The game was played in a downpour at St. James Park this afternoon, and as more and more water began to collect on the pitch, the referee abandoned the game after 64 minutes, with the scores level at 0-0.
Both goalkeepers made good saves in this game with Tim Krul being outstanding for Newcastle in the first half, and he made at least three excellent saves, and Yohan Cabaye again showed he could become a great player for Newcastle.
Newcastle started the game with thunder and lightning around the good looking St. James’ Park pitch.
The game got under way and young Dan Gosling made a good run into the penalty box, but was tackled nicely on the edge of the penalty box and then new boy Yohan Cabaye took a free kick which caused former Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc to save fairly easily.
On 11 minutes the ball was not cleared well by Steven Taylor, and Alberto Gilardino had a chance from just six yards out, but Tim Krul made an excellent save, but the assistant had already flagged for offside – but it was still a great save from the young Dutchman.
And the rain started to get heavier and heavier as the game progressed.
Water was beginning to gather in patches on the pitch as Jonas Gutierrez did well to put an excellent ball through to Leon Best, who ran through well but he miskicked and the ball went harmlessly wide, and it was a good chance lost by the Magpies.
And then after 28 minutes Tim Krul made another great save.
A free kick out on the right wing was taken by Andrea Lazzari and Alessandro Gamberini got to the ball just seven yards out from goal, and Krul made an unbelievable save as the 23 year-old flung himself to his right and somehow kept the ball out – we wonder if the Ditch selectors were watching this game?
And minutes later de Silvestri puts in a cross that Krul did well to punch away, and the hard working Cabaye helped by then clearing the loose ball well. Cabaye was playing in Tiote’s role of defensive midfield and it seems he can play either central role just as well, as in this game Haris Vuckic was pushing upfield.
Cabaye looks like he may turn out to be an excellent acquisition by Newcastle.
After 34 minutes Leon Best, who missed Newcastle’s best chance earlier in the game, showed excellent pace as he went for goal, but Natali defended well to take the ball away from the Coventry-born striker, before Leon could get in a shot.
The conditions were getting progressively worse as the game went on and after 39 minutes it was that man Tim Krul again who made another outstanding save for the Magpies.
The ball was held up by the water on the pitch as Coloccini tried to clear, but the ball hit Jose Enrique, and it seemed to be an own goal, but Krul went down quickly to his right and somehow kept the ball out.
Tim was in inspired form for the Magpies, and he could start in goal on Wednesday night for Holland against England at Wembley.
Half time came and Newcastle were just a little fortunate to be level at 0-0 with some excellent goalkeeping being shown by the young Dutch goalkeeper Krul, but both sides had done very well in the very difficult playing conditions.
Best players in the first half for Newcastle were Krul and French International Yohan Cabaye, who looked an excellent player for the Magpies and he cost only €5M too!
Alan Pardew made four changes at the break, and Fraser Forster, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux replaced Tim Krul, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best and Dan Gosling.
Three minutes after the break Demba Ba almost scored as a good Danny Simpson right wing cross was headed towards goal by Ba, but the ball just went inches wide of the post – that was close!
After 50 minutes it was Fraser Forster who saved well from a snap shot from Jovetic, as the 23 year-old went down well to his left and blocked the ball and Enrique cleared.
And two minutes later it was Forster again, as Lazzari was clean through but shot straight at the goalkeeper, but Forster again got down well to take the ball.
With Fiorentina starting to get on top, Alan Pardew brought on Ryan Taylor for Peter Lovenkrands, and then Romulo hit a volley that was only just wide.
But the pitch was getting water-logged, and it was increasingly difficult for the players to pass the ball around, because it was being held up by all the water on the field.
And would you believe it, the referee Halsey abondoned the game after 64 minutes.
Alan Pardew will have seen just about enough of most of his players on display this afternoon, to know what the starting eleven will be next week against Arsenal.
The pitch should have dried out by then!
Comments welcome.
154 comments so far
nufc90
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Comment #11st
gonz
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:47 PM
Comment #2You’re going to get slated for that nufc90! haha!
gonz
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Comment #3If the weather is as bad as the Geordies are saying it is than I’m glad they called it off. We can’t risk losing players from injury this close to the start of the season.
Any ideas who the second player is that we are after? Obertan seems to be a done deal!
Thump
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:50 PM
Comment #4@gonz: It is mate. My garden is just a mud patch now.
Andy
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:50 PM
Comment #5The weather really is shocking! Surprised if there isn’t a few flood around the city today. Right decision to call it off
Andy
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Comment #6@thump I’m just glad I live on a hill! Haha
Kurt
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Comment #7Just waiting on the next thing to go wrong, what else is left ?
gonz
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Comment #8So far so good here in Leeds, but am expecting this downpour soonish! Good decision then to call it off. Especially minutes before Cabaye took a hefty knock from a challenge. Don’t want to miss our player of the season. 😉 @ boater
roshan MAGPIE
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:54 PM
Comment #9ED lots of spelling mistake especialy ditch keeper KRUL
spitfire_
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:54 PM
Comment #10?ttendance?
Rowan Milsted
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Comment #11A few positives to take then, glad nobody was injured in the downpour. Sounds like we did pretty well, both teams could have scored, so a pretty decent performance from what Ed’s saying…
Not that I managed to watch or listen to any of it anyway, a frustrating afternoon! Bring on the start of the season, can’t wait.
BiffBaffBoff
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Comment #12THIS WEATHER IS ALL MIKE ASHLEYS FAULT, SPEND MONEY AND WEATHER WILL BE GOOD!!!!!!1
😉
gonz
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Comment #13Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
Good luck to NUFC boys today and also to Nobby Nolan at his new club……am off over to SJP this afternoon, just doin footy coupon now
That’s for whoever it was on the last thread that said Barton wasn’t at the game today.
SwedishMagpie
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Comment #14haha in Sweden the sun is shining and it’s 25 degrees outside 😛
Rowan Milsted
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:56 PM
Comment #15* especially haha the irony
Indian Magpie
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Comment #16Dark clouds over st James’s park.
Andy
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Comment #17roll on arsenal !!!
Thump
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Comment #18Just looked in my back garden which is now a paddling pool.
NottsGeordie
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Comment #19Team for Arsenal
GK – Krul
RB – Simpson
CB – S. Taylor
CB – Coloccini
LB – Enrique
RM – Marveaux
CM – Cabaye
CM – Gosling
LM – Gutierrez
CF – Vuckic
ST – Ba
Sir Alan
Aug 6, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Comment #20Gabriel Obertan- Similar to Ronaldo when he first came to England. Tall slim, loads of pace and skill. Bulk him up and he could be some player. However would Fergie let him go and for only 3 million if he was that good?
Andy
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Comment #21what did rossi leave man u for out of interest?
NottsGeordie
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:01 PM
Comment #22Sir Alan
Would fergie buy him for 3 mill if he was rubbish?
Robby Bobson
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:03 PM
Comment #23Biffbaffboff…you beat me to it…
My comment was going to be im sure people in here will somehow blame the game being abandoned on ashley
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:04 PM
Comment #24spitfire, attendance was 12656.
gonz
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Comment #25Andy, think he wanted more games. He was always going out on loan and eventually he agreed to leave to join Valencia? Speaking of Rossi I was gutted when he chose to represent Italy instead of his native country of the USA. He learned his skills in the states and we could’ve had a really good strikeforce with him and Altidore upfront
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Comment #26Sir Alan, Obertan put in a transfer request. Answer your question?
terencelim
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Comment #27@22,
Fergie did make a lot of mistakes in transfer in the past if you notice. Being champion doesn’t mean they are good, but maybe just a bunch of spoilt children of Howard Webb, Phil Dowd and the FA.
marcos_nufc
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:06 PM
Comment #28this pre-season was awful for Newcastle United in The USA it was very hot and we could only score goals in the last match, we drew and lost others.and now it is the rain so, I agree and it was a wise decision because we cannot risk losing players due to injuries.I am worried about the striker. Who is our main striker? Ba?Shola?Lovenkrands?Best? as a fan I will support, I will back all Newcastle United players no matter who they are.bring on Arsenal I hope that the rain will not spoil the match and I also hope that Newcastle United will win the match.
@marcos_nufc_rj
Spike
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:07 PM
Comment #29Robby Bobson,
We could say that no more will be spent on the team because the pitch now needs drainage.
That would be Ashley’s fault
Sir Alan
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:09 PM
Comment #3026- Yes that does answer my question and that would fully explain it! cheers.
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:09 PM
Comment #31Lucky that SJP is built on a hill. Otherwise they would have been playing water polo.
thud and blunder
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:13 PM
Comment #32pardews just been quoted saying Obertan a done deal, medical monday!
max
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Comment #33is there a link for highlight??
Baro
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #34thud blunder
LINKKK??
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #35max, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39tVGErFJyc
cheikmate
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #36thud and blunder. beat me to it, but yeah ur rite.
A think its a class signing, will be a very exciting player
cheikmate
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:20 PM
Comment #37baro, pardews quote was posted from lee ryder on twatter
Tonytoon73
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Comment #38GG did you used to do your tattoo’s at gosforth.
Baro
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:24 PM
Comment #39any link to obertan confirmation by pardew?
thud and blunder
Aug 6, 2011 at 5:25 PM
Comment #40as cheikmate just said..lee ryder and a few other reporters on twitter.
hes also been saying hes going to sit down with Barton next week and could feature against Arsenal