This was an agonizing game to watch For Newcastle supporters and the lads struggled mightily against a very ordinary looking QPR side, but you couldn’t fasult our players’ determination and in the end it was Shola Ameobi in his 350th appearance for the Magpies who won the game with a superb strike after 81 minutes.
Shola Ameobi congratulated by James Perch – relief!
And over 50,000 Newcastle fans turned out today for this game – and how many clubs could boast that type of support after losing six of our last seven league games?
The game was of very low class played by two sides lacking confidence and results, until Shola Ameobi and Gabby Obertan came on for Gutierrez and Cisse after 60 minutes, and these two were bright sparks for Newcastle and it wouldn’t surprise us if both start on Boxing Day at Manchester United.
Newcastle were trying their best in the first half and we had six corners to QPR’s one, but Newcastle were finding it hard to create any chances and we are really missing the creativity of Ben Arfa and Cabaye – and for the first hour of this game it showed, although Vurnon Anita had another good game and his corners were once again of the highest caliber.
Both teams were poor – and we were looking at two side lacking in confidence and scared to do anything too daring in case they made mistakes.
At half time it was 0-0 and the first 15 minutes or so of the second half wasn’t much better, until Alan Pardew brought on Shola Ameobi and Gabby Obertan.
Gabby came on for Jonas Gutierrez and showed his speed and skill down the left wing and he again looked a good player and threatened QPR a number of times, and Shola Ameobi replaced the off-firm Papiss Cisse and began to make his presence felt physically up fornt. We’ve always though a Ba – Ameobi partnership up front is the best one for Newcastle at the moment.
After these two came on Newcastle were pushing for the a winner but again and again we didn’t have the luck until Shola Ameobi scored the type of goal that wins these dull games.
Shola got the ball on the right hand side and went inside his man to curl the ball into the net past a despairing dive from goalkeeper Rob Green and he got his first Premier league goal of the season and became only the fifth Newcastle player to score in the league this season.
Newcastle had nine minutes to hold out and another five for added time , and they could have well added to the 1-0 score-line as QPR went for the equalizer.
And it was a huge relief when the referee blew his whistle after over six minutes of added time, and Newcastle got their second win in twelve games, and we are now 10 points above QPR in the league table.
A poor display overall although the lads pressed well in the last twenty minutes to get the winner and get a great three points.
20 points from our eighteen games played – looks a little bit better and I first thought it was just 18 points – tells you the mess I’m in. 😀
Teams:
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; James Perch, Cheick Tiote (Sylvain Marveaux 77), Vurnon Anita; Papiss Cisse (Shola Ameobi 61), Demba Ba, Jonas Gutierrez (Gabriel Obertan 60)
Subs not used: Steve Harper, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi
Queens Park Rangers (4-3-3): Robert Green; Anton Ferdinand, Ryan Nelsen, Clint Hill, Fabio Da Silva; Esteban Granero (Shaun Wright-Phillips 56), Stephane Mbia, Alejandro Faurlin (Shaun Derry 79); Jamie Mackie, Djibril Cisse (Junior Hoilett 64), Adel Taarabt
Subs not used: Brian Murphy, Armand Traore, Samba Diakite, Nedum Onuoha
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Bookings: Newcastle – Tiote (63), Perch (88), Ameobi (90); Queens Park Rangers – Ferdinand (42), Hill (86)
Attendance: 50,180 (922 QPR)
70 comments so far
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Comment #1Liverpool beating Fulham. Even though I hate the bindippers we want them to win as we are level on points with the Cottagers
Jamiemac
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:40 PM
Comment #2What was everyone’s issue with Ba today? Missed the game
kevymartins
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:42 PM
Comment #3Obertan was excellent..we were very lucky they didn’t punish us.williamson gave away a free kick at the edge of the box with 3 seconds left to play…Is th fu cking retarded?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Comment #4Kevy
I agree that it was a stupid thing to do when all we needed to do was wind down the clock, but coming across a bit strong there lad, no need for the mental health reference is there?
manxpie
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Comment #5kevy that wasn’t willo it was perch
kevymartins
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:46 PM
Comment #6@ruddy It might look like i’m coming across abit harsh but I just can’t stand that donkey and can’t wait to the day were he cannot get a game for us.
spitfire_
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Comment #7Pardew made the right subs this time… but it’s time to put Jonas on the bench.
89Norcal
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Comment #8Josh, from last thread.
I’ll definitely take the scrappy win, but I was a bit disappointed after watching our fluid play in the last 2 games. we were flat and lethargic I thought, until the subs came on.
Anita had another excellent game. What a signing he’s turning out to be, but I think Shola gets it for his effect on the match and the 1 moment of quality.
Fostino
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:48 PM
Comment #9jamiemac
we won nad ba didnt score…something which hasnt happened much this season. so were now questioning his on-field attitude. its a tough debate to be honest…do people want him to sign a new contract or leave?
toonking
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:48 PM
Comment #10jamie
the issue with him is knowing he is likely to leave in january why he still is getting choosen as the main CF while cisse who we want to get back onto a goal scoring form is still being played on the wing.
most of us are sick of the things he is doing when it gets near a Trans window not only is it his contract that we getting sick of but also his attitude last summer demanding that he was used as the CF now causing cisse to look poor and wanting big money or leave.
he has did this with most clubs.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Comment #11Kevy
Well at times he works really hard and was one of our best players against City. He will always be a decent back up for the first team but yes we do need to upgrade at CB, so Taylor, Colo and Willo will all have to up their games.
Competition is the only way to get our defenders playing better.
89Norcal
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Comment #12toonking
Pardew has to play Ba, because he’s the striker in form and we are in desperation mode right now. Cisse has really ruined a few golden chances in the last few matches, we can’t rest our laurels on him
Spuggy
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Comment #13This season is no longer about finishing in the top 6, or even above the mackems – it’s about survival plain and simple and today was a huge result and it looks like all the results we needed for gaining 3 points on the relegation pack happened. A significant day for the black and white considering our next two fixtures against Manu and and arsenal.
kevymartins
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:51 PM
Comment #14@spitfire I thought jonas was immense first half ..Probaly his best performance this season ..was quick down the lines and put a few great balls in.
Zimbabwean_Toon_warrior
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Comment #15BA & Cisse want to shine individually and teamwork isnt in their heads…feel sorry for Cisse though and Tiote can be clumsy at times!!!!! blessing in disguise as he will be fresh for Gunners who are going to have more rest…..its days like these i wish for Vuckic..the lad would have shined
Spuggy
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Comment #16The Ba v Cisse conundrum continues – such a strange partnership. Mates? International teammates, they should be getting 15-20 each a season but when one plays well the other doesn’t. So strange.
Fostino
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:55 PM
Comment #17kevymartins
immense?? he certainly wasn’t. no one was in that first half. his work in the final third is just not good enough. granted he actually manager to make one decent cross but i see the lb attack more than jonas
Tsunki
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:56 PM
Comment #18Well I never even saw the game but I am guessing that sholas goal won’t silence his detractors. As a supersub I don’t think we could get better imo. Nice to hear jonas had a better first half but seriously kevy, we win and you can still pick out a willo mistake, and one he possibly didn’t make? Why not leave it until he has a bad game? You might convince me then.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:56 PM
Comment #19Ruddy
His attitude is typical of any CF, shola shoits when there are other options as does cisse in fact the longer cisse goes without scoring the more often he trys shooting from anywhere
Personally think the club have played it very well to make him look the bad guy tbh by bringing up his clause at every available opportunity
As for his attitude i just dont buy there is one, never once has there been any storys of him being disruptive within the club at all, i mentioned it earlier when ba was subbed off last year and threw a bit of a wobbler the fans were all over him about his disgusting attitude but cisse does it today and what its ba’s fault and pardew’s fault?
Im sorry but that’s a crock to critise one players attitude/professionalism when another player has acted like a petulant child whilst being subbed
89Norcal
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:57 PM
Comment #20Thank God we won today, or we would have been below the Scum. They have city next and we have Manutd of course, so we’ll probably have the same points respectively come next week 🙂
Spreadthetoon
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:57 PM
Comment #21The criticism on here about Cisse is bang out of order. Ba scored nothing out on the flanks last year when Cisse banged in 13 in 14 games FFS. Cisse and Ba is never going to work as a partnership unless Ba is willing to play out wide which is unlikely IMO. Why are we basing a striker partnership on a striker who is likely to be in the offing.
The addition of Remy and HBA on the other flank with Cisse in the middle will resolve our goal drought and will then enable Marveaux to sit behind Cisse. Add Sissoko / Cabaye and we have something. Then a RB and a CB to shore up our defense with Tiote/Perch/Anita sitting in the hole and we’ll be right back on track. Issue really is that AP continues in the same vain and is far too predictable with his tactics…..Marv to start for sure especially seeing as Tiote is suspended for the next match.
kevymartins
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:58 PM
Comment #22@Fostino he was the best player on the pitch even the commentator said im surprised he got took off…but obertan wow he was at it 2night
torresmex90
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:58 PM
Comment #23I think it’s harsh to say we played poorly. Perhaps not as fluid as the past few games, mainly due to the tactics used by QPR sitting back. But definitely moving the ball along the ground for the most part and peppering their box with crosses. I rarely saw any route 1 football and I think that we’ll play respectably against Man Utd next week
Tsunki
Dec 22, 2012 at 5:59 PM
Comment #24What did cisse do? Perhaps he’s getting cheesed off being pushed out of position for a wantaway player?
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Comment #2589
Completly agree mate when you need results like we do you don’t just drop your most in form CF just out of spite!
If arsenal had done that with RVP they’d have been right in the sh1t!!!
Fostino
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Comment #26toonarmy down south
i aggree
Jamiemac
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Comment #27As much as I’ve appreciated Ba’s goals, before today I still thought we would be higher in the league is we played 4-3-3 with Cisse central. His strop against Everton was pathetic and I’m just growing more and more sick of him and sick of Pardew bumming him. Missed the game today but by the sounds of things it seems like he had a shocker. Did he attempt to work with Cisse at all today? I also noticed someone said he didn’t celebrate sholas goal.. Is this true?
toonking
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Comment #28norcal
i understand he is inform but the reason for that is most likely because he want to show teams how good he is so he stands more chance of a big wage.
i do give praise for his form in the past but i would much rather have a forward in the our current team we know will be here in febuary and with bets odds on. i dout ba is going to stay otherwise what we going to do when he does go.
not every forward can do what cisse did last season.
cisse being left on the bench or played out of position will make him get less and less impressed with pardew and could make him feel like he should just leave
kevymartins
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Comment #29Cisse and ba linked up and one point and cisse near scored
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Comment #30Spread
No more out of order than the criticism of ba, after all the club made all his contract details public, not ba, perhaps they did it to force his hand but they done it anyway and now have to put up with constant speculation thats on them
Tsunki
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Comment #31I am reserving judgement on our tactics until I see the game, I know ‘arry can get his teams to dig in away from home and qpr certainly need to learn to do that.
What was the opinion on that tweetage about debuchy? The guy in question seems to be pretty informed I have found.
Fostino
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Comment #32kevymartins
true..a better pass from ba and cisse was in.
colwell
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #33Marv on 10 mins nearly scored on two occasions and made an assist, surely that betters Jonas all season stats?
Funny how we created chances when our creative players were on doesn’t make sense. Maybe just maybe Pards will see playing 3dm type mids and Jonas has no creativity at all he needs to learn from his mistakes.
89Norcal
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #34tads,
Ya and there would be dozens of us shouting at Pards for benching one of the top strikers in the league. So unfortunately I’m with using Ba for these next couple weeks.
toonking
I blame Pardew for sitting on his hands tactically this first half of the season, which has removed his luxury of experimenting. It’s also backed himself into a corner to make drastic choices.
Now we simply need results. I know we saw how visibly frustrated Cisse was about being subbed off, so no offense to Ba but I hope he moves on in Jan. It was a mistake to have them on the same team in the first place, has to be said.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #35Tads
The reasons for Ba throwing a wobbler and Cisse throwing a wobbler are one and the same, neither of them want to play down the wing, the only difference is that Ba has the club to ransom in order to play the position he wants to play and Cisse just has to put up with it because he doesn’t have the same leverage to force the club to play him as CF.
Perhaps the club are playing him as the bad guy for the very reason that in this circumstance he is the bad guy. The club aren’t some sophisticated propaganda machine, and from the look of Ba and how his team mates interact with him (especially today) I would find it hard to believe that Ba is the innocent party in this situation.
Pardew has bowed to Ba’s demands all season long at the detriment of Cisse, so yes it is Ba’s fault for holding the club over a barrel with the clause and Pardew’s fault for letting him.
And even if this is completely far from the truth, the endless speculation among fans and the media surrounding Ba is so detrimental on its own that for that reason alone we should be cutting our losses and looking for alternatives.
Dannyo
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Comment #36Matt Spiro ?@mattspiro
Mathieu Debuchy left out of squad by Lille today. Wants January move and has probably played his last game for club #NUFC #LOSC
Expand
It’s happening lads!
APBWA
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Comment #37Right subs today by Pardew, I was quite happy. Either Cisse or Ba had to come off, personally I would have took off Ba due to Cisses workrate, and given him a chance in ST with Shola.
Would have brought on Marveaux 10 minutes earlier but the type of sub was perfect, tiote/perch off for him.
Jonas isn’t the same winger as he used to be, good early sub off for a dangerous obertan, his delivery is par with jonas and his threat level is much greater.
Santon and the whole defence were solid, best performance imo. No bad decision making, santon was defensively solid, which i would rather as it keeps the whole defence in their position
JAMSHA
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Comment #38its 20 pts from.18 games mr ED…. not 18 from.18
Dannyo
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Comment #39Those who booed Cisse coming off should be ashamed. You never boo like that, ever!
How do you think that feels for Shola coming on?
W*****s!
Fostino
Dec 22, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Comment #40cisse is the st in form and is banging in the goals. you cont drop him.