So true to form, I woke up this morning happy after our 4-1 demolition of Wolves. I don’t care if anyone thought the scoreline flattered us or that we didn’t deserve to be the victors (we did in my opinion) as weren’t really in a position before kick-off to be picky and simply needed the three points, which we ultimately got.
There was some good, solid performances out on the St James’ Park pitch yesterday, but who was the top dog in black and white? I thought I’d run through those who played, give them a brief summary and pick an NUFCblog Man of the Match. See if you agree.
Steve Harper: Made a good save in the first half but could have done better for the goal in my opinion. Otherwise untested really. Match rating – 6.
Danny Simpson: Has a tendency to back off an attacker, but it didn’t cost him and he linked up with Barton well. Done some good defensive work without being outstanding. Match rating – 6.
Mike Williamson: Mike had a good game in my opinion. Very little got past him and he was excellent in the air. Could have scored but for a smart save from Hennessey. Match rating – 7.
Fabricio Coloccini: Colo was the best defender for me, but only just. His work at the back and distribution was the reason that we scored the third goal. Class act. Match rating – 8.
Shane Ferguson: Did well before being forced off due to a calf injury. Looked calm and composed on the ball and put in some good defensive challenges. A bright future could be ahead for this kid if he keeps his head down. Match rating – 6.
Joey Barton: Key man again. Joey was influential today, and the team look much much better with him included in it. On the rough end of a few tackles in the first fifteen minutes, but he rose above it again. Grabbed an assist for the Lovenkrands goal and could have got on the scoresheet himself but for a fine reaction save from Hennessey. Match rating – 9.
Danny Guthrie: Solid yet unspectacular. Did his job well and kept things simple. Never gave the ball away and got stuck in when he was needed. Maybe he has been learning off Cheik? Match rating – 7.
Kevin Nolan: Did well in the middle in my opinion. He kept things ticking over nicely and cropped up with the opening goal on one his trademark forward runs despite missing training on Friday through illness. Match rating – 7.
Jonas Gutierrez: A rare goal from the Argentine as he cleverly swept the ball past Hennessey from 20-yards for Newcastle’s fourth goal of the afternoon. Did some good work offensively and defensively but also frustrated at times. Match rating – 7.
Shola Ameobi: Shola was good today and he actually looked interested. When he wants to be, he can be unplayable, but it’s not often that we see that. Won his fair share of headers and grabbed himself a goal and an assist for Kevin Nolan’s opening goal. Match rating – 7.
Peter Lovenkrands: Had a good game and grabbed a goal. Chased things down well and caused problems for the Wolves defence. Was unlucky not to score before his goal when he was denied by the woodwork. Match rating – 7..
James Perch: Picked up his customary booking and made a few mistakes. Luckily he recovered from them, plus he cleared the ball off the line. Wouldn’t have got on if Ferguson wasn’t injured in my opinion. Match rating – 5.
Nile Ranger: Some useful running from the sub who once again proved to be a handful. Question marks will remain over his goalscoring ability until he manages to find the back of the net however. Match rating – 6.
Steven Taylor: Didn’t have much time to make an impact but he did have a hand in the fourth goal as he ran the ball out of defence to Jonas Gutierrez who proceeded to score the fourth. Match rating – 6.
So having reflected on that, Joey Barton receives my vote for MOTM.
Who is yours?
Unfortunately I missed yesterdays match as I was on the way back from the airport so I had to make do with radio/MOTD. Even whilst on holiday I spent at least a little bit of every day thinking about this match and how important it was for us so to put a result like that together is brilliant. I often defend Shola and he put in a really good performance, his knock downs are often better than Carroll’s were, and he’s proven he can still be a menace in the air even with that ridiculous mask. Much credit to loven as well who i’ve been disappointed with this season-just shows that maybe our strikers don’t deserve all the bad press they get, and we aren’t completely reliant on leon best 😯
As for my MOTM i’d go for Colo or Barton-as I said didn’t see the whole match but Colo’s bit of skill when he pushed forwards was brilliant to watch…and here’s hoping that Jonas’ goal will encourage him to cut and shoot a bit more often-such a good goal from him.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
Joey Barton 😀
richietoon(Quote)
Shola for me, created the first to settle the nerves then scored the second to give us breathing space.
His hold up play was also really good and I reckon giving him a 7 isn’t being too generous like Toonsy….
Have to disagree about Simpson, he was backing off Jarvis the whole game and it did cost him when jarvis had the time and space whilst simpson was ‘trying’ to usher him out towards the goal line. Jarvis decided not to be ushered outside and squared the ball for a simple tap in. We are three goals to the good by this point so he will get away with it….this time 😉
Moreno(Quote)
I’d give MotM to Barton. Honourable mentions to Colo, Guthrie and Shola.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Joey Barton…disciplined performance, plenty of skill, get him signed up please pdq ! 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Brisvegas…..the man who never sleeps !! How you doing after yesterdays marathon session and a really welcome 3 points ?! 😎
Munich Mag(Quote)
In MotD’s extensive coverage, they never mentioned who actually did get man on the Match ‘officially’
Moreno(Quote)
Feeling a bit seedy, mate. Didn’t plan on the drinkathon, it just happened that way. I was bit buoyed by signing a juicy contract to ghost write a book for an Oz celebrity.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Barton any day of any week, he was class and while Shola had one of his best games in a while, JB was instrumental in pretty much everything good about yesterday so without doubt Barton
pearceet(Quote)
Brisvegas…congrats mate, a double wammy for you then this weekend…well worth the hangover by the sound of things ! 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Congrats Bris 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Barton is a legend 🙂
jay jay(Quote)
Barton
Jill(Quote)
Shola was great 1st half but 2nd half he had a 15 minute spell of going through the motions, I thought he was tired and would have taken him off at the time instead of Lovenkrands b ut when Ranger came on he seemed to get his second wind and started performing again.
richietoon(Quote)
Barton for me he seems to make the team tick.
Toonsy would it be much to ask if you can find out how many times Joey has been in the winning side and how many of the loses has he played in ?.
But all the players have done well yesterday 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Barton for me with Colo a close second.
But should’nt we be talking about Europe again? 😆
nutmag(Quote)
For me Simpson should get a bit more praise, Wolves didn’t play because Jarvis couldn’t play, why? Because of Simpson.
Anways man of the match was Barton. He ran the game in midfield, shame he didn’t give Karl Henry what he needed but hey, Wolves going down should be good enough revenge 😉
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Dave – I’m working on something like that, but not with Barton, and not with wins 😉
Make of that what you will 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Reet, off to do the Mothers Day duties. Back in a bit. New article at 11 and hopefully it won’t take me long to visit three people. I’ve said I want to be back for the footy at 1pm 😀
toonsy(Quote)
Barton for me 😉
How he isn’t back in the England squad is something I can’t answer. And Nolan for that matter.
Brilliant win and much needed!!
NorthernPaul(Quote)
Ginola and rob Lee on Goals on Sunday, Get sky sports 1 on NOW as the toon game is coming up
Moreno(Quote)
Think it was a close call between Collo, Joey and Shola but I would have to go for Shola.
Not only was it one of his first outings since smashing his cheekbone, Wolves have a very physical back line and he fought them throughout (which must have been nerve wracking with the cheek injury).
He won a load of useful headers, fought to get the ball back, brought others into play and was difficult for them to deal with right across their back line all day, so considering his circumstances – (not to mention the **** he gets) I give it to Shola – well done fella.
Stardust(Quote)
Got to say Toonsy – I think the 7 rating for Shola is terribly unfair and a wee bit harsh – anyone would think you dont rate him! 😉
Stardust(Quote)
🙄 i see the rat has crawled oot of his hole 😆
batty(Quote)
I wasn’t expecting anything from Shola, quite glad he proved me wrong. Shola was a beast, him and Mike won the majority of there headers.
Feeling very confident of getting something against Villa.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
squeak squeak
Stardust(Quote)
…..and we are above the mackems
Moreno(Quote)
Stardy,
Ye lazy barsteward when do you start your real job ❓
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Thought steven fletcher was their stand out player. him and eubanks blake gave williamson the runaround. there was once in the first half carver and pardew went ballistic with williamson over his terrible distribution. he is so uncertain when in posession of the ball
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
O’hara was distinctly average and is no better than guthrie so very pleased we never wasted 4 or 5 million on him
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
I thought Willo was poor yesterday, he was ragged all over the place and he wraps his arms around and pulls attackers shirts arms shorts far too much for my liking.
richietoon(Quote)
TGS – Ratting? 😆
Got all kinds happening and on! Will tell you later!
Stardust(Quote)
Seems williamson has divided opinions. Always going to be the cas e. he is just that type of player that we have a few of. Shoala Lovenkrands and Guthrie are others. Some people like like them some people don’t. marmite players
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
I don’t mind Willo, I just think recently he hasn’t played as well as he was doing and he’s to eager to grab hold of the attackers and was lucky to get away with alot of it yesterday imo…..mind S.Taylor does the same so guess we have to live with it for the time being.
richietoon(Quote)
HAHAHAHA, Why the fook have Fulham got a statue of Michael Jackson outside the ground.
Al Fayed is off his dish like
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno…you answered your own question there 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)