Yeah, Benitez clearly doesn't know how to attack.

Quite. James your re-buttal? I didn't see the game but wow is all I can say...

I saw about half thanks to James's link. Ronaldo didn't show and they were the softest at the back end that I've ever seen them. Torres and
Gerrard's speed and quality didn't let them off the hook. Man U is clearly still the big favorite, but at least it's not a walk like it looked to be.

we gifted them 3 goals, Vidic played the worst game of his united career and we're still 4 pts ahead with a game in hand. i haven't seen us play that piss poor at OT in the 12 years of supporting them

I'm going to disagree with this. The rest is quite true.

Since I'll inevitably be disagreed with, I'll elaborate a bit. On the first goal, obviously Vidic makes a big mistake, but Torres put pressure on that few players are capable of issuing and then finished perfectly. On both the penalty and the free kick, Gerrard had good to great opportunities to score. His speed and good through balls forced the fouls. The free kick that Aurelio took was brilliant and better than anything Ronaldo put forth all day. Even the fourth goal was the result of aggressive counter-attacking, an excellent over the top ball, and was finished off with a nice lob that was never close to being saved.

So yeah, Man. U was bad at the back end, but vs. a lesser team they come away with a draw at worst.

i'm not one to second guess a legendary manager like fergie but i was very shocked when the 2nd half started and vidic was still marking torres. i know he eventually got his marching orders for bring down gerrard but for the main part he was up against torres. vidic has been unbelievably good all season but the few times he has struggled have been against those with geniune pace (see martins at newcastle). tactical error perhaps?

also, i was at griffin park yesterday for the league 2 top of the table clash, brentford/wycombe. what a fantastic advert for league 2 - 10600 attendance, 3-3 thriller, red card, disallowed last minute goal. i urge anyone who is close to a local lower league team to get along and support them. the passion is unrivalled!

Newcastles remaining fixtures. Relegation is in the air

Barclays Premier League
Newcastle v Arsenal, 17:30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle v Chelsea, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 11 April 2009
Barclays Premier League
Stoke v Newcastle, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 18 April 2009
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham v Newcastle, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, 27 April 2009
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle v Portsmouth, 20:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 02 May 2009
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool v Newcastle, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 09 May 2009
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle v Middlesbrough, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 16 May 2009
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle v Fulham, 15:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, 24 May 2009
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Newcastle, 16:00

Torres never should've been in a position to make the first goal. It wasn't torres' pressure that caused Vidic to make a conference worthy mistake

both the penalty and free kick were abhorrant fouls that both Vidic and Evra never make with that kind of dumbassery. The free kick shouldn't have happened, Vidic completely lost his head on it

the final goal was class

we didn't pressure the defense enough, played our worst match of the year and it happened to be against the scum. It wasn't like it was going to be an easy ride into may anyway, it would just be a whole lot better if it wasn't like that

Yeah, I don't think we're too much in disagreement. I understand that many of the goals were the results of mistakes, but Liverpool still had to do quite a lot to capitalize on most of them and really how many goals aren't the results of mistakes? As to the fouls, say they don't foul at all, I still think Gerrard gets at least 1 goal off of those plays. He was pretty free in the box without a bit of intervention. So I guess I just think that "gift" isn't really the correct word. In any case, let's hope for some excitement down the stretch now that it's not completely decided. Chelsea are in it as well, so we still have to fight for 2nd.

I wonder how long they are going to sing about that win in Anfield? Forever, maybe?

I think the score is flattering to Liverpool, no question. They deserved to win, but not by that much. I can't remember a team having 62% of the possesion and losing by 3! Things just went Liverpool's way, and it's a combination of a few factors... we took our foot off the pedal, because we're cruising the league and we made some fundamental mistakes which is unusual. I think tiredness is creeping in too, against Inter we looked 70% of our usual selves but got away with it.

Hopefully this will be a little wake up call to United and we'll be back on track soon enough.

Still think Man United will win the league. They can afford to lose 2 games and judging from the remaining schedule, the only tricky games they have to play are all at home (Villa, City and Arsenal).

I agree with pretty much everything you said here. I think Man. U will pretty comfortably close it out, but I at least have hope for a bit longer now.

so was liverpool

It was a great game of football...and i am a liverpool fan,The title race is back open again but it still looks unlikely for us to win it i think we should focus on the champions league and trying to secure the 2nd spot so we are automatically in the champions league next season!

1 thing this season has showed us is that we do not have the strength and depth in the squad to be able to grind out results against the lesser clubs who just play to defend...because of that we drew too many...its nice to see we didnt lose to any of "the big 4"

whats every ones view on Aston Villa! i just love watching that team play! they play some really good football at times and i would seriously like to see them break into the top 4! hopefully in place of arsenal!! any1 think they'll do it?

Liverpool was a derby game and anything can really happen in those.

/sigh, we need to screw our heads on, fast

I bet Villa fans are so pleased that Martin O'Neill fielded a weakened team and got them knocked out of Europe to concentrate on the league, its really worked out well for them so far. With that said, i still find it ridiculous that Agbonlahor got booed/jeered off last week. If you dont want him up there, we'd glad take him at Arsenal and let Arsene try to mold him into an Henry type!

Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

Well that was the worst I have seen Man U look all season (they lost the game and their cool against Fulham). It was also the best I have seen Liverpool play....that was just a complete destruction of reeling Aston Villa.

Momentum, Liverpool.....

Alan Shearer taking over the SS Sinking Ship (Newcastle) until the end of the season. Thoughts?

A nostalgic hopeful bandaid

This is the best optmistic thing I could conjure to last through the joke that has been the last few years and I'll use it again:

At least it will be entertaining.


Obviously Shearer is my god so it will so sickening if hes at the helm while we go under. Our fixture list is a terrible. If we escape it will be by a point or goal difference

OMGoiyugiug
what a finish.

Weeeeeeeeeeee

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Macheda!!!! Remember the name.

To be honest, I was disappointed Aston Villa had such a letdown, but it's a tribute to Man U's ability to kick it up a notch (although they got themselves down in the first place).

That being said, that Macheda goal was pretty spectacular. The guy could be quite a talent. Only 17!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7987603.stm


I find this story crazy... The Glazer's company which holds Man Utd, 'Red Football Joint Venture', made a LOSS of £44.8m this year, increasing our debt from £604m to £649m.

We're about as succesful as it's possible to be (PL Champions, European Champions, World Champions.. with popular and exciting players, Ronaldo, Rooney etc... have the biggest gate receipts, biggest TV deals etc), we couldn't get any better or do any more... it's impossible. Yet we still lose money and go further into debt.


How can this continue, really? What happens to our losses if we don't win everything in sight? Contrary to most peoples' perceptions of Manchester United's transfer policy too... we made a PROFIT of £21.8m on player transfers. Yeah, basically not that happy with our huge profits just being eaten up by trying to pay off a huge debt.

Thats some scary stuff there. If Man Utd are in debt can there be any team in the world that can be making a profit right now???

Well, we are making a profit (£257m this year, in fact)... but it's all just being eaten up by this huge debt we've had since the Glazers bought the club.

I'd like to ask them how exactly they plan on ever paying this debt off though, if we are making losses after one of the most succesful season's we've ever had.

I'm pretty sure that the Glazers were hoping that the collective rights for TV would not be renewed and that they would be able to launch their own subscription channel. This hasn't happened and it won't happen for at least 4 more years. Apart from a new mega sponser (which isn't going to happen in the current financial climate) the only other big sources of revenue would be players sales (bye bye Ronaldo) or renaming Old Trafford with a new corporate name.

Maxi Tampon Arena one time!

lol.


The new Lansdowne Road is being changed to the Aviva Stadium. Normally noone would tolerate this but because the recession has hit us so bad basically the government are saying "Its going to bring 250mill a year to the economy, shut your faces" and noone can really argue with that. it was 4500 a week losing jobs a while ago there. We only have a work force of less than 2mill. No way much over 1mill workforce

It also sucks because Lansdowne was the oldest rugby stadium in the world

Chelsea! Complete dismantling of Bolton, however expected it might have been...

Scores with his very first touch this time. Oh yes!




Um... they'll still win but just conceded 2 goals.

Me posting that was as bad as a premature rail call...ffs lol

4-3 now.. lol


edit - 4-3 full time. I was watching Sky and Chelsea had to clear 2 late corners off the line, Paul Merson was going mental. Ohh, that would have been so funny if they'd conceded a 4 goal lead.

Well now, honestly, I don't know what got into Chelsea, but that was very exciting!

Newcastle going down, with their hero at the helm. It doesn't get any better than this folks. (well, it does but I'd find it funny anyway)

Absoultely nothing to do with the Premier League but I was at my teams game today (Raith Rovers). What an exciting game, we were down to 10 men and with a slender 2-1 lead were getting pummelled by Alloa. Then a last minute winner eases everyones nevers. The Premier League may be of a better quality but there is nothing like a promotion chase when you team is involved!!!

this is too true, i was down at griffin park again yesterday and we absolutely battered exeter but only managed to scramble a last minute draw. it would have been a travesty if the bees had lost but you get these sort of results at the top when you are chasing promotion - games that earlier in the season would have been 4-0 end up becoming 1-0 or 1-1 as the tension gets to the players and fans alike. nothing like the relief when you finally do go up, i hope it will be at home against accrington next week!

guess this Macheda guy is lucky and good.

Man U is like Phil Ivey....they're great AND they run well. Sigh.

it's really amusing. They shouldn't be going down, but they are and its funny to hear newcastle fans drone on about how big their club is while they can only get a draw against stoke

Sigh. When do Newcastle fans actually say that? The whole city is football, its their life, for many a few years it was second only to Man U for average crowd attendances and Man U and other clubs had bigger stadiums. they have a better team SHEET than 14 of the teams in the premiership, arguably more. SHEET.

We are one of the richest clubs in the world.

I think you are all reading newspapers rather than listening to geordies and more importantly mistaking the word big for good.

And yes we are fucked

While I kind of see where your coming from, "big" club has to mean "good" or at least "good once upon a time". Just cause you have lots of fans doesn't make you a big club. History and trophies do. Newcastle have precious little of either.

I listen to Geordies when they're interviewed on Sky Sports etc, and I get the impression they think they should be challenging for the title or something.

This isn't what I read/see after the media's slanted it how they want, it's what I see.. right there in front of me! For example, when I see a Middlesborough fan, Portsmouth, even Tottenham/Villa/Everton fans etc, I don't get this impression... they seem more realistic. I really think there's a delusion at Newcastle going back to that time you talk about, when they challenged us for the title, under Keegan.



******

Anyway, regardless of that (it's just my opinion, so it won't be of much importance to Newcastle fans)... what is the problem at St. James' Park then? You make a big claim that your team is better (on paper) than 14+ teams in the Premiership right now.

I actually agree with you, to a certain extent, that you should be higher up than you currently are.. maybe around 12th or so... So, why are you in the relegation zone? Is it Mike Ashley? (too much control? Dennis Wise? Lack of spending?), the managers? I'd like to hear your views on what is wrong, seriously.


If it's Ashley, and spending... well, if you're already better on paper than 14 other teams, surely you dont need to spend more to not be in a relegation battle? If it's just Ashley in general, why are your players not more professional than that, leave the boardroom stuff there, and perform like professionals getting a shit load of money every week, and play to their best ability?

You've had 6 managers since 2006 (including Souness and now, Shearer)... I understand that can't help much, but who's fault is that? Maybe the club has been listening TOO MUCH to the impatient fans (my opinion, again...) and this lack of stability has really unsettled everyone and everything at the club?


Views/thoughts? Do any of my points make sense to you, or do you disagree?

Well if thats how you define a big club then yes, we aren't a big club. Newcastle are the 16th richest club in the world...I already stated the other stuff above, obviously well aware of no success. I had a discussion with a Geordie about our top 5 biggest disappointments from watching a Newcastle match. We even had some different ones in the top 5.



First part: Newcastle almost won the league, 12 points ahead. Finished 2nd twice. They had 3 FA cup finals in a row and lost every one of then.Going to Benfica in the uefa semi finals with a 4-1 lead and losing. Under Sir Bobby they finished in the top 4 3 times. Putting in 25 million bids for Rooney and fighting for relegation.
I don't see how Newcastle fans exasperation at 10 managers and being so close but never getting anything for it is not understood? really, try thinking about it. And the above is just the tip of the iceberg. Newcastle were set for glory and not only did being one of the best teams in the premiership fall apart but they came away with NOTHING. I find it funny that noone gets this and thinks Newcastle fans are randomly demanding success. Did any of the clubs you mentioned go through something like this in the last 15 years?


2nd part: If I knew what was wrong they'd probably appoint me manager. Ashley is obviously an idiot. Hire Keegan, Hire Wise to do Keegans transfers for him. Theres enough in that sentence to prove hes an idiot whichever way you look at it. I told all my friends he would never sell the club when he put it on sale. What a surprise "Consortium says Ashely too difficult to trade with"

We have no confidence, we hire scumbags like bowyer and barton. Our transfers have been terrible. If you're a defender and you put on a Newcastle jersy you forget how to walk, Boomsong bought for 8.5 mill, sold for 2.5 a season or two later. Look at Coloccinis antics lately for the chelsea goal, ryan tayors "chest pass" for the Man U goal.

What teams on paper would make us finish 12th and them finish from 11th-7th?

For the record I've never even been to Newcastle and for the past 3 seasons all I've wanted was a manager to stay for over 3 years and not relegated. The main time I demanded a trophy was when Shearer was there because he deserved it, he took a risk, got amazing money, believed in Keegan and the hope for sucess, it all failed miserably.

Obviously I want Newcastle to dominate but I think people are confusing fans wanting to win, following a team that almost made it with a big warchest of cash for delusion.

Freddy Shepard and Mike Ashley. That has to explain a bit too.

Fair weather fans though, attendances have dropped off this season and wait till you see what they are like once Newcastle are in the championship.

oh.

So did I make any sense with my post? Did I help make a clearer case or just more delusion?

so Newcastle are 4 points from safety with 5 matches left

Portsmouth (Home)

Liverpool (Away)

Middelsborough (Home)

Fulham (Home)

Aston Villa (Away)

definitely getting relegated:(

Edit: My work friend gave me 5 to 1 a month ago or so that Everton would not beat United today. Come on Everton!!