Miracle worker Moses parts the orange sea! Wigan 4 Newcastle United 0

Posted on April 28th, 2012 | 73 Comments |

Please Blow The Whistle
Venue: D.W. Stadium, Wigan.
Date: Saturday, 28th April, 2012.
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Mike Dean.

United went into this game with confidence sky high on the back of six straight wins, sitting fourth in the table and chasing an unexpected place in next season’s European Champions League.

Wigan, although one of the teams fighting relegation, had a good recent record too, having won 3 of their last 4 games beating Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, although slipping up in their last game with a 2-1 defeat at Fulham.

This was the first of our final 4 “cup finals” and the 4500 United fans took over one end of the ground to make sure the team felt right at home in a vital away game. It was 4th top v 4th bottom with United having “momentum”. What could possibly go wrong? Surely even the ominous pre-match news that top tipster Mark “I always get them wrong” Lawrenson had tipped us to win couldn’t stop the Newcastle steamroller?

First Half

The game kicked off with the United fans in full voice and with a good Wigan crowd also in attendance. After 8 minutes a foul on Ba halted the game, but there were early signs that Newcastle weren’t quite at the races. Wigan had started well and were looking dangerous. Quite how dangerous they were was demonstrated after only 12 minutes of the game. Boyce crossed from the right and that man Victor Moses easily (too easily) out-muscled Williamson to head into the net. Wigan Athletic 1 Newcastle United 0

Two minutes later, Moses again. Coloccini got onto a cross from Wigan’s left but his clearance only went as far as Moses who slotted it in. Wigan Athletic 2 Newcastle United 0

United were clearly second best and struggling to gain a foothold in the game. On 18 minutes Santon carried the ball from his own half to the edge of the Wigan area where he was duly fouled by Alcaraz, who was yellow carded. Ben Arfa took the free kick which flew past the right hand post.

United settled down for a bit and started to briefly see a bit more of the ball, but too many players were having an off day and we repeatedly gave the ball away cheaply. On 28 minutes Caldwell fouled Ben Arfa on the edge of the Wigan area and the referee gave a free kick to Wigan. Somehow, you could just sense this wasn’t going to be our day!

The game then lapsed into a midfield ping-pong battle for a period, although a mix up between Santon and Simpson in our penalty area almost let in Wigan again. More pain came in the 35th minute when Shaun Maloney was put through on the left, cruised into the United area and slotted the ball past Krul. Wigan Athletic 3 Newcastle United 0

A couple of minutes later MCarthy fouled Cabaye with studs up but was only yellow carded. Danny Simpson got a yellow card for complaining about it at length.

With five minutes left, United came to life. A good run down the left by Ben Arfa culminated in a cross which found Ba. The Senegal striker hit a good left foot shot which unfortunately went the wrong side of the post. The United fans, who had been in good voice, decided to remind the team that they were “going to Italy” – just in case they’d forgotten. United responded with a little period of pressure which ended with Tiote firing over the bar.

Four minutes of extra time were announced but Wigan only needed two of them to put the game further out of Newcastle’s reach. And what a goal it was – Di Santo got the ball about 10 yards outside the United area and just floated a right footer which Krul could only stand and watch. Even Matt Le Tissier would have been proud of that one. Wigan Athletic 4 Newcastle United 0

Woeful United got to half time reeling, and no doubt hoping this would become “a game of two halves”.

Second Half

There were no team changes at the break. After only one minute of the second half we saw a little confrontation between Moses and Coloccini, who took exception to Moses bringing him down from behind. The sun came out, and I wondered if we might start playing some of our sunshine soccer this half. Then it went in again. Doh!

On 52 minutes Krul managed to tip away a Wigan corner. United were pressing the ball better this half, but Wigan were still looking by far the better side, playing good football and looking the more threatening. We still continued to give the ball away too cheaply with poor passing and sloppy play.

59 minutes saw a close range save by Krul from Moses again. 3 minutes later Ben Arfa put a lovely ball through to Cisse and his left foot shot was unfortunately straight at the keeper when anywhere else would have done. A minute later it was Cisse again, fed by Santon and this time he hit the bar. Three minutes later Ben Arfa and Cisse combined well again to produce another save which led to a corner. From the corner, the ball ended up with Ben Arfa, who sent two defenders the wrong way but sadly shot just wide. On 70 minutes another Ben Arfa cross from the left and Cisse hit the post. This just wasn’t going to be our day!

Pardew decided to take Ben Arfa off after 73 minutes and put Ryan Taylor on. Nope, I don’t know why either. Then 7 minutes later Simpson off and Perchinio came on. 2 minutes later Wigan responded by taking Moses off, so that the Wigan fans could applaud their man of the match. He was replaced by Sammon. Shortly afterwards Pardew took off Cabaye and sent on Ferguson. Clearly, this wasn’t an attempt to win the game. I could only assume that, with the game lost, he wanted to keep some of our better players fresh for the match against Chelsea in mid-week.

With 3 minutes of normal time left Conor Sammon got past Williamson and through on goal, beat the diving Krul, but luckily Coloccini was on hand to stop it going in the net.

Summary

Apart from a brief spell of pressure in the second half, this was definitely a game to forget for United. We were second best for most of this match, and it was quite apparent why Wigan have recently beaten Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. If it’s any consolation for us, at least we’re in good company there. Alan Pardew now has the job of making sure this result does not affect the team’s recent form or morale to make sure we are prepared for the key match to come against Chelsea.

Wigan Athletic vs Newcastle United: Full Match, Extended Highlights and Inteviews.

Teams, Stats etc

Wigan Athletic (3-4-3): Ali Al Habsi; Emmerson Boyce, Antolin Alcaraz, Gary Caldwell (C), Maynor Figueroa, James McCarthy, Shaun Maloney, James McArthur, Jean Beausejour, Franco Di Santo, Victor Moses (Conor Sammon 82)

Subs: Mike Pollitt, Mohamed Diame, Albert Crusat, David Jones, Jordi Gomez, Conor Sammon, Hugo Rodallega.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim Krul (G), Danny Simpson (James Perch 80), Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Davide Santon, Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa (Ryan Taylor 73), Yohan Cabaye (Shane Ferguson 84), Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse.

Subs: Rob Elliot (G), James Perch, Shane Ferguson, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Leon Best, Shola Ameobi.

Goals: Victor Moses (13, 15), Shaun Maloney (36), Franco Di Santo (45+4)
Yellow Cards: Alcaraz (18) Maloney (37) Simpson (37)
Red Cards: None
Possession: Wigan Athletic 56.35%, Newcastle United 43.65%.
Territorial Advantage: Wigan Athletic 50.8%, Newcastle United 49.2%.
Shots on Target: Wigan Athletic 6, Newcastle United 2.
Shots off Target: Wigan Athletic 2, Newcastle United 8.
Blocked Shots: Wigan Athletic 3, Newcastle United 1.
Corners: Wigan Athletic 4, Newcastle United 1.
Fouls: Wigan Athletic 15, Newcastle United 12.
Offsides: Wigan Athletic 3, Newcastle United 5.
Total Passes: Wigan Athletic 509, Newcastle United 387.
Total Crosses: Wigan Athletic 15, Newcastle United 14.
Passing Success: Wigan Athletic 86.8%, Newcastle United 83.2%.
Tackles: Wigan Athletic 15, Newcastle United 16.
Tackles Success: Wigan Athletic 86.7%, Newcastle United 62.5%.
Fouls: Wigan Athletic 15, Newcastle United 12.
Offsides: Wigan Athletic 3, Newcastle United 5.
Lost Balls: Wigan Athletic 125, Newcastle United 110.
Recovered Balls:Wigan Athletic 49, Newcastle United 38.

NUFCBlog Author: UTD111 UTD111 has written 59 articles on this blog.

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Posted on by UTD111 in category: Alan Pardew and Facts and stats and Hatem Ben Arfa and NUFC Match reports and Papiss Cisse and UTD111 , with tags:
Comment on this post

73 Responses

  1. Hmmm, so you didn’t take up my suggested title then, UTD111 – “Miracle worker Moses parts the Orange sea!” I liked it anyway.

    That photo’s of Pardew at Charlton Athletic, he always looked like that when he was there!

  3. BillytheFish says:
    April 28, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    “Beaten by the better side on the day who wanted it more!”

    We could have done with you in goal today, Billy, with your mate, “Johnny X,” upfront. :-)

  4. Lets not get carried away, everything wigan did today went right for them everything we did was a gnats knacker off! I would rather take a 4-0 defeat in our position than than a 4-0 win in theirs after all most of us would have taken 17,th place atb the start of the season.three wins to end the season howay the lads.

  7. sammy d says:
    April 28, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    “after all most of us would have taken 17,th place atb the start of the season”

    Most people thought that we’d be mid table, or possibly challenging for Europe before the season started according to our poll, sammy d. Hardly anyone thought that we’d be relegated.

  8. I remember a lot of the comments on the blog going into this game – and many of us were saying it would be tough.

    Just one of those thing really – personally, it doesn’t spoil what I think has been an excellent season for a “little club” who are “punching above our weight” with only 52,000 coming through the turnstiles, when we’re up against “big clubs” like Totts (36,000), Chelsea (40,000) and Liverpool (45,000) – and Man City (47,000 but frequently has lots of empty seats)…

    Good job we haven’t won anything of note for 43 years or the boogers might be calling us a “big club” too!!

  9. Great write up as always UTD111, like you said a couple of times this was just not going to be our day. I watched the 1st half and after about 39 minutes decided not to watch anymore, the fact I had to come to work had a little to do with it, but if not I’m sure I could have found something less pain staking to do than watching Wigan scoring a fourth.

    I think that’s the worst I have seen us all season and let’s face it, it’s a little kick in the teeth but hardly embarrasing when you consider Wigan’s other recent scalps, let’s just hope its a weekend for underdogs and Blackburn beat Tottenham tomorrow.

  10. Thanks Marty – it’s always good to get some feedback on the rubbish I write LOL!

    Yes I’m a total Blackburn Rovers man for the next 24 hours – I’ll have to dig out me grandad’s cloth cap and have some black puddin with me Sunday Dinner :)

  13. Worky @ 11

    Thanks Master Blogger! A compliment indeed!

    Worky @ 12

    I don’t dislike stats – I just think the only ones that count are goals for, goals against and the final league table!

    The rest are irrelevant!

  14. UTD111 says:
    April 28, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    “I don’t dislike stats – I just think the only ones that count are goals for, goals against and the final league table!

    The rest are irrelevant!”

    Tell that to Pardiola, UTD111. He loves his stats.

    I forgot to mention that their man, James McCarthy, was very good indeed. A real puppet master in the centre of midfield and probably the man of the match.

  15. McCarthy was good – but he was also lucky….

    If he’d done those tackles against Man Utd, Howard Webb would have sent him off!!

    8)

  16. UTD111 says:
    April 28, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    “If he’d done those tackles against Man Utd, Howard Webb would have sent him off!!”

    I was thinking more of the way he distributed the ball with some clever passing once he had it, UTD111.

  17. Aye he did that as well.

    As you know Worky, I’m a big fan of Moses – he was my Man of the Match today….

    United’s MoM was Coloccini for me…..

    What does everyone else think??

  18. According to Worky’s stats, Wigan had 8 shots and scored 4, that is Cisse-esque. On the other hand, Cisse was just a whisker off today and was not Cisse-esque.

    Chuck: told you yesterday Raylor would replace Ben Arfa and you said I was fishing.

  19. We’re allowed one game off in seven – hopefully this will bring our millionaires back to earth, and Chelsea will be made to suffer

  20. I think we showed a lot of fight in the second half.

    The worrying thing is that sometimes when we let in one the floodgates can open and the game is over.

    Worky, I know that most of what we have tried recently has come off and we have probably got a bit more than our play merited.

  21. UTD111 says:
    April 28, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    “What does everyone else think??”

    I know I wrote this earlier, but I think that Ashley should have bid more than £1.5 million for Moses when Hughton wanted him. That was a pathetic bid for someone like him.

  22. One criticism of Pardew. Why didn’t he give Leon Best a run out for 15 minutes. I assume he is fit, otherwise why have him on the bench.

  23. GS@22

    I think my question would be “to improve things? Or just a chance to give him some match practice as the game was gone?”

  24. UTD111: match practice.

    I also disagree with someone who said that Raylor for Ben Arfa was a bad sub. At 4-0 down why not save him for Wednesday. I would have taken Ba off as well, although Pardew may have thought Simpson was close to a red card.

  25. Aye

    See where you’re coming from GS

    I questioned the substitutions in the rubbish above but hen did offer a view that I thought he was keeping people for the Chelski game.

    Mind, if we play like we did today – it won’t make a ha’peth of difference

  26. Those of us who watched to-days game, probably came away with the belief we were well beaten by a side who played a superior tactical game.
    With quite a bit of possession, combining both short and long passing and used the width of the pitch to break us down.
    On the other hand we had difficulty again, stringing more than four passes to-gether and failed to open the game by attacking mainly through the middle.
    Being we could’nt break them down, it was resort to long balls (hoofball)
    Apparently during the half time period, our astute coaches and manager, could come up with nothing in the way of countering, as we continued to use the same old tired tactical plan as in the first half.
    The game itself was effectivly over following the second goal.
    A similar game to the recent Swansea game, where by pure luck and the oppositions inability to put two out of twenty four shots in the net, we came out with a win.
    So what am i getting at ?
    Should be obvious, we need a manager and perhaps coaches, that can bring some tactical nous to the side.
    We have the players and they have the required technique, but without the right coaching, you will see more of what you saw to-day.
    Of course there are those who will deny this and possibly believe to-days game was just an aberration, for whatever reason and think AP is doing a great job.
    Sorry guys, time for a trip to spec savers and a re- evaluation.

  27. I read your report UTD111 and agreed with most of it. We are probably unlucky to be coming up against the other form teams in our last 4 games. Look at Everton today.

    There is an interesting thing in The Guardian saying Bale may be off if Spurs don’t qualify for the Champions League. Really impressive stuff, a real team player. Why doesn’t he get his f@cking @rse in gear and make sure Spurs do qualify instead of moaning.

  29. Chuck:

    I’m not going to argue with you, but you do realise we won six in a row before this?

  30. Chuck @ 27

    Even if I accept what you say (which I don’t) – how does that explain the played 6, Won 6, Goals For 13, Goals Against 1, in the previous 6 games?

    Did the “astute coaches and manager” get it equally wrong in those 540 minutes of football??

  31. The Daily Mail had a massive photo feature on us yesterday so I figured we would be in trouble today. They even had quotes from Billy the cleaner and the Laundry Ladies.

  32. Martinez is the same coach who had Wigan bottom of the League two months ago. I would hold off annointing him the new Messiah (bible again UTD111). Ashley would have sacked him.

  33. @workyticket, are you my mate Duane in disguise? He is stat obsessed and will probably quote every one you have above to me in the club at some point.

    Not one for stats me, more the type to just see how it goes.

  34. Apparently Totts think they’ll get Martinez if Twitchy goes to be the latest failed Engerland Manager……

    Good luck to them with that LOL!

  35. Today was proof that we aren’t ready for the champions league. If we can underestimate opposition that badly and get beaten like that we won’t last a minute. I say this season has been excellent for us and as pards said were a year ahead of schedule in terms of progression. Newcastle weren’t even thinking of europe beginning of the season. We should still play our best last 3 games but in terms of champions leagu I don’t believe were ready. Another year and then I reckon we will be. Plus I think we would have a very good chance of silverware if we did europa league. I for one would be proud to be a geordie with my club representing us in the europa league. We’ll still attract top players who can see the potential to progress onto the likes of the champions league later on.

  36. GS sez …Ashley wouldda sacked him (Martinez)!

    Quite possible, thats the difference, between Dave Whelan and Ashley.
    Whelan being astute enough to hire a good manager and trust in his abilities, rather than going for a yes man, with limited tactical nous.

  37. GS says:
    April 28, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    “Ashley would have sacked him.”

    But Ashley knows nothing about football, and Llambias knows even less than that. Ashley probably would have sacked Ferguson in his early days at Manchester United too, or Ferguson would have sacked Ashley.

  38. Marty @33

    The thing about the media (and some bloggers) obsession with stats is:

    Past stats: “”so and so” has only won here 3 times out of six games” – me “so what?? – different days, different conditions, different players involved” Irrelevant!!

    Game stats: passes completed, possession, tackles, attempts blah de blah de blah….means nowt!!

    The only relevant stats in a game are: goals for, goals against.

    End of!!!

  39. @UTD111, totally agree, stats annoy me most when Newcastle are in the lead and the commentators will announce something like “let’s not forget, they have thrown leads away in the past, they “may” do it again” Really? You think? Shut it and just admit that we are better.

    “Shut it” is in no way aimed at workyticket!

  40. I find it a bit unreal, that no-one on this blog, will give either Rogers or Martinez credit for the job’s they have done with a budget of next to nowt and bargain basement players, for the most part.
    If they are so bad, then why have they both been touted for Arry’s job at Spurs ?
    It’s my belief they both will go on to bigger and better clubs, eventually.

  41. Chuck – I’ll give them both credit for the jobs they have done – without reservation.

    They are both “up and coming” managers who’s next test has to be “can you do it at a bigger club?”

    We’ve seen it all before – some make it, some don’t.

    I wish them both well when they attempt to move up the ladder.

    But it’s not easy when you come up against bigoted millionaires as your players – ask “AVB”

  42. Mcgarrity @35:

    Man U were not ready either judging by their performances against Basel and Bilbao! I do agree with you though.

    Worky @37: I’m not going to defend Ashley, he’s made some crazy decisions. He might have some good football men in now saving himself from himself. Who know’s? I also know that Carr was Hughton’s appointment, you may have even told me that!!!

  43. Chuck:

    Martinez did the world cup with Gray and Keys in the U.S. as you probably know. He seemed very astute and likable and has done a great job at Wigan with limited resources.

    Except for today, he has very little to do with NUFC.

  44. The thing about Mike Ashley……

    Even though I personally can’t forgive him for what he did to one of my heroes Sir Kevin Keegan – but lets park that, that’s my issue…..

    The man doesn’t like coming second to anyone – he’s a winner and good at it. He’s upset the “London City” but made a fortune. He’s made mistakes at United (God!! has he!!) – but credit to the bloke, he’s learned about how to run a footy club. I just hope he’s getting a taste for it – because if he really put his mind to it – you just might get to see a very successful Newcastle United.

    Wouldn’t that be something?

  45. UTD111: the guff Pardew was spouting about Ashley having 25% of his worth means nothing. He has great wealth with or without NUFC so he doesn’t need to sell.

    I hope he gets it right. It would be nice to EXPECT us to win rather than always having that nagging doubt that it will all go wrong.

    Just for a while I would like to know what it is like to be a Man U or Barcelona fan.

  46. UTD111 says:
    April 28, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    UTD111, How did he upset the “London City” exactly?

    He just had a happy accident with Hughton, who in turn btrought in Carr, who in turn has brought some fantastic players who have been at the root of our current success. So what does he do? He and Llambias sack Hughton and run a smear campaign suggesting that he was just a cipher and that it was the players who were really running the club.

    He also ran also ran a covert smear campaign against your your Kev BTW, remember “the Madness of King Kev” in the Mirror Group newspapers (Ashley’s favourite for that sort of thing)? How Keegan was a madman who demanded Henry, Ronaldinho, Lampard, Beckham et al whatever the cost to build an ageing dream team no matter what the cost? The “very high source at Newcastle United” quoted in that piece resembles the sidekick of “Dangermouse,” or an Owl. ;-)

  47. GS says:
    April 28, 2012 at 10:23 pm

    “UTD111: the guff Pardew was spouting about Ashley having 25% of his worth means nothing. He has great wealth with or without NUFC so he doesn’t need to sell.”

    GS, since he started with the Sports Directification of Newcastle United, his shares in Sports Direct have increased by the equivalent of hundreds of millions of pounds, possibly more than the value of Noocarstle United itself.

  48. UTD111 says:
    April 28, 2012 at 10:14 pm

    “you just might get to see a very successful Newcastle United.”

    You just might get to see an even more successful Sports Direct, which is what matters.

  49. Worky @47: I know, I just didn’t want to get into a financial discussion. Simply wanted to point out that they are talking cr@p and feeding us the company line.

    I sometimes wish that people would realise that just because some of us do not overtly criticise Ashley and and his cronies all of the time we do not kneel at the altar of Ashley.

  50. Worky @ 46

    I remember reading articles in the early days of Sports Direct about the stiffs in the London City not being best pleased with Mike Ashley’s business practices.

    Personally I remember thinking – anyone who upsets that lot has got my vote.

  51. Hopefully Chuck is on the Amstel, because I will say that if we were to get beat, I’m glad it was Wigan what done it. I’d like them to stay up.

    Now, let’s get after Chelsea.

  53. UTD111 says:
    April 28, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    “Worky @ 46

    I remember reading articles in the early days of Sports Direct about the stiffs in the London City not being best pleased with Mike Ashley’s business practices.”

    Ahhh, I see. Hardly the “early days of Sports Direct,” UTD111. That was shareholders, now mostly ex shareholders in Sports Direct angry about the floatation of the company back in 2007 where he made almost a billion (not long before he took over Newcastle United).

    Some time after that, the shares all plumetted and he bought them all back at the bottom of the market, and made a fortune all over again!

  54. Worky:

    Richard Branson did the same thing with Virgin after the crash of ’87. In fact, he took Virgin private again. Now we are in bed with him as well.

    UTD111: I think that far from sticking it to the City boys, Ashley went along with them to sell at the top of the market. I don’t have any objection to that, it is up to the professional money managers to do their homework. Individual investers never get in on initial public offerings so I doubt if many regular people were burned.

    As for buying the shares back. Ashley knows his business better than anyone, so he knew they were undervalued. It still took guts to do it as the rollercoaster of the European borses since then shows.

    What it says to me is that Ashley is a very, very smart guy who will probably get it right at NUFC (and yes, I am a licensed stock broker and financial planner).

  55. UTD111 says,

    “The thing about the media (and some bloggers) obsession with stats is:

    Past stats: “”so and so” has only won here 3 times out of six games” – me “so what?? – different days, different conditions, different players involved” Irrelevant!!

    Game stats: passes completed, possession, tackles, attempts blah de blah de blah….means nowt!!

    The only relevant stats in a game are: goals for, goals against.

    End of!!!”

    Passes lead to chances, chances lead to goals. Therefore surely that is important statistically?

    You don’t block, you don’t tackle, means you let in goals.

    They are important. Every pro club takes them seriously. Only time they are not important is Sunday league.

    How can attempts not be important, when an attempt is the only way to lead to a goal?

    I know what you’re saying to a degree, but don’t think the whole picture should be dismissed.

    Glad I didn’t see the game today, it’s the first one I’ve missed all season. Dunno what could possibly of happened. Fair enough losing, but 4-0 at half-time?

    I think Martinez is a brilliant young manager, who we certainly will see ply his trade at a bigger club soon, but did the players just turn up and think they’d win today? What formation did we play?

  56. GS says:
    April 29, 2012 at 12:38 am

    “Worky:

    Richard Branson did the same thing with Virgin after the crash of ’87. In fact, he took Virgin private again. Now we are in bed with him as well.”

    GS, it wasn’t just about that, it was also about irregular corporate governance and communication issues, but i don’t want to turn this into a financial ‘blog

    I know how aspirational people nowadays tend to think that anyone who’s made alot of money is a “smart” guy. Well I’ve known some, I’ve even been related to some and I can tell you that some are indeed “smart” and talented, some are lucky, some are ruthless and dishonest, some are involved with organised crime, and many are a mixture of all of those things.

  57. Jimbob says:
    April 29, 2012 at 12:56 am

    “What formation did we play?”

    Jimbob, it started as a 4-3-3 as you probably know really, but there was some strange stuff gannin’ on. Santon spent much of the game in the centre of midfield for one thing.

    Wigan lined up at first as a highly defensive 5-4-1, but ended up, not for the first time in there recent renaissance as more of a highly offensive Cruyffian 3-4-3, like Barcelona’s original “El Dream Team.” I have to hand it to Martinez in his recent games where he’s turned things around. He’s shown some real daring and tactical sophistication to get himself out of his hole. Don’t know why he always has to leave it so late though!

  58. Worky: agreed. Let’s not turn this into a financial blog.

    I am taking a bit of time away from work because I was so disgusted with some of the practices of some of my “associates”. I’m too old to change fields but I need a break from the lies and greed, so I do know where you are coming from.

    I don’t know much really about Ashley because I am more up to speed on the US markets. However, I was in Newcastle about a year ago and was in Sports Direct in Eldon Square. That’s when I came to the conclusion that Ashley must be really smart to make so much money on tat.

    I will take your word for it that there is more to the story.

    My last word on the subject, but we have had a few chancers at NUFC including The Pirate, John Hall and Fat Freddy.

  59. GS says:
    April 29, 2012 at 1:32 am

    “However, I was in Newcastle about a year ago and was in Sports Direct in Eldon Square. That’s when I came to the conclusion that Ashley must be really smart to make so much money on tat.”

    Well, we can deviate a little bit, GS! ;-)

    There are many huge fortunes in crap, especially if you’re a huckster like Ashley. Now that’s one thing he is good at!

    One thing about being extremely rich is that you can afford to have very good advisors.

    In my capacity as a fundraiser and campaigner once, I used to have a brilliant lawyer from one of the very finest legal practices in the UK pro bono. The kind of lawyer who can only usually be afforded by the very rich and powerful. I was almost above the law and if I didn’t heed his advice, I would have almost certainly ended up in prison. I got my friend another top lawyer through contacts on a pro bono basis (because he was being framed by the bizzies) and he saved him from 5 years in prison in a trice when a duty solictor just told him to own up and cop a plea. That’s what many others like him have had to do all the time.

    The “moral” of that story is that many things that would land ordinary people in jail are just taken for granted by the likes of Ashley.

    ps: And Fat Freddy if you knew some of the things I know. ;-)

  60. a glitch nonetheless, when the second goal went in was thinking why didnt we set up like the swansea match as wigans passing was causing us real problems but doing that when a second fly’s in would be to late.

  61. We did make some adjustments in the second half, nufc337. We looked like we were playing three at the back at one stage, and we certainly stemmed the tide of goals. It was too late though and we certainly didn’t look like hitting back, except for a brief time of around 10-15 minutes at one stage.

  63. on those 10-15 minutes the score could of been 4-4 if luck went our way! they sing cisse scores when he wants well the wigan match he decided not to score :P

  64. nufc337, what I do know is that first half, especially the first quarter, Martinez and Wigan played some of the best football I’ve seen played by any club this season. They certainly earned it.

    I’ve also put the Wigan MOTD highlights in the highlights post now BTW.

  65. Worky:

    we shouldn’t get into it. I personally know of hundreds of millions of $s in tax scams that were perpetrated by the biggest accounting firms over here and nobody ever got prosecuted. The ones that got caught only had to pay back about half the tax savings. Now theres an incentive to do the right thing!

    My ex-boss made $3,000,000 one year and paid less taxes than the cleaner.

  66. NUFC337:

    I watched the whole match and Wigan deserved it. I usually don’t like it when we get beat, but for some reason I don’t mind it today and I think it almost ensures Wigan’s survival.

    I thought Ba and Cabaye were a bit flat today (more so than the others).

    The Chelsea and the Spurs matches are both on live here in the US. Should be an interesting morning.

  67. GS says:
    April 29, 2012 at 2:50 am

    “My ex-boss made $3,000,000 one year and paid less taxes than the cleaner.”

    GS, I once had a very interesting conversation with someone who used to work with Rupert Murdoch’s tax affairs overseas, he was one pf many. Percentage wise it was in single figures, I daresay that it still is, and it still made him furious apparently!

    ps Don’t mention the hackers in the UK and Israel, and how Sky rival, ITV digital, went out of business here when their codes were hacked and released online.

  68. Murdoch is a difficult one. He is a bible bashing bigot but I get live football over here for $10 a month because of him. If I had a soul, I would feel like I am selling it to the Devil.

    But, no worries, footy’s on in 8 hours.

  69. They were just talking to some Man City fans on Sky and one lad said “I’m not worried about [Manchester] United – it’s the Newcastle away game that worries me, they’ve been playing some unbelievable football”

    Obviously recorded before yesterday afternoon!!

  70. Got to say well done to Wigan for that. They were truly wonderful yesterday. That win puts them 3 points clear from relegation.

    Here’s hoping that QPR and Blackburn show the same spunk today against Chelsea and the yids.

    …Please.

  71. Talk about a strange game. The scoreline didn’t reflect the competition, especially in the second half. Their first two goals were a product of horrible defensive breakdowns, but credit to Moses for taking them. The second was really frustrating, from the half clearance to the midfielder who tracked Moses (Tiote?) letting him go at the edge of our box. As for not having any shape-again, I feel like it was meant to be 4-3-3, at least until half, but our players were indisciplined about staying in their spots: Santon, Jonas and Ba were all over the place, Colo was constantly having to cover Santon (nothing new but it would have been nice if Santon were more effective going forward) and Simpson just seemed to go missing.

    On the other hand, we dominated stretches of the second half, hit a post and a crossbar. We also got nothing out of the ref. Another day might have seen red cards for McCarthy (the tackle on Cabaye alone or another yellow for any of a number of subsequent tackles) and Figueroa (for his horror tackle on Ba, studs right down his leg and never going to get the ball). I don’t care how good McCarthy was, he wouldn’t have been pulling any strings from the dressing room, which is where he should have been. If we’re a Manchester team or Arsenal or Spurs, he’s dismissed.

    However, we deserved nothing here as we looked tired, jaded and listless. I can’t help but think we were affected by CFC’s win at Barca, knowing that even finishing 4th could see us miss the CL.

    AP’s right. We need a response-and a result-at CFC. Otherwise, it’s just coasting in and we may as well play the kids against City and Everton.

  72. Woops ! was looking for the NUFC.org blog and found my way onto the “Financial services blog” by mistake, sorry !

  73. tunyc says:
    April 29, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    “I feel like it was meant to be 4-3-3, at least until half, but our players were indisciplined about staying in their spots: Santon, Jonas and Ba were all over the place, Colo was constantly having to cover Santon (nothing new but it would have been nice if Santon were more effective going forward) and Simpson just seemed to go missing.”

    tunyc, it was Santon and Cabaye, who played much of the game in the centre of midfield with Tiote. Our full backs are pushing so far forward that they are now de facto wingers. Ba and Ben Arfa cut right in to the centre for much of the game.