but talks over a contract stalling.

But the Toffees have now confirmed Kadar has made a transfer from the North East to Merseyside. He will join on a three year contract.

Kadar joined Newcastle in January 2008 from Hungarian side ZTE. He made 32 league appearances at St. James' Park in his four and a half year stint with the club - 18 of which came last season.

Kadar was a breakthrough star for Newcastle last season, with the player nominated for two Young Player of the Month awards and seen as legitimate competition for the club's first choice pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Sebastien Bassong.

Newcastle are widely expected to sign an additional defender in his replacement, with the club in talks with Burnley centre-half Andre Bikey, although Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also had bids accepted.

The club are also expected to sign Finland U21 defender Carl Jenkinson, with Newcastle in talks with the 20-year-old right back.

Two goals from Adam Ljajic helped Manchester United see off Newcastle as Carlo Ancelotti got his first win as manager.

The first win of the new era under the Italian, who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, will have come as a relief to the Glazers who appointed him, and it was the Serbian midfielder that provided the killer touches, with two impressive finishes to see off a Newcastle team that finished only two points behind the Red Devils last season.

James Milner did get a goal back for Newcastle to open his account in his second spell in black and white stripes, but his strike was not enough for Newcastle to get a share of the points, and they were bought back down to earth after their Champions League progression this week.

The game was one of two clashes between last season's top four today, with last season's champions Manchester City winning at Chelsea in the lunchtime election.

This game had many subplots before kick-off, with Ancelotti looking for a first win amid criticism of his standard tactics, and Newcastle seeking a first win at Old Trafford since 1972.

It was the home side who had the earliest attacking intentions, with Tim Krul making good stops to deny Anderson and Wes Brown.

The opening 18 minutes of football saw Manchester United enjoying domination of possession and opportunities, and they came close again when Dimitar Berbatov advanced but shot wide.

Minute 19 then bought a goal for Manchester United. The ball was played forward from the back by Nemanja Vidic to Moussa Sissoko, who was able to hold the ball up before passing it forward to Ljajic. The Serbian attacking midfielder decided to try his luck from 25 yards, and his effort flew beyond Tim Krul into the top corner.

An impressive strike from the Serbian, who is now making a first team spot his own after four years largely spent on the fringes at Old Trafford.

This was the cue for Newcastle to finally create opportunities, with Jose Enrique presented two opportunities, only for both of them to fly off the target.

Sissoko and Brown saw efforts from distance career off the target, while Wayne Rooney had one deflected wide as Manchester United attempt to get a second goal. They were closer from a corner after Rooney's strike was deflected off target, with Berbatov rising highest to meet Ljajic's corner, only for the header to be denied.

Manchester United duly entered the half-time break a goal-up, and they begun the second half again on the front foot, only for Anderson to waste the effort that fell to his feet,

Much closer was Rooney, who saw a powerful effort from distance tipped onto the post by Krul and bounce away from goal, in a very close shave for the home side.

Krul was then tested again, with the Dutch goalkeeper making a very smart stop to tip away Ljajic's powerful drive, before Rooney then hit the post again, with his powerful drive bouncing off the woodwork with Krul beaten.

Red Devils goalkeeper Raul Segura was relatively untroubled on his home debut, but he was alert when he was first called upon, with the young Spanish goalkeeper making a decent save to deny Milner.

Having survived that, Manchester United were in the mood to try for a second, and nearly got it when Johnny Evans rose high to meet a free-kick, only for his header to be cleared off the line by Jose Enrique.

But a second goal was not long in coming. A free-kick was only half-cleared to Darren Fletcher, who flicked the ball on for Anderson, whose nod found Berbatov. The Bulgarian forward evaded Sebastien Bassong and teed up Ljajic, who was in acres of space, and duly converted his second goal of the match.

A good goal for the home team, who were now dreaming of victory and finally finding themselves a first league win of their new era.

It could have been even more comprehensive, but Krul was again in action, with the Dutch keeper making stops to deny Rooney and Berbatov.

Berbatov was still on the hunt for a goal, and a firm left-footed volley was not too far away from finding the back of the net.

With four minutes to go, Newcastle then found themselves an almost unexpected way back into the game. The ball was sprayed out wide to Jose Enrique, who laid it back infield for Luis Suarez. The slippery Uruguayan evaded Brown before playing a tantalising cross into the middle that was gobbled up by Milner.

Milner's first goal of his second spell as a Newcastle player, with a lot of its gestation coming from a superb run by Suarez, and suddenly Newcastle were dreaming of a way back into the clash.

But despite seven minutes of added time at the end of the game, Newcastle were unable to get the goal they needed to take an undeserved share of the points, and they left empty handed.

There was clear relief on the face of Ancelotti, who was happy to finally get off the mark at his new club, and will be hopeful Manchester United can now push on as they seek to win the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2009.

Manchester United: Raul Segura - Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra - Sissoko - Carrick (Fletcher 64), Anderson (Hargreaves 77) - Ljajic - Berbatov, Rooney (Macheda 77)
Subs not used: Soler, Cahill, Mattock, Valencia

Scorer: Ljajic (19, 65)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Bassong, Kadar, Jose Enrique - Barton, Bender (Suarez 58) - Milner, Donaldson, Obertan (Elm 80) - Dembele (Carroll 45)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Morris
Booked: Barton

Scorer: Milner (86)

Referee: Dean Coventry
Attendance: 75,863

I'm at a point where I've had offers and contracts accepted by both players. I've found that if I press "Go On Holiday", and then instantly return, the assistant has confirmed both deals and both having joined NUFC, but the problem is I still need to buy a CB as well with *spoiler alert* Kadar joining Everton.

I'm leaning towards Holtby - I've simmed versions where I've bought one but not the other, and also both, and found that Ben Arfa is Champions League ineligible, plus Shearer (my AM) rates Lewis more, particularly in the LW position the player is for.

Newcastle United manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed the team will be buying and selling through to Monday's deadline.

Ahead of the deadline on September 3rd, Newcastle have been linked with making an additional signing in attacking midfield, with rumours the team have had bids accepted for Schalke winger Lewis Holtby and Marseille attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa.

The team have also been linked with outgoings, with defender Tamas Kadar linked with Everton, and reports Sven may offload Mikkel Thygesen and Damien Duff.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's game at Old Trafford, Sven declared that his team would be busy until the deadline.

He said, "We are always busy and exploring options to bring in players that we feel with be of benefit to Newcastle United. We know that we could still use one or possibly two additional players to the team, and our scouting team has identified a multitude of targets they feel will benefit the club.

"What we have to do is figure out which ones are the best players to bring in, and also to consider which players can leave."

Sven also spoke of the deal to sell Hungarian defender Kadar to Everton. A £4.7million deal had been arranged between the Merseyside club and the Magpies to sell the defender, but a failure to agree a contract has seen the planned move stall.

Kadar was seen as one of Newcastle's breakout stars last season, with the player making 18 appearances and looking like one of the club's best defenders when he played.

Sven said, "We felt the deal agreed with Everton met the fee we wanted for Tamas, but if he wants to stay, we will respect his decision and use him. I don't know if there is a disagreement between him and Everton on what they want to give him, but we will see what the arrangement is the closer we get to the deadline."

Sven also talked about Newcastle's Champions League group, which saw the team land tricky looking tests against Porto, Juventus and Twente. They open their group with a trip to Turin to face Juventus on September 18th.

He said, "It would be easy to be afraid of the tricky nature of tour group, but the Champions League is not going to be a tournament with easy games in. We knew we would get some big teams with quality players, and we have done, so we know we have to be at our best to take on these teams, and so will they, and that's what makes it an exciting tournament.

"It is exciting for the fans and everyone to be back in this tournament, and we will look forward to playing in this tournament. I would love to make it through to the next round of the competition and we will do everything to make sure its possible."

As we were 4th seeds, none of the groups were going to be easy. My personal aim is 3rd and then going as far as we can in the Europa League, as I doubt we'll get beyond Porto and Juventus.

But still, Saint-Etienne was tough opposition so I'm happy we've even got into the groups.

Manchester City will face Fiorentina and Schalke 04 in the Champions League after the draw was made earlier in Monaco.

The 2011 Champions League trophy winners were 2nd seeds, but landed the Italian Serie A side instead of some of the more unnerving looking teams in the Champions League draw. A trip to Germany will also be in line for Mark Hughes' side against the top level Bundesliga team. They will be in Group G, as part of a group that will be completed by Romanian outfit FC Timisoara.

Manchester City's neighbours United return to the Champions League after they missed out last season saw them maintain their top seed rating. Their trickiest tests will see them face Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev and Spanish outfit Valencia. Russian outfit Rubin Kazan finishes off a group that will involve a great deal of cross-continental travel.

Chelsea have got a progressable but difficult draw, with games against Portugese giants Benfica, Spanish outfit Villarreal and French team Monaco in line for the group stages, although Roberto Mancini will feel his team can still progress into the next round of the competition.

Newcastle's first Champions League group stage since 2002/03 will be a tricky affair, with trips to European giants Porto and Juventus part of their draw. The Magpies were 4th seeds and at lieu to a very tricky draw, which is rounded off by a trip to Holland to take on FC Twente.

Scottish champions Celtic will also travel to Portugal, with the Glasgow side landing a group with Sporting Lisbon. Turkish side Galatasaray and the Serbian champions Partizan Belgrade the teams they will visit.

This tournament was noteworthy as the first tournament without Spanish giants Real Madrid in almost two decades, with last year's beaten finalists only managing to finish 5th in La Liga, and they will be in the Europa League instead.

Their El Classico rivals Barcelona, who beat them on penalties in Munich at the end of last season's final, will have a clash with Italian giants AC Milan as part of their group.

Full 2012/13 Champions League Group Stage Draw

Group A:
Inter Milan
Atletico Madrid
FC Copenhagen
FC Zurich

Group B:
Porto
Juventus
Twente
Newcastle United

Group C:
Chelsea
Villarreal
Benfica
Monaco

Group D:
FC Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Panathanikos
Austria Wien

Group E:
Barcelona
AC Milan
Toulouse
Anderlecht

Group F:
Sporting Lisbon
Galatasary
Celtic
Partizan Belgrade

Group G:
Fiorentina
Manchester City
Schalke 04
FC Timisoara

Group H:
Manchester United
Dinamo Kiev
Valencia
Rubin Kazan

Danny Simpson's first-half injury time goal was enough for Newcastle to see off Saint-Etienne and progress into the Champions League group stages.

The right-back's goal at the end of the first half gave Newcastle a two goal aggregate lead and crucially gave them the away goal advantage, which meant the French team needed three goals to progress.

Eric Hassli's 59th minute goal was all the Ligue 1 team managed, which means Sven-Goran Eriksson's Magpies will progress into the group stages of the Champions League for the first time since the 2002/03 season.

Its an achievement in itself for the former England manager, who took over as Newcastle manager after their near-relegation in the 2008/09 campaign, and has certainly seen a major turnaround in the club's fortunes.

The pre-match atmosphere was one of tense excitement from both sets of supporters. A one goal win in the first leg for the Magpies meant that they had the advantage, but the French side anticipated a comeback as they looked to get themselves into Europe's top competition for the first time since their 1970s heyday.

Sensing their one goal aggregate lead may not be enough, Newcastle begun on the attack. First leg hero Rasmus Elm saw a drive fly just wide of the mark, before a left-footed volley from Luis Suarez flew similarly past the wrong side of the post.

Similar inaccuracy befell Saint-Etienne's first opportunity, as Lucas Piszczek rose to meet a cross but couldn't keep his header down.

The first shot on target came with 19 minutes on the clock, as Andy Carroll rose to meet Moussa Dembele's cross, only to head the ball straight at Joe Hart.

Saint-Etienne's English goalkeeper was tested more with Carroll's next effort, with the keeper stretching well to turn clear the Newcastle forward's powerful drive.

Carroll was next to try his luck with two shots either side of a quarter-hour lull, but on both occasions, he couldn't get his efforts on target, and he then missed another effort moments after that.

Gelson Fernandes was next to try his luck, and was duly the next player on both teams to fail to find the target with his shot.

Another drive from Carroll went wide and it looked as thought the first half would finish goalless, until the visitors then found the advantage on the night and strengthened their advantage on aggregate.

A Newcastle corner was headed back by Sebastien Bassong to original taker Jan Vertonghen, who was able to pick out Simpson on the edge of the D. Simpson advanced and hit a shot that Hart may well have stopped, had it not taken a decisive deflection off of Piszczek, which wrong-footed Hart and sent the ball into the bottom corner.

Simpson claimed it for his first Newcastle goal in nearly a year, and more importantly, it gave the large numbers of Newcastle fans behind the goal stronger belief that they would be going through to the full version of Europe's top table.

Saint-Etienne's challenge was to score three goals, which was not an impossible task, but their first chance to make inroads saw Piszczek fire wide, and their chances were harmed further when their holding midfielder Sait Colak left the field with injury.

But shortly after a powerful free-kick from Fernando went wide, the Frenchmen had one back.

Piszczek collected a throw-in and played in Kevin Mirallas, who broke free of the defence to make it to a cross position, before sending in a ball that Sebastien Bassong missed, but the recently arrived sub Hassli didn't, and Saint-Etienne duly had the first of their three back.

Having begun to lose faith, the green-clad home crowd was beginning to ramp up support, but they almost fell further behind ten minutes after their goal when Hart had to deny Carroll.

Mirallas was then next to try his luck, but the Belgian's drive was an easy catch for Tim Krul, who in truth, hadn't had a lot to do aside from the goal.

Hart then caught the ball to deny another Elm long-ranger, before an excellent intervention from Miles Stepanov denied Luis Suarez a clear run-through on goal and what would've been a one-on-one chance.

Newcastle's defensive regiment suffered a blow when Jan Vertonghen suffered a knock, although he was able to continue, before Saint-Etienne surprisingly opted to send Hart up to the box to try and get the team closer to parity. But Stepanov's wildly inaccurate header was not the way back they were looking for.

That was ultimately that, and it was party time for the delegation that had come down from the North East of England, who were back in the top tournament of Europe for the first time in a decade. The fans were bouncing happily and the players were pretty happy with the result in Central France.

By contrast, the Saint-Etienne players and fans slunk off disappointed after they missed out on the Champions League proper for the second campaign in a row, and again against a team wearing black and white stripes after last year's play-off defeat by Italian side Juventus.

Saint-Etienne: Hart - Luccioni (Pierron 45), Stepanov, Sanna, Dorsin - Fernando, Sait Colak (Hassli 52), Fernandes, Vered - Piszczek (Cornelis 82), Mirallas
Subs not used: Abubakari, Le Brun, Salpingidis, Sanogo
Booked: Fernandes

Scorer: Hassil (59)

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Edgar 90), Schaars - Obertan (Donaldson 84), Suarez, Dembele - Carroll (Milner 74)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Smith, Ameobi
Booked: Simpson, Jose Enrique, Vertonghen, Schaars

Scorer: Elm (38)

Referee: Abraham Lavin
Attendance: 35,616

Late goals from Moussa Dembele and Andy Carroll saw Newcastle beat Middlesbrough for victory in their first league game of the season.

With time running out, the two goals from two substitutes provided a victory for a Newcastle side fresh off the back of their Champions League qualifying success against French side Saint-Etienne in mid week.

It was also victory in their first league game of the campaign, which has kicked-off a week later due to St. James' Park use in the Olympics as well as the Champions League.

Middlesbrough had arrived following the short journey north from Teeside hoping of a second victory, after their comprehensive victory over Fulham in midweek - their opener at Arsenal also falling victim to the Olympics.

But straight from the off, Newcastle were posing attacking problems for the visitors. Ryan Donaldson saw a fizzing long ranger just touch the bar on its way over inside the opening minute, before a superb stop from Jamie Ashdown denied Gabriel Obertan's low fizzer.

Middlesbrough were able to keep Newcastle quiet after that early onslaught, but when chances did come, it was the visitors who were creating them. A crisp drive from Rasmus Elm was denied by Ashdown, before a long range drive by the Swedish midfieder forced an even better stop out of the former Portsmouth goalkeeper.

Elm's long ranger had been enough to win Newcastle's Champions League game, and he was trying his luck to get another goal of similar style, but his free-kick on the half-hour was nowhere near the goal.

Much closer was Donaldson, who was played through by Premier League debutant Lars Bender and hit an accurate drive that was creeping in before Ashdown tipped it wide.

Ashdown was by the far the game's busier goalkeeper, and was alert again just before half-time to deny Luis Suarez, before Elm then blasted another one over the top in the last chance of the half.

The second-half begun in the same vein as the first. Another fizzing drive from Elm was kept out by Ashdown, before a cross picked out Obertan only for the French winger to head the ball over the top.

Middlesbrough were having desperate trouble in getting strikers Robert Lewandowski and Jermain Defoe involved in the game, and were having more of an impact on the referee's notebook than on the scoresheet.

But their defence and some poor shooting was frustrating Newcastle, which continued when Dembele's first touch saw him pick out fellow arrival Carroll, only for the Newcastle number 9 to head the ball into the Gallowgate End.

Middlesbrough's defensive resolve looked like it might be holding out, but with 19 minutes to go came a poor decision and the best chance for Newcastle to open the scoring. Emmanuel Pogatez was beaten for pace by Suarez and his foul in the penalty box was a penalty, although the referee saw no need to further punish the Austrian centre-back.

Dembele was given the honours, and the Belgian scored from 12 yards, with a goal that equalled his entire league tally for his first season as a Newcastle player.

Five minutes later and Ashdown was picking the ball out of his net again. Jose Enrique passed the ball down the flank for Dembele, who evaded the opposing full-back and sent in a tantalising cross that perfectly found Carroll, who duly headed the ball into the top corner.

Two goals from the two substitutes for Newcastle, which had surely ensured victory ahead of the midweek's Champions League return in France.

With the game seemingly won, Newcastle sat back, and Middlesbrough for the first time in the entire game were able to get near the Newcastle goal, but didn't come anywhere near testing Tim Krul. They ultimately had no shots on target in the entire game, and questions will be asked in the dressing room of how they were so poor in attack all game.

Newcastle by contrast will be pleased with a good week of action. Two wins in their opening two competitive games has set last season's 4th place finishers off to a good start, and they will be hopeful of continuing a great start with progression to the Group Stages after Wednesday's return leg.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm (Thygesen 78), Bender - Obertan, Donaldson (Carroll 62), Milner (Dembele 62) - Suarez
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Schaars
Booked: Simpson, Bender

Scorer: Dembele (pen 71), Carroll (76)

Middlesbrough: Ashdown - Hoyte (Pogatez 45), Wheater, St. Ledger, Grounds - O'Neil, Digard, Smallwood (McMahon 77), Arca - Lewandowski, Defoe (Emnes 72)
Subs not used: James, Taylor, Mills, Bednar
Booked: Hoyte, Arca, Smallwood

Referee: Keith Stroud
Attendance: 56,387

Rasmus Elm scored the only goal as Newcastle saw off Saint-Etienne in the first round of their Champions League play-off.

The Champions League first-leg play-off was decided by a first-half wonder goal by the Swedish midfielder, and ensures the Magpies will travel to central France next week with a one goal advantage to defend.

It was a tight clash between the Premier League and Ligue 1 heavyweights, and the two teams will be battling in France for the contest.

It was a highly anticipated game before kick-off for both teams, with Newcastle playing their first European game since the 2006/07 season, and Saint-Etienne seeking to go one better after they were beaten by Juventus in the Europa League play-offs last season.

The French side did begin the game by applying some concentrated early pressure, but they weren't able to do anything with it, with the only real chance being hit miles wide by former Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes.

Ryan Donaldson hit an effort wide before one-capped England international and former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart was tested for the first time, with the goalkeeper making a firm stop to deny Elm.

The Swede then fired one wide, as did full-back Danny Simpson, as the hosts looked to find a way through.

After a lull, the French side came close only for Miles Stepanov to head the ball wide of the mark, before James Milner saw a drive blocked and then Elm fired a snapshot wide.

But Newcastle had the bulk of the early pressure and they made it count with 38 minutes on the clock. Stijn Schaars cued the ball out wide to Jose Enrique, who ran down the left flank before playing in field to Elm. The midfielder controlled the past, and then smashed a firm strike into the bottom corner that left Hart with no chance.

A fine goal by the Swedish midfielder, who had opened the scoring of Newcastle's team for the season with a stylish finish.

Lucas Piszczek was presented a great opportunity to bring the French team level before half-time, but he could only hit the ball wide of the mark.

A quiet start to the second half saw only one real opportunity created by either side at the start of the second half, with Jan Vertonghen wasting the only chance either side managed to produce.

To try and liven things up, Newcastle introduced Luis Suarez, and the Uruguayan international was played through and sent in a firm shot that Hart did well to deny.

Suarez was then presented another chance when played through by Donaldson to give the Magpies a two goal advantage, but he couldn't make the most of it.

Midfielder Sait Colak was presented with an opportunity to get the French visitors back into the contest, but he was unable to find the target, with his shot just dabbing the way on its into the stands.

Newcastle had two late opportunities, with Donaldson forcing a smart stop to deny Hart, and Suarez volleying an effort into the top of the stand.

Saint-Etienne thought they should have had a penalty for a challenge by Elm on Idan Vered, and while protesting, Elm almost rubbed it in further for the visitors from France, with the Swede played in by Gabriel Obertan only to hit the ball wide.

Obertan then had a chance of his own, but when he rose to meet Milner's cross, he couldn't keep his header down and the score remained one goal.

Nerves could visibly be seen being frayed amongst a capacity crowd as the game moved into three minutes of stoppage time at St. James' Park. But luckily for the home crowd, the visitors were unable to get into it, and the game ended in a one-goal victory.

The tie may not be over yet, with Newcastle taking a slender one-goal lead to France for the return leg at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard next week, and it will promise to be a tense but exciting encounter. Newcastle fans will certainly be hopeful that they can hold on to get the victory that they require to send them into the Champions League proper.

Newcastle: Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Schaars - Milner, Donaldson (Bender 89), Dembele (Obertan 71) - Carroll (Suarez 68)
Subs not used: Begovic, Jones, Edgar, Smith

Scorer: Elm (38)

Saint-Etienne: Hart - Pierron, Stepanov, Sanna, Labourdette - Fernando, Sait Colak, Fernandes, Vered - Piszczek (Sanogo 61), Mirallas
Subs not used: Abubakari, Luccioni, Le Brun, Cornelis, Salpingidis, HAssil

Referee: Vladimir Hrinak
Attendance: 56,387

If I'm being honest I would've liked more to have had HBA than Milner. Although oddly my scouts and backroom staff like Milner more. Not sure how that works tbh.

That would be Holtby.

In fairness my main targets were Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, but Udinese wanted £25million for Sanchez, and my scouts said Ozil wouldn't want to move.

With the Premier League about to return this weekend, The Daily Telegraph is running the rule over your team ahead of the new campaign. Here, we take a look at Newcastle United

Last Season In A Sentence:
Revamped team nicely made a justified Champions League place their own, replete with some of their best new players.

This Season Will Be...
A balancing act. European football is back on Tyneside and they will be playing an additional eight games this season regardless of whether or not they win their Champions League play-off with Saint-Etienne next week. This will likely mean more squad rotation, plus fans will want better than early exits in both cups in the last few seasons, so Sven has to be more alert to utilising resources for these while also balancing Premier League games.

Manager: Sven-Goran Eriksson
The Swedish manager gambled last season by selling big earners and bringing in expensive imports, but the gamble paid off and he find himself manager of a team in Europe and widely tipped to be back among the Premier League big boys. Now his mission is ensuring his team stays up there.

Key Player: Sebastien Bassong
Despite reputed interest from the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and others, the French centre-back has so far remained at Newcastle United. Bassong has been promoted to vice-captain - and likely main captain with Alan Smith's place to be rotated - and he has to make sure he can nail down a series of clean-sheets to ensure Newcastle remain in the chase to the end.

New Boys:
The biggest signing on Tyneside is of an old boy, with James Milner rejoining the club four years after leaving the club to join Aston Villa. The other two main signings are in central midfield, with Stijn Schaars and Lars Bender adding defensive resolve, although in all likelihood, they could be suspension cover for Alan Smith and Joey Barton following their unfortunate habits of acquiring reds and yellows. Marc Muniesa is the other newboy at St. James' Park, but the young Spanish defender ha been immediately loaned to Leicester City.

What They Still Need:
Newcastle's squad is still largely the team that finished in the top 4 and Sven could do worse than maintain it. But he is still understood to be interested in a left-winger, with Alexis Sanchez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Lewis Holtby and Victor Moses among alleged targets. There has also been talk of a new striker, with the club having been looking to sign Loic Remy before he joined Manchester City, and reportedly having bids rejected for Wolfsburg's unhappy striker Edin Dzeko, and one former striker Mario Mandzukic, but so far nothing's happened. A new defender may also join if one leaves.

Big Season For: Luis Suarez
Despite struggling to acclimatise to the Premier League in his first season, Luis Suarez showed more than a glimpse of his talents, and with 13 goals to his name, was ultimately the club's top scorer. But at times, he also looked lost, and needs to show more of the one that swaggered his way on the scoresheet than the one who looked lost in an alien league. A good scoring run would certainly help his chances.

Prediction:
This will not be as easy for Newcastle as they found last season near the end, and its likely Sven will have to embrace consistent rotation. More games and competitions will see the two teams competing well, and Newcastle will be looking to do well. The team still have players to be up and in the race for the Champions League positions. A second successive top 4 position is likely beyond the Magpies, but a top six position may not be. 6th

New Signings:
James Milner (Aston Villa, £12M), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar, free), Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen, loan), Marc Muniesa (Arsenal, free)

Outgoing:
William Kvist (Hertha Berlin, £3.2M), Danny Guthrie (Burnley, free), Marc Muniesa (Leicester City, loan)

Predicted Eleven:
Krul - Simpson, Vertonghen, Bassong, Jose Enrique - Elm, Schaars - Milner, Suarez, Dembele - Carroll

With the season about to start, we look back at the pre-season results for Newcastle United.

13th July 2012
Heracles 1-1 Newcastle
Newcastle opened pre-season with the first of two games over a weekend in Holland. They started with a clash against Heracles, and begun with early domination against the lower level Dutch team. But they fell behind on 28 minutes when Tamas Kadar was judged to have fouled Everton, in a harsh penalty judgement that Newcastle players angrily debated, but was ignored. Kwame Quansah duly scored the resulting kick from 12 yards. Both sides wasted opportunities before Ryan Donaldson drew the visitors level. But neither side could find a winner and the game ended in stalemate.

15th July 2012
ADO Den Haag 1-4 Newcastle
Newcastle's second weekend game in Holland saw them travel to the nation's capital to face ADO Den Haag, which reunited Tim Krul with the club he begun his career at for the first time. Newcastle were 2-0 up inside the opening nine minutes, with first Ryan Donaldson and then Andy Carroll striking in quick succession. ADO got a goal back just before half-time when despite a whiff of offside, Lex Immers broke through and scored. Newcastle re-established their two goal lead after half-time through Rasmus Elm, before Shola Ameobi sealed a comprehensive victory late on.

21st July 2012
Hartlepool 0-3 Newcastle
The first game of the Magpies' pre-season in England saw them travel to feeder club Hartlepool United for the second successive campaign. The Premier League team was dominant from off, and got their reward when Andy Carroll fired them in front. Three minutes later, the giant Geordie striker then headed in a cross to make it 2-0. Another Carroll header before half-time ensured a 3-0 scoreline at the break, and after both teams missed chances in the second half, the three goals in the first-half provided to be enough.

25th July 2012
Hoffenheim 0-2 Newcastle
Newcastle's third trip abroad in the summer saw them travel to South-West Germany to face Hoffenheim at the Rhein-Necker Arena. The game saw both teams have a number of chances fall their way during a tightly contested first half of football, before the breakthrough fell the way of the visitors just before the break. The goal was scored by summer signing James Milner, who received a through-ball and flicked the shot into the back of the goal. An even game saw the two teams then fail to add to the scoresheet, until the final moments, when youngster Haris Vuckic broke through a feeble offside trap and finished the tie.

30th July 2012
Cardiff 1-0 Newcastle
Newcastle's last away game of their pre-season schedule saw them travel to South Wales to face Cardiff City. The Magpies did have the best of the initial ball play in the clash, but were struggling to really test David Marshall in the home team's goal. One-time Newcastle target Ross McCormack was also proving a tricky proposition as the team tried to keep up an unbeaten streak in pre-season games stretching back to 2009. But it looked like the game would be drawn after Newcastle missed a number of second-half chances, until Cardiff got a late winner when Alan Duffy headed home a corner. It meant a surprise win for the Championship side in their final pre-season outing.

6th August 2009
Newcastle 1-1 Inter Milan
The final game of Newcastle's pre-season saw them take on Italian giants Inter Milan at St. James' Park. The game was a return of Jose Mourinho to the stomping ground of his former mentor Sir Bobby Robson, and his team were in charge for the majority of the opening of the contest. Argentine striker Diego Milito was quite wasteful with his shooting before he eventually finished on 33 minutes. But for the second-half, Newcastle did begin to have some kind of ascendancy to their steps, and had come close on many occasions before eventually equalising with 12 minutes to play. The equaliser came through the unlikely source of defender Tamas Kadar, who headed past Julio Cesar. That tied the game up, and the two teams shared the spoils in the end.

Spanish U21 international Marc Muniesa has joined Newcastle and has immediately been loaned to Championship side Leicester City.

The defender had been released by Arsenal at the end of last season, and has moved to the North East on a five year contract at St. James' Park. But he will spend the first six months of the campaign on loan with Championship side Leicester City, as the former Barcelona defender seeks to prove he can acclimatise to life in the English game.

Muniesa joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2011 for £500K, and had spent time out on loan with Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town.

Newcastle have confirmed one further arrival and departure. The club have signed Finnish U19 goalkeeper Jonas Saarlo from FC Lahti for £10,000, while young defender Ben Tozer has left the club are he failed to break into the Premier League outfit's first team squad.

Spoiler alert for further down the line, but Lewis Holtby or Hatem Ben Arfa - who would you sign?

Hertha Berlin have signed Newcastle midfielder William Kvist for £3.2million.

The Danish midfielder moves to the Bundesliga after a spell spent largely on the fringes of things at St. James' Park following his £5million transfer from Danish side FC Copenhagen in 2010. He only made 24 league appearances for the Premier League side, and was largely on the fringes.

The signings of Stijn Schaars and Lars Bender by the Magpies earlier this summer had pushed him further down the pecking order, and s a result, he has now been allowed to leave the club. Birmingham City and Hull City had made bids to keep him in the Premier League, but Newcastle rejected both of them.

He will be hoping for better after his move to the Bundesliga side, for whom he is their third signing of the summer after Hertha BSC had previously captured Martin Fenin and Ciprian Marica on free transfers.