After watching the game again last night, what was clear was that it was played by two sides, approaching their best form and with players brimming with confidence, after both teams have dragged themselves away from the bottom of the league, and gone on good runs.
Damien Duff – cameo appearance but he got the winner!
But Harry’s comment at the end to Sky Sports ,that he didn’t know how Tottenham lost, was just a little bit exaggerated, as for once Newcastle scored the late goal to take all 3 points.
But neither side really deserved to lose yesterday, and it was a game that both teams could be proud of, and it was all action for the full 90 minutes – some entertainment, that’s for sure.
It was hard to pick a player on the Newcastle side who didn’t have a good game, much like last weekend, and again it was another superb team performance, and Joe is starting to make a huge difference at St. James’ Park – that’s one thing that became clear yesterday.
We had worried a little in case it was a bit of a flash in the pan, but it seems like Joe has drummed into his players that they cannot get carried way with things, unlike the fans. 😀
Resilience and consistency is starting to be the way this Newcastle side plays, and just how good can young Sebastien Bassong become?
He looks the star of the Newcastle defense in nearly every game these days, at just 22 years old.
It was great to see Kinnear at the end of the game smiling, and just soaking up the electric atmosphere, which is St. James’ Park on a winning day, as the fans stayed to cheer both teams off the park.
Kinnear took time out to praise the wide men:
“Duffers was ever present when I came here,”
“I put him in and he picked up an injury which knocked him back for a couple of weeks and to be fair to Charles, he has come in and done very well.”
“I feel I’m getting the best out of all three wide players. Jonas has come in and done well, he was exceptional – man of the match – at Portsmouth.”
“Charles has got the first goal, even though it was an incredible pass by Shay Given.”
“So all three wide players are making it difficult. There’s a case to play any two from the three.”
“Whichever two from the three, you know you’re going to get a good response.”
Charles was probably the Man Of The Match yesterday, with an energetic and sterling performance, which was one of his best displays of the season for us, and he showed that left wing is definitely his best position.
Zog scored the first goal brilliantly, and set up Owen after 70 minutes with a chance that Michael will score from 9 times out of 10, but yesterday he blazed over the top from just 8 yards out. Oh well.
The only negative point from Newcastle’s viewpoint, was the Spurs goal, but it was a strange goal to concede, and in studying the replay several times, Modric came back from an offside position, and was just offside.
However, it was very close, and the linesmen was at least 5 yards behind the play, and in no position to see whether Modric was off-side or not. So he let the play go on, probably rightly so, and Modric took his chance very well for his first goal for Spurs.
But we had that bit of a luck, right at the end to grab all 3 points, when a great one-two between Duff and Viduka, opened up the Spurs defense, and Duff poked the ball home and then went into orbit – as did the Newcastle crowd.
It was an excellent game, and some advertisement for the Premier League, and a great result for us yesterday.
Now for Wigan on Friday afternoon, when we need to do it all over again.
Howay The Lads!!
57 comments so far
Born Again Geordie
Dec 22, 2008 at 8:38 AM
Comment #41wsq
lol – funny that ! 😀
Toon Graeme
Dec 22, 2008 at 8:42 AM
Comment #42Aye, Hughesy looks worried at citey. So would I after the way they played. Terrible.
HeronMag
Dec 22, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Comment #43With the squad that City have got they should be flying.
Looks like not all is well at the Eastlands
xiscore
Dec 22, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Comment #44Entertainers’
Never clip the Wings of an Eagle
true
But Eagles Never Fly Alone
they always need
creativity.
ron burgandy
Dec 22, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Comment #45i thought ao was never going to come on this sight if they lost yesterday. go away and dont come back go play with your dad
Colombus
Dec 22, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Comment #46What about getting Elano on loan!? The brilliant playmaker with the silkysmooth foot is appearantly very available. We’re talking about one of the hotshots from last year, He’d fit right in and would be a fantastic asset for us. What do you guys think?
steve
Dec 22, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Comment #47Columbus – Elano is one of the reasons Man City are down where they are – he’s forever going missing in games, afraid he wouldnt fit in at toon as he’s def not a team player
steve
Dec 22, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Comment #48AO – and happy xmas to you – see you at white hart lane (hopefully you’ll be gutted again 🙂
xiscore
Dec 22, 2008 at 9:53 AM
Comment #49My money is on Bullard looks’ a Wise thought.
theformerentertainers
Dec 22, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Comment #50what happened to XISCO…..he must be really shite if he cant even make the bench and worse than Strolla…..must be real shite.
ENRIQUE impressed me the most with his pace – normally he would buckle under especially early after he received the booking, but credit is due to him – hes very hot and cold though (do i dare compare to SHAMBles bramble|)…..BUTT best ever game in my humble opinion – his passing was zidane like.
Colombus
Dec 22, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Comment #51Steve, I don’t agree with you. Elano had a fantastic performance last year and I believe that Kinnear can create that form again. Let’s face it, we can’t go for international superstars. Whats good in this case is that we know he has a great top level and that he is proven in the PL. I think he just doesn’t fit in with a manager that just doesn’t know how to use him. I think he could be a real bargain!
clinta
Dec 22, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Comment #52Whether Modric was off side or not, and I don’t really think he was. He still shouldn’t of been unmarked by the CB’s.
okay we had the ball, and no one thought Shola would give it up so easily and early, but you have to be cautious when defending or you get burnt.
That said i think the CB did great in the game apart from that little moment.
nasher
Dec 22, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Comment #53POST 22,
“BEST PLAYER SOLD” ?? WHO IS THIS PLEASE?
Sav
Dec 22, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #54On the subject of ‘arry’s bad luck, the fact is we have been pretty clinical in taking whatever chances we’ve had this year. It has been the difference in a few games, especially with Owen having a good return to the side. And the Duke and Duffer did not mess about at all when they had barely a sniff. Contrast that with Frazier Campbell’s 2 great chances missed, Bent didn’t get on, Pavlyochenko(?)’s wayward shooting. Same last week against Crouch and Defoe. Both sides had chances to win it. But we took ours. That’s not luck, its quality.
On the subject of celebrations, I was a bit disconcerted to see Guthrie, first to congratulate him, being stonewalled by N’Zog as he went to do his carry-on with Beye. It looked a bit of a French clique thing goin’ on.
On the other hand, Duffer was a snorting merry-go-ground horse, full of snot and saliva as he dived into the crowd, bare-bellied for his deserved applause.
The Entertainers
Dec 22, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Comment #55I understand fans not agreeing with my comments about 2 defensive midfielders and 2 flying wingers.
After all were all NUFC fans and we do expect a certain way of football.
But apart from the Man U and Arsenal the other top side know how to grind out results.
Even Chelsea and Liverpool dont play with flair game in game out. ManU won the European cup final with one of the best defensive displays i’ve seen!
Succesful teams in the past like Bolton and Everton are / were real workman type teams.
I just think we need that hard edge about us, something in my opinion we have lacked for a while and have midfielders such as Guthrie and Barton, would give us 100% and could chip in with the odd goal.
Hey dont get me wrong i dont want to see long ball and 10 men behind the ball. But with 2 stopppers and 2 flying / creative wingers we can have the best of both worlds.
It Could Be Worse... We Could Be Spurs(DC)
Dec 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Comment #56Guys Elano is a total waster…would his cracking free-kick goal against us be swaying your opinion? I think so, other than these flashes of Brazilian brilliance he is very quiet. No more free-loaders, we need people like Jonas who will work their socks off for the cause.
Defo hard to give out MOM, can’t argue with Charlie as he scored, set-up Duffers with his long ball, created numerous chances after beating the impressive Corluka. But Enrique looked amazing (great pace against Lennon) gonna love watching him score his first goal. I recon with some motivational performances he could become our own Risse. Colo, Bass looked awesome again, Beye is simply world class (how he isnt playing for Real Madrid, Barca, Manu U or some1?) Butt and Guthrie were immense! Butt had one of his best games ever and besides a few wayward moments from Guthrie he looked very Gerrard-like. Up the TOON and bring on Wigan!
Blassen
Dec 22, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Comment #57Enrique was decent but also responsible for the goal. He fell asleep and wasn’t holding the line. Guthrie was decent again, but when Nicky Butt wins balls and passes like he does today, he really makes the system work. That being said, he needs to come off after about 70 minutes as he’s always toast by then.