Hi everyone.
Ok. As a fan of Magpies (Newcastle United), I would like to write something about the club. This time I will review about the journey during the 2009/2010 season which saw us relegated to Coca Cola Championship, after 16 years in Barclays Premier League.
Off field power struggles between the owner and the fans clearly have affected the players, which shown by their uninspiring performances week in week out.
struggles off and on pitch sent NUFC down
Back in the second tier, most people expect NUFC to continue their downfall with unresolved issues in management hierarchy. The 1-6 friendly defeat against League One's Leyton Orient is where the changes began, especially among the players. They make up their minds either to stay or leave. After this defeat, club captain Michael Owen, Sebastian Bassong, Habib Beye, Obafemi Martins all left.
Chris Hughton - the toon hero.
Does he look like B Sathianathan?
However, the credit for rebuilding the team back from scratch went to caretaker manager, Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood. The team spirit which has gone for months restored little by little. Players who stayed started to look that they were playing together for each other again.
By April 2010, Newcastle United was back in the Premier League at first time asking.
Here is the ten selected match reviews for NUFC during the season.
08/08/2009
West Bromwich Albion 1 Newcastle United 1
1-0 Martis 39'
1-1 Duff 55'
NUFC kicked off the live in second tier football with a visit to West Bromwich Albion, who were relegated with us last season. With eyes looking whether NUFC will continue their downfall or come back stronger, WBA first opened the scoring through Shelton Martis. Damien Duff then scored the equaliser after a fine move. This was Damien Duff last goal for NUFC before he left for Fulham. Tim Krul came on as the substitute goalkeeper for injured Steve Harper and put a good shift to keep Albion out.
NUFC:
Harper (Krul 46');
Ryan Taylor, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique;
Duff, Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez;
Carroll (Barton 75') , Ameobi (Ranger 90+2')
Subs not used: Kadar, Geremi, Lua Lua, Xisco
15/08/2009
Newcastle United 3 Reading 0
1-0 Ameobi 38'
2-0 Ameobi 61'
3-0 Ameobi 75' (pen)
The first home game for second tier league in 16 years. Shola Ameobi struck hat-trick against Reading. His first hat-trick in 252 games for NUFC (!). A cross from Jose Enrique saw Ameobi head the ball into the net. The second goal come after a fine play which enabled Ameobi to head another goal. The third goal from penalty spot came after the ball hit Reading's Shane Long's hand.
NUFC:
Harper;
Ryan Taylor, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique;
Barton (Lua Lua 82'), Nolan, Smith (Geremi 78'), Gutierrez;
Carroll, Ameobi (Xisco 77')
Subs not used: Krul, Kadar, Ranger, Donaldson
26/09/2009
Ipswich Town 0 Newcastle United 4
0-1 Nolan 30'
0-2 Nolan 32'
0-3 Ryan Taylor 34'
0-4 Nolan 51'
The biggest away victory of the season came at Roy Keane's Ipswich Town. Kevin Nolan scored his first hat-trick for NUFC since joining the club in January 2009. In four minutes NUFC were leading 3-0 with Kevin Nolan double and a Ryan Taylor freekick. Kevin Nolan completed his hat-trick after good work from Ryan Taylor and Nile Ranger. Loan signing duo Zurab Khizanishvili and Marlon Harewood made their toon debut.
NUFC:
Harper;
Khizanishvili, Coloccini (Lovenkrands 68'), Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique;
Ryan Taylor, (Donaldson 78'), Nolan, Butt, Gutierrez;
Carroll, Ranger (Harewood 65')
Subs not used: Krul, Ngo Baheng, Tozer, Vuckic
24/10/2009
Newcastle United 2 Doncaster Rovers 1
0-1 Shiels 18'
1-1 Carroll 67'
2-1 Nolan 90+2'
Following the victory at Ipswich, Newcastle went on to a winless streak for previous four games. No victory yet in October, NUFC fall behind to an early Dean Shiels goal. Andy Carroll equalised in 67th minute with a volley. Doncaster's Martin Woods then missed a penalty which made the score still 1-1. Zurab Khizanishvili then sent off at 85th minute. When the game looked to end as a draw and the winless run set to continue, Kevin Nolan's injury time shot hit the post and went in for 3 points; and the first win in a month. Young central defender Ben Tozer made his debut after Khizanishvili's red card.
NUFC:
Harper;
Ryan Taylor, Khizanishvili, Kadar, Jose Enrique;
Guthrie, Nolan, Butt, Gutierrez (Tozer 87');
Carroll, Harewood (Ranger 60')
Subs not used: Krul, Geremi, Ngo Baheng, Lovenkrands, Donaldson
20/12/2009
Newcastle United 2 Middlesbrough 0
1-0 Harewood 16'
2-0 Ameobi 59'
Up to December 2009, NUFC have steadied themselves as a promotion contender and leading the league. The Tyne-tees derby saw NUFC came out as a winner, thanks to strikers (Harewood and Ameobi) goals. NUFC remain unbeaten at home and undefeated run extended to 9 games.
NUFC:
Harper;
Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique;
Guthrie, Nolan, Smith (Butt 49'), Gutierrez;
Ameobi (Pancrate 83'), Harewood (Ranger 66')
Subs not used: Krul, Geremi, Ngo Baheng, Lovenkrands
To be continued.
