Toure Double Trouble Sinks Battling Geordies

Posted on May 6th, 2012 | 28 Comments |

Yaya Double Trouble
Venue: St James’ Park.
Date: Sun 06th May 2012.
Kick-Off: 1:30pm.
Referee: Howard Webb.

On a day that United unveiled a statue of the late great Sir Bobby Robson, Manchester City were in town desperate for a win to keep their title hopes alive.

United were also in need of a win to keep our Champions League aspirations going, so the scene was set for a titanic battle between two of the best teams in the English Premier League, with both sets of fans able to point to players capable of winning the game.

There was a pre-match scare with Tim Krul having a hand injury but relief when the teams were announced and Krul’s name was there. Not many United fans would have wanted to go into this game without our Dutch keeper, who Alan Pardew reckons has won us at least 12 points this season on his own.

First Half

Cheick Tiote started the game with 8 stitches in his head and it was a bit of a concern early on when he overhit his first couple of passes. Was he affected by the head wound or maybe he’d eaten too many shredded wheat. Anyway the good news is that he settled down as the match went on. The first six minutes were cat and mouse with the only highlight being Cabaye’s boot unintentionally colliding with Barry’s face – sadly for Barry, the event didn’t improve his looks.

United were playing 4-4-2 with Ba and Cisse up front in what was arguably our strongest team except for the absence of Steven Taylor. City’s first attack came in 9th minute and this resulted in a corner and a great save from Tim Krul. In 11th minute the Man City fans sang “where were you when you were sh*t”. That’ll be the same Man City fans who are top of the league but still have empty seats at their home games.

Co-commentator on Sky TV was Niall Quinn, who was recently sensible enough to quit a small, poorly-supported football club for a career in the media. To be fair to the big man, his comments on United were supportive even though, as an ex Man City player, we might have expected something else.

As the half evolved Manchester City were gradually getting on top. On 16 minutes a great save from Krul denied them the lead, and more City pressure followed culminating in Krul rushing out of his goal towards the corner, not getting the ball, and relying on his defence to get him out of jail. City won another corner in 20th minute which Perch cleared and were back again 3 minutes later with Krul again in action.

Ben Arfa got the first yellow card of the game. Tevez took the free kick and Krul saved yet again. Just before the half hour mark, great work from Ben Arfa saw Ba shoot just over. This must have rattled Hart who put his subsequent goal kick straight at Ba, who ran forward and was about to slip it through to Cabaye when Barry “took one for the team” and brought Cabaye down. Cabaye’s free kick was straight at the wall, but at this stage United were clearly forcing themselves into the game.

The 32nd minute brought Tiote’s almost inevitable yellow card, for a foul on Silva. Silva took the free kick himself but weakly put it into touch. A minute later United had a great opportunity. Ba in the area had his shot blocked, then Ben Arfa’s follow up effort was saved. Cabaye also put one past the post shortly afterwards.

Another yellow card, a bit of a soft one, saw Perch being penalised for standing too close to Tevez – at least that’s what it looked like to me. Howard Webb, supposedly Manchester United’s 12th man was not giving us the lickings of a dog. I trust someone will report this behaviour to “Sralex”. I was actually shouting as much at the telly and it seemed to work, as Webb almost immediately tried to go some way to evening things up by booking Toure. After the early Man City dominance, the game was a lot more even now.

The half ended with some excitement. Firstly a good run by Jonas saw Ben Arfa switch to the left and cross for Ba to head over the bar. Then at the other end we saw a Barry double shot – the first blocked by Coloccini and the second cleared off the line by Santon. Great defending by the lads.

Second Half

Man City again started strongly winning a few free kicks in the first five minutes of the second half, but not doing much with them. A corner in 52nd minute was cleared by Jonas but fell to Tevez “he plays when he wants” – who’s shot was high and wide. Another Tevez shot a couple of minutes later was saved by the finest dutch keeper in the world.

The 61st minute saw a substitution which was to ultimately change the game. Nasri went off, and notorious leg breaker De Jong came on to a crescendo of boos and catcalls. I only used “crescendo” there because I know the owner of this blog likes us to introduce a few posh words to demonstrate how we’re a class above the other blogs! 3 minutes later a great link up between Ba and Ben Arfa should have paid dividends, but ended with Ben Arfa firing over.

Tevez was hooked off on 70 minutes and replaced by Dzecko. After 69 minutes Mancini’s ploy of bringing on De Jong to allow Toure to push forward unfortunately worked. Toure got the ball on the edge of the United area and curved a shot into the right hand corner of the net past the outstretched fingers of Krul diving to his left. Sadly for us, even Howard Webb couldn’t think of a reason to disallow the goal. Newcastle United 0 Manchester City 1

Alan Pardew reacted 5 minutes later by sending on Ferguson to replace Perch – which seemed sensible as he would give us more in forward positions. He also however took off Hatem Ben Arfa and sent on Ameobi. Whilst I could see how Shola might give us more options, I admit to being confused as to how withdrawing Ben Arfa would help us get back into the game.

On 77 minutes Cisse got on the end of a cross from Ameobi but his header was too firm when more of a glance was neded and it went past the post. A couple more yellow cards were then dished out by Webb in a game which was far from dirty. He must have felt the TV camera’s weren’t giving him enough attention. Anyway, Zaballeta’s was deserved for a cynical foul on Ferguson, then Ferguson himself was yellow carded for a soft one on Silva.

Pardew then threw on Ryan Taylor for Tiote in a bid to liven up the last ten minutes, plus injury time. He was probably hoping we might get a free kick on the edge of the box. City responded by putting Richards on for Silva. To their credit, United were still producing some good football and setting up half chances as they tried their best to get the elusive equalizer.

Unfortunately pressing forward proved to be our undoing in 88th minute when City poured forward from their own area and we found ourselves with 2 men back as 4 City players arrived. The move ended with that man Toure again applying the finishing touch and it was game over. Newcastle United 0 Manchester City 2

We went into this game knowing that Arsenal had only drawn yesterday and a win would give us a shout at third place. To be fair though, whilst United played well and fought to the last minute, we were beaten by a better team on the day. With European football already assured however the United faithful stayed behind at this last home game of the season, to give the lads a rousing reception for what has been a great roller coaster ride, a very successful season for us which not many people predicted before a ball was kicked. Thanks lads!

Newcastle United v Manchester City full match video, extended highlights and interviews.

Goals: Yaya Toure (70, 89).

Teams

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul (G), James Perch (Shane Ferguson 74), Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Davide Santon, Cheick Tiote (Ryan Taylor 83), Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa (Shola Ameobi 74), Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse.

Subs: Rob Elliot (G), Shane Ferguson, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Sylvain Marveaux, Shola Ameobi.

Manchester City (4-4-1-1): Joe Hart(G) Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (C), Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy; Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure; Samir Nasri (Nigel de Jong 62), Carlos Tevez (Edin Dzeko 70), David Silva (Micah Richards 85), Sergio Aguero.

Subs: Costel Pantilimon (G), Micah Richards, Aleksandar Kolarov, Nigel De Jong, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Edin Dzeko.

Yellow Cards: Ben Arfa (25), Barry (28), Tiote (31), Perch (35), Toure (37), Zabaletta (77), Ferguson (79),

Red Cards: None

Stats

Possession: Newcastle United 43.7%, Manchester City 56.3%.
Territorial Advantage: Newcastle United 44.9%, Manchester City 55.1%.
Shots on Target: Newcastle United 3, Manchester City 6.
Shots off Target: Newcastle United 8, Manchester City 10.
Blocked Shots: Newcastle United 5, Manchester City 7.
Corners: Newcastle United 2, Manchester City 6.
Offsides: Newcastle United 1, Manchester City 3.
Total Passes: Newcastle United 383, Manchester City 502.
Total Crosses: Newcastle United 15, Manchester City 20.
Passing Success: Newcastle United 73.9%, Manchester City 82.5%.
Lost Balls: Newcastle United 161, Manchester City 163.
Recovered balls: Newcastle United 64, Manchester City 77.
Tackles: Newcastle United 27, Manchester City 20.
Tackles Success: Newcastle United 66.7%, Manchester City 60%.
Fouls: Newcastle United 12, Manchester City 8.

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

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Comment on this post

28 Responses

  3. AndyMac says:
    May 6, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    “I thought it was being removed from another part of the city ?”

    Jackie Milburn was moved, Andy.

  4. As a city fan I will say we were the better team but Newcastle played well and certainly had us worried on a couple of occassions. I’m glad you’re fighting for champions league as you’ve played some great football this season.

    If you’d have beat us this post would have been entirely different !

  5. UTD – great report, many thanks

    Gary White – thanks mate – good luck for the title!

    NUFC – well done lads, I’m proud of you. Let’s go out with a bang at Everton – HWTL

  6. Interesting, if uninformed, comments regarding Man City’s home gates. Even in the intellectual desert that is Newcastle, some may have noticed that City live in the shadow of the most successful team in English football history. Despite this, City’s gates have remained consistently high, even averaging just under 30,000 when we dropped into the third tier. If only that could be said about Geordie support when the Magpies were relegated to the old second division. In the 1990/91 season, Newcastle’s average attendance was 16,879. Shameful for a one club city.

  7. Aye Supermac. It’s been a crackin’ season. If we win next weekend, we could still finish 4th. Spuds and Arse are really erratic, so there’s no telling what could happen. Everton have pride and position to play for (Fulham are right on their arse) but depending upon what happens w/Chelsea we’ll likely have a lot more riding on the match. Hopefully that gives us the focus we need to take all three points. Will be a tough fixture no matter what however.

    I’m really curious to see what happens this summer.

  8. Kippaxpete

    Nice try. Selective focus on one season 18 years ago!

    The reference in the article was to the fact that when the telly cameras pan around your ground, there are pockets of empty seats to be seen. Are you saying your club sells out all your home games? Clue: you don’t mate.

    You have to remember, as people like you keep reminding us, United is a club that has won bugger all of note for 44 years. Our crowds are incredible against that background and I’d be happy to compare average home gates with yours this season? Let me set it out for you….

    Newcastle United 49,935 (Newcastle population 259,000)
    Man Citeh 46,991 (Manchester population 2.5 million)

    2 Clues to help you…..

    you’re the ones going for the title……
    your capacity is 47,805.

  10. With Man U having been 8 points ahead of City with 6 games to go will Martin Tyler and his mates finally shut up about Newcastle being 12 points clear at Christmas?

    Probably not.

    Mancini will get manager of the year and he probably should. We have done well but would Pardew really deserve it for finishing 5th? As for Rodgers, he has worked wonders on his budget, but could that really be justified by finishing mid-table and tailing off at the end of the season?

    Oh, unless Chelsea win the Champions League.

  11. Kippaxpete:

    Do you have the 16,879 number memorised? If so, I think you should find something better to do with your time.

  12. Strangely, there’s this thing called the internet. It might have even reached far flung outposts like Newcastle. All you have to do is type a question into what’s called a search engine and it gives you the answer.

  13. Well is what it is, looks like NUFC as a club gained a lot of respect and surprised many.
    Including myself, thought we would end up around mid table.
    Soh! we may not get to play in the Champions league, but certainly got the attention of quite a few players out there who may have visions of playing in the EPL.
    And to have a good run as we did, does’nt hurt our chances of signing them.
    It was nice to see our recent signings have such good seasons.
    Obviously Ba was a find, though he has been out of the spotlight since Cisse’s arrival and what else can be said about a guy who averages a goal a game ?
    Though he got a few decent goals, the outstanding mifield playmaker/DM Cabaye has been outstanding, laying on some sublimely weighted passes and is not shy at putting his foot in.
    No doubt caught the eye of a few clubs.
    Of course (having forced his way into the side) HBA has had an eye catching last few weeks, can someone tell me why this guy has been warming the bench for a large part of the season ?
    The other newcomer Santon has shown some skills at getting forward, he could be deployed as a FB a center midfielder or even as a winger, nice skills to have.
    Same question concerning warming that bench.
    Among those not recent buys, of course Colo. has had his usual productive season and has done extra work in the middle since Saylors injury.
    Tiote, what can you say about a guy who is willing to play with a heedfull of stitches, another outstanding season.
    One that has seen a lot of improvement, better distribution and not sending so many of the opposition into the stands.
    Of course we have become accostomed to Jonas’ hard defensive and fetch and carry role’s that we take him for granted, until he’s not available, another season of hard running.
    I’m hoping we are not dumb enough to get rid of Simpson, possibly the most improved player in the side.
    His steady uncomplicated “KISS” style goes mainly un-noticed by most and if it’s about money for chrisake fix it.
    Even the much maligned Shola, has had a decent season and though not a starter, has proven to be a pretty good second striker, laying on some nice passes and getting the vital goal, now and then.
    I’m expecting big things from young Ferguson, going to be a great left winger, loads of talent.
    We should see more of Marveaux, next season, hopefully he will be set to play in the near future.
    Whats the word on Saylor, who had played his ass off untill the injury, he was missed.
    Our new hero and supersub Perch has done everything demanded of him, playing all over the place and giving it his all.
    Not a great fan of either Raylor or Williamson, but they have also given 100%.
    On saying that, what we are in need of is help on the back line, we are badly in need of at least two or three quality players there, that is if we have intentions of garnering a bit of silverware, this coming season.

  14. UTD111. Precisely what point are you trying to make? If you’re born in Newcastle, you support Newcastle. Judging by your indignation, I’ve hit a nerve. Having just checked, the Chavs R Us Arena holds around 52,400. However, in common with every other stadium, the true capacity is restricted by safety considerations and so forth. As City fans did when Newcastle were busily throwing away a 12 point lead all those year’s ago, you should be getting behind us in the battle to defeat the evil empire that is MUFC. Let’s save the vitriol for them.

  16. Immensely proud of the lads this season n I believe in my heart that something special is going to happen next week n we will be in the champs league these lads deserve it for the unbelievable season they have had the IMMORTALS as I like to call them have shocked the world of football n have made me so proud. HWTL!!!!

  17. Nigerian toon army, I really admire your optimism and of course, it is still possible. I guess that we going to have to be Fulham and West Brom supporters for a week. Both of them can be tricky customers who could take some points off Arsenal and Spurs with a bit of luck on their side. Unfortunately for us though, Everton can be very tricky customers too, especially at the end of a season when they seem to make up for poor starts and race up the the table.

  18. It appears with our recent recruiting of non uk players,
    that having foreign nationals in the side generates a tremendous interest in their birth countries, and has the distinct probability of generating revenue from that
    relationship.
    After all Nigeria is Guinness’ biggest market.
    Perhaps we should should get Carr to comb the leagues for say players from China, Japan, Korea,Russia, hey we can use the revenue and think how it will make Sports Direct a name that is known globally.
    And who knows theres gotta be some good players at reasonable prices.
    Think Ashley wants to break into the French market first,, hell we can dump the Frenchies for a massive profit and start on the Dutch market, before you know it we will be the best known club in England and Sports Direct will have clubs around the world, advertising the
    company brand,
    Revenue, you want more revenue, dont wait for Llambias to figure it out, hire a pro.

  19. Kippaxpete, I am happy for you and the fans of your club. I remember, back in the day, when Frannie Lee, Mike Summerbee and Alan Ball were in your side. However, what I would much prefer is if you guys had won the title without throwing monopoly money into the game. It would be interesting to see what would happen if the FA decided that points were not just awarded for winning and drawing, but for being able to break-even financially. I am not saying you have “bought the title” because we all know it is not that simple, but your owners have, more than any other, shunted the game a lot further in that direction. Personally, I feel it is a sad day for the sport and a sorry reflection of how spoilt our world has become through the scourge of materialism. We are all, in the grander scheme of things, the poorer for it.

  21. Paul, divven’t get me started on the “scourge of materialism” in football. I read Llambias’ latest tract on the “S_____ D_____ A____.” from his programme notes today. Then I watched the players coming out of the tunnel, and all over the tunnel walls were new “Sports Direct, Sports Direct, Sports Direct” stickers. Then they ran out on the pitch and it was just “Sports Direct” everyhere. Then, after the game, I was watching the post match interviews and the walls behind the managers were just absoulutely covered with new “S_____ D_____ A____, S_____ D_____ A____” stickers. They are relentless, and the worst thing of all is the more success we have, the more they will push their agenda until the club that used to be Newcastle United just fades away. Even the unveiling of that Bobby Robson statue was just a sop to the fans at a strategic time, something to shut them up so they can take their agenda even further. Many of them don’t even seem to realise what’s gannin’ on yet, never mind where it will end.

  22. doddsa says:
    May 7, 2012 at 4:06 am

    “Ha ha, I am a toon fan, and you lot are a f*ckin joke.”

    Ha ha, I’m a Toon fan too, doddsa, and you’re as pissed as a fart! ;-)

  23. Thanks Paul for injecting some reasoned argument into this ‘debate’. I do concur with your sentiments. I can also assure you that the vast majority of City fans feel likewise. It doesn’t sit well with us either. In our owners’ favour, they recognise the vital importance of maintaining that link with the fans and have continued to promote open days, work with supporters clubs and finance community work. Whilst the corrosivie effect of inflated transfer fees and wages cannot be ignored, it has always been the case that money, and lots of it, often helps to bring success. Let’s be clear. City haven’t won the title and, in time honoured fashion, may yet snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If we do, it won’t have been bought in exactly the same way that it never was by Chelsea or the scum from Trafford (a borough outside of Manchester incidently).

  24. P.S. Paul. You may have hit the broon ale a bit too hard last night. Unfortunately, Alan Ball’s only association with us was as manager when he oversaw yet another relegation. The great triumvirate was Bell, Lee and Summerbee.

  25. Well done to the manc fan who was gracious in victory, not so well done to the troll though.

  26. kippaxpete says:
    P.S. Paul. You may have hit the broon ale a bit too hard last night. Unfortunately, Alan Ball’s only association with us was as manager when he oversaw yet another relegation. The great triumvirate was Bell, Lee and Summerbee.

    Pardon me! Actually, it wasn’t the Newkie Brown so much as being knackered. But yes, of course… Colin Bell, that was the man. I was slighly hesitant when I put Alan Ball down. I knew he had something to do with the club but his name didn’t seem quite right.

  27. workyticket says:
    “Paul, divven’t get me started on the “scourge of materialism” in football. I read Llambias’ latest tract on the “S_____ D_____ A____.”

    Worky, I guess that DL’s argument would be that if we want Champions League/European football, it’s a price we will just have to pay.

  28. CLiNT FLiCK. By ‘troll’ do you mean someone who takes issue with ludicrously biased match reporting peppered with snide comments. If so, I suggest you check the generally accepted meaning of the term in this context. If you can’t cope with a bit of harmless banter you need to stop being so precious and grow a pair. For the record, I’m genuinely delighted for Newcastle football club, particularly as they have massively overachieved in spite of totally unscrupulous owners. Your boys put up a far better fight than Manure last Monday.