Mike Williamson will start for Newcastle alongside Steven Taylor and he has a big job to fulfill in today’s game – to keep big Andy Carroll under control – and make sure to head those high ball away, as West Ham will send in a number of crosses today – aiming for the head of the Gateshead striker.
Mike Williamson – under-appreciated at Newcastle
Alan Pardew was singing the praises of the former Wycombe Wanderers, Watford and Portsmouth center-back before the game with Liverpool today, as he had this to say to the Sunday Sun:
“Williamson, I thought, was magnificent against Andy last season. Andy commits a lot of fouls, he is aggressive and you need to be strong against him.”
“Mike is under-appreciated as well. He has gained experience and confidence from his performances. You have to say he is a Premier League center-half now when before he was still earning that right.” “I think his best years are ahead of them.”
“Centre-halves get better from 28, 29 onwards. They know when to challenge, when to back off, or step in front of the striker, read a pass.” “Young centre-halves always make errors because they get that wrong. Mike has got a lot better at decision-making.”
It’s an important battle today between Williamson and Andy Carroll, and Mike has usually done well against the Gateshead lad, and of course they’ve trained against each other at Newcastle for a couple of seasons, so they know each other’s play well.
Mike Williamson joined us from Portsmouth in January of 2010, and he has so far played 85 times for the first team, but has yet to score his first goal for the club.
Maybe today against West Ham?
We hope so.
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29 comments so far
Graeme
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #1Williamson v Carroll – could be one hell of a battle and the winner could take all!!!
Fat Sam will have them well up for this game, he still hasn’t forgiven MA for sacking him and will want to rub his nose in it!! Nolan, Carroll also coming back, just adds spice to the event.
This could be a very good game, or it could be a battle of attrition; Just hope we start at Kick-off, not 30 minutes later as we have seen in last 3 or 4 games!!
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #2C’mon iron mike do us proud today! And ffs dont let wir stevie near him he might still be trying to get one back for his jaw!!!
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #3Graeme
We have to be in from the go cant let fat sam have his way and silence the crowd early
AS MAGS
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #4Since the step up from championship everyone had there doubts.it was a case of ohh no Williamson is playing. The turnaround came for him and perchy when injures were forced upon us, and like perchy he rose to the occasion. Have every confidence in him now.
Lee Dodd
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #5Mike is a Good Player he cost us sod all and has done us proud. He is Not a Flair player like H.B.A etc but will always do a sterling Job Like James Perch Does. If he scored ha ha can you see it if iron mike scores were on the pitch !!!!
tequilamag
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #6Not under appreciated by Kets though. he is Willos biggest fan.
magpie6699
Nov 11, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Comment #7Is HBA fit? And Simmo?
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #8AS
Well said mate doesnt deserve half the stick he gets and is one of our most consistant CB’s imho
Lee dodd
If willo scored he’d go mental so would SJP!
Kets would be found standing on the raillings of the tyne bridge!
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #96699
Pretty sure HBA is fit havent heard otherwise simmo has git a knock apparantly and will have a late fitness test
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #10Jaw…once again that statement is on your own account. Not really going to fight with you about it.
Tequila…of course not everybody is mercanaries, but it seems they are all looking out for own best interests.
Colo wanted that higj wage so he could support an orphanage back home; he is a good samaritan, but it is a bit easy being so good when you just make sure your wages make up for the lose.
FatmanJoe
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Comment #11Did anyone else really want his shot to go inside the post last week? I really think he needed that for confidence.
jawballsaswallwell
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #12Thanks for the heads up Jesper, but I was actually aware of that, seeing as I wrote it.
tequilamag
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #13Jesper , you are contradicting yourself in the same statement. You say in the same sentence that of course they are not all mercenaries then continue to say they are all looking after their own best interests ? Whatever your view is, paying for an orphanage is a fantastic thing to do and does not square with your earlier comment that players would sell their own mothers for another payday.
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #14WHY WEAR A POPPY
By Don Crawford.
“Please wear a poppy,” the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
“Lady”, said he, “may I have one?”
When she’d pinned it on he turned to say,
“Why do we wear a poppy today?”
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, “This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free –
That’s why we were a poppy, you see.
“I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man – as you will, too.
“He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, ‘Goodbye,
I’ll be back soon, Mum, so please don’t cry.’
“But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
“Till at last, at last, the war was won –
And that’s why we wear a poppy, son.”
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, “Thanks, lady, I’m glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
but your son – did he come back all right?”
A tear rolled down each faded cheek:
She shook her head, but didn’t speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you’d have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, is oft-delayed,
Though our freedom was bought – and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country’s call
That we, in peace, may see the sun.
Please wear a poppy, it says: “Well done.”
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Comment #15Tequila – unless he will sell his mother and go and live in the orphanage he is funding? It’s a possibility.
bills-son
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #16One thing is for certain, Carroll and Nolan will be right up for this game. I hope STaylor keeps his head against AC, if there are any afters from that spat they had it could come out in this game especially if AC scores. The last thing we need is another red card.
Got a feeling there will be a few goals, I’m going for 3.2 to us.
Graeme
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #17Tads, beautiful mate.
tequilamag
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Comment #18Conaldo, never thought of that. Very cunning, he should be horse whipped.
sirtoongospel
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #19Cisse sends more money home than he keeps for himself: he is another genuinely great person, just like Colo.
3 points today and we are in great shape. But I am convinced Fergie and sammy are both better options than Jonas. We need to play to our own strengths for once, especially at home.
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #20Graeme
Felt called for like
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #21Tads – nice
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #22Tequila…well I don’t precive people to be mercanaries just because they look after their own best interests. But if their best interests is collecting signon fees after signon fees and negociate a payrise eveytime then I guess I am 🙂
…That is not my thinking; I don’t want to make a generalisation, but show me a modern footballer where money is not everything at the of the day/career. Even Colo is not better than the average footballer.
I donate what I can to ‘ Save the Children’ and if I could get a payraise so I could donate more i would 🙂
Marty-Toon
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #23Willo knows how AC plays but same goes for AC.
Willo does a lot of fouling himself in the box.
Would live to see Willo get hs first goal as at his height it’s ridiculous tt he hasnt done it before now.
tequilamag
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #24Jesper, footballers have a relatively short career and obviously want to maximise their earnings in that career. Though I am fairly sure Colo took a wage cut when he resigned his contract. He was reportedly on 90K a week when he first signed and now it has been reported that he is on 60K. Again your avoiding the question would you describe him as someone “who would sell his own mother for another payday”? Sietoon has already given you an example of another player who donates a large amount of his wages.
toonincheek
Nov 11, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Comment #25I’d prefer STaylor to be marking AC – much more beef to him, and you need that against AC.
(His china chin shouldn’t matter!)
IITianToon
Nov 11, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Comment #26The main problem with Willo’s heading is he NEVER JUMPS as high as he can go with his height, thats why he never gets on top of markers from corners/fks.. etc..
Ketsbaia9
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #27I totally disagree. Pardew’s a joker for coming out with things like this. Him and Simpson cost us champions league football last season. We’d be better off as a club, if we release them and take the hit. We’d then finish higher in the league and that will allow us to attract better players.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 11, 2012 at 3:26 PM
Comment #28Wrong, the main problem with Willo is that he isn’t good at anything. He can’t kick the ball properly and is dreadful in the air saying he’s 6ft 4.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 11, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Comment #29What did I say? Who was at fault for the first goal? Who played Nolan onside? If we lose today 1-0, who has cost us the game? We need to bring Marveaux on and bring off Simpson.