Jaztheman
Chairman of Selectors
Saturday 24th November
Well with all the players back from international duty from last week, some are shattered. Training hasbeen going really well with nearly everyone making improvement to their footballing ability. There has been one bad case though where Michael Owen turned up for training for struggled with his fitness and didn't do his best. Chris Sulley suspects that he wants to move to a bigger club. A bigger club than Newcastle, my arse! Although we could do with the money, I would love to improve our facilities at the ground. That is for the board and Chairman to decide though and it is my job to grind out the results.
Well, today's fixture was scheduled against Portsmouth at home. After their great start to the season they have been going downhill ever since. They have lost their last two games, away at Liverpool and at home to Bolton. Muntari has been in wicked form for them though so we will have to look out for him! In the changing rooms before the match the lads were all in great spirits bar Michael Owen. He was just stitting there forward play with the bottle cap you get on sport drinks. I can't really drop him now, I need his morale up for our next couple of games. One game had already been played today and that was Arsenal v Tottenham in which Arsenal thumped Tottenham 4-1! Not good with Arsenal catching us at the top up with their great form.
The match started with Portsmouth using their possession to their advantage with numerous chances. Such as a curling Matt Taylor free kick which was only denied by a diving acrobatic save by Shay Given.Then a well worked move by Portsmouth with around 17 passes eventually reached it's way to Belluschi who, fortunatley for us, steered his shot wide of the post. Then our first chance, we score! We seem to be getting a little bit of luck now. Martins was our man again, failing to finish off a tasty pass from N'Zogbia the first time, but with the follow up he had now problem and dispatched it into the net with ease. 1-0, not deserved but 1-0 none the less. Portsmouth again dominate play, this time Belluschi hitting his final shot over than wide. Then on a counter attack another goal is scored! Luckily enough, it went to us. 2 minutes of added time was added on to the 45 minutes in which N'Zogbia put a cross in which was headed away by Levoy Primus, but waiting on the edge of the box was the legend that is... Mirel Radoi! Our Toon captain hitting a screamer from the edge of the box which better get it's recognition in goal of the month, great shot! They don't even have time to take the restart as we come in for the interval. Portsmouth easily dominated the half with us not getting many chances but somehow, we find ourselves 2-0 up.
Most things we tried were going wrong, apart from we were taking our chances. The opposite on what usually happens. Owen wasn't playing well really although I just had an inkling that he was going to give just a little bit extra, I can hope. For some reason José Enrique has been playing poor, today and as of late. Muntari was bossing the midfield around too easily, we had to fight harder and try and rebel!
The second half got underway with us having a lightning start as we went 3-0 up! Habib Beye running down the wing, had a stroke of genius as he then pulled it back to Michael Owen, who just inside the box hit a hard low shot into the far corner. I'm glad I didn't take him off now! Nothing happens apart from each team having their fair shar of possesion until the 70th minute when it all starts to happen with Portsmouth taking charge. This time instead of passing it around the park Distin just hoofed it clear for Santana to run onto, which he does although he messes up his one on one chance where he hits his shot straight at the keeper. 5 minutes later and the same happens again, Santana with another one on one situaion but he hits it wide. Santana this time the provider on 81 minutes as he crosses to the penalty spot where Benjani comes in unmarked, who then releases a volley but puts it straight in row 7. A wasted chance, thank god! By now the away supporters were cheering on their team as they wanted a consolation goal(s). Muntari taking on Torje(who had just came on) chipped a ball over the defence, in which Santana got to but again missed the oppurtunity, this time hitting it well over. 90th minute, 5 minutes added on! Where did they get that from? This nearly comes back to haunt us as Muntari on 93rd minute hits a scorcher from the edge of the box which then grazes the top of the bar. How lucky have we been today?
We didn't play anyway near how we can play, we were incredibly lucky today. I did eventualyl bring Michael Owen off towards the end on 80 minutes and I saw him smile, so lets hope that he can train to his best once again. We were fantastic on the break today, although lots of things were wrong. I have a dilemma on the wings and up fron on who to play, it's going to be tough choosing the next squad, in which I know we have Blackburn but I think it is away.
The lads weren't all that bad, I think I may have been a bit harsh on them. More importantly somehow Chelsea managed to win 2-0 away at Liverpool which will definetly be a spanner in our works although a tleast Sunderland lost. AT HOME TO DERBY 3-1! Ha, well anyone that is the last game of November, so one more month and then it is the big 2008. Can we go this year with me undefeated? "I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan.
Newcastle Unied 3 - 0 Portsmouth
Martins 26
Radoi 45+3
Owen 46
Given - 8
Beye - 8
Enrique - 7
Radoi(c) - 8
Taylor - 8
Milner - 8(Sub 73)
N'Zogbia - 8
Butt- 8
Barton - 8
Owen - 8(Sub 80)
Martins - 8(Sub 73)
Harper - Unused Sub
Smith - 6(On 73)
Torje - 7(On 73)
Geremi - Unused Sub
Stancu - 6(On 80)
Round The Grounds
Arsenal 4 - 1 Tottenham
Bolton 1 - 2 Blackburn
Fulham 0 - 0 Everton
Liverpool 0 - 2 Chelsea
Man Utd 3 - 0 Birmingham
Newcastle 3 - 0 Portsmouth
Sunderland 1 - 3 Derby
West Hame 4 - 4 Wigan
Well with all the players back from international duty from last week, some are shattered. Training hasbeen going really well with nearly everyone making improvement to their footballing ability. There has been one bad case though where Michael Owen turned up for training for struggled with his fitness and didn't do his best. Chris Sulley suspects that he wants to move to a bigger club. A bigger club than Newcastle, my arse! Although we could do with the money, I would love to improve our facilities at the ground. That is for the board and Chairman to decide though and it is my job to grind out the results.
Well, today's fixture was scheduled against Portsmouth at home. After their great start to the season they have been going downhill ever since. They have lost their last two games, away at Liverpool and at home to Bolton. Muntari has been in wicked form for them though so we will have to look out for him! In the changing rooms before the match the lads were all in great spirits bar Michael Owen. He was just stitting there forward play with the bottle cap you get on sport drinks. I can't really drop him now, I need his morale up for our next couple of games. One game had already been played today and that was Arsenal v Tottenham in which Arsenal thumped Tottenham 4-1! Not good with Arsenal catching us at the top up with their great form.
The match started with Portsmouth using their possession to their advantage with numerous chances. Such as a curling Matt Taylor free kick which was only denied by a diving acrobatic save by Shay Given.Then a well worked move by Portsmouth with around 17 passes eventually reached it's way to Belluschi who, fortunatley for us, steered his shot wide of the post. Then our first chance, we score! We seem to be getting a little bit of luck now. Martins was our man again, failing to finish off a tasty pass from N'Zogbia the first time, but with the follow up he had now problem and dispatched it into the net with ease. 1-0, not deserved but 1-0 none the less. Portsmouth again dominate play, this time Belluschi hitting his final shot over than wide. Then on a counter attack another goal is scored! Luckily enough, it went to us. 2 minutes of added time was added on to the 45 minutes in which N'Zogbia put a cross in which was headed away by Levoy Primus, but waiting on the edge of the box was the legend that is... Mirel Radoi! Our Toon captain hitting a screamer from the edge of the box which better get it's recognition in goal of the month, great shot! They don't even have time to take the restart as we come in for the interval. Portsmouth easily dominated the half with us not getting many chances but somehow, we find ourselves 2-0 up.
Most things we tried were going wrong, apart from we were taking our chances. The opposite on what usually happens. Owen wasn't playing well really although I just had an inkling that he was going to give just a little bit extra, I can hope. For some reason José Enrique has been playing poor, today and as of late. Muntari was bossing the midfield around too easily, we had to fight harder and try and rebel!
The second half got underway with us having a lightning start as we went 3-0 up! Habib Beye running down the wing, had a stroke of genius as he then pulled it back to Michael Owen, who just inside the box hit a hard low shot into the far corner. I'm glad I didn't take him off now! Nothing happens apart from each team having their fair shar of possesion until the 70th minute when it all starts to happen with Portsmouth taking charge. This time instead of passing it around the park Distin just hoofed it clear for Santana to run onto, which he does although he messes up his one on one chance where he hits his shot straight at the keeper. 5 minutes later and the same happens again, Santana with another one on one situaion but he hits it wide. Santana this time the provider on 81 minutes as he crosses to the penalty spot where Benjani comes in unmarked, who then releases a volley but puts it straight in row 7. A wasted chance, thank god! By now the away supporters were cheering on their team as they wanted a consolation goal(s). Muntari taking on Torje(who had just came on) chipped a ball over the defence, in which Santana got to but again missed the oppurtunity, this time hitting it well over. 90th minute, 5 minutes added on! Where did they get that from? This nearly comes back to haunt us as Muntari on 93rd minute hits a scorcher from the edge of the box which then grazes the top of the bar. How lucky have we been today?
We didn't play anyway near how we can play, we were incredibly lucky today. I did eventualyl bring Michael Owen off towards the end on 80 minutes and I saw him smile, so lets hope that he can train to his best once again. We were fantastic on the break today, although lots of things were wrong. I have a dilemma on the wings and up fron on who to play, it's going to be tough choosing the next squad, in which I know we have Blackburn but I think it is away.
The lads weren't all that bad, I think I may have been a bit harsh on them. More importantly somehow Chelsea managed to win 2-0 away at Liverpool which will definetly be a spanner in our works although a tleast Sunderland lost. AT HOME TO DERBY 3-1! Ha, well anyone that is the last game of November, so one more month and then it is the big 2008. Can we go this year with me undefeated? "I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan.
Newcastle Unied 3 - 0 Portsmouth
Martins 26
Radoi 45+3
Owen 46
Given - 8
Beye - 8
Enrique - 7
Radoi(c) - 8
Taylor - 8
Milner - 8(Sub 73)
N'Zogbia - 8
Butt- 8
Barton - 8
Owen - 8(Sub 80)
Martins - 8(Sub 73)
Harper - Unused Sub
Smith - 6(On 73)
Torje - 7(On 73)
Geremi - Unused Sub
Stancu - 6(On 80)
Round The Grounds
Arsenal 4 - 1 Tottenham
Bolton 1 - 2 Blackburn
Fulham 0 - 0 Everton
Liverpool 0 - 2 Chelsea
Man Utd 3 - 0 Birmingham
Newcastle 3 - 0 Portsmouth
Sunderland 1 - 3 Derby
West Hame 4 - 4 Wigan
