It’s not been a bad start to 2012 has it? As Shamrock pointed out in his fantastic match preview, we’ve won all of our fixtures, including that one against some second class (well, we made them look second class on the night) outfit from Manchester, and signed one of the most sought after strikers in Europe. To add to that, we’ve still not seen any of our key players leave the club and are actively trying to retain the services of Captain Coloccini, who may have a new impressive defensive buddy if rumours are to be believed!
All of that pales into insignificance this afternoon though as the focus shifts towards what happens in 90 minutes of football in West London. Thing is, as our resident statto pointed out in another one of his expertly composed “Stat Attack’s”, we don’t exactly have the best record against Fulham. They are yet another one of our bogey teams.
However Newcastle have become quite adept at ending these hoodoo’s in recent times. I mean we recently beat Manchester United for the first time in a decade, we beat Blackburn earlier in the season after about eight years of failing to do so, we won at Stoke away and Bolton away – both grounds where we traditionally do pretty badly. You get my point.
We’ll see what happens today but no doubt the lads will have been boosted by the arrival of Papiss Demba Cisse. The level of competition, especially for our strikers, has been ramped up a few notches and now they must show their worth or risk being left behind in terms of the first team. Plus they have the bonus of knowing that if they can keep in touch with the top five or six whilst Cheik Tiote, Demba Ba and Cisse are away at ACoN then we will be in a cracking position when they come back and can challenge those European spaces.
Anyway, that’s enough waffle. Both Shamrock and NUFC_stats have provided more than enough background on the match without me going into more so I’ll leave you to have a gander of their articles instead of me going on and on and on…
The match is being broadcast overseas so there is a good chance of picking up a stream although, as ever, the quality will be hit and miss. If you do manage to stumble across a good stream though why not share it with your fellow Mags and leave a link to it in the comments section below? It would be most appreciated I’m sure.
Right now though it’s Game On, and with NUFC knowing that a win would guarantee 5th place ahead of the Arsenal v Manchester United match tomorrow the carrot is already on the stick and the lads know what is on offer.
Howay the lads!
Fulham: David Stockdale; Stephen Kelly, Brede Hangeland, Philippe Senderos, John Arne Riise; Steve Sidwell, Danny Murphy (c), Clint Dempsey; Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora, Bryan Ruiz
Subs: Neil Etheridge, Matthew Briggs, Chris Baird, Aaron Hughes, Kerim Frei, Marcel Gecov, Andrew Johnson
Newcastle: Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; Hatem Ben Arfa, Danny Guthrie, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Leon Best, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, James Perch, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Peter Lovenkrands.
I’m afraid Pardew has muffed it this half. Some really bizarre subs too… 😯 That we can allow Best and Shola to complete the full game is way beyond me…
Also looks like a half fit Cabaye and Guthers couldn’t handle the second half… absolutely bizarre… 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
374 – Yes cant argue with that.
Shamrock(Quote)
What attributes do you need to make a useless striker
Spinless,
Heartless,
Ordinary
,Lazy
,Awful
I am 57 and i am still faster
Tommy Gibb(Quote)
God I can’t wait for Ba to get back 😡
EvilFranky(Quote)
Toby@363- Think he just signed a new contract .
kimtoon(Quote)
We did have a few days dreaming this week. It would’nt be the Toon if we did’nt end it with a good kick in the B******s 👿
nutmag(Quote)
Depraved defending
Michael12(Quote)
Dont understand Pardew’s substitutions in this game as soon as the 3-1 went in we should of gone attacking and brought Obertan on for his speed . Why the hell was Shola not brought off and Best should of been pushed up to be used as the target man .
Axel(Quote)
Agree Pardew has to take some blame. As due the defense. but the massive turning point in confidence was the penalty… 😕
JJ(Quote)
MM Best isn’t on mate
Big Dave(Quote)
Santon has been outmuscled in this half, has lost almost every ball
stevep(Quote)
hahahaha i cant wait til the african cup of nations finishes!!! shola has done nothing again !!! hes frightenly terrible
Army69(Quote)
Big D@366…… 😳 😎
Munich Mag(Quote)
whey…that says it all 👿
richietoon(Quote)
ant that **** damien duff is playing – I hate that money grabbing cvnt
stevep(Quote)
Thank fuk thats over 🙁
Big Dave(Quote)
don’t want to go to school tommorw 😳
NUFCgt(Quote)
Just one of those days I’m afraid. Need to bounce back against Blackburn next week, who aren’t playin to bad either.
Have to say though, there really is no excuse at all for the **** poor defending!
Stuart79(Quote)
worst half of the season from any team in the prem – absolute capitulation
stevep(Quote)
SteveP…was just gonna say that…Santon took a bit of a hammering in the second half… 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
complete and utter tripe 2nd half.
TBH we havw had one of them coming.
Now we need to see a reaction to this.
amazing.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I really think it was Jol’s tactical changes and Pardew’s reaction–pulling Best from the wing, putting Jonas back out there and leaving our middle wide open.
Pardew’s reaction was like pouring gasoline on the fire. Jol shredded us today. We looked incredible in the 1st half and then Jol destroyed us.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Wow. One to forget. And I’m on air on Absolute Radio in about an hour. ****. 😯
Whumpie(Quote)
thank fook for that – how the **** do you let 5 goals in a half
stevep(Quote)
Sorry but to conceed five goals in one half is outrageous!
Stuart79(Quote)
One decision changed the whole match.
When will these referees be done for decisions like the penalty…
CC(Quote)
What a pathetic result! Who would have thought we would have let in 5 goals in 45 mins? Disgraceful!
ShiteShola(Quote)
Whey I’m outta here to try and calm down 🙁 I hope the Demba’s get a brace each tonight and Senegal lose 5-4.
richietoon(Quote)
Pards got it wrong big style, didn’t respond to Jols changes, players were all over the place 2nd half
stevep(Quote)
We couldn’t handle Jols change of tactics at half time. Just a typical away collapse not helped by the officials.
DJG(Quote)
**** happens. Next game. 😥
Now Lets root for bolton to win over liverpool. C’mon bolton. 😎
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
fkin shola the sooner this lad is sent packing the better…
hitman(Quote)
@375
Agree the defense cost us this game. I’m thinking in general. It must be horrible having to play with Shola in the team. I would do my nut.
I honestly think I would be better than him. He is a poor man’s Emile Hewlett and Heskey is *****…
JJ(Quote)
Krul should have saved the 3rd as well
stevep(Quote)
We missed a GREAT OPPORTUNITY today.
Not sure what Jol put in there half time Lucozade but it worked !
Munich Mag(Quote)
and the 5th and he gave away the pen so responsible for 3 of the goals
stevep(Quote)
I dont think the penalty was the turning point. Especially as it was not a penalty. It’s not like the lads were undone by a masterclass to undermine their confidence.
The turning point was the tactics and our defence turning into jelly. Andy Johnson was probably a turning point and Shola up front either failed to contribute, or actually destroyed forward play by straying offside every 2 minutes.
All in all, a bad day. They best learn from this and Ameobi should only be used from the bench from now on. No excuse for his performance today. This is not a scapegoat being made, I usually defend him – but he was aweful today. Our whole defence was cack too, not helped by a central midfield in the 2nd half that seemed to just give up, like they had their teeth pulled out at half time and had no bite!
Really underlined why Tiote is important to this side.
Shamrock(Quote)
PARDEW where the hell was Jonas supposed to be playing today, Santon was totally exposed and JOL sussed it out well and truly, OK others like our non existent forwards (Shola & Best) did not help, and Colo had an off day, but ffs your the boss – sort it.
ash1001(Quote)
fuggin embarrassing to loose this heavily to a **** side like fulham! 😕 😡
I appriciate they are a though team @home but this is ridiculous. No one in the team today can walk with their chin up, a collective meltdown and with Johnson/Dempsey playing good for 30mins or so and the ref just shitting on us. We need to be more dangerous in front of goal and use our possession better. Shitty performance to all 😕 😡
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Gobsmacked, did that really just happen 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Willo and Simmo are ***** as fk!
ShiteShola(Quote)
Hitman, been saying that for years
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Let’s just hope neither Ba nor Tiote are allowed to leave no matter what price is offered, and that a quality defender is brought in before the end of January or we may well be ******.
Shola is too slow to be the fucking mascot.
Pootle(Quote)
This has got to be the worst half of football from Newcastle for a long time. Awful. Absolutely awful. Tiote’s presence would have been a help this half. Too much room between defence and midfield. And nothing up front. ***** all over the park. Pardew outdone in the tactics department.
BrisVegas(Quote)
This is what happens when the lads have Tenerife on their minds.
I hope it rains all week lol
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
JJ@329 could not have put it better,seen more mobility in a wheelie bin. I hate criticizing players but shola is just not up to it.Best is an ok back up striker ,perhaps we should try vukic or play obertan tucked in behind best, using his pace.Hope senegal get knocked out so we can have 2 proper strikers on the pitch.
Tommy Gibb(Quote)
hoof ball hoofball ****** over and over again. WTF 👿
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Pardew out done by Jol’s cunning tactical changes? Pah! How can you blame Pardew for that? The defence and attack were simply ****. Jol couldn’t believe his luck.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Although Johnson and Dempsey are good players it was just a case of us being a bit tactically niave and the experience and age of their team. We should have shut up shop for the first 20mins of the 2nd half as it was obvious they would have a go. First game we have really missed Ba and Tiote. At the end of the day we didn’t take enough of the chances in the first half, Collo really should have done better. If we’d scored 2 or 3 it probably would have been game over.
DJG(Quote)
@ 421 I agree with Vukic. I don’t like Best… Don’t think he is good enough and Shola???… He’s just *****!
ShiteShola(Quote)
No shape to our team 2nd half.
Defence all ower the place.
.
DRINK !
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB – yeah the feggin deserve rain/sleet/snow and to play in their underwear or pink dresses.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
what where those substitutions about ogling perch and raylor on when we are getting hammered. that was absolutely shocking today in the second half. don’t understand why ameobi gets on, I’m not an ameobi basher like but jesus christ christ what does he offer at all?
Alex(Quote)
Jol made his luck and Pardew’s reactions were poor. I’ve grown to like Pardew, but he blew it in the 2nd half. The defense got wrecked because Pards muffed the midfield changes.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Not only were we ****. We could of easily been down to ten men. We could of lost either Santon or Krul.
steverd(Quote)
Pardew is only using Best, Shola and Williamson because he has f*** all else. He is doing his best to put that right. We need a plan for this f*****g ACON.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
A game like this was due at some point, lets just hope the lads put it behind them and get a good result at Brighton in the cup. Good skill and goal from Ben Arfa.
DJG(Quote)
Am I seeing things here? We scored 2 but conceded 5 and everyone is blaming the striker. Does no body think the issue was possibly that we were missing a holding man or that the defense was too slow? No?
Andrew(Quote)
most of you are embarrassing we’re 6th in the premier league wind ya necks in
sky plastic fan boys(Quote)
you know we lost the plot with 4 yellows.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
**** OFF BACK TO YOUR PRAWN SANDWICHES YOU MASSIVE COCKNEY CUNTS.
@WhyCabayeMan(Quote)
I think I will give MOTD a miss tonight 😳
Big Dave(Quote)
PARDEW OOT!!! 😮
ffs 🙄
DJG(Quote)
86:37
‘Jonas Gutierrez takes a shot. Shola Ameobi gets a block in.’
Is that for real, or a mistake? 😯
Can’t imagine what Cisse must be thinking…
How depressing. And I stayed up for that 😳
Susan(Quote)
I don’t think even Tiote would of made much difference today as every one at the back was **** 2nd half and you can’t or shouldn’t be reliant on just one man. Hope Pards cancels the little jaunt away to give em a kick up the *** and also hope he don’t start Shola anymore. While the Dembas are away we should just have Best up front alone i think ,NO MORE SHOLA PLEASE.
kimtoon(Quote)
to all the whiners shola is playing because it’s either him or lovenkrands!
sky plastic fan boys(Quote)
**** @ 434 no we’re not.
ffs are we not allowed to be a tad disappointed like.
Are we not allowed to discuss our deficencies.
*****
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
susan go to bed then if its a burden
sky plastic fan boys(Quote)
@440 You might as well play with 10 men instead of 11 with Shola on!
ShiteShola(Quote)
We missed the double D’s today. Don’t worry we’ll have Fulhams Europe place off them whilst they fight relegation. It’s only one game and a freak result.
DJG(Quote)
beardsleys boots read through the thread again, imagine you’re down here and then you tell me what it looks like
sky plastic fan boys(Quote)
@STEVEP: that has been my biggest criticism of Pardew this season, he has not been responsive manager. We could be clearly exploited down one flank with so many warnings by the opposition. Pardew does not respond until we concede a goal then he will changes things.
Michael12(Quote)
Give me loverhands any day.
At least he tries
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Tiote would have made a huge difference. Not even going to bother arguing that one.
As for that comment about us being 6th – I think we are entitled to have a moan after a performance like that. It’s only a moan about the performance, not the season.
As for the Williamson comments – He had a bad game today, but was very reliable most of last season and pretty much for every game he has played this season. Demanding he be booted out of the club is ridiculous.
Shamrock(Quote)
Wow! 😆
It’s not time to overreact, we just had an awful second half, but I don’t foresee that happening again any time soon. We just didn’t react to their change in tactics. Add a dodgy decision or two, some clinical finishing and you are left with a scoreline that looks like Fulham played us off of the park. They didn’t and the stats prove it.
Ameobi had a shocker today. He just did not make an effort when we completely and utterly dominated them in the first half. We should have gone in at least 2-0 up.
Ah well, we now need to win away at Blackburn.
The Kid(Quote)