I honestly thought yesterday was going to be really tough to win our first Premier League game of the season, against Aston Villa at home.
The Villains had done so well once new manager Unai Emery came in last season and they finished in 7th place with 61 points, just 10 points behind Newcastle.
But I was completely wrong.
Newcastle went ahead with a great goal from debut boy Sandro Tonali after 6 minutes.
And then the debut boy for Villa, Frenchman Moussa Diaby, a former Newcastle target, scored the equalizer after just 10 minutes and looked like a great player in the first half.
We went ahead before halftime with a good goal from Alexander Isac after just 16 minutes.
A beautiful free kick from Tonali from right midfield was sent back across goal by Sven Botman and Isak was there to hammer the ball past Martinez, who would later make some good saves to keep the score down.
The second half was basically one-way traffic as Newcastle lifted their game into a higher gear, and went after Villa.
Goals from Isak on 58 minutes – a great chip over the goalkeeper, then Wilson after 77 minutes, who was set up nicely by new-boy Barnes from the left, and then Harvey Barnes himself scored one of his trademark goals after 91 minutes with that right foot of his coming in from the left.
What a player this lad is going to be for us this year – he’s certainly got an eye for goal.
That made it a wonderful 5-1 win and one of the best performances by a Newcastle side in their first league game of the season.
The Newcastle fans were absolutely magnificent and the place to play your football right now is in the great City of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
🙂
This is what Eddie Howe Told Match Of The Day after the game:
“We scored five – we could have scored more. Everything clicked for us,”
“It was a tight game decided by our ruthlessness in front of goal. Villa were also in the game, so we’re very pleased. We had to be at our best.”
“We knew we had a difficult start [with the fixture list], so you look at this game as a massive moment in our season.”
“Now we have to go to Manchester City, which is the hardest place to go.”
“We’ve got to embrace the challenge and then of course Liverpool, but we will focus on City first.”
And so to our Man of the Match and we have to say not one single player had an off day yesterday.
And it showed just how strong our bench is with the contributions of Wilson and Barnes coming in the second half.
Tonali, who will become a world-class central midfielder under Eddie Howe’s coaching, is our Man of the Match with 59% of the vote currently.
Second is Aleksander Isak with 20% and third is Anthony Gordon with 16%.
Note that all three players were signed over the last year by our recruitment team under the leadership of Sporting Director Dan Ashford.
Please vote if you haven’t already done so.
We cannot expect this every week, so we will have to calm down, just a little bit.
There again maybe Newcastle will dish this out in every game – they will certainly try to do that under Eddie Howe.
🙂
Hope so, because our long-suffering fans deserve this and the new owners, players, and coaching staff have allowed Geordie fans all over the world to dream again.
And we will.
Newcastle United is a happy family these days – and there’s more to come.
Howay The Bonnie Lads!!
211 comments so far
cleveleysbob
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:19 PM
Comment #1Hello.
cleveleysbob
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Comment #2Yeah,1st one for quite a while. 🙂
It was noticeable, on reading the “neutral” comments on the BBC that all the Liverpool fans had (like sheep) followed the Klopp line about our endless wealth.
Never occurred to any of them that they’d just bid £110M for a 21 yr old who only cost Brighton a few million 2 yrs ago. Nearly twice the price of our most expensive purchase
Knob heads – another team I really want to turn over this season.
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:35 PM
Comment #3I agree with all Keith Downie`s post match observation`s from the game yesterday, particulary in reference to the atmosphere, as i was watching the game live on tv yesterday i thought it was the loudest and best atmosphere at Saint James for quite some time, well it came across that way on the tv, but some of you guys at the actual match might beg to differ HWTL.
https://youtu.be/2TVDtsIz-OA
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:43 PM
Comment #4Magic
The atmosphere was something else
Chants singing noise came for all sides of the ground. Tonali songs blasted out most of the game. Couldn’t here the Villa fans.
Helps tho when the Toon play at full throttle
Scythe
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:51 PM
Comment #5cleveleysbob
Never mind the Liverpool fans, Klopp himself will be moaning about the spending power of other teams and conveniently forget how much they wanted to spend on a midfielder this summer. Can’t wait to play them at SJP after the City game! 😀
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:54 PM
Comment #6Dr Ed, grounded as usual! It’s a very good point that there are bound to be games when we play as well but get nowt. Just not for a while please! 🙂
Lesh no office in Toon as far as I know but it was a long time ago.
I’ve been catching up on the pre and post match videos, the excitement was palpable. Going to watch the match again now, I’m a glutton for enjoyment. 😆
Munster Mag
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:54 PM
Comment #7Thought it was a great atmosphere. Loads of songs for the individual players. Brilliant.
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:57 PM
Comment #8I nearly forgot, nice touch making the away seats all standing. For our away fans I hope other clubs follow suit.
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 1:59 PM
Comment #9Charlie it certainly sounded a really incredible atmosphere on the tv, and i know you were at the match so would be in a much better position to judge than me watching at home, there were a few lads who thought the atmosphere was a bit muted which surprised me Charlie.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:01 PM
Comment #10Magic
Think only time it was muted was after they scored but did not last long!!!
jane
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:04 PM
Comment #11Minteh on the bench for Feyenoord but Feyenoord down to 10 so unlikely to get on.
https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/13/netherlands/eredivisie/feyenoord-rotterdam-nv/fortuna-sittard/4096664/
Toon Fans Good
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:05 PM
Comment #12Mancini leaving Italy
The Taco Taker
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:05 PM
Comment #13Tottenham game postponed as the water has been cut off!!
That is great! – I can bask in the glory of my FPL position for a few more minutes before people start catching me up.
As a few people want yet more post-match thoughts from Villa I am on the case. Back in a bit.
check the toastie
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:12 PM
Comment #14Magic – i reckon it was consistently the best atmosphere from start to finish ive witnessed.
Even the Milburn stand had an atmosphere and it’s usually a morgue.
The safe standing section was a great idea.
Villa fans were shite mind. Didnt make a peep really.
cleveleysbob
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:14 PM
Comment #15Having watched a glimpse of what we are capable of yesterday, I find myself thinking that we’ll get at least 11 x points from our 1st 5 games.
Aston Villa – 3pts
City – 3pts (worse case 1x point)
Liverpool – 3 pts (worse case 1x point)
Brighton – 3 pts
Brentford – 3 pts.
I know we’ll lose a game at some point, but after watching yesterday, I can’t imagine who to.
City are the obvious ones, but the circumstances currently with Gundogan gone and De Bruyne out injured + flying back from a late finish in Greece, gives us our biggest opportunity for some time to “take it to them”. I fancy we’ll win, but they might return the favour @ SJP later in season. 😆
Hibbit
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:16 PM
Comment #16Taco
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/65928389
Wor B
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:18 PM
Comment #17The atmosphere in the ground was good, I was in the East stand north (not my usual place) which always looks one of the quieter parts of the ground.
Plenty singing, cheering and flag waving going on around me.
Had close-ups on the Mings injury and the Martinez rugby tackle, and yes, I got a yellow for waving an imaginary card.
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:20 PM
Comment #18Always great to hear the opposition`s perspective.
https://youtu.be/6VZZ3QmeNxU
Scythe
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:22 PM
Comment #19The agreement between Caicedo and Chelsea is for a contract until June 2031 plus an option for an extra year, with personal terms agreed in May. (Fabrizio Romano)
I thought a five year contract was the maximum you’re allowed to offer now, so how can Chelsea’s offer go up to 2031? Not like Fabrizio to be wrong about something like that.
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:23 PM
Comment #20What a Game, What a way to start a season for so many reasons, New players off and running, no need to doubt yourselfs, the fans love you, what a day.
I have 3 men of the match,
No1, Gordon, simply outstanding, Roasted them and set the high standard for the rest of the game.
No2, Toonali, first goal and put put a good overall display for 90 mins.
No3, Barnes, Should of had 2 assists and a goal.
Big Joe, Isak, Bruno not far behind my 3 at the top.
Who is this Murphy kid, what a ball for Barnes.
Thoroughly enjoyed that.
cleveleysbob
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:23 PM
Comment #21Taco, I thought you were going to say postponed because of a waterlogged pitch!
Spurs fans still crying. 😆 😆
Maddison assist! 0-1
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:25 PM
Comment #22Check Wor B and Charlie
Even my brother rang me yesterday and said to say the atmosphere was simply incredible and he is a staunch Celtic supporter.
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:28 PM
Comment #23That was terrible grammar, to engrossed watching the Brentford v Spurs game 😀
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:30 PM
Comment #24Notice its a lot of Liverpool fans going on about our spending on various social media they are actually obsessed about us would love nothing more than for us to blast 4 or 5 past them in the next home game!!
A lot like to measure us on how we were under Ashleys ownership but anyone could’ve took us over and run us properly!
The club and the city have always had the potential to compete the owner just chose not too and the fact is we aren’t breaking any rules that I’m aware of currently? Our spending has been within the guidelines
cleveleysbob
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:34 PM
Comment #25I watched the Sky coverage and thought they’d muted the stadium noise throughout.
I’ve watched highlights and MOTD since and it was much louder than the “live” coverage.
Mrs C watched the game with me and agreed it was quiet. When Tonali’s goal went in I said “we”ll have shaken the stands” but didn’t one across on Sky.
I watched the SSN Saturday football and noticed that from their 5 x pundits only Merson didn’t have us in top 5. Then to emphasise the point they each had to pick a team they thought would “underachieve” & Merson picked us!! – wonder how he feels now?
During his nattering, he quite “bigged up” Villa, but didn’t pick them for top 5 either. Another knacker! 😆
The Taco Taker
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:42 PM
Comment #26The final installment of the the Villa soap opera:
“Total disaster performance. I thought we wouldn’t get beaten by more than two again under Emery. The window is open, Monchi needs to get busy as we have had our trousers pulled down today and we have nothing to respond to this. Worst performance under Emery, and after last season, preseason and our summer signings that’s sobering. Bottom of the league with everything to do.”
“Newcastle were excellent all over the pitch and have shown the league how to shut down our passing movements, bypass the midfield and exploit our defence in the first game of the season…two of our best players out for the season….brill”
“The inverse relationship between the hope I have and the impending doom of our results and performances is quite remarkable. Back to fearing the worst”
“Well I didn’t expect that.”
“Given the pre-season optimism and the opposition, that’s the worst and most disappointing result I can remember for a good while.”
“We didn’t seem to have the personnel to play the way we wanted to and there were a handful of catastrophic performances (Cash, Bailey and, shockingly, Kamara). That said, we missed at least two absolute sitters and those Newcastle players looked suspiciously energetic.”
“Can’t just lose 3-1 or 4-2 can they, no have to completely implode and lucky it wasn’t about 8”
“Newcastle are an excellent side. I could see them in the mix for the title. We already knew they had an excellent defence, joint best in the league last year. But now they have a midfield capable of dominating. Guimaraes and Tonali ran the show. That was the biggest difference. That said, they shouldn’t be 5-1 better than us. Lots of blame to go around.”
“Bad day at the office. When I say bad day, its like shitting yourself in a meeting and then crying.”
“My first reaction is that I hate football. I hate the ridiculous tribalism, the theatrics and schadenfreude. I hate how you put your own well-being into something you have zero control over. It’s completely irrational. It’s all put on it’s head when we win of course. Then I bask in it.
Newcastle were pumped up with lots of confidence and a great crowd. They got something brewing there, and you could see the synergy when fans get into it. We can do that too. But we panicked. We didn’t trust our game when it didn’t click at once, they smelled blood. We’re good at slowing things down and controlling play with a slow tempo then shifting gears. When we couldn’t slow it down we looked lost and out of ideas. Not terrible, just not ourselves.
However, the second half was just a complete horror show. If we play the high line with that kind of limp attitude we will be dismantled by every team in this league. They tried to physically do it, but the heads were gone. Pushing rope.”
“The media bumming of Newcastle is gross and relentless.”
“Stick a fork in us.”
“The best part of that was watching it on a pub on holiday with a bunch of Newcastle fans.”
“St James park is probably the worst stadium you could ask to go to for our first game of the season, and Newcastle are on a mad high and have quality everywhere.”
“Better team than us. No shame in losing to them. They will go far this season”
“Whenever we are the ” Feature ” game of the evening, we tend to be absolutely shite. Ensuring that it gets maximum exposure and that we are trolled by opposition fans non stop.”
“Newcastle away. Our kryptonite. Get over it”
“We won’t compete with Newcastle. Only Man City will be able to”
“I don’t think Newcastle did anything special, nor were they particularly that good, just very ruthless and efficient.”
Toon Fans Good
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:42 PM
Comment #27Harrison to Everton
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:42 PM
Comment #28Interesting point by Keith Downie saying he wouldn’t be surprised to see HB get 20+ goals, we could possibly have 3 players doing that.
Isak, Wilson and Barnes, could be worth sticking a tenner on it happening.
Hibbit
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:45 PM
Comment #29Brentfoord1 – Tottenham Hotspur1
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:47 PM
Comment #30Get in Brentford 🙂 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:47 PM
Comment #31TTT
Good read but one comment caught my attention.
‘“We didn’t seem to have the personnel to play the way we wanted to and there were a handful of catastrophic performances (Cash, Bailey and, shockingly, Kamara). That said, we missed at least two absolute sitters and those Newcastle players looked suspiciously energetic.”
I was wondering when someone would ask what our lads were on!! 🙂
magicmac54
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:49 PM
Comment #32Hibbit
2-1 now Hibbit mate to the Bees
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:50 PM
Comment #33I could see other clubs asking that our lads are drug tested after games! 🙂
How does adrenalin
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:51 PM
Comment #34Didn’t finish that question.
jane
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:51 PM
Comment #35“36 mins
Brentford 1-1 Tottenham
And now James Maddison is also booked after arguing back to the ref.”
Barnes all day long over Maddison.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:52 PM
Comment #36KD also said that Sandro might take a few games to get fully up to speed, bloody hell, bring it on. 🙂
The Taco Taker
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:53 PM
Comment #37EGB,
Yeah I spotted that too. It is always amusing what some fans come up with.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:55 PM
Comment #38With all the YCs being flourished with gay abandon by the refs for very minor offences then most clubs will have players unavailable for chunks of the season.
Squad depth is going to be even more important.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 13, 2023 at 2:58 PM
Comment #39We used to get the Sunday Post in Dunston always lots of NUFC content.
Adamn_92
Aug 13, 2023 at 3:02 PM
Comment #40EGB
I was really impressed with the team as a whole for their discipline yesterday. With the new rules it won’t take much to pick up a yellow card for a fork of dissent. I know Bruno got one for waving an imaginary card, but considering just how many times we were getting fouled, I thought we showed really good discipline and temperament.
I’m sure Howe will be drilling it into the squad too, no silly yellow cards!