Feb 1st 2012: Blackburn...0 Toon...2
That age old debate, performance or result? Well we got the three points and moved to a Euro qualification spot, though we had to ride our luck. But our early
pressure gave us a deserved lead thanks to Og, and we held on gamely for the rest of the match, best bit when Kool saved their
penalty. The much maligned Obertan got a last gasp second and we quit with a great result under our belt
Jan 28th 2012: Brighton...1 Toon...0 (FA Cup)
Cold and damp, no wonder the Toon players couldn't perform well after their holiday in Tenerife. OK, they started well, nice slick passing, but what about the finishing? It was pedestrian to put it kindly, no end product, one shot their keeper made in ninety dull minutes. Second Best had one near miss in the first half, but he was generally third rate, while Amoebi proved he's a good header, but failed to make anything of this ability. Most interesting was Jonas having a free role which proved nearly but not quite dangerous and once they'd sussed him out, we only had threats from the erratic Ben Arfa. Most surprising of all Poorly Pardew subbed him after we were going in search of a goal after their admittedly dreadful attack was gifted an own goal from us. We did rally for a couple of minutes after their goal, but never showed fire power that suggested we were ever likely to even force a replay. Worse followed when Cabaye who had a poor game was seen to kick (was it accidental?) an opponent, so there was no cheer for us, another blank season, unless we win the Premiership???
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August 13th 2011: Toon...0 Arsenal...0August 20th: S'land...0 Toon...1
You might have admitted the home side played better first half and that Krul kept us in the game, but, on t'other hand, we should have been awarded a penalty when Joey's shot was handled on the line.
That injustice only made us grow in determination and our two Argentinians were outstanding, Colo in defence, and Jonas as so often befuddling the opposition defence. From one such rotten tackle on him, Ryan Taylor proved his worth by sending in a fine direct free kick from just outside the left corner of the penalty area. From then on it was sheer joy to watch that alleged Toon supporter, Mr S Bruce, wriggle and squirm and shout, all to no avail, and we thoroughly deserved to grab all three points, and a top of the table spot, albeit temporarily
August 25th: Scunthorpe...1 Toon...2
Refreshing that PP's realistic aim is to win a cup this season, but not so encouraging to witness our lacklustre first half. PP must have pepped em up for we vastly improved after the break. Highlights were:
8 mins: After some over intricate passing out of defence we lose the ball, their long shot blasts over.
12 mins: Another long distance Scunny shot from the left is easily saved by Krul who was surely our Man of the Match.
13: ditto from the right, deflected for a corner.
14: their cross leads to a deserved goal, our centre halves nowhere near the scorer from six yards out.
21: The sun had gone down by now on our hopes when new signing Marvel, easily the best of the new lads, won a free kick and our set play hero R Taylor shot from 35 yards, wide of the post but at least 'twas a shot!
28: our first good moment, Marvel again, he crosses but Second Best's header is saved low by the post.
37: Another good cross from Marvel but Gosling who looked awful rusty can't shoot on target.
39 The best save of the match, Krul prevents them from going two up.
46: Ba, unimpressive, crosses, Second Best heads wide.
48: Good pressure, Love's shot saved, then Taylor crosses Second Best's shot is in, but ruled doubtfully offside.
49: Love shoots over, this pressure ought to have paid off.
51: Krul saves us again.
54: Second Best's shot is third rate.
66: Simpson loses possession, another good Krul save.
67: Sammy Ami, Shola's young brother, crosses to the improving Gosling, his shot only just wide. He shoots again a minute later but no luck.
70: Love's shot deflected wide.
72: Quick break by Scunny, somehow the ball is kept out.
79: R Taylor does it again, a free kick from 30 yards and it's unstoppable. 1-1.
81: Cabaye shot deflected just wide, then Vuckic shoots over.
83: Toon penalty appeal for a blatant push is rejected.
93: A long kick towards our empty net, but the ball is headed off the line.
95: Second Best's best effort shaves past the post.
103: Krul saves us yet again!
111: Sammy Ami dribbles along, what's he up to? A long shot finds the net, 2-1
August 28th: Toon...2 Fulham...1
Having bagged a brace today, mebbes Second Best could still be the Second George Best, but I think we still need a top striker!
Sept 12th: QPR...0 Toon...0
Mebbes the scoreline says it all, but mebbes not. Yes, lack of strike power was evident today, and you might have expected Poorly Pardew to field a defensive formation against QPR's new boys, one of whom included someone called, I think the name is, Joey. I didn't like the minority booing him, was it his fault he hadn't been offered a new contract? Was it his fault he complained about Toon's lack of ambition? Whatever, he didn't shine today, QPR's main man was the new signing Wright-P, who tortured our left back who is no left back, no fault of his. But though the opposition had plenty of attacks in the first quarter, we had the best chance as Second Best shot from 20 yards and was unlucky to see his low effort just deflected past the post. After that QPR, strangers to each other started to gel and it took a couple of goal line clearances to keep us level. The second half saw us start brighter and we now managed to contain the danger of Wright-P. I had expected PP to strengthen on the left but instead the ever threatening Jonas began to take a more forward role, needful enough with Amoebi loping aimlessly around as ever and PP proved to be right in his tactic of playing two up front where they were weaker, and at least trying to take the play to them. Gradually we stifled their enthusiasm and demonstrated some quick passing moves of our own. R Taylor, who had such a torrid evening, could have redeemed himself with one of his free kicks, but muffed it and the game gradually fizzled out into a not disappointing draw
Sept 17th: Villa...1 Toon...1 - Second Best to the rescue again!
Sept 21st: Notts F...3 Toon...4
On what is PP's confidence based that Toon can win the cup? Of course we all hope so, but giving so many second team players their deserved chance hardly suggests PP really believes it himself. Then the fact that Forest came back to level scores three times indicates we have our weaknesses, and I don't mean only Ash***. But well done to the lads for a brilliant last second winner in a gruelling extra time!
Sept 25th: Toon...3 Blackburn...1 - The Ba and Ben Show? What could have been a happy return for the badly injured Ben Arfa was eclipsed by the sudden finding of form by Ba bagging a hat trick. PP says we don't need another striker and on today's form could he be right? Mebbes not
October 1st: Wolves...1 Toon...2
Some might say we was lucky, with the home team denied an obvious penalty, then in injury time a goal mysteriously disallowed. But in the first half our football was much the stronger, with slick passing betraying the confidence of a side still unbeaten this season, though let's not get carried away, we haven't played any real strong opposition yet.
Our dominance was rewarded by a simple headed goal by Ba from a corner, seen in my photo. Other chances followed, the most memorable being from man of the match Tiote, from well out, but well stopped. Then
Jonas, who thankfully has just signed a contract extension, did one of his dazzling runs, shooting from the left hand edge of the box to make it 2-0.
That seemed to spur the lethargic Wolves into some sort of response and they finished the first half stronger. They also started after the interval with more determination but a fine save by Krul after the ball had pinged round the box seemed to force their sloth to return. We however contented ourselves with passing the ball rather aimlessly and the game was surely drifting into an easy win when Captain Colo made a rare mistake, the sort that were all too common but now thankfully eradicated. On the right touchline he tried some fancy footwork but only gave the ball away and that got Wolves going. Wolves' late surge netted them a goal and the five minutes of injury time proved the most frantic and exciting of the unseasonably hot afternoon. Thankfully we weathered the storm, if only thanks to a benign linesman, and from where I sat it was clearly a blunder, yet overall I felt we deserved the three points.
October 16th: Toon...2 Spurs...2
Perhaps this was our first real test this season. That first game v Arsenal had been expected to be, but their poor form this season doesn't suggest our draw at home to them was that impressive. Now for this crunch game, and we weren't found wanting against the all star Londoners of Harry, who might almost be PP's dad, the main difference twixt them is that Harry turned Toon down, PP joined the Cockney revolution here.
The game did start poorly, with Krul sending long kicks downfield, which kept handing the ball to Spurs. Set pieces were poor too, except one from RT whipped into the near post which Second Best just failed to contact. Cp'n Colo got into their half to send a tempting cross onto Ba's head, but he couldn't direct his shot, and in general the first half we dominated without any real threat. It changed when some rare sloppy defending gave them a penalty and rather against the run of play we were down.
Forceful play after the interval saw Jonas on the byline, centering neatly, and Ba passed the ball into the net, their goalie vainly pretending the ball hadn't crossed the line. After that Spurs upped their game and so did we. Obertain, erratic again, shot wide but it was the subs who changed the game. While they brought on the quality of England striker Defoe, we could only offer local lad Amoebi. Defoe proved he's the sort of top striker we're missing by slotting home an unstoppable shot. But to our credit we kept pressing, ten minutes left Tiote's powerful shot was just tipped over. Then with five minutes left, Amoebi, with something to prove, shot from the wide left, inch perfect to equalise brilliantly. I think it was a goal to be proud of, and one that may prove crucial in our season, for until then we did look to be losing all three points. As it is, we are still unbeaten, though they nearly won, only thwarted by Krul's brilliance. Yet we nearly grabbed a winner in a thrilling last five minutes, but though it stayed at 2-2, no matter, we remain Fourth and team morale must be even higher!
October 22nd: Toon...1 Wigan...0
October 26th: Blackburn...4 Toon...3 (Carling Cup)
A glorious defeat after it looked as though it was gonna be an ignominious one against the bottom of the table team. Down 2-0, we fought back in injury time to force an extra 30 minutes, but a 120th minute winner finished us. Still, all credit for a fighting performance, our cup dream over until the FA Cup
October 31st: Stoke...1 Toon...3
PP's plan was to out-Stoke Stoke, and our first goal typified the approach. Krul lumped a long ball into an acre of space. Obertan, who at times you wonder if all he can do is run fast, ran on top this one OK, centred with deadly accuracy, enabling Ba to give us an easy and desrved lead. Colo looped another ball forward after a set piece, this time to Second Best, who shot was exactly that, but into the feet of Ba who made it 2-0. To be fair, Ba did run on to a couple more balls in the first half only top be thwarted their goalie. And despite all Stoke's long throw ins and threatening set pieces, we defended so well, so much that they had only one shot on target in the first 45. After the break Stoke had a little more purpose and only our brilliant strong defence kept us safe, until a soft penalty brought on the roars of the home crowd. But as if to balance the soft penalties we were awarded one of our own and Ba's second Toon hat trick finished them off. It was a well deserved win putting us an incredible third in the Premiership
November 5th: Toon...2 Everton..1
This was almost a game too far, as the smallness of our squad was severely tested through injuries. We had started well, with Cabaye impressively bossing the midfield, and from an incisive couple of passes downfield, a great centre forced an own goal. In retrospect, the turning point could have been Cabaye's chat with PP midway thru the half, his coming off thru injury did change the game. Yet by that time we had gone two up with a goal of the season contender from R Taylor, a dipping shot from the left that gave their keeper no chance. Now everyone was singing his name, a fine tribute to a player who was no left back. In truth the rest of his game was a mixed one, but then a lot of our team looked tired before the end. Everton had hit the post before getting a goal back on the stroke of half time. The second half saw them pressing, we resolutely defending. The crowd were tense, you sense an equaliser coming. But after twenty minutes, we perked up, despite having three forwards on the pitch, though not all attacking at once of course. Everton pressed for their second, but all credit to our side, not the strongest performance, but characterful and gutsy, our incredible unbeaten run continues. Away matches against boith Manchester clubs may burst the bubble, but certainly my fears before the start of the season have been thankfully abominably wide of the mark
November 19th: Man C...3 Toon..1
This was the game too far. Yet it might possibly have turned out rather different, for having cleverly defended the siege for half an hour, Cabaye had a great chance to put us into the lead. Then minutes later, Ba should have put us two up. However by half time, it was us who were two down after giving away a penalty, then the otherwise excellent Wor Steven blundered. In the second half we rode our luck, but they did too as Ben Arfa hit the post and could possibly have given us a sniff. But in the end it was tears, even if we always expected there would be. At least we grabbed a consolation with our fourth good chance as Ba almost scored, the goalie saved only for Gosling to tap in
November 26th: Man U...1 Toon..1
You can talk of season defining moments, and this were it. A deserved point against the Reds proved that we are up there on merit and this draw should give us the confidence to push on to a top seven finish. Of course we had to ride our luck, but defence was rock solid, Cool Krul the last line and we showed commendable ambition going forward. That's a lot of cliches to describe a superb performance and result
Dec 3rd: Toon...0 Chelsea... 3
Perhaps the scoreline reflects the first half in which we were definitely second best and second rate, with lots of misplaced passes. However it ought to have been very different when early on Ba was thru and fouled, and Chelsea should have been down to 10 men. Instead they thrived and won a deserved penalty which Cool pushed on to the left side post. That save burst us into life for a minute, until the glaring weakness on our left flank (Jonas was banned) resulted in their hitting that same post again. It wasn't until half way through the half that we got our first real chance, the surprisingly effective Love centred to Ba who flicked only to be thwarted by their goalie. After Cpn Colo had to be subbed, Ba did hit the post before a sloppy Simpson mispass saw Cool make one of many good saves. However a throwin proved our undoing as that old nemesis from our Champions League days (remember them?), Drogba headed in. In fact we were only one down at half time, and we came out more forceful after the break, a corner saw the woodwork rattled a second time only for Chelsea to break downfield and Cool saving us again at close range. We continued to make chances, a typical one saw the player who deserved to be subbed Obertan muff a chance at a cross straight to the opposition. Sub Sami Ami's shot was cleared off the line and Ameoba Sr hit a great long range shot which beat their goalie only to hit the woodwork again, third time unlucky. With Wor Steven injured and we thus down to ten men their late goals gave the final result a rather unfair look, but on the basis of our first half performance we got what we deserved, and mebbes the renaming of the ground to the dreadul sportsdick arena made this loss inevitable as the ghosts of our footballing past must have been puking at such a ghastly name for SJP
Dec 10th: Norwich...4 Toon...2
Decimated by injuries, perhaps our makeshift defence, which initially coped well, deserved some luck such as surviving a strong penalty appeal. Though we went one down to a scrappy goal, after a doubtful corner, we deservedly equalised in first half injury time. After a rare Obertan driving run, Ba scraped the bar but after that it was almost all downhill. A man down after going 3-1 down, a second Ba goal briefly revived spirits before the long cold winter night drew in
Dec 17th: Toon...0 Swansea...0
Though we dominated, surely this was the continued curse of sportsdick that must be wiped away asap
Dec 21st: Toon...2 WBA...3
Let noone now deny that the renaming of SJP as sportsdick arena has proved an awful omen. Mebbes if the infamous Ash*** admitted that, it might see a change in our fortunes which reached a seasonal low with this result. True, it was deja vu as regards performance, we deserved better as with the Swansea match. And there was a bright ray in the performance of Vuckic who has impressed before only to disappear. Tonight he hit the bar and hit another piledriver which was sadly fingertip saved. And Ba continued his fine run, for as well as having two disallowed goals, he twice equalised for us. The first goal we conceded was nobody's fault, the second was eminently avoidable from a set piece, while they also missed an open goal before claiming their seasonal present. As for Toon, after the grand start to the season, suddenly the wheels seem to be falling off, yet tonight's effort deserved better
Dec 26th: Bolton...0 Toon...2
This was a typical Post Christmas match with a first half yielding few chances. We had one from a set piece and later on so did they, but Kool saved us as so often. Christmas blues were blown away midway through the second half, with a fine volley by Ben Arfa, his first goal for over a year after his terrible injury, welcome back! Almost immediately it was that man again, Ba who sealed the victory, surely he deserves the number nine shirt to show off in our next match against Carroll's side. Not a great match, but a great result, back to winning ways!
Dec 30th 2011: Liverpool...3 Toon...1
Here's the proof that we're not a bad side, plenty of hard graft and dedication, but we were undone by one player of true class, mebbes that's exactly what we're lacking, even though we have plenty of the very good who work so well as a team. We had quietened the crowd after their fevered start, and I liked one flowing downfield move of ours, though mostly we relied on long Kool kicks to Ba which they mostly snuffed out. One dangerous cross from ex-Toon NRique, who received the odd boo, before we nearly went behind after the ref accidentally stopped the ball enabling the Reds to shoot. Over the top. Our defence remained resolute despite some scares. Another quick passing move saw R Taylor cross from the left, and I thought it was Ba, inevitably, who headed home. But our lead didn't last long enough. Ex-Toon Bellamy equalised after fierce pressure and from then on it was a question of could we hang on? We did till half time and ten minutes into the second half saw our best few minutes of possession yielding a free kick in a dangerous spot. Wasted. Ex-Toon ("where's his 35 million?") Carroll proved that he was no loss after all when he lost control of a dangerous through pass, but it was ex-Toon Bellamy again who gave them the lead with a brilliant free kick from a dubiously awarded foul. Almost at once the great Ba almost equalised, the ball yanked off the line by a defender. Carroll again blundered, heading on to the bar, you knew it wasn't gonna be his night. It looked all over and it was when we conceded a third, but at least heads didn't drop as 2011 ended on a slight down
Jan 4th 2012: Toon...3 ManU...0
2012 started on a high with the curse of the SJP renaming finally exorcised in a thrilling victory over the once great Reds. Ba and Cabaye had both had shots in the opening, though they came nearest, hitting the post as they threatened to dominate the game. Half way through the first half the ref turned down Ba's penalty claim and that seemed to spur us on with play far more boisterous. Kool kicked downfield, the underrated Ameobi Senior headed a great ball into Ba's path who lobbed in spectacularly. That gave us the confidence and, dare I say it, they faded under our pressure. A free kick just before the break saw R Taylor shoot just over, but immediately on the resumption another in a similar spot was crashed in by Cabaye, unstoppable. We continued to attack in the style of Kev's Entertainers of old, thoughts even of another 5 nil triumph mebbes? However a goalmouth scramble nearly brought us down to earth, Simpson clearing off the line. That proved their last meaningful effort, Cabaye continued to spread balls downfield towards Ba who had more half chances on the break, one from a R Taylor cross, with ManU stretched in their desperation.
We more than held our own, another long Kool kick providing comic relief when it grew into an own goal, yes it felt as good as that 5 nil! With two defeats in a row, were there whispers of the sack for someone? We didn't care as the final whistle blew and 52,000 erupted in the finest Toon night since the return of Wor Kev
Jan 7th 2012: Toon...2 Blackburn...1 (FA Cup)
After the heights of the win against ManU, this was uncomfortable for long periods, us equalising with a wonder Ben Arfa goal with only 20 minutes left. Our hero Jonas netted the late winner, so we're still in line for the Wembley appearance PP says is our aim, well actually Mr PP, it's been our aim to win there for the past 57 years!
Jan 15th 2012: Toon...1 QPR...0
With a new manager, QPR were motivated into a better start than our sluggish one which saw several sloppy passes. But their shots were tame, only one threatening as it skimmed the bar. Oddly, it was the injury to one key player Cabaye that changed the game. We kept possession better thereafter forcing them to resort to numerous fouls. However it was over half an hour before we offered a reasonable shot, but then a fine team effort gave us the lead. Jonas to Ameobi, who held the ball up well all day, to R Taylor and on to Second Best who turned one man and shot low into the right side of the goal. The second half was more even, they never really threatened, though we didn't do much more than control the game. With their goalie out the area, Jonas did try one long range shot, but that was our only other effort on target, so all in all a dull if satisfying game. On 75 minutes we shut up shop to claim sixth spot, possible Euro place?
Jan 21st 2012: Fulham...5 Toon...2
Would you believe we were one-nil up at half time and dominating the match?
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