Wasn't Barton magnificent? An extraordinary performance. He had a fantastic game. In the first 15 minutes he had set Robert away (with a magnificent crossfield pass) to supply a cross which might have been converted, with a superb lofted pass put Bellamy clean through with a 1-on-1 vs de Gluey, and broken up 3 Chelsea attacks with last ditch tackles. He continued throughout the game - saving tackles and one or two very penetrating through balls. Turned up everywhere in defence, sometimes at left back when all else seemed lost. Deserved to be on the winning side and would have been but for Given's bad luck, and the fact that Rob Lee couldn't hit the net (twice) from 20 yards out, a continuing failing which should be addressed on the training field IMHO.

There will be those who point to the fact that Zenden their left winger scored. Sorry - you didn't see the game - Zenden scored coming in from the RIGHT wing.

I felt this needed saying. Barton even took some flak on the match thread from people who couldn't see the game, which was grossly unfair! He had a superb match.

Well a point gained away from home against one of the "Big Five" and lacking, Shearer, Cort, Dyer, Solano and Speed, all virtually automatic first choice players. That is a phenomenal performance. I've blathered on here saying that this is a very good team which has had some bad luck. It's still having the bad luck with injuries but there was enough quality and character there to fight back and get a much deserved point. It would have been awful to lose to that jammy goal. It was also interesting to hear the commentator say that Newcastle looked better prepared than Chelsea due to the Intertoto matches! :-)

The doom-mongers have been having too much of their own way on here just now IMHO with the few remaining optimists almost subject to ridicule these days. :-) Many predicted a heavy defeat. Personally, I expected Chelsea to maybe struggle to blend in all these new players. I felt that this game was there for the taking and so it proved. All this defeatism is of no use to anybody, least of all the lads. How can they believe in themselves if the supporters don't? Well done lads - great performance.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

Answers

Jonno

You are spot on. Wozza had a blinder. He still has a tendancy to hoof where ground pass may be the better ploy, but played with such skill and heart. A lesson to all the team.

Marks

Given 7 (would have been 8 cept for the goal and would have been 6 cept for that magnificent reaction save) Barton 9 Hughes 8 Eliot 6 Dabizas 8 Acuna 7 Bassedas 6 Lee 6 Bellamy 7 Amobeba 6 Robert 9

Subs Lua Lua 7 Obrien 7

IMHO

Dere

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

ONE JONNO BIGFOOT, THERES ONLY ONE JONNO BIGFOOT.

:)

'All this defeatism is of no use to anybody, least of all the lads,' I couldnt agree more.

To kin right, this pessimism lark is a tool developed by those who dont like progress of rivals, a tool which is far to frequently reinforced by the journos (eg. Ray Ryan NOTW) who want to see the toon back track back down to the nationwide, those who take pleasure in seeing moral fucked and those who like to see the hurd bite the hand that feeds them.

I'll join you in never making Wozza the eternal scapegoat.

P.S. 'the Big5' what about our club the big two NUFC and Man Utd?

Howay The Lads.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2001

After all these years I now know why Keegan bought Barton, he was excellent. The tackle on Zola and surge out of defence will be the defining moment of his career at Newcastle.

Same again please

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Bassedas put in a fantastic tackle on Gronkjaer in the second half. Barton was excellent as was Robert. Our strikeforce looked what it is - inexperienced.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Barton had a blinder, I was very happy for him....more of them and i'll stop criticising him....I'd give him an 8, he'd have got a 9 if he didn't have the tendency to give to much space at the edge of the area to attacking players....he should be closing the gap further out...

Bobby Lee gets an 8 from me as well....screaming at our players to get stuck in and tackled excellently himself....

Robert is a 9.....oh yes this lad is good....lets hope we can give him a reason to stay with us....

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Barton was great, we were without five first team players and we should have won away from home against a team touted as championship contenders. Robert is going to be a big favourite. The lads made me proud !

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Centre parting , you can make me eat my words as much as you like . What an exceptional performance.

Hopefully we'll have Al back for sunday and well muller the makems.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Did I hear someone say 15-0? ;))

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

With 2 fit and good strikers and brain in place Nobby i feel we would have caked Chelsea. Lee was the best midfielder by a chalk. Petit wasn't fully fit. Some of yesterdays passing was reminiscent of old folks. To win on Sunday we have to hunt in packs and give the man on the ball options. I fear Tuesday will see us tire badly...

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Incidental to this, I don't normally take a strong dislike to opposing players (Keane & Sulkshy are rare exceptions and with good reason) but that Le Sucks is a bit of a tart isn't he? Was he the one who committed the red card offence on Bassedas in the first few minutes which the ref was unable to see as his view was blocked by 5 yards of fresh air? Whether it was him or not is there nothing in the rules about being an obnoxious tw*t? (An offence he committed every time the camera was on him!)

Another point. Nobby was in the stands, jetlagged no doubt, yet Veron who had played in Ecuador (I think it was) was playing for Heath. Of course, Bobby might just have wanted to save Nobby with the important game vs Troyes just 2 days later.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Veron appeared out of sorts for Man U, i'm sure he's a better player than that...

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Le Saux committed 6 fouls I think, and was never even spoken to. The one where he took Robert's feet from under him in the second half was as clear a booking as you'll see. Very poor reffing I thought.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

It's rare the crowd give the ref a hard time at half time (it's usually quickly forgotten) but not this time....he was abysmal! an absolute disagrace....on at least 2 occasions I saw him blows for fouls that weren't and then after hearing the chelsea crowd howl he starts to reach for a card when it was quite obvious he wasn't going to before then!

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

The biggest positive for me was the rare display of team spirit. If we can keep that intact over the next few matches, we may be just about OK.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

OK..OK so Barton had a good game and lets hope it builds his confidence for the coming season

Isn’t one fair performance in a mediocre game getting a little carried away! When the guy plays consistently week in week out then I’ll change my view.

Barton and Lees distribution was not what it could have been and Veron constantly skinned Barton. I admire his commitment but as has been said enough times, at this level commitment and confidence alone is never enough.

And yes Jonno, Veron did cut in from the right for the opening goal but due to modern day technology, we on this side of the planet did get to see the game LIVE and are entitled to our opinions as much as anyone else!

The doom and gloom factor is perpetrated not so much by the press but by the fans own opinion of the squad at Nufc and the daunting array of players gathered by the so called “ top five “ clubs. As was seen in yesterday’s results across the country maybe we don’t have that much to fear but please, please don’t give me that crap about follow the team and never criticize as the poor little darling might get upset. Football is about opinions good or bad and not seeing everything through b/w tinted glasses, which to me has always been a problem of the past. If you think it’s wrong say so and debate it. Don’t let this place become, as so eloquently put by our good friend LR……… “Backslap.com”

Thank God the season has started again!!

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Veron plays for Chelsea? when did he transfer from Man Utd? I guess you meant Zenden Hiro ;)))

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Veron did cut in from the right for the opening goal but due to modern day technology, we on this side of the planet did get to see the game LIVE and are entitled to our opinions

I don't know about not seeing it live Hiro - sounds like you haven't watched at all!

(Veron was in a different match) :-)

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

My mistake. I just got a little angry about certain self righteous people having a go and was up very late watching the Manc game. All those foreign people sound the same to me .TIC

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

self righteous people having a go

You should have seen the first draft of it! :-)

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Forgot to mention that clearance from underneath the bar in the 2nd half. It would have been much easier to score an own goal as the cross was whipped in from the right but Bartinho contrived to get it over the bar - brilliant. Very pleased for him. And Given's first half stop was unbelievable, just about cancelling out the Zenden error. I thought Given looked slightly worrying for 1 or 2 crosses though - anyone else think so?

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

i think ferguson also thought Veron was playing in a different match

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

Wasn't Barton magnificent?

Yes he did, why can't he play like that every week?

A s a Barton knocker I hold my hands up and say I was well impressed. Mind you Mr Robert was a lot more impressive.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001