It wasn’t pretty (and that’s probably the understatement of the year!), but a second half goal from Salomon Rondon was enough to give us an absolutely massive three points over relegation rivals Huddersfield – taking us SIX clear of the drop zone.
We ground out the win in the end, defending admirably and seeing out the game well against a toothless Huddersfield side, however it could have been very different if they had a decent striker or that little bit more quality in the final third.
The first half performance was absolutely atrocious. Lascelles could and should have been sent off, Kenedy struggled to complete a pass and there was only one side looking to score – and it wasn’t us. We’re just lucky Huddersfield were so wasteful, however it was a real worry to see them be the only side with any urgency and buzz about them in what was such a big game for BOTH sides.
As bad as we were early on, it’s worth mentioning that it should’ve been 0-2, with Perez scoring a perfectly good goal – only to be told he was ‘offside’ when replays showed he was level.
Player performance wise, Kenedy had a real stinker. He struggled with simple passes, allowed their full back to get far too many crosses into the box in the first half and just did not look comfortable both positionally or on the ball as a left-wing back. That said, we worked our socks off in the second half and he kept going in his defence. Rondon took his goal well (his 5th of the season and perhaps his most important yet), Lascelles, Schar and Clark stood strong and Atsu played his part once again, with him often at the heart of the few positive bits of play we had going forward.
Here’s how the table now looks after today’s results (*BEFORE Fulham vs West Ham at 5.30pm*):
Burnley lost what would’ve been a precious point in the 91st minute at Wembley and Cardiff were beaten 3-2 at Watford, so today’s win over Huddersfield combined with those two results mean it’s been a VERY positive day for Newcastle.
Another huge game now awaits us next Saturday – especially when the fixtures are set to get VERY tough for us after Christmas and into the new year:
- Fulham (H)
- Liverpool (A)
- Watford (A)
- Man Utd (H)
- Chelsea (A)
- Cardiff (H)
- Man City (A)
- Tottenham (A)
HWTL!
Eric – I think Jose gets a big pay off coz they sacked him. But it will still be less than what he would have wanted spending in the Jan window.
That dressing room is already poison, and it would have only got worse if they either sold the likes of Pogba, or if they didn’t get all of the players Jose wanted. If he didn’t get his players he would have made it worse – every loss would be because he hasn’t got the players he wanted. It would be a toxic 2nd half of the season.
I suspect Fergie would have had a say in this one, and he would know that OGS is loved by the fans and Phelan is a very good no.2.
Their season is effectively over already – they are 11 points off 4th already and even if they make 4th – that’s hardly what Man Utd expect.
If they kept Jose the rot would set in further and be even more difficult to fix.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just to throw it out there. Rafa lives in the North West and could have the freedom to go wherever he wants if he decides not to stick with us at the end of the season.
Would he be someone Man Utd might be looking at, or would Rafa see it as off limits because of his Lpool loyalties?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
They won’t take ex Liverpool people. I’d also suggest Rafa doesn’t play such expansive footie
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy: I never said they were wrong to sack Jose, just that they don’t seem to have a plan or any ambitions for the rest of this season. If I was a Man U fan I would be fuming. They are not like us. We may have challenged them for a short time but are a million miles away from them now in terms of money and worldwide fan base. To appoint OGS is negligence, even if it works it is still the wrong thing to do. Do a Chelsea and get Guus Huddink (not Avram Grant 🙂 Get Harry Redknapp off that Island.
What the hell is this criteria that they have invented about knowing the club? I would think that managing and having a bit of success in the PL should be higher on their list.
This is madness. Nothing against OGS but I hope he fails miserably because nothing would be more fun than seeing the plastics even more miserable than they are now. They really do deserve it for their 26 years of complete arrogance. Fans, players, all of them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As somebody mentioned earlier, they should look at Ugly John’s near disaster here. He knew the club inside out.
Then they lament that the job/club was just too big for David Moyes. So it’s Ole Gunner Slolskear then who has managed the mighty Cardiff City to relegation and Molde. It is pure madness, even temporarily.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We also appointed a club legend as a temporary manager. He knew the club and fans inside out and was only a few years removed from playing. He brought Ian Dowie with him and we all know how that worked out.
Well, at least the Lowrie Hotel will have an empty Penthouse Suite for OLS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Leaving for Seattle tomorrow so I am not sure I will be able to see the Fulham game. Too early for the Pub as I think it would start at 7am. I know they will show the Liverpool game live on regular TV though. Not looking forward to that.
And staying with a mate who the last game he watched with me was Spurs away under Pards. You might recall we were 4-0 down at half time with I think Adebeyor scoring with every touch he had. Good Omen 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Again. We really need points from Fulham and Watford because January looks brutal and we will be without Ki and Muto.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This is the last on Man U, I promise.
Look who they have in their first game: Cardiff away in the 5.30 match.
And I am loving this. Imagine if you are a City or Liverpool fan after all the stick they got during the Ferguson years. I think the Germans have a word for it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry I have to… The insanity continues. Man U are paying Solskaer’s club a 1.8 million loan fee for him. He only gets paid 400k a year. Then with absolutely no sense of irony at all they met at The Lowry for discussions. You know, the hotel where Jose stayed for almost 3 years. And then Woodward said that Solskaer would have input into January transfers. What exactly would he know of upper echelon European talent after managing in Norway for 4 years? Has he been scouting Isco and Perisic for Molde. I am sure he knows a good player when he sees one but really, he wouldn’t have been seriously thinking about the quality of player Man U are looking at. Isn’t there a scouting process that evaluates all sorts such as temperament and personality? Man U must be using the Dennis Wise method of evaluation – YouTube – if they want Solskaer involved.
Its a total farce. Let me wallow a while longer in this before we sign nobody permanently in January and face Man U, Chelsea, Cardiff, Man City and Spurs in the first month of the New Year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Fakeover is going well then, nothing happening and the Fatman’s cunning plan to not spend again looks on course.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – our takeover saga has lasted longer than Brexit!
georgio(Quote)
hasn’t it just
kimtoon(Quote)
I sometimes think that sports writers must be on crack. The Guardian have done a poll of their writers to come up with the 100 best footballers. Paul Pogba is 16.
Ahead of Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Christian Erikson, Ivan Perisic and Gareth Bale. I don’t know which Paul Pogba they have been watching for the last 3 years but certainly not the one I saw. He wasn’t even that good at most of the WC games for France.
Sometimes a myth builds up about a player where they are thought of as much better than they are. All you have to do is look at his stats. Sure they don’t always tell the full story but Pogba is all show and usually no payoff.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: loads of rumours about the takeover swirling around Ed’s blog. Of course, no specifics except the price has been agreed.
We are still in a catch 22 where the buyers will not want to pay the asking price whilst there is a relegation threat and Ashley will put the price up if we do stay up. Somebody has to be willing to take a chance to break that cycle.
On recruitment. We should have plenty of money in the bank so I do not see why we should not buy Almiron for say 20 million. In theory, it doesn’t change the value of Ashley’s asset (NUFC). If you have the 20 million in the bank or a 20 million player on the books it should be exactly the same value when you are considering a price for NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
One thing I would be concerned about because there has to be a substantial sum of cash in NUFC is what happens to it if there is a sale. We know Ashley has a substantial loan owed by the club. If he sells, does he strip all of the cash out of NUFC to partially pay himself back? Then the 300 million asking price is not really 300 million, it is that PLUS whatever Ashley takes out.
Just a thought, because the way he has cut wage costs and not spent means there must be at least 50-75 million in cash after the latest tranche of PL money is paid, I think next month.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not an accountant, but I am a Financial Planner. There are really only 2 variables in the short term at NUFC because the gate, sponsorships and PL money are all guaranteed. The variables are wages, which he has slashed and transfer fees which have been a positive net spend. Therefore, there must be quite a lot of cash in the bank.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, he will take whatever he can, but we don’t need to worry as he’s not selling.
I’m sure there have been folk in the data room and due diligence carried out but I’m also sure they won’t value the club as highly as he does and that’s a stalemate .
They will see just how much is required to update the training ground, stadium and player recruitment needed and run a mile as it’s way more than £325m that’s needed.
And that’s before we get anywhere near his loan to the club and any further cost for extending ground capacity.
No it’s not happening, he doesn’t really want to imo
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric – I don’t know if you managed to catch either of the Carabao cup games this week, but Pogba couldn’t lace the boots of Kevin De Bryne or Delle Ali imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ditto mate
Icedog(Quote)
Ice, it’s actually made me quite angry that hopes are built up again with this fairy tale. It will ruin Christmas and new year for a lot of gullible fans and kids when nowt happens.
He really is a cancer on the club and his rancorous messing with fans heads is beyond spiteful .
Has no one realised that the little gem about a sale being close was let slip the very afternoon after he was grilled by parliament members and confronted by London magpie group in Westminster.
It was the perfect way to deflect the flack he was getting from all angles that day and a curve ball for the sky news interviewer . Suddenly everyone is talking about the FAKEOVER instead of what was said at the meeting and the confrontation with London magpies.
Got to hand it to him, he’s a proper snake oil salesman.
kimtoon(Quote)
Blimey, had a look at Ed’s blog, two posters constantly bickering , what a load of ****. Thought it might of improved since I last looked .
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s a shame Kim… I started on Ed’s Blog and was on there for ages until he closed it for a while and the other site sprung up from it, I was on that a while and then moved to this one with Toonsy… Ed’s was where it started though and he seems a decent guy, but he gets some proper knackers on there now… sad…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Dubai, agree mate , he does seem a decent guy and with his health problems, that lot need to give their heads a shake. He must wonder why he bothers to carry on, the football talk is totally overshadowed by bickering. I know that people bicker about stuff but it’s not even football related half the time it’s just point scoring and insult trading.
Anyway , I see Merse has tipped us to win 3.0 !!! that’s us fecked then 🙄 the curse of Merse. 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Have Man Utd hired OGS or the fella that plays Gollum in Lord of the Rings??
It’s mad to think that Man Utd play Cardiff, and Cardiff have the better manager. OGS has been put in an impossible position and has acted our selfishly really – again similar to JC when he took the NUFC job. If he loved the club that much he should have said ‘get the best man for the job’ – both must know they aren’t/weren’t it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
A lot of the media making a big deal of Ashley going away for Christmas (hopefully flying from Gatwick yesterday ??). But they are saying it will slow everything down – no it won’t, he won’t be round the negotiating table anyway. Anything he needs to read through can be emailed to him, and should a deal be struck whilst he’s away im sure for £300m, his missus wouldn’t mind him flying back to complete whatever needs doing and flying back again – maybe a day or 2 out of his holiday … to be fair, I’m sure she’d welcome it!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Exactly my thoughts Sharpy. He won’t even need to physically be there at all. That is if it’s a reality anyway.
georgio(Quote)
It’s probably better he isn’t mate. In fact, he’s probably been sent away!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
We are being linked with Tammy Abraham yet again – is that recycled news or true?.
I really don’t know how good the kid is. He’s yet another young English player who the media have built up before actually achieving anything.
I think when Sterling attacked the press a few weeks ago – that’s the point he should have made. They build these players up and the slaughter them when they have a dip in form or make mistakes (as most young men do). I am not aware of racist undertones to it coz I see the same extreme writing about young white players too.
We have the best league in the world, with the worst press imo.
This might annoy Eric, but take Rooney for example – he gets knocked out in his kitchen messing around with his mates and it’s across every paper, and he’s asked about it in press conferences. Yet how many articles have people seen about how much money he’s raised from charity – how many interviews has he been asked about it? – it’s as unfootball related as him getting knocked out – but which sells more papers??.
Players will do encouraged to do whatever raises their profile, and if the media are more interested in players playing Fortnite (a video game) over charity work – then that’s what players will do.
Editors first thoughts are ‘will this sell’ rather than ‘is this press worthy’.
Sharpy17(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/12/21/fulham-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-predicted-line-ups/
Fulham preview!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Well Ash being on holiday seems to of hampered our January transfer deals most years so I wouldn’t be hopeful on any takeover news, not that it was ever on the cards anyway.
Tammy interest is surely lazy journalism again.
kimtoon(Quote)