After yesterday’s satisfying Newcastle win over Wigan, when Newcastle didn’t exactly have the best luck in the world, Big Sam talked about the game with Newcastle World.
Newcastle do not have all their players available with Beye, Faye and Enrique still to come into the team at some time.
But the team showed yesterday that Sam’s influence is already showing in positive ways.
Sam Allardyce – Newcastle got 3 points when everything seemed to be against them ever scoring
Most teams yesterday after the first half Newcastle had – would have been a little disheartened.
Owen could have had 3 goals in the first 28 minutes. Once when he was clean through and looked like the Owen of old, bearing down on goal and seemed to do everything right but Kirkland made a wonderful save. He then had a good goal disallowed for offside when it wasn’t. He then could have had another when he lobbed over Kirkland, but also the cross-bar when center back Granqvist slipped.
Add to that a deliberate hand-ball by Titus Bramble and Steven Taylor thudding a header against the cross-bar and Newcastle justifiably should have been well ahead at the interval.
When Kevin Kilbane was sent off a minute into the second half there was really even more pressure on Newcastle to win and they were in the Wigan half basically all the second half, missing chances.
Then with only 3 minutes to go it was still level and most teams in that situation would not have come away with 3 points – let’s be truthful. We’ve all seen those Arsenal games when they miss 6-7 good chances and don’t win – yesterday’s game was like that for Newcastle – just not their day.
But then Martins and Owen together crafted a goal of top quality. Martins’ perfect cross to the near post from the right allowed Owens to slip past everybody and put in a downward header from 6 yards out that was sublime and finally beat the excellent Chris Kirkland. That’s the way good teams win games like this.
Here’s what Big Sam said after the game:
“We are not at our best yet.“
“I am hoping when the players that weren’t available get fit, we will be a bigger force than we are now.”
“I’ve torn the place apart in three months. The players are buying me time with being unbeaten, but we are not at our best yet.”
“But we have kept undefeated – and we can only get better from here.”
It must have been a satisfying win for Allardyce and the crowd played their part in the victory by staying behind the team even though the frustrations must have been building up in the second half.
We haven’t got to get ahead of ourselves but the change in the Newcastle side this season is amazing given the disarray we ended up in last season. Big Sam has so far performed miracles and by his own admission there’s more to come.
Cacapa and Rozehnal looked what they are – an experienced center-back pairing that’s been round the block a few times and young Taylor at right back played well and could have had two goals. Cacapa, as the commentators kept saying, looked very comfortable. That’s only because he reads the game so well and takes no chances that it all looks so easy for him – what a fantastic signing by Allardyce. Claudio made it look so easy I was even looking for my old boots after the game 😀
Our next game is at Derby on 17th September. Derby were beaten yesterday 6-0 by Liverpool – we expect three points tat Pride Park – whatever way we can get to the win.
Yes, we know we’ve had too many false dawns to be over-confident – but it sure looks like that sun is starting to rise and shine all over St. James’ Park 😀
Comments welcome.
12 comments so far
Graeme
Sep 2, 2007 at 9:21 AM
Comment #1Cant argue with what BSA says. This team will get better and better as they settle in and get used to each other. The defence looks immense and when a player as good as Taylor will struggle to get a regular start (in his own interests) it looks better and better. Tayls can learn so much and become an even better player than he is now. Midfiels cant fail but get better once Barton, Duff etc get back on the pitch.
The future is bright, the future is in Black and White stipes lol
KL
Sep 2, 2007 at 9:22 AM
Comment #2shoes off if you love the toon
Arthur Prince
Sep 2, 2007 at 9:41 AM
Comment #3Marvellous !!!! Owen,s goal was very very good . Note the movement and the pace from martins with a superb delivery into the box . Exciting times ahead . Any news on The Dukes hamstring by the way ?? Ed . Hope it isnt too serious .
Also has the backroomstaff science etc been sorted out yet?
Alex
Sep 2, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Comment #4We now have a real team. Sam has quickly built a team that looks a proper unit ready to battle for each other.we now have a defence that know how to defend and close a game down.And when Emre,Duff and Barton are fit then we will have enough creativity in midfield to cause any team in the premership problems.With Owen ,Martins and Viduka we have a strike force that must be the envy of any other team in the premership.I am now convinced that Big Sam will bring Silverware to St james park, if not this season then definately next.
steve
Sep 2, 2007 at 9:58 AM
Comment #5its our best start for years – think we’ve had to wait till end of Sept before reaching eight points in the last couple of seasons
Lamesley Mag
Sep 2, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Comment #6It was a professioanl performance with a team that will improve as they play more together. Considering we still have Beye, Barton, Enrique, Emre, Duff, Faye, etc to join the ranks the future is promising…….
Hog
Sep 2, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Comment #7Oh it feels great doesnt it? Havent felt this great about my team for a long long time…….. The defence which has made us a laughing stock in recent years now has let in just 3 goals in 5 games, and none of which were at home. The real tests are still to come of course, and the back line will need to be far more than “comfortable” to keep out the likes of torres and drogba, but the initial target is not to lose in what is a very favourable first 10 games. So far, so great!
Joe
Sep 2, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Comment #8Owen back scoring goals, Defence best I’ve seen at Newcastle. We don’t look like conceding many. With the players we have. I can see us Scoring alot more than we concede. Surely we have to finish in the top 4… oops getting carried away. HOWAY THE LADS!!!!
Aussie geordie
Sep 2, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Comment #9Looking forward to seeing more of the two speedsters in attack together. To be fair we have a good draw for these first ten games and need to take the points. When we run into the top 4 and a few others midseason we need to have a base to build on.
dragoner
Sep 2, 2007 at 6:17 PM
Comment #10i expect AT LEAST 13 points by the end of september
Toony
Sep 2, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Comment #11Having watched yesterdays game I have to say I was nearly asleep with the lack of invention. I agree with Aussie G lets see Owen and Oba up front its something a bit different and Im not convinced that Vidukas all that .(happy to be proved wrong!)
I dont wish to be too negative ,lets face it how could I with this many points in the bag already, however we do have much stronger opposition to face. Plus points for me are Cacapa and Rozehnal, fantastic performances so far. I think I, like many others have still been spoilt by the Keegan years flowing attacking football is what I want to see every week. Not what I witnessed yesterday. I look forward to getting our creative players in, Barton, Duff, Emre(still cant believe we gave away our most creative player in Nobby???)
In summary – More than happy with the points but hoping that when the team gel and we have our playmakers fit, it will be more exciting to watch.
The defense looks sound now and we have great goalscorers(Viduka scorer of great goals ) Just not getting too carried away with a 1 – 0 win at home to Wigan!
Mal
Sep 2, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Comment #12You have to give Sam credit for the job he’s done. He’s got rid of the underacheivers whose heart wasn’t in the club anyway and has made some very shrewd signings. Cacapa looks like the centre half we’ve needed for goodness knows how many years and we now look to have a very strong squad. Credit due also to the new owner and chairman, who despite the rubbish written in the papers, have backed the manager to the hilt. You can’t help liking someone who is happy to buy a round of drinks for 52000 people if they turn up before 2 o clock.