Spurs @ White Hart Lane - Sunday 30th March 2008


I remember a time back in the 90s when a man came to Newcastle, well he was more than a man - you could say he was a messiah, and with him he brought "sexy" football, a joy to watch, passion and commitment, a challenge to everyone who dared take on the might of Tyneside. That man, of course, was Kevin Keegan and yesterday he showed that he was back!

Not even the diehards would have complained had we walked away from White Hart Lane with a point in the bag, given the season we have had, but the outcome of the clash of the under performers of 2007/2007 premiership brought with it not only 3 points but also
a restoration of Geordie pride.

Keegan kept the same formation and team as in the previous two games, with not even a place on the bench for N'Zogbia, and the system worked. We took the game to Spurs from the off, with (Monday, Tuesday) Habib Beye being denied a superb goal by the crossbar before Joey Barton produced a stunning save from Paul Robinson. Spurs also had their chances early on, with Harper making a brilliant instinctive save from Woodgate and the Keane being unable to find the net.

Spurs got the first goal, Darren Bent, with his second goal in as many games, beating Abdoulaye Faye with the header from Steed Malbranque's cross and giving Spurs the lead. However, while in this situation we have capitulated on many occasions and let in another 2 before the break, the resolution and determination of the team shone through. Nicky Butt got us back in the game in injury time in the first half with a powerful drive past Robinson, who must surely be England's number six now behind James, Kirkland, Green, Carson and our own Stevie Harper, and we were back level.

The bromide is certainly being left out of the half time tea these days, and Newcastle came storming out of the blocks in the second half. Geremi made it two on 52 minutes with a stunning free kick that left Robinson rooted to the spot and our Cameroon midfielder with a grin as wide as the Tyne, before good interlinking play from our forwards saw the third. It would have been easier for Oba Martins to go down when he slipped going past O'Hara, but he managed to keep himself going, before passing the ball to Viduka who had the slightest of touches to knock the ball on to Michael Owen to finish it. The captain looked genuinely delighted to score his third in three, as did Mike Ashley who was up with the away fans once again.

Oba made it four, when Joey Barton saw him free and made an inch perfect pass to set him up for a one on one with Tainio, before putting the ball past Robinson and producing his customary somersault. 4-1 was a thoroughly deserved scoreline, we are now 12th with Reading on Saturday and are virtually assured of Premiership survival now. E-I-E-I-E-I-O.............

Diane Pringle


Wahey!! What a result. So all the lazy journalists who penned their match reports for this game on Friday afternoon had better get some alterations done as the Cockney, media darlings got a fuckin’ good hiding on their own patch. (Or The Layne as they like to call it down there)

We totally outplayed them and, as far as I’m concerned (with memories of the wankers waving £20 pound notes at us saying “Loadsa money” in Harry Enfield style in the 80s) every win over these cunts is a sweet one, but a 4-1 piss take which quite easily could have been more was an absolute treat.

When the media try to tell everyone what we want in future I’d be most pleased if they use this game as an example rather than the life sapping 4-3 defeats which made for good telly in the past.

True, we conceded a soft goal with Malbranque allowed too much time to cross the ball in and find Darren Bent but on a day like this.......... who gives a fuck. Nicky Butt is in some superb form at the minute and his goal came at an ideal time for us. Geremi at the 87567645647378th time of asking planted a quality free kick past Robinson and Owen finished well after a sexy touch by Viduka. When Martins danced free to fire in the fourth it was no more than we deserved and prompted the Spivs to head for the exits.

It’s games like this when you wonder ‘Why put us through 8 months of piss when you can play like this?’ Maybe that’s just the Newcastle way but if this is the players way of staking a claim to stay at Newcastle United then let’s have more.

Speaking of which, Shola Ameobi has now got a chance to find his natural level as a footballer and good luck to him. (Having the coolest song in the World is no longer a reason to keep a player on our books) However he goes with a memorable derby header and an assist to Shearer’s land mark goal vs. Portsmouth.

The same can’t be said however for Charles N’Zogbia who is now standing at a 2 forked road. 1 is marked ‘Get your stupid fuckin’ head down, work your tits off and earn the right to play for NUFC.’ The other is ‘The Olivier Bernard route to footballing obscurity.’ Neither of them are marked ‘First choice, outside left at Arsenal’ you stupid little cunt. The only player to leave NUFC and achieve consistent trophies in English football remains Andy Cole, the rest go nowhere special. The choice is yours.............

So then, although most of the press will try and convince the world that Spurs won yesterday we now sit in a much more healthy state than we did 3 weeks ago. Reading next, can’t come quickly enough.

Chris Betts

***

Editor’s Note: It seems some of our TiFosi Gobshites prefer moaning on about being rubbish than lashing the praise on the lads when they have done well. Hash – what would Joe Strummer say? Tsk!