The Newcastle United Blog

77 responses so far ↓

• 1 toonLYF // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:25 AM

  ToonDownSouth // Mar 14, 2013 at 10:02 PM

  You lot are a bunch of whining little girls, you really are.

  Take the good with the bad – we’ve just beaten one of the richest teams in world football, coached by one of the greatest managers in world football, with one of footballs all time great strikers.

  The arrogance and ignorance you must have to think that this game would be anything other than extremely hard is unbelievable.

  just echoing this comment. Anhi were set up superbly in both legs and were as tough as they come to break down, we gave a decent account for ourselves however could have been better. Alot of posters seem to be under the mentality that we’ve played poorly unless we dominate a match scoring numerous goals. We done enough, just enough; which is an occuring theme in Pardews career i understand, but whilst it’s working, and grinding out the results, what’s there to complain about. Our form has picked up, and we’re pretty much out of the relegation battle, we’re beating teams from all over europe, and things are looking really good. Pardew is learning too. He has never had this many quality players at his disposal and has very little European experience. Give them a chance man, things are going pretty well when you step back and take a look.

• 2 lesh // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:27 AM

  Well done Pards, you. and the lads came up trumps,z again

• 3 toonLYF // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:27 AM

  also, i guess we’re now that “wee club that is still in Europe”…fcuk off Fergie

• 4 Moe_UAE // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:38 AM

  Great performance from the lads.
  I thought Marveaux had a marvelous game at times he seemed on the same level as Ben Arfa.
  Creates spaces for others, inch perfect passes, reads the game really well, and rarely if ever loses the ball and his crosses are the most effective in the team. For me he was the best player of the game.

  Take nothing away from Taylor’s defensive display, although offensively he could have done better with those headers and that clear chance from 6 yards.

  On a side note, I don’t mean to be harsh on anyone, and I know he’s still young and barely being introduced to the top level, but Campbell seemed awfully out of place to be honest, I think he needs to go out on loan as Premier league/Europa league are on totally different planet than U21s. He’s got the potential but introducing him slowly might be a better option for his development.

• 5 q8igeordie // Mar 15, 2013 at 1:55 AM

  We actually played good tonight considering tiote had to step up and play in cabayes position …. His long range passing are excellent but his short passing is awful … Tbh, fans did not help tonight … Steven Taylor was better than England standard… Adam showed great movement and tracked back a lot … I was thinking if pardew had brought on shola or Obertan … Would they have tracked in the same way as Adam … I don’t think so …. So overall … An excellent performance against one the favourites

• 6 q8igeordie // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:02 AM

  Anyways .. I just read your health update ed … It’s good to hear that you are getting better … Hope your next set of results gives you peace and happiness

• 7 q8igeordie // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:04 AM

  I guess I’ll just talk to myself

• 8 89Norcal // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:31 AM

  Fulham, Norwich, and West Ham all have tough games this weekend. Stoke has West Brom but will probably lose anyways, so we could be 10th by next week.

• 9 q8igeordie // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:41 AM

  I can’t remember the last time we had a decent back up goalkeeper

• 10 Benji84 // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:51 AM

  I keep saying it when the quality crosses and passes come to Cisse he will score and tonight was an example. Why was everyone bitching about Adam campbell effort tonight as i missed most of the second half. Just saw the goal which i went mental over at work

• 11 tweaked // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:54 AM

  I reckon saylor is starting to blossom into a fantastic defender, on of the best in th EPL… He kept us in he game… Tiote should be sold as he can pass th ball for shit, that is one of our weaknesses, the fact that we try and dribble thru everyone insteado paying th game called football which is a team sport that involves passing the damn ball

  Here’s to hoping we get an eay draw in the next round, hope basil or benfica

• 12 q8igeordie // Mar 15, 2013 at 2:59 AM

  Tweaked …. Benefica is an excellent team with better players than anzhi …. I wouldn’t mind Chelsea to be honest

• 13 chris_g // Mar 15, 2013 at 4:47 AM

  q8igeordie… I wouldn’t mind Lazio either. I know they got a decent result last night but that was against a very ordinary Stuttgart side, and their recent league form has been dreadful. They’ve only won 1 of their last 6 league games, and that was against Pescara – the team at the bottom of the table!
  http://www.statto.com/football/stats/italy/serie-a/2012-2013/form-table/full

  Also, they’ve got to play their next Europa league home game behind closed doors because they were handed a 2 match ban after crowd trouble (including racist behaviour) during one of their games in an earlier round, so they won’t have the benefit of a home crowd roaring them on. If they really are a bunch of racists then I’d love it, just love it, if they were dumped out of the cup by a team which includes the likes of Yanga-Mbiwa, Tiote, Haidara, Sissoko and Cisse.

• 14 Assam Toon // Mar 15, 2013 at 5:26 AM

  anji could have won yesterday, their fans wont be totally wrong if they say they should have won. Their moves are well oiled and are just as good without the ball. But we won, against 10 men, much spurned moves in the final third and little bit of luck.
  More importantly though, it was our grit and persistence that won it for us. our defence was excellent. what we needed was to make something more out of our forward moves.
  We are not playing like the tournament favourites, yet…but whoever faces us will know that its difficult to score against us. we are playing a bit like italy i guess. we can slide into the final, if not storm.

• 15 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Mar 15, 2013 at 6:21 AM

  Good morning lads!

  …I missed the goal – fell asleep
  the last 10 mins or so I was a
  bit tired (mind you I am old lol)
  Probably was a bit of a boring
  game to watch for better parts,
  but we got our win and Marv is
  starting to show what we all
  know he can do
  Any news on Cabs?

  About Campbell!
  These young kids need time to
  develope and we should not put
  too much pressure on them just
  yet!
  …young Ginger will go out on
  loan next season I am sure (will
  be good for his developement!

• 16 Assam Toon // Mar 15, 2013 at 6:21 AM

  Benfica 2 points cushion in 1st place

  Chelsea & Tottenham have 3 & 4 position fight

  Basel are chasing grasshopper for 1st position

  Fener are saving 2nd spot while chasing galatasaray

  lazio and rubin’s euro are spot in doubt

  newcastle has no chance to win EPL, FA cup, League cup, CL spots, EL spots or getting relegated. As janis joplin sang, freedom is just another word for nopthing left to lose.
  So we have nothing to play for in EPL once we get a couple of wins. Plus we are defending real good. and hba is coming back. plus we are riding our luck, plus pardew got his lucky beard.

  So who would u put ur money on?

• 17 Santon03 // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:01 AM

  Everyone played very well last night. The back four are amazing, Marveaux definitely man of the match. Sissoko had 2 great chances from Marv and Santon crosses. Jonas is also amazing, he read the game well. Anita also did a good job.
  My only concern was Tiote. He is more muscle than brain, he almost cost us the game with unnecessary chalenge which resulted free kick and hit the bar. He didn’t have to make that challenge since there were many bodies around the ball. He needs to be more aware of the situation and less trying to be spectacular. The full backs were amazing and so was Saylor.

  Overall it was a great job by the players.

• 18 geordie@bergen_norway // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:18 AM

  If we play like this in the next round, we’ll go straight out of the competition. But if Benny’s back, he can make a difference for us.
  Saylor was a monster btw!
  Any news on Cabaye?

• 19 saxonfenken // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:19 AM

  Not always a Marv lover, but got to admit, his performance last night was wonderful, A very good result against a very good well organized side. A win is a win however it is obtained. Some should be ashamed to call themselves Toon supporters, we can not win every game 5-0
  but I can assure you last night was never going to be a stroll in the park

• 20 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:42 AM

  I understand people can be a bit worried about us not creating many chances in these two knock out ties so far but we haven’t conceded either.

  Every team gives the odd chance away but we really limited anzhi to half chances over the two games. I don’t think they should feel hard done by going out.

  It wasn’t vintage football from us but it also wasn’t very good from anzhi either. I think neither side did anything to justify a win but one of us had to go through.

• 21 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:44 AM

  saxon

  Exactly….as long as we get through I don’t care if we get battered every game in it.

  Chelsea fans don’t complain their champions league win came off the back of very defensive performances and a lot of luck.

• 22 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:45 AM

  Did Chelski and Spursky pull through?

• 23 Bambams // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:47 AM

  I see Taylor got fans mom and and rightly so but boys the lad alongside him ‘ Maps ‘ did not put a foot wrong.

  He is a fantastic signing.

  Like thousands more I was at the match and it was not the most entertaining so I spent a lot of time watching him, pace, awareness, composure. …. Top defender. Imo

• 24 jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:49 AM

  Bambams…do we detect a man-crush here? lol

• 25 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:49 AM

  jesper

  Yeh they both made it through.

  hope we don’t draw them, rather have a foreign team….makes it feel more like a european night.

• 26 WWYCD // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:50 AM

  What a ending lads and now quarter finals here we come after the season we have had this is huge imo

  Got a few games before the next Europa night so if we can get to safety by then go hell for leather to glory. Personally I want Benfica next any other suggestions?

• 27 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:51 AM

  Bambams

  I am with you there. Mbiwa was very solid. He never really let eto’o run beyond him and he mopped up anything around him very well. I think those two CB’s and then Colo gives us as good a pairing as most teams in the league.

  If we can get another one in over the summer to give us that bit more cover knowing taylor’s injury record I’d feel much better but either way these lads did very well.

• 28 Bambams // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:54 AM

  Jesper…..

  Like many other fans I struggle to remember a defender who has started his career at our club as good as this fella. Woodgate in my time but I really rate this player.

  As for man crush. …. Aye !

• 29 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:55 AM

  Morning all,

  Well we did it

• 30 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 7:56 AM

  wwycd

  I don’t mind as long as it isn’t an english club…prefer to play other european teams….makes it feel more special.

  Also Lazio and Fenerbache have to play their next home games behind closed doors which should surely help us.

• 31 Bruva_muz // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:01 AM

  Got to Love Saylor’s effort every time, I think he should have been given the Armband after Cabaye went off. Did anyone see Marv trick just before he took the shot that miss to the right of the goal. Dicked the man hand down haha.
  HWTL Toon Keeps trucking along. Steven will get a goal soon and when he does we all know what will happen. The legendary full field celebration.

• 32 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:02 AM

  Thought the team formation & Selection showed character from Pardew and an intent to go for it.

  I don’t think the performance quite lived up to that, especially considering they were down to 10 men, but let’s not forget they are a good team, a bloody expensive team, with a great coach and they set up well to try and contain us….which they did for 92 minutes and 58 seconds…bad luck

  As for the sending off, they can’t have any complaints about that second challenge, definitely a yellow…just surprised it wasn’t Tiote

  Most of the team played alright, but there was little intent when in the final third. Taylor MOTM for me, played with great spirit and determination.

  Well done for Marv and Cisse saving us again – But just like Cisse isn’t back to his normal self, nor do I think Marv has reached his level yet. Apart from the decisive pass at the end (thank you, thank you, thank you) it wasn’t like he was playing amazingly, but he did assist the win.

  I still stand by he’s not a guaranteed starter week in, week out, but a decent option and a great sub.

  Apart from that, quarters here we come and Pardew out!

• 33 WWYCD // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:03 AM

  Sage
  Wouldn’t mind Lazio though dangerous lot though. I agree on not wanting Spuds or Chelski boring match not a European tie is it. Everyone in there now though is a big lad really so I want the biggest one next which, for me (other than the english teams), is Benfica

• 34 stuart no9 // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:03 AM

  we did well to get the win., however midfield great – defense great – last 1/4 of the pitch – no idea really- no fire power- nothing. even when they went down to 10 men i dont think we troubled their keeper. not for the first time this season have we looked pretty ineffective this season. but we won, even if we were lucky. pards words not mine.

• 35 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:06 AM

  ibiza

  I think last night was marv’s best game I have seen on the wing. He seemed to be allowed to roam a bit which really suited him. If he does start wide that seems to be the way to play him I think.

• 36 saxonfenken // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:06 AM

  Bambams
  Got to agree about Map’s, except one thing. he passed a ball out to Eto that could easily have caused us a goal against, had Willo done that he would have been slaughtered, but yes is is the best starter I have seen and I have been supporting the Toon since 1950. I remember the three FA Cups and been in 60.000+ crowds standing many times

• 37 Charlie in the Gallowgate // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:13 AM

  Two players that stood out for me were Taylor and Marvo.

  I gave my MOM to Marvo for the cross for he goal.

  Lets hope we can finish the week off at Wigan with a win (not be easy – never do well there)

• 38 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:15 AM

  TS…I agree, his best game from that position and I don’t think he had a bad game, but not overly effective really until the end (like the rest of our attacking players last night tbf). Not trying to give the guy grief, honestly I’m not, just don’t think he’s claimed a starting spot out right, he did the same as a sub against Stoke. Would love him to keep the consistency up.

  I do think we controlled the game over the rest of the pitch well and absolutely delighted with the result.

• 39 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:15 AM

  wwycd

  Lazio or benfica I want…those are the two I see as the big european sides….be nice to get to the game for either or those…also should get a decent away crowd as they aren’t too far away.

  Stuart

  Yeh we really struggled in the final third, we didn’t create a lot but struggling lacking ben arfa, cabaye and gouff…makes it a lot harder (but we have struggled with them so it is something that needs looking at).

  I think for all we didn’t create much neither did anzhi…both teams were weak in the final third.

• 40 hazzy // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:18 AM

  So Marv once again shows why he should start.
  He has played less minutes than Cabaye, HBA and Guti yet he has more assists than all of them and is our top assister this season. Not sure what he has to do to regularly start considering jonas has one assist all season.

• 41 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:19 AM

  Ibiza

  Not trying to suggest you were having a dig, sorry if it came over that way.

  Yeh I’m with you, he hasn’t done enough to oust gouff or ben arfa I dont think, they add the flair and balance we need to the team.

  But he is recent games have done enough to earn his spot ahead of jonas now I think.

• 42 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:21 AM

  @BamBams

  Maps seems to do everything unnoticed. Nothing spectacular but never puts a foot wrong. He looks like he could be a belter and its maybe no coincidence Taylor is playing out of his skin lately.

• 43 saxonfenken // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:23 AM

  Actually I think when Jonas came on last night we looked much better, Cabs and Socks were both having an off night.

• 44 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:23 AM

  TS…Just covering myself, a lot of people are saying he should be a starter now so I know I’m due some stick at some point

  That’s it, in the PL he doesn’t get a guaranteed start over Benny or Gouffran and hasn’t shown that over 90 minutes he’s the best choice…yet.

  Still would love him to improve and prove he should be a starter…he has looked interested again lately whereas a few weeks ago he seemed to just have the general p*ss*r with not being a starter.

  To be clear all, not trying to take away from our players who has two assists in two games.

• 45 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:27 AM

  I think marv might get a start this weekend.

  If cabaye is out I wouldn’t mind him playing a central role.

  If not that then I’d have him on the right….ben arfa won’t be ready and with wigan fighting for their lives we need all our players match sharp, maybe give ben arfa 15/20 mins at the end if he is fit.

• 46 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:28 AM

  Just been on sky sports that the Europa draw is going to be done in conjunction with the Euro lottery, using the same machines instead of the hand in the bag.

  Entertaining if nowt else.

• 47 obatoyou // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:29 AM

  Told u we’d win har!!! Showed u good!
  Next GUARANTEED we’re paired with tottenham or Chelsea in the next round~
  gayness
  Hopefully Basel or evn fenerbahce or benfica, hope not lazio, they sound good, got a z in their name~

• 48 Charlie in the Gallowgate // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:30 AM

  Saxofenken

  Agree – Jonas did well slotting in the middle and used the ball well

• 49 bills-son // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:31 AM

  I haven’t read last nights posts but I pick up from this thread that some fans are criticising our performance – are they for real?

  Elliot, Mbiwa and Haidara have hardly played with each other, Santon was playing right back, Sissoko is still settling in and Cabaye went off injured. That’against a very good side with settled team and pattern of play. The team, and Pardew, have done fantastically well to win the tie without concding a goal especially having played practically a new defence in both games.

  Fans being critical haven’t got a clue about the realities of professional football at this level.

• 50 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:36 AM

  bills-son

  With you on that my friend.

  People seem to think we should be playing well every game. If they expect us to stop anzhi from playing well then why shouldn’t we expect anzhi to stop us playing our game.

  People seem to think it’s only us on the pitch at times.

  It’s not a sport like gold where you are in indirect competition with the opposition. Our performance is directly effected by the other team.

  Even if we play to our best other teams can match that and cancel us out….pretty much what happened last night. Neither team had any great chances and cisse’s was the best chance of the game and fortunately he took it.

• 51 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:38 AM

  charlie

  Jonas did look a bit better in the middle. I think having options either side of him really helps him now he doesn’t have the pace to past people regularly.

  On the wing he usually has santon or one pass inside….in the middles he had 3/4/5 passes on all the time.

• 52 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:39 AM

  golf not gold*****

• 53 Novocastrian66 // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:42 AM

  Delighted with the win last night, I did not think we would keep a clean sheet. Steve Taylor was absolutely superb, committed and brave. Throwing himself in front of the ball to block shots, none of this turning your back lark for him, and deflecting one into the bottom corner off his arse. Majestic in the air.
  Impressed with Elliot too. Did not have a lot to do but what he did he did well. His ability to pick out a player with those throws is a canny tool to start counter attacks.

• 54 toonarmydownsouth // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:42 AM

  Really don’t mind who play in the next round as long as its not spurs or Chelsea, it’s not that I fear these teams, just that I want to play european teams!
  Not marvs biggest fan but he was fantastic last night, absolutely brilliant!
  Tiote I though had a terrible start but like Anita got better after cabs went off, also jonas he had a great game!
  And so so impressed with how solid our back line looks now when you compare it to the start of the season, please stevie stay fit because when your fit you fantastic atm him and maps have made a cracking partnership!
  Well done pards too, didn’t panic when we were under it could of been easy to throw on perch and shola shut up shop a bit and hope for a break but he persisted and it payed off

• 55 El Sleeve // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:43 AM

  im sorry, but dres that up however you want but the performance was AWFUL.

  they are not a top 5 team, they have 4 known players, the rest are solid, dont let this get overplayed by pardumb.

  we were at home, that first half was shocking, we were so static, there was NO MOVEMENT an when we did get the ball and break down the wing, NO ONE MOVED!

  but its ok we won? yea sure

  i criticize my team because i expect more. actually i dont ex[pect much, i just expect people to be able to pass to each other over 5 yards, when we’re out of possession you press for it back, when you are in possession, create space and offer options for your tem mates to pass to.

  there was none of that and we seemed to be constantly standing still and losing the ball. scrappy scrappy scrappy. pardumb out, had enough of this “football”

• 56 Charlie in the Gallowgate // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:47 AM

  Transfer Sage
  With the new players in and settled into the teams style/ethos it gives Pardew a lot of options.at the back and in midfield.

  Just need another option up front.

  Looking good for the future

• 57 martoon // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:48 AM

  I was at the match sitting right behind the goal where Cisse scored. To be brutally honest we didn’t play that well but to be fair Anzhi are a very good team and you can’t expect to batter them. We lacked a little bit of a cutting edge and Sissoko looked a bit jaded – but he has played in every game since he arrived. We rode our look a little but Eto is still a class striker and of course Psycho was immense. Over all I’d say we just shaded it and deserved to win (I would say that though )

• 58 Rainrix // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:50 AM

  I’d rather avoid lazio, they seem a really good side. Avoid spurs and chelsea obviously. between the rest i’d rather have basel or benfica. We can beat fener and rubin but travel times would be a bit annoying. Haven’t we beaten benfica in pre season anyway?

• 59 sissoko-is-a-beast // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:51 AM

  I dont post on here very often but felt the need to defend Pardew somewhat from all the haters.

  Lets be clear about it now, anybody that wants Pardew out is ensuring that NUFC cannot progress.

  Do we really want to go back to the days of a different manager every season? Fighting relegation? Getting relegated?

  Those were dark days for me and I dont want to go back to them.

  Lets look at what Pardew has done for the club:

  - Hes provided stability, first and foremost

  - Hes proven he can get the best out of players (Ben Arfa is a great example of that)

  - He gets the squad to pull together as a team, to actually play for the shirt (something severely lacking the season we went down)

  - Last season he steered us to a European cup spot, only missing out on the champions league on the final day of the season, and also, in case you forgot, won every manager award going as well

  - This season we are into the quarter finals of the UEFA cup and (almost) safe in the league.

  Granted we are not where we should be in the league, but temper that somewhat with an injury list that not a team in the world could manage. Since players have come back from injury and we have bought some new talent, we are one the top teams in terms of form.

  Theres not a manager in the world, past of present, not Mourinho, Ferguson, Clough, Robson etc etc etc, that could have got us top 6 (where we belong) with the squad we had most of the first half of the season.

  The club (decisions being made above Pardews level) are to blame for the lack of investment in the summer. To be fair to Ashley, hes put his hand in his pocket and I believe we have one of the best squads in black and white I can remember. A few additional players in the summer and we are good to go next year. Anybody fancy challenging for a champions league spot? I believe we can be that good.

  Anybody calling for “Pardew out” really should take a good hard look at themselves in the mirror and give there head a real shake. For the first time in years I can see progress at the club, a large portion of that to do with Pardew, and long may it continue.

  Haway!!

• 60 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:51 AM

  El sleeve

  I don’t see why the performance matters when you get through. Yes in a league you want a performance to go with it but in a knock out cup surely you want the result first and foremost.

  I think we struggled to pass the ball around the final third and create but neither did anzhi, they were hardly creating chances for fun either.

  I get what you mean, we need to start making smarter runs and then finding it. We shifted the ball far too slow against ten men which kept giving them time to get back into shape.

  anzhi aren’t a team of world beaters like madrid or barca but they do have some good players as well.

  It’s not all doom and gloom though….we struggle to break down teams who defend deep and look to contain us but when teams go toe to toe with us like southampton or chelsea did we are a match for them.

  I think with so many new players it will just take a bit of time til they get used to each others runs and how best to create chances in tight spaces.

• 61 Transfer Sage // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:57 AM

  sissoko is a beast

  If you change a manager often it can work…look at swansea over the past 10 years. It takes a bit of luck as well though to get a manager who hits the ground running no matter how well you research it. The key is to pick a style of how you want to play and find a manager to match it…if you hire managers who all play differently you will go nowhere as people spend all their time adjusting then he gets sacked.

  I’m not for one minute saying I want pardew out….but if done properly it isn’t as bad as people make out at times.

  Pardew for me is doing ok…got the best, most technical squad he will have ever had and it will take time for him to learn how to get the most out of them. i’m happy giving him time, not like we were world beaters before him.

  Also there are man utd, city, chelsea, spurs, arsenal, liverpool all above us I think. Then have teams like everton and swansea who keep improving.

• 62 El Sleeve // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:58 AM

  transfer

  it just frustrates me that we get through due to a lucky last gasp cross when these are pros who could, with the right word in their ears, have the confidence to go out there and pass it around, make space, and not constantly run into 3 people whilst the rest of the team are standing by and watching. haidara ran into 3 players about 5 times because he had no options.

  best exampl is whne haidara, sissoko and anita were on the left, anzhi were dispossesed, it was 3 vs 3, sisooko and anita ran forward and completely abandonned haidara giving him no options and he was surrounded by 3 players and dispossesed.

  i just dont undrestand how hard it is for pro’s to make nice clean short accurate passes instead of that bitty rubbish.

  i dont like being bored to sleep by my team. yes i nodded off for 5 mins

• 63 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 8:58 AM

  @Sissoko

  I agree with you.

  We have stability and we are heading in the right direction.

  Some fans just expect perfection every game.

  Pardew has not got world beaters at his disposal. He has a mish mash of the poor, the average, the good and the great.

  Some people drool over Martinez, Moyes and Laudrup but if they watched those teams week in week out they would be criticising them as well.
  Any Everton fans want Moyes to leave.

  The grass is greener, my arse!

• 64 Markaccus // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:01 AM

  Martoon. Lucky sod!

  I think grinding out results the way we did last night breeds confidence. Our defence was great last night.
  Some of our passing is dodgy, and we seem to create very few good chances to score lately, but as long as they go in it’s not too bad. I’m sure, as the new players gel more and more with the team, we will look better and better. We’re getting there, and we’re winning while we do it. I’m optomistic.

• 65 Santon03 // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:01 AM

  I would rather have Spurs or Chelsea as next opponent.
  We already know about them and they have other priority especially for CL spot, if their next opponent in the league is one of their close rivals then they wouldn’t go all out for the Europa games.

• 66 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:02 AM

  @El Sleeve

  Does the same go for the Anjhi peo’s? They have a £60m strike force. Those peo’s couldn’t hit the back of the net.
  Their other players kept running into dead ends.

  We were playing a good side and they know how to defend and nullify teams.

  We won!!! Enjoy it!!

• 67 saxonfenken // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:03 AM

  El Sleeve
  Get real

• 68 El Sleeve // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:05 AM

  hmmmm, wish i could see the good like you lot, i really do, but are you telling me you would all love to win the league playing 1 – 0 games like that?!

  we were at home and we were static. end of

• 69 saxonfenken // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:09 AM

  El Sleeve
  I would love to win the league

• 70 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:12 AM

  El Seeve

  Liverpool dominated Europe in the 70′s and 80′s by keeping a clean sheet away from home and nicking it with a 1-0 win at home.

  You need to stick to the Xbox. ;-D

• 71 south coast toon // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:19 AM

  yes not only are we through but we didnt concede a goal against a very good team, chelsea didnt play very well in the champions leage final and won it somehow last year, the whole set up deserves a massive pat on the back for the way they have turned the club round sinse janurary, the most important thing for us is the ball is getting to cisse and he is making it look like its no effort to score, hes gone come good at the right time, great result and lets hope they continue to play for the full game with heart, a win is a win just be happy. on a side note dont go to eygpt if you want to watch newcastle they had every game on from eroupe ecept r last 3 , and we are still in europe fergie not bad f a wee team

• 72 Troy Stavers // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:22 AM

  Well said SCT

• 73 Owldman // Mar 15, 2013 at 9:39 AM

  @17 The fee kick was from a hand ball & by S Taylor & not a foul by Tiote, give me him before Anita, you need bite in midfield & we have that in abundance with Tiote, big strong players just walk through Anita

• 74 ballerfan2 // Mar 15, 2013 at 10:01 AM

  Thankfully there are a good number of fans who have a fealistic view of where we are just now. We are in the best shape squadwise we have been in for many years, and the progress is obvious – yet for some its not good enough. They believe we should be playing and dominating games like Barcelona NOW. A 1-0 win is something to criticise!?? I despair of some people who seem to have some idea that players, once signed by NUFC should display their best form and be superior in every way to their opponenets for 95 minutes every match.

• 75 ballerfan2 // Mar 15, 2013 at 10:13 AM

  Tiote is getting some stick for last night but IMO much of it is unwarranted. Ok there were some loose passes but in the main his passing, particularly his long raking balls were excellent. Strange that two passes that almost were fatal came from Mapou and Haidara. But of course these two, understandably, are blue eyed boys at the moment and are excused criticism. Not so Tiote who is taking the full brunt of everything just now it seems. He is still an important player for us. Come on guys, cut him some slack and see the good things he does rather than focussing on his mistakes. After all not one toon player was faultless last night yet overall I though they gave a skilful and committed, and WINNING performance.

• 76 TorqToon // Mar 15, 2013 at 10:53 AM

  Morning gents!

  Is the conversation more intelligent and balanced today than some of the trolls who were on here last night?!

  Some of them are shameful – yes the performance wasn’t brilliant – but anzhi are a very good side and we battled well. Tayls was outstanding as was marv! When Gutierrez came on he stabilised the midfield superbly.

• 77 davis_toons // Mar 15, 2013 at 11:17 AM

  Assam Toon // Mar 15, 2013 at 5:26 AM

  If we examine PROPERLY. Yes, the BEST SIDE don’t always WIN. This is FOOTBALL.

  “A TEAM at the BOTTOM of the Leg can even sometime WIN against the TOP Team.”

  We do have some LUCK this time (Just like how we ended up 5th on the table, last season)

  Just hope that the team learn from this great experience and improve on.

  Looking at how they counter attack us and fire shoots at us. It was a narrow escape. Ever they will to score a goal, we are not going to come back with two at the quality we are playing. (Remember, with 10 man, we are still trying very hard to break them down)

  Maybe we should try going arranging a friendly away against INTER MILIAN and see how we fair.

  SUPRS got LUCKY as well.
  IF not for their 3 goal GAP and a spill from the goolie ADE could not have score. They are doom to go out of the competition.

  We need more creativity, looking at how ETTO shoot at us. We really need our defenders to do a “man of the match” job to keep us in this game.

  + a sending off was really great help, dont forget that and even at 10 man, they are still a THREAT which they almost score before even mentioning that “SHARP” FREE KICK.

  Yes, we celebrate the WIN, but MUST KNOW how we GOT THROUGH THAT.