Doh!Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton Date: 28th January 2012 Kick Off: 5.15pm Referee: Lee Probert
Quite simply, this was a game United should not have lost. Even with the cautious tactics employed by Pardew we were clearly a class above, dominated 75% of the game and had a penalty appeal for a blatant handball turned down. With a bit more adventure and somebody up front who actually had a clue, we could and should have won this comfortably. Instead, we were dumped out of the cup by a fluke deflected goal and a Brighton team who didn’t get into the game until the last 15 minutes. I’m beginning to think Sir Kevin Keegan was right about the club being cursed.
I watched the game on ESPN. The high point was watching “Gully’s Girls” the Brighton Cheerleaders jumping about, the low point was having to listen to Chris Waddle – the only geordie I know who pronounces “pace” as “pies” – still, he did used to work in a sausage factory so it may be some kind of obsession – but I digress.
Brighton's Amex Stadium.Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton Date: 28th January 2012 Kick Off: 5.15pm Referee: Lee Probert
It’s the 4th Round of the FA Cup and we’re still in it! Added to that some notable teams such as Manchester City have already left the competition, and the so-called “big boys” keep getting drawn against each other for a change which can’t be bad. Could this be our year? I would love it, just love it if we went all the way (and beat Tottenham in the final, but that’s just a personal wish…). At least six Premier League sides will go out in this round so there’s everything to play for!
But first there’s the small matter of facing a rather good Brighton and Hove Albion for a place in the last 16 at the 22,500 capacity American Express Community Stadium in East Sussex. Brighton needed a replay to knock out non-league club Wrexham, in the last round. They also reached the fifth round for the first time in 25 years last season, and have lost only one of their last 11 home FA Cup matches over six years.
Brighton play a style of football which has been likened to that of Swansea City, technically very good keeping the ball and passing it well. They come into the game on the back of three straight wins in the Championship and can be expected to be confident and present a really stiff challenge for United. (more…)
...And Cash Up Front Please!This transfer business can sometimes be similar to a game of chess between the clubs involved, but if it is a game then one thing is for sure, over the last couple of seasons Newcastle United have shown themselves to be one of the better players – with the quiet but efficient aquisition of plyers like Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba smoothly and with the minimum of fuss.
In contrast with the past, United go about their business quietly and sign up some gems before other clubs are alerted and can compete. We don’t always get the players we want of course, but that’s life!
Take the most recent example of our interest in Watford defender Adrian Mariappa. Nobody saw that coming, and it was Watford who let the negotiations out of the bag, with their boss Sean Dyche telling anyone who would listen “Newcastle United are miles away with their bid”. However, the game is afoot – the Hornets have refused to give United a valuation for the player and are obviously just waiting to see how high they can get the price to go as the clock ticks towards transfer deadline day. (more…)
Calamity At The Cottage!Venue: Craven Cottage, London. Date: Sat 21st Jan, 2011. Kick-Off: 3:00 pm. Referee: Lee Mason (Lancs).
If ever you want to see a textbook example of “a game of two halves”, get the DVD of this game. though personally, it’s a video horror show I’ll be steering clear of.
United went into this game sitting in sixth place on merit, and with a chance of leapfrogging Arsenal and moving into fifth. It was a nice sunny day down in London, the pitch looked in good condition and there was black and white in evidence everywhere – even down to Newcastle’s all black strip contrasting with Fulham in all white. What could possibly go wrong?
First Half
The opening pattern of the game was one we’ve become accustomed to this season, a scrappy first 15 mins with Newcastle gradually settling into our possession and passing game. A foul by Ben Arfa on Hangeland after 7 minutes was also a good sign that our latest right winger was going to put his foot in. Best optimistically put a ball through for Ameobi on 8 minutes expecting him to run after it – you’d think he’d know by now. The first bit of real excitement came with a Senderos mistake after 11 minutes when he almost put the ball into his own net. United were starting to exert some good pressure now and were definitely looking the more likely team to score. Ben Arfa hit a good left-foot shot from outside the area which the keeper just got to, diving to his left. (more…)
Craven Cottage: Home of the "Cottagers"Fulham are one of those inconsistent teams that seem to go from one extreme to the other. This season for example they have crushed Queens Park Rangers 6-0 at Craven Cottage, including a hat-trick for Andy Johnson, but also lost 0-5 to easy meat like Manchester United (did you see what I did there?). As far as this game goes, one of the factors influencing the result will be which Fulham team actually turns up!
This inconsistency could, of course, be partly due to their squad being stretched to it’s limits with their extra games in the Europa League. They are no longer involved in that particular competition following a draw with Odense which ended their interest. As a result however, the game against Newcastle United will be Fulham’s 38th match of the season, and more than one commentator has been heard to remark that they have looked a bit tired lately. Lets hope that continues for at least one more game!
2012 got off to a good start for Fulham with an impressive 2-1 home victory over London rivals Arsenal, and this was followed by a 4-0 victory over another London team, Charlton, in the FA Cup – also at Craven Cottage. Then the inconsistency kicked in when they travelled to struggling Blackburn last weekend and lost 3-1. The danger for United is that Fulham have a pretty good home record, having lost only to Everton, Spurs and Manchester United. (more…)
