The 2010/2011 NUFC season review – Part I.

toonsy

A day never to forget!
In many ways this season has been an unbridled success, although it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Survival was the aim and we achieved that with ease.

However a football season runs for many many months and at times it’s easy to forget just what went on at various points throughout the season, which is why I’m hoping this handy little (it will probably turn out quite long) review will serve to remind us of some of the good, and bad, moments of the 2010/2011 Premier League season.

Expect bias and for this to be very heavily tilted in favour of Newcastle United. This is after all an NUFC Blog so it’s perfectly acceptable to be a bit partizan towards our own team.

When the fixture list was announced I feared the worst from our opening two games of the season. Manchester United are Manchester United (they only dropped two points at home this season) and Aston Villa are a good side (they were at the time). We faced a very real prospect of gaining nothing from our opening two games.

As we headed to Old Trafford we had only the signings of Sol Campbell, James Perch and Dan Gosling in the bag. It turned out that Gosling would only see five minutes of action all season long. So there we were at the “Theatre of Dreams” 🙄 , the start of the season, the eyes of millions upon us, armed with virtually the same team that had won us promotion just a few short months earlier.

As it turned out we lost that match 3-0, but the most surprising thing for me was that we didn’t look out of place. Many teams go to Old Trafford and get beaten by more than three goals, better teams than us get beat by more than three goals, so as a debut back in the big time I wasn’t overly let down by that result as it was to be expected. With Villa up next though I did wonder if we would end up being bottom after two games.

It didn’t work out like that though. Football is a funny old game and fans of Aston Villa, who had previously revelled in our demise soon had the smirks wiped off their faces when they came away from St James’ Park on the end of a 6-0 thumping. One highlight of the season, only two games in. Incidentally the signing of an unknown Cheik Tiote was also confirmed that day.

An away League Cup victory at Accrington Stanley followed before Newcastle made the trip to Molineux for a clash with Wolves. Sat in the stands news filtered through that the most on-off of on-off transfers had been completed and Hatem Ben Arfa had finally signed for us on loan after months of wrangling, hissy fits and harsh words between the player and Marseille. That game ended 1-1 and NUFC looked to be building up some momentum.

That was until Blackpool rocked up at St James’ Park and reminded us all why we shouldn’t get carried away. Their ‘keeper played a blinder that day as the Tangerine Dream continued and Blackpool smashed and grabbed their way to a 2-0 victory.

Everton next and a trip to Goodison Park awaited. Generally speaking we don’t have a good record at Goodison, but this was a day for new loan signing Hatem Ben Arfa to really make his mark on the Premier League as he put in one of the most exciting performances I’ve seen from anyone in a black and white shirt in a long time. To refresh your minds, have a look at this.



Another impressive win followed as we beat Chelsea 4-3 at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup, but the ever so predictable kick in the nuts was soon to follow. A home defeat to Stoke was quickly followed up by an away defeat at Manchester City. That defeat at Eastlands was only part of the problem though as Hatem Ben Arfa suffered a double leg break at the hands of nasty Nigel de Jong. We’ve yet to see Ben Arfa return.

A snatched 2-2 home draw with Wigan was next as Fabricio Coloccini nodded in a 94th minute equaliser to cancel out a Charles N’Zogbia double, and that result sparked one of our most impressive runs of league form we had this season.

First up we won 2-1 at Upton Park before being unceremoniously dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal. That set us up for a derby date with Sunderland who were looking for that next level at the time. By the half-time whistle all they were looking for was the level of the concourse as we set about thumping our hated rivals 5-1 in a match that will live long in the memory on Tyneside.

That result gave us all the feel good factor, which was heightened a week later when we took a trip to Arsenal, and came back with three points after an amazing 1-0 win at The Emirates.

Once again *BOOM* went the kick in the knackers and that fine run of form was soon forgotten. Blackburn came to St James’ Park and took all three points, a common theme which was starting to wear thin. Then Fulham headed South with a point before a 5-1 thumping at The Reebok left us all feeling rather low. A draw with Chelsea was scant consolation as we then transpired to rather limply surrender to the hands of West Brom. It was a performance that ultimately, and rather harshly in the eyes of a fair few fans, cost Chris Hughton his job.

To their credit the club moved quickly to appoint a successor. The reason for getting rid of Hughton was that the club said they wanted someone to take them to the next level. This started off wild speculation with names like Klinsmann, O’Neil, Jol all being linked. Eventually the name that got the job was Alan Pardew. Not exactly the first choice of anyone I’d guess.

Still it was his gig from now on, and with a home game against Liverpool coming up many were interested to see just how the players would take to a new manager. The answer was hardly crystal clear after the 3-1 victory as the players set about dedicating the win to their recently departed former boss.

Pardew came into the club with a tough fixture list to face. Liverpool was done and out the way, but up next were Champions League chasing Manchester City and Tottenham. The result? 3-1 and 2-0 losses respectively.

That takes us to exactly halfway through the season. We’re over 1000 words now so I’ll stop, take a breather, refresh, and bring you part II of our season review tomorrow.

Stay tuned!

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.

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160 thoughts on “The 2010/2011 NUFC season review – Part I.”

  1. Actually in my opinion,the fixture list has been rather kind to us for the very first long time. Maybe due to those international fixtures or so. 🙄

    Cause this season,we didn’t actually face the same club in the same particular year,and the gap of meeting again is very far,maybe except man city fixtures hence we lost both? 😈

    And the rather weird literally two managers for two halves of the season helped alittle i reckon.

    What i hope is the next season fixture is some sort of the same. Facing big clubs but the gap of both fixtures is far apart?

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  2. Oh talking about strikers,it semms that NUFC are stuck with Xisco once more. : 🙄

    Since surprisedly,depor is relegated after 20yrs in La Liga. 🙄

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  3. Great review Toonsy.

    Makes you wonder 10 points from 4 games with Blackburn and Fulham at home to come, if we’d won them who knows what might of happened….

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  4. Can’t wait to see Benny again next season, almost as excited as I was when he signed for us 😀 . I do worry for him though, not only because of this long term injury and what it might have done to him, but what other teams will try to do to him. We saw what De Jong did, likely out of fear of what he can do-but also in that vid-is it Neville? chopping him down with two legs locked around him…Just hope his next injury isn’t a career ending one.

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  6. Watchin’ that video makes me wanna get on my knees and humbly pray to the footy gods that HBA comes back as good as he was then. He was absolutely mint.

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  8. Newkie-

    I still wanna club De Jong for that. Divvent know if I could be trusted if I saw him in a pub. I’d likely pay some scouse lad to shiv him like 👿

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  13. In many ways this season has been an unbridled success, although it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Survival was the aim and we achieved that with ease???????????????

    we were 7points off relegation , wouldnt say that was with ease like

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  16. Army, we were also just 3 points of 8th so I would say it was comfortable in the end.

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  18. Thanks for the video Toonsy. That man was an absolute menace in that match. Looking forward to him bombing forward down the middle of the pitch with the mighty Tiote minding his back.

    good stuff

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  19. Aye, found that guy on youtube last season, he has videos up there of all the goals from our Championship tour too, always good watching on a rainy day. He’s due to post the second half of this season sometime soon, so I’ll stick that one up when I see it.

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  20. 7 pts off relegation imo is too close thats only 2 wins and a draw away from relegation! it could of been alot comfortabler if we wernt as sloppy with some of our games eg .. west brom on sunday , 3-0 up then 3-3!!! i was at the match and sum players (ameobi ) didnt look at all botherd if we won , lost or drew !! plz plz god dont let ameobi , guthrie or smith play next season!! if they do then it hasnt been a succesful summer in the transfer market!!

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  21. ireland
    ben arfa
    forster
    gosling
    new left back
    new striker
    new striker

    thats 7 players already new to our team next season after 3 signings!! thank god we are gna have new faces in , some players on the pitch sunday werent gud enough for the championship

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  23. out guthrie – in ireland
    out ameobi – in ben arfa
    out raylor – in gosling
    out lovenkrands – in new striker
    out perch – in new left back
    out soderberg – in forster

    AND imo we need a new right back , simpson aint gud enough, tha backing off every matc is costing us conceding to many goals

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  25. shes 36 weeks today bud , stil hanging in there haha , not long now like !! just been up the street 2day 2 but him a newcastle sleep suit and newcastle shoes haha

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  26. @Army69: I disagree your take on guthrie.

    He can be good.
    He was totally played out of position at start.
    He has just 1poor game,but that’s includes the whole team.
    He was supposed to be next Steven Gerrard when he was in liverpool.

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  28. angel of death bonny lad we all have our own opinion bud , thats why newcastle blog is so exciting 😆 , he isnt gud enough for newcastle man mate wake up!! do u seriously think he will be infront of nolan , tiote , ireland and gosling?? not gud enough 4 us mara

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  29. the next stephen gerrard hahaha , hes proved that point wrong then , they used to say michael chopra was gna be the next michael owen aswell , who makes these up??

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  30. I notice the TV revenue figures our out. We recieved 47m and 35m from Carroll, that’s 82m before we even look at match day revenue and merchandise.

    Sorry but with a wage bill of 40m that should leave plenty available for Pardew. I know theres other costs but jeez theres some money coming into this club now!

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  36. I really think Guthrie would be helpful to have around. He always puts in a good shift when called upon.
    Also, I’m not so sure if we should go for Ireland. His chronic crockedness reminded me far too much of Owen and Viduka having “minor knocks” throughout the season until Shearer came in and told them to be men and play

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  37. Stuart79
    Posted May 24, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    “Sorry but with a wage bill of 40m that should leave plenty available for Pardew. I know theres other costs but jeez theres some money coming into this club now!”

    Sorry to be pedantic, but the wagebill is estimated to be around £52 million at the million. And remember our “other costs” are around the £30 million mark 🙂

    I do see your point though 🙂

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  40. Toonsy were other costs estimated to be 30m for this current financial year?

    Amortisation will be dropping as players in are affordable – revenue is up – IF Ashley wants to repay some of his loan or clear overdrafts – nows the time (in balance with a sensible investment strategy)

    Again we shouldn’t concern ourselves with how much we spend just the quality and number of acquisitions

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  41. Keep Guthrie, we need a decent squad and players who are happy enough to play 10 games a season, we aren’t going to be able to have two world class players for every position and he’s a decent utility midfielder.
    I’d forgotten just how good Ben arfa is, reckon he would have been worth 6 more points if he’d played 12 games

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  42. Toonsy – Think wage is well under 50m mate.

    Also if our other cost are 30m then theres been some god awful financial planning!

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  44. andrew t you could say that about ben arfa aswell bud , ireland has got loads of potential and should defo be given a chance

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  45. I’d forgotten just how good Ben arfa is, reckon he would have been worth 6 more points if he’d played 12 games
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    6 points at least. 5-6 goals culd have been the difference beween 7th and 12th

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  46. Stardust /Stuart – To be honest I think the “other costs” have been static for two years at about £25 million. Quite what other costs are is beyond me but thats what the accounts say. I assume it’s things like policing, stewarding etc etc etc. Non-football related I think (even though it is football related but you know what I mean 😆 ).

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  47. toonsy, they also are investing a bit more now in the training facilities which makes me think the books are looking pretty good- though the Carroll money helps that

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  48. On finances which is a boring subject there was a page in Sundays programme showing our income and a select few other clubs. The matchday income Chelski generate with not much over than a 40,000 crowd is amazing. A ticket must cost an astronomical amount. The unwashed on the other hand with a bigger gate have a ridiculous low amount of matchday income. Must give their tickets away haha

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  53. TlR – I’m sure the cheapest matchday ticket is £45 but on average it’s upwards of £60, and that is just in the stands, not the Imperialist Russia (Platinum) club.

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  54. Evening Jobey. How did the exam go?

    Evening Ice. How is the heed? Getting better still?

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  55. what do you think, can we get Gervinho here? we should bring players like Gervinho, Wijnaldum, Turan, Nzogbia, Sturidge, Gameiro…I prefer Gervinho, Wijnaldum and Sturidge…it would be about 25-28 M…and one RB….if Enrique sold then LB…and maybe DM as cover for Tiote…out….Xisco, Campbell, Smith, Perch, Ameobi

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  57. Toonsy- Ahh todays exam was a bit better 😀 chill out for a few days so i’ll be on here more 😀

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  61. Just took a trip over to footy rumours.com..
    Someone said that tiote and Barton hated each other, neally spat my water out with laughter 😆

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  63. Drogba might have a word aswell.

    “Gan play with my mate Alan sonna” said Didier to Gervinho. “It’ll make you a proud lion” 😉

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  69. TOONFAN think you can take l/pool out of that mate,unless judas has a bad injury 👿

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  71. I see the Twatter people are saying Ashley has flown into Ncl.

    He might be choosing new curtains of course…

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  74. batty
    i’m in the army mate so been away, been reading still every now and again when I can to keep up on things.

    But back for two weeks so will prob be on here a bit more

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