Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I was able to watch my boys from Newcastle United welcome Manchester to St. James' Park, and walk off the pitch with a 0-0 draw. For the Magpies, stealing a point from the Red Devils, and keeping them from completely counting Arsenal out for their league title dreams was a victory in my book. It was a fun game to watch, a nice little reminder of the talent difference between my MLS and the EPL, and I think Magpie Nation can be proud with the result.
Just a couple of quick notes:
+ Ryan Giggs just wasn't able to finish. He sent a ball just wide, even though he was standing right in front of the net with a perfect pass to his feet.
+ Tim Krül looked great between the pipes for Newcastle. The media made a big deal out of the injury to Steve Harper, but the supporters all know that Krül has what it takes to keep the best out, and he did it. With our boy Forster over with Celtic, who needs Harper anyway?
+ The no call on the Peter Løvenkrands in the box was ridiculous. He was tripped, knocked down in the box, and that easily should have been a penalty. That would have changed things nicely, eh?
+ Cheik Tiote may have become my favorite Newcastle player over Shola Ameobi. I mean, he's such a big, bad dude. He's tied for the most bookings in the EPL, and he seems to be the only real physical presence in the midfield for the Mags. Plus, how can you not love that Ivory Coast mohawk?
+ I enjoyed the negative reception that the Toon Army showered down on Michael Owen when he came on the pitch for the Devils. Owen is a complete bum, and I think even Man Utd fans can agree with that. The whole crowd chanting about how greedy he is? Classic. I love this fan base.
+ Stephen Ireland, our usually injured loan boy from Aston Villa, came onto the pitch with much fan fare, and nearly netted a goal. He put a shot just wide, and had the fans on the edge of their seats. The County Cork, Ireland native is definitely going to help on the jog to the end of the year, as he continues to get fit, and I hope he stays around next season.
+ Look, being a Chivas fan, I love me some Chicharito. That being said, it was a clear dive in the box at the end of the game. He jumped over the foot of Simpson to avoid the steal in the box, and then made a theatrical collapse to the ground. I watched it live, and watched it again and again as they replayed it on the ESPN broadcast. It was clearly a dive. And, even if you don't think it was a dive (first, you're crazy), you should recognize that even if you are pulled down, if you collapse like an Academy Award winning actor, the ref won't be on your side. He deserved yellow, no matter how much Rooney didn't like it.
+ Good crowd, fun game, and enough to make me happy with our play.
With 40 points to their name, Newcastle are now 9th in the table, 7 clear of Blackpool and the relegation zone with 5 games to go. We survived this Manchester clash, and that gives me huge confidence heading into the final five. The aforementioned Blackpool gets 'Castle on Saturday. That's a must win, if we want to prove that we're a top half of the table kind of team.
Howay the lads!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
1 comments:
No comment from Andrew must mean that he agrees it was a dive. I'm glad we can all agree on that.
Post a Comment