Newcastle United were beaten yet again at Ewood Park this afternoon by Blackburn Rovers by a score of 3-1, but the Magpies were fighting for a draw right until the end, when Tugay put home Blackburn’s third goal in added time.
This was Newcastle’s second defeat in a row, but was a very much improved performance over last week’s horror show against Liverpool, and with any luck at all would have got something out of this game.
Sam Allardyce – his players gave all they had today – but to no avail
But Newcastle missed too many chances after Martins had put them ahead after 47 minutes and a sloppy second goal, when the Newcastle defense got into a mix up, was the goal that really let them down.
Barton seemed certain to score after 56 minutes when he had the ball 5 yards out but Blackburn somehow survived. Then Martins seemed to have a free header after 66 minutes but put the ball over Friedel, but also over the bar. Then Emerton after 79 minutes clearly handled in the penalty box as Milner challenged, but the referee didn’t give it. It was that kind of day 🙁
But to be fair Blackburn also had chances they missed in a tumultuousand very exciting second half, where both teams went for the win. It was an exciting last 45 minutes for the crowd, and both teams can take credit for their attacking intentions. The Premier league will remain immensely popular around the world, with these kind of displays that we witnessed today in the second half.
Newcastle supporters will be unhappy that their team got nothing out of the game today, but they deserved at least a point. But let’s not say the Newcastle team did not play their hearts out this afternoon – because they gave everything they had.
And they deserve continued support from their loyal fans. 7,000 of whom turned out today at Ewood Park, and gave the team fantastic support throughout the game. But it was just not to be.
Comments very welcome – but please keep the language decent – many thanks.
65 comments so far
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Comment #41now you all wish owen had played yesterday… god f*&*(king damnit! you’re all the same as sam… you must decide for a team and stick to it…and not go crying about it later… nobody can’t be that stupid not to find out which line-up is strong enough..if not you’d end up in the same shit sam is now…he’s picking different squad every week…he clearly doesn’t know what the f&**k he’s doing…all he’s doing is trying…
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Comment #42if owen is playing you all wish martins would be on the pitch and if martins is playing you all wish we had mickey on?! WTF!!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!!!
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Comment #43If were gonna play I think it would be worth a shot to try Oba and Mickey again.
Owen—Smithy—Oba
Oba and Smithy did good yesterday so why not stick Mickey on instead of Milner, who tbh isn’t setting the world alight.
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 11:28 AM
Comment #44That is “If were gonna play 4-3-3” 😉
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Comment #45toonking – ok…so if we’d play 4-3-3…why would we sign more midfielders in januray? 🙂
mo
Dec 2, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Comment #46Martins is missing easy chances because he is trrying to hard. He knows that as soon as owen is fit he’ll lose his place. At the start of the season when martins was on fire big sam dropped him for owen.
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Comment #47Why? cause Geremi and especially Butt are not up for it. so we have 2 central midfielders, Joey and Emre.
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Comment #48yes but cartman is praising geremi (he made him captain!?) and butt every week… so..now what?!
scott 9
Dec 2, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Comment #49we need cacapa back i would try playing this team we i think it could work realy well
Given
beye taylor cacapa enrique
faye
emre
barton
oba viduka milner
yh
Dec 2, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Comment #50Wouldn’t play Owen. All we do is rush him back from injury time and time again. I liked the Smith-Martins combination to a certain extent and Toon King, playing 4-3-3 with 3 strikers isn’t exactly a very good idea most of the time.
It’s true Milner isn’t setting the world alight but look at the effort he’s been putting in – I think he deserves a place, at least on the RIGHT WING.
Srky
Dec 2, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Comment #51what else he has to do than trying? when he had strongest team.
comments like “Sam doesn’t know what he is doing” are funny to me.
Than you take over the team and make progress whn you are the smartiest one(to criticizers).
can’t take it anymore!
can’t read bullshit anymore.
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Comment #52well…sam needed 5 months to do sth we’ve been talking since day one…and he still didn’t get it right…he’s still putting wrong players to play on the wing… plus his comments…?! the fact is sam is too stubborn to admit he’s wrong… i just wonder how does players feel about him…everyone can see what he’s doing wrong… hypoteticaly: if you were a player, how would you feel if your manager picked sbd ‘cos he’s his favourite, despite you being a better player…or he’d put you to play in a wrong position…well not just you…about 4 player each match…and the next day you’d read in the papers how you sucked…how would you feel?! what else can i say?
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Comment #53when will people get it in their thick heads that playing wingers on the opposing wing is a well proven tactic allowing the player to cut in with he’s strong foot and shoot. That’s why right footed Milner plays on the left and left footed Oba played on the right.
Milner all ready scored a couple thanx to this tactic and i have yet to see a player played in a position they never played before, so let this go all ready.
Srky
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Comment #54if this side and right palyers on right positions was good, they wouldn’t call sam. he didn’t insist to come – somebody called him. why? because we were good? stories about capello, mourihno… sad hopes. they won’t take us. they need sure stuff, not club wich changes managers as a sox.
i must sadly admit that club, that i love so, is unserious. things they (bosses) do are funny to sameone who doesn’t love NUFC. but are very sad for me. we will never be in top, i’m afraid…
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Comment #55and geremi and barton as wingers? why did sam chose them as wingers? we all saw geremi can’t cross… i would never put them as wingers so they could shoot once each game at the expence of crosses…that’s just stupid!
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Comment #56that’s the spirit Srky 😉 ………….(sarcasm)
scott 9
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:15 PM
Comment #57i agree it will be fritening if big sam gets sacked look at martin oneil he had one season at villa and now this season it looks like europe for them this cdan happen to us if we stay with big sam
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:16 PM
Comment #581) Geremi and Barton didn’t play wingers. it was 3 man center midfield. they might have drifted out wide a few times but they were definitely not wingers.
2) Geremi had he’s best season at Right Wing and although he isn’t really a winger type he can put some sweet crosses in.
It is really a mystery why these players haven’t performed so far as they obviously have the skills. But after yesterday i have a feeling that finally were turning the corner.
scott 9
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:17 PM
Comment #59nightfall i wasnt at the game but saw it on motd i dont think geremi and barton were playing as wingers were they wasnt it a 4 3 3 formation with butt barton and geremi in midfield and smith milner and martins in attack
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:19 PM
Comment #60yes i know, but i’m not talking about the last match…
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Comment #61the truth is sam already costed us at least 10 points if not more this season… i’m glad we’re improving, but sam needed 5 months to started using the formation we’ve been talking since day 1…and he still didn’t get it totaly right… that’s all i’m saying… i think sam would make a great coach…and i think he’d be a good scout…but manager…don’t think so…
scott 9
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:31 PM
Comment #62o and if geremi and butt are that crap how come they are in the top 4 behind zog and milner in the actim index
ToonKing
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:32 PM
Comment #63Well i thing Sam is very good manager……….and that is exactly the problem if u ask me.
He has many unorthodox and innovative techniques in every area including tactics and i think he has troubles getting the players, who only played 4-4-2 in recent years, get on the same wave length, but luckily it looks like they finally got it.
Can’t wait for the Arse’s game to see if this performance was just a blip or are we really kicking off finally.
Leo
Dec 2, 2007 at 3:44 PM
Comment #64MOTD’s coverage of the newcastle match was an atrocity,
they showed as much of the blackburns chances as possible, and showed newcastle barely attacking, i watched all of the match and we had more chances and better attacks, just look at the stats.
typical southern journalism
nightfall
Dec 2, 2007 at 6:42 PM
Comment #65damn…i hope you’re right about him toonking… but if he ever says: “when i was at bolton,…” damn 🙂 i’ll lose my fcuking mind, ‘cos he’s talk about that in every single interview 🙂