Can Newcastle claim undisputed bragging rights?
We can all crow to our hearts content about formation changes and what not but chances are come Sunday we will see the tried and tested 442 facing off against Sunderland.
Taking that to be the case, I wanted to take a look at the Sunderland side and focus on a few key areas which could have a bearing on what will be no doubt a high-tempered affair.
Both sides are coming off the back of a poor result and even if they weren’t would be raring to go for what is probably the most hotly contested derby in the Premier League.
After Newcastle took the three points and bragging rights home from the Stadium of Light early this season, make no mistake, Sunderland will be eager as ever to get one over on Newcastle and I fully expect them to perform.
For that reason I think Newcastle, despite being at home, could have the lean share of possession and might need to resort to sly tactics with clever and cool heads to take the three points from this one rather than putting in an eye pleasing performance.
Let’s start with their danger men. The obvious one who springs to mind is Stephane Sessegnon. He played extremely well first half in the Stadium of Light until Cheik Tiote got a hold of him in the second half, and has been on some sterling form under Martin O’Neill.
They could go all out and play Frazier Campbell with him but given that he is just back from injury and they are the away side, I think this is a risky match to start him in. Regardless of whether he plays or not the tactics have to be the same from a defensive sense.
Both have the pace on Williamson and Coloccini without question and if we play a high line we will be playing right into their hands. I think our centre backs need to forget about the offside trap and make sure that they draw Sessegnon into a physical battle instead.
To avoid that he will probably drop deep when possible, and Tiote needs to be there as he was in the first fixture to basically bully him, make sure he can’t get shots off and pick little pockets of space. Tiote will have to put in a Man of the Match performance for us on Sunday in my opinion.
Which brings me to the midfield and one of my most hated players in all of football. For all the assaults Nigel De Jong has committed in his time there is only one who surpasses him in the scum stakes. Yes, you’ve guessed it. Introducing none other than Lee Cattermole.
He will be so up for this game after the last time, it simply has to be taken advantage of. Yohan Cabaye really has to keep a cool head in this game because Cattermole will wind him up. I think it would be actually quite easy to manipulate his overzealous nature, to put it nicely.
Tiote and Cabaye have a habit of playing little five yard one-two’s with each other at times. Quite simply, they should do it around Cattermole as much as possible, hold onto the ball for an extra second and be willing to take a hit or two. He will be booked and walking on egg shells in no time.
Craig Gardner is the exact same. He likes to shoot more than Darron Gibson so that has to be watched but like Cattermole he has a tendency to leave the foot in. All Tiote or Cabaye have to do is pull a Keano or Viera on it and clatter him ten seconds after kick off. It will escape a yellow card and rile him no-end. Then resort to clever one-two’s, suck him in and get him booked.
Jack Colback will more than likely play, and all animosity towards the red and whites aside, I actually think he is a handy little player on the ball. If Sessegnon plays up top then Tiote has to watch Colback like a hawk but otherwise, Cabaye will have to play deep whether we like it or not.
Next up, McClean and Larsson either wing. Larsson is decent but limited to one real strength. I don’t think he is that good a player, but given time and space his delivery is quality. For this reason I think Santon would be a massive risk to play against him in case he goes missing.
Someone has to sit and watch him, and in a general sense make sure we don’t give away free kicks within thirty yards of our goal. If nothing else he can deliver from a set piece and defending them also happens to be a massive weak spot for Newcastle this season.
As I said, Santon could be a risk for this game in particular but one thing we will have going for us is Phil Bardsley is not the type of full back to be bombing up and down like Ronald Zubar did to us last week, so that should free up Gutierrez a bit to double up on Larsson with the full back and eliminate his threat, much like we did to Pennant against Stoke.
Speaking of Bardsley, he is another who will be foaming at the mouth coming into this one after the last time and that has to be manipulated. I have criticized Gutierrez of late for his lack of productivity but I don’t think his role will be about that on Sunday.
Nothing will frustrate Bardsley more than Jonas doing his trademark backing in and holding onto the ball. A master in the art of buying cheap free kicks and this will be his time to shine. I would almost guarantee Phil Bardsley will be booked in the first half if Jonas makes the most of Bardsley being itching to get one over on us. Then life is easy, just run at him, sucker him in and buy fouls the rest of the game.
Sorry, back to one of their definite danger men of late, James McClean. Hate to say it but the lad does look a prospect and unless Danny Simpson is on top form, McClean will give him a torrid time unless we can stop him playing high up the pitch.
For this reason I think it would be naive to play Ryan Taylor on the right wing, simply because they will probably play Kieron Richardson at left full back and he is much more comfortable going forward than being made to defend and we all know what inviting pressure on ourselves has achieved of late.
If Ryan isn’t going to play then who gets the nod? Again, many an argument has been made in favour of Hatem Ben Arfa over the past week or two and I really want to see the lad get a good run of games, but I can’t see Alan Pardew starting him.
If that is the case then next name on the list is Gabriel Obertan. Pardew seems to have more faith in his ability to track back so I would presume he would choose him above Ben Arfa, some would say rightfully so. Either way I think the job of the right winger will have to be different to that of Gutierrez.
As I said, Richardson likes to push forward, and in fairness is pretty effective when he does, and we don’t need them doubling up on Simpson. In contrast to that, Richardson is not a natural full back or defender, and does look decidedly uncomfortable when he is being ran at.
He also has a very similar to Simpson in that he shows players inside constantly, and has no right foot to defend once they have. This could work in favour of either Ben Arfa or Obertan as they both like to cut inside the defender when on the right rather than going to the byline for a cross.
If we can get the ball out to the right wing and use that as a countering or attacking outlet early on rather than long balls up to Demba Ba then I think Richardson and McClean could be unsettled and forced onto the back foot rather than attacking us as a pair if we sit deep, and in my opinion, inevitably hurting us.
I think Obertan would be the obvious choice if full faith is not in Ben Arfa to do this considering Pardew will have faith in him to track back when needed, and despite his critics, me included, early on in the season did prove to be that effective out ball I’m talking about.
That leaves our forward line against their centre backs, and if we can get decent supply into them, this is where I actually have no worries whatsoever.
It is almost certain that the two at the back for Sunderland will be Michael Turner and John O’Shea. It’s quite simple. If we play route one, we won’t get a thing out of this pairing. They are both very strong in the air.
Where their downfall is, as West Brom exploited last weekend, is in their mobility and comfort on the ball. They are actually very similar players to Mike Williamson and if they can be put under pressure by our front two will be forced to play hoof-ball.
This will play right into our hands as Sessegnon, or Campbell if he plays, won’t stand a chance in the air against our trio of Coloccini, Williamson and Tiote. As it does with us when we play hoof-ball, it will in-turn eliminate wing effectiveness and make the game scrappy, which could suit us at the moment.
In terms of supply to our strikers, Yohan Cabaye and whoever plays right wing will be pivotal in creating chances. For that reason I personally would go with Ben Arfa and let him free to attack and torture Richardson, thus creating space for our strikers, but if it’s Obertan then once he gets his head up he can do relatively the same job.
All said and done I think no matter what they will score at some stage, so I do think we need to go out with the mindset of unsettling their defence. As mentioned earlier, I think they have a number of players who can be manipulated into bookings and maybe sendings off, but certainly free kicks, and for this reason I would probably play Ryan Taylor instead of Santon or Simpson.
The build up to a derby is always a time of squeaky bums no matter what the confidence level. The form book goes out the window more often than not and it comes down to who wants it more, and in that regard I am hoping to see much more desire and passion from Newcastle than we have witnessed in recent games. That said there is a fine line between wanting it a lot and a little too much and this is a game for boxing clever.
Sunderland have Martin ‘Midas Touch’ O’Neill on their side and will be confident coming into the game on Sunday despite their loss to West Brom, but fact is they got beat in their own back yard earlier this season and they will be itching to get revenge. Hopefully Newcastle can manipulate that fact and outsmart them if not outplay them.
Less than a day to go now and both clubs run-ins could hinge on the outcome of this result. For me it is definitely one of the most highly anticipated derby days in recent memory, but as always, the knees are a-knocking as it draws closer.
Think I may have to glue a Lee Cattermole mask on the dog and roar abuse at him to release some tension or the telly will be smashed come half-time on Sunday.
The joys of being a Newcastle supporter eh? Never a dull moment!
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79 Comments
very good article mate, i would be tempted to play ben arfa because of what you say about richardson agianst wolves i thought he looked very dangerous cutting in and letting fly, but if simpson plays he will have to track back and help out. As for Raylor the set pieces are a bonus but he is not blessed with pace and could possibly be overrun. obertan has the pace obvcource and will track back when needed and cut inside but then what? any 3 of them could start but i think he will start with obertan or raylor to stop the flow on that side. Not a usual long commenter thought i would give it a wack
quality article, really enjoyed reading that. think your bang on the money as well with regards to the right wing, in all honesty i would play ben arfa on the left and obertan on the right, this way we will cause them a lot of problems with wide areas, i no some people will undoubtedly bash for leaving jonas out but i don’t really see what he offers offensively.
Great article. Well done. looking forward to the game. Won’t be pretty. Time to stuff the scum and open a gap on liverpool.
Keith nice article- I agree there is a lot of players who we can exploit to draw fouls and bookings and in the case of Catterfoul a sending off would be nice
Am i first?
aargh missed again, no coms when i wrote .
Just got in from work and heard the fantastic news about Colo and Tim
Howay the lads bring the b@5t@rd5 on!
Krul
Taylor Colloccini Williamson Santon
Tiote
Ben Arfa Cabaye Gutierrez
Cisse
Ba
What do you think about that team?
…….apologies lads ….got a bit carried away on the other thread (Bit pished in anticipation for tomorrow
) …..msg for mr Stavers:
……Mr Stavers ….glad to be of comical service sir ….still me and me boys cannit sit still (like it’s FECKIN CHRISTMAS OR SUMMICK!!!), tryin to get them to bed now still (9pm here, normally akip by 7.30ish) roll on tomorrow .COME ON THE FECKIN TOOOOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NUFCGT looks good to me
, i just don’t rate simpson i cringe when a fast winger runs towards him, he needs a lot of cover from the right wingers, as would raylor but i just feel more comfortable with him at the back for some reason 
Just a random thought but looking at the table. At the start of the season if you had given me 7th on 36pts with a zero GD at this point of the season I would have been very pleased.
ADAMNUFC96 Taylor won’t need as much help as simpson would so it lets Ben Arfa be more attacking
Keith another good read mate
NUFCgt I would go with your team
Congratulations to my friend #TimKrul with his new deal – You deserve it – All the best this weekend #beat.those.people
Quote above was from Erik Pieters….love to see him at the Toon in the summer
3hours….you may well do, he has a caravan at Whitley Bay
can see a 2-1 win tommorow, tiote with a motm performance. trying to be positive as i can possibly be
Richie hows things going with you, any further on mate
How about
……………………..Krul………………………….
…….Fergie……..Colo……..Santon………
…………..Tiote…………..R.Taylor……..
..Benny………..Cabaye…….Oba/jonas
…………….Ba……………..Cisse………….
Would like to see Fergie get a chance at Lb and put Santon on right and put Taylor as right DM next to tiote thus freeing up Cabs .benny and oba or jonas. Key being we let them worry about our attack and pace and not us defending and hoofing it all day. Don’t really wanna see Simmo or Willo play as they make me nervous. What do you think lads good or crap ?
Dave….no mate, tit’s up so on hold at the minute
Great article.
Agree completely.
I really think we must be afraid of Sessegnon when he is in a good game, he is in the best premier league player i think, very skilfull very technical and good shot, good pace so very dangerous ( in the games against City and chelsea he was kidding with the defender). But when he played in Paris, he can have some games where he is completely out of the game, hope tomorrow will happen.
And concerning our tactic, I think no surprise 4-4-2 with Raylor in the right (maybe Oba but I would be surprised) because Pardew use the players he trust more in difficult games and Oba had never play a derby and is affraid sometimes because mentally not very solid.
Kim – I’d rather play 1 up top than 3 in defence.
It would mean dropping Cisse but I think he’s been struggling with an injury anyway…
—————-Ba—————-
-Jonas, Ben Arfa, Obertan-
———Tiote, Cabaye———
Santon, Colo, Willo, Simmo
—————Krul—————-
KIM don’t think playing 1 cb is a good idea but i agree with playing fergie in future games
TOON CHICKEN don’t think cabaye really suits playing DM, mate.
off topic,, but these new long contracts for collo and timmy tell me this is a canny little ploy to keep fans happy and give nufc a bigger cash- in when we can sell these two this or next summer!!!!…steve an nufc fan all my life…..and good luck to our lads tomorow!!!!(lets not delude ourselves lads and lasses).
I would like to see a double diamond. Cisse like to play up top. Ba & HBA play off him with Cabaye as a deep-laying playmaker. Then Jonas & Raylor give width with Tiote as DM. Unfortunately that only leaves a 3 man defence which would be fine Colo, Saylor & Pieters, but all we have is Colo, Willo & Santon.
Still it ain’t 4-4-2 so it ain’t gonna happen.
NUFCGT – he wouldn’t be playing DM – His job would be to link defence with attack while Tiote sits a little deeper mopping up the scraps.
Prem – can’t see us playing with 3 in defence in a million years. In fact, does any team in the Prem play with 3 at the back? Just don’t think the English game suits it it at all.
Richie all good things come to they that wait
PREMANDUP@26- 3 Man defence is fine use Fergie (pacy) on left Colo (smart ) middle and Santon on the right ,that was my choice at @19. We ain’t doing so well with 4 at back of late so why not try it i say.
What i’m trying to say is that if we are set up like that you would think the opposition would be too busy defending to cause a threat . Our high line is not good either very risky when you have slow defenders.
maybe its my neg side kicking in again but after thinking last week was a banker and three points against a crap wolves team in disarray with no manager and in the end to get a lucky draw at home means i am not brimming with confidence at this one. If we dont raise the bar on ths game i think we will loose it.
Dave,,,hopefully……starting with a win tomorrow
Richie I win would maybe kick us on, as I feel we need a good result to boost us a bit
Dave – not think tying El Capitan and Krul to long term deals has given the players and the fans a boost?
Personally think it was a master stroke by chubs.
Please lads and lasses start cracking the mackem jokes
Don’t like 3 at the back it maybe better 5 in the defence with 2 wing backs and 3 centre backs??
TC I said that earlier but you maybe didn’t notice because you were too busy trying to be a smart ass, but failing badly
. As for being a master stroke you think everything the fat fuk does is a master stroke. 
Well, today’s the day for me already. will be wearing my top all day as usual on match day, and will flaunt it at the shops, at the bbq later today, and will sleep in it this afternoon when I catch a few zeds, and then I’ll be eating and drinking in it up to kick off. It’s always a long day on match day, even longer on derby day.
I always find it difficult to concentrate on anything other than football on derby day.
I fear Cabaye and Tiote will get overrun in midfield if they are left there by themselves. So I’d consider Guthrie for a start in a diamond formation that presses the 5under1and ball carrier. With Jonas at the top of the diamond, with instuctions to run at the defence (HBA could just as easily be there instead, but Jonas gets stuck in more on the tackling front when needed).
Give Ba a free role (but expect both Ba and Jonas to move wide to allow Cabaye and Guthrie to join the attack), with Cisse being the spearhead.
The full backs might be a bit exposed out wide, but hey, they have to earn their money. Cabaye and Guthrie will need to provide some frontline cover for them.
That’s my contribution to the tactical melting pot.
NUFCGT I cant see the 3 CB’s working as we only have 3 and 1 is out injuried
yeah Dave I think it’s one to think about next season
and brisvegas sounds like a good plan but i don’t think our full-backs are good enough.
What strikes me as I read the article is that we’ve got nowt to worry about. As every 5under1and player is mentioned, you just think “shite”. The only decent player is the little Frenchman.
I’m looking forward to seeing us take the p1ss and then watch the close ups on MOTD of tears running down glum little mackem faces… and then re-winding it, and re-windling it, and re-windling it … and re-winding it again for the kids.
@troy – what did you mean about Fergie distances himself from good judgment? You replied distances himself from sentiment and good judgment – as if that explains it.
@B&B
He distances sentiment and good judgement, it means what it says. His good judgement is not tainted by sentiment.
@Begas
Good to see you have the arrogance to provide your own tactics. Absolute hypocrite.
From what I’m reading in this preview, we should drop our defenders deep while still keeping our strikers high up to harry their defenders.
Might that give Sunderland too much room to operate in midfield? We need to choose – play a high line and pressure them, or drop deep and let them play out of defense.
sorry only got the chance to write back now… cheers for the comments as always, much appreciated
B&B
think the same myself, on paper they look very average, and were under Bruce, but MON has them playing.. if it was Bruce still at the helm I would be very confident
@45 Hard to explain what I mean without using diagrams, don’t mean whole defence playing deep, just centre backs, full backs should tuck in and squeeze the space in front with Tiote, and Cabaye if he is needed as they will probably play 3 in the centre of the park.
I think the full backs and Tiote are pivotal in getting a result tomorrow, but also think if we sit back we are asking to be beaten.. need an attacking outlet on the right wing, for the reasons I explained in the article… all just my opinion, by no means think I have them susses, just my own take on individual areas and battles
Troy @ 44.Just an opinion. Opinions are simple; anybody can give them, it’s easy to have them.
Doing it for real, for a proper football team? Now that’s hard.
We’re all experts in our own minds; only the arrogant think their own mind is somehow associated with truth.
Wow. I sound like Pootle.
No you dont.
But well done for at least trying, arrogant hypocrite.
What page of your ‘Big Boys Book of Soccerball Tactics’ is your formation on?
It’s going to be a case of fighting fire with fire and with MoN consolidating his rough and ready crew into a makeshift roving wall, we will have to be equally disciplined at times to watch their breaks – they will, I am certain of it, be counting on our incessant attack, watching for that stretched gap to appear between back four and midfield so they can do what they did to Citeh. It will probably happen around the 75 minute mark, after HBA is brought on to make a final drive forward, with the likes of Simpson and Santon pushing further up the wings, Williamson & Coloccini prowling the box for heading opportunities, concentration will lapse and they will cut in behind. This is the nightmare I have. That and Tiote sawing Sessegnon in half at the 25 yard mark and being sent off, the resultant Larrson FK looping top right a la Raylor at theirs. This must not occur. I work with a mackem, please don’t let this happen.
I wake, it’s monday morning, and I watch MOTD2 again as I eat breakfast, our 4 goals looking as goo as they did the day before.
Heh heh
Too predictable!
Good fun. But let’s leave it there. There’s a game afoot.
I wish I didn’t have so much time to kill. I can’t think of anything but the game. I went shopping this morning to take my mind off things. Almost every time I go out in my Newcastle top I get some remark. This time a guy in a Chelsea top shouted across the car park, ‘Hope you get thrashed’ I presumed he was talking about the game and not some good wishes for kinky sex.
And, later, some lair hanging out a car zoomed by and screamed ‘Howay the lads’.
Reminders are everywhere.
I’ll be thinking of you when I’m there. (Actually, I wont)
I actually think the side Sunderland had last year was better, certainly in attack. They lined up with five in the midfield then also.
The game changed when we got the first goal and we need to do the same tomorrow.
Easy this tictac lark
I got a Tic Tac stuck up my nostril once, when I was nine.
Had to wait for it to kind of ‘melt’ to get it out.
Yeah Toonsy but I do rate their manager more highly this year.
*Actually – am I allowed to have an opinion on their manager, or do I have to have owned a football club and employed one beforehand?*
@Begas
Strange. I thought that’s all we were giving the other day. Opinions. I don’t recall me tipping up at SJP with my managers. Adhe on telling Pardew to get out my managers office.
You absolute hypocrite of the highest order.
And it’s taken you to read a 400 page book to come up with that? Woo hoo hoo hoo hoo
Thats meant to read “managers badge” .
I was too busy howling at Begas’s formation and the exposed fullbacks!!!!! Yes, he’s going to to expose Simmo!!!!!!
He then starts talking about midfield Christmas trees and hanging Ba of the end ! They are called Baubles you maniac!
I take it you are still stuck on page 1 of your 400 page tic tac book!!! Wooo hooo ho ho
No wonder Pootle ripped it out of you yesterday Begas!
Im still howling at your comment. Begas !
The full backs might be exposed but hey, they earn their money don’t they.
Is that really the best you can come up with yet you went berserk when I suggest Cabaye should play in a more advanced position?
Hey, he earns his money doesn’t he?
I’m so pleased you’ve been brave enough to give your tactics up for us all to see having scoffed at others for doing the same thing.
I just pray that Pardew doesn’t even consider your formation or we are fooked!
Put your 400 page tactic book on the barbie and get back to basics!
Theres some reet bitchiness going on this morning
@Witters
Just rubbing Begas’s nose in it.
He had the arrogance to slag others off for their formations and told us he had read a 400 page book on it.
He then justifies exposing our weak link Simmo, because he earns good money!
Now that is genius!
Must admit I’m not one for formations banter but I do think there’s probably a little more to it than some suggest.
I find it a lot easier to see what’s going right/wrong whilst the match is on
Still gannin off is it?
Apparently from what I can gather it’s gonna lash it down. 
I hate it when the weather levels things off, always reminds me of sewpakev turning round and jammying that ball into the corner. Logically speaking our skil trumps theirs but all we need to add to this is high wind and all the tactics are down the pot.
Witters with you on the formation malarky, no formation makes a 5-10 yard pass more accurate or less accurate, that is mostly down to the player making the pass and that is one of the things they have struggled with lately imo…….anyhoo feck all that, lets rip these dorty feckers a new one. Howay the Lads
Wearher forecast
50% chance of rain at 11am
Cloudy but no rain all day after that.
At 1.50pm there will be a big black cloud over wearside which will open up on the final whistle!
Morning!! Buzzing
So stoked about Krul & Colo
When you think about last spring and the players we had bitching about the club…. what a difference in attitude this year. Brilliant timing and all.
HWTL… bring it on!!
Tsunki….where you at?……weather report I looked at says scattered cloud wi chance of snow…nae wind
@64 –
Met office – they nae good like?
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ne/newcastle_forecast_weather.html
Come on Begas. I want you to tell me about exposing Simmo cos he earns enough money.
We are not pressing and pressuring our opponents enough. It has really dropped off sinse the turn of the new year. Were not forcing enough mistakes from our opponents, while we make many. You can play any formation you like if you are not working hard enough, it will fail. I think the lads are easing off because we are safe this year. It only has to be 10% but in the Pl you will get beaten. Pardew needs to fire a rocket up them but I reckon they will be fired up today.
Troy man call off yer dog.
I reckon if we get beat today or will be because Cabaye is playing to deep.
Howay the lads
Tsunki..no they’re hopeless, best way is to stick ya head out of the window….unless you’re on a train in which case not so good an idea
@Begas
You’re hiding.
Answer my question about exposing Simmo cos he earns enough dosh?
400 pages and you come up with that?
richietoon – I have a feeling there will be a weather bubble around SJP that will keep the rain off, this will be a result of a hot air plume rushing up from the ground caused by 52k jumping Geordies and a handful of sweating mackems
Message for the away – hope you lads in the stripey jimjams make sure the coach driver keeps the engine running so it’ll be warm for when you get on at 1.20. 
@Begas
You’re hiding.
Answer my question about exposing Simmo cos he earns enough dosh?
400 pages and you come up with that?
@aussie
@ 70
Armchair coach and armchair sports psychologist.
Oh and armchair manager.
How can say what Pardew needs do – you aren’t a Premier League manager?
In fact if you aren’t a reknowned world expert on firing rockets you shouldn’t even be talking about them at all.
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