Game On! Newcastle v Olympiakos

The 30,000 capacity Estadio Algarve
Game number four of pre-season gets underway shortly, against a rather appropriately named outfit from a rather appropriate country.

Obviously we see the London Olympics kick-off tonight, and what better way to celebrate than by playing a team from the country that gave us the Olympics? Even better is the fact that their name is based around the Olympics. Anyone else starting to feel that it was a set up?

Anyway enough Olympic malarkey. I’m pretty much not interested in it although, unlike some, I don’t especially want it to fail as it will reflect on all Brits whether we like it or not. What I am interested in is the game this evening which will see us go toe-to-toe with a team that has already qualified for the Champions League this season.

The game will kick-off at 8:45pm (there is no time difference between the UK and Portugal) and will be shown live on ESPN. Essentially it is a three team mini-tournament between ourselves, Olympiakos and SC Braga although I don’t know how you can win a tournament when the rules say that even a penalty shootout can end in a draw!

For reference it is called the “XII Trofeo Guadiana” which actually got underway last night as Olympiakos and Braga managed to draw 1-1 over the course of 90 minutes and then drew 4-4 on penalties. Seemingly there is no provision to have more than five penalties…

The game this evening will be Olympiakos’ last of the tournament after two games in two days for the Greeks, which Newcastle will also have to endure as they play SC Braga in 24 hours time. With that in mind I think it’s safe to assume that we’ll be seeing a lot of team rotation over these next two games.

Tim Krul is likely to make his first appearance of pre-season and will share goalkeeping duties with Steve Harper after Rob Elliot picked up a minor injury presumably straining to reach a bit of discarded kebab he found under his bed. Shane Ferguson is also absent while Romain Amalfitano – who missed the last friendly with a groin injury – may be spared as a precaution even though he joined in training yesterday.

Another player set for a first appearance is Yohan Cabaye who is now back from an extended break after his participation at Euro 2012. His compatriot Hatem Ben Arfa won’t feature though as he has been attending a disciplinary hearing to discuss his fall out with Laurent Blanc over the summer. Nothing has come of it but the missed training will likely have an impact in his role these next two games and we may have to wait until August 4th (my birthday, hint hint) to see Benny back in action. Steven Taylor may play a part as he continues to recover from the most serious injury of his career to date.

Anyway I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Once the team news appears I’ll add it in below and we can see where we go from there. Also if you happen to know of any decent links for the match then please feel free to share them as not everyone has ESPN.

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Tim Krul, James Perch, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, Davide Santon, Gabriel Obertan, Gael Bigirimana, Romain Amalfitano, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Shola Ameobi.

Subs: Steve Harper, Fabricio Coloccini, Danny Simpson, James Tavernier, Ryan Taylor, Mehdi Abeid, Sylvain Marveaux, Cheik Tiote, Sammy Ameobi, Jonas Gutierrez, Papiss Cisse.

Olympiakos: Roy Carroll, Anastasios Papazoglou, Ljubomir Fejsa, Rafik Djebbour, Ionnis Fetfatzdis, Dimitris Siovas, Claude Dielna, Panagiotis Vlachodimos, Chumbinho, Luis Santo, Vasileios

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

108 thoughts on “Game On! Newcastle v Olympiakos

  1. Weird result…so Olympiakos has what, 10 points…point per goal? Or is it 2 points, for the two draws? So if Newcastle and SC Braga draw tomorrow, it’s a 3-way tie (assuming another 1-1 draw and 4-4 on penalties)?

    Confused.

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  2. S.taylor scord and we drew, threw it away to 10 men in the last 10 minutes. 🙁 Not many big hitters on mind.

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  3. I only ask because of this tweet:
    Mark Douglas ‏@MsiDouglas
    A draw on penalties. Absolutely crazy. The rules are you get points for goals, so everyone is all square

    Not sure what he meant there. I almost read that that they get 5 points each. Surely that’s not right…because if Newcastle win tomorrow 1-0, then they still lose based on Olympiakos total goals…that’s not right, right? Is it beer time yet?

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  4. ANDYMAG they have links with Millwall , Juventus and Swansea supporters . Think that says it all really , But living near to Den Haag and having worked their for 20 odd years i know a fair few Den Haag supporters and they are certanly not all bad , but like all Clubs their is a few knob heeds .

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  5. My general impressions are that…
    Bigirimana….impressed with him, can see why we snapped him up, not finished article but perhaps 80% there and will get there.
    Amalfitano…has some good control and passing and looks a decent player, wanted a little too much time but I can’t judge yet.
    Abeid…had some good movement and passing but also made some silly decisions like the freekick.
    Vuckic…I don’t rate him, he’s too inconsistent.
    Sammy.. wasn’t his best showing
    Obertan..I thought he worked some good openings and was decent, needs to work on his delivery a bit but he isn’t as bad as some try to make out. Has more chance of games next season than any of the youngsters IMO.
    Dummet..a reserve LB playing CB shows how light we are at the back.

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  6. Axel
    very true 😉
    What the hell kind of point system is that that 😕 ?
    I’ve been highly impressed with Boyles opening ceremony, looks very cool, not quite Beijing but we didnt have quite their budget. Intersting to see Rio’s reply to this(In Brazil not ferdinand 🙄 ).

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  7. MEDIA BEARD
    MEDIA BEA-AARD
    HE’S NOT (QUITE) NOEL EDMONDS…
    HE’S MEDHI ABEID 😯 😯

    😆 😛 ➡ 😎

    …quite simply got to be the chant, I’d say. What what. 😯

    …the lad looks ‘proficient’ to me like. Good buy.

    Hello again.

    Good to see Vuckic and Gosling getting let out for playtime like anyway.

    Young players get bigger, they need the exorcise.

    Media Beard and Alfie Tanner look like good buys (as opposed to goodbyes).

    …just hope we play the ******* enough before they get too fat and care-free in the reserves.

    Williamson is **** 😡 …can’t head the ball 😆

    …yeah whatever.

    I can’t believe it’s not better.

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  8. Just seen on SKY that Andy Carroll has said he would consider a loan move too another Prem club so long as they are in Europe . Wonder which team he means 🙄 😉

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  9. …bit of a shame they played Green Day just before the penalties like. 😡
    That was my biggest gripe.
    Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters would’ve been better, I reckon. 😉

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  10. Axel, I just had a **** on a paper plate and chucked it as hard as I could. 😯

    …unfortunately the paper plate flew off real fast, and the turd landed on my head 😳

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  11. My thoughts on the game Amalfitano looked like a tidy footballer, bigi looks like Tiote but more athletic and a better passer of the ball. However Williamson is GASH, we need a centre back behind taylor and colo. He doesnt look comfortable on the ball at all with the ball and he is too slow.

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  12. Agreed Alex. I would add that perch was solid at rb and I thought gosling looked good before getting hurt

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  13. RODZILLA the lesson to be learned their is , use the toilet and not let your self be exposed .

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  14. I got nothing to lose
    I saw the sun in May
    I’ve got something to hold on to
    I fell in love today 😯

    I saw the break at dawn
    I saw a child in play
    I saw the spring in the winter time
    I fell in love today
    😯

    I walk with the birds in flight
    I fly with love today
    Green grass never looked so good
    I fell in love today

    I feel like a million bucks
    Nothing could break my sway
    You people can’t touch me
    I fell in love today

    All music available from K-Tel, yes that’s right motherfukaz, K to the ************ T homeboy 😯

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  15. …kinel.
    Hoos turtley caved in there.
    Just managed te cleymoot 😳

    …malreet like! 🙂 😯 😮 :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

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  16. NNNNNNOIIIIIIIIISSSSEEEEEEE :mrgreen: :mrgreen: 😮 😮 😐 🙄 😛 🙄

    NNNNNNOIIIIIIIIISSSSEEEEEEE :mrgreen: :mrgreen: 😮 😮 😐 🙄 😛 🙄

    NNNNNNOIIIIIIIIISSSSEEEEEEE :mrgreen: :mrgreen: 😮 😮 😐 🙄 😛 🙄

    NNNNNNOIIIIIIIIISSSSEEEEEEE :mrgreen: :mrgreen: 😮 😮 😐 🙄 😛 🙄

      (Quote)

  17. This is a public service announcement.
    There is a serious lack of expletives in use in today’s society.
    Every ******* knows enough fucking swear words.

    Why hold back, just use the ******* 😯

    ..the fucking ******* **** **** arsehole ******* ****** twatknacker

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  18. ..a just wanna feel abau-dit

    BAYBAAYYY! 😯

    Don’t fool about it

    AAAAOoooow 😯

    a said cheese. 😎

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