Three wins on the trot and two in a week at St James’ Park. Feels good, doesn’t it!?
After blowing Everton away in that second half on Tuesday night, we had to show guts, organisation and real hard work to hold on in this one, putting in a superb defensive display to keep out an Aston Villa side who huffed and puffed to no avail.
The result takes us FOUR clear of third bottom Norwich, five ahead of Watford (19th), seven points clear of bottom of the table Burnley – who lost at home to Liverpool today – and leaves us just three behind an out of sorts Brentford who’ve played two games more than us.
Eddie Howe was forced to make two changes for this one, seeing Dan Burn and Javier Manquillo replace an ill Jamaal Lascelles and ineligible Matt Targett.
The match winning moment arrived from who else but Kieran Trippier. After passing a late fitness test, he not only kept Digne and Coutinho quiet in the first half but scored that all important goal before hobbling off with an injury soon after the restart.
That is a concern – especially as he’s been spotted on crutches since – however we can take heart from the way we ground out the win in his absence.
A special mention must go to Burn. The Geordie defender is a giant, but his presence on the pitch today was even bigger today, with him barely putting a foot wrong all afternoon as he bullied Watkins, read the play superbly and brought an air of calm to our back four.
We looked so much fitter and a side filled with confidence and belief that we CAN no see out games after taking the lead. Where we bottled it against Watford last month, we have showed our metal in the way we’ve seen out victories against Everton and Villa this week.
Krafth did little wrong after replacing him, Fraser was tireless, Joelinton a man mountain in the middle, while the likes of Schar and Shelvey continue to look like two players finally adding consistency to their games.
Although he had his moments, today also proved that we don’t completely rely on Allan Saint-Maximin to wins games. He had a quiet second half and didn’t always do enough to help out Paul Dummett – who came on after an injury to Manquillo – but we still managed to keep the likes of Coutinho, Watkins, Ings and Buendia at bay.
Aside from the Watkins goal that was disallowed by VAR after a lengthy check, it never actually felt like they were about to score. Considering we’ve been a side that couldn’t keep a clean sheet or protect a lead for love nor money this season, it says a lot that Dubravka had so little to do.
Another great atmosphere, another outstanding effort, another game that’s seen Eddie Howe outsmart a fellow young English manager and another huge step towards Premier League safety.
Next up, a trip to West Ham in next Saturday’s early kick off!
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Manquillo – Shelvey, Willock, Joelinton – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
SUBS: Darlow, Dummett, Krafth, Murphy, Almiron, Gayle, Longstaff, Bruno, De Bolle.
Ice, great news that pup will be nearer to you . 🙂
KIMTOON(Quote)
Has there been any news on Manquillo?
I expect it will be Krafth, but we have 3 other fullbacks now – Targett, Burn and Dummett. Can any of them play rightback? I am done with the experiment of playing wingers as fullbacks, so please not Murphy. He can continue to be backup for Fraser, that’s the role he should play.
I think we have to man-mark Bowen. I think he has like 7 goals in the last 7 games. Or cause him to have something to do defensively by putting Bruno on him. The only changes I see from Villa are fullbacks. The question is, does Lascelles get recalled.
I am not even going to try to predict this team until I hear about Manq. I will stick my neck out and say a 1-1 draw which will be 6 undefeated. That sounds nice!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Ice and Sharpy, I know you are talking about County Durham but last time I was back I went to Durham City. Is there anywhere to bl00dy park there? I drove around for 10 minutes. It wasnt busy but everywhere was double yellow. I ended up just getting out the car, taking a picture, and leaving. I was with me Mam and Aunt and they fancied a cup of tea but I just gave up. The previous day I had been to York and it took me half an hour to parks, so I wasnt having that again 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Just ran the Pl fixture predictor and have us surviving comfortably on 37 points.
Got Burnley pulling off the Great escape with Brentford joining Watford and Norwich in the Championship.
Arsenal 4th, Manure 5th.
Shamrock(Quote)
I went down to Durham city a few weeks ago. There’s a big multi story car park on the left just as you come into the city from the A690. That’s the only public parking I know of and that’s where I always park. A beautiful city for photography
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly/Eric – there is another multi story next to the Premier Inn down by the river. But there are 3 big park & rides on the outskirts – one on the A690, one Howlands and the other at Sniperley.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – no serious damage but 2 weeks out by the looks of it – should only miss WH ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-uniteds-bold-post-takeover-ambition-revealed-3570821
I’m not a businessman and wouldn’t ever really claim to know how that world works.
But is this how ‘the best club in the world’ hires staff – LinkedIn????.
Maybe it is?!, but I don’t remember seeing Man City, Liverpool or Chelsea recruiting this way.
The wording puzzles me as well – we are looking for 1 or more … they don’t know how many they want or need???.
The fact they used a recruitment agent for our DoF is a little baffling as well – particularly when we STILL don’t have one.
I feel like I’m regularly questioning our new owners. But there is little they have done so far that makes me feel like they know exactly what the plan is and how to get there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Thanks for the advice on Durham. I will probably go next time I am back in the NE.
Glad it doesnt look too bad for Manquillo. I think he has done well and never really got why he wasnt played more often. Maybe not!!! Bruce is an idiot.
It is funny that you dont really see how bad a Manager is until you see them close up. I really hadnt paid that much attentions to Pards or Bruce until I saw them at NUFC. The Baggies are in the unenviable position of having hired the 2 of them. Are they trying to be the Midlands version of Ashley’s NUFC? Will it be Carver or McClaren next?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
does anyone know who it was that stamped on Kieran Trippier foot,thought maybe ERIC with his magic eye might have spotted who it was,the swine
icedog(Quote)
I watched the match and still have no idea. I don’t recall any stamping incident. Puzzling.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I dont have a “magic eye” Icedog. I do have the ability to watch the match again though as they have full replays on demand on my cable TV service 🙂 I might watch it later as all there is on US TV now is reality islands and dancing and cooking shows.
Should combine them all and maybe I would watch? Girls bit big h00ters, dancing and making me dinner! That describes my ex-wife, but I wont go there 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I have no qualms about calling Big Joe a Donkey. Because he was for his 1st 90 games. Was he Bruced? Or just not fitting in on Tyneside? It is like some alien came down and invaded his body and turned him into a good player!
Keeping my fingers crossed it continues because he does seem to “want it”. He hired a personal trainer and a psychologist about 6 months ago and that seems to have done the trick. On his own money, I might add.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am thinking about Big Joe and how he took it upon himself to hire outside help to fix his career at NUFC. This was before Stavely and Howe. He could have realised he was being Bruced and said – this is not me!!!
It is a small sample size of the Eddie games, but he looks a different player.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
How can Man U be in the top 4? They have been total toss all year.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Supermac is now repeating the narrative that we dont create chances from open play. It is simply not true. We have averaged 15 shots in the last 3 games, whereas under Bruce we were lucky to get 2 or 3. Eventually, one will go in. It might be a deflection or a scuffed shot from Big Joe, but it will happen.
Scoring from every free kick is an anomaly that will end just like not scoring from chances created in open play will end. Ronaldo, who was/is considered one of the best free kick takers once went 60 direct free kicks without scoring.
This narrative is just looking at a small sample and assuming that is how it is and always will be. It is actually worse than that, because it is a false narrative, the exponents of which are saying we are not creating chances from open play. That is simply not true. We are missing the chances, or they are being blocked, but we ARE creating them!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If we stay up (and whilst I’m more confident we will now, I still use if), then one player I’d love to see us bring in is Jeremy Doku.
He’s the Belgian ASM. Much of how he plays is so much like Max – but he largely plays on the right. He would give us the option to have both in the side – which would be deadly on the counter attack – or he would add depth to the squad to allow Max to be rested now and again if needed.
I know Dembele has been mentioned as well, and I would be happy for him to come in. But Doku is 19yr and such an exciting young player. I think Dembele would want a CL club & Doku could be that player for now, and at 19 would grow with us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
PremandUp: what you were saying the other day about me and Refs. I think it was about me calling Jon Moss, Fatboy Moss. Maybe I should call him Slow-boy Moss because that is what I mean. I am not really trying to fat-shame anybody. Much more, just saying we get slower as we get older and there are currently 7 PL Refs who are over 50.
Moss is the best example of not being able to keep up. When you are even a step behind where you were a few years ago it shows. It shows in the quality of decisions because you are not as near to the play. And VAR only overturns “clear and obvious errors”.
I watched Mike Dean in a match the other day and he is slower now as well.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Sorry, only mentioned refs in passing as an example of your If I may use the term ‘Dog with a bone’ repeating the same point on dozens of posts. Don’t have a problem with anything you choose to discuss. was in context of Ollies reprimand. Hope you well
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem: I am fine, hope you are too.
Sometimes it gets quiet on here so I can just spout off 🙂 Refs are a problem for me as they I think they are getting worse. They will not have them for UEFA games because they retire them at 45.
Keith Hackett, who used to be boss of all English Refs is saying exactly the same thing as me. That they cannot keep up with play and he would have suspended them for bad decisions and being too slow.
I know I can rant, but as I said it gets quiet on here. Would you rather have the bickerers on Eds 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I dont think Eddie will start Bruno, Do I only have one dilemma for the team – Schar or Lascelles? I reckon Schar, so:
Dubs
Krafth Schar Burns Targett
Shelvey Willock Big Joe
Fraser Wood ASM
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Oh, and Prem. I repeat myself on purpose because I highly doubt people go back and read stuff from days ago. So, I say it again.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think he has to start Bruno sooner or later. I think he and Joe will form a very solid platform in our midfield
PremAndUp(Quote)
Which Joe?
Linton or Willock?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
JoeLinton
did you see this video ollie posted
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2022/02/16/club-release-brilliant-joelinton-video-as-more-stunning-stats-emerge-on-our-brazilian-bulldozer/
PremAndUp(Quote)
Hey Kim, take care mate and batten down the hatches. Eunice is going to hit your area hard. Good luck and take care. Hope you get through ok with everything intact! Thinking of you ?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Malcolm MacDonald is still giving Big Joe stick about missing chances.
I have never seen anybody go from Donkey to Kante before. I really cant believe the transformation and hope it continues.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If Big Joe carries on like this, that is going to be my mantra:
FROM DONKEY TO KANTE.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Nobody can argue that he was **** for 90 games, but how? HOWE? I havent seen anything like this before and long should it continue.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Gilly, you’re not wrong, it’s horrendous, lads home as too unsafe to collect him. This wind is mental, i have a solid 50 foot long and 10 foot high fence either side out back and they are both moving and i have never seen that in high winds before.
Loads of my builders stuff flying around, pots , dumpy bags, tarpaulin it’s nuts.
KIMTOON(Quote)
My friend’s wheelie bin has been booked onto a speed awareness course.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Take care Kim! Hope you all come through unscathed and intact! ???
Gilly Toon(Quote)
It looks like the games are still on. However, it would be just like the PL to call our game off at 6am tomorrow morning. I drove to London once in pretty bad weather and it took me 8 hours. Stop, start and crashes on the M1.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am not sure if Moyes wants Zouma playing in front of our fans. My guess is he would get more stick than Pickford every time he touches the ball.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Driving rain and a hail storm after the worst of the wind, just the odd gust now but the sky at 5pm looked really menacing.
02 has took a battering apparently .
Lots of stuff in my front garden that ain’t mine as well, will inspect when it’s safe, if any of it’s decent then well 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)