Newcastle's reserves welcomed back Nicos Dabizas and Andy Griffin in Monday night's 2-1 triumph over Manchester United's second string. Newcastle took the lead on the half-hour when a Diego Gavilan cross was chested and converted with an overhead kick superbly by Pablo Bonvin. Newcastle doubled their advantage on 45 when Stephen Caldwell headed home a Stuart Green centre. ···United···did grab one goal back through a comical mix-up at the back by newcastle, Griffin belting the ball against Caldwell and into the back of the net following a Tierney cut-back from the left. Ronnie Wallwork almost grabbed a leveller moments later but his header hit the bar.

Can somebody or something be more united than another? how stupid are teamtalk who whoever they cut and pasted that from?

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

Answers

They obviously wern't at the same match as me! Bonvin's was pretty much a tap-in after 20 minutes and Caldwell scored from a superb free kick on 35.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

Toon 2 Mancs not old enough to shave 1
Karelse
Beharall Dabs Caldwell Griffin
Gavilan Bassedas Green Glass
Bonvin LuaLua
. I'm very busy today so I can't give a detailed report but we were very canny at times in the first half. Dabs is very lean. Caldwell looks very confident - smashing headed goal from a freekick. Beharrall is becoming hefty, he's not at his best at FB imo. Griffin I suspect was under orders not to bust a gut, he did very little apart from giving away a comedy goal.
Glass wide on the left give width which helped the team's shape but contibuted very little. Bassedas showed good positional play - he knows what he's doing and was OK, however in the moaning atmosphere which is SJP at the moment I wouldn't trust him. Green is neat & tidy but is a young boy not ready for the first team. Gavilan is a player I've been very disappointed with but last night I was greatly encouraged, he was shouting for the ball, he was bollocking people, he can run at defenders with the ball, he can cross. He did OK.
Bonvin I like he's a big lad with good control and he scored a canny goal from a Gavilan cross. His position play is weak and it can't help playing with LuaLua who is unusual to say the least. However I'd give him another season in the stiffs just to see how it goes. LuaLua is never gonna be a 'normal' front player at times - most times - what he tries comes to nothing, back heels, overhead kicks, dibbles when he should pass, passes when he should dribble. He's very exciting. He might come good but he might not. Another season and fingers crossed you never know.
A canny night out in the p*ssin doon rain.

The goalie was aalreet n'aal

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

I would like to see Gavilan and Bonvin given a bit of first team action on a decent surface before the end of the season.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

Couldn't agree more Rik. Here we have the best opportunity to give our side bit of balance and shape, whilst at the same time actually giving these players the opportunity to play at a higher level.

Give them some first team action and they'll want more. It worked with Ameobi and he didn't really shine for the reserves in the way Bonvin seems to.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

A bit like the first team squad, eh? Only raise their game when the oppos are a "big team"?

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001

A run of games in the 1st team by Gavilan would also help them make their minds up about Solano's future at the Club.
Bonvin is looking as though he could make it, but he's still young (19?). He might get an appearance or two coming off the bench this season, but not till we get a few more points.
At that point there is no possible reason for selecting Cordone or Gallagher, assuming they are leaving, and we may as well see whether these fringe players can 'do an Ameobi'.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2001