gavrenwick Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Newcastle. In the Championship. Need I say more. On with the show. Preseason 2015 Staff (after recruitment) Assistant Manager - Ian Cathro Coaches – Joe Joyce, Simon Smith, Alessandro Schoenmaker, Edgar Davids, Dietmar Hamann, Noel Blake, Kit Symons, Steve Black Medical Team – Derek Wright, Carl Nelson, Michael Harding Scouting Team – Steve Nickson, Lee Fraser, Joe McLaren Transfers In Louis Reed - £425k – Sheffield United Johann Berg Guomundsson - £3.1m – Charlton Athletic Ylli Sallahi - £2m – Karlsruhe Out Remy Cabella - £8m – Marseille Sylvain Marveaux – released Gabriel Obertan – released Yoan Gouffran - £1.6m – Montpellier Moussa Sissoko - £10.5m – Sevilla Freddie Woodman – season loan – Oldham Daryl Janmaat - £11.25m – PSG Rolando Aarons – season loan – Hearts Louis Reed – season loan – Aberdeen GOALKEEPERS Tim Krul [GK, 27, NED] Rob Elliott [GK, 29, IRL] Freddie Woodman [GK, 18, ENG] Karl Darlow [GK, 24, ENG] DEFENDERS Steven Taylor [DC, 29, ENG] Chancel Mbemba [DR/C, 20, COD] Kevin Mbabu [DR/C, 20, SUI] Massadio Haidara [DL, 22, FRA] Paul Dummett [DL/C, 23, WAL] Fabricio Coloccini [DC, 33, ARG] Jamaal Lascelles [DC, 21, ENG] Ylli Sallahi [D/WB/ML, 21, AUT] MIDFIELDERS Vurnon Anita [DM/MC, 26, NED] Cheick Tiote [DM/MC, 29, CIV] Jack Colback [DM/MC, 25, ENG] Jonjo Shelvey [MC, 23, ENG] Andros Townsend [AMR/L, 23, ENG] Rolando Aarons [AMR/L, 19, ENG] Georginio Wijnaldum [M/AMR/L/C, 24, NED] Henri Saivet [M/AMC, 24, FRA] Florian Thauvin [AMR/L/C, 22, FRA] Siem de Jong [AMC/ST, 26, NED] Johann Berg Guomundsson [AMR/L, 24, ISL] FORWARDS Ayoze Perez [AMC/ST, 21, ESP] Papiss Cisse [sT, 30, SEN] Emmanuel Riviere [sT, 25, FRA] Aleksandr Mitrovic [sT, 20, SRB] Friendly Overview July 15th 2015 US Colomiers 0 – 3 Newcastle (Cisse 6, Janmaat 45, OG 70) July 17th 2015 Nimes 0 – 1 Newcastle (Shelvey 21) July 19th 2015 Sete 1 – 2 Newcastle (Cisse 3, Townsend 92) July 21st 2015 La Berrichone 0 – 1 Newcastle (Thauvin 80) July 24th 2015 Marseille 0 – 2 Newcastle (Mitrovic 22, 56) 29th July 2015 Gateshead 0 – 3 Newcastle (Riviere 23, 44, Wijnaldum 33) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 Newcastle United vs. Barnsley St James Park Sky Bet Championship [1/46] Karl Darlow; Kevin Mbabu, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Jamaal Lascelles; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Florian Thauvin; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandr Mitrovic A very sloppy start to this game gave me notice that we might have struggled against a stronger team, but last season’s Playoff winners were no match for us. Alfie Mawson suffered the indignity of an opening day own goal, turning in a Wijnaldum cross with great precision. The biggest thing I was watching was Mitrovic, ensuring he didn’t get in to any tangles as is per usual for that little firecracker. He scored a good goal just before half time, placing a solid left foot finish into the bottom left corner, but his fitness is an issue at the moment due to him missing most of pre-season, and I replaced him at half time with Cisse. Mawson made his day worse with a foul on Perez in the box gifting us a penalty, and new boy Guomundsson made himself a fan favourite by dispatching with calm efficiency. Marley Watkins bagged a decent consolation, firing past a suspicious looking Darlow save. We won, and while some things looked to be an issue, others stood out as having really good prospects. Newcastle United 3 – 1 Barnsley (Alfie Mawson OG 4, Aleksandr Mitrovic 44, Johann Guomundsson pen 48; Marley Watkins 60) ********* Newcastle United vs. Northampton Town St James Park Capital One Cup 1st Round Rob Elliott; Kevin Mbabu, Chancel Mbemba, Massadio Haidara, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jonjo Shelvey; Ayoze Perez, Emmanuel Riviere I rang in a couple of changes across all positions, but they simply didn’t work as we went into the game believing we were better than our opponents. The lack of respect almost cost us, but only because we couldn’t score, and Adam Smith had a fantastic game in their net. He saved early on from Riviere, the Frenchman constantly fluffing his chances and failing to hit the back of the net. The full ninety minutes had come and gone without a goal, though the introduction of Andros Townsend certainly gave life to the game, more so in extra time. We finally decided to get going when it became clear that we were in risk of penalties, and won one in normal time when Riviere fell over in the box. It was harsh on Northampton, but Shelvey slotted it away to Smith’s right hand side. Two minutes later and Guomundsson posted a sublime freekick over the wall. Northampton started to rally, Ricky Holmes knocking one in from close range, but there was no last stand required. We undeservedly marched into round two, a home tie against League Two Doncaster Rovers. We were shaky, and one thing became apparent; Riviere was nowhere near good at football. Newcastle United 2 – 1 Northampton (A.E.T.) (Jonjo Shelvey pen98, Johann Guomundsson 103; Ricky Holmes 111) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terk Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Not reading unless you sack off Jonjo Shelvey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 I can't even give him away Terk, no word of a lie. ***** Reading vs. Newcastle United Madejski Stadium Sky Bet Championship [2/46] Karl Darlow; Kevin Mbabu, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Andros Townsend, Siem de Jong; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandr Mitrovic This match was ill-tempered from the start, and we were equally to blame as they were. Forty fouls between us indicated that this was a rough match, and we struggled to even get going at the times we should have had ample opportunity. We gave away an early penalty thanks to Mbabu, and Lucas Piazon slotted it home comfortably. We didn’t intentionally set out to harm but two players were taken off injured and by half time six players had been booked across both sides. Al-Habsi saved wonderfully from Townsend in the second half, and we eventually pegged back through Ayoze Perez, the Spaniard tapping in on the line after Coloccini saw his wonderful looping header saved. The match struggled to offer actual football, and whilst we dominated on possession, Reading offered all the best goalscoring chances. Jamie Sterry came on for his Newcastle debut late on, but he didn’t have much to do and we struggled to move on for the win. It wasn’t good enough really, but for now, we’re working hard on getting ourselves suited to the division. Colback hasn’t been able to finish a game since the start of the season simply because he has picked up a yellow in every match and looked culpable for a red, whilst Mitrovic looks worn down already. And Siem de Jong, well, he was the most pointless squad inclusion since Riviere the week before. Reading 1 – 1 Newcastle United (Lucas Piazon pen6; Ayoze Perez 56) Newcastle United vs. Rotherham United St James Park Sky Bet Championship [3/46] Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Florian Thauvin; Ayoze Perez, Papiss Cisse Rotherham looked overawed by the fans before the match even kicked off, and it transpired into their on the field performance. We, however, looked sharp in front of our own fans and dominated from first to last. Papiss Cisse continues to be a conundrum however, missing two sitters before lashing in a world class volley from just inside the 12 yard line. Quite how that guy functions I’ll never know. After his goal, he vanished from the game. Wijnaldum bagged our second, Thauvin seeing his shot saved, a great effort palmed into the path of the Dutch international, and he only had to slide it into an empty goal. We were solid all over really, the midfield holding up well and owning the middle of the park. Jack Colback headed in the third, a simply goal really, and surprising considering he isn’t that good in the air. We let the foot off the gas pedal in the second half, but it worked as Rotherham didn’t extend any courtesy to themselves to try and get into the game. Joe Newell bagged his first of the season and a consolation, but there was nothing more the cheer about. We were efficient and it was pleasing to see. I am still very unconfident in the strike force, and will be dipping into the market just once more to fix that problem. Newcastle United 3 – 1 Rotherham United (Papiss Cisse 6, Georginio Wijnaldum 23, Jack Colback 40; Joe Newell 50) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Bristol City vs. Newcastle United Ashton Gate Sky Bet Championship [4/46] Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ryan Gauld; Ayoze Perez, Adam Rooney So, I finished my transfer business for the window, with Ryan Gauld coming on loan for the season from Sporting Lisbon, while we signed striker Adam Rooney from Aberdeen for £1.6m. The guy has a great record for scoring goals, and while he is a bit of a gamble, he should do well for us eventually. Bristol were our next opponents, and this time our away performance was dominating and impressive. The first half started well, a good goal from Wijnaldum getting us going, but we stuttered and Sallahi put in a poor tackle to give away a penalty just before half time. Lee Tomlin dispatched with ease past Darlow, who when is expected to save, does not. Krul is back soon, begging the question on whether I bring him straight back into the fold. The second half was our chance to shine, and debutant Gauld played a lovely ball into Wijnaldum who lashed it across the six yard box for Rooney to slot home for a debut goal. I knew the guy would be worth it. Guomundsson finished the scoring with a calm touch and side foot for the third, he himself proving to be a super shrewd acquisition for what he cost. We ran the game out, and Mitrovic replaced Rooney late on, who looked like he had picked up a knock. Mitro hit the bar twice in the final few moments, and then he got booked. Usual day at the office for him then. Bristol City 1 – 3 Newcastle United (Lee Tomlin pen44; Georginio Wijnaldum 24, Adam Rooney 60, Johann Guomundsson 77) ***** Newcastle United vs. Doncaster Rovers St James Park Capital One Cup 2nd Round Tim Krul; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Massadio Haidara, Fabricio Coloccini; Vurnon Anita, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ryan Gauld; Ayoze Perez, Jonjo Shelvey I rang the changes in for the cup game, but the first eleven was still very strong on paper. I was hoping this time we would learn to respect our opponents. And we did just that, we respected them and put all our effort into it. Annoyingly, they came to defend and do little else. We couldn’t break them down in the first half, and Krul had nothing to do. It was boring in all truth, but we kept plugging away. We plugged away so hard that in the second half, Doncaster hit us on the break and Andrew Williams stroked home to put us behind. It was a bitter pill to swallow and it shook us. Our passing and flowing play suffered, but eventually we clicked back into action. Wijnaldum was the hero, and once again exemplified why we worked hard to keep him at the club. He set up Ayoze Perez to slot home the equaliser, right before Wijnaldum himself headed one in before lobbing Doncaster keeper Stuckmann, both assists coming from Guomundsson. It was a great rally to comeback, though we should have clicked way earlier than we did. And a clean sheet wouldn’t go amiss. Newcastle United 3 – 1 Doncaster Rovers (Ayoze Perez 74, Georginio Wijnaldum 78, 89; Andrew Williams 51) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terk Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 I can't even give him away Terk, no word of a lie. Starting a petition. It's Shelvey out or gav out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edtheguy Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Starting a petition. It's Shelvey out or gav out. Ouch- Now it's official, welcome to Newcastle... no pressure ;-) (Oh, and I'm really enjoying this - can't wait to see how things unfold!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 Problem solved, he's gone! Cheers edtheguy for keeping an eye. ***** Newcastle United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers St James Park Sky Bet Championship [5/46] Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Massadio Haidara, Fabricio Coloccini; Cheick Tiote, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Florian Thauvin; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandr Mitrovic Jonjo Shelvey left the club today in a £8.75m deal, joining former club Liverpool, and we wouldn't be shopping to fill the gap either. Wolves were listed as providing a potential banana skin, but they were no match for us on a windy day up north. I made a couple of changes, and with a couple of injuries was forced to re-include Darlow to keep up with the five English players in squad policy. This is something I’ll need to fix in the future aswell. Wijnaldum continued his red hot form with two scorching goals just before half time, one a fine header from a Guomundsson cross, the other a lovely half volley from seven yards. Mitrovic got in on the act just before the break aswell, lashing in a fantastic shot from just inside the area, finding the top corner with his effort. The squad Wolves put out should have caused us more issues than they did, Dicko being a real live wire at times, but even he couldn’t find the target. Journeyman striker Adam le Fondre found the back of the net in the second half when he broke away from Mbemba and held him off before firing past Darlow, yet again losing the chance of a first clean sheet. Guomundsson popped up late on after a through ball to the right and easily dispatched with a sloppy shot that squirmed under Ikeme to finalise the score. It was a great result and keeps us on track. Perez picked up an injury and would be out for three weeks. Newcastle United 4 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Georginio Wijnaldum 36, 42, Aleksandr Mitrovic 44, Johann Guomundsson 90; Adam le Fondre 60) **** Cardiff City vs. Newcastle United Cardiff City Stadium Sky Bet Championship [6/46] Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; George Thorne, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ryan Gauld; Florian Thauvin, Adam Rooney We did two final pieces of business before the end of the season, Vurnon Anita left for Valencia in a £6m deal while we brought in Derby maestro George Thorne for £8m. Adam Rooney returned to the first team squad after his injury, while Thorne would make his debut. Annoyingly, Rooney picked up yet another just fifteen minutes in, but he marched on and managed to turn in a Chancel Mbemba cross from the right to put us ahead. We didn’t exactly set the game on fire after that and Cardiff waited for their chance to come, and they did just that when Gunnarsson crossed in for Dagoberto to tap home for an easy equaliser. Darlow should definitely have done better. Idriss Saadi made Darlow look worse in the second half when the keeper flapped for a corner and the player headed home his fifth goal putting us behind. Wijnaldum had a good shot hit the post but made amends two minutes later when he popped up to convert another Mbemba cross, his shot squeezing in off the post. Gauld went off injured late in the game and Rooney left the field too, though the introductions could do little to sway the game any further than the 2-2 scoreline it ended up at. We were poor today and they’d be getting told just that. Cardiff City 2 – 2 Newcastle United 2 (Dagoberto 40, Idriss Saadi 55; Adam Rooney 23, Georginio Wijnaldum 77) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Starting a petition. It's Shelvey out or gav out. Well, since we already dealt with the latter for far too long, my vote goes to Shelvey out. Good start, friend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Newcastle United vs. Fulham St James Park Sky Bet Championship [7/46] Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; George Thorne, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend; Florian Thauvin, Adam Rooney There wa sonly one change as Rooney recovered in time to pass fitness, Townsend coming into replace Gauld. This was a top two of the table clash, and they started the better of us both. Their passing was crisp and ours was shaky at best, but when we broke we did look dangerous. Rooney had a chance to put us ahead but squandered it, while Guomundsson smashed one in from a Van Basten style area ,but a Lonergan save denied him an early contender for goal of the year. Despite another three saves from Lonergan we finally took the lead before half time, Coloccini lashing home a loose clearance from a Guomundsson corner. The second half was a real drab forty five, Darlow having no work to do as we bunkered in for the win. In truth it was probably the right call from me to choose that option, as Fulham had offered little in way of attacking threat throughout the game. Lonergan made one more decent save from Thauvin as we sought to find a second on the break, but it didn’t happen and we came out one nil victors. The win put us top of the table and we came out of injury free, but it wasn’t exactly on for the neutral fan. Newcastle United 1 – 0 Fulham (Fabricio Coloccini 42) ***** Ipswich Town vs. Newcastle United Portman Road Sky Bet Championship [8/46] Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ryan Gauld; Florian Thauvin, Adam Rooney The only unforced change was the return of Jack Colback for George Thorne, while Rooney dropped to the bench unfit, Mitrovic replacing him. We took an early first half lead when Thauvin launched down the right and played a great ball across the middle to Wijnaldum. He made no mistake in slotting home and we were playing well for most of the half. We dropped our guard though and when Darlow had to make a double save from Sears and McGoldrick, the third attempt was not stoppable and we went into half time deservedly having lost our lead for sloppiness. Mitrovic had been largely invisible for the first half so he came off for de Jong. I was for twenty minutes regretting that decision as he hadn’t actually touched the ball, but then an atrocious header back from Knudsen found a still backtracking de Jong, who simply had to turn and fire past a stranded Bialkowski. Our performance was still poor though and for some reason they just couldn’t string enough passes together to keep the pressure off, and when Fraser broke down the right, I knew what was coming. Darlow was out of position yet again (prompting me to want to substitute him off) and Jay Tabb headed into an empty goal. We couldn’t find a winner, and they didn’t look for one, which angered me even more. We need to improve, and we need to stop conceding. Henri Saivet made his debut, and looked uninspiring, as do most of my players right now. Ipswich Town 2 – 2 Newcastle United (Georginio Wijnaldum 15, Siem de Jong 65;Freddy Sears 44, Jay Tabb 80) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 Cardiff City vs. Newcastle United Cardiff City Stadium Capital One Cup 3rd Round Karl Darlow; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend; Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez Ayoze Perez was back in first team action with the ineffective Mitrovic dropping out of the squad completely, while Krul failed a late fitness test and should be back next match. The first fifteen were real lacklustre, and when Guomundsson was booked for accidentally felling somebody, it looked like the first half could be areal boring one. And then Florian Thauvin lit the world up with a bicycle kick of exemplary quality, the chance coming from a Townsend cross, and from there,we were up in the cup. Townsend continued to be a real threat, with two shots being saved by Marshall. We reached half time in front, and Saivet was introduced again to try and make something happen. His first touch was fantastic – in gifting Cardiff the equaliser. His back pass was absolutely awful and Dagoberto sneaked in to level the game. Rooney came on for Perez as we sought a more brutish approach, and it worked when he sneaked the ball out to Saivet. The midfielder found Wijnaldum who scored a real peach in Marshall’s top right corner. Thauvin scored a late volley from seven yards and it topped off the win. We had progressed in the cup again, and had surpassed previous years progress, but it was also nice to beat them this time following our 2-2 draw earlier in the season. Cardiff City 1 – 3 Newcastle United (Dagoberto 51; Florian Thauvin 16, 92, Georginio Wijnaldum 68) ***** (1st) Newcastle United vs. Queens Park Rangers (14th) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [9/46] Tim Krul; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Fabricio Coloccini; Jack Colback, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend; Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez Cisse comes back into the squad after complaining for a chance, and after getting bored of him not listening, succumbed to it to stop it all escalating. Krul also returns for the first time in awhile. We gifted the game to QPR early on when Colback hauled down Chery, Tozser stepped up for the penalty, and from that put us a goal down. Guomundsson had our best chance to equalise, and it was a great effort saved by the Rangers keeper, but Townsend was on hand to lay it in for Wijnaldum and level the scoring. Half time came and we were still level, I made one change bringing off the uninspiring Cisse for Rooney. His aerial presence up front was instantly noted though the two behind, especially Perez, couldn't make anything happen with the chances he lay down for them. Colback continued his booking spree for the season picking up another yellow, and seeing red, leaving us with ten men. Wijnaldum had a great chance to put us ahead when he was through on the right, but with Rooney unmarked in the middle, he chose to shoot and messed it up. Mbemba did eventually play in the big man, but he scuffed his lines and got tangled in his own feet, right before Sallahi almost scored from a cross on the left. Wijnaldum was brought off late on for Saivet, his fitness in doubt, and Guomundsson kept pushing the game despite looking knackered .One last corner was hacked away and we ended with a draw, a disappointing result, but with ten men, not necessarily a bad one. Newcastle United 1 - 1 Queens Park Rangers (Georginio Wijnaldum 20; Daniel Tozser pen10) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark wilson27 Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Was just about to ask you what position in the League you was and then re-read and saw that you it wrote down. A good unbeaten start to the season but I those draws must be alittle bit annoying. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 I just can't for the life of me getting them performing together. The squad has hardly changed and the formation is simple and should be effective for who is there. Very annoying for the moment! ***** (4th) Huddersfield Town vs. Newcastle United (3rd) The John Smith Stadium Sky Bet Championship [10/46] Tim Krul; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Kevin Mbabu; George Thorne, Johann Guomundsson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend; Adam Rooney, Ayoze Perez Mbabu comes in for Coloccini who isn't fit for this game, while Adam Rooney returns to the starting eleven. Huddersfield had enjoyed a decent and unexpected start to their season, they started this game well too. When we got the one chance to go ahead, Rooney muffed it and once again I was left wondering what we have got to do to get a striker to score. Thorne picked up a yellow card and left it rather tentative as to whether we may have a problem in the second half. We finally got the break we needed when Rooney played in Guomundsson and the Icelandic international fired us in front with a super finish. Huddersfield only needed their first shot on goal in the game to get back level, Nakhi Wells making nomistake with no defenders around him, but by god where my defence was I have noidea. Jonathon Hogg saw red as the half went on, and for the small term, it seemed to spur them on. Mbemba should have had a penalty when he was hauled down in the box but we got nothing for it, and then Guomundsson had to come off injured, de Jong replacing. Jordi Hiwula had one chalked off very late on for offside, even though it looked fine to me, I won't be complaining. We draw yet again and it isn't a result that benefits us at all. We are not firing on all cylinders, not even 50%. We now have four draws in our last five games. Huddersfield Town 1 – 1 Newcastle United (Nakhi Wells 53, Jonathon Hogg s/off 60; Johann Guomundsson 41) (3rd) Newcastle United vs. Birmingham City (10th) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [11/46] Tim Krul; Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba, Ylli Sallahi, Kevin Mbabu; Cheikhou Kouyate, Ryan Gauld, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend; Adam Rooney, Ayoze Perez We dipped into the market to bring some steel to the club, a three month loan for Cheikhou Kouyate joining from West Ham. A change in role for Townsend on the left was intended to spark some life into the wings, Perez had a good early chance from one of his crosses, but Kuszczak saved. Gauld dazzled behind Rooney, and fizzed in a superb cross from the left, Wijnaldum finding the space to turn it home to put us a goal to the good. Lascelles and Mbabu dominated at the back during the first half aswell, keeping the defence strung together well and forming a tight unit. The second half began devoid of any life and both sides struggled to get into it. I couldn't get us firing to be honest, not forthe first part. Gauld was still the best part of our attack and in this slow game, his pace and vision kept us from falling asleep. His cross found a rampaging Mbemba who found the skill to volley home from just inside the area. Not a bad way to get your first goal for the club. Kouyate had a great debut, and we would be using him completely while he was with us. It was a good and very much needed victory. Newcastle United 2 – 0 Birmingham City (Georginio Wijnaldum 9, Chancel Mbemba 80) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 10, 2016 Author Share Posted June 10, 2016 So the league table after eleven matches has us sat in second place, three points behind a vastly improving Brentford. Early season favourites Aston Villa are keeping up with the pace for the moment, while Norwich have struggled to get going after losing a few key players. Derby and Sheffield Wednesday have not started well despite predictions for them to be battling at the top after a big net spend, but as for now, there is plenty that can change. Leeds propping up the rest of us has seen not many shed a tear over it. [TABLE=width: 90%, align: center] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TH]Pos[/TH] [TH]Team[/TH] [TH]P[/TH] [TH]W[/TH] [TH]D[/TH] [TH]L[/TH] [TH]GD[/TH] [TH]Pts[/TH] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]1st[/TD] [TD=align: center]Brentford[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]8[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]9[/TD] [TD=align: center]26[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]2nd[/TD] [TD=align: center]Newcastle[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]12[/TD] [TD=align: center]23[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]3rd[/TD] [TD=align: center]Reading[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]10[/TD] [TD=align: center]22[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]4th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Huddersfield[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]21[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]5th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Aston Villa[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]7[/TD] [TD=align: center]19[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]6th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Wolves[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]18[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]7th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Ipswich[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]18[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]8th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Brighton[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]9th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Fulham[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]10th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Q.P.R.[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]11th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Cardiff[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]-3[/TD] [TD=align: center]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]12th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Birmingham[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]16[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]13th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Norwich[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]15[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]14th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Rotherham[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]15[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]15th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Nottm Forest[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]14[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]16th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Sheff Wed[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]-1[/TD] [TD=align: center]12[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]17th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Blackburn[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]-2[/TD] [TD=align: center]12[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]18th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Derby[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]-1[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]19th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Bristol City[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]-7[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]20th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Wigan[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]4[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [TD=align: center]-9[/TD] [TD=align: center]10[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]21st[/TD] [TD=align: center]Burton[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]3[/TD] [TD=align: center]6[/TD] [TD=align: center]-5[/TD] [TD=align: center]9[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]22nd[/TD] [TD=align: center]Barnsley[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]8[/TD] [TD=align: center]-13[/TD] [TD=align: center]7[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]23rd[/TD] [TD=align: center]Preston[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]8[/TD] [TD=align: center]-5[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=align: center]24th[/TD] [TD=align: center]Leeds[/TD] [TD=align: center]11[/TD] [TD=align: center]1[/TD] [TD=align: center]2[/TD] [TD=align: center]8[/TD] [TD=align: center]-16[/TD] [TD=align: center]5[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing 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gavrenwick Posted June 11, 2016 Author Share Posted June 11, 2016 (21st) Burton Albion vs. Newcastle United (3rd) Pirellie Stadium Sky Bet Championship [12/46] Tim Krul; Ylli Sallahi, Chancel Mbemba, Kevin Mbabu, Jamaal Lascelles; Cheikhou Kouyate, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend, Ryan Gauld; Ayoze Perez, Adam Rooney There were no changes from the last game, the win over Birmingham, and all of our players who went away on international duty, which numbered twelve, all came back in good health. Before the game both Mitrovic and Riviere picked up injuries, and no-one really seemed to care. Saivet also came in whinging about a lack of playing time, but he’s never really garnered my attention. Burton, probably the weakest team in the Championship on paper, started with a lame 4-5-1 formation that was so defensive you’d forget about the one up top. The game struggled early on, too many fouls were being committed, and some unbelievably misplaced passes by Kouyate had me wincing. Beavon led the line well for Burton, but even he was being outcast by both Mbabu and Lascelles. We opened the scoring just before half time, Mbemba once again showing his attacking credentials and crossing with Rooney sliding in to poke the ball past McLaughlin. The second half began with an Mbabu booking, the youngster looking sloppy at the back to force a bad tackle on himself. Lascelles made up for it with a super performance at the back, leading the line. We bagged the second when Rooney opened the defence with some decent hold up play, right before Perez bent in a wicked effort into the top corner of the Burton goal, a quality of goal that highlighted the gulf in classes between the two teams. Saivet came on for a tiring Gauld, and he turned provider to almost bag the third. Kouyate was the culprit for missing it though McLaughlin did make a good point blank save. Cisse came on for Rooney later in the half, and after we kept banging on the door, Cisse turned in a loose ball after some exemplary play from Townsend on the left. Lascelles had a late header over the bar, Sallahi and Kouyate also picking up bookings before the final whistle went. It was a good result, but also an expected one. Burton Albion 0 – 3 Newcastle United (Adam Rooney 40, Ayoze Perez 53, Papiss Cisse 86) ****** (2nd) Newcastle United vs. Sheffield Wednesday (16th) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [13/46] Tim Krul; Ylli Sallahi, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Jamaal Lascelles; Cheikhou Kouyate, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend, Johann Guomundsson; Ayoze Perez, Ivan Toney Injuries up front have absolutely crippled us in the run up to this game. Cisse is now on the table too, leaving just an unfit Rooney spurring the charge. I made the decision to call up Ivan Toney for his first start, hoping for big things from the kid. Guomundsson returns to the squad, something I’m grateful for after his great start. Coloccini also returns for Mbabu. Wednesday found themselves further down the table than they would have liked, and they seemed out of confidence to begin with. And there was to be a debut goal, and what a goal also, for Toney. A superb pass out to the left, courtesy of Guomundsson, found Townsend and the cross from the England winger was sublime. Toney found himself at the back post but he lashed a half volley into the roof of the net to open the scoring. The game suffered slightly from the goal, Wednesday retreating into their shell and preventing us from playing our game. Toney found himself out on the left at around forty minutes, and though his cross took a deflection, Perez read the situation well and intercepted it, his shot finding the palm of Westwood but also the back of the net. Alex Lopez fired a warning at goal, his shot going just wide of the post Krul had covered. If anything, the warning should have been observed, but as with so many times so far this season, we let it slip and Hooper headed home from a Pudil cross and we were now not looking so clear. The goal before half time swung the game into Wednesday and Lascelles was having a shocker, almost gifting an equaliser to the ever menacing Hooper. Lascelles picked up a yellow, so I brought him off for Sterry. Perez was a thorn for Wednesday and he played Toney in, Westwood this time bettering the striker and saving the effort. We were pushing too hard for a third and Alex Lopez almost made us pay were it not for Krul, who was keeping us in this now. And then it happened, the pressure crushing us into submission, Tom Lees popping up and stabbing home after Krul dropped a clanger in the box. Kouyate came off for Tiote, but the defensive change had no impact on our third goal, Perez once again making the Wednesday defence pay for ricochets, slotting home when Westwood was positioned poorly. I have serious questions about my defence though, and it is rather worrying. Jeremy Helan morphed into the box very late on and headed home another equaliser, somehow evading three defenders. Right now, at this moment in time, we simply aren’t good enough. Newcastle United 3 – 3 Sheffield Wednesday (Ivan Toney 16, Ayoze Perez 39, 76; Gary Hooper 41, Tom Lees 75, Jeremy Helan 87) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 (11th) Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle United (2nd) The City Ground Sky Bet Championship [14/46] Tim Krul; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Jamaal Lascelles; George Thorne, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend, Johann Guomundsson; Ayoze Perez, Ivan Toney We are still very light up front, though Cisse is returning to fitness and made the bench, while Rooney drops out for similar reasons. Thorne returns, while Haidara comes in for the suspended Sallahi. The decision to keep Toney on rather than swap for the returning Cisse instantly paid off when he crossed in early for Wijnaldum to tap home and the kid was making a name for himself pretty quickly. Haidara looked solid on his return, prompting questions for his full return. We bagged a second very quickly, Wijnaldum again showing pleasing play after returning to his usual AMC position, nabbing in and stealing from Thorne after the midfielder missed the first chance and putting us two up. Thorne was pulling all the strings in midfield, and his pass almost gave Toney a goal, but for a decent stop by De Vries in the goal. The first half had been pleasing but we had to ensure we maintained it, something we are always guilty of not doing when away from home. Matt Mills stuck a loose ball away from a Oliveira shot in the early period, but he was offside and we got lucky. Toney had put in another decent shift so I made the call to take him off for Cisse, but the kid wouldn’t give up a loose ball, and after playing it out to Mbemba and running into the centre, he got an inch perfect cross and he tucked it home. Wijnaldum came off late looking worn out, Saivet coming on, and the only notable thing he managed was getting tackled twice. It was a great win away from home, and a nice return for Lascelles to his old club. Nottingham Forest 0 – 3 Newcastle United (Georginio Wijnaldum 5, 15, Ivan Toney 66) ****** (BPL) Leicester City vs. Newcastle United (CHA) King Power Stadium Capital One Cup 4th Round Tim Krul; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Jamaal Lascelles; Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend, Johann Guomundsson; Ayoze Perez, Papiss Cisse Leicester surprised everyone when they won the Premiership. And now, we got to go visit them in the cup. Toney drops to the bench for the returning Cisse while Thorne is cup tied, so Colback returns. The pace of Mahrez and Vardy instantly had us on the ropes and we looked incapable of handling them, Ulloa causing damage when he hit the bar from two yards. We were getting overrun badly. Townsend presented our best chance of an output, and when he played Cisse in I thought we were going ahead, but the Senegal man saw Schmeichel save his effort. He then put the ball in the back of the net but was marginally offside from the Haidara pass. Drinkwater was dominating in midfield, but Coloccini had a hold of him most of the time, eventually winding up with a yellow card as well for his efforts. The second half was a quiet one in all honesty, and we were giving as well as we got, and Lascelles really was doing well in keeping tabs on the super quick Vardy. We fell asleep, Vardy hit the post, and we found ourselves under immense pressure, Okazaki slipping wide a real humdinger of a chance. Rooney and Saivet came on for Townsend (injury) and Cisse (tactical). The pressure became too much though and Vardy finally found his way in, one shot saved before he slid home the rebound. The pressure continued through the remainder of the half, but somehow, from somewhere, Adam Rooney stole in behind Fuchs and leathered across goal to beat Schmeichel and bring us level, and somehow, just about, we made it to extra time. Krul made a double save from Mahrez and Vardy, and then the world’s slowest race between Morgan and Rooney culminated in Perez shooting over from our best position yet. And then Saivet went from zero to hero, his first shot deceiving Schmeichel, who dove, but it hit Morgan and came back to Saivet, who now had an empty goal to shoot into. All of a sudden we were ahead, Wijnaldum finished the game for us when he found the top corner with a splendid curled finish, and then Rooney found the other corner as we just somehow became rampant. Andy King pulled one back from Leicester as the game went crazy, and then Vardy bagged another. The game had one for the neutral all over it, and when the final whistle went, everyone blew in relief. Unreal scenes at the King Power, and I don’t think I’ll ever see a game like this ever again. Leicester City 3 – 4 Newcastle United (Jamie Vardy 69, 120, Andy King 117; Adam Rooney 90, 113, Henri Saivet 97, Georginio Wijnaldum 111) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 15, 2016 Author Share Posted June 15, 2016 (1st) Newcastle United vs. Preston North End (23rd) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [15/46] Tim Krul; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Jamaal Lascelles; Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum, Cheick Tiote, Johann Guomundsson; Ayoze Perez, Adam Rooney We had to rest some players after that draining experience down in Leicester. Tiote returns, Rooney starts and Saivet comes in for Colback. I have changed formation aswell, moving to a 4-4-2 I have designed myself. The start for Saivet was a reward for his contribution in beating Leicester, and he ran the midfield for the early parts, beating Preston across the park. We had many chances moving down the left, Rooney and Haidara both forcing good saves from Lindegaard. Joe Garner had the best Preston chance, shooting over from just inside the box. The thing was we just couldn’t get going and most of the other players still looked tired. Tiote and Saivet continued to dominate but Perez and Rooney were absent, prompting me to bring on the fresh Toney and Mitrovic. We were knocking on the door so much, Guomundsson hit the post, and Mbemba kept finding himself in great positions but without any idea as to what he was doing there. Saivet and Haidara were booked late on, but neither side had a clue how to open the game up. Hungover? 20 shots, 2 on target. Definitely hungover. Newcastle United 0 – 0 Preston North End **** (1st) Newcastle United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (13th) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [16/46] Tim Krul; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Jamaal Lascelles; Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum, Cheick Tiote, Johann Guomundsson; Ayoze Perez, Adam Rooney There was just the one change for the squad, Tiote coming out to make way for Colback. We started poorly and Baldock hit the post with the first effort of the game, prompting causes for concern early on. Perez broke away and forced a save from Stockdale, he also saved the resulting corner. Colback continued his fine form for fouling, but continually escaped a booking as the half wore on. We finally got the break we needed when Gordon Greer played a very poor back pass to Stockdale, and it simply didn’t reach him. Rooney snuck in and calmly tapped it away for the lead. Perez kept showing constant skill and composure, bringing stability to a team that was struggling to show much. His cross for Haidara saw the full back break into the area, being brought down to earn a penalty. Rooney wanted it, got it, and dispatched it for our second. Baldock volleyed home just before half time, our defence absent for the millionth time this season. We got a third from Wijnaldum, firing home after two saves from Stockdale, but it was still frustrating me how much we cannot defend. Lafferty then made our centre backs look embarrassing when he barged in to bag a second Brighton goal. The second half started brightly, Kazenga Lua Lua fouling to give us another penalty, Rooney wanting it again, and making no mistake to bag his first hat trick for the club. I had to bring Perez off late on, he picked up a yellow and looked like a potential candidate for a red card, and Toney came on for him. Rooney and Coloccini came off late aswell for Mbabu and Mitrovic, but even that couldn’t prevent us from leaking goals left right and centre. Baldock bagged Brighton a third goal eighty minutes in, finding ample space for a Lua Lua cross to tap home. We held on to win, but after I told them the performance was poor, they seemed confused. Brighton had four shots on target and scored from three. It simply isn’t good enough and I know what I’ll be shopping for come January. Newcastle United 4 – 3 Brighton & Hove Albion (Adam Rooney 24, pen38, pen51, Georginio Wijnaldum 41; Sam Baldock 39, 81, Kyle Lafferty 44) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 (20th) Wigan Athletic vs. Newcastle United (1st) DW Stadium Sky Bet Championship [17/46] Tim Krul; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Kevin Mbabu, Jamaal Lascelles; Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum, Henri Saivet, Johann Guomundsson; Ayoze Perez, Papiss Cisse There was only one change as the suspended Coloccini dropped out of the team and Mbabu returned. We are very short on central defenders meaning a youngster made the bench, though there was good news in that we had agreed to sign Bakary Kone from Lyon in January for £2.2m. Cisse returns to the squad for the unfit Rooney. A long ball over the top five minutes in allowed Cisse a scoring chance but he sent a lame effort wide. We looked far better in the start of this game than previous ones, and opened the scoring when Perez and Mbabu combined well down the right to open space for Saivet to hit a great effort into the top right corner, leaving the keeper no chance. Cisse played well up front, showing glimpses of what he used to do regularly, and held it up well twice for Colback to force saves from Jaaskelainen. Defensive frailties just before half time resulted in the equaliser, Mbabu and Lascelles failing to cover for Krul, who was also at fault for a weak save, leaving David Perkins free to sneak in and stab home through a gap. The second half brought no changes, though I refused to allow the defence to continue as it was so swapped Mbemba back into the centre to give us some steel. We went back in front when Saivet came up for us from midfield, picked out Guomundsson, who lashed across the face of the Wigan goal to give us our second. Haidara and Mbabu picked up yellow cards for useless challenges, Cisse bagging his third of the season inbetween when a sliding challenge poked the ball back into the Wigan box and he was on hand to tap home past a stranded Jaaskelainen. Will Grigg scored an absolute pearler late on, a 30 yard laces effort that came from absolutely nowhere and flew past Krul. Karim Faina had me screwing in the final minute, he popped up at the back to level the game but he was ruled offside much to my pleasure, and it was good for the team really, as I’d have killed all of them. It was a win, but it was a poor one. Wigan Athletic 2 – 3 Newcastle United (David Perkins 44, Will Grigg 87; Henri Saivet 21, Johann Guomundsson 60, Papiss Cisse 87) **** (1st) Newcastle United vs. Blackburn Rovers (14th) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [18/46] Karl Darlow; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Jamaal Lascelles; George Thorne, Georginio Wijnaldum, Henri Saivet, Andros Townsend; Ayoze Perez, Adam Rooney Rooney is back in the squad, while Darlow replaces Krul for his poor performances, and Townsend comes in for the unfit Guomundsson. Colback also drops out through suspension for Thorne. The game was extremely unexciting in the opening half, and for half an hour, neither side had a shot. The first shot on goal was from Onomah, but it was thirty yards out and almost went out for a throw in. The drab first half came to an end and Rooney came off, Toney his replacement. The second half was equally as poor as the first, our first shot on target of the game coming from Townsend, forcing a decent save from Steele, and Wijnaldum’s corner was easily smothered. Wijnaldum came off late on for youngster Barlaser to make his debut, but even he couldn’t even get the ball, making just two touches. It was a poor game for the fans in attendance and it ended without a goal, with Tommy Spurr named man of the match for his defensive work. Newcastle United 0 – 0 Blackburn Rovers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark wilson27 Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Your form seems to be pretty much win draw win draw. But your top of the table so I suppose it doesn't really matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 17, 2016 Author Share Posted June 17, 2016 Struggling to hold solid form down, but at least they aren't defeats I suppose. ***** (5th) Norwich City vs. Newcastle United (1st) Carrow Road Sky Bet Championship [19/46] Karl Darlow; Massadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba, Kevin Mbabu, Jamaal Lascelles; George Thorne, Georginio Wijnaldum, Cheick Tiote, Andros Townsend; Ayoze Perez, Cheikhou Kouyate The build up to this game was marred by a massive club fallout between myself, Papiss Cisse and Siem de Jong, both of who I told to pretty much get out of the club afterwards. Their demands were becoming daft and in the end, I want neither here anymore. Rooney drops out for Kouyate in a slight reshuffle, and we also signed Oguchi Onyewu on a short team deal until July as a back-up centre back. This would be a tough game away to an inform Norwich side, but we took a great and deserved lead after six minutes when Mbabu picked out Wijnaldum with a superb cross that he headed down past Ruddy. Five minutes later and this time Townsend does the honours, finding Wijnaldum in the same place and he scored an exact copy of his first effort to put us two ahead. It was then Perez’s turn to provide, Townsend hit the bar with his first time shot, and then Wijnaldum hit the bar with his follow up, it was unbelievable. Mulumbu had Norwich’s best chance, but he also hit the bar, a floating effort catching out Darlow. We started the second half sloppy, and two yellow cards in quick succession for Kouyate saw us reduced to ten with forty minutes remaining. The pressure now began to mount, Redmond firing wide and Brady sending a freekick just over the bar. We were being overrun and could only play on the counter. Mbokani was next to hit the bar, a looping header going over Darlow. We had a rare chance up top, Townsend whipping in a decent cross but Perez couldn’t get anything on it. Finally the pressure proved too much and Alexander Tettey squeezed in from just outside the box, Darlow should definitely have done better. He did however make a fantastic point blank save from Martin, but we held on and broke on the counter. Saivet had a wonderful freekick saved but Townsend was on hand to mop up and seal the win for us. Bassong got booked late on for trying to kill Perez, but we ground the game out and secured a massive win over important opponents. Norwich City 1 – 3 Newcastle United (Alex Tettey 77; Georginio Wijnaldum 6, 12, Andros Townsend 87) [TABLE=width: 90%, align: center] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TH]Pos[/TH] [TH]Team[/TH] [TH]P[/TH] [TH]W[/TH] [TH]D[/TH] [TH]L[/TH] [TH]GD[/TH] [TH]Pts[/TH] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]1st[/TD] [TD]Newcastle[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]22[/TD] [TD]41[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]2nd[/TD] [TD]Aston Villa[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]15[/TD] [TD]39[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]3rd[/TD] [TD]Brentford[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]37[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]4th[/TD] [TD]Huddersfield[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]35[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]5th[/TD] [TD]Reading[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]34[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]6th[/TD] [TD]Fulham[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]33[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]7th[/TD] [TD]Norwich[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]33[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]8th[/TD] [TD]Wolves[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]32[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]9th[/TD] [TD]Ipswich[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]32[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]10th[/TD] [TD]Brighton[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]26[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]11th[/TD] [TD]Birmingham[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]25[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]12th[/TD] [TD]Q.P.R.[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]-5[/TD] [TD]25[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]13th[/TD] [TD]Cardiff[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]-11[/TD] [TD]23[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]14th[/TD] [TD]Derby[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]22[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]15th[/TD] [TD]Blackburn[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]-1[/TD] [TD]21[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]16th[/TD] [TD]Rotherham[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]-5[/TD] [TD]21[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]17th[/TD] [TD]Bristol City[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]-10[/TD] [TD]21[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]18th[/TD] [TD]Nottm Forest[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]-6[/TD] [TD]20[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]19th[/TD] [TD]Sheff Wed[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]-7[/TD] [TD]20[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]20th[/TD] [TD]Wigan[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]-10[/TD] [TD]18[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]21st[/TD] [TD]Preston[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]22nd[/TD] [TD]Burton[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]-12[/TD] [TD]17[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]23rd[/TD] [TD]Barnsley[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]13[/TD] [TD]-20[/TD] [TD]14[/TD] [/TR] [TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD]24th[/TD] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]-17[/TD] [TD]13[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilDave Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Looking good Gav, inconsistent but unbeaten so can't complain. Like the Thorne signing as well, although I'm surprised how much of the squad you've kept. Invincible season on do you reckon? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavrenwick Posted June 20, 2016 Author Share Posted June 20, 2016 I tried to shift a great many of them on but simply couldn't find buyers. Maybe the relegation put them off... Some will be on their way out, as for the rest of the season, you'll have to see! **** (BPL) Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United (CH) White Hart Lane Capital One Cup Quarter Final Karl Darlow; Massadio Haidara, Fabricio Coloccini, Kevin Mbabu, Jamaal Lascelles; Henri Saivet, Georginio Wijnaldum, Johann Guomundsson, Andros Townsend; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandr Mitrovic We were billed as underdogs in this one, with no clear chance given to us of actually winning. Pochettino was clearly taking us very seriously though, naming a full strength squad. He must really want the trophy. Changes had to be made for two suspensions and a cup-tied Thorne. Mitrovic was tasked with leading our charge, though he hadn’t exactly done much this season. Sadly we went a goal down with the first Spurs move of the game, Eriksen putting in a very good corner exactly on the forehead of Alderweireld, whose header found the top corner superbly. Other than the goal in the opening five, there wasn’t really much else to shout about as both teams dug in for trench warfare. I couldn’t force any changes tactically, though Spurs had a great chance for a second in which I saw Darlow pull off the save of the century. Gabriel crossed in from the left for Kane who leathered a first time volley from four yards. Darlow was going down to his left and had to adjust to his right to make a sublime one handed stop. We were still in the game at half time thanks to that. The second half began with Son causing some trouble down the left, his running causing serious problems for Mbabu. Our first shot on target came 50 minutes in, Mitrovic holding the ball up well to allow a pot shot for Perez from twenty yards, Lloris easily getting down to smother it. The impetus was with us as the half went on, Townsend seeing a shot blocked on the line while we had a penalty claim turned down wrongly. Son put over the bar from a yard when it was far easier to score. Mitrovic almost equalised when Lloris saved finely, but Verthongen almost put through his own net as he ran into the rebound from the save, a frantic Lloris grateful to see it pass the post. We went two down when Son Min scored from an overhead kick, an unreal goal to be honest, one I’ll not likely see again. Gabriel Barbosa bagged a third, a very nice long range shot that Darlow was never getting to. Kevin Wimmer bagged us a penalty late on for hauling down Mitrovic, and Guomundsson gratefully dispatched it with ease for his seventh of the season. We gave a great account of ourselves, and are very much still a work in progress as a team. Reaching the quarters surpassed club expectations anyway. Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 1 Newcastle United (Toby Alderweireld 6, Son Heung-Min 63, Gabriel Barbosa 80; Johann Guomundsson pen87) (1st) Newcastle United vs. Brentford (3rd) St James Park Sky Bet Championship [20/46] Rob Elliot; Paul Dummett, Fabricio Coloccini, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles; Henri Saivet, Georginio Wijnaldum, George Thorne, Jack Colback; Ayoze Perez, Andros Townsend Changed formation slightly so a couple of players switched positions and some came in and out of the squad. A very much in form Brentford arrived at St James Park gunning for our lead and they definitely came out blazing. Elliott saved well from Judge before we cleared a couple of corners. Button was the next to make the saves, a fantastic double from a too hot to handle Perez, the corner resulting to nothing. Vibe tried to chip Elliot effort, but he knew better and the Irishman stood his ground and prevented any disaster on this occasion. An agonisingly dull first half came to an end with there being a ten minute gap between the whistle and the last chance. Coloccini picked up a yellow early in the second half, Perez also came off for Toney. I don’t regularly praise myself for inspired changes, but Toney was definitely one of those. The forward sprayed a great ball out for Mbemba, and the defender whipped in a cross that Toney only just missed, but Harlee Dean converted past his own keeper to put us ahead. Brentford lost Vibe, their main threat, late on to injury, and while little else more happened, we ground out a vital win against tough opponents. The final whistle was very welcome, though Thorne had been instrumental in keeping the midfield ticking and it was a hard performance but great result. Sheffield Wednesday sacked Carlos Carvahal as their season threatens to derail itself after heavy investment. Newcastle United 1 – 0 Brentford (Harlee Dean OG 68) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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