The Newcastle United Blog

136 responses so far ↓

• 1 sammydolan // Sep 18, 2012 at 10:46 AM

  He looked weird with his hair different!

• 2 TorqToon // Sep 18, 2012 at 10:49 AM

  Jesp – I’ve done it again!!!!

  Jesp – Just seen it sir. Yeah ed is too quick and for once I managed to keep up! Yeah when you manage to get over, I’m sure me and others will have a nice cold beer waiting for you at Shearers!

  I will of course keep an eye out and let you know my ‘findings’!! Haha Did that for Alfi and look where he is now! Going to go and watch Montpelier vs St. ettienne (sp) on Friday so will run the rule over the usual suspect (Yanga Mbiwa) but will try and find the next big thing and bring him back with me!!

• 3 TorqToon // Sep 18, 2012 at 10:50 AM

  Guti – Dreamboat #4???

• 4 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 10:59 AM

  Hello everybody,

  Back online, so I hope you enjoyed the peace and quiet.

  Watched the game last night and have mixed feelings. Overall, we got a point, which was a decent result for us.

  Those saying the 4-5-1 clearly didn’t work and now 4-4-2 is the way forward…We wont use the same formation every game. These things need to be fluid. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it wont. There is no perfect formation.

  Two great finished by Demba, glad to see him back to his normal self.

  Two more games this week – we’re being spoiled

• 5 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 10:59 AM

  finishes*

• 6 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:02 AM

  Cabaye has lost a bit of bite in midfield. Maybe he thinks he will miss time one of those ankle biting tackles he put in all the time last season

• 7 Rotonda heights // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:04 AM

  The volume on my stream went ndown just as benny was sprinting away after the disallowed goal and I couldn’t hear why play was pulled back. can anyone enlighten me please.

  Also Ibiza is there a thursday game on the box?

• 8 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:05 AM

  Spanish prince

  u may agree we shoul leave the formation etc to pards. He is paid a lot of money, has the experience etc to make those decisions. Sometimes u have to line up thinking about how the opposition play in order to counteract their play. Like we needed to counteract Baines. Only took us 45mins to realise that !!

• 9 Rotonda heights // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:06 AM

  bollance

  cabs set up Ba’s goal by winning a crunching tackle

• 10 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:08 AM

  Rotonda….At the time the ref stopping play seemed odd, but on the replay the Everton defender seemed to stop straight away which indicated the fowl had already been given by the ref, although I didn’t hear the whistle until Benny had passed his man. I suppose the other side may have been the ref wasn’t convinced by the goal call and thought it was fair. To be honest, i’m happy with a draw, wouldn’t have been fair to take 3 points, not that I wouldn’t have taken them.

  No idea about the Thursday game, i’d imagine there will be a stream though. I kept having to change streams last night, pretty frustrating, but saw enough

• 11 t00ntime // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:09 AM

  Rotonda yeah, he pulled it back because: he is a prick…

  No but the only thing i can think off is that he knows how close the goal was so just incase he got it wrong he made newcastle ‘miss out’ too. I know thats not how a ref shud do things but its the only thing i can think of, other than he is an idiot. 5/6 bad decsions and tbf it wasnt even a free kick so neither the goal or ben arfa’s run shudnt of happend

• 12 rainrix // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:10 AM

  Rotonda… Because he was fouled maybe? He should have played advantage but pulled it back. Likely because he had just disallowed a perfectly good goal and felt guilty . Imagine the uproar if benny had scored then and won the game

• 13 rainrix // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:11 AM

  Also the game on thursday is on ESPN here in england, so no doubt someone will start a stream.

• 14 t00ntime // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:11 AM

  @ibiza true about the defender but if u ask me who is going to win between
  ben arfa+cisse+ba VS 1defender+keeper
  there is only one winner there lol.

• 15 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:12 AM

  Cabaye has looked a bit out of sorts so far this season, but I’m not reading too much in to it. A few players have been out of sorts and whilst 5 points out of 12 isn’t wonderful, seeing as we haven’t been playing anywhere near our potential yet and played Spurs, Chelsea and Everton already, not too shabby.

  Bollance….I really like Pardew and think he’s doing a bang up job. Can’t get every game right and generally notices when things aren’t working and alters the plan. Can’t believe what some fans say about him at times.

• 16 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:13 AM

  Rotonda

  u r right but throughout the games, especially first half he allowed the players he was marking time on the ball. If u look at his play defensively last season for me a huge strength of cabaye’s was limiting the opposition when they were in possession to the extent that they could no turn to play forward passes and if their first touch was poor he did what I call an ankle biting tackle. u might know what I mean?

  Hopefully he will get back to playin like that because that play limited the opposition and also won back possession numerous times last season.

  But you are right. If u watch the first goal he was on the player in a flash and won back the ball then capped it off with a pass like the one to cisse against Swansea away last season. Class!!

• 17 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:14 AM

  toontime…Indeed. Maybe he just stopped out of fear

  Rainrix….Excellent. Never know, may have to venture out to a bar or something…oh the pains I go through supporting the toon.

• 18 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:16 AM

  Spanish prince

  Do u use sopcast? I had problems with it last night and probably for the first time. Gutted as I missed the last 10mins.

• 19 rainrix // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:17 AM

  Ibiza.. Will the bars not be dead? Surely party season is winding down now? Not that this is relevant in any way was just curious

• 20 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:25 AM

  Bollance…I usually start with http://www.footballstreaming.info and try links from there.

  Rairix….September is still pretty busy, but not to the same scale as August. Nice to get the Island back to be honest….bloody tourists

• 21 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:25 AM

  Torq…thanks mare ;D I’ll hold you to that cold beer lol

  Ibiza… La bienvenida a usted explotar sexualmente propiedad sucio ;D (is thar even spanish…haha)

• 22 DG MAGPIE // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:26 AM

  Off topic… Are we televised on Thursday?

• 23 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:26 AM

  *should have said mate there Torq

• 24 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:27 AM

  Jesper….Something about welcoming me to a sexually exploited dirty property….didn’t know you were familiar with my properties

• 25 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:30 AM

  Ibiza…Haha God I really such at Spanish!

  …welcome back though (don’t know how to write dirty property pimp in Spanish) ;D

• 26 Rotonda heights // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:31 AM

  Thanks for the explanations. You’re right 2 wrongs by the ref don’t make a right

  After last night I don’t know what to think about systems any more. Felt shola could have come on 10 mins earlier if we were going with 2 big lads up front.

  I guess it is horses for courses from now on. I liked the starting line up and formation but it just didn’t happen for us till Ba came on. Who’d be a manager!!

• 27 Rotonda heights // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  jesper do you such at English too!!

• 28 TorqToon // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  DG – Yes mate. ESPN from 6pm.

• 29 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:32 AM

  *suck

  …what’s wrong with this tablet (it cannot spell and it don’t know spanish)

• 30 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:33 AM

  Rotonda…I’ll stick to the accounting issues of NUFC

  Jesper…There is nothing dirty about my pimping! Have I missed much the last few days?

• 31 NUFC_LEAZES END // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:34 AM

  Does anyone else think that Anita looks better as a RB rather than a CM.?

• 32 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:34 AM

  Rotonda…sadly I think you’re right!

• 33 TorqToon // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:35 AM

  Ibiza – Welcome back my friend!

  I too took a sabbatical in the hole that the neggers would disappear and for now, they seem to have !! Relief!

  The question is; which changes should be made for Thursday, given that we have a tough encounter at Maritimo and Norwich at SJP 3 days later?!

• 34 Rotonda heights // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:37 AM

  jesper

  blame the tablet, your english is excellent to be fair

• 35 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  Leazes…I think it comes down to who we’re up against. I didn’t really know much about Anita before he came, so can’t really comment other than the few games I’ve seen him play for us. I would imagine against a team with less physical presence than Everton he’d be a really good CM, wasn’t the right position for him last night though imo.

  What impressed me last night was that we were missing 3 of the most important cogs of our defensive unit, Krul, Colo and Tiote. Everton away is never easy and to be missing those players we did reasonably well.

• 36 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  Ibiza…not much, maybe the usual doom and gloom before a game but that’s nothing new.

  Ruddy Giz was online yesterday on the random newbies were giving him a hard time (Ruddy Jiz was here as well it still using the moniker)

  I am usually no on much in the weekends, but decided to vist the blog for once (well I like it better in the week days ) lol

• 37 TorqToon // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  NUFC Leaze – at the minute I agree. I think he needs to get used to the speed of the English game and playing in a squad with Cabs and mr T will only aid his development!

  Once settled he will be able to add a slight bit more composure to his passing game and look to play the ball out of defence (as a RB) or link up in midfield as a DCM/CM

• 38 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:40 AM

  Next up Europa.

  Do we play a sting team to get a win or take a risk with lots of fringe players?

  SAF always says u need 9-10 points to progress. Win all three at home and we will go through.

  But winning that first game away would give us a bit of leeway and take a lot of pressure off us. Spurs did not get through the group stages last season.

  Look at the line up for the u21 team tonight as that should give a good indication of who will be going with the squad tomorrow to Portugal. Especially look out for when campbell comes off. Apart from him I am not sure any other player will be part of our euro team. Possibly Inman as he is on form at present and arguably should be given some minutes.

  I think pardew will gamble and play a weak team and do what we did away to the Greek side and hopefully pick up a draw.

  Who will we play up top? Shola definitely and possibly with his brother?

  Harper

  Tav

• 39 TorqToon // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:40 AM

  Jesp – I’m with you there! The blog is MUCH better during the week! Weekends – I steer well clear !

• 40 Raj // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:40 AM

  It was indeed a nerve-wrecking match!! And ya, Anita can now be easily put in RB for matches to go.

  No one commented on how good was that chest flick-on by Shola which made the goal possible. And I believe, if Krul had been there, both the goals could have been stopped by a more agile and position-aware #1.

  Guti says we had a tactic in 1st half, may be we won’t be seeing it too often if it is implemented so poorly. But the idea and the formation was good..

  Why not put Ba upfront and Cisse on a withdrawn left-wing/left-forward role?? The 4-2-3-1 should not lose its merit coz of the poor implementation of plans and some sleepy player on pitch.

• 41 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  Harper

  Tav perch willo santon

  Obertan Bigi vuckic(or gosling / alf) Fergie ( or Marv)

  Shola Sami

• 42 Spellcheck // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:43 AM

  Is Toon match v Mancs in league cup not being played nxt Wed,”6thSept…. as ED as put up as it bein played on the Thursday???

• 43 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:43 AM

  Hey Torq….Read some of the comments from last night and whilst it wasn’t a good first half…well, it was actually a really poor first half, it seems that some people just want to be proved right. Shocking stuff. I get constructive criticism, but it verges to the point of ridiculous at times.

  As for Thursdays game, i’m not 100% sure as I know little about them. I would hope we take the game to them and make a statement that we’re in Europe and are going to give teams a go. We have the personnel to cause trouble, so let’s use them. I imagine there will be quite a few younger players lining up, three games in 7 days for the normal starters will take it’s toll, maybe not in these three games, but it’s non stop for a little while now and Pardew needs to plan well. Going to be an important month for us.

• 44 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:46 AM

  Raj

  Good point. Krul may have saved the goals but we will never know.

• 45 jesperfuglsang // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:46 AM

  Torq…Hear Hear

  …this weekend was all about music. Ben Harper, that Ray LaMontagne fella and Mew was uccupying my Sonos for the better part.

  I am really in a Mew mood these days (haven’t really listen to them since my last concert back in 2010)

• 46 bollance // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:49 AM

  Howard should have definitely done better on Ba first goal. Also he has a habbit of jumping which to put off the striker which he did for the second goal. Ba kind of flicks it in with his heal? Did he mean it? I think he did but I have never seen a finish like that

• 47 Blaydon-Toon // Sep 18, 2012 at 11:58 AM

  Morning peps …. So happy with a point all things considered I.e opposition injuries etc thought Perch was excellent last night once in a central role and Anita needs to bed in at RB for the time being get up to the pace of things in the Premier league… Formations depend on your opposition and glad Pards changed thing as the were clearly not working. Much better second half thank god because my bottom lip was hitting the ground at half time massive sulk.com

• 48 rainrix // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:02 PM

  Howards star jump attempted save for ba’s second made me lol . Harper was getting some stick in the pub i was in but i thought he did alright not great not bad decent back up keeper.

• 49 jimmymagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:08 PM

  Let’s all agree that Everton would have won 4-2 last night but for an incompetent linesman, and the sooner that Krul, Colo, and Tiote, get fit the better. The most striking thing to me last night was, in the over the line ‘goal’, THREE Everton players rose unchallenged to head the ball, one after the other, in and around our 6 yard box, with the likes of Taylor, Santon, and Willo, nowhere near an opponent! I wish we could find some some players with pace to play in our midfield, because we seem to get nowhere near the opposition when thay ahve the ball, which of course puts extra pressure on the back four. On the plus side, welcome back Demba. He alluded to the very thing afterwards, that I told you about a month ago, but of course was abused by the usual suspects, when I told you that the senior players were unhappy at the lack of significant investment in the summer, and Demba and Papiss were additionally unhappy that Pardew persuaded the Senegalese not to pick either for the Olympics. These matters have since been adequately aired in the national press without denial. Cabaye admits to being exhausted – what the hell is he going to be like by Xmas?

• 50 check the toastie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:10 PM

  One moment in the first half changed the game,

  On about 35 minutes Perchinho came in from the right and bravely just smashed into Osman winning a great header. Pardew must have seen it, thought thats what we are lacking, put him CM to have some presence and bobs your uncle as god as we have played this year.

  I love Perchy, people blaming him for getting ripped by Baines and Pienaar and Fellaini are missing the point that he had not much help from a lightweight and a subdued Marveuax and a out of sorts Jonas.

  Perchy can still come good at Full Back, if he had Jonas in front of him first half instead of Marv it would have been much better. Credit to Baines and Peinaar though they are pretty good.

• 51 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:11 PM

  Bollance…I think he did mean it, I don’t think he knew how close the defender was to getting back though. On the first goal it was well taken, but not a rocket of a shot, so I suppose could have been saved….but it wasn’t

  Harper did an ok job. It’s debatable whether Krul would have stopped the goals. Baines’ goal was really nice and quick. Nobody was ready for it…outclassed us imo. Actually Evertons passing and movement was really impressive last night. They should give EL spots a good run this season.

• 52 cupiddstunt // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:16 PM

  Raj @ # 40

  Sorry but in my opinion you are being somewhat unjust, the Bains goal was not being stopped by anyone or anything except luck, with that power and pace no keeper is stopping that without being out and out lucky.

  The Anichebe goal was the same as Demba’s first the keeper going one way the ball being hit back across the body in the opposite direction into the other side of the net, again keeper not being given much of a chance.

  I think you are looking for reasons to justify the two goals conceded and blaming (wrongly imo ) the keeper for them.

• 53 check the toastie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:17 PM

  Really pleased Harper played well, i was concerned as he has looked a little creaky lately when i have seen him play, however Friedel shows that if you look after yourself you can still be decent into you late 30′s, well done Harps, great stuff. Made some really good quick saves, impressed by our number two goalie.

• 54 seantoon // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:18 PM

  Just giving my opinion don’t shoot me down guys.
  Steve harper has been a fantastic keeper for NUFC and I love the guy. He even played for my local team Huddersfield and was fantastic while he was here. But lastnight after the first goal I was just thinking Steve mate just retire as a legend at the end of the season. Become a coach at the club. I think his playing days for Nufc are over really we’ve got good young keepers coming through now. He could easily play championship or league 1 football but why bother. Just retire at the end of the season as a legend of NUFC!

• 55 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:19 PM

  Jimmy….I can understand their frustration and not being allowed to partake in the Olympics, but can also understand why we didn’t let them. They were gone last Januray, possibly this January too (although more likely Tiote), it is a bit much, but I guess this is what goes hand in hand with having world class internationals.

  I certainly agree though, the game should have been 4-2 last night, so I’m delighted with the result.

  Check…He is a battler is wor Perchy.

• 56 jimmymagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:22 PM

  Cupid – I agree that to blame Harper would be unjust. He didn’t have much in front of him at times.Could have done with that big physical centre half that Pardew wanted all summer. In my opinion, we have too many 10 a penny journeyman, and for such a small squad, you can’t have that, the quality needs vastly improving amongst the fringe players, but I’m afraid you get what you pay for!

• 57 LGFUAD21 // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:24 PM

  Long time no see guys. My essay on last night:

  Truly terrible performance from us. It really highlighted how much we need defenders. I hope Derek saw that at the game.

  Pardew is a very conservative manager and his tactics combined with generally a tendency (although not so much last night) to let our heads drop when we go down or are on the back foot mean that when we have a shaky defence we simply fall apart. Our best performances have been when the front players can be safe in the knowledge our defence is resolute.

  Perch proved he is no defender. He can put in a good shift as a DM which he did in the second half breaking up play.

  I know Anita was shaky in DM but he needs time to adapt. Best CM partnerships have been developed through deep understanding with players. Jonas looked headless too.

  Benny was played RW and it kind of nulled his effectiveness. While Marveaux was useless on the back foot. Probably would have been better to have Jonas there. But I have patience with Marv because he has had a horrible couple of years and we have seen quality from him.

  It was silly to think that Marv, Perch and Willo could handle Baines and Pienaar, who were simply top class yesterday. Gary Neville called it before the game and Pardew must have known they would cause trouble. We would have been better with Santon there who has the pace and experience to cope with that sort of threat on the wing.

  More than anything it really proved how much we miss Simmo who I believe wold have contained Baines well. He is good at that despite what some people on here think.

  We never gained any fluidity and Cabaye was often cut out in our play. He wasnt allowed to push forward which he needed to with only one striker.

  Ive often said that when it comes down to picking 1 striker it has to be Ba over Cisse. His off the ball movement and work rate is a million times better. Cisse doesnt have the work rate to drop back and only further isolates himself. Ba is stronger and it doesnt take a genius to predict an often aggressive Everton defence would keep Cisse out.

  Worst of all we played down the right when all of our attacking ambition was on the left side of the field. We under utilized HBA and Santon until the end.

  Second half was better. Ba caused trouble. He brought Cisse into the game more and encouraged him to run. His second goal was really well taken and he outsmarted Howard by not going for the obvious chip. Anita at LB made our defence a lot more solid.

  We would have been better to play someone like Amalfitano on he right side, who can keep it simple rather than an attacking minded player.

  Im not one to hate on Willo but he was useless too. Invited players into the box. Looks scared, cant clear a ball to save his life and resorted to hoof balls.

  Lets not forget, we got a point but the real result should have been 4-2 to Everton. We were hopeless, Ba completely changed that game for us.

  WE ARE REALLY IN TROUBLE ATM. WE HAVE A MAKESHIFT DODGY DEFENCE AND WE DONT HAVE THE GOALS IN US TO COMPENSATE.

  Hating this season already. Ashley needs to fix this come January.

• 58 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:29 PM

  Jimmy….Can’t say I agree with the sentiment of your last comment. I think we’ve got a lot more value than we’ve paid for players. Low transfer fees does not equal a lack of quality. What we have is a mixture of hard working committed players and some real talent in Ba, Cisse, HBA, Cabaye. Of course we need to continue to improve, but your comment reads that we’re seriously lacking, which I disagree with (unless we’re talking quality to win the PL that is )

• 59 jimmymagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:29 PM

  Ibiza – good morning mate, hope you’re well.It’s what we get for signing players who are likely to be picked for these tournaments. A lot of managers shy away from African players, Fergie for example, for that very reason, or they might just sign the odd one. It was the lack of investment that upset the players most, and I’m worried the effect that will have in future ‘windows’. If you asked Cabaye, Ba, and Cisse, to sign new contracts now, I’m not sure that they would. If you can, read the interview with a local journo in the current edition of The Mag. He reckons that another £1m would have got Debuchy, and the same with De Jong.

• 60 LGFUAD21 // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:30 PM

  jimmymagpie

  Harper was left incredibly exposed by Perch and Willo.

  I rate Perch as a DM squad player. Its unfortunate for him that he will struggle to break in.

  We really need a FB that can play either side and a CB. We also need a dynamic striker. Someone of Toivonen’s mould that can offer different styles of play as well as drop into midfield when needed.

  Cisse’s “jack-in-the-box” style only works if you get the crosses in, which we dont. And can easily be cut out by teams now they know about him.

• 61 LGFUAD21 // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:34 PM

  jimmymagpie
  again agree 100%

  We needed investment in the squad. Simply put if we fail to get into Europe again Cabaye, Ba, Tiote, Krul will all be gone. And we are back to square 1.

  We took 1 step forward and appear to have all intentions of now taking 2 back.

  We have built a reputation for being troublesome to do business with. After that window I am actually questioning the ambition of the club.

• 62 jimmymagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:34 PM

  Ibiza – we’ll have to agree to disagree, because I just don’t the likes of Willo, Perch, Marveaux, Vuckic, Sammy, Gosling, Abeid, Amalfitano, Tavernier, etc. are good enough to ADVANCE this club, now the injuries are stacking up. The only shining exception that I would make is Bigirimana, who I really do have high hopes for.

• 63 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:37 PM

  Jimmy…Doing well, as I hope you are too. I have no inside knowledge whatsoever, so can only make assumptions when it comes to how players feel about transfers or lack thereof. I honestly do feel that we were looking to bring in more players in the summer and will pursue options in January. I wanted both Debuchy and DeJong, however, I don’t know what was actually said and quite honestly prefer we don’t just go ok, there’s some extra money to make you sign. It’s the wrong attitude, although, you will miss out on targets from time to time.

• 64 LGFUAD21 // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  I think we also have a problem in our coaching department. Credit to the people who have done their job so far. but just as Hughton wasnt the guy to take us forward. I think we need some more continental coaches.

  Having quality in your squad obviously helps. But it shouldnt be underestimated what good coaches can bring to your game.

• 65 jimmymagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:41 PM

  Thanks for the craic lads, but i’m being called for lunch by she who must be obeyed. HTL!!

• 66 Transfer Sage // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:44 PM

  Our best players won’t just leave if we don’t make Europe.

  Why don’t people see this.

  Arsenal are in the champions leave every year and still lose top players.

  There is always a better option for a good player.

  Even man utd lost ronaldo after they won the champions league.

  Cabaye, cisse, Ba, all of them have no loyalty to Newcastle. They would all move tomorrow of man itd or Barcelona offers them a chance to win trophies and double their pay.

• 67 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:44 PM

  Jimmy….There will be no agreeing to disagree. I demand a fight to the death

  Willo can be upgraded no doubt. I’m not sure how much we would need to pay for a 3rd / 4th choice CB though, who is better than Willo and willing to sit on the bench.

  Perch isn’t a starter for me, but always puts in a great shift and is extremely useful to the squad.

  Marveuax needs some games. He has shown he is a good footballer, but he certainly didn’t seem up to it last night, but this happens. Time will tell on him.

  As for the others, they’re still young so I’m happy to give them time. They’re not going to improve greatly in the reserves, so whilst I would prefer not to be playing them quite so much, it will at least show us who is up to it and who isn’t.

  Bigiramana looks a quality signing, completely agree.

• 68 LGFUAD21 // Sep 18, 2012 at 12:55 PM

  Ibizatoon – Back by popular demand

  I really think we need someone like Mbiwa from Montpellier. He has talent, is young and will not be wasted on the bench due to his versatility.

• 69 BelfastMagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:01 PM

  The first half performance seems to get worse every game.

  Proud of them for the second half,but I think we had great deal of luck last nyt,with the referee & big Jelavic going off injured.

• 70 Tsunki // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:03 PM

  So, all the formation arguments can get a retread eh? Fantastic.

  I am so glad I didn’t bet my house on HBA chipping the keeper!

• 71 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:03 PM

  That was the worst performance that I’ve seen of Marveaux. He hasn’t had one bad game before that. Perch is a liability at right back, but looks half decent in dm/cb.

  We need to sign these players in january:

  Debuchy
  Mbiwa
  Alderewerield
  Boudebouz
  Remy
  Sulejmani

• 72 bills-son // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:04 PM

  Jimmymagpie says – The most striking thing to me last night was, in the over the line ‘goal’, THREE Everton players rose unchallenged to head the ball, one after the other, in and around our 6 yard box, with the likes of Taylor, Santon, and Willo, nowhere near an opponent!

  OK – well lets look at Ba’s second goal. Where were Distin, Jagielka and Baines when Willo hit a 60 yard punt towards Shola? How come Shola was able to rise unchallenged and chest a ball to a virtually unmarked Ba inside their box? My point is two can play at this type of criticism.

  After a lousy first half we came out bombing in the second half and could have won the game. Everton’s offside goal was the type every team doesn’t get sometime in a season and the over the line goal is just tough – sh%t happens. We ended the game with the same shots on target as Everton and the same possession. I bet their fans were really worried right through that second half and whilst we might not have deserved to win we could of with the chances we had.

  Remember, they were full strength and in good form, we were down three top first teamers with others not into their stride. Some of the criticism about the performance and individuals is, as usual, way over the top.

• 73 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:07 PM

  Just re-reading some people’s comments about the formations etc and it seems that those who were calling on Pardew to drop 4-4-2 and go for a 4-3-3 are the same ones criticising him for doing exactly that!!

  Some people need to catch themselves on, these armchair managers thinking that they know more than Pardew are getting quite frankly ridiculous. Pardew showed exactly why he is the man to lead this club, he saw the problem and fixed it and as a result we got a hard earned point.

  Yes we had a bit of luck, (more than a bit) but the way we performed in the second half we deserved something from the game. Ba was like a man possessed, Cabaye had a storming second half and Anita and Perch did very well when they switched positions so all in all an excellent point.

• 74 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:08 PM

  Sell:

  Williamson
  Simpson
  Gosling
  Shola Ameobi

  Loan:

  Ferguson
  Sammi Ameobi
  Vuckic

• 75 bills-son // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:11 PM

  On the not so positive side what I would say about yesterday’s game is that it proves yet again that we don’t have a commanding central midfield player that can dictate a game. Cabaye, as good as he can be, doesn’t do it often enough and at times we look like a band without a conductor with no real pattern to our play.

• 76 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:13 PM

  Bills

  Well we do have a commanding central midfielder in Cheick Tiote, that while he doesn’t dictate play he affords Cabaye a certain amount of space and freedom to pick his passes and if the second half proved anything it is that when Cabaye shakes himself he can be that kind of player for us, he isn’t quite up to speed yet so there is more to come from him.

• 77 Munster Mag // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:13 PM

  Good to see some good posts from Billson, Jimmy, Ibiza and Co. I was worried we were going to be hammered before that game, but we HAVE to give credit tomPardew. His initial set up made perfect sense ( to me anyway ) but he made the alterations and played 2-3 players up front and turned it around. fans need to stop playing Football Manager aboyr formatuions. 4-4-2 can work perfectly with the right energy and application, as can 4-3-3 etc. We have to get our two top strikers on the pitch, and I have to say Ameobi looked a monster when he came on. We have much to improve, and I will always maintain that our performace transfer wise was very very poor, and we will be exposed as a result. Incidentally, when is Santon going to learn to defend?

• 78 bills-son // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:14 PM

  Ketsbaia9 – sell Ameobi??

  Ha, ha, ha – you haven’t got a clue have you.

  His chest on for Ba was magnificent and he totally ruffled their defenders from the minute he came on the pitch. Take your biased tinted glasses of Kets and get real.

• 79 josh // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:20 PM

  Ketsbia you’ve had that comment in copy and paste since you became a blogger. F@@k off and die in a hole you ignorant irritating knobjockey.

• 80 bills-son // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:21 PM

  Ruddy – Tiote isn’t commanding in the creative way that Yaya Toure or Hazard or even Scholes can still be. I know that isn’t his game and that its more Cabaye’s but I have to say he isn’t in the aforementioned player’s league. The only game I’ve really seen him dictate the play was at Aston Villa last season. Cabaye is a good player but it’s been my opinion for a while that the hype surrounding him doesn’t match the consistency of his performances.

• 81 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:21 PM

  His overall play isn’t good enough. He’s never been premier league standard. Xisco and Ranger have more potential.

• 82 BelfastMagpie // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:23 PM

  Never mind formations,pass the bloddy ball around for a change.

  The amount of times we give away the ball through hoofing it is a joke.

• 83 Big Pappa Cissé // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:25 PM

  I Agree Ameobi is not a starter unless there are injurys but he is one of the best impact subs in the Premier League IMO

• 84 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:26 PM

  Spot on bills-son. That’s exactly what I said. He doesn’t get in the game enough. He played well for 5 mins yesterday and looked creative. I’d like to see Abeid take his place. He deserved to be subbed. He might start upping his game then. Cabaye definitely has the potential though. He just needs to be more consistent.

• 85 Munster Mag // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:27 PM

  Billson, I tend to agree. Fans here have been saying that players like Tiote and Cabaye are worth 25 mill etc. Crazy stuff. I really wish we had invested more now, and it shames Ashley in my opinion that we didnt after such a fine effort last season, but hopefully Jan will bring an arrival or two. Failurev to do so would amply demonstrate the clubs direction. Hats off to Pards again – but maybe he needs to motivate the players more before KO – or maybe are players are just a bit dozy until they get into trouble like they did last night?

• 86 Hebburn Mag // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:31 PM

  What a game that was last night.

  First half we started slow and didnt really pick up much pace but as soon as Pardew made that change at half time, Ba for Marvaux the whole games changed. I bet alot of other fans as well as me wondered what was the thought behind dropping Ba to the bench but im glad Pardew had the sense to bring him on second half. The game was a bit controversial in the sense that the disallowed goal should have stood, anyone with common sense could see that but no one in their right mind can say that our players commitment in the second half didnt warrant in us getting atleast a point.

  It was fantastic to see the lads still giving it everything they had even when we went 2-1 down and deservedly we got a point. Lets hope our lads give us the performance they did in the second half every game from now on and we’ll be alright. Lets not forget though were playing in 4 competitions this term so its going to be a long tough season but a top 6 finish and good cup run would in my eyes see us have a successful season.

• 87 check the toastie // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:35 PM

  That was the best performance ba has gave since Man Utd home last year, for me he needed a kick up the arse, has become a little too big for his boots.

  By the way anyone notice that ball Perchy put over the top for Cisse, didnt think the lad had it in him, if it was Cabaye people would be creaming their pants.

  Dont know what Pardew is going to do with Jonas, personally it is now eveident he is a fish out of water in CM, too slow for winger, he is only really good at babysitting full backs and grafting, not sure what his role is going to be longer term. Certainly wouldnt play him at home when we need to be going at teams, think Sammy, Obertan, and Marveaux should all start before him against Norwich. Shame but true IMO.

• 88 toonLYF // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:43 PM

  The match against Everton proved alot for me, it proved it’s not down to a specific formation/team, and the best way to go forward is to change formations/personel depending on the opposition (however i do feel it is somewhat important to have a recognised first 11). Most importantly, it proved we probably have the biggest set of fighters in the premier league, to come out second half, after the first was so one sided (maybe the most one sided i’ve seen in the premier league for a while) with only a few adjustments made, and completely overwhelm Everton to the point where they looked like us in the first half, was astonishing, i watched nearly the entire second half stood infront of the TV like a little boy. It was unbelievable; even moreso to do it against a team like Everton with the record they have at home, and all of the other circumstances that would suggest it was near impossible for us to get ourselves back into the game. Terrific. Proud.

  i went back on the Everton forum to see what was being said post-match, and whilst alot couldn’t look beyond the officiating; some Everton fans held their hands up and admitted their first half performance was matched, and sometimes even bettered, by our in the second half, and a draw was just about right going by the football played alone; and despite the obvious biased, i agree.

  Demba Ba, James Perch, Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas/Anita and most of all Shola Ameobi, thank you’s for showing the rest of the premier league watching that match last night, just why we finished 5th last season, and why we will be up there again this season. HWTFL!!! 2 more wins before the week is up, oh how i love being in Europe.

• 89 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:45 PM

  Bills

  To be fair you are describing truly world class players there, Hazard cost Chelsea 35million and looks the real deal, Yaya is the best player in the Premier League in my opinion and Paul Scholes is one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen so if Cabaye isn’t quite up to their standards yet I am still ok with that as he is still only in his second season in the league and has the potential to grow into himself and become an even better player.

• 90 Dannyo // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:51 PM

  @toonLYF
  It was deffo a different Ba we saw last night, it was a Ba with determination and grit, a Ba that went into every duel with the intention to win it.
  It was the Ba we saw the first half of last season.
  He’s deffo back and he needs to keep playing like that.

• 91 Shane // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:51 PM

  I miss our left sided duo of Raylor and Jonas.

• 92 Raj // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:58 PM

  What about the anti-hoof balls strategy we were supposed to stick to?? Why driving up-field balls in hope still?

  Ok.. We didn’t have the best midfield yesterday but imo the game changed the moment we started keeping the ball on ground. However, the set-plays (corners) were still pathetic..

  Good things.. Krul will b back soon, Cabaye getting his foot slowly, Ba among goals (good ones, not flukes, mind’ya), Cisse is beginning to be in correct positions (He could have scored three out of three in Feb-March) and we got norwich and reading next before Manures.. Get your footing lads.. Way to go…

• 93 toonLYF // Sep 18, 2012 at 1:59 PM

  Dannyo – we just need to get the Ba of the start of last season, and the Cisse we saw from Febuary onwards last season, playing together, then we will really challenge top 6 seriously and consistently.

• 94 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:02 PM

  I’d be careful what you say. Death threats are completely unnecessary over football opinions.

• 95 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:02 PM

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19635010

  Ba’s agent coming out and saying that “Demba doesn’t understand the Newcastle management”

  I sincerely hope that Demba gets his bloody head down and just gets on with it, if he thinks he can come out and use his agent to criticise our management then surely that shows a player who thinks he is bigger than the club.

• 96 bills-son // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:03 PM

  Here we go ! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19635010

  Ba’s agent saying if he doesn’t start every game they’ll have to ‘look for other solutions’ ie., a transfer.

  I don’t understand why Pards started with Cisse and I can understand Ba not being happy playing wide left at the end of last season but his agent spouting off like this is bad craic.

• 97 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:05 PM

  I don’t. Why are we leeting Abeid go out on loan? Why did Williamson start yesterday? It’s simple things like this that can wind players up.

• 98 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:06 PM

  Cisse should’ve been left out as Ba has made a better start to the season.

• 99 Transfer Sage // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:16 PM

  The players we have are good enough. The difference is we don’t have a Gerard, Scholes, yaya toure.

  They were or are still top class players, hence why they were at top clubs.

  We aren’t in the same league as man utd and Man city and therefore don’t have the same stand out player.

  What we have is a team. When we have our best 11 available they can work together well and make up for not having one o the worlds top players.

  The side we have is competitive in almost every game

• 100 Hebburn Mag // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:16 PM

  I think its totally disgusting when a players agent comes out publicly and critisises the clubs manager. Not every player can start or even play every match and not every player can be kept happy but why should Demba Ba’s agent come out publicly and critise Alan Pardew. Not one single player at Newcastle can have a go at the manager if they are dropped to the bench or even totally dropped, it is the managers decision to who plays and no one elses. If Demba Ba is upset about not starting last night, is having his agent publicly moan the right way to go about it, I dont think so, maybe if he got his head down in training and showed Alan why he should start every game, that would be a better option. But who knows maybe Pardew wanted to try a different tactic and it was shown last night in the first half not to work out, dont worry Demba you’ll more than likely start the next game.

• 101 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:22 PM

  Hebburn

  I just hope that Demba has a less arrogant attitude than his agent, because we cannot have this situation developing any further. If Demba thinks he has the right to come out and publicly state in a post match interview that he is not happy at the club and then have his agent criticise the management only a day later then I am afraid these are signs of someone who more than likely will either walk or be shown the door.

  There is no one player bigger than the club and I hope this situation gets resolved one way or the other.

• 102 davybtoon // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:36 PM

  you got to laugh at dembas agent hes been on the bench once n hes kicking off lol, think someones upset he couldnt get his player to move this summer

  imo ba, hba n cabaye will all have new deals b4 the seasons done

• 103 Hebburn Mag // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:36 PM

  Ruddy Marveaux-lous

  Agree, no one player is bigger than the club and to come out a publicly critise the clubs management is wrong, on all levels. No matter how good a player is they can not come out a critise the club, whether it be the management or the board and it was shown not long ago with what happened to Barton, fair enough Ba is nothing like Barton but surely players must have sense not to critise the club. Hopefully this is just a one off inccident and it was all said out of frustration and no doubt it was because we cannot afford to risk loosing a player with Dembas ability.

• 104 bills-son // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:37 PM

  Have to say I’m not surprised at the Ba situation.

  Ba has looked moody everytime he has been subbed and especially after he scored against Spurs. Now we know what his ‘not happy’ comment meant last night it makes it clear his agent is singing from the same hymm sheet.

  Pards needs to sort this one out fast – first by telling Ba that any more public comments like that and he’ll be fined the maximum, whether he’s scoring or not.

• 105 Big Pappa Cissé // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:38 PM

  Ba needs to realize he is not bigger than NUFC and it is not the Demba Ba show. Did Van Persie criticize Sir Alex for leaving him on the bench the other week ? No

• 106 Hebburn Mag // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:38 PM

  davybtoon // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:36 PM

  you got to laugh at dembas agent hes been on the bench once n hes kicking off lol, think someones upset he couldnt get his player to move this summer

  Couldnt have put it better myself!

• 107 Shane // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:42 PM

  Simply train the lads to play in the so called prehistoric 442 formation. The formation under the correct management, playing style and training can work. This way Ba and Cisse can both play and in their preferred positions.

  Seriously, I’d stick them both in a room and show them clips of Yorke and Cole non stop until they learn that two strikers can play up top together without one needing to be the target man.

  I appreciate they had wingers in Beckham and Giggs either side feeding them every game but why can’t HBA be told to stay out wide and attack from there rather than playing so centrally… He still gets to go on mazy runs but he will have to look up and play a mixture of crosses and or just slip in to the area and look up. Now, Jonas on the other side can’t do this anymore on his tod, but he can switch back and forth with a certain Santoon, allowing santoon to take this winger role and Jonas is more than capable of sitting back on the left and defending.

  This is what I’d do anywho. Have a think about it. HBA wouldn’t be wasted out on the right, he would create ample chances, all he’d need is some intense 1 to 1 training on his defensive game and tracking back but he’s already proven he is learning and getting back when needed, just needs a bit more training.

• 108 voodoo85 // Sep 18, 2012 at 2:44 PM

  I think Pardew was also resting Demba Ba ready for Thursday night and was hoping we could go in at half-time level but it didnt work and Ba came on and done what was needed

  This is poor from his agent although is it confirmed to have come from his actual agent. How many times (especially during the summer) do we hear of people claiming to be players agents etc but they aren’t

• 109 Transfer Sage // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:00 PM

  Remember this is Ba’s agent and not Ba himself.

  I can understand him not being happy of that’s true. He is the in form striker so if we go with one it should be him.

  Also I can see why he would demand to play through the middle.

  The man is a striker first and foremost and has to look after himself. He could end up at a similar or higher level club playing in his preferred role of he wanted to so he would have every right to ask for a move if he didn’t get it.

  You can keep players on a bench and out I their preferred positions at bigger clubs as they win things. That why van persie went to man utd. He could have been main man at arsenal but he wanted medals.

  Ba is good enough to play as a striker for a lot of teams in Europe and I could easily see him plying his trade in the champions league.

  Pardew has a lot of work to do to keep both him and cisse happy

• 110 toonarmydownsouth // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:04 PM

  Kets
  Only you can be fcuking stupid enough to say we need to shola after he sets up a goal to earn us a point, in fact only you can be stupid enough to say our super sub shola is not PL standard but xisco, the CF who has spent four seasons on loan and has yet to hit double figures despite playing regularly in soanish 2nd division has more potential
  Absolute idiot

• 111 davybtoon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:06 PM

  its good that ba isnt happy with being on the bench as no player should b happy with that

  also anita played rb twice now n hes been brilliant there twice best at the club

• 112 ilovetoon8788 // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:07 PM

  Last season. Any shot Cisse took goes in. Now everything is not. I doubt he’ll get us 20 goals. But don’t blame him. We have awful deliveries and creativity from midfield.

• 113 davybtoon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:08 PM

  reserves v scum at sjp tonight should be good abeid, gosling, fergie n sammi all involved looking forward to seeing good n campbell

• 114 davybtoon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:12 PM

  well weve played spurs, villa, everton n chelsea won 1 drew 2 n lost 1 id say thats a decent start to the season
  and id took those results when the fixtures come out n win v norwich should see us jump up 4 or 5 places in the league

• 115 ilovetoon8788 // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:12 PM

  I trust ba more than Cisse. He’s a better all round striker. I’d rather we lose Cisse than ba.

• 116 Ian Toon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:17 PM

  Jimmy Magpie- good afternoon. I was reading through your numerous posts and had the strong desire to respond with a clueless type of comment. But that would be disrespectful. Jimmy we are we’re we are. Williamson was by no means our poorest player and is a good squad player. He was exposed at times last season in the EPL because he was playing alongside a CD who was himself a reserve in that position. On Marvaeux he had a poor game but is talented . He spent 6 months out with a groin injury and prior to joining us he was out with the same problem at Rennes. I have seen enough of him to believe once he returns to full match fitness he can provide the crossing for Ba and Cisse. He’s better on the left and is clearly better going forward but links well with Cabaye and HBA. I felt sorry for Cisse because HBA had a poor game and did not link the play behind Cisse as envisaged. Jimmy mate you’ve written off half the squad so I will save my further comments for another day. But your reference on Cabaye
  and tiredness/Xmas . You can be tired mentally as well as physically
  and I would suggest talk of uprooting family and discussion at home could have had an unsettling effect. Friends at the game last night have told me that Cabaye was full of joy at the end and had a special word with the Toon Army. Cabaye is back. Rejoice.

• 117 check the toastie // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:18 PM

  Cisse is class and will prove it in the next couple of games, why do people make statements like i would sooner lose Cisse than Ba, for fcucks sake man.

  Both are important to the club and both will score over 10/15 goals this season, that is a real good return for PL strikers. Personally would love them to come good but somehow, so far they havent really clicked.

• 118 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:19 PM

  How about Ba and Cisse put their petty rivalry aside, which is always evident when they’re playing as a 2 and is detrimental to both of them, no more illustrated by when they were literally jostling over a cross against Villa, on the penalty spot, with no Villa player within 5 yards of them.

  Kind of ironic how this is panning out, given how Ba was raving about Cisse prior to us signing him. Did he not envision this could come about, with extra games, having someone like HBA in the team who also does his best work in advanced positions.

  Always thought there was a tinge of jealousy there, when Cisse started getting the limelight last season.

  Together, go and watch some footage of Yorke and Cole. Study how when working in tandem and driven by less selfishness, you will both blossom in a partnership, can share the plaudits and become synonymous like those 2, helping your team reach a new level.

  If not, then somebody is going to have to explain to them in no uncertain terms, that they will be rotated and if either one doesn’t like it, they can lump it – no divas permitted in these parts.

• 119 Ian Toon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:24 PM

  toonLYF- When Pardew has a problem he usually goes to Jonas. He
  Is probably the most underrated player in the eyes of the less discerning fan. He was as good in the second half as he was poor in the first.

• 120 Ruddy Marveaux-lous // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:25 PM

  Cisse almost had 2 great goals last night, he’s starting to get into more threatening positions, he just hasn’t calibrated his cross-hairs yet, once he does he’ll net with regularity again.

  Shearer once went about 15 games without scoring, it happens to the very best.

• 121 Ian Toon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:29 PM

  Transfer- isn’t Ba’s agent his brother.? I think Pardew has handled Ba well and he played as though he had something to prove. Good man management.

• 122 nufc7lad // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:32 PM

  This would be my team vs Maritimo on thursday:
  Harper
  Perch Tavernier Willo Santon
  Obertan Gosling Amalfitano
  Sh Ameobi Cisse

  Bench:
  Elliot
  Saylor
  Colo
  Anita
  Cabaye
  Jonas
  Ba

• 123 Ian Toon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:32 PM

  Pushy left a post on earlier for all Armchair Critics- worth a read. Drew a distinction between the real supporters and the fair weather fans. Couldn’t have summed it up better myself.

• 124 nufc7lad // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:33 PM

  This would be my team vs Maritimo on thursday:
  Harper
  Perch Tavernier Willo Santon
  Obertan Gosling Amalfitano Marveux
  Sh Ameobi Cisse

  Bench:
  Elliot
  Saylor
  Colo
  Anita
  Cabaye
  Jonas
  Ba

• 125 ballerfan2 // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:35 PM

  Regarding the ball over the line incident – it wasn’t the first mistake by the ref in that passage of play. The freekick which led to it was given when Santon was wrongly adjudged to have pushed Mirallas(?) out on the wing. Alan Parry and Le Tissier acknowledged this on the replay but before the goal line incident a few seconds later when the error was somehow forgotten in the awful injustice of it all. Somehow makes me feel a bit better anyway.

• 126 toonLYF // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:37 PM

  If Ba sacked his agent it would be like a new signing.

  Ian Toon – Baines and Pienaar must’ve been so frustrated with Jonas and Anita teaming up. (Anita i thought looked terrific in that second half and minus maybe 2 plays, he didn’t give them a look in). So quick too.

• 127 ballerfan2 // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:43 PM

  I find myself agreeing a lot with Ian Toon. We have rather too many amateur psychologists with opinions on the mind state of players as well as amateur tacticians/managers with all the answers to our problems. Come on guys – just get behind whoever Pardew picks to represent our great club. He really does know best, no matter what you think.

• 128 Ian Toon // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:51 PM

  toonLYF- Anita is an excellent buy and can only get better once he is fully assimilated into the EPL. Once Tiote is fit and there is cover at full back he should revert to a Dm role. Tiote with the steel andAnita with the craft. He is a give it and go type and will enable more ball retention. He has so much more to offer and I am looking forward to a
  midfield containing at various times- Tiote, Anita, Cabaye, HBA, Marvaeux. One thing lacking is height so we might have to wait for Vuckic to progress.

• 129 Ashton // Sep 18, 2012 at 3:59 PM

  I think we played better in the first half were we played in a 433 formation. It didn’t help that Marv and Perch were defensibly horrific and the fact that we were playing hoofball and didn’t even try to pass the ball around. Also Ben Arfa didn’t look comfortable on the left and he is definitely more dangerous when he plays on the right and vice versa concerning Marv. And Anita was getting shrugged off too easily in midfield.

  I don’t know how last night’s game proves that Pardew was/is right for picking the 442 formation but everyone seem to think so, and that’s wrong!.

  I could go on forever about how tactically we were awful but most of you won’t read or be interested in my analysis as to why the 433 still is our best formation.

  So the 433 is still our best formation and always will be with our current squad.

• 130 Transfer Sage // Sep 18, 2012 at 4:01 PM

  There’s no harm in criticising the players or manager here I don’t think.

  As lob as it is put forward with sensible reasons and people are open to hear what others say.

  The problem comes when somebody states opinions as facts. Like Simpson is the worst right back in the league or if we signed a defender in jan we would be in champions league now.

  I’d rather come here and discuss opinions with fellow fans and then get behind everybody at the club on a match day. I don’t care who plays for us as long as they give 100% and try to improve and are decent people that’s all we can ask from the playing and managing staff.

• 131 Transfer Sage // Sep 18, 2012 at 4:02 PM

  There’s no harm in criticising the players or manager here I don’t think.

  As lob as it is put forward with sensible reasons and people are open to hear what others say.

  The problem comes when somebody states opinions as facts. Like Simpson is the worst right back in the league or if we signed a defender in jan we would be in champions league now.

  I’d rather come here and discuss opinions with fellow fans and then get behind everybody at the club on a match day. I don’t care who plays for us as long as they give 100% and try to improve and are decent people that’s all we can ask from the playing and managing staff.

  I don’t support Newcastle to see them win trophies I support newcastle as they are my family’s club and I enjoy watching them play.

• 132 santonthenewmaldini // Sep 18, 2012 at 4:29 PM

  Well Well Well!!What a great advert for the Premier League that game was last night had everything but a sending off which Everton could have had Phil Neville off and Felliani for swinging a punch at Williamson!!

  I know we are missing Tiote but i think we are really missing Guthrie this season as Mr T or Cabaye will be injured or out of form at some point and Guthrie was able to slot in perfect last year and was quite all action which allowed us to put teams under pressure Perch provided that level of pressure in the 2nd half and his chipped pass for Cisse was lovely

  Some thoughts on the game 442 can work with the right players on the right sides of the pitch Gary Neville was going on about the Pienarr and Baines partnership which is excellent well Santon and Arfa together could be just as good as the 2 of them kept Everton pegged back and were solid at the back for the 2nd half also it was never a free kick that led to the headed disallowed goal anyway!!

  Also having 2 right footed players on the right worked as well in the 2nd half Anita should now be our RB with either Jonas or Obertan bombing down the wings and putting crosses in

  Ba and Cisse CAN work in a partnership if Ba plays like that from the start of a game as he was unplayable when he came on and Cisse needs to work a bit harder as he does not move about enough yet although he might not be 100% fit yet

  Seem to remember last season we were out of form and then beat Norwich at home which started the winning run and the great goals could it be the same on Sunday?

  Europa team on thursday

  Harper
  Tav RB
  Good CB
  Perch CB
  Ferguson LB
  Obertan RW
  Bigi DM
  Amalfition AM
  Marveux AM
  Sammi LW
  Shola CF

  Would allow us to control the midfield and have Shola hold up the ball and set his brother up for the winner!!!

• 133 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 4:53 PM

  We’ve got no chance with that team pal. Tavernier and Shola are liabilities.

• 134 ballerfan2 // Sep 18, 2012 at 5:16 PM

  Ashton – why would you think that no one would read or be interested in your analysis ……. no , you’re right, we aren ‘t interested, particularly after your first sentence of that post – “I think we played better in the first half were we played in a 433 formation.”

  Ketsbaia – I agree with your first sentence totally, that team would have no chance with all those youngsters in at the same time. Shame you spoiled it though as I believe Shola is one of the few in that team who would be capable of hacking it in what could be a tricky game. Maritimo are not the mugs that some seem to think and would be delighted if we were to play a virtual reserve team.

• 135 Ketsbaia9 // Sep 18, 2012 at 5:46 PM

  Shola can show moment of brilliance (i.e Spurs/Sunderland), but his overall ball distribution/control just isn’t up to standard. I have nothing against any of the players, I’m just stating the players that I don’t think are good enough to wear the toon shirt.

• 136 FatmanJoe // Sep 18, 2012 at 6:01 PM

  Decent team. Tav really needs to get back on the bike as he had a shocker last time out, but he’s an excellent young player

  Shola is the sort of player that europe can’t handle. His record in europe speaks for itself.