Newcastle 0-0 Fiorentina, plus confirmation on Obertan by Pardew!

Cabaye in action against Fiorentina.
Newcastle had the final game of their pre-season campaign cut short this afternoon as heavy rain ended a rather frustrating build up to the new season in a rather farcical way.

Not that there was anything that could be done about the rain or the resultant postponement of course, although to be fair it was very in-keeping with what has gone on over the summer.

The pre-season campaign is supposed to be there to build up fitness and togetherness steadily towards the start of the Premier League season. I think it’s fair to say that ours hasn’t quite worked out like that! First we had the crowd trouble at Darlington followed by the news that a number of our first team players would be staying in Holland for various reasons ranging from Visa issues to child birth meaning that we would effectively have two groups of players on either side of the Atlantic. Ongoing Twitter issues were highlighted during our US tour by Jose Enrique and then by Joey Barton with the latter ending up on the transfer list as a result.

Only at Newcastle….

The match itself was a pretty dire affair as the conditions played their part in proceedings. Yohan Cabaye looked good again as he sprayed the ball about the park but goalmouth action was most definitely at a premium. Cabaye had a shot saved in the first-half before Leon Best fired wide after good work from Haris Vuckic.

At the other end Tim Krul pulled off a couple of cracking saves to highlight the fact that he is likely to be our next No1 whilst Fraser Forster, who came on for the second half, showed his shot-stopping abilities on a number of occasions although in fairness it’s not Forster’s shot-stopping ability that is in question.

Demba Ba had the best chance of the game when he came on for the second half but his shot from a narrow angle rolled agonisingly along the goal line.

Action was cut short in the 64th minute when both managers and referee came to an agreement to end the match in what were rapidly deteriorating conditions. It’s probably not what either manager wanted but I guess they’d take an hour of a football match ahead of a nasty injury to one of their players.

Alan Pardew confirmed after the match (listen here) that a deal for Gabriel Obertan was almost done and that the player will be having his medical during the early part of next week. A positive end to what has been a tough week for the Newcastle boss. Speaking to The Chronicle, Alan Pardew had this to say:

“We wanted the game to go on but there wasn’t much we could do about it. It was the referee’s decision. There was a tackle on Cabaye in the first half from one of their lads and I don’t think he meant to hurt him but the rain played a part.”

So not ideal but at least we didn’t pick up any further injuries. We’re on the home straight now and the new season is in sight, thankfully. Arsenal next week at St James’ Park. I can’t wait! Hopefully preparations for that match can run that bit smoother than what they have run so far!

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Dan Gosling, Yohan Cabaye, Haris Vuckic, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Leon Best.

Subs: Fraser Forster, Ryan Taylor, Mike Williamson, Sylvain Marveaux, Nile Ranger, James Tavernier, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba.

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

212 thoughts on “Newcastle 0-0 Fiorentina, plus confirmation on Obertan by Pardew!

  1. Right i’m off to bed. Toonsy what Tommy says is spot on, goodbye social life/free time and lie ins, but hello to knowing what life is all about.
    Congratulations to you both 😀

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  2. Pardew, May 8th 2011

    ““Now we need those three or four players at Newcastle who can get the fans off their seats. We know that is probably what’s missing and is going to take us beyond where we are at the moment.”

    “That is the type of player we’re looking at and hopefully we can bring in one or two of them and add to what we’ve got.”

    Still not jumping out me seat like Al mate!

    He also says ‘add to what we’ve got’ and I reckon ‘what we’ve got left’ would have been more relevant.

    I almost feel sorry for the bloke as he probably believed that when he said it.

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  3. Tommy, sticking Jonas at right back ain’t too controversial in my book. I reckon he could do a good job there. He’s obviously better with his right foot and only ever played left wing because, let’s face it, he spoke Spanish and communicated better with Enrique.

    The great Nolberto often did a good job at RB, for Peru and us in the later days of his magnificent career. Ryan Taylor however, NO, average winger, **** fullback.

    In short, I think you could be in with a good shout there.

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  4. Well Lads I will say one thing I think he is a better Manager than JFK and I for one would far rather have him over JFK anyday, and really who else would work for the Fatman
    Zoe hope you had a good holiday, as for highlights I havn’t seen any

    Shamrock I just think they will do it and dont forget Suarez has had time to settle and I hate to say it Carroll will be better 👿

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  5. Moreno I do feel sorry for him because he probably has believed what the Fatman was telling him but I do think he deserves a shot at the club with his team and I will support him because I really do dread the alternative if he goes 👿

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  6. It may well be his best position Moreno, He certainly works his socks off every game, never shies away from a tackle and always attempts to get the ball back whenever he loses it, unlike some wingers I’ve seen.

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  7. Moreno, I’ve stuck up for him from day 1, always seen something in him. Everyone used to moan about him all the time with this “no end product” sh1te. He’s a good player, just had a difficult start in a perpetually troublesome squad. The right manager will bring the best out of him.

    …that’s Gutierrez off on August 31st then.

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  8. Hitman 😆 No7 how do you work that one out 😕
    Moreno I just think Pards gets a lot of unfair stick because of Hooters and the fat ******* that owns the place and his gimp that runs the show 😀
    As for Jonas he is another that imo gets alot of unfair stick there is no one works any harder in our team than him

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  9. Ice take it easy Oh was asking about you and the other lads there, I was right he was fuked of with all the sh1te going on at the club, but he will be back soon 😆

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  10. Dave, I agree with you about Jonas. He works very hard for us, always see him running up and down his flank

    Does anyone else think he’s a bit like Captain Jack Sparrow?

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  11. AP – “Obertan has genuine pace. He’ll get more opportunities here & confidence will grow. Alex thinks he’ll do well for us & I do too

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  12. I find all this b0llocks absolutely dumbfounding to be honest. The glaring holes lie at full back and centre forward, yet we’re still ‘buying’ midfielders.

    ….having said that, there’s still 3 weeks left FFS. This has got to be the most negatively viewed close season in all my years of an NUFC fan. Still, been slapped in the chops a fair few times on D-Day – enough for me to justify my current doubts.

    There’s still time yet for Shane Long, I’d think Sturridge is way out of our price range at the moment.

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  13. Rod Saylor is another one that gets a lot of **** from the fans I remember last yr there was loads saying that he was a greedy c@nt and looking a move, he wasn’t loyal etc etc well he is still here and mr loyalty Tugboat jumped the 1st chance he got 😆 😆

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  14. Rodders the thing that really annoys me is that after getting £35 mil for Carroll, Sturridge shouldn’t be out of our price range 😈

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  15. WWWWAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN – HUNDRRRRRRED – AN – AAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYY.

    ….good arras Dave. 😎

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  16. …think by “dangerous” Tommy Cooper just means ‘creative’.

    Brilliance always has its flaws. Being passionate about something always get you in to trouble.

    Especially if you bump into a loudmouth cnt outside McDonalds.

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  17. alreet lads !! i wonder who we are going to be linked with in the sunday papers 2mora then!!!

    i dunno why but im getting a funny feeling its going to be bendtner or shane long!!!

    2 questions – whens tiote and ben arfa back???

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  18. Lpool won’t make champs league, they won’t recreate the form they had at the end of last season imo.

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  19. Anyone see the article in mail about colo agent he’s had offer from Valencia? Quotes and everything!

    Jose will leave colo and jonas and we will e left with no one…

    On another sad note shame hughton lost today really hoping he does well

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  20. Liam, not really worth believing any **** you read in the papers, unless it’s potentially good news. Ignore all the outgoing speculation, and consider all the incomings – only way to stay sane!

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  21. I see Judas has been called up by Capello to play against Holland next week , i hope and pray De Jong does a job on him just like he did HBA:evil:
    yes it still hurts , the ****

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  22. …quite an assuring performance by that, I think. Lads done well maintaining their balance in the apparent water-logged earthquake.

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  23. Liam there have been rumours for weeks now about Colo having offers from spain . He won’t be going because he earns more here than he will get their .
    my last comment has not appeared yet , awaiting moderation its about what i hope happens when judas meets De Jong next week when England play Holland .

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  24. Axel- I can’t work out how to do it, sorry. Brain not working at this time of night

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  25. haha Zoë, brains? …at this time of night? …..who needs ’em eh 🙂

    …if Axel could refrain from fkn swearing his posts might get through.

    :mrgreen:

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  26. Some interesting comments by AP

    “”It’s frustrating but there isn’t a lot you can do about the weather. The rain just wouldn’t stop and we were worried about injuries.

    “There was a tackle on Cabaye out there which had my heart in my mouth. It was the right decision to call it off.

    “I hope I can get the club unified again. When the ­ownership of the football club is in the forefront of conversation it is a ­problem.

    “I want people to be talking about the football team here and what the players do on the football pitch.

    “The problem is that where we are now financially means that we can never really fulfill the expectations of the fans. They have memories of European football but the gap is ­getting bigger as the years go by.

    “It is becoming difficult to compete with the top clubs, but that is not to say we can’t compete at the level we are at, but we are always vulnerable to the bigger clubs as Andy Carroll’s move proved.

    “That makes it very difficult to manage – but not impossible. Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias made it quite clear – the club to a certain extent needs to wipe its nose and therefore we haven’t got ­investment above our income. That is how Mike wants to run the football club.

    “Some of the other clubs have that ability to spend more than they earn and Manchester City have been able to break into the top four for that reason.

    “They have a sovereign state ­backing them. We can’t ­compete with that. It is very difficult.”

    “I am not going to make any predictions about the new ­season until I see what ­players we get in. I am fairly confident that we will get the players in that we need. I would like one or possibly two in before we play Arsenal.

    “The fans have had so many ­broken promises in the past not just from this ownership but way before that, but we have added two or three very good players to the group ­already and we are going to add to that.”

    “Once we see the team settle down – and I don’t think it will be in the first three or four games if I am honest – I think we are going to see a very strong side.”

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  27. so pre season has been a complete waste of time then 👿

    Finally admitting not spending big money on players.
    Cant wait to see the club finances next year. (Probably be massaged to make it look like a loss AGAIN) 👿

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  28. Right then must be time for bacon, sausage, egg, black pudding, hash broons, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast. Coffee coffee coffee.
    mmmmmmmmmm ❗

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  29. Well Alan, tell fatty to put the club up for sale at a realistic price and see if any big investor is out there because at this present time, all he has done, is tried to take the **** out of potential buyers, including the owners of Manchester city!!!!!!!!!

    If he cant afford to run us then do the honourable thing. If no one buys us at our Market value then we will have to accept it and get behind him. Until then the battle to get shot of him rages on!

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  30. I see PSG lost their first league match at home to Lorient. Erding played the whole 90mins, in the fact was the only striker not replaced. Maybe he is in the PSG mangers plans afterall

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