The big talking point about the game last night was how Jonjo Shelvey came back into the Newcastle side after missing the last five games through suspension and he completely ran the show until he tired a little bit in the second half.
Jonjo seemed determined to make up for his absence and basically set up all three goals for Newcastle starting with an exquisite pass through the middle for striker Yoan Gouffran after 9 minutes, who was then upended by the visiting goalkeeper for an obvious penalty.
If any fans had any doubts about just how important Jonjo Shelvey is – or how well Rafa has him playing for Newcastle – those doubts were put to bed by his mercurial performance last night.
Jonjo Shelvey in action
Both managers Rafa Benitez and Gianfranco Zola said Jonjo ran the game and this lad is some player we picked up for what now looks like a very cheap £12M from Swansea.
Of course this is England’s second division, but he seems to already be a better player under the expert tutelage of Rafa Benitez, who we have to remember signed the 18 year-old for Liverpool in 2010 just before Rafa left the Reds.
Jonjo got 74% of the vote followed by the two goalscorers Gouffran and Ritchie.
Yoan Gouffran played so well he proved he can play up front on his own with a very good performance – he looked class – and what a difference Rafa has made to a player who seemed destined for the Newcastle exit in the summer.
It was an excellent win for us last night, but now the only thing that matters is that we beat Rotherham United on Saturday and we cannot take them lightly – otherwise we could lose again.
Every win in the Championship will now take us closer to promotion with 20 games to play.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
88 comments so far
magspuggy
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:04 PM
Comment #1How much has jonjos value increased since joining us ??
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:09 PM
Comment #2very much the hart of the team last night
Jib
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:16 PM
Comment #3I think with Ritchie’s return to form and Atsu back in UK for Feb Townsend is becoming less of a priority.
I love NUFC.com’s match headlines but last nights is particularly good.
“Matt finish adds gloss”
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:18 PM
Comment #4TOWNSEND STORY
can any one guess which paper is running with this this story ………………….YES thats right The Daily Mirror !!!!!!…..
AncientC
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:21 PM
Comment #5magspuggy: Shelvey was worth £23.5 million when we bought him, according to the ‘CIES Football Observatory’, so I would say he is playing to value. We got Shelvey very cheap because of his falling out with Huw Jenkins.
Belfast
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:28 PM
Comment #6Sparky from a few threads ago
Why does this creative midfielder have to sit on the bench ? Ideally we want one that can play in the same team as Shelvey surely ?
Belfast
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:37 PM
Comment #7Hibbit the same story was in the sun yesterday. They want 13 million for him. To be fair to them I know what my response would be if we made a loan offer 🙂
lesh
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:42 PM
Comment #8Ed’s inferred from the Mirror piece, true or not, that Ashley may not want to spend this window but prefers loans.
Again, if Ed’s inference is correct then Ashley’s still concerned with the short-term finances. If that is the case, the clown still hasn’t got it – that for the sake of say £20m to £30m, he could see the club, his investment, lose out from £100s of millions from promotion to the Prem.
Ii wonder if he’s ever open to other folks’ opinions – if Charnley has the balls to have an opinion of his own?
Yes, it’s all speculation but it’d be nice to hear of a couple of quality signings just to but this crap to bed.
Lindisfarne
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:43 PM
Comment #9Stall C.Palace as long as possible and then buy Townsend for £8m tops, he is surplus to requirements and only available because they are in the mire.
magspuggy
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:47 PM
Comment #10Jib ,re atsu can Chelsea change there mind or is he ours if we want him ?
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:48 PM
Comment #11Belfast
thanks
just read the the Sun story which says palace would be looking for a sale and to there money back which is quite understandable
But we seem to be the only one interested which will make difference
AncientC
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:54 PM
Comment #12If Crystal Palace thought Townsend was worth the £13 million + wages they paid, they would be keeping him. They cannot seriously expect their money back.
Novocastrian66
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:55 PM
Comment #13Lindisfarne; Pardew has left the Palace coffers empty. BFS wants to bring players in and has to sell to finance their deals. They will not hang about on their transfer dealings, they will want to move players on quickly.
Lindisfarne
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:56 PM
Comment #14“It was a big boost to us to have Jonjo back though – the way he passes the ball and dictates the tempo is so important,” Benítez said. “We saw his quality today, he makes others play.”
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 1:58 PM
Comment #15could it be a clever ploy on our behalf we only want him on loan till they drop the asking price ?????? not heard of another club interested ?????
Lindisfarne
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:04 PM
Comment #16Nova
They should not be able to get all their money back on Townsend, i) he has not been a successful player for them / matched the price tag ii) if they had to sell him at the end of the season it could well be that they are relegated and therefore would only get less money iii) any club paying £13m or more would be mugs iv) any club matching his wages would be mugs v) CP don’t have a leg to stand on vi) a long negotiation is necessary.
Jib
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:07 PM
Comment #17Newcastle United have signed Christian Atsu from Premier League side Chelsea on a season-long loan, with an option to buy if the Magpies are promoted.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:07 PM
Comment #18Still getting my head round the fact that I managed to get last nights team selection right to keep up my 100% record in the competition!
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Comment #19Jail
just said to ron if anyone could do it you would be the one LOL
Ron Knee
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Comment #20“Henri Lansbury: Aston Villa close to signing Nottingham Forest captain”
So will he be coming to SJP after all – next month, isn’t it?
Sazzer
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Comment #21Charnley making the same move that Marseille made on Thauvin.
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:12 PM
Comment #22Henri Lansbury: Aston Villa 2m and 40k a week
toonincheek
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #23Jib –
“Matt finish adds gloss”
So many headline puns are so tacky, but that is brilliant.
Ron Knee
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:17 PM
Comment #24To answer my own question: We play Villa on 20th Feb.
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:19 PM
Comment #25sorry Ron i was still googling it
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:19 PM
Comment #26hibbit,
I never even got close, had bloody Sterry in for starters who wasn’t even eligble!
Novocastrian66
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #27Lindisfarne; Agree with everything you say there. I think a loan deal is not an option for Palace unless getting his wages off their books frees up the necessary finances for them to get players in.
If Townsend is on a significantly higher salary than he was on with us, we might be unwilling to sign him permanently as we could be stuck with a big salary should we ( unlikely) fail to get promoted.
I doubt Townsend would take a significant pay cut.
Ron Knee
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #28hibbit
No doubt he will receive a warm reception if he turns up!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:25 PM
Comment #29Ron,
If we beat Oxford we’ll be playing on the weekend of the 18th which means the Villa game will be moved.
Novocastrian66
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:26 PM
Comment #30If we get past Oxford. The Villa game will be postponed as it is a FA cup weekend.
In fact every subsequent round of the cup, apart from the final, we have a home fixture.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:28 PM
Comment #31I’m now letting my head rule over my heart and hope we sign Townsend, but he must have the very strict conditions me and hibbit imposed written in to his new deal!
lochinvar
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:29 PM
Comment #32From Sky, this means three away games on the trot and in close proximity. Well done the FA
Newcastle are unhappy with the date chosen for their rearranged game against Sky Bet Championship promotion rivals Brighton.
Rafael Benitez’s men were due to travel to the Amex Stadium on January 28, but due to both clubs’ involvement in the FA Cup fourth round it has been changed to February 28.
But that date could also be no good if either team are required to play a fifth-round replay in the same competition.
Ron Knee
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Comment #33Jail@29
I suppose he’ll have to face the music at some point!
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:35 PM
Comment #34ron
no doubt he will
we have long memories
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:37 PM
Comment #35hibbit,
An unusual situation if he comes back, can’t boo him and can’t sing his name either, how do you let him know he’s in the dog house?
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 3:01 PM
Comment #36I go away on Tuesday 21st so will get the Villa game on the Monday night, I think I’d prefer to get to a fifth round cup tie on the Saturday though, take the bairn with me as well.
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 3:03 PM
Comment #37Jail
lets cross that bridge IF it happens
but for his sake i hope he turns up for the first game or else!!
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2017 at 3:10 PM
Comment #38hibbit,
That’s the big deciding factor, IF he turns up and has a blinder all will quickly be forgotten, if he turns out the kind of displays we’re hearing about at Palace I think the fans will turn on him, maybe that’s why they’re trying for a loan.
hibbit
Jan 19, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Comment #39Newcastle Chronicle are now reporting
Newcastle are open to a loan deal for Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend with the option to make it permanent in the summer……..
earlier in the day it was only a loan !!!!!
Ron Knee
Jan 19, 2017 at 3:15 PM
Comment #40Complete match:-
https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/newcastle-v-birmingham-fa-cup-replay-the-full-90