[CrewToon]

An early kickoff Saturday because this match apparently will be shown PPV.

However, FSW will carry the match Wednesday at 8 p.m. (or while the MLS semifinals are in action).

[Wide Boy]

It is still being billed as a 3.00 pm kick off. It had better be, because my train doesn't get in to Newcastle until 1.00 pm!

Assuming this is the correct kick off time, it will be the first home game this season to start at the "proper" time of 3.00 pm on Saturday.

[greenie]

Match is scheduled for 10AM ET PPV broadcast, that means 3pm in the Toon.

Nothing like waking up here in the mountains with a couple of pints of broon at 7AM!

[CrewToon]

Originally posted by Wide Boy
It is still being billed as a 3.00 pm kick off. It had better be, because my train doesn't get in to Newcastle until 1.00 pm!

Assuming this is the correct kick off time, it will be the first home game this season to start at the "proper" time of 3.00 pm on Saturday.

My error then... of course, in the States we get treated to Claudio Reyna and the untrained chimps ready to be sacrificed in front of the Highbury faithful.

[greenie]

Originally posted by CrewToon
My error then... of course, in the States we get treated to Claudio Reyna and the untrained chimps ready to be sacrificed in front of the Highbury faithful.

The apes play on Sunday.

On Saturday:
early PPV game is Newcastle-West Brom.
the free game is Southampton-Man City.

The PPV broadcast well worth the $15, IMHO.

[CrewToon]

Final score St James' Park Attendance: 52,142

Newcastle 2, WBA 1

Toon Goals:
Alan Shearer (45, 69)


Starters:
Given, Dabizas, Griffin, Hughes, O'Brien, Dyer, Robert, Solano, Speed, Bellamy, Shearer

Substitutions
Jenas for Solano (82)
Lua-Lua for Bellamy (82)
Bernard for Robert (89)

Yellow Cards
O'Brien (54)

[Wide Boy]

It was a struggle on Saturday, but we got the rub of the green on at least one dodgy incident, unlike in recent games.

O'Brien was certainly lucky to get away with pulling back Roberts early on, but as for the back pass, it is hard to see what the defender was trying to do if not pass the ball back. I think the blame has to rest with the goalie who should have kicked it away.

I travelled back to London with a load of WBA supporters on Saturday night. What a bunch of whingers! According to them, the Premier League refs are in some sort of conspiracy to get them relegated.

That horrible accent of theirs makes the whining even funnier of course.

[CrewToon]

Wide,

You mean their accent is funnier than the Scousers?

[greenie]

Enjoyed watching this match on Saturday. Woke up the neighbors (again) when it looked like Big Al had reeled in the hat trick. Unfortunately, it was the right call by the linesman. Damnit.

The team is still a far cry from the level they achieved last season, but it's good nonetheless to see them get 3 points out of a less-than-special outing. It's not that they were lucky to get the points; rather, it looks the club is back on track to making sure they win no matter how they play.

That free awarded for passing to the keeper was spot-on. Teenage goalkeepers are smart enough to kick the bloody thing away when they're not sure, and the ball was clearly controlled off the defender's foot. If I were a Baggie fan, I'd be more concerned over how Shearer still managed to kick the ball right through a wall of players lined up inside the goal -- I counted on the replays, they had at least 9 of 'em across the goal line.

Actually, that was quite entertaining to see them wall up like that.

Only real concern for me with the Mags in this one was our defense, which continues to allow far too many quality chances to the opposition. At least seven or eight other clubs in the top flight would have punished us severely for giving away so many good looks on goal, it's time things get tightened up in the back. It may still be a ways off but I think the transfer window is our best bet for shoring up the defense, especially if Bramble isn't going to start showing immediate improvement and make it back into the lineup. I like their effort, attitude and dedication, but Dabizas and O'Brien just don't look to have the speed or consistent skills to make us competitive against the giants when it comes to league or cup competition.

[Albion + England]

Originally posted by Wide Boy
It was a struggle on Saturday, but we got the rub of the green on at least one dodgy incident, unlike in recent games.

O'Brien was certainly lucky to get away with pulling back Roberts early on, but as for the back pass, it is hard to see what the defender was trying to do if not pass the ball back. I think the blame has to rest with the goalie who should have kicked it away.

I travelled back to London with a load of WBA supporters on Saturday night. What a bunch of whingers! According to them, the Premier League refs are in some sort of conspiracy to get them relegated.

That horrible accent of theirs makes the whining even funnier of course.

So you never moan at poor refs? Plastic c**t.

If you watch the backpass incident again you might just see the ball bobble and hit Balis on the shin. If he meant that then he'd have to be Maradona.