It’s been nearly a month since Newcastle played a match on home turf, yet we still remain unbeaten. With the greatest of respect to Blackburn, they are a team that we should be looking to beat in front of our own fans with the aim of extending our unbeaten run to 11 games.
Perhaps that is why I feel so apprehensive about the match. Blackburn do notoriously well at St James’ Park and are looking for the sixth successive win on our home patch. They are a bogey team, of that there is little doubt.
Still so were Villa and so were Fulham but we managed to get results against them pair. I just hope we can continue that trend this afternoon. Not that I’ll be able to watch it of course as I’m at work. I’m not bitter about it, honest…
Those of you who are going to the game today could well be in with a treat. A rare treat in fact. You may well get the chance to spot the elusive Hatem Ben Arfa in a Newcastle shirt for the first time in nigh on a year. With a place on the bench seemingly nailed on I think it’s pretty safe to say that we may see a little cameo from the Frenchman this afternoon.
For those that aren’t going I feel fairly confident that you’ll still be able to see the team in action. The match is being broadcast on numerous channels overseas so the chances of a stream at the moment seem fairly decent. Obviously if you find a really nice one, or one that doesn’t stop and start every few seconds, then please feel free to share the link with your fellow NUFC fans.
The match preview is here for you to peruse at your leisure should you choose to do so. Contained within it are some fun match facts and player stats, news of injuries for both sides aswell as a stab at trying to name the team. Have a look if you haven’t already done so.
That is just about it really. Hopefully we can extend our unbeaten run in front of our home fans with a nice performance to boot. You never know, if we get a win and a decent performance it may take just a little bit of attention away from those garish Sports Direct signs that appear to be popping up all over the place!
I will endeavour to get the match report written up in it’s entirety when I get in from work so it should be with you first thing on Sunday morning including highlights, interviews, etc. The whole shaboodle basically, so be warned that it may be a long one!
Howay the lads!
Team news is as follows…
Newcastle:
Krul; Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini (c), R Taylor; Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Best, Ba
Subs:
Harper, Perch, Guthrie, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands
Blackburn:
Paul Robinson; Michel Salgado, Christopher Samba (c), Scott Dann, Gael Givet; Junior Hoilett, Steven N’zonzi, Jason Lowe, Martin Olsson; Mauro Formica, Yakubu
Subs:
Mark Bunn, Grant Hanley, Vince Grella, Radosav Petrovic, Simon Vukcevic, Ruben Rochina, Jason Roberts
Stoke are playing some good stuff, they need to score soon or forever hold their peace
TOONPIPES(Quote)
pardew interview
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_video/0,26719,11065_3407600,00.html
hitman(Quote)
Let’s be honest lads Blackburn were so poor but we played well
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Lol the Kean interview is hilarious! He bleats on about the 3rd goal and calls it a turning point, reckons they were doing very well on the counter and says they had players playing through the ‘pain barrier’.
Absoltely no admitting tat his boys got played off the park, in fact he denies it! A desperate man…
Before the season started, I had Blackburn down for the drop. Opinion has not changed. They are not helped by Kean, like his team these days, he is just not cut out for it.
Shamrock(Quote)
Kean aint up to managin in the prem …
TOONPIPES(Quote)
Some of the football and link up play was the best I have seen us play for a long time. Actually couldn’t believe it was us I was watching. So impressed with everyone bar Simpson today.
Entertainers MkIII
Moreno(Quote)
@305. Well he’s not going to have the pleasure much longer
MDS(Quote)
What was the atmosphere like lads?
Lacedaemonian(Quote)
Lace it seemed like a real good atmosphere.
Moreno I have seen more exciting games but I agree that that was the best football we have played in a long time, if you know what I mean.
Big Dave(Quote)
Pardew did say it would take about four games for the team to start gelling. I can’t wait to see the highlights though the full game would be better. What are the games on Sky Choice the neet?
Lacedaemonian(Quote)
Lace dont know what games are on sky, yeah the team have started to really gel
Big Dave(Quote)
Not sure if anybody has posted any highlights. This link is the goals, really good quality video:
http://www.goalsarena.org/video/england-barclays-premier-league/24-09-2011-newcastle-united-blackburn_en.html
Lacedaemonian(Quote)
Delighted with the result n by through sound of it the performance was really good. Gonna watch highlights on sky tonight wit a few cans of ken.
johno toon(Quote)
DAVE went out to watch,see yoy got it right and batty got it wrong,again
icedog(Quote)
Ice you had faith in my prediction anyway, I hope you had a few quid on the 3-1 🙂
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice what did you think of the game yersel mate
Big Dave(Quote)
Thanks Lace…good video highlights
What on earth is Keane babbling about, the bloke is a fool….there weren’t any fouls at all by the toon goals.
Humongous finish for the first goal by Ba. Then for the third he out-jumped Samba and he is at least twelve foot tall…
Howay the lads….!!! Tonights gonna be a great Saturday night !
Munich Mag(Quote)
DAVE good game mate but the same winge our full backs are not good enough imo we are not a top 3/4 team so thats what we have to put up with,great result something we may have lost last yr,but b/burn are a poor side but you can only play whats in front of you
icedog(Quote)
MM saturday nights are good after a win, but even better when you have played real good aswell
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice I really believe that the other team can sometimes dictate the way you play, ie if they play better you play better, but I think also sometimes if you play real good you can make the opposition play worse, I dont know if that makes much sense to you 🙂
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE of coarse i know what your getting at mate,down to tactics as well in this game which you change according to “who” you are playing 😉
icedog(Quote)
Big D…you’re right there mate, and today we played extremely well apparently. Me and thee who were sticking up for Pardew are looking good now though mate…!
Munich Mag(Quote)
Ice…you’re spot on about the full backs. We just need two steady defenders who can defend, we have enough flair elsewhere in the team to win the games. Hopefully Santon is a piece to the jigsaw if the bloke gets himself off the treatment table…
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM lol its funny that a while back very few fans had owt decent to say about him, but most have begun to see that he isn’t that bad and likes to play decent footie, and is capable of making good changes when things arn’t going to plan.
Big Dave(Quote)
On Santon I have high hopes for him and I really do believe that after a dozen or so games people will be sayin Jose who ?
Big Dave(Quote)
Wouldn’t mind seeing the cloggy lad Pieters at left back, with Santon cruising down the right. Now that would be nice..
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM i agree fully mate but its slowly,slowly,more so when jabba wont go that extra yard imo
icedog(Quote)
QUESTION TIME:
If Pardew and the team can keep us sniffing about the top 8 by January time, do you think Ashley would spend money to sign Pieters and a striker and push us on or wait to the summer to see where we finish?
History tends to indicate no spending in January, but he did splash the cash (sort of) in January to get us back promoted.
funkyjesus(Quote)
FJ I really cant see Jabba spending owt in Jan unless we were in dire straights.
I remember Lambsarse saying that players prices are to over inflated in the Jan window.
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE your dead right he has said that more than once,ime just hopeing maybe with the shambles he made in the summer he might relent a touch then again i dont think he gives a **** what we fans think,its suck it and see i think
icedog(Quote)
Just thinking, Ashley’s hand picked manager clearly has trust with Ashley and if he is showing to be progressing the team, Ashley may be more willing to spend to secure European football and the money that entails.
If we got Pieters to cover left back/centre back and a striker, then we are set. Santon covers full backs in both positions and the wings and that allows some wingers to cover midfield/strikers roles along with the new striker.
It would also allow us to sell some squad players we never play and whose careers we are essentially ruining by not using them in any way.
Could feasibly keep the same wage bill, if not lower it, if you made the right sales that those two purchases would open us up to.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Alright lads n lasses
Pardon my french, but that was a fucking great afternoon of football.
Some luvly passing going on, n sum **** passes too mind. But we are getting there for sure.
Really pleased for Demba, 3 smart goals.
I got slated for saying Best needs to improve his finishing, and I think I was proved right today. Man we shoulda been 7 up easy. Gotta sort it out, he cant keep launching them ower the cross bar, time after time ffs.
Midfield looked confident, but Cabaye was man marked out of it at times.
Weak link tho is simpson. Backs off too much then gets skinned.
Why wont/cant he commit to a tackle, he might aswell not be there ffs.
Good reception for HBA, i think he enjoyed that. Not a great performance by him, but hey I aint complaining, its gonna take time. Just good to see him back.
I wonder how many seconds we get on MotD??
Buzzin still.
Toon Toon
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Aye, Pardew deserves some praise n all.
If that is an indication of the type of football he wants to play, then he deserves alot more credit than what he gets. Doing more than ok for me.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Pardew has us playing really good football and so far, and more important obviously winning football. Meanwhile Hughton is really struggling with Brum and playing ***** football….Not that I have anything against the bloke, but it is funny that some Blogs which were so convinced in his divine management have rather less to talk about nowadays… :p
Anyway credit to all the lads, Pardew and John Carver and the rest. The coaches are clearly doing the right things on the training pitch, its showing on the field.
Newkie(Quote)
Evening all. Final stretch. Got match of the day recorded. Can’t wait to get in. And its the start of a week off work 😀
toonsy(Quote)
I wonder if any of you anti Ashley fans can concede that maybe, just maybe he is getting it right and give him some credit for his policy / our results?
Any one please????
Michael12(Quote)
Michael12 – if you asked that question 16 games in and not 6 you might get some who change their opinion. At tge minute though its only 6 games. Great start but early days, and I’m one of the dreamers aswell apparently.
toonsy(Quote)
Michael12 do you not think you would be better waiting a wee bit longer before you proclaim him as god.
I am thrilled with how we have started but I will be even more thrilled if the players rally together after a bad run, as we dont know yet how we will handle defeats and it will happen.
So I think I will wait a bit as I dont want to make a Tool of myself after only half a dozen games
Big Dave(Quote)
Michael12 @ 264 and 336 you seem to be more interested in how the Fans think of Jabba and the Lamb than owt else, so is there a point your trying to make or something you want to tell us
Big Dave(Quote)
Michael, interesting dilema regarding Ashley. On one hand he may well have a masterplan to get us into the top 8 on a shoe string budget, on the other he may have accidentally stumbled across a great scout and good manager that know how to find quality on the cheap and get it to gel…
As things stand, things are looking rosy so no grumbles from me at the moment. However, although I believe it was right for us to move on Barton (more trouble than he’s worth as a footballer), Nolan (knows where the goal is and good leader but not mobile enough to do a proper all round midfield job), Carroll (great talent but Liverpool offered obscene money) and Enrique (At the end of the day he did not want to stay and his contract was running down) – some may well argue that it was a huge risk to get rid of arguably last season’s 4 best performers, making huge money in the process and risk trying to fill the void with untested foreigners. A risk that is clearly paying off so fair play.
My lingering concern now is what happens if we have a successful season? When the ‘bigger’ sides start sniffing around the likes of Ben Arfa, Cabeye, Obertan, Tiote, Colo et all. Does Ashley say ‘No, we have a good squad which is affordable and sustainable so nobody leaves and we will build on this group for the future’, or does he say ‘show me the money, we’ll take another punt on more untested cheap foreigners and hope a) they are good enough, b) they gel fast enough and c) the squad is not too unsettled and disillusioned by the constant revolving door….
For now I for one am obviously a happy fan, hopeful for a bright future however, there is that worry in the back of my mind…
Shamrock(Quote)
Newkie,
You mention Hughton but he is hardly struggling. Brum only just got knocked out the Carling Cup, are still in Europa League and have a Championship schedule. They sold almost their entire first team from last year and have a tiny squad with a lot of youth players now.
With all that, if they win their league games in hand, they move into the top half of the table and get right into the play off hunt, they are doing really well in Europe currently and they have potentially the new English wonderkid in Nathan Redmond, who can either get them this season or be sold for top money to fund further purchases.
You aren’t even taking into account the owner of Brum getting arrested and funds being frozen. Hughton is jinxed owner wise but he is still doing a very good job if you ask me.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Funky
Brum got knocked out pretty soundly by Man City I’d say, Birmingham did well but City were never in full flow and cruised most of it I thought. Europa, well yeah they beat an average team from portugal and then got spanked by a decent team in Braga, can’t really see it coming off for them.
As for the league…well again, early days I suppose just like it is for us, and I know what your saying about poor luck and transfers, losing Gardner and Dann is tough. Not to mention its a very tough league this year. But I don’t really get what you mean about having to rely on youth players but then saying they have the wonderkid of english football, surely that’s a good thing rather than bad? Indeed their youth lot are going to be in much better nick than most teams.
Anyway like I said, I wish him all the best and I’m not making fun of his position, just of those who seemed to be convinced that Pardew would get us relegated last season and Hughton could take Gateshead to Europe.
Newkie(Quote)
And as for Yeung being arrested, well there’s something I’d definitely take from Birmingham’s hands :p
Newkie(Quote)
@TOONSY: I agree it is early days but surely we see the the foetus of his vision and am just wondering if there are any anti Ashley / Llambias fans out there who would even consider it a remote possibility to be big enough to openly and publicly concede that maybe they were wrong?
@Shamrock it would be a dilemma if you were in Ashley’s Shoes and we had a great season and bigger clubs came in sniffing and offering good to stupid money for Ben Arfa, Cabeye, Obertan, Tiote, Colo et all. Both business and football sense would have you sell. The model would require that we can continue to scout and get great talent!
@bigDave: All I want to know is if any of the anti Ashley fraternity are big enough to concede?
Michael12(Quote)
Michael12 > All I want to know is if any of the anti Ashley fraternity are big enough to concede?
Concede to what ?? that maybe they were wrong? but what if their right ? it would be a pretty stupid thing to concede to after only 6 games.
Michael12 if you want to hail him as your hero thats up to you but I dont see how you can expect anyone else to do the same after 6 games
Big Dave(Quote)
Michael-Yeah I’d keep shtum for now mate. Its nice to have a little banter between the two sections as it were, but going on and trying to make people eat their words isn’t a clever thing to do six games in. If we lose the next six games in a row and end up in the relegation zone will you be willing to admit ashley is just a fat c*nt?
Newkie(Quote)
@big Dave: I am pro Ashley, that is public knowledge. I do not expect anyone to hail him a hero all I asked was if anyone is prepared to concede if we are successful and by successful I mean challenging for europa by the end of the season? that is all
Michael12(Quote)
Hup, hup, hup
Throw it man
Forward man
Throw it man
I don’t know
Maybe that’ll do…
DEMBA BA, DEMBA BA
DEM-BABAAAHHH
DEMBA BA, DEMBA BA
DEMBA BA, DEM-BABAAAHHH
…sung to the tune of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuxeISvdSAk
Rodzilla(Quote)
Michael-I’m considered Pro Ashley by most, but I’m willing to put money we won’t be in a europa league spot by the end of the season. Not that that doesn’t mean we can’t have a successful season, I’ll take 8th gladly.
Newkie(Quote)
Michael12 would you not be better off then waiting till near the end of the season then if we are in the Euro mix see if people concede that Jabba got it right.
Rather than expecting people to concede that they got Jabba wrong now after just 6 games.
No one in their right mind would admit they got it wrong until there is prove that they were wrong
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie, what kind of talk is that you fkn mackem.
….”put money we won’t be in a europa league spot by the end of the season”
…put yer money where yer mouth is mate. Some people prefer Arsenal and Tott-en-ham, I for one, care less for them.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodzilla- So because I don’t expect us to be in the Europa league I’m a mackem or some fake supporter? Is that really how it works? Christ. I would love nothing more than for Newcastle to be challenging for the title and in the champions league again, does that mean I think it will happen this season? Not a fucking chance. As it happens I already have put my money where my mouth is and bet on a 9-10 finish, I’ll be more than happy to be proved wrong and for my team to exceed my expectations though.
Newkie(Quote)
1 Man Utd 6 17 16
2 Man City 6 14 16
3 Chelsea 6 5 13
4 Newcastle 6 4 12
5 Liverpool 6 0 10
6 Tottenham 5 0 9
7 Stoke 6 -2 9
8 Aston Villa 5 2 7
9 Everton 5 0 7
10 QPR 5 -2 7
11 Wolves 6 -3 7
12 Arsenal 6 -5 7
13 Sunderland 5 2 5
14 Norwich 5 -2 5
15 Wigan 6 -4 5
16 Swansea 6 -5 5
17 Fulham 6 -3 4
18 Blackburn 6 -5 4
19 West Brom 6 -5 4
20 Bolton 6 -8 3
…..
Bolton
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Fulham
Norwich
Wigan
Swansea
Everton
Wolves
Berltin
West Brom
unwashed
QPR
Stoke
Arsenal
CHELSEA
MAN UTD
MAN CITY
SPURS
…why can’t we break into that top 6? Liverpool and Arsenal have stepped back into our world. It’s there for the fkn taking now mate.
Rodzilla(Quote)
…..(sorry for calling you a mackem)
Rodzilla(Quote)
Always said Liverpool were overrated last season, and Arsenal certainly aren’t the force they were. That being said, am I confident we can get four points or more off the both of this season? No, in all honesty I’m not. The gap is definitely closing, but do we have better squads than the both of them? No, I don’t think we do, and nor will we after January, I’d say they’re more likely to strengthen during that period than we are anyway. Does that mean I don’t hope we can get into Europa or that I’m ruling it out as a certainty-obviously not, I’m just saying I don’t think we can beat them this season. Next season though, with more investment and obvious development of players like Krul, Obertan and hopefully Santon that will come from regular appearances, as well as the development of our good youth players, and hopefully with a fair portion of the 35 mil used to get a quality striker after we’ve become a more attractive target, then yes we’d be in with a genuine shot.
Newkie(Quote)
Haha no worries mate, was a bit harsh mind :p
Newkie(Quote)
…hope you spotted the deliberate mistake – I mentioned Berltin twice. Well they’re near enough to Liverpool. Get ma drift init geeza.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Soz Newks, at least ye took the bait anyway.
A canny little fishy for mi suppa noo. Me ind bear Grylls got a cracking barbie gan non. Slugs ind woodlice pie. Rockin’
Rodzilla(Quote)
fckin mackem
Newkie(Quote)
….anli the finest Newkie. Yeev niva tasted woodlice until yiv heda mackem one. Sweet as honey pie, shamone.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Ya feelin alreet rodz man?
Newkie(Quote)
Mighty fine Newks, and yee?
Rodzilla(Quote)
Very decent crowd of over 46000 today
johno toon(Quote)
Toon 4th, Heed 2nd, Pools 3rd.—- Mackems 13th Aye no complaints from me!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14367608.stm
Another reason to be glad not to be a gooner.
Newkie(Quote)
Got to take this opportunity to clear the air with ‘Shamrock’.
….and that was it.
Divnt like people that divnt like iz, anli because nee one shouldn’t.
Everyone still talks out of their fkn arses though. That’s mi apologies quota fulfilled until next Easter.
Johno, wtf are you on about? From where I was sat I made it 45,783
Rodzilla(Quote)
According to sky it was 46236. I think u forgot to carry the two 🙂
johno toon(Quote)
doh!
Rodzilla(Quote)
…..Johno, you still speak with fork tongue. Leonard Nimmoy Fray Bentos dog *****.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Haha right Im off to bed , gonna wake the wife see if she is in the mood [ for those not married she won’t be , once u marry they never r 🙂 ] but in my defense I’ve had six cans of Ben arfa so Im feeling brave and she made me watch mount pleasant so she owes me 🙂
johno toon(Quote)
Good result. It was all pretty easy in the end. Some lovely passing going on, though there was some ***** passing as well at times.
Thought Tiote or Obertan for MotM, but maybe Ba for his hat-trick. Saylor and Colo were also good, and Jonas for his tackling back. Raylor did some good things too, and, despite what people are saying, Simpson did well, especially his link up play with Obertan.
Cabaye was a bit anonymous until Olssen was sent off, then he ran he the show. Best was dogged up front. An all round good performance. Very encouraging. Do I espy a hint of consistency?
Don’t know what that win has to do with Ashley, though. We’re doing well despite the ****** not because of him. It’s Pardew who should get the plaudits … and the players, but that goes without saying.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Bris, **** Pardew and **** Ashley. They both stumbled upon a fucking goldmine.
….I’ll re-phrase that, to HAWAY THE FKN LADS!
…and get to fk anyone trying to tell me how to spell ‘haway’. That’s how I say it, and how the majority of Geordies pronounce it. **** fucking knows how we got robbed of the best vowel in the English language – fucking ‘A’!
Rodzilla(Quote)
….**** *******.
…..ZEINAB BADAWI!
…sorry that’s my NOEL CUNTING EDMONDS Tourette’s.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Howay, man, that’s not how you spell it. Not even how you say it. Well, it might be how *you* say it, but it isn’t how I say it – not that I say it to anybody these days – sometimes to the dog, often to the telly.
I remember in my boydays it sometimes used to be ‘how-where’ Maybe that was a Felling variation. And sometimes ‘how-on’.
Howay is how it’s spelt at St James’ Park. Ha’way is how it is spelt at the Stadium of *****. I prefer the Newcastle spelling; you, Rodzilla, can continue to flirt with the dark side.
brisvegas(Quote)
****** hell. So Obertan IS a good player eh? Apparently he was **** last week….. haha people should pay more attention!
Cracking result again today, HWTL!!
KillyMag(Quote)
Bris, canny little story there kidda.
Porsnli blame it on the linguistic ******* that spelt it wrang in the forst place.
….KillyMag, aye
Rodzilla(Quote)