We think Alan Pardew will be taking a lot of positives out of the game at Old Trafford last night from some of his players, but it cannot mask that we are now out of one of the local cups at the first hurdle – when will we go on a long cup run at Newcastle again – and maybe even win something?
Papiss Cisse scores Newcastle goal last night
James Tavernier showed why he’s one of Newcastle’s brightest youngsters with a great performance at Old Trafford, of all places, and he will have done himself a lot of good, and the way he looked last night he’s a future first team player at the club – in either full-back position.
Papiss Cisse got off the mark quickly with a first goal of the season once he came on, and that will give his confidence a big boost, and we hope there’s more goals in store for the Senegal striker in the upcoming games.
Goalkeeper Rob Elliot again showed he’s a good goalkeeper in the Newcastle nets, and Shola Ameobi looked in good form – he just needs a goal or two to get his momentum going, but he looked a good player last night, and his vast experience is showing through these days when he’s surrounded by younger players.
This is what Alan Pardew had to say after the game:
“Some of the individual performances were top-drawer and we’ve created nine, ten good chances. We deserved more than the one goal.”
“We haven’t won here for 40 years (against Manchester United) and that was probably as good a go as we’ve had. We’ll look forward to when we come here again.”
“The first goal was everything because he needed a goal.” “Now the media can’t put that round his neck any more.”
It was decided before the game that both players returning from injury, Fabricio Coloccini and Cheick Tiote, would be substituted around the hour mark, and they have got some much needed playing time in preparation for the games ahead.
Dan Gosling had three good chances to score last night, but missed them – and of course Cisse hit the cross bar with that great overhead kick.
So it’s disappointing it was a defeat, but a number of Newcastle players did themselves a lot of good last night – there’s no doubt about that.
What do you think?
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20 comments so far
TorqToon
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Comment #1Great article Ed!! And spot on with your top performers!
LGFUAD21
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:10 AM
Comment #2One concerning stat from alst night is that we didnt really test De Gea. We only had 3 shots on target and it is someting I have thought about this team for a while.
We seem stuck in a mindset that goals are a strikers responsibility. With only HBA being brave enough to have a stab at goal.
I would like to see our CMs and LW go for goals a bit more.
The problem is that when you have a striker struggling to get into the game and onto the balls in the positions needed like Vuckic, your threat is nullified.
IF Tav and Fergie can develop well over the next year or 2 though I would slot them into the first team
Tav at RB Fergie at LW
Fergie still doesnt striker me as a full back. But he is a good crosser, and he likes to go down to the byline and cross which is something we have missed since Barton left.
A set up like that would give us the pacey, tricky attack in the right that likes to cut in. While giving us the aerial option down the left that Ba and Cisse could thrive off.
TorqToon
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:10 AM
Comment #3Pretty sure that’s my first ‘first’ ever!! It’s like Xmas morning!! 🙂
Tav was superb last night!!! Without opening a can of worms, I did imagine to myself what a Tav LB and Santoon RB combo woul look like!! Thought he was great.
Over the moon for Papiss – deserved his goal and unlucky with the second!! I kind of expected us to not win, but was looking more for a good performance and a goal for cisse!! So I’m chuffed to bits!
Also – what’s happened to Elliot??! He’s really come on leaps and bounds! Just shows the benefit of the Europa leagues extra fixtures!!!
Unlucky lads but very proud none the less!
Dannyo
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Comment #4I always saw Gosling as more of Nolan type tbh. Not a DM for me, to light on the tackles.
I had a hard time picking out MOTM, but i think Tav edges it for me.
Loads of positives last night, the youngsters and fringes are gelling a bit thanks to Europe.
I think people underestimate how important it is thatwe are bleeding these youngsters so early. They’ll be needed for bigger roles down the line.
toonLYF
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Comment #5Papiss was the more composed version of Tiote v Norwich when he came on. His movement was absolutely insane and he didn’t once give possession away from what i remember. He certainly looks back. Tavernier for me looked somewhere in between Simmo and Santon, good going forward, good enough at the back, just needs to keep his composure when playing the final ball. As pardew says…”triffic” performance from him and the other lads. Somewhat glad we don’t have to go to Stamford bridge though.
LGFUAD21
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:18 AM
Comment #6jawballsaswallwell
Last thread, thank you. Someone else who noticed it. We did play some of our most fluid football and Obertan was definitely part of that.
I dont understand Marveaux, he doesnt look happy which is a shame because he could really edge Jonas out.
Dannyo
Agree. Gosling is NO DM. I think your Nolan comparison is about right.
One thing with Gosling that will always work against him at this club for the time being is that he lacks a hook point, a Unique Selling Point.
He could develop into a machine and even chip in with a few opportunistic goals if he learns the positional sense Nolan had but he lacks a defining characteristic of his play that would make him a first choice.
Tiote is a brick wall, he is possibly the safest place for a ball to be. Like Pirlo in his early years. But instead of Pirlo’s playmaking, Tiote has great short range distribution.
Cabaye is a pressing player, a dead ball specialists and a smart passer.
It would be good to have another Nolan player but you would wonder where and when to play him.
LGFUAD21
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Comment #7Also I was upset over loosing Guthrie (sorry this is really late but someone last night likened Gosling to him and said he would never make it).
Someone also pointed out a few days ago that Newcastle were actually playing their best football last season with Guthrie in the team. I agree
Sometimes you dont have to be technically gifted you just need the right ideas, or to be the glue which Guthrie was at times.
And this is from someone who hated the guy 2 seasons ago.
bollance
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Comment #8Dannyo
Well said. Down the line may be Xmas when we have a fixture pile up?
The squad depth we are building this season by playing these extra euro games has brought on players like Bigi.
The first game I saw him play was the against the Greeks away. Coming on at old Trafford has played with lots of confidence. His range of passing is excellent. Drilling cross field passes or floating 40 yarders.
England u21 call up is imminent in my opinion!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:23 AM
Comment #9Wow….take a call for 5 minutes and find yourself a few threads behind.
LGFUAD21
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Comment #10Also I’d like to know what the deal is with Abeid.
He looked so close to the fringes but he appears nowhere in sight now.
Someone mentioned he had attitude problems.
I’d loan Vuckic out, Sammy is more developed and reserve games just dont offer the challenge needed. Especially in a modern game that doesnt always require 2 strikers on the field. I think Pardew has kept him not just for depth but because he sees him as a different proposition to the other strikers. But our tactics arent suiting him at all.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Comment #11Ok, all you fans living in the homeland, do you want something to cheer you up (even if just a little)?
It is p*ss*ng it down here today. There, hope you’re all happy.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:26 AM
Comment #12Vuckic shows brief moments of being a good player. But they are very brief from what I’ve seen. Doesn’t really seem to get in to games at all. Shame really.
LGFUAD21
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:26 AM
Comment #13bollance
No doubt about it. Bigi is a gem. He has a great attitude and just wants to improve. It will be tough to keep the dogs away from him next summer.
LGFUAD21
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Comment #14Ibizatoon – Back by popular demand
You really want a player that can play between the lines. Vuckic gets lost between them for the best part.
tarie4
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Comment #15Check the toastie
Alot of pple last night saying we shud have played s strong line up are forgetting we have Reading on sat bordeaux in mid week and man U on the Sunday. Now if we played our strongest team yday, sat, Thurs and Sunday, dnt U think we risk injuries?? Alot of arm chair managers on here, who are absolutely clueless. AP got the selection right according to his list of priorities (he did say the Europa league is above the capital one cup in priorities)
TorqToon
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Comment #16Tarie – Spot on! AP’s selection was perfect in my opinion!
tarie4
Sep 27, 2012 at 9:43 AM
Comment #17LGFUAD21
Which games where those?? (re played our best football with Guthrie in them?)
I can only think of one, stoke away.. And we bypassed our midfield all night..
He played his best game for us against Aston villa at home, did he even get an assist?? (dnt really know)
Guthrie was a good player, but pple forget some of his sub appearances (wolves at home) where he was shocking. he always ran out of steam after 60 mins. And he really never did anything that stood out. But he was a useful squad player to have around.
Gosling gets into more advanced areas and like vucik he always has a pop at goal etc. I think as fans we need to realize that these kids have never had a run of games (like they are having now) in a black and white shirt, and a the season goes on, they will get sharper and sharper..and more accustomed to playing regular competitive football, that his why AP is persistent in playing them.
We just need to trust our managers judgement. Gosling did a lot of things wrong yday yes, but he did do some things right. And remember Nolan wasn’t a regular fixture on the goal sheet at that age (like he is now) or else he would be playing at Arsenal man U and the like. Lets be patient the lad will come good 🙂
DG MAGPIE
Sep 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Comment #18I didn’t think I would be able to get away tickets so I was sat in the home end last night…. Thought we unreal last night and can safely say our second easily matched Uniteds second team.
Also big shout out to all the toon fans in the away end. Chanting the whole game and apart from brief moments after the two goals were all you could here all match.
Ps…. Old Trafford has no atmosphere or character compared to the might at James’ park!
chuck
Sep 27, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Comment #19Cant believe what i’m reading here, seems both Ed and AP are happy to lose another one, as they see signs of improvement in our younger players, really !
FFS here we are with a small squad being dumped out of the only cup we may have had a chance at and soon to be knocked out of the european tournamen and everyone’s happy.
Sav
Sep 27, 2012 at 10:56 PM
Comment #20Exactly, Chuck. It was not a friendly. It was a cup match and now we are out. Again.