Newcastle were not at their best yesterday afternoon against a good Southampton side, especially up front, and we failed to get the win that we achieved against the Saints in this game last season.
Mathieu Debuchy in action yesterday
Here are four things that we learned yesterday:
- Vurnon Anita came in for the suspended Yohan Cabaye, and he had an excellent game for Newcastle, even though the side missed the creativity of Yohan in the middle of the pitch. Vurnon has been in excellent form this season for the Magpies, and even though he’s finding it difficult to get a starting place, when he does come in he puts in some fine performances for the side, and he’s made 15 appearances so far this season.
- Vurnon is second in our Man of the Match voting behind only Mathieu Debuchy, who has 33% of the vote compared to 25% for Vurnon, and the French International has been terrific for Newcastle this season, and is fast becoming one of the best right backs in the Premier League.
- Loic Remy missed two (very) easy chances for Newcastle yesterday, so at least he’s proved he’s human, but if Loic had been in his usual sharp form in front of goal yesterday Newcastle would surely have wrapped up all 3 points, but the game has to be looked on as 2 points lost yesterday – and now we need a win at Crystal Palace next Saturday – which will not be easy.
- Yoan Gouffran scored again for Newcastle yesterday, and he took his chance very well, and that’s now six goals this season, only two goals behind Loic Remy. This lad has been an outstanding acquisition for the club, and after the game he said he just loves scoring at St. James’ Park because of the great fans and the reaction he gets from scoring – keep it up Yoan – you’ve been great for Newcastle this season
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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72 comments so far
G
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Comment #1One thing I learned about Newcastle yesterday, is remembering a time not very long ago where a draw felt like a point gained. Now it feels like 2 dropped again. Seems a long time since I felt that way.
Ancientcoptic
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Comment #2Isn’t is strange how the competition for places has led to less injuries… surely just a coincedence.
Ancientcoptic
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Comment #3^*it*
Sounds like Spurs are for the sword today. 🙂
70TWO
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:30 PM
Comment #4It is more than 2 points dropped, it is the giving away possession at home to a side we should be overwhelming that gets my goat.
JackButler
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Comment #5Anita is a really classy player, he plays everything quickly and keeps it simple and along with Gouffran they have both established themselves as very, very important players for us.
I hope AVB kept the receipt for the 100+ million pounds worth of players he bought in the summer as at this point in time they are being run ragged by Liverpool
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Comment #6Jack
0-2
AVB will be getting the sac tonight
JackButler
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Comment #7Liverpool 2-0 up and it could and should be a lot more as they are battering a very average Spurs side
JackButler
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Comment #8Charlie in the Gallowgate
they have a brilliant striker in Soldado who gets zero service as they have no creativity in their side
Rotonda heights
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:57 PM
Comment #9Just thinking about any possible assault on the top 5, I think our biggest problem that would count against us is goal difference and the lack of goals scored by us.
Everton, city, Liverpool and Arsenal regularly score 3 or more per match but we struggle to ever got beyond 2 absolute maximum. GD is as good as a place lower.
We had a lovely 1 touch passing move and a great run by Anita yesterday but the aforementioned teams come at you in wave after wave for the full 90 mins much as Liverpool are doing right now, never closing up shop or sitting on 1-0 leads. I think this is still the improving Pardew’s biggest problem – fear !!
Ketsbaia9
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Comment #10Think we should make a bid for Eriksen and Vertonghen in jan.
OhSholaAmeobi
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Comment #11Personally i thought Anita was pretty poor.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 15, 2013 at 4:59 PM
Comment #12Anita was awesome yesterday. He should start every week.
SuperShearer
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Comment #13Ahh Kets, I sometimes come on this blog just to read your posts and try and guess what you’ve been smoking.
G
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:18 PM
Comment #14Anita was very good yesterday, however, there wasn’t much creativity going on in midfield. Cabaye was a big miss yesterday.
Douglas
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:25 PM
Comment #15I think what yesterday showed, as in most games, we are not significantly different (better) than the middle of the league group. We are not capable of scoring enough goals. We need another Remy (Cissee?) and a good wide man (at least). I must say however that We’re doing OK this season, so I’m not complaining but with a bit of investment we could get into 6th place.
Graeme
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:28 PM
Comment #16Anita was superb yesterday, very easy on the eye; always finding space.
My biggest gripe yesterday was the constant sitting back, allowing opponents at SJP to have over 60% possession is nothing short of criminal. How do you expect to win when the oposition team has twice as much of the ball as we do.
Even at basic schoolboy level, the truth is the same – if you dont have the ball, you cant score goals. If you dont score goals, you dont win matches – it really is that simple.
Graeme
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Comment #17Spuds 0 – 3 Luckypoo
AVB must be looking over his shoulder by now, they are being made to look a very ordinary team indeed.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:49 PM
Comment #18douglas we are i believe in 6 th now. investment in jan may be good but we can still improve without it.i feel we are better to watch than the mid table sides we did better against lpool with ten men than spurs have with eleven.
Graeme
Dec 15, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Comment #19Spuds 0 – 5 Luckypoo.
Spurs given a comprehensive thrashing, Suarez imperious for his hatrick.
theartfuldodger
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:00 PM
Comment #20Come the end of the season I think we will be fighting manu spurs and southampton for 6 to 8. Perhaps swansea can join in, but they are not doing too well.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:02 PM
Comment #21Suarez is the best striker in world football IMO .
Speaking of strikers, would anyone else take Benteke from Villa ? . His interest has dropped lately since his scoring drought and injury, but when he is on his game the guy is deadly .
santonthenewmaldini
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:04 PM
Comment #22Wow wonder what Spurs fans are saying after that? AVB could be out on his ear imagine with our scouting system if we had 100 million to spend??
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:05 PM
Comment #23For me Erikksen and Paulinho are the only quality players they brought in, the rest are average .
Cool Hand Luke
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:05 PM
Comment #24Good to see Spurs loose ground on us, but its a double edged sword as there’s a huge gulf opening up between us and the 5 teams above us, Liverpool being one of them. Everton are only 4 points ahead but a GD of +13 compared to us is telling. Even Chelsea who are noted for winning by single goals are +15 compared to us.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:07 PM
Comment #25Looks like Spurs signed the wrong Spanish striker . Negredo looks twice the player Soldado is .
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:08 PM
Comment #26Spurs absolutely spanked!
AVB next for the chopping block?
BPC
We already have a deadly on his day CF, Cisse
But think Benteke is probably more suited to us be a massive shola upgrade
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Comment #27@ tads
Yeah I just think Benteke gives you more in his all round game like running the channels and roughing up CB’s .
I would get rid of Cisse ASAP as he just doesn’t seem to care anymore .
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Comment #28one of the points i noticed about the last few matches is how well we are prepared.we look fit ,and whoever is doing the background checks on the opposition and working it out with the management deserves congratulating imo.from various reports r taylor joking here have .we now seem to be planning better at how to beat teams rather than just as last year coping with the opposition and hoping for a win.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:11 PM
Comment #29Santon
Have a lot of mates who support spuds, believe me they want him gone, they hate the way he sets the team up, too narrow and hated the fact they played 2 holding midfielders against “a small club like Newcastle”!
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Comment #30BPC
True, plus Benteke is bloody quick for a big lad, but wonder how much Villa’s £20 mil valuation would of dropped by now?
bills-son
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Comment #31Nightmare for Spurs. If they sack AVB a new manager can disown the new signings in the same way Rogers did with AC. This could cost Spurs big time.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Comment #32@ Tads
I wouldn’t offer them anymore than 10 million .
In an ideal transfer window :
In: Remy (Permenant) , Benteke & Young hungry striker that wants to impress (like Deolofeu at Everton) .
Out – Cisse, Shola to run out his contract .
That leaves us with :
-Remy-Benteke-Gouffran-?-
Newcastleforlife
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Comment #33benteke would be a great signing.. but he is still out of our radar…
I would like us to get rid of cisse as he is nt pardews cup of tea…
Bye bye AVB… WELCOM E lAUDRUP…
Cool Hand Luke
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Comment #341949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE It seemed as if Pardew instructed the front men to put pressure on their keeper, considering his age and inexperience, it almost paid off too.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Comment #35Also is it too early to say Gouffran bargain of the season although we bought him in January ? .
Bearing in mind he plays out wide for us as well .
OhSholaAmeobi
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:23 PM
Comment #36Fun Fact of the Day:
We’ve scored the 8th most goals in the league (21) and conceded joint 4th most with Cardiff & West Brom (22) although 4 more sides have conceded more, in 16 league games.
City and Liverpool have scored way more than anybody else (47 & 39 respectively) but the most telling stat is that Everton and Southampton have conceded the joint least (15) which is the foundation of their so-far successful seasons.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:27 PM
Comment #37BPC
Not to early at all, the bloke was an absolute bargain and has all the characteristics to be a firm fan favourite for years to come
He’s quick, great with the ball at his feet, hard working, humble and happy to play where ever is best for the team
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Comment #38I think Anita has played well and have been thinking about how we can get him into our team but keep the rigidity of a 4-4-2 . Does anyone think this 4-1-4-1 would work ? :
—————————–Krul—————————-
–Debuchy——–Willo——–M’biwa——–Santon–
—————————–Tiote—————————–
–Sissoko——–Cabaye———Anita——–Gouffran–
—————————–Remy—————————–
Ketsbaia9
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:33 PM
Comment #39I think we can lure Benteke. He’ll fit in well with the french speaking players. £18m would be a good coup.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 15, 2013 at 6:42 PM
Comment #40Don’t understand the talk of Saylor going out on loan when we only have 4 centre backs. We still need to strengthen in that department.