A huge effort and another big point to add to our tally – what we lacked in possession we made up for in organisation and spirit!
Rafa surprised a few before kick off, starting the slightly more forward thinking Shelvey and Manquillo ahead of Hayden and Mbemba.
Initially I worried if it would be a mistake to try and go toe to toe with a superior attacking force in Liverpool, but Shelvey’s involvement ended up being justified.
He may have allowed Coutinho to cut inside and fire in a 25-year opener, but it was his eye of the needle pass that put Joselu in behind for the equaliser. It was a moment of huge significance for the Spaniard, who needed a goal to give him a much needed boost after a string of big misses in recent weeks.
Liverpool were a little wasteful and will come away frustrated they didn’t get all three points, but that takes nothing away from our disciplined and determined display.
Yedlin was outstanding, putting in one of his best defensive displays in black and white. He kept the electric Sadio Mane quiet for the most part, whilst Jamaal Lascelles may not have been the match winner on this occasion, but it’s was perhaps even more positive to see him put in such a mature and solid defensive performance. His partnership alongside Ciaran Clark looks anything but out of depth in the top flight, despite some fearing over the summer it would fall short.
I’ve rarely seen a Newcastle team so hardworking, organised and disciplined as this current side. A sure proof sign that the lads are listening to Benitez and taking to the challenge of living up to his high standards week in week out. We may never take a team to the cleaners this season, but I sense we’ll rarely be beaten easily. We’re yet to concede more than 1 in a game since Spurs (where we only conceded when we had 10 men) and this is proof of our determined and diligent defensive work thus far.
There was a good atmosphere around St James’ today, with Gallowgate Flags doing yet another fantastic job to give everyone a lift. That passion and positivity rubbed off on the players perfectly too, helping us to a hard fought and well earned point that sees us head into the international break in 9th.
Well done lads!
(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)
And these pundits do my head in. Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Head is saying Klopp is better off staying at Liverpool than going to Bayern if he was offered the job 🙂 🙂 🙂 His reasoning is that Liverpool are only a player or 2 away from winning the PL, and that Bayern have an aging team. That is wrong for starters, but…
Forget that Bayern have won the last 5 Bundesliga, have been in the semis of The CL 3 of the last 4 years and won it against Klopp’s Dortmund. They have the 4th highest revenue in the world and can buy a new team if they want and have the pick of any players coming through at any German team – Lewandowski, Neuer, Hummels anyone! In addition, Munich and Southern Bavaria are one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I thought Merse couldn’t get any dumber but he has outdone himself.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice, I’m not sure Rafa would leave while there’s takeover talk going on in the background. It would be a bit galling for him if he left and then a month later we got bought by an Arab Prince…
But the reality is, this is Jabba we’re talking about and he could lead Rafa down the garden path like he can do us. I have said for a while I thought Jabba wanted out and it’s looking pretty much definite now but that means little when it comes to him. He’s not easy to do business with that much is clear.
Stuart79(Quote)
Looking at the prices of today’s clubs. Kroenke is about to offer Usmanov £525m for just 30.4% of the club. That is one hell of a valuation. Some might say a £380m purchase price and a spend of circa £650m on improving the team would be well worth it in today’s prices….
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s the worry Stu jabba is a real artist at leading people down the garden path it comes natural to him,done it all his life,luckily he met a much wiser man in Rafa
Icedog(Quote)
https://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-united-amanda-staveley-impressed/
Doesn’t really say a lot
Icedog(Quote)
The Fat Man is full of **** about being stung on the valuation of NUFC anyway. He said he didn’t do his due diligence and therefore overpaid because there was 100 million of debt that he was unaware of. Maybe true, but he pushed the deal through because he thought he was getting NUFC on the cheap because the Halls needed the money and once they sold Fat Freddy had no choice. AND before another buyer showed up. The true value was probably between what he paid and what he paid plus the loan.
You have to remember when it was as well. Just before the Financial Crisis. Then his net worth plummeted and he was moaning about being fleeced when he bought NUFC and wanted to sell up after his mismanagement caused relegation and a further drop in value.
All of this has a context. Just sell up Fat Man or at least sell a majority stake to someone who is interested and has some cash to invest in the team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Let’s not forget Short has been trying to sell the Scum for three years now and never had a sniff from anyone,now they have dropped down he will just about have to give them away,I know they are not on the same level as the toon but point is there isn’t a lot of buyers out there with the money jabba is asking but Ime keeping my fingers and toes crossed
Icedog(Quote)
me too mate
KIMTOON(Quote)
So Amanda Stavely met Charnley, Barnes and Bishop after the game on Sunday…
Stuart79(Quote)
Two of those are the brokers Stu,she spent time with Rafa as well,here’s hoping
Icedog(Quote)
Bloody jabba up to his old tricks “again”said he would take 380 mil which was disclosed to the press but oh no now he has interest he wants over 400 mil
Icedog(Quote)
Ashley will be the reason any takeover gets scuppered. He wants out but he’s a stubborn *******!
Stuart79(Quote)
Ice, the press has no feckin idea how much the club is for sale for. Or how much Ashley really wants. Tjey are guessing those amounts based on what Ashley has spent and what he purchased the club for. Still makes for good reading.
Aussie(Quote)
always a guessing game with the press mate
icedog(Quote)
funny how we missed the women the first time she was at the Stoke game as well so maybe there is something in it
icedog(Quote)
It’s still more interesting than the news she was at the game. Swapping numbers with Barnes? And she was invited by someone of NUFC affiliation not Liverpool. Yorkshire lass too. She must have been impressed on Sunday. Here’s hoping. 🙄
georgio(Quote)
True mate!
Aussie(Quote)
The reality is that the press might be being told who met who and when they met but the ins and outs of the actual meetings nobody will know apart from the people in them.
To be honest all this takeover rubbish is all too public for me. Doesn’t give me the impression that it will happen with anybody who is public. Barry Moat all over again.
Stuart79(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/10/04/takeover-latest-bid-imminent/
Simon takes a look at the takeover talk
Olly Hawkins(Quote)