Jaap Stam proves he learnt well from Sir Alex Ferguson with post-Newcastle comments
Jaap Stam proved on Wednesday night that he learned plenty in the years he spent playing under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The sour faced Scotsman never giving any credit to the opposition no matter what the circumstances.
With the best technique of all, if you are going to lie then lie big.
After watching his team lose 4-1 at St James Park on Wednesday night, Jaap Stam came out with quite a remarkable statement.
The former Manchester United centre-back claiming somewhat bizarrely ‘I think we were the better team’.
If he had said the scoreline flattered Newcastle then fair enough, a one or two goal winning margin was the maximum Newcastle probably deserved, but to claim that Reading deserved to win is surely admirable in its delusion.
It was a bit of a messy chaotic match but Newcastle should have been a couple of goals up and the match won by half-time, instead Reading were gifted a penalty in one of their very rare first half attacks.
Newcastle may have carried a bit of luck but that doesn’t equal them not deserving the win, only Sir Alex Ferguson would have agreed with Jaap Stam on that one.
Jaap Stam:
“We should have got something out of the game and we deserved a lot more than a 4-1 loss.
“If you look at the game overall, I think we were the better team. In terms of the style of play, the intent we showed, what we did on the pitch, I think we can be very proud of the guys.
“We earned possession, created a couple of good chances, got forward well – so I’m very happy with that. And if we work like we did, play like we did today, I’m sure we’re going to be winning a lot of games across the course of the season.
“We performed much, much better than we did at Wolves. And the players know that. I’ve spoken to the team and they agree, they know it was a much better performance.
“Everybody in Newcastle will see the scoreline and say they were the better team…but they weren’t…but the score is all important, that’s what wins you points and they scored goals which makes the difference.
“It was a clash between a couple of players, they fell over, their player fell over as well, and he gave an easy penalty (Ritchie scored to put Newcastle 2-1 up).
“After that he could have given us a penalty, he should have given us a penalty, but he didn’t. He just waved it away when Garath went down and after that you know it’s going to be difficult.
“I’m not looking for excuses, because I’m very proud of what the team have showed today, but referees are important – they can make or break a game. And I think the referee had a bad day today, making a few decisions I found very harsh.”
“We conceded goals by conceding stupid fouls and free-kicks and I told the guys we need to work on not conceding goals like this. If you are not sharp enough with second balls or headers from corners, and if you give penalties away, you know you’re making life difficult for yourself. The goals we are conceding, they are down to our own mistakes. “
(To read the instant Newcastle fan/writer reaction to the win over Reading go here)
(To see the interactive fan match ratings on each Newcastle player and to add your own go here)
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