For the second game in row Hatem Ben Arfa was Newcastle’s star player with another excellent outing in Newcastle’s colors, but even the Frenchman couldn’t get the goal that would have put Newcastle back on track, although he worked his socks off for the side.
Ben Arfa – in action yesterday
Tim Krul 7
Tim had a decent game and certainly had no chance with either of the two goals, and he made a good attempt to get to Hazard’s penalty and guessed the right way, but the shot from the impressive Belgian was too well positioned. Tim again looked an impressive goalkeeper in the Newcastle goal and has picked up from where he left off last season.
Danny Simpson 5
Danny was okay yesterday before being replaced by Ryan Taylor after 64 minutes, and when he came off and clapped the Newcastle supporters we couldn’t help thing if that was his last game in the black and white stripes of Newcastle. Whether he goes or stays, maybe Ryan Taylor will claim the right back position soon, if Debuchy doesn’t come in. An average performance form Danny boy yesterday.
Steven Taylor 6
Steven had another decent game in London, and wasn’t at fault for the two goals, and we just have to hope he can start to form a long standing partnership with Colo at the back, and this was the first time these two had played together since the Chelsea game at St. James’ Park last December, when Steven did in his Achilles. Steven has started the season in promising form and had a decent game yesterday.
Fabricio Coloccini 6
Had a quiet but effective game in his very first appearance of the season for Newcastle, and it was good to see the captain back in Newcastle colors. This game was lost in the first half, especially with that second goal coming late in the first half, but Colo rallied the troops well in that second half, and with any luck we could have scored some goals. Good to see Colo back in the side.
Davide Santon 7
We thought Davide looked very good on the ball yesterday, and he was looking to go forward all the time, and Davide still has time to become a top full back for the side. He had a good game yesterday, although he’s better at going forward than defending – but so was Jose Enrique.
Ben Arfa 8
Ben Arfa was again the pick of the bunch for Newcastle right from the first kick-off, and this boy again looked majestic on the ball and seemed full of confidence too. The Frenchman also was very determined and kept drifting into the center, where perhaps he could have been more effective for Newcastle yesterday. Worked his socks off for the side, and Ben Arfa has looked great in the first two games of the season. Easily our Man of the Match with 70% of the vote.
Yohan Cabaye 6
Getting into the swing of things, but still didn’t look like the player we know this lad is. Put in a decent shift though, and still trying to get back to full match fitness. Put in a workmanlike performance for the side, before being replaced by James Perch after 77 minutes, and we expect Yohan to improve the more games he plays.
Vurnon Anita 6
Made the mistake of touching Fernando Torres for the penalty after 21 minutes and that changed the game in Chelsea’s favor, but it’s hard to criticize Anita too much, as he tried to get to grips with the pace of the Premier League. A decent enough performance from the Dutchman in the second half, and don’t forget he also played the full 90 minutes on Thursday night in Athens.
Jonas Gutierrez 6
Typical display from the Argentine but couldn’t get any good crosses in or set up the strikers. Jonas does an awful lot of work for Newcastle, but no final cutting pass or cross yesterday, which we really needed in that second half, when a Newcastle goal could have altered everything.
Demba Ba 6
A quiet day for the Senegal man, and he had a couple of chances to score but missed an excellent chance from about seven yards out after 84 minutes that Petr Cech managed to save down to his right – but Ba should have broken the net with his shot. As always he put in a lot of work for the side, and played as a withdrawn striker in the first half.
Papiss Cisse 6
Still coming into match fitness and had another quiet game, but he linked up well with Demba Ba a few times, but Alan Pardew gas to work out how to get the best out of his two Senegal strikers when they play together. Played on Thursday night in Athens so maybe we expected too much from him yesterday. It’s hard to say this when Ba and Cisse were in the side, but Newcastle lacked a cutting edge up front yesterday, and we had some decent chances in that second half, but couldn’t get the all important first goal.
Ryan Taylor 6
Got on for the last 25 minutes or so, and we think Alan Pardew will think of starting this player in our next league games against Aston Villa, simply because he’s a goal threat from any free-kick and we needed a goal so much in that second half. After his excellent permanence in Athens he did well yesterday, but probably needs to start for Newcastle – and maybe at right back in place of Danny Simpson. Ryan is similar in style to Danny but can take those corners, free kicks and throw-ins, and he gives Newcastle that little bit extra – especially in games like yesterday.
James Perch and Gabby Obertan came on too late to be rated.
That’s what we thought of yesterday’s performances, but it’s all subjective of course – how would you have rated the players?
Comments welcome.
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104 comments so far
APBWA
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Comment #41Some people need to remember that a top 8 finish would still be a good season- this is our 3rd season and it wouldnt be the end of the world if we didnt get into europe again…
If we invested a lot of money in the squad most people on here would regard it a failure if we didnt finish in the top 4! Trust me ashley is doing it the right way
Partizan
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #42Its obvious that having 2 classic strikers doesn’t work in modern football.
Its all about possesion and creating chances from open play which we terribly lack atm.
Pardew needs to make choice,,its either Ba or Cisse,cos you cant have them both at the same time,,didnt worl last season and it wont work in this season its simple as that.
4-2-3-1 is the most safest formation in modern football.
————————-Krul————————–
Simpson——Taylor——-Collo———Santon-
—————–Tiote——–Anita——————
—–Hba————-Cabaye————Marveaux
————————-Ba—————————-
Subs-Harper,Cisse,Jonas,Bigi,Amalfitano,Williamson,Obertan.
Just look at the bench now,much stronger than yesterday.
thai-mag
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #43I think Pardew got his tactics wrong yesterday, he should have went with only one up front and put in an extra midfielder , we couldn’t handle their midfield
ochytoon
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #44Davy
Sorry but that’s incorrect. He and his agent agreed terms, hence why Ramirez announced he’d signed for them a week ago. Bologna are being funny over the how some of the money is being paid i.e. Installements. He’s now refused to play for Bologna since the board promised he could move this summer.
Gateshead-Mag
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #45my opinions of the game yestaday
im not worried about losing to chelsea as i think they looked immense yestaday
i cannot single out any of our players that had shockers yestaday, i think marveux for guttierez should have been a change early in the second half as gutierrez didnt have a sniff yestaday and marveux adds more options going forward
in my honest opinion the reason we were out played was the formation, why oh why cant we play 4 3 3 like we did last season, 4 4 2 still has its day now and again, but the majority of the time it is flat and easily dominated
for everyone going over the top saying we have a shocking squad, howay man 1 striker and a full back and we have a top squad,
just wish it was utalised more
toonking
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #46mot7
well mate if you do not like benny getting back all the time then debuchy would not suit you
FatmanJoe
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Comment #47I was a bit disappointed with the result but I think the lads did ok considering we didn’t have a lot of help from the ref.
Partisan I think you’re right unfortunately. We have two great strikers but they obviously have no understanding and 442 will kill us this season. I think one has to be dropped.
Ketsbaia9
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Comment #48I said Ben Arfa and Santon were our best players yesterday. It seems like I might be right in accordance with this.
toonking
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Comment #49another thing on debuchy if he does come in when we loose to a team or even just concede goals who will become the player you bully then?
pbNcl
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Comment #50Yep. No place here for a one dimensional judas at all gorgonzola, I can salute that. He should go to stoke and accept that’s his level. Not just his football I dislike. I dislike his character also, he aint fit to wash demba’s boots. And that aint a stab at stoke, I respect stoke, jus they play to andy’s strength’s. We play better football haha and I’m allowed to say that
steveno7
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Comment #51The express say arsenal want cabaye and the mirror say arsenal want tiote . fu##%ng southern papers .
FatmanJoe
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Comment #52I actually want Simpson to sign a new contract. You need two good players in each position so sign a full back but keep Danny boy too.
I also think guidetti would be a good buy or on a season loan.
I feel like kets now..
mot7
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Comment #53hate 4 4 2 we will struggle this season if pards continues with it as most prem teams play with 5 in the middle .dont see the point in buying passing players then playng a style that doesnt get the best out of them must be frustrating for cabs benny etc
steveno7
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Comment #54Its funny how after every game everyone turns into a manager. ha ha
NUFC STEVE
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Comment #55WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SEE A WINGER BROUGHT IN???
Magpies-till-d3ath
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Comment #56IF Cabaye was to leave, I would run out of patience with Ashley!! Unless we get £25m-£30m for HIM!!!!!
FatmanJoe
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #57Steve. It’s not just after the game, it’s all the bleeding time!
If you sign a winger you’re basically saying that the four or five we have aren’t good enough.
pbNcl
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #58FatmanJoe, I want simpson to stay aswell. He would be great back up to debuuuuuuccchhhhy and his attitude is exceptional.
Magpies-till-d3ath
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #59I’d really love Belhanda to come in, but not for any more than around £9-£10m.
davybtoon
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #60nufc steve yes
toonking
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Comment #61when it comes to FBi would rather wait till january than sign one now. it is a forward i would like to see come in this window because only two forwards means tired legs and no cover on the bench for injuries and suspendions.
Harley
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #62I love pardew and he’s doing a great job but I wish he was a bit more adventurous.
Our tactics (even against lesser teams) always seem to be very cautious and stop them playing and try and catch them on the break playing rigid 4-4-2.
Whenever we switch to 4-3-3 we alwYs look dangerous like 2nd half spurs and yesterday. If we’d started the first half like we did the 2nd yesterday who knows what couldve happened. We were the better team in that 2nd half.
I pray he starts 4-3-3 against villa and we just go for it!!!
catchy in norway
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Comment #63pards needs to look in the mirror and ask him self if he is there to keep players happy, or try and win things for the club,
i think he is to close to some of the players and feels he can not drop them, because there his blue chip brgade ,
chelski were not miles better than us yesterday, they just looked more threatening when they attacked in the first half,
HBA looked like he could do something, but he was the only 1 until marv came on,
cabaye his set plays were shocking, and thats why simpson had to come off, not cos he did anything wrong, raylor just offered more for his set piece plays,
i think the kids are in for another long season sitting behind the likes of perch and obertan, and while perch has improved, and played well when he came on, the kids have more to there game and just need playing time in there right positions to help them grow,
but pards sticks to the same guys to change things, he seems to have no trust in kids,
MagpiesFlyHigh
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Comment #64toon1978
i like your posts and find a lot to agree with…but please do not use the word mong as a term of abuse. Mackem is fine though
wreker16
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #65Question to all, if pards changes formation so we only play ba or cisse as our main striker, who do you have starting ?
NUFC STEVE
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Comment #66End of the day our team wud be stronger against the big teams if we brought in another winger,played 4-5-1 and dropped Gutierrez???
FatmanJoe
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Comment #67Ba for me. Such a hard call though. Two of our best players competing for the same position.
It’s a big statement having our no9 sat on the bench.
Magpies-till-d3ath
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Comment #68You’ve got to be joking! http://www.goal.com/en/news/553/russia/2012/08/23/3326741/official-moussa-konate-joins-kuban-krasnodar
Ketsbaia9
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Comment #69We have Raylor and Perch who are miles ahead of Simpson. If we sign Debuchy, we’ll have 3 good players in that position excluding Santon.
Raylor proved yesterday that he a real threat and also a quality defender.
catchy in norway
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Comment #70ba seems the better team player
and cisse the better closer down type of player to run channels
there both as good as each other scoring
Harley
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Comment #71Wreker
For me at the minute I’d play Ba, he seems to look a bit sharper than cisse.
Cisse is class and will start scoring but just like last season when Ba took a few games to get in to his stride it looks like the same is happening this year too.
Would also love Carroll back. If pardew wants to play 442 he’s ideal!!
JDdubai
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Comment #72Worry 1. Pardew seemingly saying that we will go 4-4-2 for most of the season. How can he not see that in both first halves so far we have been rubbish, Spurs should have been 2 up by half time and Chelsea dominated.
We only look like we can keep hold of the ball when we have 1 up front and to be honest right now that should be Ba as Cisse has been shocking in the 3 matches so far. He has started like Ba did last season so give him time I’m sure he will be fine but shouldnt be starting right now.
Worry 2. Signings, where has our money goe? 3 million net spend, no way this is near our so called “budget” that was spoken about during May/June. This week will tell us where MA wants us to get too.
Also Tiote seems to be made of glass, misses far too many games. If a 20-25 million bid came in, it would be worth thinking about, as long as we spend the money!
We lack pace, only HBA has the ability to make something happen in our team, only HBA has done anything noteworthy this season apart from Ba’s goal. We need another dribbler/pacy attacker who can make things happen out of nothing. Our only threat down the left is our fullback, nothing dangerous ahead of him at all.
Hopefully we will be celebrating beating Villa and the 2 new signings we have by this time next week, we shall see…….
Magpies-till-d3ath
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Comment #73Ba for me as well, Cisse was sh**e in pre-season and hasn’t been much better in the first two games!! Ba is looking far sharper!!!!!
Kebabacus
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Comment #74I thought Raylor was excellent again yesterday, he produced more quality balls into the box in 25 minutes than Cabaye did all afternoon. Cabaye’s corners were terrible.
Raylor should start against Villa, I’m with Ed on that one.
Nufc-83
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Comment #75Toonnking bully really? Wow u must have gone trough school pissing your pants.
ochytoon
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:40 PM
Comment #76Magpies-till-death
A good player we’ve missed out on there. I don’t know if we were ever interested in him but it’s a shame he’s gone to a second rate Russian team. Perhaps there is a reason for that.
mattnufc
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Comment #77People giving Cisse bad ratings, could he have done anymore with the atrocious service?
JDdubai
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Comment #78Also I see many times people saying we have enough wingers so we dont need any more.
We only have ONE winger who actually influences a game and can create something for us, HBA
Marveaux – not fit enough yet, hasnt shown anything so cant rely on someone who hasnt proved themselves.
Obertan – dribbles worse than a baby. Sorry but people say its his confidence, he’s not a teenager anymore, if he has no confidence now then tough, get rid, he will not be good enough if we are looking to get in the top 4. He is a mid table/bottom half player. And the time he stays on our books it stops us looking for a better winger as people include him in the number of wingers we have so we end up going nowhere.
Sammy – too young to be relied on in the PL, season of cup matches and europa and maybe next season.
Jonas – not a winger anymore, DM or nothing.
Raylor – never been a winger. Wingers need creativity, the ability to beat a man, pace. Raylor can hit a decent ball but thats it, reserve RB thats all.
Amalfitano – from what iv seen he seems more like a ACM, maybe Cabaye’s replacement for Europe if we played 4-2-3-1.
So we have HBA who is a top 4 PL player, we need another..
Nufc-83
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Comment #79100% agree jdubia
Magpies-till-d3ath
Aug 26, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Comment #80Update on Douglas. A Twente board member confirms both #NUFC and #FFC are in talks, but no fees have been mentioned as of yet.
According to twitter! Probably crap, but oh Well!