By Akin
August 14 2003

Just incase you missed the game, here is our match and player ratings. Written by Newcastle United fan, Akin, who watched the game, these ratings and comments are some of the best you will find on the net. Also, there is a paragraph about the "fantastic stuff" which led to the goal. Before I tell you how they faired, let me describe the goal in the 39th minute - The ball some how bobbled to Robert who wipped in a left footed cross, Shearer just missed with his head by inches (I think he was looking for a penalty myself) but there was Nobby Solano on the far post to slot the ball back across the keeper and into the net. Fantastic stuff...

............and now here it is ladies (Carys) and gentlemen, for the benefit for those who didnt get to see the match its the "Akin Official Player Ratings"

RATINGS

Shay (the brick wall) Given, 10/10 - a trully remarkable performance from the irish fella FOUR point blank, put my house on the striker scoring, saves trully world class. they were all so amazing that i dont know which one was the best but lotta mattaius(partizan coach) couldnt help but smile and shrug his shoulders after the fourth save.

Griffin, 8/10 - excellent defensive performance from griffin a few perfectly timed tackels and a great display of pace

Obrien, 8/10 - accomplished performance good in the air and did a great sweeping job, might have staked his claim to replace bramble

WOODGATE, 10/10 - notice how his name appears in upper case thats because it was a man of the match performance, given could have made 400 saves, shearer could have scored a hatrick on one leg and crutches, but neither of them could have outshone woody, he looked like he had been at the heart of the defence since birth, there was not one thing he did wrong. great in the air commanding in clearing corners ALWAYS winning headers. i am still in awe at how good he really is.

Bernard, 7/10 - a good performance more of a threat going forward than he was as effective defenders. might have scored late in the second half

Solano,7/10 - a few sliced clearences a few missed kicks, a below par performance from the peruvian. but he did score the goal (and that is open for debate)

Dyer, 7/10 - ran all day cant really say more than that...... ok tell a lie maybe i can, he sometimes gives the impression that he dosent know what to do next with the ball as if his feet moves faster than his process of thought. in other words if he cant see an obvious pass he overruns the ball and usually gives it away in the final third. this happened about 3 times during the match.

Speed,6/10 - a great defensive team performance but no thanks to speed, everyone knows im not his biggest fan but i am not being biased he really didnt do much, the only time i really noticed he was on the pitch was when he was complaining at obrien for passing the ball to him instead of playing it to the centre

Robert,8/10 - easily our best midfielder on the pitch dont know why they took him off, he was mesmerising with his runs, he actually got back to defend and he supplied the cross for the goal.

Shearer, 7/10 - typical performance from the skipper winning freekicks making himself a nuisance but no shots on targert,

Bellamy, 7/10 - causing problems ouside the box where it didnt matter, no shots on target either

Subs

Ameobi, 6/10 - a few dribbles a few nice touches but nothing to change the cause of the game

Jenas, 5/10 - hardley touched the ball but he did come on late

SUMMARY

All in all a good team performance, especially defensively. Partizan were no push overs and if not for Shay and Woody they could have been 4 or 5 up. Our only shot on target was a goal and we didnt force a save from the keeper. But we got the job done. Howay the Lads

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