Newcastle Utd - A view from Anfield Road Lower
Posted by JamesB in Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle | 24 September 2006
Wednesdays performance against todays opponents local rivals was not at all disgraceful, despite drawing a blank and coming home with no points.
A goal out of the blue and a freak goal towards the end do not really reflect the pattern of play, which I would suggest was good for a draw. At times I felt we showed them a bit too much respect and didn't really have a proper go at them. Another problem was not making the most of the numerous set pieces we had in the second half. Corner after corner came to very little, and at a place like Anfield where the opposition hold on to the ball and stick every man behind the ball when you are in possession, you have to make the most of those opportunities.
I won't dwell on this point too long, but the referee certainly cost us a shot at the game. A blatant foul on Shola Ameobi right in front of me should have resulted in a penalty, and the double handball appeal seemed decent as well, but these things happen in football.
Seeing Craig Bellamy miss a sitter after he tried to wind us up by holding his Liverpool badge is something I will remember fondly. Less memorable was seeing Dirk Kuyt score his first Liverpool goal in front of the fans he could quite easily have been playing for had we got our act together in the transfer window.
Moving on to Steve Harper's slip, it was just one of those things and I am confident he will recover well. As I said in my report from West Ham he is a quality keeper and is capable of doing a very good job in Given's absence.
It will be interesting to see who Roeder starts with against Everton. N'Zogbia is making life very difficult for Roeder, as it's impossible to leave out a player that is on such good form. Then again Milner and Duff on the flanks worked well against West Ham, and I not so keen on Duff playing on the right. Depending on Shola's fitness I think Roeder will play N'Zogbia in a central role with Martins up front on his own. It's certainly nice to have options though!
I think 3 points today is absolutely essential what with Man Utd coming up and the last home loss against Fulham, but it will be tough against Everton who are on good form themselves. Hopefully we will get the bit of luck that never came against Liverpool and claim 3 points that we did in this fixture last season.
Comments
What game were u watching? Liverpool were all over Newcastle and it was a surprise Liverpool only scored 2. Dont delude yourself, Newcastle were poor opposition on the night.
Having no shots on target, many misses for the opponents, punching Kyut and pen claims against us - unlucky?
Mmmm the only serious penalty missed was Babayaro's assault on Kuyt.
Newcastle didn't threaten at all. Ameobi's all elbows and arse - even English refs aren't fooled by him. And McDermott's a bitter old man who knows he pinned his colours to the wrong mast in management - funny he didn't have the same problem as a player! Never mind don't suppose these words will enter the dream world you inhabit, so dream on.
