It could be that Chris Hughton has had some discussions with the players this week, on why they have been so inconsistent, and it seems that what they have come up with, is that they are respecting the weaker teams enough.
Jose Enrique challenging Salomon Kalou on Sunday
That’s essentially what Shola Ameobi said today, and our top Spanish left back Jose Enrique has said much the same thing.
In other words if we go into the game at West Brom respecting them, but not fearing them, like we obviously did with Chelsea on Sunday – we could and should do well.
After Newcastle’s worst display of the season at Bolton, the lads came back wonderfully well on Sunday against the PL Champions, even though we were short of three starters because of suspensions.
And that says an awful lot about the character of the players manager Chris Hughton has put together at the club, as once they do badly they seem so keen to put things right with their loyal fans.
And that’s exactly what they did on Sunday, and they got lots of plaudits in the press for some very good defending and gutsy play against Chelsea.
This is what Jose Enrique said today to the press:
“Maybe it’s time we started to respect everybody the same – starting at West Brom,” “If we treat West Brom like Chelsea, we will do OK.””We train hard every week.”
“Sometimes we play better, and sometimes worse, but we always train hard.” “I think you could see that type of training mentality against Chelsea, that’s how we train, with intensity.”
“But what I noticed was that we respected Chelsea and knew we couldn’t sit back.” “We need to have that approach more often.”
It shouldn’t be hard to respect West Brom, because both WBA and Blackpool have done as well as Newcastle so far this season in the Premier League, with all three promoted teams currently on 19 points, and just how Blackpool have been able to do that still seems a miracle, and reflects well on the inspirational qualities of their manager, Ian Holloway.
Enrique talked about why Newcastle had to come back strongly on Sunday after the terrible capitulation at Bolton Wanderers, where Blackpool on Saturday were 2-0 up after 70 minutes, but went onto get a 2-2- draw.
Jose continued:
“People were unhappy, but we knew we had to forget it and focus on Chelsea.” “We knew there had to be a reaction, and it was important for us to show we had recovered.”
“We also needed to take something from Chelsea because we have a tough game away to West Brom.” “We played a really good game and deserved a point.”
“I think we could have got three points because we conceded a goal in the final moments of the first half.” “Had that not gone in, we would have had even more to hold on to defensively.”
“I think we would have done enough to win the game. It was hard to take conceding a goal in the last minute of the half, but I think a draw is good enough.” “The fans had some nervous moments, but I think against a team like Chelsea, it is normal.
“We defended with 11 players in the game.”
Newcastle could have got the win, with a little bit of luck, but when you look at the golden opportunity Kalou had near the end, when he seemed to have an open net staring him in the face, and he put the ball into the side netting when it was much easier to score, we were happy with the point. 😀
And Jose is so right that all 11 players defended, because one of the keys to Newcastle doing so well, is that both Chelsea full-backs Ashley Cole and José Bosingwa couldn’t get forward too often, as our two wingers Gutierrez and Routledge continually tracked back and worked their socks off for the team.
But West Brom away is a game we can get all 3 points in, if we are at or near our best on Sunday afternoon, and that game is again being televised live around the world.
And remember that this fixture celebrates Chris Hughton’s first competitive game in charge of Newcastle a year last August, when the lads were 1-0 down at the break, lost goalkeeper Steve Harper to injury, but came storming back to draw the game 1-1.
And we got a glimpse of the team that would actually fight back when they went behind, which was very unlike our relegation season, when the lads went behind – some of the players – who are now gone we may add – simply gave up.
We also went on after the 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns last August, to win every other game that month – and got off to a great start to our first season in the Championship.
So the lads have every reason to put on another good show away from home this weekend, and with a little bit of luck, and some respect for West Brom, who are a vastly improved side this season, we could even come away with all 3 points.
Wouldn’t that be something.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
Hugo_Viana
Nov 30, 2010 at 3:58 PM
Comment #1We need to strengthen our team
In the transfer window, i would purchase
Schweinsteiger – not sure how much he’s worth, but he’d be great.
Ryan Babel – He has some quality in him, unsettled, could be a decent buy at around £4m.
Santa Cruz – Definitely unsettled, loooking at other options, good finisher at around £4m.
Who would you buy?
We are buying too much wingers, not concentrating on the basic positions we need cover on.
matias
Nov 30, 2010 at 4:05 PM
Comment #2Finally a report that appreciates the work Jonas did in the Chelsea game. The previous ones were all about the bad quality of final ball. I think he did a valuable job.
midlandstoon
Nov 30, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Comment #3Wouldnt want santa cruz not played much lost his edge.
Babel – Not reached his potential so not a Star striker.
Schweinsteiger-http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/bastian-schweinsteiger/profil/spieler_2514.html about 30-35 mill market value, over priced but still too pricey.
Develop Ranger and get Wolfswinkel or Gervinho ( 12 mill too much) Doumbia- 9.2 million
CT
Nov 30, 2010 at 4:41 PM
Comment #4Sounds to me like a poor excuse for simply poor perfomances against so called weaker teams, how on earth can you not respect Bolton/ Stoke etc and expect a result.
If they`ve just realised this now what we have been saying all season, then god help us.
Zangwill_Ho
Nov 30, 2010 at 4:46 PM
Comment #5Butt got his first goal in Hong Kong today by a free kick in half time!many hk Newcastle fans support him tonight?
pizzicatochan
Nov 30, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Comment #6Zangwill_Ho – Yes I am one of them. That HK team is also one of my favorites too.
toonster88
Nov 30, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Comment #7ct @ 4.very correct.
“Maybe it’s time we started to respect everybody the same”.what a wrong remark to make.its the epl.there realy aint weak teams.besides we never could beat WBA @ the championship n blackpool beat us at home 2-0.i wonder by sayin this does jose think of us as a weak team or a strong one?we’ve missed so many chances this season but i guess 9th far better than 18th
GeordieGerman
Nov 30, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Comment #8Hugo_Viana,
Are you Schweinsteigers agent? Said it in last blog. Basti Schweinsteiger (Love that name = Pig climber) is midfield and not a forward/striker. He is also vice captain at Bayern and has been there since he was a kid (14), so I don’t think we’d get him for any less than €35,ooo,000
baro
Dec 1, 2010 at 2:36 AM
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