Newcastle played to a goalless draw with Sporting Kansas tonight in brutal heat at the Livestrong Sporting Park.
Ben Arfa – it’s a twisted ankle
Newcastle started with Tim Krul back in goal, and Fabricio Coloccini captaining the side for the first time since being appointed Newcastle’s new captain by manager Alan Pardew.
Dan Gosling also got his first start for newcastle and Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Ben Arfa were also on show:
Newcastle United– Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Steven Taylor, Dan Gosling. Jonas Gutierrez, Cheik Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylavin Marveaux, Demba Ba, Peter Lovenkrands.
Subs- Fraser Forster, Steve Harper, Mehdi Abeid, Shola Ameobi, Leon Best, Danny Simpson, Alan Smith.
The two National anthems were played, which is the customary start to games over here, and Jonas Gutierrez was at left back, with Dan Gosling playing in the middle of the park with hard man Cheick Tiote.
As expected, Ben Arfa was playing up front with Demba Ba, and Peter Lovenkrands was out on the right wing.
Early in the game Gutierrez shielded the ball well from Jeferson as he seemed to impede the player, and the crowd called for a penalty, but it seemed an okay challenge from the Argentine International.
Then Ben Arfa showed his stuff with some absolute brilliance as he combined well with Peter Lovenkrands, and he beat two men (easily) and got around the goalkeeper but his shot hit the outside of the post – but sheer brilliance from the French International.
Sporting Kansas did have a couple of chances but couldn’t even test Dutch International goalkeeper Tim Krul.
And Sylvain Marveaux went close after 21 minutes when his shot was mishandled by goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, but the ball went just wide of the post.
But then Ben Arfa was fouled by Espinoza on 30 minutes, and he got a yellow card for the strong challenge, but agony for the Frenchman as he was stretchered off – oh no!
After some delay local lad Shola Ameobi came on to replace the injured Frenchman.
Newcastle played some nice football in the first half and new boy Marveaux looked good on a couple of occasions – good to see him playing again.
Half time came with the scores still level and some good news for Newcastle fans is that Ben Arfa was taken off as a precaution, and the injury does not appear to be serious, and it seems a twist of his ankle.
For the second half 19 year-old James Tavernier replaced Sylvain Marveaux, Cheik Tiote was substituted by 18 year-old new boy Mehdi Abeid and Alan Smith replaced Peter Lovenkrands.
The game had been fairly even in the rather intense heat and after 55 minutes, there were still no shots on target from either side.
Mehdi Abeid again looked good in the middle of the park for Newcastle and sprayed some beautiful passes around – this lad could be a terrific signing by Newcastle.
As half expected the second half play slowed down, and the play was not as combative as during the first half, but that had to be expected due to the intense heat.
Kansas City’s Diop hit a shot from 20 yards but still didn’t bother Tim Krul in goal, and the ball flew over the cross bar.
James Tavernier played at left back, and Jonas Gutierrez moved forward into his left wing spot.
And Gutierrez was starting to show some good form and flair in his more familiar position out on the left.
With the intense heat the game petered out a little, but a good crowd of 16,131 was announced, and that’s pretty close to a full house.
And near the end of the game, Kansas City’s Sapong hit a beautiful shot from 18 yards out but goalkeeper Tim Krul moved sharply to his left to make an excellent save and keep his clean sheet.
So it ended 0-0 but the lads gave a good account of themselves, and we saw some skillful play from the Magpies.
Two clean sheets for Newcastle in their first two pre-season games.
Again, the news is that Ben Arfa’s injury is not serious, and he seems to have twisted his ankle, but seeing the mercurial Frenchman on a stretcher again was not good for the Newcastle fans- that’s for sure.
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
Moe-NUFC
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:33 AM
Comment #1Wish was in the crowd, would give that Espinoza a piece of my mind!!
ilovetoon8788
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:36 AM
Comment #2Come on, why is he injured again. We are cursed or what? But Abeid looks like a very promising attacking midfielder. Vuckic has certainly stalled alot in his development. Abeid is certainly pushing him.
thai-mag
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Comment #3ben arfa leaves usa to return to uk because of injury, look on the bright side when he gets back he will be like a new signing
TinoToon
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Comment #4Let´s hope Ben Arfa is Ok. Looking forward the next match, its a shame that there is no tv o radio coverage. Seems like Lee Ryder will be ours eyes there.
ilovetoon8788
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:40 AM
Comment #5Just as i predicted. HBA will play no further part in the US. I think its just best if he sits out the rest of our friendlies. Slowly nurse him back when the season begins with the reserves.
God HBA, is reminding me of Owen Hargreaves. Fantastic player but injuries ruined the career.
colwell
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:46 AM
Comment #6HBA is a bit different to Hargreaves. Hargreaves injuries were all down to muscle problems HBA is down to him being to quick and getting fouled.
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:47 AM
Comment #7Why didn’t they play La Marseillaise?
toon009
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:50 AM
Comment #8Any video highlights??
Hope HBA is fine. They really need to buy atleast 2 more players. I still feel the squad is small.
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 21, 2011 at 6:55 AM
Comment #9I was first… ! :-b
ChicagoToon
Jul 21, 2011 at 7:01 AM
Comment #10mixed feelings. selfishly wish ben arfa was staying for the columbus game since im going there but realistically, its best to not rush it. GAHH! why 2 seasons in a row!?
Moe-NUFC
Jul 21, 2011 at 7:10 AM
Comment #11same here ChicagoToon was hoping he’d be back for the crew ..
No more injuries please!! specially marveaux!
toon009
Jul 21, 2011 at 7:27 AM
Comment #12Question: Where is Jose Enrique ??
alip123
Jul 21, 2011 at 8:30 AM
Comment #13In fairness, Ben Arfa was injured by two very poor tackles, and they were different injuries. I think he was lucky that this one was not serious.
Disappointing draw last night, but Pardew will make excuses such as Ben Arfa’s injury. Mind though, I think the heat and the fact that Kansas are halfway through their season did make a difference. Just got tickets from Arsenal game.
Also, can I ask to those fans from home, I don’t have a season ticket unfortunately but I want to go with 7 or 8 friends to the Fulham game. Do I have to wait before the tickets go on general sale to buy more than one ticket? I have the 12th man membership thing, but I couldn’t buy more than two tickets for the Arsenal game.
AndytheScientist
Jul 21, 2011 at 8:30 AM
Comment #14Toon009… gone would seem to be the obvious answer to that.
geordie.In.Taipei
Jul 21, 2011 at 9:11 AM
Comment #15Think we are overlooking something very important here. Gutierrez at left back??? WTF. Well, if he’s switching to left back it’ll be like a new signing haha
question. i thought Enrique flew out with the squad??? but isnt playing or on the bench…. is being made to sit in the naughty corner !!!!
dave 1961
Jul 21, 2011 at 9:59 AM
Comment #16alip123 you have to be a member or season ticket holder to buy away tickets after the Darlington game.
samigee14
Jul 21, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Comment #17I knew it. I had a feeling as soon as I loged on to this website I would see an acount of the kansas game with a picture of HBA injured. I must be telepathic. terrible news even if it isnt serios because it measn he is going to be injury prone
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jul 21, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Comment #18jesus christ ed talk about sensationalism i thought his leg was broke again.
shamsoftabriz
Jul 21, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Comment #19Few things about this:
1. It’s frustrating as a Toon fan in the USA that I couldn’t see or listen to this game anywhere–had to rely on the match commentary to “refresh” every few minutes. Even an audio feed would have been splendid.
2. Another reason we need another striker that Pardew can trust is that Ben Afra should NOT be playing as a striker. He’s an attacking midfielder in a Van der Vaart/Sneijder mold. He can score goals from that position just fine, but he can also make runs and draw marks to free up Ba and from there….something he cannot do as effectively up front. HBA as a second striker is just a misuse of his skill-set–makes the offense less effective than it might otherwise be.
shamsoftabriz
Jul 21, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #20in the above comment, that once sentence should read…”Ba and a striker to be acquired later from there.” That acquisition is critical. Pay PSG up to 11 million for Erdinc–just get him here so we don’t have to play one of our best players out of position to make up for the deficit!
Re: his injury, I think he’s one his way home for precautionary purposes. I hope.