Alan Pardew was a relieved man yesterday, after Newcastle had secured their 6th home win of the season.
Steven Taylor – in action yesterday
The Magpies were helped by the sending off of Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell after 35 minutes, and Liam just for good measure seemed to handle twice on the line, and his second hand ball whipped the ball away from Kevin Nolan who was about the bang the ball home.
So why did the Birmingham players surround the referee and make a big deal of it, since it was an obvious and deliberate hand ball, and an automatic red card not to mention the penalty.
The players these days certainly don’t help the referees at all.
Shola Ameobi dispatched the penalty in great style, and then Steven Taylor showed all the passion he has for his home town club with a terrific header to put Newcastle two up on 43 minutes.
It was fitting that it was two local lads who came through the Newcastle Academy who got the goals yesterday, – and you can say all you like about Taylor and Ameobi, but they are completely dedicated to Newcastle, it’s as simple as that.
But just to show this was Newcastle, Argentine Coloccini then gifted Birmingham a goal, when he completely missed a long ball down the center from goalkeeper Ben Forster, who made several outstanding saves throughout the game to keep the score down.
Former Newcastle player Lee Bowyer hit the ball home after a melee, in which the Newcastle defense tried to recover from the mistake, but couldn’t.
It was 2-1 at half time and stayed that way, although Newcastle were never in much danger of surrendering the lead, and the win took the Magpies into 10th place in the table and mathematically safe from relegation, at last.
This is what Alan Pardew told Sky Sports News after the game:
“It is very important for the club that we set a marker down for next year.” “Obviously we are going to bring in one or two players and I think we can get stronger from this point.”
“It is important to keep the owner, the club, everything going forward, and a good feeling at the football club. We have got that at the moment.”
“I think the fans know that this team is not filled with big names. But it has been resilient, has shown character when it has needed to, and more importantly it has won.”
“Newcastle are renowned for getting the fans off their seats, and we know that’s probably what is missing and is going to take us beyond where we are at the moment.”
Newcastle will not get their fans off their seats by signing players like Carlton Cole and Paul Konchesky, who are two players who previously played for Alan Pardew, but neither is good enough to be brought to Tyneside.
So it will be a test for Alan Pardew and Chief Scout Graham Carr to bring some good players to Newcastle this summer.
Graham Carr has an excellent record, and we’re hoping he can bring in at least a couple of Cheick Tiote type signings – a player Newcastle pick up for small money, but turns out to be an excellent player.
The summer transfer window is such an important time in the come back of Newcastle United form the depths of the second division, if the club is going to get back into the big time soon.
We live in hope.
Comments welcome.
30 comments so far
toonfan09
May 8, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Comment #1this is just a rumour lads but that guy on twitter says pardew has 45 million to spend
http://twitter.com/#!/cwarr07
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
May 8, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Comment #2How would he know how much he has toonfan09?
toonfan09
May 8, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Comment #3duno but he has come through in the past with transfers
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
May 8, 2011 at 9:50 AM
Comment #4Hopefully he is right.
Weezertoon
May 8, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Comment #5Good solid performance by the lads yesterday, great to see lots of attacking football, great to hear the black and white army shouting ‘shoot’.
Nice to see we’re safe, and I hope that with the remaining games pardew isn’t afraid to give the youngsters a run out.
Steven Taylor’s goal was very good, a well executed header. He did look very shakey at the back though. Perhaps a rethink of his position is what’s in order. Everytime there’s a cross I get worried because he just doesn’t jump for the ball. I guess the real test of his defensive capability will be in the coming two matches. He’s got a chance with willo out, let’s hope he takes it.
For me Willocini is still the best combination.
Was great to see danny simpson attacking more. I think this lad is very defensive minded and it’s hard for him to break out of it. The Modern full backs have to be a mix of attacking and defensive football, but i’m sure it’s something he’s working on. Good lad.
All in all a great day for our team! HWTL
fungus44
May 8, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Comment #6wait and see he may just surprise us all
mag_pie-eater
May 8, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Comment #7I hope Pardew is just saying “one or two” off hand, as we need a hell of a lot more than “one or two” new players. If anything we need one or two new players in attack, midfield AND defence!
nomis_jade
May 8, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #8Was good to see nolan pushed up a bit more yesterday (or at least it looked like that from the MOTD highlights). He is so much better when in and around their box. 451 is still an good option for us in my oppinion. with guthrie in mid alongside tiote and lover or ameobi up front. Id personally but lover just cos he works his socks off at closing down their defenders.
Enigma
May 8, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #9A wins a win, but I have to say yesterday highlights how desperate we are for new bodies in the squad. Pardew made his one obligatory change, Ranger for Lovenkrands, and that was all we had in the way of back up.
If we’d of buried the 10 men after 60-70 mins then yesterday would of been an excellent opportunity to blood some younger faces, but we are toothless up front.
Cracking pen from Shola mind.
nomis_jade
May 8, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Comment #10@weezertoon. Taylor has been out for a while and is prob a bit rusty. Hopefully he can improve. it is close between him and willo. Like you say, maybe taylor at RB?
toonfan09
May 8, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Comment #11got to admit when shola stepped up to take the pena i was screaming for barton to take it
sweendog
May 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #12see theres talk of tiote to spurs .. hope not .. we really need him and cover for him when smith leaves
Solaidback
May 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #13Ed fella, stop with the constant repeats man… Yes Cole & Konchesky use to play for Pardew but so did 100’s of other… you’re just doing what the crap-loids are doing & adding 2+2 to get 5…..
There’s enough rubbish being posted around to get the fans wound up against Ashley this summer without your blog adding to it fella….
When I started posting on here several years ago, you use to post some great stories but lately, since you came back, it’s as if you’re just into repeating what the journo’s in the Southern press write & it’s getting very tiresome & repetitive, please go back to writing your own stuff fella, back to writing about the club & not repeating what some idle irk at a news desk pulls off the Internet becuase he’s too lazy to actually do some proper research yeah….
xXl NUFC lXx
May 8, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Comment #14I think we will buy players for 25 million, 10 million on wages, and the other 10 to 15 million we would have buy players for if we have not sold Carroll will ashley take…
sweendog
May 8, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Comment #15toonfan09 .. agreed good pen by shola
Solaidback
May 8, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Comment #16Oh I forgot to say, great game yesterday, imagine what the score would have been if we’d only got a couple of descent strikers on the pitch… lol 😉
sweendog
May 8, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Comment #17some good news
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/05/08/return-of-leon-best-is-good-news-for-newcastle-united-79310-28652324/?
Enigma
May 8, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Comment #18Nomis Jade – don’t fancy saylor at rb, I have to say. I think he just needs his confidence back and he’ll be a cracking defender again.
I think it’d be best to buy competition for Simpson in the summer and let saylor concentrate on becoming the class cb he’s going to be.
Solaidback
May 8, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Comment #19Imo I think Saylor could do a job as DMF tbh… I think he’d be a good replacement for Smith & backup for Tiote if/when required… 🙂
roshan MAGPIE
May 8, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Comment #20we should sign fringe players from TOTENHAM
nomis_jade
May 8, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Comment #21enigma – I actually agree m8. I reckon he can still be class CB and he is still young. He’s been unlucky with that shoulder injury. Hopefully good pre-season and he will add to the great competition we have at centre back. Best defense we have had for ages!
on another note, did anyone see that jose looked well pleased when the pen went in (maybe he was just relived cos it was shola) and was right in amounst them during celebrations. Still hope he will stay. We are defo safe now after all!
arfa chance
May 8, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Comment #22How about Samba from blackburn ?
sweendog
May 8, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Comment #23arfa chance .. yep good player
RedMissionBells
May 8, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Comment #24We were once called The Entertainers mainly because we had very flamboyant and technically gifted players like Ginola, Albert and Asprilla.
If we ever want to challenge for the top 6, we must sign players who can pass the ball around and are technically gifted. Hatem Ben Arfa is a good start.
I look at our current Newcastle team and sometimes I think we play a little like Stoke or Bolton. Very ordinary and not threathening. We have few players who can hold their own against the top sides.
I look at the current Tottenham team and I think they are the club we should be trying to emulate. They signed Van der Vaart for less than 10 million. Their players are very quick, technical and can pass the ball around. The fact that Kranjcar cannot get into the starting 11 says alot about their team.
If we want to move forward and complete, we need to spend wisely on GOOD players. Free transfers will add depth to our squad, but it will not strengthen our first 11. Also, the Coca Cola league standard is FAR from the PL. Lovenkrands was owning teams in the lower league. So if we are to sign players from Coca Cola league, we need to be realistic and realise these players WILL struggle to adapt to the pace when they play in the PL.
We have the money, we just need to invest.
On a side note, Alan Smith must go.
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
May 8, 2011 at 10:31 AM
Comment #25Alan Smith +
Crawfordladd17
May 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Comment #26In
Bassong £4m
M’Bengue+Tabanou=£10m
Wendt Free
Larsson Free
Ireland £4m
Sow £10m
Bendtner Loan
Outcome:£28m
Out
Campbell Free Retired maybe
Tozer Loan Northampton
Enrique £12m Liverpool
Smith £2m Leeds
Routledge £3m QPR
Xisco £2m Spanish Team
Income: £20m
Total Income:-9m not bad
GK Krul Harper Forster Soderburg
RB Simpson R.Taylor Tavernier
CB Coloccini Bassong S.Taylor Williamson Kadar
LB M’Bengue Wendt Perch
CDM Tiote Gosling
RM Jonas Larsson
CM Barton Ireland Guthrie Richardson
LM Ben Arfa Tabanou Ferguson
CAM Nolan(c) Vuckic
ST Sow Bendtner Best Ameobi Loverkands Ranger Airey Donaldson
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CDM Tiote
RM Jonas
LM Ben Arfa
CAM Nolan(c)
ST Sow
ST Bendtner
Subs
Harper
S.Taylor
Gosling
Ireland
Tabanou
Barton
Best
Top 8 for Sure!!!!!!!!!!
xmindcrimex
May 8, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Comment #27@Sweendog
Love how he mentions Haris Vuckic as key player coming back. Hope he makes a breakthrough to the first team next year.
LoonyToonyMagPieMan
May 8, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #28Something i read on a blog. These are our supposed targets. Do you agree with any
1. KOFFI NDRI ROMARIC
Age: 27?
Position: Midfielder?
Club: Sevilla?
Price: £4.5m
Notes: Has argued with Sevilla manger Gregorio Manzano about how much time he has spent on the bench, looks to be on his way out.
2. KOLBEINN SIGTHORSSON
Age: 21?
Position: Striker?
Club: AZ Alkmaar?
Price: £2m
Notes: Newcastle scout Graham Carr has been scouting the Dutch league after finding Cheik Tiote at FC Twente. The 6ft 1in Icelandic striker is highly rated.
3. NOLITO (MANUEL AGUDO DURAN)
Age: 24?
Position: Striker?
Club: Barcelona?
Price: £3m
Notes: Struggles to get near the first team with the quality in the Barcelona squad, QPR and Rangers are also said to be interested in the striker who turned down a contract extension.
4. MATT JARVIS
Age: 24?
Position: Midfielder?
Club: Wolves?
Price: £5m
Notes: An England call-up has added to his price tag. If Wolves are relegated from the Premier League there is a good chance he will look to move on.
5. ADEL TAARABT
Age: 21?
Position: Attacking Midfielder?
Club: QPR?
Price: £9m
Notes: Has lit up the field at Loftus Road and been linked to many other clubs. Could be tough to sign.
6. Robbie Keane
Age: 30?
Position: Striker?
Club: West Ham (on loan from Spurs)?
Price: £6m
Notes: Unhappy at Spurs and on loan at West Ham, could Keane be on his way to Newcastle? They failed to get the deal through last summer, could it happen this year?
7. Johan Elmander
Age: 29?
Position: Striker?
Club: Bolton?
Price: FREE
Notes: Still hasn’t signed a contract with Bolton which means Newcastle could grab a bargain, but competition from clubs with Champions League prospects would be a threat to the deal.
8. ROMAN HUBNIK
Age: 26?
Position: Central Defender?
Club: Hertha Berlin?
Price: £4m
Notes: Hubnik wants to leave Hertha Berlin, but the club are not that keen to get rid of the reliable and strong central defender.
9. Niko Kranjcar
Age: 26?
Position: Attacking Midfielder?
Club: Tottenham?
Price: £7m
Notes: Has lost his deserved first-team place to Van der Vaart. Very talented playmaker who has been linked with a move to Newcastle for some time.
10. GERVINHO
Age: 23?
Position: Winger/Striker?
Club: Lille?
Price: £12m
Notes: Strong interest from Liverpool in January window but after signing Carroll, they probably won’t be interested now.
magpie6699
May 8, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #29I’m not sure I agree that Saylor was too shaky in defence yesterday – he seemed to win almost every ball pumped forward, whereas Collocini (who incidentally is my “Mr Consistent” for the season otherwise) was beaten in the air by Jerome every time. Much as I like Simpson he’s not the finished article by any means and at least once a game teams seem to be able to penetrate our penalty area on that right side. I also think Shola still has a future as our 3rd / 4th striker – he got a lot of stick yesterday around me but he did some good stuff in terms of holding the ball and bringing the midfield into play when it was actually passed to him.
Otherwise I’m just happy now – PL next year and I’ve seen some great games (Villa, West Ham, Blunderland, Wolves, Arsenal ) so rhubarb to all the negativity I’m reading! My recollection of our relegation season was that despite our “stars” Martins, Owen, Viduka, we NEVER hammered anybody. Did we ever score more than 3 goals in a game? HWTL!
The Entertainers
May 8, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Comment #30There is no better time to see Ashleys true intentions this summer.
Previous summer Ashley hasn’t wanted to committ too much cash on players, due to plugging the giant cash hole Sheppard left.
Well this summer is different, we’re in the black and we have cash! Over to you Mike, we wait in anticipation !