BPL R36: Newcastle United at West Ham United 26 Apr [R]

[tigerdave]

Well, well, well. We figured this might be a must-win a while back but with our current run of form we've gotten ourselves up to 12th, trailing Spurs on GD and just 5 points back of 10th-place West Ham with three games to go.

They've been struggling for a while and we've been flying. It'll be interesting to see if we can duplicate our success at Upton Park over them that we had last year when Duff and Martins scored in the 2-0 win.

We shall see, but if we can nick a win in this one, we've got a very real shot of finishing in the top half of the table, something no one would have imagined a few weeks ago. I like our chances.

[BayernWake]

I miss Scott Parker.

[Toon³]

I miss Scott Parker.

I don't, Barton is a better player. Plus he doesn't constantly rotate in midfield

[Russell1892]

43 Points is our worst ever total in a Premiership season.. we now stand on 42.

West Ham... if you can believe certain elements in the media :rolleyes:, their fans are fed up with Curbishley. Anyone believe this? after escaping relegation last year on the last day they're fed up with being 10th this season?

Anyway we've got a pretty good record against the Hammers in the last few years. We beat them at home and I fancy us to do the same again at their place. Hopefully we'll play better than we did against the mackems, it would be nice to get another really good performance from the lads. I think in our last two games we've played well, but not as well as we did against Spurs, Reading, Fulham (don't know if this is due to the relegation pressure being off). Or we're just saving up a performance for Chelski. :D

I'm not being complacent by the way I remember where we were a month ago. ;) I just want us to crack on and give us some hope we might be in for something better next year.

[Nookie Brown]

I miss Scott Parker.

Nah, I miss Nobby Solano.

[mplsTOON]

I miss Keiron Dyer,... No wait, no I don't.

[JayRockers!]

I miss Carl Cort.

Oh wait, they have Carlton Cole. Nevermind.

Thx,

Jay!

[Russell1892]

Apparently KK's gonna have a full squad to choose from for this one. Milner, Emre, Cacapa and Carr are going to be back according to eurosport. Funnily enough they didn't mention N'Zog... (although I'm not sure if he was fit for the mackems and just couldn't get a place on the bench?) Anyone see Milner getting a place on the bench? It would mean dropping one of Smith, Duff or Carroll from the bench probably.

Or will Keegan surprise us and change the formation/drop Geremi?

[Russell1892]

Oh aye and Uriah Rennie is the ref for this one. :rolleyes:

Was the only ref ever to send off Alan Shearer and generally seems to spend most of his time refereeing in the Championship or being 4th official at PL games these days. Expect general bemusement at some decisions, laughing out loud at others.

[JayRockers!]

Andy D'Urso sent Shearer off (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=379660) and it did wonders for his career, too.

Thx,

Jay!

[ToonUSA]

Oh aye and Uriah Rennie is the ref for this one. :rolleyes:

Was the only ref ever to send off Alan Shearer and generally seems to spend most of his time refereeing in the Championship or being 4th official at PL games these days. Expect general bemusement at some decisions, laughing out loud at others.

He handed out 6 yellow cards in the instant classic between Chester and Wrexham.

I can only believe calamity will ensue.

[Russell1892]

Andy D'Urso sent Shearer off (http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=379660) and it did wonders for his career, too.

Thx,

Jay!

Oh yeah forgot about that... with facts like these I should write for the Guardian. :p

[Russell1892]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/04/24/united-fans-are-the-best-says-nobby-72703-20813067/

Nobby's been talking about Newcastle and how great the fans are... also mentions Shiteus spouting off. I like the way he says Newcastle fans are the greatest and in the last line remembers the WH fans might not like that.

“And in a way the fans down in East London are just the same.”

I think he'll get a good reception from the travelling fans... Better than the last ex-Mag who said he hoped he'd get a good reception (Chopra).

[tigerdave]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/04/24/united-fans-are-the-best-says-nobby-72703-20813067/

Nobby's been talking about Newcastle and how great the fans are... also mentions Shiteus spouting off. I like the way he says Newcastle fans are the greatest and in the last line remembers the WH fans might not like that.



I think he'll get a good reception from the travelling fans... Better than the last ex-Mag who said he hoped he'd get a good reception (Chopra).

To be fair, Nobby didn't go scum. And he's always been a fan favorite, even when he was at Villa (to where he never should have been sold).

[HoosierToon]

Toon 3
Hammers 0

[Shameus]

No Faye, Edgar gets the start, no Milner either.

NUFC: Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, David Edgar, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Joey Barton, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka
Subs: Fraser Forster, Damien Duff, Lamine Diatta, Alan Smith, Andy Carroll

[tigerdave]

Noble scores on a half-volley. Didn't get all of it but got enough evidently. 1-0 to the Irons.

[tigerdave]

Shit.

Zamora gets on the end of a straight ball from the keeper, flicks to Ashton, turns twice and drives it past Harper. Where's our defense? No pressure on the ball whatsoever. West Ham are doing whatever they want.

[Russell1892]

Hmm its not going well today... I can't get a stream either... doesn't sound like I'm missing much.

[tigerdave]

Well, that was totally against the run of play.

Barton finds Martins over the top and the Nigerian gives a slick finish with the outside of the left boot to pull one back. Game on?