Final Score: NUFC 2-2 Norwich
Toon goals: Bellamy (39), Hughes (51)
Norwich goals: Bentley (52), Doherty (73)
Once again United left the field to a chorus of boos after
letting slip a 2-0 lead against Norwich City earlier tonight at St.
James' Park to end the game 2-2 with what can only be described as
a disjointed, disorganised, bereft of ideas performance that, even
at this early stage, begs the question; where do we go from here?
Two goals from Aaron Hughes and Craig Bellamy either side of the break
should have sent us on our way to a comfortable win despite a less
than comfortable performance but in typical Toon fashion we capitulated
and allowed Norwich back into the game.
Within moments of Bellamy's strike, David Bentley pulled one back
with a 22-yard shot that slipped through Shay Given's hands and with
just over a quarter of an hour to go, Gary Doherty, the quickest to
react to a Given parry, leveled the scores from 3-yards out.
Which was nothing less than what Norwich deserved, having more than
matched us throughout. In fact they were the better team and on this
evidence they will surprise a few teams. Well played the Canaries.
Not well played Newcastle however. Only a select few can be pleased
with their performance and any designs on securing that final Champions
League spot seem as far away as a Dire goal.
Not good enough and on this evidence we are a mess and all the strikers
and defenders in the world won't fix the problems that are now beginning
to increase with each game. Both on and off the pitch.
Teams:
United: Given, Carr, O'Brien, Hughes, Bernard, Robert,
Butt, Dire (Bowyer 83), Milner (Ameobi 74), Shearer, Bellamy. Subs
not used: Harper, Kluivert, Elliott.
Norwich: Green, Drury, Fleming, Huckerby, Holt, Bentley,
McKenzie 71), Charlton, Edworthy, McVeigh (Jonson 66), Francis, Doherty.
Subs not used: Svensson, Ward, Helveg.
A Big Thankyou To Sunderland AFC
5 years ago to this very day one of the most depressing
defeats in our history brought about one of the most promising chapters.
Nufc 1-2 Sunderland (25th August 1999)
Pouring rain, roofless stands, our No.9 on the bench and a quite pathetic
performance all meant that NUFC and our deadlocked manager Ruud Gullit
had to go their separate ways. After that defeat Magpies laid low
for a while and pondered a few Seasons in the shadow of of our small
town neighbours Sunderland AFC who would go on to finish 7th that
year where as we come in at 11th.
5 years later however and we haven't looked back. 3 consecutive top
5 finishes, Champions League football and a string of multi-million
pound signings mean we can safely look back and smile at that then
harrowing defeat. I know I am.
And what of our poor neigbours? Well another 7th place finish was
about as good as it got. Now they lie in the dregs of such footballing
backwaters known as the fizzy pop Division having been relegated as
the worst Premiership team in history and going on a losing streak
of 17 games. A run 1 short of making them officially the worst English
team of all time. Even in failure they are still second best.
Burdened with massive debt that could see them go into administration,
an ambitionless Chairman, a team of free transfers, has-beens and
journey men and a white elephant of a stadium that they can't fill,
not even when handing out free tickets, one can't help feeling sorry
for the poor little blighters.
Talk of 20m transfers, Champions League football and wondering whether
the Premiership's all-time greatest goalscorer should be rested in
favour of Holland's all-time greatest goalscorer, seems, well...somewhat
condescending.
Spare a thought for those brave hearty souls who live in our shadow
tonight lads and lasses and remember the part they played in what
has been a brilliant 5 years.
Thanks Mackems and good luck with your relegation dogfight and financial
crisis.
Dyer & Co. Take Note!
Nicky Butt speaking ahead of tonight's game against Norwich
City at St. James' Park:
"I was disappointed with my home debut against Spurs. I didn't play
well on a personal level and the result wasn't good.
"I'd been thinking about it beforehand for a few days because I wanted
to show the fans what I can do and for the team to get a good result,
but it wasn't to be in both cases.
Two games into his Toon career and Nicky Butt is already critical
of his performances and isn't it refreshing to read such comments
after putting up with years of big talk (minus the walk) from a certain
number 8 among others. Lets hope this type of attitude rubs off on
said others because this is how players like Nicky Butt have won so
much in their career. A great attitude and a great addition to Newcastle.
P.S I personally felt he had a good game against Spurs.
Your Shout: Toon Army's Reaction To Woodgate Sale
I've finally collated all your e-mails regarding the sale
of Jonathan Woodgate and published them - check them out. Thanks for
your comments.
Your
say on Woodgate sale Page 1
Your
say on Woodgate sale Page 2
Your
say on Woodgate sale Page 3
Tonight: NUFC Vs Norwich City
Toon Back To Business
Thankfully the off-field charade of the past few days can
be put on the back burner for a few hours as we turn our attentions
to securing our first win of the Season over newly promoted Norwich
City at St. James' Park tonight. With transfer speculation and the
after taste of the Spurs defeat fresh in the memory it remains to
be seen what frame of mind the lads are in and indeed the Toon Army.
Saturday gone was hardly inspiring stuff. One thing is certain however
- we must win. More dropped points, especially against a side who
are fancied to go straight back down, could well lead to further calls
for Bobby's head.
I say further calls because following the Spurs defeat certain quarters
were banging that very drum. Another frustrating performance could
tip those scales of discontent.
Hopefully all will be rosy in Geordie's garden come tomorrow and the
critics can put their knives back in the draw...for a few days.
The big talking point this week centred around whether Bobby should
rest Alan Shearer for Patrick Kluivert after
the Skipper's less than impressive display against Spurs. I'm all
for giving Kluivert his chance and I believe if Shearer isn't performing,
which he clearly isn't, then he should be replaced
in the team (no room for sentiments folks) but if Norwich are
going to be frightened of one man, that one man will be Alan Shearer.
I say start with Big Al, Bellamy AND Kluivert - all 3. Why not? We
are at home and Norwich's Captain has already alluded that the Canaries
will come to St. James' to sit deep and to hit us on the break using
former Magpie, Darren Huckerby's pace.
And what of Huckerby? Surely as a former Toon player he will score?
It's a certainty, they always do. Hopefully that coin will also be
spun in our favour too with Bellamy facing his former club as well.
The last time we faced Norwich we beat them 3-0, more of the same
would do me. In fact a scrappy 1-0 win would do. At this early stage
of the Season points are all that counts and we only have 1. Lets
hope it's 4 by 10.00pm tonight.
Full Match Preview:
Player Watch:
Darren
Huckerby
Rob
Green
Teams:
Probable Team
If I Was Bobby I'd Go With...
NUFC
Squad News & Pre-Match Reaction
Norwich
Squad News & Pre-Match Reaction
The Referee:
Mark
Halsey
Form Guide:
Last
Meeting At SJP: NUFC 3-0 Norwich
Last
5 Meetings At SJP
NUFC
Vs Norwich Head To Head: All-Time Record
Form
Guide For Both Teams (Last 10 Games)
Outcome:
Prediction
Is Freddy In The Minority Over Wayne Rooney Transfer?
It seems some United players aren't as keen to see Wayne
Rooney at the Toon as much as our Chairman apparently is.
Shola Ameobi speaking on his Icons website had this to say:
You could say that Newcastle United is a bit of a crazy place
to be at the moment. It's all happening! I don't really know where
to start, but I'll begin with the speculation linking Wayne Rooney
with a move to St James' Park. I don't know if it's true that the
club have made a bid for Rooney or not, but if he does join Newcastle
I think one of the four current attackers will be forced to leave.
Having five top strikers would just be too much and one of us would
almost certainly have to go. I haven't a clue who that would be, but
if we were all fit, three players would be very frustrated at not
starting every match. It's hard enough competing with three other
top-class forwards - and we're all dealing with that at the
moment - so the frustration would be too much if the numbers
grew to five.
I'm not going to worry too much about this speculation though, because
I expect it. This is a huge, high-profile club and we're going to
attract the best players. I can deal with that pressure because I've
known from day one that it's going to be tough to play first-team
football for Newcastle United. I'm happy to wait for my chance but
I would have to look at the situation again if someone else comes
in. Nevertheless, I'm still confident that I'll play a lot of football
this season.
Craig Bellamy quotes:
"Wayne Rooney is a great talent and was one of the best players
in Euro 2004 in Portugal, but we have just lost one of the greatest
centre-halves in Europe.
"That's why he has joined Real Madrid. We have to replace Jonathan
Woodgate. That has to be the main priority.
"I'm not a manager or a chairman, but I know where we need to
strengthen. And the players know it too."
Shay Given quotes concerning the need for a centre-half:
"It's a gap that needs to be filled. The chairman has to go out
and spend because we are going to be light in that department if we
don't. We need to bring in someone good but it's going to be hard." |
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