Well what a turn-around, for what seems like an eternity we have had mass divisions on the benefits of having S. Bruce at the helm. A convincing win over what up till now had been a very good Stoke side, (the same side that had just beaten Liverpool, and then a good draw away in Europe), has made us all sigh a huge breath of relief. The team selection was made, and i expect there was several amongst us that were quite vocal in our views on the said selection.. Still playing Sess up front was not what i wanted to see, but it worked against Stoke, and it worked a treat. The captain was dropped, a bold move by Bruce, but one that seems to have been a master stroke, as Vaughan ran the show, with some neat and silky skills, and it will be hard for Catts to dis-place the new found fans favorite. Gardner and Larsson, both showed just why Bruce brought them to the club. Elmo and Richardson, by some suprise both managed to have a decent game. Bendtner, showed glimpses of what he can do, (would he have scored if that pesky Stoke lad hadn't decided to rob him of his first goal)? Defence was rock solid, and the duo from Man U, certainly showed why they have played at the highest level, and are going to be crucial during the coming months, and Bramble looked like he thrived on his new found confidence in his experienced partners. Then down to Mig, a top showing by the young Belgian, even if Huth was trying to take part of him home as a trophy. Anyhow, i guess this is just a long winded ramble to ask a simple question... Who was your Man of the Match?
Things are never rosy in football, being a Newcastle fan you should no this but at least we stuck together and worked as a team and defended for our lives for the full 90mins, definately proud of the lads for Sunday's display and hope we can kick on from here. Agree with Vaughan MOTM and Bramble deserves a shout as well as he was brilliant against the Jerome, Crouch & Jonesy and his distribution from the back was also very good and he only mispalced one pass all game apparently and scored a goal.
My man of the match has to be Jonathan Woodgate. I bet that surprises you all but look at his league record in the north east. Newcastle 28 appearances 0 goals, Middlesbrough 46 appearances 0 goals, Sunderland 0 appearances 1 goal.
Mig 8 oshea 8 brown 8 bramble 7 rico 7 elmo 7 gardner 8 Vaughan 9 larsson 8 sessegnon 7 Bendtner 7 My ratings, everyone played well but for me Vaughan ran the show so he is my motm
Just enjoying a cup of rosy lee with my rose tint glasses on and i think we rose above the occasion we have also rose rose up the league So i guess things are looking rosier than last week. Now if we could get the balck and white weeds that keep cropping up on here it will help my roses grow. So i guess everything is looking rosier in the garden.
For me Gardener was MOTM, he got forward chased down lost causes and made the Stoke midfield mark him tightly, this gave Vaughan some space which he used perfectly. I have been waiting for an attacking goal scoring midfielder who can tackle, close down and be creative since Don Hutchinson left us. I think Gardener could be that player. Vaughan was really good but only because of Gardener IMO. I have been talking to loads of Villa and Blues fans tonight and they were saying he is a class act and will do very well for us. Apparently he has a very good younger brother who is currently at the Villa.
Vaughan for me, but there were several contenders. Vaughan shades it for being the man who got the ball, and used it, without thought, simple, effective, and allowing Gardner to put in his best display in a shirt. O'Shea & Brown could have had their cigars in, these 2 lads are different class. Brown, who i was against signing, is fast becoming the rock of the side, the lad is an effortless defender, and a very decent footballer to boot, he's half a second ahead of the game, delighted to have been proved wrong on this one. I like Bendtner, his movement is excellent, and with the quality, shown yet again, from Seb, it's a matter of time before he starts getting the goals. Norwich are pathetic at the back, we should stick to the same system and go for another 3 points.
Vaughan or the Mig for me. Stoke's first attack Mig flapped abit. But after that he was awesome. Took a few hits for the team too and pulled off an excellent save fom that free kick. Vaughan is what we've needed for years. Does the simple things brilliantly.
vaughan by a mile he was excellent he came looking for the ball everytime our defenders had it and then looked composed on the ball and played some lovely passing football, he also got forward and defended well. he was closely followed by gardner and bendtner. gardner looked good getting forward and linked up well with sess and bendtner. Bendtner was excellent at holding the ball up, linking our forward line to the midfield and using his strength to unsettle the defenders unlike some certain money grabbing ghanian who would fall over if the defender got within 5 yards of him
