Villa thriller wins back some respect for Newcastle United
Newcastle United's players can't afford to get carried away by their 2-0 win over Aston Villa but they have every right to enjoy the moment after putting on one of their best displays for some time at St James's Park.
In recent years, United players have been slated for poor performances with Toon fans suffering plenty of false dawns under a wide range of managers in recent times.
But as United attacked at will during the second period with plenty of efforts at goal, it wasn't quite the Entertainers yet when Jonas made a lung busting left-wing run before rolling it across the face of goal for Oba Martins to grab his second, the scenes of unity from Toon players suggested that this lot do actually care as much as the fans.
The horrendous sight of Newcastle at the bottom of the Premier League had been there for all to see before this match.
And who knows what we might be talking about today had Villa rolled out of Tyneside with three points.
But if football is all about turning points, then perhaps this is the big one for Newcastle United and their fans.
And although United climbed six places, out of the relegation zone and above Sunderland - Toon fans are always renowned for concentrating on their own team's fortunes rather than counting their chickens before they hatch.
On the subject of the fans, the Toon Army have been absolutely sensational is recent home games.
The Gallowgate seemed to suck the ball into the back of the net on two occasions last night and the players certainly responded to their encouragement.
At one point in the second half a collective shout of "go on" must have had even Brad Friedel shaking between the Gallowgate posts.
But in the end it was all down to the United players.
Shay Given pulled of some crucial saves when needed and although the back four had to rely on abysmal finishing from Villa's forwards in the first half they deserved their clean sheet.
Damien Duff and Jonas ran themselves into the ground and Nicky Butt and Joey Barton linked up fantastically in the engine room.
Two goal Martins did exactly what it said on the tin while Shola Ameobi left Joe Kinnear with difficult decision ahead of Sunday's game with Fulham as Michael Owen's cameo role at the end hardly likely to keep the Toon skipper content after his groin injury.
The win left true Geordies delighted after the game but until United are close to the 40 point mark nobody will be getting carried away.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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i think butt's freekick hit the post/bar...anywayz
I'm for ObaMa
Obafemi Martinsssssss
and i'm not sure about you guys, but i was pretty surprised by ameobi's performance today. sure he had some of those frustrating moments that reminded me of why i so wanted him out of the club, but he showed that he had quite a pair of quick feet too. showed the ability to hold the ball, distribute it and get around pple quite well today. if he can build on this performance, he'll be just the foil we need for owen/oba as i think viduka's really past it now..with his injury problems and all.
just so pleased with this battling performance which eventually panned out so delightfully for us. sure hope that this is the proverbial corner-turning event, and it's all about consolidating our status in the league from this point on.
M.Owen change Ameobi last minute. The match was great.
Said in the first half that for all his hard work, Jonas needs an end product with many of his mazy runs not really ending in any productive outcome in terms of creating chances or setting up goals. Eventually it happened & I hope that is the start of things to come because he is a fine player who will get better & better. Also, I said that we missed Nicky Butt last Tuesday as he breaks up the opposition flow in midfield. He was outstanding last night alongside Barton who showed his worth in the second half. Certainly work in progress but that was a much improved performance last night against a side who are one of the favourites to break the 'top four' monopoly! They didn't look too clever to me. Milner, well, he hasn't changed much has he? Still flatters to deceive. Lets make sure we keep it going and see off Fulham & Wigan respectively. Hey, Europe anyone?
Benidormnorm says it was a great feeling watching the lads play a great gam of football last night. With this team they can climb right up the table by Xmas. MO? quite frankly the way they played last night, who needs him? Every player played their part well. Just wish the club was sorted out once and for all. As for JK? He picked a great side. Hope things keep getting better so that we can keep above of the Mackems!
Let's keep the positive and be positive . Who knows? Anything can happen for us! Let's aim for 40 points and Europe can come later! Good results , keep it up, Newcastle!
Hey can anyone tell me where the away stands are at Craven Cottage?
i've already booked a ticket in P3....but the guy sais it's a neutral area...
Her indoors was tense all day about this game and until we got into the ground I was too.
As soon as I got to my seat I felt really calm and said to her and the kids "no problem tonight, we won't lose".
The way they played made me very proud to be a Toon fan again and our lass was so absorbed in the game that when Oba scored the second she burst into tears of joy and relief.
What a great night!
Howay the Toon!
p.s.how good is Colloccini and Shola?
Well done the Toon and JK/CH. I had my doubts like many fans, but it was a good win and a confident performance. Its just a start though, lets not get too carried away. Fulham next and they are not bad at the Cottage....definite 6 pointer...and hey we are above the Black Cats!
Agreed, great result, but as you said Lee, best not to get carried away.
If Barton gets suspended or Jonas injured, it will highlight our main problem: lack of quality players. The squad is simply too 'thin' and a few injuries could completely derail our progress.
I'd be happy with survival this season and new owners in, ready to spend for the next one.
Shola was sensational last night!!! His ball control, taking the defenders on, his Henry-esque hopping on the ball...Priceless!!!
Great result by the lads! More of that, please!
At last! Shola has had a 4 game run in the team, he has scored a couple of goals, is getting cheered for his good play, not jeered for every bit of bad play (if the crowd jeered everytime Oba lost/miscontrolled/mishit a shot the guy would be a wreck)and guess what ... Shola is getting confidence.
I have never stopped saying (and been constantly ridiculed for it) that there is a very good player in Shola. He is deceptively quick, has great skill, and it appears Kinnear is making him use his size and power to the best effect.
He was played out of position while Shearer was around and has never been fully fit for two seasons. If you want to know the difference being 'fit' makes - look at Duff this season.
Big players nearly always mature later than small nippy players. If the crowd keep encouraging Shola he will get better and better with every game. I just hope those who are grudgingly cheering him now don't turn on the boo's when he makes the odd mistake.
90 MINUTES IN THE LIFE OF A NEWCASTLE SUPPROTER… My mind started rotating on a series of highs and lows that I have experienced by having supported my beloved club Newcastle since the start of this season. Sure, there are the years of mid-table mediocrity when my club isn’t really going anywhere but, even then, there are the heart in mouth moments each game that I witness when what might have been just fails to be. Despite this, my thoughts kept focusing on the ideal of MY LAST CHANT and this started to intensify my emotions a few minutes before kick-off against Aston Villa. I felt a positive energy flow through the stands from the passionate whispers of the Geordie faithful as though I had been taken back in time. Its just a game, they say. Yeah, like breathing is just sucking in and blowing out air – but if you dont do it you will die. Sitting in Saint James Park is an experience rather than an average destination because despite the fog that has clouded our light, the spirit and faith and passion of the fans engulfs me, you and all football fans in a moment of pure and complete admiration for Newcastle United! So the last couple of weeks in Newcastle has been a rollercoaster ride for all of us who love the Toon Army. Yet, the absolute euphoria of gaining a 2nd victory in a row, climbing off the foot of the table, leaping over Sunderland and climbing 6 places in the premiership became a desire that burnt like an uncontrollable fire within me and all for a game that involves kicking about a ball up and down a field of grass as some non football supporters would put it. Bizarre, isnt it? But if youre a passionate football fan you will understand what I am saying. Whilst my thoughts were digging deeper beneath me, I heard the referee blow the whistle for kick-off and suddenly I was swarmed with a sound wave that shattered my fears of defeat instantly. I was, as always, instantly transformed into a soldier of the Toon Army and with every inch of my soul I joined the swarm by CHANTING “NEWCASTLE” as though it were my last ever CHANT as a fan. Despite the nervous start that our players made, every chant hindered the progress of Aston Villa as though an invisible 12th man was shielding our players in preparation for the second half. By half-time I knew that it was time to open the flood gates and with a handful of supporters I CHANTED MY LAST CHANT my voicing “ONE OBAFEMI”, “THERES ONLY ONEEEE OBAFEMI”! My fellow supporters felt a sense of urgency to slice open Aston Villa and the roars of Geordie passion engulfed the stadium wave after wave after wave. Suddenly, come 60 minutes of CHANT AFTER LAST CHANT, Martins scored an absolute beauty and Hiroshima fell upon Aston Villa leaving a permanent scar on their confidence. I CHANTED MY LAST CHANT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN to the tune of the 46,000 MAGPIES which almost put me in a permanent hypnosis of absolute joy! The match continued and I sat feeling stunned to see former wounded players of the past having risen to the occasion and playing for every inch of the pitch as though their lives depended on it such as Duff, Enrique and Ameobi. As a new chapter was about to open in my life as a supporter of Newcastle I felt that the 1-0 scoreline was just not enough for me and just like every other Geordie that fire continued to burn and we craved more. Our voices seemed to lift the players back into gear and opportunities went missing on both sides. Suddenly on 83 minutes, Martins locked on goal and put the fatal final wound in Aston Villas defeat. The celebration of the second goal felt like an eternity and it felt as though this world was the perfect place to be in, the Saint James Park world. The final whistle blew and my LAST CHANT was uttered one last time before we all went our separate ways. Now, I feel that MY LAST CHANT had it been my last, will be remembered in so many ways, yet most importantly in the result that surfaced from the input of our players, management and us, the fans! Thank you Newcastle United for allowing me to CHANT amongst so many fans in a voice that once again has been restored to its historic identity, A UNITED CHANT from NEWCASTLE UNITED!
COME ON NEWCASTLE!!! I am overjoyed by our fantastic display. I am really happy after the win AMEOBI - AMAZING, DUFF - FANTASTIC, BARTON - OUR OWN GATTUSO, ENRIQUE -IMPROVING WITH EACH GAME,GIVEN - BCK TO HIS BEST, MARTINS - IN OBADRIVE!! Just like McDonalds' I'm Luvin' It!
COME ON NEWCASTLE!!! I am overjoyed by our fantastic display. I am really happy after the win AMEOBI - AMAZING, DUFF - FANTASTIC, BARTON - OUR OWN GATTUSO, ENRIQUE -IMPROVING WITH EACH GAME,GIVEN - BCK TO HIS BEST, MARTINS - IN OBADRIVE!! Just like McDonalds' I'm Luvin' It!
COME ON NEWCASTLE!!! I am overjoyed by our fantastic display. I am really happy after the win AMEOBI - AMAZING, DUFF - FANTASTIC, BARTON - OUR OWN GATTUSO, ENRIQUE -IMPROVING WITH EACH GAME,GIVEN - BCK TO HIS BEST, MARTINS - IN OBADRIVE!! Just like McDonalds' I'm Luvin' It!
Unlike many, I was quite happy when Kinnear arrived (and said so on this blog). For once against Villa we had a team of players who were prepared to "bust a gut" for the team. Duff was a completely different character from the one we've seen over the last couple of years - OK he's been injured but on Monday he was racing around, tackling, wanting the ball and playing with urgency. Keegan didn't get him or the team playing like that. Kinnear is a motivator, a good old-fashioned football man and I like him. Give him the job. Don't for goodness sake go for a big name, fancy Dan manager who'll bring in an army of mercenaries or no-hopers like Maric, Goma etc. (Actually Goma wasn't that bad but he was still a mercenary! Maric, on the other hand, was that bad). Give JK a bit of money and I think we can trust him to buy whole-hearted and hungry players who will get us back up the league. And - note this - he has a fantastic Cup record (played in 5 finals and won them all and got Wimbledon to two semis). Anyone fancy a Cup? Joe's your man. As we've all always said, it takes a Cockney to understand what Newcastle fans want ...
i think you might find that joe is an irishman, not a cockney !
Kinnear's an irishman in the same way that Stephen Taylor is a Londoner.
In other words, just as Taylor is really a Geordie despite his birthplace so is JK a Cockney in all but birth certificate.