Wednesday 26th December
5 days till the last day of December, and the last day of 2007. What a year it has been! Christmas was totally different this year, last year we went to my Mother in Law's house for Christmas dinner and exchanged average presents. Now though, we were going everywhere. 2 Christmas dinners on Christmas Day, and 2 on Christmas Eve! The presents also have become more expensive, but it is worth it. Interesting to see how the other half live, and boy do I love it! Sitting top at the Premiership just enhances Christmas and up here in Newcastle, you can tell it is not going to end any time soon.
Following last weeks away win against Birmingham, we are on a 1 win run. Chelsea knicking 3 points in a 7 goal thriller, 18 days ago. That is in the past though and we need to look the future. HEck, we need to look to today's match. A home game to underachievers, like us, Totetnham Hotspur. This game had the potential to be a cracking affair, and I'm sure it will pan out well. Martins and Owen have been pairing up well in training, although Taylor has been poor. Looking ahead to January, we only have one person coming. Bacinovic, a 6 foot 2 inch Defender, who could be a cheap replacement for Taylor, if we decide to sell him. Everyone is fighting for their places now, obciously excluding Martins and Radoi, who have been instrumental this season, but we need to come together and win games 1 at a time. We have also rejected, a ?10,900,000 bid for Owen from AC Milan, as I think we can fetch ?12,000,000 for him. Also we have rejected a bid from Arsenal, wanting Taylor, for ?7,500,000 as that is not enough.
An incredible start to the game for us, as Michael Owen scores his 14 goal of the season, 9th in the Premiership. Milner supplied the cross, for Michael Owen to nod in at the front post. A cracking start to the game! 10 minutes later and Emre comes close. A shot from 25 yards, saved by Paul Robinson quite comfortably, but could of been so different if Paul's positioning would of been spot on. Disaster then strikes as Steed Malbranque scores the exact same goal as Joe Cole did, 18 days ago. Robbie Keane pulled it back, for Malbranque to hit a wonderful curling shot to the far post. Given had no chance. Tottenham start coming on the attack and playing fast football as Berbatov and Keane are soon denied by the fingertips of Shay Given, in between the posts for us. On the counter attack, we strike. A pinpoint pass from Owen to Martins, gave Obafemi a gifted goal as he slotted home to score yet again. We start to dominate, although Tottenham have most of the possession, until referee, Lee Probert, ends the half. A satisfactory half for us, methinks.
Well a different half, I'll take it, however I think we can do better. Tottenham have been dominating play, but we have been getting the shots, unlike them. Taylor has been shocking and Barton hasn't been much better. Taylor will definetly be coming off. Berbatov has been very good in this match so far, and he will be instrumental for Tottenham in the second half. Come on Newcastle!
Well, everyone has to wait 16 minutes for the first chance, and by god it was a goal. A lucky goal, but still a goal. Unfortunately, this went to Tottenham's Jermaine Jenas. A through ball by Berbatov got a slight deflection, and Jermain Jenas found himself one on one with Shay Given, with no defenders near him. He wasn't going to miss from there, and he duly delivered. Taylor was his original marker... 3 minutes later and it is 3-2 to Tottenham! Aaron Lennon picked out Berbatov with a lovely pass and a vicious strike at the top corner from about 25 yards, sealed the move. Radoi and Taylor were both about 5 feet from him but decided not to tackle. Come on lads! That's it, I've had enough. Emre and Milner come off for Butt and Faye, to cover for the struggling defence. Smith can also come on for Taylor, as Faye can drop into the back four. Straight away, the minute Taylor goes off, we score! A Habib Beye throw in, went straight to Obafemi Martins, who turned and hit a powerful shot past Paul Robinson, to get us back into the match at 3-3. 17 minutes to go, can we find a winner? As the fans start to sing and bring up morale, we started winning balls in the air and start clawing back possession. Martins! You absolute beast, a hat-trick has given us the lead with 8 minutes to go! Habib Beye, again the supplier, as he whipped a ball across from the right hand side, for Martins to bring down and smash into the back of the net. Fantastic! We even nearly got a 5th, as in the 94th minute, Michael Owen hits the post from a Martins cross. The final whistle is blown, 4-3 victors!
Martins again taking to limelight, as he scores a hat-trick to give us the win. Martins and Radoi have just been inspirational this season, and in this match, they both delivered. Even Michael Owen enjoyed himself. I'm thinking of getting rid of Emre, as ?5,000,000 plus could really help us. Aston Villa have been reported to of wanted him, so all is good. A great game here today, Tottenham could feel a tad hard done today though, as we got lucky towards the end.
Unfortunately, Chelsea and Manchester United won. 1 more game until the exact half way stage, and we are 3 points clear of Chelsea. Manchester City away next, to end our year. Lots of players have been transfer listed by me today, as I look to get rid of our deadwood and bring in some real quality. Lulinha is coming in in July, that's a start. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" - Henry De Bracton
Newcastle 4 - 3 Tottenham
Owen 8
Martins 31,73,82
Given - 7
Beye - 7
Enrique - 7
Radoi(c) - 7
Taylor - 5(Sub 73)
Barton - 6
N'Zogbia - 7
Milner -8(Sub 63)
Emre - 6(Sub 63)
Owen - 8
Martins - 9
Harper - Unused Sub
Smith - 7(On 73)
Butt - 6(On 63)
Faye - 7(On 63)
Stancu - Unused SUb
Round The Grounds
Arsenal 2 - 0 Reading
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Middlesborough
Bolton 1 - 1 Man City
Derby 1 - 0 Birmingham
Fulham 2 - 2 West Ham
Liverpool 1 - 2 Everton
Man Utd 1 - 0 Wigan
Newcastle 4 - 3 Tottenham
Portsmouth 0 - 1 Chelsea
Sudnerland 1 - 2 Blackburn
Well done Lincoln, shame Coventry had to go and lose 2-1 to bottom of the league Scunthorpe... ARRRGGHHH!
Well done Jaz, another sterling victory over the Carling Cup 2008 winners! Oba doing well as usual! Has he asked to leave like that b*stard Michael owen?
