Newcastle gave their best performance of the season, when they easily beat Stoke City 4-1 for a fairy tale ending to a wonderful day for Geordie supporters as they welcomed messiah Kevin Keegan back to manage the club.
After just 8 minutes Newcastle were a goal up as Michael Owen got a deflection in the six yard box and poked home from close range. A typical Michael Owen goal and the crowd erupted.
After 29 minutes Newcastle were reduced to 10 men when Emre was shown a straight red card. Eustace broke from defense and was taken out by Emre midway inside Stoke’s half. Uriah Rennie showed no hesitation in giving the Turkish midfielder a straight card .
Replays showed Rennie had no real choice but to send Emre off. Now we will really be short of midfielders for the visit of Bolton on Saturday since Emre, Smith, Butt, Faye and Smith are all unavailable.
However, following Emre’s dismissal Newcastle continued to attack and from a beautiful N’Zogbia corner after 31 minutes Claudio Cacapa got nicely into space and headed the ball powerfully past Simonsen for his second goal for the club. A great time to get a second goal.
For the remainder of the half Newcastle didn’t seem to be affected by the loss of Emre and continued to attack right up to half time and looked a yard quicker than Stoke City.
Newcastle continued to attack in the second half seemingly not too worried by being a man down. After 68 minutes Viduka flicked a long ball downfield to his left and into the path of Milner, and the youngster drove a low right-footed drive into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area. A great goal by the 22 year-old.
After 76 minutes Newcastle make a quick break from a Stoke free-kick and suddenly it’s three-on-one in favor of the Geordies and Milner released N’Zogbia to his right, Shawcross was drawn to the Frenchman and he slipped through the ball to Duff who was clean through on goal. Duff coolly slotted the ball low past Simonsen for his first goal of the season. A nice goal by Damien who looked sharp all night.
But after 89 minutes the clean sheet that we had hoped for wasn’t to be, and Liam Lawrence scored a nice goal as he curled the ball past Given just before the end of the game. That’s a little warning that Newcastle still have great difficulty keeping clean sheets and their defense is still not good enough.
But it meant nothing to the game and Newcastle finished off the 2 minutes of injury time with the crowd of 35,000 making a tremendous noise of excitement and relief - that King Kev is back.
Charles N’Zogbia, who played central midfield, as many supporters had wanted under Sam Allardcye, had a great game and was voted man of the match. Maybe this is Charles’ best position - he looked a real little dynamo and poetry in motion tonight.
Comments welcome.
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58 responses so far ↓
1 AlexW // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:02
well, bolton u mucked us over by giving us big sam, now feel our vengance on saturday
good game, n’zogbia for president
2 ObaFan2 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:02
Well played and roll on Saturday
KK manager right away anyone know?
3 Mat // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:10
Only one game, I know, but still… how damning is this result of that clown’s tactics for half a season?
4 adam // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:11
LETS KILL BOLTON.
i predict 8-3!!!
5 Mac // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:12
So so happy. When he was in the running for the job i never in a million years expected him to be back,but now he is i just can’t believe it i really can’t. Come on Kev bring back the magic
6 Stu // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:12
anyone know where i can watch the highlights? bbc didnt show them after the man city game
7 scott9 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:13
same team on saturday then lua lua to replace emre zog for centre mid i like the idea
8 tdt // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:14
TOON TOON C’MON KING KEV!!!!!!!
9 ObaFan2 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:15
What a goal by Milner.
10 tdt // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:15
anywhere 2 c the goals highlights??
11 George // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:17
That was Kevin sent.
12 Tripp // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:19
Wow. This is exactly what we needed today. The clean sheet woulda been great, but considering how sterile we were in last saturday’s game this is an outfookin’ standing result. We got some confidence back and got a new manager, all in one day. Too bad about Emre. That’s gonna be a tough loss. Who do we have available? Lua lua? We don’t really have any CDM types available, but who cares? Let’s get stuck in on saturday and we won’t need any.
13 ObaFan2 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:20
That was a Peter Pan (Beardsley)goal by Milner, great finnish, why has it taken so much for them to play that good????
14 iluvnufc // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:21
I luv NUFC. I luv Kevin Keegan. The Messiah has returned to lead us to the Promised Land!
Praise the Lord! Thanks Mr Ashley. Nice one!
15 Marty // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:22
Gr8 stuff….smiles on all geordie faces tonight.Just love the feeling of winning,something we didnt get much of with that other “TODGER”.
Zoggers is the man,just brilliant.
Think that Fat Ass used him at left back…what a DICK
16 Griff // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:24
SOOOO happy i was thinking last night would be great to see N’Zogbia in the middle and he proved it tonight with a top top display.
Lets see what Kazenga can do in place of Emre against Bolton.
17 scott9 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:25
i apolagise to mike ashley for slagging him off i week ago.
tom toon just youtubed Chikhaoui as i had to see why you kept going on about him he does look quality exackly what we could do with in cm cant see us going in for him though
18 Edd Case // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:25
It may have only been Stoke City - but by crikey that win felt good, very, very good.
Under Big Sam, we might have just sneaked a dull 1-0 win, or even worse.
Now, with King Kev back in Toon, we hammer Stoke, with 10 men 4-1.
BTW That tosspot Eustace or whatever his name is should have been sent off for his tackle on Emre, then Emre would never have seen red.
Yet again, Rennie (who is clearly anti-NUFC) wanted to be in the limelight.
He’s a disgraceful referee and a complete wanker full stop.
Still, nothing stopped us winning and feeling great ’cause King Kev is back with us, so fu@k you Rennie, fu@k you Fergie and Wenger and fu@k you to everyone else who’s had their 10p worth out of ouor club recently.
19 scott9 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:25
kazenga lua lua and zog in the middle we have no choice but to attack attack attack
20 scott9 // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:27
wonder who the messiah will bring in in january he likes his flair players thats for sure
21 Phani Tikkala // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:29
Century Radio had N’Zogbia as Man of the Match the match sponsers had Duff as man of the match, Milner scored a class goal.
Just goes to show what we all knew, we have some good Players, just the right Man to lead them.
I think shearer will be the next Man to come in, as No2 or something.
Happy days are here again.LALALALALLALALALALALALLLLALAL happy days are here again.
22 The black in the blacknwhite // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:30
CAN U IMAGINE IF WE HAD GONE DOWN TO 10 MEN AGAINST STOKE LAST SUNDAY???
i dont wana…..
nice to see that we attacked - attack is the best form of defence!! so says the king!
if he can get a two midfielders of quality i believe were set!!
our defence is not as bad as popular opinion i thnk Faye and Taylor are our best combination in the centre and Rozy and Cacapa replacements
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Milner Nzogbia -new midfielder- Duff
Owen/Martin Viduka
or even better our jack knife formation
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Milner Nzogbia Duff
Owen Martins
Viduka
I ask you if Milner was on the left would he have scored that goal today?
C’Mon the toon- the best thing about it i can see Nzogbia loving Keegan
23 adam // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:32
HAPPY DAYS!!!
king kev is back to lead us to glory.
ARE YOU WATCHING BIG SAM YOU MUPPET
24 Warwick Hunt // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:35
Keegan picked that team for sure.
25 hadrian // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:40
wonder if he had a word with them before the match , some of the lads were on fire .
26 Phani Tikkala // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:40
Oba Martins will shine under Keegan, mark my words.
27 scotty // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:43
The Second coming has happened…………….
down to 10 men and we still attacked and won the game easily!!!
Lets hope this is the start of things to come. Watch out you big guns we’re coming for you!!!
Very very excited. Few good signings with 2 weeks left and a european place would still be realistic.
28 Latex // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:45
But still you have to wonder wot BS was think ing with his formations. I suspect he wanted to get fired all along so he could retire early.
29 Keep Oba // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:52
SO heres what I think…IF Shearer is reallly interested in coaching Newcastle in the future then dont you think he should start working on his coaching rather than his TV commentating skills? Since we all know just how much Keegan loves to work with reserve teams, IF Shearer were really concerned about becoming a good coach I would become the reserve team coach and try to hone my skills and produce some talent that Shearer could then inherit when Keegan steps down, sacked, or flees in the night.
Anyways…I am excited…and I still believe strongly that our best young asset is N’Zogbia…he will soon be a regular for France as well I believe.
30 toon sooth // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:54
what a great evening, I havn’t felt this good after a game for ages.king kev is back in toon and the mags were firing on all cylinders. yahoo!
Bring on Bolton,
oh Did I say I was happy?
kevin keegans black and white army.
31 adaaaam // Jan 16, 2008 at 22:57
lets be realistic like, im so happy i could fookin cry but i think a european place is a bit too far out of reach this year, i reckon we ll use the rest of this season to build our momentum and that and then come out all guns blazin in august with a couple fresh faces
32 Iain // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:05
I thought Ashley would go for Keegan and won decent money on it (got 15-1 with Betfair - yipee!!) but that is nothing compared to the joyous feeling that we can now look forward to some real excitement!
Keegan is a superb motivator of players and has had a stunning initial impact at every club he has managed - look at his first seasons with Fulham and Man City! He will lift the club without any doubt - could see how his arrival lifted the fans even before tonights game and you could see what effect he has already had on players. Players played tonight with a freedom and passion that they would have been scared to do under Sam (or Roeder, Souness etc. etc.).
Forget the doubters, forget “never go back”, lets get on a Keegan wagon and see how far passion for our club can take us.
33 The black in the blacknwhite // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:10
you know what…
Keegan wants silverware… why else would he come? i think the cons are clear- if our current form persists the he will have failed, failed to revive- but some how i think there will be a at least a 5% increase in our away fans and the st james will be heard as far as high Heaton and certain parts of Jesmond!
but he wants silverware- let us accept that the king has not won silverware in his last decade of wondering from his native soil..but he has won spurs and in my judgment has distinguished himslef… Fulham, div 2 i think, a staple of the premeiership today, in danger of receeding, kev took them to the title and brought them up and the momentum was set for Tigana when England called Kev, they asked him, he didnt ak them, he even took it opart time remeber?? then full time- with england he was honest but he did take a one steven gerrrard to the euro 2000 when he was in his maiden season….Man city took them to the title and brought them back where they belong in the premiership- he is still loved in Manchester! and he left when he felt his time was needed elsewhere, supporting the development of young talent- something the F.A are scratching their heads to come up with- yes it was a circus but it made it fun for the young and increased their love for the game..
now fortune has brought back to tyneside… i think he knows himself anything less than a trophy will be failure for him and thats why im saying hold tighth boys its gonna be a hell of a ride!!!!!!!
34 Jeff D // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:12
That was the ATTACK !ATTACK !ATTACK !Toon that i remember from King Kev all those years ago. Im on cloud nine. I can now take my bairn to the matches and he can see first hand what he’s only seen on the old video’s.
PRIDE will be restored. so sod off all you Man u fans! NO more walkovers!! The King is back!!
35 Phani Tikkala // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:13
Cards on the table here, my first choice was Morinhio. I thought Keegans day had gone and called him for letting the reserve go when he was in charge.
But when I heard the news that he taken the job this afternoon the hairs all over my body have been standing up.
Then after tonights match, well what more can I say.
Special K, King Kev, the Messiah or whatever you want to him, is without doubt back. My God.
He picked that team with out a shadow of doubt, boy they played and he hasn’t had time to see them properly yet.
Some of our younger players are in for a ride of their lives and they will love it. They will learn how to win by scoring more than the opposition instead of trying to stop them scoring.
36 ObaFan2 // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:14
Ahh come on if KK wants Shearer he’ll give him a ring but if not then thats ok.
Shearer will have his time.
KK has come back to us hopefully with the enthusiasm of old and with alot more experience.
I’ll say again
“Anything is possible with KK” welcome home and party on Toon
37 Michael // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:14
Let us calm down a bit, I wish I could be as optimistic about this appointment, but I must say first impressions, it is a bad selection.
Keegan, does not know tactics, he said it himself when he quit England. Likewise when he QUIT city, he said he is just not able to do it.
Now he is back, His tactics are outdated and he has not been in management since MacGyver was on TV.
I think, we are still in big trouble and do not countenance this move. I would be more than happy to eat my humble pie, in fact I would love for me to have it.
Many thanks
38 ObaFan2 // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:16
No nooo he didn’t pick the team, they picked themselves for us and KK, thats the difference.
39 James // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:16
MOTD did show extended highlights of the game. You just had to press the red button and it took you to another channel with MOTD extra on it.
For those that didn’t see it. Duff was amazing. His fourth goal was simply terrific. And better still for each goal, Ashley, Mort and Keegan were jumping around like giddy school children.
From the highlights I saw.
Nzogbia was mesmerizing and Keegan seemed very impressed with him.
Duff played like he did at Blackburn.
Owen was so impressive and lively around the 12 yard box. The defenders didn’t know where he’d run to half the time. He constantly dragged defenders away leaving the space for Milner and Duff to run into. A world class player.
Milner’s pace caused chaos down the right. He keep making them run backwards the whole time. His goal was excellent. A knock down from Viduka and he picked it up and buried it into the bottom from 15 yards. Mort jumped about 10 feet off the ground in excitement.
You could tell from the body language of the players that they were glad to see the back of Fat Sam.
All in all we played with a swagger and confidence I haven’t seen for years.
40 Warwick Hunt // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:22
James .
Just the begining, he hasn’t had time to work with them yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has inherited a better squad than he did the last time, expect the rest of the Prem to be sh*tting themselves when they come to SJP.
WOW
41 Jeff D // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:22
Michael,
Watch what happens to Bolton at the weekend.When they are bombarded and pinned down in their own half. They may get a lucky counter goal, but we’ll have won it long before that happens!! Don’t bother with the humble pie mate. We’ve had more of our share of that. Get some beers in and enjoy.
42 Danny // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:27
Newcastle were great tonight, our midfield were actually involved in the game, playing decent football, instead of lumping it from the back, they were doing lots of short sharp passes, N’Zogbia n Duff especially, everything was coming through them, they showed lots of energy. My fear is when Butt and Smith are free from suspension, they will come back in and play too defensive, dont get me wrong Butt has been one of our players of the season so far, but we need to get away from the defensive football. Well done Nigel Pearson on playing a team the fans and the players actually want. N’Zogbia in a position where he can get plenty touches, run at the defence, and also work back for sum important challenges.
Hopefully KK can bring in a couple quality signings, and take us forward, get us away from the horrible stuff we have been used to seeing. Forget the mid table managers such as Souness, Roeder, Allardyce (Redknapp) etc, KK is a league above them, he is our Messiah! Personally I would prefer to see the football we played, finish near the top, playing exciting football, dont even have to win a trophy, just excite us, as apposed to the football we were getting week in week out.
Ahh and the bar across the top needs a picture of king kev in the middle:D
43 James // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:29
The difference to the midfield when you take Butt and Smith out, is so obvious. Constant pace. The most impressive thing is that we over ran them despite playing with 10 men for most of the game.
44 Warwick Hunt // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:30
Michael.
Tactics are simple, you score more than the other f*ckers. Play football on the ground, not that percentage Sh*te. Lobbing the ball into the box all day is not what I played in the back yard.
Thats the problem with Football in this country, we have coaches coaching footballing talent out of our kids at an early age by trying to get them to play tactically. FFS.
Why do you think the Brazilllians are so good, I’m pretty sure they don’t learn the footy tactics in the Barios back at their home land. No they learn to win by being the one who scores the most.
45 uncouth heils // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:37
warwick, sorry to dis ur happines but just to point out Duff was centuary’s motm and zog was the sponsors.
Macdonalds were the restaurant watching the match were if you predicted the score you got your meal free, if you lost you won the total score x 2 in burgers
46 James // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:41
For me Duff was Man Of The Match. He completely ran the show tonight. Think of how you see Ronaldo run the show for Manure. That was what Duff did tonight. No defence could handle him playing like that.
47 uncouth heils // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:43
James,
The team knew they were being watched. That’s the sad fact why they performed. Duff has always passed when in front of goal, not tonight tho. by law they should have elevated their game at manure, but tonight they feel threatened
48 Leo* // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:49
when we scored i was confused, didnt know what was happening, its been ages since i really celebrated like that, i know it was only stoke, but the only way is up, looking forward to seeing kalzenga as well because he is bound to play against bolton, either that or rozehnal will play there
but unlikely under keegan
49 Warwick Hunt // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:49
Uncouth Heils.
If that was true about McDonalds, Viduka would have made sure he was Man of the Match.
50 Phani Tikkala // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:53
The Beautiful game has returned to SJP.
51 Ed Harrison // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:54
Danny - on Saturday Newcastle will play Keegan style - and that’s attack the opposition. Just wait - it’s not the players who decide whether to defend or attack as a style of play - it’s how they are told to play.
52 uncouth heils // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:55
if viduka has been aware of the offer at macdonalds he would have scored 6 for Stoke 4 - 7 x 2 =22 burgers. he plays better when carrying weight. He turns faster.
53 uncouth heils // Jan 16, 2008 at 23:58
and phanny,
they played well tonight cos come the summer, goodbye to some of the fookers!!!
54 paulR // Jan 17, 2008 at 0:46
didnt get too go tnite for work the b@*****s sounded excellent! who was captian tnite??
55 Ed Harrison // Jan 17, 2008 at 2:46
Shay Given was captain against Stoke City - the team performance was great.
56 SGToon // Jan 17, 2008 at 8:21
Hey hey…..
I think this 3 years absence from the game seems to benefit King Kev…..
You see….if things still holds strong in his head, he won’t be sucked in playing the teams like how other prem teams are playing……the boring way….
Sometimes we even see teams like Arsenal and Man U playing the cautious games which allows teams like West Ham and Birmingham to open them up
If we’re playing like he used to…..he’ll carve up the opposition up and they’ll have no choice to attack…..thus leaving gaps for owen,martins, duff and milner or even emre to sneak in and score.
That’s what we see in the Stokes game….cos we don play like we normally do…and they have no choice but to open up…thus allowing milner and Zoggy to open up for Duff’s goal.
57 goalcentre.com // Jan 17, 2008 at 15:47
http://www.goalcentre.com/newcastle-united-vs-stoke-city-highlights/
Highlights of the match. Check it out!
58 Doodee // Feb 1, 2008 at 0:45
Thanks for sharing
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