Andros Townsend and Karl Darlow inspired a hard fought, crucial victory for Newcastle as they clawed their way out of the bottom three for the first time since early February.
It was a truly determined display from Newcastle as Alan Pardew’s Palace tried to antagonise and frustrate Newcastle and their fans with cheap tactics in the first half. Pardew himself refuted claims that he set up his side to irritate the St James’s Park faithful but it was pretty obvious to all concerned that Pardew tried to turn the crowd against the home side and quash any momentum they could gain.
It did not work. The Newcastle fans did brilliantly to avoid berating their former boss and decided to instead, proudly and defiantly support their current manager and his team. It was the perfect way to deal with Pardew and his present bunch of mercenaries. Although Pardew did, in fairness, at the end of the game, congratulate Newcastle and the fans on a win, it was definitely through gritted teeth.
It was not Newcastle’s finest performance but it was one of sheer character and the three points gained could turn out to be absolutely vital. Townsend was terrific throughout. His work rate and determination was as exceptional as his free kick. Lauren Robert-like in execution, it was a magnificent strike but what was equally impressive, was when Townsend, with fifteen minutes to go, sprinted back and slid in to deny Palace a counter attack. It was the kind of endeavour that has been lacking in many Newcastle displays this season.
Karl Darlow was brilliant. He made several good stops in the first half and saved a Cabaye penalty to keep Newcastle in the lead. He seemed to grow many metaphorical inches throughout the game and was rightfully celebrated by his teammates when the final whistle blew.
With Arsenal reluctantly beating Norwich and Sunderland dropping points, it was a good afternoon for Newcastle. It could have been so much better if not for Defoe’s late, late equaliser at Stoke.
Norwich and Sunderland may have a game in hand but Newcastle have points on the board and momentum into the final games of the season. Today was a good day.
Newcastle Climb Out of Bottom Three
Eric I think you have some humble pie to eat , and I think Sharpy deserves an apology 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
So I did call him a moron 🙂 Well, I agree with me 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m off to my bed now – sleep well gang 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Wow! What have I missed?!
Personally I like Eric’s comments. He talks an lot of sense and also talks a lot rubbish, although I think most of the rubbish is tongue in cheek.
As for the Aussies, I’ve got to be honest, they really don’t comment too much about football, more about snide and sarcastic comments. Although it really doesn’t bother me.
Also Blackie didn’t seem to be very popular here but maybe that’s because nobody could understand a word of what he said if they couldn’t speak very good English!
Stuart79(Quote)
Big D: I didn’t think I had called him a moron although, as I said I agree with me on that. I do apoligize to Sharpy for getting that bit wrong but I stick to the rest of my sentiments.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: I am about 50% on the Stuart-O-rubbish-meter mate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I hope you are not that mad at me. I was farting around with the Blackie nonsense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Being serious:
– I really do think there is a press, TV and Ref conspiracy in favour of Spurs and West Ham.
– I do not like motivational speakers and think most are snake oil salesmen
– I am still only 50% (on the fence) on the Stuart-O-Meter
– I think the Aussies are snides.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well done mate
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy: you were right and I was wrong about me calling Blackie a moron. I apologize for not admitting to that fact / owning up. I still think he is a snake oil salesman though and I don’t have to meet him personally to come to that conclusion. In fact, it is better that I don’t meet him at all because con-men prey on personal contact.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Big D: you know I will admit I am wrong when I find out I am wrong.
Villa 1 NUFC 3
Eric Sykes(Quote)
****, if that result holds then I will be 65% on the Stuart-O-Meter. So why am I not 65% on the Stuart-O-Meter now?
I am so confused!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You see, what it is about the Aussies like. Is that if they would only say a few things about NUFC and not just post sarcastic comments. I mean, like write something more than 2 sentences or have a point. I can see they are both very bright people and support NUFC, but can they really be running scared of Troy so much? Make some good comments mates, I know you have it in you. It has been about 6 months since you blokes have said anything other than snidely.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: we cannot fall out over Blackie. I like what you write, so please don’t take too much offense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think I might be a bit more world wise than Sharpy, although he can correct me if that is not true. I work in insurance, investments and tax planning in Chicago and have seen many schemes sold to clients and others not accepted. Con-men, snake-oil salesmen, Blackie-types. I have seen them all. Millions of dollars, hundred’s of millions sometimes. So I can spot a Blackie when I see one.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
F-O-S, a new internet term describing Blackie.
FULL-OF-*****
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What is this anyway Shamrock and Big D? I am allowed to say anything I like to Troy and now you start defending Sharpy and the Aussies. LIKE THEY NEED ANY DEFENSE ?????
Eric Sykes(Quote)
From Steve Black’s personal webside:
“Steve has been called a motivator, coach, psychologist, priest, councillor, psychiatrist, comedian, strategist, facilitator, and friend. Words do not do justice to the effect that Steve has on people he’s worked with and those who come into contact with him. The Times once wrote of him “Steve Black is acknowledged as the best conditioning coach in the world.”
If he is such a great conditioning coach then why does he have a beer belly and man boobs? You would think he would practice what he preaches given he is such a great motivational speaker and all the rest he says he is. It reads like a David Brent biography.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Simple question: you are looking for a personal trainer, a conditioning coach. Would your first choice be the guy with the beer belly and man boobs? The self described best conditioning coach in the world. I know it was a quote from The Times but it is in his bio so it is also now self-described. I might hire him to walk my dog though, could help him get a bit of that weight off. I doubt following Schteve around had done much for his career recently, and it didn’t do much for NUFC either.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know I am flogging a dead horse here but it stuck with me when Blackie was employed by NUFC that Sharpy’s defense of him was that he had met him a few times and he seemed like a nice bloke. Meanwhile we were 2nd bottom of the league and Blackie was falling out with the real fitness coach and even US TV were making fun of him and Colo was blatantly ignoring him. Blackie was symptomatic of what Schteve was doing. Outdated methods from a man living in the past.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
From The Journal 2013:
“Would Jonny Wilkinson, as squeaky clean as a choirboy’s cassock, say “he’s an exceptional human being and a treasured friend” about a man whose violent past as a bouncer saw him chin many a well-known villain?
Good gracious, of course not. Don’t be silly.
Equally, would England’s super-hero admit that a guy was “the driving force behind all my goals” if he wallowed in his hard man reputation which once saw him throw a person through a glass door ripping his neck wide open?”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I better shut up about Blackie otherwise he will use his famed motivational techniques and throw me through a glass door. I think he has joined Clarkie at Killie, seriously.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Seems like a nice guy though. And that man who he threw through a glass door ripping his neck open obviously deserved it and was not attentive during the motivational seminar and just would not follow the 5 step program Blackie was designing for him. That glass door taught him a lesson in a split second that Blackie might have spent a lifetime teaching him with his regular methods. All hail the glass door, Blackie’s motivational tool of choice.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Has any body ever had a conversation with a bouncer? I haven’t but I do know they hit first and ask questions later. Perfect training for a motivational speaker / man boobed fitness trainer.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Blackie’s qualifications for being NUFC conditioning coach:
– was a bouncer in Newcastle city centre
– went to the gym a bit when he was younger but now has moobs
– met Jonny Wilkinson once
– is a nice bloke when not throwing people through windows and ripping their neck open.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
I do enjoy your posts but when you get something between your teeth youre like a rabid Hyena & just won’t let it go until ppl see your point (which was almost 20 posts ago 😛 )
but please. for the sake of the blog 😆 …bite youre tongue.
so you dont like Steve Black, either do I, he’s full of ****. I dont think anyone is that interested in him either..
Gashley(Quote)
In summary. Having noted Sharpy’s love for Blackie in a Schteve regime with nothing to back up his comments apart from “he seemed like a nice bloke and met Jonny Wilkinson don’t you know”. I looked into Blackie’s background and it turns out he is a fake, an ex-bouncer, a fat former gym rat, has man boobs (moobs), is a charlatan, threw someone through a glass door – probably plays golf with John Carver.
Give it rest Eric/Graeme, he is not that bad. Yes he is, yes he is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know Gash man 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think it will be 3-1 to us on Saturday. Villa are in total turmoil with Lerner and Agbonlahor.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Then I will be 65% on the Stuart-O-Meter.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I like a good rant though and Troy is not around.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am done with my rant now… It has gone on for like 12 hours 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, I think it was a master stoke for Rafa to play Little Jimmy Krankie at right back. They were swingers you know?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean The Krankies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
good lad Eric 😉
Gashley(Quote)
isnt jimmy Krankie a bloke?
Gashley(Quote)
No. But.., Gabby, Gabby Gabby…
I know it is The Sun.but still…
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6650827/Gabby-Agbonlahor-has-a-third-lover.html
Eric Sykes(Quote)
At the bottom of The Sun article it says:
“— ARE you also going out with Agbonlahor? Call The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 0782 507 8923 or email [email protected]”
They are such scumbags at The SUN. 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gash, you are my hero. You know that was my favourite phrase from Clough to Revie. Undeserved, but still funny.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
i wonder if little jimmy was asked to dress as a naughty schoolboy when swapping lol 😯
they must be some sick swingers in Ochland!
Gashley(Quote)
well nervous as hell now. wish I could skip past this next 8 days and wake up to see the results. wont enjoy the game unless we take an early lead and Villa look *****..
Come on Chelsea!!!
Gashley(Quote)
Quite a little party you had last night, Eric. 😀
Stuart79(Quote)
I think he might have over done it on the wine gums 😀 .
He isn’t a bad lad I think he just likes to wind people up.
Big Dave(Quote)
Alex Oxlain-Chanberlain to miss the Euro’s. Surely Townsend should be in with a shout?!
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye, Dave. He’s not too bad.
Stuart79(Quote)
Had to go yesterday and too many posts to respond to them all! But suffice to say:
– There were many fans who have written off Elliot, Darlow, Lascelles, Tiote and Anita and all of them are having positive contributions to the end of our season
– We do need players in our squad who truly understand what it is to play for this team. Fans shouldn’t underestimate the value that these players can bring to squad unity. Taylor is one of these who can do that.
– Taylor as a player is next to useless while he has injury problems and tries to play like he’s Rio Ferdinand. But worse players than him have been rehabilitated by a top manager before, so I’ll leave it to Rafa to decide.
– Several of our other fringe players could be given a boost by Rafa next season. Some are just weak mentally and need a certain type of management to play at their peak.
However, it’s all just chatter if we don’t stay up…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Definitely got to be in with a shout! I reckon there’s about 20 spots pretty much sealed but that’s one space where there are a few options for me.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Sharpy and Eric – what a lengthy argument about Blackie. Who was he again?
Can you not just move on?
A question to both of you. What will be the scores tomorrow v Villa, v Chelsea?
Georgio(Quote)
And that was pointless – you’ve moved on.
Georgio(Quote)
For the record, this is what I mean about the England squad.
GK: Hart, Forster, Heaton/Foster
RB: Clyne, Walker
LB: Rose, Bertrand/Shaw/Baines
CB: Cahill, Stones, Jagielka, Smalling
CM: Alli, Dier, Barkley, Drinkwater/Wilshere/Mason
AM: Welbeck, Milner, Lallana, Townsend/Henderson/Sterling
ST: Kane, Vardy, Rooney, Sturridge/Walcott
Of course, he could decide to take Townsend and Sterling or Sturridge and Walcott. But I think that is 19 spots pretty much decided and 4 up for grabs. I think Bertrand will get the LB spot too.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
More good news! Mersin has inexplicably predicted a Sunderland win and a draw for us this weekend! ❗ 😮 😯 😎 😆
Stuart79(Quote)
Merson the great Walsall manager…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Is it safe to come back on? or do I need to keep my head down.
Must beat villa on Sat,Sam still trying his mind games imo those mind games tend to effect your own players,Ferguson was a ace at it don’t think it works as it used to
Icedog(Quote)
Ice
Beating Villa is 100% mandatory. Fail to beat them at this stage of the season and we deserve to go down. Bea them and it really puts the pressure on Sunderland and Norwich. If we could just go into the last game outside of the relegation zone…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS I agree my worry is Villa want us to go down with them and will go all out for it to happen,but Rafa will hopefully have their mind set and players know it’s last chance saloon
Icedog(Quote)
TDS: somebody actually hired Merson to Manage their club? They obviously couldn’t have interviewed him or understood that they would have to widen all of the doors at their training ground to fit his giant balloon head through.
I am glad that you have now bestowed God-like powers on Rafa in that he will be able to fix the, as you say, “next to useless” Steven Taylor.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: even with our terrible away form we must stand a chance of beating Villa. I think they have lost 11 in a row.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: also, Taylor only has 2 games left before his contract expires. I do not think it is worth Rafa taking on such a reclamation project. It is really not worth it with his injury record. In fact, I was shocked he was on the bench for the last game.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Big D: it was gin. But I did have fun googling Blackie. I think I got that out of my system now 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Janmaat is fit again. I would play Anita if he is fit though as he has been training under Benitez. I don’t agree that Janmaat is suddenly **** though as a lot of people are saying. He just has to stick to his defensive duties first and give the ball to Townsend.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
… and the gin 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I like the fact that they keep asking Merse for his predictions. Didn’t he have like a gambling addiction or summink and aren’t they encouraging him to go back to his old ways?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice
I think Villa are just shocking. I can’t believe that any of their players have enough passion to actually bother putting up a fight against us. Unless we make it easy for them, that is.
I reckon pretty much every one of them just wants to get to the summer and either leave or regroup. It’s entirely up to us to decide how that game goes as far as I’m concerned. Put the pressure on and they will only fail to win if they’re grossly unlucky.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Staring to get nervous now about the whole bloody thing fuelled by another dream last night of the ball flying into our net. 10 more days of this stuff. Don’t know who to hate the most – NUFC or me!
Georgio(Quote)
Yep, Merson did have a gambling addiction. This is from The Birmingham Mail in 2012:
“GAMBLING addict Paul Merson has revealed he considered breaking his own fingers to stop him phoning his bookie while at Aston Villa.
And the soccer star, 43, has admitted he later went broke after cashing in his £800,000 pension to go on a betting frenzy.
Merson blew an astonishing £7 MILLION during a colourful career which also saw him battle booze and drugs.”
I always thought he wasn’t that bright but considering breaking his own fingers to stop himself from dialing his bookie is beyond stupid. Really, how dumb do you have to be to consider that? Why not break the phone?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
Shocking about Merson hey??? Somet
I just think that Rafa is in a good place to make a sensible decision about the value of Taylor to the squad. Sometimes a new fitness approach can help a player overcome his injuries and having an experienced PL player as a backup in the squad who also knows the club very well, isn’t a bad thing in my opinion. However, it’s a pretty big IF that his fitness issues can be sorted out. But there are plenty of club stalwarts who have stayed at a club even after they’re a regular player.
So, I would be fully behind whatever Rafa decided. Give him a new (reduced wage) contract and have him around as backup if he reckons they can keep him fit to be part of the squad, or release him and thank him for his commitment. Not overly bothered either way to be honest.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I’d stick with Anita over Janmaat too for this game. No point in changing a team that has had success in the last few games.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
It’s 10am and Merse rouses himself from his slumber and thinks. I fink the The **** are going to win today, maybe I should put a tenner on it. Don’t do it Merse, break your own fingers instead!!! And how about kneecapping yourself so that you can’t just walk down to the betting shop. Or tell Google to uninvent voice recognition software so you can’t just do it on-line.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: good luck with the Taylor theory. I don’t think you will get much support for it on here though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TDS: Sorry, I didn’t read the last part of your post about Taylor. “Release him”, now you are starting to talk sense.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
I probably won’t get much support. But I’ll always be a glass half full kind of person. I don’t hold out much hope for the likes of Goofy or Riviere because I can’t actually see any water left in those glasses…but I’m always hopeful that a manager can get something out of our other players. If he played 10 games next season as a backup and did ok, then that would be a good result for me.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
My ex-wife had a bit of a chocolate addiction. She once ate a whole packet of hobnobs. I never thought about breaking her fingers to stop her getting into the cookie jar. I will have to put a note on the fridge to get remarried and break her fingers to save her from herself. Thanks Merse, you are a legend.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric
Well, yeah. It’s pretty simple really, if Rafa doesn’t think he can give him a suitable fitness regime to ensure he’s mostly available next season and if he doesn’t think he can coach him to just defending (and not thinking he’s Rio), then he’s no good to us. I’d rather see a youth player given a chance.
But I’ll still hold out some hope that he can come in and do a job for us, just as Shola came in and scored a few important goals in his career. Sure, I’d rather we had a better striker to play the games that Shola did, but I’ll always support our players in black and white when they try.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)