Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was delighted with the performance of his side tonight in beating a good Club Brugge side 1-0 at St. James’ Park to record our 10th successive home win in European competition.
Obertan being congratulated after great goal
Newcastle essentially played a second eleven against the Club Brugge first team, but still came away with all 3 points, and some of our younger players were outstanding.
Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson both had good games, but it looks like out Man of the Match will be Gabby Obertan, who scored a great goal that was set up brilliantly by young Sammy.
We also saw a confident Obertan continually take on the Brugge defenders, and he was just too quick and too skillful for them, and he had another excellent game for Newcastle.
This is what Alan Pardew told ESPN after the game tonight:
“It was a great performance because that’s a good team.” “They keep the ball very, very well and that’s why they’re top of the league, they’ve got experience in the team.”
“But our young players shone tonight and that’s what it was about. I showed faith in them because they’ve been doing it on the training ground.” “Do it on the training ground and you’ve got a chance of performing on the big stage and Sammy and Fergie have been terrific in training and they took it into the game and that’s perfect for a manager.”
“This is a guy (Obertan) that everybody thinks is 26, 27 because he’s been in the English game so long.” “He’s hardly played any games, he’s still only 23. He has a fantastic future and the last two European games we owe him a big debt because we wouldn’t have won without him.”
“He’s been terrific for us and hopefully he’ll play a bigger part in the Premier League as we go along.”
It was certainly an excellent result, although once Newcastle scored, Club Brugge to their credit came at Newcastle – and if they had the luck of a Sunderland for example – they would have equalized.
But they didn’t, and Newcastle now have two wins and a draw in their first three Group D games.
A great job done by the lads tonight, and they deserve great credit.
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26 comments so far
Graeme
Oct 26, 2012 at 12:07 AM
Comment #1Wasnt a “great” game, rather a more “workman- like” game with occasional moments of good play. At the end of the night, its 3 points in the bag and on to the next game, job done!!!
Well done NUFC
Big Pappa Cissé
Oct 26, 2012 at 12:21 AM
Comment #2Night ladies 🙂
Charlietoon
Oct 26, 2012 at 12:42 AM
Comment #3Was reading the match report on the guardian and thought it was coming off rather biased against NUFC. Looked up and saw it was L Taylor who wrote it of course. What a sk@nk.
Also ridiculous hearing people talk about the incident between Tiote and Bacca where they clashed knees and Bacca went down as though shot but then continued the rest of the game showing no signs of discomfort. This was such a blatant attempt to get Tiote a yellow card and when you see the replay Tiote has his legs planted for about a second before Bacca charges into it. If it was that hard Tiote would have felt something as well but he walked away not complaining when he was actually fouled himself.
Bloody Marveauxlous
Oct 26, 2012 at 12:42 AM
Comment #4Since joining the club, Gabriel Obertan has had many critics. Even users from this very same blog have given him undeserving critism. He is a great, pacey play and only 23! He is also one for the future and could mature to become a Ben Arfa style player for the future french team!!!! He’s a real gem and a keeper,
Tbh, I am Ober the moon! :p
Bloody Marveauxlous AKA Puninho (king of puns)
Toon73
Oct 26, 2012 at 2:18 AM
Comment #5All the Obertan haters must be choking on their own bile right about now hahahahahahaha
yes, I’m laughing at you 🙂
swemag
Oct 26, 2012 at 2:38 AM
Comment #6I am not an Obertan hater, but these euro games, he’s playing great, still hard to compare to the Premier League. You just have a feeling there is a mile between the leagues in class. We were playing half the second team and we were completely dominating them for long periods, just a different class all together, Yes they threatened, but were better by a mile.
The guy is 23, looking promising. Also impressed by young Ameobi. Wow, when will he be given a chance on the big scene, impact sub?
Anita needs time, it seems his confidence level is below zero at the moment. I refuse to accept that a guy that was dominating in Ajax all of a sudden just turned into shit. He needs time and he will be an asset, I have no doubt about that.
89Norcal
Oct 26, 2012 at 5:17 AM
Comment #7Could never figure why Obertan got so much hate, especially when our alternatives aren’t necessarily stars themselves.
Obertan obviously has skill, and I’ve seen him improve over the last 2 years. All he needs to do is improve his crossing and he’ll be that winger we desperately need. Already has loads of pace and seems content playing on either side.
And before anyone writes off Europa league competition, just remember what the cash rewards mean to clubs from smaller leagues, and the fact that EPL is slightly overrated in European competition. We are still playing clubs that are used to success in their leagues which = confidence and talented players. Plus not every club in the EPL is world class..
89Norcal
Oct 26, 2012 at 5:34 AM
Comment #8By the way, Obertan gets my vote for co-MotM, along with Sammy Ameobi of course, or Sammaldinho as he will now be known.
catchy in norway
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:01 AM
Comment #9There are some sad deluded ppl on here if you think because he scored he had a good game, because other than scoring and running fast I never really seen him put in a cross, create a chance, he took the goal really well, but his overall play is not good,
Ferg on the other side from left back put in some amazing crosses , now he should get a mention by Pardew , sammy was fantastic, he set up the goal and was a constant threat, playing on the other wing from obertan , he should get a special mention, but Pardew singles out his player he bought, and you guys buy it,
Please start watching the games,
Jail for Ashley
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:18 AM
Comment #10On the vote for best player,I couldn’t choose so I went for Perch,who I thought was solid ,dependable and looked very comfortable on the ball.As for people raving about Obertan although his goal was well taken his first touch only just evaded the chasing defender and I don’t remember him getting a worthwhile cross in,ok he might come good but I don’t think it’s time to start rubbing his detractors noses in it just yet.
89Norcal
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:24 AM
Comment #11@Norway, I do watch every game. Every minute. Intensively. The problem is ignorance and negativity prevalent among irrational critics such as yourself. The whole game he was giving Brugge problems outside, and he’s showed that pace and ball control in PL games as well.
For 2m, Obertan is a solid player with huge potential. Ferguson has the better crossing technique, but Gabby has more pace and ability on the ball. Gabby just needs more consistency on his crosses and he will be dangerous.
Toon73
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:39 AM
Comment #12hey Catchy, how does that bile taste? 🙂
I realise it’s a step up in class to the EPL, just like seeing the haters back peddling and going all redline on the blog !
jesperfuglsang
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:48 AM
Comment #13Morning lads! 🙂
3 points yesterday – no need to dwell more on that, especially that second half (the way that looked I was fearing another Sunderland)
…Pards really has a ichy 4-4-2 finger (it it sort of forced :-))
The first half impressed me – especially the young ones. Sammy stood out for me. Besides the goal I don’t think Obertan was that effective, but there was a drive and effort from him once again which was nice to see.
Just can’t get over how easily Pardew could mess up that second half (a good thing that goal came then it did or we might not have gotten anything :-))
jesperfuglsang
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:52 AM
Comment #14I thought Obertan costed us at least £3M 🙂
…I think some of you are waxing a bit too much lyrics on him just like some slack him off a bit too much at times.
There was nothing impressive about him last night – a good goal, but a great setup by my MOTM Sammy 🙂 (I am discounting that second half)
BRABOT
Oct 26, 2012 at 6:56 AM
Comment #15Young Samy Ameobi,y remember Adebayor when
he play on monaco team ;
Y think that S Ameobi is better than Manuel Adebayor
in the same period
A good thing A Pardew make a contract long period for this young player .
Blaydon-Toon
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:13 AM
Comment #16Jesper … Sammy is a good prospect but had a few rough edges mainly his decision making as he gives the ball away a lot just like Oba used too but with time he had improved and if he could learn how to cross a ball like wee Fergie then Oba could become a real player for us … Future looks bright with our youngsters getting useful competitive game time !
Blaydon-Toon
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:15 AM
Comment #17Ps my motm was Santon another who is improving !
89Norcal
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:18 AM
Comment #18meh, I’m not building Obertan up..maybe compared to some of his haters it seems that way but I’m not.
Like I said, he just needs to work on his crossing. The pace and dribbling ability to pass defenders is already there. We build up plenty more other players besides Gabby anyways.
But yeah didn’t understand Pards’ Colo sub, we could have netted a 2nd. Samaldinho just needs to put his head up and pass a bit more but his control was amazing.
jesperfuglsang
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:20 AM
Comment #19Blaydon…Santon did look good and so did Fergy 🙂
…you are right about Sameobi’s decisionmaking, but I like his drive and will to do something 🙂
Lets hope that will improve over time. For me Obertan still has a long way to go but if he keeps applying himself then I don’t see why he shouldn’t come good 😀
HBA better than CR7
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:22 AM
Comment #20WBA up next…!! at home..@SJP..3 points…move into d top 8…Simple as dat….;-)
bills-son
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:07 AM
Comment #21I cant understand why Bigi didnt get a mention from Pards or much of one on the blog. For an 18yr old in a DM position he is so composed and hardly ever hits a bad pass. He seems to have a great attitude and for me has every chance of being a top player. Also agree with Jail about Perch, one of his best qualities is the ability to play a simple ball out of defence without resorting to hoofing it long. Watch him, he rarely gives the ball away once he’s won it. Perch is another young player who will get even better in the next year or two.
Colo-Sus
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:31 AM
Comment #22What on earth has happened to Marveaux!!!!!!!!!
TorqToon
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:36 AM
Comment #23Catchy – time for YOU to start watching games lad!!! Obertan was fantastic last night, he battled, won every 50/50 ball he went for, got forward at every opportunity and tracked back when he was needed too. He scored a great goal and was my vote for MOM. Your distinct negativity is holding you back from appreciating how far this lad has come, and that may very well be because you don’t want to be proven wrong in your assessment of him. But sorry to say – you have!!! This is a battle you won’t win.
On last night, I’m chuffed to bits with the win, Bruges aren’t a terrible side by any stretch. The full backs we played last night are the future full backs if this club. Simmo really has some thinking to do because his place in the side is no way assured, and his contact situation is still unresolved.
Sammy looks so laboured in his play, yet showed truely world class glimpses last night. Tayls was superb as always, Cheik is a big player for us in the middle, he holds the ball well and calms the situation down. He was unlucky with his yellow last night but could’ve gone either way.
All in all, I’m a happy mag!! Good morning to you all…
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:42 AM
Comment #24Bruge must have really been off form when they got thrashed by Bordeaux, Brugge are probably the better team.
We should proceed with cautious optimism that we can get out of our group now. If we beat Brugge or Bordeaux away, or draw them both and beat maritimo at home, that’s us through. Easier said than done like 🙂
Also, did anyone see when obertan scored last night, he ran over to cabaye on the bench and hugged him? It was good to see, he always comes across as somewhat of a loner, so it wa good to see him enjoying himself last night.
JP...from The Rock
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:49 PM
Comment #25The Wizard- I agree he does give the impression as a bit of a loner. I was very happy for him after all the critics he’s had. He was my Man of The Match too as he was simply unstoppable. What I loved the most was his constant efforts to get past their defender, it’s like a different player now. I hope he keeps his good work up and make HBA sweat a bit about his place in the team. Even though I love HBA as a player and is our most gifted, Obertan could very well force himself in the team with these kind of impressive displays.
My Man of The Match-
1- Obertan
2- Sammy Ameobi
3- Ferguson
HWTL
woolerbill
Oct 27, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Comment #26Obertan instead of Spiderman, it has to be, Spiderman is over the hill, he does more for the back four than he does going forward.