Yes, it’s early days yet – but the way Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa performed last night, and we’ll include Mathieu Debuchy too – these new French players brough into the club this month are fast becoming extremely popular on Tyneside, and that may be putting it mildly.
Papiss Cisse congratulated – after scoring first goal
For the first 45 minutes last night everybody could see why 23 year-old Moussa Sissoko has been compared and likened to the great Patrick Vieira, the former Arsenal stalwart, and he gave a commanding display in the middle of the park for Newcastle.
And Moussa also managed to brilliantly set up the first goal for Papiss Cisse, when he got the ball from the left, and with a few steps got away from his marker and immediately stroked the ball through to Papiss Cisse who did the rest – and the ball was in the back of the net.
And then another Frenchman – and perhaps Newcastle’s next captain – Yohan Cabaye – scored a simply brilliant second goal and Newcastle were 2-0 up after half an hour and for once we managed to survive a tremendous come back in the second half by Villa, who were applauded off the field by their fans after a magnificent and gutsy display in that second half.
But Newcastle were up to it last night, and after showing great skill in the first half our new French arrivals – Sissoko, Gouffran and Yanga-Mbiwa, who was brought on for his debut in the second half – helped the side gut it out for the win.
There’s no doubting the great team spirit that exists in the squad – even after a terrible run of results since early November – but if our lads can keep fighting like this – and show the flowing football they showed in that first half – we should be able to climb to safety this season. and that’s job number one.
Great performance last night from almost every single Newcastle player – but there’ still an awful lot of work to do.
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28 comments so far
MrMojoRisin76
Jan 30, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Comment #1Over the moon with the 3pts and the performance.1st half sublime can’t wait til Benny’s back in the team,2nd half we did what we needed to do against a team fighting for survival,playing with 4 forwards essentially and getting the ball in the box every time they could,it showed we have the stomach for a fight.We put pressure on ourselves last night giving the ball away too easy,that’s why we were sitting deep the 1st 20 mins of the 1st half but that’s understandable given the importance of the game.100% penalty,one of the stupidest tackles i’ve seen but he’s new to the league and he will learn from that hopefully.I believe we can beat Chelsea at the weekend.Impressed with Gouffran,held the ball up well,touch looked good,looked after the ball and looked dangerous at times.For a debut away in the premier league,in a match of this importance i thought Sissoko was immense,what’s the guy going to be like when he gets fully adjusted to the league?scary.Well done lads.
Transfer Sage
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #2They all did well last night I fell, settled in well during a difficult game when we haven’t been playing great.
Toon Tang
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #3first half was like watching your kids birthday party, enjoyable and something to behold.
2nd half was like watching a close friend being kicked in the bollocks
Pardews Parsnip Bonce
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #4sissoko looked really good. passing ability. movement off the ball. class
Transfer Sage
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Comment #5torq
Well aren’t you quite the cunning linguist sir.
hatemorloveit
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #6Just want to get something of my chest thats been annoying me for a while on this blog: strong black players are not ‘beasts’. you may not realise it, but that is such a derogative term to use. Whenever there is a strong white player, I never heard people refer to him as a beast. NOBODY ever calls Andy Carrrol a beast or Fellani a beast, yet these are strong white men. Why should it be different for black players. I wish ppl would stop. The word ‘ strong’ would suffice, or even ‘powerful’, but my gosh they are not beasts. Rant over!
Hatem's better than Messi
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Comment #7I thought Saylor did well first game back.
Sissoko is just class an amazing signing.
Is it me or is Debuchy slow or gets caught flat-footed?
He seems to get caught out by speed.
Krul was sensational.
We need Tiote back. Then here’ll be no excuses to play Jonas.
Great three points and confidence boost.
HWTL
Siem de Jong …. please he looks real class.
Transfer Sage
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Comment #8toontang
you must see things differently to me as if thats the case the 2nd half would have been a right hoot and not stressful haha
toonfield
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #9Bring on chelski,
New lads will be bedded in more,
Funny feeling we will beat them,
Exciting times to be a toon fan,
HWTL
gfp13
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Comment #10Hatem
I’ve heard many a white player be referred to as beasts. People aren’t trying to be racist by saying it
Williamsonsuks
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Comment #11Talk about palpitations… PHEW!!!
If we can play like we did in the first half for 90 mins, no team would want to play us. Definitely a lack of confidence in the 2nd half.
I love Jonas’s work rate but he made a lot of errors last night. I think he should be on the bench for a month or so, he looks burnt out.
Great to get 3 points away from home at last. Hopefully we’ll give chelsea a run for their money on Saturday. HWTL
geordiesteve520
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #12@ Hatem – you’ve got to remember that fully fit there are not many players as quick as Agbonlahor.
Transfer Sage
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Comment #13hatemorloveit
Why is that offensive? the term is often used to describe players of any ethnicity.
I have heard plenty people say it about vidic, hummels, carroll, plenty white players.
Its not a derogatory term at all…its no more offensive that saying somebody has cat like reflexes or they play like a terrier.
It’s saying they have the positive characteristics of whatever animal or object is being mentioned.
hatemorloveit
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #14dont get me wrong, im not accusing anyone of trying to be racists, because i dnt think their is any intent when using the term, but either way i never hear white players being refered to as beasts. its probably more of a subconscious thing
Dannyo
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #15Our 2nd halfs will improve.
It’s about confidence and fitness for the new players. Remember last year? We were all about the 2nd half, lol.
We’ll get there.
hatemorloveit
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #16But yeah i hear your point, just wanted to get that off my chest anways….still a shocking performance 2nd half
MrMojoRisin76
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #17Nothing racist about it hatem,it’s a term used for a strong athletic player,Fellaini is a beast,what is strange though is when i first came across this blog the word neggar was used a lot and i’d never heard this term for a negative person before,i thought”Holy Sh1t,there’s a lot of dyslexic racists on this blog”
Markaccus
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #18Hatemorloveit… Wtf you on about. A beast is used for any strong good footballer, not just black players. Why are you manufacturing a race issue!? I have seen fellaini described as a beast before. It just so happens that most of the ‘beasts’ in the game are black, but there are white players too. Pick your race-card up, it does not apply in this case.
Transfer Sage
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #19hatem
Yeh possibly….or possibly there is just by chance there is a higher proportion of black players who are big and strong compared to white players therefore that term seems to be used more to describe them when in reality it’s just because its more common.
toonfield
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #20Harem,
I think you’re being a bit over sensitive on this whole beast term, I use the term myself and aim it at strong unstoppable players,
Not based on their colour or ethnic background,
You’re trying to find racist problems where there aren’t any
Markaccus
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #21LOL @ mr mojo. Dyslexic racists. That’s a good one.
hatemorloveit
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #22oh yeah, that even annoys me more. what is the deal with the term ‘negggar’? wtf? i have never heard anyone outside this blog use that loool
toonfield
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Comment #23Anybody got any news on marveaux?
Hatem's better than Messi
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Comment #24Hatem
I don’t think that there’s any implied racism.
It’s not an adjective I use but when I see it it doesn’t bother me.
hatemorloveit
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #25We all know where the word ‘neggar’ is derived from. anyone who tries tell me its derived solely from the word negative needs to open their eyes
Hatem's better than Messi
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Comment #26Most people on the blog agreed not to use the term ‘negger’ as is obviously a nasty put down derived from the ‘n’ word.
It has been slipping back into use.
I hope everyone can stop using i again.
sirtoongospel
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:26 AM
Comment #27Geordiesteve, that’s very true. When he is fit he is a flyer. Have thought he would be a good player for us for a while now. Would be a great squad player.
Have to say that the manner of the win last night was better than an easy win in many respects. The feeling at the end if the game, the camaraderie with the players and fans, no wonder the new lads were buzzing. They won’t have experienced passion like this, and that was almost like half a season in one game. But hey, to a man they rolled their sleeves up. Gouffran played somewhat out of position, worked his socks off, and kept the ball superbly. He is 2 footed and can cross from both sides. Great.
Sissoko was Sissoko. You will get that presence and quickness of mind every week. So happy he is here.
Mapou came in and gave his all. A brilliant block late on, he is gonna be a real star, but no need to rush him. Patience has paid off with Santon and HBA, so if the same is needed then great. He is here for the long term. Quality and a superb attitude.
And finally Debuchy, what a massive upgrade on Simpson. Gives people no time or space, he is a proper defender, but he can play a bit and also cross. Again, superb addition.
That atmosphere for a league game will tell these lads everything they need to know about our club. Personally, I think we will get a draw with Chelsea, and that would be another great result.
Can’t agree with the negative comments as this isn’t FIFA 13. QPR beat Chelsea away from home. Any win is a good one in this league, and last night was crucial. Looking at the table, 4 more wins and a couple of draws will see us safe. A win from the next 2 games would be a massive boost.
nufc 11
Jan 30, 2013 at 10:58 AM
Comment #28Santon is no LB, far better up the field RM his best posistion, Yanga needs to LB now.