Who would want to be a football manager these days?
Alan Pardew – thinks 2+2=4 – we’ve dropped 4 points these last two games
After seeing his team outplay a top six side, for the second time in two games, Alan Pardew again witnessed his side give up an injury time goal and two points with it.
And Alan Pardew thinks the very fact the lads were trying to get that all important second goal, was the reason they let Spurs back into the game with a late goal, from Aaron Lennon.
But before Lennon equalized Fab Coloccini had shown the strikers how to do it, when he rifled in a great goal after 59 minutes, and then he went crazy.
Subs Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger should have done better when they both missed good chances to put Newcastle home and dry late in the game – so perhaps Newcastle do need another top striker to work with Andy Carroll.
And Ameobi and Best before that also had some chances they should have done better with.
This is what Alan said after the game:
“We scored a great goal and from that point on it was about whether Tottenham were going to score,”
“The back four were superb for periods and brilliant at times, but then for some reason we just got exuberant trying to get a second.”
“Perhaps because we had come close on an earlier occasion there was real belief that the second goal would seal it.”
“We just committed too many bodies forward and against Spurs you cannot do that.”
“I was crying out for a hurricane, a foul, someone to fall over – anything to stop the game, because it was almost like basketball at the end.”
“But it was another last-minute goal and obviously we are really disappointed.”
23 year-old holding midfielder Danny Guthrie was withdrawn midway through the second half, and replaced by James Perch, but thankfully it was only cramp and he’s not injured, as Alan explained:
“He just gave so much that he couldn’t move,”
“It was a game where we had to work really hard because Spurs kept the ball in areas that no-one should keep the ball in.”
“We had to do plenty of chasing.”
The lads played well today, but once again we gave away two points right at the end – and we just cannot keep doing that – if we are going to climb that league table before the end of the season.
But it seems that Alan has really steadied the defense since he came in, which was always our weakness this season, but now we are finding it hard to get those goal with big Andy being out injured.
But we’ve got to say the lads have played well over these last four league games, and we should have had all 12 points rather than the 8 we ended up with.
We now have to bury Fulham a week on Wednesday at Craven Cottage.
Comments welcome.
37 comments so far
Geordie-Gerrard7
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:05 PM
Comment #1Pardew has our team playing alot better than Hughton did
Frank The London Mag
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Comment #2Fulham need to get dispatched now, this is vital. If not for our league position, for the redemption of two late goals.
DublinToonArmy
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Comment #3I don’t know about that, think Pardew has picked up where Hughton left off. At least we are not loosing, this was a top 4/6 team today.
ginkoh
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Comment #4Our striker are not sharp enough to score. if they can grab the chance like game against Westham, Score should be 4-2 or 5-2
GeordieToon89
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:12 PM
Comment #5we need signings now, guthrie seemed to hav hurt his knee again :\ played really well today hes much better in the centre
GeordieToon89
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:12 PM
Comment #6why would it hav been 4-2 or 5-2 tottenham only scored 1, well they did at the game i was at anyways
Mac
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Comment #7I must admit i think we are playing bettter under Pardew.
bentoon
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Comment #8Clinical finishing is the difference between good sides and great sides and the difference between top half and bottom half. We need to put away these chances lads, the defence is working hard and the midfield is supplying but if we cant finish our chances then these things will happen.
Still, weve played a top 10 side and a top 4 side in the past 2 games and got something out of it so well done fella’s!
arcarius
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Comment #9And those who said Guthrie was shite prior to this match get a grip at yourself! Shite at 1/2 games doesnt mean he’s shite for the entire season! He young and he will only improve by learning on his mistakes
YES, he was shite against wba and was guilty for conceding our 3rd goal but today he gave everything he could on the pitch, running endlessly, closing ppl all day long
And it was his diagonal ball that assisted Colo for the wonderful goal (Albeit still much left to be done, wonderful goal btw)
So give this kid a chance!
GeordieToon89
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Comment #10Guthries passing today was immense showed what he can do when hes in his best position, when hes out wide he doesnt look interested but when hes in centre he looks very good.. and yes he’s only 23 so can improve and could maybe form a great partnership with Tiote and Gosling in the future
G
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Comment #11Just got back from the match, 2 points dropped, rather than 1 gained I feel. Overall, we were the better team, and playing like that I suspect we could be anybody. The team gelled well, the passing was good, and they chased every pass down well. Shola and Best made real nuiscances of themselves to the spurs defence, and on another day they could have had 3 or 4 goals. Best actor at the oscars this year to VDV who goes down anytime a player in black and white comes within 3 feet of him. The only thing wrong with the match was the fact that after 90 mins the team went to sleep, same as with the mackems. AP has to sort that out on the training field, as the spurs goal was thoroughly undeserved.
Magpietillidie22
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Comment #12I’ve been saying pardew been doing better job since the Wigan game. Under hughton we would have dropped points against the teams we shud be beating (wigan and west ham at home) and then being hit and miss in the big games. Plus pardew seems to have the team wanting to go out and win. Hughton went out not to lose.
Today was a very open game and during their keep ball spells it was easy to see what we lack to be a top 7 team like spurs – players with true guile like van der varrt and modric. All in all tho a draw is a great result especially without Carroll and Tiote. Thought our defence was outstanding for 89mins too.
If only Ameobi had played lovernkrands in instead of going for an insane lob from 70yards!
Oleg G
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:37 PM
Comment #13Well.
Position – not a full squad. Not the best one at least and still had 2 good games.
Negative – Cannot hold an advantage.
Cannot score on Counter Attacks.
Don’t have enough quality to play from the middle.
Bad Future? Don’t have any new signings.
I said before the Sunderland game – next 6 games – 8 points will be good. 12 will be great.
We got 2 out of 6 now. still have 12 points.
getting another 6 points from the next 4 games is possible.
Selbymag
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:39 PM
Comment #14Ok just got back – needs saying Colo was immense again.
Also for the first time this season I thought Jonas played well too.. there Ive said it!!
Agree about the finishing Lover one on one should have scored, best unlucky off the bar in first half. Shola unlucky with the left foot curler but had 2 decent chances in the 1st blazed over.
Thought Danny G had a cracking game today. We handled VDV easily today which wasnt hard as he spent most of the game on his arse moaning.
90% of honest mags would have taken a draw this morning so not gutted but we dont need to get in the last minute goal habit…….
See you at fulham work coughing for me petrol and hotel so on the lash with the kid brother – toon toon!
Selbymag
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:42 PM
Comment #15oh yeah tino falling on his arse in the cross bar challenge class, then gets up and pings his second strike straight off the bar.
Mentalist legend…… Tino Tino Tino Tino!!
jonny-intense
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:42 PM
Comment #16Is there another Premiership striker with a worse touch than Ameobi? He comes up with important goals every now and again but, in the decade the numerous coaches have worked with him for, you’d have thought this would have been addressed.
We can’t play through the middle because a short pass to Ameobi will either end up 5 yards ahead of him or trapped under his feet. It needs sorting on the training pitch ASAP!
jonny-intense
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:44 PM
Comment #17Oh yeah, Colo is a class above as well. Couldn’t be any more composed at the back.
ginkoh
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:44 PM
Comment #18Ameobi is ShiX . How many times he waste the clear cut chance. At least 8 from last 3 game.
carrollsinger
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:45 PM
Comment #19Danny g is only 23 ain’t he he’s a very good player just needs games like any player
G
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Comment #20At those defending Danny Guthrie on here, those in the know don’t give him grief, we just don’t like to see him on the wing either. He never claimed to be a winger, but the current manager and his predecessor have believed he can be. In the centre is his best place, but lets face it, once Tiote’s ban is over, back to the bench for DG.
dunzer1990
Jan 22, 2011 at 7:54 PM
Comment #21Play like that and the teams such as Fulham, Stoke, Bolton etc will be no match for us but thats been the problem we can go out and play top stuff against top sides i.e Arsenal and in the very next game get beat by Blackburn but Pards seems to have instilled a bit of consistency so maybe that problem is behind us, however we did drop 2 points from another late goal altho i would have taken 2 points from those 2 games we could have had 6 but 4 would have been immense. Colo was outstanding Guthrie was great before getting injured any word on that btw?
boing123
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:03 PM
Comment #22Guthrie could start ahead of Tiote in matches against the bottom teams. His passing would help to unlock 11-men defences – something that we often failed to do under CH.
dunzer1990
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:06 PM
Comment #23boing123?what you smoking kid cus it must be strong s..t lol
CapeToonian09
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:06 PM
Comment #24ginkoh (16) is absolutely right, Shola is too slow mentally & physically. Poor decision making, poor finishing, poor passing, I dont see why training staff have so much belief in him.
Ranger came on the field and made better runs, (partly due to the fact that Shola couldn’t outrun my 80 year old granny), he’s far quicker and the way he left Hutton for dead is something Shola could never do & will never be able to. Get rid of him in a swop plus cash deal, there are so many out there better than him that would love to join the Toon Army.
GeordieGerman
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Comment #25First off. Happy Birthday Colo, congratulations on your century and of course your goal.
Can we not play Jonas on the right? When he drifted over from left his passing was 100%. But all in all he had a good game today.
Guthrie proved he can do it at this level and when he went off and Perch came on my stomach turned. I had a funny feeling that we would give away a goal or two. Wish I was proven wrong and was surprised to see that it was Simpson and not Perch’s fault.
What a difference Ranger made when he came on. Pity he can’t finish, but today which of our strikers could?
All in all I enjoyed the game. Just wish that the last 2 minutes could be removed.
Oh, anyone see the Arry interveiw? he was pretty complimentary to NUFC.
Klatoon
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Comment #26Tino was handing over Dvd’s to Pedro,mayb vids of some young starlets from S.America. But AP is right,we got overly confident looking for a 2nd goal. 3/4 of PL would have 7 men behind the ball if they were 1-0 up against Spurs with 2min to go.We had only 3 back when lennon scored….Oh I forgot,we are a BIG team,we don’t try to hold onto 1 goal leads agst SMALL teams like spurs ,lol
Klatoon
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Comment #27*3 quarters of PL teams
Geordie-Gerrard7
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:19 PM
Comment #28We were excellent today, Danny g’s range of passing was back to his best today. It’s been reported VDV didn’t get back on the plane home, they recon he is still in guthries pocket, Barton will sign a new contract this week, and we are close to a signing or two. All in all could well be a successful week.
On a sour note, Danny Guthrie left the ground on crutches iv been told
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLO
Rotonda heights
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Comment #29I don’t think there was anything wrong in going for a second goal. it was just some misjudgement from ranger and a woeful pass for Barton, compounded by simpson.
cupiddstunt
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:31 PM
Comment #30All in all a good game today blighted by a lapse in concentration, if you watch Lennon he always wants to come over on to his right foot and we let him, watch him and he fakes left then comes over to his right looking for a shot or pass he should have been pushed to his left and the threat would have been a lot less.
But such is life we should have won but we drew which is a lot better than loosing.
As for blaming someone that is just crap Simpson had a fair game and his cover should have been backing him helping to push Lennon further wide but he cut back inside two defenders so cover and central defence went to sleep for a couple of seconds and that was that.
GeordieGerman
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:32 PM
Comment #31Geordie-Gerrard7, On crutches? Can’t he afford a car?
Say’s in the article that it was cramp.
cupiddstunt
Jan 22, 2011 at 8:53 PM
Comment #32So is this Pardew telling us that we are now going to play boring football all defensive and scared to concede?
For me I would sooner watch the type of game we had today entertaining and good attacking football just look at Blackpool and even scumderland they are playing attacking football as are we and we are all in the top ten and looking quite good for it.
Play it attacking and trust that the team will all continue to work for one another and we will do well enough this season..
geordieforeva
Jan 22, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Comment #33allright so we are going to Portugal on a training camp… Agenda…
Get a ball machine and slot Ameobi in the box… All week throw about 5000 balls at him and hop that he scores 4000 times at least… **%^ cant finish again today we could have been 2 up… Andy plz get well soon.
And Ameobi today proved that he officially has the worst 1st touch in the league… so many times he gave away the ball.
I would give Besty credit.. immense effort, a goal is due very soon.
Brutooon
Jan 22, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Comment #341)score a second goal
OR
2) keep the ball from the opponents (e.g bring ball to opponents corner like shearer do)
Ameobi did ok, but if Carroll and another striker is signed then he be a good backup. (miss lots of chance)
Collocini volley for the goal is 50 times better than Ameobi’s first half chance
Sav
Jan 23, 2011 at 2:24 AM
Comment #35I’m one who criticised Guthrie and have to admit I was wrong on today’s showing. A good game he had, as did Joey. Barton gave away possession for the equaliser but he was out on his feet by then.
The whole team did well and in absence of some of our best, they made up for it with really hard graft.
Brutooon
Jan 23, 2011 at 2:43 AM
Comment #361) We should kill the game with a SECOND GOAL (our problem for years) OR
2) We should keep the ball WHEN we are leading
3) Jonas can cross and definitely his best game on a black and white shirt
4) Collocini volley for the goal is 10 times better than any Ameobi’s effort in the last 3 games
5) We need a younger and better striker to replace AGEING Ameo
terencelim
Jan 23, 2011 at 3:51 AM
Comment #37Pardew is not a winning manager, this is proven.
Peter Lovenkrands should anytime ahead of Shola or even Best, in this way we have a better chance of threatening the opposition defend and adding pace to the game.
James Perch should never be on the field either, never mind starting or substitude.
Finally, don’t believe to Mike Ashley’s “Arsenal System” con because this is only his excuses trying to save more Geordies’ hard earned money into his own pocket.
We all know in the modern football you have to spend. You have to spend at least a minimal amount of money to get in new players if you want your team to stay in the top league. You are only qualified to use Arsenal system only if you have the best scouting network like Arsenal, and the b est manager like Arsene Wenger.
Ashley is the cancer of the club. Get rid of him, and we will be better.