It was a game of fine margins and it could be argued that United deserved the win in 90 minutes, but that extra bit of quality that Manchester City possess proved decisive and ensured that United’s interest in the competiton ended at the last 16 stage.
This is not to say that United didn’t have their chances. Shola Ameobi, Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran and Papiss Cisse all wasted good chances with anoffside flag chalking off an effort from Shola in the first period, but it was always going to be a tough ask and despite giving it a go we just weren’t good enough despite matching City for large periods of the match.
Papiss Cisse twice wasted good chances for Newcastle in the first half as he lobbed the ball wide after Shola Ameobi flicked on Tim Krul’s kick before miscuing a shot from close-range. Shola Amoebi did find the net but, as mentioned earlier, was adjudged to have been offside before Vurnon Anita fired wide from the edge of the box. All Manchester City could really muster was a headed effort from Micah Richards which flew over the bar.
The second period wasn’t quite as industrious as the first but it was still United who should have drew first blood after Shola Ameobi cut inside and shot towards goal only to see his effort tipped wide by Costel Pantilimon who played in place of Joe Hart in goal from Manchester City.
For me though it was two substitutions which tipped the balance in favour of City. The introduction of David Silva gave the away some much needed creativity but on out part it was the introduction of Yohan Cabaye, or removal of Shola Ameobi whichever you prefer, that changed the game. With Shola, as much as he is maligned, we did have a presence up front and Papiss Cisse, despite his misfiring ways, was rarely left isolated but after Ameobi went off we found ourselves struggling in attack.
Extra time started and with came a glorious chance to take the lead after Hatem Ben Arfa lobbed a through ball to Papiss Cisse who timed his run perfectly and controlled the ball with his left foot before firing at the chest of Pantilimon. That miss proved costly as just a few minutes later Edin Dzeko waltzed down the left and squared the ball fro Alvaro Negrado to tap home.
At the end of the first period of extra time City put the game beyond doubt after David Silva and James Milner exchanged passes on the edge of the area with the former Magpie feeding the ball through to Edin Dzeko who rounded Tim Krul and had the easy task of slotting into the back of an unguarded net.
United were out, but they still came close to grabbing a consolation through Hatem Ben Arfa who saw his volley cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott.
Simply put we just weren’t good enough. We tried and created chances but were unable to finish them and that will cost you against the top teams who have the ability to punish you. City did just that. It’s all well and good having the best chances but you need to finish them to win games.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara; Moussa Sissoko, Cheik Tiote, Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Papiss Cisse
Subs: Rob Elliot, Paul Dummett, Yohan Cabaye, Sammy Ameobi, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gabriel Obertan, Loic Remy
Manchester City: Costel Pantilimon, Micah Richards, Dedryck Boyata, Joleon Lescott, Aleksandar Kolarov, Jack Rodwell, Javi Garcia, Jesus Navas, James Milner, Stevan Jovetic, Edin Dzeko
Subs: Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Samir Nasri, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva, Fernandinho, Martin Demichelis
Attendance: 33,846
Over the years Sharpy we put more money in than him! I’d like every £ back I’ve already spent not to mention me dad and grandad.
georgio(Quote)
Sharpy – it’ll be Benny. Gouffran works harder ala Jonas. Actually I think the clever one will leave Cisse out. Wily old fox 👿
georgio(Quote)
Only way to rid the club of cancer is to force it out! Make life uncomfortable for it and it dies. If you don’t act, it kills you and he’s killing NUFC.
Stuart79(Quote)
MM… 😆 😆 tw@t
The thing is at the moment does any fecker want to buy us let alone someone with the cash and football knowledge to be able to get us to where we want to be?
In the grand scheme of things cash wise people staying away isn’t going to make that much difference, possibly sponsorship wise and the bad publicity maybe but then he’s never been bothered about bad publicity before and yes a partially empty stadium looks bad on tv but lately most of the SD adverts now are aimed at the French market where a lot of stadiums have plenty empty seats and a protest probably would get very little mention there.
**** knows what the answer is, I think the best hope, maybe the only hope is if Ashley wants to take complete control of Rangers then he’ll sell up and **** off.
richietoon(Quote)
BB…I thought I’d heard the crowd singing it on Wednesday?
richietoon(Quote)
The best and only way for us to get rid of Ashley, is to lobby businessmen and companies and find the buyers ourselves. Who does that, I dont know, NUST, Time4change, whoever. The singing ‘get out of our club doesnt do anything other than make us look stupid. We need to unite and be proactive.
Or lobby Ashley to sack pardew and kinnear and really go for it.
Raffo(Quote)
ok – new song for tomorrow. to the tune of that song they do conga lines to at parties:
You’re Putin in a fat suit
You’re Putin in a fat suit
Get out of our club
Get out of our club
whumpie(Quote)
RT@155 😉
On another subject…provocative it may be but here goes….I am searching for answers as such, not condoning anything….What a great way to go about things….
Campaign to bring back a singing section at SJP. Once the club show interest in this do you …1 – say great, congregate, and support the toon… 2 – start singing you fat … get out of our club. ❓ Big question…where does this lead us ?
You campaign to get the club to improve the fans liason and to improve the communication with the club. The club agrees, and meets a fans forum, sending along a whole team of not insignificant backroom personell and directors, ready to answer the questions from a chosen group of fans representatives..http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20130729/united-launch-official-fans-forum_2281670_3330756
I wonder what the remaining members of the forum think of the NUST wording of things, and whether they are in agreement ? Obviously the club were disappointed with the way the NUST communicated things to the media….so now there are only 2 organised fan groups in attendance with the rest made up from regular punters… Divide and conquer !!!
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich – it’s a valid point mate. What’s hugely frustrating for me is this complete block on communication with fans and media alike. All people want is some good old fashioned honesty. Ok we may not like everything we hear but at least we know what’s going on rather than drawing our own conclusion.
There’s every likelihood that we think is exactly what is going on, but maybe not. Why not just answer the question – it’s not like anything he has to say could make him more hated than he already is – is it?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
BEARDSLEYS BOOTS @137
I think when you look at the Shola offside goal. Cisse had the header saved, which was fair enough, but then it dropped to him at a reasonable angle and he squared it to an offside Shola/ miss-hit it. Cisse of 2011-12 would have just blasted it into the bottom corner of the net.
DJG(Quote)
@DJG – I don’t think CIsse meant to square it, that was an actual shot!!!
stevep(Quote)
I don’t think people staying away really bothers Ashley; but he obviously didn’t like the coverage of the marches! If the attendance went down by 5-10 thousand though, I don’t think he’d care. If the attendance at Gateshead went up 5-10 thousand it would make a real difference to them. I might start going to their games. Might see a decent game!
DJG(Quote)
I live in down south these days so only get back for a couple of games a season and a few away games – don’t think me not turning up for two games will make much difference either way
stevep(Quote)
DJG @162 , I can see a fair few swapping teams the way things are going.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Cisse missed some good chances against City but he got into some good positions. He was a threat in the final 5-15yrds, which was something we badly lacked against Liverpool and Scum for me. I know that Cisse hasn’t been able to buy a goal for a while now but him getting into those areas creates both space and opportunity for the likes of Remy, Gouffran or Benny and Cabs.
If Cisse finds his shooting boots he’ll be in the right areas to score.
Of the 2 out of form options of Cisse and Benny I’d sooner he stuck with Cisse the more I think about it. I fully expect to be alone with that view 😀
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pity someone cant print **** loads of black and white t.shirts with ‘ Wrong Owner’ on the front and Ashley on the back . Wear it under your toon top and at start of 2nd half take off your tops so tv cameras can all see what tops say. If enough fans did it they’d look pretty stupid trying to eject them all.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Gateshead vs. Luton tomorrow 15:00. I’m honestly thinking of going, can’t be arsed to watch us get the inevitable spanking off Mourinho. I can’t remember when I’ve ever felt like this but Ashley is just sapping the enjoyment out of watching Newcastle for me. It’s just a vehicle for him to sell his Sports Direct rubbish to the French at the moment, then it will be for Christmas 90% off or whatever. He doesn’t give a toss about the supporters.
DJG(Quote)
On your own Sharpy!! I’m not sure what you think continuing with Cisse is going to achieve. It’s not like he’s hitting the woodwork or wonder saves or even being offside. He missed two good chances in a minute on Wed. If the second one hadn’t hit Shola it would have gone for a throw in – from 4 yards out. It’s far too many games now mate and he contributes nothing else.
georgio(Quote)
Apologies for repeating, but how about the “Four at Forty” idea?
Very simple, free, great for coverage, and doesn’t stop anyone watching the match:
Assuming Ashley or someone representing him is at the game, on 40 minutes everyone turns and gives him two v-signs. At EVERY game.
Can you imagine how much that’ll **** him off and how it’ll look in the media?
whumpie(Quote)
I see Chelsea have the added incentive of going top of the league if (when !!) they beat us on Saturday.
Arsenal and cesspool is the evening ko.
What chance Pardew will have them sorted out to attack, attack, attack ❓
lol
we have no defenders, so lets just try and out score them 😆
Cisse to get his first hat trick 😛
Toon Toon
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Georgio – I tried to explain what I thought it would achieve mate. I said I know he can hit a barn door at the moment and hasn’t for a while.
Yes he missed 2 in minute but he was there to miss them is my point. Benny wouldn’t have been in that position. Not because I think he’s **** or anything like that, just simply because he’s a midfielder and it isn’t instinct for him to make the runs to be there.
Cisse may or may not score but his presence in that area of the pitch gives defenders and keepers something to worry about.
That my opinion though mate, and how I’d prefer to see the side line up.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy a fcking lamp post would do that! Shola or Campbell, Armstrong even would have scored. A dog on the pitch would have done better.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – thanks for the reply. I’ve never defended against a lamppost or a loose dog for that matter, so I will have to take your word for it mate 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Cisse getting his first hatrick BB ? Can’t see that happening anytime soon
stem(Quote)
I’m not sure about Chelsea tommorow because when there on form they can beat any team, anywhere.
We need a 10 million pound defender badly
We need a 10 million pound left winger
We need a 10 million pound right winger
We need a 15 million pound striker
But will Ashley splash the cash, not a chance
stem(Quote)
The only trouble is players pick Liverpool, Arsenal, United, City, Chelsea, Spurs or a london club over us these days.
In SBR time they would pick us because he was a great manager but I think he would struggle with the money City and Chelsea spend ?
We can’t keep buying cheap french players and hope there another Cabaye or Toite it doesn’t always work that way but Pardew needs upgrading and so does Kinnear.
stem(Quote)
Stem@176, don’t want to pinkle on your cornflakes mate, but historically we were always down the pecking order when it came to new signings mate, and let’s be honest it is also pretty obvious why that is the case today. That’s why we have to pay more to lure the players up north, or buy cheap.
What sIR jOHN and Fat Freddy achieved for 5 – 6 years, hoying the cash about, was typically un-toon…and far from the norm.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Again we need consistency in attack. Stop moving Ben Arfa around. Get him up the pitch. Teams are trapping him with 2 and even 3 players now. Look at the Sunderland game as an example. Our movement without the ball was poor for much of the game. The 3 or 4 players around the ball carrier standing still. No space being generated in attack. How can you put defenders back on their heels or turn them like that. Ridiculous. What was the plan in attack? I didn’t see one.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Chelsea move the ball very quickly from defense to attack. They will come at us hard tomorrow. We need possession and composure on the ball. A lot of running will be required. Anything like the Sunderland game and we’ll get hammered. A lot will depend on Colo (I hope), Tiote, Cabaye, and Remy who should be the spine of the team along with Krul. Our fullbacks will have to be very careful if they push forward as Santon in particular gets caught out too often.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
A lot of running will be required from Gouffy and the rest of the midfield as well. If we are static we’ll get hammered.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2, I reckon Chelsea will be easier to stop than a full flowing Man City. Mourinho likes to shore up the defence then play on the break. Still it’ll be a really tough game tomorow, Torres is really on fire at the moment.
Pardew should play not to lose the game. If we try and take the game to Chelsea then we will lose.
Hope I’m turtly wrong though !!
Munich Mag(Quote)
I would play 4-3-1-2 and go with Remy and Gouffy up front with Benny in behind. It won’t happen though. Pardew will probably pretend to play 4-3-3 which will actually be 4-5-1 as we fall back and defend for our lives (unsuccessfully in all probability). At best we’ll start 4-4-2 which will quickly become 4-4-1-1 as we get driven back.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 I have a feeling tha Ba’s going to comeback and haunt us tomorrow and my only hope if that happens is that Ashley is watching ?
Mag 100% agree but they where the good old days. If only we kept finishing 2nd we could of been where Arsenal are now.
stem(Quote)
Sharpy You are not alone in your views regarding Cisse and Benny. Maybe there are two of us who think Remy can do better with the support of Cisse rather than Benny.
Judging by Pardew’s remarks it looks as though Anita will make way again for Sissoko. Pardew says Sissoko is big, strong and has physique. Obviously skill doesn’t come into it with Pardew. Zola, Beardsley and Bremner would never have got into a Pardew team. Maybe that is why Tevez couldn’t get into the West Ham team under Pardew. Actually for a big man Sissoko doesn’t win many headers and is easily knocked off the ball.
Groucho(Quote)
It’s going to be hard nuggets whichever way we play it Munich mate. I would prefer to try and spread the game out and put our best ball control players in the middle of the field. Size at the back and 2 DM’s (Tiote and Sissoko). One AM (Cabaye) with Benny in front of him in behind Remy and Gouffy. At least to start mate.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
To get the fan’s roaring tomorrow I think Pardew will put on Jonas and all is forgiven but he should be playing on his wages
stem(Quote)
Stem, Jonas is MIA somewhere in Argy land. All pretty strange if you ask me…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Ashley’s close friend Putin is giving him advice on how to deal with the media. If their coverage of protests continue then journos will begin to disappear. That works well in Russia apparently.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 not a bad tactic but if we concede a goal to early and chase the game we could be in bigger trouble ?
On the other hand if we play 4 3 3 and try and out score them sounds best because our defence is weak imo. AP will have to play players in the right position for that to work.
stem(Quote)
Mag I didn’t know he was on holiday in Argentina. The clubs probably still paying his wages I bet ? He should be in the reserves getting back to match fitness.
stem(Quote)
Whatever happens we’re going to need a much better performance from everyone on the pitch than we saw against Sunderland. I don’t think Dummett will play. We’ll go for an experienced side. If we start well it may not be so bad. We’re not great at moving the ball in from the wings as we really have no true decent winger but we’ll have to stretch them. So if we don’t go 4-3-1-2 then Gouffy on one wing and Benny on the other with Remy in the middle. Support any attacks we get with at least 3 players in the box or forget it. We’re not going to score with shots from 30 yards out as we tried with Sunderland.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Any news on Palace trying to sign Pardew ?
Or Ashley has sold the club to a ukrainian billionaire ?
I know it’s a load of rubbish but that’s the only hope I get these days, apart from us not being relegated.
stem(Quote)
I will be very disappointed if Anita doesn’t start tomorrow, especially as he has impressed with his passing when played.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stem, so long as his clothes outlet continue to make record profits off the back of free advertising at SJP and the PL money keeps rolling in just for being in the league, he’s going nowhere mate 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kimtoon I think AP will rest him unfortunately. I just hope Sissoko doesn’t start as his not impressed me much this season but on his day his a very good player. It’s really sad when you have 4 defensive midfielders and only one can play or be out of position. I would rather have 2 defensive midfielders and 2 LM and 2 CM and 2 AM at the club.
stem(Quote)
Kimtoon I know there’s just no getting rid of jabba. We couldn’t even give him away.
stem(Quote)
said before there is only two things that will drive jabba out,the fans dont turn up wont happen, our only hope imo is the press going after him big time,one lives in hope
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,This press bollocks will hopefully be his downfall, I hope the locals and nationals give him a right rough ride from now on, no **** crawling to get back in his good books and back in the press conference room. If I were a local journo I would have a field day, any titsbits I previously held back on would be straight out the woodwork mate , make no mistake I would have them regretting their actions pdq. 😈
KIMTOON(Quote)
Groucho – good to have you on board buddy 😉
Regarding Anita – even players today like Leon Britton, Leon Osman or Lewis Holtby.
Anita is a ball player and has looked perfectly capable or being a bloody good PL player.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy ,The thing that gets me is, good enough starter for Ajax but not for Toon apparently 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
We’re left dealing with hard nuggets day after day ice and Kimtoon. This is very difficult. Short term damage to the club in all likelihood to get rid of Ashley and friends. I just hope he sees we don’t want him and bogs off.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Mike Ashley is a sensitive flower like Kimtoon said and you wont like him when his angry that’s the best way to describe him. I would love to see him ban all the fan’s from home games. You will just see him and Kinnear watching the game and the away fan’s at the top.
stem(Quote)
G2 , like I said, I don’t see it happening anytime soon, he’s making too much money atm.
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM@198 me and you both mate
icedog(Quote)
It’s so frustrating that we always end up moaning about the regime, when will the club get back to being about football 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
G2 wouldnt it be nice to talk footy again mate instead of the dam clowns running our club into a laughing stock,hope the saying him that laughs last laughs longest comes true
icedog(Quote)
Ice, They have nothing to lose mate, lets face it they never give anything away to them,they are hardly itk. Any bits and bobs on the club they get are from players and agents speaking off the record anyway. It’s only positive stuff they get fed nowadays and that’s few and far between lately. There is of course another consideration in all of this press ban stuff, we are forgetting that now he has this sports direct news agency thing he’ll just put all news on there from now on .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Even if you pay for sky your still giving Ashley money. More than the stadium earns a year
stem(Quote)
I refuse to let him get me down Kimtoon. We must truck on. Certainly there are several months of hard sledding ahead but with pride and perseverance we will triumph. If not then 2 thumbs down to Ashley at the 20 minute mark at every possible opportunity.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
ICE ,Nice to see you feel same as me mate. I just want us to be a football club again.
KIMTOON(Quote)
G2 I think this regrime our stupid and I laugh at them. In the end the fan’s will have the last laugh. It might have been better getting relegated last year to see the back of him but the debt would go up.
stem(Quote)
G2 ,what hacks me off more than anything else lately is every game we face fills me with a sense of trepidation where as it was always excitement previously ,cant seem to get any enjoyment from the games of late the lack of consistency is frustrating as hell and the nerves of the players often palpable at times.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Stem ,Yes that is one source of comfort knowing he won’t own us forever, at some point he’s bound to **** off.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I had a moment of joy today anyway, baked two plum upside cakes and sat and licked the bowl out, deep joy.;)
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIM i was so lucky to see both legs of our last cup win in 69 through my dads friendship with JH,ime not a one who expects us to be going for the title every year ect,just give me the family feel and players giving 100% for club week in week out and proud to be playing for the toon back again and ime a happy man,is it to much to ask for????
icedog(Quote)
KIM@214 its always the simple things in life that give the best pleasure
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,couldn’t agree more mate, I was only 8 in 69 and not into footie at all mate. But yep I know we have no chance of the title or probably even getting into Europe again by PL finish but I would like to think a good cup run was on ,well until the board spoke that is 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice@216 ,That’s what they said about my ex mate .. it’s not always true.
KIMTOON(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Lovely description there Kimtoon. Plum upside down cakes. Mmmmm. Icedog you were lucky indeed mate. Brilliant memories those.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
KIM as regards your ex he might find that you never know what you have until you lose it
icedog(Quote)
Is there a reason why people are organising a ‘sit in’ after tomorrow’s game? What will that achieve? Totally futile.
Ashley will probably open the kiosk and sell refreshments! Also I think it’s going to be complete agony for people to stay and just watch the game if were 0-4 down, let alone staying after the game!
Stuart79(Quote)
Wow, a few of the posters on here attacked me when i wasn’t looking!
My “i told you so” comment about man city scoring 2 in 5 mins was just to show how uninterested man city looked. It was a lacklustre game & neither team showed any urgency.
I could understand man city not really being interested in the game. We’re a smaller club, midweek game, least valuable cup competition for them, champions league game coming up etc.
However, there was no reason we shouldn’t have been up for the game. It was against of the biggest teams in the world, chance to get revenge, playing at home, our best chance of winning a cup, just lost a derby game etc.
We had as good a chance of beating man city as any team will have this season & we didn’t take it.
KK(Quote)
G2 going back to some old players thing that has always stuck in my mind was one of our better centre halfs in J Mcgrath,i used to meet him twice a week in a cafe in the toon what a nice man but oh such a lonely man my heart used to go out to him but we enjoyed our chats and cuppa and cake,i still miss him 🙁
icedog(Quote)
KK i would never attack you mate,say what you think right or wrong is that not what the blog is about if some dont like it tough ****,its when fans insult others really get my goat,kick on 😉
icedog(Quote)