The Newcastle United Blog

85 responses so far ↓

• 1 wsq // Nov 3, 2007 at 17:55

  OOO lets talk about exploiting spaces against a team playing 4-5-1 hahaha Big Sam your a JOKE!

• 2 Coolsmurf // Nov 3, 2007 at 17:56

  After the euphoria of the Arsenal-Man Utd game, I sat down hoping to see a good showing and what do i get? Absolute crap! There wasn’t enough quality, teamwork, effort, anything else you can name it!

  I was embarassed just watching that and I feel so sorry for all the fans that were at St. James Park. Was there a day that felt so humilating as today!

• 3 wsq // Nov 3, 2007 at 17:57

  this feels like two fingers up the $*#@.. turning up 52000 per week. the fans are being cheated!

• 4 wsq // Nov 3, 2007 at 17:58

  good team spirit my foot!

• 5 wsq // Nov 3, 2007 at 17:58

  owen to start firing goals my foot!

• 6 Cockney Magpie // Nov 3, 2007 at 17:59

  i hope people do not feel getting rid of sam is the answer because it really isn’t this aint the first time we have been shit this season and im sure it wont be the last Sam needs time. Look at Sir alex 20 yrs ago he was one defeat away from gettin the sack but he won the match and now look at him !!

• 7 Jinal // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:00

  Watching Newcastle United play on the weekend is what I go through my week for, and its always ending in bitter dissapointment. I don’t mind loosing - I just want us to play some good football!

  We’re so horrible that the only time we win is when the opposition makes an error or if luck is on our side! Even though we were loosing under Roeder, at least he never filled up with high expectations like Big Sam

  Sam, if you’re reading this, i highly suggest to communicate with the fans by doing the talking on the pitch rather than through the papers!

• 8 Soren // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:00

  gutted.

• 9 Jinal // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:01

  I can’t even sigh……

• 10 Arthur Prince // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:04

  How long does Sam need Cockney Magpie . We seemed to have gone backwards recently which is not good news at all . I just dont know if the players are going to be good enough to compete fro Europe UEFA cup this year . I will be watching the Team from the Pearly gates at this rate although ive been doing it for 40years already so perhaps I should be patient . BUT FOR HOW LONG???????????

• 11 Big Sam Fan // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:05

  good comment Cockney. we played badly Barton missing match fitness and no service as defence all over the place and midfield pulling back to help. You cant expect Owen or Smith or Martins to bang um in when they aint getting any service!!!

• 12 Jinal // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:06

  This is analogous to how I feel

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKx9gP9M6Gc

• 13 Eve // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:06

  Cockney Magpie getting rid of Sam, isn’t the answer yet, but that might change quickly pending on what happens against Sunderland, if Newcasltle loose to Sunderland and loose badly the fans will turn. When that happens, then USUALLY it’s only a matter of time before the manager’s sacked. It’s sad, cruel but true.

  As for the Fergie comparison, well like ya he was that close to getting fired and words can’t describe the success he’s brought to Man U. But it takes certain type of characters to do that, Sam IMO isn’t one of them.

• 14 Jinal // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:11

  “But it takes certain type of characters to do that, Sam IMO isn’t one of them.”

  I agree. I know I might get annihilated for this comment but I don’t and never did think that Sam can make us a club to compete with the top 4. No disrespect to the man, he’s a great manager but he lacks the edge that the likes of Ferguson,Morihno and Hitzfeld have.

• 15 Jamie // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:14

  simple - we aint big enough! portsmouth are massive, well organised and determined. What is big Sam doing? crap!

• 16 Rich // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:14

  People keep on about Sam being succesful, where exactly was this succes ???? He never won anything as a player or manager. I don’t think Ashley will put up with to many performances like today !!!

• 17 Shane // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:16

  Well guys i fell like shite. We were totally outclassed and outmuscled. If this is how we’re gonna play against the mackems i reckon another lashing. C’mon BSA start playing Martins! Owen can play in the 2nd half..

• 18 ToonKing // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:19

  Sam is the right man for us, you lot can’t be calling for he’s head after 11 games.
  Everything is new in Newcastle this season, time is needed.

  That said i have a comment on todays game :

  “$%£$^%^&^&())&(^%&£%”!$”!£”!£”!£”$”"$£!£$”$$%^&^*&&*&(&^^%
  “$%£$^%^&^&())&(^%&£%”!$”!£”!£”!£”$”"$£!£$”$$%^&^*&&*&(&^^%
  “$%£$^%^&^&())&(^%&£%”!$”!£”!£”!£”$”"$£!£$”$$%^&^*&&*&(&^^%

  After watching Arses vs Man Who this was like getting a date with that chick from the quotes and turning out she’s a man.
  (i have no idea what’s that supposed to mean O.O )

  Our worst game yet, something needs to be done, we look like amateurs from the Regional Division.
  Sam knock some sense into those lads.

• 19 Ross // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:22

  i’m always first to defend the lads, but not today.
  i walked into the bookies, asked for the score, i was told it was 3-1.
  “what time did we kick off?” i asked confusingly.
  “3 oclock mate” was the reply from the lad behind the desk
  “but its only 3:25…”
  “you were 3-0 down after ten minutes lad”

  ..i’m disgusted to be honest. not many back four’s have the ability to give away 3 goals in 3 minutes, its a task in itself. absolutly horrible.
  like many others have said, the only thing i can think of to stop myself from crying is to laugh. everyone else will be, all my flatmates are having a right good chuckle about it. might aswell join them.
  i’m actually gutted about the fact that im genuinly nervous about our trip down the road to the scum next weekend, this could all go horribly wrong.

• 20 Sinead // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:23

  Rich..thank you, I said that at the start at the season when everyone was singing his praises for signing a couple of new players and I was almost shot for it, I just didn’t see anything special about him, he seemed kinda, I don’t know if fakes the word, I don’t think it is but anyway, fine it might have been a bit premature but still. In fairness he deserved a shot like, and he’s a good manager, he is, but there’s no, I don’t know x factor about him, no edge that THE managers have. The thing that seperates the good from the great. He just doesn’t have it. All that said, don’t get me wrong, he’s a good manager, just not great. It’s very hard to find a great manager these days though.

• 21 Dirk // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:23

  The only problem sam did 2day was to keep the same defence and put taylor at rb, beye should have started and faye and rozehnal in the cb positions y sam kept them the same after that dismall performance against reading is a wonder to me, apart from that martins should have stared bu i would have kept the rest the same.

• 22 Shane // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:24

  I feel its time for BSA to start USING the players that really make the difference on the pitch. Where was Martins when we needed his pace? Where was Emre when its obvious that Barton isn’t anywhere near full fitness? And where the hell was Beye?

• 23 Alex // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:29

  Getting rid of sam would be another step backwards but what sam now has to do is realise that a new defence needs stability and a long run together to gel .This performance shows that there has already been to many changes every game so far. Sam needs to decide on his first choice back 4 and no matter the results give them at least 10 games back to back to gel together.also pick only fully fit players ,Barton is still to short of fittnes.

• 24 jeff // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:31

  Why does sam play Nzogbia and Milner on wrong wings??Lets get back to basics and play players in correct positions….I wasnt at the game and feel sorry for the fans who were there.Sam doesnt know his strongest 11 yet….well he is going to have to find it very soon otherwise this is going to be another crap season..
  I cant see newcastle winning next week….We are very poor away from home and to be honest The scum never give up for 90 mins….Newcastle just dont have any battle…
  Smith has the commitment but thats about it
  Geremi hasnt done nowt yet
  Cacapa they reckon at fault for 2 goals,question marks are over him now
  its a bit worrying the way the toon play..

• 25 Hilly // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:33

  I check this site daily, but have come to despise the all or nothing attitude of it’s writers and fans. Did we just put forth two horrible displays? Of course. But instead of placing the blame on one person, why don’t we give our manager, who everyone has touted so highly, a chance? BSA and his coaching team need to make some changes in personnel and tactics; not get lambasted by the fans each week the defense doesn’t perform.

  To me, we should expect to get into Europe. But to accomplish that, some players need to step up. Right now, only 1 player could play with the top 4 BPL teams and that’s Martins. Zog and Enrique might make the bench if they’re lucky. Sam needs to continue to tinker with formations, players, and find a starting 11 that he can count on week after week.

  With our awful defense, why don’t we play a diamond with Geremi in the CDM position, Zog and Milner on the wings, with either Barton or Smith at the point? Martins has to get a start each week and Taylor needs to be our RB of choice. Rozy and Faye look like the best of our options in the center of defense. I don’t know why Butt keeps getting a look and Owen hasn’t proved anything yet.

  In short, we’re not vying for the championship here. A couple bad results don’t ruin our season. Give Sam and the team the support they need to try new things and get used to the changes…it is only Nov 3rd.

• 26 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:38

  Lol what a joke of the line up we were all calling for Roz at the back with Martins and Smith upfront. And whats with we are going to attack at home, why leave emre out and put a box to box midfielder and a defensive midfielder who can pass for shit in the team.

• 27 Shane // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:40

  @ Tom_Toon. I totally agree wit u.

• 28 wsq // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:42

  i don’t like the way big sam is treating oba martins! owen should be on the bench!

• 29 geordie down south // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:47

  i looked on sky sports.com to see the line up just after it kicked off..saw the score 0-0..all is okkai..took a s***..came back to the pc…3-0 nearly had a heart attack there and then..didnt want to look at the score til the end cus i wanted to live to see the end of the match at least..

  ..o dear..we’ve been here before..

  in jan, sam has to concentrate on defence..maybe buy a new back four..put them in the reserve squad until the end of the season let them gel..get to know how each other on the pitch..then if all is well…next season..we might have a defence that actually work together..and that can at least go a match without conceediing!!..

  in the last two games.. weve conceded 6 and scored 2 .. all of which were done by the opposition!!!

• 30 ToonKing // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:49

  Owen should not be on the bench, he should be given a few decent passes.
  Martins either plays with Owen or sits on the bench. At this moment in time he’s not good enough to play ahead of Owen and there is no place for him elsewhere.

• 31 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:49

  why sam took off milner and left on barton basically confirmed that he did not know what he was doing today, for some strange reason we had the same defence as against reading apart from taylor going into rb. emre should have started…NOT BARTON! Cacapa is having a bad time at the moment but he has performed well for us for most of the games he has played so i cannot say he is a bad player. the first goal from pamarot hurt us momentarily, and then benjani finished us off, it was all over after he scored.

  however the most disappointing thing about the match wasn’t the match itself, but the fans booing our own players and manager…yes they were bad today but is booing going to make them perform!?!? some people are just idiotic, they do not realise they are hurting a euro hopes even more

• 32 ToonKing // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:51

  Agree that the boo boys are morons, however a little constructive criticism doesn’t hurt………………….although don’t know how constructive “BOOO” is.

• 33 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:57

  everything about today was embarressing, it felt like birmingham at home in last years FA Cup

• 34 Hadrian // Nov 3, 2007 at 18:59

  why are we starting certain players who are unfit?
  why are we starting players out of their natural positions?
  why are we starting strikers who havent scored in 2 years over our top goalscorer?
  why are we not starting our top goalscorer?

  sam’s summer signings and certain high profile players of ours are picking the teams , and not who deserves tobe out on the pitch .

  everyone should be expected to play their way into the squad no?
  and players drop themselves aswell yes?

  barton & smith dropped next match , oba and emre must start over them . i dont give a rats ass what sam promised them when he signed them .

  by sam’s own admission cacapa dropped himself at reading aswell , why he was in the squad i dont know going on that basis , rules for some and not for others sam?

• 35 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:02

  Ahahah, how weak is Capaca getting shrugged off the ball so easily by Benjani of all people, seriously look at his build.

  Martins deserves to start over Owen because he is SCORING, the magic word. Martins can also create chances from anything unlike wee mickey owen who is about as weak as my little cousin who is a girl and about 12 years old.

• 36 Sinead // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:05

  ToonKing
  “BOOO”ing is the only way that the fans can get a message across to the guys in charge, now a lot of it is ridiculous and idiotic and crap but then like in some cases there’s nothing else you can do. In extreme circumstances it’s what’s needed, hell that’s how we eventually got rid of Stan, in a 80000 odd stadium, Croke Park, 60,000 people showed up, drew with Cyprus, we booed and we’d every right to. In the end it was the fans turning on the manager that got him sacked, it should have been the FAI’s common sense, (if they had any) but it wasn’t, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back in the end. Like and we NEVER boo anyone, and we rightfully and justfully booed him, what choice did we have, they weren’t listening to us off the pitch, they weren’t listening to anyone, not the media or the fans. Frankly I was suprised to see 60,000 in Croke Park.
  But that was in extreme circumstances. It’s a little different here. I think that if it keeps going down hill from here, which I don’t know, I think everyone’s getting a little carried away, it was bad but I’ve seen worse. IF it does get worse then it’ll probally be the fans turning on him that’ll get Sam sacked. But that’s a little bit premature.

• 37 Jinal // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:12

  My heart aches. I’m just lost

• 38 Sinead // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:15

  Tom_Toon I agree, I think that Martins should get the go ahead instead of Owen, who only lives off scraps of other peoples work and converts some in to goals.

• 39 wsq // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:16

  toonking ur a moron. u don’t know anything about football.

• 40 Hadrian // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:17

  like every geordie were all raging mad today , there will still be a full house next home game singing their hearts out , and pubs packed all over the city , the rest of us shouting at the screens .
  players may get stick , but more often than not they always get the support when they need it .
  and you have to remember , the fans never called for half the managers sacked that has been . its always been sack the board chants and freddy panicing and sacking the managers to take the heat off himself .

• 41 Terry Hugill // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:21

  The worst game I have seen at St James’ Park in three seasons of going. They looked like they had never played together.

• 42 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:34

  yes martin should start before owen, martins is inconsistent but at least when our pitiful midfield isn’t performing he can make a goal out of nothing, for michael to be good he need a great midfield, something we have not got.
  i remember when we were being linked with a move for Anelka, I cant believe i was argueing with someone over who is better out of the two, the guy seemed to believe Owen was better and then started churning out stupid statistics from flippin wikipedia! are these the types of fans that watch football nowadays!? everyone with half a brain can see Anelka is superior to Owen in every sector. It is only Big Sam that hasn’t accepted Owen is not and never will be what he once was, lets get rid of him whilst we can still make a pretty penny, there are much better, younger strikers out there.

• 43 rob the geordie // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:39

  i was there and from where i was sitting we boo’d the decision to take milner off instead of barton and it was nothing more than that as far as i was concerned,yea fans boo’d at the final whistle but after sittin through that shower of shit i dont think anyone can complain….now lets leave it here forget it and move on….its the unwashed next week so “COME ON NEWCASTLE” were all behind you

• 44 Eve // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:44

  Given looks set to miss the derby..great that’s all we need. But knowing Given maybe he’ll make the derby.

• 45 Alex // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:49

  God knows what will happen next saturday at the stadium of shite if we put in another woeful performance against the unwashed.i dont want to think about another defensive performance like the one today next week.

• 46 John // Nov 3, 2007 at 19:52

  This result is a complete JOKE…Pompey 2 seasons ago were on the verge off relegation and now there beating us 4 -1 at st James..The lads and Sam should be ashamed off them selves. I could’nt give a toss what people think about pompey , if they can be challenging for the champ league positions after nearly been relegated we should be challenging. we should be beating teams like that at st james. Whats going to happen when we come up against a good team ? 6 - 0 maybe..

  We play shite football and play players that quite frankly dont deserve to be in the starting line up. martins is our top scorer so far but cant get a start..its rediculous. I say we get a manager that wants to play football not an arse liker.

  I swear im disgusted with that result.

• 47 Obafan // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:06

  ToonKing - (Reply on a post from another article; the 1-3 half time article)Okay if we win games the way in which we win them comes into the 2nd place, you’re completely right about that. But we don’t win anymore and the way we play s*cks. We can’t give 3 decent passes to eachother; the only thing we do is kicking long balls to our 2 little strikers. We need to have some players who can open a defence with magical touches. We have a few in our ranks; Emre, N’Zogbia and Duff can do that; Duff with his dribbling ability, but the rest are runners. We need to create chances by playing good football not by kicking the ball to our attackers who aren’t able to compete in the air against defenders like Campbell and Distin. Those type of defences should be taken over the ground but not in the air because that is their strength.

  Butt fights very hard for every ball, but that’s it; once he has the ball he starts searching for the long ball and most of the time he losses possession.

  Barton should not play from the start ATM, he isn’t fully fit. Give him 30 minutes or so to build up his form. Once he has his form he should play behind Emre in the center of the midfield.

  Milner; good fighting spirit but that’s that. All the rest about him is dribbling with his head in the ground; kicking wild crosses without watching where our attackers are situated. Kicks too many balls into the keepers hands are to wide or …

  Geremi; okay he didn’t play good the last couple of games but give him a run at right wing, his crosses can deliver some danger in front of the opponetns goal. He still needs to show his best in black and white.

  Today every time Pompey had possession they showed that they can create danger out of nothing, but every time we had the ball it was taking time to find a teammate and no danger was created. We need to change that very quickly…..

• 48 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:14

  i agree with near enough everything you said there obafan…the simple fact of the matter is, although milner is a good youngster who works hard for us, he is NOT good enough at the moment to be Newcastle United first team player, we need to BUY some GREAT midfielders and stop waiting for our GOOD ones to start performing

• 49 Obafan // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:19

  Dragoner - I know we need some quality to be added in January; but how will we convince quality players to come to play for the Toon, if those performances like today will cost us a good position in the table, and the quality players will search to go to a team that is in European position. I fear the worst if our form doesn’t change quickly. Milner indeed works hard, but that is the only thing positive I can say about him (IMO he is a Championship player like Ramage).

• 50 Cockney Magpie // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:19

  good comment Hilly. and Arthur Prince Sam needs as long as he needs Newcastle United have completely changed since last season from the players to the back room staff everything is new apart from the name and the stadium and of course the expectations but we need to be patient and realise that we are not a champions league side again YET! but Sam is a great manaer and for those people sayin Sam has had no Success he has only ever managed Bolton and he brought them into the premiership and then fighting for a champions league spot last season and im sure at first there was down points but he got them there and if you ever needed any evidence of that then all i can say to you is look at the state of Bolton since Sam left, you would be a fool not to realise that Sam IS wat we need at Newcastle!

• 51 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:33

  At least last season we were doing shit but playing some good and at times thrilling football, now we are doing shit and playing shit football which i cant bare to watch.

• 52 ToonKing // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:33

  wsq my friend it is u how is a moron, i come here every day and read your retarded posts. U should really consider throwing you keyboard away cause everything u write is utter nonsense.

  I’ ve been watching football for as long as i can remember, i played football when i was young and i actually do voluntary work for my local football club. I think i have a fair amount of football knowledge and Owen is a much more complete player than Martins imo.

  He needs a few decent passes and little confidence though.
  Every on of u guys say that Martins can create chances for himself and that is bollox.
  U say he’s lively and energetic. Well as good of a player he is, he’s very limited. Yes he’s lively but that’s all he is, he runs around like mad man achieving nothing. He looses the ball so many times it’s really frustrating, and can’t give a decent pass or cross to save he’s life. He’s got a cannon for a foot though and out of 15 shoots he hits one right, and also he’s able to make good use of a defenders mistake due to he’s great pace, bur that’s as far as he’s creating chances goes.
  Owen is much more complete and smart player than Oba is, he can pass really well, he can head, and has deadly precision. Also he’s a football mastermind, he’s always in the right position and brings the wings really well into the game. He is a great asset for us. It’s just that our midfield that is playing like shite right now and can’t give a decent pass up front.

  Based on the games so far there are a few players that should be automatic starters in the team imo and they are : Owen, Viduka, Faye, Emre and Zog.
  Barton, Enrique, Cacapa, Smithy, Oba all could become very very important players in the future.
  The players that are not good enough for me and should not start are : Butt, Milner, Geremi.

• 53 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:40

  The only automatic starters i see atm are, Zog, Emre, Faye, Given and maybe Martins.

  Who care sif he runsaround like a madman its more than Owen does by doing fk all and he will try and defend from the front like BSA wants. BSA just contradicts himself so much, he says what he wants and when its presented to him he changes it. Fkin moron the last few games a bloody monkey could’ve done better.

• 54 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:41

  he - as in martins not lazy weakling mickey owen who couldn’t muscle his way out of a paper bag.

• 55 ToonKing // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:47

  Tom_Tom from reading your comments almost every day here i had a feeling that you know your football……….obviously you don’t.

  Owen may seem lazy, but he’s always right there where u need him to be, Martins is not capable of doing that. He works hard, yes, but when he wins a ball or gets a good pass most of the time he just squanders it. But he will learn and get smarter in time.

• 56 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:52

  the very scarey thing at the moment is that around 30% of the matches we have won or drawn we won or drew them convincingly, the rest we played bad and won due either luck or the opposite team somehow playing worse than us, yet i cant remember ONE TIME this season where we have lost when we should have won or drew, everytime we have lost we 100% deserved it and that is a very bad sign. we have been playing bad football since the season started and we are going to be punished for it in the coming hard games, i hoped that we could grind out results whilst playing badly until our team started playing decent football, but its taking much longer than i thought it would. i feel there are going to be a lot of miserable toon fans between now and January at least. me being one of them

• 57 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:55

  toonking i dont doubt owen has a very good strikers instinct, all we are saying is that he requires a very good midfield for him to be the player we want him to be because he is no longer the lighting fast, first to react player we saw at liverpool.

• 58 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:57

  for all the negative media attention owen brings to the toon do you really feel he is worth it? honestly. i know it is not his fault, but the fact is it comes with michael owen and i dont feel he is worth it, there are better strikers out there

• 59 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 20:57

  Also whats all this bullshit about big sam willing to disappoint players, disappoint Capaca then, shocking this week, shocking last week get roz back in he may not be the strongest but he wouldnt get outmuscled my benjani. Just look atbenjani and tell me a 12 year old girl couldnt handle him ffs.

• 60 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:00

  why do people on here think benjani is weak, he is a strong player, trust me harry wouldnt get him if he was strong, just look at utaka, muntari, kanu, all have strength to hold up the ball. Just because he doesn’t look like tom huddlestone doesn’t mean he is weak, look how small anderson is, he is really really strong as some of you may have seen today

• 61 Obafan // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:00

  I don’t think it is due to Owen or Martins that we lost or play bad ATM. The big problem is that neither Owen or Martins get the balls they need. If you have to run 90 minutes after long kicks knowing that you aren’t able to get the ball; it is to become crazy. IMO they both can play together as long as they get served by good passes that open up defences or on which they can go to a defender and dribble him to knock the ball in the back of the net. Okay they need to work a bit harder (those who play in the attack) to stop the defence of the opponent to build up easily, but when we have got the possession our defence and our midfield doens’t do enough to reach our attackers. They see too many lost balls and when they get a descent ball they are not fit enough because they had to run the whole time without touching a descent ball.

  The attitude of Smith is annoying me; let him out of the selection and recall Beye please, he was not the only one who played awful last week but he was the only one who was not selected. IMO that wasn’t fair, on the other it can give him a boost to perform better than he has. But let’s get rid of Smith, because he doens’t do anything good at a pitch.

• 62 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:00

  i mean harry wouldnt get him if he wasn’t strong

• 63 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:02

  Yes we know anderson is fairly strong but whern you watc others matches and benjani get knocked over so easily its hard to believe.

  Best 16 atm:

  Given

  Beye Roz Faye Enrique

  Geremi Emre Barton Zog

  Martins Viduka

  Subs: Harper, Taylor, Butt, Milner, Owen

  Cacapa after last week shoulds even have had a place on the bench.

• 64 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:04

  @Dragoner, Tom Huddlestone isnt anywhere near as strong as he looks, Nottingham Forest turned him down cos they said eh was to weak

• 65 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:04

  what sam needs to realise is that in MODERN football EVERY player on the pitch needs to be technically gifted, even if it is only a little bit. the days of players being there just to boot the ball up the pitch are gone, which is why players like nucky butt are no good, they simply can not keep possession. what good is a player who works hard and wins tackles if as soon as he gets the ball he gives it back??!?!?!

• 66 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:05

  tom toon i agree, i just said huddlestone because he looks like he recently came from the WWF lol

• 67 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:08

  Aye, World Wildlife Foundation? or World Wrestling Federation now the WWE. BSA loves his players from the WWF not the WWE he says the WWE players have to good ball control.

• 68 Dragoner // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:14

  LOL @ tom toon

• 69 Cockney Magpie // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:16

  the only problem martins has at the mo is his positioning if he sorts that out he will be world class. Michael Owen is already world class the only problem he has is the service being provided to him its just non exsistant!!

• 70 Eve // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:34

  Tom_Toon , there’s a problem there though with your best 16, Given’s injured and is going to miss the derby unfortunatley.

• 71 Hilly // Nov 3, 2007 at 21:52

  Tom_toon - I don’t think that Geremi has proven himself as a RW. He looked terrible against Reading in that position…zero creativity. He found himself tracking back to play defense instead of attacking up the wing. Milner is really the only player we have at the moment that can play on the RW in an offensive mindset.

• 72 Tom_Toon // Nov 3, 2007 at 22:03

  @ Eve this is disregarding injuries.

  @ Hilly, RW is Geremis natural position that he trained as no matter if he enjoys CM more. His crossing can be superb on his day.

• 73 Shetland_Magpie // Nov 3, 2007 at 22:40

  Personally i dont think sacking big sam is the answer, 2 bad results doesnt mean he shoud lose his job does it? Just a few weeks ago it was our best start to a season for 6 years or so! Personally i feel it could be a season of transition and Big Sams Newcastle will only become a consistant performers in the leauge next season. however i think some of his tactical and player selection is odd to say the least. It seems to me when Martins starting getting afew goals he drops him to the bench infavour of Michael. Id personally go for Martins Viduka for next saturdays game. The games i’ve seen this season ( basically the games on the telly and the internet) i think that Rozy’s are best defender. But Big sam seems to prefer everyone else except for him. I also can’t understand why he plays a left winger as a right winger (n’zogbia) and also a right footed right midfielder, left midfielder ( Milner). Also when emre starts to be hitten abit of form he drops him aswell!! I havent seen the highlights of todays game but what i understand is cacapa had a bad game, does this make him a bad player? no, everytime ive seen him hes been very concistant. Stick with Big Sam he’ll get it right in the end

• 74 geordie down south // Nov 3, 2007 at 22:56

  when can mourinho manage in premiership again??..next season .. big sam .. your days are numbered..

• 75 IanG // Nov 3, 2007 at 23:18

  This is worse than just a defeat and I am as gutted as anyone by the result.
  I remember the Derby match when Sam appeared to lack tactical awareness and this result reinforced that for me.
  Sam didn’t spend a fortune pre-season and I remember the praise he got at the time bringing in many players perceived to be very good. They are obviously competent so why can’t they play as a team? - getting them to play as a unit is the managers job and if he doesn’t get them to start to gel he’ll be gone.
  I wonder if we turn out to be as ambitious as Tottenham or even West Ham - right now I’m not convinced.

• 76 Reb // Nov 4, 2007 at 0:05

  I find it greatly ironic that so many Newcastle fans demanded grand statement of loyalty and love from Owen — even over the summer when ownership and management were both in flux and the future was unknown — yet feel no need to be loyal and supportive in return when Owen is being slagged off by a sector of the Toon “support” because he is exactly what he advertises himself as — a goal poacher and a gifted finisher. No one has ever claimed Michael Owen plays extremely well with the long ball/high ball tactics, no one (that I’ve read or heard) claims that Owen can still outrun everyone on the pitch, no one (including Owen himself) have ever claimed that being a defensive forward (dropping back to assist with defense) is one of his strengths. What Owen IS good at is being in the right place to nick a goal (he forced an OG this match by following a shot towards goal, which so far none of the other NUFC players seem to do), making good and intelligent runs, and consistent, gifted finishing.

  Nothing has been revealed in the last two matches that should surprise anyone. Owen doesn’t play well with no consistent midfield service. Any Liverpool fan could have told you that years ago. He doesn’t play well with long balls meant for someone over 6′ — and England fan from last WC could have told you that. Why the sudden vitriol for little MO? He performed exactly as should be expected given the performance of the rest of the team. He made runs that were squandered for lack of service, he managed to poach on a rebound, and he forced a good save from James when the ball was actually put to his feet.

  As a longtime fan of Liverpool and Owen, one thing I’ve long ago realized is that part of Owen’s gift is to look like he’s not working his balls off even when he’s doing just that. He seems to just pop up in the right places — an aspect of his constant darting runs. Even some of his more memorable goals, he’s made look easy. Whether that’s in his handling of things, or what, I’ve never figured out. Owen is a truly class goalscorer, and should Newcastle manage to get him some service, they will benefit greatly from his talent and his temperament.

• 77 Leo // Nov 4, 2007 at 0:31

  it was a disgusting proformance from both the team and the manager.

  time to call for alardyces head? NO ofcourse not

• 78 ToonKing // Nov 4, 2007 at 0:41

  All hail Reb, beautifully said mate.

• 79 ssdd // Nov 4, 2007 at 3:20

  desperately waiting for January’s transfer market

• 80 squaretan // Nov 4, 2007 at 4:21

  Sorry to all my Newcastle friends out there. Newcastle always looses to teams where they expect to get something out from the match. Newcastle will always beat teams that people dont expect them to beat. =(
  Anyway, the highlights can be obtained:
  http://squaretan.com/newcastle-united-vs-portsmouth-vidoes-goals-and-highlights/

• 81 scotty // Nov 4, 2007 at 10:28

  We’re all forgetting one thing. SA was appointed by FFS Before MA took over. This in my opinion is where the trouble is. CM & MA should have quickly and quietly paid SA off and put someone in charge who they wanted. If there only giving SA one season to get us into 4th spot then i’m afraid we’ve all wasted our hard earned season ticket money AGAIN!!! I personally didn’t want him in charge - it was just another desperate attempt by FFS to keep us thick geordies quiet. Judging on what we’ve seen this man is totally and utterly tactically inept. GO AND GET THE SPECIAL ONE!!! And For gods sake flog MO - he is totally finished. I’d play Shola instead of him.

• 82 Doctapaul // Nov 4, 2007 at 11:18

  Where to start???

  Harry Redknapp. “I said we have to pass the ball and keep the ball, and we did.

  All credit to Pompeii. They were the best side we have played at St James this season. Early on, they were perhaps a little to niggly for my liking, to stop Newcastle getting into a rhythm. But it would be sour grapes to deny their style of passing play, work ethic. and over 90 minutes, superiority.

  As for the game:

  After 40 minutes, I said to my pal, “you know, if it wasn’t for those 3 goals, we’re playing well against a good side”. Howls of derision came my way BUT I still feel if we had managed to nick a 2nd goal before half time all was not lost. We didn’t and the rest, as they say, is academic.

  Read Reb’s statements above. He articulates very well my feelings about Owen. His movement in the box is often superb. I doubt if any other striker at Newcastle (or many teams) would have been alert to the opportunity that led to Campbell’s own goal.

  It’s fruitless to compare Oba with Owen. Give them service and they’ll score. James’ save from 2 metres from Oba’s head in the dying minutes, reflex or not, was out of this world. Give them service. Give them service. Give them service.

  Milner on the left and Zog on the right - means we’ll get both wingers tending to cut in (especially Zog). It doesn’t make sense to me. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to why we don’t encourage wing play - and then put a very very gifted left footed player on the right wing? I don’t get it.

  Barton will come good. His cross to Oba was superb.

  Butt was Butt. He and Geremi are defensive midfield players - so I’m surprised that a few supporters denigrate this vital role. He has an eye for the short early ball and overall has probably been our most consistent player this season?

  So let us pontificate on the back 4-5-6-7

  Faye - yesterday apart has probably been our best defender this season.
  Cacapa - even before yesterday I wasn’t convinced he’d adapted to the PL. It will take him time to get over this ‘mare.
  Taylor- is no longer the darling boy. He’s young, a Geordie, with a great future. Showed loads of spirit after we’d gone down 3-0. I hope he signs a long contract. His time will come.
  Beye - looks good at right back.
  Enrique is slowly getting better. I thought he played soem confident stuff in the final 20 mins of the first half.

  Overall: we are lobbing to many high balls up to small players. Portsmouth played it mostly on the deck and showed us how its done.

  The Season to date:

  I still haven’t seen Newcastle play well for more than a 20 minute spell in any game (I didn’t get a ticket for Bolton).

  The two best teams we’ve played: Portsmouth and Man City - hammered us. We’ve been lucky to win at times. We are playing a level of football - just above rel;egation level with players who on paper are underperforming (again).

  There isn’t one thing wrong - there are many issues. BUT if I attempt to put my finger on the biggest issue - Sam has got a small side mostly playing a tall team’s up n under tactics. I’m not sure whether the existing management team will be able to do anything in the short term and so I expect some changes.

  Looking forward: if Sam goes defensive next Saturday, Sunderland will kick us off the park and win by the odd goal.

  Then Liverpool (h), Blackburn (a), Arsenal (h). After these games, Newacstle will end up at the level they have been playing all season - just above (not much) the bottom 5/6.

  Unless Sam turns things around he’ll be gone by February.

  I tried to be positive when Is started writing this article. I really did honest. I failed.

• 83 Reb // Nov 4, 2007 at 19:44

  Scotty — you’d flog Owen? Based on THIS match? Thank God you aren’t in charge. He was the only starter still running by the end (Martins still looked lively as well, imo) — down 4-1 with sh** service all match, he was still doing his job, making runs and getting into positions. Do you watch the ball all match and then decide Owen is sh** or do you pay attention to his movement and his positioning when he’s away from the ball? Playing AMEOBI ahead of him just shows you are insanely bias against Owen, incredibly drunk, remarkably stupid or utterly clueless.

  Oh, and in response to an earlier comment by Dragoner, about Owen’s media attention — get used to it. Top clubs have top players, who get all that “negative” media attention. If Newcastle have ambitions to be a top club, they need top class players. Selling the only proven world class player (besides perhaps Given) that Newcastle have is not the way to prove top ambitions to other possible signings. Allardyce even admitted over the summer that the chance to work with players like Owen was a big draw for him — and will be for other players/managers/coaches. Michael Owen symbolizes Newcastle’s hopes for the future — they want to look like a club that SHOULD have men like Owen in it (right now, they don’t). Selling him is to admit defeat –to admit that Newcastle as a club and as fans can’t deal with top class talent and all that goes with it.

  Newcastle need men like Owen. And yes, I used “men” for a reason, rather than “players”. Michael Owen should be the type of man every club wants — professional, quiet, media-shy, consistent, settled in his private life, and both ambitious and very driven, with the talent to support his ambitions. I’m a big fan of Owen, both as a player and as a “public figure” for lack of a better phrase. He is a great fit for a club like Newcastle, who are used to having Shearer in that role. I firmly believe that the majority of Newcastle fans want to like Owen and many already do — but some very outspoken people seem to ruin that and make it appear he is unwanted.

  As for Alan Smith playing ahead of Martins — no one else noticed that Mike Ashley wears Smith on his shirt? Wonder what’s up with that? And does it affect squad selection?

• 84 scotty // Nov 5, 2007 at 18:37

  Reb you obviously have your blinkers on. MO is NOT what Newcastle need. Yes, he once was a world class striker but this is when he was able to take one or two defenders out of the game with his pace - he does not have that now. I agree, he gets into great positions but he is so slow now he gets closed down very quickly. He has totally under performed through persistent injuries and his salary is astronomical. Can you remember back to summer when he never came out to quash rumours about him moving on to one of the top four? If that’s professionalism and commitment then i must be losing touch with the real world.

  The reason i like Shola is because he’s a geordie lad and his playmaking can be unpredictable at times - good and bad. And why you going on about the shearer role? Top clubs don’t have a talisman anymore that is such a stone age way of thinking. shearer had so much influence in the club and particular the dressing room he caused plenty of unrest between the players which showed towards the end of SBR reign - just ask Ruud Guillit about it!!

• 85 Reb // Nov 5, 2007 at 23:29

  Scotty — I didn’t intend to say Owen was taking Shearer’s place in the club in every sense, but rather that they were the same “type” of public figure so to speak. As for Owen’s abilities, I think you’re wrong (of course, you think I’m wrong, fair enough). Owen’s “blistering pace” went with his hamstrings — yet even after that he has scored nearly 100 goals for Liverpool (and 10 for Newcastle), scored 35 goals for England, won the Ballon d’Or, been highly effective in La Liga…I think he has compensated quite well for his lessened pace. He has not underperformed — he simply hasn’t performed at all due to injury. He’s getting a good run now, and I think Newcastle will see what he was to offer once the midfield gets sorted. His salary is high — probably the highest on the squad unless I’m mistaken — but he’s by far the biggest name at Newcastle as well, and he’s not paid astronomically compared to other football “names” of his stature. I don’t think his pay packet is his fault — and I wouldn’t turn it down if offered, so I don’t blame him for that in the least! If Newcastle want players of Owen’s skill and proven reputation, they have to pay for it. Yes, it’s expensive. It’s a bit of a gamble. But it can pay off with great rewards and I hope Owen will soon be showing those for the Geordie faithful.

  You demand statements of loyalty from Owen, but show none. Owen stayed. If you look at all the evidence, he intended to stay (he bought a house in Newcastle in June, for one) but didn’t feel the need to add to the rumour-mongering with public statements, despite Shepherd’s charming insistence. To me, Owen’s willingness to take some stick silently rather than jumping at every rumour or whisper is a very good sign of his professionalism. He does his talking on the pitch, and I prefer that method, honestly. He shows commitment when he works hard the entire 90 minutes in a match like Saturday. On the pitch is what he is paid for, and on the pitch is what I look to for “commitment”. I don’t expect the lad to come out and claim to love Newcastle with all his heart, mind and soul — he’s NOT a local lad. Newcastle is an employer — one he says he likes, he’s happy with and plans to stay with. But still, an employer that’s probably not his dream job. I don’t blame him for that.

  Like Owen or not, but saying you prefer starting Ameobi because he’s “local” seems a tad ridiculous to me. Have Newcastle put a pub team on the pitch then, they’d bleed for the black and white, no doubt. They’d probably not last long in professional football though. Ability has to be accounted for, more than where one is born. Local lads, if they have the talent and sense to make it at the top level, are of course ideal. But being local is not enough to warrant a place in a Premiership side.

Leave a Comment