To say it was a game of two halves would be an understatement. The first was as dire as it could get and it looked to be another long afternoon of football ahead.
Then after a rocket from Alan Pardew at half time, the lads came out and showed what can happen when you believe in yourselves and give it your all. Here is what was said.
Pardew said: “There were a few strong words.
“It’s not nice as a manager to go in and bark out orders but sometimes it’s necessary just to shake people up because we needed shaking up.
“We needed to offer a threat. We’re Newcastle United. We’re not a small club. We’re a big club and we were playing like a small club.
“We were giving too much possession to Tottenham, too much space. We never made a challenge. And we were fortunate to come in a 1-0.
“So I reminded them about the fundamentals of a Premier League game and we come out with a much stronger attitude.”
After that epic speech, it only took about seven seconds for the reaction Pardew and us fans were all looking for! When from the second half kick off, a beautiful through ball from Colback was met at full tilt by a rampaging Sammy Ameobi and he lashed it into the back of the net with his left foot. After my initial reaction of WOW! My next thought was ‘that is the kind of thing that normally happens too us not for us’.
From there we really started to press Spurs hard and to me they looked defeated and tired. If you have been a Toon fan long enough, you get to know that look when things start to get tough and no one on the park wants to know about it. And when Perez nodded the ball home for our second and his first ever goal, I must say it was the happiest I had been for some time when watching a game that Newcastle was playing in. I was really pleased for both Sammy and Ayoze, it will do their confidence a world of good. From there until the 95th minute there was the usual edge of the seat stuff and desperate defending. Sissoko had probably his best game for us and the defence did work well as unit. But at the end of the day, the credit must go to the goal scorers. Not because they were the stand outs but because both goals were very well taken by two young players that are looking to make their mark and they will be all the better for it.
We are not out of the woods yet but some more fighting displays like that, a bit of luck and some moments of magic, we might just make something of this season!
Bring on Liverpool!
http://whatculture.com/sport/6-big-reasons-newcastle-winning.php/7
kIMTOON(Quote)
CC a draw is best for us mate
icedog(Quote)
Not sure how I feel about Tiote tbh, He has always given 100% but does get rushes of blood to the head and does seem to slow the game down at times. Can’t see us getting £12m for him though more like £10m if we’re lucky, depends who’s buying I suppose.
kIMTOON(Quote)
MDS, that’s the problem though mate ,would the fat man reinvest it. 😕
kIMTOON(Quote)
Well Kim who knows but to be fair they replaced Dubuchy pretty quick. I hope they learned their lesson after Cabaye.
MDS(Quote)
Still amazed by this change in form and approach. It has happened since Pardew has decided to go with the younger players. We now have pace in the attack and proper wing play. Why did it take Pardew so long to change? The man is still a complete mystery to me. How long will this run last. Will Pardew be tempted to go back to defensive football? I should think not after this run of success.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If Pochettino loses this one I would think Levy will start the replacement process. Spurs are a far better team than they are showing under this manager.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Villa are poor, yet they managed a goal against Spurs, who look like they couldn’t be bothered defending. Their attack is completely useless as well. Why don’t they use Kane more? Soldado has been useless since he arrived. Surely they can see that by now. Why isn’t he already gone?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
It’s much more interesting with the loss of form of many of the top clubs with the exception of Chelsea. ManU continue to struggle, as do Spurs and Liverpool. Arsenal are up and down. Still our form is beyond belief. Can it continue? That is a huge question mark for me after the second half of last season and our start this season.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
KImtoon @601: I read that article and think that guy might have been reading this blog (except for you know who) 🙂 I agree with much of what he said except on Tiote who hasn’t had the option of playing with Sissoko in the middle who could bring the ball out after Tiote had won it. Also, Tiote should never be in a million miles of taking a free kick and the crowd should STFU from yelling shooooot every time he gets the ball on the edge of the opponent’s box.
This might be politically incorrect but I cant work out if the bloke that wrote that blog is trying to be a hipster or is some homeless person who nicked an iphone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Go English is the way mates! Pocchetino and Rodgers are overrated managers, Pellegrini same
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Tiote wants to retire so he can spend time keeping all his totty happy 🙂
Doesn’t make him a bad person though 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
I’ll be happy once we get 40 points on board.
All games are difficult in this league.
Munich Mag(Quote)
G2 don’t burn that sports direct flag just yet
stem(Quote)
Id sell Anita and Tioté if we are about to sign Lassana Diarra, him Raylor and Bigi would be decent backups
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
MM@613 you got it in one mate
icedog(Quote)
MM, agree mate I don’t relax till we get to 40 .
kIMTOON(Quote)
Toite for 12 million would be a good offer I feel. Diarra free it’s good business for Mike Ashley not necessarily us mind you. Just wait and see how it pan’s out.
stem(Quote)
Our shyte Goal Difference continues to hurt our league position.
Down to 12th now 🙁
I would like Palace and scum to play out a draw tomorrow. Give us a bit more breathing room.
Oh and it’s about time we had a penalty decision go in our favour for once.
poor refereeing in our last 2 matches.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Too late STEM mate I’ve already burned it and peed on the ashes. So many teams struggling in the Prem right now. Amazing. Pardew must feel like he was in a nightmare and finally woke up. A couple of key injuries could still derail us however as we remain a very thin squad.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If Tiote’s heart isn’t in it, then we should sell him.
Munich Mag(Quote)
It’s only a matter of time before Tottingham come knocking at the toons door for Pardwho.
Munich Mag(Quote)
G2 well I suppose I was asking to much of you really. Like the time I suggested to Ashley that he should go on a diet and spend some money on player’s. He didn’t listen to me.
stem(Quote)
This is one thing that puzzles me about Pardew. If Cisse is still recovering from a knee problem then why is he playing him ? Wouldn’t it be best if he was 100 per cent fit ? It’s the same thing with Siem De Jong and now his out for a longer period of time.
stem(Quote)
If QPR goes down Id take Charlie Austin
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Yes that’s what I’m hoping as well Munich mate @622. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kim back at 595, (sorry, just logged on), I’d take any decent fee for Tiote – in he summer I said that ideally he’d go (and we should invest in a CB) because he’s too slow to close down play, far too slow to link play and remains a yellow card walking. Interesting link to Diarra today.
In the short term, I hope we keep the centre midfield we have been playing, which looks to have a better balance and is quicker-thinking.
GTE(Quote)
Excellent question STEM @624. Cisse was clearly limping before he went off. That’s not fair to him at all. The problem is we’re very short on decent strikers. Riviere has been a big disappointment for me and what has happened to the amazing disappearing Ferrerya?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If Ferrerya was any use he would have been playing by now. And Riviere as well. That’s 2 mistakes on incoming strikers. We can’t afford that with our thin squad and cheap owner.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2, on strikers, Ferreyra smacks to me of a deal to put some hefty cash in agents’ pockets, but a bit harsh on Riv, I think – plenty strikers take time to adjust to the PL, and the lad has some evident qualities. He might never com back, but from what I’ve seen so far, he might also come back in and do the job. Certainly not written off.
GTE(Quote)
G2@628….Riv and Anita, two signings which haven’t come off yet. Plus a lot of money was spent on these 2 players, shocking really.
and the Ferrerya signing… what an absolute mysetry that one is. I just cannae fathom it out.
That’s a LOT of money beeen forked out on bench-warmers…
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM
I don’t know if Ferrerya can play as a lone striker. I think he has always played with a strike partner.
His goal per game ratio is impressive. Just a pity that Pardew does not believe in playing with two strikers.
Absolute mystery solved.
sidekick(Quote)
Sidekick, don’t you reckon if Ferreyra was any good our illustrious leader would have him in there ?
Have watched the Youtue action of the lad and he looks red hot. 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM
Ferreyra is a very good striker, but like I wrote, he plays with a strike partner. So no , Pardew will not put him in the team – well, not until he can prove he can hold the ball up and play as a lone striker.
I’d love to see him up front with Cisse or Perez but with Pardew it isn’t going to happen.
sidekick(Quote)
Apparently Chucky has not impressed players or coaches in training, in fact they have been shocked at how poor he is. At least that’s what I read couple of weeks back like, don’t ask for link as I can’t remember it.
kIMTOON(Quote)
yes found it
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/facundo-ferreyras-lack-progress-shocked-7780098
kIMTOON(Quote)
Just following up on that article link Kim posted @ 601:
I wouldn’t choose those 6, some of which are bollocks as far as I’m concerned.
High on the list, actually, probably the main one, would, for me, be the greater cohesion in defence. They must have done a lot of work on the practise field. These last 3 games (Spurs, ManC and Liverpool) have all been defensively inspired games, where the full backs have not advanced as much as before and the wide players have come back and done a good job. The central mids have protected well enough and, consequently, the central defence has had a more solid look about it.
Another one on the list would be the increased energy of Sissoko (and Abeid on Sat). Previously he’s been a bit pedestrian, but since Spurs 2nd half he’s bean energetic and powerful. His defensive work has been great and he has been quick to break forward. He seems more committed now.
Another is that goal chances are being taken. Had some of the clear chances been taken in the first half dozen games, imo we’d have 5 more points than we currently have.
As far as listening to supporters is concerned, if you cherry-pick the myriad of suggestions made I suppose you’ll find a few that you can put a positive spin on. As for believing that Pardew has listened to the fans, now that’s just plain laughable.
And here’s one for the pot: contrary to what I’ve seen claimed by some, results have been better lately because we are more defensive, more compact and energetic in front of the defence. When we were playing a more expansive game, which we did in the first half dozen games, we were too often caught on the counter attack.
brisvegas(Quote)