Newcastle gained a second successive away draw and their second successive clean sheet as they held Middlesbrough at The Riverside this afternoon, in front of over 32,00 fans in an evenly fought contest with few clear cut chances.
The teams were well matched and it was a good open game at the Riverside with both sides playing more than decent football, and Newcastle came closest to taking the lead in the first half, when a beautiful shot on the turn by Oba Martins had Boro goalkeeper Ross Turnbull well beaten, but the ball hit the cross bar and went over.
But all in all the first half was evenly matched with few clear cut chances and both sides looking for the opening.
Then in the second half Middlesbrough began to get more of the game but Bassong and Coloccini were again outstanding at the heart of the Newcastle defense and were able to hold the Boro forwards at bay.
Then after 65 minutes manager Kinnear made a strange decision when he replaced the effective and sharp Oba Martins with Mark Viduka, but left Michael Owen in the game, when Michael didn’t show much all afternoon.
It could be that Joe’s thinking was that he wanted to give Michael some time on the field, but it was a little unfair on Martins, and we cannot have Martins be the fall guy this time, as he was under Big Sam.
But Alves should have done better when he was almost clean through on 67 minutes, but his shot from just outside the area was wide and high, when he could have scored for the home side.
It was one of the few times Alves got away from Sebastien Bassong, who handled the big Brazilian brilliantly all afternoon.
Viduka looked good when he came on, and since we haven’t scored for a couple of games look for Joe to maybe start in a 4-3-3 formation next week in our home game with Stoke City, which is now a must-win game.
This is also our third draw on the trot, and we’re not going to get away form the relegation zone quickly with draws. We must start winning these games, when we can, but to be fair to Middlesbrough, they played well today, and it would have been very hard on them had Newcastle captured all 3 points.
But we still wouldn’t have minded too much to have won the game. 😀
A draw was a fair result and Newcastle fans can take away another terrific defensive display form the lads, and again Coloccini and Bassong were superb for Newcastle. Young Seb Bassong is starting to look like a great player for Newcastle in central defense.
We think Kinnear will be well pleased with the display, if not the result, because Newcastle looked solid and kept their shape, and found Middlesbrough in good form.
Kinnear and our coaches have done a great job with the defense, they loook solid these days, and now we need to learn again how to score goals. Viduka back from injury will help and maybe Alan Shearer could come in a few days a week, and show them how to do it. And as we said maybe we play 4-3-3 at home so we can get some goals and some wins.
Oh yes, one more thing is that Newcastle move up one place, and above Sunderland who were hammered 4-1 at The Stadium of Light this afternoon by Bolton, of all teams, who beat Middlesbrough last week away.
Sunderland’s failing was their defense as every goal they conceded was questionable at best.
They may have beat us 2-1 at The Stadium of Light, on October 28th, for the first time in 28 years, but we must have put a curse on them, because since then they’ve lost 6 of their last 7 league games.
Their next game is – yes – Manchester United away.
TEAMS
MFC: Ross Turnbull, Justin Hoyte, Andrew Taylor, David Wheater, Emanuel Pogatetz, Jeremie Aliadiere, Julio Arca, Didier Digard, Stewart Downing, Tuncay Sunli, Alfonso Alves
Subs: Adam Johnson, Marvin Emnes, Mido, Jonathan Grounds, Seb Hines, Josh Walker, Brad Jones
NUFC: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Sebastien Bassong, Fabricio Coloccini, Nicky Butt, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Charles N’Zogbia, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (c)
Subs: Steve Harper, Claudio Cacapa, Steven Taylor, Mark Viduka, David Edgar, Andy Carroll, Geremi
Referee: Alan Wiley
Attendance: 32,160
93 comments so far
Kris
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Comment #411st sort of playr that should be on Joe’s shopping list is a creative Midfielder. KK wanted one for months but never got one. Were just so predictible.
Am I the only person who wouldn’t be dissapointed if Owen left in the summer? He hardly ever plays and when he does he doesn’t do that much for the team.
Poor performance again, but a good point!
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Comment #42Hugh Jorgan-The scum lost 4-1 at home to bolton today, i beleive 😀
Big Dave
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Comment #43well lads j7ust finished work so never seen or heard anything of the match, but by some comments i didnt miss much ? I think JK is trying to keep MO sweet in the hope he stays. so was there many good points to the game it seem Seb done well again.
wigaz
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Comment #44Owen did sweet FA today! oba has every right to be PDOFF!!! I would od took Owen off fo Vids but thats JFK’s choice i know why he did it, you cant huff your big name player when your trying to get him to sign new deal but Oba would have provided more of a threat! In general tho we were poor! Zog showed that he is a very greedy player & nothing more! Duff still has that spot for me, we missed Barton big time IMO! we need an attackin mid big time. Was nice to see the duke back tho!
Piers
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Comment #45Whats the point of Owen being a defensive midfielder…..Haha we bought him to score not to play defense……There are a lot of good defense midfielder’s out there that are a darn sight more cheaper than Owen
Stuart
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Comment #46I hope Bassong doesn’t keep playing so well. Ashley and Wise will have him off to the highest bidder!
Big Dave
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Comment #47just checking does anyone else’s page keep jumping on to other add pages and its only when im on this blog
Obafan
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Comment #48Isn’t it strange;
When we score goals our defence is letting a few scrappy goals in, which costs us points.
When we keep clean sheets, we aren’t able to create 2 good chances? Which leads to only 1 point out of 3.
dan
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Comment #49I may have been a bit harsh on Owen before. But IMhumbleO, he should not be captain and was the wrong player to use today.
Yes he can be an excellent finisher when we are playing at home and creating chances but… in games like this (most of them) he can’t hold the ball up or create chances out of nothing like the other two can.
All these ppl saying we would be mad to get rid.. how many years has he been here now? and yet Shola Ameobi !! is still the clubs top scorer.
ELFER
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Comment #50Piers you didn’t get the point…no he’s not a defensive midfielder, but right behind the two strikers he would be better I think! He can do some defensive work in the front and still be able to snap in and strike!
I think he’s one of our best passers and last year I hardly can remember a game wher he did miss one single pass! So that was my idea.
Nobby!
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Comment #51Unfortunately, I didn’t get to catch the game. I was usin this blog to keep track. We only get one sports channel here in the Philippines that televises the games, and it’s hardly the Newcastle game.
Can anyone recommend a website where I can catch the game weekly? Help out a fan here! 🙂
letshavadisco
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Comment #52good call heavy hitters, they both look confident in each other, once we get an lb things should become even more solid.
boater
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Comment #53Funny one… with 60 mins played…. and boro having had so much possession and producing nowt I felt we should have gone for it… they were there for the taking- thought we would have scored a couple in the last 20 mins if we had had the balls… the thing with Martins is he scores from nothing… whereas viduka coming on changes the whole team tactics and it took 25 mins just to re-adjust.
Bassong looked like Thuram at his best today… unbelievable player. Martins is our best striker let’s face it… and him coming off was JK absolutely being a coward for the 3 points opportunity… that said not a bad day.
I only hope that Oba and Bassong don’t become the two most likely to leave in january after today….
michael12
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #54Firstly I declare myself pleased with the result.
We need to look at the big picture.
As I have been saying for so long, points when not playing well is great and very important.
Also our defense, two successive games with clean sheets away from home is a good result.
We are building so do not expect us to be thrashing our opposition in our next game. Kinnear is working on our defense which we all know needs to be sorted is doing well.
dan
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Comment #55Nobby-
Usually on Justin.tv but it was stopped 2day because of copyright infringements!
Just search the team names on google and keep trying till u find one. It is a bit hit and miss tho!
Hope that helps
daydeburt
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Comment #56just got back from the game, i thought it was twatful, boro are pathetic and they dominated us. we never looked like a team. absolutley sick. my whole family went and we were left thinking what a complete and utter waste of money. work all week and was treated to thet tripe. piss off kinnear.
daydeburt
Nov 29, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Comment #57owen does not want to be here either
Danny
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Comment #58Viduka on, Martins off..Unbelievable!
Bussong THE BEST
Owen BIG ZERO!
Enrique, not that bad…
Guthrie very good,others just good…
But, Viduka on, Martins off..Unbelievable!
Piers
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Comment #59Elfer, that makes more sense…..but i still think we should sell him, he’s sometimes brilliant when he is in, but he’s is hardly ever in! He’s worth at least 10-15 mil….Thats enough for two solid young players, especially with the money from Milner.
ELFER
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Comment #60nobby and dan: here’s what you are looking for 😉
livefooty.doctor-serv.com
ELFER
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Comment #61Piers: That’s why I think we should keep him, but as everyone else he must not play every mach! I think today it would have been better to go with martins and duke – but in other games duke an MO is better…so it depends and I like to have such a strong strikeforce to choose from (add ameobi to that also).
Geordie Jayne
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Comment #62daydeburt – you are right to be angry – we are in a sorry state
Nobby!
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Comment #63Thanks dan! I’ll try that justin tv one out for the next game. Better search for a back-up one too, though! Lol!
Piers
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Comment #64You are entitled to your opinion….i just think that unless we keep up the likes of getting good young players like jonas colo bassong and guthrie then we will never be a top club. Viduka and Owen have not brought us anything.
Desmond - DesmondBlog.com
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Comment #65agree that owen shouldn’t be the captain. he’s not inspiring on the pitch and he doesn’t drives the ball like other captains did.
I would rather captain Beye. lol
ELFER
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Comment #66I think MO and Duke saved us from releagtion last year…but that’s my opinion.
Yes, we need young players, but not without having also some experienced ones!
I think the only player who constantly does fantastic and therefore should be our captain is Shay Given.
the big p
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Comment #67Whats the deal? Its a tight game and you need that one chance created from a player with the spirit to run at the defenders. Martins is a player you need in a game like that. Kinnear was trying to butter up owen.
Bad Bad decision, how will that affect Martins next appearance?
No we don’t want the team built around one player, OWEN
We got a point, thats better than none. But I fear we will lose the heart of one our more outstanding players. Martins that is, not owen.
DanToon
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Comment #68Captain – Joey Barton
Vice Captain – Shay Given
KK FOREVER (Ross)
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Comment #69completly off the subject but anybody watching the spartans on setanta? they’ve got a roofer in goal and he’s made two saves any premiership goalkeeper would be proud of.
Desmond - DesmondBlog.com
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Comment #70Barton as captain is kind of a good idea if he can keep himself off those red cards.
I dun like the idea of captaining a GK because he cant lead the team on the centre of the pitch. Barton can shouts and drive the team.
Jonas
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Comment #71Thought it was a pathetic decision to substitute Martins. He was our main danger and could not believe it when I saw his number for Viduka (good to see him back). I cannot blame him for going straight down the tunnel. PATHETIC JK
Spyro
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Comment #72It is amazing how our captain has managed to barely touch the ball in the last two matches. Owen is not captain material and i have said this since the Tottenham game in the Carling Cup. He DOESN’T lead by example and he DOESN’T inspire. I would rather give it to Butt.
Piers
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Comment #73Yes your right Owen and Vid did save us from relegation last year. They gave a superb effort to SAVE US FROM RELEGATION! That’s not why they were bought, they were bought to take us to Europe. They have not done that.
We don’t have the money to buy any player like manure, man city, tottenham, and chelsea….the most logical thing to do is to develop young talent. Which we have started and need to continue.
The Entertainers
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Comment #74A very good point at Boro who always raise there game against the better teams ! (tongue firmly in cheek)
Given – 8……World Class when needed
Beye – 7……Had better games
Enrique – 6……Started poor, got better
Colocini – 8……Consistant as ever
Bassong – 9……Best player on pitch.
Jonas – 7……Needed to help Beye more
Guthrie – 7……Either looked great or poor. Patchy
Butt – 7…….His usual steady self (i’m a fan)
Zog – 7…….Could have been better, could of been worse
Oba – 8…… Best attacking option…why Joe?
Owen – 6…… Will get better
Viduka – 7…….Hes something different!
I agree with the 4-3-3 remark against Stoke.
Well done Joe.
Not sure whats happening at the Toon.
We have choosen stability with JFK appointment.
Now 2 clean sheets away from home on the trot!
I like it and the goals will come.
Obafan
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Comment #75For me the best captain would be BEYE!! He has got everything a captain needs:
1. good player
2. playing with his hearth for the club
3. his interviews are fantastic; he would be an ideal man to talk for the others
But it won’t never happen, cause we’ve got the “great” Owen in our side.
Big Dave
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Comment #76Dantoon I have said loads of times that i think Joey would make a good captain as he would lead by example and he wouldnt be scared to tell the others to sort themselfs out if he needed to. and Nobby u will get lots of links on here when the matches are starting
Spyro
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Comment #77Owen was made captain by KK in a pathetic attempt to keep him here. It is ridiculous. He is not Cesc Fabregas and our whole style of pla doesn’t revolve around him. We can easily replace Owen with a striker who isn’t so one dimensional and injury prone. Decisions like today are the reaosn i want Owen gone.
Piers
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Comment #78And i agree with Spyro….Butt is absolutely captain material. Someone who gets the most out of his talent.
Spyro
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Comment #79Why are people giving Given an 8 rating? He did nothing today apart from save a shot that was blasted straight at him. Although he is class he deserves a 6 or 7 at best.
The Entertainers
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Comment #80Honestly some fans……!!!
This week its Owens turn to get bashed:
Welcome to the club Mikey, your in good company:
Taylor
Cacapa
Enrique
Butt
Barton
Duff
Viduka
Shola
For crying out loud, any fan should know Owen always takes 3-4 games to get going, then theres no stopping him.
Yes Joe was wrong today taking Oba off, but all this talk off stripping Owen of his captains responsibilty and benching him is beyond a joke!