Following on from part one of Newcastle United’s 2011 / 2012 season review, we begin at the start of the new year with a home tie against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
January – Man Utd humbled / A Nightmare at the Cottage / The new number nine…
A stunning display from Pardew’s team saw champions, Manchester United, comfortably beaten 3-0 at St James’ Park. Two brilliant goals from both Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye put United on course to victory, with Phil Jones putting through his own net to complete the rout. It was a tremendous start to January, and helped eradicate the previous month’s below par performances. Pardew got the tactics spot on, knowing that Man Utd’s centre backs Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones couldn’t handle the physicality of Magpies front men, Demba Ba and Shola Ameobi. (more…)
The end of the season is finally upon us. A season in which defied all expectations. A season where even the most optimistic of Toon fans would have struggled to predict what would be.
Newcastle United gate-crashed the top six, and also knocked on the door of the Premier League’s top four. As it turned out at 5pm on Sunday the 13th of May 2012, Newcastle United were confirmed as finishing in 5th place, above Chelsea, above Liverpool, and above the majority of peoples expectations.
The Europa League awaits the Magpies next season, a new chapter or perhaps a new beginning is on the horizon. But before we look forward into what might be, I’m now going to relive the season that was. Cast my mind back and tell the tale of Newcastle United’s 2011 / 2012 season. I hope you are all sitting comfortably… (more…)
St James' Park yesterday.Has St James Park started to become a ‘fortress’ since Alan Pardew took the managerial reigns, starting from his first match against Liverpool on the 11th of December 2010?
If we cast our minds back to the 2009 – 2010 Championship winning season under Chris Hughton, Newcastle managed to complete the season without loss at St James’ Park. In fact, Newcastle only suffered four defeats in the league that entire campaign. I remember Newcastle having a reasonably easy ride at home that season, largely due to the quality of squad we possessed in comparison to the rest of the league, though I do recall West Brom giving us a scare, in our 2-2 draw towards the latter stages of the season.
Newcastle’s first match at home in the Premier League the following season, consisted of a 6-0 thumping of Aston Villa. With United seemingly continuing their fantastic home form, you would have been forgiven for thinking Newcastle would ease past their next home opponents, Blackpool, and extend their unbeaten home run on Tyneside to an impressive 26 games in all competitions. (more…)
Show me your war face.The season is now at a close and already the rumour mill has spurned into gear and started to vomit out the pointless, useless rumours that fund awful blogging sites the internet over – but that isn’t what this is about. It’s a time for reflection, a time to celebrate all that we’ve achieved and most importantly time for us to look to the future and kick on.
Andy Carroll was our number 9 – a local lad who breathed a new lease of life into our enthusiasm and wore the number with pride. Chris Hughton was our manager, the man who stood by the club through thick and thin and saw criticism with a gentle smile and a friendly comment. He had steadied our ship, blooded the youngsters and for once, we were happy with how things were going.
Summer signings included Hatem Ben Arfa on loan, who would later sign a 4 and a half year contract despite having a severe injury, Dan Gosling on a free, James Perch, Sol Campbell and of course the unforgettable Cheik Tioté. Oh yes, the sun was shining on Newcastle all right.
It hasn’t been easy for us this season and we all knew it wouldn’t be easy. The first few games were most certainly indicative of that as we showed our guts against Manchester United with a team that was hardly considered “Premier Class”. Joey Barton began to show why we were right to stick by him, Mike Williamson and Colocinni made the world know that they were a force to be reckoned with and best chums Enrique and Jonas charged up and down the left flank with great link up play. (more…)
