COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Newcastle (H)

By Ken Buckley   ::  14/05/2012 Last game of the season and Blues were out in force for this one as our local pub confirmed by the numbers in early, strangely the numbers in our ale house are a remarkably good guide to the days attendance. Today's turnout reflected the plus 39,000 at the game.

The sun was out and the wind was well up from the mersey and it was to get stronger as the game went on. Spellow lane and Goodison road were abuzz yet once again I could not find a seller to obtain a copy of the very last edition of 'Speke from the Harbour' perhaps that's why its folding ? write em, advertise em, print em and don't sell em. I jest, maybe they just sold out, I hope so as even in this day of instant internet it was always a great quirky read and solid Blue.

The team as announced was probably the strongest we could put out however Distin fans may not agree as he was benched. The numbers assembled suggested that this game was seen as a good attraction. Possibly the visitors could reach a Champions League spot whilst our lot could finish 7th as well as above our neighbours ? which was paramount for many but not me as, apart from extra place money, all it meant was we had won nothing nor qualified for anything; still let's hope the extra place money can be used by our manager to maybe give hope and encouragement to both fans and players with a trio of signings.

The game started in end-to-end fashion with the Magpies trying to dominate thus emphasising their CL credentials but the Blues were having none of it and soon the game settled with the Blues having the best of attacking moves even though the visitors had maybe more of the ball. Our play was soon of a high order and a wag near me suggested it was akin to watching Brazil and on 15 or so mins he could have been right as after a few niggely fouls by both sides a move of quality was put together that saw a Howard kick forward excellently dealt with by Osman who got a pass off to Fellaini who made ground then picked out Pienaar who made a few paces forward then hit one that deflected and arrowed into the top corner of the Park end goal. A giant roar erupted as the players
celebrated.

Next, from a Baines free kick, Osman played the ball across goal which went right across and beyond the far post where Pienaar was lurking, he controlled and shot and hit the post. The next item of note was when Cabaye who had become a right nark was wrongly given just a talking to for pushing a ball boy, he should have been booked at least.

On 27 mins, a back-to-front ball saw Jelavic, who had been presented with the Player of the Month award for April, control well, beat Colucini and hit a powerful shot that hit keeper Krul and bounced off him; Jelavic got onto the loose ball with Osman in close attendance but it was the Croatian who coolly lobbed the keeper. 2 - 0 and all happy.

The half continued with the Blues playing some excellent joined-up stuff and even Jags with his longer balls, shall we say, looked more controlled and found their target on a few occasions. Gibson was running the mid-field and had the odd shot but always just wide. Osman was in fine form and after excellent play pulled his shot wide. Fellaini went down and looked at least a hospital case but within no time at all he was running free and after a classy inter-change with Pienaar he fed Gibson who shot with venom and not wide this time but unfortunately straight at the keeper. As the half came to a close Cisse showed he could be a danger but pulled his shot wide and then the man who's shot beat us last term, Ben Arfa, hit a free kick well wide.

Half-time and the chat was of how well we had played that first half.

The second half started as I feared it might. Everton deep and clearances presenting the ball back to the visitors. Newcastle should have scored when great movement by Cisse saw him one-on-one with Howard who slipped but Cisse with no-one to hamper him slotted wide, a bad miss. Newcastle got a corner as they were almost camped in our half and the crowd becoming ever more restless. We just didn't seem able to get going ? not a good enough tempo to our play ? and all because we started the half to cautiously.

Jelavic got on the end of a punt forward and showed good control and a shot on the turn that went wide. We started to liven up then Cabaye fouled Pienaar within shooting distance, Gibson took it and Krul did well at his near post. Howard was struggling after a slip and received treatment but continued with Jags taking goal-kicks, he seemed to enjoy hammering those upfield.

Newcastle were still having the lion's share of play but that was rendered redundant when on 65mins Jelavic took the ball well out wide right but was pushed over, resulting in a free kick which the excellent Gibson arced in with pace and found Heitinga first to react which resulted in a free header which he duly buried into the net. Cue great celebrations and a rousing chorus of 'Oh Johnny- Johnny'! Five minutes later, he was replaced by Distin with the only reason I could find for the sub was to give Distin a game.

Newcastle had a pot shot that saw the injured Howard in ungainly fashion put it around the post for a corner. Then lack of communication by our keeper saw him come out for a through ball that Hibbert was already on and his header back to the keeper passed him as he came out so we had the spectacle of a goal for Hibbert causing no-one to riot as it was into the wrong goal. Cahill then replaced Neville.

Howard defied his injury to make a great save under his bar to deny Cisse. Pienaar played Jelavic in on goal but he neither did one thing or another and that petered out. Gibson hammered one in that hit Krul and bounced out at speed and hit Cahill on his knee and the ball rebounded straight to the keeper.

Jelavic came off to thunderous applause and was replaced by Stracqualursi with 7mins to go. Newcastle went gung-ho which allowed us to look to a counter attack and it almost paid off as first Gibson shot just wide then some sublime interplay from Pienaar and Baines saw Baines's cross sent for a corner. That would have been a goal of the season had it gone in. Osman had us drooling with his fast feet setting up a chance for himself but unfortunately his strong shot hit the post and came back into play, a great individual effort.

Final whistle and the big screen flashes up Swansea 1 Liverpool 0 and the roar was loud but on diverting the eyes back toward the players only to see a great melee involving players officials and stewards. It appears Cahill had Cabaye by the throat and was shown red. Stupid infantile millionaires came to mind, right took the gloss off a great win and some of the gloss of the players lap of appreciation toward the fans. Thanks a bunch, Tim.

MotM ? Gibson

Overall a good day out and, considering all the platitudes that Newcastle have been receiving, it was good to see we were indeed a better footballing side. If only we had the wherewithal to allow the manager those four quality players plus Pienaar then I am convinced we could challenge around top four and it would more than likely rid us of poor starts to seasons. As things stand at the present time, I expect very little difference from other seasons, maybe sell one get two or three maybes in. Still I can do nothing about it so I will wish those that can the best of luck and as I have renewed my ticket I will turn up to see how it has all panned out.


The way things are going on the ordinary persons finance front, many of us will have to consider away trips more carefully as they are getting very expensive now and with northwest teams being relegated to be replaced by long trips down south has done us no favours.

Still that's for another day. I wish you all a pleasant and enjoyable summer, it will soon be August and off we go again.

UP THE BLUES

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