Big Geordie Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Not a great performance, but a win and a terrific goal from Ba. Plenty of effort today, but Cabaye and Tiote looked well short of match fitness. Jonas was very good, Perch slotted in alongside Taylor really well and Ben Arfa had them scared witless in the 2nd half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Swear I saw Amalfitano warming up, but he wasn't on the bench. How odd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest optimistic nit Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Swear I saw Amalfitano warming up, but he wasn't on the bench. How odd. Shola pulled out and was replaced by amalfitano Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Swear I saw Amalfitano warming up, but he wasn't on the bench. How odd. I think he was. Commentators were mentioning that Shola pulled up and he replaced him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Just come back. Krul 8 Simpson 6 Taylor 7 Perch 7 Santon 8 HBA 8 Tiote 7 Cabaye 7 Jonas 7 Ba 7 Cisse 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,58674.1425.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Swear I saw Amalfitano warming up, but he wasn't on the bench. How odd. Shola pulled out and was replaced by amalfitano Swear I saw Amalfitano warming up, but he wasn't on the bench. How odd. I think he was. Commentators were mentioning that Shola pulled up and he replaced him. Ah. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 The Taylor header goes down as one of the greatest things I've ever seen at SJP. Was in stitches at it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Good mate of mine (and Toon fan) who I'm drinking with in the Hancock tonight is a sports photographer, and his Ben Arfa shot has been chosen as the header for the BBC Sports review of our match http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221418 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 http://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/1rst-game-of-the-season-vs-nufc-t3108-360.html Excessive smilies, but pretty mature reactions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Cabaye 7 Jesus Christ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 May be the opening game of a long season, but we got 3 points from a team we should be neck-and-neck with the whole way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 The Taylor header goes down as one of the greatest things I've ever seen at SJP. Was in stitches at it The one back to Krul? I couldn't stop laughing at it in the pub, it was hilarious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 http://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/1rst-game-of-the-season-vs-nufc-t3108-360.html Excessive smilies, but pretty mature reactions. Smilies are shit without context. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 First half was very similar to Arsenal last year, couldn't get a foot hold in the game at all. At half time Pardew got it right and moved Cabaye into a place where he could get on the ball under less pressure and just keep possession. With Jonas in there alongside him it left Tiote to be a bit freer and press higher up, which was an interesting way of doing it but it worked. With Ba now on the left and Ben Arfa a constant outlet we got going, Ba's goal was brilliantly taken but we let Spurs back into it. They were getting more and more of the ball and the goal was coming when it did arrive. I expected it to peter out into a draw but that's not how this squad thinks. When Tiote took a shot that Sandro charged down, I thought Sandro was seriously hurt as a few Spurs players did that thing where they look at the injury and then walk away with their hands on their head, and the phsyio rushed on. Whilst Sandro was being attended to I saw Ben Arfa speak to Tiote and knew a short corner was coming, which I groaned it. However, for Ben Arfa to be faced with Lennon & VDV is a dream and he of course drew the foul and dispatched the pen, Jurassic Park. Anita was on by that point of course and after a nervous start where he gave it away a couple of times he settled, and the boy even has some pace. Will get better over time I think. Credit to Pards for getting it right with the formation change at half time, but I think he knows that's the formation that will win us games and his reluctance to upset Ba by playing him on the left could cost us sooner rather than later. Hopefully sense is seen by everyone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikon Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Over the moon guys, all in and out now. Love it, love it. Use protection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Just got back from the pub (2 wins in 2 now at the Friendship Inn in Manchester). Whilst we were sluggish and unspectacular, a win's a win and it is a brilliant start to the season. We'll definitely improve fitness-wise as the weeks go by - you could tell we weren't in tip-top shape but I'm sure we'll be fine come the start of September. Ben Arfa was our best player on the pitch by a mile - he was actually making things happen and more than did his part defensively too. I'm so glad Ba got his goal (and what a good goal it was too), it will most certainly act as a confidence booster and a happy Demba Ba will be a massive asset to have. Of course, there's still quite a bit of room for improvement in all areas of the pitch but again, that will come with time imo. PS. 4-3-3 for the win, credit to Pardew for changing formations at half time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 The Friendship Inn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBG Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 The Friendship Inn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Thought the referee had a good game today Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 The Taylor header goes down as one of the greatest things I've ever seen at SJP. Was in stitches at it The one back to Krul? I couldn't stop laughing at it in the pub, it was hilarious. A guy next to me ran about four rows down the stairs and did a proper running up and down arms pumping celebration at it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 The Friendship Inn Quite a lot of NUFC fans there. Certainly more of us than Spurs fans in there Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I've no idea of it's standard as a pub, just an amazing name Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujpest doza Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Great 3 points ground out in a game where we rode our luck a bit and were 2nd best in everything except putting the ball in the back of the net. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Glad some of the people on here weren't at the game. They would have been booing at half time no doubt. Spurs are a fucking good side, and this was an excellent result. We didn't play particularly well and they'll feel pretty hard done by to not get at least a point, but it was the first game of the season and we looked understandably nervous and tentative. Improved as the game went on in the second half. I'm delighted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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