September 2010

As part of my monthly reviews, we arrive in September and what turned out to be a roller coaster month for NUFC.

The transfer window had closed, in came Tiote, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands and Perch, only one at the time could be seen as a top class signing and that was Ben Arfa.

Ben Arfa and Tiote both started on the bench at home to Blackpool, our game this month. Perch remained at right back as Simpson was still injured and since we had just beaten Blackpool in April, we were quite confident of a result, especially since our last home game ended 6-0! Oh how wrong we were.

Blackpool dominated from the start, NUFC kept the same formation that beat Villa and drew at Wolves with Nolan in behind Carroll but there was an air of concern against Blackpool that this was too negative. Harper kept us in it, Newcastle's only chance was Williamson hitting the post, but it was all Blackpool. Half time was approaching when the worst happened, penalty to Blackpool, silly challenge by Smith. Scored by Adam. Ben Arfa made his first appearance as sub in the second half but couldn't really impact on the game, and to add salt to the wound, Blackpool got a second just before the end, a counter attack which ended in Campbell scoring a decent finish. Once again we were being tipped to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Everton away and a change in formation. Tiote came in for Smith, Ben Arfa in for Gutierrez but Newcastle still kept the 4-5-1. We started well, really well and should have been 2-0 up before Ben Arfa scored his first goal and one of the goals of the season. Routledge brought the ball in field and played it to Ben Arfa, who turned twice before finding space and striking the ball at full pelt into the far top corner, no chance for Howard and the Toon Army went wild. Ben Arfa looked sensational, dancing through their defence on more than one occasion, but equally good was Tiote who was very solid in the middle. We should have had one of the most blatant penalty awards of the season with a foul on Nolan, and Fellaini should have seen red with an elbow on Williamson. Harper was injured in the first half, and we once again saw some great saves and a bit of luck from Tim Krul to keep the score at 1-0 as we registered our first away win of the season.

And then this came along...Chelsea away in the cup. From one of the easiest ties against Accrington to one of the hardest. 1500 mags made the trip to London on this Wednesday night to see us go 1-0 down from former loanee Patrick van Aanholt. Chelsea played some decent first team players in Anelka, Terry, Alex, Benayoun with Kalou making appearances. We also had a weak team out, with Ferguson, Vuckic, Ryan Taylor at right back, Ranger on the wing, Ameobi and Lovenkrands up front with Smith in the middle. No Nolan, no Ben Arfa, no Carroll, no Tiote, no Enrique. We equalised!!!!!! A great cross from Ferguson who was very impressive all night was parried away by the Chelsea keeper into the path of Ranger who tapped in. Minutes later Ameobi was through on goal and was brought down, up stepped Ryan Taylor to score a screamer of a free-kick to put us 2-1 up at half time. No one thought we would win this, but there was hope when Ameobi put us 3-1 up with a great finish from 25 yards just after half time. Chelsea received a few injuries meaning they had to finish with 10 men, but pulled one back through Anelka, and then were awarded a penalty, Alex clearly dived but it was given, 3-3 with 5 minutes left to play. Chelsea then hit the post but we got a corner, taken by Gutierrez in front of the Toon Army was headed in by Ameobi...4-3!!!!! 90th minute winner!!! Jubilation amongst the Toon Army who greeted the goal with the song 'that's why we're champions'.

Arsenal were next for Newcastle in the cup at St James' Park, the draw was not being fair at all, but before that was a home game with Stoke. The same team that beat Everton played this game, and we were once again expecting a win. First half we were dominant and were awarded a penalty for a foul on Carroll. Nolan scored, but it should have been more at HT. Second half started and Stoke dominated, they equalised and didn't have another shot on target for the rest of the match. Draw I hear you say? Don't be daft, a ****ing terrible own goal from Perch put us 2-1 down with 10 minutes left, Hughton took off our best two players in Ben Arfa and Tiote, what was he thinking? Another home defeat and once again we were slated.

A roller coaster month I am sure you will agree, but we ended September in terrible fashion, and with Man City coming up in October and Sunderland just around the corner, god knows what was going to happen, but that's a story for another day!

 

Can't wait

Another excellent article, really like these, oh the memories!

 

Good read Badger
excited for the October review as we all know that's the best month for obvious reasons

 

this, can't wait to relive one particular memory from that month

 

I loved that Chelsea cup game.

I can still recall my hangover.

 

these are pretty good fun to read

all those memorys flooding back

 

Chelsea was a great game, but *Perch* and Stoke was an entirely different matter.

 

I often read the threads on here but dont usually post (often as my comments have already been echoed by a dozen of you by the time i get to read the thread) but thought i would break my silence to say what a good read these articles are.

Keep them up Badger

Edit: and as im not on here much, i can actually still rep without needing to 'spread it around' !!

 

Cheers sp