We played really well last week at Sunderland, but we came away with a 3-0 defeat – but the general consensus was that we played well and it was only the rookie ref Robert Madley who not only gave away a penalty for a little nudge on Steven Fletcher, but he then sent him off.
There´s nothing like giving the other team, a penalty and reducing your side to 10 men to tip the balance in any game but that’s exactly what Madley did last week.
OK – so we were unlucky.
Steve McClaren and Jack Butland after the game
Hey – you stopped me winning my second game at Newcastle
But yesterday against Stoke City we all thought that if we could only play near our standards at Sunderland we have a good chance to win our second game of the season and only our fifth win in 30 league games this year.
We have picked up just 19 points in 29 league games before yesterday’s game.
We talked last week about what the talking points would be today that would have prevented us from winning – because we find winning very difficult these days – we now have just four wins in 30 games as proof of that.
And sure enough all the news today is about a young 22 year-old Bristol-born goalkeeper Jack Butland who has played for all the England Youth sides, for Great Britain in the London Olympics when he was just 19 and twice for England.
He showed yesterday with his display that he is the heir supreme to Joe Hart as the next England goalkeeper.
He made at least four terrific saves in the second half to deny Wijnaldum, Perez, Sissoko and Lascelles and a great Mitrovic header in the first half had beaten Butland but hit the inside of a post and came out to hit the goalkeeper but still didn´t rebound into the goal.
🙁
Jack´s display yesterday reminded us of a Leicester City goalkeeper back in 1961 when we lost 3-1 at St. James Park and the young goalkeeper on that day looked simply unbelievable.
His name was Gordon Banks who made his debut for England three years later and the rest is history – we´ll never forget that save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico – an unbelievable save from that Pele header when England were World Champions and Newcastle had just won the Inter-City Fairs Cup the previous year.
In those days both England and Newcastle had good teams and we were looking forward to England winning more World Cups and Newcastle winning a lot more trophies.
We´re still waiting.
And at least on yesterday’s display Butland looks like he could become a world-class England goalkeeper – and he didn´t have a bad game last Tuesday night against Chelsea either.
So we can talk again about how unlucky Newcastle are and the fact we were the better side – especially in that second half – but a win still alluded us.
And make no mistake wins and 3 points are what we need as we still sit with just 7 points from our first 11 games the worst start in Newcastle´s 123 year history.
Yes – we were unlucky.
What will we be talking about next weekend after the early kick-off game at Bournemouth next Saturday.
And that comes before another long (and boring) two week International break.
A win would be very good but wins seem to be so difficult for Newcastle this year.
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 1, 2015 at 8:57 AM
Comment #1In the next three – important – games we have B’mouth, Leicester and Palace.
It will take us up to the magic 14 games. What can we expect to get out of this and what’s needed?
How many points do the stats tell us we need if aren’t to finish in bottom four? I think BandB did the math a while back
ScoopSouthAfrica
Nov 1, 2015 at 8:57 AM
Comment #2Well well well…
Now I know how the Spurs fans felt after Krul made those 14 game saving efforts. Butland is a great keeper.
Perhaps we need to get in a player who will put fear into the opponents defenses, how about Chuck see his attributes below it just might work as a lonee.
1) If Chuck Norris was a Spartan in the movie 300, the movie would be called 1.
2) When Chuck Norris turned 18, his parents moved out.
3) When Chuck Norris swims in the ocean, the sharks are in a steel cage.
4) Chuck Norris will never have a heart attack. His heart isn’t nearly foolish enough to attack him.
5) Chuck Norris once kicked a horse in the chin. Its descendants today are known as giraffes.
6) Chuck Norris doesn’t breathe air. He holds air hostage.
7) Chuck Norris can delete the Recycling Bin.
8) Chuck Norris has already been to Mars. That’s why there are no signs of life.
LOL NUFC
Ron Knee
Nov 1, 2015 at 8:58 AM
Comment #3I remember when Stoke played us at SJP with Banks in goal. Banks ran the whole show for Stoke.
cyprus
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Comment #4Jesper,
Think we agree re the entertainment factor 🙂 We need to get out of that bottom 3 vortex and we’ll start entartaining the masses big time I think. IF we get out.
Catchy, ok you got me. I was the chief barbecue man at a party, so combined zivania with wine and beer. But was fully alert for our game.
cyprus
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:03 AM
Comment #5Ron Knee mate, see previous thread for a reply
sparky55
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:06 AM
Comment #6Charlie
Used to live in Prudhoe, Ovington and Ovingham…so know that view of the bog-roll factory very well 🙂
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:06 AM
Comment #7Cyprus…read my post at #1 🙂 we definitely need to get out of this relegation battle as quick ad possible.
Never mix the alcohol mate 😉 you’re in for a hangover lol
sparky55
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:08 AM
Comment #8jesper
If you ask me SM’s simply matching what he’s achieved over the last 3 years…which can only be described as nowt. We are so overly optimistic as a fan base it’s silly…but on the flip side that’s why you’ll never knock a Geordie.
If we we’re playing like this at the beginning of the season I wouldn’t be so worried…I’m worried because we’re 11 games into the season and third bottom.
We can only realistically hope to finish 16th or 17th because everyone above Norwich is better than us and have the experience to stay out of trouble…we just have to hope norwich and Bournemouth get sucked in as we slowly climb.
I really don’t think our destiny will be in our own hands…this is going to get very very sweaty.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:10 AM
Comment #9I read a review of the game earlier where the author said the three best players were Tiote, Anita and Dummett.
…now I didn’t watch the game, but something tells me quite a few of those how voted didn’t either 😉
Maybe this is just very telling of why we disagree on so many things Newcastle! We cannot even get little things right 😉
Jail for Ashley
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:18 AM
Comment #10Sparky,
Unfortunately behind the scenes 17th will be seen as job done lets get another one out of the way.
Ron Knee
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:21 AM
Comment #11cyprus
I still think half our team aren’t PL standard. Not McClaren’s fault, I know!
Let’s see who we manage to buy in January. That will be a good indication of McClaren’s influence, or lack of it.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Nov 1, 2015 at 9:38 AM
Comment #12Sparky
I huge blot on the landscape but creates loads of jobs in and around Prudhoe.
Not a Prudhoe lad but played cricket for West Wylam/Prudhoe for the past 25 years except when the TOON are at home.
Nice day for bike ride from the Adam & Eve to Newburn across the river and back up tother side