posted Jan 7, 2008

Really good comment, ForestAli. It's exactly the same as watching England under McLaren and sometimes Sven. There's no fluency and nothing quite comes off, the team just doesn't quite click. Viduka up front with Owen should be a decent pairing - they didn't work together well at all last night.

BS's comments were baffling. A satisfying performance??? The only person who'll be satisfied is Stoke's Chairman for the St James's gate receipts. They were all over us in the second half.

Really good to hear the toon support singing so enthusiastically at the end.

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posted Jan 7, 2008

Blyth Spartans beat Stoke 3 - 2. Whitley Bay play attractive, incisive football week after week and charge their fans only £4 to watch it. Newcastle spent 90 minutes rushing around like a bunch of schoolkids. They wouldn't have scored in 90 hours, yet Sam says they played well. A perfect advert for non-league football.

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posted Jan 7, 2008

I'm a Newcastle fan like the rest but lets face it; Stoke had the better of the game and the clearer chances and its embarrassing to try and make excuses for that.

We are a very poor team to watch at the moment but what else can be expected given Sam's selections? A midfield of Butt and Smith may offer many things but creativity is certainly not one of them. Owen was poor again and Viduka continues to blow hot and cold. Duff, i'm sad to say looks finished at the top level.

Defensively it looks at last as though he has learnt his lesson which is to give the outstanding Taylor a game whenever fit and partner him with Faye. Rozenhal at right back though was ludicrous. A left sided centre half is not going to solve any problems there, temporary or otherwise.

I really do feel as though we were fortunate last night and owe a debt of gratitude to Given and Taylor especially, with N'Zogbia the only one having any idea going forward. The lack of signs of progress under Allardyce for me remain worrying though with nobody of top class to replace, for now we must give him time I suppose.

PS - Sam inherited some bad players, but he's signed some right Turkeys himself. Cacapa, Barton, Rozenhal (on current form) to name but a few.

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posted Jan 7, 2008

Regardless of the result which, though Stoke edged it, was probably fair, I have to say how refreshing it was to see a proper physical game very able refereed (which surprised me) by Mr Bennett. Given the conditions and given Stoke's physicality I was expecting at least one red card but, a mini-dive from Butt apart in the first half - which Bennett ignored - the game was played in the proper spirit. I wonder, though, whether Stoke will get away with such a physical approach at a Premiership ground? Great that, with all the current legislation aiming to make the game practically non-contact, to see how tackles can be both hard and fair. Well done Mr Bennett!

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posted Jan 7, 2008

Guess we can expect the replay to be equally crap then, because both teams will wanna throw the game to avoid being slaughtered by Arsenal in the 4th round.

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posted Jan 7, 2008

Yet another sub standard performance from Newcastle. Stoke can consider themselves very unlucky not to have beaten us last night.

Allardyce's team selections continue to confuse and frustrate me. There is simply no consistency in formation/tactics other than playing people out of position and being negative.

Alan Smith in midfield just doesn't work. Owen is so far off the pace I just don't feel he's going to score goals at the moment even if he was presented with chances which the likes of Duff are not creating!

I think we only had 1 shot on target so Big Sam's post match comments are even more worrying as he can't seem to see what us fans are seeing.

Stoke are still in with a very good chance of knocking us out as any team coming to SJP these days feels like they can't get a result.

Arsenal away is the reward(if you can even call it that)...........might be worth going out as 2 heavy defeats to Arsenal inside a week might be too much to take!

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posted Jan 7, 2008

I'm a stoke fan and was at the match last night, my main surprise was how lacking in creativity you were. Other than Nzogbia and that lad lua lua at the end, you were quite dull. Thought over the 90 mins we were unlucky not to edge it.
Big Sam is never gonna turn your world around over night, he is a top manager and needs some time and faith. Judge him at the end of next season, if he lasts that long.

And finally thanks to the toon army for helping create such an unforgettable atmosphere, if only the players were as passionate as you true fans

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posted Jan 7, 2008

Its obvious why he was happy. Because he may of found the right defensive combination.

Thats a big task at newcastle!

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posted Jan 9, 2008

There should'nt be a replay! How Did Jon Parkins Effort Stay out?

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posted Jan 9, 2008

What I don't like about Newcastle and seems to never work is these pointless long balls. It's sort of like "I've got the ball...here have it back"

We were lucky against Stoke. All I'm happy about is we managed to keep a clean sheet, but agaisnt a bigger side we would have been hammered.

Why doesn't Sam play Smith and Viduka upfront? They played together at Leeds. Might be a different team and it was a few years back but why doesn't he try it?

I feel Owen needs to go and try and buy a new forward who isn't going to get injured as much as he is. He is doing nothing for the team being injured all the time. But who wants to buy a player like this?

One last thing I think we need atleast 3 defenders and another forward.

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