My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Tottenham (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - The only player to come away from today with some credibility. He made some good saves, one of which was terrific to deny Spurs late in the first half. Repaid the manager's faith in him and was not to blame for their goals in my opinion.

Danny Simpson (6) - Had a difficult time marking Gareth Bale and came out second best today. Few can stop the Welsh winger though so his focus should just go onto the next game and try and learn from today.

Steven Taylor (6) - Looked shaky at times and should have done better for Bale's goal. Could perhaps have closed him down and stopped his shot from coming in. Other than that he did relatively well.
Fabricio Coloccini (6.5) - Made a few good tackles to deny the Spurs attackers and seemed to form a better partnership with Taylor today than in the previous game. Our best defender on the day.

James Perch (6) - Had a decent first half and put in some good challenges but then all that was undone by allowing Lennon too much space for him to open the scoring. Just hope Enrique is fit for Sunday for he offers much more in both defence and attack.
Wayne Routledge (6) - He was full of energy but unfortunately did nothing of note. It's disappointing for he can be dangerous with all his speed.

Alan Smith (6) - He did fairly well defensively for us. He made one excellent block in the first half but it was his passing and offence which just wasn't good enough. For someone coming in for Nolan, it is evident we lack depth in our squad.

Cheik Tiote (6.5) - Had a pretty decent game but he needs to stop making some unnecessary challenges. Could easily have been sent off today and with our squad being as thin as it is, we just can't afford that right now.

Jonas Gutierrez (5.5) - For someone of his ability he has really been disappointing in the last few weeks. Fails to bring anything good to the team's attack in terms of getting balls into the box or playing a dangerous pass to open up the defence. Was taken off after the hour mark and rightly so.

Joey Barton (5) - Had a decent game in terms of his commitment and ball skills but his passing was pathetic. His free kicks offered the team very little and for someone capable of such accuracy when it comes to his passing he was just not good enough today. Played far too many long balls which were over hit.

Andy Carroll (6) - His commitment was there but he failed to get any decent service and was visibly frustrated by it. Needs more support up front.

Substitutes

Nile Ranger (5.5) - Was unable to make any impact today.

Peter Lovenkrands (5) - Should have done better in the build up to the second goal for it was clearly a decent chance for us to create something and we got punished for it.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Tim Krul

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Man City (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (5) - His terrible mistake cost us the first goal and that gave us a mountain to climb thereafter. Hopefully he'll get another opportunity for I'm sure he'll learn from today's mistake.

Danny Simpson (6) - Put in some good tackles although his crossing left a lot to be desired.

Steven Taylor (6) - Did not have a bad game but needs to do more if he is to keep Mike Williamson out of the team in my opinion. Did not close some of the City attackers quickly enough at times which could have made the scoreline worse.

Fabricio Coloccini (6.5) - Good to have the centre half back in the team today but it was not enough to stop City from scoring thrice. Was the unlucky guy to have the shot deflect off him which ended our hopes of getting something from today. Should not have turned his back on the ball! Had a decent game overall though.

Jose Enrique (6.5) - Worked hard for the team and tried to go forward as much as he could he could although Milner kept him busy throughout.

Wayne Routledge (6) - Started brightly but soon faded and was replaced after the hour mark.

Joey Barton (6.5) - Was not afraid to get stuck in. City though made sure he was not able to influence the game for us the way he has done of late. Did manage to create an assist for our only goal today.

Cheik Tiote (6) - Failed to protect the back four today at times and was guilty of lazily giving the ball away for their second goal. Did have a much better second half though which was a good recovery.

Kevin Nolan (6) - The move to play him up top with Carroll did not pay off. He had one or two chances but other than that starting Ranger might have been the better option in hindsight.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - He too worked really hard but was unable to find that quality ball in the last third that allowed us to score from. Can't fault his effort though.

Andy Carroll (7) - Scored our only goal and fought really hard for the team. Wasn't afraid to shoot from outside the box either. Seems to play better with a partner up front though.

Substitute
Nile Ranger (6.5) - Did not quite have the same impact as the last game but did well enough to perhaps warrant a start in place of Nolan in the next game.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Andy Carroll

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Liverpool (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7.5) - Made a terrific save from Torres in the second half and had a pretty decent game overall despite one or two heart in mouth moments.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - He wasn't able to go forward too much but defended well.

Sol Campbell (6) - Made one or two telling tackles but was very much to blame for their goal. Should never have turned his back on the ball and it almost cost us. Won a fair amount in the air though which was important.

Steven Taylor (7) - Looked far more assured than Campbell today. Did not give the Liverpool attackers too much space bar one or two opportunities.

Jose Enrique (7.5) - He really got stuck in today. Was always willing to go forward and defended well too. He really seemed up for it and was our best defender on the day.

Joey Barton (8.5) - Joey was outstanding today. His commitment was second to none and he of course scored the all important second goal for us with a gutsy finish. Played his part in the other goals too and showed why he was so badly missed in the previous games.

Cheik Tiote (8) - Won several challenges and looked very good on the ball without giving it away too much. Certainly a big part in why we won today.

Kevin Nolan (8) - In terms of leadership he was excellent today and really led from the front. Scored the first goal, which was crucial and hopefully he'll be okay for the next game after he was substituted.

Jonas Gutierrez (5.5) - Not a good performance from Jonas today it has to be said. Apart from the last 15-20 minutes, he lacked confidence to take the ball up and was just not able to influence the game in any way. Should may be have been taken off but never stopped trying to his credit.

Shola Ameobi (6.5) - Went off with an injury and although he worked hard in the first half, he wasn't able to influence the game as much as his strike partner. Did to his bit though and showed signs of linking up with Carroll very nicely. Do hope his injury is not too bad.

Andy Carroll (8.5) - Another top class performance from our number nine. Set up the first goal, was part of the build up for the second goal and wrapped the game up with the third goal with a sublime finish. Really did cause Liverpool all sorts of problems.

Substitutes

Nile Ranger (7.5) - Many will feel his introduction changed the game and to me it did. He brought real energy to the team, chased various flick ons and showed that he really is a good prospect.

Alan Smith (N/A) - Only on for a few minutes.

Wayne Routledge (N/A) - Barely on for a minute.

Man of the Match - Andy Carroll

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs West Brom (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6) - Hardly to blame for any of their goals but he cannot be happy conceding three goals today.

Danny Simpson (6.5) - He put in some decent crosses going forward but was really tested by Thomas in defence. Beaten a few times with Thomas' blistering pace exposing him occasionally.

Steven Taylor (5.5) - Caught playing the attacker on side for their third goal and failed to close down the goalscorer in the lead up to the second goal. Won't be happy with his display today, although he did manage one good attempt on goal in the second half.

Sol Campbell (5) - He was very much off the pace of the game today. Caught holding up his hands in the hope that the attacker was offside for their third goal but it was clear that, it was more in hope than actually him being offside. Should also have closed down the goalscorer for their other goals. On today's showing, one has to worry about our centre backs coping with Fernando Torres next week.

Jose Enrique (5.5) - Arguably one of his worst games in a long time. Had his hands full with Tchoyi, who got the better of him a few times, which is something we don't say too often. Was not able to go forward too often as a result.

Wayne Routledge (6) - He worked hard and got one really good ball into the box but other than that it was a frustrating day for him, getting few chances to run at the Albion defence.

Danny Guthrie (5) - Went off injured with what looked like a serious injury but gave the ball away for their second goal which seemed to kill off any hopes we had of getting something from the game. As for his overall performance, he failed to get any foothold on the game and his set pieces were poor most of the time. Just not a good day for him, but let's hope he recovers quickly as we could do with his creativity even if its from the bench when Barton and Nolan return..

Cheik Tiote (6.5) - He had his moments where he showed real quality on the ball and won back the ball for us but he too was unable to get us on top in terms of possession for large enough periods in the game. Does give away some silly fouls though.

Jonas Gutierrez (5.5) - Very ineffective today. Apart from one good run which saw the ball some how cleared off the line, and one excellent cross which could have resulted in Lovenkrands scoring, he did not offer us much and was lucky to play the full 90 minutes in my opinion as I would have substituted him, if we had someone good enough to bring on in his place.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Wasn't able to get into the game and was taken off at half time. Not his fault though as we allowed WBA to have most of the possession in the first half.

Andy Carroll (6) - Similar to Ameobi, he was rarely in the game although he did have a better second half. Was involved in the build up to our goal but it was far too late then.

Substitutes
Peter Lovenkrands (7) - Made some really good runs and managed to break his duck for this season. Still needs more game time to get his sharpness back.

Alan Smith (5) - It's frustrating seeing him come on, when a player like Vuckic can't even make the bench.

Nile Ranger (5.5) - Failed to have any impact after coming on towards the end.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Peter Lovenkrands

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Chelsea (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (7) - Had one or two anxious moments but overall I thought he dealt well with the crosses coming in.

Danny Simpson (7) - He kept Malouda quiet for much of the game and was unlucky to see their equaliser come as a result of his deflection. Pushed forward nicely as well.

Steven Taylor (7.5) - Considering it was his first official game since January, I thought he did really well. It will give him some confidence to build on for the next game.

Sol Campbell (7.5) - He made one superb block in the first half and showed a real calm head at the back.

Jose Enrique (8) - Again showed why he is such an important player for us. He did not allow anyone to pass him. Went forward when he could but more importantly his defending was excellent. Made one or two key challenges and cleared one off the line as well.

Wayne Routledge (8) - I thought Routledge was excellent today. He put a few good balls into the box and kept Ashley Cole honest. Made some good runs and was unlucky not to score with a goal bound volley. Would be unlucky if he does not start the next game.

Cheik Tiote (7) - It was good to have him back today. He really made some solid tackles and hardly lost the ball.

Danny Guthrie (6.5) - He had a decent game but failed to deliver enough quality from our set pieces. After a good first half he started to fade in the second half but a performance full of commitment none the less.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) - Guilty of giving the ball away which ultimately led to them scoring but he ran until the very end and if he had a little more support we could have done better on the counter attack.

Shola Ameobi (7) - Showed glimpses of the old Shola Ameobi where he was sloppy, miss controlling the ball and making one or two errors but overall he was good especially in the first half. I wish we played more balls into the box as he looked as though he had a goal in him if he was just given the correct service.

Andy Carroll (6.5) - Started the game well and managed to score through putting the Chelsea defenders under pressure but unfortunately for him today, he became more and more anonymous the longer the game went on. Became a frustrated figure but credit should go to him for still managing to get on the score sheet.

Substitutions
Nile Ranger (N/A) - A late substitute today.

Man of the Match - Wayne Routledge

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Bolton (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6.5) - Did not deserve to concede five. He was better than the scoreline suggests as he made a few quality saves.

Danny Simpson (5) - Useful going forward but should have cleared the ball for their second goal which really ended our hopes of staying in the game.

Mike Williamson (4) - Could not handle Bolton's two strikers. Guilty of a horrific headbutt which should have seen him sent off.

Fabricio Coloccini (4) - The same applies to the usually calm defender. He allowed Davies to win virtually every header and was at fault for the second and fourth goals. Got himself sent off when the game was lost which was very disappointing to see.

Jose Enrique (5.5) - He was vey useful going forward and looked dangerous but he did not get in enough crosses and gave the ball away far too many times at this level. I counted at least six times while Lee seemed to have the better of him for periods of the game.

Danny Guthrie (6.5) - I thought he had a decent game. He was good on the ball but due to him being played out of position he hardly got a chance to show his creativity.

Alan Smith (5) - He failed to protect the defence and should really be sold in the transfer window. On far too high wages and doesn't do his defensive midfield duties, which made the defence look even worse today.

Kevin Nolan (5.5) - Gave away a needless penalty with his handball. Seemed to try too hard on his return to Bolton. Expected so much more from him.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) - He did not have a bad game. Just couldn't get into the game enough at times but it was hard as he was forced to defend for large parts of the game.

Shola Ameobi (7) - Worked hard for the team and showed some neat footwork at times. If only he was given more service we could have stayed in the game for longer than we did.

Andy Carroll (7.5) - Took his goal really well and almost scored a second with a cracking shot which hit the woodwork. Worked hard and felt sorry for him towards the end.

Substitutes
Sol Campbell (6) - Did reasonably well when he came on. Will probably start against Chelsea.

Wayne Routledge (6.5) - Looked fairly bright when he came on. Played in some good balls to Carroll and I think he should get another chance especially while Barton is out.

Peter Lovenkrands (5.5) - Failed to make any impact but then again the game was long gone when he came on.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Andy Carroll

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Fulham (H)

Player Ratings
Tim Krul (7.5) - Made a string of good saves to deny Fulham and deserved a clean sheet. He seems to be growing in confidence, with every game he plays.

Danny Simpson (7) - Didn't get a chance to attack as much as Enrique but did manage to put in one or two fine crosses. Dealt well with his defensive duties when called upon.

Mike Williamson (7) - He recovered well after initially being caught out for pace at times in the first half. Hardly gave Johnson a chance in the second half.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - He defended really well and was our rock at the back. Did make one or two errors but overall had a really good game at the back.

Jose Enrique (8) - Our best player on the day. Strong in the challenge, good on the ball and linked up well with Gutierrez he takes the man of the match award for me from a Newcastle United point of view.

Danny Guthrie (7) - Was forced to cut in a few times but I thought he delivered some fine crosses into the box. He looked good on the ball and should play in the centre for him to have more of the ball in the next few games.

Cheik Tiote (7) - Gets a suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season. Went about his business nicely though and marshaled the defence well.

Kevin Nolan (6) - Not involved as much as he would have liked and was less effective. I thought his passing was good although he wasn't in the box getting on the end of things and that is really one of his biggest strengths which meant he was a bit quieter than usual.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) - After a slow start, he got more and more into the game and made some excellent runs. Put in a few good crosses just like Guthrie on the other flank. Worked really hard and almost set Ranger up with a fine run into the box towards the end.

Andy Carroll (7) - I was disappointed to see him get a groin injury. Will have to wait and see what the extent of that injury is. As for his performance, he was denied by a great save from Schwarzer after a thumping volley was sent goal wards. Showed some good skills and also glimpses of promise in his partnership with Lovenkrands.

Peter Lovenkrands (6.5) - Made some excellent runs but should have scored after having three really good chances. It was his first game back in the team so one cannot be too harsh on him. Good to see him get a chance though.

Substitutes
Nile Ranger (5.5) - Hardly got involved when coming on which was disappointing.

Wayne Routledge (6) - Put in one excellent cross when coming on but did nothing else.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Jose Enrique

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Arsenal (A)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (8) - A really good performance from our young keeper. He did very well in handling the crosses which came into the box and made some really good saves. On a performance like this I wonder whether he should become our number one.

Danny Simpson (8) - I thought he too had a really good game. He defended well and offered a little going forward although he did not always get the chance. What I liked about his performance today was the fact that he got stuck in and put in some good tackles as well as a fine block in the second half.

Mike Williamson (7.5) - Solid in the air, he gave Chamakh no room to be effective. Together with Coloccini he marshaled the back line superbly.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - A very calming influence at the back once more it must be said. He made numerous interceptions and read the game superbly, the hallmark of any top defender. His partnership with Williamson at centre back has been one of the highlights of our year and it was very evident in this game.

Jose Enrique (7.5) - Apart from seeing Walcott hit the post when coming in on his inside in the second half , Enrique dealt really well with the pacy winger and generally looked assured in defence.

Joey Barton (7.5) - He kept the ball really nicely for us and worked very hard. He's set pieces were not to his standards of the last few weeks but he did set up the goal so don't think I can be too harsh on him. Has continued his good form thus far.

Cheik Tiote (8) - Overall he was outstanding in his defensive midfield role. He kept the ball superbly at times, while other times he lost the ball, but he did his job and very well at that.

Kevin Nolan (7) - He wasn't in the game as much but he went about his business quietly and played some neat balls for us to counter attack from.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - This wasn't one of his better games but what he did do, was work really hard for the team. He was guilty of giving the ball away too often in this match but it was his run that earned us the free kick which led to the goal so his contribution should not go unnoticed.

Shola Ameobi (6.5) - I remember him making a block in the first half, from an Arsenal set piece and that is a sign of the improvement in his work rate in the last few weeks. He worked hard for the team and it's a side of his game which was questioned in previous seasons but shouldn't be judging by his recent performances.

Andy Carroll (8) - He earns the Man of the Match for three reasons. Firstly, he scored the only goal of the match and took it really nicely even though some may blame the goalkeeper. As far as I'm concerned he still had a bit to do and he should take credit for that. Secondly his work rate was exceptional and lastly I lost count of the number of defensive headers he won so he deserves it for me. Barring injury, I can't not see him in the next England squad.

Substitute
Nile Ranger (7) - Came on and did well to help us secure the win.

Man of the Match - Andy Carroll

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Sunderland (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6.5) - Didn't really have much to do but did look assured when called upon. Credit must go to Darren Bent for their goal.

Danny Simpson (7.5) - I thought he had a much better game than he did last week. Made some good strong challenges and went forward as well. He needs to work on his crossing though but defensively he was fairly solid.

Mike Williamson (7) - Another assured performance at the back from the big centre back. He will come under a bit of pressure now that Steven Taylor is fit again, but he doesn't deserve to lose his place at the moment.

Fabricio Coloccini (8) - An excellent game at the back and our best defender on the day. A calming influence in defence and dealt with Bent fairly well. Will be disappointed to see Bent get on the score sheet though and was lucky not to get a booking for his elbow early on.

Jose Enrique (7.5) - Very good going forward, the Spaniard was rarely tested in defence. He was able to handle Al-Muhammadi before the Egyptian went off and had a comfortable second half thereafter.

Joey Barton (9) - Undoubtedly this was one of his best games in a Newcastle shirt. Although played out of position, he controlled things in midfield and put in a real good shift. Provided some excellent crosses as well.

Cheik Tiote (7.5) - He got me scared when he was booked inside the first ten minutes and gifted them possession early on but did well after that and helped us stay on the front foot. Does tend to take an extra touch when its not necessary but he'll learn and other than that one can't question his performances thus far.

Kevin Nolan (9.5) - What can I say? The captain led by example and took his hat trick superbly. The way he scored his first goal was excellent, while his second was coolly taken and his third was pure instinct. He is now equal top scorer in the League, from midfield and so much for people calling him "fat". The man is captain fantastic as far as I'm concerned.

Jonas Gutierrez (8) - Earned the penalty and linked up very nicely with Enrique. He was heavily involved in our best moves and deserves a lot of credit for that.

Andy Carroll (8) - Unlucky not to get on the score sheet but he did his England chances no harm whatsoever. Sunderland couldn't handle him and it was no surprise to see both their centre backs get booked. He really has grown in stature since taking the number nine shirt.

Shola Ameobi (9) - Two superbly taken goals from our number 23. The first a wonderful penalty that few keepers would save and the second was a finish from the top drawer. Would have loved to see him get a hat trick as well but he fully deserved the standing ovation he got when taken off towards the end.

Substitutes
Nile Ranger (N/A) - Nice to see him get a taste of the derby in the last five minutes.

Man of the Match - Kevin Nolan

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs West Ham (A)

Player Ratings
Tim Krul (7.5) - I thought the young Dutch keeper had a good game between the posts. Dealt superbly with corners and crosses and looked assured in goal.

Danny Simpson (7) - He was seriously troubled by Obinna in the first half but he came back and had a good second half, with Obinna being kept quiet. Due to it being his first Premier League match for us and coming off a long injury lay off, he gets a 7 rating.

Mike Williamson (7) - Should not have allowed the cross to come in for their goal, but was a towering presence thereafter and kept the West Ham attackers quiet in the second half.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - The man who was at fault for their goal, playing the West Ham players on side, came back and like his fellow teammates had a much more solid game once we fell behind. He's calm influence seems to have rubbed off on the team.

Jose Enrique (8) - Another excellent display by Wor Jose. Heard the fans chanting his name a few times in this match and if I were there I'd be joining them.

Joey Barton (7) - I had my concerns about him playing on the right but after a poor first half he came into his own in the second half. He superbly set up the winning goal and helped us control things for the most part. Despite that poor first half, he still managed to put in the cross that led to Nolan's goal as well.

Cheik Tiote (8) - What a performance by the defensive midfielder. He won the central midfield battle and was simply like a rock. Excellent in possession, solid in the tackle and powerful as always he fully deserves the man of the match award for me.

Kevin Nolan (7.5) - I will admit I was one of the first to question the manager's decision to play Nolan in central midfield but he somehow silenced me and many others by getting the equaliser and ultimately had a good game.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) - With us playing only one natural winger, Jonas helped us go forward and was very direct. He put in another good shift.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Not his best game of the season but he did his job. He troubled West Ham at times and worked hard for the team.

Andy Carroll (7.5) - A much improved game by Carroll, who took a while to get into the match but when he did, he managed to get an assist as well as the winning goal. Made one or two great runs with the ball and looked like the Carroll at the beginning of the season again, with his confidence flowing.

Man of the Match - Cheik Tiote

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Wigan (H)

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6) - Partially to blame for their goals if one wants to be harsh but otherwise had a decent game.

James Perch (4) - At fault for their goals and allowed N'Zogbia far too much freedom during the game. I think Danny Simpson's return may prove to be a timely one.

Mike Williamson (6) - Should not have allowed N'Zogbia to score the first goal but came close with scoring one of his own.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - Popped up with the crucial equaliser. Did not allow Di Santo too much room to work in and it was good to see him handed the captain's armband.

Jose Enrique (7) - He worked well down the left, always looking to get forward and put in some good crosses. Yet again his link up play with Jonas was one of the highlights of our game.

Danny Guthrie (5.5) - Failed to stamp his authority on the game. Was played out of position and it was his first game back after a long period on the sidelines so hopefully getting 66 minutes under his belt would have done him the world of good. He's not a right winger though and Chris Houghton needs to realise this as it was predictable that he would cut inside almost everytime.

Joey Barton (5.5) - Played one or two superb passes but other than that he had one of his worse games this season. He gave away the ball far too much and seemed to not be able to control things the way we know he can.

Cheick Tiote (6) - Not as outstanding as he has been so far but a decent enough performance from him.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) - Looked sharp and helped set up our fight back with a superb cross for our first goal. Also took the corner from which we scored the equaliser from and he linked up nicely with Enrique.

Andy Carroll (6) - He seems to be lacking that clinical instinct at the moment but he did manage to assist the second goal with a well won header. You get the feeling he just needs a goal to spark him again.

Peter Lovenkrands (6) - He may not have had a good game in terms of his impact on the game and was taken off after 60 minutes but he did make some good runs and on another day those runs may have resulted in goals.

Substitutes
Shola Ameobi (7) - Made an impact when coming on and he scored the vital first goal which got us back in the game.

Wayne Routledge (5.5) - Failed to really make an impact when he came on.

Nile Ranger (N/A) - Came on after 89 minutes.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Fabricio Coloccini

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Stoke City (H)

Tim Krul (6.5) - After a slightly shaky start he looked comfortable and dealt well with one or two crosses and corners.

James Perch (6) - Unfortunately he conceded the goal that cost us the game but apart from that he actually had a good game.

Fabricio Coloccini (6) - He certainly looked good in possession as always but had one or two moments where Kenwyne Jones had the better of him.

Mike Williamson (6) - Another good display although it was difficult coping with Stoke's aerial assualt in the second half.

Jose Enrique (7) - One of our better players on the day. Always looking to get forward and almost set up a goal with a great run in the first half.

Wayne Routledge (6.5) - He struggled to get a hold of the game, although he did have a few good moments too, where his pace caused Stoke a few problems.

Cheick Tiote (7.5) - A thoroughly impressive display from the defensive midfielder. He showed he had the pace, skill and strength to be a quality player in this league and it was a surprise to see him substituted in the second half.

Joey Barton (7) - After a very good first half, he dropped a lot deeper in the second half as we struggled to maintain our first half dominance. Wasn't as effective then but still his form is looking very good thus far.

Hatem Ben Arfa (6.5) - He showed glimpses of his talent but was not in the game enough for my liking. He was substituted after the hour mark which to me was one of the mistakes Chris Houghton made today.

Kevin Nolan (6.5) - Took his penalty very well and he had a good game overall. He worked very hard and nearly scored an equaliser towards the end as well.

Andy Carroll (5.5) - It wasn't his best day at the office. He did manage to win the penalty and almost scored with a well struck half volley but other than that he struggled to dominate in the air and was well below par today. He'll learn from the game though but what it did prove is that his not ready for an England call up at the moment.

Substitutes
Jonas Gutierrez (7) - Looked lively when coming on and even got one or two decent crosses into the box as well.

Shola Ameobi (6) - Failed to make an impact today.

Newcastle United Man of the Match: Cheick Tiote

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Chelsea (A) League Cup

Player Ratings

Tim Krul (6.5) - A mixed night for Tim. He made one or two good saves but could perhaps have done better for their first goal, in terms of communicating with his defence and with the shot that led to the goal.

Ryan Taylor (7.5) - Scored an amazing free kick and seemed to have been missed when he went off the field. Chelsea were a lot stronger down the left after he went off and it was surprising to see him taken off in the first place.

Sol Campbell (6) - He wasn't particularly sharp as he normally is although that of course was expected. Started shakily but got better as the game went on and his experience counted towards the end.

Fabricio Coloccini (7) - He looked good again. A calming influence throughout when on the field. Was happy to see him taken off after a good shift with us leading by two goals as there are big league games ahead for our number one centre back.

Shane Ferguson (7.5) - An impressive outing by the young left back. I now feel a lot better knowing he is the back up to Enrique as he looks to be quite a good prospect. Provided the crucial assist for the first goal with a great cross.

Nile Ranger (7.5) - Also a mixed night for him, as he scored the equaliser that got us going but he also missed a real sitter and was guilty of giving the ball away for their first goal. Overall though he was good and he did cause Chelsea problems.

Alan Smith (7) - Despite giving the ball away on a few occasions he did well, particularly in the first half.

Haris Vuckic (7) - Despite being guilty of giving the ball away a few times as well, it was a better performance from the young Slovenian starlet in comparison to his last outing for us. Assured when on the ball, he showed glimpses of some the talent that has made him one of our best prospects for the future.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) - He took a while to get into the game but he was one of our better players today. His direct approach caused Chelsea some problems and I think he may have forced his way into our starting eleven for Sunday's match against Stoke. Provided the superb corner kick which led to the winner.

Peter Lovenkrands (6) - He missed a great chance to put us 4-1 up, but although he was quiet for most parts of the game, he did still manage to play his part in the win by working hard for the team. Winning the corner which led to the winning goal was evidence of that.

Shola Ameobi (8) - I may not be his biggest fan but he took his goals rather brilliantly tonight. He held the ball up well on occasions and he showed that he still has a lot to offer the team.

Substitutes
Mike Williamson (6.5) - Came on and won some key headers for us.

Cheick Tiote (6) - Played out of position, one can't fault him much for struggling to cope with Van Aanholt and Anelka at times. Thought he didn't do much wrong for their penalty but hopefully he'll learn from tonight.

Joey Barton (N/A) - Was only on for about 30 seconds.

Man of the Match: Shola Ameobi

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Everton (A)

Steve Harper (6) - Went off in what looked like a serious injury. Didn't have much to do before he went off though.

James Perch (7) - A much more composed game from the young right back. I think his starting to settle in this league now but unfortunately for his sake, he got yet another booking and he'll miss the next game.

Mike Williamson (7) - There were a few moments where he looked a bit guilty of committing a foul in the box but other than that he was solid in the air and had a good game.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - Another outstanding and composed performance by the centre back. Was very elegant on the ball and really has become very consistent as of late.

Jose Enrique (8) - Just like his teammate, he was very reliable and was very much involved in both defending and attacks. He put in a few fine crosses and linked up nicely with Ben Arfa.

Wayne Routledge (6.5) - He wasn't as involved as he normally is but he certainly contributed to the win. Nothing spectacular from him but he did his job.

Cheick Tiote (8) - What a debut from the man from the Ivory Coast. He looked solid, good on the ball and as if his been playing at Newcastle for many years. Formed a good partnership with Joey Barton.

Joey Barton (7.5) - He certainly seems to be getting back to the form that once made him an England international. He played some good balls on attack, particularly in the second half and was prepared to take some heavy tackles. His set pieces were a bit of a mixed bag though.

Hatem Ben Arfa (8.5) - This lad is quite special. He scored an absolute beauty, and looked so good on the ball. Always willing to take on his man and beat a player or three. He worked hard on defence also so although he comes with some baggage, on this display, he's the best player we've had for some time.

Kevin Nolan (7.5) - Initially I was thinking he should be dropped but after today I feel he still has a big role to play for us and as skipper too. He linked up nicely with the midfield and striker and just like the others he played his part in the win.

Andy Carroll (6.5) - Today wasn't his best day at the office but he worked hard and helped us out on defence a few times. Made one great block of note as well.

Substitutes
Tim Krul (7) - Considering it was his first real taste of Premier League football he did well. Never looked out of place at all.

Jonas Gutierrez (N/A) - Only had a few minutes in which it was hard for him to make an impact.

Man of the Match : Hatem Ben Arfa

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Wolves (A)

Player Ratings

Steve Harper (6) - There was little he could do about their goal although all in all it wasn't a day in which Harper had a lot to do.

James Perch (7) - He seemed to have a decent game at right back. Nearly cost us a penalty with a clumsy challenge but other than that it was pretty efficient performance at right back for him as he still gets use to football at this level.

Mike Williamson (7) - Another solid display by the centre back. Perhaps could have been closer to Ebanks-Blake for their goal but it was a good finish so I don't think we can be too critical with him. Won a lot in the air again which was good.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - Just as his centre back partner, Fabricio gave a solid display at the back. He seems to be extremely confident at the moment which is important and if Nolan were to get dropped in the next game I'd make him captain.

Jose Enrique (6.5) - There were moments when Jose looked a bit sloppy giving the ball away and conceding a corner when trying to be too fancy at the back but apart from that he gave a decent account of himself. Watching his link play with Jonas is still very good on the eye.

Wayne Routledge (7) - A slightly mixed display from the winger. There were times where he made some good runs and also got the ball into the box and then there were other times where his first touch let him down. Just needs to be more consistent but he remains a threat on attack.

Alan Smith (7.5) - I thought Smithy was impressive in the middle of the park. He countered Wolves dirty tactics by putting in a few solid tackles himself, not that they were bad in comparison to Wolves. I wouldn't be prepared to drop him just yet.

Joey Barton (7) - He seemed to take a lot of hits and credit must go to him for not reacting to their tactics. It was clear they targeted him but he just carried on with his game and didn't have a bad game. Provided the assist to the goal and generally his free kicks into the box weren't half bad today.

Jonas Gutierrez (7.5) - Spiderman provided one or two delightful through balls that on another day would have led to goals. He also seemed to get a few decent balls into the box which was good to see.

Kevin Nolan (6) - It wasn't his best game but he did link up well with Carroll at times. Played a good ball that should have resulted in us taking the lead at the end of the first half.

Andy Carroll (7.5) - Another well taken goal by our number nine. I must admit I was surprised to see him go off but he worked hard, caused Wolves problems and at the rate his going an England call up can't be too far away.

Substitutes

Shola Ameobi (6) - Nearly set up a goal with his first touch but he failed to really make an impact after that.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Andy Carroll

View player ratings vs Aston Villa (h)

View player ratings vs Man Utd (a)

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Aston Villa (H)

Player Ratings

Steve Harper (5.5) - Although he had very little to do in the match (Villa only had one shot on target), he did concede the penalty and miss kicked a clearance which could have been dangerous.

James Perch (7) - A much more solid display from the young right back. He was composed on defence and even got a decent cross or two into the box. This game was a big confidence booster for him.

Mike Williamson (7.5) - Another outstanding display from Mike. He formed a good partnership with Colo at the back and what was good to see as well was their continuous communication when the ball was out of play. You'd never say it was only his second game at this level because apart from perhaps a shaky first few minutes he was outstanding thereafter.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - There were times he seemed to have Carew in his back pocket. He won quite a bit in the air and he made some easy looking tackles as well. Very promising display from the Argentine.

Jose Enrique (8) - After a shaky opening day display against Man Utd, the Enrique we know came back and proved why he was considered our best player last season. His link up play with Jonas was a joy to behold and poor Albrighton didn't get an inch out of him. Brilliant!

Wayne Routledge (7) - He was heavily involved in the first half and gave Villa all sorts of problems. There were times when he seemed unsure of what to do though when in the final third as he was in some good shooting positions only to continue dribbling before losing the ball. Apart from that it was a good display from the winger.

Alan Smith (7.5) - Many doubt his ability to perform well in this league, but after today's display I'd be sad if we chose to sell him now. Passion, commitment and dominance in midfield and a key factor in why we won today.


Joey Barton (8) - What a stunner it was. Gave us the start we needed and along with Smith dominated things in midfield. He showed glimpses of the player we know he can be which is very encouraging indeed.

Jonas Gutierrez (7) - As mentioned above his link up play with Enrique was outstanding and he worked hard as always. He got some good balls into the box as well which is something his usually criticized for not doing.

Kevin Nolan (7.5) - Two good goals taken and a performance that would have silenced many of his critics (I was one of them). He worked hard and led by example today.

Andy Carroll (9) - It's been a while since I've given a player a 9 rating but it's fully deserved this time. A fantastic hat-trick along with an assist and few could argue that he is starting to step up to the responsibility that comes with wearing the famous number nine shirt.

Substitutes
Ryan Taylor (N/A)

Shola Ameobi (6) - Had some neat touches when coming on.

Xisco (7) - A fine assist and I'm starting to think he's a good option to bring on from the bench. Could still play a part for us this season.

Newcastle United Man of the Match - Andy Carroll

View Player ratings vs Man Utd (A)

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Man Utd (A)

Player Ratings

Steve Harper (6) - A busy day at the office for Steve. Made some good saves but worries me at times as well. Can't particularly blame him for any of the goals though.

James Perch (5.5) - At times in the first half he looked out of his depth. It must be remebered though that it was his first game at this level, so can't be too harsh on him. He did have a slightly better second half.

Mike Wiliiamson (6) - He did well but gave the ball away once or twice too many. Can't afford that in this league. Certainly gave a good account of himself otherwise.

Fabricio Coloccini (6.5) - He was our best defender on the night, in that he made some good challenges and won quite a bit in the air. He did make one or two mistakes though that he needs to learn from, one of which is to clear the ball when under pressure instead of trying to work the ball to other defenders who in turn give the ball away in dangerous areas.

Jose Enrique (5) - It was a really bad day at the office for Jose. Despite being one of our better players last season, you get the feeling he hasn't recovered 100% from the injury that forced him off against Rangers last week. Hopefully he'll find the form we know his capable of.

Wayne Routledge (6.5) - Outstanding in the first half with his direct approach, he showed he can be a dangerous player for us in this league. He needs to work on his final ball but it was clear that he had the beating of the Man Utd defence a few times. Faded in the second half though.

Joey Barton (5.5) - I can't say he impressed me tonight. He got into one or two good positions but wasted the ball when a good pass was needed. I also don't think Barton and Smith in the same side is a good idea, but I'm hearing Guthrie has a minor injury so perhaps it was enforced.

Alan Smith (6) - I was surprsied to see him start but he did quite a decent job tonight. He put in some strong challenges as expected but the centre of the park did lack creativity which remains a concern.

Jonas Gutierrez (6) - He was forced to defend for much of the match but did show one or two glimpses of being dangerous on attack. Can't fault his work rate and he was one of only three players who looked as if they could create something.

Kevin Nolan (5.5) - I thought he didn't help Carroll enough playing as the man behind Carroll. His lack of pace is also not something you'd want when playing a striker like Carroll who flicks the ball on a lot and if we do get a pacey midfielder, I'd be interested in dropping Nolan.

Andy Carroll (7) - I thought he was outstanding tonight. He should have done better with that header but apart from that, he made the keeper work quite a bit and he also impressed me with his immense work rate. The amount of times he came back to challenge for the ball was good to see and after tonight I'm a little more optimistic about him being our number nine.

Substitutes

Shola Ameobi (5.5) - Didn't really have an impact although at this stage the game was already over.

Xisco (6) - Looked sharp in the few minutes that he was on for. I'd be keen to see a bit more of him in the next few games.

Newcastle United Man of the Match : Andy Carroll

Team of the 2010 Fifa world cup

So having got 13 out of my 23 predictions correct during the world cup I'll now look back and say who I feel were the team of the tournament. Playing a 4-5-1 formation here goes:

Goalkeeper - Iker Casillas
The Real Madrid goalkeeper and Spain captain showed in the final, when it mattered most, why he is the best goalkeeper on the planet. From his penalty save against Chile, his clean sheet against the dangerous Germany and to his string of match-winning saves in the final he is an easy choice for the goalkeeping position.

Right Back - Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid defender had a great world cup and was a constant threat going forward while he also proved dangerous in the air. Spain only conceded two goals in the tournament and he certainly contributed to that.

Centre Backs - Carlos Puyol and Diego Lugano
These two stalwards helped their team to achieve great things in the world cup. Puyol scored a fine goal against Germany to put them through while Lugano's presence at the back was one of the reason's Uruguay made it to the semi finals.

Left Back - Phillip Lahm
Although Phillip Lahm didn't really play at left back, he gets the nod for some outstanding displays and for great leadership. Many questioned the decision to make him captain before the first game but few will be questioning it now.

Right Midfield - Thomas Mueller
What can you say about this 20 year old that's not been said already. He scored 5 goals and had 3 assists which helped him claim the golden boot and best young player award at the world cup. He also works very hard for the team and it was no coincidence that Germany looked a lot less potent on attack when he missed the semi final against Spain.

Centre Midfield - Bastian Schweinsteiger and Wesley Sneijder
Xavi always dictated the tempo for Spain, but I think the two players I picked had phenomenal tournaments and deserve credit for that. Schweini was always considered a wide man, but he ran things from the centre and totally dismantled Argentina's midfield. He was good on the ball, solid defensively and energetic as always and for that he had to be selected. Sneijder on the other hand scored crucial goals for Holland and one could not imagine the Dutch being in the final had it not been for him.

Left Midfield - Andres Iniesta
The man who scored the winning goal in the final deserves to be in the team simply because of that finish. But he did so much more than that and ultimately he enhanced his reputation even further with some fine displays.

Attacking Midfield - Mesut Ozil
The young German superstar announced himself to the world at this tournament with some outstanding displays. He was able to make great runs, pick a pass and score a winner in the crucial match against Ghana. Many have said what a joy he is to watch and I certainly can't disagree with that. A player with good technique who is sure to join a top club in the near future.

Striker - Diego Forlan
The worthy winner of the golden ball. Forlan scored 5 fantastic goals and showed why he is such a top marksmen. He proved to the world that there wasn't anything wrong with the Jabulani ball when he scored four of his five goals from outside the box.

Casillas
Ramos Lugano Puyol Lahm
Mueller Schweinsteiger Sneijder Iniesta
Ozil
Forlan

World Cup 2010 Review

So the world cup has come and gone and now its my time to look back on what was a spectacular world cup. From security, to atmosphere, to transport, to the vibe and football it was a very well organised event that as a South African one can only be proud of. Speaking from experience, having gone to four world cup games, it was an absolutely awesome experience. Yes the football itself could have been better but what we did see was that the smaller nations held their own against the so called bigger names. Apart from one or two results, few matches turned out the way many expected. Certain teams enhanced their reputation such as Germany, Ghana, Uruguay while other teams went from so called world cup contenders to being sent home early. Those sides included Italy, England and of course France. The vuvuzela's, the ball and the lack of full stadiums for certain matches were big talking points but ultimately when you see people like Alan Hansen say this world cup in terms of atmosphere was the best ever, and you see goals such as Giovanni Van Bronkhorst and Carlos Tevez from long range then surely those former mentioned things are not as big of a concern as made out to be. As for the ticketing, FIFA got it wrong. They deliberately kept tickets back in the hope of selling the more expensive tickets first and that ended seeing people who waited in queues not to get tickets even though they wanted to, so hence it was not empty due to lack of demand but rather because FIFA tried to sell tickets when they wanted to and eventually people either could not afford the tickets or they went to watch it at the fan parks. Trust me, I have never seen as many females and youngsters into the World Cup as I did this year. The whole country embraced the world cup and for that it will always be one of, if not the greatest FIFA world cups ever!

My World Cup quarter final predictions

With the World Cup reaching the quarter final stages today I thought I'd give my predictions for the four matches. Having got 11 of the 16 2nd round teams correct, lets hope I can keep up a good ratio.
Brazil - Netherlands. This has to go to Brazil. They have looked in good form throughout the tournament and seem to have the most complete team in the tournament. Holland are a good side, don't get me wrong, but I just cannot see them beating the mighty Brazil today. For Holland to win, they will need Robben, Van Persie and Sneijder to dictate things, but with the Brazilian defence having kept two clean sheets recently I think the guys dictating things are going to be Kaka, Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva.

Ghana - Uruguay. For me this may prove the tightest of matches and may even go to penalties, but I think the pressure will tell for Ghana and that Uruguay will go through from this match. They have defended well this tournament and Luis Suarez seems to be hitting form at the right time. I'd like to be proven wrong though, for I'll be supporting Ghana in this match.

Germany - Argentina. What a match in prospect. Ozil vs Messi. Klose vs Higuan. Khedira vs Mascherano. Mueller vs Tevez. Its going to be a fascinating match. Matches like this are usually defined but one moment and just like Diego Maradona in 1986, I think this will be the defining moment for Lionel Messi. He has yet to score in the tournament so I'm going for him to break his duck and for Argentina to go through.

Paraguay - Spain. This will prove to be straight forward for the silky Spanish. They'll have too much quality and ultimately a mouth watering match in the semi's with Argentina may await.

My World Cup Group Stage Predictions

As World Cup fever has hit the country let me give a few predictions as to who I predict will make it to the second round.

Group A: France and Mexico
As a South African I'd like to say we will make it through, but for now I'll go with the experience of the French and the youthful exuberance of the Mexicans to come through this tough group. Its a tight group to call and a lot will depend on the outcomes of the first two games in this group. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

Group B: Argentina and Nigeria
For this group Argentina will have too much quality for the others and as Nigeria will have a lot of support, I can see them edging South Korea for the runners up spot.

Group C: England and USA
This is another group similar to group B, in that England will have too much quality for the others and as a survey has suggested, the Americans have bought the most tickets of the overseas nations. That support coupled with their good run in the Confederations Cup last year, should see them finish at least 2nd.

Group D: Germany and Ghana
This group may prove to be a lot tighter than many think but when it comes to World Cups Germany never disappoint. That being said I think Ghana will give them a good go for top spot but with Serbia losing recently in a warm up game and Australia too, I can't see them getting the better of the Germans or Ghanaians in getting to the next round.

Group E: The Netherlands and Denmark
The Dutch have had an impressive run in the lead up to the World Cup and while the battle for second spot may be a tight one, I can't see Cameroon and Japan being consistent enough to qualify for the next round. With Denmark finishing top of a group consisting of Portugal and Sweden in the qualifiers, I'll give them my vote to finish in second spot, but only just.

Group F: Italy and Paraguay
I think this group will be one of the easier to call. Italy although by no means convincing will progress alongside Paraguay as the other remaining teams in this group, New Zealand and Slovakia, I think have had their moments already when they qualified and may just be overawed on the biggest stage of them all.

Group G: Brazil and Ivory Coast
The Brazilians go into this World Cup as my favourites. Its going to be interesting seeing who joins them in the next round, and as much as I want Portugal to go far, I can't see them doing well now that Nani is injured. With Drogba now fit, the Ivory Coast are going to be dangerous.

Group H: Spain and Chile
The Spanish have got a strong team and should find this group easy. Chile though are a good team and should be able to overcome both Honduras and Switzerland for the runners up spot.

I'll reassess things after the first round before making any more predictions but for now My predictions for the golden boot and best young player are as follows:

Golden Boot winner: David Villa and
Best young player: Mesut Ozil.

Review and Preview of Super 14 Final

Final Review - So the Super 14 final has come and gone and although I would have liked the Stormers to have won the competition, I must admit the team that beat them, The Bulls, are in a class of their own. They really dominated up front, kept possession superbly and in Fourie Du Preez they had the best scrumhalf in world rugby dominating the whole game.

Yes the final result showed the Stormers losing by not so many but ultimately the game was won and lost in the first half. Francois Hougaard scored a rather easy looking but brilliant try and once that ball was dotted down, there was only going to be one winner.

Hopefully the Stormers will learn from the experience of a first super rugby final, and with the additions of Jean De Villiers and CJ Van Der Linde who knows next year might be the Stormers year. If not I can only see the Bulls continuing their remarkable run of being the best team in the southern hemisphere.

Final Preview - What a day to be at Newlands. The atmosphere was simply electric as the Stormers hosted the Waratahs in their first home semi final in 11 years. The game started off slowly as is expected with matches of this significance but it took a moment of magic to swing the game ultimately in his teams direction. Juan De Jongh beat up to four defenders with firstly a beautiful step before secondly showing great speed and ability to finish off a move that left Newlands rocking! From there on it was virtually one way traffic and we all now look forward to the final this week against the Bulls at the Orlando stadium.

As for the Bulls, they were impressive against the Crusaders in their semi final. The likes of Fourie Du Preez and Pierre Spies looked in good form and the Crusaders were just no match for them on the day.

As for the final, Its a difficult one to call. The Bulls are the current champions and have shown to be the best team in this competition for the past few seasons. They boast players with experience of having won the Super 14 before and also Currie Cups, Tri Nations and a World Cup for good measure. They will be at home too, although the 36500 capacity of the Orlando stadium is not exactly as daunting as going to 50000 screaming fans at Loftus, their usual home. That is where the Stormers will feel they have a chance. Their defence this year as been by far the best in the competition and they will need to live up to that billing to swing things in their favour. The Stormers might not boast the type of experience with which the Bulls can call on, but they to have a young team on an upward curve. Many of this team will go on to represent the Springboks, as is evidence with the call ups of Gio Aplon, Francois Louw, Andries Bekker and De Jongh. Add to that the experience of Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie and it really does set things up for a fantastic final hopefully. Habana of course only recently joined the Stormers from the Bulls so that adds another factor to build up of this game. Whatever happens, expect Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield to lead by example though.

Where will the battle be won or lost? Personally I feel its going to come down to Bekker vs Matfield, Devenage vs Du Preez, Pietersen vs Kirschner and Spies vs Vermeulen. I feel the Bulls will edge it slightly, but I'll be over the moon if I was proved wrong!

Newcastle United Goals Thread 2009/2010

Championship Goals
West Brom Away
Goal: Duff (1-1)

Reading Home
Goal: Ameobi (1-0)
Goal: Ameobi (2-0)
Goal: Ameobi (3-0)

Sheffield Wednesday Home
Goal: Ameobi (1-0)

Crystal Palace Away
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Ryan Taylor (2-0)

Leicester City
Goal: Guthrie (1-0)

Cardiff City Away
Goal: Coloccini (1-0)

Blackpool Away
Goal: Carroll (1-0)

Plymouth Argyle Home
Goal: Steven Taylor (1-0)
Goal: Nolan (2-1)
Goal: Carroll (3-1)

Ipswich Town Away
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Nolan (2-0)
Goal: Ryan Taylor (3-0)
Goal: Nolan (4-0)

QPR Home
Goal: Harewood (1-1)

Scunthorpe United Away
Goal: Nolan (1-1)

Doncaster Rovers Home
Goal: Carroll (1-1)
Goal: Nolan (2-1)

Sheffield United Away
Goal: Ryan Taylor (1-0)

Peterborough Home
Goal: Gutierrez (1-0)
Goal: Carroll (2-0)
Goal: Simpson (3-0)

Preston North End Away
Goal: Nolan (1-0)

Swansea City Home
Goal: Harewood (1-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (2-0)
Goal: Harewood (3-0)

Watford Home
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)
Goal: Pancrate (2-0)

Coventry City Away
Goal: Ameobi (1-0)
Goal: Ranger (2-0)

Barnsley Away
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Harewood (2-1)

Middlesbrough Home
Goal: Harewood (1-0)
Goal: Ameobi (2-0)

Sheffield Wednesday Away
Goal: Nolan (1-1)
Goal: Ameobi (2-1)

Plymouth [FA Cup]
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (2-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (3-0)

West Brom Home
Goal: Guthrie (1-1)
Goal: Lovenkrands (2-2)

West Brom [FA Cup]
Goal: Carroll (1-2)
Goal: Carroll (2-4)

Crystal Palace Home
Goal: Derry Own Goal (1-0)
Goal: Ranger (2-0)

Cardiff City Home
Goal: Carroll (1-0)
Goal: Gyepes Own Goal (2-0)
Goal: Carroll (3-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (4-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (5-0)

Swansea City Away
Goal: Carroll (1-1)

Coventry City Home
Goal: Routledge (1-1)
Goal: Carroll (2-1)
Goal: Lovenkrands (3-1)
Goal: R.Taylor (4-1)

Preston North End Home
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)
Goal: Nolan (2-0)
Goal: R.Taylor (3-0)

Watford Away
Goal: Coloccini (1-0)
Goal: Carroll (2-0)

Barnsley Home
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (2-0)
Goal: Guthrie (3-0)
Goal: Gutierrez (4-0)
Goal: Guthrie (5-0)
Goal: Nolan (6-0)

Middlesbrough Away
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)
Goal: Carroll (2-2)

Scunthorpe Home
Goal: Carroll (1-0)
Goal: Lovenkrands (2-0)
Goal: Carroll (3-0)

Bristol City Away
Goal: Gutierrez (1-2)
Goal: Carroll (2-2)

Doncaster
Goal: Carroll (1-0)

Nottingham Forest
Goal: Ameobi (1-0)
Goal: Enrique (2-0)

Peterborough Away
Goal: Nolan (1-1)
Goal: Barton (2-1)
Goal: Ameobi (3-1)

Sheffield United Home
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-1)
Goal: Nolan (2-1)

Blackpool Home
Goal: Gutierrez (1-0)
Goal: Carroll (2-0)
Goal: Nolan (3-0)
Goal: Routledge (4-0)

Reading Away
Goal: Nolan (1-0)
Goal: Nolan (2-0)

Plymouth Argyle Away
Goal: Carroll (1-0)
Goal: Routledge (2-0)

Ipswich Town Home
Goal: Carroll (1-0)
Goal: Ameobi (2-1)

QPR Away
Goal: Lovenkrands (1-0)

Best Goals of the Season Compilation

Here are games 1-10 of the championship, put into a package by Villene. Special thanks goes to him for that!
Games 1-10

* Credit to Siralicdman and Albiondean for uploading certain goals.

Bale and Messi get my April votes

April certainly was a big month and turning point in many peoples season. When it comes to the individual performance of the month, only one night comes to mind. That night being the night Lionel Messi scored FOUR goals to eliminate Arsenal from the champions league. He was clinical, calm, composed, skillful, the difference and quite simply world class and it made people realise that we are in fact blessed to be watching a true footballing genius on display. Unfortunately Barcelona were later to be eliminated from the champions league by Inter Milan but Lionel Messi gets my vote for Best Individual Performance of the Month, for April.

Individual Performance of the month - March - Frank Lampard
Individual Performance of the month - February - Sachin Tendulkar

The award for the player of the month, in my opinion goes to none other than Gareth Bale. He was the main reason in Spurs resurgence towards the end of the season which culminated in them winning a champions league position for next season (provided they win the qualifying matches of course). He manged to score a goal in each of the home wins against fierce rivals Arsenal and Chelsea whilst his performance against Man Utd was top class too. He set up their goal in that match and his running and attacking style was a pleasure on the eye. He was always tipped to be a quality player and its no surprise to see him starting to mature as a player now that he is playing in an attacking position. Well done to Harry Redknapp for giving him the freedom to express himself rather than playing him at left back and if he stays fit, Spurs could well be a team fighting for better things next season.

Player of the Month - March - Lionel Messi
Player of the Month - Febraury - Wayne Rooney

What an experience it was!

What an experience it was! The previous day a family member told me about how they got see the world cup trophy. It made me realise how much I needed to make an effort to enjoy the pleasures of hosting the world cup. I've got tickets to some matches, but I did two things that have made me wish the world cup started tomorrow! Firstly, I bought the Panini world cup sticker book and secondly I went to go see the world cup trophy. I managed to see it live and what a piece of art it is. 6.5 kg of pure gold, it really is an amazing trophy. I must say well done to Fifa and Coca Cola for doing the tour of the trophy and bringing it to us fans. Whilst waiting in the queue we also got to see a fantastic 3D video and the excitement is really building amongst sport lovers here in South Africa.

We are the champions!

Chennai Come Out On Top When It Matters

So with the IPL now having been completed I'll look back on what was another successful tournament. Firstly, I'm delighted to see that I got my IPL Prediction right, regarding the four semi finalists. I was slightly out with their final standings but never the less its always nice to get the prediction correct. Secondly, Well done to the Chennai Super Kings for winning the tournament despite almost being eliminated before the knockout stage. They were led by a great captain in MS Dhoni whilst also showing that they do not rely on only one or two players. The likes of Vijay, Raina, Murali, Bollinger, Ashwin and all played a key role in guiding them to their first IPL triumph.

As for their finalists, the Mumbai Indians, what on earth were they doing not bringing in the likes of Pollard and Tiwary earlier? They were by far the best team in the tournament but such is sport that one wrong decision and you could be facing defeat. A special mention has to go to Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis for superb batting displays during the tournament and well done to Ojha for finishing with the most wickets in the tournament. The biggest disappointments for me were the Kolkata Knight Riders, who promised so much but failed to deliver. As for individual players who disappointed, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden failed to light up the competition while I was expecting a little more from the likes of Lee and Yuvraj from the Kings XI Punjab and Morgan and Taylor of the Royal Challengers. I'm glad they still managed to make the champions league though which will be staged in South Africa. With the expanded IPL next year its promises to continue to build on what is the games biggest domestic tournament in 2011 hopefully.

My Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Sheffield United (H)

Steve Harper (6) - I felt he was troubled with a few of their corners and did not command the six yard area the way a keeper should. He did well elsewhere though.

Danny Simpson (7) - A very good performance from Danny. He may have given away the corner which led to their goal unnecessarily but he had a solid game. Involved in the second goal while he contributed to our main attacks and he defended well. I feel a lot more positive about him now.

Mike Williamson (7) - Another good performance from Mike. He made a stunning defensive block in the first half and his defensive partnership with Colo is looking really positive.

Fabricio Coloccini (7.5) - Like Williamson, Coloccini too had a good game. He made a great tackle to prevent a dangerous United attack in the 2nd half, while there were a few other notable challenges from the Argentinian.

Jose Enrique (7) - He sure looks another class in this division. He was good down our left even though today was not his best game of the season. His strength and ability to keep the ball despite being in tough situations is quite admirable.

Wayne Routledge (7) - He seemed to be our main spark in the 1st half but should have bagged at least one goal tonight. He still looks a good buy and I'll be looking to him to have a big season in the premier league for us next season.

Kevin Nolan (7.5) - He gets an extra rating point just for that brilliant finish. A goal worthy of winning any game. He also thread through a delightful ball for Routledge in the 1st half and he seemed to be up for it tonight.

Danny Guthrie (7) - A decent night for Danny even if not spectacular. His creativity in the middle is something that gets us going. Hope the injury is not too bad.

Jonas Gutierrez (6.5) - He was again up and down tonight. He gave the ball away at times but on other occasions he went on some excellent runs. Almost scored with a beauty too.

Andy Carroll (6) - I remember thinking after about 25 minutes, Is Carroll playing tonight. If it wasn't for two fouls he gave away I wouldn't have known. He got us the penalty and had a better 2nd half but I'd like to see him become more involved.

Peter Lovenkrands (6.5) - He scored the penalty with a neat finish but he too didn't have the busiest 1st half. He does run good angles though and almost scored in the 2nd half too with a few shots.

Substitutes

Shola Ameobi (6) - Not the same impact as the last time but then again he didn't have many minutes to play with.

Joey Barton (N/A)

Ryan Taylor (N/A)

Man of the Match: Kevin Nolan

Player Ratings vs Preston North End
Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest