That possibility is now a thing of the past thanks to a brace from Papiss Cisse who scored his fifth and sixth league goals of what has been a stop-start campaign for the Senegalese striker.
Of course this isn’t the first brace he’s scored against Chelsea with two spectacular strikes earning us a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge a few seasons ago. This time around his goals were of a different quality as he joined the game from the bench and demonstrated the knack of being on the right place at the right time proving that if you provide him with enough service he can and will score goals.
It was backs against the walls stuff for a lot of the game with United seemingly happy to let Chelsea have the ball in their own half whilst stifling any room for the more creative players within the Blues’ ranks to stamp their mark on the game. The likes of Diego Costa, Fabregas, Hazard and Willian were quiet on the day by all accounts.
That was to be expected as Jose Mourinho’s side have been drawing praise from all quarters but in the end it was the determination of United that won the day despite ten (well, 16 actually) very tense minutes at the end of the game following Steven Taylor’s dismissal for a silly second yellow card being punished immediately by Didier Drogba heading beyond Jak Alnwick but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.
It’s a notable achievement for a Newcastle side that just a few months ago was floundering at the foot of the table yet now find themselves in and around the European places. It is of course early days and we’re not even halfway through the season but winning games isn’t a bad habit to be getting into.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Rob Elliot, Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Paul Dummett, Cheik Tiote, Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko, Remy Cabella, Sammy Ameobi, Ayoze Perez.
Subs: Jak Alnwick, Massadio Haidara, Mike Williamson, Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran, Emmanuel Riviere, Papiss Cisse
Chelsea: Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas, John Obi Mikel, Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa
Subs: Petr Cech, Kurt Zouma, Ramires, Andre Schurrle, Felipe Luiz, Loic Remy, Didier Drogba
Attendance: 52,019
Willo standing around as usual
MDS(Quote)
Cabs and Rivi on, too little too late me thinks
kimtoon(Quote)
Why the **** does he take Cisse off?
MDS(Quote)
Should of moved Dummett to CB at half time
kimtoon(Quote)
Well that worked out well
kimtoon(Quote)
Huking fell
Big Dave(Quote)
I wouldn’t mind but I have never heard such a bellyaching bunch as Gunners fans, the **** they have dished out to Wenger lately is unreal . they have very short memories.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim he should have started there. FFS Pards
MDS(Quote)
is it just me or did Willo stop in his tracks and move back out to let him score there, instead of going in with him 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
3.0 merry ****** christmas 👿 Well we better murder the Scum after this .
kimtoon(Quote)
Abysmal, diabolical.
stem(Quote)
Sick of seeing Sanchez on the deck, if you gonna foul him make a good job of it, what a whinger he is
ash1001(Quote)
Dave he absolutely did. A shocking player and performance
MDS(Quote)
Cisse should have been left as the sub, it’s been working well for us and i’d rather have him at 100% for 45 mins than dragging him off like. We should have got level at 1-0 but after we missed that bigchance and didn’t get the pen it was over.
Newkie(Quote)
Get in Ayoze, fox in the box
Newkie(Quote)
get in Lad
Big Dave(Quote)
Whey Perez, nice one, lets have some more
kimtoon(Quote)
Perez get in
stem(Quote)
Ayoze great touch lad!
MDS(Quote)
Do we have a defence today ? Arsenal look so dangerous
stem(Quote)
Nice little header that from Perez, Quinn says it was easy, get lost, that was canny bit of skill
ash1001(Quote)
Still say Dummitt is not a full back, Haidara is much better
ash1001(Quote)
Whew. Thankfully Welbeck sucks
MDS(Quote)
Arsenal look so dangerous it’s painful to watch at times.
stem(Quote)
Gouffran giving hope to all them lads in Conference who have hopes of playing in the Premier League
Toby le rhone(Quote)
Gouffron has concrete blocks for shoes.
MDS(Quote)
Gouffran didn’t even take a shot FFS. His starting to really **** me off. Give us a fighting chance at least
stem(Quote)
We would really be better off playing with 10 men than Williamson
Toby le rhone(Quote)
Toby not having a go at you, but Gouffran was not bought as a mid fielder, he was ought as a centre forward or wide man
ash1001(Quote)
Again we’re lucky Welbeck is awful
MDS(Quote)
Cabella doesn’t even seem to want to try hard.
Newkie(Quote)
Unfortunately when the going is tough, Cabella is not the guy
ash1001(Quote)
That’s Janmart out against Spurs
ash1001(Quote)
Ash – even when it’s going well he hasn’t looked good, usually anonymous. He’s clearly got some talentbus can’t be just can’t be arsed.
Sorry but Mason is an absolute ****. How is that ever advantage against Janmat? Gibbs smashes into him.
That penalty was shoulder to shoulder aswell, not a shove in the back, **** off quin.
Newkie(Quote)
Playing on with our player down as well, classy stuff arsenal, twats.
Newkie(Quote)
day to forget this
kimtoon(Quote)
**** of Quinn
kimtoon(Quote)
Where my ‘Sack Pardew’ leaflet, Gibbs stood on Janmaat foot, Mason you blind, and Quinn get lost
ash1001(Quote)
I need a cup of night nurse after that result
stem(Quote)
Manager of the month is a curse
kimtoon(Quote)
Honest truth we are so far behind Arsenal all over the field with the exception of Colback, Perez, Janmaat.
ash1001(Quote)
Gouffran smiling with his buddy on the pitch. Does he not realise he has just embarrassed himself.
Toby le rhone(Quote)
Ash
You are correct. This squad is a mid table squad and no more
Toby le rhone(Quote)
Gouffran was absolutely *****. Willamson was absolutely *****. Carbella is absolutely *****. It’s all going to back fire on us this week. Just to rub salt in the wounds a defeat to Sunderland and Pardew goes back to old ways.
stem(Quote)
Arsenal deserved there win today. Easy work for them really.
stem(Quote)
Pards really had a shocker today. I’m worried he’s reverting to old form
MDS(Quote)
Shearer would have found it difficult to score with the service and support we give our strikers who ever we pick. We need Abeid back to get the ball moving forward more quickly. I liked Gouffran when we first bought him but he has really gone off.
Groucho(Quote)
People keep telling me we are ok for widemen?! 🙂
Gouffran was hopeless and Cabella offered nowt. I don’t care what people tell me, if we are continuing with the formation and style of player, we NEED quality out wide.
We also NEED replace Williamson, the bloke simply isn’t good enough.
I think Pardew made mistakes in his player selection today, but it was never going to be easy at Arsenal with the forwards they have to be fair.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy agreed. Would love to see us sign Ayew
MDS(Quote)
Sharpy17- I do agree now lol. But when I say we’re Ok for wideman, im assuming Obertan Ayoze and Aarons as our 3 good RW options. And Id like to see Davide Santon get a shot for that role. Steven Taylor is uge for us at the moment and should return for 1st team asap, this was a game for Dummett Cb and Haidara in. Lets put Streete or Satka as Defensive RB for Spurs game and Haidara left wing, Taylor-Dummett in D.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Papiss Cissé should be the supersub for this type of game
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Disappointing performance today.
It was wrong all over the pitch.
We have all seen that Dummy is a better CB than he is Left full back.
He is certainly better than Willo ffs. But not only that, Hairdryer is a good Left full back too and doesn’t get a sniff.
Gouffy is NOT the utility player Percy wants him to be. What an abysmal performance from him. Mr anonymous 99% of the time.
I just think Percy got everything wrong tonight.
The wrong formation and the wrong players.
And totally the wrong game plan.
The Lads looked like they have never played together til kick off.
Caught on the counter time and again, with only 3 defenders back.
Its a joke after the ‘all hands to the pump’ against Chelsea.
Did we really try to out play Arsenal at their own game.
Typical big head Pardew getting too big for his own boots because he got MotM and making a fool of himself again.
I just knew it would happen.
Well done to Arsenal though for exploiting our biggest weakness, that being aerial balls into the box. We just can’t defend against these ever.
Absolutely clueless.
Perez looks a class above the rest of the team. I doubt he will be with us for very long. Lovely individual skills every time he gets the ball. A joy to watch.
Wasted playing in a team who don’t know what they are doing most of the time.
meh 👿
Pardew out 😉
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Have to say too, The keeper did nothing wrong tonight imho.
The so called defence let him down every time.
But I expect percy to use him as a scape goat most likely.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Cholo – Obertan has had a couple of decent games in the whole time he’s been with us – maybe an ok back up player, but I’m not convinced he’s first team material.
Perez is a goal poacher IMO. Yes he showed he can cover wide right, but he’d be wasted there IMO, I’d sooner see him in a central role.
If Aarons stays then I think he operates better on the left flank, and I’d be happy with him and Sammy as our left sided cover.
I thought Cabella was going to be our no. 1 right sided wide man, but he’s taking his time to get there and I’m starting to wonder if he’s suited to the PL.
Santon would be a bench player for me, able to cover either FB and I think he would be good cover for the 3 man midfield. I’m not sure about him as a wide man, but that’s only coz I’ve never seen him there.
MDS – I think Ayew would be a cracking signing, as he is out of contract at the end of the season, so maybe £5m could get him in Jan. I know Liverpool are linked with him as well so that may be his preferred choice.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So Bootsy. Perfect time to find your balls. Is Pardew out of his depth as a premier league manager. You stated this repeatedly for years. You still saying it? Yes/No?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
For me. Beaten by a club that has the resources that are 4 x times ours.
Not surprising. Some will blame Pards. Not at all. Whilst we are under the ownership of Ashley, mediocrity is all we can expect.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Fair do’s to Percy, he’s admitted he got the team selection wrong and that we tried to be too ambitious.
That’s got to be a first 😛
Pardew told BBC Sport: “We play a lot better than that usually. We missed Sissoko and I must look at myself in terms of selection of the team. We need to cope without him because he’s not going to play every week. We tried to be ambitious and if that’s a fault we have to accept that.”
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
and what about Chelsea’s resources ❓
you really do talk utter **** sometimes.
There is clearly more to it than that.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
So everyone wants you to find your balls and simply answer a simple question. Is Pardew out of his depth as a premier league manager. We are all waiting.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/9605975/pardew-the-best-team-won
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
well I already told you, I will give you an answer after the mackems match next weekend.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Oh dear. Nobody is asking whether Pardew is great. All I’m asking is, is he out of his depth as a premier league manager. Even if we get beat off the Mackems, I will ask the same question, of the manager who was manager of the year, manager of last month. took us to the quarter finds of the Europe cup, 5th in the premier league. Currently sit 8th in the league.
I’m just trying to work out your logic. I’m not asking if he’s a top manager. Just answer simply, is he out of his depth as a premier league manager that you have belated on about for four years. Simple. Yes/No?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I think you are more guilty of bleating on about it more than me.
But whatever.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Oh dear. So you won’t be brave enough to say yes or no?
This is fun.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy has BB still not answered that question ? I thought you asked him weeks ago 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Is he a manager of a premier league club by right ?
Has he earned it ?
Lets see
Failed at West Ham in Prem League
Failed at Charlton in Championship
Failed at Southampton in 1st Division
He is only managing NUFC by pure chance.
Not what you know but who you know for Percy.
Then we have the “he’s an average PL manager” when its going well and Ashleys to blame when it all goes wrong.
YCMIU.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Arsenal outclassed us today. Did we even have a defence today ?
These players defiantly need to wake the hell up. Gouffran didn’t do anything. I can’t fault the keeper today the defence let him down big time. I won’t give Pardew any credit today because it was a shameful display but credit to Arsenal. Colback, Perez did well i thought. Carbella run’s around like a headless chicken and defiantly doesn’t warrant his price tag.
Terry(Quote)
Only managed to see the first half today, and it was the biggest pile of ***** I have seen for a long time. Our lot were yards off the pace. Throughout the side. Diabolical.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Outclassed by an Arsenal team missing 10 players too.
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM lucky for you that you only had to suffer the 1st half, although I thought we got back into it a bit until the netted their 2nd, but the defence were total ***** IMO
Big Dave(Quote)
Yeah Dave. He’s still searching for his balls. It’s great to watch him squirming.
He tries to deflect with results at other clubs without giving the circs of why he was sacked. Pards is not only the second longest serving manager in the premier league Bootsy seems to forget that he’s been a top league manager for 17 yrs. Pretty unique amongst managers. Countless big names have had a few years at the top level and drifted to oblivion.
Pards was fortunate to have Mikey select him from oblivion. But his record at the toon has been admirable.
All i ask is a yes or no answer from bootsy. Does he still believe, like he’s bleated on for years, that he’s out of his depth as a premier league manager. Yes or no? Not when we play the Mackems. Today. Yes/No?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
MM @ 369 I know they had 10 of theirs missing but they still had plenty of top quality players, because they have strength in depth something that we do and have lacked for a long time
Big Dave(Quote)
MM
You have to be realistic. We have a quarter of the resources of Arsenal. No surprise. On our budget and spending we should end up mid table.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Big D and Troy, you are both right, Arsenal have more resources than the toon. However, don’t you agree that we were absolutely *****, and that the Arsenal reserves had us chasing shadows the whole game ?
We can lose a game, that’s not a problem, but the way we played in the first half, no-one was worthy of a black and white shirt.
Today’s result was a huge backward step imo. 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM yeah we were **** 😉
Big Dave(Quote)