As you approach the North of England, coming from the south, You will see an enormous brown cross in the shape of an angel. This is called ‘The Angel of the North’ and it means you are about to arrive in Gateshead – Tyne and Wear.

Gateshead is situated directly across the Tyne river from Newcastle City. It has a population of around 100,000 and is in the North East of England Gateshead has an ancient history and is first found in written records in 623.

Historically Gateshead’s industries have varied from iron work to cable making. During the industrial revolution Gateshead grew enormously. It had it’s share of tragedies during this time too. In 1854 a huge explosion ruined many of Gateshead’s ancient buildings on the waterfront.

People from Gateshead and the surrounding areas usually call themselves ‘Geordies’ and are very proud of their city and of the people in it. ‘Geordies’ have a reputation as being very friendly and the city of Newcastle has been voted most friendly city in Britain many times in the past. An interesting fact about the people of Gateshead is that in the 19th century one of it’s residents, Mr Joseph Swann, invented the precursor to the modern light bulb.

Over the last ten years a lot of money and effort has gone into the redevelopment of the quayside which is now a bustling center of culture and activity. It boasts award winning bridges, 7 of which connect Newcastle and Gateshead over the river Tyne and are quite spectacular. It is also home to restaurants, nightclubs and great shops as well as other areas of cultural interest.

Two places that are an unmissable experience when visiting Gateshead are the metro center, the biggest shopping center in Europe and St James park. St James park is the home ground of the international football team, Newcastle United, which has fans all over the world and they are called ‘The Magpies’ by locals.

Chelsea

Odds: 4/9

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 – 1 (Premiership), 2004/05 – 1 (Premiership), 2003/04 – 2 (Premiership), 2002/03 – 4 (Premiership), 2001/02 – 6 (Premiership).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Community Shield Winners vs Arsenal (n) – won 2-1.

Champions League Last 16 vs Barcelona – lost 3-2 on aggregate.

FA Cup Semi Final (n) vs Liverpool (a) – lost 2-1.

Carling Cup Third Round vs Charlton Athletic (h) – lost 5-4 on penalties with score at 1-1 after extra time.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Frank Lampard (midfield) – 20 goals.

Players In

Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan – £30,000,000), Jon Obi Mikel (Lyn Oslo – £16,000,000), Salomon Kalou (Feyenoord – £3,000,000), Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich – Free).

Players Out

Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona – £8,000,000), Damien Duff (Newcastle United – £5,000,000), Asier Del Horno (Valencia – £4,800,000), Carlton Cole (West Ham United – Undisclosed), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan – Free), Jiri Jarosik (Celtic – Free), Dean Furman (Rangers – Free), Leonard Pidgeley (Millwall – Free), Filipe Morais (Millwall – Free), Danny Hollands (Bournemouth – Free), Dean Smith (Aldershot – Free), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth – Loan), Anthony Grant (Wycombe Wanderers – Loan).

A season of Premiership dominance was the order of the day last season, with Chelsea winning the league by eight clear points. The Blues won 18 of their 19 matches at Stamford Bridge, drew the other and only looked susceptible to defeat after the title was sewn up.

The Champions League eluded manager Jose Mourinho for the second season running, with his side crashing out in the first knockout stage to Barcelona. He has responded by signing two high profile players this summer.

AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, coveted by some as the world’s best striker, signed for £30 million while Germany captain Michael Ballack arrived on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

Shevchenko scored 127 goals in 208 Serie A appearances for Milan after bursting onto the scene with Dinamo Kiev in 1997. Ballack has proven to be a goal scoring midfielder, scoring 44 goals in 107 league appearances for Bayern Munich and finding the net 31 times in 68 matches for his country.

A whole host of players have been shipped out of the club as Mourinho chases the grand prize of the Champions League. Hernano Crespo departed for Inter Milan, long serving Eidur Gudjohnsen left for Barcelona, Damien Duff in a shock £5 million move to Newcastle and Asier Del Horno returned to Spain among others.

Verdict

Chelsea have strengthened the squad that already no other team can match with two world class additions. There is no value in it, but they will win the league again at short 4/9 odds.

I love my club, i just want to put on my TV and see my favourite colour- blue and my favourite team – Chelsea.

o Chelsea has sustained the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football and regularly attract over 40,000 fans to Stamford Bridge.

o Chelsea holds the record for the highest ever points total for a league season (95), the fewest goals conceded during a league season (15), the highest number of Premier League victories in a season (29), the highest number of clean sheets overall in a Premier League season (25) (all set during the 2004-05 season), and the most consecutive clean sheets from the start of a league season (6).

o Chelsea hold the record for the longest streak of unbeaten matches at home in the English top-flight, which lasted 86 matches from 20 March 2004 to 26 October 2008

o On 19 May 2007, Chelsea became the first team to win the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium, having also been the last to win it at the old Wembley

o On 26 December 1999, Chelsea became the first British side to field an entirely foreign starting line-up (no British or Irish players) in a Premier League match against Southampton

o Chelsea were the first English side to travel by aeroplane to a domestic away match, when they visited Newcastle United on 19 April 1957

o Chelsea Football Club is owned Russian billionaire- Roman Abramovich

o Chelsea FC’s chairman is Bruce Buck from the United States of America

o Chelsea FC manager is Carlo Ancelotti From Italy

o Chelsea FC home is the 42, 055 capacity Stamford Bridge

o Chelsea FC is also nicknamed «The Blues»

Premiership

Birmingham City vs Arsenal

Arsenal would be looking to bounce back from 2 disappointing results by winning at Birmingham to maintain their 5 point gap or even increase their lead at the top.

Birmingham would feel that if they could get a draw at the Emirates than they can either get the same result or provide a shock against the league leaders but it would not be easy.

Arsenal should win this but with some difficulty.

Liverpool Vs Middlesboro

You never know what you are going to get from Liverpool and especially from their manager. The 1 thing you do know you are not going to get is the same side that beat Inter Milan on Tuesday. Middlesboro have not lost a game this year and would like to keep that run going but if Liverpool play to their full potential they should win. It would not surprise me if this ends in a draw but I really do expect Liverpool to with this game.

Newcastle United Vs Manchester United

Newcastle have not won under Kevin Keegan and after tomorrow, I expect that record to continue as anything other than a Manchester United victory would be a total surprise.

They would not lose 6-0 as they did at Old Trafford but I still expect them to lose against a team that would be buoyant after decent results against Arsenal and Lyon in the champion’s league.

The 1 saving grace for Newcastle is that Manchester United do not always play well immediately after a champions league tie but unfortunately Newcastle do not have the desired quality to trouble the champions.They did get an improbable draw against Manchester United last season and Keegan always wants to beat Ferguson so you never know.

Carling Cup Final

Chelsea Vs Tottenham Hotspurs

Juande Ramos is a past master in winning cup finals but I cannot see them defeating Chelsea on Sunday bearing in mind they played 2 days after Chelsea did in the midweek and also how very organised Chelsea are defensively.

If Ledley King plays then Spurs would stand a slight chance as he provides so much defensive prowess to them but if he does not then I do not give them a chance.

Spurs have all the flair and attacking prowess but Chelsea are a very hard nut to crack and Tottenham have to score 1st to stand any chance.

I would like to see Spurs win the cup but I just cannot see past Chelsea winning it.

SerieA

Roma Vs Fiorentina

This is the game of the weekend in Italy and pits 2 of the most attractive teams against each other.

Roma managed to defeat Real Madrid in the champions league on Tuesday and that would have boosted their confidence after some shaky results whilst Fiorentina defeated Rosenborg to go through to the next phase of the UEFA cup just last night.

The fact that Fiorentina played 2 days after and do not exactly have a very good away record makes me opt firmly towards Roma.

Sampdoria Vs Inter Milan

Inter would be looking to put their 1st defeat in 5 months against Liverpool firmly behind them and I strongly fancy them to beat Sampdoria at Genoa.

Sampdoria, inspired by Antonio Cassano did well to defeat city rivals, Genoa last weekend but I do not see them repeating the trick against Inter unless Inter decide to implode by having a man sent off early again.

Inter do have problems at the back though with Ivan Cordoba ruled out for the season joining Walter Samuel as casualties for the season.

Reginna Vs Juventus

Juventus are coming off 2 excellent results and would be full of confidence when they face relegation threatened Reginna on Saturday evening knowing fully well that a victory would catapult them to 2nd albeit for a few hours.

This would not be easy as Juventus have shown this season that they tend not to win games you fully expect them to and have drawn a lot of games they were expected to win. But I do think they would win this game but not very comfortably.

Milan Vs Palermo

Like Liverpool, you never know what you are going to get and this is not an easy game to call. You would think Milan should win this game but they have drawn far too many home games to consider any game a home banker.

Pato and Kaka are back so that should help and they would also be buoyed by their midweek performance at Arsenal.

I expect a very narrow victory for the Rossoneri.

La Liga

Sevilla Vs Zaragoza

Sevilla are quite formidable at home and Zaragoza are inconsistent everywhere so I would expect Sevilla to win this game.

Barcelona Vs Levante

Barcelona looked like they are coming back into some semblance of form with a number of key players performing well against Celtic including Ronaldinho, Deco, Thierry Henry and most especially Lionel Messi.

Samuel Etoo is back as well and Levante, which is possibly the poorest team in La Liga this season do not have a prayer.

Real Madrid Vs Getafe

This is a local derby with the added spice of Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster coming up against his former club and Getafe manager, Michael Laudrup coming up against a side he graced so well as a player.

Real were unlucky to be defeated at Roma and have a 100% home record in la Liga this season. They also have the additional boost of Robinho returning to the fold so I fully expect them to be too strong for a Getafe side that played yesterday in Uefa Cup defeating AEK Athens 3-0.

The English Premier League resume next weekend after about 3 month break. But some of the players are involved in the FIFA World Cup and have very little rest. The coach needs to freshen up things by rotating the players so that they have enough rest. The first matches of the season see the titanic clash between Liverpool and Arsenal. Apart from that, we will also see the last season surprise team Tottenham Hotspur taking on Manchester City. Tottenham beat City to fourth placing to claim the final champion league spot. City with the financial support from Abu Dhabi Group are expected to produce a strong challenge towards the Premiership title.

Full fixtures of round 1:

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City

Aston Villa vs West Ham United

Blackburn Rovers vs Everton

Bolton Wanderers vs Fulham

Sunderland vs Birmingham

Wigan vs Blackpool

Wolvehampton Wanderers vs Stoke City

Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion

Liverpool vs Arsenal

Manchester United vs Newcastle

Chelsea begins their title defense with a home game against West Bromwich. They should not have any problem beating the visitor. Manchester United is expected to defeat Newcastle United at Old Trafford. There should not be any doubt that the main focus of round 1 of EPL season 2010/2011 is the match between Liverpool and Arsenal. Liverpool is looking for a good start after a disastrous previous season. Arsenal would like to show to everyone that they are one of favorite to win the title. Arsenal fans are happy and relief that Cesc Fabregas has committed to stay at the club for yet another season. He is the pillar and most important player of the team. The game most likely to end in a tie and both team will get a point from it.

Premier League match time is here again with Arsenal hosting Newcastle United on Sunday in match week eleven.

Arsenal won 3-0, away at Newcastle in the Carling Cup last week, and they will be looking forward to more of the same as the Geordies visit the Emirates. For the Gunners, Theo Walcott scored a brace in the Carling Cup match against the Geordies and he could again prove the danger man for Chris Hughton’s charges on Sunday.

In match week ten, Gunners were fortunate to bank three full points against West Ham as the Hammers hung on for the best part of 88 minutes, until Song headed a Gael Clichy past Green, into the West Ham net. Arsenal created many opportunities in the match without avail. Arshavin had a couple of early runs down the left flank. Later, the Russian fired in a cross only to see Song head over the bar.

Another great chance to score went abegging when a free kick was awarded after Boa Morte pushed over Denilson, but Nasri’s shot though beating Green crashed into the crossbar.Wenger’s charges owed their clean sheet on the day to a great showing by Gael Clichy in the back-line.

A midweek loss to Ukraine club Shakhtar Donetsk should have brought Arsenal back to earth, and they would need a disciplined effort to ensure they bank three points from the Magpies game.

Newcastle have recouped since their last loss to Arsenal with a 5-1 thrashing of Sunderland in match week ten. The win came on the back of skipper Nolan’s hattrick. Ameobi scored the other two goals for the Geordies, including a penalty.Before the game, Sunderland had conceded just seven goals, this Premier League season, the fewest apart from Chelsea, but the Magpies’ rampage left the Black Cats’ defence in tatters.

Newcastle went on the attack from the starting whistle and Nolan opened his account off a Barton corner but only after a Carroll effort had been kept out by Sunderland ‘keeper Mignolet.

Though the Gunners are bookmakers favourites to win at home on Sunday, the match could swing one way or the other depending on which side’s strikers draw first blood.

For Newcastle, Sol Campbell could return against his former team,after being sidelined for a month with knee and thigh injuries; Campbell could be subjected to a late test by Hughton.

Apart from Campbell, Newcastle have injury worries in Harper, Ben Arfa, Best and Gosling. Arsenal’s list of injured players is much longer and has Diaby, Ramsey, Vermaelen, Frimpong, Van Persie, Gibbs and Almunia on it.

Arsenal’s starting eleven against West Ham comprised Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, clichy, Song, Denilson, Nasri, Fabregas, Arshavin, Chamakh Bendtner, Walcott and Eboue featured as substitutes.

The following players were in Newcastle’s first eleven in their match against Sunderland: Krul, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson,Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierez, Ameobi, Carroll.

Ranger came in as a substitute.

Newcastle United will host Stoke City at St James’ Park, this Sunday, in what will be the sixth match of their Premiership campaign.

Ahead of the game, Newcastle are gung-ho, thanks to a mid-week 4-3 win over Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge, in the Carling Cup. Ironically, Newcastle also lost at home to Blackpool, in the Premier League.

Chris Hughton’s squad have scored eleven goals in the first five matches of their Premiership season. Their defence has stood up when it counted and conceded just four goals, to give the Magpies a healthy goal difference.

Contrast that with Stoke’s six goals for, and eight goals against. Seven of those came in the first 45 minutes of the matches in which they transpired.

The Potters have been up and down this season. Following a last-gasp away win against Villa, they drew at home against West Ham.

James Perch will return to the Newcastle squad, from suspension. Sol Campbell who played the entire duration of the Carling Cup game is also likely to start. ‘Keeper Steve Harper has been advised 12 weeks’ rest after shoulder surgery.Tim Krul is likely to replace him.

Danny Simpson and Danny Guthrie have not returned to match fitness from their respective shoulder and knee injuries. Newcastle will also miss Steven Taylor nursing a shoulder injury and Dan Gosling who has a knee concern.

For Stoke, regular players should return to the starting eleven after they were rested during the Carling Cup match loss to Fulham, mid-week, chief among them is ‘keeper James Sorensen. Abdoulaye Faye will bolster the back line, while the forward line should benefit from John Walters’ return.

Manager Tony Pulis will also welcome winger Jermaine Pennant returning from a hamstring injury.

The Potters last won at St James’ in 1976. Their last win against the Magpies came in 1989, when they prevailed 2-1 in a Division 2 game. The sides have drawn three of their last four league and cup games.

Caroll is Newcastle’s man of the season, with four goals in five matches, while Jones has scored just one for the Potters in their five.

Stoke should consider themselves lucky if they got away with a draw; Newcastle should consider it as an opportunity lost if they didn’t bank three points from the game.

Newcastle will probably field these players in their starting eleven: Krul, Enrique, Williamson, Coloccini, Perch, Ben Arfa, Nolan, Barton, Routledge, Ameobi, Caroll

The Stoke City starting eleven will probably be: Sorensen, Collins, Faye, Shawcross, Huth, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, WhelanJones, Walters.

Premier League match time arrives at St James’ Park as Newcastle United get set to host champions Chelsea in match week 15 on Sunday, November 28.

A few weeks ago, Newcastle stunned Sunderland 5-1. Match week 14 witnessed a repeat of that score, except that Chris Hughton’s squad were on the receiving end, with Bolton the beneficiaries. Despite the loss, the Magpies are in the top half of the points table, but in an extremely tight league, they are just four points adrift of 18th placed Wigan.

Carroll, as ever, was outstanding, though in a lost cause, and got a second half goal to reduce the margin. The absence of both Barton and Tiote was a double blow for Hughton’s men, who would also be justified in considering themselves as having been subjected to some harsh refereeing. Coloccini was a weak link in Magpies’ defence, and he did not have any clue about how to handle Elmander’s pace and the Bolton striker made the most of the opportunity by scoring a brace.

Chelsea are coming off a 1-0 away loss to Birmingham, their third in four games. Ancelotti’s side began the season with a run of wins and a barrage of goals. Their campaign has lost its early steam, and with a long list of injuries, the Stamford Bridge squad’s weak bench stands exposed.

Contrast this with the performance of their rivals at Old Trafford. While Manchester United have trailed Chelsea, their saving grace has been their unbeaten record. They have shown the kind of resilience we expect to see in champions, even when below their best.

The latest blow for Chelsea — John Terry laid low for some weeks – has been the hardest to bear. The team’s early season performance bore the stamp of Terry’s leadership and character. The defence is vulnerable without him, as is the midfield without Lampard.

Head to head In their last twenty league encounters, Chelsea have won 13 while losing just 2, with the remaining five drawn. Both of Magpies’ wins have come at home, with the last one registered in April 2006.

Ahead of the game against Chelsea, Newcastle will be buoyed by the return of Tiote.

Newcastle had the following men in their starting eleven against Bolton: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez, Carroll and Ameobi; the Magpies employed Routledge, Lovenkrands and Campbell as substitutes.

The following men comprised Chelsea’s starting eleven against Birmingham: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba and Kalou; the substitutes who featured were Bosingwa and Sturridge.