Newcastle United - Lifting the Fog on the Tyne

December Update

Ah December. The month we all look forward to. Christmas, presents, food, relaxing, what could be better?
Well, forget all that lads, we've got a busy month with no less than 6 Premier League games being crammed in. Continental mid-season break, who needs it?!
Got some of the "easier" teams on the fixture list this month, including Wolves, Norwich and Blackburn, as well as tougher teams like Everton and Aston Villa. However, the toughest game will be Arsenal on the 20th at the Emirates. Would be nice to repeat our Old Trafford win and give the supporters a winning Christmas!


3/12/2011 A vs Aston Villa 1-1
Olivier Giroud
Charles N'Zogbia

10/12/2011 H vs Everton 4-1
Christian Eriksen
Olivier Giroud (2)
Xherdan Shaqiri
Marouane Fellaini

17/12/2011 H vs Wolves 3-1
Rafael Toloi
Steven Taylor
Massadio Haidara
Stephen Ward

20/12/2011 A vs Arsenal 0-1
Andrey Arshavin

26/12/2011 A vs Norwich 1-0
Yaya Sanogo

31/12/2011 H vs Blackburn 1-1
Olivier Giroud
Ruben Rochina

We end 2011 by gaining 11 points from a possible 18, so not too shabby. The only result I am disappointed with was the home draw to Blackburn, which I felt we should have won, but some profligate finishing cost us.
Still we had some a good win against quality opposition in the shape of Everton, probably the best we have played all season, and a spirited performance in losing against Arsenal. In fact, we played so well against Arsenal that Arsene Wenger even complimented us on our play after the game, saying we tried hard to come back. Massadio Haidara, the young French left back brought in to back up Davide Santon, scored a great goal against Wolves also, while another youngster, Yaya Sanogo, made his mark, scoring on his Premier League debut against Norwich to give us the win in a tight game at Carrow Road.



CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
Eriksen has been instrumental in the last month. He has established himself as the creative force in the team, through which all attacks are built. As well as this, he is a great set piece taker, and his ability to put the ball into dangerous areas from corners resulted in several goals being scored over the last month. He's not too bad in front of goal either, and his opener against Everton really set the tone for our performances this month.