Newcastle’s vulnerability in defense again cost us points this afternoon, after a first half in which Manchester City took a 2-0 lead and it could have been much worse for Newcastle before the break – as the often tore the Newcastle defense apart – does this sound familiar? But then the lads made a spirited comeback and looked good and Ba scored for Newcastle before more woeful defending allowed Yaya Toure to score Manchester’s third goal and take all 3 points.
Newcastle made an excellent start to this game and Joe Hart was in his England form to keep the scores level in the first 9 minutes of this game, but then a slick move by Manchester City tore the Newcastle defense wide open and Aguero was able to tap the ball home to give City the lead, and that was against the run of play.
But Newcastle were vulnerable in defense and there were several times that Manchester tore the Newcastle defense to shreds in the first half, and then Manchester went two up after 39 minutes following a corner – another set play – when Javi Garcia headed the ball home, and Davide Santon couldn’t clear the ball off the line.
Alan pardew will not be at all happy with that sloppy defending once again be the Magpies’ rearguard.
Half time came and it did not look good for Newcastle who had played quite well in that first half, but our defense continued to leak poor goals.
But then the lads came storming back in the second half and took the game to City, and they looked a much better outfit in the second half, and then after 51 minutes Demba Ba got his 11th goal of the season after Fabricio Coloccini had lofted the ball into the penalty area and Demba Ba headed the ball strongly home. An excellent effort from Ba.
And just two minutes after Ba scored Papiss Cisse blazed the ball over the bar, when he had a clear chance in front of goal and should have done a lot better – but he laid back and hit the ball over the cross-bar – it was the miss of the match and if that had gone in who knows what would have happened.
But as seems custom lately, Newcastle then conceded another terrible goal when somehow Zabaleta had oceans of room down the left wing – as Danny Simpson seem to invite him into the space (what was he thinking?) – and the Argentine cut the ball back for Yaya Toure to hit the ball home to make it 3-1.
It was something like the goal Toure scored in the 2-0 win in May. But it was again Newcastle ‘s poor defending that means we have now lost six of our last seven matches in the league, but the fight of the Newcastle side after the break will give Geordie fans some hope.
And Vurnon Anita played an excellent game – his best in a Newcastle shirt – and he was at the heart of most of Newcastle’s attacks, as he took all the free kicks and corners, and he worked his socks off today for the Geordie cause – he’s starting to look an excellent player.
Bu just like at Stoke and at Fulham, woeful defending cost Newcastle this game, when the midfield and forwards were pressing the opposition in the second half, and until we fix our defensive problems – we will still be in big trouble – as we are now with just 14 points from 17 league games and just 4 points from the last 24.
In our relegation season after 17 games we had 19 points – 5 points better off than we are now.
But we can take some comfort from a spirited second half performance, even though we ended up losing our eighth league game of the season.
Next up is QPR – and if we cannot beat the London side we’ll be in even more trouble.
Teams:
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson (Shane Ferguson 82), Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; James Perch, Cheick Tiote (Sylvain Marveaux 75), Vurnon Anita; Papiss Cisse (Shola Ameobi 79), Demba Ba, Jonas Gutierrez
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, James Tavernier, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Matija Nastasic, Gael Clichy; Javi Garcia, Yaya Toure (c); Samir Nasri (Aleksandar Kolarov 37, Edin Dzeko 72), Sergio Aguero, David Silva; Carlos Tevez (Joleon Lescott 79)
Subs not used: Costel Pantilimon, Karim Rekik, Abdul Razak, Scott Sinclair
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Bookings: Newcastle – Williamson (15), Simpson (27), Perch (56); Manchester City – Aguero (37), K Toure (55)
Attendance: 49,579 (2,718)
297 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Comment #1Having his casino hand severed in a sweet mince pie machine is too good for Ashley not.
Tinman
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Comment #2I have to say I thought Pardew was very good last season, but this season he has made errors in every single game. His substitutions have been baffling this season. We are behind at Stoke and Man City, 1st two which pop to my head, and he TAKES OFF A STRIKER!!! Unbelievable. Absolute madness.
Apart from that his constant need to play Jonas. And heres an idea, play Fergusson and Santon as our Full Backs, drop Danny ‘Float Cross’ Simpson. Or even play Perch at RB…
Playing strikers on wings, defenders in midfield…. Its all going to catch up with your team sooner or later.
89Norcal
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Comment #3Ed, it was Simmo who gave Zabaleta all that room for the third, even though he was covered by I believe 2 other Newcastle players on his left, he allowed huge space on his right.
I could tell he was flat-footed and tired, he was sprinting up the pitch all game.
Indian Magpie
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Comment #4Ed, the performance was good though. creditable
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Comment #5Forget the not.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Comment #6I’m very confused as to why we don’t just bring in a set pieces coach?
So many other teams have done similar down the years, and it’s often paid off for them.
We can’t attack set pieces and we can’t defend them – despite having a far bit of height in our team. Pardew must realise that clearly his methods are not working.
I know it’s Manchester City, but we’re still giving people free headers a few times a game, and our lack of imagination when attacking corners and free kicks is horrendous!
boater
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Comment #7Catchy – you have a fixed, angry agenda and seem to repeat it all day every day. We can all see Guti isn’t playing at the moment – we can see Pardew is struggling to get the team playing like last season. Do you think we’re stupid and that needs spelling out? What’s the point in you and Indian Magpie savaging player’s reputations constantly?
Indian Magpie
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Comment #8Any 1 heard that City fans threw flares at NUFC fans
89Norcal
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Comment #9Tinman
I agree with the Shola sub for Cisse, getting tired of seeing Pardew revert to that when we were looking good with the setup just prior to City’s 3rd.
I knew Jonas wasn’t going to get subbed off, because he actually put ONE good cross in as opposed to zero.
Graeme
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Comment #10Talking of casino’s – Our Illustrious Owner is about to buy one of the best casino’s in London – a cool £50 million!!
AmeobiTheMackemSlayer
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Comment #11Gutierrez needs to be sold. Absolutely hopeless this season, it’s like playing with 10 men at times.
Anita has been a revelation though.
89Norcal
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Comment #12Jail
Thought you had finally found the proper punishment for MA 😛
catchy in norway
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Comment #13tds
yes i read the whole comment,,
maybe you should have started by saying ignore them first,, cos to it was like an after thought,,
it wasnt a threat i gave him or ian,, if he is man enough,, say it to my face, where is the harm in that,, if thats what they think they should have the balls to say it to someones face,,
Indian Magpie
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Comment #14Guys Check This out Refer comment # 8
https://twitter.com/GeordieK1r5ty/status/279962220698427392/photo/1
fray bentos
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Comment #15Good performance today against a very good attacking side with 3/4 of the best attackers in the game and one of the best complete midfielders in the game, was always going to be difficult and in my opinion almost or arguably deserved a draw
All our players showed today their limitations at making that last pass count, the amount of praise that has been heaped on thesse players by some of you lot is ridiculous
daztoon
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:20 PM
Comment #16Maybe if we had a decent manager he would see Santon is more of a midfielder and play him there instead of Perch who is more a defender.Santon offers far more going forward than our wingers or midfielders bar Benny and Marv who cant get a game
boater
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Comment #17Tinman – in fairness, there was blog uproar at the tactical decision to replace a creative player in Benny with Shola last game.. now people are saying a like-for-like with Cisse and Shola makes no sense. Pardew can’t win.
89Norcal
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Comment #18IM
Man $hitty fans, I would expect no less.
I don’t like ManU (and who does) but that $hitty fan was a damn coward for throwing that coin at Rio, thinking no one would find him.
cyprus
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Comment #19Well done lads, shame we haven’t played like this against weaker opposition. Keep it up and we’ll scrape through.
Tinman
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:22 PM
Comment #20It was a better performance, yes Man City did sit back in the 2nd half but even before that we created more chances than we have been. Tiote was better, Anita was good.
We really need a win against QPR, we will get suck into the battle over xmas if we dont. Which player in Jan is going to want to come to a Prem club in the bottom 3?
Jonny
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:23 PM
Comment #21Vurnon Anita- WHAT a player we have on our hands here!
Joe Blog
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:23 PM
Comment #22Catchy
What if they did say it to your face? What would you do?
catchy in norway
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:23 PM
Comment #23i really dont understand most of you,, you bang on every day about how poor the squad is, and today prooved its not as bad as you think,,
today he played a weaker team than he could have and went toe to toe with man c, in the second half we were the better team,,
where was this attitude at the biggining of the season
can pardew only rais the team for the big teams,, ???
if we had of played like that, ball on the deck more,, we would not be where we are today,,
he needs sacked
Jail for Ashley
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #24You can cite a players lack of professionalism for not raising their game but when the entire back four know that whatever happens they cannot be dropped surely this breeds complaceny .
fray bentos
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #25As for Guti, i can imagine he was played because of the calibre of the attacking team we were playing against, also maybe its like a player out of form who needs to be played to get back into form which some people would say about Cisse
I do believe Pardew should be dropping him but he must have his reasons
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #26TDS…Yeah, why don’t you have better order / structure to your posts.
Catchy….So, when are you meeting with Pardew and Jonas when you visit the UK? You know, for your face to face as discussing things on a blog aren’t good enough.
Indian Magpie
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #27I would have taken jonas off for Marveaux
89Norcal
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Comment #28boater
Just proves how fickle some readers here are, expecting Benny to just put out a top 90min+ performance his first game back from injury. He was subbed at 70′ and STILL aggravated his hamstring.
Any error by Pards is compounded by the awful form of some key players, injuries and lack of depth.
Tinman
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:25 PM
Comment #29Boater dont be so ridiculous…
A) Ben Arfa was taken off through injury
B) Both Ben Arfa and Cisse are players who score goals, I would have been just as angry if Pardew brought Ameobi on for Anita. He needed to bring off a defender or a defensive midfielder.
Think before you speak!
catchy in norway
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:25 PM
Comment #30Joe Blog
then id smash there faces in,, simple as
but its easy to hide behind a pc
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:26 PM
Comment #31Bravo. *Slow Clap*
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:27 PM
Comment #32Catchy
You’ve just showed yourself up as a pathetic individual who values violence over reason.
Grow up you rubbish excuse of a man-child.
fray bentos
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:27 PM
Comment #33@89 Norcal
The ficklness is unbelieveabel
Remember when Pardew got lambasted for putting kids out in the european games then when Ben Arfa is played in one its like whats he doing risking our players
He can’t win
89Norcal
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:28 PM
Comment #34Of course you would catchy, because you’re a simpleton who cannot form a valid argument and would rather resort to threats.
fray bentos
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:28 PM
Comment #35@Tinman
But does Cisse score many goals this season? eh no
catchy in norway
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Comment #36Ibizatoon – Back by popular demand
id have no problem at all telling pardew how poor i think he is, id love the oppertunity
id love for you to be there too 🙂
as for jonas,, i really do think its more down to the way pardew has changed his game.. he is not and never has been a DMC or AMC
his crossing has always been poor, bbut he is good at running at players and sliding the ball to feet, winning pens,, when was the last time you seen him run at the box?
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:29 PM
Comment #37Catchy
*clap *clap *clap
Bravo mate bravo shown yourself up as an angry 10 year old there like
fray bentos
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Comment #38Can we seperate the blog’s comments into 2 sections; the ‘Fickle Section’ and ‘I go by what i said last week section’
Tinman
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Comment #39Fray,
He is getting played out of position on the left wing in a side which has struggled to create chances all season. Take off a defender bring on Ameobi. I would still rather see a chance fall to Cisse than Ameobi. Put the lad up top, give him a chance, he will score goals.
fray bentos
Dec 15, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Comment #40he is not getting played out of postiong on the left wing, that what like one game, do you watch the games?