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Opinion

VERY entertaining comments from Brentford fans about trip to Newcastle

7 years ago
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Like every other set of supporters, the Brentford fans were warily waiting for the TV changes to be announced.

Newcastle United at 3pm on a Saturday confirmed and an impressive near three thousand (their home gates are around nine thousand) travelling supporters headed to St James Park.

As Newcastle fans  we love to hear people talking positively about both the city and club, as well as the people of course.

A football mad city, brilliant city centre location, hundreds of pubs within walking distance, what’s not to like???

The Brentford fans haven’t let us down.

They may have felt their team didn’t turn up until it was too late but great to hear their comments about our team and some of the characters they met when in the Toon.

This lead-in from one of the Brentford fans is spectacular and made me laugh despite the hangover, comments courtesy of top Brentford supporters  forum GriffinPark.org:

‘It’s been a Champagne moment all weekend from the time we got off the train Friday night to getting back on the 10am homeward bound.

Great city, great company, saw lots of old faces and spent a lot of time with some top Bees.

90 minutes football was so so but it was a fantastic ground and the atmosphere when we did score was memorable.

The Geordies are very likeable and the Karaoke night in The Black Garter (think Newcastle’s equivalent of Phoenix nights) was one of the best nights I can remember, with an 80 year singing Coward of the County for our young Bees Hey Jude showstoppers.

Throw in a punch up over choice of songs between “artists” that got thrown out and continued on the cobbles, dancing with Andy Carroll’s aunt and the barmaids tattooed norks and it really was a night those present will be talking about for years.

Top trip.’

‘Thought we showed Newcastle far too much respect. Expected us to really press them and get in there faces but instead we stood off and allowed them time and space to play, particularly Shelvey who was class.’

Spot on mate and cheers to the muggy little bonehead who pushed his way in to our row and then puked everywhere….classy.’

‘As an aside – what a wonderful city Newcastle is.’

‘Thought the stewards and police let common sense go out the window when making people sit in their allocated seat. The Bees fans that dobbed their own in should hang their heads in shame.’

‘Was ok until two very sloppy and uncharacteristic pieces of defending gifted them two goals.

‘Then the confidence just drained away. Woods didn’t want the ball fearing Shelvey would be upon him and so we had no rhythm.

Newcastle pressed brilliantly and when in possession were very attack minded. After those 2 goals when Shelvey picked up the ball from Darlow at they had four or 5 (FIVE) players spread along the line of our back 4. We just let them come at us. Not good enough.

The other factor was our lack of ideas, composure and decision making in the final third. Just way off the level needed to beat a team like Newcastle at home.’

‘Expect it will be a few seasons before we trek to SJP again.’

‘Completely rubbed out this afternoon by an excellent team who strolled to a very easy victory. Newcastle look absolute certainties to win this league to me. They are way ahead of their rivals and about a division better than us – and there’s no shame in that given the enormous disparity in resources.

The game was decided in the first fifteen minutes. Newcastle were rampant, all fluent movement and quick passing. We just couldn’t live with it. By half time it could have been five.

The second half began in the worst possible fashion with Newcastle raiding down our right side and delivering a killer cross which Gayle couldn’t miss. I began to wonder if our record defeat (0-7) would be in peril but, as it turned out, Newcastle took their foot off the gas.

We even pulled a goal back after Sawyers flicked on a header from a corner to tee up Hogan from close range. We enjoyed a few spells of slow possession as Newcastle coasted home but even in the anti-climactic last twenty minutes they threatened a fourth on three or four occasions. We never looked like closing the gap and, in fact, it seemed that we had resigned ourselves to a 1-3 defeat in order to conserve energy for Tuesday.

Not at all surprised to lose this one but very disappointing not even to give Newcastle a proper game. It hurts that we were such easy meat.’

‘Enjoyed meeting few of the locals before and after match. didn’t think we were at the races today. Hey ho.’

‘Shelvey turned up and fancied it, we had no idea as to how and stop him, very similar to Burnley at home last season when we couldn’t lay a glove on Barton.’

‘I think we were overawed and whatever the team instructions they went out of the window in the first half. Shelvey was awarded the freedom of St. James’ Park and he made good use of it. No-one 20 yards from him allowing him to pick his cross for the first goal and chaotic defending for the second gave the team a mountain to climb and allowed Newcastle to stroll around with confidence for most of the game.

In the second half it seemed Yennaris was given the job of marking him, which helped a little, but it was too little too late. I thought they were a class above us all over the pitch – reasonable given their expenditure – with accurate ball control and passing; Premier League players exposing our League 1 recruits.

All-in-all a marker for the squad in our progress and there will be many teams who will do worse at SJP. A good performance by the away support and a lot of compliments by the locals.

 I was surprised at the numbers who, seeing my son’s scarf, commented positively; one even said he went with a Brentford supporting friend to Hillsborough and saw us get done 4-1 and a pair of pub bouncers pulled my son, looked at the scarf and then said “oh, Brentford” and let us in… obviously the Mackem patrol!’

‘A good day, a great ground (although felt miles away from the pitch) and keeping things in perspective we lost away at Newcastle. They are the best team in the league and will win the league come May.

Biggest disappointment is that we didn’t make them work hard enough. Surely our scouting on them showed that everything goes through Shelvey and that he carried 50% of their threat. No one got close to him all day and if you give players of that quality time and space it doesn’t matter how good your defending is, eventually he will create.

Appreciate maybe we couldn’t press all over the pitch, but it was crying out for someone to go man for man and follow Shelvey around the put pitch. Too much respect as others have said.’

‘Newcastle was a joy, great city architecturally, great pubs and venues and the good people of Newcastle were very welcoming and great company.’

‘Not surprised Newcastle were miles better than us. They are virtually a Premiership side, while we are a side with players mostly from lower divisions. Class will always tell and if we dont play up to our normal standard we will be punished.

When we get to our new ground with more income we will be able to compete with the better clubs. It just needs everyone to be patient.

We have come a long way.’

‘A great day out, only marred by 95 minutes of football.

We managed to draw the 2nd half.’

‘Shelvey was given far too much room all game and basically took the rise out of us.

Neither Woodsy nor Nico could even get near enough to foul him and he looked World class while our midfield all had off days.’

‘The day out was good (paying price right now at work), result was not and neither was our performance.’

(To view the fan player ratings and to add your own in our interactive system go HERE)

(To read the instant Newcastle fan/writer reaction go HERE)

(Go HERE for the views of Brentford Head Coach Dean Smith on the 3-1 defeat)

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