Newcastle United gave a wonderful display of attacking football in front of 42,000 fans last night, when they simply demolished West Ham 5-0 – and it could have been more.
Leon Best – scores his third goal last night – what a display!!
It could have been more because at 5-0 Nile Ranger missed the chance of the season, when he hit the ball two yards wide when he was six yards from goal, with Peter Lovenkrands completely unmarked on his right.
It was inexperience of course, but the 19 year-old has to make sure he puts those chances into the back of the net, and he still has to score his first PL goal.
But one thing coming out of the game, in which Newcastle thrilled their fans, was that it looks like Steven Taylor (hamstring), Leon Best – the toast of Tyneside today for a fantastic goal-scoring performance last night – Jonas Guttierez and the great Cheick Tiote (hamstring) were all injured last night and left the field.
All three may miss the game at Stevenage in the FA Cup 3rd Round on Saturday afternoon, and after last night’s performance we have to make sure we advance on Saturday, because an FA Cup run – based on the performance in the last two games, is something that is possible.
We’ll have to see what happens tomorrow with the injuries, but Alan Pardew could still play one or two of the youngsters and still field a strong side at Stevenage.
If the players are in training tomorrow, they will be buzzing after completely dominating a very weak-looking West Ham side last night, and two wins against Wigan and West Ham are exactly what the Magpies need to do this season.
Never mind the top sides – we have to ensure we win against the sides beneath us in the league – and do that both at home and away.
If the lads can do that then we should pick up quite a few points this season.
The lads were just fantastic last night – and we didn’t even see it coming, although on Sunday at Wigan, the lads created lots of chances that they just didn’t convert.
But one thing is certain, we have some very good players in the squad, and they all have big big hearts – that’s for sure.
We were proud of them last night.
And last night just has to be Leon Best’s finest moment in his football career – so far. The lad showed enormous courage and deserves lots of credit for the job he did for Newcastle United last night – when the chips were really down.
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
Robby Bobson
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:43 AM
Comment #1Highlight of the night…Shane Ferguson going chest to chest with Ben Haim.
Bet Haim felt like a such idiot after.
alkinou
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Comment #2“Last night” it was only a couple hours ago ;).
Hope none of the injuries are too serious, don’t mind them not playing against Stevenage (we got Williamson/Kadar/Campbell, Smith and Ranger/Xisco to replace them) but hope their fit for Sunderland.
david_NUFC
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Comment #3Ranger will get many more chances. He Has a bright Future.
GeordieGerman
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Comment #4I can see us playing at some time 4-3-3.
GeordieGerman
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:54 AM
Comment #5david_NUFC, Ranger did nowt. Another sitter missed. Even Nolan was pi**ed off.
alkinou
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Comment #6Did any of you catch MOTD? Did the ‘experts’ (it’s what their meant to be) say anything interesting about our performance?
sammydolan
Jan 6, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Comment #7No alkinou, the didnt mention anything about Barton… all they talked about was Liverpool Arsenal and Chelsea zzzzzz
GeordieGerman
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:03 AM
Comment #8Oh yeah, I want to make it official: after the sacking of Chris I was peed off. But said after the Spurs game “that if we get between 4-6 points from Wigan and West Ham then I would accept Pardew. From this moment on I accept Alan Pardew as NUFC’s Manager.
End of statement.
TheScottishGeordie
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:04 AM
Comment #9Team to start against Stevenage;
—————Krul
Tavernier-Kadar-Campbell-Ferguson
—————Smith
R.Taylor—Edmunnson—Vuckic
——-Ranger——Xisco
I’d love to see Xisco grab a couple goals aswell as Ranger, Vuckic, Taylor etc.
Charlietoon
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:16 AM
Comment #10Team for the weekend regardless of injuries
…………Krul
Tav….Willi…Kadar..Fergie
……………Smith
Rought…..Vukic…..Airey
………..Ranger….Loven
Loven needs to get his sharpness back and Ranger needs to find his altogether.
Magickit
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:20 AM
Comment #11I think the performance at 1st Half is the best half I seen this season !!
Leon Best is superb !! beside his 3 goals, he helps the defense quite well. He can run quickly, he can shoot, he can head and very strong!! He should be ahead of Ameobi… … He came off 2nd half with little injury, hope get well soon
Loven – very very good game, run for space all the time to help another forward. His goal is very brilliant in positioning. And I like him very much when tiote is out, he plays as right mid and plays very hard to def.
Barton is class today as all we know. Nolan is very good today as well. His 1st touch passing to best is very very amazing and have many tackles.
Back 4 – excellent esp. Colo . Calm and make many good tackles. no long balls and make good passing.
jesus was a geordie
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:24 AM
Comment #12Feel bad for Nial, this was taken from his twitter:
How did I miss…Feel like s**t!!
Chris F
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:28 AM
Comment #13don’t think Best was injured – Pardew had said before the game his fitness levels weren’t quite up to him playing a full 90 mins, and after he got the hat trick it made sense to take him off as the game was won.
Taylor and tiote both pulled up, but neither seemed especially serious – could just be muscles tightening up after a run of games in a short space of time.
I wouldn’t expect to hear that they’re out for any significant timescale, but will be rested up for the mackems game on the 16th.
GeordieGerman
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:34 AM
Comment #14Chris F, Best was limping.
Howay The Lads
Jan 6, 2011 at 1:39 AM
Comment #15I thought Tiote went off because if he gets another booking he’s out for the Mackems.
Pretty sure Pardew took him off so that we can save him 🙂
Sav
Jan 6, 2011 at 2:39 AM
Comment #16We bombed after beating Villa 6 – 0, so don’t get carried away with this. West Ham were absolutely terrible. We caught Wigan on an off day, too. All credit to our lads (especially Joey) for making the most of it. Its what ManU have been doing all season and look where its got them. But talk of Best as a world-beater, or even someone we should keep long term, is rubbish. The hammers completely choked tonight. It doesn’t happen every week.
Shame we don’t play Chelsea and Liverpool until late in the season, though. We could get some joy playing them now.
bentoon
Jan 6, 2011 at 7:21 AM
Comment #17Comeon Sav we cant give Ranger encouregement after he missed that sitter and then talk about shipping Best out after hes scored a hat-trick. He did exactly what he needed to and what hes payed for. Hes earned himself a few more starts i think and if he can show that level of sharpness in other games i think he will have a good season.
RobIIINUFC
Jan 6, 2011 at 7:29 AM
Comment #18Gosling in on Saturday anyone? Apparently fit again just needs minutes and what better opportunity than Stevenage?
kapopo
Jan 6, 2011 at 7:37 AM
Comment #19Great win. Yeap would love to see Xisco, Danny & Smith been given a chance as well this Saturday game. Cheers : )
NotAGhostToon
Jan 6, 2011 at 8:17 AM
Comment #20Sav- I will say I’ll sit tight and see how wer do in the next few games, but I’m fed up of every time we get a good win “the opposition wasn’t on their game” I’ve heard it all season and maybe just maybe that’s because WE’VE stifled their play. I do think that certain goals tonight had elements of luck to them which on other days wouldn’t have all gone in but you can’t fault the team for this result at all. I say keep hold of best and keep hold of Xisco too because they have something to prove and will prove it. Funnily enough as much as I’ve loved him I think the striker to go is lovenkrands, I just think the type of striker we’re after is in his mold but will be younger, thus replace like for like!
nuttyward
Jan 6, 2011 at 8:25 AM
Comment #21my highlight was seeing ferguson coming on i was buzzing by then like.
its great to see pardew has given this lad a chance
Geordiedoonsooth
Jan 6, 2011 at 8:37 AM
Comment #22Great performance especially from Best I didn’t think he was good enough when he played last season but who knows, he now has to do it regularly. MOTD said West Ham were poor they also said at the weekend Wigan were poor but Wigan had got a good result against Arsenal before we played them and West Ham were unbeaten in 4. So maybe it was something to do with the way we played that made them look poor. It would be nice if we got credit when it was due. They also only talk about Barton when he’s done something wrong he was awsome last night at the moment he has to be in the top 4-5 English midfield players.
Angryman the Angry fan
Jan 6, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Comment #23Joey Barton IS the top english midfield player at the moment….no one better!! Fact!!
Edd Case
Jan 6, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Comment #24Wish some of you would back off Ranger.
The lad missed a sitter, it happens to all strikers around the world.
Slagging him off etc etc wont help.
Ranger has already shown he has quality and ability and given time (he’s 19 FFS) he’ll come very, very good I’m sure. So leave off him.
He’ll probably score a hat-trick against Stevenage and then everyone will be saying again, “he’s got to play in the first team”
Honestly, some of our fans sometimes…far too quick to condem.
Ericles
Jan 6, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Comment #25Agreed Edd Case. All that Ranger needs is experience and more games and he will improve no end. If Jonas is not available against Stevenage I would play young Ferguson on the left wing with Enrique in support. I think the lad has great potential and considering last night’s episodes I reckon he showed great maturity.
JSYproject
Jan 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Comment #26all people slating best, hes only 24.. if this is a taste of things to come why would we still get rid of him? are yous stupid? shola is old and past.. best may just be about to come into his prime…
shola out, keep best IMO
JSYproject
Jan 6, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #27ranger for stevenage start aswell give the lad a chance to get his confidence back…
keegan trio
Jan 6, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Comment #28ben haim is bullying the young shane ferguson. SHAME ON HIM
chuck
Jan 6, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Comment #29Joey is playing better by the game, Enrique and Jonas were a class act, Best benefitted from good support from them and Lovenkrands, which is not to take anything away from his efforts, he got his opportunities and made the best(no pun intended) of them.
I liked the cool way he took his goals, plus the fact he worked hard, not bad cosidering how long he`s been out.
There`s no doubt after such a display he deserves another opportunity an hopefully can continue his run.
And rumor was he was about to be sold to leeds ?
warwick
Jan 6, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Comment #30JSYproject remember Ian wright didn’t start till late, often players just switch and get on fire mid-20’s which hopefully best can do.
carrollsinger
Jan 6, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Comment #31I’ll have krul simmo kadar willo ferguson rout smith gosling Nolan best ranger playing 4-3-1-2 Nolan behind the strikers