Kevin Keegan was quick to give full credit to David Moyes and Everton after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Goodison Park.
Kevin Keegan – tribute to Moyes and Everton
Everton made sure of 5th place in the Premier League today and qualification for next season’s UEFA Cup.
Newcastle were second best this afternoon for most of the game, and went behind in the 29th minute when Yakubu headed home Manuel Fernandes’ free-kick.
Yakubu seemed to have scored again after 34 minutes but Lescott was flagged for offside. TV replays showed he was only fractionally offside, if not actually level.
Michael Owen (47) leveled the scores from the penalty spot just after the break, but Newcastle then tailed off and Joleon Lescott (70) and Yakubu (82), with a penalty, finished off Newcastle.
Steve Harper was very busy, to say the least, and he was easily Newcastle’s best player, and will be hard to displace next season, that’s for sure.
After the game Kevin Keegan was magnanimous in his praise for Everton as he said:
“Everton are an inspiration to everyone.”
“They haven’t got a massive squad but they made good investment in the summer with players such as Yakubu, Lescott and Jagielka.”
“They have finished fifth and that’s a terrific achievement.”
“They have a got a good squad and a great togetherness and a lot of very good professionals.”
“But if they can do it then why can’t we?”
Good words from Kevin, which will lighten up some Newcastle fans.
After watching the game today, we’d love to see young N’Zogbia stay at the Toon.
He looked what he is this afternoon – a young exciting player who will be a crowd favorite wherever he goes.
Charles got the penalty for us today when he was just too skillful for Yobo. He also played with good spirit – hopefully because he wants to stay.  😀
But make no mistake that Everton were much the better side today, and the scoreline could have been a lot worse, if Steve Harper hadn’t produced heroics in the Newcastle goal.
Surely, there cannot be many better English goalkeepers than Harper on his performance both today and overall since January. Well done Steve today.
Comments welcome.
94 comments so far
Tom_Toon
May 11, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Comment #41Depends on the monies 🙂
Atiba Hutchinson looks like a good AM, full of running and energy but probably not the playmaker we need.
Ive heard good thing about Nordstrand, hes meant to be very talented?
Also Silberbauer and Wurtz. Wurtz looks a pretty good dm but Silberbauer from what ive seen probably isnt good enough for the PL.
Theres also a young defender called Kjaer who was linked to Madrid, havent seen him plays and Thygesen who is meant to be ok, but like Silberbauer probably not good enough.
Thats my knowledge of Danish football done to death now.
Whitey
May 11, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Comment #42Where was Obafemi Martins today?
was it just a rest or sumit?
ende
May 11, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Comment #43I’ve considered Rasmussen before. I think he’d fit in pretty well.
Danish_Magpie
May 11, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Comment #44Hutchinson and Nordstrand are both good players. Hutchinson as you mention, has a big tank on him, runs non-stop, is fast, pretty skillful and gets a decent amount of goals from midfield. He is not a bad tackler either so I would consider him more of a complete CM than AM.. but yeah, good assessment of him.
Nordstrand is a good talent and I would not be surprised if he played in a big league in 2-3 years. Good eye for goal, pretty good technically, good movement and gets lots of assists too. Only thing I would say is that right now he might be a bit weak for the prem..
valle
May 11, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Comment #45Danish_Magpie
Ja jeg er Dansk 🙂
Kahlenberg yes, but i still feel we can do better, and that creative midfeilder will be a vital piece in our team, so imo we need to look to the best one we could get.
Tom_Toon
Christian Poulsen ofc 🙂 … Btw did you guys know that Shearer used to be a fan of retired Danish attacker Preben Elkjær?
mikeygd
May 11, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Comment #46i would like to see park ji sung, SWP, Mcgeady, pennant, dunne, santa cruz, lennon, bridge, riise, bullard, crouch, petrov and out with owen, ameobi, carr, smith, geremi, nzogbia, duff, enrique, viduka,
Harper
Beye, Dunne, Faye, Bridge
SWP, Petrov, Bullard, Park
Martins, Santa Cruz
Subs,
Given
Lennon
Crouch
Riise
Mcgeady
Then we will have lots of competition just so get into the 16
Barton,
Pennant,
Milner,
Taylor, etc….
Like it would ever happen but i actually believe we have more chance of stealing blackburn, evertons, villas best players than we do attracting the foreign stars who are being tracked by every team in the top 4. We should be raiding the smaller clubs making them weaker and us stronger!
nightfall
May 11, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Comment #47i mean…what a season?! who’d think our club will have so many changes… the worst moment of the season: the signing of alan smith, the best: sacking sam. 2nd worst: when you, Ed, left. glad you worked it out 🙂
I’d like to thank you for all your work…you (trying to, but still..) were making us United in really ****** up times…you still are…and you still will be….i hope! 🙂 Keep up the good work!
now i just hope kev (if he’ll stay) stops spreading negative comments about the club and starts to listen to wise & co. they will get us good players (young, talented, unknown – cheep), but kev must stop dreaming about big players from the past…
cheers
Tim_Toon
May 11, 2008 at 9:43 PM
Comment #48Lads, what are your thoughts on Tranquillo Barnetta? Could we bring to St.James and would he suit the pl?
Tom_Toon
May 11, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Comment #49Defintely! Good player. A complete winger. Can cross, dribble, take on a player, however he isnt a speed demon.
Its gonna get confusing now, ‘Tim_Toon’
valle
May 11, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Comment #50TuT_Am_Toon
Who awoke me!?, serve my bidding and fetch me Henry
valle
May 11, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Comment #51Was also thinking bout a Tit_Toon but that was properly over the edge.
🙂
Yorkie Dave
May 11, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Comment #52Hi again, a little off subject. i cant think of the name of the classical music what the players walk out to, can anyone help?
I dont mean Blaydon Races
Rob Kirton
May 11, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Comment #53Yorkie Dave: The piece of music you’re looking for is Oh Fortuna from Carmina Burina by Carl Orf. Famously used in the old spice ads (if you’re old enough to remember)
Actually I think the Blaydon Races is as much as a classic :0)
Hamas (51times)
May 11, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Comment #54mikeygd – Why would you sell Enrique? He’s done well in his first season.
Rob Kirton
May 11, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Comment #55Hammy: Thanks for the comments. Re my thoughts – I don’t know. I try not speculate too much but prefer to observe whenever things do happen. Over 30 years of following the toon has taught me not to second guess developments…
Yorkie Dave
May 11, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Comment #56Thank you very much. it will kick off my day every day along with Blaydon races just before work
ObaFan2
May 11, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Comment #57KK just said ” I might be disappointed but I’m still here” on match o’ the day !
and all the panel agree we need to spend money!
Tom_Toon
May 11, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Comment #58He said ‘they (the players)’.
merseyside-mag
May 11, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Comment #59I was sat in the upper gwladys st end today – the most everton part of the ground to be in and honestly it was not hard to avoid getting excited, the hardest part was avoiding showing frustration when some newcastle players looked either inept or uninterested. Now i admit owen is a valuable player but on todays performance- is he what we need? he seemed content to let young andy carroll do the graft by himself and rarely even threatened to move in a forward direction (shades of scotty parker anyone?) and with faye’s incompetent marking and cacapa’s indecision, how can we not guarantee ramage a decent first team opportunity? he’s no john terry but he’s an honest, no frills defender with plenty of potential. oh aye and bin duff off – he just doesn’t seem to give one!!! i’m not a happy manafter today. would rather come a few places lower with a good bunch of lads who give everything they have!
michael
May 12, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Comment #60Smith hasn’t been good at all this season, but he might improve next year. He hasn’t been bad over the last 6-7 years in the PL.
N’Zogbia will go nowhere as Spurs signed Modric and no-one else will pay for him.
Owen won’t be leaving for Man U either according to Alex Ferguson this afternoon on Sky Sports.
I think Gomis might an alright signing as it looks like Vids is out for 6 mths now.
Bill F
May 12, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Comment #61I see that Toon target Dunne had another cracking game for ManC today, perhaps we will soon have this top class defender doing likewise for us soon.
Jim
May 12, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Comment #62What’s the scoop on Oba?
Cheers for the blog. It’s kept an Aberdonian exile almost sane. Let’s see if we have a good Summer of signings although I’m a little more pesimistic about that now.
Owen, N’Zogbia, Milner out??? Others in their 30’s. We need quite a few to hit the top half next season and it’s not looking so ‘money bags’ any more. Probably a sound strategy before the transfer window opens (when is it?) but I feel more realistic than optomistic now.
Keegan’s sound bite on MOTD was quite interesting when he stated that the meeting needed to be had and he was pleased with the way it went.
I would love to see McGeady at NUFC but I don’t think he’ll leave Celtic. Dunne’s red card today may have blown it for Man City’s Euro footie and Sven’s future so we’ll have a chance at him (with a few other interested parties). Which left back we’ll get is an interesting one, though the jungle drums are banging out Riise’s name. I’m most looking forward to an attacking midfieler, which we could really use and have no idea who it’ll be.
Out:
Ramage
Troisi
Carr
Smith
Ameobi
Rosenthal
Diatta
& the one’s I want to stay, but could be on their way:
Owen
N’Zogbia
Milner
Emre
That’s 11 players from a small squad. Either half of the reserves are making the full step up, such as Carrol, Edgar and Lua Lua or we’re wading well in to the market.
One smart arsed comment from Hanson tonight said we needed £400 million to spend. If you think about it, Ashley’s spent about that much on the club already. It might not be pure speculation on the transfer kitty and wages cap!
Paul
May 12, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Comment #63GK Harper, Given, Foster/Krul (One on loan)
DL Shorey, Enrique
DR Beye, Edgar (I agree with what was said above HE NEEDS EXPERIENCE)
DC Faye, Dunne, Taylor, Tozer
MC Butt, Sebastian Larsson
LCM Lennon, Milner
RCM Barton, Geremi
FWD: Huntelaar, Oba, McFadden, Carroll, Lua-Lua
Larsson will be a knocked down price as Birmingham are now relegated, He has a grewat finish, he is good!! He scored 2 goals in that shocking night last season in Jan when we lost in the FA Cup I was there:'(!! I think under Keegan the lad can really flourish, Keegan always brings the talent out on a player!! Huntelaar will be tough but he will be amazing, McFadden is also Birmingham so will be cheap! If he is worth it I don’t know, for Brimingham recently he has really played well. Shorey will cost a bit from Reading they won’t let him go on the cheap and other clubs will want him too. Dunne wants out of Man City and where better than with King Kev in the mighty Toon!! He’s a star player for Man City this term, he has his mistakes but then with Faye and Taylor I think he will be mint!! I just love Oba so keep him. Owen doesn’t want to be in the toon, I seen a review with Oba the other day and he loves the North East he is a proud Magpie!! Owen loves his pay cheque, GET OWEN OUT!! Lets breed these young players we have, Tozer is a really good player get him into the first team with Edgar. Carrol is really devloping as a player we need to play him more and start with Lua-Lua. Homegrown talent is more important under Ashleys new ruling. Develop what we have… it’s cheaper:) Also Lennon is out of favour at Tottenham and anyways it’s a horrible team who would wanna play there. He is a fast player, he can cross balls, he can run round defences and he’s perfect for brining off the bench because of his huge energy. A great player I think, we need decent players. It’s what I would like to see next year. I don’t watch much foreign football so most my team I chose are already in the EPL so if any other ideas. I’ll be ok if you say my team is crap haha no offence taken.
P.S. I can’t spell very good.
Hamas (51times)
May 12, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Comment #64Bill F – He got sent off before he could do anything, really. Pay attention will you?
ObaFan2
May 12, 2008 at 1:02 AM
Comment #65sarcasm, the lowest form of wit but one of the funniest lol
ObaFan2
May 12, 2008 at 1:29 AM
Comment #66Tom_Toon, both wrong… he said…
” It was a good meeting and I told the players that I might disappoint them but I’m still here and I’m gonna be here and I want to take this club back up the table with the players and the staff I’ve got”
after listening to it again he’s joking but you can tell he’s a little more thoughtful on what he says and he was a little less emotional than last Monday 🙂
Bill F
May 12, 2008 at 1:33 AM
Comment #67Hamas, I know, it’s called sarcasm.
For once he actually got close enough to foul someone, perhaps he is improving, not!!
Are there still people who think he would be a good acquisition. Please never let him wear B/W stripes unless it’s for Notts County
Toon_Ksk
May 12, 2008 at 1:34 AM
Comment #68KK, Wise, PLEASE LIST AIMAR AS ONE OF YOUR SIGNINGS!!
Singa---Toon
May 12, 2008 at 1:54 AM
Comment #69Newcastle Forever…This is probable one of the worst season for NUFC. But if the right players are bought in and the others not so good ones out. Then there may still be some chance to get to fifth.
Toon_Ksk
May 12, 2008 at 3:42 AM
Comment #70Good news guys!!!! GOOD NEWS!!!
I was reading NUFC.com and we might have taken over Man City on the Fair Play Table. I know nothing is confirmed but at least there is a chance of playing UEFA cup next season!!
Hamas (51times)
May 12, 2008 at 3:54 AM
Comment #71Through the back door again? I’d take it…
Toon_Ksk
May 12, 2008 at 4:09 AM
Comment #72Sorry, I realised NUFC.com and other newspapers might have made a mistake with the UEFA Fair Play qualification. The tables that placed Newcastle fifth is the disciplinary table and it is not the table that will qualify us for UEFA.
The correct table is the Fair Play Table and we are not even near the top half of the table.
http://www.premierleague.com/page/FairPlayTable/0,,12306,00.html
Toon_Ksk
May 12, 2008 at 4:13 AM
Comment #73Sorry, I realised there is a mistake. The table shown on NUFC.com is not the correct table. The table that put us on fifth spot is the disciplinary table.
The UEFA Fair Play qualification is base on the Fair Play table and not the discplinary table. You can check our standings on premierleague.com. We are at 14th at game 36. So, that sums up our season. No UEFA cup, no Modric and nothing to be excited about.
Hamas (51times)
May 12, 2008 at 4:56 AM
Comment #74Nevermind then, I figured there would be something to stop us really. Don’t worry about it, let’s just wait and see who we bring in and enjoy the UEFA Cup, Champions League and FA Cup finals. Plus Euro 08 and the Olympics 🙂
Raine Lahtinen
May 12, 2008 at 6:16 AM
Comment #75Looking at the Fair Play table, I can’t help but think of all the useless cards Smith picked up.
Tom
May 12, 2008 at 7:51 AM
Comment #76whats the difference? how are we 5th on one and 14th on the other?
Hammy
May 12, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Comment #77Yeah, congratulations to Snarling Tigger Smith for single handedly scuppering any chance we may have had for sneaking into Europe.
Little tw@t.
michael
May 12, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Comment #78i said that a couple of days ago, but actually someone told me nicky butt got more yellows. i’d rather keep smith than geremi!!
Bill F
May 12, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Comment #79Yes but Butt and Geremi did more to keep us in the EPL, would we (could we) want to be in Europe as a championship team?
It worries me a bit that KK seems to have something of a selective memory with some players remembering how good they once were rather than how they are now. As someone once said nostalgia just aint what it used to be.
Ian
May 12, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Comment #80Imagine next season, Martins suffers an injury and it knocks him out for 6 months, Nzogbia has gone, Viduka has niggling injuries and we have Owen and Carroll at the front with no other options. That Everton game is how it would look.
If that wasnt a wake up call I do not know what is.
Our priority? Sell Carroll 0% effort and no clear showing of skill, buy another fast striker I keep saying it but Djibril Cisse is a player we have a hope of landing, keep Owen if he will work for sensible wages if not, Berbatov would be a much better replacement, find another striker who isnt expensive but can do a basic job, if not keep Ameobi as a last resort striker, 20k per year isnt expensive and he is 20 times better than Carroll.
Why didnt we try Fabio???? Now we dont know if we have a potential first team striker.
Lua Lua should have a permanent place in the first team.
Then do the rest as we intended, a couple of excellent midfielders and shore up the back.
Smith isnt our worst player, Emre is, we have to put a non scoring striker on the pitch because our high priced international is complete rubbish, that is the truth. Emre should be our rock in the centre.
As soon as we lose our threat at the front the opposition is all over us, they were so confident we wouldnt score they had no real cover in their defense when they were going forward, we need a permanent threat and it cant just be Martins who can counter, we saw it again with Nzogbia a midfielder constantly ahead of the strikers because they are to slow, Carroll should be ashamed, Owen we know has lost pace, get another fast striker in there and midfielders as fast as Nzogbia if possible.
Djibril Cisse is one of the fastest strikers on the planet, at £6m he is cheap.