Newcastle United v Southampton - e- Football Review
Article by Stephen Hooper
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Newcastle entertained Southampton at St James Park for this premier league encounter which was always going to be a tricky test for the hosts with Southampton in a rich vein of form coming off the back of an F.A cup win against Ipswich Town and of course beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Southampton travelled to St James Park with a few players missing through injury aswel as the hosts having key men missing but saw the return of Tim Krul between the sticks for United,Southamptons style of playing was going to be a problem for Newcastle as they like to keep possession and play patiently which frustrates teams with pace running through the Saints team the question was how would Newcastle cope with this?.
Newcastle began the game brightly creating a few chances and dominating in the early stages which seemed to shock Southampton as they just couldn’t get there passing game going, this excited the United fans as they could sense a bit of a shock but I had my reservations as I saw the Saints last two games and knew they were dangerous on the counter attack with there pace in the side and as predicted a lapse in concentration saw Dutchman Elia beat his man and rifled a shot at Tim Krul which led to Southampton taking the lead on 14 minutes with a shot that went under the body of the United shot stopper and as an international goalkeeper should have done a lot better and which was expected to be an easy gather for him.Southampton then began to enjoy the best of the possession with Graziano Pelle causing all sorts of problems with the united back line with his dominance in the air and this was clearly earmarked as a weakness as balls were put into the air for him to flick on or hold up play to bring in other players to attack the United goal,29 minutes into the game saw Newcastle play a through ball for Frenchman Yohan Gouffran to run onto causing all sorts of problems for Southampton's Fonte and Gardos both sliding in to clear the danger only for the ball too ricochet off Gouffrans knee and into the Southampton net levelling the scores at 1-1.Newcastle crept back into the game with midfield powerhouse Moussa Sissoko being heavily involved with some good link up play and one-two passing both teams went in at halftime tied at 1-1.
The second half got underway with Southampton pressing Newcastle to disrupt there flow and with some great play from the Saints midfield opened up the Newcastle defense but fortunately unable to put away any of there chances then the games first controversial decision by ref Rob Madley saw a penalty appeal turned down after what first appeared to be a foul on Sissoko but watching the replay later the referee was correct in his decision not to award United a penalty, play continued but a few questionable challenges by Saints were waived away by the official, this turned the United faithful's attentions to the official who wasn't having a fantastic game by any means and as the fans reacted was clearly having an effect on the official.On 62 minutes once again Dutchman Elia ran at the United backline causing all sorts of problems especially fellow Dutchman Daryl Janmaat as Elia turned him one way then another to put away a tidy finish to Tim Kruls left hand side to give Southampton the lead United instantly sparked into life running at the Saint defense and having a couple of shots at goal which never troubled former toon stopper Fraser Forster in the Saints goal.
The games talking point came when Southampton's captain Jose Fonte clearly handled inside the penalty area where the St James Park were crying out for a penalty aswel as the United players but there appeals fell on Stoney ground as the official waived away the appeal this incensed the United dugout and cost United a draw which I feel would have been a fair result.
After the game the United squad flew out to Dubai for some warm weather training which again incensed fans as a poor run of results seemed to come across as the players being rewarded and a bit of a jolly boys outing and with no coach/manger in place what was going on at the club Mike Ashley's silence speaks volumes and it has been reported United are in no hurry to appoint a successor to Alan Pardew and social media has gone crazy with rumor of coach Carver until the end of the season, but in other circles Michael Laudrups odds have been dramatically slashed and also a quote from Remi Garde who was covering the Manchester City v Arsenal for French t.v was quoted as saying " he couldn’t say anything at present " but did confirm he had held discussion with the United hierarchy about the job, fans are getting frustrated by no news and no signings as I previously tweeted no signings until a manager is confirmed which Ashley will drag out so not to spend any money in the transfer window the saga continues.
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
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Newcastle entertained Southampton at St James Park for this premier league encounter which was always going to be a tricky test for the hosts with Southampton in a rich vein of form coming off the back of an F.A cup win against Ipswich Town and of course beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Southampton travelled to St James Park with a few players missing through injury aswel as the hosts having key men missing but saw the return of Tim Krul between the sticks for United,Southamptons style of playing was going to be a problem for Newcastle as they like to keep possession and play patiently which frustrates teams with pace running through the Saints team the question was how would Newcastle cope with this?.
Newcastle began the game brightly creating a few chances and dominating in the early stages which seemed to shock Southampton as they just couldn’t get there passing game going, this excited the United fans as they could sense a bit of a shock but I had my reservations as I saw the Saints last two games and knew they were dangerous on the counter attack with there pace in the side and as predicted a lapse in concentration saw Dutchman Elia beat his man and rifled a shot at Tim Krul which led to Southampton taking the lead on 14 minutes with a shot that went under the body of the United shot stopper and as an international goalkeeper should have done a lot better and which was expected to be an easy gather for him.Southampton then began to enjoy the best of the possession with Graziano Pelle causing all sorts of problems with the united back line with his dominance in the air and this was clearly earmarked as a weakness as balls were put into the air for him to flick on or hold up play to bring in other players to attack the United goal,29 minutes into the game saw Newcastle play a through ball for Frenchman Yohan Gouffran to run onto causing all sorts of problems for Southampton's Fonte and Gardos both sliding in to clear the danger only for the ball too ricochet off Gouffrans knee and into the Southampton net levelling the scores at 1-1.Newcastle crept back into the game with midfield powerhouse Moussa Sissoko being heavily involved with some good link up play and one-two passing both teams went in at halftime tied at 1-1.
The second half got underway with Southampton pressing Newcastle to disrupt there flow and with some great play from the Saints midfield opened up the Newcastle defense but fortunately unable to put away any of there chances then the games first controversial decision by ref Rob Madley saw a penalty appeal turned down after what first appeared to be a foul on Sissoko but watching the replay later the referee was correct in his decision not to award United a penalty, play continued but a few questionable challenges by Saints were waived away by the official, this turned the United faithful's attentions to the official who wasn't having a fantastic game by any means and as the fans reacted was clearly having an effect on the official.On 62 minutes once again Dutchman Elia ran at the United backline causing all sorts of problems especially fellow Dutchman Daryl Janmaat as Elia turned him one way then another to put away a tidy finish to Tim Kruls left hand side to give Southampton the lead United instantly sparked into life running at the Saint defense and having a couple of shots at goal which never troubled former toon stopper Fraser Forster in the Saints goal.
The games talking point came when Southampton's captain Jose Fonte clearly handled inside the penalty area where the St James Park were crying out for a penalty aswel as the United players but there appeals fell on Stoney ground as the official waived away the appeal this incensed the United dugout and cost United a draw which I feel would have been a fair result.
After the game the United squad flew out to Dubai for some warm weather training which again incensed fans as a poor run of results seemed to come across as the players being rewarded and a bit of a jolly boys outing and with no coach/manger in place what was going on at the club Mike Ashley's silence speaks volumes and it has been reported United are in no hurry to appoint a successor to Alan Pardew and social media has gone crazy with rumor of coach Carver until the end of the season, but in other circles Michael Laudrups odds have been dramatically slashed and also a quote from Remi Garde who was covering the Manchester City v Arsenal for French t.v was quoted as saying " he couldn’t say anything at present " but did confirm he had held discussion with the United hierarchy about the job, fans are getting frustrated by no news and no signings as I previously tweeted no signings until a manager is confirmed which Ashley will drag out so not to spend any money in the transfer window the saga continues.
© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
Thanks, it’s another splendid contribution par excellence as usual.
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