The Post Game (vs Aston Villa)

Hello fellow soldiers and proud members of the Toon Army! First, I would like to thank Mr. Robert Bishop and everyone at CHN for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank all of you readers for such a warm welcome. I am just as excited about this post as you are, and I hope we can improve it game after game to make it everything that you want.

My name is Chase McCallister. I am a 25 year old college student studying accounting and a former US Marine Machine Gunner; however, on the weekends I am a Boddingtons guzzling, Jameson sipping, proud Tyneside supporter ripping my Shearer jersey off and twirling it in the air after a wonder-strike from Demba Ba (9 AM US-EST Feb 2, 2012).

I am an American and, like most Americans, I had the luxury of picking my own club. I tried on a couple different ones for size but could not maintain a lasting connection with any of them. I wanted to feel jubilation when my squad was victorious and have my weekend ruined when we lost! That was when I stumbled upon the Magpies. I fell in love with everything Newcastle. The style, the tradition, the passion, and most importantly the supporters. I am now proud to be a part of you and am just as proud to give you this post.

After every game I will post "The Post Game". I want it to be a collection of player ratings, a quick round-a-bout of quotes, and some quality tweets. Eventually, I will try to throw some good polls and pictures on here. I am still getting my feet wet so bare with me. Please, if there is anything that you wish to see on here, a site you want me to read, an official player twitter to pass on (Ryan Taylor just started his up @TaylorR1984) let me know. Comments and suggestions are encouraged. Thanks again for your read. I hope you enjoy!

Starters:

Tim Krul	8	Saw a lot of action in the first half and made a couple of great saves on Bent's efforts. His stop in the 88th on the Gardner effort was a match saver. Could do nothing about Keane's Goal. He has strung enough good games together to say it is no longer simply good form . . . he is an elite keeper.
Davide Santon	7	Seems to provide more going forward each game. Gets caught out of position on occasion because he does push forward so much, but with Jonas running wild he can afford it.. Quality on the ball.
Mike Williamson	6	Seems to get his cues from Colo. Not an elite talent but has a big body and put it in the right place often. Seemed very composed when he did find him self on the ball in Newcastle's own third.
Fabricio Coloccini	6.5	Seemed to play a good game and continues to be a great leader from the back. His rating would be higher, but he was beaten on the Keane volley.
Danny Simpson	5.5	Had a good work ethic but needed a lot of help on N'zogbia. Got the ball in good positions going forward but never really did anything with it.
Jonás Gutiérrez	6	As usual, he was all over the pitch. Seeming to begin to mesh well with the attacking minded Santon. He frustrated defenders but missed a few passes because he did not have his head up.
James Perch	6.5	Did not do a whole lot with the ball, but he was not asked to. I was surprised to see him in the starting XI but he sat in front of the defenders well and did not make many mistakes. He did his job, no more and no less.
Danny Guthrie	8.5	He was my man of the match. He was a continual threat and created a lot of confusion for Villa with his creativity. He looked to go forward every time he touched the ball and was very positive. A little over zealous on a few shots maybe, but he has hit them in before.
Ryan Taylor	6.5	Good new: X-rays were negative. He went off the 33rd on a stretcher and his deliveries were missed. I think he has been an unsung hero this season for the side, playing at multiple positions, and would like to see him tried out some at RB in order to free up RM for Ben Arfa/Obertan
Demba Ba	7	Typical Demba performance. Held the ball up well and distributed it well when he needed to. Goal was also a typical Demba goal and that is why we love him.
Leon Best	-	Went off early with a leg injury that we all hope is not serious.

Subs:

Papiss Cissé	7.5	He could not have had a better start. The new #9 was always in and around the box. Best of all his match winner was a wonder strike with his "weak foot". Early on had a nice chance with a diving header and seemed to compliment Ba perfectly. I think I will gladly jump on this bandwagon!
Gabriel Obertan	7	I think it is time we get off of Obertan's back. He has played better since coming off the bench and impressed against Villa. He tracked back well, which was good to see since that was a worry when Taylor went off. Everyone saw that Simpson needed help on N'zgobia. Nearly every touch he had was positive, minus a scoffer of a clearance late on. Was he great? No. But, I do think he is an asset as a substitute and needs encouragement going forward.
Shola Ameobi	-	Came on very late. I loved this substitution and Shola did exactly what he was brought on for. He held the ball up beautifully and spent clock like it was his job! (which it was, of course)

Alan Pardew On the Game

"We knew we had to play better, we did in the second half. We were good. They didn’t really counter on us and we kept coming and coming."

On the Papiss Cissé Goal

"The goal was football annal stuff. To come and make your debut and hit a goal like that was fantastic"

"His goal was something special and really lifted the roof off the place. It was a great hit and I didn’t think it was too bad with his weak foot."

Alex Mcleish On the Game

"It was a kick in the teeth. I thought we were well worth a point if not three . . . First half was especially good. I thought we kind of controlled the game."

On Tim Krul

"Tim Krul was in fantastic form. I think Bent hit three, four, maybe five and he is the guy we would like to see at the end of those chances, but today Tim Krul was in top form."

Demba Ba

"Very good! Very good return for us. We are very happy and very pleased for everything, we scored and the team won. So, we are very happy today."

Papiss Cissé

"Yes, it was a dream debut. Thank God. I am very happy to be at Newcastle" (via interpreter)

Warren Barton On Possibility of a Top Four Finish

"I put it out there a week ago: Can they finish fourth? They’ve got a chance with them two up front. I’m beaming! Everything is going for them at the moment. Every time they get a ball or a ricochet it goes in their favor, and sometimes you have a season like that. They just have to keep the momentum going, and as I said; the two strikers, they’ve got goals in them. That gives you a great opportunity."

"They won’t qualify for the Champions League. Sorry toon fans, but you won’t."

Piers Morgan

"Very, very big win for them and you look at this fourth place battle now: Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea. Any one of those could grab it."

TWEETS

Follow/Tweet me @MajorToonage

Tweet me before/during/after the matches and you might see it on here

jonas gutierrez @elgalgojonas

Partido duro, pero feliz con los 3 puntos. Vamos newcastle. Hard game, but really happy with the 3 points. Come Newcastle

Samuel Ameobi @Sammy_Ameobi

What a great intro to the premier league Papiss,..let's hope Man U can turn over Chelsea #nufc

Simon Austin @bbcsport_simon

Impressive thing about #Newcastle how they always look to pass to feet,even round own box.In contrast #avfc hit so many long wasted passes

NUFCfans @nufcfans

Aston Villa - you've been well and truly Demba'd. #NUFC 2-1 #AVFC

KL @kLFCreds

Pretty cool for Robbie Keane to score for his boyhood club (AVFC) against his boyhood club (NUFC) that helped out his boyhood club (LFC)

ladyarse @ladyarse

The only thing older that Robbie Keane boyhood club jokes is his celebration

Andy Ha @AndyHa_

Funny to think Demba Ba and Robbie Keane were part of a West Ham strikeforce which got relegated last season. #bbcfootball

Kyle Carton @AnticsToWin

Do you think LA Galaxy would recognise if we sent Emily Heskey back instead of Robbie Keane ? #utv #avfc