The work that Alan Pardew has done all season with the Newcastle defense is playing off with lots of points – so far.
A happy Alan Pardew on Saturday
In another resilient display of defending in the second half, Newcastle blanked Everton and so came away with the 2-1 victory that propelled Newcastle briefly up to second place in the league immediately after the game.
But one thing that hasn’t worked for us recently is the number of injuries that Newcastle are beginning to pick up.
Injuries on Saturday to Yohan Cabaye, Leon Best and Sylvain Marveaux make all three players doubtful for the next game at Manchester City on November 19th.
The 50 year-old Newcastle manager, whose star is starting to rocket upwards on Tyneside, had this to say to the local press today:
“We had the record within our sights.” “But we also had a lot of disruption – the injuries really affected our rhythm, with different players coming on with different styles.”
“It was difficult for the team to harness those styles when you haven’t worked on them.” “Losing Cabaye was very difficult for us, as he’s been very influential. We still did absolutely terrific.”
“The goal before half-time changed the game. At 2-0, we were absolutely brilliant for about 15 minutes.”
“We worked so hard – they never had a sniff – and we could have got a third. It would have been a very different game, but at 2-1, it was difficult.”
“The resilience of our defending was outstanding.”
After Newcastle went 2-0 up through a gift packaged own goal from Heitinger, and a wonder strike from that man Ryan Taylor, Everton were a little bit unlucky not to score, as they woke up from their dreams.
Louis Saha hit the post, but Alan Pardew is right when he says the game changed when Everton scored their first goal just seconds before the first half ended.
And that for once, could have been a lack of concentration by our defense, as Jack Rodwell scored the goal with a crisp header, when he beat Danny Simpson to the ball all too easily at the near post.
Jack had a good game, especially in the second half, and the 20 year-old has been called into the full England squad for their upcoming friendly games against Spain and Sweden at Wembley, and it’s interesting that Andy Carroll has been left out of the squad altogether this time.
Newcastle had some luck on Saturday, but you also have to give the lads enormous credit once again for the resilience of this team, as they may bend under pressure but they never break.
Not yet anyway.
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
ilovetoon8788
Nov 7, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #1Guthrie has been fantastic so far. What a player we have in our hands.
derekm
Nov 7, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Comment #2I think the effort of monday night at stoke began to tell on us – jonas in particular looked very tired for a spell midway through the second half.
All credit to guthrie – in his natural position he has done superbly since being called upon.
Toon Tang
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #3do i need to be logged in to post
toonincheek
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:10 PM
Comment #4Little bit harsh to blame Simpson for loose marking, I think.
OK, so Rodwell got there first, but only just, and he is a class player.
A good goal, I would say, rather than a defensive error.
Toon Tang
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Comment #5yea were going into the man titties game as underdogs and if we do pull summat out of the bag then its a bonus. Im completely going with the flow and whatever happens, happens. if we do loose to them, at least it will be to the only other unbeaten team in the league. at least our unbeaten status wont have been squandered to a shit bolton or swansea team.
Im not shitting myself is what im trying to say.
Incentino
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Comment #6The side has been brilliant at not conceding too many goals. One of the main reasons for that is the level of play that Steven Taylor is performing at every weekend.
In case you’re interested, here’s my take on Fabio Capello’s selections for the upcoming friendlies against Spain and Sweden. I wasn’t too happy with the defenders that were given a call to join the squad.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/928741-england-where-is-steven-taylor-and-micah-richards-squad-reaction
Toon_Tom
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Comment #7Tang > agree with you there 100%, i am not expecting anything against City, however if we get a point, or smash and grab 3 then i will probably wake up the following Wednesday morning in the Big_Market 😉
I also, am not shitting myself!
boater
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Comment #8I’d like to think we can enjoy the city and manure games with relatively little pressure on us, and whatever the result.. I only hope we don’t suffer the heartbreak of another jaundiced refereeing like last year with Martin atkinson.. don’t like to moan about ref’s but he funking robbed us that day.
Chelsea at SJP – we tend to do okay. No reason we can’t beat that rabble of thugs n racists charvs.
soundoid
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:44 PM
Comment #9Joey Barton on twitter,
Don’t understand Eng Squad. No Newcastle players?? No Micah Richards?? Surely he has to be Man City 5 pts clear, MoM at Old T and skipper??
toonashwin
Nov 7, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Comment #10guthrie was superb please renew contract!!!!
tiote most probable for man city !!! so central line is good along with left line
what we need is right winger who could help simpson in defence .
benny pls show ur some excellence !!!!!
marvo and cabaye should’nt be risked as manshiter utd and chelscki are better prospects to get points .
scottoon
Nov 7, 2011 at 3:10 PM
Comment #11I tell you what, since we don’t really expect to win next time out at Man Sh***y let’s relax and imagine that we do! That would leave us as the only unbeaten side in the prem, would ensure that we come out of this tough November swing in no worse than 5th, and it would get every nonsense spouting journo in the land to eat their words about bubbles bursting, haven’t played anyone, blah blah blah. I hate that shite!
It’s worth a punt, right? City looked vulnerable at QPR. There is a reason they actually play the games. I love this scenario.
HOWAY THE LADS!!!
Toon Tang
Nov 7, 2011 at 4:25 PM
Comment #12Toon_Tom – youve joined the ‘not shitting of ones self’ club hahaha
anyways, i think warnock hit the nail on the head after the chelsea game by saying alot of teams have themselves down for the defeat before they even kick a ball and it plays right in to city hands. like tyson or ali winning the fight before they even get in to the ring. warnock said that he had a similar attitude at first but told his players that if they were going out then do it with a bang. and it worked because they could have done them if they had taken chances.