There were a lot of Newcastle heroes in the 3-2 win today against Chelsea, and one of them was our new striker/winger Yoan Gouffran, whose pacy surge through the middle set up the second goal, as his well hit shot was well saved by goalkeeper Cech, but a certain Mr. Moussa Sissoko swept the rebound into the back of the net after 69 minutes to draw Newcastle level – and Sissoko’s second goal on 90 minutes, brilliantly set up by Davide Santon, sealed an incredible win for the Magpies.
Yoan Gouffran in action this afternoon
In the last 20 minutes of this game both sides were looking for the winner, and it was really end-to-end stuff – and it was one of the most exciting games seen at St. James’ Park for a long time – and in front of a sell-out crowd.
The French players in the side did Newcastle proud, with all of them having very good games – and if Newcastle were a popular club in France before this game – the lads are going to be even more popular with this fantastic and gutsy performance.
This is what new boy Yoan Gouffran said immediately after the game on the Newcastle web-site::
“It was an incredible atmosphere and I think the most important factor was the fans. They kept behind us and when we went behind, we kept fighting and we had that belief that we could nick another goal – and that’s what happened.” “That is important: the belief that you can achieve something bigger.”
“When they scored the second goal, that came as a surprise to us but we kept fighting, we kept the spirit and then we scored the winning goal. That’s why we’re happy today and that’s what we’re here for – to work hard and to get wins.” “It’s a team game.” “Most importantly, I count on my ability to run with the ball and maybe score a few goals along the way, but I’m happy with the performance.
“When I took up the Newcastle jersey, I said to the club ‘I’m going to give 100 per cent’ and that’s what happened today. The most important thing for me is just to keep playing with my ability and make sure I play for the whole team.” “I’m happy with the three points. The lads pulled it off and the most important thing is to keep up that spirit.”
“Overall it was a good performance – let’s keep it up.” “When I first came, everybody wanted all the French players to do well for the team and I think again against Tottenham, it’s going to be a similar game.” “But we just have to believe as we did against Chelsea, and hopefully we can do something great there.”
Excellent words there from Yoan – and certainly Newcastle’s great team spirit was very apparent today.
Newcastle have won their last two games and we are now 6 points off the drop zone, which is 4 points better off than we were after the Reading defeat.
And we have also gained 5 points on Sunderland in the last couple of games, with the Black Cats going down 2-1 to another late winner from Jimmy Kebe at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon – this time in the 85th minute.
All Newcastle have to do now is win as many games as possible over the remaining 13 games of the season (it’s easy really) – and we may just surprise ourselves – we are currently 7 points out of 7th place.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
252 comments so far
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:06 PM
Comment #81Torq not just pace mate but the vision and ability to know when to use it, nit just run up and down aimlessly like obertan!
It helps that cabs knows him do well because he knows he can thump a 30-40 yard diagonal ball and he knows debuchy will already have his tekkers on down the line to meet it!
Great to watch! And those cracking little lobbed passe’s he jeeps foing down the touch line, incredible!!!
JTOONJ
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:08 PM
Comment #82toonarmydownsouth
Seeing cabaye and debuchy link up is awesome they know eachother so well some of cabayes passes today to debuchy were class.
hotdog
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Comment #83Are people seriously saying Ben arfa shouldn’t be in our starting 11!!!
Give ya heads a shake fellas
JTOONJ
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Comment #84hotdog
He shouldn’t walk into it be gradually introduced as ben arfa needs that as we saw at fulham.
TorqToon
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:12 PM
Comment #85Alan – Yeah that was the reason – HOWEVER there aren’t many people who can match up pace wise to gabby Ag.
But like you say – the awareness to tackle a pacy defender will come. He is going to be outstanding in the black and white.
TADS – Yeah it riles me up. But then again – what did we except from that bunch on MOTD?!
manxpie
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Comment #86tads i know he will but please every actual FAN ignore him
we’ve been outstanding in the last 2 games (with very positive subs!!!!)
on the motd thing why the hell didn’t they show that challenge surely they’d like to see a maybe and a maybe not!
i think we should all complain!!! lets face it wats worse ramirazes challenge or perch’s TAPPING the ball away they both got ther same punishment btw!!
TorqToon
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Comment #87On the lads to come back – I can see HBA winning his place back at the expense of Guti (and switching gouff over to the left)
But Tiote – well he REALLY has some work to do!! He won’t get in ahead of Cabaye, Sissoko and perch / Anita, on this form.
Alan Pas-de-clue
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:15 PM
Comment #88ive criticised pards a lot for getting it wrong
but i think its time to say well done, ashley has given him the tools he wanted for the job, and now it seems he is getting the job done
hotdog
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Comment #89Jtoonj – if he is fit he plays but agreed first game from the bench might be the best option. He is one lad that gets a shirt oh aye and sissoko 🙂
toonarmydownsouth
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Comment #90Seem the ramires challenge a few times, definate red benitez has got no fcuking right to complain the fat cnut
TorqToon
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Comment #91Alan – A few more wins like this mate and you may need to re-think your user name!! Haha
Markaccus
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Comment #92Benitez…. Coloccini should have been sent off and chelsea should have had a penalty. Wnaker.
manxpie
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:26 PM
Comment #93tads thats wat i’m saying how the hell can motd not show it i guarentee it if it was a newcastle player it’d be showed!!
but they show a defender with only his eyes on the ball and call it a penalty!!
i think ed should tell every1 on this blog to tweet gary lineker about this because its shockin to be honest!!
Alan Pas-de-clue
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:28 PM
Comment #94Torq
Alan Beaucoup-de-clue doesnt quite have the same ring!
bollance
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:29 PM
Comment #95So we are only 7 points off 7th place. Now that is crazy!
Rake
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:29 PM
Comment #96I’v seen so many people come on this blog and slate Pardew and say he would revert back to 4-4-2 blaha blah blah but it’s obvious he has been integrating us to play this formation from the end of last season till this season.
Most of us with our limited knowledge of Sissoko and how well Cabaye has played would have moved him further up the bitch and probably had Sissoko sitting with Perch. I’m not blowing his trumpet but the amount of chances we are suddenly creating with Sissoko play CAM is clear to see.
bollance
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:30 PM
Comment #97Sorry!!
5 points off 7th place
TorqToon
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:30 PM
Comment #98Alan – I like it mate!!! 🙂
Spuggy
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:31 PM
Comment #99MOTD: Sissoko didn’t do much for Toulouse before coming to toon (refering to the fact he hadn’t scored.)
If they did their homework they’d know he was used as a DMF but season prior he scored 6-7 goals.
He’s also young and coming into his own now.
hotdog
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:32 PM
Comment #100Bollance – there is positivity right there for you haha
bollance
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:32 PM
Comment #101Let down big time by BBC website. 9 points off 7th
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/
Maybe a good omen!
Alan Pas-de-clue
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:32 PM
Comment #1025 points off 7th is that true??
and rake
i agree completely, sissoko seems like yaya toure, able to play cdm, but a much more influential player when the shackles are freed, fair play to pardew for utilising him like that, but cabaye did once say he would rather be a deep lying playmaker like xavi so it seems this way works
gazzaforever
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Comment #103Sooo, that means that you can’t make any critic or any negative comment of the team that you support? is that your point, tortoon, manxpie, toonsouthsomething, ruddy and some other muppets? Well guess what, a forum is about arguing, supporting, complaining , and all , so if you are not happy with that you can go fck yourself.
Spuggy
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Comment #104No, we’re 8 points off 7th and 6 from 3rd bottom.
The BBC PL table is wrong has us at 30.
bollance
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:36 PM
Comment #105For the final time..
8 points off 7th!
Also let down by SSN
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/261805
Spuggy
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:36 PM
Comment #106We’re on 27 points now. 13 off safety.
Joe Blog
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:36 PM
Comment #107Disappointed. Just watched the Wigan match and was expecting a pitch invader in a Newcastle shirt, with Ketsbaia on the back, to take the opportunity now he’s back on our shores and mob Scharner.
bollance
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:37 PM
Comment #108Spuggy
The table never lies 😉
Spuggy
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:37 PM
Comment #109BBC are so sloppy these days Bollance.
Not in my day.
Sir Braveheart
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:38 PM
Comment #110It doesnt matter what MOTD shows or says. We all know its a great performance from everyone on the pitch, great victory and back to back wins. More points in 2 games than the last 12.
They can sit there on MOTD and say whatever the hell they want. Tonight, nothing is spoiling my mood.
Spuggy
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:38 PM
Comment #111We’re two point off scum!!!
bollance
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Comment #112Spuggy
Lets face it BBC has had a bit of a mare tonight!
Alan Pas-de-clue
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Comment #113Sir Braveheart, hear hear
Graeme
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Comment #114Bollance – the tables I’m looking at – we are 9 points off 7th place mate. We have 27 points, the Poo in 7th place have 35 points – we need 9 points to take their spot!!!
I can see us up around 7th if we continue to play like we did against Villa and again today!!!
hotdog
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Comment #115Bollance – I hope your day job isn’t as a researcher 🙂
TorqToon
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:40 PM
Comment #116Gazza – thanks for that mate! 🙂
Spuggy
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:40 PM
Comment #117Agreed sir,
It’s amazing what two wins does for league position, confidence and momentum. A tough away game at spurs next, hopefully we can get something but most importantly after that HBA and Tiote return for the next PL game!
beefman13
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:41 PM
Comment #118Emotional indeed MOTD, proud as punch, massive effort by everyone, if we could improve our delivery in to the box then we could be more potent, santons ball for the jonas goal was outstanding, bit most other balls in to the box were very poor and corner number 258 and still no goal resulting.
Jonas worked hard and good goal so fair play, his work rate hasnt ever been in question, final end product though is still well below average, but he gave his all today, perch gave the ball away in some bad positions which could have cost us, had a mixed bag of an afternoon for me, the brilliance of sissoko pulled us out in the end, i do think we still deserved the win though, tiote back up to speed in africa, and goes straight back in when he comes back for me as does ben arfa, benny would have been made for that sort of game today. Tough game c spurs next then a real chance to get some serious points on the boardWhat a place the Cathederal is when we are pushing forward, it was passion personified! Sissokos run past cole and then pushin him out the way and terrific shot were such a highlight today, lets not forget the prem is a total different kettle of fish to the french league, we all said the french lads needed to hit the ground running and im mightly impressed with the application they have shown, we have ben arfa to come back as well, that game today was made for him, toughy v spurs next then a real chance to get serious points on the board with the upcoming fixtures.
Joe Blog
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:42 PM
Comment #119MOTD needs a revamp.
Presenter – Danny Baker
Pundits – Gianluca Vialli (in a job?), Klinsmann (in a job?), Clark Carlisle and someone to stir it up, suggestions?
Sir Braveheart
Feb 2, 2013 at 11:43 PM
Comment #120Also, Qpr cant buy a win, Villa having zero luck, even on the rare occasions they play well, fulham lose again, wigan struggling for wins and Mackems looking lightweight.
Come March there will be a group of 4 or 5 teams all at the bottom within 2 or 3 points of each other. Im certain we wont be among them.