Barring the unfortunate incident involving Alan Pardew and a hapless (and ineffective) linesman, Newcastle’s opening day victory against Andre Villas-Boas’ Spurs was a largely positive experience and the 3 points against another team likely to compete for a top six finishing spot in the league were hugely valuable, especially with Arsenal and Liverpool both dropping points as well.
They might have been missing captain marvel Fabricio Coloccini, and may have lacked some match fitness, but Newcastle coped with everything an occasionally quite lack-lustre Spurs team had to offer for most of the game, albeit despite the home woodwork being rattled twice in the first half. But that isn’t to take anything away from Newcastle’s performance – the team absorbed pressure and contained their opponents well, adapting under pressure and when it became clear that Plan A wasn’t working with Spurs over-running midfield.
It was an entertaining game all round, with two heavy-weight teams packed with talent, but not quite the finished article in either case you might suspect, and a fantastic atmosphere in the glorious evening sunshine in the North East.
Andre Villas-Boas might have more to do following this defeat than Alan Pardew, but there were certainly a good few points of discussion for the Newcastle boss from yesterday’s match, and he would do well to consider them ahead of next week’s game with Chelsea. So, click within to reveal the 7 biggest lessons from yesterday’s game…
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12 Comments
I am a Spurs fan.
I think the only lesson Newcastle’s fans have learnt yesterday is that luck is more important than good performance.
HAHAHAHA HOW GUTTED ARE SPURS FANS, SPURS FANS NEED TO REALISE THAT THEIR CLUB IS ON THE DECLINE.
NEWCASTLE WENT INTO YESTURDAYS GAME WITH NO COLOCCINI AND TIOTE, CABAYE, BEN ARFA, CISSE AND BA ONLY HALF FIT, AND WITH DANNY SIMPSON DOING HIS BEST TO MAKE SURE SPURS GOT ON THE SCORE SHEET – AND WE STILL WON THE GAME.
No luck what so ever. Spurs didn’t put their chances away, end of story. Great goal by Ba and a stupid foul by Spurs, simple as that. 3 points in the bag…next!!
There were three goals scored yesterday two can’t be disputed and the other one, was clearly offside ie the Spurs goal,and so the only luck Newcastle had was bad and yet we still won.Simples.
You make a fair point. Spurs were very unlucky to not get something out of the game but that’s football mate. Some teams can be on the back foot and produce a win. You may have dominated us in midfield but our defense kept you at bay for the most part limiting you to long range hit and hopes.
Newcastle play better with 12 men,Simpson should have had 3 yellow cards ref booked 2 Spurs players for minor infringements and let Newcastle do virtually as they liked .
I’m not sure cynically blocking Ben Arfa was a minor infringement. That’s what is called a professional foul.
Newcastle need to dig deeper, and come out with an offer that can secure Debuchy’s services! They have spent all summer beating about the bush, and despite the fact that a clear valuation has been put on the player, they have still failed to meet this price!
Not what I heard – apparently they met the valuation, but the make-up of the deal didn’t suit Lille, who turned it down and then changed their valuation. It’s Lille who have been messing about, not Newcastle. But I wholly agree they need to get Debuchy in.
That Ba Goal was a beauty,(and I am a Spurs fan)Ben Arfa looked for the foul and sold it well for the penalty, in one way our players were just badly positioned and he took advantage of the situation, I would have been just as happy if one of ours did the same. I don’t believe Defoe’s goal was offside and I do believe we could easily have won this game with a little more luck. As for the best team winning, I do not believe either played their best, but with more chances I believe we were better however just not successful this time. Good game to watch though .
What’s Andy above on about? I suppose he thinks Newcastle are the only team with half fit or missing players!? Tottenham dominated for over an hour with three massive holes in the team from last season as in Modric, Ade and King. Add Parker to that and it’s Tottenham who were the ones under strength.
It was a good opening game for both teams but Simpson should have definately seen red and would have done with a stronger ref. As a Spurs fan I am satisfied with what I saw and on that performance I expect to see us finish above Newcastle this season.
Very objective sir even for a YID and yes we will finish above Newcastle I think but I do like to watch them play,without the financial backup but still playing the football.like I said earlier next time at the Lane IS going to be a whole different story me thinks