The Newcastle United Blog

84 responses so far ↓

• 1 saxonfenken // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:46 PM

  Were there any

• 2 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:50 PM

  Isn’t it wierd, how a nil-nil draw feels like we have taken a massive scalp? A few weeks in football can be a very long time. Proud of the boys tonight, on a night where I wouldn’t have been too ashamed or upset if we had took a hiding. Well done chaps.

• 3 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:50 PM

  There’s always negative people on here after the game.
  For us to got 1600 miles away against a strong anzhi team, on an arti-f**king-ficial pitch, and get a draw, in my terms is a bloody good job, nd I for one, enjoyed watching the match, although there was much happening in he game

• 4 Jail for Ashley // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:51 PM

  Would be more than happy to see Obertan and Marv swapped for one or two of our summer targets,Obertan has been tried and failed and tbh what has Marveaux done apart from the odd very good fifteen minutes which are few and far between,on a positive note though a good solid defensive display only hampered by a lack of strikers at the club.

• 5 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:51 PM

  Wasn’t *

• 6 Jamiemac // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:54 PM

  I don’t know where people get the illusion that Marv is good ‘on his day.’ When has there been ‘his day?’

• 7 seantoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:56 PM

  Toondownsouth
  I mean at least Marv has showed he can play at this standard. He’s never going to break into the starting line up but I don’t care what you say he’s definitely a decent squad player

• 8 RonVanDam // Mar 7, 2013 at 7:58 PM

  A draw is a good result. Would’ve preferred a 1-1 draw so we could’ve come home with a goal lead. As long as Anzhi don’t score at St James we will be ok.

• 9 RonVanDam // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:01 PM

  If Villa wants Oberton then they can have him for 3m, Gouffran is wayyyy better than him and cost us a quarter of what we paid for Oberton. I bet Carr can buy 2 quality unknown forwards for that money lol

• 10 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:01 PM

  Happy with that. They were disappointing as the home team. I love Ben Arfa but how can people vote for his performance over perch who was my mom?

• 11 martoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:08 PM

  NUFC_LEAZES END @3 – Well said, for me it was an excellent result & performance considering we had to leave Colo, Cisse & Jonas at home. Yes we didn’t get an away goal but at least our task at St James’s is clear we have to beat them which I think we can.

• 12 northernirishtoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:08 PM

  Great result from the boys but gees it was hard to watch.

  Not used to us being so negative. Think if we had of stepped it up a gear they were there for the taking.

  Would of given santon a shot at left wing after 30mins and taken obertan off. He was dreadfull.

  Again, great result, but thought we gave them too much respect

• 13 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:08 PM

  hotdog@10 – Perchy by a country mile. Even managed to keep a cool head when getting some fairly rough treatment by Anzhi players. Who would have thought him capable after his ‘Card Fest’ of a season when we first bought him?

• 14 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:13 PM

  Speaking of the man of the match stats, I am a bit baffled by vote going in the direction of Yanga-Mbwia. Not saying he did anything wrong (He had a good game), just in terms of the centre back pairing, I felt Taylor did far more in terms of key tackles, and controlling the back, his off the ball contribution was also better, yet he has only 2 votes (a couple of mins ago anyway). Very strange.

• 15 Mister Tuff // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:14 PM

  Best summed up as a good job done. Having to travel and play in Moscow on a cold winters night is not to be envied.
  for once I will say that Percys’ tactics were just about spot on -although he needs to accept now that he has given Obertan many chances and really the guy is hopeless -needs to be replaced in the summer. I think Sholas’ days are also numbered as well -he cannot be kept on the payroll because of his history as the Mackem Slayer -really he does not contribute much in a game and usually fouls opposition players.
  Hopefully Carr will have already have his dossiers finished for who to approach in the summer.

• 16 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:14 PM

  G. Very true but I was in the minority who backed him as a decent player. He attitude is always spot on, he reads the game well, is quicker than most people think and is very versatile. I’m not saying he is starting 11 player but as squad players go he is invaluable.

• 17 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:20 PM

  @16. I would rather see him play the holding midfield role than Tiote at the minute. Tiote just hasn’t really been right this season, although his work rate always impresses. I thought he had a good point in his interview the other day though where he suggested his reputation gets him cards. That’s the curse of midfield enforcers though. I remember watching Rob Lee get Roy Keane sent off many years ago deliberately by getting fouled on the wing, getting Keano a yellow, then getting Jon Bez to take a short free kick back to him, in the same position very close to Keane, who did exactly the same again, then walk straight off the pitch with his back to the ref who he knew (as we all did) that the red was being lifted. Happy days.

• 18 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:20 PM

  G – don’t agree with that one bud. I think the vote is right with perch and mbwia as the top two.

• 19 northernirishtoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:20 PM

  My vote goes to hadaira

  Didn’t put a foot wrong

  Went forward at the right times, rarely gave the ball away, think we might have a wee gem here

• 20 martoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:20 PM

  G – That’s because Taylor only played for the last 10 mins – I think you are thinking of Perch!

• 21 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:22 PM

  No offence hotdog, lets just agree to disagree. That interception on Eto’o near the end summed it up for me. Key challenges, and better control. Like I say though, Yanga-Mbwia (Still can’t type that properly) did nothing wrong in my view, and was still a key performer.

• 22 Big Pappa Cissé // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:23 PM

  What has happened to Inter Milan ? . They used to be a decent side

• 23 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:24 PM

  @20, nope, deffo Taylor. Watch the game again mate. Taylor was consistent. Can I just reiterate before the arguments / slaggings really get going though, I’m not suggesting Taylor was MOM (I voted Perchy too), I’m just saying Taylor as much a good player as the current leader.

• 24 northernirishtoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:26 PM

  G

  He was only on 10minutes mate. MYM was excellent over 90

  Open your eyes

• 25 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:28 PM

  G – none taken .

  I really don’t see what ameboi is offering us apart from fouls as was posted earlier. Would have loved to have seen Campbell for the last 10 mins

• 26 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:29 PM

  Obtan problem is more of his decision making then skills..

• 27 Big Pappa Cissé // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:29 PM

  @ G

  I don’t know how you can say Taylor was MOM, the guy was only on about 15 minutes. My men of the match in order would be

  1. Perch
  2. M’biwa
  3. Haidara

• 28 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:30 PM

  @24 – I’m clearly not coming accross here too well (It’s been a long time since I started drinking at 4). A question of proportion to the contribution. He came on, did a fine job, and did as much, if not more than his compatriot. All I was trying to suggest was the confusion as to why he only had 2 votes, even though he kept us in the game.

• 29 deyansabourian // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:30 PM

  Defense was strong, Elliot made one great save, Mid was average and HBA screwed up our only real chance. Solid performance and result w/ no injuries so I’m happy.

  Elliot 7
  Simpson 7
  Mbiwa 8
  Perch 8
  Haidara 7
  Cabaye 7
  Anita 6
  Marveaux 6
  Sissoko 6
  Obertan 5
  Hatem 5
  Shola 4
  Tiote NA

• 30 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:31 PM

  @27, read post 23.

• 31 northernirishtoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:31 PM

  G

  I think you’ve had a few too many cold ones pal

• 32 Paps // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:31 PM

  For me MOM was haidara. He was perfect today in terms of both committing to attack and being solid in defence.

• 33 beefman13 // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:33 PM

  Great result over there, i enjoyed it in a funny way, gives us a big chance next week, and i have to give motm to James Perch, a couple of bobby moore esq tackles, i am not his biggest fan but a decent squad member that can’t be denied, thought all the team worked hard even obertan who is so wasteful though, marv n anita did ok for me considering the amount of playing time they have had in the last 6 weeks, not easy to get ant fluency when you have been frozen out, benny did well, could gave knicked it for us, shola is shola it bouced of everywhere but his foot ha ha, elliot again showed he has to be our number two, Haidara is looking really good and santon needs to look over his shoulder which may be a good thing, mbiwa looks cool n class n assured.

  It was really good though to see ben arfa back, such an option, oh and cabaye covered sime ground tonight as well, top kid.

• 34 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:34 PM

  Deyan. Yeah I’d agree with that maybe sissoko a 7 as he influenced the second half more.

  Spurs play some good stuff mind. I think they will get a top four spot

• 35 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:37 PM

  No Pardew haters or did I miss them, thankfully!

• 36 GFH // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:38 PM

  Obertans first touch was a flick past the fullback and a decent attempt to outrun him , and I hoped he was out to make a name , but sadly for him and us it descended into ineffective flicks which went to the opponents or passes straight back to the man who had passed it to him . Whatever skill he has he seems unable to turn it into consistent performances. If you have recorded the match then watch it again and keep a tally of good vs bad touches and I know which will come out on top. A great performance for the team as a whole , but its time to review Obertans contribution and take the right decision on his future.

• 37 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:38 PM

  M’biwa was a very good defender strong against bigger, taller player and have many other good attributes.

  Good Buy, he can only be better if well train, once settle into the team we can really counter anyone. Just look at how far he can bring the ball forward.

  Stylor let Eto pass him and Eto got a shoot in. Its was so dangerous. He got to get closer to him.

  -Stylor is most effective when blocking powerful shoot. He is like a wall there.

  Stylor used to read the game quite well until Colo took that away from him. (e.g. cut out passes)

• 38 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:40 PM

  I think Pardew have setup this game quite well, tbf

• 39 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:40 PM

  @35, not a management criticism, but I did notice a couple of days stubble, which suggested he fell into the Moscow hotel trap. All the travel guides suggest to take your own plugs (Sink plugs, not power type) as they’re never in the bathrooms, and harder to find than hens teeth.

• 40 martoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:41 PM

  Just bought tickets for next Thursday – pretty good value at £15 & £20 for the bar areas.

• 41 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:42 PM

  If we were to keep going forward, our players might get our of steam esp away.

  And Anzhi can attack and score goals.

• 42 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:44 PM

  G. Haha yip he looked a bit rough. He is normally well turned out. Thought he might have had too many vodkas last night but your version of events seems more plausible

• 43 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:46 PM

  I think davis has been on the vodkas !!

• 44 G // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:47 PM

  I think I need to lay off them. I’m getting old.

• 45 nick_9 // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:48 PM

  Has to be said that it was a very boring game and destined for 0:0 from early on. Very disappointed with obertan and found shola giving away fouls frustrating, however you have to be reasonable when looking at everything. We travelled abroad and played with largely a new back four and keeper, without a striker from the off and all on artificial pitch. We had several key players missing from our best eleven but still didn’t look inferior. We didn’t lose away from home and have to win a home game to progress, hopefully no players suffered injuries tonight. I would have taken a draw beforehand so I cannot grumble, I think we are capable of beating them at our place and glad Benny and Anita got some minutes under their belts. Haidara and mbiwa did great

• 46 Big Pappa Cissé // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:49 PM

  I loved it when Willian tried to run M’biwa down the line and Yanga just outmuscled and kept up with him . He was like 40 million pshhh

• 47 manxpie // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:49 PM

  wow i wish we got inter to be honest they look like a lower league team and just seen one of the misses of the season from them!

• 48 beefman13 // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:53 PM

  Hotdog i dont hate Pardew, but he is so stubborn, we have a decwnt squad now lets use it a bit more.

  Even though the game wasnt anything special it was a wonderful result. I was just glad to watch a toon game without guttierez playin, i had a lovely serene calmness all game, i am a bit hard on him but he and shola have had there time here imo, not thar AP sees it that way of course, would gave loved Campbell to get 20 mins tonight, think he might have knicked a winner for us. He had nowt to loose, amd hus pace could have got hum away late on. Maybe one day eh!!!!!

• 49 Tinman // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:54 PM

  Thought it was a terrific performance. Also think we will dominate the game at home, just hoping we can convert the chances!

• 50 BDin9 // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:55 PM

  Manx. Spurs are giving them a lesson. I can see spurs challenging for top spot next season

• 51 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 8:58 PM

  Beefman. Williamson was my gripe, watched game through my fingers with that lad. I gave up on obertan ages ago, he will never make it. Stop going to Man U for players it never ever works!

  Juicilia for them looked a bit warm. Would love to see him in the black and whites but he is probably on zillions there!

• 52 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:03 PM

  Cheers!! Guys!

• 53 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:07 PM

  Agreed on Nick @45.
  ..but to beat them we have to be careful, they dont press much and like to sit back and counter us.

• 54 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:10 PM

  Unless obertan is costing too much on our wages, if not he is good enough to be on our bench. Good enough at his age.

• 55 davis_toons // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:10 PM

  If Spurs can beat Inter, we can beat Anzhi.

• 56 aidantoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:13 PM

  Thought we got a really good draw tonight! Not pretty to watch but we were compact and stopped them playing. Well done to pardew for tactics as they are very good at home.
  Think mbiwa and young left back performed well and its nice to see a natural left footer at left back and he can defend.
  Well done boys.

• 57 yo-yo // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:15 PM

  Solid at the back. Neutralised their attacking efforts fairly easily.
  Haidara, Mbiwa and Perch all excellent.

  Would have liked the away goal but it is clear our second string attack including Obertan and Marveaux are toothless.
  Benny lacks fitness and an edge and all those who wanted him played weeks ago should eat humble pie

• 58 beefman13 // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:15 PM

  Hotdog, williamson is a player we bought to see us through the championship and he did well, but we have to keep moving forward and the lad is just not good enough, Colo out for maybe the rest of the season, will Perch get the nod for centre back if owt happens to saylor or mbiwa (god forbid, not tempting fate) i have to say Perch over williamson at centre half.

• 59 boater // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:25 PM

  The main two things learned were concerning two players that didn’t even make the trip. Jonas might not have a final ball, but he joins up the dots and makes the team look more cohesive. We looked very disciplined defensively with no Santon in the team.

  On that basis, I would restore Jonas to the team at the weekend, and retain Haidara for a league game.

• 60 hotdog // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:26 PM

  Spurs could be 5 or 6 up here against inter.

  Any comments from pards yet ed?

• 61 boater // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:27 PM

  * Santon went but didn’t play.

• 62 aidantoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:30 PM

  Would play haidara on Sunday at left back as looks defensively sound and natural left foot. Could play santon left mid with guffy on right as feel that hba still is a bit rusty. Mbiwa looks like a proper player and love the way he brings the ball out of defence.

• 63 beefman13 // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:37 PM

  boater, funny how fans have different thoughts on players, i actually thought even though we did not create nuch we looked much more fluent without the stop start fall over style that jonas has.

  Pardew will no doubt put him straight back in v Stoke i have no fear of that, and apart from Obertan (headless chicken) i thought we had a nice even balance considering a few of the players have had virtually no playing time at all.

  Why not play hadiera at left back and santon left wing in the return leg, Obertan is a bugger to watch but you dont know he might surprise if he gets the nod again next thursday!!! (big sigh)

• 64 pizzicatochan // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:40 PM

  Well, I guess the reason that we have no goal is that it was a plastic pitch. I think it makes sense if we don’t want to get anyone injured here.

• 65 beefman13 // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:41 PM

  aiden, that would suit me fine, playing santon in front of hadaira and gouffy on the right but Pardew will play Jonas im afraid.

• 66 Jamiemac // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:49 PM

  Tbh I would much rather have a man that can’t attack but is excellent at tracking back (Jonas) than men that can’t attack and often look lost (Marv, Obertan)

• 67 manxpie // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:51 PM

  the strong facts are is we played a whole new defence that have never played together before against a team that was at “home” and with 1 of there players costing more than our squad that we brought out there!
  thats a very good result in my book and think we have more than enough at home even tho 0-0 is a horrible aggregate scoreline

• 68 aidantoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:56 PM

  Beefman
  Yes he probably will play Jonas if fit I just don’t know what he sees in him or oberton.

• 69 manxpie // Mar 7, 2013 at 9:58 PM

  btw what was liverpoos score out there?

• 70 Transfer Sage // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:00 PM

  Manx

  Yeh it’s good from our lads tonight. Without a proper striker and a rusty Ben arfa and a poor obertan (and marv to some extent) scoring wasnt going to be easy.

  Not conceding was important as it means if they score we only need to win by one goal, not 2/3 as it could have been.

• 71 Tsunki // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:01 PM

  Well, love his tactics or hate them, Pards got it spot on for me. Went away with a decent but functional team with utility & caution the watchwords of the day. The PL is still the priority right up until we are relegated and in the EL final. That means we go out with shutters down, and drag them all the way back to have a go at them in the comfort of our own home. Just enough pace and potential trickery to keep them from surging recklessly forward, and plenty of steel in middle and back line to shut them down, and it all went to plan. OK, HBA was rustier than a Hartlepool trawler and obertan was… obertan but I thought as a unit they did what they were primed to do. If we had sent the kids out, we could have been 2 or 3 goals to the bad and we would all be whingeing about missed opportunities. I thought Elliot had a good game btw, he doesn’t give me the jitters so thats good

• 72 Transfer Sage // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:02 PM

  Aidantoon

  I’m not a fan of Jonas as for me a winger should be able to attack and not just defend but at least with Jonas you get 100% off him no matter what the quality is. Obertan annoys me as he looks like he couldn’t careless and just saunters around. Is given him the benefit of the doubt but tonight was the final straw with him in my eyes. He was so lazy and so poor.

• 73 Big Pappa Cissé // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:03 PM

  @ manx

  They got beat 1-0 I think

• 74 Jamiemac // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:05 PM

  Manx 1-0 Anzhi

• 75 Transfer Sage // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:06 PM

  Beefman and others

  As for santon. He has been exposed recently. Got a lot of credit when compared to Simpson early season.

  But not when compared to debuchy, and haidara in his two games, he has been shown up a little. It’s all well and good attacking from full back but santon doesn’t seem to be able to judge when is the right time to attack and often leaves too big a gap or gets exposed.

  I know sometimes midfielders need to help cover but santon also needs to learn when to make his forward runs, debuchy knows when to run and when to hold his position.

  Not being too critical of santon though, he’s young and he will learn this, especially training with debuchy every day. I still have high hopes for him but he seems to be bigger up a lot

• 76 manxpie // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:07 PM

  aye transfer if we can keep a tight defence at home we should be through
  hatem defo looked of the pace (understandably) so i reckon will be sub on sunday
  still can’t wait for a sisko cabs arfa goof cisse attackin line tho just hope its sooner than later

• 77 Transfer Sage // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:10 PM

  Manx

  Id start him against stoke if ok but not risk it if he is tired.

  Did you think for an artificial pitch it was poor quality? The ball bobbled a hell of a lot for what should be a flat surface.

  It really slowed the game down as well, passing was sluggish as was pace of players.

• 78 manxpie // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:11 PM

  cheers big pappa and jamie that obviously means we’ll smash the kernts wen we play them

• 79 aidantoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:16 PM

  Transfer sage

  I agree he does give 100 per but he is not good enough at this level. I would never knock his work rate but he is a winger who can’t cross the ball which is basic.
  Overton is very poor in my opinion as he gives the ball away so often and hasn’t got a football brain.

• 80 manxpie // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:19 PM

  yeah it looked frozen aswell i thought in them climates it’d be heated but to be honest with obertans touches n flicks you wouldn’t know terrible game by him
  i’m usually not a player slater but he pissed me right of tonight what do you think of his chances of staying at this club?
  i think he should be sold and replaced by an out n out left winger and then bring in a younger winger

• 81 toonarmy555 // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:19 PM

  Full match (ITV) – http://www.footballorgin.com/2013/03/europa-league-last-16-1st-leg-anzhi.html

• 82 Transfer Sage // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:19 PM

  Aidan

  I wouldn’t start Jonas when gouff and HBA are fit but is say is rather have Jonas than obertan on the pitch. Marv is terrible when out wide as well, works ok in the middle but lost when wide.

• 83 Transfer Sage // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:22 PM

  Manx

  I’d sell obertan. I don’t think it’s a confidence issue as people make out.

  I think he is just a good youth level player and did ok in France but simply isn’t good enough to make the step up to the prem league.

  His work rate and desire are non existent too. Is get shot this summer and go for a proper wide player who is consistent chips in with a few more goals

• 84 aidantoon // Mar 7, 2013 at 10:31 PM

  Transfer sage
  Agree as would defo have Jonas in side instead of oberton.

  Yes Marv is better in the middle as he can get involved more. I would keep Marv in summer and get rid of Jonas, orb, gosling, shola, and various other fringe players.