Newcastle’s midfielder Jonas Gutierrez started for Argentina last night against Scotland, and created the winning goal for his country.
Jonas Gutierrez – laid on Argentine winner after just 8 minutes
Diego Maradona celebrated his first match in charge of the Argentina national side with a victory in Scotland last night. Coloccini was on the bench but was not called on during the game, so at least he will be fit for Saturday. 
Jonas laid on the pass for Atletico Madrid’s Maxi Rodriguez to beat Rangers’ goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the 8th minute of the game, quite a start for the visitors.
Gutierrez was replaced after 70 minutes, but looked OK and should be fit for Saturday’s game at Chelsea, and certainly Maradona seemed pleased with the winger’s performance, as he hugged the player when he came off.
It was Gutierrez’ 5th cap for the Argentine side and Diego had said he wanted to look at a few fringe players, and surely Gutierrez will have done himself a lot of good last night.
Shay Given was the Ireland captain last night but conceded after just 2 minutes as the Irish went down to a 3-2 friendly defeat against Poland at Croke Park, Dublin, in what was a mediocre performance from the Irish.
Damien Duff also figured prominently in the game and got his 71st cap, but missed a number of good chances he had carved out for himself. It was the first defeat for Ireland under new manager Giovanni Trapattoni, in this his 6th game in charge.
But following last night’s friendly games, it looks like we have suffered no injuries to any of our players, which has to be good news.
Comments welcome.
55 responses so far ↓
1 wayneo009 // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:24 AM
God I hope we can keep hold of jonas !!! the big boys will come calling soon enought !!!!!!!
2 ELFER // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:29 AM
He calls himself happy in the toon and imagine what will happen if good new owners come and bring in shearer!! God will this be electrisizing!
We should go out with this players on saturday against chelski:
————-GIVEN—————-
BEYE-TAYLOR-COLOCCINI-JOSE
——-BARTON-GUTHRIE———
GEREMI—————-GUTIEREZ
——–OWEN-MARTINS———-
3 ELFER // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Oh of course replace Barton with Butt unfortunately
4 ELFER // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:31 AM
And if Taylor doesn’t win the race put Bassong in there
5 Monster // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:34 AM
And replace Geremi with Charlie or Duff.
6 Monster // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:45 AM
I’d probably have Martins on his own up front and have Owen dropping back a bit too.
7 Marguerite // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I am going to get hung for this comment, but I thought Jonas was poor apart from his lay off for the goal. I also think he has been pretty poor the last two matches for us.
I have my crash helmet on ready for the flak!
8 Alex // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:52 AM
We should go 433
GIVEN
Beye Bassong Colo Jose
Jonas butt Nzogbia
martins Carrol owen
9 ELFER // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:52 AM
No need for your helmet…you’re right! Seems he still has a bit lack from that broken shoulder…actually he was a bit poor, yes! Hope he can build on it and get back to where he was against MANU, pure class!!
10 Macas // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Marguerite – I completely agree about Jonas being nothing special the last couple of games, couldn’t understand the crowd reaction when he got subbed against Wigan.
11 Monster // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Colo quote:
“I simply try to play the best I can – and never get injured!” laughed the 26-year-old.”
He’s just jinxed himself good n proper. D’oh!
12 ELFER // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:54 AM
This could be our strongest line up, but we then have not much cover:
————————GIVEN—————-—
BEYE-BASSONG-COLOCCINI-ZOG
——-——BUTT-—GUTHRIE———
GEREMI———————-GUTIEREZ
——–——OWEN-MARTINS———-—
13 Monster // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:55 AM
It’s Alex who needs the crash helmet – suggesting a starting lineup featuring Andy Carrol! lol
14 Bill F (Original) // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:57 AM
No obvious injuries, so thanks to the football gods for that. Marguerite I saw all of the AV game and thought Jonas had a canny game, he was certainly pulling his weight. Didn’t see all of the Wigan game only the highlights so can’t really comment on that but from what I read he wasn’t the worst player on the pitch. I wonder sometimes if he is trying to hard, might sound a little daft but it does happen with some players.
15 THE BEAT. // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:57 AM
jonas has been poor the last few games,the lad always defends well,looks more like a fullback at this moment though.
16 ELFER // Nov 20, 2008 at 10:58 AM
We could also try to play GEREMI out of position on the left:
—————————GIVEN—————-———
BEYE-BASSONG-COLOCCINI-GEREMI
——-———BUTT—GUTHRIE—————
GUTIEREZ—————————-N’ZOGBIA
——–———OWEN-MARTINS———-—
Might be a try? I think it won’t be a good idea to start Enrique and Zoggy, becouse we would be weak defensively there…
17 Bill F (Original) // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Also has everyone forgotten that sublime pass for our second goal in the AV game. Even if he can only do that (on top of his massive defensive efforts) once or twice a game he is worth his salt.
18 Alex // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Monster already had me helmet on before i posted
just think ameobi did not do much against Wigan . Maybe give Carrol a sniff to see if he has woke up to the fact he needs to try if he wants a place in the team .
19 Whumpie // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:12 AM
I’d only put Geremi on there if (flying pig – duck!) we’re ahead and want to stabilise. The usual nice problem deciding which 2 of Zog, Duff and Jonas. I think you start with Duff and Jonas, and bring Zog on to terrorise them after about an hour. With lesser opposition maybe the other way around with Duff and Zog – but we need the experience there.
Nice to have the options, eh?
20 Monster // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:20 AM
If Carrol does get a chance I’d like to think it would be his last… although that is probably a bit harsh…
What I’m trying to say is that he needs to show what he can do sooner rather than later. Based on his brief appearances so far, we definitely have better options.
21 Tom_Toon // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Given
Beye-Coloccini-Bassong
Jonas-Geremi-Butt-Guthrie-N’Zogbia
Ameobi-Martins
22 Marguerite // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Bill F (17) I stick by what I said whilst agreeing with the comment about his pass; that was the first time in absolutely agest that he took his man on and cut to the byeline to pass. Superb. I wish we could see more of that from him.
Elfer (9) you could be right, it may be taking him time to recover from the broken collar bone.
23 Alex // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:28 AM
agreed monster ,but this is a nothing to loose game . we are expected to get stuffed and this is a chance for the lad to show some balls and take his chance if he gets it . surely he must know he needs to change his attitude , after all there must be a decent player in there somewhere or he would never have made the 1st team squad.
24 Ausgeordie // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I think I’d have
………………….Given.
Beye…….Collo…….Bassong…Enrique
Jonas…..Guthrie…….Butt……Duff
…………….Owen…….Martins
I’d have Butt on the right as we are weaker on defence on the left side and he will brake play up….fingers crossed. have zog ready if Duff is not producing but as he used to play for chelsea it may be good be time for him to get a goal.
25 Ageordiedoonsooth // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:46 AM
We’ll get mullered whatever team we put out end of story. Write this game off & concentrate on beating the smoggies
26 irish_al // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Give the lad his last chance against chelsea?
yeah, sounds a bit harsh
27 boater // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Monster… that’s the toon spirit! Carroll has had more than enough chances… we groom young’uns for 6 years and then give them about 20 minutes chance – you’d think he would have scored a few hat tricks by now eh. Then we say in chorus – are you ready….. 1..2..3.. ‘Championship Material’. Same for Enrique, Taylor, Ameobi (yup still)… flush them down the toilet and replace them with ….. ummm Warnock, etc.
28 selly no skill // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM
geremi is no better than a right back.and not as good as beye.substitute for you my boy.duff is a headless chicken with no final ball.the zog must start.
team as follows. given
beye bassong colo enrique
jonas butt guthrie zog
owen
martins
29 Ryan Peacock // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM
jonas for me, is one of the best wingers in the world
30 Spyro // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Jonas is poor for us because he is playing in a poor side. teams now know he is our only real threat in midfield and they prepare for him accordingly i.e. double marking or staying a reasonable distance in front of him so that he cant knock the ball past them and run etc
Jonas will be better when he is part of an already class side that has more than one quality player.
31 Spyro // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:22 PM
When i say “jonas is poor for us”, this does not reflect my opinion, but others who are criticising him. I personally feel he is still a class apart from the rest of our midfielders even when he is having an off day.
32 Brettoon // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:23 PM
What the hell is wrong with having the Zog in central midfield with Guthrie..
Stop playing Butt!!
33 Spyro // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Brettoon
Unfortunately Butt will feature until we sign a proper DM…or until he retires. (sigh)
34 Punk Skunk // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Match their 433!..
…But leave Given out, see he was way off his line for the goals last again…Chavs have excellent long shot exponents & i can see Shay bein’ chipped, lobbed etc…Soz like!..
…No to Carrol, soz but Ameobi actually scores goals…
35 Punk Skunk // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I agree brettoon,
with theZog in the middle, he’s dyin’ to play there, it give him a new lease of life, worth a shot, & he normally does good v chavski!..
…Until they foul him outta the game!..
36 Monster // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:33 PM
boater – tbh my comment was based on the fact that we have better options… as I said…
The simple fact is, if he continues to look as disinterested as he has every time he’s played (barring of course that friendly against Juve..) then why should he be played? Surely others deserve a chance?
37 Ryan Peacock // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:33 PM
my formation for chelski
given
geremi coloccini beye bassong
jonas guthrie duff
owen
martins ameobi
38 rooks // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
nice pic, has he got the ball on an invisible string?
39 KK FOREVER (Ross) // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Ed-Maradonna was hugging and kissing every single one of his players when they came off! It was like they’d just win the world cup.
By the way, did anyone see him holding his nose and sniffing like mad when the camera cut to him? it immediatly cut away and the commentators didnt say a thing. Was hilarious, couldnt have looked more like he’d just nipped off for a sly line if he tried.
40 The Alchemist // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Beye Bassong Colo Zog
Butt Guthrie
Jonas Duff Martins
Owen
Pack the midfield and play to feet with the front four interchanging places. even if we do lose at least we would have gone out and tried to attack them
41 WesToon // Nov 20, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Spidey,all i can say is THANK-YOU Lad!! You are a shining light in an otherwise pretty poor team
Just imagine 2 Spidermen in the mid-field,now that would be a sight for my sore eyes
42 LATINAMERICATOON // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:01 PM
JONAS’S RUN IN TO THE BOX FOR THE GOAL AGAINST VILLA. WAS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN SOMEONE DO SUCH A THING SINCE THE DAYS OF ROBERT AND SOLANO. HE IS DEFINETLY A DIRECT PLAYER AND ALWAYS TRIES TO CREATE SPACES BY TAKING SOMEONE ON. FORTUNATLY HE IS ALSO VERY GOOD AT PROTECTING THE BALL AND DESPITE HIM TAKING ON ALOT HE RARELY USES POSESION, IN THAT RESPECT HE IS BETTER THAN ROBERT IN THAT HE DOESNT LOSE THE BALL AND TRACKS BACK ALOT ALSO. HIM AND COLO ARE MY BRIGHT SPARKS OF THE SEASON AND IF WE MANAGED TO SNATCH 2 TO 3 OTHER PLAYERS OF THEIR STANDARD WE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IN THE TABLE
43 LATINAMERICATOON // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:05 PM
JONAS’S RUN IN TO THE BOX FOR THE GOAL AGAINST VILLA. WAS THE FIRST TIME I’VE SEEN SOMEONE DO SUCH A THING SINCE THE DAYS OF ROBERT AND SOLANO. HE IS DEFINETLY A DIRECT PLAYER AND ALWAYS TRIES TO CREATE SPACES BY TAKING SOMEONE ON. FORTUNATLY HE IS ALSO VERY GOOD AT PROTECTING THE BALL AND DESPITE HIM TAKING ON ALOT HE RARELY LOSES POSESION, IN THAT RESPECT HE IS BETTER THAN ROBERT IN THAT HE DOESNT LOSE THE BALL AND TRACKS BACK ALOT ALSO. HIM AND COLO ARE MY BRIGHT SPARKS OF THE SEASON AND IF WE MANAGED TO SNATCH 2 TO 3 OTHER PLAYERS OF THEIR STANDARD WE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IN THE TABLE. WE NEED TO HAVE PLAYERS LIKE JONAS WHO CAN PRODUCE THE EFFORT AND A MOMENT THAT CREATES A GOAL, EVEN IF THEY ARENT AT THE TOP OF THEIR FORM. THAT’S HOW YOU MEASURE TOP CLASS PLAYERS.
44 Punk Skunk // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Aye latin!..
…Go lower case tho’ bro’, as caps are hard to read, sorry!..
45 JP...from The Rock // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:22 PM
I would give that kid Ranger a chance and place him on the bench with the intention of giving him a run out if Ameobi isn’t pulling the strings. He does look very promising, much better option than Carroll IMO.
Ps. Jonas played well for Argentina never lost a ball and always made good use of it and covered every player near him, great tracking back and didn’t look out of place.
46 JP...from The Rock // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Westoon- We had that in Jonas and Milner but some idiot named Mike had other ideas.
47 LATINAMERICATOON // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:38 PM
sorry for the caps, I got half way there before i noticed caps were on and I couldn’t be bothered to rewrite.
48 dan // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:43 PM
I still think Jonas is the best player we have signed at this club for a long, long time.
Since the first Keegan days really.
You have to give credit to Wise and Jiminez for those two!
49 LATINAMERICATOON // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I agree dan, both colo and jonas are top players we were lucky to snatch them. This goes to prove that we have still have a good stand on the international stage. Although, some tottenham supports who come on this site who have never left london seem to disagree. In south america newcastle are constantly on tv and tottenham, never are we are the team that gets the most coverage after the top 4. We are even more on tv since we have had both argentines
50 WesToon // Nov 20, 2008 at 1:57 PM
@ JP…from The Rock // Nov 20, 2008 at 13:24
Good point mate,Fekking sad,but true
51 Marty-TOON RISING // Nov 20, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Great player our Jonas,i think Charlie deserves a game but that means Damo will be dropped.
Duff played well last night but he had some great chances that he greatly made himself but missed.
Drop Shola and go with 4-4-1-1 with Mo in front of the midfield linking up with Oba
52 bingo wing // Nov 20, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Its a pitty duff couldnt get injured.
That just proves hes no good at anything!
I wish Nzogbia would get a start imo hes our best player!
The only reason duff gets a game is because of kinear both from the same town!
53 bingo wing // Nov 20, 2008 at 4:26 PM
also do not drop ameobi he has been our best player the last couple of games, also you cant play owen and martins together; you need a big tall striker along a little one!
54 milkatoon // Nov 20, 2008 at 11:49 PM
kinear will never drop ameobi he goes for a direct style which means laying the headers off ameobi, letting ameobi or the chelsea defence line head the ball clear then hopefully win that cleared ball in the midfield.
55 Brutooooon // Nov 21, 2008 at 12:02 AM
but if we a relegate, jonas would move on. no one would play for a championship side. its better we get result first and then we build up…same like last 5 seasons
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