I’ve found some high quality video highlights of the 0-0 draw with Blackburn yesterday. Even on Match of the Day’s extremely trimmed edit of the game, it still looks like we dominated.
It was just one of those games where nothing quite fell for us, but the positives that I’ll be talking out of this outweigh the negatives.
Defensively and in possession we were sound, we created a host of chances that on another day could have gone in, and of course we got a tough away point at a place where we traditionally do rather rubbish.
It’s understandable why people will be a little disappointed given how we played on the day, but I for one would have taken a point before kick-off so it’s hard for me to be overly harsh on the players.
You can read the match report by clicking here, or you can read what people were saying as the match unfolded by skimming through the comments on our match thread here.
It’s Birmingham away next, which will be another tough fixture. They don’t lose very often at home and I’d be happy with another point away from home. And if our forwards can find their finishing boots then who knows? Maybe we could get more than a point?
Howay the lads!
NOTW saying we’re interested in Connor Wickham
F’kin hope so!
I Love Mike(Quote)
Jose is just getting better and better and with him in that form you can’t help but think if only it was Ben Arfa there instead of Jonas!
dan4toon(Quote)
ILM – It’s a shame notw are following the trend now and make you pay to go on their site because i would of liked to of read the story, no matter how accurate it is!
dan4toon(Quote)
ohhh the story’s a load of ***** like lol don’t worry.
Lets be honest, the majority of Premiership sides will be looking at him, he’ll probably end up going to Arsenal or somthing. So I havn’t got my hopes up, but he looks the business though.
I Love Mike(Quote)
I would love for us to sign him but i think they would want near 10 million for him and a get the feeling that for strikers in the summer we want more proven strikers and want to bring out own Wickhams & Chamberlains through.
dan4toon(Quote)
Dan – there are ways and means of getting on sites without paying 😉
The drawback to it though is that to tempt people into paying they will write more sensationalist stories to prize open peoples wallets.
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy – I’ll have to take your word for it 😉
And i know especially this time of year when not much is happening on that front!
dan4toon(Quote)
It’s fair enough wanting to bring them through, but if they aren’t there what we going to do? And let’s not be quick to forget we’ve just sold our own Wickham for £35mill, name me another team who has sold a home grown player for that much? Can’t be many, Rooney?….
Was talking to someone who works at the club over the weekend and I mentioned Aaron Spear, said he was a talented lad, but questioned his attitude. Still a little immature maybe. Still said Vuckic is going to be massive sooner or later and also said if they get a bid for Ranger the club would drive him there, lol ‘hated’ was a word he used…
I Love Mike(Quote)
ILM – I’ll have to take your word for it but it’s strange then that the club gave him a 5-and-a-half year contract a month or so ago and Pardew brings him on every game and talks about him for the future etc.
dan4toon(Quote)
If true about Ranger it’s a bit short sighted by the club. I mean it’s football, not a popularity contest, and if Ranger can add to the team then who cares if he is disliked.
toonsy(Quote)
ILM , young players attitudes seem to be very much in the question of late , phil neville in the press having a go at them as well
Johno Toon(Quote)
Who was it that despised each other playing upfront together, Sheringham and Cole?
dan4toon(Quote)
well we’ve heard about him being late n stuff for training (late for 10am lol) well he reckons some days he just doesn’t turn up! Horrible arsehole apparently, and lets get real, it’s not the first time we’ve heard it. My mate drives a taxi and he refuses to go to his house as he had a run in with him the last – and only – time he picked him up!
I said there’s and argument that he’s showing more now at first team level then Carroll did at 19, but he said Carroll is twice the player he is.
I Love Mike(Quote)
Think so dan , either sheringham and cole or sheringham and yorke
Johno Toon(Quote)
I hope we sell Geremi, **** and Owen in the Summer.
lacedaemonian(Quote)
Did we travel back in time lace? 🙂
Johno Toon(Quote)
I’m confused hahah!
dan4toon(Quote)
Harper – 6, Not really tested much by Blackburn so hard to score, kicking was average for him.
Simpson – 6, Again looked better defensively for majority of the game but still some hairy moments when he allowed the winger far to much space and time to pick out a cross and was in need of his defensive teammates to make good headers. Went off injured midway into second half.
Collo – 8, This is what we have come to expect from Collo in recent months. Looks every bit the price tag. Defensively solid and getting forward more into goal scoring positions. Was unlucky his shot wasn’t either side of Robinson after controling the ball well.
Willo – 7, Solid, assured performance to complement his argentine partner in crime. Did a lot of the donkey work. Big and strong in the air and didn’t shirk anything this time. Must have been exactly what Rovers had hoped would be missing from our side and he nullified their ‘go down and score an undeserved, sneeky set piece in the 89th min’ tactics.
Jose – 8, Class act. Looks every bit a future Spain international and I think clubs will be looking to test Ashley’s every player has a price policy in the summer.
Barton – 7, Not as influential as perhaps he has been but a good workman like performance nontheless. Shame he couldn’t find Kuqi with his cross in the final stages of the game which could have been the NUFC hollywood finish we were hoping for.
Nolan – 7, Captain tugboat put in a good physical performance to compete with Blackburn’s rugby, er I mean football.
Tiote – 8, Gets the ball and dribbles around in the middle, leaving his opponent dazed and confused. A rock in the middle for us and essential he doesn’t pick up another yellow in the next few winnable games. Another that I worry is actually too good for Newcastle’s owner.
Jonas- 6.5, Better from him after he sometimes goes missing a bit away from home. Skinned the donkey Blackburn players a good few times and crosses were hit and miss.
Lovenkrands – 6, Unlucky to hit the crossbar with an effort that looked like is was far too high to be anywhere near to me. Hasn’t done anything to change my opinion that he isn’t good enough long term and should be replaced in the summer.
Best- 7.5, The Ronny still give him 5’s and 6’s; but this was a 7 or an 8. Looks like he can step up to this level, amazingly after his form a year ago suggested he was struggling in the champ. Good control and movement and looking fitter and faster with everygame. Will be our no.1 striker out of the current bunch. Like Ranger there was nothing wrong with him although ‘injured’ for the international fixtures.
Subs
Perch – 6, An able replacement to Simpson
Ranger – 6.5, Did ok, had a few decent runs but nowt sensational.
Kuqi – n/a, Not quick, not clever, just a big, strong pain in the backside upfront, it’s obvious why Blackburn wanted him.
Pardew – 7, Had his team set up and playing well. Bravely matched Blackburn in the air and well and truly outclassed them on the deck, perhaps could have changed the strikers earlier but after having to change RB pehaps wise not to.
Verdict – More performances like this and a win has to be in the not too distant future.
DJG(Quote)
Great assessment DJG 🙂
dan4toon(Quote)
Jose only an 8 😯
WTF does the lad have to do to get a ten? He let nobody past, created at least half a dozen chances, dribbled it through the Blackburn defence and was unlucky to just lose control at the vital moment, BUT the ball still found one of our players, got forward when he could, never gave the ball away….
toonsy(Quote)
I decided not too give anybody a 9 0r a 10. Toonsy, it is like it would be almost impossible to get a 0 or a 1 wouldn’t it. A 9 is reserved for Barton against Arsenal for example.
DJG(Quote)
lol im picking up bad habits off batty and using incorrect spelling of ‘to’ in a sentence.
DJG(Quote)