A Martin Skrtel own goal from a deflected Gini Wijnaldum shot opened the scoring with our Dutch number five sealing the three points in stoppage time with a cool finish from a Moussa Sissoko through ball.
Much was made of Liverpool’s impressive form prior to the match and it’s fair to say that optimism was in short supply following two dismal results for United but you have to give credit where it’s due. Part of Liverpool’s upturn in form can be attributed to the increased work rate that Jurgen Klopp has instilled within his group and Steve McClaren said prior to the game that we’d have to beat that to win. True to his word we did cover more ground and ended up winning the game.
What was pleasing from our perspective was the increased sense of commitment from our players who actually looked like it mattered. And of course the crowd responded to each tackle in turn.
This win does not turn our season around but it has built some bridges and does show that we do have players able to get us out of this. We just have to do what we did today in a more regular basis.
Next Sunday we’re away at Tottenham where we can expect another tough day where we’re not going to be favourites again. But if we approach the game as we did today we can walk away with credit, even if we don’t get a result.
Newcastle: Rob Elliot, Paul Dummett, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Daryl Janmaat, Georginio Wijnaldum, Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko, Siem de Jong, Papiss Cisse
Subs: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Kevin Mbabu, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno, Lucas, Joe Allen, James Milner, Jordan Ibe, Firmino, Christian Benteke
Subs: Adam Bogdan, Kolo Toure, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, Cnnor Randall
Attendance: 51,273
“It’s not fair every time, especially not in our case, because I think for this club he’s the best that we can get right now. Gini’s view on McClaren. He must know Ashley better than we thought…
Stuart79(Quote)
People are dreaming if they think Newcastle have turned a corner.
I watched Everton v Crystal Palace last night and that was a good game with both sides trying to play football by passing and moving it, And running into space.
That is a game of football but Sunday’s game was a load of rubbish despite what some on here said.
Newcastle did their usual disjointed snail paced load of rubbish with barely a shot on target throughout the 90 odd minutes and Liverpool were way below par compared to recent performances.
Okay they got the result but most games in this league would see you lose with a performance like that but they somehow got away with it by showing more heart.
That’s all you could say about Sunday that they at least showed some heart and bottle for the fight but it was hardly champagne stuff.
This is nothing new though with Newcastle because we would show up against the so called “Big Boys” during Pardew’s tenure but it meant nothing in the scheme of things because we still couldn’t win the bread ‘n’ butter games.
joe hawkins(Quote)
Joe, you are right of course. One win doesn’t change the fact our transfer policy is flawed and our squad is young and inexperienced in years and PL experience. It just papers over the cracks until next time.
We mustn’t be blinded by one good result, however good a feeling it was to win.
Stuart79(Quote)
Joe – I think what people mean by turning the corner is that it’s a start. I don’t think anyone is expecting complete performances from Newcastle, but hopefully they are starting out on the road to recovery.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I really can’t understand how under Pardew we were horrible at set pieces – we rarely came close to scoring. Yet at Palace it’s their main source of goals.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, the big difference is the personal. Palace have some players who are good in the air and have someone who can at least take a corner…
In fact I think one of Pardew’s biggest complaint was that he constantly asked the club for centre halves who were good and strong in the air, yet he got Mbiwa…
Stuart79(Quote)
Quality of crosses Sharpy. Not a fan of Townshend myself. Hope he goes to Villa.
Strange old season this one. Chelsea’s implosion, Swansea dying on their feet, Manu boring everyone and Leicester at the top. Football eh?
georgio(Quote)
Stu – we are that poor I think we defy the law of averages.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It does prove the point that it wasn’t our managers poor direction, whether Pardew or Carver, which was something I found hard to understand being levelled at them. A set piece coach was asked for and was not forthcoming, we’ve not had someone who could float in a decent free kick or corner since Barton, and we haven’t had a real aerial threat since Carroll. Shola and Ba would have grabbed them with decent deliveries but by that point it was a bit late.
That’s why a winger who can do those things and take a shot at goal is so crucial imo.
Newkie(Quote)
I couldn’t believe i was watching a Pardew team last night because they did attack and try to win the game.
When he was here we would try and shut up shop and have a go in the last 20 minutes if we were still in the game.
joe hawkins(Quote)
Joe – again some of it could well be player related. We never used to get enough bodies in the box under Pards/Carver, but we still don’t do it that much nowadays. Gini makes the real effort to get in there, but – Colback, Tiote and Anita aren’t inclined and Sissoko usually serves as our outlet out wide and rarely gets into the box if the attack comes from elsewhere.
Newkie(Quote)
If you want a good team, you need good players. It really is that simple!
Stuart79(Quote)
I can’t believe what’s happened to Chelsea this season. They won the title last season ffs. Anyone would think that Mike Ashley had taken over the club. Sold there best players, waiting for the manager to resign so someone cheaper comes in. Its interesting to see a big club struggling for a change.
Stem(Quote)
SHARPY
Late reply, but the point is that we signed Thauvin for a lot of money so we won’t just dump him without good reason. They must have had a plan for him and it would be pretty shocking to sign a player for so much money, barely play him and then ship him out…again…
Don’t know if Aarons will be fit, you’d have to ask the medical team. But again, I don’t want to see our youngsters barred from playing in the first team by an on loan player who couldn’t make it at Spurs.
And we don’t need “wingers”. I don’t know why so many fans seem to be stuck in the 90s in terms of modern football tactics. Many modern ‘wide’ players are not out and out wingers. Besides, Sissoko plays on the wing for France often and had a very good game against Liverpool.
And you don’t understand the power that the players have. Townsend isn’t going to join us to compete against our other wide players when he could join the scum or Villa and be told that he’s really needed and he’s going to be their first choice in the position of his preference.
He’ll only join us if told the same, and I don’t want to see him told the same unless we buy him.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
STEM
Sorry for being late too. The problem is Ashley runs NUFC like a business and always have. Actually, Arsenal seems to be run in a pretty similar way, except Arsenal are always in the top 4 and able to compete for trophies. We’re no better than any other club in the PL…
From a short-term business perspective, it makes no sense to buy experienced players because they’re not going to go up in value and they’re not going to increase the revenue by getting us into the CL.
It’s depressing…the long term plan is simply not working either.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – Sorry but every time you put your argument across is just has so many flaws!
We have almost no threat out wide, yet have just signed a striker who craves crosses and is suppose to be excellent in the air and a midfielder who is also excellent in the air yet you say we don’t need wingers! Honestly, I think you’re on a wind up!
We are so narrow that other teams attack our full backs because they have no help from wide players because they’re always tucked inside as they’re not wide players.
As for the business perspective you talk about, that is exactly why we will never achieve anything and will eventually get relegated… Again! When you continue to purchase players only because you think you will turn a profit on them in the future, you are ignoring what the team actually needs at the present time and that is exactly what has happened. It is doomed to fail and always will.
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS – Thauvin is a left winger & Townsend is a right winger. However also onThauvin, I don’t think he was a McClaren player and therefore might not be fancied – but I agree, I hope he gets a chance.
Aarons is also a lefty. However looking at the last 2 seasons and using the balance of probabilities, I don’t imagine he will be fit much this season either. But if he is then great, he can duke it out with Thauvin for that spot.
Our right wing options at the moment are Sissoko and Obertan. Sissoko is doing OK when he can be arsed to turn up. But Obertan is dog **** and offers no competition for that spot at all. In my opinion Townsend would be a good right winger in a 4-4-2, he could be a good option on the right of a 4-2-3-1 and could also fit well as a right forward in a 4-3-3.
Sharpy17(Quote)
ToonDarnSarf
December 8, 2015 at 15:49
SHARPY
Late reply, but the point is that we signed Thauvin for a lot of money so we won’t just dump him without good reason…
here’s a good reason – he’s utter *****.
roy cropper(Quote)
Roy – based on what mate?, the lad has barely had any game time at all since he arrived.
Sharpy17(Quote)
sharpy
based on what i have seen & that’s the reason he gets very little game time.
roy cropper(Quote)
Why would getting a fit winger on loan not be good? It would give us a chance to look at him before buying and give Aarons a chance to get fit. Our current wingers are usually on the treatment table so there is no competition. If we had a chance to look at Cabella and Obertan for 6 months we may not have bought them.
BTW: do you know that Palace have scored 20 goals this season but none have come from a striker? I saw that Pards might be interested in Cisse. The rumours are that Fatty has said we will have to sell to buy. Would this be a good move?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The fact that somebody wouldn’t want Townsend astonishes me! He’s proven PL quality and even played a major role in getting England to the WC. He’s young enough and if get him on loan but only if it meant we had the option to buy at the end.
Stuart79(Quote)
eric
we could offer him in a straight swap for bolasie 😉
roy cropper(Quote)
Eric, We wouldn’t get enough money for Cisse to allow us to get a decent replacement so no, it wouldn’t be a good idea. I don’t particularly rate him but he’s better than nobody.
Stuart79(Quote)
Roy – I reckon that’s slightly unfair in the lad mate. He’s generally came on as a sub in games we are loosing and the rest of the team have been terrible. High expectations for any player to come on and make such a difference.
I’m not saying he’s done well, I just think for him to really show what he’s about, he needs a run of games in a team where at least a handful of players are up it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Roy: hopefully Pards will want him as an auxiliary fullback like he did with Ben Arfa and they will fall out.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
sharpy
your entitled to your opinion mate.
i’d be over the moon if he makes it at newcastle – but you know when you know & i think i know. 😐
roy cropper(Quote)
Eric – totally agree about Townsend. I really think he’d be a good addition to our squad, but nowt lost with a loan trial period first, providing we don’t loose him to a rival coz we haven’t made the right arrangements at the end of the loan.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would let Cisse go if we could get Austin in – an experienced PL forward.
Roy – in all seriousness, I would swap Cisse for Dwight Gayle I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
eric
pardew has got them up to 6th 😯
you can’t deny he’s got something about him as a premier manager – the smug ****!
roy cropper(Quote)
Roy – I’m not saying Thauvin will make, or that I’ve seen enough from him to make me think he will. I’m just saying he hasn’t really been given enough opportunity at all yet – and what little time he has had has been as a sub when we’ve been behind and the other 10 players have pretty much given up. He’s looked lively when he’s come on I think but hasn’t had a lot of impact, but then not many players can come off the bench and lift the spirit of 10 under performing players.
It would be great if he came good, but it would just be nice to see him get a fair crack of the whip – especially as at the moment we are playing our best CM out on the left wing IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
the trouble with cisse/tiote and possibly thauvin is their heart is not in it – for sure they don’t want to be here. it’s shocking for what they get paid.
there could well be others…
roy cropper(Quote)
Sharpy: they may finally have learnt a lesson as they seem to be putting in recall clauses when we loan players out. Remember the Ba fiasco withe the ssale cluase, and we couldn’t get Darlow last year and had to play Alnwick. Getting a 24-year old 9 times capped England international on loan is a no-brainer if you ask me.
He does have a tendency to cut back inside and shoot, but we are shot-shy anyway and he can be coached to go outside a bit more. I think he is left footed but is played on the right (I am not absolutely sure though).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
sharpy
he could start his improvement by passing the ball to his team mates every now & again instead of the opposition!
if he can’t even do that basic thing then there’s no hope for him.
roy cropper(Quote)
Eric – Benny played a similar way in terms of cutting inside. I agree we are a bit shot shy and that in itself can create chances. Him on one side & Perez on the other side of either Cisse or Mitrovic sounds canny to me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Roy – I know what you mean. When hes playing a one-two he seems more focused on his run than making sure the ball gets to his man – not every time, but enough for it to be noticeable. But then when Mitrovic was only coming on as a sub, I think he made some silly mistakes trying to make an impression. That’s why I think I run of games may at least allow us to see what he’s about.
I know it’s all what ifs, but I reckon if he reached that chance against Man Utd and scored to win the game, he might have bought himself some more time and got more of a chance.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Isn’t funny that the footballers all want to stand out, all want to be individuals, express their personal style and then go and get exactly the same fckin haircut.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I reckon there is a conspiracy among hairdressers to make them look as stupid as possible, just like there was in the ’70 with the perms. I remember someone coming into school back then with a perm and the whole class as one bursting out laughing at them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
you want to talk embarrassing fashion and hair then nowt will ever beat this 😆 😳
http://www.menstylefashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Liverpool-White-suits-for-footballers-2013.jpg
Remember them suits like yesterday sadly
kimtoon(Quote)
Mind you this isn’t much better 😆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KEMMfV5-Qg
kimtoon(Quote)
All gone wrong for Man Utd – thankfully. Not even Fergie time to fall back on…
Stuart79(Quote)
Kimtoon: Waddler didn’t even have the full on mullet, but Glenn almost did.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: Man U are always shown live here so I have seen them quite a bit. It is really boring and the natives are getting very restless. I expect them to go for Simeone soon if he gives them any encouragement whatsoever. I think they may let van Gaal leave with dignity though and negotiate a “by mutual agreement”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – the money that has been spent at the club, and they can even make 2nd spot in their CL group is disgraceful IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Guess who scored the goal that effectively put Man U out – Luuk de Jong.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – he’s only been **** for NUFC – or maybe he wasn’t and we were to blame 😕
Sharpy17(Quote)
They’ve spent more than £300m in the last 2.5 years and yet they still look a bag of ****!
Always happens after you’ve had success for so long with one man in charge. They’re now just a normal football club, with all the usual problems that all clubs have. Suddenly they’re under pressure from the media, the fans are booing them and the longer they go without a trophy the harder it will become.
Good Ho I say!
Stuart79(Quote)
Luuk De Jong is a perfect example of not settling. He looked so poor but he didn’t play much, struggled with the physical elements of the PL and maybe just needed time. Although I do believe he had a struggle in Germany too. Maybe he’s not a good traveller.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – Like many forwards, LdJ is all about service mate.
seriously now, how did we (nufc) service him ?
I’ll tell you, just the same as we service Cisse and now Mitrovic.
with sweet fa.
But the so called fans are just all too quick to slag them off.
ffs, he has proved he can score goals, but a magician he aint.
Same goes for Mitro, and I for one understand his frustrations.
our midfield is fucking **** at creating ANYTHING.
no proper width, cant pass forward or more than 5 yards, no vision, cant tackle, and pick up too many silly bookings.
A total fucking shambles 99% of the time
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Loving manures demise mind
loving it 😛
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
We tried to play LDJ as a target man for hoof bag and it didn’t work.
Sharpy17(Quote)
hoof ball isn’t service though is it?
we need to start playing further up the park and start getting numbers in the box for a change.
Instead we fanny about in our own half, generally giving the ball away in stupid positions. Its no wonder we concede so many goals.
The victory over Liverpool was ugly, but at least we pressed the ball and worked hard to not allow them to play the way they wanted, and to dictate the game. So many teams have done this against us and won, its about time we did it to someone else.
The platform to build on was the hard work and endeavour put in. But we need a lot more than that to make proper progress.
It will be a big test on sunday, as another bad defeat could set us right back again.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
As I said, I’d be happy getting Townsend as long as we had a clear option to buy for a decent price, but I don’t want us to loan a player and restrict the minutes that Thauvin or Aarons will play.
He’ll probably end up going to bloody scum or Villa for about £15m though…crazy…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Is it crazy paying £15m for England international Andros Townsend when we paid £13m for Thuavin?
Stuart79(Quote)
This is embarrassing…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34936495
NUFC has 132 current banning orders. The next highest is Chelsea with under 80. Not the table I wanted to see us top of…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Townsend is 24 and has played 50 PL games for spurs scoring 3 goals according to Wikipedia although he has also played 12 PL games for QPR and scored 2 goals. 62 PL games and 5 goals…and you think he’s worth £15m?
England are **** right now. Him being an England international means very little. Bentley, Wright-Phillips and Johnson all won England caps but they didn’t achieve much after early promise either did they?
If Spurs are often omitting Townsend even from the bench, then is he really the player to spend £15m on and get us into the top 10/8?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – When did I say he was worth £15m? The reality is that the market is where the market is and when we pay £13m for Thuavin we have set our stall out already. As Townsend has achieved more than Thauvin in the game and certainly in the PL where he will be playing, then it is safe to assume in an open market he is going to be worth more – or is that not how it works?
I suppose it’s a bit like buying a Merc for £50,000 and then complaining that a Bentley is more expensive. Doesn’t quite make any sense…
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART
You clearly know nothing about football transfers if you think transfer values are that simple. He’s worth what Spurs want for him and what other clubs are willing to pay for him. Simple as that.
So no, it doesn’t work the way you laid out. Otherwise Torres wouldn’t have gone for £50m and we wouldn’t have signed Perez for £1.5m
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Market value of our squad according to Transfermarkt.co.uk has now fallen to 9th in the PL and not far off falling below West Ham. We were 6th/7th just a season or two ago…says something…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS – You are quite staggering!
How on earth can you use a Spanish International with vast PL experience and lots and lots of goals with a unknown non international, playing second division football in Spain? Can you seriously tell me how you equate them with the situation to Townsend and Thuavin? The reason one was worth £50m was because he was an International World Cup and European Championship winner with a history scoring lots of goals and one was unknown playing second tier footie.
😯 😯 🙄 🙂 😮 😆 😆
Stuart79(Quote)
You know nothing Stuart79
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
I wonder what Spurs will say when we bid £10m for Townsend? I wonder if Levy will say to Charnley “Andros is a better player with more PL experience than Thauvin for whom you paid £13m, so we want more for him.” That, I would say is perfectly acceptable.
Stuart79(Quote)
I know that every time you have an opinion it’s always proved wrong. I don’t hold that against you of course. We are all here for opinions.
Although I do wish I could live in a world where Messi would cost the same as Gini… 😯
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS @131: Wright-Phillips actually had a decent career. I assume you mean Adam Johnson and not Glen? There are many one cap wonders in England team history and I doubt you can compare them with Townsend who has 9 caps. I am not sold on Townsend which is why I would prefer a loan. If there is a lot of competition for a straight buy then I would look to other positions such as center back and forward where there is a more pressing need.
England won all of their qualifying matches for the Euro by the way, only team with 100% record. You may say it was a **** group but Germany had some missteps in a similarly easy group.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I wish people would stop saying we shouldn’t sign someone because it would hinder Aarons’ development. It is the injuries that are hindering his development and until he goes for a period injury free he cannot really be considered an option. I would love to see him more but I live in the real world.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It would be like McClaren saying that Steven Taylor is our best centre back and we are going to build our defense around him and offer him a new 4 year contract, doh! Aarons has to prove his fitness as he sure as hell hasn’t yet. I see Sturridge is injured again 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here’s an article on Colback basically confirming what we already know, that he is a defensive midfielder. I think the main thing we should take from it though is that we need someone other than Anita or Tiote to play along side him:
http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/mw7GJwhRdkm2LK5AsT_RZw/Show/
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC
SWP had a decent career but not exactly what he was billed to be early on. And yes, I mean Adam Johnson. Also billed highly and then ruined at Man City. There are a few other players with a similar record…
Townsend has 9 caps but there isn’t much competition these days. I know England had a 100% record but anything else would have been poor. Look at the England players who are playing regularly for top clubs in Europe. It’s a thin England squad. And Townsend isn’t even getting caps at the moment either…
I’m ok for getting him on a loan with an option to buy. But I don’t think we should be spending £15m on him now or just loaning him for 6 months.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
The question you are avoiding is why should there be such a big difference what we paid for Thauvin and what Townsend will cost? In your view it appears you don’t think Townsend is worth Anything like Thuavin?
Stuart79(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/806336894?-11058:809
Nowt wrong with this kids confidence like is there?! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – It’s amazing what a good loan spell can do for you. We’ve not been in a position to do that for a few years as they’ve all been needed at NUFC in the squad and match day squad.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’d bring him back right now!
georgio(Quote)
Come on…Campbell, Dummett, Sammy, the guy who went with Dummett to Hibs, all of the loans to Rangers, Tavernier, Marv…we’ve sent loads of players on loan in the past!
Hopefully Armstrong can make the step up but scoring goals in League One doesn’t mean he can in the PL. REALLY hoping he can though. Would be great to have a local player like that in the team.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
For once I agree with TDS. Townshend is worth nothing near £15m. I wouldn’t want him at all even on loan. He’s a perennial underachiever. Looks like he’ll be great but never is.
Still don’t know what to make of Thauvin but if he’s a replacement for Benny then he’s a total flop. Carrtoon!
georgio(Quote)
TDS: if you are not playing every week, your name isn’t Rooney, or you don’t play for Liverpool or Man U you don’t get in the England side.
Some on here think England will win the Euros. I totally disagree and believe we will limp to the quarters and probably play one decent game of football. We have done really well though in the qualifiers and compare favourably to the Germans in that respect and especially to the Dutch. So, TDS, don’t you go making stuff up to support your point 😉
Eric Sykes(Quote)