The transfer deadline day departure of Carroll left a hole in Newcastle’s line-up, and without sufficient time to secure a replacement, the Magpies were forced to look at the free-transfer market after the main window had shut.

Carroll’s absence was barely noticeable after Cheik Tioté’s late goal secured one of the greatest comebacks in modern football. To suggest they were sports betting underdogs is an understatement. Having found themselves 4-0 down after just 30 minutes, the home side pulled the game back to 4-4. Manager Alan Pardew will hope the game is the full stop to end the Andy Carroll saga.

The former, Ipswich, Crystal Palace striker had his contract with Swansea terminated last month and will now provide temporary cover for the remainder of the season until the club can use the money from the sale of Carroll in the summer.

The signing of Kuqi caused some disbelief amongst the St. James’s faithful, and while supporters would have preferred a marque signing to signal the clubs intent, it will perhaps prove to be a blessing in disguise that they were unable to complete a deal by the end of January.

With inflated prices and desperate clubs eager to do business, January is a dangerous time to do business, especially the chaotic final day of the window. Newcastle could well have spent the majority of the fee they received for Carroll on an over-priced striker and wasted the opportunity to improve the team.

That Pardew will have to wait until the summer to do business may help him asses his targets more closely and aid him get the right man for the job.

The worry is that without Carroll’s goals and presence the team will suffer but if the second half performance against Arsenal is anything to go by, then the club will be easily clear of the relegation zone and the building process can begin in earnest next season.

The first season back in the Premier League always has to be about survival, nothing more. Early season sportsbook suggested that Newcastle were one of the favourites for the drop, but after a tumultuous season the club are still on course for a mid-table finish.

Kuqi is no mug, either. Somewhat of a journeyman, he has a presence that impressed Crystal palace enough to spend just under £3 million on him and he will be good cover for Shola Ameobi, who has been ruled out with a cheek injury. In the free transfer market, he was the best of a bad lot.

The Finn with a famous celebration isn’t a replacement for Andy Carroll – that will happen in the summer. But if Kuqi can grab a goal or two for Newcastle’s cause in the meantime, then his short-term loan will have been worth it.

Rumours have circulated amongst those placing football bets this week that 22-year-old would be missing until March, but a club spokesman denied the injury is a long term issue. He said:

“There’s no factual basis to the report. He will be out for two to three weeks as boss Alan Pardew said before the Spurs game.”

Carroll has enjoyed a spectacular start to the season and has netted 11 times this season, but has been absent since the 2-0 defeat against Spurs on December 28th.

Tottenham are just one of the clubs rumoured to be interested in signing the striker who has forced himself into England Boss Fabio Capello’s plans, earning a starting place in the 2-1 defeat against France at Wembley. The England boss has expressed an interest in pairing Carroll with Wayne Rooney when he returns to full fitness.

Newcastle will not be in action this weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup against Stevenage. The magpies face Fulham on Ferbruary 2nd and will look to build on their solid first half of the season and consolidate their 11th position in the league. Football betting patterns have emerged which show Newcastle have yet to be ruled out of the race to secure European football next season.

We did start the match in much comfortable style than in the last FA Cup third round match, and in just 4 minutes into the first half, Ameobi should have scored for the Toon if he can calm his nerve and steady the ball first rather than make his shot wide of a post.

It was the sign of more under par performance in terms of goal scoring opportunity for the newly adopted Nigerian player. I was thinking of his Geordie status which is now surely gone by chosing to play for the Super Eagle team, and maybe that has cost him a little bit out of the mood to scoring a goal against the mackems too.

For couple of times Ameobi looking like a school boy team player who has very little of creativity up front. Despite he can won the ball up in the air couple of times, and causing Bramble to have a torrid afternoon, he was surprisingly failed to create every opportunity he has to converted into a goal.

His final passing ball was also very poor and it seems he just get the ball away from him without looking at where his team mates are before releasing the ball.

Only one time he did great when he rising high above all mackems defender to meet Barton corner and flicking it on into the danger area and struck Bramble first before Nolan backheeled the ball to give Newcastle a deserved lead.

Without the presence of Andy Carroll, we are once again failed to convert many opportunities to double our lead since then. Leon Best is once again return to his natural form which is need couple of weeks or months before he can start to produce goals again.

During the match, we are totally controlling the midfield with Barton and Nolan command the area expertly. In defence, Coloccini and Williamson are also securing every inch of our side, with Enrique also doing great to charge the ball out.

Strangely, I was a bit of surprise that without Tiote we still can play good defensive role, and it was a good sign after all, we are now can be sure that we still have a team which can do better in controlling the midfield without one of our first team player, but not in front.

It was clear that we still need one or two additional attacking player who can score goals to cover the absence of Andy Carroll in the future. I’m not sure we can depend on any of Best, Ameobi or Ranger to replace Carroll when his out.

Until then, thanks for coming to this site and Howay the Lads!

He also said that when Carroll would have been sold, he got him to sign a new contract for Newcastle United. Wise insists that he saw Carroll as the future of Newcastle United and now that boy has given the prove that Wise is right about him.

Carroll has spent a six month loan with Preston North End during his early career with the Magpies. Scored his first Championship and English league goal, against Leicester City on 6 November 2007, before returned to Newcastle in January 2008.

And now in just two years time, from a young lad who has been loaned and almost being dumped, Carroll has been our new number 9 and worn it with distinction.

For me, Andy Carroll is the perfect successor and will continue the number 9 of Newcastle United traditions which need to have skill, pace, flair, power, strength, bravery, and creating alot of goals.

He will definetely to follow the other Toon great number 9 players like Neil Harris, Hughie Gallacher, Albert Stubbins, Jackie Milburn, Len White, Wyn Davies, Malcolm MacDonald, Chris Waddle, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.

So if any other club who has the interest to get him out of this club, they may have to think again and almost certain that they will failed.

Some news has been reported the new interest from Spurs who were lining up a £20 million bid for Andy Carroll ahead of the January transfer window. To answer that news, Alan Pardew has expressed his determination to retain Carroll who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season.

I am happy because Newcastle won, but I regret it because Chris Hughton was not in charge on that day. Do I really hate Alan Pardew? I can’t say yes but can’t say no either, I’m still need more time before I can make my official statement about Pardew’s ‘managerial experience’.

During Chris Hughton’s early days as Toon manager, I also not making any judgement about him, in fact because of my very tight schedules, this website has been retired almost the entire season when we’re playing in championships.

But I adore him so much and he’s almost like our second messiah, he saves us from sinking more deep when we were relegated in 2008/2009 season. I’m still devastated by Ashley’s rude decision to dump Hughton.

From what I saw on yesterday’s game, I’m still not seeing any difference to the way we play under AP. I didn’t see any improvement or changes in whatsoever, we still using Carroll as our main target, and Nolan’s first goal was any prove of it.

I know that the team that we play against is Liverpool, they have more talented individuals with good skill, but I still think of the Arsenal’s game or when we play against Chelsea as far better than yesterday’s game. Pardew still had to work hard to produce his ‘managerial skill’ into reality.

Now, all I can do is hope that AP can prove us all wrong about him. I’m still waiting for his managerial experience to transform this team into the more better side than what Hughton has did this far.

Until then, thanks for coming to this site and Howay the Lads!!!