BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after 4-3 v Forest

The Mag

·23 febbraio 2025

BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after 4-3 v Forest

Interesting to read through these BBC Sport comments, following on from Newcastle United winning a seven goal ‘thriller’ against Nottingham Forest.

The comments from neutrals especially telling…

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A lot of it different to what Newcastle United fans had come to expect from the BBC Sport ‘neutrals’.

The BBC Sport comments from neutrals in the past had been overwhelmingly a catalogue of abuse aimed at NUFC supporters.

Particularly stuff about the Newcastle United owners and the media-inspired pile-ons that NUFC fans have become used to, when blamed for who now owns their club.

On this occasion the politics (almost…) entirely absent, concentrating on matters on the pitch.

The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals, Nottingham Forest fans and the odd Newcastle United supporter also contributing:

‘The best and worst of Newcastle United all in one match!’

‘they have never been any different, a great team to watch from a neutral point of view.’

‘(Liverpool fan) I’ll be happy to see the worst at Wembley, Newcastle great going forward at times.’

‘Eddie Howe is doing a great job with the players he’s got. We need to release the purse strings which should happen this summer.’

‘Lewis Miley looks a fine young prospect. Certainly didn’t look out of place.’

‘He is very cool – never rushed.

Will be a class England midfielder in a year or two.’

‘Agreed a great prospect and the ability to find the net through the legs of 3 defenders !

Almost an example of a triple Nutmegs !’

‘Both him and Lewis Hall had a very good game.’

‘Newcastle have no chance against Liverpool.’

‘Like we did against Arsenal, Man City, Blah, Blah.’

‘A lot of supporters have never seen the worst of Newcastle United, all depends on what decade you were born.’

‘Lucky to win, NFC need a proper coach and squad. Saudis need to make a decisions soon.’

‘Sunderland fan by any chance??’

‘If you offered me ANY living manager in world football for Newcastle, no financial limits, no availability issues, my shortlist would be: 3) Roberto di Zerbi 2) Andoni Iraola 1) Eddie Howe’

‘Sometimes you have to give opposition credit … Forest are 3rd for a reason.’

‘3rd because we’ve been very lucky so far, we’ll likely finish 7th or 8th.’

‘Newcastle making a bid to be Forest’s bogey team. The only two games this season where they have taken the lead but lost the game have been against Newcastle.’

‘What a brilliant game to watch! Proper end to end stuff! As a neutral I thoroughly enjoyed it,what a great advertisement for Premier league football.’

‘Only Newcastle Utd can be 4-1 up and yet you still have your heart in your mouth towards full time. After that second half performance we were lucky to come away with the win, practically threw the game away. Still 3 points, and full credit to Forest for not giving up.’

‘Really? You haven’t been watching Villa for years have you? Cracking game mind!’

‘As a Red can I say that it’s a joy to watch the Magpies when they play flowing attacking football. The better team definitely won.’

‘Fantastic game to watch as a neutral. But why on earth did Newcastle just sit back in the second half? Presumably that was what Howe told them to do. Why not try and score another 4?’

‘coz they got another big game on Wed.’

‘Forest get 3 mins added time to try and salvage a point. Arsenal get 12 mins to do the same. Total bias to the media darling clubs.’

‘There was seven minutes in the first half!!!’

‘Injury time is for both teams, not just forest, get over it.’

‘There were 5 goals, a couple of injuries and a long VAR review in the first half. 7 minutes versus 3 seems about right, not a conspiracy…’

‘They ended up playing more then 3 minutes anyway.’

‘It was 5mins in the end.’

‘Only 8 points separating 3rd to 10th, and all of those teams are beating one another each week.

Strange season, but competitive.’

‘Welcome to an average Bundesliga or 2. Bundesliga season. This happens almost every season now. It may be uncompetitive in the top2, but from 3rd to 11th most seasons, we don’t know until matchday 33(second-last matchday in BL) who is going to have 3rd or 4th. Or even Europe. You’ve seen Freiburg, Hoffenheim, Union Berlin and Heidenheim in European competitions recently… right?’

‘The proverbial game of 2 halves. I’d no skin in this game but I’m pleased Newcastle hung on for the win having seen the Forest keeper wasting time from goal kicks as early as the 4th minute.’

‘After such a game who needs Man City-Liverpool?’

‘A true match of 2 halves and only 3 minutes? Really? Forest recovered well from an initial implosion of 4 goals in 11 minutes, but again.. well done Newcastle on a huge win and Forest? Good fightback in the end. Good luck against Arsenal next match and please for the love of God, for every neutral here… HOLD ON TO CL PLEASE! We need Forest back in the CL, like with Villa!’

‘I thought forest could have got a draw.’

‘Yeah, if they’d scored the exact same number of goals as Newcastle then that would definitely have been a possibility…..’

‘Watching Newcastle is like visiting Alton Towers, it’s an entertaining white knuckle experience.’

‘Result aside – How good is it to see NUFC and NFFC battling it out at the top of the table. Gate crashing the cartel and their corruption!’

‘I’m a Villa fan but I think Eddie Howe is doing an incredible job despite the restriction of PSR. I shudder to think what Newcastle will do when the brakes come off.’

‘He’s the exact opposite of a chequebook manager. The team has received investment (after over a decade of neglect by the previous owners) to at least put it in a competitive ball-park, but what Eddie Howe has done in terms of coaching the resources that were already at the club and the assets that have arrived is nothing short of remarkable.’

‘2 good honest teams with decent managers having an excellent season! Hope you both make Champions League over City and the Unmentionable bottlers running second!’

‘Not a supporter of either side – but what an entertaining game for all to see. Well done both sides.’

Newcastle 4 Nottingham Forest 3 – Sunday 23 February 2025 2pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Miley 23, Murphy 25, Isak 33 pen, 34

Forest:

Hudson-Odoi 6, Milenkovic 63, Yates 90

Possession was Newcastle 57% Forest 43%

Total shots were Newcastle 13 Forest 17

Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Forest 5

Corners were Newcastle 7 Forest 6