Steven Taylor must have had one of the best games he has ever played for Newcastle last night, when in that first half alone he must have blocked four or five shots that were on target, and at times it looked like it was Anzhi against local lad Steven Taylor.
Steven Taylor – magnificent game last night
Yanga-Mbiwa has played well since he joined us from Montpellier in January, and he had some good moments last night, and a couple, of dodgy moments too, but Taylor and Yanga-Mbiwa are forging a good central partnership at Newcastle and they seem to be learning from each other.
This is what the 3 times capped French International had to say on the Newcastle web-site today:,
“I think he’s got every chance to get an international call-up and if he goes out and continues to play as well as he is week in and week out, then the international manager is going to see that.”
“I hope he will get a call-up so I can also say I’ve played alongside an international!” “Steven’s a fantastic player and it’s great to be alongside him. He’s someone who’s come up from within this club and he’s been a great player for this club.”
“He knows the culture of the English game very well and he’s someone I try to listen to a lot and learn from a lot, as well as bringing what I know from my experience in France to the partnership as well.”
“When we won the championship with Montpellier, we did have a last minute goal to take that for us so it was an exceptional moment.” “But this was fantastic for us and puts us into the quarter-finals, so hopefully we can go on from there.”
“I’m very happy that we could win it in the 90 minutes. We had a great match and we fought really hard, so it’s nice to come away with the victory.” “Obviously the thought of extra-time does enter your head a little bit, but as long as the match is still going on there’s a chance that you might get a goal.
“The match isn’t over so we’re very happy to have that chance.”
Cisse’s goal came right at the death, but it was the brilliant defending of Steven Taylor that helped Newcastle keep another clean sheet in the Europa League, our eighth in twelve Europa League games so far this season.
But we’ll have at least another two games to play, and we’ll know around 11:30 today who we are drawn against.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
32 comments so far
Owldman
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Comment #1Definitely up with the best in the Prem at present, toss up between Taylor or Santon for MOM.
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Comment #2http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20130314/cabayes-continental-campaign-continues_2281670_3109630
Apparently cabaye brought himself off with a groin problem again. He thinks it isnt too serious so it was likely precautionary him coming off last night.
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Comment #3Taylor has played fantastically alongside Mbiwa.
Looks like we might have a quality pairing in these two.
Mbiwa does nothing fancy but does everything well. Woodgate was like that. Timing and positioning is everything for a CB.
Taylor needs to improve on both but since he’s played alongside Mbiwa, he seems to be hitting those heights
Shearer.Milburn
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Comment #4What channel is the draw on?
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Comment #5Anyone remember talyor losing his footing in a tackle, falling over and then trying to head the ball on the ground? What a boss! 🙂
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Comment #6rainrix
That’s good from cabaye.
I never criticise a player for wanting to play through an injury but cabaye showed real responsibility. He knows he is important to us and it’s good he saw the need not to risk himself.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #7troy
They compliment each other so well. Taylor will fight to win everything which is great…every now and again he will msis out though and mbiwa is always there to mop up.
Thats what you need from a CB pairing I believe.
WesJameson
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:35 AM
Comment #8@ Rainrix // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Agreed, what a player, heart of a lion
Scary thing is, i have seen him do it before, hahaha, good ol’ Saylor……shocked and disgusted he didn’t get the call he deserved from Roy
dmac
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Comment #9Haha i do Rainix i remember laughing about it with my brother. The guy is nuts! He put his own head into the tackle!
I also remember when he did that genius header back to the keeper where he lay down on the floor haha. Taylor for england!
Williamsonsuks
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #10What time is the draw?
Markaccus
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #11From last…. Troy, I think its because the players we have recently signed are potentially excellent players, with the individual skills to make us a smart, passing side that will create lots of chances. Some of those players had a couple of cracking games when they first joined, and because of this, some people assume we are already Barca and should be winning 4-0 every game. Instant success is demanded everywhere in football. Win first, win ugly if necesary, but win. Then go from there.
naptoon
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #12haven’t posted for a while but graft didnt get in the way of me getting to match last night. great result and a decent performance to keep anzhis attacking threat to a minimum. defence was solid colo wont get back in team taylor mom. tiote … crowds lost patience with him needless fouls poor passing ignoring campbell… cabs head gone giving him armband taylor shouldve had it b4 the match he was getting the crowd going a leader thru and thru. anita wasnt great and you can see why hes been marginalised recently and to all the marveux haters who were out in force before the stoke game saying get shot etc give ya heeds a shake.
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Comment #13Sage… Just glad it doesn’t sound to serious, surprisingly we played better when he came off. Although the space we had in the 2nd half cabaye would’ve been an ideal player to have on.
dmac
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:38 AM
Comment #14http://youtu.be/8b88k1ZxDuQ
~ Phoenix Warrior Perch~
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:39 AM
Comment #15My favourite Taylor moment this season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UljOdt3HKbE
Classic.
dmac
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Comment #16Beat you to it pheonix 😉
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:42 AM
Comment #17Saylor deserves the call. Im not to bothered as if he doesn’t its less games for him to potentially get injured in. Still he deserves it and it’d mean a lot to him no doubt.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #18Cabaye did his groin when he slipped stretching.
A lot of the toon players lost their footing last night and the ref came a cropper too. don’t know what the ground staff watered the pitch with. Whatever it was did not help.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Comment #19markaccus
People are just too impatient I feel though.
With comments like why can’t they pass and mvoe into space….it’s very difficult when against an organised and disciplined defense.
Barca are so good at it as most came through the academy and have been playing like that since they were 10/11 year old.
We just need to give the team time to settle in and learn each others games.
Also Pardew needs time to learn, he has had no experience in foreign leagues and this is the best squad he has ever had, it will take him some time for him to learn to get the best out of them….could be helped by bringing in another coach to work under him with that type of experience but doesn’t seem the way the club want to go, which is fine.
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Comment #20@Markaccus
Exactly. 😉
It’s embarrassing to hear some on here though don’t you think?
Do they never take a step back and take a reality check?
CDEVINE69
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:46 AM
Comment #21anyone know if the sunderland game Will get re arranged ? just that we are due to play second leg of quarters two days before? but is it too late to change with it being on tv?
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Comment #22Just had a look at some of the comments from last night. Some people really struggle to be happy. Life must be really miserable for them.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Comment #23rainrix
Would love saylor to get the call. He is am uch better defender than the vastly over rated gary cahill and chris smalling who got the call.
I just wish for once and England manager would not just look for all his players from the top sides….just because a team is doing well doesn’t mean that player is.
Byker Boy
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Comment #24He’s now finally reaching maturity (Apart from his strange off the ball antics ie:Stoke) and becoming a terrific defender,up there with the likes of Bobby Moncur a wholehearted player he gives everything he can for the cause.Injuries are his only worry he sometimes overstretches due to his lapses in concentration and positional problems although I’ve noticed thankfully these are becoming less frequent.
Transfer Sage
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #25ibiza
I know…I get people wanting to see the best from the team but that can’t happen every week.
People who claim we should be much more attacking have a point but at the same time when we have attacked teams we conceded a few….chelsea and southampton spring to mind.
Rainrix
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Comment #26Sage…. Well our england players always get overlooked for call ups unless they’re goal-scorers i.e carroll. Taylor is probably one of the best english CBs atm if not the best. Deserves it more than over the hill ferdinand.
martoon
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Comment #27Morning Markaccus. Yes I went with Mrs martoon – I think she must be a good luck charm – we never seem to lose when we both go.
Some people on here don’t seem to realise that the other team will try to intercept your passes and break up your play. It’s not always as simple as he should have passed to so and so or we should have done this.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Mar 15, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Comment #28TS…We saw the same last season, Pardew is a confidence coach. When we start playing better and the confidence levels get up he starts letting them play with a bit more freedom. Until then he will keep it tight. Hardly the end of the world.
He set the team up last night as well and adventurous as any on here would have, the guy just can’t do right for some people. No doubt the same odd 8% that thought we’d lose last night are the ones criticising still after we won.
Can they not just enjoy the moment?
Troy Stavers
Mar 15, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #29@Tage
Totally agree 😉
Some seem to believe we have players that should demolish these teams.
Spurs got beat last night. We got beat of Swansea the other week.
For me, we have a squad of players, some poor, some average, some good and few quality.
Tage, you are right. We are developing, learning and progressing as a manager, team and club.
Owldman
Mar 15, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Comment #30Taylor MOM but how the hell can Campbel get more votes than Santon who had a blinder down the right, caused all sorts of problems & as for Hairdrier dont think he had a very good game at all Santon is a differernt class!
davis_toons
Mar 15, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #31Stylor is the BRICK WALL OF ENGLAND. RIO has been called up again, that wounld never be a chance for tylor….yes ..maybe past his perk at S.England Squad.
S = Senior, (..but due to old injury and old age once again he was overlook)
Byker Boy
Mar 15, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Comment #32Owldman you think Santon is a class player and he played well last night Your obviously either short sited or a daft Mackem.Wor lass keeps the ball better than him.