We have now watched the game twice on TV, and we have some observations to make on the Newcastle display – most of them good ones.
Chris Hughton – prepared the team well and the lads were ready
- The defense looked strong again especially in the air, and it has to be the rock on which the promotion drive is built this season. And it was another clean sheet so that’s six in the first nine league games – great!.
- Zurab Khizanishvili looked more than comfortable in his first game for the club, and it was his excellent run down the wing that set up Nolan’s 3rd goal and Newcastle’s 4th after 50 minutes.
It’s hard to know who is the better right back – Zurab or Danny Simpson, although Zurab is the more experienced player of course. Sign this lad in January!
- Steve Harper didn’t have much to do last night but towards the end it was clear he wanted a clean sheet and kept his players alert to that.
- What was Jose Enrique thinking in the second half when twice he put wayward balls back into the middle and almost gave goals away – hopefully Chris will get him to one side and blast him for his lack of concentration or whatever it was.
We have to hope that we get another specialist left back in just to give the Spaniard some competition and keep him on his toes.
- Ranger and Carroll looked close to awesome up front, and Nile was so unlucky not to get his first goal for the club. But on this performance it’s hard to think the Londoner will not play in almost every game this season.
That could be starting or coming on as an impact sub. His speed, height and physical prowess pose a danger to any defense – and hs such an exciting player to watch!
- Alan Smith was again a rock at the heart of Newcastle’s midfield, and it seems this Yorkshireman has personally taken it on himself to get Newcastle promoted this season, What a player he has been for Newcastle this season and his courage and bravery on the field are there for all to see – he should be the captain.
- Kevin Nolan was the man of the match last night, if only for his 3 great goals to go with the other 3 he had already scored. With the absence of Ameobi, Kevin has stepped up to the plate with goals, and he can get a lot more goals this season – a wonderful performance from Kevin last night and not too bad either from Ryan Taylor, who chipped in with a great goal and an assist.
- The team spirit shown for the lads has been a revelation this season and it was there for all to see. One little thing we noticed was Peter Lovenkrands putting an arm around Ryan Taylor at half time, as they walked to the dressing room, with Peter obviously just delighted about Ryan’s terrific goal.
- Owner Mike Ashley was at the game and on his own in the stands, and he seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders, as we didn’t see him smile once.
He’s obviously wondering how much the tribunal will award Kevin Keegan, and that could delay the sale to Barry Moat, which we are told he wants to do as soon as possible.
But since the debt at Newcastle is one thing holding up the sale, to have a substantial payout to Keegan will hardly help that.
- This is all great but we also have to realize that Ipswich were second bottom, and their defense was just hopeless last night. The players cannot get carried away with things (like we do!), and must get ready for two home games in 4 days starting on Wednesday night against QPR and Saturday against Bristol City, before the International break.
We need two wins, and we can then enjoy the two week break.
That’s it, and it has to be upward and onward from now on.
Don’t forget to vote for the Man Of the Match last night on our homepage.
Howay The Lads!!
24 comments so far
Chris F
Sep 27, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Comment #1i thought it was a great team performance too, but we really do need to pick up another winger on loan soon, as well as a left back.
with duff gone, and jonas unfit, it just leaves a massive gap down our left in front of enrique which playing a central midfielder like butt (and barton before him) in does nothing as they just drift inside all the time.
ok, it didn’t hurt us yesterday, but against sides like boro and wba, a lop-sided approach will see us get exploited down the left all day long.
alkinou
Sep 27, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Comment #2I’m surprised nothing was said about Butt who I thought was useless and I have seen already a few posts on this forum saying that too.
Also I thought Harewood was impressive for the little we saw him. He stood his ground extremely well and seems like he’s a solid forward on who we can rely.
Let’s hope CH keeps on with the 4-4-2 formation.
Geordie-Gerrard7
Sep 27, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Comment #3what a good article, made me smile reading it
NewcastleMole
Sep 27, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Comment #47 – Harper
8 – Khizanishvili
8 – Enrique
8 – Taylor
7 – Colo
8 – Smith
7 – R.Taylor
5 – Butt
9 – Nolan
8 – Carroll
8 – Ranger
7 – Harewood
5 – Lovenkrands
7 – Donaldson
Coloccini still a worry and liability.
Butt drop him.
Lovenkrands did nothing as usual.
I don’t think we should be getting carried away we have a good team but its not Premier League standard.
On a side note what do fellow fans think our “Striker pecking order” should be?.
Carroll, Harewood, Ranger, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.
Dragonera
Sep 27, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Comment #5Hughton will definitely play a 4-4-2 formation on Wednesday as we now have 4 strikers to choose from despite Ameobi being out until December.
I reckon it will be
———————–Harper———————
Khiz———-Taylor——–Colo———-Jose
Taylor———Smith——Nolan——Guthrie
————-Harewood——Carroll————-
With Jonas, Ranger and Butt to be thrown on at some point.
NewcastleMole
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Comment #6@alkinou
I was impressed impressed with Harewood too despite being less enthusiastic when he signed. The Venom he put in the shot he had was immense, good to see. Carroll & Harewood front 2 imo.
Dragonera
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Comment #7Newcastle Mole
Harewood, Lovenkrands, Carroll, then Ranger.
I prefer Ranger to Carroll, but i do not want to see him rushed into things. Right now he should only be used as an impact player imo.
Chris F
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Comment #8Butt wasn’t useless, he was just a bit redundant.
Really don’t need 2 holding midfielders in this league, so with Smith doing all the leg work, Butt just seemed to ease through the game.
Dennis Twice
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Comment #9———————–Harper———————
Khiz———-Taylor——–Colo———-
Taylor———Smith——Nolan——Guthrie—Jonas
————-Harewood——Carroll————-
Attack! Attack!
UTD111
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Comment #10The problem with Butt is he’s got no pace and he passes to the opposition practcally every time….
Apart from that, he’s fine LOL
dougnufc
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Comment #11Anyone impressed with Coloccini yesterday?
NewcastleMole
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Comment #12@Chris F
Butt thinks he Xabi Alonso with his long range passing. I noticed however he did seem to take play back towards his own half rather than forward.
@Dragonera
Sry mate but Lovenkrands hasn’t been playing well since he resigned. His heart doesn’t look in it
NewcastleMole
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Comment #13@dougnufc
“Impressed” & “Coloccini” in the same sentence?
He did “alright” what worrys me is even at this level he still looks a shaky player making constant basic errors.
I recall 1 incident which has happened often he receives ball deep in his own half and rather clear when under pressure tries to play his way out of it and ends up back next to the corner flag.
alkinou
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Comment #14I think that Lovenkrands hasn’t been playing well lately because he has been to often used as a winger. If we play him only as a striker I think (and hope) we’d see a better side of him.
UTD111
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Comment #15Collocini can’t be doing that badly!!!
We’ve only let in 4 goals!!!!!
Alex
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Comment #16I think with Lovenkrands its a case of being played out of position ,he is best as a striker and he is not yet 100% match fit/ sharp . We need another winger and Rb we also need to give butt a season long rest .
punk skunk...
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Comment #17Get off Butt & Colo’s back’s!..
Butt did fine y/day, stop lookin’ for F**kin’ excuse to cane him…In fact, can everyone stop doin’ that about the player/s that they don’t ‘personally’ like, (for whatever reason?)…
…It’s really f**kin’ borin’ now…You will find even the best players drop clangers…There were a handful of mistakes in that game, in about 100mins of play…Cut them some slack, FFS!..
punk skunk...
Sep 27, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Comment #18OMG, i’m bein’ carried awayyyyyyyyy…
………On the crest of a wavvvvvvvvvvvveeee!..
…Heeellllllllllllllllllppppppppppppppp!..
Elfy_Toon
Sep 27, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Comment #19dont no y everyone is going on about how bad butt and average collo was. butt was making some excellent tackles and made about as many mistakes as enrique and taylor. collo was by far our best defender yesterday, he was covering enrique and taylor many times still shit in the air but hes got others who can cover that area for him.
punk skunk...
Sep 27, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Comment #20Elfy,
save y’breath mate, they won’t be swayed, they’ve made their minds up & will not be changin’…Just trottin’ out the same turgid crud, just like the pundits do!..
…A rumour without a leg to stand on, will get around some other way!..
Elfy_Toon
Sep 27, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Comment #21punk, i just dont get how they can b so biased against a player who did gr8 supporting smith yesterday? for a match unfit player he made sum gr8 tackles. they seem to just want to hate butt and collo both thought were far superior yesterday to the likes of taylor enrique etc.
punk skunk...
Sep 27, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Comment #22Elfy,
it’s sad mate, but that’s what everyone seems to do…People just get stuff into their heads & there’s no shakin’ it…They convince themselves that it’s true…& therefore, don’t even give ’em a chance to prove them wrong or right…They start slaggin’ before they even kick off!..
…The whole team played great as a team, yesterday!..
NewcastleMole
Sep 27, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Comment #23Well its simple really if these players would have done their job last year we wouldn’t have been relegated. And suppose we go back up these are the players which will take us back down.
You can forgive but never forget.
chuck
Sep 27, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Comment #24Been saying that forever (about Butt) guess some folks just dont understand the game, or see what he actually does on the pitch.
I suppose we must have and had some really dumb managers, who kept penciling his name in as a starter, how could that be if he as as bad as many of you claim ?