The Newcastle United Blog

98 responses so far ↓

• 1 Rainrix // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  Not the best not the worse. Have to beat strong teams if you want to win. HWTL!

• 2 barkintoonfan9 // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  fisrt

  decent draw celtic beat the, so we should be able too!!
  toon army

• 3 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  Looks like we’ll have two away games at the stadium of shite lads!!!

• 4 spitfire_ // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  The second leg is a days before the game against the scum… so no travel which is good.

• 5 JAMSHA // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  yessssss we get benfica

• 6 lewytoon // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  us vs lazio in semi hopefully

  excited

• 7 ~ Phoenix Warrior Perch~ // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  Benfica

  top of the portugese league
  Unbeaten in 22 games.
  18 wins 4 Draw’s 0 Loses.

  ….

• 8 barkintoonfan9 // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  sorry for the spelling mistakes so excited hahah!!

• 9 barkel // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:58 AM

  Tough draw but I dont think there are any easy games left. Score draw in Portugal and take them back to St James’ and rip them apart!

  HTL!! Toon toon

• 10 Shot Bru // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:58 AM

  Cool Draw…..better than drawing the english teams and better than playing in an empty stadium in rome or istanbul

• 11 El Sleeve // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:58 AM

  its more than doable. worry about who we’d get in the semi’s

  could be shaping up for an all english final

• 12 Carryingcoals // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:59 AM

  ibiza im worried, throw me some optimism!

• 13 Jonny // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:59 AM

  Good team and good match

• 14 DokToon // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM

  i like the draw…

• 15 roshan MAGPIE // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM

  phoenix that’s Portuguese league even anzhi had such record in there league and in Europe but we did beat them and didn’t even conceded a goal

• 16 Joe Blog // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:01 PM

  Good, finally a proper European tie against a ‘classic’, elite European team.

  65,000 at their ground and hopefully a sell-out back at St James’.

• 17 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:02 PM

  Is anyone saving their money up for Amsterdam in may???

• 18 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:02 PM

  Carrying…Did you catch it? My aim is a little suspect at times

  No one thought we’d get this far, but here we are. Certainly doable, I only see reasons to be optimistic…we’re in the quarters…let’s just enjoy it.

• 19 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:03 PM

  Benfica – wow!! The real Stadium of Light. We will have to improve a lot to have a chance though. I reckon Benfica will be pleased to draw us. Such excitement!!! Howay the lads – I’m shaking from watching the draw. !!!

• 20 DevonMag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:03 PM

  Repost:

  obviously a very, very tough draw. But it’s a GLAMOUR draw lads and that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? Chuffed we don’t have to play the English boys. Benfica in a European quarter final? Err, yes please!

  And we’re home second leg. Frankly, I’m bored of the Maritimo/Kharkiv/Brugges ties, Anzhi are the best team we’ve played and I’m older than them FFS! Obviously would have preferred to draw a big boy in the semis/final but Spurs have already put Lyon and Inter out so if we want to win the cup this is the calibre of team we should be beating. Buzzing!

  Transfer Sage I said to my old man last night ‘I hope we get Lazio or Benfica.’ He wanted Chelsea the numpty…

• 21 WesJameson // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:03 PM

  @ ~ Phoenix Warrior Perch~ // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM

  WOW, well spotted, tough game, tough team…BUT 100% do-able

  HOWAY!!!

• 22 LeToonARMY // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:04 PM

  I dont think they are better then last nights team in all honesty. Benfica have lots of Brazilians and we just beat a team like that without the light s of Krul, Ben Arfa and Cabaye not to mention they had Et’o on their team so lets get all our players fit and lets march our way to the semi’ Howay the lads. Toon Army

• 23 Carryingcoals // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:04 PM

  In all seriousness they are a strong side but I believe we can beat them. We will have Tim Krul back by then and HBA should be fitter and readier. We are a good team and disciplined at the back. Why not eh?

  Let’s do it!

• 24 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:06 PM

  Carrying…That a boy

• 25 santonthenewmaldini // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:06 PM

  Yeah very happy with the draw by that time we should be pretty much safe in the league and Arfa should be playing as well so we have a good chance

  Celtic beat Benfica and they are not the force they used to be the way we defend in Europe makes us very difficult to score against and Benfica will struggle to break us down can see us winning 1 or 2 nil on aggregate will be close games again

• 26 Joe Blog // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:07 PM

  Who cares about their stats in their league? Them and Porto have stats like that every year.

• 27 Rainrix // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:07 PM

  Is it true we’ve never played benfica competitively? Just seen that on the official site

• 28 DokToon // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:08 PM

  am beginning the ban on all things portuguese inmy house and my local… lol…

• 29 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM

  So not Basle as hoped but a great trip to Portugal in spring.

  I have often criticised Pardew but I thought he was brave last night in his team selection, dropping Simmo and Jonas and was also quite inspired putting Campbell on to turn up the Geordie roar just at the right time.

  It’s great that while Benny has been injured, Marveaux has started coming to the fore. His passes to Ba V Arsenal, to Cisse v Stoke and last night were absolute top drawer quality. What a player we potentially have played in the right position. Players like him are priceless. Somehow have to get him in the team with that ability and brain to unlock things

  Big Krul fan but love how Elliot gets on with it with his quick passes out to get things in motion.

  Also MYM – the black Woodgate. Sheer class

• 30 Bambams // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM

  Playing a real European club….. Must admit I dont think we will get away with only scoring one goal against this team.

  Would love to go to this one (Benfica), think Mrs Bambam might need convincing. ….

• 31 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM

  Great game.

  A proper European tie. Big crowds home and away.

  I think it is possible….I think we are better than celtic and they have shown that a bit of luck and fight and you can beat these bigger teams.

  We have a fair chance to go through but at the same time it’s a game we should just try to enjoy, win or lose.

• 32 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:10 PM

  I’m so excited!!!! Mind you, we wont have a prayer if we dont start creating a few more chances.

• 33 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:12 PM

  rotonda

  My only criticism of last night was putting campbell more left side, not his natural position and it’s hard enough making your 3rd game when in your right position.

  Can see why he did it though, pace out on the flank and somebody who knows where the goal is…and your right gave the crowd a lift.

  Just a slight criticism but loved the adventurous team that was put out.

• 34 TheToonKing // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:13 PM

  Benfica is probably the best team left in this competition. They are CL material . But then again so was Anzhi

  We’ll need luck, but we can beat them. Extremely difficult though.

• 35 Minato // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:13 PM

  Tough draw…but I think we can do it….for the record Celtic lost and drew to Benfica in the group stages… 0-0 at home and lost 2-1 away. Not that it matters anyway…

• 36 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:13 PM

  NUFC Leazes end

  I didn’t want to tempt fate but could you just imagine winning it in Amsterdam. It’d be the biggest party and black and white invasion ever.

• 37 lesh // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:14 PM

  sounds good if for no other reason that Portugal’s warmer than Basel, Istanbul or wherever Ruben Khazan is, at the mo! Pity that Chelski and Sperz weren’t drawn to play each other tho! I’d. like to see Sperz go out in any event!!!

• 38 dcdick // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:15 PM

  Best draw possible for me………..Benfica v Toon ….

  Brilliant !!!!!

  Starting to get excited now

• 39 martoon // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:15 PM

  We’ll have to play Shola in the away leg – he loves scoring at the stadium of light

• 40 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:16 PM

  Munster

  Somehow we have to get Benny and Marv in the same team if we want to create anything, even if it means moving Sissoko back to the position we originally bought him for.

• 41 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:16 PM

  @rotonda

  I know man, imagine the party in the city centres and that aswell.

  I remember going to the last open top team bus homecoming, hopefully there will be another one in may

• 42 WesJameson // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:16 PM

  @ Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM

  Fully agree, MYM is an animal, a very calm animal i might add, hahaha

  But he is immense, probably better than Woody IMO

• 43 L.ARAVIND // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:16 PM

  we are much much stronger team than them. if u look at anzhi’s record this season,,they are in 2nd position and have lost least number of games in the russian league this season…but we controlled them very well.we outclassed them in all areas and totally silenced eto’o…..so i think that it will be an interesting draw but we will hopefully get through…..cheers up!!!!!!!!

• 44 lesh // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:16 PM

  Nearly forgot: Pardew out!

• 45 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:17 PM

  @martoon

  OH YEAHHH, HE STRIKES FEAR INTO ALL STADIUM OF LIGHT’s
  WHETHER ITS ON ENGLISH TURF OR PORTUGUESE

• 46 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:17 PM

  martoon

  Thats a great plan….just tell him its the stadium of light not that it’s benfica and watch him score a hatful.

• 47 Minato // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:18 PM

  I agree with Toon King.. I think they are the team we probably would rather have avoided outside of Spurs and Chelsea at this stage. I think the ideal draws would have been Basel or Fenerbahce..but come on this is quarter final time just chuffed to have gotten this far. With our league status hopefully sewn up and Benny and Krul to return I’m optimistic we can get to the final four..

• 48 CDEVINE69 // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:19 PM

  but Will they move the mackem fixture to Sunday now coz playing benfica two days before in second leg.

• 49 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:21 PM

  Benfica wont worry about St James Park. They did ok at Celtic and thats noisier than anywhere. We are going to need two goals I think, but who knows, the team may have got a bit slicker by then. Will Colo be back? I laughed re Mbiwa – the black Woodgate. Can I just add, “without the silly accent” ?? Can we copyright that ? ” MYM – The Black Woodgate , but without the slack accent”

• 50 pawl250 // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:21 PM

  Hey guys. Benfica is a very hard draw…. but the saying goes you have to beat everyone to win it no matter who you face. Arguably an easier draw than Lazio, Chelsea, Spurs. Cant see why we cant win but its important to realise this is a tough fixture…. and support the lads!

  OK PERSONAL FAVOUR TIME …. I have a friend who has created a music video for Muse and entered a competition for the song Animal. The final shortlist was picked by Muse themselves and my friend is one of those final videos with the username Woofy. Can you please vote for him to be the official music video of Muse – Animals

  https://www.facebook.com/muse/app_605616959452054

  Would really appreciate it, and in fairness its a pretty awesome video!

• 51 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:21 PM

  wes

  just hope MYM doesn’t get woody’s injuries and he could well be.

• 52 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:22 PM

  Laravind thats bollocks – Anz could easily have beaten us last night. From what I can make out we were outclassed in the first half, and only created one chance? And they created more?

• 53 pawl250 // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:23 PM

  Also he is the only English guy left…. fellow Brits stick together again any votes would be massively appreciated!!

• 54 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:23 PM

  Where’s Benfica City? I’ve looked all over on the map but can’t find it.

• 55 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:24 PM

  And remember guys having a laugh at Boro getting taken apart in the final. Not saying we are not better than that shower were though….

• 56 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:24 PM

  Benfica are good but not significantly better than other teams we could have drawn. Any team would make it hard for us so hoepfully we have cabaye and ben arfa back up to speed by then.

• 57 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:25 PM

  North / mid Portugal , west coast i think?

• 58 Carryingcoals // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:25 PM

  I’d like to discuss Campbell’s inclusion last night as I know a lot of you are massive Campbell admirers on here.

  Firstly, this is open to debate and I want to hear peoples opinions, as I think a lot of you will disagree with what I’m about to say.

  I think Campbell has potential of course but last night I thought bringing him on was a poor substitution. Yes he made runs in behind which our players ignored/missed and yes he is a great young lad no doubt but I definitely disagreed with having him come on.

  1. He looked too light weight. Anzhi were very quick and physical and I thought we failed to hold the ball up around their 18 yard box, Campbell wasn’t the right frame of player to make a needed impact
  2. I’d have preferred to see Shola. He is experienced and can obviously battle up top and have a good affect on Cisse, who could then feed off him

  If you’re good enough then you’re old enough. I have no qualms about throwing an 18 year old on but I think already we are over-rating Campbell. Now I’m not bashing him but I think we should send him out on loan or ease him in rather than throwing him on against a star studded team in a crucial part of the game.

  To me, a different substitution made more sense. Granted we won and this may be irrelevant but I’m not convinced Campbell is ready and I certainly haven’t see enough to get really excited by him. I don’t quite understand the euphoria that already surrounds him.

  What do people think?

• 59 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:25 PM

  NUFC leazes end

  My old man is 86 so not many chances left to win something in his lifetime!! But could you imagine what winning would be like. There’s be such an outpouring of emotion built up over all these years. We wouldn’t need grief counselling, we’d need success counselling !!!!!

• 60 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:27 PM

  @Munster Mag

  Thanks! I still can’t find it like!!

• 61 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:27 PM

  benfica is lisbon

• 62 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:28 PM

  benfica v sporting lisbon is the derby

• 63 mally72 // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:29 PM

  Could of been alot worse its a very winnable tie 2 – 1 agg win for the toon followed by a good old fashioned hammering of the scum hwtl

• 64 El Sleeve // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:30 PM

  on investigation it seems the only tickets left are for season ticket holders. need abticket

• 65 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:30 PM

  You’ve got to love Rotunda!

  Everytime!

  Hook, line and rotunda.

• 66 fergies left foot // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:30 PM

  theyre not the force they used to be like someone said but still loads of talented players. Gaitan, Ola John and Oscar Cardozo the three danger men. Still think we’ll make it. Celtic beat them and Bordeux didnt seem to be completely out of their depth! Remember we’ll probably have cabaye and ben arfa back and, dare i say it, our premier league status sorted.

• 67 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:31 PM

  mally

  wouldn’t that just be perfect.

• 68 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:32 PM

  Carrying…my thoughts are you’re going to get lynched

  As you say, it is a little irrelevant as we won, but I do get what you’re saying.

  Pardew had 2 options, Shola to bully them or Campbell to try and create some space for something to happen. Both could have worked given the opposition imo, overall I’m just impressed that he went for Campbell, which on the face of it was a positive forward thinking route.

  Do I think he’s ready? Really no idea as I haven’t seen enough of him to date. As for the euphoria, he’s young, he’s a Geordie and he’s a ST…of course people will get excited.

• 69 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:32 PM

  did celtic actually beat them?

• 70 pawl250 // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:32 PM

  Celtic didnt beat Benfica…. they lost 2-1 and drew 0-0 where has this come from?

• 71 NUFC_LEAZES END // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:32 PM

  @rotonda

  Yeah would be amazing like, I’m sure that would make your old man extremely happy, I just hope we can do it for the sake of all our fans, especially the older generation that have supported the club through thick and thin over so many decades.

• 72 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:33 PM

  Troy…Was that clean sheet “stat” you posted earlier genuine?

• 73 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:33 PM

  Troy

  No problemo

• 74 Williamsonsuks // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:33 PM

  Yeah no easy teams left. I’m happy with draw. Both teams have great support, so crowd should dictate the pace of both ties. Cant wait!
  Is Nzogbia fit for sunfays game, hopr not. The little shit always raises his game against us.

• 75 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:33 PM

  carrying

  I didn’t mind it. I thought in the position he was used (more left sided) it makes more sense to have him than shola and obertan has hardly done enough to show he should be there regularly.

  I think a few sub games and maybe a start when we are fully safe in the league is what he needs. This way we can see if he is ready or not for the first team and if he doesn’t look up for it yet we can give him a loan next year.

  If he comes on well by the end of the season then maybe keep him as 3rd striker next year…if not can loan him out.

• 76 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:34 PM

  Williamson….We’re not playing Villa are we?

• 77 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:34 PM

  Just reading about the stadium of light. It only holds 48k seats.

  It doesn’t look too impressive from the outside bit its supposed to be dug into the ground so it looks bigger from inside.

  There’s pictures of the trophy cupboard. Doesn’t look like they’ve won much either.

  Eh? Apparently the X64 bus gans past it!

• 78 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:35 PM

  pawl

  I just heard somebody mention it so said it myself…didn’t look into it being genuine or not.

  Still we have a chance as we are better than celtic

• 79 mally72 // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:35 PM

  That would be a very good week in the life of any toon fan and lets face it we have had a very up and down season so far but now things are really looking up now

• 80 Rotonda heights // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:36 PM

  Troy

  The sad thing some Geordies (level 7 ultras) may really think there is a Benfica city!!!

  No ok you got me. I smelt a rat but still fell for it.

• 81 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:37 PM

  I like that draw!

  …so IF we get to the Semi final the winner of which game will we face?

• 82 Spellcheck // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:37 PM

  Any news on semi final draw, if(when) we beat Benfica?

• 83 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:37 PM

  @Ibiza.

  I haven’t checked it to be honest. My mate sent a text to me about the fact. The 1969 team played in black n white as well, so that’s a coincidence as well. Maybe another omen?

  By the way, I’m not paying Rotonda to bite my bait. He does it all for free. :- D

• 84 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:37 PM

  .Jesper…I think there is another draw for the semis on the 12th April.

• 85 Carryingcoals // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:38 PM

  ibiza

  Well yeah I fully understand that he’s a new young geordie striker. But still, young lads from newcastle with better reserve records have came and went. I mean it goes without saying that I hope he is prolific. He’s a more exciting type of player than Carroll for example.

  sage

  I too would have put him on ahead of obertan who shows distinct lack of effort. I felt campbell struggled a little on the left and would have liked a more authorative substitution being made.

  I just thought he looked out of his depth, regardless of what job he was asked to do.

• 86 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:39 PM

  Troy…There wore black and white? An omen indeed. Cups as good as ours

• 87 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:40 PM

  semi final draw will take place after these games are done

• 88 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:40 PM

  Carrying…I get what you’re saying. Let’s get excited when we see him do it on the big stage. But still, anything to give the Geordies a boost after this season so far is good by me.

  It was hard to find anything to smile about a couple of months ago.

• 89 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:41 PM

  @Rotonda

  At least you admitted it. MM is squirming now hoping I haven’t noticed his directions.

• 90 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:42 PM

  carrying

  I think he didn’t do great but did nothing wrong either.

  He made a few good runs but wasn’t found. I liked how he shouted a few times when he didn’t get the ball. It’s good confidence in him and shows he feels part of the team.

• 91 Williamsonsuks // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:43 PM

  Ibiza… Didn’t know he’d left Wigan. Well that’s a boost

• 92 bills-son // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:44 PM

  Whenever I hear Benfica I always think of their 1968 European Cup Final with ManU when Eusebio insisted on shaking Alex Stepney’s hand after he had pulled off a great save.

  Eusebio was a gentleman and a great player – I also remember him getting a hattrick (or was it 4) against North Korea at Middlesbrough in the 1966 World Cup after North Korea had gone 3.0 up against Portugal Portugal won 5-3.

  Benfica is a great tie and I think the squad we have can beat any team on their day – so we’ve got a great chance – especially if the defence plays as well as they did against Anzhi.

• 93 Munster Mag // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:46 PM

  Feck did i get the directions wrong ? Havent looked at a map. Like most paddies and brits i really only know the algarve!!

• 94 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:48 PM

  Campbell looked fast like. I was at the game and could hear him as he came onto the pitch. ” Run run as fast you can, you can’t catch me I’m the GingerToon lad!”

  That’s confidence in abundance like!

• 95 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 12:55 PM

  Williamson…

• 96 Ketsbaia9 // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:13 PM

  Thought Souness was the manager when we played Marseille in the semis?

• 97 Ketsbaia9 // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:17 PM

  Sorry I’m wrong. Could’ve sworn he was in charge at the time. Our first team is much stronger than that team from 2004. Our defense was so poor. O’Brien, Hughes and Bramble were liabilities and we started with Shola alongside Shearer.

• 98 rs1977 // Mar 16, 2013 at 10:42 AM

  A bit of info on Benfica:

  Latest results with English teams:

  Benfica against Man U: (1W 3D 2L) – all CL Group stage matches. Man U didn’t go through to the next stage twice, Benfica only once

  Benfica against Chelsea: 2L – CL 2012 QF

  Benfica against Liverpool: 2W 2L – Benfica kicked Liverpool out of CL QF once, Liverpool kicked Benfica out of Europa League SF once

  Benfica against Everton: 2W – Benfica kicked Everton out of Europa League QF once

  Benfica played 4 matches this year in the Europa League: 4W against Bayer Leverkussen and Bordeaux. In the first match Benfica played with 4 usual subs, in the second with 3, in the third with 5 and in the last one with 5. Not because of any major injuries, but in order to rest the major players for the Portuguese League where Benfica’s first with no losses or for later stages of the Europa League.

  The Portuguese League is the 6th of the UEFA ranking, started the year on the 5th position ahead of the French League, it can finish 2013 year in 4th ahead of Italy’s League and the French League, although finishing in 5th would be the most probable event.

  Other than that, I really believe we will have two great matches!!!