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
valle
Aug 13, 2023 at 5:57 PM
Comment #121On another note… I am very happy that we ended up with Isak instead of Nunez, although I didnt see it when the deals happened.
Throckley Gadjee
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:03 PM
Comment #122Apologies if this has already been posted but it made me smile.
Ginola and Tonali.
https://twitter.com/jdsports/status/1688147942534721537?s=48&t=Av0Ao0jKSzL0PINZPQNeZQ
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:05 PM
Comment #123How many 100s of millions on show here? Poor show.
Vask
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:08 PM
Comment #124Frockley
It’s a good un. I like the “clammin’ for me bait” line and at the end when he’s going “tonali” in response to welcome to the toon army. Made me chuckle.
Playmaker
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:10 PM
Comment #125If Liverpool dont Get better than this we will kill them at St James Park in a couple of weeks.
The Taco Taker
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:13 PM
Comment #126Ace,
I have always said the true path to success is to get players in young. It is what the best clubs do and one of the most important things that was neglected here in the past. Many wont make it to the level we need them to be at but lots will bring a profit anyway and go on to have a career in football. Those that do make it are worth their weight in gold. If they have a connection to NUFC like Anderson or Miley then even better. I would like to see NUFC more involved with local emerging talent and local kids football, but that might be happening more than I am aware of.
As for the Womans game – I still think people underestimate how important it is for us to grow that and ultimately become one of the top teams in Womans football. What people don’t get is that the Mens game is reaching a ceiling in many financial ways (TV deals, further global exposure etc) The Womans game can grow exponentially in comparison.
Also, as that growth happens globally lets see who “sportswashes” whom. There is only one direction that tides turn in.
Ashingtoon62
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:14 PM
Comment #127Salah subbed on 75 mins…
Klippity is flapping … 😆
valle
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:16 PM
Comment #128Playmaker
I thought the exact same thing.
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:16 PM
Comment #129This is a poor game, one has loads of possession with little attacking threat, the other has give up the MF and HOPE the forwards can sneak it for them.
It is the first game, but on this, these will not be top 4.
valle
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:18 PM
Comment #130If we win the first four, which we can (I dont say we will). Then I can see us having an amazing season.
I still hope for a CB though.
TheDrewid
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:18 PM
Comment #131It’s remarkable when you think that if Id asked the same question just two seasons ago, the correct answer would’ve been “all of them”.
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:18 PM
Comment #132Salah not a happy bunny. Not surprised, he’s had no service in the second half.
valle
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:21 PM
Comment #133LOL
Klopp throwing himself to the ground, holding his head i his hands.
Its like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Playmaker
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:26 PM
Comment #134Really poor quality this game
TheDrewid
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:27 PM
Comment #135Playmaker
Agreed
Watch the pundits fawn over them regardless.
Novocastrian66
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:29 PM
Comment #136Carragher is so partisan it is unreal. He is bigging up Elliott’s impact on the game since getting on. Talk about desperate. If he wants to see impact off the bench he needs to watch the Harvey Barnes performance yesterday.
TheDrewid
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:31 PM
Comment #137Well, if I was supposed to come away from watching that with any trepidation about facing either of them, then I’d say “mission failed”
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:32 PM
Comment #138The taco
In what way has men’s football reached a ceiling??
Women’s football will not bring more money to the game, its mainly men who pay to watch football, and the women that do want to watch football, it’s the men’s game they want to watch.
Women’s football is terrible to watch and always will be, and if they want it to be better, then they need to make some serious changes for the women’s game,
Smaller pitches, everything goes in slow motion when they counter attack.
Smaller goals, women are smaller than men, it just makes sense, I mean a tall woman is 5ft8 to 5ft10, the smaller male goal keepers are 6ft.
Women’s golf. They play off shorter tees, because they are not as strong.
I would never watch women’s football, for the same reason I don’t support Gateshead, it’s a very poor level, and nearly every man I know will not watch it.
But some will.
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:36 PM
Comment #139The thing is, Poch is building his team so I expect them to improve. Klopp however has been building his team for years. It won’t be long before the knives come out.
So Toon top and both Mersey clubs in the bottom half of the table. Early days, I know. Still, I can’t help smiling. 🙂
Vask
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:36 PM
Comment #140Just been watching the match again.
Right at the end trippier fouls digne who looks at the ref as if to say where is the card. He then sneakily does the card mime but with his shirt in his hand as if he was wiping his face. I thought it quite funny. 😀
coming home
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:41 PM
Comment #141FPL post
Do the subs score count anyone ?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:43 PM
Comment #142The annoying thing about Liverpool and City Is we always seem to get them back to back and we usually have injury problems or meet them before or after a cup final etc
This might be the first time we play them when both of them are in a little bit of a dodgy moment so could be interesting
AnyToon in Indiana
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:44 PM
Comment #143I little bit from Tonali after the game yesterday…a few good comments as well
https://sempremilan.com/tonali-change-everything-newcastle-milan
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:51 PM
Comment #144And Taco,
If anything, the women’s game will take money away from the men’s game, you just have to look at the women’s NBA in the USA, it’s been going for nearly 20 years, and it’s the men’s NBA that pays for it.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:52 PM
Comment #145catchy in norway @138. I disagree with you in almost every letter typed, never mind the sentence.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:54 PM
Comment #146Catchy. And?
##Women’s golf. They play off shorter tees, because they are not as strong.##
Still whoop your arse off the men’s tee.
coming home
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:55 PM
Comment #147Catchy
I agree with every word
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:58 PM
Comment #148Sir pug
Pete
And you are entitled too, but you will be in a minority in this, women football would already be a big sport.
Ad you know I live in Norway, ( durrr) , women’s football has been going for a while now, it’s a very liberal country, but they do not get many people watching them.
Women are into handball and skiing.
investinyouthtoon
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:58 PM
Comment #149Anytoon I still can’t believe we have a player like Tonali. How other clubs didn’t go all in for him.
Yes there will be games where he will be less impressive, but the cream always rises to the top and Tonali with his class will do very very well for nufc.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 6:59 PM
Comment #150I did post much earlier about woman’s sport. Particularly golf. I believe I stated I enjoyed it as, being a “not bad player”, I could relate to their play and how they built a round.
Anyone looking at the England Woman’s WC and not see the skill level are blind.
Yes, I get it, they have not yet broken the 4 minute mile. Well, so what?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM
Comment #151Catchy. Look up up USA football. The men’s team had to get a pay rise to match the women as in the States, the women get bigger viewing figures.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:01 PM
Comment #152Catchy, look up 1920’s football, women. St James’ Park. It was huge then and FA shut it down.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:04 PM
Comment #153Even as recently as…
Newcastle United Women set a new Vitality FA Cup attendance record as a St James’ Park crowd of 28,565 watched Becky Langley’s side come from 1-0 down to beat Barnsley after two incredible strikes by Georgia Gibson and Sharna Wilkinson.
3rd division then.
coming home
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:04 PM
Comment #154Pug
Americans can’t play football marra
Your better off championing K9 football
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:04 PM
Comment #155But Pete, I never said I would beat a woman in golf, but for most women in golf a par 4 would be a par 5, so it’s not the short game, it’s the long game that women would struggle at.
AND YOU KNOW IT.
Me right now would beat most women off the tee, I can drive the ball quite well, but my short game is terrible.
In football, I still think I’m better than most of the women who are so called pro footballers.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:05 PM
Comment #156I don’t what to argue, but two promotions in two years give them respect.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:11 PM
Comment #157I saw his performance last night and he was just class in every sense…New country new environment and new set up he simply went on and on and on….mind it he was playing in 3 midfield set up on right hand side and phew never knew his offensive qualities…..the way he took the whole team forward was mind blowing…..I don’t know is Mr howe is a good coach but he did made played tonali like a beast…..he will be a 100m plus player by end of the year……being an Italian national team fan he will be such an asset for national side…best of luck Sandro sky is the limit..
catchy in norway
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:11 PM
Comment #158Pug, I’m not slating women’s sport, I prefer women’s tennis, but women don’t play the same as men, men play 5 sets women play 3.
I like women’s handball more than men’s for the same reason as the tennis, the men’s game is to powerful, womens game is slower, I don’t like men’s serve, ace ace ace.
Women’s skiing,
Men watch basketball for the dunks, women cannot do it.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:13 PM
Comment #159“I don’t know any men who watch women’s football”
I don’t suppose you will when you only frequent the ayran brotherhood’s masonic Lodge:D
DKillers
Aug 13, 2023 at 7:14 PM
Comment #160I can’t believe what a tool Klopp has become. A professional manager throwing himself on the ground. He really makes me sick. We need to take three points from them.