Newcastle United gave a reassuring display today at Hull City, and were just a little bit unlucky not to win at the first attempt.
Michael Owen – had two chances in first half he would normally take
But it was a good open game and Hull City has their moments too, with Shay Given again saving everything that was thrown at him.
Joe Kinnear will be pleased with the display of his team this afternoon, and they delivered what Joe had promised – a good organized, hard working and attacking display.
There were several good performances from the Newcastle players with both Duff and Gutierrez doing good work on the wings, with Jonas Gutierrez putting in some terrific runs down the left wing in the second half.
Sebastien Bassong brought stability to the back and it was easy to see how he was missed last week, as his heading ability, speed of foot and general good reading of the game, made the back four look so much more solid than they did last week.
Butt picked up his 5th yellow card and will miss the game against West Ham on Saturday, but Guthrie was again in very good enterprising form, and Owen had a few chances that normally he would put away. Butt again looked a little off the pace and we expect Geremi to get the runout on Saturday, and he could do a decent job for Newcastle.
Young Andy Carroll, who turns 20 on Tuesday, had a very good first half and all this boy needs now is more games, so he can learn his trade in the Premier league – he seems to have everything it takes to be a good Premier player.
Andy’s a big lad, and can dish it out well, and he’s always a handful for any defender. A promising future striker for Newcastle, who in the first half played extremely well with Owen, who seems to like a big man next to him.
And Shay Given was Shay Given – a goalkeeper who must now be ranked as world class, after his superb displays for both Newcastle and Ireland this season.
The replay will be a week on Wednesday at St. James’ Park, but before that we’ll have the West Ham game at home, and we could certainly do with all 3 points from that game.
And if the lads play with the skill, determination and heart they did today, and with a little bit of luck, we could well get all 3 points.
But credit to the team and to Joe Kinnear and the training squad for what was a reassuring display from the lads for the Newcastle fans.
Only the win today was missing.
Maybe the Liverpool game was indeed a one off, and it was nice to get another clean sheet after conceding five in the previous game.
We’re sure Shay will be lot happer tonight than he was after the Liverpool game.
472 comments so far
Mac
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Comment #41I honestly think we will have 2 players by the time we face West ham. I think we will have a mid fielder and another defender. Don’t ask me why i think this i just do.
I am also now agreeing with people that we should get rid of Owen. He’s just not interested. He proved it again today.
I know alot of people on here are down but i honestly believe we have had bad luck. Man city score late goal,Stoke score late goal Wigan beat us,never a penalty and probably not a free kick. And Liverpool are top for a reason, Come on we lost our 2 best defenders just before we played the best team in the country.
Toon1978
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Comment #42Happy Toon
You cannot blame JK he has an injury list bigger then the Afghan army and he only has the players he has inherited. He is the only bloke to have the balls to take NUFC on. We should pay him respect for doing just that.
sirjasontoon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Comment #43Ashley and JK a marriage made in Heaven.
I can’t believe we have JK as manager he is inept to say the least look at the results since he took over.
The football we play sucks..if it sucked and we won ok I would bear with it..but that aint the case.
sirjasontoon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Comment #44Mac the” don’t ask me why I just do”phrase just says to me you are not thinking…I am thinking “bubble head”,don’t ask me why.
Dan157
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Comment #45Toon1978
It’s true we haven’t seen enough of Krul. I do know that he stands out by a mile in the league he is playing in now with Carlisle, kept 2 clean sheets recently and people are already saying he is a class above.
What do you think of Barry Ferguson? You reckon he’s the sort of CM we need. personally after watching the game today we need someone who can run through the middle with as much pace as the wingers, especially Gutierrez so that they will be there to collect the ball when he plays it in. I’m sure Ferguson is about 30 years old or sonething, not sure if he would be an improvement on what we have in that area which isn’t much apart from Guthrie.
JONNY
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Comment #46colo and bassong were fantastic again today.
they are forming a great partnership
reillers
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Comment #47Toon1978..Ok but people on here are saying he’ll be the best in the world. I know lads who follow Carlisle and they’re not overly impressed. A good enough keeper but nothing special like.
I don’t know where all the hype is coming from though.
Mac
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Comment #48Ok Sirjason it is my opinion we will have. Come back to me next week and we’ll see.
Toon1978
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Comment #49Dan157
Ferguson….. NO WAY mate, he is to old and the last time he played in the PL he was awful. I would love to see Noble of West ham. Just what we are looking for a young talented midfielder. If West ham have any sense they will keep hold of him best they can..quality player.
happy toon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Comment #50Toon1978
i understand what your saying…but tactically he’s useless and he’s style of play is quite similar to Boltons….i wouldn’t mind losing a few games if we played well….i don’t even think we put together more than 5 passes against hull. Jonas should be given a free role similar to robinho as he’s the only creative player we have and duff should be playing left back instead of nzogbia. Duff has lost it and so has butt…
Dan157
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Comment #51reillers
Everything I’ve heard regarding Krul is very good, suppose it’s just down to opinion.
LEGEND
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Comment #52Take out Butt and put Geremi in there.
Geremi could be a very useful player for us.
sirjasontoon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Comment #53Ferguson failed in his younger years at blackburn in the prem,it was way too tuff for him and he got homesick…boo hoo.
He would be out bossed in the prem and a signing of that calibre would be an embarrassment to our club.
I dunno what the hierarchy at the club are thinking they must think we are idiots.
Expect a max gate of 20,000 for Hull replay.
Mac
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Comment #54I agree get rid of butt i think we should keep Duff if nothing else he is an impact sub we can use. Just ask spuds haha
Toon1978
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Comment #55reillers
Well your mates will know more about him then me if they have seen him play as many times but from the FEW games i have seen he has been good but like i say he needs a chance whether he will get it is another thing.
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Comment #56Dan157 .. barry ferguson .. total sh*te .. butts better and he’s useless .. why not go for dacourt if we are going for a ageing defensive midfielder..
Ferguson is a championship player at best .. and he plays for Rangers..
Hopefully theres proper targets coming from France or Italy but I wouldn’t hold my breath for Fat Ash to spend money on players we need to keep us up never mind get into Europe..
Dan157
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Comment #57Toon1978
You reckon Noble and Guthrie would be a good partnership? Wouldnt look threatning on paper i guess but both seem solid players.
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Comment #58sirjasontoon .. agreed on ferguson there .. 20k for the Hull replay hopefully that’ll speak volumes to Fat ash to get the check book out.
sirjasontoon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Comment #59Mac I am not saying don’t have opinions..just don’t dream stuff up…Sirjasontoon thinks we will have 5 proven world class stars on show end of Jan….don’t ask me why.
AndyNUFC
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Comment #60simon376 // Jan 3, 2009 at 20:18
reillers, if we had a team that played to Owen’s strengths, he would be putting loads away. Normally in cases with players like Owen, they might miss 3 out of 5 and stick the others away, he’s just not getting that many chances
———————————————
Pretty sad state of affairs that people defend a supposedly world class striker, worth 18mill, by saying he needs 4 chances just to score. Let go of the “defend him because of his reputation” malarky, and goals to games means nothing if he is non existent, doesn’t contribute to the team effort, and apparently needs a team built around him.
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Comment #61Toon1978 .. agreed about Nobel he’s defo got talent .. but needs to improve to be better than Barton/Butt.. suppose at least he has pace and skill that Butt doesn’t have .. but don’t know if he can tackle..
happy toon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Comment #62carrol
jonas owen
midf midf midf
def def def def
shay given
Dan157
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Comment #63Sweendog
I know, i was reading the comments of some Rangers fans on the Sky Sports forum and they reckon that we would have to pay 10 million for Ferguson and 5 for Bougherra. That would be more of a rip off than the 8 we payed for Boumsong. I think Rangers have a habit of inflating the prices for players as well. They got 7 million out of Villa for Cuellar when they only payed 2.5 mil a year previously.
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Comment #64AndyNUFC .. agreed about Owen .. if he doesn’t contribute he needs to put them goals away .. he’s an average striker at the moment .. but he could be easily be replaced if the money was made available.
sirjasontoon
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Comment #65Sweendog-He spends we get behind him..chasing shit like fergie you can feel the frustration and hate build already and its still early Jan ; )
Toon1978
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Comment #66Dan157
I wouldn’t have Guthrie playing alonside him i would bring in Bullard and put him alongside Noble. I think they would be excellent together in midfield.
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Comment #67Bougherra may be good .. but Ferguson is a farce … 10mill .. not in a million years is he worth half of that..
Spyro
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Comment #68AndyNUFC
Couldn’t have said it better.
LEGEND
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Comment #69Mark Noble definitely reminds me of a young Frank Lampard!
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Comment #70sirjasontoon .. agreed if he decides to back the team at some point then it might rebuild some bridges between him and the fans .. theres alot of bridges to be rebuilt though.
sweendog
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Comment #71LEGEND .. hopefully Noble is a target but suppose he is like a young lampard but still rusty with passing IMO .. but a good buy though I reckon.
Toon1978
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Comment #72One of Nobles goals awsome.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9PhfrStf0B0
Spyro
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Comment #73It is amazing how many times i have said that Owen is easily replaceable and been shot down. People on here wait and hope for this guy to return to his old form, saying things like, “look at his goal ratio blah blah blah”. That means absolutely NOTHING! Yes it is great that he has a good goals to minutes ratio but that doesn’t help us at the end of the day. What matters is the totals goals scored per season from him. So far Owen has averaged a ridiculously low amount of goals per season since joining us and is EASILY replaceable. All we have to do to replace him is find a striker that scores around 12 goals a season. Not too difficult really.
Mac
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Comment #74Sirjason that is fine. Everyone has a right to what they think. I hope you’re right. Bubblehead
AndyNUFC
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Comment #75Well it is true, football is a team game, so when we’re worrying about how well 10 other players will accomodate just 1, it doesn’t add up.
Maybe Ferguson won’t be bought, maybe he will and will do well, first and foremost we need people to fill in for injuries and basically poor players. Maybe Kinnear is looking for a captain to take over from Michael “my reputation and injury record justifies the captaincy” Owen.
Neville Brewis
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Comment #76We need a good pair of full backs and an inside right. Also a big lad up top, like Wyn Davies . What happened to Peter Withe?
IrishMan
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Comment #77What has happened to MOTD FA Cup highlights? Third round always very entertaining.
Mac
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Comment #78Spyro i agree with you. I would say get Rid of Owen and get rid of him now.
Dan157
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Comment #79Irish Man
BBC don’t hold the right’s to FA cup football anymore, It’s with ITV and Setanta. Also after this season there will be no more MOTD as premiership highlights are moving back over to ITV again.
Dan157
Jan 3, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Comment #80One of the cuts that the BBC have made is in football broadcasting. Noticed how they don’t show the England games anymore either.