An outstanding performance, incredible effort and yet another superb atmosphere at St James’ Park – all that was missing was three points and that bit of luck we’ve been lacking in recent weeks.
After Allan Saint-Maximin gave us the lead just seven minutes in, we looked to be edging closer to a 1-0 win before Edinson Cavani equalised for the visitors.
Late chances came our way, with Murphy striking the post, Almiron having a shot superbly saved by De Gea and Joelinton almost latching onto cut back, however it wasn’t to be in the end.
There was a mixture of hope, pride and frustration swirling around St James’ Park soon after the full time whistle. While it felt like a missed opportunity to get another all important win, there’s now more belief that they will come in droves if we continue to play like that AND bring in a few quality additions in January.
Eddie Howe made SIX changes from the defeat to Man City, seeing Krafth, Schär, Manquillo, Longstaff, Shelvey and Saint-Maximin come in for Clark, Hayden, Murphy, Ritchie, Willock and Almiron.
There were also concerns about the COVID situation at the club before the game, with several players absent from the matchday squad (Darlow, Clark, Willock and Ritchie) and Howe admitting afterwards that we are now ‘dangerously close’ to having Thursday’s trip to Everton called off is more positive tests come back.
Back to tonight’s game, Joelinton was outstanding and the best player on the pitch once again. Every single player in a black and white shirt did their bit, with Krafth much improved, Fraser a constant pest, Longstaff combative and the two centre-backs at it all night, however the big Brazilian was monstrous in the middle of the pitch.
The bad news is that both Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin were forced off with injuries either side of the break, meaning they look almost certain to miss our next two games against Everton and Southampton…providing they go ahead!
Javier Manquillo – another player who barely put a foot wrong – will also be missing for our next game, having picked up his fifth yellow of the season for time-wasting late on.
A superb display, another great atmosphere and plenty reasons to be hopeful, just a real shame we couldn’t come away with the three points our level of performance warranted.
Next up, a trip to Goodison Park on Thursday…if COVID allows it!
Stuart: Syracuse is nice. I was there about 10 years ago.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am watching Watford/Spurs. Watford are really shyte and are only 2 points ahead of us but with games in hand. That really shouldnt matter though because they are shyte.
Watford, Burnley and Norwich for the drop.If we are not better than them then we deserve to go down.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
These Refs are really bad. There was a clear red card in this Spurs game and a Watford player just dragged a Spurs player to the ground and I dont even think VAR checked it.
You have a system that is supposed to correct human error and they dont fcn use it!!! And then when they do use it they get it wrong – Emerson/Fraser etc. The most blatant penalty in the history of penalties and they still got it wrong. Happy Birthday Martin Atkinson, 51 today. 6 years past his sell-by date for any UEFA games.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
We could really do with Spurs taking their chances here!
Stuart79(Quote)
I give in…
Lloris just took a Watford player out. He got the ball, but that should not matter. It was a clear foul and penalty. He cleaned the Watford player out and could have broken his leg.
These Refs are so bad. Maybe the rules are wrong??? If you clatter somebody that hard it should be a foul whether you get the ball or not.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Another medical emergency in a crowd at a football game. Is it me or has this only just started recently? I don’t remember it happening in other seasons…
Stuart79(Quote)
Wow ?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stewie: Watford just stood there and watched the ball land on a Spurs players head. Watford are worse than us. Even with Wilson, St Max and Fraser out 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Spurs are the worst 5th place team in the history of 5th place teams.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Scratch that. I think we finished 5th under Pards. And I think the Mackems finished 5th under Monkey’s Heed.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If we have a good transfer window there really isn’t any reason why we can’t stay up. The teams at the bottom are so poor. We’ve won 1 in 18 and are still only 2 points off safety. Incredible.
If we can get Trippier, Botman, another centre half, striker and midfielder we will be ok
Stuart79(Quote)
God that Spurs v Watford game was a hard watch!!.
Watford made little to no attempt to win the game & Spurs had no idea how to break through them – Watford got what they deserved in the end & Spurs did us a massive favour there – that will have hurt Watford.
What’s the betting Claudio doesn’t make the end of the season?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Huge huge, gargantuan game on 15th against Watford. If we beat them we leap frog them.
Stuart79(Quote)
Maybe they’ll bring in Steve Bruce
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I’m sure we will get the players in – largely because we will pay the wages now – even if it’s just loan deals.
Take Ramsey for example – if we ask Juve to loan him & we’ll pay half his wages, I think Juve would fly him over tomorrow.
Same with strikers – there is talk of Barbosa from Brazil or one of the Madrid forwards. I don’t think it’s beyond the realms.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh Stu I’d love to see that ???. He’s probably the only manager they haven’t had in as well mind
Sharpy17(Quote)
It is very strange that Bruce’s Pundit Pals and Media Arselickers like Luke Edwards never mention him in connection with jobs that were/will be available. He wasnt even mentioned for the Rangers job never mind a PL team. Not even Norwich.
They go from saying what a fantastic job he was doing at NUFC to disappearing and never mentioning him again.
The only good thing about Bruce is that his son Alex will never get a gig in the media again.
Also, looks like there is a long line out there to employ the other Steves as well. You would think that a 3rd division team or St Mirren might be after them? Are they waiting for the cabbage to get another job so they can follow him around like puppies as they have for the past 15 years?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
**** it, I just realised that none of the Steves need jobs because they keep getting sacked with huge pay offs.. Didnt Big Fat Sam name his villa in Marbella Casa St James’ or summink?
Ashley actually paid Sheff Wed 4 million quid in comp for Bruce. Can you believe that!!!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Edourd just scored for Palace and pointed to the sky/heaven. I dont think God will get him the other 3 goals to come back from 3-1 down to win. And why do they never point to the ground/hell when they scuff a shot or do a Jonjo and hit a free kick 15 feet over the cross bar?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Just as I said that Palace score a fluke goal. Maybe there is a God after all 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
And Patrick Viera is berating the 4th official now for not getting a free kick for a challenge in the box. What exactly does the 4th official do. They never overturn a decision. NEVER!!! They dont even consult the Ref. They just stand there and get yelled at by the losing Manager.
And the Ref just gave Viera a yellow card after the game had ended. What does that do? It does nothing.
I hate all English Refs 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I just hope our owners move faster with transfers than with the manager and DoF. Reading now that our first offer for trippier may be rejected. You’d think that would be already sorted. Some clubs already signed players!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly, he has a release clause but it’s whether we will pay it, looking at our first bid it doesn’t look like it.
Chelsea need him now too, they may well pip us to the post.
https://www.themag.co.uk/2021/12/newcastle-united-set-to-sign-kieran-trippier-as-his-release-clause-made-public/
kimtoon(Quote)
Apparently Chelsea only want him on loan. They want to send Saul back and take Trippier in his place is it’s just to cover their injuries.
It’ll be up to Trippier in the end I suppose but from what I understand he’s entertaining the idea of coming to a relegation battle with us so he can move back North for the final years of his playing career & sees Newcastle as a way of doing that with a good playing project to be involved with at the same time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The Botman deal seems pretty promising as well.
I remember us buying Debuchy & Cabaye from Lille & they were a very vocal club if they weren’t happy with how a deal was going or an approach to one of their players that wasn’t welcomed.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am hoping we sign Darwin Nunez. He would be a natural selection in our survival of the fittest over the next few months.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Looks like it is 3 from the bottom 5. Would probably take a draw today between Leeds and Burnley. Dych has a habit of performing miracles but maybe his time is up. Reminds me of the Mackems who beat the drop for years – and then they didnt. I also think we have a chance of catching Leeds as it seems Bielsa has run them into the ground.
Looks like the relegation battle will be more interesting than the title race.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I doubt Everton will get sucked into the relegation battle, but you never know. I think they have the most overrated team in the PL and they spent so much money!!! Somewhere around 500 million and the only player I would take is Calvert Lewin. Maybe Richarlison but he seems a bit of a sulk.
Is anybody going to accuse them of cheating because the postponements let them get Calvert Lewin back fit. Thought not! They are not Newcastle United who some have accused of cheating because of our postponed games 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
The T-Rex Mackem took the Brighton scorer out just like he did Van Dyik last year. Minimum yellow card but of course the Ref didnt spot it.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Ref losing control of Everton/Brighton. This is his 1st ever PL match. They dont get any better!!! Martin Atkinson on VAR so we can rest assured there will be conroversy. In my view there already has been and that Pickford “tackle” was borderintg on a red and they did not even look at it.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
The Ref missed a clear penalty but Atkinson at least gave it. That’s what VAR is for but it makes you wonder what the Ref was doing. I really am getting sick of the standard of Refereeing.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Rafa really under the cosh now, toffees fans will not be happy with this scoreline 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Trippier starting suggests we haven’t reached agreement with A Madrid. Club aware we’re being offered prices higher than other clubs. But we have to get use to it and get deals done.
Trippier a real litmus test for new owners
Stuart79(Quote)
Burnley losing to Leeds. A draw ideal as it keeps both teams in the mix but Leeds winning means we are essentially just looking at Watford.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – it’s a tough one really. I think Trippier is an excellent full back and would be a great addition – BUT I could understand the reluctance of spending £31m on a 31 year old who has spent most of this season injured. In addition to that, I don’t think it’s a priority position either really.
I think the CBs are the big one.
I also think it’s important for the club to take an early stance of – we will pay a fair fee, but we won’t have our pants pulled down.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Whoa, great hit to make it 3-1. The Blue Bindippers arent going to be happy with Rafa. Some big lads in that Brighton defense. Maybe have a look at a couple of them?
Now Everton score. Not a bad game, this.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Leeds ahead now. That is probably a good result for us.
We need to take care of our own knitting though and not be worrying about what other teams do.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I dont really care who wins between Everton and Brighton, I just like to see the scousers complain.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Very much a mini league now. 1 team will stay up from Norwich, Burnley, Us, and Watford. With the slimmest of possibilities a team like Southampton get dragged into it. Maybe Everton but I’ll be absolutely shocked if it’s Everton.
Stuart79(Quote)
Well that’s todays results gone in our favour too – I wonder if there will be a big drama made about Everton or Leeds being in a relegation battle. They are as much as we are!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – sorry for some reason your comments wasn’t showing when I posted mine.
I think it’s entirely possible that Saints & Everton could be dragged into it – I’m not saying I expect either TO BE relegated, but certainly if we start picking up points then they could end up in the mix.
I read the other day that Phillips & Cooper are going to be out for months for Leeds – they are huge players for them & if Bamford isn’t scoring they have no back up either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m not sure on Trakowski or Mee either by the way.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am more interested in the Scousers getting themselves into a tizzy over Rafa. I have said a few times on here that the love shown for him on some NUFC blogs was over the top. He had time to keep us up and was outcoached by Big Fat Sam at the Mackems. They should have been the ones to go down that year and I seriously believe we had the best team evert to be relegated.
Who were the centre backs? Was it Taylor and Colo? Needless to say that Williamson and Lascelles werent any better., if it was them. Things have remained the same. We still have **** CBs and that will send us down if we dont fix it immediately.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If we can’t win that mini league of four then Jesus we don’t deserve to achieve anything. We will or at least should have a very different looking team on 1st Feb.
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s it then isnt it! City’s title. Not even NUFC could lose an 11 point lead on Jan 2.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
All there is left to think about is the relegation struggle and, of course, the fight for 4th. That should be funny. Watching the entitled clubs in a p!ssing contest. I am not sure who I would least like to get it. Probably Man U, but Spurs fans are truly irritating as well and if you have ever watched Arsenal Fan TV you will know that lot think they should be just handed the league in August.
I am really looking forward to all of their whinging and moaning. And just wait, there will be another team in the mix soon. And Man U fans will be talking about our “blood money” even though they have Saudi sponsors.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am going to have a bit of a rant because I know what is coming from the “Big Six” who do not make the top 4.
First off Spurs. I think people believe that Levy owns the club. He doesnt. It is Joe Lewis who lives in the Caymen Islands to avoid British or US taxes.
And Abramovich. He was a corrupt politician in Siberia whilst making his money in oil trading and then fleeing the country. He was kicked out of Britain and now somehow has a Portuguese passport.
And the Glazers. Man U fans HATE the Glazers.I went to a game a few years ago in Chicago and they all had those green and gold scarves. And, as I said, there is the Saudi sponsorship deal.
How about Arsenal? They hate the Kroenkes. I have no idea why, I thought she was funny sometimes dressed as a schoolboy. Fandabadozie. They were supposedly swingers as well. That’s one picture you might not be able to get out of your head 🙂
If there was ever cases of pots calling the kettle black then it is that lot. And dont get me started on City.
And Liverpool are not pure as the driven snow either. Their owners are hedge funders who use a unique tax law called carried interest to pay about half the taxes that you or I would.It is not just a quirk of the system either. They spend millions and millions of dollars a year on lobbyists to make sure their “gift” from the rest of us is not taken away.
So they are all corrupt in their own ways. And yet, they want to gang up on NUFC to prevent sponsorship deals.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I thought he did a decent enough job with us, but the love in was based more on his ability to play his audience (a large section of the fans) more than the football he was dishing up – the football was very average & he got a lot of excuses imo.
I don’t dislike the guy, I dont wish him ill at Everton, but he is certainly having a stinker at the moment.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Burnley are 2 games behind us now – they’ve played 17 & we’ve played 19, and we’ve missed our last 2 fixtures. So looking at Burnley’s next 4 fixtures, they have:
Leicester
Arsenal
Man Utd
Liverpool
To get back on track, we obviously have Everton & Saints to catch up on – I see us getting more points from those 2 games than Burnley get from those 4 games ????
Sharpy17(Quote)
Burnley will struggle from their next four games. Watford, unfortunately have a couple of winnable games so we really need to beat them next and take points from Villa, Leeds and Everton.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I know they get to keep Denis but I’m sure I read they have the most amount of players going to the ACONs – that could unsettled them too hopefully
Sharpy17(Quote)
The only easy game in there is Man U 🙂 I can see them losing the other 3.
I am sort of just joking, maybe. If Man U turn up they can beat anybody in the bottom half despite having **** midfielders and fullbacks who seem disinterested or **** as well (Dalot). Shaw blows so hot and cold and always looks like he is carrying an extra 10 lbs.
I am not sure who is the biggest disappointment either – Wan Basaka or McGuire. Actually I am sure. It is McGuire because he is a bit of a pratt and has a red card in him.
Can you imagine if we had spent close to a billion quid and had that Man U squad? Think about the stick we would be getting from Simon Jordan or the Dannys or Savage and Sutton. It would be relentless. Please Amanda and Mehrdad do not spend a billion quaid on **** or past it players. Ronaldo is still good, but Mata and Matic?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
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Ro.
@ro_schez
Trippier, el último en salir del campo y el que más tiempo se ha quedado aplaudiendo a la afición. Huele muchísimo a despedida..
Ro.
@ro_schez
Trippier, the last to leave the field and the one who has been applauding the fans the longest. It smells a lot like farewell …
kimtoon(Quote)
Just read a Sky Sports article and NUFC have set a record. We conceded 80 goals in Calandar Year 2021 which is the most EVER in the PL. It was not all down to Bruce either. Graeme’s team let in 3 against Spurs and we conceded 11 in the 3 games before Man U.
80 goals!!! How many games would we have played, like 36?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
We have let in 42 in 19 this season as well. The Sky article said only 8 teams in PL history had done worse. It is almost 30 years since the PL was established, so that takes some doing.
So, our eyes are not deceiving us. We have a **** defense. Hurry up Keiran, we need you even though we do not have a PL game until the 15th. I want one of those Brighton centre backs as well.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
That Sky piece had even more stats:
NUFC have dropped more points this season from winning positions than any other team.
We have also conceded more shots on target than any other team. Even Leeds and Norwich.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric we have been beyond awful at the back but if not for VAR we’d be on 15 points now and not in the bottom 3. As bad as our defense is VAR is a bigger villain this season along with our aging incompetent refs.
kimtoon(Quote)
spot on mate you know the game as normal
icedog(Quote)
I’ve watched Trakowski quite closely since we’ve been linked with him, and I can’t say I’m overly impressed – particularly in the last 2 games.
Burnley are generally known as a good defensive side and I think that’s a fair comment – despite conceding 3 in their last 2 games.
I do think Burnley are a solid defensive unit in the main which is what has kept them in the league for the last few seasons – but that’s as a unit. Individually I’m not so sure – as in take Trakowski out of their defence and put him in ours and I’m not sure he’s any better than Lascelles or Schar – the rest he is.
What we need in our central defence is energy and pace – younger legs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
mate tells me medical is booked for thursday for who he doesnt know but hes on stand bye
lets hope hes right
icedog(Quote)
Good news mate
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice – it’s gotta be Trippier mate hasn’t it?!.
Hope he’s just the first of 4 or 5 to come in ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – I think Tarkowski would be good value for £10m. He’s an England international and I do think his performances have slipped probably due in part to Burnley’s stance on not letting him leave. Plus he’d be better than what we have I think.
Stuart79(Quote)
I reckon we could get Aubabyang on loan as who else could afford his wages. He went from Captain to outcast so I think he has fallen out with Arteta. The other problem has been his goal output. It has dropped dramatically since the arrival of Arteta and the new contract. I am not sure if age is a factor as well as he is 32.
If he can get back to the form of 3 and 4 years ago where he scored 22 PL goals in 36 games each year he would be worth his wages. This year he has 4 in 10 and last it was 10 in 29. Better than we have but with potential for more.
Those Arseanl teams where he got 22 goals were not that good either so he would fit in at NUFC 🙂
He could be our flat track bully as he is still miles better than the defenders at Norwich, Watford, Burnley and Leeds. That’s who we need to pick up points from so I think he is worth the risk if he will come.
And who else are we gonna get? Can you think of another proven striker?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Tripier and Aubamayang could be our statement signings. I dont care about fees and wages, or age. We need experience NOW and it is not our money that is being spent. Just hope it doesnt work out like City’s statement signing – Robinho.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Trippier is a decent FB and dead ball specialist. So no probs there, not a statement signing, but better than Manquillo our best current RB
Aubamayang would be a waste of time and effort, Missing for ACON, high wages and a questionable attitude. better options out there
PremAndUp(Quote)
Kimtoon: Nobody can tell me that these Rafs are as fit at 53 (Mike Dean) and 51 (Fat Boy Moss) as they were when they were 40. They are not immune to aging. They will all have been running around a field since they were in their teens and that takes a toll on knees and hips. There is a reason why players usually retire at about 35 – because their bodies are giving up on them.
But that is not the whole story either. If VAR has told us anything it is that Englash Refs make **** decisions. They have as many views as they want and there really isnt any time pressure and they still get it horribly wrong. In my view, for this and waning fitness all of the over 50 Refs should retire.
I think appearance money for Refs now is 1,500 and that is on top of 70k annual salary. I ask you, what does the 4th official actually do for that cheque? It is 1000 quid an hour after all. His job seems to be to hold up the sub board and get yelled at by Managers. Money for Nothing!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Stu – I’d take him ahead of Fede, Clark & Dummett. But I’m not sure he’s the CB some might think he is without Ben Mee alongside him. We wouldn’t be getting robbed for £10m though – it would be worth that just to weaken Burnley’s defence.
I really don’t want PEA though – no chance. I’d rather take Nketiah.
Barbosa looks a good player out in Brazil – could he cut the PL?, and how long would he take to settle?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Do you think Gabon will make it past the 1st round. Aubayang was Captain. My guess is that Areteta wanted him to mentor all of Arsenal’s young players but he wasnt up to it. At NUFC he would be a hero if he got a goal every other game and he is the closest to a straight replacement for Wilson who supposedly will be out for “months”. I think Arteta is tighly wound so I am not surprised he is making an example of PEA.
HIs wages are crazy, but for 4 months with a buy option, why not.
I cant think of anyone else as good we could get in England. I dont follow the foreign leagues as closely, but I can say that we need the finished article in our situation and they all come at a high price/wage. We can go for youth in the summer if we stay up.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
AND – Arsenal have a young squad so Aubamayang could have been a bad influence there. Do we have anybody under 25 in our squad apart from Longstaff, Joelinton and Willock? I am not counting the 2 on the bench for the last game because they will not be picked in a relegation fight.
The rest are pretty much veterans. Does anybody really think PEA would be out partying with Fede Fernandez and Matt Ritchie (assuming they are still at NUFC).
Sometimes a good attitude is overrated. If a 26 year old Craig Bellamy was available would we take him? They are not all choir boys like Milner.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
We also hired a nutter like Joey Barton who actually went to Jail for 6 months whilst at NUFC.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
How can Man U have spent so much money and be so ****? I have watched a lot of their games this season where they were lucky to get results. The last 2 games come to mind – NUFC and Norwich. Old Trafford used to be an intimidating place to go. Now, I think I would rather go there than Brighton.
We have to avoid their mistakes and actually have a plan. That would include not having a banker/accountant as the de facto DoF (Ed Woodward). I dont care if they win this game in the end, they are playing totally ****. We have to buy a team, not just a bunch of individuals who look good on the team SHEET.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
As I have said to Sharpy in the past I think we will spend 100 million in this window. By the looks of the rumours this looks likely. Then we will be accused by the likes of Everton of buying safety. Too right! We need a whole new defense. We also need a striker and if that is not a loan for Aubamayang it will cost us 30 million.
The cost of going down is 100 million so we should spend that to stay up otherwise we will have lost a year.
Of our defense, the only ones who are not bottom 6 PL are Dummett, when fit, and possbly Lewis, mainly because I havent seen enough of him to judge.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Don’t want Pea,bad attitude and not a good trainer apparently, also has lost pace.
kimtoon(Quote)
plus we need players who can play now not away at the afcon
kimtoon(Quote)