We were very disappointed that our defense conceded two poor goals yesterday after the team had twice gone ahead. The second goal was particularly bad as Arco, who played many seasons at Sunderland, was left all alone on the edge of the penalty area, following a Middlesbrough corner and was left with too much time and space to easily beat goalkeeper Harper.
This was not a good goal to concede and Newcastle basically threw away what would have been good hard fought win with some sloppy defending. Now where have we heard that before?
But that was the 3 points right there – with only a short 10 minutes to go.
Mike Ashley – sat next to Allardcye and Mort yesterday and hugged Mort after N’Zogbia’s wonderful strke
Allardyce talked about the goals after the game::
“We have conceded two and that is totally out of order, especially when you have been in front twice.â€
“It is just unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. If Newcastle United are to be successful, we have got to cut that out.â€
“We are bitterly disappointed that we have not clinched the three points.â€
“The lads are really, really disappointed in the dressing room and know they should have hung on to a lead they got twice.â€
“Once you get in front twice whether you are playing home or away, you should never surrender it.â€
“Perhaps the first time is an excuse, but not the second.”
Mido canceled out N’Zogbia’s wonderful strike after 22 minutes and then former Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca did the same 10 minutes from time after Viduka’s expert 77th-minute finish.
Among them for the first time was owner Mike Ashley, sporting a black and white shirt on the first time he had seen his club in action after buying the club in the summer. Asked if Mike Ashley had enjoyed himself Sam Allardyce said:
“He appeared to, especially when the first goal went in, anyway. It was nice to see him here for the first time – and he hasn’t tried to hide away because he was standing there with his Newcastle shirt on.â€
“It’s great to see him. There is obviously lots of speculation around what he is doing, but as far as I am concerned, with he and Chris, we are moving the club forward as quickly as we possibly can.”
Opposite number Gareth Southgate was delighted with the application of his players, especially defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Luke Young, who started with only a few days of training under their belts after injury. Middlesbrough gave a good account of themselves and battled Newcastle all the way.
Southgate said:
“I am pleased with the way we played. For a local derby, we tried to pass the ball and we tried to attack them.–We went a goal down against the run of play and we showed great character to come back twice.â€
“All the qualities that were on display from my team, I was very proud of them.â€
“We had a side that looks a good side, and when they are fully fit and firing, there were a lot of good signs from us.â€
“What pleased me more than anything was we had lads go out and play who probably had no right to be on the field.â€
“They committed themselves for the short and for their team-mates and as a manager, that makes you very proud.”
However, Southgate was disappointed with the abuse aimed at Mido by the traveling supporters, who was booked for over-celebrating his goal in front of them.
Gareth continued:
“We had to get him to calm down a bit in the first half after the goal – he got booked.â€
“I always find it strange that 3,000 people are allowed to abuse one person and nothing is done, and then when the boot is on the other foot, he gets into trouble.â€
“In terms of civil liberties, I find that a strange situation.”
We don’t think Mido deserved any defense or civil liberties talk from his manager. Mido went out of his way after scoring to incite the Newcastle fans and deservedly got a yellow card for his efforts. That behavior is frowned, on not only by referees, but also by the police force at the game, who stopped Mido’s cantankerous and stupid celebration. That behavior should not be supported by anyone, least of all his manager.
Comments welcome.
13 comments so far
Aussie geordie
Aug 27, 2007 at 4:37 AM
Comment #1Aparrently the crowd was chanting something about him having a bomb. If this was a racist jibe because where he’s from he has every right to stand there are tell them to keep their mouths shut. He was not openly rude or aggressive just cheeky and should not be judged too harshly.
Those defensive lapses really were shocking. There were lots of time when we could have lost that match but in the end with two goals scored we should have won it and taken the three points.
Cant worry to much though. 4 from 6 from away games one a derby and 1 from three at home. If we can win this next home game against wigan and take some points again from our next away game well be looking strong.
FFS
Aug 27, 2007 at 5:58 AM
Comment #2this is not the first time i’ve heard of english fans chanting things like that. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing it in a train from newcastle.
DARCHY
Aug 27, 2007 at 7:25 AM
Comment #3Lets not forget the abuse given to viduka by 25000 fans !
rich
Aug 27, 2007 at 7:40 AM
Comment #4absolutly poor. i hope Ashley realises if we are going to get any better he needs to sign some more players this week, i hope he realised the shocking RB situation, i mean Steven Carr is bad but Peter Ramage doesnt even deserve to me in our reserves let alone our first team. Id play Capaca right back ahead of Ramage anyday.
all together im gutted, feels like we lost, we worked so hard and every time we scored it looked as if we let them score…. we worked so hard to get our goals but immediately after it looked as if we had decided that we didnt want to win…. if that makes any sense?
i cant wait for Enrique to start playing this week, move Zog up to LW and play a good ol’ fashioned 4-4-2 with Milner & Zog wide left and right and Viduka with Owen or Martins up front.
tyipcal Smoggs lucky as ever.
p.s. Mido is a ****, i cant believe we let that muppet score.
Ed Harrison
Aug 27, 2007 at 7:55 AM
Comment #5I didn’t know that was the chant – not good either – I agree with that.
Kein
Aug 27, 2007 at 8:40 AM
Comment #6Newcastle fans who shouted those bomb insults should be ashamed of themselves! It’s absolutely unacceptable..not surprised that Mido reacted..
I think the performance was better than against Villa..so we are going in the right direction. If we only could cut those defensive failures…!!
Graeme
Aug 27, 2007 at 8:50 AM
Comment #7Chants, or no chants??? The main point has to be that we scored 2 goals away from home – The strikers did the job they are paid to do. The defence on the other hand, played like a bunch of schoolboys; no concentration, no closing down the attack, no cutting off lines of attack. Bloody useless.
Unless BSA sorts out the mentality of our “Defenders” this season will be little better than the last. To concede 2 goals is sickening, not being able to defend a lead for under 10 minutes is deplorable. Not impressed at all.
Lamesley Mag
Aug 27, 2007 at 9:20 AM
Comment #8Newcastle fans who shouted those bomb insults should be ashamed of themselves! It’s absolutely unacceptable……
A typical derby game with plenty effort but limited skill at times.
The goals were all good, but not sure if Viduka actually meant to chip the ball over Woodgate before shooting. If a Brazilian had done this, it would be considered for goal of the season; it was that good!
So 1 point from an away derby game despite being in the lead twice is not that bad or is it? Let’s be optimistic as we lost this game last season. BSA knows our defence is still not adequate and needs to be strengthened. Ashley and Mort were there also to witness it for themselves so let’s spend wisely this week.
Hass
Aug 27, 2007 at 9:32 AM
Comment #9Whooa calm down Gareth sunshine Civil liberties don’t talk such xxxx. Didn’t hear BFSam whinging about the abuse levied at Viduka.
And as for the whinging supposed Geordie supporters banging on about not been impressed etc. We had half a team on the pitch at the start of newbies (I am including Harps in my equation), it’s team of workers not natural falir players.
I for one am very happy with BFS and the new regime – patience people!
AndyT
Aug 27, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Comment #10Graeme,
One of the goals was scored by the left back and the second set up by the left back, and at a corner, defending the edge of the box is not the responsability of the back four, but usually falls to the midfield, as does the prime responsability of closing down the attack, the defenders are there to track the runners and prevent the ball getting to them and to track the wingers and prevent crosses into them, wheras the midfield and attack should be closing down the game to prevent those through balls in the first place. The point is that to win matches you have to attack and defend as a team. To say that the the attack did their job and the defense didn’t misses the point, the team attacked well, but defended poorly. I would say in general that the midfield performed quite badly, but I suspect this has more to do with the players playing a 433 which they are not accustomed to yet, inspite of this they are unbeaten.
evil dick
Aug 27, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Comment #11it was painful to watch at times but the players look like they want it, which is better than last season.
Graeme
Aug 27, 2007 at 2:33 PM
Comment #12Andy T,
I accept your points, but at the end of the day, we are 2 points down because the oposition were allowed to score a goal that any team with aspirations of European football would have avoided at all costs. If we had been proffessional, as a team, the smoggies would never have been given the chance to score and we would be in the top 4 or 6, with a game in hand.
The left back who scored, should NOT be playing there, he is an attacking midfielder, bailing the team out; I would expect him to score a lot more goals like that if he was playing in his normal role.
We are neither attacking fluently nor defending as a team and until BSA sorts it out, we will be finishing in mid-table instead of chasing the european dream. Yes, we are unbeaten, but we have played no-one except teams we should have beaten and failed to do so!!!
AndyT
Aug 27, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Comment #13Graeme,
Totally agree. Although I think we’ve been quite fortunate that all of the teams that will probably be challenging for european places have had a worse start than we have.