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Rant: Football, Boring? No Way!Will all those who are saying “football is boring”, “football isn’t what it was”, “negative tactics are ruining the game”, all kindly FUCK OFF! I for one am sick to death of the media and fair-weather fans having the nerve to call football boring. [Read More +]
Opinion: Kieron Dire?
[Read More +]
New Toon Site: ToonaramaSome of you will no doubt be familiar with Toonarama, a Newcastle United supporters site - with a twist. Well, they've redesigned it and it now works in different browsers. Check out this truly fascinating site. One to bookmark. Toonarama
Reserves: NUFC 2-0 Manchester UnitedChop gives Souey food for thought Michael Chopra staked a claim for a 1st team squad place by grabbing a brace as Newcastle Reserves picked up their 3rd win of the season. After 4 away games which produced 2 narrow defeats, a win and a draw, United returned to their home of Kingston Park, where they had beaten Leeds 3-2 in their 1st game of the season in August. Newcastle’s line-up looked strong, with 1st team squad regulars Ameobi, Elliott and Brittain involved, and Michael Chopra returning from the injury he suffered against Leeds. The Manchester United side yielded no instantly recognisable names, bar goalkeeper Luke Steele, who appeared for Coventry against United in the FA Cup in January. The Toon kicked off attacking the John Smiths Stand, but the early stages of the game were pretty poor, with United very sloppy in possession on numerous occasions. One such occasion led to a Tony Caig clearance nearly decapitating me at the back of the West Stand on the halfway line! Alan O’Brien then got himself in the mood, and proved a real thorn in the side of the Manchester United right-back, streaking away from him time and time again, and producing dangerous crosses which were well dealt with by the Manchester United defence. The reds briefly threatened, with a blocked shot going behind, and a header over from that resulting corner. Steele in the Manchester United goal was looking very shaky, flapping at a Brittain cross on 17 minutes. Then, on 21 minutes, Daryl Smylie either had a wayward shot or slipped a perfect ball through to Michael Chopra, who held off his defender and struck the ball past Steele to put us deservedly 1-0 infront. Straight after the restart, Campbell got free in the Newcastle area, but Caig dealt superbly with the danger, leaving Campbell battered and bruised, and indeed he didn’t look fit until he was substituted late on. Ameobi was looking good upfront for Newcastle, and his dangerous cross was sliced behind for another corner, which Steele again contrived to make a meal of, but got away with it. Alan O’Brien continued to give the Manchester United defence nightmares, but it was Manchester United who had the next chance. A corner was cleverly flicked toward goal by Evans, but was well anticipated and cleared from the line by Baxter. Straight down the other end, Ameobi had a header from a corner cleared off the line by Neumayr. Kris Gate’s header past the post from a Martin Brittain cross was the last action of the 1st half. A crowd of 1235 went off to get their inedible swill from the burger van (or a drink from the bar), and the half time interval flew by, with no changes made by either side as the 2nd half began. An incredulous crowd saw a bizarre decision on 49 minutes, as the assistant referee flagged for offside against Campbell, when the ball had clearly fallen to him via a Newcastle head. Campbell missed the one-on-one chance against Caig anyway. Manchester United began to take control, with Markus Neumayr particularly impressive, flashing one great opportunity just wide of Caig’s post. Then, at a vital time, Newcastle were awarded a penalty. Ameobi got away down the right, and did well to centre the ball from Chopra, who found himself going down under the challenge of Shawcross for a stone wall penalty. He got up and dispatched the kick himself, despite slipping, to give us a 2 goal cushion at a vital moment. From that moment, Newcastle never looked in any great danger. Indeed, some of the football they played afterwards was brilliant, with Smylie and O’Brien inparticular having great games in the midfield, and Ameobi and Chopra forming a good partnership up top. Caig was forced into a save at the 75 minute mark, but it was a comfortable one from a clean volley by Kieron Lee. A couple of minutes later, another strong effort from just outside the area was parried by Caig, and he continued to earn his spurs, making another 2 good saves within 3 minutes. The game petered out at the end, with Ameobi having a couple of blocked efforts, unfortunately not adding a goal to a good all round display by the Nigerian Geordie. Another shining light was the performance in defence of Peter Ramage. He was rock solid at the back, and was constantly shouting instructions and encouragement to his team-mates, and he appears to be a natural born leader. The customary "Reserve Rain" arrived as the referee called an end to proceedings, on a thoroughly satisfying night for Newcastle as they took their 1st home Reserve win over their Manchester United counterparts since March 2002. Granted this was a Manchester United side devoid of any ‘names’, but take nothing away from Newcastle, who fully deserved the victory. Newcastle: Caig – 7 – Some good stops, handling a bit dodgy. Baxter – 7 – Solid all-round display. Farman – 7 – All action show. Ramage – 9 – A rock at the back. Elliott – 6 – Did what was asked of him. Gate – 7 – Always in the action. Brittain – 8 – Always lively down the right, good crosses with both feet. Smylie – 8 – Ran the show in the middle of the park. Ameobi – 8 – Very good show all-round. Chopra – 8 – Back to fitness, back in the goals. O’Brien – 9 – Absolutely terrorised the Manchester United defence all night. A real threat, especially with his pace. My man of the match. Subs not used: Finnigan, Smith, Atkin, Edgar, Carroll Man Utd: Steele, Simpson, K.Lee, Shawcross, J Evans, R Jones, Neumayr (Hewson 82), Gibson, Cooper, Campbell (Marsh 82), Rose (Mullan 70). Sub not used: T.Lee. Referee: Peter Quinn (Middlesbrough) – 9/10 – Easy game to handle, a few minor issues but overall a strong showing, and correctly pointed to the spot when Chopra was fouled. |
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NUFC News Archive (September 27th 2005)
