Kevin Nolan feels like chicken tonight once again!As Newcastle United got the game underway, accompanied by a chorus of boos from the bitter residents of the more underdeveloped side of the North East, I have to admit that I had some slight trepidation about this game. The Mackems were deperate for revenge after their comprehensive 5-1 humiliation at St James’s Park, and have had a more than decent run of form since that day, lying at sixth in the table.
As the game progressed, Newcastle started brightly enough, but it was proving to be something of a scrappy affair in the first half. But there was to be some, if not alot of excitement at both ends of the pitch. The first event of any note was when Ameobi, usually something of a talisman against Sunderland, missed a very good chance after around three or four minutes of the game to put the Magpies ahead. While he showed some endeavour to get on the end of a very good delivery by Joey Barton, his finish wasn’t great, and his effort was just wide of the post. Shortly after that, Sunderland’s Darren Bent was to return the favour at the other end, however he fired his fairly close range effort firmly at the legs of Steve Harper. (more…)
Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew agrees with the interview that Newcastle United were “robbed” by Asamoah Gyan’s last gasp equaliser, and that Newcastle “switched off” for the goal. (more…)
Toon take on the daydream believersGood morning Toonsters. It’s a biggie today as Newcastle look to try and do the double over the Wearsiders.
With both Sunderland and Newcastle having been unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition and with just 5 points and 3 places separating the teams in the Premier League, both teams start this game on a fairly even keel.
Given that they’re slightly above us in the league and have the home advantage, Sunderland are probably favourites for this one, but we do have the 5-1 thrashing we gave them at our place as a psychological ‘upper’.
But I reckon all bets are off anyway. Derby matches are unique and unpredictable and things like ‘current form’ don’t always count for much in them. (more…)
Who nicked me trumpet?Newcastle’s midfield star has been indulging in a spot of gratuitious trumpet blowing and who can blame him after his excellent performances for the team this season?
In an interview with Sky Sports, Joey Barton said:
“I think I am a better player now than when I signed.
“I don’t think it is for me to say but at the end of the day I don’t think there is anyone playing better than me in this country. That’s an honest answer, not a big-header answer.
“There are probably six or seven midfielders get in a squad for an England game and I don’t think there are two English players playing better than me at the minute.”
He then goes on to bemoan his lack of opportunities at the international level:
“But it’s not all about football.
“Fabio Capello came in and said he wanted to pick form players, but I don’t think he has done that. Some of the players than have been picked have not been form players. If the selection policy is form players then there are not 21 better, or in-form players than me in the country.” (more…)
As we all know it’s derby awayday on Sunday, and the lucky few of you that have tickets for the game will be able to take in the sights of the beautiful city of Sunderland before making your way through the discarded prams and Ford Capri’s on bricks, being careful not to tread on anything that looks even remotely suspicious, before arriving at The Stadium Of Light, and before that Joker Park.
Anyway, I digress. No matter what the stadium has been called it has been host to some cracking victories to the Geordies, and some jammy ref helped victories to the home side. Fairness would dictate that both are discussed here. Sorry, not going to happen. This blog is intended to celebrate the dominance we have had over the Mackems in this fixture. (more…)
