Ever since Mike Williamson arrived on Tyneside, we always thought he was a very good defender, and he’s also a smashing lad and a top class professional.
Mike Williamson – great game against Manchester United
And with players like Demba Ba, Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye getting most of the plaudits for Newcastle’s terrific win over Manchester United, Mike probably didn’t get the praise he deserved.
It was clear that he has come in and formed a good understanding again with captain Fabricio Coloccini, and Newcastle’s new back four of Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson and Santon looked very strong against the Red devils.
We were really impressed with young Davide Santon who looked good and will be learning big time with the run he will surely now get in the Newcastle first team.
And if he stays in the Newcastle first team and keeps up the form he showed on Wednesday night, he could make the full Italian squad for the Euro 2012 tournament in the summer – and certainly Newcastle’s win will have received full press coverage in Italy.
We also thought that Ryan Taylor looked good out on the right wing, and he can certainly put those good centers over, and he also has a very good throw-in, which Newcastle may now try to use to their advantage, as Stoke City do.
Ryan has proved this season he is an excellent squad player, and is valuable to Newcastle because he can do a decent job for the club in many different positions, and Alan Pardew seems to have brought the very best out of the former Wigan player.
It’s not going to be an easy game for Newcastle tomorrow afternoon against Blackburn Rovers, and Alan Pardew has already talked today about stamping out any complacency that may creep into the side, following the historic win on Wednesday night.
It seems that Mike Williamson is taking nothing for granted and this is what he told the local press today:
“It’s nice to be sitting pretty in the league, but it’s always about the next game, and we’ve got the FA Cup now,”
“The gaffer wants to do well in every competition. It’s a fantastic competition. Blackburn will bring a different threat.”
“It’ll be a break from the league for them, and it’ll be a different test for us. They’ve got Chris Samba, and a lot of threats through the middle.
“If the lads show the effort and determination we did against Man United, we should be OK.”
“It was hard work on Wednesday,” “They’ve got class throughout their side.”
If our lads at the back can put in performances like they did on Wednesday in the following few games, there’s no reason at all that we cannot go on another good run again.
We’ve now got 8 points from the last nine games, but it’s also important to realize that in the last five games we’ve had three clean sheets, and that bodes well for the future.
But the challenge for the next five games or so at Newcastle is who will score the goals now, with the fabulous Demba Ba away at the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Shola Ameobi, Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Ben Arfa are four players who immediately come to mind.
Comments welcome.
256 comments so far
ToonDownSouth
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Comment #81ilovetoon
In his latter career yeah. Gillespe, Ginola , Sir Les etc weren’t too shabby to start with (;
boater
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #82Oh aye one last thing – there was a chapter in the SBR autobiography about how he had made a mistake when he sold Solano to Villa for peanuts.. Nobby really didn’t want to go but still was only ever a total gent about it.. SBR saying something like, he wishes other footballers had half the class of wor nobs. Way aye.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Comment #83@TDS
Lol. But atleast Robert was Ginola’s heir. But we are still waiting for the heir to Robert. Talking about Robert freekick. There was a match against Blackburn at SJP. We had a free kick, slightly above the centre circle in the middle of the pitch.
Guess who steps up… Robert. So he’s going to loop the ball in the air for our defenders or Shearer in the box? No. Wrong. He hammers the ball and rattles their crossbar….from the middle of the pitch.
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #84http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDlJOr7WaDs
Nobby Solanooo!!
ToonDownSouth
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #85I do wish Redknapp would show some class for once in his life. Absolute scum.
boater
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Comment #86Coming full circle and saying what we’d give for a winger like Robert, maybe we have – Ben Arfa. French, mercurial, long range maestro, sullen and completely unwilling to track back.. get him on the wing Pards.
LewSpi
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Comment #87In order to keep our highest calibre of players two things need to happen.
1) we need to qualIfy for Europa league, at least.
2) we need MA to invest and prove our ambition.
It’s as simple as that.
Ponderous Pardew
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Comment #88ilovetoon8788
Remember that like yesterday! He was an outrageous player. Loved that era, had so much class and varied ammunition.
GT89
Yeah, I think there’s a general feeling we’re teetering on the edge of something huge, if he begins flogging our gems, that’ll be the final straw. Everything is in place now as Mike wants it, so let’ see it grow.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Comment #89@boater // Jan 6, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Yea, who cares about wingers tracking back? The entertainers of the 90s and the SBR era didn’t know of such things. That’s not Newcastle United at all. We had mercurial players who loved the attacking game.
I hope HBA starts more game. And i won’t complain if he just stands there if the ball is not at is feet, as long as he can do magic with it at his feet.
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Comment #90A dont understand why Ben Arfa doesnt play on the wing anyways he made his name as a winger lol
Jail for Ashley
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Comment #91Please dont start with the Ba’s on his way rumours,the release claase he’s going on about is probably if we go down or the one he had at West Ham which is how we got him free,
@boater
I see what your saying about his size but at least he would have been a reconized CB in the team,and about Simmo he has done amazing this season but a bit of healthy competion at right back wouldnt go amiss
planb
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Comment #92Harry Redknapp has admitted his interest in Newcastle striker Demba Ba at his morning press conference,what makes him think Spurs are a bigger club than NUFC is it because we have Pardew,lambias and ashely who don’t have any ambition for NUFC as a potential top four club we certainly have the stadium and the fanbase but lack an owner with the vision and interest to push the club onwards instead of Redknapp looking at our players we should be looking at his why do we always sell our best players instead of buying better players to play along side them thats how you win silverware.
ToonDownSouth
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:43 PM
Comment #93One of SBR’s many fine quotes –
“In the first half he took a corner, a poor corner, which hit the first defender, and it took him 17 minutes to get back to the halfway line.”
Jail for Ashley
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:43 PM
Comment #94GT89
Apparently its because he doesnt want to,for x amount of grand every week he should be playing where hes told.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #95@ToonDownSouth // Jan 6, 2012 at 2:43 PM
When i watch the videos you posted and Solano i get goosebumps. That side that played just loved football. And they had the brains to go with it. Which makes them well-liked. Solano has a remarkable attitude. Deserves a tribute match.
toonashwin
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Comment #96clause is same as wst ham if we r relegated he is free agent .
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Comment #97Blackburn will listen to offers for Hoillet
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Comment #98Jail – If thats the case and he refuses to play in his best position then fine him or sell him lol ad hate to see him leave but his best position is a winger he’s lost in the middle and hasnt got enough space
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #99If Ba has a release clause in his contract you can guarantee it’s for a massive amount of money, don’t forget who own this club, it’s said to have cost Ashley a large sum in agent and signing on fee to get Ba and any release clause will scare people off
gorgonzola
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Comment #100Solano was a GOD….what a superb little player, what vision I dont know what that man lacked….what I cant believe we sold him to West Ham???
LGFUAD21
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Comment #101In reference to Larson, Raylor Obertan debate. Who would you guys rather see on the RW for the next few games
Obertan or Raylor
(For me personally its Raylor. I think his presence made a huge impact. Plus what good is Obertans pace when we have Strolla up front)
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Comment #102Why does this crock talk about other managers players???
The guy is as corrupt as they come
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Comment #103Would help if i posted the link wouldn’t it
http://www.london24.com/sport/tottenham/spurs_boss_admits_interest_in_newcastle_star_1_1170685?
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:01 PM
Comment #104Cwarro reckons ba’s release claue if 7million
gorgonzola
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:01 PM
Comment #105Jesus we sell Demba Ba that would be a sign we are in a terrible terrible situation as a clubs owner will stop at nothing to make a quick buck….for sure…
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #106Just because he has a release clause doesn’t mean he will want to go, the guy seems more than happy with us, and no doubt as he was on a free, he’ll be on very good money
gorgonzola
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #107Ba is worth well over 20 mill now…
planb
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #108LGFUAD21 i would like to see Adam johnson on our RW as obertans useless and raylors to slow but pardew will persist with obertan as he bought him
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #109Raylor he offers more and is why i was comparing him as a similar player to Larsson as he does the same type stuff except cheat
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Comment #110If spuds came in for Ba a reckon he’d be away like at end of season cos they’ll be playin champ league
JackButler
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Comment #111Your looking at 20mil for johnson, not going to happen
-Tendo-
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Comment #112GT89 – i just saw that on SS transfer page bout a rumour Redknapp after him saying he got a 7mil buy out clause….you just eased my fears saying its come from that idiot
gorgonzola
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Comment #113Damn that redknobb is a fool of note hey…..press happy chirpy pratt.
spitfire_
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Comment #114If Torres is 50 mill, Ba is at least 100. That pr1ck cwarr doesn’t have a clue about this clause if even exist and now he tell that the clause is 7 mill… It’s ridiculous.
gorgonzola
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Comment #115Spitfire 😀 AHAHAHAHAH so well put.
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:07 PM
Comment #116wouldnt suprise me if Spuds want Ba instead of getting Adebayor
boater
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Comment #117Ilovetoon – Pardew likes his wingers ‘defensive’ minded. Fair enough but with the midfield two we have, we could afford to play with one out-and-out attacking winger/striker in the Robert mould surely.
I remember watching SBR doing the three finger salute at SJP when we went behind- which meant Robert to advance into a free role behind the front two – 4-3-3 to press high, worked a treat if you remember the comebacks we mounted.. surely could do the same with Arda.
gorgonzola
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:10 PM
Comment #118I think We defo. are in a dire need of a either a quality and when I mean quality is just to deliver the ball in the box a LW or RW cause we do have budget constraints… A CB as one more CB injury and we are in deep problems and a ST that is long overdue But I reckon we wont get im until summer in all honesty….
boater
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:10 PM
Comment #119* arfa – Turan wouldn’t be bad though
GeordieToon89
Jan 6, 2012 at 3:11 PM
Comment #120Hoillet and Olsson are doubts for our game dodgey hamstring