Watching Tony Pubis ‘kick off’ because of our defenders using their (Stoke’s) tricks, er, tactics at throw ins. Namely, taking time to dry the ball with the towels provided for Rory Delap’s thunderbolts. He must have thought double drat when Ryan Taylor actually produced some howitzers of his own; nice one Ryan.
He (Pubis) also looked ‘put on the spot’ and decidedly uncomfortable when asked by the reporter about Stoke’s reticence to buy Demba “ticking time bomb” Ba when they had the chance recently.
All in all, Stoke were ‘out Stoked’ in a game that made them look perticularly ordinary and belied their terrific and enviable home record. Newcastle took the game to them, put them under constant early pressure and were rewarded for their endeavour with a 2 goal half time lead.
Most of Stoke’s lads were rendered anonymous for large tracts of the game. The ref seemed to ‘help’ Stoke back into the game in the second half with what looked a very innocuous penalty, but to his credit, he seemed to ‘even it up’ just 6 minutes later, handing Demba Ba the opportunity to complete a ‘perfect’ hat-trick from the spot. (more…)
It's a dog's life at Ewood Park at the moment!Venue: Ewood Park, Blackburn. Date: Weds, October 26th, 2011 Kick-off: 8:00pm Referee: Robert Madley.
This evenong’s game sees Newcastle United facing a struggling Blackburn Rovers side for a place in the last eight of the League Cup.
Alan Pardew has been saying he has no worries of relegation and that he will definitely be going for a win. Meanwhile, embattled Blackburn are currently lying right at the bottom of the Premier League, and survival in the highest division will undoubtedly be their highest priority, especially after what happened to last years winners, relegated Birmingham City. On the other hand, Blackburn will have home advantage at Ewood Park, and as we all know, anyhting can happen in a cup game!
Stats, previous matches etc…
Blackburn have actually gone one better than Newcastle in the League Cup, having won it in 2002 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the final. Newcastle’s Previous Best was as losing finalists with the Gordon Lee “Dream Team” in 1976, when we were beaten by the same scoreline, 2-1, by Manchester City. (more…)
New look midfield: Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye in actionAfter the comings and goings of the ‘off season’, some of them obvious,, predictable, profitable and manufactured, it’s safe to say we now have a far more fluid midfield.
On top of the fluidity, we have also aquired a hell of a lot more pace. We seem very midfield focused at the moment, what with the possibilty of Yohan Cabaye being missing for the upcoming Spurs game. We also will lose the services of one Cheik Tiote when the African Cup of Nations swings around in January. No doubt losing his services a week or so before, as he meets up with his Cote d’Ivore team mates.
Both players will definitely be missed whenever they don’t play, whether by injury or suspension, but can we fill the sizeable gaps left? We have midfielders like Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux, Dan Gosling, Haris Vučkić, Danny Guthrie to come in, not bad stand-ins, if you ask me. We also have versatile players like Ryan Taylor, James Perch and Shane Ferguson to come and ‘do a job’ if we get Davide Santon, Mike Williamson back into the defensive fold. So, as I was saying: We have a much more fluid arrangement from midfield to defence. (more…)
Crocked?Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye fears he may have ligament damage to his ankle.
Yohan Cabaye is worried that he picked up a bad ankle injury whilst on international duty for France on Friday. France were playing Albania and by all accounts Cabaye had put in a tidy first half performance but he was substituted just 3 minutes into the second half.
Cabaye’s initial assessment was fairly grim and he told France’s L’Equipe magazine:
“I preferred to be substituted and not take any risk.
“It was a big pain, and I fear ligaments could have been damaged.”
However, shortly afterwards he was quoted as having a slightly more optimistic outlook by the French Football Federation’s web site:
“I hope I will be fit for Tuesday and that this game does not pass me by.(more…)
Bye bye gosling?I’ve got to admit, when we signed young Dan Gosling from Everton (On a free) I was very happy.
A young creative English player whose career seemed on the up. However after reading the Daily Fail’s article this morning, I’m dismayed to see he might be off to Doncaster.
Dan Gosling, where did it all go wrong?
Is this the trouble with flying high in the Premier League, only yesterday in my Tim Krul blog did I highlight how we can afford to give these youngsters a chance given our league position. Yet we have a bright young English player who wants to go and play his trade in Doncaster?
I feel that young Gosling may be regretting his trip to the Toon, at Everton, who were under resourced, he and Rodwell sent many a tongues wagging about how they were having a positive influence at Goodison. However all I really have seen from him in a Toon shirt is injury and reserve games. I do feel that he is good enough for our first team, which is why I’m so perplexed at this reported move to Donny. (more…)
