This morning it’s all about what could have been in Saturday’s game at the Eithad Stadium.
Roberto Mancini on Saturday
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has talked today of the disappointment in the dressing groom after the game, as Newcastle’s tremendous run came to an end – and the undefeated streak was ended at 11 games.
But many of the players, including two local lads, Steven Taylor and Sammy Amoebi, both of whom were very good on Saturday afternoon, have already spoken of their desire to start another unbeaten streak.
Alan talked about the disappointment in the dressing room after the game:
“Twenty-five points after 11 games speaks for itself.” “We’re a good side, how we’re going to evolve, how we’re going to deal with disappointment is still unanswered.”
“But the dressing room afterwards was one of disappointment, of things that didn’t fall for us, and I sensed that, it wasn’t made up, it was a genuine disappointment that we didn’t get something out of the game.”
“It wasn’t like ‘oh we came here and we did ok’, we were really disappointed we haven’t got anything.”
Newcastle had their chances to make this game a lot closer and to even get something out of the game, but it was essentially three mistakes that handed City their three goals, two were made just before half time by Ryan Taylor, and another by Ben Arfa in the second half.
Apart from his second half error that provided Man City with their second penalty of the game, one very pleasing thing coming out of the game was Ben Arfa’s very good form, as he provided much needed creativity for the Magpies. and he also worked his socks off for the side.
The mercurial Frenchman also showed he has an excellent temperament in the way he bravely returned to the Manchester City ground, where he broke his leg in two places in the same fixture last season.
Our hearts went out to him on Saturday, and he came through in great style – and deserves enormous credit for that.
Roberto Mancini was well aware that Newcastle could be threat to his moneybags side, and even admitted after the game that his side had been lucky at times:
“It was a really difficult match because Newcastle is a really strong team, they played really well. After the international break is always difficult.”
“Before the game I told the guys ‘today is difficult because Newcastle is a strong team, because they have good players, they are playing very well, and if we want to win this game we should play very well.
“We played very well, we had a lot of ball possession, we scored three goals and we had other chances, but in some other moments we were also lucky.”
It says something about this Newcastle side that top clubs are starting to take us seriously again, and although the lads got nothing out of the game last Saturday, we must go all out for something out of the game at Old Trafford this Saturday.
Something out of the game on Saturday at Old Trafford will set us up nicely to go all out against an out of form Cheslea side in the next game at St. James’ Park.
Howay The Lads!!
47 comments so far
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #1I was disappointed with Balotelli after he scored that penalty. The way he took the p*ss out of Krul. I used to like him but he just acted like a c*ck
Rowan Milsted
Nov 21, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Comment #2It’s very respectful for Mancini to come out and say this, fair play to him. Although they were the better team there’s no denying that we gave them a game and could have got something out of it on another day. If we hadn’t have conceded the two penalties, and had taken some of our earlier chances, it could have been a lot different. I think Mancini saw that and has admitted it- they certanily didn’t hammer us and we can take a lot of pride into the Man Utd game, where I think we have a real chance of getting at least a point. Just don’t give any penalties away this time!
toonincheek
Nov 21, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #3I’ve seen it posted that Krul tried some mind games with Balotelli as he was about to take the penaly.
If so, then you can’t criticise Balotelli for his celebration.
sammydolan
Nov 21, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #4thebionicMAG, I think it was because Krul was saying things to get in this head!
Oh yea , Man City tunnel cam – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVZbmyAwxng – good to see Benny in good spirits…
toonincheek
Nov 21, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Comment #5We can expect one penalty to be given against us next Saturday, for something or other, plus one for us denied.
kevymartins
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Comment #6@stuart dont be such a tit ..my formation was
tiote__cabaye__jonas
tiote an jonas helping back witch gives cabaye more time to push foward wile obertan and ben arfa are coming in from the wings into a full on attacking posion alota teams do this such as chelsea..essien mikel why you think there after tiote?
barca also do someting like that
oh and i didnt miss spell stupit it was a typeing error so suck it
toonincheek
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Comment #7stuart – please – NO.
Don’t comment on keyboards not working properly.
ardenTOON
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Comment #8None of us know how good Santon is
and since Pardew sees him in training
everyday I would leave the decision
entirely in the hands of the gaffer and i
think raylor will retain his place at
OT..Moreover it would do a world of good to raylor’s confidence to know the
manager backs him and who knows he
may score the winner at OT. Man
management is supposed to be
pardew’s strength
RePosted
kevymartins
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Comment #9___essien__lampard__mikel
__mata__drogba__malouda
……………………..
___tiote__cabaye__jonas/guthrie
____best__ba__ben arfa
plus sammy marv obertan can play there effictive subs
so is that similar? dik heads
toonbrother
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Comment #10Ben Arfa may be our most skillful player, but Best and Ba are our best strike partnership right now. Ben Arfa doesnt complement Ba as well as Best and Best doesnt score as many goals as Ba. If we can find a prolific number 9 with good hold up play (e.g. Danny Graham) in january to complement HBA that would be ideal.
kevymartins
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Comment #11oh and stuart how the fook could kazenga shift marv obertan jonas out of posion?
what age ws he and + he diddnt get a chance to f me you are stupit like
Kc-Toon
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Comment #12Just an idea about the name sponsers and the stadium name . Barcelona used to wear unicef on there shirts, and pay them for the right to wear there name, imo, id much prefer if we used a decent charity on out shirts if it comes to nbody having bought the rights yet, and fat mike wants to use his brand, also with the stadium rather than making it sound tacky, till a sponser was found, if thats really a target. if enough fans make some sort of petition, for a uk based charity on the shirts rather than sports direct, whilst looking for a sponser, then it would f* ashleys advertising plot up, surely he cudnt oppose that
toonincheek
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Comment #13stuart – thanks in anticipation for your cooperation.
Alota people comment on typeing errors wile not realising there only expressing there opinion.
You must understand their posion wich may be valid.
stevep
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Comment #14@ardentoon – don’t think we have much choice but to leave selection down to Pards – don’t think he comes on this blog and thinks … oh look the fans are saying I should play this way and select these players so I will 🙂
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Comment #15Oooh a ‘your stupid’ ‘no your stupid’ fight feels like first school again
kevymartins
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:19 PM
Comment #16@wwjbd
At the start he was accuseing me of calling him stupit when i clearly asked him a question ”are you stupit?”
Irie-Magpie
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Comment #17Mancini called it right’ this games was heading for a draw, no doubt, but those two goals before half time stunned us, as for Benny, it was there to see he’s definitely back by far our best player on the day had great link up play with Ba and little passes here and there, only thing was left was for him to score.. Here’s to hoping he starts on Saturday against Manure”
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Comment #18Toon and Sammy I didn’t realise that. Fair play to him then.
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Comment #19On another note Lua Lua leaving is a shame but he obviously isn’t good enough for our squad and he left a long time ago so its no real blow
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:27 PM
Comment #20Kevy
Fair one lad but seems to of turned into a bit of a dicky fit from thr both of ya
I can’t be bothered to go see what went on but put it to bed eh lads?
toonincheek
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:35 PM
Comment #21Back to the football – that’s what the Blog is for.
I had high hopes for Lua Lua but as Sammy seems to be coming on so well, it’s hard to see a place for him.
ardenTOON
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Comment #22@stevep
That’s my point exactly and i was making that to all those kneejerk fans who wanted raylor out for Santon…back the gaffer’s decision instead of slagging it off in hindsight.
P.s: With the negative stuff that was being spouted a while ago in this blog( puppet, loser) its a good thing he stays away from the blogs 😀
Thump
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Comment #23I’m kind of confused, kevy. You defended yourself by saying that your typing of “supid” was a typing error and not a misspelling – fine, anybody can see that… so then why do you start typing “stupit”? I mean there’s really no need for that ‘t’, is there? You could just puss ‘d’ and type “stupid”.
And Stuart’s “width” argument was based on the fact that we play a wide game, not that other teams like Chelsea and Barca do it. Sure we could adapt but every time we’ve played 4-3-3 in the past (see: Keegan) we’ve had wide men, one central/holding midfielder and then three strikers up front and it’s always worked for us.
Anyway, I’m agreeing with WWJBD here, let’s not get so upset about the nasty internet man disagreeing with us, eh?
Thump
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Comment #24http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/11/21/lualua-i-wasn-t-really-involved-at-newcastle-72703-29813800/?
Oh the LuaLua article btw.
Maybe I’m being a bit negative about that, but it seems to me like he didn’t want to kick on and give himself a real challenge by trying to break into the first team and instead dropped down to Brighton.
Thump
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:43 PM
Comment #25Also lads: Harps is back! 😀
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Comment #26Harps is back? What?
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #27arden
my call for Santon is far from a knee jerk reaction. I’ve wanted and waited for him to play since we signed him. Why bother and make such a big deal about the big deal then not even give him a chance? The guy is not even coming on as a regular 20 minute sub! Just because Raylor as done a fine job does that automatically make him better LB than Santon.
Sure Pards watches them both in training but for the love of gods nut sack give him a chance even if its for the final 20 minutes of each game!
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Comment #28Who brings in a LB for 20 minute cameos?
Thump
Nov 21, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Comment #29From Brighton, WWJBD haha
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Comment #30Thump haha I thought they extended his loan to Jan but am chuffed he is back
There’s something to be said for having a few of the old guard kicking around
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #31WWJBD I didn’t imply that we brought him in for 20 minute cameos, I suggest we at least give him a few to test his mettle. Jesus TFC is it me?
You could so debate who brings in a ‘quality big signing’ LB and keeps him on the bench?
WWJBD
Nov 21, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Comment #32A quality big signing LB? He’s a 20 kid who has only played in the Italian league.
Not exactly Leighton Baines. He is a potentially great player yes but he has confidence issues from Inter and won’t slot straight into our back line without fault and we have the best defensive line in the league.
Pards sees them both a damn sight more than anyone else and he decided Raylor is the starter
ardenTOON
Nov 21, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Comment #33@bionic
Santon was not match fit when he came here and in the meantime ryan taylor puts a shift in and scores the winner in the derby. Qpr apart he’s not a put a foot wrong and is part of the best defence in the league. He scores another cracker which happens to be crucial in us getting a win. And yet you want the manager to replace him because the guy on the bench is a ‘big name.’
geoff777
Nov 21, 2011 at 3:04 PM
Comment #34If Santon was that much better than Simmo or Raylor in training it would be unfair not to play him.
Therefore we have to assume that Santon isn’t in a different class to either Simmo or Raylor.
No doubt Santon will get his chance at some point.
Someone will pick up a knock.
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Comment #35So apparently you cant be quality at the age of 20 yet Alex ferguson along with the rest of the world saw a 16 year old Rooney playing in a mediocre team. You also speak of the Italian league as if it’s second rate. It’s produced some of the best defenders in the world.
arden Jonas has carried Raylor all season. He’s been found wanting on many occasions. Yes he’s scored goals but he’s a free kick specialist and you would expect that. I accept that Santon was not fit when he first came here bit he is now. I also accept that Pards sees them both in training and be calls the shots. However the 3 goals he’s scored so far hes had cancelled out by the three he’s conceded. Defoe destroyed him and the penalty was appalling. For that alone i would drop him. Just my opinion but I say give Santon a chance. Let’s see what he can do and if he’s crap sub him put Raylor back on and keep him there…
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 3:19 PM
Comment #36arden QPR apart he hasn’t put a foot wrong? I take it you didn’t see the Man City game then? But to be fair he also put a hand wrong in that game.
Also training is not the cornerstone of ones ability. When I was an athlete I had loads of crap training days then went into the arena and destroyed the opposition. Look how crap we played pre season yet turned it up once the Premiership started. This also has to be taken into consideration. All I am saying is give the lad a chance. Does he not deserve it? The last time he played he looked really exciting.
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Comment #37But guys I respect your opinions and totally get where you are coming from. I too look at the situation and think surely Pards seems them both in training and must know what he’s doing, but I also think why cant he just give the lad a chance to see what he can do. Like I said he could use him as a sub and at least give Raylor some rest time.
Premiership Manager
Nov 21, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Comment #38Despite R Taylor playing well this year he is and always has been a liability as a defender and without Jonas carrying him we’d have conceded many more goals.
Personally I’m surprised that Jonas wasn’t tried as LB which is his Argentinian national team position. When Marveaux was fit it would have been a good combination however I’m unsure if it would suit HBA as he is better in central midfield than on the wing.
Santon is a class player which is why he cost 5M. If he’s fit he should be used however Pardew doesn’t want to change his strategy while the defence is playing well, especially if santon is not up to Premiership speed yet.
The next two games will be key as MU and Chelsea will target R Taylor as the weak link of the team. He’s a good lad well liked by his team mates however he is not a natural LB and hasn’t got the pace or awareness to hold down the position in the long term which is why the club are looking to strengthen the team.
I Best but come January he may be another player struggling to hold down a place in the first team.
mikeashleyisamackem
Nov 21, 2011 at 7:56 PM
Comment #39did it ever occur to anybody that pardew is a man of his word ,raylor was intrusted with left back and fair play to him he s created healthy competition for places ,santon is still only young and has no prem experience theres a diffrence with a player coming into a new league at 24 25 than 20 he will be introduced slowly and while raylors in fine form other than a few errors all season whats the rush ,the seasons a long one i have no doubt santon will come through and prove to be another maga money sell on to man city or something he really is top notch youngster ,i want to see vucic also i think he needs games then theres abeid who will prove to be the best bit of business this club has ever done he really is also a top notch youngster this is exciting times. we may lose a couple a players but if players are leaving us for top clubs and stupid money then you can attract the best young talent ajax have done it for years and still been able to challange for houners and thats because all the best young players want to come to clubs like this it gives them a stepping stone ,but eventually if all goes well and we manage to maintain european football we will then be in a position where we dont have to sell our best players ,rome wasnt built in a day ,people need to have patience and bear with the club while it grows again sometimes tough decisions have to be made as i say players will leave but hopefully in the next couple a seasons we can get newcastle back to wear it belongs at the very top of the english premiership and i a position to fight with the very best
thebionicMAG
Nov 21, 2011 at 9:46 PM
Comment #40@ 38 Well said mate. I couldn’t have said it any better (and I didn’t…) 😛