If Newcastle can get back into the big time, it will be a different type of side that brings Newcastle some success, in contrast to the sides we’ve had since the Kevin Keegan era.
Gary Neville while at Manchester United
Who’s that guy behind him?
When Newcastle were flying high in the first Keegan era, Newcastle were never accused of having a good defense, and their plan was simply to score more goals than the opposition, and that 4-3 defeat at Liverpool is still considered the greatest Premier League game ever played.
But as former Manchester United captain Gary Neville said on Sky Sports last night, Newcastle did everything right at Stoke, and the defense played great, and that’s the big difference from previous great Newcastle sides, they now have a foundation of an excellent defense under manager Alan Pardew.
It’s the best defense in the football league so far with just 7 goals conceded in the 10 league games played so far this season, and that’s just one goal better than Manchester City.
In fact Gary said some good things about Newcastle after the game, and he’s gone up in our estimation now. 😀
Newcastle showed fight, solidity and not a little bit of skill last night, but Alan Pardew has to take some plaudits for the way he set the team up to defend stubbornly, but also kept two men up front in Ba and Best.
Newcastle attacked Stoke quickly on the break, and it worked like a treat in that first half, when two quick breakaways saw two Ba goals and Newcastle were 2-0 up at the half, with assists from Gabriel Obertan and Leon Best.
Then in the second half the question was could Newcastle hold on, as Stoke came much more into the game, and they got one back on 74 minutes with a penalty from Jonathan Walters.
Stoke came at Newcastle with everything they had, but then a huge decision gave Newcastle a penalty on 80 minutes, and Demba Ba, who else, slammed the penalty home to give Newcastle a fantastic 3-1 win and his second hat-trick in five games.
And that’s 8 goals in five games since the Senegal striker opened his account just five games ago against Blackburn Rovers.
Not a bad start to his Newcastle career and it’s really hard to find a player last night in Newcastle colors, who did not have a good game, and every single one of them worked their socks off for the side, in a great display of closing down the opposition, especially in that first half.
It’s got to be upward and onward from now on, but we’ll take it one game at a time and next up is a tough fixture with Everton at home, in a lunchtime kick off game.
A win in that game and we could go second if Manchester United don’t beat Sunderland in their game, but if recent Sunderland form is anything to go by the Black cats could get hammered in that game.
But Newcastle are flying high at the moment, and we just want it to continue.
Comments welcome.
18 comments so far
Rowan Milsted
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Comment #1I think Neville is our new number one fan! He had so many positive things to say after the game, it was very easy listening…
I watched the game with a mate who’s a Man Utd fan and he told me that Fergie had scouts at the game to watch Cabaye and Tiote. If that’s true then it’s slightly worrying, but Cabaye couldn’t have picked a better game to have a rare below par performance!
Bar Cabaye being slightly average in the 2nd half I thought that every single player worked hard and had a great. I wanted Santon to start and Simpson to drop to the bench with Raylor at RB. How wrong I was, our full backs were awesome, Jonas was amazing too.
A win against Everton would give us the prefect platform for the dread run of games we have coming up. with the form we’re in there’s no telling how well we could do this season. I’m sure Pards will keep their feet on the ground…
Rowan Milsted
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Comment #2That should read perfect, not prefect… sorry!
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Comment #3A worrying stat: Ba scored 8 of 15 NUFC goals in championship. More than 50%.
It’s a problem on a long run.
GeordieToon89
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Comment #4still dont like gary neville lol
GeordieToon89
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Comment #5niafron – thats not a problem at all mate just proves he’s getting into the positions before the other players and wer winning so he could be the only player to score for the rest of the season aslong as we keep winning
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #6Well it’s a problem for two reasons. The first is obvious, he could be injured.
The second one is it show the team is maybe not so good than that.
We got a strong defense.
We got a midfiel who work hard.
And we got Ba.
I think, i already told it before, we lack of collective play in offense.
THis is all about individual’s move, wether they are performed by Jonas, Obi, Best or Ba.
Oleg G
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #7I am going to scream this because not many said this so far:
BEST WAS INVOLVED IN ALL 3 GOALS!
Everybody’s talking about Ba and yes, he did an amazing job yesterday, also defensively. But best was also great, a header to Obe, the kick\pass to Ba and the penalty happened because of him.
Just saying, give respect and credit to the lad!
Irish-Toon
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #8Did anyone see the game on Sky. Davy Provan was the co-commentator and he was finding it really difficult to give us any praise at all. He said the first goal was offside, the second was a mis-hit and the third was one of the softest penalties he’d seen. In between times it was Stoke’s bad play rather than our good stuff that helped us win
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Comment #9I give credit to Best. It’s not about that. The team rely to much on individual feature.
From Ba or Best, it’s the same.
Irish-Toon
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Comment #10I said it when he first joined. Best may not be the most skillful of players but he doesn’t have put in a shift. he works his socks off. Can’t understand why Trappatoni doesn’t include him in the ROI squads for the Euro playoff against Estonia
Nathaaan
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #11Oleg G – The first goal he was off side, the second he mis hit a shot which aren’t the types off assists you want. Thought he had a good game over all.
jakesome
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:31 PM
Comment #12niafron how can you not see the positives
glass is half full mate
OttersPocket
Nov 1, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Comment #13Niafron
I would say the complete opposite, we are not reliant on individuals and it is the team collective that is getting us the points, great spirit, resilliance and organisation.
Sir Alan
Nov 1, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Comment #14Are Barcelona reliant on Messi? Madrid on Ronaldo? Utd on Rooney? The list goes on and on! Every team has there star players that win the games and score the goals but the other players also do a massive shift. I also feel that we have players that can take Ba’s place if he does get injured and get the goals.
YankeeToon
Nov 1, 2011 at 3:15 PM
Comment #15Gotta love the fight in this team and how they play for eachother. Every match I watch it seems that it is someone or someones who raise their play up due to the tatics of the moment or the opponet they are playing.
From the starting XI to the subs, they are all playing their roles. Much respect to Pardew and the players for that. Keep it rolling and go get that striker and CB that the scouts believe will be good for us.
Geordiedoonsooth
Nov 1, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Comment #16I’ll never like that snidely little sh*t after seeing him on the pitch at wembley after the charity shield singing wake up kevin keegan with your sad geordie b*stards and a sh*t football team. I don’t mind the fans singing things like that but players should have some respect. He’s nothing but a little turd I’d love to smack him straight in the gob.
joppadoni
Nov 1, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Comment #17im glad gary has come out and said what he has. as for the singing GDS.. he is a fan of man u so there ya go. though you are right still, professionalism should overcome emotion , i forgive him that though :).
what footy is on telly this week?
will
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Comment #18Niafron would you please keep your hand off the keyboard