Newcastle 0 - 1 Arsenal (Vieira '45)

We were the better team for 60 minutes of this game and probably should have won it. Arsenal scored seconds before half time with a lucky deflection after the ball fell kindly to Vieira. It bounced off Jenas and looped to send Given the wrong way from 25 yards out. This came minutes after Newcastle were denied a blatant penalty with an arms length handball from Ashley Cole who admitted it after the game. How Arsenal ended the game with 11 men I'm not sure as Van Persie in particular pushed his luck all night as did Ashley Cole. The referee had a very poor game. This was demonstrated in the second half when Robert had a free-kick in a perfect shooting position for him and the referee moved the free-kick forward ten yards right onto the line of the penalty area. None of us wanted the ball moved but the referee decided to 'award' us by giving us a more difficult free-kick. He was scared to book Arsenal players time and time again and it was becoming a bit of a joke as Van Persie should certainly have left the field and he did nothing about Arsenal's time-wasting both in the first and second half.

Wenger said: "In my opinion Newcastle are a very good side. If they play with that spirit every game, I can't imagine they'll lose many games. They fought like mad, and went for every ball in the 90 minutes.

"They have quality in midfield with Jenas, Dyer, Bowyer and Robert. They have great quality. We wanted to score more goals but we couldn't.

"We gave a lot, and in the dressing room after the game we really felt we had battled hard."

The best positive to come from the game was Steven Taylor who completely played Pires out of the game at right back and also came inside to help keep Henry quiet. This lad is living up to his hype and deserves to be moved straight into centre-back when Carr returns this weekend.

The Arsenal fans were pathetic. I was near their travelling thousands and we completely outsang them all game. In the Leazes the 'toon toon black and white army' chant lasted about 15-20 minutes non-stop in the second half as a group of lads at the back refused to let the chant die and the Arenal fans just gave up with the exception of one or two very brief songs.

So a gutting defeat but a performance which shows we should not be anywhere near where we are in the table. NUFC.com seem pretty certain that the Woodgate money will go on Babayaro, Boumsong and Distin in January (Babayaro has officially signed for us already for about 1M), while Deportivo have claimed that we have made a 3M bid for striker Walter Pandiani although Sky Sports are saying that officials from Newcastle have flown to Madrid today to discuss a deal on Morientes. Carr and Shearer will be available this weekend against Birmingham, I think we should move Taylor in the middle now with Carr coming back at right back. Babayaro won't be eligible to play until January 4 but he is eligible for both the FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

Last edited by evil_bastard on Dec-30-2004 at 12:44

very good review my friend Steve Taylor was the nucking futs!! :-) brilliant player.

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How can sound exist if there's no one there to hear it?

Sky Sports are saying that Juventus are in for Bernard. Looks like he's on his way

quote:

Bernard in Juve's sights Newcastle full back Olivier Bernard is being linked with a January transfer to Italian titans Juventus. Bernard has been a consistent figure for The Magpies, but he would appear to be on his way out of St James' Park as talks over a new deal have failed to bear fruit. The defender has suggested he would happily stay with Newcastle, provided they match his contract demands. The two sides have failed to reach a suitable agreement and it is being suggested that Newcastle have resigned themselves to losing the French full back in January. With Newcastle bringing in a left back for January in the form of Celestine Babayaro, it could be that manager Graeme Souness feels he can allow Bernard to move on from Tyneside. Bernard's displays have caught the eye of a clutch of teams, with his rampaging style down the left flank attracting some of Europe's big hitters. There are few bigger clubs in Europe than Juventus and it is being claimed that coach Fabio Capello has set his sights on luring Bernard to Turin. Juventus are leading the way in Serie A and are through to the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League. Capello is said to be happy with most areas of his squad, while it has been claimed there will be no new arrivals in January, but one area of concern is at left back. Gianluca Zambrotta has been turning out at left back and although the Italian international has performed with great credit, he is not a natural full back. It could well be that Capello has earmarked a left back for January and rumours are suggesting Bernard is his favoured option. French television reports have claimed Bernard is ready to make the move to the Old Lady when the transfer window opens in January and have even suggested a deal is close to being finalised.

Babayaro is not as good as Bernard and he's more injury prone. For 1M he wouldn't be a bad buy if we were to get Bernard to sign a new contract, that would give us cover on the left side and give us the option of moving Bernard to left mid in games where Robert would be too weak. But if this Juve story is true then that explains why has been fannying around over his contract for a year now.

Taylor vs Pires last night.



Av it!!

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has revealed that Craig Bellamy can leave the club if the right offer is made.
But, despite speculation that Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City want the forward, only Stoke are understood to have made an enquiry.

Stoke!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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All the weekend rockstars in the toilets
Practicing their lines

This post is better than your post

quote:

Blues agree £6m Bellamy fee Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy is on the verge of securing his escape from Tyneside after the Magpies agreed a £6m fee with Premiership rivals Birmingham. City have been given permission to talk to the 25-year-old Welshman hours after United manager Graeme Souness confirmed he would never pick the player again as long as Souness was at St James' Park. Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said: "We have agreed a fee with Newcastle and we've got permission to speak to the player. "We will be having talks with him over the weekend and we hope we can convince him to come to Birmingham City. "He's a quality player, quality players don't become available very often and that's why we've made the offer that we have to Newcastle. "My board have backed me ever since I came here and they've done it again.'' Bellamy had faced a bleak future in Newcastle's reserves until Birmingham stepped in with their offer. Souness had confirmed on Friday that Bellamy, who branded the Scot a liar following a bust-up, will never play for him again. Souness said: "He can't play for me ever again. He can't go on television and accuse me of telling lies. "I'm not going to dwell on it, but I think in most walks of life that would be the case. "I've covered it in my programme notes tomorrow for the game and people can read my side of the story and maybe make their judgement on it.''

Well thats Bellamy certain to go, Newcastle really are fucked in general, utter wank team where hardly any players give a fuck about the team, just all born idle bastards and just here for the money.

Newcastle really couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery never mind run a football club.

Sack Souness, hes a cock.

Bellamy gone to Celtic and Bernard gone to Southampton.

I bet Southampton didnt offer the 35k per week he was wanting.

Well,

its good to get rid of people that are causing issues and feel they should either be paid the earth even though they have been pretty crap this season (Bernard) or the type that has no respect of the manager or the club, Newcastle will be better off without them.

I guess the deal with Yakubu is off now? thats a relief as well, he would've been a flop imho.

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How can sound exist if there's no one there to hear it?

So, whats the score gonna be tonight chaps?! 3-1 Newcastle methinks.

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How can sound exist if there's no one there to hear it?

2-1 and a fairly boring match IMO.

Also the game came alive when Robert came on, if Souness can't see that he's a complete idiot and my betting is that Robert wont start tomorrow.

Also everytime Bramble makes a mistake he's punished for it, every other player makes mistakes and seem to get away with them, whenever Bramble makes a mistake though it always costs Newcastle, he gave away one goal and with his other mistake nearly give away another.


Reports were last week that newcastle might look at buying Andy Johnson from Crystal Palace for £7million. No way would i pay that for him.


Just read on Team Talk: Newcastle full-back Celestine Babayaro is battling against a knee injury ahead of the FA Cup fifth-round clash at home to Chelsea on Sunday.

The Nigerian international limped off during his side's 2-1 Uefa Cup win in Heerenveen on Thursday night, but is hopeful of being fit.

week tomorrow, we'll kick ass

More than likely as Souness will still be playing 4-3-3.