Newcastle-Vålerenga Leg 2 [R]

[cleazer]

I just finished watching the first half of this macth on goltv. Its tied up 1-1, though Vålerenga appeared to be the better team for much of the first half. Shearer opened the scoring with a well-taken free kick literally on the top of the box, though Vålerenga didn't deserve the foul (in fact replays seemed to show it was a bad call). They equalized about 6 minutes later off of a corner kick, and they didn't let up after that. Newcastle had a difficult time keeping possession in the attacking end, and in fact, they also had a difficult time with possession in the defending end too.

[cleazer]

Ameobi came on for Bellamy at halftime.
And made it 2-1 in the 47th minute.
Great start to the second half. Lets see if it lasts.

[cleazer]

Anyone else watching this match?

Starting lineup was: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Woodgate, Bramble, Speed, Robert, Jenas, Bridges, Bellamy, and Shearer.

Bridges wasn't all that impressive in the first half, and was relatively inconsequential.

I'm glad I didn't post during the first half, since much of what I would have said would've been negative. The crowd was booing at the halftime whistle. And Newcastle deserved it.

So far they have looked much more lively in the second half.

[cleazer]

58th min- Bramble with a horrible miskick. He had a number of mistakes in the first half. Definitely not his finest match. Luckily Given was there to clean up this time. Given had to make a few dramatic saves in the first half to prevent Vålerenga from taking the lead.

60th min- Newcastle follow it up with a number of dangerous scoring chances. They only had 2 or 3 real chances in the first half, but they have already far outdone themselves in the second half. Ameobi is looking particularly dangerous, though the entire squad seems to have made an improvement.

We're closer to going up 3-1 than going down 2-2.

[cleazer]

75th min - Bridges goes out, and is replaced by Brittain.

76th min- cleazer says "huh, who the heck?"

[pething101]

Newcastle ices it. Ameobi on the break.

[cleazer]

89th- Shearer finds Jenas who was just barely onsides. After a long run, he slots it easily to Ameobi who finishes the deal, and sends Newcastle into the next round. 3-1.

[cleazer]

Vålerenga didn't deserve to lose 4-2 on aggregate, as they were the better side for much of the 180 minutes. However, Newcastle had a superior goalkeeper and superior strikers, and in these two matches, those players seemed to be the difference-makers.

Looking ahead, it looks like Newcastle will be in the lower-seeded group for the next round draw. Here's the preliminary list, although some matches are not finished yet:

seeded-Barcelona, Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, Roma, Mallorca, Bordeaux, PSV Eindhoven

unseeded-Celtic, Newcastle, Marseille, Club Brugge, Villareal, Benfica, Auxerre, Genclerbirligi

Some late goals might change that list, but thats how its shaping up. Obviously, we can't play Liverpool, and of the remaining 7, Mallorca and Bordeaux are probably the weakest. Inter and Barcelona would each be rematches from last year's Champion's League. The draw tomorrow won't be just for the 4th round, it will also include the quarters and semi-finals.

[geordienation]

Originally posted by cleazer
75th min - Bridges goes out, and is replaced by Brittain.

76th min- cleazer says "huh, who the heck?"


Reserve team player.

Has played well and scored with some regularity. This may be his first game with the full side. European competition . . . helluva way to get your first game.

Toon had him on their "B" list of players that they submitted for the Champions League at the beginning of the season along with Chops and a lot of other reserves.

He's 19 (same birthday as me, albeit a few years later)

[rokstedy]

cleazer, how are you able to watch the match? Not that it matters anymore since the result's out, but PPV or what? A sigh of relief once again, but each round gets a little tougher and anxious.

[cleazer]

See my first post.

The match was shown live on GOLTV.

[CrewToon]

It's about time the Toon didn't choke away a lead. A draw could have signalled the end of Wor Bobby's run as boss.

[Fat Dutchman]

We really needed this result...although the performance was quite mediocre, we still are through and that is all that really matters.

After all sorts of rumblings of a rift between Uncle Bobby and our number 9 and then our lost points at Portsmouth, this win was most welcome. We still have a shot(however small) at some silverware.

I'm sure Bobby and the boys will use this week off to get things sorted out a bit.

[JayRockers!]

Originally posted by cleazer
58th min- Bramble with a horrible miskick. He had a number of mistakes in the first half. Definitely not his finest match.Let me know when he has it.

Originally posted by Fat Dutchman
After all sorts of rumblings of a rift between Uncle Bobby and our number 9 and then our lost points at Portsmouth, this win was most welcome. We still have a shot(however small) at some silverware.Hey, that's a big piece of silver. Don't downplay the UEFA cup. It may not come with the $$ (or is that the ££) that the CL does, but it is a trophy against some (more) of the best teams in Europe. I think they have a great shot if they get focused.

Thx,

Jay!

[Fat Dutchman]

Originally posted by JayRockers!
Let me know when he has it.

Hey, that's a big piece of silver. Don't downplay the UEFA cup. It may not come with the $$ (or is that the ££) that the CL does, but it is a trophy against some (more) of the best teams in Europe. I think they have a great shot if they get focused.

Thx,

Jay!

I think you're misunderstanding what I meant here. I meant that we have a small shot at winning the UEFA Cup, not that the competition itself is small.

I actually like the UEFA Cup and think that the format is more preferable to the Champions' League early stages.

[rokstedy]

Originally posted by cleazer
See my first post.

The match was shown live on GOLTV.

Doh, I'm a goofball! That'll teach me to just skim posts. Still, a sigh of relief!

[Andy Bennett]

Did anyone see who the Valerenga manager was. I'm sure I heard the commentator say it was Thomas Rekdal.

"Yerr boys took a heel of a threshing"

Great stuff :)

[Bauser]

Originally posted by Andy Bennett
Did anyone see who the Valerenga manager was. I'm sure I heard the commentator say it was Thomas Rekdal.
It was Kjetil Rekdal former NT captain. He is player-manager at Vålerenga now.

[Andy Bennett]

Originally posted by Bauser
It was Kjetil Rekdal former NT captain. He is player-manager at Vålerenga now.
Yes. Sorry. Getting confused between Repka and Rekdal. Different fella altogether.