Alan Shearer seemed more than pleased with the three he played at the back against Stoke City.
David Edgar – has never let Newcastle down
Of course Alan knew he had to combat the height and power of the big Stoke players , so he played Beye, Bassong, Edgar and Ameobi in the starting line-up, who are all over 6′ tall (Beye is supposedly 5ft 11.5ins tall just to make things difficult, but the others are way over 6′ tall).
Shearer said today:
“The three big lads – Sebastien Bassong, Habib Beye and David Edgar – more than matched (Ricardo) Fuller and (James) Beattie and not many teams can handle those two,”
“I thought we defended the aerial bombardment very well and, although I don’t like to single out individuals, I thought the back three were magnificent.”
“We demanded that they tried to push out and get that ball because that’s where our extra man was and they did that second-half.”
“We tried to move them around a little bit more rather than play the long ball and it worked and I thought we might have gone on to get the three points.”
While the three at the back all had good individual games, we’re not sure the lads were organized enough, and we were a little fortunate not to concede more goals. Of course it was Shola’s bad marking that let in Faye for the Stoke goal after 33 minutes, and Ameobi must have fallen asleep.
But having the lads play well was very good, and it was particularly pleasing to see youngster David Edgar have more than a solid game at the back for the Magpies, in his 22nd appearance for the side.
Every time this lad plays he gives his all for the club, and never lets the side down, and we have a sneaking suspicion if Alan stays beyond the summer, then David will get a new contract at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
72 comments so far
Rodzilla
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Comment #41…yeah, they’re a couple of bricks batty, but not enough to build a wall. A bit of cement would be nice too 😉
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Comment #42Agree with all the posts about Chelsea V Liverpool. What a truly superb game – it had everything, and to be honest it shows how far we have fallen over the past few years. The pace and passion on both sides, but especially liverpool’s never say die attitude, was something to behold. they fought for every ball no matter where it was on the pitch.That could have been us playing in that game tonight if we had not been so crassly mismanaged for years….its so painful for me to watch to be honest.
That is what I find so heartbreaking. I’m clinging to a slender hope that we will find a miracle over the next few games, but we are so very poor I find it difficult to have any real conviction of us getting out of trouble.
How many ‘what ifs’ we’ve had and been so close to success just to fail……….perhaps we will be so close to failure this time, just to scrape thorugh….who knows, but even if we stay up, it would take a long long time to catch the top four.
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Comment #43Dragonera
Wesley Ngo Baheng is a strange player. He is neither an out and out CF or a attacking wide player but he kind of drifts between the two. He is big, strong and quick but his first touch is usually overhit and lets him down. Kind of like a backwards Ameobi. He works best as an attacking midfielder making a nucience of himself in the air and charging down the wing at fullbacks.
Carroll and Ranger are both excellent CF’s and should be in the first team now IMO. The problem is we have a shocking midfield who don’t create enough.
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Comment #44Dragonera,
Baheng played well against Man Utd… yes he is another good prospect, but they need some first team experienec though. If we were a well run club, with some prospects of a good FA Cup run, & pushing for a European place in the league, we could do what other top teams do & give these lads a run out in the Coca-Cola cup. But, we ‘re currently a shambles & we are all so desperate for some success, that if we played the kids & got knocked out in the early stages , we would be baying for blood…….not that we ever play well in that competition anyway.
Honestly think Ranger should be permanently in the squad now though – he is so much more commited than Ameobi.
batty
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Comment #45Rodzilla soz m8 thought we were building a sand castle m8
Ross
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Comment #46batty-i’m sorry mate but i reckon both R Taylor and Nolan have been b@ll@cks for us so far. Neither done much, if anything of any real significance thus far. If thats us rebuilding, then its just a matter of time before we collapse…again.
And sadly Dragonera i once again agree-the way we’ve looked in recent times, we would leak goals against Championship teams too. If people are thinking the worst case scenario for us is one season in the championship then they’re sadly mistaken, we’d be down there for a while.
However, after all my moaning and complaining i’m still confident we can beat the drop. I genuinly beleive we have enough quality that should it be used correctly, we can battle through, and HOPEFULLY completly rehaul the squad in the summer. Ashley made a shrewd business move in bringing in Shearer to buy himself some time-should we stay up, this is the summer that Ashley proves he’s serious. (how many times have we heard that?…)
May i also say that even though our football has been suspect for a wee while now, my sheer love for the game of football was reminded to me tonight through watching Chelsea Liverpool. A fantastic game of football, one of the best i have ever seen, over both legs. Aurelio’s goal was genious for me. Everyone was under the same impression as to what he was going to do, and in a split second he made a genious decision and it paid off. An unbeleivable game.Fast, Exciting, nerve racking (even for a neutral, it was that good) and goals galore. Liverpool fans can go home very proud of their lot tonight like.
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Comment #47It was a bit frightening to watch that game tonight. To see how much fitter the midfielders and forwards were to ours was scary.
Either of those teams playing against us like that would result in 10-0.
It is embarrasing that they beat us 5-0 and 2-0 when they are probably only in 3rd gear!
batty
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Comment #48ROSS i now m8 was just haveing a joke with rod m8
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Comment #49DJG – yep, midfield , especially central midfield, have to be about the poorest in the league. We have no real right sided player either. Jonas prefers to pay left side & cut in… Duff….. well if he tried to take a fullback on he might actually discover he can still do it. ….but I won’t hold my breath We sorely miss Milner tbh.
batty
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Comment #50DJG 5 1
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Comment #51Ross
I must admit I saw how far to the left Cech was but I couldn’t believe it when he actually attempted in and it went in.
Ryan Taylor would have hit the post knowing our luck.
batty
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Comment #5251 DJG ryan taylor would of hit the corner flag m8
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Comment #53batty // Apr 14, 2009 at 10:01 PM
DJG 5 1
Oh well that makes me feel much better. 😉
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Comment #54Ryan Taylor is a good squad player to have and I would like him to stay next season.
But he shouldn’t be starting every game for a club like this.
batty
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Comment #5551 DJG yeah bring him on the last 2 mins to waste a bit of time but only if we are 3 up
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Comment #56There’sno doubt the squad are not fit enough. The quotes about discipline & eating together in the past few days just show what a mess things have become. I personally do not believe such things would have come about since Hughton took temporary charge – -he would have tried to carry on with what Kinnear wanted. No matter what, you have to think standards have fallen so far below the required level both on and off the pitch, that they are totally unacceptable, unprofessional and simply embarrassing for us supporters.
No matter what happens, there needs to be a massive clearout in the summer, and if kinnear is allowed back, I will seriously consider cancelling my direct debit. I love the club, but I’m not prepared for those idiots in control to keep running the club into the ground at my expense.
I want my son to love the club as i do……. his mother is a Liverpool supporter. Its a very hard struggle to get him on board……
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Comment #57I want my son to love the club as i do……. his mother is a Liverpool supporter. Its a very hard struggle to get him on board……
I know who I wish I’d chosen on the evidence of tonight mate.
Ross
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Comment #58DJG-its typical isnt it. Ryan Taylor shows excellent ability at set pieces and nets some fantastic free kicks against us. We sign him and 1 out of 4 or 5 set piece efforts are worthy of mentioning. What happened!? Duff was the one putting in the dangerous balls against stoke and thats saying something like!
As far as Aurelio’s goal, i didnt have a clue what he was trying until it hit the net. I noticed cech maybe being out of position but thought nothing of it. Never did i think he was shooting, let alone scoring, excellent effort, excellent goal
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Comment #59None of our players would ever attempt a free kick like Aurelio’s….they haven’t got the wherewithal, nor would they have ever been encouraged to try such things……..
Laurent Robert, love him or hate him, would try it every match !!!…..he had no work ethic, but christ he could strike a ball
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Comment #60The problem is Liverpool, although they are in a trampy part of the country and have similar support to us. They have a tradition of being in Europe and have the best managers who attract top players who have ambition.
Look at the midfield Rafa can put out without Steven Gerrard their captain and best player even playing.
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Comment #61Who have we got.
Nicky Butt – An aged has been with no legs or passing
Danny Guthrie – With all respect released by Liverpool
Joey Barton – In and out of prison and done nothing since coming. A fraction of the player he was at Man City
Jonas- runs about with no end product and no goals.
Duff – Another has- been this time from Chelsea too scared to take anybody on anymore.
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Comment #62the best i can hope for is to get him to more games….he loves watching football, & has more opportunities to watch us live……….
Sky Sports, Freddy Shepherd & Mike Ashley have a lot to answer for…..
Do you think i could sue them for ruining my relationship with my son ???????
Doocey
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Comment #63Great advert for English football that game tonight 🙂
DJG
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Comment #64The best you can hope for is him becoming a mediocre player on a HUGE contract at NUFC!!
Nobby_Long
Apr 14, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Comment #65DJG……
ha, ha, ha…… yep, at least £60k per week for doing nowt……….if only……..if i thought there was a chance, i’d pack in my job now & spend all day long coaching him…….
Never mind…I’ll keep working on him………………logging out
batty
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Comment #66DJG theres still time to go and support liverpool if you want lol
dougnufc
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Comment #67Nile Ranger signed new contract! I guess Shearer has faith in him!
Stuart79
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Comment #68That will be so we can get more money for him when he’s sold!
Toon Graeme
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Comment #69Aye, Ranger signed on the dotted line. I got more faith in that signing that Shola.
Im probably gonna get shot for saying this but – whats the point in getting all excited about it if Shearer leaves and we revert back to Joe Kinnear’s dinosaur football ways.
I cant see how we can revert back to him.
Least with Shearer – he talks the talk and walks the walk! Unlike the BS from Kinnear.
Im glad he has extended his contract with us and do hope to see him in the first team line up. Ranger in – Strolla out (close season).
Any thoughts on who is gonna contain Lennon on Sunday. Fast little get that one!
Toon Graeme
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Comment #70Heellllooooooooo – anyone??? Im lonely on here all alone and by myself. Work is boring too!
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Comment #71Yeah Enrique had him in his pocket at home but it will be the job of either Jonas or Duff if we play 352
batty
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:40 AM
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