Barclays Premiership - Match 12
 

Season 2006-2007

MANCHESTER CITY

0 v 0

NEWCASTLE UNITED

         
     
  Date: Saturday 11th November 2006
  Venue: Eastlands
  Kick Off: 12:45pm (BST)
  Australian Live TV: Foxsports 3
  Attendance: 40,571
  Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)
  Read match preview By Phil
   

Man City: Weaver, Richards, Distin, Dunne, Thatcher, Trabelsi, Barton, Reyna (Corradi 60), Sinclair, Dickov (Samaras 60), Vassell

Subs Not Used: Hart, Ireland, Onuoha
 
  Booked: Sinclair
   

Newcastle: Harper, Carr (Solano 76), Taylor, Moore, Ramage, Milner, Emre, Parker, Duff (N'Zogbia 56), Sibierski, Ameobi (Dyer 56)

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Butt
  Booked: Parker, Taylor, Emre
     
  Post Match Comments:  
  Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder said
 “In the opening 45 minutes we looked tired but we survived without conceding up to half-time. But the longer the game went on the stronger we became and as the game opened up and became more stretched we passed the ball a lot better. The lads could sense there was the chance to win the game late on and we did have two opportunities. On the balance of play it is a point gained rather than two lost."

 
     
  Match Report:  
  The game may have ended 0-0 and (other than the last 5 minutes) been an average to poor performance by Newcastle Utd but it didn't stop the Toon Army from having a good day out.

For once I was back amongst the ranks of the hardcore diehards that give Newcastle United fans the reputation they deserve. Week in week out, regardless of form or league placing, the same people travel the length and breath of the country to represent the city and football club they so love. No thought is giving to time or expensive, the only thought is to be in the ground and support the black & whites.

Some may say this is blind faith and to be fair it wouldn't be the first time the Toon Army has been accused of such a thing, but you couldn't get more further from the truth. This isn't blind faith, this is love and pride for Newcastle United and we Geordie are a proud bunch, so like any long term committed you have to stick it out through the thick and thin.

For the last 10-15 years or so I have been fortunate enough to have been one of those diehards travelling around the country. So returning to the fold with my regular travelling partner Dave last Saturday, was a great and unexpected pleasure after 15 months down under.

With Sky moving the kick off to 12:45pm, the trip started early by getting the 7:54am train from Newcastle to Manchester via York. Arriving at the platform with our cans of Stella and sandwiches (Dave reckons I'm getting old for bringing food as well as beer these days!!) you could spot other groups of lads carrying beer in bags and chatting. As Manchester, especially Man City, can be dodgy for the independent travelling away fan, no Toon tops were in sight but you knew these lads were going to the game.

Dave and I both had a very heaving nights drinking in town with the lads the previous night, so we'd both popped paracetamol tablets whilst getting ready. Whether it was the pure excitement of an away game or my hangover wasn't as bad, I managed to drink 3 cans of Stella to Dave's 1 by the time we get to Mancland.

We walked out the station and straight into a pub, ordered more beer (Dave seemed to be much better now), got settled and then rang Geordie_442. Sure enough the guy turns up with tickets (nice one mate, thanks again) and more beer then was consumed. The bar we had stumbled into wasn't the greatest, no atmosphere and most people were having food so we decided to go to the ground and have a couple more their before kick off.

On arrival to the ground we were handed that free scarf Shepherd has promised the fans after the Shearer testimonial. Good move I though to hand them out to the away fans. I sure some people will take it as a cynical move and say he was saying money by only needed to get 4,000 instead of 50,000 but the way I see it, the away regular should be rewarded more often and he was dammed if he did or dammed if it didn't anyway. Granted it was only a scarf but an another unexpected delight on my away trip.

A couple of more beers later and we took our seats in the ground. The sight of Shola in the starting line-up, wasn't 100% a great surprise, as whispers had been in the Journal/Chronicle that week that Roeder might give him one last game. A few minutes into the game however, it was plain to see Shola wasn't very much unfit and struggling for movement. With Albert Luque nowhere to be seen, it's plain to see, he's obviously p*ssed off Roeder big time and will be sold in January to raise some funds.

We started off ok in the first 10-15 minutes with some canny passing but things turned into the norm these days, as for the rest of half City dominated creating more of the chances. The second half was much better and the introduction of Kieron Dyer for Shola, showed exactly what we have missed in his absence. Dyer on that form in a real handful for most defensives and it's vital we now finally keep hin fit. Don't hold your breathe though everyone...

With the game looking liking it would fade out to a 0-0 draw, we really came alive in the last 5 minutes. God knows where this team had been the first 85 minutes as Dyer had a shot blocked and Solano had a goal wound bound shot deflected wide by Antoine Sibierski.

A point is a point and we have to gleefully accept every single one these days. However, questions again will be raised about Roeder's team selection of Shola and why we didn't attack a poor Man City team more in the second half. It feels like whatever Roeder does at the minute he is getting criticised from someone, which is a worrying trend.

I didn't expect anything else but the 100% backing of the team throughout the game from all 4,000 Newcastle United fans was very warming and I had a smile on my face the entire game. You just can't beat the feeling really. The scarves helped with the away end looking very black & white but it was the true pride and passion for the club that yet again came out. Backs against the wall stuff you might say but very loud it was indeed.

On ESPN Classics this week they showed the highlights of the Liverpool 3 v 1 Newcastle match from March 1985 and it really brought it home that Newcastle United fans have see all this before and have been giving their 100% backing for years. The 80s was the time of Gordon McKeag as chairman, who was hated for selling good players and not giving managers any money, hence we had a team that rarely challenged the top 8 teams in the league.

Whilst watching the game on TV the crowd noise from this game was incredible, chants of 'Blaydon Races', 'N and E and W C', 'Drink drink wherever you be...', 'Newcastle, Newcastle..', 'Where were you in Newcastle' and more could clearing be heard. The commentator said on numerous occasion's what a wonderful backing the Newcastle United fans gave, the camera paned a number of times to the away section, where lads wearing black & white scarves and flat caps could be seen swaying around the full terrace. The end of the game came and you could hear the Toon fans taunt the Kop with 'We out sang you once again, we out sang you once again' and when when the camera paned finally to the away end, the commentator said 'what amazing support the Newcastle United fans always give, especially considering they have been starved of success for years'.

So you see this is nothing new to us, since 1985 we had 3 different chairmen, 10 managers and 100's of players but the one thing that has been constant through all this, has been the supporters. I for one are so proud of how loyal and passionate we have stayed to our club, most other clubs fans would have given in years ago after our lack of success.

Keep the faith everyone.

AUSSIE MAGS		  
   
 

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