In what was Newcastle’s most important game in six years, Newcastle players produced an excellent performance of skill, commitment, passion and drive to get our first win in eleven games, and that dies some doing.
Vurnon Anita challenges former captain Kevin Nolan yesterday
But our players were ready for this game and we deservedly won the game 2-0, and that was our first win and our first clean sheet in over 12 weeks.
So the lads produced when they really had to, and we saved ourselves and didn’t have to rely on Hull not winning – although Steve Bruce’s side only drew 0-0 at home to Manchester United, and take the drop with QPR and Burnley – two sides who were promoted last year around this time.
Our best two players yesterday were undoubtedly Jonas Gutierrez and Vurnon Anita, who was a shock starter and an inspiration in central midfield – in what was a n excellent performance from Newcastle – when they were under such great pressure.
But the question to ask now is – how come we didn’t play like that over the previous ten games?
Vurnon had his best game ever for Newcastle yesterday, when the chips were down, and he will not be leaving Newcastle this summer, and the Dutchman’s played well in midfield and at full back for us this year – so he’s a good versatile player.
Jonas wrote his own fairy tale ending to his career on Tyneside yesterday with an assist and a goal when it mattered most, and he said it was like a Hollywood ending to his career on Tyneside, which lasted seven years.
There will now be a huge clear-out of players this summer, and money is available to bring in good new players – and we are looking forward to the club having a very good summer transfer window.
The club needs a very good summer transfer window.
It’s been an absolutely awful season for Newcastle fans – especially this year, when we amassed just 13 points from 19 league games, but it was a thrilling end to the season yesterday – and the fans finally had something to cheer about.
That game will live in the memories of Newcastle fans for many years to come – and we were so proud of our players yesterday.
They were simply terrific.
Comments welcome.
205 comments so far
Bambams
May 25, 2015 at 9:11 AM
Comment #1From previous blog….
I am not expecting miracles here but I thought we would of done something similar to West Ham and would make an announcement about the coach. They must of sounded out somebody to come in as long as we stayed up…..
Only saving grace is Carver has the office at the moment and he has not been given the thumbs up. You would of thought if he was to be the full time appointment it would of been announced after the match.
I still think Carver will have some job handed to him rather than pay off the remainder of hus 3 or 4 year contract, or whatever he agreed when taking the HC job.
Garde
Laudrup
Klopp
Di Matteo
Clement
Any one of those will be a massive improvement. We need the right type of manager/coaches to attract the better players.
Austin
Ings
Either would do me, but given his statement ‘best pound for pound’ we will be looking abroad, hopefully in the 8-15 million sales not the 4-8 million.
Who was that striker allegedly signed as long as we did not drop ???
Need a coffee…Too much to take in
HarriboNo9
May 25, 2015 at 9:13 AM
Comment #2Wish SOME people on here would show some respect to Ed more! If you don’t like what he writes and how he posts his headlines etc then simply don’t enter the site. It’s as SIMPLE as that!
Well done guitteriez today. Great man great toon legend and great inspiration for younger toon players. Please stay as a coach for the under 18s they can look up to you for inspiration in life and gain passion at the base of the club.
cyprus
May 25, 2015 at 9:19 AM
Comment #3Ibiza,
another point of view on the interview from the king.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kevin-keegan-mike-ashley-can-5756701
cyprus
May 25, 2015 at 9:20 AM
Comment #4King=KK not MA 🙂
stuart no9
May 25, 2015 at 9:22 AM
Comment #5Bambara—–JC wasn’t given a 4 year contract when he took over as caretaker HC , it was only till the end of the season , I think that long contract he got with pardew could be void if Ashley gets rid of him
stuart no9
May 25, 2015 at 9:23 AM
Comment #6Bambams *
Scubadivingmagpie
May 25, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #7It’s been a long time coming but yesterday was day when for 90 mins every one at the club showed it’s real potential, Mike Ashley gave an interview yes it was a PR stunt. Perhaps it was even a sales pitch but the man spoke and even some one as thick skinned as him must notice the positive media reaction (not all media and definitely not all fans), but it shows the gravity of the situation was not lost on him. Now from him we need a big Summer with good business and perhaps more importantly a quiet winter where the only transfers are incoming not sales that destroy the foundations of what has been built in the first half of the month. Lee Charnley – well he’s the wrong man in the wrong job a local boy who has lost touch with the people and what the club means, willing to sell his own public out to offer Mike Ashley his best pound for pound value. Yet he knows he messed up and we can only hope that washes off on him. John Carver the man cares but is clearly out of his depth says the wrong thing, appears to have no real tactics of his own or just appears to have no tactics! Sometimes it takes more than just putting players on the pitch. The players, yes they played to a level yesterday – against a very average West Ham team who’s manager had already quit and their players were only playing for the final whistle. Our players only really achieved what should have been the bare minimum every week (less Jonas he’s shown his passion for life and the club since his return(good luck in the future Jonas)) but to us who haven’t seen that bare minimum performance for so long. A real team showing togetherness, fight, and passion. The fans well put all differences aside, they turned up and filled the seats, they backed the team, at times we were a quiet bag nerves, tense whatever you want to call it, fearing the team might capitulate once again but we where there and we stayed with the team, the first time for a long time no one got on any players back just supported and the atmosphere was awesome, the result was outstanding, the final goal well it was deserved all round, the right player, a real fans player who wanted to celebrate with the fans a man who has shown a newly found zest for life. All in all for 90 minutes yesterday Newcastle and football were what they should be, a community, a city, a sport all coming together, the terraces were full of excitement, passion a love for their club and the result was a home win. That was the first time I have ENJOYED football for a long time…. Yesterday rekindled a faint and cynical hope that the Newcastle board might make football ENJOYABLE again…..if only
Bambams
May 25, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #8Stuartno9
Let’s hope so fella, the only odd thing about that would be Carver must of been desperate to waive his previous contract.
I think he came out stating “I am going nowhere unless they tell me to go” would suggest he has something keeping him in a job.
Time will tell
Cheers for the craic fella
Ibizatoon
May 25, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #9Cyprus…I’m glad you got that second post in there 🙂
It’s still all ifs and buts. Whether directly or not, it isn’t the first time Ashleys Newcatle have made promises and not lived up to them.
Time buying or a change of heart? I’m far from convinced.
As always, it’s in Ashleys power to prove us all wrong. I’d love it if he did. I care about Newcastle United, not Mike Ashley.
dave 1961
May 25, 2015 at 9:26 AM
Comment #10I want Keegan as director of football
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
May 25, 2015 at 9:27 AM
Comment #11Ron…about Charmless I have been worried since January;
If Ashley should be judge on his interview (and he should) it should be judge on what he does about Charmless!
Charmless stays and I’ll believe absolutely nothing that comes out of his mouth…even if his intentions are good!
You cannot keep a person in that position who screws up so badly!
cyprus
May 25, 2015 at 9:27 AM
Comment #12Ibiza,
on your question, who do you trust, MA or the fans, was it rhetorical?
Anyway, my answer is neither. MA needs to walk the talk now, so we’ll see. The fans? Never trust a crowd. Very hard to comandeer and often fickle. e.g. If we win 5 games in a row any anti-whatever drive will disappear. The opposite is equally true.
Crow59
May 25, 2015 at 9:27 AM
Comment #13After letting yesterday sink in, I have woken with a thought that I can’t seem to shake. I’ve got a strong feeling that the next manager appointed will be English and the majority of players signed will be English aswell.
Manager wise – mcclaren, venables, hoddle. But the one I can’t seem to shake is Steve Bruce.
Player wise – Dawson, huddlestone, ince, Austin, Ings, downing, Johnson, Richards,tompkins. The one player that I would focus on would be Austin but thinking outside the box Carrick is coming to the end of his career and what better way to finish it then at the club he loves. His experience and class is something we lack and I think given the armband would be a fantastic addition. Thoughts??
Lilongwe Geordie
May 25, 2015 at 9:35 AM
Comment #14Carver came out a while back and said regardless of the top job, his previous long term deal would kick back in when the season ended. He would need paying off, but is that any real justification for keeping him Woodman Stone et al.
That will be another litmus test for whether Ashley means what he says. Will the ‘next’ manager/head coach be allowed to bring in his own staff?
Ron Knee
May 25, 2015 at 9:36 AM
Comment #15Scuba
Charnley was born in Lancashire.
jesper
If Ashley sacked Charnley, it would be an admission of his (Ashley’s) incompetence. So it’s not likely to happen, I think.
cyprus
May 25, 2015 at 9:37 AM
Comment #16C59,
before I go. Why do you focus on a nationality? We need good committed players, wherever they’re from. My pick there is Ings, pass on Austin though I recognise his prowess. The rest, nothing exciting.
Coach? You can safely shake Steve. Hoddle? Maybe but he’s been out too long. Anyone who’ll get me excited and win me CL football 😉
dave 1961
May 25, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Comment #17once it all sinks in just think how it could have been a snippet from nufc.com
But hearts were in mouths after just three minutes when Williamson put in a challenge that sent Enner Valencia tumbling but referee Martin Atkinson waved away some half-hearted appeals.
i thought it was a clear pen and we were lucky maybe payback for some of the ones we should have had this season, or the dodgy ones given against us.
hibbit
May 25, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Comment #18before we start picking players the most important signing is a new coach/manager the style of play he wants should decide the players we buy or keep
toonbrother
May 25, 2015 at 9:45 AM
Comment #19Out
———–
Colocinni
Raylor
Colocinni
Riviere
Tiote
Colocinni
Cisse
Colocinni
Carver
In
———-
Castaignos
Ambrose Efe
Osede
Tyrone Mings
Charlie Austin
Mclaren
Resign: Marveaux
Sorted
Warm Regards
SGITR
optimistic prime
May 25, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Comment #20Just watched the match through again.
Ashley didn’t look happy when Rivierre missed that sitter, he looked ill to me.
John Carver is even uglier when smiling, if that’s possible.
Was it me or did Jonas not really celebrate his goal with carver?
The interview IMO is a waste of time, talk is cheap.
Someone asked me about it last night and when I said I wouldn’t beleive a word that came out of Ashley’s mouth he got all upset claiming Ashley had shown real passion.
I’ll judge Ashley as usual on what he does at the club, I still want him out and it’ll take something like a miracle to change my mind.
cyprus
May 25, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Comment #21Hibbit,
Good point there
Lilongwe Geordie
May 25, 2015 at 9:47 AM
Comment #22toonbrother,
Seen as we didn’t go down, I take it you will be retracting your self given title of ‘smartest guy in the room’.
Bambams
May 25, 2015 at 9:48 AM
Comment #23Crow59
I spoke to Carrick in the closed season couple of years ago when he was in our local ( no kidding) and as he signed my nephews Toon shirt he asked him why play for Man U and he should sign for Newcastle. This from a 15 year old was met with utter disgust on his face and stated ” I would never play for Newcastle “….This was two years ago mind so you never know now !
He would not be for me but that’s just my opinion
Jail for Ashley
May 25, 2015 at 9:48 AM
Comment #24When he said thst the board will appoint a manager, any interviewerorth his salt would have pointed out tgat tgere are only two people left on the board and that Mashers is one of them.
Lilongwe Geordie
May 25, 2015 at 9:48 AM
Comment #25OP,
If that was Ashley showing real passion then I’d hate to see what him being apathetic or feeling indifferent would look like!
Jail for Ashley
May 25, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Comment #26There was a look on the faces of Churners and Mashley that resembled two men who had gotten away with murder on 90 minutes rather than happiness we stayed up.
Ron Knee
May 25, 2015 at 9:51 AM
Comment #27OP
Is there a way to watch the complete match online? I’m interested!
NUFC FOR SALE
May 25, 2015 at 9:52 AM
Comment #28The one thing i took from the Ashley interview…..plausible denibility.
As Ashley had never been quoted never mind interviewed live before he always had the fact he could say i never made that promise.
I’m hoping this is the turning point…..although The fact He is saying He doesn’t really have a say on the football side is kind of passing the buck to Charney.
The problem We have is that squad needs about 15 players coming in and about the same leaving.
Please don’t let me have to see williamson in a black and white shirt again.
Out
Collo
Williamson
R.Taylor
S.Taylor
S.Ameobi
Riviere
Cabela
Tiote
Obertan
Goufran
In
Ings
Austin
M.Richards
A.Towsend
F.Delph
Top Centre Half/Captain
T.Huddlestone
S.Downing
Enough with the foreign crap
Belfast
May 25, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Comment #29Mister tiff bang on the money a few articles back.
The interview was done to stick two fingers up to the protest. The club is not for sale at any price. I’m going nowhere. That was the message.
Nothing else was said that hasn’t been said before. Strong financial position ? Been hearing that for the last 3-4 seasons.
There’s been speculation for months that he might sell up and his mate has advised him to nip it in the bud.
Ron Knee
May 25, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Comment #30At least some owners get it:
“The candidate will be expected to understand the club, its fans and culture, and can encourage the ‘West Ham way’ of playing attacking football.”
mikeashleyisamackem
May 25, 2015 at 9:57 AM
Comment #31Gutierrez for manager
Young passionate ex player
Full of character ,players love him
Put him through his coaching badges
Or appoint experienced has been that we have done time and again that has never worked for us
Look at Middlesbrough with there set up it’s worked for them
jayphoto
May 25, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Comment #32Can’t believe anyone is saying Di Matteo! Tactics at all his clubs have been so so defensive! The guy finished 6th with an abramovich backed chelsea!!! (His record is actually lowest of any abramovich manager in the PL)
West Brom fans were also happy when he left! He was sacked when they were 12th! He wasn’t sacked because of losing but because West Brom didn’t want to continue with that style. 4-5-1 with 3 defensive midfielders!
Anyone asking for Di Matteo obviously hasn’t watched his schalke team! Made Pardew look like he played a high pressing line.
Finished every game with 3-4 attempts on goal and 35% possession! Even lined up to contain against bottom placed teams at home! Sure they won games, Schalke have a very very strong squad and that alone won games but the tactics were so dour it was unbelievable!
geordieviking
May 25, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Comment #33Watching MOTD last night and the shots of the directors match.
I got the impression that MAsh was genuinely emotionally involved in the game whereas Chumpley was simply reacting to MA’s reactions. Typical yes-man.
As for the interview, I’ll give them until the end of June to sort out the club management (new DoF and/or Chumpley replacement and a new HC).
optimistic prime
May 25, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment #34Ron knee
I watched it on sky on the match choice.
JFA
I’d agree with that, they looked real nervy up until we scored. Ashley still looked grey mind.
Lg
The lad was getting rather upset about it, I put it down to high emotions. The lad did seem very keen to fight Ashley’s corner but I was to busy enjoying the good atmosphere to engage him any further.
http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/05/jonas-gutierrez-gets-the-message-from-ant-and-dec/
That’s a piece on Gutirez and I agree with it, considering the changes we need to do i’d keep Gutirez for a year. He’s the only one with any character or fight in the squad, he’s supposed to be great in the dressing room. I’d much rather keep him than Sammy or Obertan, he’d be good for our younger players to look up to.
Give Guti a year!
geordieviking
May 25, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment #35Director’s match? Should have been box.
theartfuldodger
May 25, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment #36JFA
Exactly…Who is this board now? Charnley and Carr ?
jayphoto
May 25, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment #37Reckon that Ashley interview was definitely pre approved questions! The Sky reporter who conducted it is represented by Keith Bishop also so make of that what you will.
Never seen someone look more uncomfortable in front of a camera than Ashley. Must be rattled to break that trend
Lilongwe Geordie
May 25, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Comment #38Belfast,
Either he has been told to nip it in the bud, or he has heard about interested parties and is acting stubborn to try and drive the price up.
lochinvar
May 25, 2015 at 10:03 AM
Comment #39Ha ha ?
http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/23/aussie-player-brent-griffiths-sent-off-for-tackle-on-bbq-sauce-bottle-5211785/
Must be a joke on there somewhere but I’m so shattered from yesterday I can’t think of one !
toonarmydownsouth
May 25, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Comment #40Nufc for sale
Would that be the foreign crap that kept us in the league yesterday?
Because Willo was poor and local lad Colback was anonymous thanks to Anita showing him how midfielders are supposed to play…..
As for foreign crap
Ings – Relegated
Austin – Relegated
M.Richards – Loaned out, played like 10 games
A.Towsend – Barely featured
F.Delph – Relegation battle
T.Huddlestone – Relegated
S.Downing – Old knacker who offers nothing over a season
This British is best theory is BS
Proper scouting is needed not picking up cheap fringe players or lads who have dropped out the league