Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2: Heartache Inspires Belief
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
I've never been so brassed off taking money off the bookies.
My 2-2 pre-match prediction and usual fiver returned me £60 but I felt like putting a match to it after the last kick of the game penalty denied the Toon a magnificent win.
Heartbreak Deja Vu All Over Again
Dropping points from winning positions was a recurring sickener last season and that has left us fans with never believing a game is won until the whistle blows.
After eleven years of never beating Liverpool in the league - when five minutes of added time was announced I couldn't see where that had came from - but when it ticked down to 20 seconds left on the clock it seemed that a win was finally coming.
But no...
This is Newcastle United and, yet again, the almost inevitable bitter end came when Munoz ran into Hall and Atwell pointed to the spot.
The ecstasy of what seemed only seconds away was ripped from us as the penalty was thrashed past Hornicek and the final whistle was blown seconds later.
I've had some gut wrenchers in my 60 odd years supporting NUFC but that was right up there with the worst of them.
Magnificent Spirit & Outstanding Performanes
On the match...
Bin the stats that say Liverpool had 60%+ of the play.
They didn't have a player on the pitch who could match the performances of Wissa, Dedic, Hall, Elanga and Miley and the doubts about Hornicek were massively eased with two tremendous saves that look better the more I watch the replays.
Those six may have been the standouts, but every player right down to the subs gave their all in a magnificent and spirited team performance that took us right back to the early heady days under Eddie Howe.
There were slaps, claps and fist shakes of encouragement every time a cross was cleared, a tackle won, a shot blocked, or a good move nearly came off.
In just three short weeks Matthias Jaissle and his coaching team have restored the spirit, camaraderie and pride in wearing the black and white shirt that had ebbed away from the squad last season like the tide running back on a dull day at Tynemouth.
Our new young manager has tremendous belief and confidence in his abilities and yesterday's performance has shown that his aura and leadership has invigorated , galvanised and hugely motivated all of those around him.
On a day that we paid tribute to the life and era of one Toon Messiah, it may well have been the dawn of the new Messiah who will lead us to the land that PIF promised.
Above all else - even in the heartache of that crushing last kick equaliser - what every Toon fan can take from the match is that this squad under MJ will give their all to the shirt.
That is what we fans crave, and with two or three additions to this squad of young and older warriors who knows what we might achieve this season.
If Matthia Jaissle can pull off what he has after just three weeks...
Imagine what he can do in three months.
KIng Kev Given A Royal Salute & Send Off
It exceeded all expectations.
So hats off to Wor Flags and all who were part of contributing to the fabulous spectacle that engulfed SJP in honour to the great man.
For those fans, like me, who were there to witness KK's debut goal at the Gallowgate, leading us to promotion as a player and manager, and bringing an attacking style of play so thrilling to watch that we were nicknamed 'The Entertainers' ...
That send off brought back glorious memories and showed those too young to have been there how much Kevin Keegan really meant to their dads, grandads and the club.
We've have had some great players who have become legends of their time; Hughie Gallagher, Len Shackleton, Jackie Milburn, Bobby Moncur and Alan Shearer...
But King Kev stands alone as a player who gave us not just skills, goals and leadership, but an emotional bond and a pride in our club and city that went way beyond just football.
Kevin, we are eternally grateful. RIP, and from our hearts, thank you again and again.
We will never forget Kevin Keegan...
But now it is time to look forward under Matthias Jaissle.
Yesterday, we saw a future that gave us back hope and belief.
It's early days...
But. I believe we have more to look forward to than we would ever have believed just three short weeks ago.
In the heartache of the last seconds...
That is the real emotion that eases the pain this Monday morning.
Last Post: Newcastle v Liverpool Preview
Jaissle apparently wants willock kept. If thats the case what does that say about wolte as in jaissle's plans. We cant have a 69m player 3rd choice in 2 positions rotting on the bench
Just a mention to the Joe willock haters on social media. Especially the one who told him to F.off, in the pre season warm up,
Stick that fantastic goal right up your jacksie.
He may be away this season, but what a goal to sign off with .
It was great feeling going to the match it's been awhile, the anxiety was at a high, praying we could just give a good account for ourselves, the display emotional, especially for the oldies amongst us.
From the first minute I knew we were up for this.
Even though I hate booing, it certainly made our feelings heard, and he'll be in doubt what it meant to us, they way he left, caused us to have a disaster of a season.
The football OMG well KK would-be proud of the intensity, everything I was afraid of just wasn't there,
The new players did themselves proud, but let's give Wissa a standing ovasion, how he out jumped out ran, out fought…
I'd love to see us buy a clinical finisher,someone who is prepared to gamble.Murphy's cross was waiting for such a striker.
The two goals we scored were excellent attacks but the icing on on the cake would be that striker prepared to gamble.
As I said earlier I like our new Gaffer.He already gets us.
Let's be rational in any criticisms...
Before the game many fans expressed fears about how our midfield would perform against Liverpool and it was a surprise to see young Miley short of match fitness and 18 year old Staeur get the nod.
Add to that Wissa playing in the middle of the three when many had expected Ramsey to provide another string to the midfield bow and was it any surpise that Liverpool dominated possession?
No.
Yes, there was space galore for Liverpool to run into and had we played Arsenal or Man City those gaps could have led to a heavy defeat.
But, Jaissle could only select what he had and no fan can deny that playing Wissa as…