Mo Diame worked really well with Jonjo Shelvey and made Newcastle look a very good team as they won the midfield battle yesterday with Manchester United.
Jonjo had a particularly good game and he’s such a great player when he’s in form and controls himself on the pitch – like he did yesterday.
If Rafa does sell Jonjo this summer – this game will have raised his value in the transfer market because against Man United yesterday he was dominant in midfield.
A really fantastic performance from the former Liverpool player.
But he has to keep it up.
Mo Diame in possession against Paul Pogba yesterday – £4.5M vs £90M
Mo played in defensive midfield and has looked an excellent player for us in over two months now.
There’s just no comparison with the way he is playing now and how he has looked before this.
Mo was really buzzing after the game yesterday as he said this – as reported in the Shields Gazette:
“It’s a very good feeling – unbelievable,”
“It’s the kind of game that when you win it, with this atmosphere, the fans, the pressure we had before the game with the Huddersfield result.”
“It’s just amazing.”
“We’ve done brilliantly today. “The team worked so hard. We were in front of the goal, stopping every single ball.”
“It was a big battle, but we’re so pleased with this result.”
Other players who were outstanding for us yesterday were Dubravka, Lejeune, Lascelles, and of course Shelvey and Diame.
But it’s unfair to pick those players out in what was a demonstration of brilliant team play from Newcastle yesterday.
It had everything – guts, glory, passion, and skill.
What a game – what a team.
Comments welcome.
64 comments so far
RobLeenio
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:06 PM
Comment #41martoon, I think our rivals being in the cup has to be good from our POV. We have x 2 weeks to work out any niggly injuries, get some rest and work on a strategy specifically for our next couple of opponents. Brighton, Swansea, Southampton, West Brom, Hudds and Leicester can’t do any of that. Plus they have an extra game in which their players can be injured or suspended. I’d love a strong cup run, but in hindsight I’m pleased we’re out of it this season.
JackBall
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:07 PM
Comment #42I’m usually a believer that playing every week is more of a positive, but after that hard fought victory and the importance of the next match, two weeks with a dedicated fixation on Bournemouth is a huge positive. Unfortunately, during the past three seasons we have had to say to often that the next game is crucial, but it is true again. A win, and a few other results that week going our way, and safety will be oh so close.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:10 PM
Comment #43After a result like yesterday the two week break is excellent for us, gets everyone rested and Slimani well integrated in to Rafa’s set up. Can’t see how we can’t get a point or three down at Bournemouth and a point at Anfield is not out of the question.
dig-n-dig22
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:16 PM
Comment #44Martoon#37
Considering our position, going out of the FA CUP was a blessing in disguise, the teams still involved will accumulate Cards and injuries that won’t help their relegation battle.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:20 PM
Comment #45It’s a funny old game. A relatively unknown 29 year old who’s obviously surplus to requirements at a mid level European club comes in and looks like he’s played in the PL all his life in a team pretty short of confidence. Yet the Belgium keeper of the year joined the best team in the Championship and seemed to lose confidence with every clean sheet kept?
RobLeenio
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:20 PM
Comment #46Sounds like we have a blog consensus the two weeks off will be a good thing for the players and team in general. Mind, it’ll be like the international breaks for the fans, a long two weeks with no footy….
Jail for Ashley
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:22 PM
Comment #47dig n dig,
I’m not sure about that, I’d rather be facing league one opposition at SJP on Saturday.
JackBall
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:23 PM
Comment #48Rob,
Yes agreed, the two weeks off are good for the team, but probably equally agreed that none of us want to wait two weeks for the next game. I know it’s sad, but what will I do to fill the void.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:28 PM
Comment #49@Jail
Could it be that with Selz it was too big a club move for him? Dubruvka is a few years older and has played in different countries ?
Some players just can’t seem to handle playing for the Toon some seem to thrive in the environment
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:28 PM
Comment #50Ed
I do wish you’d stop putting Jonjo in the shop window, he’s happy here and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.
carl
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:33 PM
Comment #51Well the SJP faithful did do their bit. The atmosphere was what it should be . No unhelpful chants about the owner, just full deafening support. Players want to do well and the crowd can make a massive difference.Magnificent performance.
Shelvey was MOM for me.
Nufc 4ever
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:36 PM
Comment #52Well what a fabulous win yesterday the keepers debut was suberb. This team never stop trying what they lack in ability make up with effort. Hopefully we can push on get safe get rid of fatman and start a new chapter . Hard i know but we can dream. Havnt read all blogs but the usual desenters not on come on jimnotsmiley and crew give Rafa and team some credit
Jail for Ashley
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:37 PM
Comment #53LCBP,
Aye, it must have been that, the manager showed faith in him, the crowd were supportive but he just seemed to get worse every game. He kept a few clean sheets as well. He was a bloody disaster towards the end.
RobLeenio
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:39 PM
Comment #54Lee, I think you’re right. Dubravka had already played in some serious atmospheres – the Slavia Prague / Sparta Prague derby is pretty intense, and he’s been involved with the National team for a good while. Playing at Hampden Park (same size ground, Scottish fans are pretty raucous) must be a similar experience to St James’ and he played there really well for Slovakia just in October. It’s no real surprise he handled his St James’ baptism well, the only surprise for me is he was available and with no competition for his signature.
dig-n-dig22
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #55Jail
I would agree if we could come through it without Cards or injuries but on the flip side how would you feel if Mo Diame ended up on the treatment bench for 3 weeks against a Championship side without any possibility of any pts.
Tsunki
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:45 PM
Comment #56Jib was pondering over the inexplicable disappearance of some of our pre-match bloggers after the game. I think I can clear this mystery up.
Apparently Primark at the Metrocentre had a sale of big girls blouses going on.
Tsunki
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Comment #57Now’s about the time the Brighton’s and Huddersfield’s of this league started to feel the tightening grip of injuries and a shallow squad.
We might not have the best team to field (up until yesterday anyway!) But we do have an advantage in squad depth. Some of our stablemates in this relegation fight have a pretty appalling drop in capability when two or three key players drop out. Not do us, thanks to Rafas patented Danish Rotation technique lol we still have a few players waiting in the wings that can get up to speed reasonably quickly and keenly.
Tsunki
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:53 PM
Comment #58I suppose i shouldn’t mention it but wouldn’t it be horrible if he just had a rare good game and he turned into a Sels next match 😐 Nah. Not going to happen. 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Feb 12, 2018 at 2:54 PM
Comment #59dig n dig,
He could just as easily get injured against Bournemouth, do we drop him for that game to make sure he plays against Lpool. Where do you draw the line.
Tsunki,
I managed to catch up with all yesterdays comments this morning. Those that say Perez is dog shit and that Rafa has lost the plot playing Ritchie etc clearly have no shame and will be posting exactly the same shite pre Bournemouth. What a crying shame that half a dozen posters were praying the new keeper was shite to have a stick to bash Rafa with.
SPRINGY
Feb 12, 2018 at 3:02 PM
Comment #60Just watched the game again and thought shelvey, lejeune and lascelles were huge in that game…. stood strong and gave everything….not knockin the rest of the team as they all were brilliant…we need to work on crossing the ball better,and the forwards need to be more decisive and quicker in thought…seen it myself this season and heard the commentators yesterday say to many times..”the newcastle strikers were indecisive there”..or “lost the ball”…but other then that..solid graft and commitment from all.
dig-n-dig22
Feb 12, 2018 at 3:02 PM
Comment #61Jail
The difference is, one would be avoidable, the other one wouldn’t .
Rob1971
Feb 12, 2018 at 3:12 PM
Comment #62Everything went perfectly yesterday, every player worked their socks off (subs included), the crowd were on top from from start to finish, those 3 points could be massive, I would have been happy with a draw before kick off, the teams below us are playing each other in upcoming fixtures hopefully we can create a bit of breathing space
Jib
Feb 12, 2018 at 3:14 PM
Comment #63Nikolai Jorgensen had another stinker for
Fyenoord vs Vitesse in Arnhem on Saturday
VA won 3-1
He has shown none of last seasons
record breaking form this year so far.
We may have dodged a bullet there
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 12, 2018 at 3:28 PM
Comment #64Tsunki
Damn I missed it!