A good interview in the Evening Chronicle today from Alan Pardew, and not surprisingly an upbeat Alan has talked about the performance of a certain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who was our Man of the Match last night.
Yanga-Mbiwa – in action last night
This is what Alan said today:
“We got what we deserved tonight. We came and gave a really disciplined display.” “I thought our technical players did very well on a difficult surface, and we limited them to very few chances.”
“Rob had to make two good saves and, really and truly, if someone had said that to me before the game I would have taken that.” “That’s a really good display in the conditions and environment we were in.”
“I thought Mapou was the outstanding player on the night. He is so quick over the ground and strong.” “He wont let strikers get it comfortably. He was probably our stand-out player.”
“It’s an intriguing tie now because if you are going to go through in Europe, you have got to win, so the emphasis for us on Thursday is to win.” “But we have set that up nicely at St James Park and I am looking forward to the second leg because there are some outstanding players in both teams.”
“They have got good counter-attacking abilities in the team, but its going to be a very different game at St James Park.” “But we really need to set it up on Sunday against Stoke. Sunday is something we need to put right.”
“If we can get a win there, then I think the mood in our stadium is going to be something that’s going to be very difficult for Anzhi to cope with.””We didnt really have to fight the crowd today, and that probably helped us to settle.”
Yanga-Mbiwa has now played 7 times for the Magpies, and he is likely to get a lot more games through the end of the season, with Coloccini out injured for anywhere up to seven weeks.
Mapou has talked with FIFA.com today about wanting to play until the age of players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes of Manchester United, and so we could have this lad starring for Newcastle for the next fifteen years.
Now there’s a thought.
Comments welcome.
26 comments so far
Grafton83
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Comment #1When will we see Adam get some game time, What must he have been thinking knowing he’s the only viable striker and we prefer to play others out of position.
I’m not saying he should get a whole game but I really want the boy to be given a chance.
Grafton83
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Comment #2Also Obertans eyebrows are a law onto them selves, I realise this adds nothing to the conversation but I just felt it needed to be said.
saxonfenken
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Comment #3No way we will be able to keep Mapou for 15 Ed, without some of the bigger clubs coming for him, he is that good.
But what a great thought
Rainrix
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Comment #4Perch was just as good for me. Shock horror a lot of the doomsayers were writing this off because eto’o was up against perch but he held his own brilliantly. Hell he was even out heading traore. What a turn around from the lad.
Transfer Sage
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Comment #5grafton
I want to see campbell get time to, been singing the lads praises all season long. I think last night might have been a big ask for him though, especially with the game poised at 0-0.
I’d liked to have seen him make a few more appearances off the bench but he hasn’t yet. I think just blood him into the side in this run in, give him 10/20 mins off the bench, especially if we are leading and see what happens…then maybe the odd start.
We all saw how good sterling was for liverpool at the start of the year, he was very good and helped them massively.
The key is to not put too much pressure on the lad when he does start and let him know he has to put the effort in but if he has a bad game he wont be cast asside.
toonaids
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Comment #6i think the whole defence was immense last night, different pitch, against world class strikers, in freezing coniditions away from home. i was expecting a few unfortunate and dodgey goals especially with an untested partnership in yanga and perch but we were solid…….SOLID AS A ROCK! and haidara looked pretty good, bit like tiote, holds onto the ball too long but still never lost it, proper strongen he is
alanrichie
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Comment #7booking up for the tie next week and unsure where is best view, my friend said book in gallowgate end for atmosphere but the side corners of east and free and not that high up?
HELP
mindshaft
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Comment #8Thought our whole defensive lineup played well last night – midfield helped out a lot which limited our attacking play though.
All in all, a good tactical display from Pards.
Also shows Pards was right in saying he was disappointed with Bennys fitness when he came back from France, he looks like he’s put on about a stone
Anyway we’re all set up to get through to last eight which is better than I had hoped and from there we have a chance against anyone left in the comp
Hopefully a win against Stoke and we should be set for next Thurs
north east lincs toon
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Comment #9Bye bye captain colo u have been a fantastic player for this club wish u all the best for the future
Transfer Sage
Mar 8, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Comment #10rainrix
perch was great I thought, and spot on with traore, he won headers and if he didn’t win the header he stopped traore winning it cleanly
winnynufc
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11I also thought Perchinio was quality last night looked so solid never ever lets the team down in my opinion. Mbiwa does look a class act strong, quick & can play looks very comfortable on the ball. Gabby looked really out of sorts lost possesion so many times, when he should his pace he looked decent just dosent do it enough as we all know! Beat Stoke Sunday that would set it up nicely. Brill to see Benni back HWTL!!!
NUFC_LEAZES END
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Comment #12I can’t remember who asked me how do I know we will get lazio.
Well it’s either lazio or Stuttgart and with lazio winning 2-0 away, Stuttgart will have to do sumthing special to go through now.
Here’s the europa league chart if yous wanna look for yourselfs 🙂
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2013/matches/index.html
yo-yo
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Comment #13Perch played great with Mapou as a partner. Must have given him confidence. If we’ve got another good CB partnership option then that is fantastic for us. I never rated Perchino at CB before but he was with Willo I think then.
Perch is one hell of a utility player to do the job he did last night on real quality opposition.
Mapou is just going to get better and better.
Haidara is real class too and we really need a top left sided player in the back 4.
Reckon that might be the best transfer window we see for many years
derekm
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Comment #14Collocini has in all probability played his last game for us.Back home in Argie land he will have time to sort out how he can stay there in some playing capacity next season, his wife will push to stay there now. We have been very fortunate that Elliott has come in and done well, built up his confidence and that Mbiwa now has a clear playing run at what was always going to be his position next year anyway. Truly great away performance – we must’nt lose track of what the opposition have in resources -eto is on £350K a week FFS!
yo-yo
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Comment #15Toon v Spuds final ?
NUFC_LEAZES END
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Comment #16Yoyo
Could happen mate, could happen
Transfer Sage
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Comment #17leazers end
they haven’t done the draw for the next round yet. It could be any team that gets through.
oeyecabaye
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Comment #18First time posting a comment after years of following the blog, but after last nights defensive performance i just had to say – nice!
Yes, offensively Newcastle were pretty non existent, but defensively along with Mapou who reads the game so well, i thought Haidara was as solid as a rock, and Perchy was my motm. Its amazing to think that after years of a pretty shitty defense, it could now be argued that the defense is now Newcastles strongest part of the team.
Not to jump the gun to much as i know Haidara has only been in the team a handful of times, but when Newcastle pull clear of relegation, of which i am sure they will, i would definitely like to see a Haidara Santon left hand side.
NUFC_LEAZES END
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:10 AM
Comment #19Ah yeah I didn’t see tht it said draw in between now an the quarters haa, my bad
Transfer Sage
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #20leazers
No problem.
It’s just because the draw for the previous round and this round is weighted…ie. don’t play teams from same country and also only play teams which finished top of the group if you were 2nd etc.
The quarter finals and semi finals are a free draw.
NUFC_LEAZES END
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Comment #21Yeah that’s right man, I was looking at the chart Asif it was a international competition chart haha
toonincheek
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:48 AM
Comment #22Initially, aren’t some teams in the knockout stage kept apart?
I.e. having played in the same group
Coming from the same country.
If that applies to the next round, then we will avoid Spuds and Chelski.
BUT – I don’t know when these restrictions stop.
Does anyone know?
toonincheek
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:48 AM
Comment #23Transfer – OK, now see your post.
Spoof
Mar 8, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Comment #24Lets not ignore Danny Simpson’s imput, since the arrival of Debuchy he has only had 2 games in the Europa league, he has played superb in both, he may not be our favourite at the minute, but we should give him the credit that he deserves
Sav
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:43 PM
Comment #25Lets not write off Colo just yet. If there’s one reason Cab was impressed with the q7uality of Newcastle as a team, its got to be him.
And a shout out for Danny Simpson, who probably will leave in the summer but certainly shows no sign of it on the pitch and you have to respect him for it.
nufc 11
Mar 8, 2013 at 11:52 PM
Comment #26Haidara was very good better balance than playing Santon there he should have played instead of obertan who was very poor, Santon more of offensive and defensive player like bale in the early days, Yanga was very good too