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Match Report By Gaz
Pearson (12 December 2005)
When Nobby Solano drove in his low shot in the 82nd minute, St. James' Park erupted, a cheer of sheer joy that had been manifesting itself deep in the belly of the Toon faithful for weeks now after a pretty miserable period that brought 3 successive defeats our way and with it League Cup humiliation. Yet as the first half progressed Newcastle fans could have been forgiven in thinking that another defeat was on the cards. A super Shay Given pulled out arguably one of the best saves in his career to deny Theirry Henry a certain goal when the Frenchman latched onto a low cross before firing in a rasping shot his way. Another amazing save once again from the Irish legend! Shay doesn't perhaps get the praise he deserves from the rest of the Premiership but as he mulls over his options this season regarding his future, let us for the second half of the campaign show our support and admiration for our number 1. I want to hear his name being sung from all four corners of the Old Gallowgate and not just reserved for away games only. Back to the game... A game of two halfs is a phrase commonly used, but it's apt to sum up this match. Newcastle, toyed with and on the backfoot for most of the first-half, came out after the break like a side possessed. Alan Shearer was kicking the flying fuck out of anything Arsenal and Scott Parker was like a pit-bull in the centre of midfield, snapping away, growling and taken a kicking or two himself. Both lead by example and others followed. When we actually play like that and get at teams we are a real force to be reckoned with. In the build up to this match the talk on the stands was of the players needing to give their manager a performance, to keep him in a job and to give the faithful something to cheer about in our last home game before Christmas. However, and this is just me thinking out aloud here, I felt that in that second half especially, the players were following Shearer's inspiration - following his lead if you will and not Scot's who sat in the dugout motionless. Apparently it was Shearer doing all the talking in the dressing-room during the interval and you could visibly see the Skipper cajole his team-mates as the two teams lined up to kick-off the second 45. The Souness style we have become so used to and which was in evidence once again in the first-half of this match, defend deep, play cautiously, look long, appeared to evaporate after the break and a new forceful, attacking, heart-on-the-sleeve style of play came out. The Shearer style? Whether or not the players were playing to Souness' methods or Shearer's once play got underway after the break, will obviously cause some debate, even scorn. But in my opinion, the players rolled up their sleeves and thought bollox to defending deep and being cautious, lets get at the bastards! The result - a Nobby Solano super strike and a Newcastle victory from an action packed half steeped in commitment, passion, fight and blood and guts (Parker). Even the 'luck' that Souness and Co. have used as an excuse this season to ad infinitum, was on our side as Gilberto Silva was harshly sent off for two bookable offences. Arsenal can count themselves unlucky on that one, and Wenger and fans alike have been bombarding the media with moans and accusations. But ye knaa... these things happen so basically fuck off you whinging fannies! Concerning the injuries excuse, It was actually good to hear Alan Shearer come out today and state that all the excuses about players being injured isn't good enough. At least someone is listening to the fans. This again leads me to think that Shearer is thinking 'bollox to that' and getting the lads to follow his lead - to fight for points and not just wait and accept our fate because of a few missing souls out injured. Someone posted on the forum about how way we can't judge Souey for this match because it wasn't his team. Made me laugh and I would love to see that put to Souness himself and to see his reaction... what would his reply be? That's not a 'proper' post? The post match interview was intriguing too. Little Dean 'superstriker' Saunders came out and spoke to the media. Well I for one cannot take him seriously after seeing Alistair McGowan rip the piss out off him on his football backchat video. But something along the lines of "the gaffer deserves all the credit" rankled with me. He deserves some, but the players deserve all the credit really. He's quick to use injuries as an excuse when we don't win but the lads proved they can play well and win in spite of them, so Souness should keep his trap shut from now on and let his team do the talking. Back to the match... For me Man of the Match Scott Parker deserves a special mention. A Londoner granted but from now an adopted Geordie. What a display and for a lad who runs himself into the ground for the cause, a well deserved a standing ovation when he could take no more punishment. Well played Scott... Sven man are you blind or what? Phil Neville, Jermaine Jenas, even Ledley King over our lad Parker? Come on get him in that World Cup squad you fool. And Mr. Shearer? Well, well, well. In the past I have slated you, called for you to be dropped, and although I am well aware that you are a living legend on Tyneside I did honestly feel that your time was up. Well, maybe I am still right... but for the Arsenal match I say a big thank you. Inspirational stuff. If I was Freddy (heaven forbid the thought!), but if I was, I wouldn't hesitate in giving Big Al the job. He is Mr. Newcastle. Give him the job and the players will play for him, they proved that on Saturday as he dragged us kicking and screaming to victory by leading from the front. Looking ahead... Two away trips beckon with West Ham and European Champions Liverpool on the horizon. Realistically I would say that 4 points is a reasonable thing to ask for. 2 points and that's not too bad, depending on the performance that is. But it's no good beating Arsenal and playing like we did, one week and then going to West Ham the next week and getting beat. But this is Newcastle United we are talking about so who knows what's round the corner. Who would have though we'd beat the Gunners? Well played all.
Lineups & Match Stats
Booked: Faye, Shearer. Goals: Solano 82. Arsenal: Lehmann, Toure, Senderos, Campbell, Lauren, Ljungberg, Fabregas (Pires 86), Silva, Hleb (Flamini 63), Van Persie (Owusu-Abeyie 85), Henry. Subs not used: Almunia, Eboue. Sent Off: Silva (57). Booked: Silva. Att: 52,297 Ref: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
Post-Match Reaction: Newcastle
"The situation we've found ourselves in calls for men. In future I might be able to field better footballers, but I'll not be able to field better battlers. We were aggressive, and in their faces. "I don't think I could field any better battlers - they were fighting their own shadows. "We had the grumpy old man (Alan Shearer) up front, and Scott Parker pushed him pretty close in epitomising what we were about. "And I have to mention Amady Faye again for his contribution, as well as Shay Given, who made a fantastic save from Thierry Henry."
"We worked our socks off. We knew we were under pressure to put in a performance and I think we put in a great team performance. "Parker was sensational and has been ever since he came here. "He gives us that bite in midfield and there are not that many better and he deserved man of the match. "I don't know any game that is not tough in this league - not many people would have bet on us winning today but when our backs are against the wall we come out fighting and we did that today. "We can look forward to the Christmas period with a great deal more confidence now."
Post-Match Reaction: Arsenal
"We were the better team in the second half, they decided to go more physical and the referee allowed more fouls, sent a player off and I don't know why. "We played well and I just believe we were not protected - every challenge in the air was a foul. We know Alan Shearer can do that in this country. "The rules are the rules and the referee needs to make them respected. "It's difficult 10 against 11, we were unfortunate with the goal and the team did battle well and I can congratulate my team with the way they played." |
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Match Report: Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal 
