Well – you just never know do you?
Newcastle had one of their best wins of the season this afternoon when they showed how to score, with two late goals which included an absolute stunner from Andy Carroll from easily 35 yards out – truly an England center forward – and an absolutely wonderful strike – and there was over 50,000 at St. James Park.
And this game will show that Newcastle and England have uncovered another terrific center forward in Andy Carroll, the new Newcastle number 9, who had an assist in each of the first two goals, and then from 35 yards out in added time, hit a stunning low left foot volley into the corner of the net that gave Reina no chance.
This goal will be shown when they talk about Andy again – and it will be very often. It was similar to Hatem Ben Arfa’s goal, but this one was very low and just flew into the net.
Newcastle started well and they were in this game to play, just like they were against Chelsea, after all the nonsense that went on this week.
But Liverpool looked good and sharp early in the game, and this was not the Liverpool of early season as they threatened to make it a difficult afternoon for the Magpies.
But then after 15 minutes Newcastle got the all important first goal, and it was a Barton free kick to Andy Carroll that did it again – good job Joey’s back to put those crosses in.
Barton floated in the free kick and Andy Carroll won the header and nodded it down nicely to Kevin Nolan, about three yards from the goal line, and he was first to the ball to put it in – and make it look so easy.
Newcastle are a different team with Barton and Nolan in the side, and add Carroll and Tiote to those two, and they are tremendous players for Newcastle right now. Tiote was busy trying to give Newcastle some presence in the midfield, and he was having another good game – of course.
On 33 minutes Liverpool gave the ball away to Shola Ameobi, who moved forward and hit and it rebounded off a Liverpool player and almost wrong-footed Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.
It was similar to the goal Shola scored at Chelsea when he just hit it from 30 yards and it went in, but this time his shot was deflected just wide.
And then just two minutes later Newcastle had some luck when a shot ricocheted and Jose Enrique blocked the ball on the line, although he didn’t seem to know much about it. But Liverpool were pressing at this stage of the game.
And then just before half time from a corner, Liverpool missed another good chance when Sotirios Kyrgiako headed wide under the challenge from Sol Campbell and he should have done better.
Liverpool had a lot of the play in the first half but didn’t take the couple of chances they had but Newcastle still looked too uncertain at the back – but half time came and Newcastle were still 1-0 ahead even though Liverpool had 60% of possession.
But then on 49 minutes minutes the Newcastle central defense again showed how soft they are as they let another soft goal in as three Newcastle defenders allowed Dirk Kuyt in, and he hit the ball into the goal off Steven Taylor.
It was another sloppy goal if ever there was one – and all the good work of the first half had been undone by a terrible defensive mistake. We have to get stronger in defense, but of course both Mike Williamson and Fab Coloccini are available next week.
Alan Pardew brought on 19 year-old Nile Ranger in the 63rd minute for Shola Ameobi, and the striker almost scored immediately, when he shot just wide after beating off Martin Skrtel.
But Newcastle kept fighting and then out of nothing on 80 minutes Newcastle went ahead for the second time in the game.
Tim Krul lofted a goal kick up field and Andy Carroll headed it on and the Liverpool defenders hesitated as Joey Barton came in and neatly lifted the ball over the Liverpool goalkeeper, and the Newcastle players and the Geordie crowd went wild.
A poor goal for Liverpool to concede but great opportunism from Joey Barton. and Newcastle were 2-1 up with just 10 minutes to play. Joey Barton is a big big player for Newcastle United.
And with four minutes added time it was going to be a nervous time for Newcastle – but wrong again.
Andy Carrol got the ball 35 yards out in the second minute of injury time and hit a magnificent left foot shot that flew into the net low to Rein’s left like an absolute missile. In fact we hear the Royal Air Force was put on alert!
Fabio Capello will be a happy man when he sees that goal and the overall performance of Andy this afternoon,who had two assists and a goal. Again defenders seemed to be fearful of what he may do – and he showed them this afternoon – that’s for sure.
The final whistle blew and this was just what Newcastle fans wanted – almost a miraculous result after everything that has gone on this week.
But you forget – this is Newcastle United.
Newcastle moved up to 8th position with this win, with 22 points from 17 games, and are now 6 points above the drop zone, and just 4 points out of 5th place.
As Warren Barton on Fox Soccer Channel over here, said in the 30 minute pre-show just before kick-off, Alan Pardew will know this is his chance in a lifetime, because this is no ordinary club – this is Newcastle United – one of England’s greatest clubs.
We told you Warren was a walking ambassador for Newcastle in the US.
And finally, we have to mention new manager Alan Pardew – he couldn’t have dreamed his Newcastle career could have started like this, with another gutsy performance from the Newcastle players – and a wonderful win by Newcastle that was seen around the world against the five time European Champions.
Welcome to Newcastle Alan – and keep it up!
We salute our players today – they were magnificent.
Howay The Lads!!
Don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match on our home page. There were many good performances from the lads today – another great team performance – unbelievable.
We also have the video highlights out in another article.
Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Campbell, Enrique; Barton (Routledge, 90), Nolan (Smith, 87), Tiote, Gutierrez; Ameobi (Ranger, 63), Carroll. Subs not used: Harper, Perch, Guthrie, Lovenkrands.
Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Konchesky; Kuyt, Meireles , Lucas, Rodrigeuz (Jovanovic, 85); Torres, Ngog (Babel, 72), Subs not used: Jones, Aurelio, Cole, Poulsen, Kelly.
Goals: Nolan 15, S Taylor 50 (og), Carroll 90
Bookings: Johnson 19, Gutierrez 78, Tiote 83
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Attendance: 50,137
47 comments so far
William
Dec 11, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Comment #11st
mattnufc
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:01 PM
Comment #2More like 25 yards but a great result.
William
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:02 PM
Comment #3@john_cena163 // Dec 11, 2010 at 7:56 PM
Ranger for England
Fabio would never give that kid a chance maybe Nolan..
Whitecap
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:03 PM
Comment #4Great win. It was clear from the start of the match that Kevin Nolan had this team focused on the job at hand, super professional job from the captain. Andy Carroll and Joey Barton were the best players on the pitch today. Great sendoff for Chris Hughton on his birthday and a testament to the character of the club he transformed.
Edd Case
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:05 PM
Comment #5Thought Krul, Simpson, Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Carroll and Ranger were very good today.
Sol, Tayls, Enrique, Jonas and Strola need to improve.
Carroll / Ranger COULD be very good but it’s all about the service, today it was good, next week, if it’s not good, we’ll all be moaning again! LOL.
Zangwill_Ho
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Comment #6unbelievable result, Sorry my yesterday said negative on Pardew .Pardew sub way is better then CH . He can use R30 , Smith and R10 in the best time
nufc1984
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Comment #7Was a great result. Commitment from the players was imense. I know people will say it’s down to hoots, and I agree in the most part, but give pardew credit for realising Shola was past it and bringing on ranger. Ranger changed the game. Awesome sub.
aDeadlyTicTac
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:08 PM
Comment #8Enrique doesn’t need to improve. He’s improved a lot during these last 2 seasons and has become our favourite player by far. If I’m not mistake he got voted our best player of last season. He’s carried that form up with him and is one of our best players. I agree with the rest though.
ende
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:10 PM
Comment #9———–Carroll—–Ranger————
Barton—Nolan——-Tiote—–Ben Arfa
Enrique—–Taylor—-Colo—–Simpson
Start Ranger every match.
sweendog
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:11 PM
Comment #10Hughton .. the boys done you proud ..
Happy birthday.. 🙂
nufclewin
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:12 PM
Comment #11Great Result, but ashleys gotta go! Join: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Ashley-is-the-Worlds-Worst-Football-Club-Owner/176077812422408
sweendog
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:13 PM
Comment #12ranger, tiote, barton, nolan, carrol, simpson, the bull .. all top notch today ..
Have to give credit to Pardew .. Ranger sub was good at the right time ..
Only negative is Sol and Taylor look very rusty …
nufc1984
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:14 PM
Comment #13Think Campbell showed his age again. Slow across the turf. And gave the ball away to much. Was at fault for first goal and let Torres in for what should have been a second. Hope he brings in colo to partner taylor.
sweendog
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:15 PM
Comment #14hope pardew can translate Rangers effort into a starting spot cause he caused the Pools defence as much problems as Carrol ..
Thump
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:15 PM
Comment #15CB pecking order:
1. Colo
2. S. Taylor
3. Willo
4. Sol
5. Kadar
Sol marginally beats Kadar out simply because of the experience he brings to the pitch but given his performance against Man City compared to the performance again WBA and Liverpool I think the old arthritis is setting in – cold weather and all that.
tdt
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Comment #163 English goal scorers, not often you see that these days.
Barton and Nolan made such a difference today its unreal. Completely different team to that against West Brom. If we pressure teams and get at them, really try hard the whole game, we can beat many of the teams in the league. Once we have consistency, who knows how well we could do.
Fair enough it was a below par Liverpool display, but I think that’s because of the way we smothered them and prevented them from really opening us up. We did have a bit of luck, usually on another they would have scored a couple more by sneaking it in (ie when the Bull saved it off the line), but we showed we are a decent team again today.
Well done team. Now that Pardew’s here to stay, we may as well embrace him and push on with him. Unfortunately Sir Hoots isn’t coming back, I wish he was, but he isn’t. This is why we need to settle it down from here and continue building.
Start Nile in the next game, Shola looks his usual lazy self. Also Collo for Campbell. Harper too, I like Timmy but he does make me nervous when ever the ball comes near.
——————-Harper——————–
Simpson—-S.Taylor–Collo—–Enrique
Barton——Nolan—–Tiote—–Jonas
————-Carroll—–Ranger————
sweendog
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Comment #17nufc1984 .. ye p Sol had me sh*tting bricks anytime he was near action … Collo and Willo back will be excellent ..
Hugh Jorgan
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Comment #18I am SO SO SO proud of my team today
No more
No less
sweendog
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Comment #19think we need to stick with Krul .. just he needs the centre backs to be more confident .. maybe with collo back he’ll look good again..
carrollsinger
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Comment #20Glad I got the score right shame I didn’t put a bet on get in!
cwf1991
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:20 PM
Comment #21no mention to pardew in this.. like it or not, hes the manager now and we have to, for the sake of the season, get behind HIM AND the team. nobody wants a repeat of that awful season when we went down, after tonights performance we look well on course to survive..
Charlietoon
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:21 PM
Comment #22Great match. Up at 4.30 am in Sydney and at a mates house with a couple of Liverpool fans. When Ranger came on I said watch this he’ll earn himself clear shot and fluff and sure enough he did but I think he did really well coming on late and changed the game
After seeing this match
1. I cant want for Collo to come back and replace Sol
2. STayls has not lost his place just yet
3. We need to resign Barton
4. Carroll and Nolan are the heart and soul of this team
5. Sell Ameobi and Smith
Hugh Jorgan
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Comment #23Thank you Chris for your great work, but we must press on.
I do not agree in any way with the dispicable behaviour of the hierarchy.
We must now accept what has happened and back our new manager.
geoff777
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Comment #24Great result.
“Pards” (;-) needs to put Sol on a treadmill for a month.
TheGallowgateEnd
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:25 PM
Comment #25THERE’S ONLY ONE JOEY BARTON!!!
ThaiMag
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:26 PM
Comment #26Team next week
———————-Krul
Simpson—- Taylor— Colo—Enrique
Barton——-Tiote—-Nolan—-Jonas
—————Ranger–Carroll
milburn 77
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:26 PM
Comment #27fantastic result!
next step is to drop shola, i was upset that people clapped when he got subbed, the same people that were screaming at him all game.
ranger sub changed the game, fantastic.
North Atlantic Magpie
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:32 PM
Comment #28I would pick Williamsson over Taylor. Taylor is like Campbell way too clumsy.
aemagpie
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Comment #29http://soccernet.espn.go.com/video?video=channels/339821/1106420&cc=5901
Barton and Nolan post match interview
tdt
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Comment #30well done Joey for dedicating the motm to CH and CC
aDeadlyTicTac
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Comment #31That’s the second virus that I’ve gotten from this website ¬.¬’.
loothas
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Comment #32Pedantic i know but ed, a volley is when the ball is kicked whilst in the air….. Was still an absolute stonker!
Good to see the lads showin respect for pardew, will help loads! 8th place too get in!
And sol…… Don’t get me started. Every game he’s poor! I am however enjoyin s Taylor at the mo! I would like colo and saylor as others are sayin
Love the toon!
colwell
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:55 PM
Comment #33You`ve got too love Ranger yeah he runs around like a headless chicken but he does run Pardew can see the effect he had compared to Shola so glad shola was his normal useless self showed the new manager what he`s realy about.
Krul is such a liability doesn`t control the back 4 at all he`s been like it for weeks get harps back in there.
Colo and Taylor i don`t want to see them together either one or the other they play poor together.
balubas1
Dec 11, 2010 at 8:58 PM
Comment #34Joey Barton. Legend
what a player
what a man
Sgt. Heagerty
Dec 11, 2010 at 9:14 PM
Comment #35sorry ive been mia lads, surgery has had me outta commision last month or so, now that im retired the army is trying to fix me up some and give me a bit of the life back that i lost in iraq.
2 points real quick, first, gutsy gritty performance today from our troops. ed is spot on, we are a top half team with the skipper nolan and the legend joey barton. carrol was brilliant, tiote was as well. jonas and enrique both had a bit of an off day but still solis. big sol and tayls are not gonna work in the middle, thank God willo and colo are back. krul solid and simp as well. great 3 points.
last, as for our dirt bag shite owner mike ashley the evil fat bastard, we all hate him and want him gone fro what he did to chrissy, but we cant let what happened 2 years ago happen again. no protesting during the matches please lads!!!! as for pardew or whatever his name is, he had nothing to do with chrissy getting sacked and we have to give him a fair chance. please lads, stay behind the club and get behind the new gaffer and lets push forward, protest if you want, but not during matches or inside st james!!!!. please some rich guy save us and buy our club!!
hwtl
Sgt. Heagerty
Dec 11, 2010 at 9:23 PM
Comment #36you know newcastle is a popular club here in the states. of course the big 4 prevail in numbers but newcastle is right in there. having said that, where i live in missouri, its a small town and not many football fans, so when something happens at nufc like chrissy getting sacked by jaba the fat bastard ashley, i have nobody to talk about it too except my wife and kids. plus im in a bad mood and go about my business for days in a bad mood and people are like, whats this guys problem, he is just a bitter angry wounded war vet. i just wish i was on tyneside so people would understand why im mad and i could hit the pub and vent to my fellow toon army comrades. anyway hwtl and thanks ed for this site so i can connect with the army….hwtl
leedodd
Dec 11, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Comment #37It Has to Be said Sol Is no use to us but as Subsitute now – We need Kadar Or Vucik in there Cambell Was Terrable today . Thank God Barton and Nolan Were Back Today !!!!!!!!! Tim Krul is Ok But he is No Shay Given or Dare I say It Steve Harper.
ToonIreland
Dec 11, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Comment #38This is how I saw things today from infront of my tele here in ireland ….
Good performance by all toon players, campbell did get caught out a few times and needs to e on the bench as an ‘option’ – I would not however say that colo is ahead of williamson in the pecking order.
eventhough pardew was on the sideline, I dont think he has been in the job long enough to actually influence the players performance to the extend of what we saw today.
He did make an inspired sub(or was it, shola looked knackered so it was more of a ‘had to’ than a ‘want to’ sub)
what made my blood boil was to see the twat of an owner in the stand grinning, smiling, rubbing his hands and patting himself on the back.
Good job by the playing/management staff and the supports …
… but I still hate(do not trust) Ashley, if our current manager were to take us to 5th / 6th will he then get the sack because we need a ‘champions league experieced’ manager
branunited
Dec 11, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Comment #39very good game, the players gave everything, drive the 94 minutes the match, live on the edge of the seat and very nervous about Pardew, I think we should give its merit, I see two different things at Newcastle on Pardew ch.
1: more game together.
2: more speed at the time of attack (it was not all aerial balls)
beyond what happens to the newcastle of Pardew should thank Chris hugthon everything you did for us.
I am one of the Mexican fans newcastle.
Toonarmy1994
Dec 12, 2010 at 12:25 AM
Comment #40Good performance! Deserved a win like this from the week we have had! Need to build on this result now and string a few good performances together! Ranger looks promising.