One of the many things we liked about Newcastle’s performance at Stoke City was the way the Newcastle players worked tirelessly to close down the opposition.
Steven Taylor – in that mask of his
They didn’t give the Stoke players much time at all when they got the ball, and it’s very clear the Newcastle players are very fit this season and can seem to run forever.
And Steven Taylor had yet another outstanding game in the heart of the Newcastle defense on Monday night, even though he was wearing his newly fitted mask for the first time, to protect that broken nose.
And Steven Taylor has come out and said that you can compare this Newcastle team to the staying power of a Duracell Bunny, they just keep on going and going.
Newcastle moved into third place in the Premier League and are three points clear of Chelsea, and just one point behind Manchester United after 10 games played, and who would have thought in early November, the lads would be so high up in the league table?
Steven Taylor thinks the work rate of his team mates is one clue to the side’s great success so far this season:
“The players we have got just never stop running. We just keep going. I would compare them to a Duracell battery but I think a Duracell battery would conk out first!”
“The stats show we are all definitely working harder than in previous years. With and without the ball, we get through a lot of work. We try to get the ball back as quickly as possible.”
“Jonas, for example, would have got through about 15km or 16km at Stoke. He was unbelievable.” “He was non-stop, but even in training he has a phenomenal work ethic.”
“And Gabriel on the other wing works extremely hard too, protecting the full-backs then launching attacks.”
“We can’t get carried away.We are a small squad and cannot afford anyone to slip up. In previous years we might have carried a couple – we can’t do that now. Even the lads who come on from the bench get stuck in.”
“That’s the spirit we have.” “Not many teams will go to Stoke and get the result we did. If you look at the stats I think Arsenal were the team who last knocked three goals past them.”
“Even the lads up front were getting battered around but they got up and just got on with it.” “Overall it was a terrific team performance and I hope the fans enjoyed it because we had to work hard.”
“We have got lucky in a couple of games, we will probably be doubted in a few games, but we just have to keep going.”
Newcastle’s resurgence has come as a big surprise to the Newcastle fans but they (we) just love it.
And we have to hope we can wrap up all three points against Everton on Saturday at St. James’ Park, before we start the three game stretch that pits us against Man City away, Man United away and then Chelsea at home.
We’re not sure how many points we can get from those three games, so 3 points on Saturday would be very nice indeed.
And even a point will ensure Newcastle stay in 3rd position in the Premier League after the weekend games are over.
Comments welcome.
51 comments so far
Andy
Nov 1, 2011 at 11:52 PM
Comment #1Hoping Saylor can have an injury free season as other than 2 daft tackles he has been an absolute rock at the back for us this year.
ToonDownSouth
Nov 1, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Comment #2Andy
The stupid thing is that we have the best defensive record in the country, 3 of our back 4 are English, but none will ever get a look in for England.
I’m not saying that they’re individually world class, but clearly picking players based on individual quality hasn’t gone too well for us.
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Comment #3That is all down to pardew i reckon. Was reading a taylor interview earlier today i think saying he is working him harder than any other toon manager defensively and he is the hardest to please. These are good signs i think. The line as a whole is looking so solid. I even have a bit of faith in it now! When was the last time we could say we have confidence we won’t concede a goal? Not in my lifetime
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Comment #4Oh I think quite a few teams will now go to Stoke and get a result. We’ve just given them the blueprint of how to do it.
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:05 AM
Comment #5ive just realised the geordie german and niafron are finished now i bettere change my name back to boom boom the 1st at least i never had any pricks questioning wheter or not i was “allowed” to support the club.
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:06 AM
Comment #6Hoping so GG. Fair enough playing to your strengths but they just down right irritate me haha
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Comment #7hey gg mikeashleyisamakem just called me a glory hunter on last post hmmm picked a good club for a glory hunter didnt i.
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:08 AM
Comment #8Andy
I said to my mate earlier on, it’s crazy: whenever a cross, shot, corner, free kick, throw etc is lumped towards the goal, it doesn’t even cross my mind that it’ll go in..
I’ve found myself believing that Krul will save every single shot.
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Comment #9dublin
Should have done your research when picking your club mate. All those trophies we (almost) won…
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Comment #10TDS thats some good uri geller shit keep it up ha ha.
swoopingmagpie
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Comment #11Toon down South, It’s not SOUWTH – we Geories use the dipthong sound OO, so it should be Toon Doon Sooth. This clearly shows you are from South of the Watford Gap !
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Comment #12i think there is a Toon Doon Sooth already.
Also TDS i know it is crazy! Even at Stokes throw ins i was confident (otheSr than the low ones which were v impressive) Everton are quite similar to us tbf. They are solid and v unspectacular. Hopefully both teams let loose a bit and we get a cracking game of football.
It also says a lot when i am disapointed we haven’t kept a clean sheet away to Stoke. Keep it up lads!
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:13 AM
Comment #13swooping
Thanks for the linguistics lesson 😉 I’ll keep it in mind when doing my Geordie impersonations.
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Comment #14holy fcuk hes gone and givin himself another name for backup thats the funiest thing ive seen in years sad little batsard
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Comment #15dublin
That’s what I was wondering haha. Brilliant. Even though I already said where I was born, and where I now lived.
All the crazies are out tonight!
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Comment #16and by the way swoop its not geories its geordies while were on the gramer lesson just thought id throw that out there
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:16 AM
Comment #17dublin mag steve, wouldn’t say you were a glory hunter. Maybe just a soft spot for the underdog.
swoopingmagpie, Does it matter where someone comes from as long as they support NUFC? Or is it an exclusive club? Geordies only?
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:18 AM
Comment #18While we’re on the grammar* lesson 😉 haha
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Comment #19@GG his name is swoopingmagpie/akamikeashleyisamakem/imanarsehole haha
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Comment #20GG
Clearly you’ve missed the last hours fun with that guy. If he had his way Newcastle would belong solely to lifelong residents of Newcastle. The blogs very own resident BNP member.
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:20 AM
Comment #21i was waitin for that andy ha i knew it wouldnt come from the clown with the three names ha
chiefone28
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:20 AM
Comment #22The last time Newcastle finished in the top 5 which was the 2003-2004 season, any team that has remained unbeaten after 10 games goes on to finish in the top 4
Season # of games – Unbeaten team – Top 4 final standing
2003-2004 – 10 games – Arsenal – 1.arsenal, 2.chelsea, 3.man utd , 4.liverpool
2004-2005 – 10 games – none
2005-2006- 10 games – chelsea 1.cheslea, 2.man utd, 3.liverpool, 4.arsenal
2006-2007- 10 games – none
2007-2008- 10 games – arsenal andliverpool 1.man utd, 2.chelsea, 3.arsenal, 4.liverpool
2008-2009- 10 games- liverpool 1.man utd, 2.liverpool,3.chelsea, 4.arsenal
2009-2010- 10 games- none
2010-2011- 10 games- manchester utd 1.man utd, 2.chelsea, 3.man city,4. arsenal
2011-2012 – 10 games- man city and newcastle
See a pattern? , the stats since 2003-2004 clearly shows
that any team that’s unbeaten after 10 games always finishes in the top 4. End of story.
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Comment #23ToonDownSouth, Was watching the Stoke game again. Maybe we should clear all the foreigners out of the club?
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Comment #24Steve you set it up haha.
Also the omens of us finishing in top 4 are good but as they say records are there to be broken. Sometimes not for the best. If we get 7th i’d be over the moon with this season never mind 4th
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Comment #25Chiefone
Read your post mate, nice stats. Especially the ones regarding Blackpool, Hull etc. Reassuring as well!! 😀
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:25 AM
Comment #26GG
They’re all rubbish anyway aren’t they. Coming over here, stealing our jobs.
Of course, I’m kidding. Before anyone takes me seriously.
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Comment #27if the board back pards in jan we could hang on in there but i think there will still be quiet a few cuts for a little while yet i didnt like his interview last week where he said IF tim decides to stay with us it would be great but he will be a top keeper wherever he ends up. wtf is that suppose to meen ha ha only joking MEAN.
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:31 AM
Comment #28ToonDownSouth,you forgot. That they are ruining the English game with their powder puff tackles.
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Comment #29Saw this comment last night. Made me laugh
Jonas Gutierrez MOTM? A Latin American on a cold, monday October night in Stoke? Is the space-time continuum about to rip…
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:32 AM
Comment #30dublin mag steve, you should have left the “only Joking” bit out for a few posts.
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:33 AM
Comment #31the only pattern i see is too many gargles ha ha! that little cnut has fcuked off cos we were onto him ha ha ha see around you all geordie blood staunch supporter ha ha if theres one thing i learned about the locals they dont give a fcuk where ur from they just love to hear that u follow the toon and ive yet to meet a geordie that hasnt bought me a drink great blokes absoloutely fcukin great
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:34 AM
Comment #32I remember a few weeks ago Colo saying that he thought Europe would be too soon for us this season. Probably have to agree. Look what happened to Fulham.
dublin mag steve
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:35 AM
Comment #33im off to bed lads up at 5.30 ah fcuk
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Comment #34I heard on legends that red and white and Halloween are very good for us. This year Stoke. Last Sunderland. And before Middlesborough and Man U. Don’t know the years of the last 2.
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Comment #35We’re not likely to be playing on the next halloween 🙁 should make it a yearly thing!
ToonDownSouth
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:44 AM
Comment #36Right, I’m off guys. Uni early tomorrow. Feels good to be going to sleep proud of our club again (;
Night
Andy
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:45 AM
Comment #37I am also off up at 7 :O night lads.
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Comment #38Me to night.
GeordieGerman
Nov 2, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Comment #39I mean me too. Night.
blissna
Nov 2, 2011 at 1:06 AM
Comment #40I think the main difference this year is we have a very capable defensive tactician in Alan Pardew. I hope he goes from strength to strength, not only for the clubs sake, but because I like him as a person. Loving the stats but I’m acutely aware that the others in that slice of data are de facto top 4 teams and have been for sometime. Not like us toon whippersnappers enjoying a rare run of good fortune.