I finally returned to St James’ Park after 16 years away

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·29 de setembro de 2024

I finally returned to St James’ Park after 16 years away

I woke up canny excited I have to say, in anticipation of my first Toon game at St James’ Park in 16 years.

After a shave and a bath I was still tingling, decided to wear my late Da’s last ever Toon scarf to try to bring us some luck.

Vídeos OneFootball

Wor Lad picked me up and as we entered the town I thought we weren’t going to make it to the game after all.

I witnessed the red mist descending as Neale put the handbrake on and leapt from the driver’s seat. Road rage at it’s finest and here’s me trying to keep my blood pressure under control.

After finally parking up, we went straight to the ground for a pint. We were in our seats with ten minutes to spare and I thought the atmosphere was tremendous. Special shout out to Wor Flags here.

We started on the front foot, the midfield keeping it’s shape, but I couldn’t help but feel that we were too lightweight up front.

Man City began to slow the game down and eventually started foraging into our half. I personally hate all this tiki-taka, keep passing the ball backwards and sideways style, but it paid off for them when we gave them far too much time and space for Gvarviol’s opener.

By this time we had lost our shape and momentum completely, Nick Pope was looking like a rabbit in the headlights whenever the ball got passed back to him.

The second period started with a flurry and it looked like Eddie Howe must have had stern words to say in his half-time pep talk.

‘Penalty’ we screamed in the Milburn Stand when Anthony Gordon was upended by Ederson. It certainly was and Flash made no mistake with a textbook spot-kick.

We were on top at this point and Man City looked bang average. Grealish is way overrated and Haaland wasn’t getting a sniff.

I thought we had opportunities to win the game but was happy with a hard-earned point from an improved performance.

I thought Lewis Hall had a very good game and snuffed out any potential danger when Man City attacked down their right.

I was disappointed with Joelinton’s second half performance. He may well be Brazilian and bear a stark physical resemblance to the great midfielder Socrates, however, that is where the similarity ends. Big Joe is drastically lacking in awareness and put us under extreme pressure at least three times after giving the ball away.

Tino Livramento did well when he replaced Kieran Trippier, he and Doku had their own personal dual in the game’s last quarter.

At full-time, we saw the team off the pitch and then headed for Rosie’s.

Rosie’s was bouncing and our cousin Stephen was in with his mates Davy Harra and Coochy. The beer and cràic was good, and as we headed for the car afterwards I contemplated on what had been a lovely day and experience.

I’m glad that I’ve finally went back, exhilarated even, as Snagglepuss might have said back in the day (Remember him, some of you older guys?)

After Wor Neale had dropped me off in Tynemouth I thanked him again for a great time. I had a couple of pints in the club – which was still chocka, before retreating home for some nosebag, a strong malt and a bit of vinyl.

After my Ashley-inflicted and induced sabbatical I was a little bit sentimental, could think of nothing better than to finally go to bed to than the Tourists 1980 hit ‘So good to be back Home Again’.

Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1 – Saturday 28 September 12.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Gordon 58 pen

Man City:

Gvardiol 35

Possession was Newcastle 38% Man City 62%

Total shots were Newcastle 11 Man City 16

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Man City 6

Corners were Newcastle 5 Man City 6

Touches in the box Newcastle 25 Man City 39

Newcastle United team v Man City: