JH Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 It was a 'valiant effort' in the second half tonight, but fact is we had four halves to get it right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 We were on top in two of the four halves Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 It was a 'valiant effort' in the second half tonight, but fact is we had four halves to get it right. We had a good 15-20 mins. (Since HBA came on until we lost a bit of momentum towards the end) Not even one good half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Just returned from the game. First of all, tonight's atmosphere was phenomenal - it really made your hairs stand up. It was such an amazing night and our players were heroic. The 2nd half was unlike anything I've ever experienced, we had them on the ropes for a spell. Ben Arfa came on and changed the game, he's definitely ready for the mackems. The place got such a lift when he came on and he was fantastic. Don't really know what else to say, the match is still a blur. But it was a magical night. Good luck to Benfica, hope they win this thing. Europe: you were a laugh, we'll see you soon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Got back to the hotel. Great atmosphere in the second half, shame we couldn't score another. Disappointed on the result but we played well and thought Pardew had the right tactics considering Simpson and Williamson haven't played a lot and would've got killed on the counter. Both did well today. Hard to go out like this knowing we could easily be waiting for the semi-final draw now. We really shot ourselves in the foot in the first leg. Can't wait to see HBA on Sunday, we are gonna destroy the mackems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Because of the away goal situation, the first half was nothing more than an inconvenience. We needed to do what we've been doing of late, kill them without giving them a chance to get back into the game because they didn't need to win, or even to draw but simply to score. This was a very different game to any other we've played or will play as a result, and needed very specific tactics, which I thought were right. In any other home game, an away goal is an annoyance, tonight it would have been game over. Imagine if they'd scored after ten minutes man, I think I'd have fucked off home. Despite needing 2-0, we needed the game to effectively be half an hour long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdckelly Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Good effort but ultimately lost out to a better team and some bad luck in the first leg (if only even one of those cisse posts had gone in there) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Open_C Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I enjoyed it, like. Don't think we were as bad as some on here are making out; the only thing that pissed me off all night was the amount of time that Cisse spent wandering about offside. I'm fairly certain that if we had played the whole game like we played the last 25 minutes, we'd have lost by two or three, so I'm not too down on Pardew about that. Was sat next to three Benfica fans at the very back of Level 7, they were canny lads like. Sat on their hands the whole time, didn't make a squeak all game and had five or ten minutes chat as the place was emptying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Niall Horan @NiallOfficial 40m Just been to watch @NUFCOfficial ! Didn't deserve for that to happen! Great game though! Our new team mates did a great job! Wonder if Simon Cowell has secretly bought us... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenkoDaLuz Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Just returned from the game. First of all, tonight's atmosphere was phenomenal - it really made your hairs stand up. It was such a memorable, amazing night and our players were heroes. The 2nd half was unlike anything I've ever experienced, we were sucking the ball towards the Gallowgate. We had them on the ropes for a spell. Ben Arfa came on and changed the game, he's definitely ready for the mackems. The place got such a lift when he came on and he was fantastic. Don't really know what else to say, the match is still a blur. But it was a magical night. Good luck to Benfica, hope they win this thing. Europe: you were a laugh, we'll see you soon! Insane fair play. Huge respect. Love this forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Back hyem. Class effort second half, but edged out by the better team. Was proud to be an NUFC fan in SJP after that reaction to the Benfica goal. Onto the mackems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Gutted it's all over to be honest, it hasn't always been great but the KO stages have been brilliant. So many good memories from the Europa in general, I hope we're back in it soon. Thought Pardew got it right, could see that he wanted to set us up to not conceded first half and then really have a go second half. Bigi was a sacrificial lamb really, in the team to contain as there was lack of alternatives. Marveaux cannot do three big games in a week so I wasn't surprised to see him protected for Sunday, Ben Arfa was never going to start and Obertan was nowhere to be seen - ideally someone like Ryan Taylor would have filled the right hand flank but obviously he's not back yet, Gosling isn't anywhere near match fitness and everybody else is out on loan. I can understand protecting Williamson and Simpson for as long as possible, as if we'd attacked from the whistle they would have picked us off with relative ease I fear, as they did at the end. Cabaye had a shitter tonight, didn't look himself at all, particularly first half. Anita anonymous again, there was only Gutierrez putting himself about which isn't what you need. Haidara was great going both directions and I actually thought Simpson & Williamson didn't disgrace themselves, which is all you can ask of two players out of their depth. There was a lot more direct play once Shola was on, as you'd expect. He had one of his decent cameos where the ball generally stuck but he did manage to fall over himself when trying to score. My Dad reckons we should have had a pen when the keeper fouled Cisse but I haven't seen a replay. Once Ben Arfa and Marveaux were on we were totally gung ho and once we got one I really fancied us to do it but it wasn't to be. Some odd decisions in the last 10 from our lads, Sissoko particularly guilty but he must have been knackered. He was injured first half and was surprised he lasted the 90 and he limped off at the end, I suspect that had a part in him not clearing the ball for their goal, but who knows. The ref and his linesmen were terrible, some ridiculous decisions all night interspersed with some rare outbreaks of good refereeing but never on any big calls. Their time wasting was evident from minute 1 but it's par for the course on the continent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Because of the away goal situation, the first half was nothing more than an inconvenience. We needed to do what we've been doing of late, kill them without giving them a chance to get back into the game because they didn't need to win, or even to draw but simply to score. This was a very different game to any other we've played or will play as a result, and needed very specific tactics, which I thought were right. In any other home game, an away goal is an annoyance, tonight it would have been game over. Imagine if they'd scored after ten minutes man, I think I'd have fucked off home. Despite needing 2-0, we needed the game to effectively be half an hour long. I agree, obviously the only flaw in the plan is that it can be difficult to switch the team's mindset when the time comes to attack. But luckily HBA and Marv were available to provide some creativity. Gutted to be going out, but Benfica are a good team. Whinging, snide and diving, but good at football. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zlatan Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Cheers everybody, wish you the best for the rest of the season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Ben Arfa & Marveaux improved us so much like, would love to see both on form in the league, their creativity is what we've missed. I hope Benfica win it now anyway, fuck Chelsea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Benfica are far better side but disappointed we didn't give it more of a go. For ten minutes I thought we had them, if we'd had even one spell of pressure first half it might have been different story and we wasted 45 minutes. We didn't even have the pace in midfield to hit them on the counter first half. Playing Bigirimana on the right baffling. Ashley17 has summed it up already. Bigi was simply there to protect Simpson and Williamson as part of the plan to contain them. Ironically if Shola had been on from the start he might have made something of those two passes that Bigi miscontrolled. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I don't really hope Benfica win it, but rather them than Chelsea I guess. The play some nice stuff but some of their players are horrible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgsilva Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Newcastle have a excellent team with huge players and great supporters. I hope that you can win against Sunderland and make a tremendous season, next year. GO MAGPIES!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I've had time to consider things... ... ...motherfucking CL dropouts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenham Mag Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I've had time to consider things... ... ...motherfucking CL dropouts Aye, they turrrkkk are place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Open_C Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I dunno, I hope Benfica do well. I didn't think the level of diving and rolling was any worse than you see from teams like Chelsea or Arsenal, I liked their fans (apart from the flares), they play a good game, they didn't set out to kill or maim any of our players. Good luck to them, hope they win it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I've had time to consider things... ... ...motherfucking CL dropouts Aren't all the semi finalists CL drop outs? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I really hope they go on to win it but I agree this fkn rule letting Champions League sides drop down into it needs fkn stopping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Open_C Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I really hope they go on to win it but I agree this fkn rule letting Champions League sides drop down into it needs fkn stopping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zlatan Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 It wasn't our best game. Matic gave you a goal, he felt nervous for the rest of the game. Garay and Luisão were a bit slow.Gaitán was pretty good, but missed two straight goals, that would finish the game. You guys had some bad luck in Lisbon, but tonight we also had. Really like Ben Arfa, Sissoko and Cissé. Luisão was busy the entire match, damn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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