Aug 16th 2010: Man U...3 Toon...0
It was what was feared an' almost expected, an' it was often painful to watch.
Wor Kev, back on the eve of the glory days in 1992 cried, "they will all have to eat, sleep and live Newcastle," and you can't complain of our lad's commitment. But this is not Wor Kev's side, nothing like it and though we started with passion, a better team, a stronger team, gradually wore us down.
Wor Andy's early missed header might have inspired us to greater heights had he scored, but to be frank, I still don't feel it would have changed the overall result. For once ManU had taken our early passing game apart, all we had left was long clearances from defence, specially on the alarmingly weak right side from Perch and Routledge, and the pressure was immediately right back on our defence.
These two players are not of the tainted relegation squad, but on this showing they were but Championship quality. And that was the problem, what had worked wonderfully last season just didn't come off against such a strong team.
Yes there was enthusiasm a plenty and strong defending, but our defeat never looked in doubt once they had broken through. The oddest moment was when Cockney Chris had a Fabio moment and took off the always lively if unpredictable Jonas, and then later even brought on the shadowy Cisco Kid.
The best thing was that they only got three in the end. And maybe the next best was that A Spurs Supported (Ass for short), lurking in some posh box, might've realised the need to spend some serious money. If he doesn't, we will indeed be down with the relegation dead men. Our real test will of course come against those in similar straights, that's mebbes when our guts will pay off, but this is no team that Wor Kev would have assembled
Aug 22nd 2010: Toon...6 Villa...0
So much of this match was the opposite of our opener, even down to the quality of the opposition. But surely noone truly predicted this fabulous scoreline, which started with a great long distance strike from Barton. The pick of our goals was the second, for it typified what Cockney Chris was asking for, a fine cross from Jonas, and Cap'n Nolan scored his first of two. But of course pride of place must go to Wor Andy who did the hat trick and enhanced the legend of the No 9 shirt. My only slight disappointment was seeing previous great No 9 Wor Al, tv shots suggesting he was jubilantly collecting on a winner, but are you serious Al about taking the helm at SJP? Surely you should be following the path now just begun by Gary Speed at Sheffield U, and Wor Lee down at Huddersfield?
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