It was a good day for the relegation teams tonight as Wolves had a shock 1-0 win at Liverpool, and Wigan drew 2-2 at home to Arsenal.
Charles N’Zogbia – sent off against Arsenal tonight
The Liverpool loss to Wolves has to put manager Roy Hodgson under intense pressure, as most pundits would say that Wolves and probably West Ham have been the two worst terms in the Premier League, at least so far this season.
And Wigan did well against Arsenal when they went 1-0 up through a Ben Watson penalty after 18 minutes, but then Arsenal were ahead at the half, by scoring a couple of good goals through Arshavin and Bendtner.
And then on 78 minutes Charles N’Zogbia must have been watching the Tottenham – Newcastle game yesterday, and took a cue from Kaboul, because Charles foolishly head-butted Jack Wilshere.
The Frenchman was sent off with a straight red card, and will now miss three games, including the game against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
N’Zogbia had easily been Wigan’s best player tonight, so that’s good news for Newcastle, and Alan Pardew was at the game scouting our next opponents.
But Wigan also looked a rather good side tonight, and after Charles was sent off, would you believe they equalized after 81 minutes with an own goal from Squillaci.
So Arsenal again managed to throw away two points, and until they strengthen the defense and in particular get a top class goalkeeper they will be handicapped in the Premier League title race.
Think of the difference in goalkeepers between Arsenal and the other top sides – Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool.
Chelsea also finally got onto their winning ways again, with a good 1-0 win over the fast improving Bolton side, through a good goal from Malouda on 61 minutes.
Newcastle are now just 3 points off the relegation zone, with West Ham, Birmingham, Wigan and Wolves collecting points over the first two games of the holiday period.
Comments welcome.
30 comments so far
Hughton Till I Die
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Comment #1we HAVE to win this, simple as. we’re currently 3 points of relegation, need to sort it out.
baro
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Comment #2I’m really glad he is out. He is a terrific player and from the massive boo’s he was given earlier this season he just wanted to kill us even more. But, don’t underestimate Wigan they are a good side. We need all 3 points in this 1.
carrollsinger
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Comment #3Hahahahahaha get in makes it easier to get 3 points zog always scores p
Geordie-Gerrard7
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Comment #4We signed benny tonight by the way lads..
GeordieGerman
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Comment #5As I said before we need at least 5 points from the next 3 league games. 7 would be better 9 perfect. Less than 5 and Pardew is looking for a new job.
baro
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Comment #6GOOD NEWS! Hatem Ben Arfa to be Alan Pardew first signing. I’m glad he is going to stay.
Also on the other blog it says………………..
George Caulkin from The Times has just put this on his Twitter:
“Ben Arfa signing will be confirmed at start of next week. Due to return to training at start of Feb.”
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Hatem-Ben-Arfa-will-sign-for-Newcastle-in-a-5-1million-permanent-deal-article660307.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
GeordieGerman
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:34 PM
Comment #7Geordie-Gerrard7, you sure?
baro
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:34 PM
Comment #8January IN
Hatem Ben Arfa
Shaun Wright Phillips
Geordie-Gerrard7
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Comment #9German-100% mate.
ToonAndy
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:39 PM
Comment #10I’m a Newcastle fan because when I go to sleep at night the last thing I think about is Newcastle United… And when I wake up on a morning the first thing I think about is Newcastle united!… When we get beat my heart bleeds… When we win it is the most glorious feeling I have ever experienced!… Why are you a Newcastle United fan?
baro
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Comment #11ToonAndy=Brilliant!
nightfa11
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:42 PM
Comment #12January OUT: pardew, best, xisco, loven, perch, r.taylor
in.HTB, A.johnson (loan).
btw, ive been just watching barca matches..good i hate that team..i hope we never EVER play like them. ffs they pass the ball in the middle of the field for 30 minutes, then they give it to messi and he scores. that’s NOT football. they couldnt even score with no messi in the team. even in WC..they scored how many (9) goals in 7 matches-.- & some of them by pure luck.
baro
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Comment #13Wow! Seems like every 10 minutes we are interested in or we got a player. We really need rising talents and wonderkids if we are to follow Mike Ashley 5 year (Arsenal Style) plan.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1342587/Newcastle-offer-Leon-Best-bait-secure-Leeds-midfielder-Max-Gradel.html
Howay The Lads
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:48 PM
Comment #14Completely agree, Nightfall!
It’s so boring.
Their play:
Xavi to Iniesta.
Iniesta to Xavi.
Xavi to Puyol.
Puyol to Iniest.
Iniesta to Pique.
Pique to Alves.
Alves to Xavi.
Xavi to Iniesta.
Iniesta to Villa.
Villa to Iniesta.
Iniesta to Messi.
Messi takes on the entire opposition before chipping the keeper
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
GeordieGerman
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Comment #15ToonAndy, I’m a NUFC fan because I’m starting to get a hard on reading about HBA and SWP.
baro
Dec 29, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Comment #16My god is Max Gradel an excellent player!!!!
WOWAAAWWWOOOWWWAAAA!!!!!
He is the Ronaldo of league 1! Just go watch his highlights he is amazing!
baro
Dec 30, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Comment #17This is ChaulkinTheTimes Twitter..
It simply says
*Arfa signing will be confirmed at start of next week. Due to return to training at start of Feb*
http://twitter.com/CaulkinTheTimes
baro
Dec 30, 2010 at 12:10 AM
Comment #182010 worst Nufc player of the year is Leon Best (With a honorable mention to James Perch) !
http://blogs.soccernet.com/newcastleunited/archives/2010/12/nufc_2010_a_brief_review_1.php
puffinmuncher
Dec 30, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Comment #19So, a team can string 4+ passes together and it’s boring? Its a lot better to watch than the crap we’re being served by our club at the moment. High balls into the area from the halfway line? Now thats boring
baro
Dec 30, 2010 at 12:15 AM
Comment #20Night Lads!
Brutooon
Dec 30, 2010 at 12:25 AM
Comment #21Zoggy and Milner out (they BOTH can cross)
Jonas and Routledge In (they BOTH cant cross)
GeordieToon89
Dec 30, 2010 at 12:48 AM
Comment #22wooo buzzin about geordie arfa like.. and would love to see young gradel sign he is one hell of a player and tiote would help him settle in north east not tht leeds is very far away mind ha
BWFFBW
Dec 30, 2010 at 1:20 AM
Comment #23HBA is Messi-like, but the sooner we get him signed the better! I like the Gradel and Tiote would be a great combo for the team.
I really wanted Tiote to put a crushing tackle on de Jong.
Per his words at NUFC, shouldn’t N’Zogbia be playing for Barca or Man U?!
branunited
Dec 30, 2010 at 1:44 AM
Comment #24wigan surely lose their best player, hopefully newcastle now, if you win the game.
man city: yaya toure expelled = defeat
hotspurs: defoe expelled = defeat
wigan: charles n’zobia removed = “?
reinforcements from us about seeing me like a loan Diniyar Bilyaletdinov or signin steven pienar
BWFFBW
Dec 30, 2010 at 1:49 AM
Comment #25@branunited
Pienar is too old.
Diniyar works for us how?
GeordieGerman
Dec 30, 2010 at 1:56 AM
Comment #26BWFFBW, I think branunited is using a translator.
Rotonda heights
Dec 30, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Comment #27Howay the alds
I think they were being sarcastic mate !!!!
We’d all kill for a team that could actually pass the ball rather than lumping it all day long to carroll’s bonce.
Wish we had a footballing manager like Martinez, di Matteo, Holloway or Poyet in charge.
Rotonda heights
Dec 30, 2010 at 9:36 AM
Comment #28Sorry Howay the lads I meant puffinmuncher
balubas1
Dec 30, 2010 at 9:54 AM
Comment #29Not that I hate Wigan, but I am desperate to see them relegated.. for 1 reason.. N’Zogbia.
He left us because he wanted “bigger” things… I’m sure he will be a hit in the championship!
balubas1
Dec 30, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Comment #30All this noise about crossing…. I’m getting tired if that crap.
I agree Jonas doesn’t have a very good foot for either passing/shooting/crossing…
But how many times do we actually play our wingers in to good crossing positions????? Tell me that please. I’ve seen Routledge put in decent crosses several times.
And another question: Who do they have to cross to ????? Yes Carroll… alone against 2 CB’s and 1 fullback. If Carroll wasn’t as good as he is, it would be a different story this season.
The fault lies with the upbuild of play. It is a fundamental error. We should be happy we have 1 tactic now that works. Barton—->Carroll—->Nolan. But we only have that one.
In order to play better football, we need more off-the-ball movement. Look at Arsenal. Look at Chelsea. I don’t want to play just like them, but we must have more movement off-the-ball to create the space we need in attack.