When Kevin Mbabu was named as the starter at left back yesterday for Newcastle an hour before we kicked off against Chelsea, there would have been a number of fans who would think he would not fare well against a player like Pedro, who won many trophies with Barcelona.
And in any case Mbabu usually plays at right-back where he played on Wednesday night against Sheffield Wednesday after Janmaat left the game at half-time through illness.
Kevin Mbabu – had an excellent first start for Newcastle
Mbabu had a great game for Newcastle yesterday and who would have through with that display he was playing his very first game in the Premier league?
Kevin was our Man of the Match and here are the top three players according to our poll below.
- Kevin Mbabu (39%) looked a very good player yesterday and dealt well with Chelsea’s attacks down their right wing. He will get a chance to play at Manchester City next Saturday and we hope he can put in another solid performance. Kevin has a future at Newcastle if he can keep playing like this and can keep himself fit – his performance was one of the many positives that came out of the game yesterday.
- Ayoze Perez (34%) scored his first goal for Newcastle this season just before half-time and it was a great one, as he got in between the Chelsea center backs controlled the ball quickly and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
It looks like the Spanish 22 year-old will continue his progress this season, just like he did last season and he already looks a very good young player who can have a big career at Newcastle – a club he seems to love. - Aleksandar Mitrovic (15%) made a huge contribution to Newcastle yesterday and it was obvious almost immediately that this lad’s physical presence and skill up front had Chelsea defenders worried from the very first whistle.
Aleksandar worked his socks off for the team and was seen helping out in the penalty area in the second half before he was finally replaced by young Ivan Toney – unfortunately, Chelsea equalised in the next minute.
Based on our last three games when he was missing this lad is Newcastle’s most important player. He’s looked very good – just think what he will be like when he starts ramming those goals in for us.
Aleksandar controlled himself yesterday and didn’t pick up a yellow card – good for him – and we have to remember he has only just turned 21.
It’s good to note the next two players in the voting are Mbemba and Wijnaldum, who both had good games and of course Gini got his second goal of the season.
So of the top five players yesterday in our poll, four are new to the side this season – including young Mbabu – that’s got to be a good sign for the future of Newcastle United.
Comments welcome.
59 comments so far
ilovetoon8788
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:15 PM
Comment #1Player like mitrovic, his aggressive nature brings out another 10% from the players around him. Hope it continues. His lone striker role was great and certainly can improve. Mitrovic and perez partnership looks promising.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:24 PM
Comment #2I would just really like to fit De Jong into that equation!
He always looked so great in at Ajax in a 4-3-3. We could equally use his intelligence…
Blackley and Brownlie
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:31 PM
Comment #3Essex
Colo is the biggest bottler centre back I’ve ever seen anywhere.
Munster Mag
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:33 PM
Comment #4Jesper u are playing fifa rather than seeing whats in front of u.
Blackley and Brownlie
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:33 PM
Comment #5Why do you think Colo never poses a threat for us at corners? Because, unlike other CBs, he won’t go in where it hurts.
Ian Toon
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:35 PM
Comment #6Blackley- Earlier I disagree. Mitrovic is nowhere near at full match fitness but showed enough to suggest he’s going to be a real handful for Premiership defences. We do need to improve the quality of crossing into the box but I thought our offensive link play particularly with Perez suggested goals to come. Criticism of DM’s has largely been unfair but with better movement in front of Colback you could see that he had far more options in front of him for forward progression.
By contrast until Mourinho introduced Willian and Ramires Chelsea were Stifled because Matic was aweful and ineffective attempting to drive forward.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:35 PM
Comment #7Munster…No!
…I have to say I really hate when I have to explain what I write as if a disclaimer is needed!
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:39 PM
Comment #8Still gutted from that one…….
Should have taken 3 points…. also a cup run seems unlikely….
FA to go, but so much competition.
I would start….
Janmaat Mbemba Mbabu Anita
Sissoko Coleback De Jong Wini
Perez Mitro
With Perez a withdrawn Striker role.
Ian Toon
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:40 PM
Comment #9Munster- de Jong has been unfortunate with injuries but he’s been a major disappointment. He’s a good passer but he’s slow and will not be given the time or space in the PL. with every further injury it looks like we’ve bought a pup.
A cabaye he’s not.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:44 PM
Comment #10Ian Toon
I have to agree with you. He is too slow. Not suited to PL but Serie A, something to that affect.
Only other way I see him play is right next to a striker a quick striker unlike himself.
Think give Perez the no 10 shirt as he is the creator. Sell De Jong get another striker in.
Come Jan we need a quality CB a quality Cabayesque CM a LB and Striker.
SPRINGY
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:49 PM
Comment #11i think the only place dejong could play is anitas position yesterday slightly more forward then colback but not convinced he has the legs to close down and do the donkey work…so think its a non starter tbh
Rotonda heights
Sep 27, 2015 at 3:53 PM
Comment #12B&B
Don’t we get enough Colo bashing from Toonbrother
Thump
Sep 27, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Comment #13@jesper: His vision really showed yesterday when he came on (and then went off). That move with Janmaat (?) and Obertan was fscking beautiful.
Ketsbaia9
Sep 27, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Comment #14Perez was awesome yesterday. He is our best striker at the moment. Must be worth £20m now. Mbabu had a good game defensively and has pace. He is not a left back though. He’d make a good back up right back.
Ketsbaia9
Sep 27, 2015 at 4:25 PM
Comment #15I’m confident that Steve will give Marveaux a chance when he’s ready. He;d make an impact and would provide creativity for the strikers. Marveaux is a gem and we need him in the team.
Themesh
Sep 27, 2015 at 4:30 PM
Comment #16What i wonder is was this a case of Mbabu stepping up his game because of his prem debut or playing the big club, or is this a decent player who for whatever reason has not been given the chance he deserved by pardew or mclaren until forced to.If so are there any other players who have not been given fair crack as we only saw arrons last year as were desperate
toon kk
Sep 27, 2015 at 4:46 PM
Comment #17Watching Wat v Pal game and what stands out most of all is we probably have some players with as much quality but there pace, passing and decision making is so much quicker in both teams compared to us.
Is an end to end game
JackButler
Sep 27, 2015 at 4:49 PM
Comment #18Having read Jose’s comment about us only turning up for the big games, gotta say the man is 100% correct. The Sheffield Wednesday game along with West Ham are just two examples of us turning up and going through the motions and getting exactly what we deserved from both.
Let’s just hope that yesterday was a turning point
Jib
Sep 27, 2015 at 5:03 PM
Comment #19My brother was a sewage worker.
He got sacked for just going through the motions.
I’ll get me coat
Krul To Be Kind
Sep 27, 2015 at 5:27 PM
Comment #20Mitrovic was the MOM for me yesterday by a country mile. We have missed what he gives us since Ba left, a real physical presence and allows for the ball to stick up top, every side needs an outball when the team is backs to the wall and he provides this in spades, however he has work to do in his all round game but his strength, desire, passion and connection with the fans was absolutely flawless. I would say he looked like he wants to be playing and I agree with someones earlier post that his commitment brings everyone elses game up by a further 10%. It was his night and I for one hope there are many more to come, I don’t know if he would be all that up top alone as he evidently lacked pace but he was excellent at bringing others into play and holding the ball up until the team regained shape and got numbers in their half.
Jib
Sep 27, 2015 at 5:33 PM
Comment #21Mick Lowes doing a Tsunki or Jail for Ashley on Thursday morning’s Charlie Charlton show – it starts about 1 hour 19 minutes in.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p031tjxg
I wonder if he wishes now he’d kept his gob shut ?
SPRINGY
Sep 27, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Comment #22themesh
think mbabu had a serious injury or 2 since we signed him so this is the first chance he’s had to put a run of games together and show what he’s about…..this just from what i read and heard about him tbh
SPRINGY
Sep 27, 2015 at 6:08 PM
Comment #23i hope macca does’nt bottle it and go 1 up front,stick with 2 perez and nitro…looks like it could be a good partnership…glad to see nitro back,if he can keep his cool and do what he done yesterday and more in the games comin up i’ll be happy
SUTTY1978
Sep 27, 2015 at 6:28 PM
Comment #24Went to the game yesterday, surprised how unfit some of the players are. Yesterday they put in the effort i’d expect them to do in every match but they were all dead on their feet after 65 minutes. Mitro was utterly shagged, his is a bit more understandable as he’s not fully match fit. But Perez, Wijnaldum etc. were all shot.
I cant understand how McClaren couldn’t see this and get them off sooner.
SUTTY1978
Sep 27, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Comment #25Thought Mbabu was a monster yesterday even when he was dropped in it by Obertan and Colo going into hiding on occasions. Bloody brilliant by the young kid, never shirked a tackle and was responsible for us getting the 2nd goal by racing after Hazard and showing some persistence to get the ball back.
SUTTY1978
Sep 27, 2015 at 6:33 PM
Comment #26Springy, the actual formation was a bit weird, it was more 4321 prior to Obertan coming on. We actually had no player on the left of midfield and Mbabu ran the whole side of the pitch.
SPRINGY
Sep 27, 2015 at 6:40 PM
Comment #27sutty
whatever they were playing worked!lol… and perez supporting nitro looked good…looked like gini was meant to be on the left but came inside to get involved and pick the ball up and run with it…probs mbabu had the freedom to get up the wing….he’s a big strong quick lad maybe he could get a few games at cb along side mbemba would look like a great pairing….ani his 1st game ano but would be interesting
Toon-Prodigy
Sep 27, 2015 at 7:09 PM
Comment #28Well im gutted, two points lost.
If anyone is saying different there full of sh1te.
Roll on January
toon kk
Sep 27, 2015 at 7:18 PM
Comment #29Sutty
I’ve often said our squad doesn’t look 100% fit, I think it’s part of the reason we pick up so many injuries. I noticed how much quicker Wat vs Palace game was and how both teams kept up the pace to the end, of a end to end game.
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 7:37 PM
Comment #30A disappointment after going ahead by 2. I thought Mbemba was decent again. He just needs a good partner. Possibly give Dummett a try when he’s fit again. Colo is too small and getting slower all the time. He needs to be sold or at least put on the bench. It was madness giving him a contract extension.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Sep 27, 2015 at 7:54 PM
Comment #31We play well for 70 minutes and bottle a 2 goal lead and suddenly it’s all sunshine and roses?
I think there’s a lot of mileage in Mourinho’s “criticism” that Newcastle only manage to put in a semi-decent performance against some of the big teams. I would love to think we’ve turned a corner, but it’ll take consistency (and a full bloody 90 minute performance!) to convince me that we’ve seen any change here.
We’ve beaten Chelsea numerous times at home in the past number of seasons, if anything we’re down on past performances against them. Overly negative? Not on your life.
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:00 PM
Comment #32The real tale will be told against teams like Norwich and the mackems Ruddy mate. If we can’t beat them we’re likely to go down. I’m sure McLaren knows it as well.
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:04 PM
Comment #33Norwich, mackems and Stoke coming after Man City. We’ll know how deep in the soup we are after those games. If we get 2 points or less the season may be over for us before the halfway mark. If we take 6-9 points from those 3 games we’ll be fine.
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:06 PM
Comment #34Oh, sorry I mean fine as in not relegated.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:07 PM
Comment #35I think until we buy that 6ft 5 beast at centre back we are always going to have problems against the smaller teams who play more direct and with pace as Colo gets exposed more because we are expected to attack
Norwich have been playing well so there is no guarantee we can turn up and beat them easy we will need to battle for every point we get this season
City will be difficult but if we have a go then I will be happy just hope we dont park the bus as it never works and City just end up getting an easy victory
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:08 PM
Comment #36Any team that is a 33 year old Colocinni as captain is not going anywhere in terms of ambition. Add players like Saylor, and Obertan and you know the owner isn’t serious about winning anything.
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:08 PM
Comment #37Should read had a 33 year old Colo of course…. :blush:
GeordieTwo
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:10 PM
Comment #38Can’t type today….you know what I mean. We lack any desire to bring in the players at critical positions. Buying hundreds of French midfielders is getting us nowhere Ashley you dolt.
Jib
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:27 PM
Comment #39Ruddy Marveaux-lous
I haven’t seen anyone say “suddenly it’s all sunshine and roses” , lots of folk saying they can see an improvement esp with having a target man up front who actually tries to justify his wages .
Small steps in the right direction will do for me.
Unreal that folk are Colo bashing when we have Obertan in the side
bladeuser
Sep 27, 2015 at 8:34 PM
Comment #40The gulf in class between Chelsea and nufc is massive
J terry would walk into our side and captain it but cannot even get a game that says it all Colo is spent why do we always keep shitty players for years when top teams discard them
ASHLEY OUT