Modric seemed wasted out wide for the first quarter or so, but he eventually got himself into the game and it's no coincidence that when he started to get on the ball a bit more then we improved vastly. I would have been happier to see dos Santos or Townsend out right with the standard midfield of Modric and Parker, but then again Livermore had a good game so we can't really fault him. We really missed width on the right all through the game, Walker didn't get forward nearly as much as he usually does and seemed to really lose his legs towards the end which showed for their second equaliser (what a hit btw). The most frustrating member of the team though was Bale, by a country mile. He never seemed to just pin his ears back and go for it like we know he can do, towards the end of the second half he did start to try and get to the byline and cross but there were 3 or 4 opportunities before that in the second half when he could have tried to beat his man but he cut back in instead, which was frustrating to see when you would expect him to have some joy against Simpson. If you'd have offered me a point before the game I probably would have taken it as St James' Park has hardly been the kindest ground to us over the years, but I'm just gutted that, like so many times before, we have lost the 3 points at the death. We were the better team for much of the match - I think we just (but only just, neither team exactly shone) shaded the first half and although we were getting hammered for the last 5 or 10 minutes we looked the more likely team to score for most of the second half. Makes you wonder what could have been of we hadn't lost King.
I think Bale was kept quite by Tiote, to be fair. That Tiote seems to be a pretty pacey player, and he doesn't mind getting stuck into a tackle, either. Yes, Bale was disappointing, but I'm prepared to give credit for that to the Toon, who kept him quiet.
We weren't playing for a draw. What makes you think that? Our first two subs were another striker in Ameobi, and HBA. We put in a hell of an attack in the last 10 minutes and I think it's only because Spurs are such a good side that we didn't get another goal. Any of the bottom half teams would have buckled imo. What could the score have been without one of our players giving away a penalty? Just bear that in mind guys. Many Spurs fans are gracious but a few here are still acting very arrogant even after the match is over. We're aware that Spurs will finish above us, no one thinks otherwise, so there's no real need to keep reiterating it.
You're a team pushing for a Champions League spot this season, while we're looking to consolidate our position in the top half and that's a better result for you?! Classic.
You're one of the form teams in the league and we haven't won at your place for god knows how long. I know we are unbeaten since the first two matches but Newcastle are clearly in better form right now than Spurs - whether or not that form continues much longer is another question but enjoy it for now because you deserve it. However as I said, I thought we were just about the better team on the day despite your recent form, although it is typical Spurs to drop the two points so close to the end due to tired legs and shoddy defending. Under the circumstances I'll take the point, ta very much.
Not really. I'm content with it, but I'm not happy. You're a good side, but it was at home, and we could have won. Us sneaking a win really wasn't that far fetched in the final 10 mins. It was real end-to-end stuff. It's hardly like we were hanging on and so thankful for the draw by the time the whistle blew, is it? In fact, with the pressure we were applying in those final few minutes, I can imagine some Spurs fans breathing a sigh of relief. I was personally egging us on to get that bloody winner. PS: Put it this way: I was disappointed when the final whistle went and I would have loved for us to have just another few minutes. That speaks for itself I think.
Spurs rode there luck in the last 10 minutes and it reminded me of when we played Wolves and the same happened to us, but I'm glad we are still unbeaten but I am a little disappointed to of dropped 2 points.
Got to say the Spurs fans on here, generally seem happier that I thought with a point. Personally I'm content and Newcastle will finish in a position I'll be happy with this year, but I felt as if Spurs need to win games us away if you want to push on.
I watched the whole match with a spurs fan and we both admitted that we'd have taken a draw if you'd asked us at any point during the match
I wouldn't say I was happy, but I thought a draw was fair. We can, and have played a lot better than today. We kept giving possession away, losing King didn't help. I don't know why you guys were booing Bassong. I'd have thought you'd be more than glad to be shot of him, TBH.
I was at the game today, it was a great game to watch, I wanted to come on and say that but after reading some of the comments I will say this, yes the penalty was a stonewall penalty, no we weren't playing for a draw, both fans here are talking about positions in the league, it's mid October not January, a game in hand is nothing this early in the season. Tiote gets too many yellow cards, but because he got one today that does not make him a thug. Oh and the Spurs fans that travelled, they were great.
IMO it was a really good game with both sides going for the win and both sides worthy of their point. Oddly enough I thought your midfield was going to rip us to shreds but IMO your defence and attack were much better. Bale, Modric, Parker and VDV were all very quiet and I was actually most impressed with Assou-Ekotto.
Wouldn't worry about the doubters everyone has said we are lucky,we'll be found out after our first real test at the mackems /aston villa/spurs . Love it when people say too many players didn't turn up when in reality we didn't let them play their game,let them continue to make excuses we'll just get on with the job and see where we finish.We don't need people to praise the bollocks of us,**** em all as i'm sure when we get beat they'll have a field day. I said 9th at the start of the season but the way this team is playing for each other and with a few additions in Jan I'd say 7th is there for the taking. edit:best quote before the match bale "we'll exploit Newcastles weaknesses "
Yep, that's right, it was a better result for us - thank you - I'm glad you agree I'm also glad you recognise we're pushing for a CL spot
The point is you should have gone for it for 90 minutes, but were content just to break things up in midfield and hope for the occassional break. If the faithful of SJP are happy watching that all season, good luck to them. The reason we are acting "arrogant" by the way, is because a few of your happy band are doing just the same. It would be remiss of us to remind them of the shaky foundations on which said arrogance is built. As for what could the score had been if Taylor hadn't tripped Adebayor up? I suppose he may have been able to square it for a goal, if your defender hadn't been so slow-witted, but we will never know will we? My guess is we would have bought Defoe on earlier and won 3-1. I'm sure yours is different. That's the great thing about guesses isn't it?
Not to sure how long you've been watching football for but its basically impossible to go for it for 90 mins, most experts would tell you both teams have spells in the game! That is why tottenham never went for it for 90 mins, so by your logic spurs were also playing for the draw!
Long enough to know when a team's main aim is to stop the other team playing, rather than playing their own game (which in the brief spells when you did, didn't look half bad) As for us playing for a draw or sitting on a lead, we don't defend well enough to do that. We may not have the ball for 90 minutes, but when we do, we try to attack, so yes, our deficiencies mean we go for it for 90 minutes. For us, generally, attack is the best form of defence.
It was a draw, not a no score draw but two a piece, you insinuate we had brief spells playing our own game, but so did you. Our possesion 57%, yours 43%, Fouls 10 for us 11 to you, Attempts at goal, 13 for us, 9 for you, bookings 1 for us 2 to you, If you feel our aim was to stop you playing rather than playing our own game, so what. It's called strategy, as for you going for it for 90 minutes, I can assure you did not. Coming from behind twice, no way can we be accused of playing for a draw, to me that is attacking football.
