Newcastle United 1 - 1 Mackems - 01/02/09 - Post match reaction from page 26

[Guest Immsy7]

Harper 6.5 - Not much to do, did his job though.

Taylor 6.5 - Fantastic dive. So much better as a RB than CB.

Colo 6 - Looked dodgy.

Bassong 8 (MoM) - I thought he was incredible. Was superb against Jones.

Jose Enrique 6 - Linked with Jonas well at times, but struggled.

Duff 6 - Tried hard, just not the player he once was.

Butt 7 - Most people are completely against praising him but he wasn't that bad tbh, won balls in the middle well and hit some decent long range passes. (Tin hat on)

Nolan 6.5 - Was alright. Not great, million times better than what Butt normally is and what Geremi is.

Jonas 6 - Final ball was so frustrating. Looked threatening whenever he had the ball, but he needs to learn to lift the ball.

Ameobi 6 - So slow. Wasn't too bad though i suppose.

Carrol 6 - Offers a decent aerial threat, good enough for where we are, but not for where we want to be.

 

Lovenkrands 5 - Didn't do much, came close at the end.

 

Kinnear 0 - Just get rid of him.

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Overall reaction...

 

We were the better team just about, although helped a lot by Cisse going off.

 

Bassong was class, as was Enrique, not sure what's happening with Colo at the moment.

 

Carroll will be a proper player in the years to come, very good in the air. Lovenkrands should have come on earlier though, we needed to change things.

 

Jonas was brilliant, yes his final ball is (sometimes) lacking but if another couple of our players threatened the opposition as much as he does we'd be well up the table.

 

If we could have replaced Ameobi and Butt with Barton and Martins we would have won this.

 

Even when they scored I honestly never felt we would lose, we didn't deserve to concede when we did really.

[ChrisMcQuillan]

Harper 6 - Reasonably solid.

Taylor 7 - Good as RB.  Much more confident than at CB.  Keep him there.

Colo 7 - Well defended most of the time, no errors.

Bassong 8.5 - Absolutely brilliant - so confident, just robbed attackers of the ball and WHAT A TACKLE!

Jose Enrique 8 - Best I have ever seen him perform.  Massively confident at LB, and some amazing skills going forward - looked like Robinho in the corner skipping around all pressure.  Passing was, occasionally, woeful though.

Duff 4 - Pretty poor game, to be honest.  Looked tired.

Butt 6.5 - One of Butt's better games.  A few mistakes, but got a good few tackles in and some nice passing.  Unlucky to be booked, as well.

Nolan 7 - Strong debut.  Didn't really stand out, but he did a good job.  Competant, and I think he will excel with Guthrie/Barton and not having to cover for Butt.

Jonas 8.5 - His final ball was all that was missing.  Terrified the Sunderland defence with some amazing runs.  Took about six massive knocks and still kept feckin' running.  Hero.

Ameobi 6 - Awful in the first half.  Better in the second, actually ran a little.  Still no end product.  Great penalty, though.

Carrol 7.5 - This guy is gonna be good.  Stood up to pressure, nearly nabbed himself a great goal.  Shouldn't have  been subbed, though he had taken a knock shortly before.

 

Lovenkrands 5 - Didn't really do anything.

Edgar - N/A

[Fatwax]

Oh, and for anyone who watched this on Sky like me..

 

Did you feel fucking insulted by the way they carried out the pre-match build up? They had 30 minutes and it was split up to roughly 15-20 minutes talking about Liverpool & Robbie Keane, a 5 minute interview with Sbragia about his career and build up to getting the Sunderland job and then a 5 minute chat at SJP which couldn't be heard because of the crowd.

 

It was a fucking joke and an insult. Newcastle is my club and I pay for Sky to see the matches and I want to hear about the fucking matches, not a top of the table snore-fest that has fuck all to do with the two fucking teams that are about to fucking play!

 

Absolutely disgusting way to go about things, especially when they had plenty of time to talking about the fucking Pool Chelsea game WHEN THEY AIRED IT AFTER OURS!

 

Fucking idiots.

[The Prophet]

A strange sort of result. It does nothing for us really. It doesn't push us any closer to danger but at the same time it doesn't give us any form of breathing space.

 

From the neutral perspective it was quite an exciting game. The football was poor at times but it was typical blood and thunder derby, a midfield battle with plenty of tackles flying in. However from a Newcastle fans perspective it was torture, the main problem being we looked so fragile.

 

I feared the worst ten minutes gone, pinned back in our own half, Sunderland dominating without creating any real chances. Then we finally got off the bus and started to get forward a little, if only for short periods. However the constant threat and general nervousness culminated when Coloccini tried to work the offside trap but ended up hopelessly playing Cisse onside and although he mis-cued the first time he got a somewhat lucky second bite of the cherry. The rest of the first half was end to end stuff, Jonas and Enrique linking up well but without creating too many chances. Sunderland went in marginally looking the better side.

 

My fears were eased ever so slightly when we came out second half looking to push forward. We were positive, Sunderland were playing on the counter. Despite our possession and positivity Sunderland still looked threatening. Eventually the pressure paid off when Taylor burst into the box and with no where to go hurled himself to the ground in Gerrard-esque fashion. To everyone’s shock Webb took the bait. Then more nerves Shola steps up to take the kick, surprisingly he empathically stuck it away. We piled forward for a majority of the remaining game with Sunderland still looking threatening on the break. Bassong looking assured, Coloccini like a nervous wreck.

 

Overall a fair result and a positive second half performance. Bassong, Enrique and Jonas all worth a mention for man of the match, but the nerves have returned in the back line. Coloccini in particular looking suspect on sevral occasions. So we avoided a potentially massive defeat but missed out on two vital points. It isn't the end of the world as tomorrow could be as equally defining in terms of our survival.

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

It keeps the scoreboard ticking over, every point is something to be pleased with at the moment, IMO.

[Guest Immsy7]

Oh, and for anyone who watched this on Sky like me..

 

Did you feel fucking insulted by the way they carried out the pre-match build up? They had 30 minutes and it was split up to roughly 15-20 minutes talking about Liverpool & Robbie Keane, a 5 minute interview with Sbragia about his career and build up to getting the Sunderland job and then a 5 minute chat at SJP which couldn't be heard because of the crowd.

 

It was a fucking joke and an insult. Newcastle is my club and I pay for Sky to see the matches and I want to hear about the fucking matches, not a top of the table snore-fest that has fuck all to do with the two fucking teams that are about to fucking play!

 

Absolutely disgusting way to go about things, especially when they had plenty of time to talking about the fucking Pool Chelsea game WHEN THEY AIRED IT AFTER OURS!

 

Fucking idiots.

 

Totally agree

[mattypnufc]

Just got back.

 

Throat is sore from shouting me heed off at those unwashed bastards and getting behind the lads.

 

Draw was a fair result although we couldve nicked it in the end.

 

I cant wait until we get some players back, we will look a whole better squad, however we desperately need 2 more after Taylor.  Fingers crossed tonight/tomorrow doesnt dissapoint otherwise we are fucked.

 

Didnt see much bother, but almost got trampled on by a horse trying to get out of the ground.

 

Oh and nice of Sgt of the coppas to yell to his squad 'Show Aggression and Trunchons out' as I was walking past trying to duck out of the way of the horse.  

 

 

[QBG]

Oh, and for anyone who watched this on Sky like me..

 

Did you feel f***ing insulted by the way they carried out the pre-match build up? They had 30 minutes and it was split up to roughly 15-20 minutes talking about Liverpool & Robbie Keane, a 5 minute interview with Sbragia about his career and build up to getting the Sunderland job and then a 5 minute chat at SJP which couldn't be heard because of the crowd.

 

It was a f***ing joke and an insult. Newcastle is my club and I pay for Sky to see the matches and I want to hear about the f***ing matches, not a top of the table snore-fest that has f*** all to do with the two f***ing teams that are about to f***ing play!

 

Absolutely disgusting way to go about things, especially when they had plenty of time to talking about the f***ing Pool Chelsea game WHEN THEY AIRED IT AFTER OURS!

 

f***ing idiots.

 

Totally agree

 

Seconded, I really would like to smack Jamie Redknapp.

[Guest toonlass]

Just got in from the match and have this to say

 

Harper 6 - Well he is Harper, solid but not Shay

Taylor 6 - Still not convincing but did ok today

Colo 7 - better than Taylor, not fantastic, but no big problems

Bassong 9 - Superboy, can we get more of him please. Brilliant

Enrique 8 - Was brilliant, and showed what he can do. Just keep playing games like that.

Duff 4 - Did he play, can't really remember him doing owt.

Butt 6 - Nowt impressive, not bad though. Legs have still gone like.

Nolan 7 - He looks strong and not afraid of a fight in midfield.

Ameobi 5 - Apart from the pen, what?

Carroll 6 - For a young un who is thrown in I'm tempted to give a 7 but was not quite there.

 

Lovenkrands 5 - Still to impress

Edgar - Whether its 9 minutes or 90 he is not a premiership player

 

All in all, they should never have scored when they did, it came from nowt. We, though, were lucky to grab it back from the brink. Overall this was a fair result.

[indi]

Just seen Kinnear interviewed on SSN and he described the game as "Thud and Blunder", Freudian slip, or what!?!

 

In other news Shola and Taylor are refusing to play for us ever again following Kinnear's comments.

[Guest Chris P]

Took about six massive knocks and still kept feckin' running.  Hero.

 

i think it about 9, absolutley fuckin brilliant

[Fatwax]

Just seen Kinnear interviewed on SSN and he described the game as "Thud and Blunder", Freudian slip, or what!?!

 

In other news Shola and Taylor are refusing to play for us ever again following Kinnear's comments.

 

Thud and Blunder would be excellent nicknames for Taylor & Shola. Like a dastardly duo.

[TRon]

Just seen Kinnear interviewed on SSN and he described the game as "Thud and Blunder", Freudian slip, or what!?!

 

In other news Shola and Taylor are refusing to play for us ever again following Kinnear's comments.

 

 

probably the most sense he's talked since he got here.

[The Prophet]

Harper 6 - Looked solid, commanded his area well. Can feel slightly aggrieved at the lack of any form of luck for Cisse's opener.

 

Taylor 6 - Looked good going forward, very positive indeed. However defensively he still looked suspect on occasion having a couple of heart-in-mouth moments.

 

Coloccini 4 -Solid during spells but he looked like a man on edge. Some very nervous moments, let Jones power past him on a number of occasions, miss-cued on the odd clearance, not to mention his school boy defending for the opener.

 

Bassong 8 - Truly immense, looked like he was defending on his own sometimes. His pace, and in particular his reading of the game are outstanding. Made sevral key interceptions, well played lad.

 

Enrique 8 - His short range distribution was sloppy at times but overall he was brilliant. Had Edward in his pocket all game and still managed to find time to bustle forward. Linked up with Jonas well too.

 

Duff 5 - Disturbingly bad first half but nearly made up for it with a fairly strong second half. Needs to be educated on the fist time cross. Infuriating at times.

 

Butt 6 - Not Butt's biggest fan but this was one of his better games for me. Didn't do anything amazing but stuck a foot in and generally sprayed the ball about well.

 

Nolan 5 - Solid, made an important clearance off the line but went missing a bit too much for my liking.

 

Jonas 7 - Ran his arse off. Strong in the tackle and linked up brilliantly with Enrique at times. The only gripe for me was his lack of end product. Stuck the odd good ball in but definitely something to work on.

 

Ameobi 5 - Similar to Duff a simply awful first half redeemed a little by an improvement in the second. Took his penalty well but overall not good enough.

 

Carroll 7 - Looked impressive for me. Won almost everything in the air and without playing amazingly he looked streets ahead of Ameobi. Unlucky not to score with the looping header.

 

Kinnear 6 - With Lovenkrands lack of match practice he probably made the right call with the starting line up. It's also worth mentioning we drastically improved after his half time team talk, having said that we should have started better in the first place. His major fault is his hesitancy to bring on substitutes. Lovenkrands had a tidy little stint when he came on but I can't help feel he came on ten minutes too late.

 

[hakka]

"I don't think - again - the big decisions have gone our way"

 

Indeed 

 

Did he not see Taylor's dive? lol

[AyeDubbleYoo]

is officially off his rocker. Very surprised he wasn't more positive after the game as well, kept talking about 2 points dropped and shit like that.

[Guest Alan Shearer 9]

There was contact on Taylor, he went down, that's a pen.

[thewellander]

Oh, and for anyone who watched this on Sky like me..

 

Did you feel f***ing insulted by the way they carried out the pre-match build up? They had 30 minutes and it was split up to roughly 15-20 minutes talking about Liverpool & Robbie Keane, a 5 minute interview with Sbragia about his career and build up to getting the Sunderland job and then a 5 minute chat at SJP which couldn't be heard because of the crowd.

 

It was a f***ing joke and an insult. Newcastle is my club and I pay for Sky to see the matches and I want to hear about the f***ing matches, not a top of the table snore-fest that has f*** all to do with the two f***ing teams that are about to f***ing play!

 

Absolutely disgusting way to go about things, especially when they had plenty of time to talking about the f***ing Pool Chelsea game WHEN THEY AIRED IT AFTER OURS!

 

f***ing idiots.

 

You should try watching the pre-match coverage on Canadian television. We had two ex-Sunderland players from Toronto FC and two blokes who had no idea what they were talking about.

 

My favorite was when they were going over the list of Newcastle injuries and the one guy actually said, "it's really too bad that they've lost Cacapa. He played some great games under Kinnear when he first arrived and Newcastle have really missed him."

 

I don't think they even watch football. Certainly not Newcastle.

[oldtype]

is officially off his rocker. Very surprised he wasn't more positive after the game as well, kept talking about 2 points dropped and s*** like that.

 

Keegan, or any other competent manager for that matter, would turn this into a confidence-booster for the squad. (Like Birmingham Away last season)

 

Kinnear probably went in there and killed any morale the lads might have built up.

[Wullie]

If we'd have had a proper team out today, we'd have fucking murdered them. They are garbage. In reality it's two points dropped again but I'm just happy not to give them the satisfaction of a double over us.

 

Harper - did what he needed to - 7

Taylor - nice dive - 6

Coloccini - out of form at the moment, did alright most of the time but I hear he was at fault for the opener (and Chopra's chance) - 5

Bassong - same old shite from this lad - 9

Enrique - played like he always does but with one big difference: not passing it straight to the opposition and what a difference it made. My MOTM - 9

Jonas - if he could deliver a ball, he'd be world class. Scared the shit out of the horrible cunts - 8

Nolan - disappointingly quiet - 6

Butt - better than usual - 7

Duff - fuck off - 4

Ameobi - superb penalty and decent second half. First half he was shocking - 6

Carroll - caused them some problems - 7

[Pilko]

Harper - decent, 7

Taylor - won the pen by diving, otherwise fine - 6

Colo - shite, 5

Bassong - looking more and more the part, 8.5

Enrique - brilliant in defence and attack, 8

Jonas - final ball was awful, 6.5

Nolan - got more involved as the game went on, 6.5

Butt - retained possesion well and tackled well, 7

Duff - all fart and no shit, as usual, 5

Ameobi - did not look fit... nice pen, 6

Carroll - unlucky with header in first half, nice touches, 7

 

Lovenkrands - slotted in fine, 6

[Cronky]

A draw was a fair result. Apart from Bassong, our back four look shaky under pressure, and no matter how much possession we had, every Sunderland attack made us look vulnerable.

 

A magnificent effort from Jonas. Okay, his crosses weren't the greatest most of the time, but he kept us going forward. He has an amazing ability to keep hold of the ball even in the most difficult of situations.

 

I didn't like the look of Shola and Carroll as a combination before the game, and I don't feel any different now. It meant we were only able to play one way, and we weren't sharp enough when it came to getting on the end of chances in the area. I hope Lovenkrands can do a job for us.

 

Shola, as per usual, is being marked down by most people here. He did okay, considering it was his first game back from injury, and he showed great courage under pressure in stepping up to take that penalty.

[Big Geordie]

Loads of bother before and after the match, according to local news - particularly near Central Station. They had pictures of smoke bombs being let off - so it's been organized.

[Mick]

Loads of bother before and after the match, according to local news - particularly near Central Station. They had pictures of smoke bombs being let off - so it's been organized.

 

I did see a lot of police, some with riot shields, escorting the mackems on St James' Boulevard, I could see a lot of our fans being pushed away next to the Centre for Life but I didn't see any trouble.