Thrown To The Wolves

Yesterday's home tie against Woverhampton Wanderers has been playing over and over in my mind ever since the final whistle.

I cannot make sense of the events that took place during the game.

After 45 minutes of nothing less than total domination from the black and white striped shirts, half time arrived and Alan Pardew delivered his second briefing of the day to a team who were leading 2-0 courtesy of Papiss Cisse and Jonas Gutierrez.

From there on, the only explanation for what happened between the 45 and 75 minute mark is that the two teams swapped shirts (disregarding the possibility that Wolves gaffer Terry Connor's first ever half time team talk was miraculous).

Wanderers' winger Matt Jarvis cut inside from the left flank on 50 minutes before finessing a shot that took a dipping deflection off Toon right back Danny Simpson prior to planting in the back far corner of the net.

It is a pity that Simpson didn't have the bravery to open up his body and block the shot as Fabricio Coloccini or Steven Taylor would have because if he had, the ball would have ricocheted away from danger.

Newcastle's change in fortune cannot tagged as unlucky.

If there's one thing someone in professional football should know then it is to avoid making a substitution just before defending a set-piece.

Thus the fuel to my frustration after witnessing Pardew proceed with the intended double change after conceding a freekick 25 yards out. I still cannot believe that the tactical swap wasn't halted until the danger was neutralised.

I'm not disputing that the Magpies needed to rehash their strategy but Pardew takes all responsibility for the equalising goal which was crossed into the box and knocked down before being poked over the line by Wolves' Kevin Doyle.

It is evidence to all that the introduction of one or more substitutes can provoke an unorganised ethos amongst a set-piece defending team.

Danny Guthrie chasing shadows.

Unfortunately Danny Guthrie's entry to the field on the 65 minute mark saw him perform without the same energy or nature that has been seen in recent weeks and he made a range of wayward passes that became increasingly uncomfortable to watch.

It was positive to see the squad nearly back to full strength, the return of Cheik Tiote, Cisse on the scoresheet and Gutierrez lash in a thunderbolt.

Pardew has proven himself to be an intelligent man and this continued in the post-match interview when putting a clever spin onto the flavour of the questioning by plucking out a positive that was to add to the team's four match winning streak at home, albeit that started nine games ago!

Match of the Day football fans are made only aware of the highlights and passages of play that the BBC Director wishes to broadcast and unfortunately this can be misleading.

The match was not relayed to viewers accurately as to how the goals and game was thrown to the Wolves to feast on taking the bones of a point back to Molineaux with them.

Whitewashed By 'Arry And Co.

This instalment should be kicked off with a critical review of Saturday’s whitewash defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

After a week of media microscope treatment for Harry Redknapp, the whole nation was tuned in to watch Newcastle United throw away a match in record time and gift title-hunting Spurs a generous three points.

I have a sixth-sense for identifying complacency but to be quite frank it didn’t take that to predict an embarrassment last weekend.

The run of good form Alan Pardew has instilled into the club has been highlighted throughout the season and rightly so but in turn as the good PR heightens so does that imminent fall from the sky. Everybody knows the current NUFC squad is at worst a top half team and no better, something that ‘Arry and co enforced a reminder of.

Hull City manager Nick Barmby was approached by Sky Sports with a proposed weekend feature piece but the crew were turned away in a bid to keep the spotlight off the Tiger's good run of form to prevent the football world from picking up on how well they had been playing, all to avoid that 'fall from the sky'.

All the talk of ‘top four/five/six’ had understandably gotten into the players heads on Saturday and as a result had forgotten the things that originally brought all that talk about. A team cannot cross the white line just expecting to play well by default.

I didn’t manage to cast my eyes over the team's warm-up but I imagine it was lacklustre, light-hearted and lightweight because the troops certainly weren’t rough and ready to battle from the first whistle on Saturday.

Pardew and Steve Stone need to ensure that the pre-match preparation hard work is followed through in the warm-up and consequently not thrown into the gutter on the ten minute mark because a clinical team like Tottenham Hotspur will capitalise on that mistake and... embarrass you.

No FA Cup fixtures remain to bolster the fixture list which is somewhat saddening because with both Manchester City and United out of the fold, it could be anyone’s to lift this year. I can’t help but wonder.

Senegalese duo Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba

However a free-weekend for the squad to do whatever they like to rest up and recharge will do no harm (excluding any Joey Barton/Andy Carroll/Nile Ranger-esque misdemeanors), especially for the returned African trio of Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote.

I for one am becoming ever more impatient by the day to know how the Toon Army's season is to conclude.
Will it be a disappointing finish to an encouraging start or will last weekend prove to be nothing more than a blip with the team defying all odds by pipping Liverpool and Arsenal to the European post?

We can dream.

Cloud Nine

Following on from my previous instalment, the biggest talking point on Tyneside is still the overachievement of Newcastle United and long may it continue.

I was under the impression that recent statements of expectation would come to a halt but it is par for the course as they roll on in parallel to the club’s form guide. I had hoped that it would be Alan Pardew and not me taking to the lectern to tell the world the team need take it ‘game by game’ until the death.

This wasn’t to be.

After an expected three points at home against a struggling Aston Villa side, the spiel of the Europa League continued and dare I say it, a VIP pass into the ‘big four’ was even suggested.

I am no pessimist but the Magpies fly down to White Hart Lane for an evening kick-off on Saturday and I am certainly not alone in fearing that a disappointment at the hands of ‘Arry Redknapp could begin a rolling snowball into a decline from the ecstasy in which the Toon Army have experienced so far this term.

Our remaining fixtures behold contests against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City as well as an additional four matches to be played away from St. James’ Park. My view is that we have a tough run-in and attaining anything over 20 points will be a success.

Tottenham Hotspur Manager Harry Redknapp

Saturday’s encounter has been made all the more interesting after Fabio Capello relieved himself from the post of England Manager yesterday. The vacancy has already been filled in the eyes of players, supporters and the media as they bizarrely united as one in sounding out ‘Arry as the only desirable candidate to take on the most difficult job in football.

The same day saw Redknapp exonerated from charges attached to him regarding tax evasion, this news paved the way for him to take the reins and at the grand age of 64 it could possibly be his last chance to take on every manager’s dream job.

It is unlikely that the FA will move as quickly as the weekend to replace the Italian but either way, the manic activity surrounding the Spur’s boss has come at a brilliant time for the Toon Army and I hope that victory can be stolen this weekend as the focus of Tottenham personnel lies elsewhere.

I cannot go on without mentioning that Alan Pardew has been promoted by the bookies as the strongest candidate after diamond geezer, wheeler dealer Redknapp for the Three Lions job. No surprise there because the only other English Premier League manager is Woy Hodgson, need I say more?

NUFC did ever so well in the latest transfer window to keep hold of all prized assets and again I won’t be alone in hoping that will be extended in retaining the services of Gaffer.