Elbows Can Be Dangerous

By: Daryl | April 4th, 2009

Managing: Newcastle
Date: October 25th, 2011
Progress: 2nd in the Prem after eight games (and only on goal difference)

vs Blackburn (away)

I took Mike’s advice and switched The Pog to the right because he was left footed. Still not 100% sure if that makes sense or not, but willing to give it a try. Also gave Fan Bo his first league start and Jose Enrique a chance to claim his place back from young Bertrand.

Everything happened in the first half. John Fleck scored in the 8th minute with a shot from just inside the area, the won and scored a 36th minute penalty.

Pedersen and Reid then got lucky with long range shots in the 38th and 42nd minutes, before The Pog headed in a Fleck cross in the 45th. Action packed.

Second half I deliberately tightened things up and slowed things down (dropped Arshavin back to CM and later replaced him with Lien, played a lot narrower).

Everything went smoothly until the 90th minute when Miguel Veloso (who’d had an excellent game at DM) decided the best way to tackle Matt Derbyshire was to elbow him in the head. Red card and a three match ban. So looks like even more playing time on the horizon for young Lien.

As for Jose Enrique? He’ll have to wait for another chance.

Result: W 3-2

There followed an international break where Jonas somehow got his nose broken and Miguel Velose taunted me with his good form:

Great for him, but not so great for me with him suspended for domestic football and ineligible for the Champions League.

vs Aston Villa (home)

We played with a deep defensive line to counter Victor Obinna’s ridiculous pace (19 pace, 19 acc., I should have signed him as an Oba Martins replacement when I had the chance) but he still managed to score.

1-0 to Villa at half-time with The Pog getting a 5.9 and no one else being too helpful either. Delivered a bollocking in the dressing room, but singled The Pog out for some extra abuse. Much of what I said was extremely racist and not fit to be printed here. But it definitely worked.

The Pog banged had two excellent finishes in the 54th and 62nd minute. Diego made his long-awaited return from injury by coming off the bench, scoring the third and then going off injured again. A short but sweet appearance.

John Fleck was disappointing, which I’m assuming is part of what Mustafa mentioned in the comments here. Young players just aren’t all that consistent, no matter how talented they are.