Greek tragedy averted! Atromitos 1-1 Newcastle

Taylor saves the day
Ryan Taylor hit a trademark freekick in first half injury time to spare Newcastle’s blushes and give them the upper hand in their Europa League qualifying tie against Atromitos.

With the score poised at 1-1 in the tie it gives Newcastle the advantage ahead of the home tie at St James’ Park next Thursday, with Alan Pardew now knowing that avoiding defeat will be enough to see us qualify for the group stages of the competition.

It was a case of “job done” as far as the fixture went. I dare say most of us would have liked a victory to return home with, but when you consider that nine changes were made to the first team in preparation for the game against Chelsea on Saturday, combined with a pitch that didn’t look great along with searing 38 degree heat, then all things considered it wasn’t that bad.

Gael Bigirimana made his debut while Adam Campbell becaume United’s youngest ever player to appear in Europe. Romain Amalfitano also made his competitive bow while Sylvain Marveaux and Steve Harper both made first team appearances for the first time in a number of months.

It was the home side who started off the strongest with left-winger Denis Epstein causing James Tavernier problems at right-back. Atromitos seemed to be focusing on young Tavernier, and to be fair it was a tactic that proved to be successful although neither side really looked like breaking the deadlock.

That was until the 24th minute when a long diagonal ball evade James Tavernier and found his tormentor Epstein who drifted in from the left and finished low past Steve Harper and give the Greeks the lead.

Newcastle immediately upped the tempo but with Papiss Cisse starved of possession for long periods ultimately chances to score were hard to come by. The best the away side could muster in response was a Taylor freekick which former Liverpool ‘keeper Charles Itandje kicked away.

However on the stroke of half time Newcastle managed to find an equaliser after Dan Gosling was pulled back 25 yards from goal allowing Ryan Taylor to do what he does best and bend his freekick over the wall and past Itandje into the back of the Atromitos net.

Half time: Atromitos 1-1 Newcastle

Newcastle were better in the second period. Sylvain Marveaux should have done better with a header from Papiss Cisse’s cross, and Cisse himself was unlucky not to find the back of the net after Itandje palmed away a cross which Cisse was shaping to shoot for. Gabriel Obertan fired a volley wide while Romain Amalfitano was denied the winner after intervention from an Atromitos defender.

At the other end Shefki Kuqi’s younger brother, Njazi, fired wide and Konstantinos Giannoulis shot wildly over the bar six minutes from time spurning the chance of a win for Atromitos with it.

Full time: Atromitos 1-1 Newcastle

As I said earlier, I’d have liked a win but I’m not overly disappointed with the draw. It gives us the upper hand for next week although I don’t want to be overly confident about anything just yet. Remember Partizan Belgrade anyone?

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Steve Harper; James Tavernier, Mike Williamson, James Perch, Ryan Taylor; Gael Bigirimana, Vurnon Anita; Gabriel Obertan, Dan Gosling, Sylvain Marveaux; Papiss Cisse

Subs: Tim Krul, Davide Santon, Steven Taylor, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Romain Amalfitano, Adam Campbell

Attendance: 4,872

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.

89 thoughts on “Greek tragedy averted! Atromitos 1-1 Newcastle

  1. didnt watch the game. But satisfied with a draw and an away goal.

    Apparently our reserves wasnt as good as we all hoped, is that right?

    Happy with them getting some game time..

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  2. Danish,

    Don’t think that’s fair. Its never easy going to a country like Greece to get results. This for many if not all of these youngsters would have been their first European experience.

    I also think Atromitos is a bit underrated by some on here.

    Anybody know who Vuckic never even travelled? Neither did Ferguson. 😐

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  3. sort of watched the game on bad streams. Tav as you say looked exposed, and the three attacking midfielders contributed little leaving Cisse starved of service. Probably the heat a rustiness.

    Good to see campell make his debut.

    Anita and Bigi did fine.

    Good result. Should make a reasonable cup team.

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  4. Love Anita and Bigi in front of the back four, Were certainly better prepared for Tiotes possible ACON absences than we were last season.

    Raylor, Perch and Amalfitano who looked really sharp when he got his chance (why is he behind Obertan in the pecking order again??) were the best of the rest for me.

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  5. http://www.nufcblog.com/2012/08/23/lille-may-rethink-position-on-debuchy-newcastle-on-red-alert/

    Interesting slant, but I’d think Ashley would be more inclined to wait and see if they fail to qualify and then go in with an even lower bid in the January window… 😆

    Stardust – couldn’t watch the game 🙁 , no coverage and the broadband in this country is ridiculously slow. Watching it as a stream would be as frustrating and watching you trying to construct a valid argument for saying Saylor is poor.

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  6. I only watched the second half yesterday but, (I am ready to get my head bitten off) I thought Obertan was good. He wasn’t cutting inside as much, taking his man on and putting some decent crosses in.

    Thought Marv’s corners were decent.

    I thoguht Bigi looked really promising for an 18yo lad. Good composure and passing.

    Amf looked decent too when he came on.

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  7. Result was good, performance certainly wasnt and Pardew quite rightly mentioned how exposed his squad is.

    Too, thin, too inexperienced and not good enough (yet).

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  8. Rossco I thought Oba was as much use as a chocolate fireguard, I find it hard to understand how we have heard many time that Benny has to up his workrate, yet Oba gets away with standing about waiting for the ball to come to him before making a move, I never seen him coming back to cover young Tav who was having a bit of a mare.
    Anita looked decent as did Bigi except one mistake he made but lucky enough Perch was on hand to help out. Amilfitano looked good when he came on, and I think young Adam Campbell can hold his head high.

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  9. Stu – 38 degrees wouldn’t have made it easy – especially for the ginger contingent 😆

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  10. JJ I think Pards took the oppertunity to drop Saylor for Willo as we were playing a team more suited to Willo’s standards #lowerleague 😆 😆 but im sure Stardy will know that as he plays at such a good standard and has an eye for a goodplayer 😀
    Meant to say their winger Epstein looked like a handy player and was the only one that was causing bother

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  11. After last night I was left slightly disappointed – Obertan and gosling were horrendous and was Tavernier, after preseason he looked class, maybe he is a better CB than RB. Same with Gosling, couldn’t believe how poor they were.

    I know we played a reserve team and it’s early days and that but it always feels like we struggle to create chances for our Strikers. Every game.

    Frustrating

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  12. Agree that Obers just doesn’t look good enough. 1 year since he arrived and he still looks just as poor 🙁

    Don’t think it’s fair to judge the squad depth just on that one match though. Remember it was 38 degrees out there 😯

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  13. We need another winger IMO.

    I’m pissed off we are wasting our time with Carroll to be honest, We need an another winger /playmaker IMO

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  14. The game was strange, slow and bitty. It didn’t help that I struggled to recognise some of our lads, and the commentary was in Greek. I spent the first two or three minutes thinking we were the ones in the stripes. I also got distracted a lot of the time arguing with little Vernon Troy about his debate with JJ and his Ben Arfa article. I also had to explain who Vernon Troy is.
    From what I could gather, Bigi looked very mobile and hard working; Anita looked class, and very quick and graceful; Cisse looked leggy; and . Amalfiltano impressed when he came on. Wanted to see more of Campbell and thought Pards should have given him at least half an hour. Where was Abeid?

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  15. Bigdave – I agree his work rate wasn’t the highest but the main gripe is his end product and not taking his man on. Last night showed examples of him giving it a go and he put a few decent crosses in.

    Overall, not a great performance or game but I don’t think we can complain when it was 20C above what the lads are used to back in Newcastle. In 38 degrees I’d be knackered sitting by the pool drinking a cold beer, never mind playing a game!

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  16. I only noticed Obertan once, when he went down the line, beat his man and put in a decent cross. To be fair, I only noticed two or three players once or twice such was the bitty nature of the game.

    As for Tav, I can only remember him making the one mistake and it cost us the goal. That sort of ball for a full back is very difficult to defend. Bigi, who had a very good game, made a bigger mistake, but Perch saved his blushes.

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  17. Obertan was somewhat better in the 2nd half, but he was pretty poor in the first. Tavernier got zorched pretty badly on the goal and 2-3 other chances against him. Hope he learns his lesson and improves from it.

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  18. Dave – its annoying that we again appear to have no ambition, as everyone expected. Push the boat out for someone to improve us, not on Carroll, which I doubt, like Debuchy, won’t happen.

    What’s your gut feeling on the next 7 days?

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  19. Nearly spat my tea oot when I read this little nugget from Lawro!

    “Whatever happens at Stamford Bridge, I believe Newcastle are in the race for the Champions League places, though, because they have got so much firepower.”

    😯

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  20. I never understood Gosling’s attributes at Everton, and I’m none the wiser now he’s here. He is the most anonymous player ever. He never provides a memorable moment. Anita started providing them within five minutes.

    Who is Johnson, Bigpapa?

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  21. B+B I felt a bit sorry for Tav he was sort of threw in at the deep end, and never got any help from Oba. But I just don’t think you should throw younguns in unless there put in with the 1st team so that they can help them out and make them feel a bit safer knowing that they’ve got a 1st teamer there to help them settle better.
    But we arn’t strong enough and imo theres niwt Pards can do his hands are tied.

    Bigpapa I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we don’t bring anyone else in. But I just hope we do because we’re not strong enough, saying that I have a funny feeling we might make a last min bid for Carroll, and I always had a sneaky feeling we had something in place for Douglas as I think we helped them out by letting our name be used in the LDJ saga

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  22. b&b Adam Johnson, mate, bit gutting like.

    It’s amazing just how poor we are without Ben Arfa. Surely need to bring in more creativity. Pace.

    Big Dave – I agree no one will come in, and we’re all probably preying no bids come IN.
    If you had the choice though out of Debuchy and Douglas or Carroll? Or Douglas and Johnson or Carroll?

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  23. hope we either sign some new faces or that our youngsters can take the step.
    I havent seen the pre season matches, but i can understand from posts that we do not have enough quality in depth.

    I am concerned that EL wont be takin serious by Pardew, Ashley etc.. Cause it is not a stage to play youngsters in my opinion.

    The whole world is watching and there is some pride and honour to be won.
    If we play foreign teams with a fanbase of 50.000 there is a chance that we can get fans, sponsors. Etc from good solid performances..

    They should invest in quality now..

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  24. Danish Toon – the whole world watches the Premier League. I’d be surprised if the global audience for Europa League games is a quarter of what the PL gets for an average game.

    I’m not saying we shouldn’t go for it, and I don’t think we’re not going for it. Last night’s team was reasonably strong in my opinion and it proved to be the case. We got a score draw away from home after all.

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  25. chicken:
    i have to pay 200 kroners a month for prem. League thats.. 22-25 pounds.

    I am sure that most of the “spanish” fans arent gonna pay for watching a league they think is weak compared to their own.

    In Denmark there is apperently alot of danish fans, and they hang around english pubs to watch the game and save the 25 pounds… Or lets say.. Buy pints instead.

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  26. Big Dave – I can’t comment too much because, for some reason, I didn’t seem to be able to take in the game. Half the trouble was the game didn’t really get going. However, I can’t remember Tav having a bad game; obviously a game changing rick like that for a full back is embarrassing, but I’ve seen many a top player get caught out like that. I thought it was a tremendous pass and a brilliant finish. He might just need a few games and he will settle in. I know what you’re saying about getting thrown in at the deep end, but he did have experienced players around him in Perch, Willo and Obers.

    If it was the case, as some have been saying, that Obertan should have been helping him more, it was Willo and Pards job to identify that at the earliest opportunity and sort it out. I never saw any evidence of it.

    Unlike a few on here, I am very positive about this EL opportunity. The young ones have a great chance to impress and get experience, whilst the fans get to see an alternative Newcastle United and a window on the future. In life, people make the biggest strides when they’re thrown in at the deep end. Provided people make allowances for the fact that that team have been thrown together, and is potted with inexperience, I don’t think it will do them any harm. The more they get of this, the better for NUFC. That’s why I’d have liked to see Campbell on much earlier.

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  27. Man U snap up another Mexican striker
    Chelsea a new right back
    Liverpool look set to take Madrid midfielder
    Sunderland get Fletcher and talking with Johnson
    West Ham land Jarvis
    Norwich in for an Argie midfielder

    …… We signed anyone yet?! 👿 👿 👿

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  28. Danish – the Europa League is broadcast in less than 70 countries worldwide compared to 211 for the Premier League.

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  29. Sharpy – The Makems have reportedly paid £12M for Fletcher. That’s good news isn’t it?

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  30. It was a good result considering this was a disjointed, inexperienced side we put out in uncomfortable playing conditions.

    In other news as previously pointed out: I cannot believe Scum are poised to sign Adam Johnson. Fair play to them, he’s a top talent and we have most definitely missed a trick there. He would have excelled in our team. I still think Obertan is a 1-in-10 game performer and not good enough at this level. For once, I’m actually jealous of Sunderland – not that I think they’ll do anything special this season…

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  31. SHAMROCK dont worry about him mate ime pleased we didnt go for him yes he has great spells but imo hes a right lazy git think thata why city are moveing him on,but i agree 100% on oba hes **** even when he does get a cross in there is no whip or pace on the ball so striker still has work to do on it floaters are nee good 🙁

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  32. B&B – I understand the point youre trying to make but no, not in my opinion.
    The reason being is that I’m not interested in the sums of money paid necessarily, but whether that signing improves there squad, and fletcher improves the mackems. I’m not saying he’d improve us tho he wouldn’t be a bad 3rd striker for us like.
    I’m more looking at teams making improvements to their squad – not who they are signing or how much. The point is that we are not!

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  33. Yeah you are right Ice, he does lack work ethic but I reckon this team spirit and Pardew’s application could change that side of him. Maybe a bit of a risk at £10m though… Fantastic abiity though!

    Problem with Obertan is his intelligence – or lack of it. HIs brain cannot keep up with his feet. He panics once he realises he has to make a decision, then subsequently hashes whatever effort he is trying to make. Shame because he is a quick ******!

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  34. I think it was a good result and I think it was job done to make sure we have overall control of the tie, however we cant take our off the ball and need to finish the job next Thurs. I think a few things can play into our overall perfromace which by all accounts was poor , the heat had to play a part in it. We more or less threw a new team together and some of those players havent played at that level so I think a draw is a good result.
    I am worried going into Chelsea game , how much time have we had to prepare for Chelsea? Pardew is very good at organising the team and he spoke last season on using the whole week to prepare the team for the job at hand , dvds and set pieces etc etc , have we enough staff to get two teams ready for a thurs and sat game?

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  35. John Terry may be out tomorrow, good news… I think.

    In other news, I am in London tomorrow and have the opportunity to use a freed up season ticket for the match… in the HOME END.

    Dilemma. I’d rather take a black eye then cheer. I’ve been informed I won’t need to celebrate or chant or anything (apparently there’s not much of that anyway 😆 ). But I won’t be able to celebrate Demba’s banging them in 😥

    And I honestly don’t think I can handle going to watch us vs Chelsea and not singing about Ca$hley

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  36. Sharpy – I know what you’re saying because I was looking at from the point of view of squad improvement too. Have the Makems improved their squad? Yes. By much? Not really.

    They had at least £12M to improve their squad. Could they have done a lot better? Yes.

    They’ve made the same mistakes in the past (going back to Tore Andre Flo in my memory) and are continuing to do the same. I remember many years ago when they were envious of us signing Roy Aitken, and more recently, Michael Owen FFS.

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  37. Johno – We have had enough time to get our affairs in order regsrdinhg the fixtures. Teams competing on the European stage have to deal with this sort of thing. No doubt the 1st teamers left at home will have been working on the game plan. I’m not too fussed to be honest.

    My only question would be this: Chelsea are and always were favourites to get a win for this match. If we get anything out of it it’s a bonus, but we should be expecting a loss – fresh or not. That begs the question – why send a week squad to Greece? Surely getting a comfortable win out there and pretty much guaranteeing passage to the formal stage of European football would be preferential to risking being knocked out AS WELL as then losing to a superior Chelsea side – therefore having naff all to show for our squad rotation?

    I’d have preferred a strong side in Greece with a couple of youngsters blooded in against Chelsea – a game we should lose by all rights anyway… ❓

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  38. I like Adam Johnson but the wide positions arent exactly a priority with Benny, Ba, Jonas, Marveaux, Sammy, Amalfitano and even in a crisis Obertan all able to play their in either system.

    Centre half please, Twente signing Boyata should open the door for Douglas to leave… 😕

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  39. Ice – Johnson would defo improve our squad and let’s be right HBA had very poor work rate til Pardew worked his magic on him last season.
    I’d rather have a Johnson who grafted less but had an end product when he got the ball, than an Obertan who ran like a heedless chicken but never delivers when he has the ball.

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  40. Shamrock – I don’t agree that we should lose the Chelsea game. We beat them last season, and we can do it again with the right attitude and expectation. We want to give them the game of their lives as if it is the last game of football our lads will ever play. 11 v 11.

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  41. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND  DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    @Big Papa

    I don’t think we can criticise the club until the window closes.

    Who knows what’s going on behind the scenes.

    Just as disappointed as you that we really haven’t took the opportunity to buy before the first game but equally as pleased we haven’t sold anyone.

    I will be surprised if one or two don’t come in but astonished if one of our stars don’t get sold either.

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  42. SHARPY at 10 mil they can keep him mate,plus scum will have to stump up a fair whack in wages,nee thanks mate 😉 had we been talking 4/5mil maybe

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  43. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND  DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.

    Les Kellet 1969 😆

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  44. True enough Shamrock we should be ready for thurs and then a weekend game but I do worry about it. I dont think we should right off our chances completly , if it wasnt for yesterdays game Id be a bit more confident going into it.
    Johnson is a good player but he would be looking for big money each week and I dont think he d be worth it to be honest.

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  45. B&B – I agree they could have spent £12m more wisely but Fletcher certainly improves their squad alot – simply based on the fact they have nee strikers. I think Fletcher going for £12m puts pay to us getting Carroll for £12m tho (not that it was very likely anyway).

    Ice – I agree £10m is alot for Johnson, but I’m not sure we’d find many players for £4-5m that would improve our squad now like.

    CC – I’d agree Twente may be more willing to let Douglas go now they have Boyata – let’s hope its to us not Fulham. I think that ones gonna be faster finger first and we haven’t been particularly dynamic so far

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  46. Sharpy @36 and 41 , Agree ,it does look like everyone else is improving while we stand still. It’s vital we get a CB of quality a forward also could do with a Fb too. Why we are still waiting on a CB after so long needing one I will never know, I don’t think Douglas is coming ,think he’s away to Fulham tbh. Fed up at the moment and worried someone may go too .

    TC@26 ,Lawro is biggin us up in the hope we fail as last year he constantly wrote us off ,so probably figures the reverse will work ,the pillock. 😉

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  47. On the game, Tav was exposed quite a bit. You could tell he was our youngest defender.

    Obertan looked lost as usual. The worst thing about him is that h can tell he has the skill and speed, but just seems to have no idea how to use it in a game.

    Gosling looked weak as well. He just couldn’t seem to do anything right.

    Anita and Bigi looked very good in front of the defense. Would have no reservations with either of them slotting in.

    Perch was very solid as well.

    And one final shout for Amalfitano to get ahead of Obertan in the pecking order. Did more in 15 minutes than Gabby did in 90

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  48. Kim – it’s really starting to ‘P’ me off in all honesty now like. It really can’t be that difficult if everyone else seems to be managing. Then when they can be **** to enquire about a player the offer is never enough. Of course people will now point out the signing of Anita, and if they are happy with that, knock yourselves out, but I’m far from happy at the mo. A complete lack of ambition leave signings this late in the window.
    Still at least the ******* have managed to climb into bed with Rangers and line their own fat fucking pockets.

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  49. Looks like Pards took a bi gamble here but that it payed off with us coming home 1-1.

    I’m not bothered if the lads weren’t sharp, few teams are at this point of the year. Add that to the fact you have so many players perhaps playing together for the first time and it was never going to be pretty. seems like we could use a bit of help down the right so the debuchy chase may now start back up.

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  50. I have to agree with some of Sharpy’s sentiments.

    Lack of ambition in the transfer market for sure. His main aim is getting his tacky sports company out there….so why not spend a bit and keep us in Europe so his brand is all over foreign channels?

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  51. “so many players perhaps playing together for the first time”

    …and it was first competitive game for the club for a few of them too. We went into cruise control once we had settled in and never looked like losing.

    Have to say I was dissapointed to see some fans jump on their backs straight away after we went a goal down, I think they have done enough over the past season to commend a bit more faith than some were showing if truth be told.

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  52. Agreed Moreno. Some of the same people saying tavs isn’t good enough said the same thing about collo, and collo came from a top league. I’m proud of the lads

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  53. I just don’t get why we decided to throw the ball to Williamson in the box about 9 times…every single throw….and he fouled them ever single time. Felt we wasted each and every set piece (other than the goal)

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  54. It is extremely harsh to condemn a player after one poor performance, it’s true, but Tav wasn’t great there yesterday. Here’s hoping he learns from it and continues to improve.

    I wonder if Willo’s been banging in headers in practice, Moreno. We could really do with someone scoring from corners. I seem to remember Saylor has a bit of a knack for that.

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  55. Thing about Tavs is that yesterday was only his 3rd ever appearance for the club, his 2 previous being in cups. Granted he’s played a lot on loan in the lower leagues, but he’s stil going to make mistakes for awhile.

    High temperatures, 4-5 hour flight, a feisty opponent playing at home with their first-string, while fielding a youth team with no experience playing together and our first-team well rested for Chelsea. All in all, a draw was a great result.

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  56. I have no concerns about Tav, the kid will come good. He was part of a makeshift back 4 with Oba infront of him. What he needed last night was a Colo or Saylor helping him out and keeping him right. I have no doubt that over time he will prove his worth.

    Ice – that complication was written weeks ago, when we had apparently went to Holland for the LDJ deal. The thing is that Douglas is not the only defender out there. If there are problems, or its gonna cost too much giving everyone a slice, then move on!!… just don’t understand it!

    I get the impression they are waiting on Douglas, Debuchy and Carroll … All highly unlikely to come off now, and instead of moving to different targets they will come up with some bullshit excuse as to why we haven’t signed anyone this window.

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  57. chelsea are building quite a good team….
    We have spent net £2m

    That really isnt good enough for a team in europe. We need investment; a striker and CB fairly urgently

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  58. Sharpy , It is odd isn’t it given that in that interview with Pards and Carver they stated they have 2 or 3 choices for every position to choose from should we lose anyone. If that is the case why are we stuck on these seemingly unobtainable targets. I can’t see anymore signings if they are waiting on Carroll, Debuchy and Douglas collective clubs to crack. 🙄 Missing out on a real chance to push on I think and you don’t see other top 6 contenders wasting their chance to strengthen.

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  59. I agree with you on Tavernier’s performance yesterday, MDS. I think the manager for Atromitos also said it was the biggest game for them in 90 years or something, so they were well worked up for the game. Our guys did fine for that situation.

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  60. One thought–It seems like Oba was quite good at helping out in defense last season. Was he maybe under orders to push up and attack yesterday? Not that he was great, especially 1st half, but maybe that’s part of the reason Tav was so exposed.

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  61. Tavs was well off the pace last night but I’m not too concerned as it was very hot and in general he plays better. Obertan is the bigger worry as it’s frustrating to watch him .For a guy so fast his end product is very poor and he needs to improve on his delivery. Again benefit of the doubt with the heat but he’s running out of chances really ,shame as he looked good pre season.

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  62. Kim – they said that when we ‘lost out’ on LDJ (if we were ever really in for him?!). Pardew also said that we could get 2-3 first team players in without having to sell – that was when we already had Amal and Bigi. I don’t think Good would be classed as first team like so so far we have Anita – a DCM player – when Pardew has said all along that FB and CB was a priority.
    The board simply haven’t performed well enough this window and if I was Pardew I’d want to know why. Anyone coming in now will need time to settle in, when realistically they could have had all summer.

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  63. I dont think any critism of the players is warranted at this stage; they have all mainly played 1 game so after 10 we will get a better understanding

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