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Newcastle 3 - 1 Spurs - Post match thread


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Newcastle United (3) 3 Tottenham Hotspur (1) 1

 

Petrified by the blistering attacking pace of Obafemi Martins and Kieron Dyer, Tottenham merely succeeded in bolstering Glenn Roeder's burgeoning managerial reputation.

 

Considering Newcastle's horrendous injury problems this season, Roeder has done rather well. So well, indeed, that Freddy Shepherd yesterday declared he would not swap his manager for Sir Alex Ferguson.

 

After such fulsome praise from the chairman, sceptics might have expected Roeder's side to lose, but this is an improving Newcastle ensemble whose commitment to attractive, attacking football serves as a refreshing antidote to the safety first attitudes permeating much of the Premiership.

 

Dyer's return from long-term injury has done much to help Roeder's cause. Finishing has not always been his forte but the midfielder made no mistake with the splendid low shot, directed into the bottom corner, which provided Newcastle with an early lead. Martins' through pass from deep released Dyer after Michael Dawson had failed to cut out a clearance from Nolberto Solano.

 

A combination of electric pace and close control enabled Dyer to dodge Ledley King and beat Paul Robinson in front of the watching Steve McClaren. Much more of this, and he might really find himself back in McClaren's England squad.

 

Spurs looked in defensive disarray and this was further emphasised when Martins swiftly headed Newcastle's second goal of the afternoon — his sixth in as many games and ninth of the season. The fact that Scott Parker, whose pass cued up the £10 million striker, had looked offside during a preamble initiated by James Milner's centre, failed to prevent the Toon Army from twirling their black and white scarves in celebration.

 

Not that Martin Jol's side were quite done. Danny Murphy, who had been promoted from the substitutes' bench when Jermain Defoe dropped out of the visiting starting line-up minutes before kick-off, reduced the deficit after meeting Pascal Chimbonda's cross and seeing his shot deflect off Steven Taylor, flying beyond the wrong-footed Shay Given.

 

With Dimitar Berbatov spurning an excellent chance when clean through, Newcastle took a turn at appearing dazed and disorientated before Parker assuaged Geordie nerves by heading them further ahead after Robinson had parried Milner free-kick into a penalty area melee.

 

Critics of the England goalkeeper may say that Robinson, who experienced a worryingly unconvincing afternoon under McClaren's gaze, should have held on to that original Milner effort but, clearly benefiting from that coruscating pace injected by Dyer and Martins, Roeder's team were playing some good, slick-passing stuff.

 

Even so, Berbatov missed another good chance at the outset of the second half, shooting wide when he probably should have done better. Indeed with Newcastle's on-going injury crisis primarily affecting Roeder's defence — in which Solano played out of position at right-back and 18-year-old novice centre-half Paul Huntington appeared at left-back, Jol's men might reasonably have been expected to give Given a few more frights.

 

Infuriatingly inconsistent, Spurs are a real chameleon team, and a few of Jol's personnel belied their expensive price tags and much-vaunted reputations during an afternoon which further enhanced Roeder's managerial street cred.

 

Match summary 

Man of the Match: Kieron Dyer: His blistering pace and adhesive like close control make the midfielder at times resemble an electrically powered toy. Scored the opener and petrified Spurs.

 

Moment of the Match: Dyer’s opening goal. Scored on the counter-attack it arrived less than a minute after Steed Malbranque had threatened to give Spurs the lead. Moreover the preamble to his unerring low shot into the bottom corner made a mockery of both Michael Dawson’s and Ledley King’s lofty defensive reputations. 

 

Rating: 8/10

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/12/24/sfgnew24.xml

 

:thup: :thup: :thup:

 

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I haven't seen any of the action today, but does anyone think that that formation might be good to play for a few consecutive games? Was there anything noticably better about the teams performance, shape etc. in comparison to when we used the 4-4-2?

 

 

That would be even better if Duff hits form.

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Guest tobiazvanderziaz

Quality bluebiggrin.gif

 

Given - 6

Nobby - 7.5

Taylor - 7

Ramage - 8

Huntington - 6.5

Milner - 7.5

Butt - 8

Parker - 8.5

Emre - 7

Dyer - 7 (was not MOTM really imo, fair play to him though)

Martins - 8

 

How can you rate him that good? Still think he is by far the weakest link of the defence (incl. Huntington) and he showed that again today by poor actions like when he gave Barbatov a one vs. one against Given. And every time he has the ball he pass it back to Given or kicks it forward to the other team...sooooo frustrating!!! Not his poorest game today but still below average for a PL player.....

 

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Our goals are on the official site now,  bedded into the Dyer interview.  Loved Martins's celebration,  dancing with Emre  :lol:

 

Enjoyed Parkers reaction too.  Looked absolutely delighted with that  :thup:

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didnt say we play him in goal  bluebigeek.gif,watching pav getting his 7 min is enough for me  blueyes.gif

 

anyway,...,lets hope we get a decent price on him come january..otherwise he might stay

bluebigeek.gif

 

He will be gone.

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Guest Saint Andy

didnt say we play him in goal  bluebigeek.gif,watching pav getting his 7 min is enough for me  blueyes.gif

 

anyway,...,lets hope we get a decent price on him come january..otherwise he might stay

bluebigeek.gif

 

He will be gone.

 

yeah, no chance he's staying imo.

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