Was Droopy intimidated by Magpie midfield?In the absence of one of my usual match reports this week, for what was possibly the finest and most interesting game in our season so far, I thought I would take a more abstract view, looking at just one aspect of our midfueld battle with Tottenham on Sunday.
It was certainly an important game for both sides in terms of keeping up momentum, and a good test of the Newcastle’s credentials against a strong side.
One of the first things that struck me was that from the start of the game, Newcastle United were outnumbered in midfield with Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, fielding five in the centre against Pardew’s we’re unbeaten, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it 4-4-2 same team as last time approach. With Tottenham possesing midfielders of the quality of Van der Vaart, Modric, Bale and Parker with Emanuel Adebayor alone upfront, this seemed like something of a daunting prospect to start with.
Now I don’t profess to be the greatest expert on Tottenham, but Redknapp. like Pardew, seems to have been playing a 4-4-2 formation usually this season, and with some success having four straight League victories in the run up to the game. So why the change? (more…)
Glory hunters?It’s fair to say that during the last 5 minutes at St James Park yesterday the place was rocking, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I was reminded of times gone by. So the question is this, “Are the Toon faithful passionate, or are we just glory hunters who only really get behind the team when things are going well?”
Over the past few years I’ve been disheartened by the fact the for a team with supposedly some of the best fans in the world, St James Park has been a bit flat, on some occasions you can hear a pin drop, even when we were drawing the game. My theory is that the crowd was so nervous that we would concede we never really got going.
I’ve looked enviously at Stoke (never though I’d say that a few years ago!). Say what you want about them, but you can’t deny that the crowd is the 12th man at the Britannia Stadium. The noise levels are so loud that sometimes I have to turn the TV down to a lower volume. I think that they are one of the main reasons that Stoke have been so successful given their short time in the Premier League. (more…)
Maybe it's because I'm a Lahndoner...In the wake of Jimbob’s thoroughly excellent and extensive Tottenham Hotspur match preview and tactical musings the other day, I thought As a kind of addendum to that, I would add a piece about what the manager’s were saying on the eve this important game.
Bearing in mind the undoubted quality of the oppostion, this could be a watershed in Newcastle United’s Premiership campaign. After what has been a very good start, a victory would certainly greatly enhance our credentials and be a huge boost in confidence which would take us forward. On the other hand, a right old pasting would be a real reality check for the lads and could make it look like we have been somewhat “lucky” so far. (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…)
Captain Colocini: Level headed.He’s come a long way since he joined the ranks of Newcastle United as a £10.3M Centre Back under the control of Kevin Keegan.
It’s probably debateable whether Keegan even wanted him in, but I don’t remember there being too much dissent when he transferred.
We all knew of him through his days playing for Argentina, so we expected big things from him. His first season started really well, putting in some top class, assured performances, starting away at Man. U. in the league. It was clear that he’d be a great acquistion. But as that ‘ill fated’ season progressed, things started to go wrong ‘upstairs’ at the Toon, all of which well documented, so I won’t go there. Suffice to say, Keegan ended up leaving, the club went into turmoil, a series of caretaker managers presiding over the drop down to the Championship by the end of that chaotic season.
After the “deadwood” was shipped out, the players that stayed got their heads around plying their trade one league down. Some of our ‘better’ players hung around, when no doubt they could have moved on to top league clubs, Fabricio Coloccini being one of them. (more…)
