Newcastle got off to a great start in their game at Villa Park when Newcastle Michael Owen headed home a half chance from a great Damien Duff left wing cross to put Newcastle ahead after only 5 minutes.
Owen sent a message immediately to new England coach Fabio Capello and it was a typical Owen goal, so simple and so easy. In fact it was just what he did last week against Middlesbrough but this time it was allowed, as should have been last week.
 Michael Owen – great opportunist goal from the England Striker
Owen has looked very good in the first half with a spring in his step as had most of the other Newcastle players. The Newcastle team are playing good football and Milner, Duff, Butt and Barton are getting a lot of the ball for the team.
Beye is finding it hard sometimes to contain the impressive looking Ashely Young, but Stephen Carr is coping at left back – although he keeps switching the ball to his right foot.
Given was called on to make one very good save after 41 minutes, when he stopped a Carew header, but other than that the defense ha splayed quite well.
There was a dodgy moment early on, when Cacapa allowed himself to be barged off the ball by Petrov – he just cannot allow that to happen in the Premier League.
Villa will now have to attack more in the second half and the longer Newcastle can remain ahead the more chance we have of catching them short at the back, in a breakaway.
This is a very good performance from the full team, and oh by the way, we have some good subs available in Emre, Faye , Viduka and Enrique if we need to shore up things in the second half.
We expect Newcastle to keep attacking in the second half to try to get a second goal and not just defend a one goal lead – which we wouldn’t expect from Keegan in any case.
We badly need these 3 points today to give everybody associated with Newcastle a big lift. We need it.
Comments welcome.
217 comments so far
I knew IT!!!
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Comment #41arrrrrh
AlexW
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Comment #42omg……..which is way is sunderland then? 🙁
Chicken
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #43Eve – leave me out of it. He fked up – you don’t have to defend him every time – get over it.
3-1 now.
FKING HELL!!!!
Hadrian
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #44balls
CJ
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #45WE ARE GOING DOWN
Johann
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Comment #46pSAJFISAJFPSAJFIAJ BUTT; HOW CAN HE NOT CLEAR THE BALL?
Hadrian
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #47why kev hasnt brought barton and smith off i dont know , left this far to late .
Eve
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #48Johann are you kidding me seriously, you ignore games and games of everyone including Given playing well, and the first thing you do is praise Harper,
Where’s everyone saying you fancy Harper?? Sinead you’re right, there isn’t any, maybe if I change my name to Adam I’d get more respect, this a joke.
Obafan
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #49KK is going to bring Emre on. WAY TOO LATE MATE…..
Steve_48
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Comment #50Milnerfan: we just give up too easily – plan and simple.
1-0 up and looking good in 1st half performance, but like several of us have said on here, start of 2nd half let’s make sure we don’t concede a goal early and bugger me 2 in 5 minutes and the heads go down. It’s a sad fact that we cannot take it when we concede a goal.
[Great another goal when typing – well defended again lads, this is fast becoming a laughing stock]
Given – starting to have grave doubts about his premiership calibre. Wisey must be think WTF have I got involved in.
Eve
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #513-1. Here we go.
kelvin
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #52it’s all over for another match, i can’t even bear to watch it anymore.
I knew IT!!!
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #53Butt is a big waste of space; and shouldn’t be in the squad.
windsrave
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Comment #54can i use the word ‘hopeless ‘ to describe newcastle?
Eve
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #55Johann, where are you now?? Game over.
Howie
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #56heres another word comedy. we could be relegated
Johann
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #57Newcastle haven´t been playing well for a long time.
John
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:22 PM
Comment #58we are shit
Steve_48
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #59Johann – you mean since September 2007 … ?
Koko
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #602 big problems, our defence is a joke, we have a perfectly capable left back in the squad but instead Keegan plays Carr there – 2nd, Nicky Butt is useless.
And why is Viduka still on the bench?
We have to accept, we are the laughing stock of the Prem at the moment – if we arent careful we will do a Leeds, no doubt about that.
Edd Case
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #613 reasons why we were so, so poor in the second half.
Butt
Carr
Smith
Eve
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #62Johann..suddenly it’s Newcastle, please if that was Given in goal and did what Harper did there, it’d be him not playing well. But no, it’s Newcastle this time. Hypocrite.
Obafan
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #63I am furious. I’m starting to pray that we survive this awful season. Sometimes I think I will wake up and then I will see that this nightmare is over. But no this is pure reality, we are crap, we have players who don’t want to fight for the shirt. It looked a bit bright at half time and I was getting a bit optimistic, but I can’t do that cause everytime I get optimistic somthing like this happens.
There are a few things which were not clear to me in the FFSA period, but now KK is doing exactly the same. I just can’t follow it anymore…
3 goals conceded and 2 goals full of comedy. Where is that hidden camera????
milnerfan
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Comment #64Just about to switch channels. O well at least we get to play at some different grounds next season in the championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! how about get religated, get rid off all players except a couple then start a fresh. Forget everything thats happened between 2004 up until now lol. Big question is if we do go down will MA stay witht the club? after all he is a business man!
Matt Lacey
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #65This is an absolute disaster, we need a serious turnaround in the next couple of weeks or else we’re going down
CJ
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #66I don’t know about you’s but i am starting to have serious doubt’s about Keegan now.
Eve
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #67The defending in the second half, especially of set pieces, has gone to the dogs.
John
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #68me too
Koko
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #69Keegan’s honeymoon period is over – OK we dont expect to win every week but at least put out a balanced team and utilise our best players, this is not happening and so we are right to feel agreived.
Johann
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #70Hehe steve probably. Eve. It´s simple Given wouldn´t have punched the ball away first time. But no you seem to be misunderstanding. I´m not on a mission to blame Given. He can of course do some things well as most players can but he´s just not good enough. Not sure though whether Harper is the top top keeper we need. He hasn´t had a whole season to play and prove himself.
sparetheman
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #71Keegan is worrying me. VIDUKA IS BETTER THAN SMITH! Our problem this season more than anything else is we haven’t been playing our best team. I can’t get my head around it. It’s so completely obvious to me what we’re doing wrong. Why are the hell are managers blind to it?!
Hadrian
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Comment #72ehh cj? its sam not beating the likes of derby thats got us in this mess .
poor ingredients makes a poor meal , no matter who the chef is .
Obafan
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #73CJ – I can follow you completely. He should have tried something when we were 2-1 down; Viduka on and Smith off and Emre for Barton. But no let’s wait for 3-1 and then I will change someone, who? Wait I’ll pick a number out of a big hat and that number will go off. This is ridiculous!!! Our bench today was stronger than the team on the pitch…. I’m thinking of not watching the games anymore, cause every time it is such a huge diappointment and it is very bad for my heart.
windsrave
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #74we lose this match and we need to wait two weeks to play the next game, Man United
and we probably will lose again..
wonder how long it will take to win a premier league game for newcastle
i cant bear anymore
Eve
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #75Johann..whatever you say Johann. Every comment you make you criticize Given. Nearly every comment. It’s pathetic. But no, apparently I’m obsessed and if it’s not me it’s Sinead like. This is bull.
milnerfan
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #76@ CJ i agree. But KK is using what he has got to be fair. We over pay all the player so all dey expect is to turn up dont even have to play well then go home. Theres no passion no pride. I think we should bring the youngsters thru before the end of the season. At least they will want to wear the shirt.
We are playing over rated players (butt smith barton) and playing over the hill players (carr).
When will the management and board wake up and understand that we need young talented players who will go after every ball not give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Azvael
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Comment #77Keegan used to have good attaking player. I think Wise would be the coach in 2 week!!!! Keegan will resign !!
Ian_McP
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Comment #78I dont think even Wenger or Ferguson would have been able to turn this around. There are alot of questions to ask of keegan though. Smith is dreadful, all he does is lean into people. How can you be a premiership quality striker and not score?!!? why is viduka sitting on the bench? why did emre only just come on?
Edd Case
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #79Can someone tell me why Faye – who has Prem experience, is taller and a proven, quality defender in the Prem is on the bench and Cacapa, who’s been suspect all season starts?
And also, why Enrique, who’s looked pretty good and must be reasonably fit (if he’s on the bench) doesnt start but Carr, a pathetic excuse for a right back, does – BUT A LEFT BACK!
And lastly, why Viduka is on the bench, and Smith, who’s flippin’ terrible no matter where he plays, starts?
Keegan has as many questions to answer as Big Fat Sam did at the minute…
While I’m at it,…
Duff, crap – stay on the wing son…
Milner, great cross first half but just as he always does, he gets the ball, stares at the ground, runs around in circles until he tackles himself or loses the ball.
Barton – anonymous.
Owen, will score more, given the service.
P.S. Why hasn’t Emre started?
It was only the other day that Keegan said, “Emre is the only player we have that can open up the opposition” !!!!!!!
F*ck me Kev, if you can see that, then why the f*ck don’t you give us half a chance of scoring a few by starting him?
Same sh*t Newcastle, different toilet.
Howie
Feb 9, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Comment #80perhaps kk would feel guilty if he took smith off. after all guilt is far more important that the result