On a day where many feared a drubbing, the lads put in a big effort and respectable display at the Etihad tonight, falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Man City – with Kyle Walker’s 30-year stunner being the difference in the end.
We were up against the best Premier League team (statistically) ever and gave it a good go and stayed in the game – which is commendable given every single Man City starter cost more than our £16m transfer record..
Dubravka was brilliant, Fernandez continues to look like a very solid buy, Kenedy was better (not brilliant but more like it after two horror shows), Yedlin put in a big shift and Rondon looks a real unit who’s capable of holding up the ball, linking the play and causing problems for any centre-half.
Our passing (from midfield especially) and ability to retain the ball in general needs to be better, but it was good to see us look organised and disciplined again after a turbulent week on and off the field.
It was a funny old first half. Lascelles’ early mistake gifted City possession in a dangerous area and they were 1-0 up five seconds later, with Sterling cutting in from the left and firing past Dubravka – giving them a lead within 7 minutes.
We then struggled to keep a hold of the ball (despite looking slightly more willing to get forward) and looked sloppy at the back, making it look as though we were in for a torrid evening – but things got better.
They were limited to half chances but we took our one big opporunity, with some great work from Rondon setting up a marauding DeAndre Yedlin to smash home at the back post after a brilliant 70-yard run.
ROFL.
pic.twitter.com/p321T1LyTr— Newcastle Blue Star (@NUFCBluestar) September 1, 2018
The second half was more of the same, however a superb 30-yard drive from Kyle Walker ended up being the deciding goal 7 minutes into the restart.
Performance wise, Dubravka was excellent. He was commanding and barely put a foot wrong all afternoon. Lascelles made an early error but recovered well, whilst Fernandez put in a very assured display at the back; he’ll be a regular alongside the skipper before long.
Rondon was impressive in the circumstances. He was quite isolated but he’s a man mountain who made runs, battled for every ball and played a huge part in the goal; showing his intelligence with a clever ball across the box.
It wasn’t brilliant, but there were some positive signs today – and it can only get easier from here!
Bring on Arsenal at St James’ Park in two weeks time!
Kimtoon: I don’t want to bore people but it is pretty obvious what Ashley is doing with HoF. It is only relevant to this blog because of the disconnect between what Bishop is doing by bringing Ashley media attention via NUFC when I am sure he would like to be out of the limelight as the HoF deal unfurls, which is:
HoF went bankrupt which means the store leases were no longer valid. Ashley then goes to the shops that were going to close and offers to cover the rates only with no additional rents. The landlords have no choice as no-one currently wants high street space and they are not developers. They take it up the **** or watch their buildings get run down. Meanwhile, Ashley sees if the stores can temporarily survive on no rent as he figures out redevelopment plans for some stores. There is a temporary reprieve for some workers because HoF already had plans to get rid of their jobs but it will be a drip, drip of job losses rather than a torrent. Meanwhile, Ashley keeps the good locations and redevelops them into multi-use buildings with his soon-to-be son in law as Prince of his new Empire.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Why couldn’t the old management of HoF do the same thing? Because they had to go bankrupt to invalidate the leases and they wanted to keep it as a department store whereas I think Ashley has no such intentions except a few flagships stores.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I give Bishop a year. His gambit of putting NUFC in the spotlight is backfiring and putting Ashley’s other dealings under the microscope. Fatty will not be pleased if his HoF and SD plans are in the business pages every day as he wants them to fly under the radar. Bishop has raised the profile with his hamfisted attempt to smear Rafa and NUFC groups.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agree Eric, i know he is thick skinned but now the spotlight is really starting to bite and also his extended family are now in the spotlight too. The negativity surrounding not just him and his family who work for and alongside him but the SD share holders will be a source of real annoyance now.
If i were a SD share holder i would be pretty pissed off about now.
All that free advertising at SJP has finally gotten a real price to pay .
kimtoon(Quote)
Ashley owns 51% of Bishop’s PR firm so might have some loyalty, but I still think he will push him out (like Lliambas, Wise and everybody else) if he feels that he is bringing attention to his other non-NUFC deals. There is an article in The Chronic where Chris Waugh seems to think that Bishop has nothing to do with the current extensive media coverage of all things Ashley, NUFC, Rafa and Has-been-Pundits. Really!!!! But if Waugh is correct (a 1st) then why isn’t Bishop using his PR guru spidey skills to shut it down then?
Ashley has the loyalty of Donald Trump so I still think Bishop is gone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The protest of his stores and media attention/attacks should be kept up, no let up, make it as uncomfortable as possible for him to be owner. There is nowt to loose as he gives the club ****** all anyway and Rafa is off come may.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: the problem we have is that we are in the same situation as last year. Underinvestment means we are faced with another relegation struggle and questions over whether Rafa will stay. That means there is a 200 million pound differential in valuation depending upon whether we stay in the PL. Any buyer will want a relegation claw-back clause but Fatty will be unwilling to give it.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just hoping we can ware him down to the point where he says sod this i’m off.
kimtoon(Quote)
I mean, SD is faced with a minor shareholder revolt because of a loss in a Department Store that saw SD profits decrease by 73%. Then Ashley buys another Department Store where bad-publicity layoffs were planned anyway but he would rather brush them under the rug for now and where he wants to put his 29 year old son-in-law in charge. Meanwhile, his other high profile business, NUFC, is engulfed in a shitstorm of bad publicity putting the spotlight on probable layoffs in his new venture, where he tries some spin control by blaming “greedy landlords” when it was the plan all along. Great PR work. I think I would want my 51% stake back.
I hope for Bishop’s sake that Chris Waugh is correct, but I doubt it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
AND… If Waugh really thinks there is no connection between Ashley, Bishop and their media cronies then explain why Ashley had his Sports Direct free “Party Political Broadcast” on Sky last year explaining why he was an impoverished multi-billionaire who needed sympathy for owning the albatross that is NUFC?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know I have railed at Ryder because I think that he has no connections and writes a 250 word template column every day but I am beginning to think that Waugh is the greater fool.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
RANT OVER. Wanted to get it out of the way before the international break. See you in 2 weeks 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is actually quite funny. Ex-Eastleigh FC shareholder and current 3rd Division Director tell Champions League winner and ex-Man U and Champions League Manager how football works:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-director-charlie-methven-dig-15107063
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OLLY: we were thinking alike about the 3rd division director criticizing a Champion’s League winning manager whilst being in the 3rd division but as I said he does not even have the right to question Dour Dave who has done 100 times as much in football as he has. And his CV is Eastleigh, FC and 4th in League 1 (3rd Division) after 6 games. What a moron.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I loved the line about being a winner…only for him to slate the tactics of a man who’s more of a winner than he’ll ever be!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Spot on, Georgio. None of the conspiracy theories I’ve read make much sense, and nobody has yet put together a convincing narrative of what is going on at Newcastle.
Maybe the truth is there somewhere, but not a single journalist has put together anything except an opinion based on scarce detail.
Brisvegas(Quote)
So they are just spyefultw@ts like you then BrisV?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
testing out what the blocker blocks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
turd?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
****?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy looking at the 25 man squad you and I can forget about Aaron’s replacing Atsu. Clearly Aaron’s is not in Rafa ‘s good books. Whether it is attitude in training or the night club fight I don’t know. It does seem that Rafa judges a player not necessarily on ability. I still think he is a great manager even though I am sometimes at a loss to understand some of his decisions. But then that is what football is all about.
Groucho(Quote)
There must be something about Aarons attitude because he really is a skillful lad. At least as skillful as the heartless, shy bairn that is Atsu. Why Rafa brings him on in an attempt to change a match is a total mystery to me along with hopes of Joselu doing it. It does my head in that characters like that are running around in our strip.
georgio(Quote)
Not sure what happened to Aarons , was highly thought of and has undoubted talent. Seems to of gone off the rails along the way, sad really.
kimtoon(Quote)
You would think young lads would look at Ranger and think , I’m not going there, wouldn’t you .
kimtoon(Quote)
Any need for that?
Sharpy17(Quote)
No mate, I think Aarons is in the same camp as Colback, Mitro and Mbemba were. His talent isn’t a question, but his attitude certainly is. I think sadly he got caught up in his own hype. Silly boy really coz I’m sure he was at Bristol City, and got his chance with us. Some of these kids join a club and think they’ve made it, when actually, the reality is that it’s just the start of the real hard work for them.
He’ll probably get another chance with a lower club, but I do think he had the talent fit for PL – waste really.
Sharpy17(Quote)
https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1036984372967161857
someone show jabba
kimtoon(Quote)
Mark Douglas Retweeted
Lee RyderVerified account @lee_ryder · 40m40 minutes ago
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Rolando Aarons withdrawn from the team at the last minute. Understood to be a club in Bulgaria interested in signing the winger on loan. Nothing confirmed on that yet though. #nufc
kimtoon(Quote)
How can you have these 2 and fail? It is like having Shearer and Beardsley.
https://www.football365.com/news/football365s-top-ten-premier-league-argentineans
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is it Rafa’s track record on signings that makes Ashley sit on his wallet. Rafa has form when it comes to making signings that don’t come off. Apart from at earlier clubs we have seen:
Sels
Hanley
Gamez
Manquillo
Lazaar
not make it at all while the jury is still out on
Atsu
Muto
Joselu
Schar
Murphy
That’s a big list of players I wouldn’t miss if they left. Is Ashley going to give Rafa £100m knowing he’s likely to waste half of it?
georgio(Quote)
GEORGIO,thats what happens when your buying el-cheapos there hit and miss normally miss imo
icedog(Quote)
Georgio – I’ve considered the same before mate and is it that Rafa is poor in the transfer market. It’s difficult coz his first 2 windows were recruiting players to get us out of the Championship.
But he’s had no money to spend. The conclusion I drew was that actually, maybe Graham Carr did a far better job than some people gave him credit for. He was working with peanuts too, but did manage to get some good players in – with a fair share of ***** ones too. But when you don’t have the money, you have to take greater risks sometimes.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just read Ollys article from Mitrovic. Every impressive comments from a young man many see as a hot headed, angry individual. But his take on his time at NUFC under Rafa shows a great deal of maturity.
I am really gutted that he’s no longer with us, and it really bothers me that he is now with a rival PL club and showing great form for them. We have a rich history of top centre forwards, and I think with a different manager Mitrovic could have joined that club.
But I think the sad reality is that for NUFC to survive under an owner like Ashley, we need a manager with Rafas approach.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was being a bit devil’s advocate in my remarks about Rafa’s failing in the transfer market. So yes I agree with Ice and Sharpy – he’s been buying from the cheapest end of the market or dealing in freebies, most of whom have been ****. Mind you, he had some high profile expensive flops at Liverpool. But yeah when you’re shopping at the £30-£50m end of the market there’s not many flops. Will we ever see that?
georgio(Quote)
Every club makes it’s fair share of poor signings but the likelihood of doing it increases dramatically when you shop in the bargain bin. I think most of our players give 100% even if the quality isn’t top level. How many times do you see big signings just not pull their weight in games, just thinking all they got to do is turn up.
I would have a player like Joselu over a lazy strop like Sissoko any day.
That they are so committed is down to Rafa, I have no doubt about that .
kimtoon(Quote)
You just need to ask yourself, given the money he’s had to spend, we’re there better players out there for the same prices?
Stuart79(Quote)
Yannick Bolasie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am going to make Coq au Vin for me tea like. Am allowed to say that on here?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Europa League ShyQte:
https://www.football365.com/news/so-what-the-f-is-the-uefa-nations-league-2
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, will you have spotted **** for afters ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Sorry, got confused there. UEfa Nations League, WTF?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
isn’t that what there using for Euro’s qualification now ?
kimtoon(Quote)
It blocked ****. It didn’t block **** when I used it earlier. So, I can swear in French? Or German? Scheisse. For Fich sake.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No. It some weird pretend league they have set up now. I am not really sure what it is about except it means there will be even more “international” and Malta will play Israel even more times now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, it is a new competitive league but as I said it does have an effect on the Euros with some teams qualifying through playoffs for final places in that competition, as shown in this bit from your article.
And European Championship qualification?
With the European Championships expanding to 24 teams for Euro 2020, qualification has, in UEFA’s own words, been ‘streamlined’. It begins in March 2019, and there will be the usual ten groups, five containing five teams and five containing six. The top two in each group will qualify automatically for Euro 2020, leaving four spots to be filled.
Which is where the Nations League comes in. The last four places will be decided by play-offs in March 2020, and each Nations League will provide one of the qualifying countries.
Each league has four spots to allocate for the play-offs, with group winners given first priority. If they have already qualified for Euro 2020 through the usual means (as is likely in League A), their place will be handed down to the next highest-ranked team from their league (so not necessarily their group) which has not already qualified. And if they cannot find enough teams for the play-offs from a certain league (as is likely in League A), then they will go and grab some teams from a lower league to make up the numbers.
The four teams will then play two one-off semi-finals and one final in March 2020 to decide the qualifier from each league.
The Nations League therefore gives every team in League D an alternative route to the European Championships – congratulations to Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, the Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino or Gibraltar – and pretty much provides a safety net for the bigger, under-performing countries.
kimtoon(Quote)
Any competition that needs that amount of explaining has serious flaws!
georgio(Quote)
It’s uefa mate, say no more. 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
https://uk.yahoo.com/sports/news/maguire-england-don-apos-t-093712654.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Any news on Shelvey? Anybody?
georgio(Quote)
That Euro gobbledygook sounds like it is from Yes, Minister. It is obviously to make sure the top teams qualify for tournaments, especially since Holland and Italy missed out on the last world cup. BUT, why do we need more international breaks FFS?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
will play against the gunners is the word
icedog(Quote)
Rafa didn’t do that stupid dance at a cup final so that makes him automatically better than Pards.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
not hard to be better than Pards, Eric .
kimtoon(Quote)
So Aarons loan move didn’t come off and he’s left in the reserves without a first team squad number.
I guess he’s future is in his own hands now. I’m not sure Rafa is the type to change his mind and bring him back in, regardless of how well he does in the reserves – Colback, Mitro and Mbemba suggest that. But you never know, there might be a chance. If not, he’s definitely good enough to get a move to a championship side – but his commitment and attitude is what needs proving now I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aaron’s has gone to Czech team on loan. Confirmed today. Sad… had high hopes for him.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
me to mate,oh well lets hope he starts playing the way we know he can
icedog(Quote)
The International Break – where blogs go to die!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Since it is international week, I will do some more swear word testing:
Merde
Pothole
Appendage
Knacker
Boobies
Pillock
Turdunkin
Eric Sykes(Quote)
titmouse
perrywinkle
schlong
labradoodle
Margaret Thatcher
Eric Sykes(Quote)
cuckold
sphincter
Chairman of her Mao
Jingle Bells End
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Alan Tittmarch
Dangle Dimbleby
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The child in my will always giggle at schlong ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric, one for you, it’s a good read too.
http://www.fourfourtwoarabia.com/premier-league-fans-middle-east-deserve-better-keys-gray/
kimtoon(Quote)
Daily StarVerified account @Daily_Star
Follow Follow @Daily_Star
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‘Six months to go’ Adam Johnson’s sister says countdown on for nonce footballer’s release
Wow, they actually said nonce in their headline !
kimtoon(Quote)
Have a listen to the podcast from Rangers fan, it’s frightening stuff.
I dread to think what he has done to us
https://twitter.com/IfRafaGoesWeGo/status/1029614937495293952
kimtoon(Quote)
The keys and gray, good article Kim
PremAndUp(Quote)
isn’t it Prem.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: they took beIN sports off in Chicago which is a pity as they showed La Liga. I don’t think I will miss Keys and Gray because they had become caricatures. They cannot be totally blamed for the guests they had as that was partly the producers fault but it was also because of their narrow circle of friends who were mainly out of work ex-managers looking for some paid winter sun.
I don’t think I will miss them because they had become so glib and annoying as the article pointed out. And giving 25% of their show over to a terrible journalist like the Daily Mirror’s John Cross was a travesty.
What am I going to complain about now 🙂 Rooney hardly gets any airtime here so he’s out. There’s always Wilshere 🙂 The gift that keeps on giving.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I still don’t get what the agenda is defending Ashley. What does it matter to Rio Ferdinand and Craig Bellamy? And didn’t he sack Dennis Wise?
I suppose it is if you can’t say something interesting then say something controversial and that will get you the twitter followers.
And there’s so bloody many of these pundits now. It didn’t used to be like that did it? Every show didn’t need a 4 person panel, did it? I don’t just think it is that I am getting old, it is more that they all have to vie for airtime and they have to be more outrageous if nobody is really bothered about what they say like Bellamy and Robbie Savage.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I can remember watching hold the back page on sky sports on a Friday night years ago when we were riding high and they still didn’t have a good word for us even then. They acknowledged through gritted teeth that we were contenders. The slightest bump in our season was seen as a disaster and that all was not well . If only they knew what was round the corner, they could of kept their powder dry for some real chaos to report. 🙄
We been fodder for the snide remarks for so long now, they have forgotten any semblance of unbiased punditry sadly. When we finally get a world class coach and show a wee glint of hope they do their best to knock it down.
Now that City are all conquering heroes even Manure are getting it in the neck, fickle ******* at sky, bein and bt for that matter.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kevin Mbabu is having a good game for Switzerland… wish we’d not sold him.. don’t understand that actually, as the one time I saw him in out first team against Chelsea I think, he was excellent…
Schar doing well too . 6-0 now against Iceland.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
England playing 5 at the back. I wonder if Southgate will get the same sort of stick as Rafa. I remember Jamie Redknapp was particularly scathing after Man City. Wonder what he says. Why is he on TV anyway? He had a pretty mediocre career. He has a column as well, I think in The Sun. They even give Karren Brady a column though which I find a bit weird. How about a column for Ashley?
This Spain team is in a rebuilding stage and England have at least initially put out a strong team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Better check the possession stats after the game because according to the pundits that’s what really matters. Not the score. Not the evidence of your own eyes!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nice move. I know I made fun of the UEFA Cup tournament because it makes little sense coming 3 months after the World Cup but 2 goals in 12 mins is OK. On the Spanish Language channel here and so far the commentators are going equally nuts for both goals. No idea what the are saying except gol…gol…goooooaaaaaaalllll.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
goal not allowed, pity .
kimtoon(Quote)