Going into the game against Leeds, many felt that Newcastle’s seven match winning streak could be in danger. This proved to be wide of the mark.
Newcastle saw themselves home and dry, due mainly to two instinctive goals from Dwight Gayle. The first of which was due mainly to a mistake from Leeds, and former England, goalkeeper Rob Green, who dropped the ball on Gayle’s foot less than six yards out, following an over hit pass from Jack Colback.
The second however, was a great team move, which was brilliantly finished by Gayle, who was just onside.
Leeds did little to threaten the Newcastle goal but Karl Darlow did extremely well when he was called upon. The defence stood strong and the midfield bossed most of the game.
The game itself was like the Cardiff home game, whereby the oppositions best moments in the game came mainly from the overconfidence of Newcastle, as the game appeared to become too easy at times.
Like Cardiff, Leeds were let down by their main centre back. Where it had been Sol Bamba for Cardiff, it was Pontus Jansson for Leeds. With Jansson struggling to cope with Dwight Gayle throughout the game.
It was good to see Gayle back in the team and back scoring goals, showing he clearly relishes the challenge to his starting position that an in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic brings.
With Rafa Benitez’s side comfortably dispatching of those around them on almost a weekly basis, it seems that Newcastle United will be back in the top division after this season.
While Gayle’s second goal provided the classiest moment on the pitch, off it both sets of fans were full of praise for their former number eleven, Gary Speed.
Speed was honoured on the eleventh minute, with applause and singing of his name. Fitting for a player who was such a big part of both clubs.
It has now been five years since the death of the Welshman and it was remarkable to see both sets of fans come together to pay tribute to their former player, something that they both deserve credit for.
The tribute to Speed yesterday was spine tingerling, lump in your throat stuff. Absolutely brilliant from both sets of fans.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – regarding your point on Gayle from the last article mate.
I don’t expect him to be as prolific in the PL, but his high pressing game and willingness to get in behind defences will still be a great asset IMO.
I think this season in the Championship will only grow his confidence and that will be vital in the PL.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hope it’s a terrible Christmas pun, the sort of which my Dad would say! 🙂
Great win yesterday. Have a few Palace mates who are still trying to pretend that Gayle wouldn’t have made a difference for them this season. They’ve lost 5 on the bounce now and my close friend I play football with who’s a fan, told me they were bankers to go down. Despite their nice little run last month where Benteke was scoring, they look devoid of ideas under Pards which to me signifies he’s a good man motivator under the RIGHT conditions. When the going gets tough, it’s like he gets trapped in quick sand. A guy also in my team supports Charlton was telling me on Saturday how their fans all hate him because of his abrasive attitude i.e. apparently used to make the poor old tea ladies cry etc.
But anyway, enough about Pards. I watched the game yesterday with a friend who supports Oxford (yes I have more than one friend) and he found it hilarious how a side like Newcastle in the Championship can just nonchalantly bring players like Mitrovic and Hayden off the bench with 20 minutes to go. Those two would surely get their place over at the scum, despite their win on Saturday.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Let’s face it , Newcastle are always going to be too good for the championship but not good enough for the premiership..
Leeds were second best yesterday but not disgraced and they are a team of loan players and league one “stars”, as long as Mike Ashley holds the purse strings then Newcastle will be up and down for the next ten seasons..
Mr orange(Quote)
Yep, although If we can keep hold of Rafa, you’d have to back us to not slip into being a ‘yo-yo’ club.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Mr Orange I totally agree with you.
TERRY(Quote)
Rafa is a good manager and will get the 40 points to keep us up. We may even have a cup run but I can’t see us changing all that much to be honest. Unless Mike spends big and I just can’t see that happening.
Sissoko, Thauvin and the Carbella money is all I can see being spent.
TERRY(Quote)
For January, as my post tomorrow eludes to, there won’t be too much going on.
However in Jan I think there’s a lot of positions we’ll still strengthen on.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
There is talk of a couple in, they were talking about it on 5 live yesterday.
kimtoon(Quote)
did they say where they were looking to strengthen or not mate???
icedog(Quote)
It’s got to be attacking midfield, right? Neither Diame or Perez have set the world on fire. At the same time, if we’ve got a comfortable lead at the top, it really only makes sense to bring in someone who Rafa can confidently expect to perform at PL level.
Left wing might be another area they could look at. Or if there were any cheap or pre-contract PL-quality players available in any position.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
CP thats what i was hoping attacking midfield player as i think its a weak link if we lose Shelvey for any reason,i still think Judge might come in if he proves his fitness,!good! left footed players are hard to find for cover
icedog(Quote)
Judge will only start playing again in late Jan. Too late for this window and this team.
Great second goal yesterday – reminded me of the early 90s KK days. Can’t see at the moment anybody capable of beating us and bearing in mind some of the teams left in the league cup I won’t mind too much if we lose at Hull.
georgio(Quote)
we will beat Hull mate,also think we have some sort of agreement with Judge he will be on a free as his contract is about up,not a fall back for nowt imo
icedog(Quote)
Cheers for the thread Jake. I would not say Leeds rarely threatened, as they had as many shots as we did and we had to rely on a couple of stunning saves from Darlow. Our defense was all at sea whilst they barraged us from the wing in the air for long periods, but the important thing is we hung in there and came out with the win.
Sharpy I agree re; Gayle. I just think next season he will have a lot to prove, but am hopeful he can deliver.
I don’t agree with the above point that Newcastle is always going to be too good for this league and not for the PL. That has rarely been the case for the past 25 years. We are traditionally a well established PL side. Ashley definitely mismanaged us, but I can’t see the same mistakes being made with Rafa at the helm. His terms to stay on will not have been about this season, but about what we do in the PL, so I’m pretty sure Ashley won’t be a tight **** when we go back up.
Shamrock(Quote)
bad
icedog(Quote)
Gayle rightly gets a lot of credit for the second goal but Anita’s movement in providing the pass was brilliant. So much for the recent criticism that he doesn’t pass forward. Anita links up very well with Ritchie. In the game against Cardiff, although he assisted for Gouffran’s goal Yedlin was very negative. It was as though he didn’t want the ball and I thought his mind was on the coming internationals. Is this why Rafa switched back to Anita at RB?
Groucho(Quote)
SHAM if Rafa makes a start in the PL jabba wil try and push him for a longer contract jabba has had a nice peacefull time of it lately ime sure he will wish for it to carry on
icedog(Quote)
It’s nice to have a few threads around a match day, cheers chaps.
Shamrock(Quote)
Hopefully you are right ice.
Shamrock(Quote)
Jake: you should get on man, and have keep things flowing on your articles.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Groucho well said re; Anitas part in the goal yesterday. 5live described it as proper tika taka football. Who would have thought anybody would say that about the Toon after the last couple of years if desparate no hope long ball tactics? The likes of Anita will have grown up playing proper passing footy. Maybe he has been rubbish with us because like most half decent players, he had been completely mismanaged by your Pardew and Carvers.
Shamrock(Quote)
Anybody noticed how utterly rubbish Berahino has been this season? Did we have a lucky escape? He can’t even keep himself fit.
Shamrock(Quote)
Judge was mentioned mate so MF I guess
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s no secret how much I like Anita and I think he is perfect at RB, he shows what a poor RB Janmaat and Debuchy were.
kimtoon(Quote)
your the first to say that and how right you are,you know your footy mate
icedog(Quote)
Ice , cheers mate, I like my defenders to defend and for me Janmaat and Debs are wingers, truth be told they want the glory rather than the graft.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, BeiN came through and was able to watch the game….nice to see.
Hard as hell not to check Twitter and other score apps to see what the result was. My phone was full of alerts, but had to keep looking away.
I am enjoying this season, I know it’s not the same as the Prem, but when your team is winning a lot of games, does it matter?
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Been wondering if anyone knows where Lubo Satka has gone to? I don’t think he is on loan anywhere to my knowledge and he’s not in the under 21’s … is he injured? Anyone know? He was close to the first team a few times last year
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Kim. Hope you are nice and dry where you are given the heavy rain in Bristol.
Groucho(Quote)
Trainers and socks were soaked this morning mate and terrible floods everywhere too. Hasn’t stopped all last night and today, it’s heading North now apparently.
kimtoon(Quote)
Not that we are really bothered but Klinsman has got the bullet in the USA today
Icedog(Quote)
might be Pards replacement Ice 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Don’t know if we’re joking but you could be spot on,the yanks must have a big say at Palace didn’t they have Pardew over to chat about how he’s doing at the club,yet they have less than 50% share in the club,maybe they have Klinsman in their thoughts
Icedog(Quote)
highly likely I’d say
kimtoon(Quote)
Turns out Riviere’s contract runs out in the summer, so he will be released. He has had a torrid time at Osasuna.
Shamrock(Quote)
http://mobile.nufc.co.uk/default.aspx?s=news-display&aid=6091170
Above is a summary of players on loan.
The reserves drew with west from. Heidara assisted a Murphy goal and Lazaar played. No Satka, who is not injured as far as I know. Seems the Findley signing has pushed him down the pecking order…
Shamrock(Quote)
Ice: you should ask The Troysta. According to him it will be a toss up between Clarky and Ugly John for the next Palace Manager.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just looked up the pickled walnut with hair’s (Carver) record in Cyprus. He is 4th in a 14 team league but not far off the top. Still, if he was, as he said, “the best manager in the PL” you would think he would be top?
What he is missing is Williamson to hit every free kick and corner to and never score. Then he would achieve his real level of 7th in the Cyprus League.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I wouldn’t be surprised if Hull play the u21s, given that they are playing young players in the PL and a few injuries away from disaster. I would like to see the semi against a good PL team, over two legs. Just to see how far we have really gone in the last several weeks and how Gayle and co. do against quality. In January I would be happy to stick with what we’ve got to be honest. I see no need to spend and January is usually not good value for money. I would prefer Rafa is lining up PL quality signings for the summer, to replace the likes of Gouffran and others who are out of contract. Five PL quality signings to complement the likes of Gayle and Lascelles would do for me.
DJG(Quote)
New thread by the Magmiester general:
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/11/22/will-newcastle-have-a-busy-january-transfer-window/
Andy Magpie(Quote)