A piece of clever footwork proved the difference as Leon Best scored what was to be the winner in the first half, but beyond that there wasn’t much to choose between the two sides and Mark Hughes could feel aggrieved for not taking anything from the match in his first game in charge of the Loftus Road outfit.
Hatem Ben Arfa was once again left out of the starting line up despite his FA Cup heroics of last week although in fairness it didn’t come as a surprise after Alan Pardew said a few days ago about how the talented Frenchman had to do more work for the team. Indeed he shown glimpses of brilliance today, but then he also showed signs of being greedy ad trying to do too much which resulted in possession being turned over numerous times. Still there were definite signs of improvement once again and Ben Arfa worked harder for the team today than I’ve noticed in the past.
The away side started off the brighter of the two and carved out a number of chances in the opening exchanges. Newcastle just weren’t at the races and QPR were unlucky to capitalise on the hosts slow start to the game as Heidar Helguson and Akos Buszaky tested Tim Krul before Shaun Wright-Phillips clipped the bar after a mistake from Ryan Taylor.
The game changed when Yohan Cabaye was stretchered off on the 20 minute mark following a robust challenge from Shaun Derry. Apparently Cabaye has minor ligament damage which shouldn’t keep him out for long, if at all, but he still managed to react angrily to the challenge before collapsing to a heap on the floor. Hatem Ben Arfa replaced him.
It was the introduction of Ben Arfa that lead to us getting a foothold in the game though, even though he didn’t directly have an awful lot to do with it. Ryan Taylor went close with Newcastle’s first effort at goal but more was to come just a few minutes later when Jonas Gutierrez fed the ball into Shola Ameobi who then played Ryan Taylor in. The move nearly broke down but the Scouse lad managed to prod the ball to Leon Best who turned inside one defender and fired the ball into the far corner of the net. It was an exquisite goal.
Half-time: Newcastle 1-0 QPR
The second half started in much the same way as the first as the visitors went in search of an equaliser. Shaun Wright-Phillips tested Tim Krul again but his effort was easily saved by the Dutchman. Jay Bothroyd also went close but Krul was more than a match for his powerful shot.
The game sort of died in the second half and was filled with nearly moments rather than near misses. Davide Santon did well on the left and found his way into the box only to see his shot blocked by Luke Young but aside from that goalmouth action was at a premium for both sides. Newcastle looked solid and assured defensively and poked and prodded away in attack with Ben Arfa and Best looking the most likely to create something although neither side was able to add to the 1-0 scoreline.
Full-time: Newcastle 1-0 QPR
Not one for the purists, but it was never going to be easy. The QPR players showed Mark Hughes what they were all about and were playing for their first team futures and that showed at the start. Still, it’s three points and sixth in the table which will do me just fine!
Howay the lads.
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Ryan Taylor, Danny Guthrie, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, James Perch, Dan Gosling, Mehdi Abeid, Gabriel Obertan, Hatem Ben Arfa
QPR: Paddy Kenny; Luke Young, Danny Gabbidon, Anton Ferdinand, Clint Hill; Shaun Wright-Phillips, Shaun Derry, Akos Buzsaky, Jamie Mackie; Heidar Helguson, Jay Bothroyd
Subs: Radek Cerny, Bradley Orr, Fitz Hall, Hogan Ephraim, Tommy Smith, DJ Campbell, Federico Macheda
Attendance: 49,865
That Leon Best goal means he is the 46th player this season who has as many or more league goals than Torres & Carroll combined (4) 😀
Toon Chicken(Quote)
Good review Toonsy. One thing I did notice… it was f*cking freezing!!
I liked the formation we had which looked to me like;
Guthrie R.Taylor
HBA Jonas Best
Shola
Thought it worked well.
dan4toon(Quote)
Think your harsh on Ben arfa. He completely changed the game. He created loads of space and did some sublime passes. Yeah he lost the ball once or twice but the best players do that. Class act imo
Niall(Quote)
Niall – Just an observation. I realise I’m on shaky ground by not tugging over everything Ben Arfa does, and he is a class act, but there were times today where he tried to take on three players and lost the ball as opposed to just keeping it simple.
toonsy(Quote)
Suppose there was a few times. I really do think that with more game time he will contribute massively to goals whether that be assists or goals who knows
Niall(Quote)
I remember was it Jonas saying that they were trying to get HBA to keep it simple and pass except in the final third when he was to run at the defence because they couldn’t tackle him without giving away a foul or penalty. Also he said they couldn’t tackle him in training.
Premandup(Quote)
well done swansea.
knock the scum down
hitman(Quote)
I think what we predicted kinda happened today.
QPR made life difficult for us today, normally when a team down the bottom plays away from home they play with 10 men behind the ball. Today QPR pressed us and our boys found it difficult to find time on the ball.
I thought the boys done well today though, they were patient and kept possession. Guthrie done well in the middle but I don’t think there was a stand out player today. Not to put too much of a dampener on today, but I was very disappointed with Shola and highlighted our need for a striker.
That was my only negative for today – pleased to hear Cabaye isnt too bad. It was a bit weird that one, jumps up to push Derry the stretched off ranting at Derry.
Well pleased for Best, really good finish and he’s desperately needed that. Hopefully that’s the start of a good run of goals.
Above the scousers again, which can only mean one thing….. Dalgleish will want all our players again
Sharpy17(Quote)
Niall – Absolutely I agree, but that will come in time.
Shame Swansea didn’t get a couple of goals extra 🙁
toonsy(Quote)
reet i pay a small fortune for sky hd.
they had the dippers in for title contenders.
whats the betting we arnt even in it.
hitman(Quote)
toonsy ide like to say we are joint 5th 🙂
batty(Quote)
Hitman@10 -We could be second doing cartwheels ,scoring 6 every game and they still wouldn’t rate us because they are all TWATS . 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
great game Swansea/ Arsenal
geordie deb(Quote)
I thought introduction of Ben Arfa was the game changer as you mentioned but obviously it had to do with Ben Arfa. He loves to run at the defenders and that he did, which had a apprehensive affect on them and also we stopped playing hoofball. Alan Pardew is a great manager but i think he’s too afraid to let newcastle be a one man show.
Haider Agha(Quote)
Toonsy – sky commentors picked up on that ad well, they reckon that’s why Pardew doesn’t start him every week. Brilliant talent but hands possession back to the opposition too often, which against better teams will defo cost us goals.
Pleased he got his chance today though, showed Pardew his a bit more faith in him coz it could have been Perch then instead
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yes it was freakn freezing and I thought their goalie looked like he was wearing his pj’s under his kit. Wish I had. I agree that your statement about HBA was a bit harsh but I suppose in the interest of balance its fair to say he is a player that takes risks. I’m a fan of his style of play but I get as annoyed as anyone when a player tries to show off, basically, when it’s not required or even safe to do so. What you have to keep in context is that Cabaye went off to a standing ovation which turned into rapturous applause from a crowd that had been singing for him to come on as soon as Cabaye hit the floor. What do you then expect HBA to do? Start stroking the ball about in midfield, swirling in circles and passing backwards? Nope. With Cabaye on, we would no doubt have ground them down in the end, but HBA took his risks, most of them actually produced results, not to mention some pretty splendid runs and passing into spaces that Demba would have had a field day with. I didnt see a plague of lost balls leading to a run on our goal because, quite rightly, he was well protected. I think today was less to do with HBA than it was to do with a visiting team on a mission to gain the love of the new boss, hopefully exploiting what is on paper a weakened Newcastle side. Dull it may have been,but it was job done today, and we actually looked like a team with options, even the luxury of playing a Hatem when we wanted to. 6th place! Where’s the bad in that? cant wait for the lads to come back from ACoN and a couple of solid signings, we just have to get better surely?
Tsunki(Quote)
Re: Ben Arfa, I did think he fought for the ball after lost it far more than he has done in the past. As was said he needs to track back more and make the simple play at times, but what a talent!
MDS(Quote)
Thought Ben Arfa played very well today. The game changed when he came on.
David(Quote)
Shamrock
The fact is Shola has scored 39 premiership goals in 11 seasons… That’s just less than four goals a season!!
And considering his finishing.is his strongest asset and he takes the penalties. He is **** off the ball and lazy as ****. Then it Kelsey me just to have him in the team. 👿
JJ(Quote)
***.wolfie thinks shola has done well at our club.
is wolfie blind.
WOW
hitman(Quote)
My wife and kids are leaving me because of my obsession with horse racing. They’re at the gate now And they’re off 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
HITMAN, if he hadn’t of contributed to this club, he would not be playing for this club.
As I said earlier, people forget the good stuff he’s done and concentrate on the bad and also some keep mentioning 50 goals in 250 appearances..forgetting his injuries and many many bit parts he’s played.
He is no Shearer, we all know that but he can be one hell of an asset as an impact sub, even now.
wolfie(Quote)
5 plus points today which shouldn’t be overlooked imo……
1. 3 points – today was one of those games which in years gone by could easily have drawn or lost. 3 points are 3 points – Howay the lads…
2.The performance of Guthrie. Even after being out for a few weeks he still played great in centre mid. We shouldn’t also forget that the bloke hasn’t signed a new contract yet – get him signed up !
3. Davide Santon – the bloke is a sublime footballer who plays his way out of trouble. What a great signing for the toon, who will only get better. Hopefully the lad has his injury issues behind him.
4. 50 K crowd. Amazing for a televised game, without our two star players, and against less attractive opposition, without Asbo too….
5. Leon Best’s goal – a cracker. Hope the lad can now kick on…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Besty showed he can step up when Demba’s space is vacated, he did well today. Shola oh Shola. His hold up play and some of his touches were really a joy to watch – but he runs into strange spaces, or just goes missing from the penalty area when he should be running in. I counted a few passes in front of goal and he was standing 10 yards out at the back (basically where the ref should be), looking at how it was going to turn out! Thought Simpson was very average today. Some poor balls from him at crucial moments.
Tsunki(Quote)
he is playing for this club coz ashley is a tight ****,and wont give pards money for a new forward.
WOLFIE,are you for fkin real lad every man and his dog can see shola is *****.
toonsy you got this lad on the pay roll
hitman(Quote)
think we are being a bit harch on benny mind come on how many games has the lad had?players like that have to be 100% fit by that i mean sharpness that split second makes all the diffrence to that type of guy,come on give the lad a few games,cannot understand some 😐
summing up about right TOONSY apart from benny
icedog(Quote)
in shola we trust.
ice
hitman(Quote)
MM good shout mate 😉 I too hope that maybe Best can find a bit of form after today, but I still think we need a Striker, yeah I know Shola wasn’t his worst today, and has been here for 15 or so yrs and has never let us down or caused any ***** etc etc. but that doesn’t mean fuk all when we need someone to score goals, as I still don’t think there is many goals in the 2 strikers we had today
Big Dave(Quote)
did shola get a injury near the end i mean apart from sucking air in the last 15min?
icedog(Quote)
what i seen of shola the day (HD),this lad is just not upto it.
we can do better.
hitman(Quote)
HITMAN, read my posts fully and you will see that I’m not saying Shola is class or anything, I’m simply saying he can still do a job as an impact sub.
wolfie(Quote)
Ice – It looked like it mate. Stopped moving completely according to the commentators.
Perhaps I’ve been a bit harsh on Benny, but people will build him up…. Sometimes all it takes is to do the simple things is all I’m saying.
toonsy(Quote)
what fkin job can strolla do.
this lad brings nothing to the fkin table.
wolfie if you think he can you need your fkin eyes checked……………………………………………………..
hitman(Quote)
On the benny bit in the article I cant understand how Pards wants Benny to work harder and has only gave him 2 starts when he has stuck by Gabby 😕 who imo does far less for the team.
Benny has started 3 and scored 2
Gabby has started 16 and scored 0
Shola has started 6 and scored 1
Best has started 13 and scored 4
Big Dave(Quote)
A recent vote on Shola showed over 80% of 200 people regard Shola as good enough to be a part of our squad.
Dont forget of those 250 appearances, most were from the bench. He has an average of something like 56 minutes of action per appearance. Add to that the fact that he has rarely ever had a solid run in the side and he has not had a chance to build up form and you will see that for a 3rd choice striker, his stats stand up with anybody elses.
This really is a boring debate now. He is not our 1st or 2nd choice striker, so why complain about him? Especially when we know a new striker will be signed at some point over the next few months – meaning in the managers eyes he is only really regarded as 4th choice striker….
He is value for what he is.
Shamrock(Quote)
TOONSY trouble is players like that dont do the simple things it not in there make-up thats what makes them diff,all ime saying is give the lad a few games to see if we can buy into him 😉 dont judge to quickly
icedog(Quote)
big dave.
benny is our best player.
if pards wants to fk aboot,on his head be it
hitman(Quote)
Shamrock – It’s because Obertan wasn’t playing. People need someone to moan about and Shola is Gabby’s reserve 😉
I thought we won earlier? 😕
toonsy(Quote)
Watched the game from the stands and thought Shola did what Shola does and played his normal game. The pick of the performers for me were Colo and Santon. Thought Raylor did very little although will be credited with the assist for the goal. Midfield in general didn’t support the strikers enough for me but that was probably under instruction.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Ice – You kidding right 😯 I’ve been one who has not expected anything of him. Not called for him to start and I’ve even written off this season for him. I’ll give him all the time in the world, but he still needs to do the simple things sometimes. Pedro managed it, as do other great players.
toonsy(Quote)
icedog u causing frigging bother again … its everywhere u go
ice pup(Quote)
@21 lol 😆 😆 😆 😆
ice pup(Quote)
Can anyone tell me if Lovenkrands is injured or been kidnapped or something . The lad seems to have vanished , i actually would consider him a better player than Shola these days , still has a bit of running left in him .
Axel(Quote)
Toonsy – So did I! As for Benny starting every gme lads and lasses, he never has done this consistently throughout his entire career! It’s not a new thing. We need to use him wisely…
Shamrock(Quote)
Tsunki and MM have both nAiled it for me, nothing more needs to be said.
Brendan(Quote)
TOBY, you havw to give credit to Q.P.R for the way we couldn’t get a grip on the game earlier, because they (apart from some dirty fouling) were on us like a rash and didn’t give us time to settle.
To me, Mark Hughes set out his stall to attack us and get a goal then sit back and defend to the death but they just couldn’t muster it and we showed some great patience (obviously under Pardews instruction) to play the game out and I though we did it very well, which obviously made for a pretty dire game to be fair.
It’s nice to get the 3 points and another clean sheet though. 😀
wolfie(Quote)
I have watched shola play in most of his 250 or so games and and what he gives you is inconsistancy a lazy approach a terrible goal return , infact i would say he gives you a good game about every 20 so to sum him up he is awfull one of the worst footballers i have watched in my life and i have watched some bad ones , shola is awfull and imo anyone who says he isnt is just a everything toon is great !!!!
keith(Quote)
TOONSY all i need is chips now i caught a fish 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy,no worries. Next match Arsenal face Man Utd. So as long as we win our next game,we will be 5th. 😉
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
well done wolfie a whole comment and u didnt once mention rogering anyone with hair tongs well done matey
😆 😆 😆
ice pup(Quote)
Toonsy so if we win we should forget about what we see as failings in the team 😕 or just not talk about them unless we lose ?
Big Dave(Quote)
Keith – That’s carp. I’m defending him, but I’ll trash talk Obertan all day long! 😆
Shamrock(Quote)
AXEL, Lovenkrands was told to go on a cruise with his wife to get over his injury and come back fresh but his cruise liner was took over by Somali pirates and they took Lovenkrands and his wife hostage and severely bummed him while his wife watched.
He made a few phone calls to Newcastle because the Somali’s wanted a ransom of 3 pound 25 but Ashley offered one pound sixty, so the pirates dry bummed him numerous more times OVER THE PHONE but Ashley wouldn’t budge.
Lovenkrands is still held captive in a dirty cellar, shackled to the wall with a full grown beard and wiry hair.
His wifer has divorced him under Somali pirate law and now she is a wife to 300 pirates making stew on a bed of lit pine tree trunks.
I hope this puts to bed your fear about his injury as it doesn’t appear to be that bad. 😀
wolfie(Quote)
ICEPUP…the curling tongs don’t bear thinking about do they lol
wolfie(Quote)
here we go with the big scripts.
is there anybody out there.
hitman(Quote)
Icedog, Benny can do things that no other player can do, and we really need to find a place for him in the team. He’s still coming back from a bad injury, and is still getting the feel for the EPL ffs. We should really be ECSTATIC that we have him on the books. We should also be ECSTATIC that it looks like he has fully recovered from his injury.
The way Pardew handles him is secondary, cos he will force his way into the team. His immense skill is without doubt. The more games he plays the better he will become.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Shamrock does the fact that he has only made 250 appearances, most were from the bench. He has an average of something like 56 minutes of action per appearance. Add to that the fact that he has rarely ever had a solid run in the side and he has not had a chance to build up form and you will see that for a 3rd choice striker, his stats stand up with anybody elses.
Does that not tell a story about him ???? and I don’t think it’s a cert that we will have a new striker in the next few months, but I hope we do
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave – Yes it does. It tells us he is not a 1st choice or 2nd choice striker…Which he is not employed as…
Shamrock(Quote)
HITMAN, don;t you like big scripts. 😉
wolfie(Quote)
@wolfie are u talking about cruising again.. 🙄 defo a sailor in you..
I thought Benny, apart from losing the ball a few times tracked back better than I’ve seen him before. he seems more committed than ever
He needs to start instead of man-on-stilts shola, although hes been a great servant 🙄
mark(Quote)
@shamrock , what does shola give to our team … remember he is a forward !
and how many of his games have you watched and how many good games do you think he has had !
keith(Quote)
I remember a grown man starting to cry when Carl Cort came on in one game, and I knew exactly how he felt. I remember that miserable little Owen , and the pointlessness of Kluivert. Marcelino. Xisco. Shola any day over these. He’s done his part, he’s actually scored some memorable goals, important ones – how many of you wanted him flushed down the pot at the start of our Championship year? How many times has he been down the local cop shop, on the front pages? He’s frustrating, yes – even his demeanour makes him look strangely lethargic when he really isn’t, but for all the ways he annoys me, there are two that makes me like him. When he retires I think he will be recognised for the loyal contribution he has made to the club. I hope he doesn’t start next week though. 🙂
Tsunki(Quote)
you can bury us in script all you want.
but shola is no striker.
and who ever thinks he is needs a checkin
hitman(Quote)
MM @ 56 spot on mate again, I would add that our other 2 special winger Ginola and Robert didn’t have the same work ethic as the rest of the team, but the rest of the team done enough work to cover for them, so why can’t our team do the same ? or is it because we are having to carry one of Best, Shola or Gabby. though I will say that Best worked harder today
Big Dave(Quote)
MM @56 toonsy wants him to do the simple things,we already have shola to do the simple things hope that happens at some point 😀
icedog(Quote)
WOLFIE,is like a makem caught in the head lights.
he so wants shola to come good,but we all know that will never happen.
😆
hitman(Quote)
Tsunki its easy to be loyal when your picking up a nice little wad of cash , and I think if he didn’t fail his medical at Stoke or Ipswich ? he wouldn’t have been here
Big Dave(Quote)
WOLFIE thanks for casting a bit of light on that m8 , must be hard for his ex wife though , the lass having to make stew for that many pirates . Hope they appreciate it and reward her with a jolly rodgering after diner . Still hope he is back for pre season , no reason not to if he is not injured.
Axel(Quote)
Question for everyone:
We’re only 4 points off 4th now so should the club loosen the purse strings and bring in two or three players to give us a chance of going for it or just be happy to finish 7th?
Personally I think if we bring in a couple of good players (striker & C half, plus Morrison) I think it will put us in great shape for when Ba and Tiote are back.
Stuart79(Quote)
Hitman – Stop singling out Wolfie.
toonsy(Quote)
Anyone with half a brain (imo) knows shola is terrible and is very lucky to have played in the prem league for so long , he would have played for stoke in the champ if he dident fail his medical !! he is **** simples if staying at the same club for 12 years and having very little impact makes you a good servent then so be it but not in my eyes !!
keith(Quote)
HITMAN, I want any Newcastle player to come good.
Every player who pulls on that shirt, I want them to excel but I’m not naive enough to say Shola is a world beater, I’m simply saying he can still offer a bit part.
If you can’t grasp that then I suggest you get your own headlight brightened up from dim. 😆
wolfie(Quote)
Shamrock, you think am average of less than four goals a season is good, considering he’s been here 11 years.
Also of those 50 goals in 250 appearances, 11 of them came in 20 appearances in the Championship…
So 39 goals in 230 games!! As a striker!!
I think we can get a better younger fourth choice striker… More enthusiam, more hunger…
Even when we tried to sell him, only a single Championship team was half interested…
JJ(Quote)
Stuart – Nope. Not saying to not loosen purse strings, but maybe to adjust the aim a little bit. Maybe aim for 6th instead of top ten etc etc.
By the sounds of it the strings have been loosened though now there appears to be a striker and a defender plus that Morrison on the cards but we’ll see.
toonsy(Quote)
Aye AXEL, I think she’ll be ok like and I’m sure Lovenkrands will be released soon enough.
😀
wolfie(Quote)