Ten man Toon hold firm! Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool

Delight for Dummett
Delight for Dummett
Newcastle produced a resilient performance to take a deserved point against Liverpool at St James’ Park this afternoon.

The hosts lead twice during the course of the game but found themselves pegged back on both occasions, which is perhaps understandable given the fact that United had to make do with ten men for more than half of the game.

In fact prior Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa’s red card five minutes before half-time it could have been argued that we were the better side and fully deserved to go in at the interval holding the lead courtesy of a fine strike from Yohan Cabaye but an error from Mbiwa saw him allow Luis Suarez to get goal side and when the former Montpellier defender pulled the Uruguayan back referee Andre Marriner was left with little alternative other than to award a spot kick to the Reds and send Mbiwa off allowing Steven Gerrard to level the scores from 12 yards out.

Before that though United had been the better side. Liverpool were chased and harassed out of the game and couldn’t build up a head of steam. Cheik Tiote was playing well as captain in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini but he wasn’t the only one as most players in black and white rolled their sleeves up and got involved.

However the sending off changed the game, but surprisingly it only really changed the game until half-time. This is not to say that United were dominant in the second period because they weren’t and Liverpool with the man advantage had the bulk of the possession. I had the sinking feeling and felt it was only a matter of time before Rodgers’ men took the lead but the home side proved resilient and provided another shock ten minutes into the second half.

Yohan Cabaye sent in a free-kick from the left hand side which managed to evade everyone apart from Paul Dummett who stole in at the back post and fired past Simon Mignolet in front of the Gallowgate end. A first senior goal from the local lad who became the first Englishman to score for United since Boxing Day 2012 and the first Geordie to score for us since Boxing Day 2010.

Holding out for over half an hour was always going to be a big ask and so it proved as Liverpool once again pulled level on 72 minutes. Luis Suarez burst down the left and crossed for Daniel Sturridge who nodded the ball into the net from six yards out.

Aside from the odd counter-attack United rarely threatened the Liverpool goal and holding on for a point became the aim. Ultimately it was mission accomplished albeit via a nervy ending which saw Luis Suarez graze the crossbar on one occasion before stinging the palms of Tim Krul from a free-kick which proved to be the last action of the game.

As I’ve said, it was a deserved point for United and I’m happy with it considering we played for 50 minutes with a man short and only one recognised central defender on the pitch. There were some great performances all over the park and if we can produce that level of performance on a regular basis we’ll be alright this season and might end up surprising a few. Cheik Tiote was largely excellent despite the odd lapse in concentration but I’d probably plump with Mathieu Debuchy if I was asked to pick a star performer. He’s had his critics but he performed well, rarely got beaten and linked up well in attack when called upon. More of the same please.

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mike Williamson, Davide Santon; Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Moussa Sissoko; Yoan Gouffran, Hatem Ben Arfa, Loic Remy

Subs: Rob Elliot, Paul Dummett, Vurnon Anita, Gabriel Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Papiss Cisse

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, Glen Johnson, Aly Cissokho, Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Victor Moses, Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge

Subs: Brad Jones, Dan Agger, Martin Kelly, Jon Flanagan, Luis Alberto, Raheem Sterling, Joe Allen

Attendance: 51,703

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.

127 thoughts on “Ten man Toon hold firm! Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool

  1. Good report Toonsy.
    Have to say well done to Pardew, at least we weren’t beaten before kickoff.
    Didn’t like his double substitution on 73 mins mind. Thought he gave the game away then, as he set us up too defensive for the final 15 – 20 mins.
    We almost invited them on to us too much, and our attacking out let was poor.
    But it paid off in the end, and a valuable point was gained.
    Good to see the Lads putting in a full shift of graft. That’s all we want.
    Toon Toon

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  2. Yes a really nice surprise today, wasn’t expecting such a gutsy performance, well done Pards and the lads, more of the same please.
    Thought there were some stand out performances today, Tiote, Cabs, Goofy, Debuchy, all excellent today . I was really happy with Dummet too, not fazed at all by Liverpool and looked calm and assured and took the goal lovely . Special praise to Willo who was very good and showed he is capable at PL level. yes well happy today, can’t complain at all.

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  3. we seem to be cementing our position in mid table now 😆
    Another 3 points next sunday and I will be well happy.

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  4. Can’t praise Toots enough for today like. A great decision by Pardew to make him Captain, thought he really rose to the extra responsibility and the only thing he did wrong resulted in their first goal :roll:. But other than that, brilliant for me like.

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  5. The whole squad should get a good lift from today to take us into our next run of games. None of which will be easy.
    The performance against the filth will determine how seriously we take the manc shitty cup game I guess. But I hope we put out a strong team and go for the win against them.

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  6. Yeah I agree Sharpy, making him skipper was a good move from pardew.
    He was like the Tiote of old at times, with some excellent tackles. He neve deserved his booking imho, but the ref was and is, a useless *****. 👿
    Very inconsistent with his booking decisions. If Tiotes was a yellow, then Gerrard should have had a 2nd yellow too.

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  7. Boots I agree. But to be fair, Gerrards 1st booking was never a yellow card IMO. He had a **** game today the ref for me like.

    I take my hat off to Stevie G as well to be fair. Good goal against Poland and 100 PL and Lpool goals today. Well done to him. Can’t say I like the bloke all that much but acknowledge him as a footballer.

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  8. He’s still the talisman in their team too.
    If he had been sent off early in the 2nd half, they would have been there for the taking. He is their mid field general.
    Agree he deserves credit for his landmark, but he’s stil a tw@t 😛

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  9. Every player played very well today. Even Mbwia until his faux pas.

    Was especially impressed with Santon although I think it went without notice but he was solid today.

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  10. Good to see Debuchy getting the recognition for a great performance. Just a few weeks ago he was getting dog’ abuse from sections of our support. Hopefully M’biwa will convert a few non believers soon.

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  11. I seen Sharpy mention about our teams mindset going into the Sunderland game i 100% agree. Its when we always fail when we go into the game thinking we have won it before a ball has been kicked.

    Sunderland were terrible today. I think that was one of their worst performance’s since we beat them 5-1. I agree with G2 its a good laugh to go and have a look at their forums 😀 Some think they will be relegated with less than 10 points 😀

    motd should be good tonight with so many goals today. If anyone has scored a better goal than Cabaye today i will be surprised.

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  12. I agree about the defense Santon and Debuchy were class today. Williamson who i thought would get turned inside out by sas was solid. Mbiwa was good until his sending off.

    I liked Gouffran and Debuchy on the right. its a good partnership which kinda reminds me of Jonas and Enrique who were excellent together.

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  13. Aye kim

    About Kruls save from the last thread as well. He was in top form today which i am chuffed about because he was starting to get a lot of stick from some fans because of a few shaky performances. He made a number of top saves today like and hope that’s him over his wee hitch 😀

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  14. Agree with most on here debuchy had a stormer today. I’d like to see Dummett start at centre half next week and drop Sissoko for Anita. I think Ben Arfa up top will be a different kettle of fish against Sunderland than Liverpool. He’s a lot better than Cisse that’s for sure. Great result and nice to see the mackems get thumped.

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  15. Willo was very vocal today and was clearly the ‘boss’ of the back 4.
    He did a good job, apart from a couple wild hoofs early on.
    He’s not so bad as some like to make out. He certainly bust a gut today for the cause.
    I see blunderland were credited with 2 OG’s today. 😛
    way to go girls. Just the job to show your new boss how **** you are.

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  16. Aye i seen Bardo got one of them bb and he was loling on twitter when they lost a few week ago definite fans favorite like 😀

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  17. Does anyone know how long Colo is out for?.
    With Mapou banned now and Saylor not fully fit, it could be a problem next week.

    Santii – Poyet will be in the heads of the players this week. He’ll know, having seen DIC last season, that he would make himself an instant hero with the fans if they beat us. But also that it could be the turn around for their season.
    I want us to really stick the **** boot in next weekend, but we have to prepare right for it IMO.
    An early goal or 2 would crush them and their fans I reckon

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  18. aye its a tough one to call next week, as we so often **** it all up, when it should be 3 easy points.
    Pardew needs to have the Lads focused from the get go. Just like today.

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  19. Dave@16 Perrrrrlease, but I believe you said goaless draw or a defeat, howay man ya can’t claim that, fence sitting at its finest 😉 ….at least I think that’s what ya said soz if I’m wrong as i’m a wee bit pished :mrgreen:
    I predict wor next game will be a win, draw or loss,apparently I can claim that if it comes true…at least thems the rules in Norn Iron 😆

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  20. Richie 😆 it was a draw I was going for tbh but I did think it would be a goalless draw,but after watching young
    Carl Frampton win his fight I won’t argue 😉

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  21. toonsy agree regarding debuchy, thought it was fantastic today.

    tiote was back to his old best, but was completely guilty for mbiwa getting caught out and sent off. strolling back and then ball watching and not picking up on suarez. aside from that a sterling performance along with gouffran.

    feels so much better having offensive players who can keep and use the ball. Cisse deserves to warm the bench for the foreseeable future

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  22. I would say watch out for Man City. They are going to come on strong now. Hull will clearly fade. How about that Sunderland goal difference? You all know how much I love the goal difference stat. 😆

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  23. Dave…I said 2-1 win(which as a score was closer than yours 😉 )…and I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for that pesky Mbiwa 😆
    Chuffed with it tbh mate after the sending off, I couldn’t understand those predicting a thrashing, no logic whatsoever to that, last season was a 1 off and Liverpool are a good side but they aint great by any stretch of the imagination….although that said most of those predicting a thrashing didn’t put in an appearance when it didn’t transpire(what a shock) 🙄 at least Michael12, for all his faults holds his hands up when he is wrong….why sometimes 😉

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  24. I also ate crow Richie mate. I predicted a 4-1 loss. So much for my incredible run of correct predictions. It ended at 2, 1 for Newcastle and 1 for England. Ah well I’ll start another streak with the next match.

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  25. Dave…and a goal less draw 😯 😯 highest scoring fixture in the history of the Premier league, surpassed Le **** v Spuds fixture today 😉

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  26. Richie tbh I didn’t think the dippers played that well but I did see why some thought we would roll over and die but i#m glad the players had more faith

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  27. G2…I expect it from you mate, yara reet negga 😉 😆
    I’ve criticised Pards but the fecker has got it reet last 2.5 games ish, well done him, was chuffed for Dummett like, looked like a kid in a sweet shop and looked like he enjoyed every minute, the way footy should be as a player

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  28. Spot on Richie @31. Dummett, Cabaye, Krul, Tiote, Gouffran, and Debuchy were all excellent today. And Willo looked good as well. He has definitely stabilized the defense. Even Santon had some nice patches of play. It doesn’t look good for Cisse getting back into the starting 11 any time soon however.

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  29. Dave… I couldn’t see it after the Cardiff game and 2nd half v Everton, not saying I couldn’t ever see us getting beat but just couldn’t see a thrashing…not 2 year running, that would be like having two 4-3 defeats in a row, impossi…….oh hang on!! 😉 😛

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  30. Whey that’s me off, I’m on a promise…she promised if I touched her she’d break my arms 😯 😆 later lads

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  31. Mbiwa is well regarded in football so why is he so inept for us? He goes from being captain at league winning Montpellier to running away from the ball at Everton and playing with Suarez’ nipple today. He does not seem like he wants to be here to me.

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  32. Funky – well it doesn’t help the lad when his ex chairman/president says he has made a mistake coming to NUFC and will welcome him back to Montpellier SOON.
    😯

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  33. I thought today early on, that he looked a bit lost.
    Willo had to take charge at the back, which surprised me, as I thought as an ex club captain, MYM would have taken over that role with Colo being out.
    He clearly hasn’t settled, and infact is looking well shell shocked if I’m honest. The suspension wont help him either 👿

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  34. Richie – I know you said ‘it’s a marathon, not a sprint’ but in the predictor league thingy, you’re going the wrong way fella. :mrgreen:

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  35. Been hanging around waiting to hear from Troy about how the ‘march’ went today.
    I wondered if he thought Ashley got the message ❓

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  36. Yesterday was a good day. Managed to get back from watching the Roar whoop Sydney 4-0 just in time to change tops and see the lads put in a truly gritty performance.

    So much for the French having no ticker. That was pure Resistance.

    And Gateshead won well. And 5under1and lost well. Well, would you believe it, it even rained a bit in Brisbane. What a lovely day!

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  37. Well well well. 🙄

    The Pardew knockers are really crawling under their stones today. 😛

    They must feel foolish. 🙄

    Another great team performance and full of mercurial tactics, formations and team spirit. 😎 😎

    Bootsy, I know you are one of his knockers so are you gonna offer him some praise for the way he crafted a fantastic result. 😉

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  38. Maybe it is a good thing like a few of us suggested a while back , to stay loyal to a manager and let them learn from their mistakes to make them better managers. 😉

    Pards accepted he had made them last season and would reflect and try to put things right.
    Well I can honestly say, I’ve seen big improvements in tactics, dropping out of form purples, new formations and rehearsed dead ball kick tactics. It paid off yesterday big style. 😎

    If anyone posts ” HAS THE FOOL BEEN SACKED YET?” then I can only imagine they are referring to themselves. 😉

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  39. The Toon had a robustness about them in the first half which was missing last season. It’s a real pity that Mbwia got sent off, as I would have liked to see how the game would pan out 11 versus 11.
    Cabaye has problems lasting the full 95 minutes for some reason.
    Mbwia will come good, though it may take him another half a season.
    Hats off to Santon who had a great game defensively up against one of the best attacking right backs in the country.
    Hats off to Willo, Debuchy and Krul too…well done. Dummet…did what was asked of him perfectly.

    Well done all round in fact, pleased for Pardew too, who seemed to get things right yesterday.

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  40. well well well, those fans who dont rate Pards and if they do its mediocre at best, are now claiming his 2nd chance as a victory.. Even tho they desperately want him out but dont want Kinnear as replacement.. 🙄 😛

    for the sake of the…..

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  41. It will be interesting to see how we play next week as good shows often get followed by really poor ones from us. Pards needs to drum that into them this week, no turning up expecting 3 easy points next week it’s a derby after all and form goes out the window. Watched the Scum on MOTD last night and they weren’t too bad first half and even at 2.0 down in the second half could of, should of scored as Bardsley had a sitter and missed. They will play out their skin next week for obvious reasons and also cause they are desperate for a few points, we simply have to batter them early doors.

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  42. Always maintained the stance Marko. 😉

    Pards is as good as we will get under Ashley. I don’t want to see change for the sake of it. For those screaming like Lizzy Dripping for Laudrup, Martinez and a few other similar standard managers, I would rather stick with Pards.

    I’ve always maintained Pards needs that opportunity to learn from his past mistakes. That’s the only way you can judge whether a manager is capable of improving. If you just sack a manager after one bad season then you never learn anything about the man.

    For me, he maintains team spirit and as long as that’s there and he’s learning then you don’t call for his head for a similar standard manager.

    Of course I don’t put him in the top tier of managers. That’s why he is at The Toon.
    Top managers wouldn’t touch us with a barge pole under Ashley’s constraints.

    What I’ve seen this season is, different formations, the dropping of purples, good spells of possession and attacking football, improvement on dead ball situations which resulted in a goal yesterday and a team spirit that doesn’t seem to diminish.

    The only thing that can make this bubble burst, is
    1. The lack of strength in the squad.
    2. Lizzy Drippings who sthcream and sthcream and sthcream for Pards to be sacked for a second tier manager.

    If you don’t know who Lizzy Drippong is, then YouTube it. You’ll find that it’s like looking in the mirror. 😛

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  43. Kim…We had a good show v Cardiff 😉 know what you mean though, have to beat them feckers next week and bang another nail in the coffin :mrgreen:

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  44. On the subject of MOTD, I see they thought it necessary to bring up the mauling we got off them last year complete with clips of the game 🙄 👿

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  45. Kimtoon@46, I watched the Makkem Liverpool game, and they gave it a great shot, but got outdone by the brilliance of Sturridge and Suarez. They will be well up for the game next week.

    Next week will be a tough game, despite the makkems being at the bottom of the league, but if we show the resilience like we did yesterday then we’ll come home with at least a point in my opinion.

    Howay the lads !!!

    Don’t want to start the build up to the makkem game just yet, still glowing after a resilient performance yesterday against a Liverpool team who the media are absolutely fawning over, and trying there hardest to big up. Boils my **** it does. Had we kept 11 men on the pitch we quite possibly would have beaten them. Where does that leave us then ?

    It seems as if Mike Ashley has scared off the media with a couple of court interventions against articles written falsely in the press. Now it seems the media are sparring wide of us, and we aren’t getting the credit we deserve. Pity really 😥

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  46. Wouldn’t get to excited lpool made yeahs look like you’s played well ! Because we were rubbish and if we stepped up 2 gears which we are more than capable of it might of been 6 – 1 but the jekel and Hyde lpool team turned up again ! Lfc

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  47. Kimtoon@49, the TV replay which I watched last night, every other angle shot was of Steve Gerrard. Man oh man, the media sniff a slip by Man Utd and are determined to push Liverpool at every opportunity…

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  48. Ha! It’s not Lizzie Dripping, it’s Violet Bott from Just William. 😆

    I’ll sthcream & sthcream until I get my own way 😆

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  49. Troy Stavers @ 43 🙄
    A good post from you for a change fella.
    I can go along with that no probs.
    If the free kick that Dummet scored from was a practised routine, then you make a good point.
    It will be interesting to see if a bog standard manager of championship standard has the ability to become a good manager at Premiership level over a period of time.
    I assume you will be singing Lord Ashley’s praises should this be so.
    Or will you still be ‘marching’ for change 😛

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  50. @51 ,Bad impression of a scouse by a SMB, ah well gotta do something to try and lift the sense of doom down there eh. 😆

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  51. 😛 I admitted a while ago the few who said give him a 2nd chance where probably right as long as Ashley remained.

    But claiming the moral victory under these conditions is like a child of a battered wife telling his mum at least we have a nice while daddy is here… 😆

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  52. I am still waiting for your ‘march’ report Troy.
    How did it go. How many turned up. Was it a total waste of time as predicted by many ❓
    Where does T4C go from here ?
    Do you really think Ashley gives a toss about your little march ?

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  53. Troy@43, you are dead right, it’s good to see that a club are showing stability by backing the manager, even though the same guy took us to the very brink of relegation last season.

    Strange really how a team can go from playing pish poor football and near relegation, to discovering a resilience that pushed the media darlings but decididely average Liverpool pretty close to defeat.

    I would suggest consistency is the clue at the end of the day. Maybe we are starting to find some consistency ?

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  54. To be fair, ‘Top Tier Managers’ don’t just spring up out of nowhere.
    They have to start somewhere.
    They also need a modicum of luck and the financial support of a good owner/board.
    The big question is would the great media darlings such as Mourinho, AVB, Rodgers etc make a better fist of things at NUFC with the same crop of players and working under the same constraints as Pardew?

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  55. Beardsleys Boots@59, I think the march was a great idea. There are without doubt, for thousands of toon fans, issues to be raised about the clubs ownership. Should these persons chose to organise a march to make their voices heard, then well done to them.

    As a neutral I read into the toon fans having a pop at the march organisers tends to lead to the belief that the persons having a pop are backing the regime, and against “the marchers” ?.

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  56. Oh no, it looks like Big Dave has left the bird cage door open and his parrot Troy has escaped captivity!! 😛 😆

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  57. Kim @ 46 and MM @ 60
    you’re right about consistency. Next week is a real test for the whole team.
    They need to show they can step up to this level every week not just against the top 6 teams.
    The filth are there for the taking make no doubts about it. But the Lads need to do it for their gaffer more than anything.
    I am actually really looking forwards to next sunday.
    Should improve our GD no end 😛

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  58. Boots – I think Pards has been working on set plays mate. There was an earlier corner where 4 of our players were stood in a straight line on the penalty spot for them to break off and attack different areas of the box – it certainly looked a rehearsed move, however unfortunately it didn’t pay off. But it suggested to me that they are working on things on the training ground at least.

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  59. Beardsleys Boots@61, what’s a “Top Tier Manager” mate ? Is Mark Hughes one ? He’s had more clubs than Jack Nicholas 🙂 Is Roy Kean one ? Shearer knows he can only lose by swapping his cosy seat on the MOTD couch for a managerial position 🙂

    Jobs for the boys I say…

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  60. Sharpy17@65, I heard an article during the week, in which the stats or probability of scoring from a corner were surprisingly low. I found it really hard to believe actually. There again, maybe there is something behind it 😯

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  61. @Bootsy

    The march was important. It’s about making the supporters around the country aware we aren’t satisfied with underachieving. To remind Ashley and Kinnear that there is a small contingent of fans prepared to March against them. If they continue to underinvest then the snowball can quickly grow.

    Adolf Hitler started off with small assemblies and it didn’t take long before he tried to take over Europe. 😉

    It did the job it was meant to do. It was mentioned on TV and it didn’t affect the team or performance.

    It’s strange how some blamed the march a few seasons ago for taking us down. Absolute rubbish. It was the managers and players who took us down.

    Great result for the protesters this time. 😉

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  62. Munich – don’t disagree with you about the march. But if they are going to march then surely they must have a point or direction in which they want the club to go. So far I have read them say ‘we want the regime to change their policies or we want a change if regime’. But I’m yet to hear exactly what changes they want from the regime?!.

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  63. Wahey. 😛 Aussie has come out of his super huff 😆 😆

    He has dusted himself down and is doing an Uzzy Wuzzy Violet Bott impression again. 😆 😆

    Oh dear. 😆 He might start ignoring me again 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

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  64. MM – its a good question. ‘Top tier’ was just something I pulled out of Troys comment @ 47
    I guess it implies one who is successful in the league. Consistently getting their clubs into the CL spots year on year.
    I know wenger hasn’t won anything for years and years, but I would consider him top tier. SAF clearly was top tier also.
    I don’t or haven’t so far, considered Moyes top tier.
    Infact, I don’t rate him any better than Pardew 😯

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  65. Thanks for your reply Troy.
    I do agree with Sharpy @ 70 tho.
    The message isn’t clear. I think that is why only a couple hundred turned up.

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  66. Munich – the corner stats don’t surprise me too much to be honest mate. When you consider that the defending team have so much time to get players into position and most teams have 1 or 2 players on the posts. Add that to the fact that we don’t have many players in our team who are an ariel threat and it comes as no surprise at all really mate

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