Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was pleased with the performance of his team tonight in Lisbon, when we were beaten 3-1 by Benfica, but he wasn’t too pleased with the actual result.
Rodrigo celebrates after scoring Benfica’s first goal
Newcastle got off to a great start in this game when Papiss Cisse scored a great breakaway goal after 12 minutes, after good work from Danny Simpson and Moussa Sissoko.
But after 25 minutes Rodrigo equalized, and then two defensive errors in the second half allowed the home side to run out 3-1 winners.
This is what Pardew told ITV Sport after the game.
“We’ve done so much right tonight and got ourselves into a great position with Papiss’ goal,” “The away goal could come into it if we get the first goal at St James’ Park because if we can get that first goal, we are only going to need one more.”
“In terms of the performance and the players, I can’t fault them. We came here to have a go at them and we did that. They caused some problems to us just before half-time for ten to 15 minutes, but other than that we were in control of the game.”
“If it was 2-1, you would think we would have a good chance at home, but it is an uphill chance for us now. We can be proud of the performance, but disappointed with the result. “You have to say they are a quality side,”
“We have to give them respect and on the break they are going to be dangerous at St James’, but we showed signs tonight that if we are ambitious and we can hurt them.”
Newcastle played well tonight with Tim Krul and Papiss Cisse outstanding, but it’s now going to be a tough uphill battle next Thursday night at St. James’ Park, if we are to get through to the final four of the Europa League.
Newcastle fans in Lisbon Thursday night
Before that game we have to ensure we pick up 3 points against Fulham at home on Sunday.
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127 comments so far
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:11 AM
Comment #41catchy – Post 25 – nothing to add to that as far as you’re concerned
Leeb
I’m only defending the manager against guys slagging him on here for mistakes made by individual players. I do blame him for lack of match conditioning in the sense we always lose concentration for periods in the match which superior sides like Benfica take advantage of. Mind you Bramble was a classic Toon player in that sense. It’s Bramble syndrome we need to escape. Is Alan the man to do it ? Dunno.. tbh… he’s not that far off but he may not be ruthless enough to succeed. This is why guys like Rafa have been successful – just more ruthless imo.
It’s bad psychology to slag yer players publicly and its not AP style, so I’m not going to haul him for that
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:14 AM
Comment #42Catchy back under yer bridge with them billy goats . You really are the sphincter end of football supporters but I suppose all teams have them.
Troy Stavers
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:14 AM
Comment #43@Yo Yo
Ha! You sound naive.
DarkSideofTheToon
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:16 AM
Comment #44For what it’s worth I actually agree with what yo yo is saying, what AP says privately would be very different to what he says publicly.
northernirishtoon
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:18 AM
Comment #45Leeb
I understand what your trying to say I just think your wrong. How anyone can blame sissoko for Taylor’s hand ball needs to see a psychiatrist.
He’s got a lot of history doing this. How can u not see that
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:19 AM
Comment #46Its unbelievable how many fans suck up to STaylor, he was in the wrong tonight! FACT!
Sissoko looked like he lost his footing too me, but he reacted and knew what he had done! Then he disgraces himself holding his nuts, its just cheating, and he knew what he did!
People need to understand STaylor is one of the reasons to blame.
Krul, although excellent tonight, the first goal was arguably his fault, I mean why didn’t he push it away rather than into play. My argument for him though is only Mbiwa reacted to that, but not before the Benfica player! Where was Santon?! Or STaylor? We are just static in defence!
Second goal, no quarrels santons fault, but watch the replay he didn’t lift his head up! People saying he passed knowing the Benfica player was there are sad. Looking for a scape goat from beloved STaylor. Look Santon had a decent game, he made and error, one I think he won’t make again.
STaylor on the other hand! He has done this 3-4 times now, he never seems to learn! Look he has heart and desire for the club but if I was paid 500k a year for a “loyalty bonus” ontop of my extravagant weekly wage, I would have the same desire! Not good enough and too me that was a bigger mistake than Santon.
At that point in the match, you look at these experienced players. Yet we panicked and Ultimatley STaylor made the mountain for us to climb.
Its not just his fault, but I find myself more angry at him than any other player, probably because this has happened on several occasions. He needs to get that out of his game because based on his pathetic acting skills after, if I were England’s manager he wouldn’t even be on my radar now for being that pathetic, then to protest the way he did makes the whole thing look even worse!
1st goal is everything next week!
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:20 AM
Comment #47catchy out of all the times ive called you out you’ve finally replied my god i’m honourd
so tell me who was our best manager since sir bobby’s time n tell me why o why do you only turn up when we lose!!?
i mean when we played well after our new signings u were no where to be seen!!
is that a sign of a fan??
or is that a sign of person who only wants attenssion when things are goin wrong!!!! mmmmmmmm!!!!
Troy Stavers
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:21 AM
Comment #48@darkside
I do as well. I’m just laughing at how he’s biting. Its naive. 😀
DarkSideofTheToon
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:23 AM
Comment #49@Troy
Somewhat naive of me not to gather that that’s what you meant haha
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:26 AM
Comment #50Troy – explain.
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:28 AM
Comment #51Troy
What I really think about some on the bloggers on here would get me in court for libel/slander but I’m not so naive to put it in writing…. :0
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Comment #52pawl well you n facts need to understand one or the other!!
how can you say that staylor ment that in less than a second i can understand if sissoko ducked and there was 10ft between them but the FACT was there was inches n 100ths of a second between them!!
it was sissoko’s ball to clear and anyone who doesn’t see that is wrong imo!?
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Comment #53Leebs, u seriously need to step away from the whole “the lad is a Geordie lets defend him” act.
Shola was woeful upon coming on, I think he gave more fouls away in 10 minutes than our entire team did over 80 minutes! Call it eagerness but he was crap.
Cisse by far MOTM, Mbiwa arguably to follow and Krul had it not been for his (maybe harsh) 1st goal error.
Cisse should have shot around the 80 mins mark instead of squaring to Sissoko though…. He’s a striker! Infront of goal! Shoot! I mean he isn’t shy he has tried more outrageous efforts that have seen the net, too me he could have scored from that angle if he drilled it hard towards far post
…… Still we need 1st goal now, I would have taken 2-1 loss before the game. I probably wouldn’t have taken 3-1.
I can see us scoring 2 goals at home, but I cannot see us keeping a clean sheet so 2-1 would have been ideal, even to take to extra time/pens. 3-1 ….. Unfortunately is probably out of our grasp!
—————- Krul
Santon STaylor Mbiwa Haidara
——— Cabaye – Tiote
Jonas —— Sissoko — Marveaux
—————- Cisse
Early goal is vital, then to just aim for 1 more and clean sheet! Am hoping it happens but its unlikely!
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Comment #54Manxpie –
Please …. Look at the replay he deliberately sticks his arm out! It was on purpose! His eyes track the ball!
Then he whinges and protests holding his nads…. What a joke!
He knew what he was doing! Just takes a real man to admit it than lie and attempt to deceive by play acting!
Geordie or not…. It was a disgrace….. Had that been Williamson or Simpson the lynch squad would be in full force!
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:34 AM
Comment #55catchy are you there or have you dissapeared till we lose again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
come on catchy lets see your full support of the team or are you looking at google n looking up the history of us since sir bobby!!??????????????
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:36 AM
Comment #56pawl
yeh I’d go with that. Bit of kip calls
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:39 AM
Comment #57pawl
You are spot on about Saylor simulating the broken arm from the short arm tackle with the ball. It wisnae me !! It wis the ball….and the blog executioners.. good call
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:40 AM
Comment #58pawl look at my comment at 38 and 52 and tell me why sissiko wasn’t at fault which was my point!!
taylor took one for the team which every defender should do but the FACT is sissoko should have cleared it! simple as!!
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:44 AM
Comment #59Yea yo yo me too! Off to bed.
Just had to come on voice my views for the lack of criticism for STaylor yet everyone else, including Pardew was too blame.
I think people need to realise just because you criticise a home grown lad, doesn’t mean anything.
I think if you asked STaylor tonight, right now he would look back and say he made a mistake. Not I didn’t see it, or blah blah whatever. He probably would want to take it back….. Knowing he could! I have no doubt it was instinct but he could have left it really, am not asking him to overhead kick it away! Just leave it.
Anyway, I don’t comment loads but I do visit the blog daily, and read views. I tend to comment when something needs to be said…. Tonight STaylor for me, is more to blame than Santon.
Think people need to be honest, and look at back. Santon unknowingly passed the ball back (look at replay his head does not go up) …. As STaylor deliberately hand balled it.
Which is worse? Its a game of opinions, I’ve shared mine.
Goodnight gentleman, and ladies (if any)
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:46 AM
Comment #60anyways where’ catchy ive called him out many many times now and he doesn’t reply!!
it must be dozens of times now n nothing except 2 nite and still no reply!!
lets guess he’s busy which he always is when where playing well!!??
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:48 AM
Comment #61Manxpie
My view on the replay is Sissoko tripped, as he was holding his ankle when the desicion was given. He didn’t “duck” he was concerned for some reason or other.
If it hit STaylors forearm, and Sissoko is 6ft plus he would have to “duck” arguably half his height! That’s not ducking mate, its as though he was falling over, I don’t think he ducked intentionally!
I do think STaylor (arguably his passion caused him to do it I won’t deny that) deliberately handballed it, and he knew it was coming cos his hand moved too the ball! It wasn’t like he just got hit.
My opinion! We agree to disagree.
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:49 AM
Comment #62pawl have a look at the slow replay and tell me who did there best to stop the ball in the position they were in!?
and then tell me your honest answer!???????????????????
Mark the Mag
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:52 AM
Comment #63At the start of last season we had a solid 442 and Tiote and cabaye were a match for most 3 man midfield. Leon Best contributed a lot of hard graft and aided ba to score goals. Obertan gave us a escape route on the right, but when Cisse and HBA came in we went to 433 and it was special. We had a great defensive record, were solid and didn’t lack concentration and make the mistakes we have this time even tho we now have better players. El has been a distraction but let’s hope AP can get it right again next season and shut you negative doubters up. Or we could always sack him and be the laughing stock of football again and again. Let’s get some stability and get behind the manager untill the club as a whole can progress.
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 12:59 AM
Comment #64After reviewing the highlights again…. I urge you to watch the same highlight on the blog after the pen, it shows the replay.
Watch Sissoko he has lost footing and falling over and even HOPS away, he hasn’t “ducked” …. It also shows STaylor putting his hand in the way of the ball!
You could argue Sissoko is in his way, but he moves his hand onto the ball. I don’t think Sisssoko even knew the ball was coming, or had a chance of stopping it.
Please Manxpie step out of STalylors a*s …. He isn’t going to give u anything for it!
God!
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:00 AM
Comment #65so sissokos ankle injury was so bad that it made him dive out of the way and staylors split second desicion to try and defend the ball is a bad thing is wrong then for me means you’ve never played the game yourself!!
you sound like staylor made the decsision to handball it on purpose which is very very much not the case!!
he had a split second to get some part of his body on the ball to defend!! and that is because sissoko didn’t do his job!!
ginola_tonic
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:00 AM
Comment #66We got beat by a better side. Forget the EL. We weren’t ever gonna win it anyway. Let’s concentrate on the PL. because honestly I can see us going down. Had a dream about it. Last day of PL and we go down. At least we tried today. We desperately need a striker. I thought marv had a decent game. He always looking to pick out cisse. Dunno what’s happened to Anita. Poor guy just looks lost. Anyways onwards and upwards. Hopefully no more dreams tonight.
ginola_tonic
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:03 AM
Comment #67Well said mark the mag
pawl250
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:05 AM
Comment #68He put his hand in the way of the ball, not the ball hit his hand.
That maybe a split second and admittedly a passionate desicion to stop the ball at all costs! But he made the wrong one! And was conscious of it by moving the hand to the ball.
To me that’s his fault. Sissoko is off balance even nearly falls over, he arguably, if he been fully upright the ball would have hit him, but that’s not the debate he was falling over, Steve Taylor did handball it and we lost 3-1 from that pen, instead of a much stronger positioned 2-1.
He should have left it, atleast then whoever had a lot to do, or another player would have dealt with it! Who knows…. All I do know is STaylor caused the penalty that made it 3-1 for handball, a hand ball he moved his hand too…. That in definition is deliberate….
Now good night! I won’t reply I have work tomorrow so need some sleep!
Take care!
NewcastleMole
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:07 AM
Comment #69I think our problem is Tactics/Formation.
I think we are playing last seasons Tactics with this Seasons Formation.
4-4-2 served us well last season when we went on the good run at the beginning of the season. Two banks of four which kept in a line and it was difficult to penetrate, we played very disciplined defensively and got our goals when the chances presented themselves.
Fast forward to now. We’re playing 4-2-3-1 and still trying to play that disciplined approach. The 2 Wide Midfielders is where it is falling apart, as they are being instructed to sit deeper than the tactic requires and play a counter attacking style. So you now have a deep 4-4-1-1. But the problem with the advanced midfielder is that he isn’t close enough to the striker.
It becomes congested in our own half which increases the errors made, as when the opposition push forward confusion occurs as to who is picking up who.
I could be wrong this is just my view but even if i am wrong why with the players we have, have we been performing so poorly?
Why haven’t we changed our style?
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:09 AM
Comment #70pawl, your embarrasing yourself sissoko was to blame man what the hell is the difference between “hopping” away or ducking!?
at the end of the day he didn’t play the ball in fact he put staylor off which led to him trying to stop the ball!!
the FACT is if sissoko did his job as the leading defender in that position we wouldn’t have conceaded simple as that!!
true toon
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:14 AM
Comment #71Teams at this level that wins competition usually have this two qualities
1) Never made school boy errors in defending
2) Clinical finish when the chance presents itself.
Both qualities NUFC never have and never will get unless we make drastic changes in Players and Management.
yo-yo
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:17 AM
Comment #72manx
Saylor did a very naughty handball. It was clearly deliberate. Yeh Sissoko screwed up too. But saylor doing the dying swan act was OTT and the mark of a guilty man.
Bottle empty off to bed.
Williamsonsuks
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:18 AM
Comment #73After 20 mins we were pathetic. I put that down to the midfield. We didn’t have one tonight. From 10 yards in their half till 30 yards in ours it was no mans land for us. It made the defence look a lot worse than it actually was. We should’ve protected the lead at 1 0 up, sure there would’ve been a few moaners but Chelsea won the CL playing that type of s@it. I’ve slagged Tiote of for his recent performances but if we had him on with last years form we would’ve left with something. Just his presence was enough to put the s@its up any midfielder. TBH Benfica were there for the taking tonight but we through it away again. We have to question the coaching staff. What were the tactics after we scored? No cohesion, understanding, shape, direction. Maybe it’s the language barrier but you dont have to speak the same language to pass the ball or no when to press, close down an opponent
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:20 AM
Comment #74i hope ya reply in the morning PAWL otherwise i’ll except your defeat 🙂
Mark the Mag
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:21 AM
Comment #75Ginola
I think we need a striker aswell, a big targetman to hold it up, take pressure off, and bring our midfielders into the game. Also score a few from set pieces, Carroll ?
Mole
Great insight, hope Pardrew is reading this lol.
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:28 AM
Comment #76yo-yo i never denied that but sissoko should have cleared it before but all he actually did is put staylor off and i’ll repeat it’s a natural possition to react as a defender and if you’ve ever played football you’d understand!
Williamsonsuks
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:35 AM
Comment #77Everyone’s going on about their 3rd goal. We weren’t gonna take anything from that game after the 2nd went in. We could’ve played 180mins and not got a 2nd goal, it was a complete embarrassment.
Guj NUFC
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:35 AM
Comment #78Marveaux played some really nice passes through to Cisse. If only his 2 shots which had hit the post, had just crept in, he could have had a Hat-Trick! Luck wasn’t on our side the night and 2 silly mistakes cost us the first leg. Other than that, I thought we played well. Benfica did their best to rattle our cage and unfortunately we cracked.
Onwards and upwards, I believe we can beat Fulham this Sunday to put us in a good mood for the next 2 games.
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:36 AM
Comment #79i’d personaly love carroll back he belongs at home n tbh he looked as fit n healthy as he has done since he left us last game!
2 have him fighting for us n cisse feeding from every of ball looks amazing combo!!
manxpie
Apr 5, 2013 at 1:39 AM
Comment #80and even if we payed 17mill we still got a 17 mill profit and for me thats a win for ashley!!