It was a very good win for Newcastle on Saturday against West Brom and such an important time to win only our sixth league game of the season.
It’s a time to celebrate for Newcastle fans too, since we haven’t had too many wins this season, but we also know the team has to become a lot more consistent if we are still to survive relegation.
Newcastle dominated this game from start to finish and the only mystery was how we only scored one single goal – although it was a good one from Aleksandar Mitrovic – brilliantly set up by Jonjo Shelvey.
Alan Shearer raved about Jonjo on Match of the Day on Saturday night and fans agreed – Jonjo is our Man of the Match with 31% of the vote.
Jonjo Shelvey – 31% – Man of the Match
Jonjo Shelvey gave another great performance at St. James’ Park and he was our main man against West Brom as he took or was given the ball out of defense.
Jonjo stroked the ball all over the place.
He used short passes, long passes, passes out to either wing, balls through the middle as for Mitro’s goal – and very few of his passes were misplaced.
This lad gives another dimension to the side that we haven’t had since 2013 when Yohan Cabaye was our creative midfielder and could make things tick for the side.
Shelvey will soon become the darling of the Newcastle fans if he can keep up these displays, but we also need to see Shelvey in this kind of form on the road too.
We have to start picking up away points as well as points at home and we have to try to win every single game of the 13 left this season.
At £12M Jonjo is looking like one of the best buys made in the January transfer window.
Cheick Tiote – 21%
Cheick Tiote is second in the voting and he was supposed to be off to China last month, but he´s still at Newcastle and he was the shock selection on Saturday – starting in place of Henri Saivet, who had a good game at Everton.
Steve McClaren put him in after only two days of training and we have to believe that Cheick was looking very good in training.
He was the perfect foil to Shelvey on Saturday and just like the Ivorian played very well when the creative Yohan Cabaye was on Tyneside – it seems like he will do that with Shelvey.
Cheick has struggled at Newcastle when we haven´t had a creative player playing alongside him and Cheick isn´t too creative – but that´s not the type of player he is.
He does a great job for the team when he´s in the form he´s been in this year.
We dominated the game so it shouldn´t come as too much of a surprise that our best two players were in central midfield – in Newcastle´s engine room.
And there´s just no way Cheick should be allowed to leave for China this month.
His vast experience in the final games of this season will hopefully help Newcastle remain a Premier League side before he finally leaves us this summer.
There were lots of other great performance right down to young Rolando Aarons at left-back – and for one so young he had an excellent game and didn’t seem to put a foot wrong.
Mitrovic, new boy Townsend, Janmaat and Steven Taylor all had games to be proud of.
Now we need the same thing in each of our final 13 games of the season – nothing less than that will be good enough
And if we can do that we should still be a Premier League club next season – but we can take nothing for granted.
Here are the results of the Man of the Match poll.
Comments welcome.
96 comments so far
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #1Thought Tiote deserved it like, but who cares? Lol.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:17 PM
Comment #2bandb yeah i have or had no issues with letting him go at the time its just he’s turned out to be 1 hell of a keeper so wouldn’t mind him back here just wondered if anyone thought he would actually want to himself
Mr Observant
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:19 PM
Comment #3Good evening Robert Vollans.
welshgeordie9
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #4Can’t believe conehead is 23.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:20 PM
Comment #5Manx
Doubt he’d want to join back to us now, Southampton are much better off then us now.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #6Mr observant
Good evening kind madam.
BandB
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Comment #7manx
I guess he made those new opportunities for himself by being a success elsewhere. The added value, he sweated for.
He might come if he thought there was something in it for him.
We have to make those opportunities for ourselves by being a success.
Mr Observant
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:24 PM
Comment #8Have you also got multi Twitter accounts? you’re very quiet at the moment hehe
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:25 PM
Comment #9I honestly don’t know who is this guy is haha. I don’t even know how to use Twitter. Is this Robert from Barnoldswick? No? Your wrong…
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:27 PM
Comment #10Mrs observant.
You made an account to force me off the blog? You do realise that in turn you are ruining the blog for everyone else? What a sweet little Saint you are.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:29 PM
Comment #11yeah bandb and tbh as soon as he’s had a few more england caps he’d be out of our price range anyways and as it stands there’s no chance lol
of topic but just seen flamini’s challenge how the hell did he get away with that or have the rules changed?
sing in the corner
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:29 PM
Comment #12On the keeper subject…
When Tim Krul gets fit I reckon he has got a real fight on his hands to get the gloves off Elliott, who has been impressive in goal for us this season..
sing in the corner
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:33 PM
Comment #13Manx
If that’d been Tiote or Colback they’d have been straight off. If it’d been Mitro he’d have been deported.
And did you see Gardner’s cynical foul when we broke yesterday? I saw the extended highlights a little while ago, think he escaped a booking for that!! Inconsistencies…
jane
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:33 PM
Comment #14looking ahead to Chelsea next Saturday Chelsea are away to PSG the following Tuesday. you would think the Champions league is Chelsea’s priority so even if they don’t rest players they may be distracted by that match.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:35 PM
Comment #15sing yeah he defo has imagine some of the scores without elliott this year!?
plus elliott seems a real leader
we’ve actually been blessed with keepers over the years i wonder who scouts them lol?
jane
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:37 PM
Comment #16after Chelsea Newcastle don’t play again until 2nd March at Stoke because their match against Man City is postponed because of the Capital One cup final. any idea when the City game is likely to be rearranged for?
Mister Tuff
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:41 PM
Comment #17Jib Jibberish.
Read earlier your post about Shearer on MOTD.
You suggest that Shearer highlights Shelvey with the assumption that Roy Hodgson will be watching and because of that Roy will attend the late KO game with Chelsea and therefore not just see Shelvey but Townsend as well.
Is that it ????.
Have you missed anything out your theory such as when the elves and pixies turn up.
Not wanting to trash your theory but just learn more for a better understanding.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:42 PM
Comment #18lol well if ya think mitro got sent of against arsenal for alot less
it’s infuriating isn’t it especially since its the bigger teams that seem to get the calls everytime
flaminis was a proper ankle breaker with both the linesman and ref in full view
i think there should be a ref league tbh and they get points for correct decisions and points taken off for wrong ones, would create a bit of competition but ultimately make them better
welshgeordie9
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:42 PM
Comment #19Jane
Should be arranged sometime before May, I’m not sure though.
Harley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:43 PM
Comment #20Gate crashing the keeper conversation here.
I think Krul has been disappointing for the last couple of years. Elliot has come in and grasped his opportunity and is maybe our player of the season so far.
I’d happily have Elliot as our no1. He’s had a lot of stick in here in the past but he’s looked a lot more dependable than krul since he’s been in the team
His weakness is his kicking. If he can improve on that he’d be faultless.
Mr Observant
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:43 PM
Comment #21Apologies to the blog.
So did take a chancel get shut down after my email? He disappeared then you returned daily.That comment the other day was a major error on your part.I actually thought you were a little smarter than that.You actually returned right on cue as soon as I posted about it hehe.
jane
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Comment #22when Newcastle play Stoke they will have played 2 games less than Sunderland and Norwich because they play the night before so Newcastle could well be in the relegation zone especially if they lose to Chelsea.
Mister Tuff
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Comment #23Whilst your at it – any theories about Lord Lucan or that Elvis Presley is living in Glasgow.
welshgeordie9
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:45 PM
Comment #24Not just shelvey and townsend, S Taylor, Elliot, colback and williamson, oops i forgot he’s not with us anymore.
jane
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:46 PM
Comment #25if City remain in all competitions it maybe difficult to rearrange though.
sing in the corner
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:47 PM
Comment #26Manx
Ha ha what’s the betting…Wenger: ‘I deednt see it.’ ?
sing in the corner
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:48 PM
Comment #27Harley
Yeah he’s got the gig for me like. (Elliott)
And his kicking is a shade better than Kruls anyhow! 🙂
Mister Tuff
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:49 PM
Comment #28Interesting the Roy Hodgson would want to check out Rob Elliot -a Republic of Ireland keeper.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:50 PM
Comment #29Mr observant
You think I’m take a chancel? You do realise that you have ruined any sort of credibility you had with that claim. Everyone on here likes TFL when in turn everyone seems to dislike me. You say you think I should be smarter when in turn you come out with this claim. Right now you’re as much chancel then I am.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:51 PM
Comment #30sing its worse than that i seen his interview earlier and he said he thought it should have been a foul for them no joke like!!!
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Comment #31thats why i was gobsmacked when i actually seen it lol
sing in the corner
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:53 PM
Comment #32Ha unbelievable.
On topic…Shelvey is a dead ringer for Uncle Fester, I’ve only just realised.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 10:57 PM
Comment #33harley yeah thats why i think krul will be sold as soon as he shows some form again and his kicking is worse than elliotts lol
but i don’t think ya can rely on elliotts fitness
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Comment #34nah defo the old black n white bald dracula
sing in the corner
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:02 PM
Comment #35That’s him! Nosferatu!!
Harley
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:04 PM
Comment #36Wish we’d kept Forster.
Everyone including me thought Krul was the better keeper at the time so no one cared.
I remember it was against Leeds in a pre season friendly Forster had a bad game and made a fumble that led to their goal. That seemed to be the decider for who stayed and who went out of the 2 of them.
Oh how I wish we’d had a crystal ball.
Mr Observant
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:05 PM
Comment #37Ymfb I really liked take a chancel that’s why I dismissed it for a good while and didn’t want to believe it trust me, but when you read back it’s so obvious. I came to the conclusion that you had one friendly account that everyone liked and the rest of the accounts were set up with the sole purpose of annoying people. You will obviously deny this fair enough, but I would really like the blog conductor to confirm my suspicions. I will provide another update when he gets back to me.
I’m working now so goodnight.
manxpie
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:06 PM
Comment #38shelvey =
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news_img/73877/nosferatu_73877.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Nosferatu-Getting-Remade-Get-Details-73877.html&h=300&w=600&tbnid=FWYZ-Piy_OoJxM:&docid=cP8_YjrqyYS98M&ei=q823VsqsCoGsUf2CvZAK&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwiKroTw4ebKAhUBVhQKHX1BD6IQMwg3KAYwBg
Premiership Manager
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:08 PM
Comment #39So Shelvey has had two excellent games and two where he didn’t turn up. No doubt he has ability but for £12M we want commitment, determination and consistency. He was brilliant at Swansea when he was in the mood however getting him in the right mood was too hard for Swansea which is why they sold him to us.
I thought Townsend was superb both attacking and in tracking back to help Aarons who he protected very well. Aarons also showed restraint which shows what a good player he will become.
I’m glad Taylor and Tiote had good games, it’s all well and good people banging on about attackers but having Tiote or Colback to add balance is essential as that is where we lose most games.
Mitro was also superb, he just needs time. I don’t think I’ve seen many forwards with his team and work ethic, he just needs a few goals and it will all come together.
As for McClaren if some people can’t see the difference he’s made and the players working for him they need to go to specsavers. Everybody knows he has an impossible job, it takes time and we haven’t exactly carried any luck.
Chelsea will be a different proposition especially if we still have Mbemba, Dummet and Colback out. A draw will be a good result but they don’t like playing us and hopefully we’ll get some luck as it’s well overdue
Harley
Feb 7, 2016 at 11:11 PM
Comment #40PM
My thoughts exactly on Townsend.