Possibly some Derby fans. Or possibly not.
And yes, we were still garbage, but there is more to it than just that. Even as I made my way from Durham, I sensed that things seemed flat amongst the supporters, and undoubtedly that was evident on the park for some of our players last night. This word ‘complacency’ has almost lost all meaning, as the doubters and knockers rub their hands in glee at the prospect of another black and white collapse following an impressive lead. While the ‘Class of 96′ was certainly more high-profile, something tells me that our detractors would enjoy our demise just as much this time round.
So is it really complacency and how do we prevent it? Personally, I think it’s a bit of complacency and a little to do with the fact that we’re only a slightly-above-average football team, nothing more and nothing less. We have the nucleus of a decent Championship side and we have some big performers who have helped make the difference at crucial points during the season, taking us up to that ‘slightly’ above average notch. Winning games when we arguably didn’t deserve to, just because we have players who can step up to the plate.
The problem with that, as evidenced in certain games this season and particularly against Derby, is that if nobody steps up to the plate, then we’re right back to being just average. And if teams come and have a go at us then there’s a good chance they’ll get something out of the game. And it’s clear that the ‘do or die’ attitude that in bigger games this season, which saw us chase lost causes, and defend and close down in packs, is less evident when we’re coming up against what is viewed as inferior opposition.
Because of Derby’s position in the league and their current form, I felt we stepped out last night and the players gave the impression that they believed somebody else would pull something out of the bag, and nobody did. Don’t get me wrong, we created and spurned chances last night and we could quite easily have scored early, put the game to bed and this might have been a totally different report. But Derby just seemed like they wanted it more, and we stopped short of throwing everything at them until it was too late.
Having made several changes to his side again, Hughton started with another fresh forward approach with the big-man-little-man combination of Andy Carroll and Lovenkrands upfront, filling the void of Harewood after his loan spell ended and Ameobi who took his place on the bench. Smudger came in as straight swap for Nicky Butt and Ryan Taylor replaced Danny Guthrie on the right hand side of midfield.
Derby buzzed around and played some decent football in the first half hour but we created far more chances that we really should have buried time and again. Barely twenty minutes had passed and with good work on the left from Gutierrez twice, Andy Carroll might have done better with the direction on his headers at the back post. Some smart work from Lovenkrands in the box, saw him hook a volley across the face of the goal and Ryan Taylor hit the bar from a free-kick from 20 yards.
Then came what proved to be the sign that things weren’t going to go our way, as Ryan Taylor beat the offside trap brilliantly and a lovely through ball found him one on one with Bywater. With too much time on his hands, Taylor seemed to hesitate and tried to beat the keeper low down but Bywater judged it well and kicked out his left foot as the ball cannoned safely out of play. And after a handful of half chances went begging from corners and balls into the box, and the half time whistle blew, you couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t going to be our night.
However, the least you could have hoped for was a bit of determination and yet again we came out for the second half almost like we just expected something would happen and there was no urgency. With Savage out-battling Smith, and Enrique and others guilty of sloppy play which surrended possession all too easily, the fans became frustrated and the unlikely call for Shola Ameobi came, oh how the mighty are fallen…
But before Shola rolled onto the pitch to do his laidback cameo, the man he replaced created a chance for what should have been almost inevitably our first goal. A cross from Carroll found Steven Taylor six yards out but the centre half inexplicably powered a header straight into the arms of the keeper.
Ameboi came on not long after to replace Andy Carroll but was a shadow of the awkward and prolific striker he’s masqueraded as this term. Back to his usual laidback and lazy self, he epitomised the sloppy and careless attitude that filled our second half performance.
Derby continued to fight for every ball but also at times popped the ball around to good effect to frustrate us, as we ceased to continue our effective method of hunting in packs, everyone again waiting for someone else to do the graft. But apart from maybe one shot that was saved by Harper and I don’t recall many chances for the Rams.
And so the end crept closer and with Pancrate on for Ryan Taylor and Ranger on for Lovenkrands, we seemed to inject a bit of life back into the performance, but unfortunately not the quality to go with it and some wayward passing and awful crosses kept the remaining chances to a minimum. In fact, apart from a ricochet in the box, there was only Ranger’s chance at the end that looked like going in and making him the hero of the hour, but Bywater took the plaudits as he managed to push his effort onto the bar.
There was just enough time for McEveley to get his second yellow card in stoppage time but if anything that made Derby even more resolute. If only we’d displayed the endeavour of their two centre halves and the tenacity of Savage and their midfielders. Derby enjoyed their spells of fortune but came here and narrowed the play and defended brilliantly. If truth be known, they were really there for the taking but full credit to them for their efforts. Instead, we limped to a frustrating 0-0 draw that sees our lead narrowed at the top.
January must bring with it, a reliable and consistent goalscorer. And if anyone sees a creative midfielder in amongst the January sales, we could really do with one of them too!
Us – Harper 7, Simpson 6, Steven Taylor 6, Coloccini 7, Jose Enrique 6, R Taylor 5, Nolan 6, Smith 5, Gutierrez 7, Lovenkrands 6, Carroll 6.
Subs – Krul, Guthrie, Butt, Kadar, Pancrate 6, Ameobi 5, Ranger 7
Derby – Bywater, Connolly, Addison, Buxton, McEveley, Green, Savage, Hendrie, Pearson, Hulse, Campbell.
Subs – Deeney, Croft, Teale, Pringle, Dickov, Commons, Livermore.
Att - 47,505 (A lacklustre display in the stands, despite the good turnout. I think the cold and the poor performances dampened the spirits but no excuses really, as poor a performance as the those on the pitch. Derby brought about 2,000 and had a small noisy section that were quite vocal throughout, reckon they shaded this one).
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
NUFC News 24/7
Loading ...
..Why not get a 
Good match report BBM. Agree 100% with your conclusions.
BBM,
We’ve been garbage all season mate.
It was only last nights game that confirmed the type of football we play. It is the same as the football Alladyce has his team playing. It really is dire to watch.
Great tactics by Hughton in leaving our best midfielder against Sheffield Wednesday on the bench for yesterdays game.
Yes we were poor but on another night taylors free kick could of gone in , ranger would of scored Its just a blip in results at the moment , it was gonna happen and will prob happen again by the end of the season
Cheers deb.
Stu – aye, it’s only marginally better when we’re winning. I had a right old argument with an old mate I hadn’t seen for ages last night about Allardyce and he was arguing that he doesn’t play direct football and we should have given him more time. I think him getting shot of Allardyce is the one thing I’m grateful to Ashley for. I couldn’t bear to watch it anymore. The difference now is that Hughton is at least winning games, but we’ll get few marks for aesthetics.
Wally – as much as I expected and welcomed Smith’s return, I felt sorry for Butt getting benched but I was perplexed that Guthrie, who has been our best midfielder against Boro and Sheff Wed and assisted goals in both, was left out.
Johno Toon says:
December 29, 2009 at 11:28 am
Yes we were poor but on another night taylors free kick could of gone in , ranger would of scored Its just a blip in results at the moment , it was gonna happen and will prob happen again by the end of the season
I think it will happen alot more times,especially at home. Teams have worked out how to play us. Sit back and soak up the crap, they know we have no one creative in the middle so it will be hard to break them down.
You cannot say things like on another day, it doesn’t hold any water.
I hope a few new faces this month will add a new dimension to our team. At the minute were botbh predictable and boring.
bowburnmag says:
December 29, 2009 at 11:32 am
How long can we keep saying ‘At least we won’?
Do you think it’s possible that any football team can win a division or finish 2nd by ‘just doing enough’? I watch other clubs who win leagues and they play well for the majority of the season and ‘just do enough’ when they play badly in the odd game.
Surely were doing it the opposite way?
Can it work all season? Or will our luck run out?
So we need a central midfielder who can pass and make good foward runs, joey barton anyone?
jay jay says:
December 29, 2009 at 11:46 am
So we need a central midfielder who can pass and make good foward runs, joey barton anyone?
Considering I don’t think Barton has scored in open play for us his forward runs probably aren’t worth the effort.
No, I’m just hoping we have some big performances in our locker because I think we are where were are due to inferior opposition strikers, luck on our part, too much respect given by some teams and the difference that Nolan has made at key points.
But like you say, the respect isn’t there now that teams have shown what happens when you have a go. We’re due some luck to run out and Nolan’s goals will probably dry up.
I would say our defence has improved significantly, partly due to the drop in quality of the strikers in the Championship. And that has allowed us to win games from the back effectively, by grabbing crucial goals and not conceding.
To be honest, I said this not long back that I find myself in a quandary. You should probably already know I’m purist at heart and said I would take performances over results. But I’ve enjoyed all the winning. As an idealist, we’d have both as you implied. But as a realist, you’d have to say we don’t have the means for it at the minute or a board that really cares about the means to the end.
When ever barton plays for us it’s always on the right side, put him in the middle and the lad can actually play.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/newcastleunited/6904877/Newcastle-to-dump-Adidas-for-Puma.html
We might even have some sponsorship money coming into the club for the first time in five years!
Wonder where it will get spent?
Stuart79
“they know we have no one creative in the middle so it will be hard to break them down.”
So which one of our central midfielders should we not play are defensive midfielder smith? or are top scorer Nolan?
Wally
“Great tactics by Hughton in leaving our best midfielder against Sheffield Wednesday on the bench for yesterdays game.”
Butt are you talking about? SO you would rather see Butt playing instead of Smith or Nolan?
not being funny guys but u lot are so fickle weve had TWO draws not losses!! DRAWS and everyone starts moaning again weve had a lot of games and sometimes this happens in football thats the beauty of the game sometimes the teams that are not expected to get a result DO! so all you lot need to pipedown and look forward to new signings in jan and us returning to the EPL.
how do we expect to stay in the premier league ifwe cant even score against the likes od derby
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 12:02 pm
There is a massive difference between a goalscoring midfielder and a creative midfielder. Also I see no need whatsover for Smith to play in his usual position as 3rd centre half whe were at home against the team with the worst away record in the league.
dazzbell says:
December 29, 2009 at 12:03 pm
My frustrations are based on the performances. We have played like we have for the last two games all season. I just cannot see us stayin at the top if we keep playing this long ball crap. Teams are starting to work us out.
dazz – can you tell me which games have been enjoyable and which games we’ve looked really convincing in though?
If we’re going to look forward to the EPL, then it has to be with a view to not getting embarrassed when we go up and I think we’re woefully short of essential ingredients to surviev up there.
I’ve been moaning all season really like so I hope you’re not counting me as fickle
Toon Factor, I think you’ll find Wally was talking about Guthrie not Butt
Well said dazzbell
bowburnmag says:
December 29, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I would like to put my hand up also for moaning all season.
By essential ingredients do you mean pace? Have we got anybody who could do the 100m in one hour?
knocky
I made the assumption as Butt got MOTM, Guthrie however was awful and if not played in the centre should not be played at all.
Stuart, any recommendations on new signings?
I’m away out with the litte one so just in case I can’t reply, I’ll pre-empt future discussions…
This is what I said after the Watford game, when worky had a pop at me for my negativity. Bearing in mind we’d won six on the trot –
Submitted on 2009/12/07 at 12:37pm
Just as a quick look back at results since Blackpool, which was our first real blip. We’ve recovered well in terms of grinding out results but…
Blackpool – outfought and outwitted (by all accounts)
Plymouth – Toon deserved it
Ipswich – Toon deserved it
QPR – outplayed
Bristol City – fairly even overall
Notts For – evens/outplayed
Scunthorpe – outfought and outwitted (by all accounts)
Doncaster – outplayed
Sheff Utd – evens
Peterbro – they were horrible
Preston – both horrible
Swansea – outplayed for most of the 1st and 2nd half
Watford – outplayed
I’ll add to that…
Coventry – Toon deserved it
Barnsley – fairly even but battered us at times
Boro – Toon deserved it
Sheff Wed – evens
Derby – not good enough to bury an average but willing side.
I just wouldn’t look at that form and be convinced about the remaining games for promotion – when you consider we have these coming up. Although conversely, if my theory is correct, the big players might be up for these ones.
Reading (a)
WBA (h)
Palace (h)
Leicester (a)
Cardiff (h)
As for next season, this current squad would be hardly able to not be up for every game or we’d be in bother.
Also will Hughton have the balls to drop either Nolan or Smith and bring in a creative player? He’s had the chance to play Guthrie in his preferred central role a few times this season and not done it. Thus avoiding a big decision if Guthrie played well.
Looking at the players Hughton has brought in i’m not expeting too much in Jan window. Simpson – not bad, but very little going forward (Man Utd don’t seem desperate to bring him back even with their defensive injury crisis) , Kissinghiswilly – poor, Harewood – poor, Pancrate – absolutely hopeless (Guthrie offers better delivery and when Pancake come on as against Barnsley, sheff wed and derby he tucks in offering no width, supposedly the reason we can’t play Guthrie there.)
Last night’s result & the Sheffiled Wednesday result show that we need not 2 but 3 players I believe we need a defender, a proven goalscorer & above all a creative midfield player. I also think Houghton’s ploy of giving the players a full day off on Xmas day backfired. West Brom & Forest are both on a roll at the moment & we have to make sure we capitalise on a good 1st half to the seaon.
I thought the performance last nigt was good enough to win most games, just the luck didnt go our way – I think there were more positives than negatives.
However the criticism of our ability to be creative (in my opinion) stems from Carroll being selected.
He can not pass, his movement is non existent, he can not control a ball, he can not direct or control his headers (he whips at the ball with his head rather than deliberately directing it) – he is just “big and strong” – but that does not win you football games.
I’d like to see a pairing of any of Shola, Lovenkrands and Ranger – certainly with the latter 2 you would have far more in terms of movement and bringing other players into the game.
I lost count last night of poor Jonas working his backside off and getting down the wing, only to pick his head up and see Carroll hiding a million miles away behind 2 or 3 defenders, no one else in there. I’d be interested in the stats if anyone has them of goals scored when he is in the team v when he is not.
So for me – Carroll – many peoples player of the moment – is the person I’d like to see benched. Cant see it happening though – after all he is “big and strong” and a geordie.
Stardust says:
December 29, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Carroll in my opinion will turn out to be a good PL player but at the minute he isn’t doing enough.
Also I don’t know whether anyone else saw this but in the first five minutes he wasn’t getting his own way with the centrw half and he lashed out. If theref had seen this he would have been sent off.
If he cannot control his temper at this point in his life he is a liability.
Can anyone tell me what Ranger has done wrong? Hughton just doesn’t seem to want to start him. He has more natural ability than Carroll imo.
Stuart “Can anyone tell me what Ranger has done wrong? Hughton just doesn’t seem to want to start him. He has more natural ability than Carroll imo.”
Totally agree fella.
some strong well made points BBM, but I still think you’re being a little harsh, lets be honest – derby probably did want it more, but then right from the start of the season we all said that’s how it would be, EVERY team against us will want it more – doesn’t matter whether we’re 100% in it or not we’re never going to be the team with the most desire because everyone wants to beat us, there were times when we looked lazy and uninterested but there were more than a few flashes of inspiration too – you’ve quoted a few in the report, every team in the football league is capable of complacency and they all suffer for it (Man u-fulham anyone) but it’s not time to start deserting when we still have a 6 point lead
I think the reason Ranger is not starting is Hughton doesnt want to put too much pressure on the lad too early. Tho him and mclovin would be my front two
kinda lost my way on the complacency point – what i meant was that even with complacency here and there, teams can still win competitions convicingly as much as it burns me to admit it, many times over I’ve written the mancs off and they’ve still ended up top of the tree because they can when it counts
danny-boy says:
December 29, 2009 at 12:52 pm
kinda lost my way on the complacency point – what i meant was that even with complacency here and there, teams can still win competitions convicingly as much as it burns me to admit it, many times over I’ve written the mancs off and they’ve still ended up top of the tree because they can when it counts
My point is that when Man Utd win the league they play well for the majority of the season and just do enough to win games when playing badly.
We on the other hand are just doing enough all the time and were still waiting for them to play well. That is totally the opposite of what history tells us is required.
Does anyone know of a team who has won a league without playing well?
OMG!
We played them off the park, hit the woodwork x2, spurned a few good chances, & the goalie good very lucky on several occasions. Shit happens!
The ball just wouldn’t go in the net, a la v bristol.
So chill out.
Just cos we don’t win doesn’t mean it’s all crap & the end of the known world.
This team is not garbage, they’re top of the league, & deservedly so.
Please stop back sliding into either, feeling sorry for ourselves or deriding the
team with tired old insults, or, more importantly,
thinking we should beat every team put in front of us, that’s the sort of delusional thinking that got us here in the first place. It’s soft, fickle & arrogant,
in that order.
Keep the faith.
Toon Toon
Spot on @ 30 (johnno)
Arsenal back in the day @ 32 (Stuart)
CLiNT FLiCK says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Spot on @ 30 (johnno)
Arsenal back in the day @ 32 (Stuart)
So once in 25 yrs?
Great!
Look!
We played some of the best football EVER, back in the 90′s & WON NOWT!
Arse play the best football now & all they get is: they’re not gonna win the league.
So, what do you want?
Stardust and Stuart79
Just to take into account this in terms of Carroll being chosen over Ranger.
We are not the manager, therefore we don’t know the reasoning, as also, we do not take part in training. We do not see how they are in the days leading up to the match, who shows more quality during training and who works harder, thus we can’t really say with certainty at the moment that Ranger is completely amazing. Not to mention, its the boys first season. You need to ease young players into it, theres no point thrusting them into the thick of it against a CB pairing of say Kilgallon and Morgan, have them not do the job over 90 minutes and then watch as their confidence could potentially shatter. Personally, I like them both, I think they could both be good strikers in the future.
BUT
In my opinion, at the moment, our strikers are more often than not, quite rubbish. Sure, Ameobi may have scored a few, but for most of a match he lazes around. Lovenkrands runs around like a headless chicken and seems like he doesn’t know what to do with the ball once he gets it. Andy Carroll can’t trap a ball and has no movement off the ball. Ranger, well, don’t see much of him do we!
Yes I am slagging off our strikers quite a bit, but its not like I don’t like them, I do, at times when I am not about to kill myself because Lovenkrands bundles a ball or Andy Carroll falls over and tries to get a foul. Think about it though, we will be in trouble in the EPL if we get back up unless we get these players to improve. And that goes for the whole team.
Stuart,
i’m sure there are plenty of others that i can’t be arsed to trawl through.
& anyway, is this assumption based on your own thoughts, & seeing all these teams play every game, or based on the tosh pundits say/have said, down the years?
The stabilizers have to come off, time to learn to cope.
not even close Stu, Man U win the league whether they play well most of the season or badly, simply because they can grab a result when they need to – usually in injury time, I honstle cannot remember a game where they played well for 90mins and outclasses their opponents – I can remember several where they looked like they expected to win and snatched a result
sadly I pal around with quite a few of the red side and even they will admit that the true glory days where they genuinely belonged on top are long gone – yet they continue to rack up the trophies even when playing poorly – lets not be misguided, I agree totally that we have a long road to catch up to the likes of them, but the principle is the same, if you want to build, you have to take the results ugly or not, complacency will show its face when we’re winning – but don’t start the kicking because we’re not getting the results all the time
CLiNT FLiCK says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Look!
We played some of the best football EVER, back in the 90’s & WON NOWT!
Arse play the best football now & all they get is: they’re not gonna win the league.
So, what do you want?
I’ll take Arsenals style and finishing in the top four every year, winning a few cups and having at least a chance of winning the league like Arsenal do.
Don’t forget we have a squad worth more than any other club in the league and a wage bill bigger than a lot of PL clubs. Should we not be expecting better performances?
I by my season ticket to go every other week and be entertained. At the minute I’m bored stiff watching them. Is that fair for £500 quid a year?
Back of the net danny boy.
danny-boy says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:08 pm
You have never seen Man Utd play welland out-class their opponents?
Where have you been for the past 15yrs?
Stuart,
Yes! to coin a phrase.
You pays y’money…etc.
I’d rather we learned: how to win dull games, fight to the end & from our mistakes.
Which, if we can do that this season, will leave us in good stead.
We’ve got big money in the team cos we have spent over the odds for years, either on a whim, with delusions of grandeur or cos we arrogantly thought we could buy success. Oh, & cos we get ripped off by agents & cos we’re a big club & are ‘too far north’ & not london.
No excuse
No excuses, just plain, clear s day, facts.
as*
I watched the game last night and it was awful.
Few performances this season have enthralled me….just seems very sluggish and flat.
I see us starting to slip now as we are unable to beat inferior teams.
On a lighter note, England are absolutely rolling South Africa!
Just after a bad match i shout and swear then start saying our players arn’t good enough. The following day i think, ah well, we didn’t play very well but at least we got a point. We are still top of the league with a point cussion, west brom and forest both have to come to SJP and although i’ve always felt WBA were the best equiped team to win this division I don’t think anyone else is good enough to challange our promotion bid, i think forest haven’t got a good enough squad to sustain their current form. Thing arn’t that bad!
Blocked by CFC] [Blocked by CFC] sirjasontoon says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:26 pm
All my mates just kept saying that we still have to play WBA, Cardiff and Forest at home. They will beat us if we keep playing like this.
We ALL want everything & now, if not yesterday.
Welcome to a world of pain.
I’ll settle for building back up, winning however, by hook or by crook,
doing as well as we can, getting out of this league, & pushing forward into the prem.
The team & US need to cut our cloth accordingly.
We need to, particularly at home, let the team know that we support them in the fight to regain our place at the top table of football.
Not many teams can be top of the league & have so much derision, only at nufc, huh?
jay jay says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:27 pm
…And as if by magic
you’re misquoting Stu, the last proper games I remember them being completely dominant for 90 mins and outclassing their opponents were way back in the famoud s days with the likes of scholes, giggs, beckham, the nevilles, butt et al all at their best – yet they’ve won many cups since, that was my point – you don’t have to play showpiece football to win everything
simply, i’m ok with 90 mins of football – I don’t expect to see a glorious spectacle and win 5-0 every game, if we get 3 points at the end and it’s not by the opposition scoring more own goals than kicks they’ve made it doesn’t matter – it’s the right result, we’ve all moaned about money to spend on players, ok, lets get promoted and make some money to spend then – maybe then we can bring in the players we want, simply don’t moan about having no money then moan because the team aren’t spectacular every week – complacency is a sad truth, as long as we survive the rut and get back to winning ways I am not going to moan about it
We didn’t play badly, we just didn’t score.
We created loads of chances but didn’t convert, they got lucky.
CLiNT FLiCK says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I’m absolutely thrilled were top of the league, in a better financial state ect but I’m totally disenchanted by the performances I’m watching every week.
What’s wrong with wanting more? Especially when you haven’t achieved anything.
When you stop wanting more you stagnate and achieve absolutely nothing.
I want us to play well and win, is that really too much to ask?
Stuart,
There’s nowt wrong with that mate, i want it too.
Conversely, with regard to stagnation, if we expect more than is possible long enough, we become deluded also, don’t we?
It’s a fine line, 2 way street etc.
danny-boy says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:33 pm
No team ever dominates for 90 mins.
Teams who win the league play better more often than their rivals. Simple.
They also win on the odd occasion that they don’t play well.
You cannot go through a whole season and win the league ‘just doing enough’.
They score more goals, is all.
That’s what the history books show-the result.
Sometimes they play better, sometimes not.
Sometimes they deserve to win & sometimes don’t.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/12/29/chris-hughton-i-want-jermaine-beckford-72703-25486276/
How very refreshing hearing him tell the fans that he is actually interested in someone.
Also I would take a punt on Beckford. It does look like we need a ‘fox in the box’ type striker to complement the big lads we already have.
CLiNT FLiCK says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:46 pm
They score more goals, is all.
That’s what the history books show-the result.
Sometimes they play better, sometimes not.
Sometimes they deserve to win & sometimes don’t.
I have respect for you and your views in general but please don’t be so nieve to try and prove a point.
Agreed Stuart,
Could he be a worthy No. 9 in a Toon shirt?
Possibly?
We could be the making of each other.
Agree stuart79 beckford is worth a go, want us to steer clear of boyd though
Cool Stuart,
but i’d say it’s not naivety, more just going back to basics,
which feel is absolutely necessary right now.
Soz if i came across as patronizing, it wasn’t my intention.
Just trying to be concise, quick & to the point.
Well he’s only 26, is out of contract at the end of the season so will be relitively cheap and in my opinion will definitley score goals in the Championship.
Might do it in the PL too, so for £1-1.5m it’s got to be worth a go.
thats a generalization & not correct Stu, Barcelona v Man U last years champions league – arguably as is always the case, Barca were on top the whole game & thoroughly deserved their win & the margin they won by
how exactly did we get in the position we were in before this current wobble then?
“Teams who win the league play better more often than their rivals. Simple.
They also win on the odd occasion that they don’t play well.
You cannot go through a whole season and win the league ‘just doing enough’.”
we were 10 points clear at the top – we won more games than our rivals, and we’ve won on several occasions when we played badly, hell, even when we’ve “just done enough” simply, quit complaining your argument is moot and pointless
It would be a great move for him (& us), moving up a league.
& i think by doing that he could maybe make the grade at prem level too.
Definitely worth a shot.
Clint,
I don’t find you patronising mate.
I just happen to think that the best team always finishes top of the league and that team will play better than their opponents for the majority of the season.
Opinions and all that I suppose.
Fair enough Stuart,
got no truck with that.
You’re mostly right.
But, the best team doesn’t ALWAYS win mate.
But that’s football isn’t it.
danny-boy says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Didn’t understand a word of that last comment dicky boy.
Maybe a couple of new faces will turn our performances around and the current players won’t find their positions in the team so guarenteed.
Also a couple of good signings will also right a few wrongs from the owner. It would show a bit of commitment from him and might make the half wits stop and think of the irony of singing that stupid song about him at the matches.
CLiNT FLiCK says:
December 29, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Fair enough Stuart,
got no truck with that.
You’re mostly right.
But, the best team doesn’t ALWAYS win mate.
But that’s football isn’t it.
Correct the best team doesn’t always win on the day but I reckon the league table never lies at the end of the season.
Ridiculous game really…
Soap for people that don’t like soap mate.
Stuart @ 69.
totally agree with the last paragraph.
Alan irvine sacked
Just on Beckford, couple of my mates from Leeds reckon Leeds have said he won’t be going anywhere until the summer unless they get a ridiculous offer for him.
What do we class as ridiculous?
Just watchin the cricket and the trumpet player in the crowd is playing Blaydon Races!
Nobody singing it yet though
A bombay bad boy pot noodle
Anything over £1.5m is ridiculous.
Should get Irvine back as academy coach.
bywater for england-what a joke.
Try looking to the other end of the pitch you divvy clough.
Oh dear!
If only one of the many chances we had had gone in everyone would be lauding our great success. Its a funny old game and GK always seem to do better when they have loads of pressure during a match.
I agree with many of the comments made re Guthrie and Ranger they should be first choice always, especially Guthrie. For me he is the engine room of the team and our most creative midfielder. I don’t care how they might look in training, its match day performance that counts, hope you are reading this blog Chris!
Stuart they might not be Geordies, I get amazed and annoyed at the number of other clubs fans who now sing our national anthem at their games.
Big Willy
Where would you play Guthrie?
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Big Willy
Where would you play Guthrie?
Well for home games against the crap we see we don’t need a 3rd centre half like Smith.
I would play Nolan and Guthrie at home against most teams. We might find we play a bit of football too then.
I wasnt asking you.
But since you answered I think thats a good idea that will never happen.
Stuart79 says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Blocked by CFC] [Blocked by CFC] sirjasontoon says:
December 29, 2009 at 1:26 pm
All my mates just kept saying that we still have to play WBA, Cardiff and Forest at home. They will beat us if we keep playing like this.
<<<< will they fck beat us
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm
But since you answered I think thats a good idea that will never happen.
Thanks, that will have been difficult for you to admit.
on another day we could of scored 4 or 5 yesterday
batty says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:37 pm
You think we will beat them if we keep playing like this at home?
Our players will have to play better.
stuart cardiff and broms defences are leakyer than your arse lad
my little leaky arsw freind
batty says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm
on another day we could of scored 4 or 5 yesterday
On another day we could have beaten QPR and Bristol City at home too. It don’t work like that.
No it wasnt actually, fortunatly for me your not right very often.
Stuart79 says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm
batty says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:37 pm
You think we will beat them if we keep playing like this at home?
<<<< yes and we didnt play that bad yesterday
whens basher barton back ?
Batty
“You think we will beat them if we keep playing like this at home?
<<<< yes and we didnt play that bad yesterday"
We didnt play too bad yesterday, stuarts just being arkward because Jonas played well and he doesnt like to admit it
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm
No it wasnt actually, fortunatly for me your not right very often.
I’m right about Jonas though. He looks quite good in the Championship although he still doesn’t score any or create that much.
Jose is a class act though
TF aye he did play well they couldnt catch him
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Have you noticed were in the Championship this season?
Jonas was bought to as a PL player and he had about two assists all season.
Has it crossed your mind that he might have found his level like a few of them?
we havent lost in 11 games is it winning 8 dropped6 points oot of 33 aye were crap
Stuart79
Yeah Jose is class along with Colo too, but did you actually watch the match yesterday? because we played well and jonas created load of chances for the other players to fcuk up and plus he has got about six assists now doesnt he.
actually last season he got four the most in are bloody squad
spot on TF
TF take no notice of leaky butt stu he must be suffering from pmt
loony_factor – spouting shite again , guthrie is twice the player jonas is – he creates & scores goals while playing out of position.
your a complete jerk.
Its hard to Batty hes like a brainless Mosquito
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Stuart79
Yeah Jose is class along with Colo too, but did you actually watch the match yesterday? because we played well and jonas created load of chances for the other players to fcuk up and plus he has got about six assists now doesnt he.
Yes I was at the match and I saw him have a good game.
But like I said he wasn’t bought to do well in the Championship, he was bought for the PL but he didn’t perform at all last season.
I accept he may have needed his first season in England and may get better due to that but it’s very hard to judge him in the Chapionship as the standard is so poor.
I will happily conceed you were right all along if his next season in the PL he does the same as he is doing this season. Same goes for Colo too.
nice of you to admit
Fcuk off crapper you attention seeking gypsy
how do u work that oot cropper hes as bad as the rest
“guthrie is twice the player jonas is”
So why doesnt Guthrie play every week and play for his national team?
cropper ur not 1 of leaky butt stus mates are u
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm
nice of you to admit
All I’m admitting is he is playing well in the Championship. Not really something to crow about when he cost us £7m.
Guthries done jack shit since hes been here
Typical toon mob. We sit 6 points clear at the head of the table and people still complain. You do not know what you want simply put.
Also, Ameobi has been on fire this Season and one performance in which consensus suggests, the whole team did not do particularly well you name and shame Shola.
What kind of fans are you?
My conclusion is that we played well enough but simply failed to put our chances away. That is the game of football as fans you claim to be, you should know this.
You simply expect Newcastle to go out there and dance rings around the opposition and embarrass the opposition every time week in and out. Get a hold of reality. There are teams in far greater trouble than us and would pay to be in our position.
batty says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Guthries done jack shit since hes been here
What the fck as Jonas done Batty?
His one season in the PL he got 4 assists and NO goals! Is that good enough for an attacking midfielder?
Oh and don’t forget his one goal this season.
michael12 its the 1st time i agreed with 1 of ur posts
How come alan Smith has scored NO goals and NO assists in his three seasons and never gets any abuse?
leaky butt hes doing more than guthries doing
michael12 says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:04 pm
You simply expect Newcastle to go out there and dance rings around the opposition and embarrass the opposition every time week in and out. Get a hold of reality
The reality is that our players are paid 10-15 times more than their counter-parts and are valued at approx 5 times them too.
Is it too much to ask to be entertained by better players?
I’m not complaining about our position just our boring, long ball football.
TF THATS BECAUSE SMITH HAS FOUND HIS LEVEL
Yeah just like Guthrie
batty says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:09 pm
leaky butt hes doing more than guthries doing
I agree.
But in Guthrie’s defence he hasn’t been playing in his natural position has he? Right wing? He ain’t a winger.
Where do you think Barton will play when he returns? Probably out of position on the right again. Which is ridiculous.
stuart cant beleive u answerd too leaky butt m8
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:09 pm
How come alan Smith has scored NO goals and NO assists in his three seasons and never gets any abuse?
As you know I wouldn’t pick Smith. I would have Barton and Nolan in CM providing Barton was fit, if not I would go with Guthrie.
Stuart
“I’m not complaining about our position just our boring, long ball football.”
In fairness thats not the players fault its what Hughton and the other coaches have instructed them to do.
stu we will have to wait and see what class buys fat ash brings in
Toon_Factor says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Stuart
“I’m not complaining about our position just our boring, long ball football.”
In fairness thats not the players fault its what Hughton and the other coaches have instructed them to do.
Totally agree with you on that.
My point is pretty similar. Surely with the players we have (they are head and shoulders better than every other CHmapionship players) we shouldn’t bejust relying onthe long ball crap? Can our players not out pass or out wit these other teams?
They ought to be given licence not stiffled.
yeah your right, anyway im going out so ill talk to use later
The problem last night was that the strikers and Nolan didn’t perform, meaning that the good work being done by the wide positions was wasted and there wasn’t any sort of attack coming through the middle.
Even though we ran out of ideas in the last half hour we still had more than enough chances to win the game and both of the Taylor’s should be kicking themselves at the chances they missed.
My point is pretty similar. Surely with the players we have (they are head and shoulders better than every other CHmapionship players) we shouldn’t bejust relying onthe long ball crap? Can our players not out pass or out wit these other teams?
……
You’ve changed your tune a bit Stuart as it wasn’t long ago you were claiming with the players we had we had no chance of getting promoted, now you are moaning about us not playing like the Brazil 1970 team because we are so much better than the rest.
butty – there’s no proper money for fat boy to spend , adidas have kicked us into touch , corporate rooms are being closed down , local taxi & building firms are paying coppers to advertise where once blue chip companies spent big bucks & there’s no sign of anyone putting their name foward for the renaming of the ground. WHY – because the big lads dont want to be associated somebody like ashley.so dont expect new signing’s , he’s like a noose round the clubs neck.
Rangerman says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Wrong!
I was actually saying that with the squad we had we wouldn’t get promoted. The players are quite obviously better than any other players in this league.
We haven’t been promoted yet so I will reserve judgement on my historical comments.
Although the loan players coming in has given me a little more comfort. Also the noises coming out of the club regards January are quite positive.
Roy Cropper says:
December 29, 2009 at 4:47 pm
We hadn’t seen any money from Adidas for nearly five years anyway as FFS had spent it all up front on Owen.
So in actual fact a new sponsor will bring new money into the club which we haven’t seen in the recent past.
stuart – that’s my point it was up for renewal , but it’s not going to be addidas – it’ll be less money from a second rate company i’d guess.
I did wonder what on earth the advertising boards were displaying NODA taxis for though.
Some people seem to think that being constantly negative makes them sound more ‘knowledgable’ in some way, but it doesn’t, it just betrays the exact opposite. This problem is particularly prevalent in gauche adolescents, however some people never grow out of it.
Rot Cropper – Puma has been widely reported.
Roy Cropper – That was a typo, i meant to type Roy not Rot
worky – Plymouth guide awaiting the final touches mate.
A quick guide to plymouth, it’s crap!
Roy Cropper says:
December 29, 2009 at 5:08 pm
stuart – that’s my point it was up for renewal , but it’s not going to be addidas – it’ll be less money from a second rate company i’d guess.
It will be a smaller value in terms of the overall contract value but at least it will mean money coming in from a revenue stream that has been non existant for nye on five years.
workyticket says:
December 29, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Oh the irony
Barton s gonna be our midfield engine
Gaytoon – Highly unlikely. I can only remember 2 games in all the time he has been here that he has made a match winning contribution.
Toonsy i can only remember 2 matches when he’s been played in a favoured position
jay jay – So who would you drop for Barton then?
toonsy says:
December 29, 2009 at 5:13 pm
“worky – Plymouth guide awaiting the final touches mate.”
Got it toonsy.
I wouldn’t drop smith or nolan at the moment but it gives us another option if things arn’t going well mate.
As Nolan has shown, when given the ball in a decent position, he puts it in the net, with head, foot, knee, anything.
One of our best players this season.
The only good thing about playing cack recently is that the manager is no longer saying we dont need players, im sure that if we had taken maximum points there would have been a reluctance to spend money.
Like the sound of either Beckford or Chops to push us over the line and i hope Shola takes them geet big boots back to Billy Smarts.
Worky hope you had a good xmas
I havn’t seen you on much the last week. Did you ever get any word back from fsa
Big Dave says:
December 29, 2009 at 6:25 pm
“Worky hope you had a good xmas I havn’t seen you on much the last week. Did you ever get any word back from fsa”
Oh aye! Sorry about that, Dave. I remember you mentioning something before, but I don’t remember getting back to you with Christmas and all that (I was away).
Yes, I have spoken to the right person now. She confirmed that I was right in my concerns in a general way, but rightly, she didn’t go into any juicy specifics regarding NUST as that would be unprofessional. She assured me that that any reports would be looked into etc. Since the issue has been raised, they (the NUST) do seem to have added some qualifying statements in their literature, which seemed a little flimsy the last time I looked, though I haven’t looked at it since before Christmas. Hope you had a good one too BTW, Dave!
Cheers Worky and yeah had a good Xmas but cant wait to get the new year in and get back to normal
Sorry about my tardy reply have had to live in the real world for a while.
I’d have Guthrie in midfield with a bias to the right side. Perhaps use Smith in a sweeper role, obviously given his form this season he has to play.
As for Jonas I will repeat what I said many times last year he unsettles defences in a big way creating space for the other players and he is laying on better final balls this year to boot. And he is still getting the sh*t kicked out of him, although not as bad as last year.
I mentioned in an earlier blog our worst ever player being Marcellino but on reflection, running him a to a close tie has to be Owen on a cost per game basis with little end product. I only mention this as someone mentioned Owens (yawn) name earlier.
Without doubt one of the most boring and uninspiring series of comments yet, whats up folks got the blahs ?
Yo ! we are in first place tearing up the league, be kicking ass next year in the PL with the wonderkinder Jammy Jermain banging them in for fun, think of it we will be the envy of the division with Shola and Beckford,
that deadly duo up front.
Gonna sign Killer Kilgallon and Simpson, a coupla extra FB`s and bring in Steve Ireland to bring a bit of creativity to the midfield, well perhaps not but we could certainly use someone with his touch and creativity, not to mention his goalscoring ability.
The one thread that runs through this blog is the repeated moaning about a lack of flair, long ball stuff, “Sam football”
Tell me would you rather watch a game like the 4-3 game where we lost to Liverpool or a boring 5-zip win against,say Scunthorpe.
Sure it`s nice to win but football is showbusiness too and it`s all about being entertained.
Think had i lived in Bolton during Sam`s tenure there I would have been tempted to switch sides, find another team.
Is that what we have become here ?
stuart – that’s my point it was up for renewal , but it’s not going to be addidas – it’ll be less money from a second rate company i’d guess.
…..
Personally I would prefer to go with puma if Spurs go with adidas, if we get back into the Premiership then I doubt the money would be much different to what we signed with adidas a few years back, puma have been paying Spurs more than adidas were paying us too apparently.
The main thing for me is that from the outside it seems that puma have done more for spurs than adidas have done for us, maybe it’s to do with Spurs being puma’s main shirt sponsor in this country where as we are just one of many that adidas sponsor with more focus for them being on Chelsea and Liverpool.
I don’t think adidas have done us any favours for a good few years now and I can’t remember the last time they produced a kit I like, maybe the first northern rock sponsored home shirt under sir Bobby.
chuck – how come you seem to have argued on two sides there?
I heard Stephen Ireland is actually a realistic option for Hughton in January
I think some people just like to argue…
That’s not a dig at you chuck, by the way!
@stuart79 post 118: You tell us what you think the reason is for the opposition to turn up at a game. They have been working hard too to thrwat us for many of Derby’s players Newcastle is the Real Madrid in this league They are likely to turn out a performance that will better many teams in our league.
For many Derby players, last night’s game was the game of their careers and leaving with a point has done wonders for their season indeed could be their turning point.
Paid more or not, it is 11 vs 11 both teams with a strategy. They are not inanimate dummies without an idea.
I am of the opinion that Derby did a fantastic job last night, let us credit them for that.
As for the 15 times more pay, we sith 6 points at the head of the table one stage 10. Be slower in criticising.
Michael12 good on y and we still could of beat them by 3 or 4
BBM
Just rattling a few cages,sometimes I`m serious but mostly tongue in cheek stuff.
Basically reflecting what seems to be a theme repeated in the threads concerning boring football.
As for Ireland, been watching him a lot and have been very impressed, in my opinion would fit into any side.
Talked with a Man. U. fan here in N.Y. (played for Millwall) who reckons he`s a guy who would fit in well on any of the top teams, great reader of the game, can lay on the perfect pass , can find space to score, really does it all.
And face it it`s not easy to crack the present Citeh side.
Doubt if we could ever either tempt him or afford him unfortunately.