Europe starts here for United
This isn’t the Europa League proper though, not just yet, and we have to beat the Greek side over two legs first and foremost before we can start looking at the group stages of the competition.
Being honest I know precisely zip about the Greek outfit aside from bits and bobs I’ve found on my internet trawls. I know they have only played two European games in their entire history (a 6-1 aggregate defeat to Sevilla back in the 2006-2007 season) and I know they have the younger brother of former Newcastle “striker” Shefki Kuqi on their books. Aside from those facts, plus the fact they are from Greece, Athens to be precise, and play in the 10,200 capacity Peristeri Stadium I know not a lot about them so will focus mainly on Newcastle for this preview.
In terms of injury news, Shola Ameobi will miss out as will his younger brother Sammy. Sylvain Marveaux is missing in action as nobody seems to know where he actually right now while Fabricio Coloccini is likely to be given some extra time to recover from the thigh injury that kept him out of the weekend game against Spurs. Hatem Ben Arfa will also not feature as he starts a suspension earned during his days at Marseille.
We are likely to see a largely second string outfit for the game. Partly it’s down to being able to blood some of the fringe players, but a larger proportion of that will be to do with the fact that we play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge less that 48 hours after our game in Athens. Newcastle did try and get the games switched but the Metropolitan Police refused on the grounds that the Notting Hill Carnival will be using up their resources on the Sunday and Monday.
So who can we expect to see in action? Well I’m not too sure so perhaps we can have a bit of a debate about that. What we do know is that Alan Pardew has already prioritised the league and has dropped hints about leaving first team players on Tyneside for this particular trip, which leads to the conclusion that names like Gael Bigirimana, Dan Gosling and Romain Amalfitano will get some game time.
Using nothing but my opinion, and taking Alan Pardew’s words into consideration plus our game against Chelsea at the weekend, I’d field a team that looked something like this:
Newcastle: Steve Harper, James Tavernier, James Perch, Mike Williamson, Jonas Gutierrez, Gabriel Obertan, Gael Bigirimana, Vurnon Anita, Romain Amalfitano, Haris Vuckic, Adam Campbell.
Having said that the team I propose may not have enough experience although the likes of Harper, Jonas, Obertan and Anita have all been playing senior football for years so should be able to help the rest through.
What we need to do is keep things tight ad try to sneak an away goal. The Greek side will see us as a scalp and will want to give themselves something to defend in the second leg so are likely to come at us. We need to soak it up to start with and then hit them where it hurts.
I’m looking forward to our European return. It gives us a chance to look at other clubs who we haven’t for years, or ever as is the case with this fixture. But we still need to do a job and the game is there to be won.
To Atromitos and beyond….
Howay the lads!
P.S. Don’t forget it a 6pm kick-off, UK time.
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124 Comments
1st
Switch Gutti with Raylor and Vuckic (since i read somewhere else he is injured) with Gosling i’d agree with that team!
Toonsy, Marveaux travelled with the squad. I reckon he’ll get played.
Whereas Vuckic didn’t
Rodz@3-
I hope so. Marveaux has looked good pretty much every time he’s played. I trust Pardew to take care of it, though, and assure him that he’s very much in the mix.
Marveaux is shown as being with the team on the NUFC official site.
Seems to me AP will want to use his #1 subs in this. Harper, Tav, Willo, Raylor, Gosling, Amal., Marv., Cab. or Anita, Ober., Bigi., & Abeid. I’d like to see AP throw on Campbell. Too bad Ranger is on the “outs” as this would have been perfect for him.
I would not be surprised to see NUFC play with just 3 in the back, packing the midfield, and trying to get the ball to the lone striker with penetrating runs. Not having a proven striker available, maybe we will look like Barcalona!
Harper; Tav, Willo, Perch, Raylor; Anita, Bigi; Obi, Gosling, Amal; Campbell.
Sorry meant Marv not Amal
As long as Anita and Marveaux are in the midfield, I’ll be happy. Obertan makes sense to me, as well. I can see going either way with striker – Campbell first, then Cisse on if we need a goal or Cisse to try to score early and allow Campbell to come in later. Defense worries me, but we’re thin there right now, so not much we can do about it.
I don’t know what to expect from the Greek side so I can’t tell if im nervous about it or not, seems like we’re bringing a strong team though so I’m confident we’ll win.
Harper – Tavernier – Perch – Williamson – Raylor – Obertan – Anita – Bigrimana – Marv – Vuckic – Campbell
Sad news about Sheedy.
Very sad Lace , hopeffuly he recovers!
A lot of people putting Vuckic in their team which is strange because he wasn’t selected in the squad as far as I’m aware..
What’s up with Kevin Sheedy ?
I think all our defenders need to be rested because they’re gonna get a pounding from Chelsea.
MM, Bowel Cancer mate
Aye Kimtoon, just read it. Bad crack, hope he overcomes it.
He was diagnoised with bowel cancer Munich Mag
Harper/ Tavernier, Williamson, Good, Taylor/ Amalfitano, Bigi, Gosling, Anita, Marveaux/ Cissé.
Lacedaemonian – It’s sad news about Sheedy but by all accounts he’s caught it early as there is a history of bowel cancer in his family. My dad had bowel cancer 3 yrs ago and fortunately caught it early. The fix is easy, they removed 6 foot of intestine and cancer gone – never to return which is the best news. The only down side is that the recovery from the op is quite lengthy and needs a colostomy bag, which, depending on how the intestine heels may be with him for life. I mean no disrespect to Kevin or his family but trying to see a positive – there are worse cancers to get. That said, wish him and his family well and hopefully no complications with the op and a speedy recovery.
Sharpy ,I replied to you on previous thread only to find we’d moved on
,Anyway I agree we need additions, won’t write it all again.
Hope sheedy can recover
I reckon this one is in the bag and we can look forward too the group stages .
As for the Greeks my mate who is half greek and lived their for a fair few years and returns for family visit’s every couple of years has never even heard of them , thats how good they are .
Axel, we should go there to take the game to them, and crack in a couple of away goals. We can then go on cruise control for the home game…
The better option for the fans is to get a draw tomorrow, means a few more may come through the turnstiles at SJP for the home leg..
MUNICH MAG i think Pardew will tell the older heads too nurse the kids through and as long as we score 1 goal that will do . It would be good for the fans too have something to go for in the home leg . If we come back 3 or 4 goals to the good ,they would need to reduce ticket prices too get SJP full .
Axel, my thoughts exactly.
Cannot see it being a classic game tomorrow I’m afraid
Avoid defeat, and serious injuries, and we’ll have had a canny day out.
There again, maybe young Campbell and the bairns wanting to show themselves tomorrow, could be a few goals in it after all…
MUNICH MAG that would be good for their confidence and progression , knowing they can cut it against that sort of opposition in a competitive competition is something that would be good for the young players and coaching staff . .
Anyone found a link for the game tonight? I can’t find any
Arrgh, bloody hell. Just realised games tomorrow. Just got out of hospital so don;t know where I am.
Apologies lads.
I see we’re maybe going to get another player if this is to be believed
http://www.clubcall.com/newcastle-united/magpies-locked-in-midfielder-talks-1454120.html?
hope your ok geordie dan
Dan
as for where you are ? your on the blog 
what was up with you anyway
i havent even been in hospital and woke up thismorning thinking we had a game tonight
dave
Aye read that earlier
just when you think these sites cant be any shitter they play their joker… 
Batts I was looking over an old thread and you are one right nasty piece of shit
just thought I would share that with you 
CC it’s the most read one on news now
when I seen it I thought fuk thats all we need another MF
Kim – I’m multi tasking my dear
Playing away with a weakened team I’d like to see 4-4-2:
Harper
Tav/Willamson/Good/Raylor
Oba/Amalfitano/Anita/Marv
Vukic and Campbell
I know it’s a fairly inexperienced team but if we don’t play them, how will we know?, plus 4-4-2 should keep things fairly solid and should be capable enough of getting a result to win the tie back at our place.
BATTY @33,thats what happens when you become a grandad
in daves case its because hes in his 80s now
It gets worse. Looking at another blog who are criticising Pards for taking a weakened squad to Greece. Listing all those with knocks as though they were all fit and raring to go.
dave @35 your not the 1st person to say that ,but tell me sumit i dont already know
I’d definately play Vuckic too.
Play him up front with Ba.
Given that Vuckic didn’t travel that may prove difficult.
Sorry Rodz missed that. DUH
hahaha Prem.
I just saw everyone else selecting him so thought I’d join in the fun.
With the squad going Id like to see :
Harps
Tav / Williamson / Perch / Raylor
Marv / Gosling / Bigi / Amalfitano
Obertan/ Campbell
Batts
have others said that about you 
Here what was all the gossip about Carroll I seen earlier, it looked as if some thought we made a £12mil bid
Ice your just jealous because you would love to relive your 80s
Ice @ 37 he was a granda yrs ago
Dave, I just brought it up on the other thread, cos I’d been reading stuff on newsnoo. There’s still plenty of speculation surrounding him.
I ‘thought’ we’d bid 12m for him a while back and they said FO. Who knows though…
Rodz right im with you now I was just quickly scrooling through earlier and seen it
I heard we offered a season long loan deal with the option to buy. Total package cost of £12m. Alternatively they could have it all up front as an offer to buy.
DAVE didnt you know batty has a twin brother,could have been him that wrote them things
PREM aye that seems to be the main rags storey
Oops posted on the wrong thread. Anyway, heard Marveaux was sent home on saturday because his little baby was ill. That’s from an interview with John Carver.
Well just over a week of crappy stories left then the window closes. Ice yeah cause Batts isn’t like that
JON cheers at last sumit anyway
Not too fussed with a depleted and young squad, gives us a chance to see what they can all do, as long as they don’t get slaughtered it’s all good.
Sharpy – Thanks for sharing that. I grew up in a world where bowel cancer was terminal with no fix. Great to hear your father recovered, let’s hope Sheedy and other unfortunate souls share the same fortune.
I aint posted for awhile but read all of the articles on shitfacedbook.
I am concerned about putting out a weakened team in Europe. I have this awful feeling we are not going to qualify.
I am also concerned about this transfer window, and hope it closes without any major losses from our side.
I am interested to know what people feel about our new boy, Anita? I thought he looked a lot better than Gutherie.
i hope no players that will start against chelsea play as carnt get any more injuries its going to be hard as it is playing chelsea dont no why pardew has taken cissie he needs a rest for saturday all first team players should of stayed back
@Dave that link you posted is the worst thing i’ve ever seen! Someone on that site needs to be fired asap if it’s serious.
LACE the bit ive seen of him hes diff class to guthrie, he filled well when he had to like good luck to him at his new club
Solano, some of the comments are pretty funny on it though.
Clubcall have always been shocking bullshitters anyway.
I can remember ringing up their premium rate numbers for transfer rumours advertised on Teletext in the 90s, before the internet became a household staple. …shit, how did people survive before the internet.
Their favourite trick to hook people in was to finish every subtle rumour with a question mark.
‘Newcastle to sign Josep Guardiola?’
‘Ariel Ortega flies in for Toon medical?’ …etc
Gavin McCormack · Top Commenter · Ferryhill comprehensive
here I heard gazza wants to leave and go to tot…
Reply · Like · Follow Post · about an hour ago
Paul Robinson · School of Hard Knocks, University of Life
we got him wats this about
Reply · Like · about an hour ago
@Rodz
That’s my favourite
Don’t think Paul Robinson understood the sarcasm!
Tbh I hadn’t heard of the website or been on it before. Maybe they deliberately did a shoddy article to attract attention. Daily Mail have been known to troll on purpose to get people flooding in.
“Any publicity is good publicity” and all that
Bah, Chelsea scored
You never know ST, they are masters of the underhand tactic.
Newkie
Who they playing? Maybe one of their players’ll half Hazard/Cech.
Yes Danny!
Chelsea now 2-1 down at home against Reading
Guthrie scores a free kick.
Andy-Reading. Hoping Reading make it a tight game and tire Chelsea, they have such a good squad now though probably won’t help us much
Good for Guthrie. Glad the lad is somewhere he can start regularly
Also got Guthrie and Pogrebnyak in my team! About time I get some fecking points
Is there football on tonight?!
Guthrie and Pogrebnyak on frees as well, great business for Reading
Just one Premier League game Jon, not being televised.
Guthrie leaving us sums up the issue I feel we will face in the future in the transfer market.
Finding decent players to play second fiddle for a team with a strict wage structure must be so difficult. Youth is the only way really – signing players with the potential to surpass the current first team players and that are willing to bide their time.
RB & CB are the only positions that could be improved imo at the minute. And if Saylor carries on like last season I’d be happy with him first choice.
But finding decent quality to fill the squad is going to be a challenge. So we should all be super nice to people like Simmo in the hope he’ll care too much about the fans to leave us even when he’s inevitably relegated to being a squad player.
They kept that quiet like
@Newkie got Guthrie in my team as well
Rodz – smart arse
Balls it then, if Vikic can’t be arsed I’d go:
Harper
Tav/Williamson/Good/Raylor
Gosling/Anita/Amal
Oba/campbell/Marv
I’ve just realised I dont know if Good has travelled, if not Perchino in his place.
Newkie@74 they’ll have Danny Simpson to if they wait long enough
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/186751-newco-rangers-reach-club-merchandise-retail-agreement-with-sports-direct/
Sharpy, you weren’t the only one mate
I blame Toonsy for probably writing the article before the official squad got confirmed. His Vuckic banana skin has caused a few slips.
Rodzilla…I wonder what they’ll rename the Stadium ?
Ibrox Sports Direct Park
Whatever team we put out tomorrow will be too good for Atromitos. Nee worries at aaall.
Sharpy, this is the squad that travelled:
Romain Amalfitano, Vurnon Anita, Gael Bigirimana, Yohan Cabaye, Adam Campbell, Papiss Cisse, Dan Gosling, Jonas Gutierrez, Steve Harper, Tim Krul, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, James Perch, Davide Santon, Danny Simpson, James Tavernier, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson
…interestingly enough, Good isn’t there. Could he be in line for a start against Chelsea?
(I don’t think he’s injured)
MM, I’m sure Fatty will have his beady eye on that one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlDz_pMoMPE&feature=related
Ouch. I hope the Atromitos fans are not thinking about taking English scalps…
Rod, thanks for someone finally putting up a list of whose gone.
I reckon Good isn’t quite ready for a 1st team game. He’s only 19!
Solano-Aye, guthrie’s problem was he was literally the same age as Cabaye and Tiote, he’d walk into a lot of teams but we’ve got one of the best midfield first team and squads in the league…
Munich-Hope not
Andrew, I didn’t think Good would be quite ready either, but I have been wondering whether he’s viewed by the club as the answer to our CB shortage, given our lack of activity for a ‘proven’ player so far.
Rod @ 90 I keep harping back to this but Pards said that the players( prior to Anita ) were all for the future, so I can’t see him ( Good ) being good enough just yet to be our back up CB, but then with Jabba holding the purse strings nowt surprises me
fuk talk about handbags
MM @ 87 did you see the guy that ripped the other ones shirt of then try to use the ripped shirt to beat him with
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
The Mail ;
Newcastle are refusing to match Liverpool’s £20million valuation of Andy Carroll but remain interested in the player.
The club’s £12m bid for the striker is as far as they will go and they have told Liverpool it is up to them to decide if they want to keep an unhappy player at Anfield or let him go.
Carroll did not start in Liverpool’s 3-0 drubbing at the hands of West Brom and only featured as a substitute – on for another substitute Joe Cole – with 10 minutes remaining.
Newcastle chief Mike Ashley wants Liverpool to accept that they overpaid for the striker when they bought him from the club for £35m in January 2011.
The 23-year-old would welcome a move back to the north East to the club where he made his name, as he is not among Brendan Rodgers favoured strikers for his system.
Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini started against West Brom leaving Carroll to sit on the bench glumly.
West Ham tried to offer Carroll an escape route but the deal fell through.
Manager Sam Allardyce said: ‘He would have been a massive signing for us and, like everything else, when you see an opportunity you try to go for it.
‘Then you get onto negotiations and once that is exhausted you move on, which was a lot sooner than people actually talked about in the media.
‘The negotiations were over in a couple of weeks or so regarding whether Andy was or wasn’t going to come to West Ham.’
Yeah, think Tav would be picked ahead of Good, even if he’s only a year or so older
Dave, as you say, you never know with Jabba. I hope he isn’t the answer but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Re. the video, despite using a T-shirt as a weapon I think he took about 12 seats to the head, so maybe that clouded his judgement.
…or it could’ve been a heavy metal T-shirt.
FFS chelsea equalise. 40 yard shot goes under the gk
Rodz
thats it a heavy metal one never even thought of that 
DAVE i asked the other day but you never answered as normal
is dede still playing or have you dragged him off to chase that little ball with a stick?
Chelsea lead 3-2. Only about a foot offside.
Standard Chelsea, penalty and a dodgy offside. Sound familiar anyone….
Ice sorry mate never seen yeah he has been playing for a summer scheme team, but he is looking forward to getting back to the school team now he’ll be in p6 as last yr he was in p5 so he was playing with all the p6 + 7s and didn’t really know many of them and they looked on him as the wee p5 kid with tics
and that really wound him up, but he has been playing a bit of golf too 
I know Newkie, it was so obvious. Looks like another job for Pards – this linesman needs a battering
Bloody knew I should have had Ivanovic instead of cole, two goals in one week man!
Jon R-Aye, they need to employ Pards full time so he can dish out some justice..
DAVE tell him chin up,sticks and stones mate,tell him ime asking after him,and may have sumit for him soon but not sure yet so say nowt
I swear all the refs and linos who officiate Chelski games are paid a visit from the Russian mafia prior to the game ,don’t know how else to account for the dodgy calls they get .
Regarding Good – I’d still have taken him, he’s older and has more first team football experience than Adam Campbell or Tav. Bigi and Amal aren’t overly experienced either to be fair. I’d have thought I would have been a good test for the lad and give him experience of the Europa league. I dont think he’s our CB answer just yet and wil certainly be one to develop, but I don’t see any harm in dipping his toe in
Danny Simpson @dannysimpson
Everyone follow @adamcampbell_ quality young player for the toon n a good lad. #nopressurelad
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5m Adam Campbell @adamcampbell_
@dannysimpson love that Simmo, cheers mate !
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SHARPY to be fair mate Good has just came after a very long journey and as maybe sorting places to live ect,the first team are away until sat night/sun
Ice he doesn’t normally mind it I think it was just that he was the youngest and only one from his class so he was referred to as the wee lad with the tics. and yeah i’ll tell him
Kim it’s amazing some of the decisions the top teams get
Sharpy maybe he’s just not up to speed or maybe has a slight niggle or something
Sharpy ,I reckon they will ease Good in very slowly tbh. Different climate ,culture what have you ,it’s not like popping over from France or Spain .If he misses his folks and pals from back home it’s a hell of a journey even by plane .
good wee Benny vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GfBl3jQ5WU
Don’t get me wrong people, I love the way Pardew has handled the likes of Santon and Ben Arfa and I’ve every confidence that he’ll do right by the lad. He seems to have a great nak at that – which is why I think Ranger is such a bell end, because I’m sure if he played by the rules Pards would have done right by him.
Loving Simmos tweets about Campbell – good lad.
I hope Campbell gets a good bit of game time tomorrow. Don’t think I’ve ever seen him play, but he sounds like an exciting player. He’s certainly attracted plaudits from those in the know.
…Rooney was ready at 17.
“Lovely ball from Beardo like…stuck me toe oot an’ it wen in”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSXzRWlL7Z0
Rodz – Was just going to say that. No doubt Campbell is highly rated from within the club, but if he is as special as everyone is making him out be then he really needs to start making his name now like the Owen’s, Rooney’s, Beckham’s and so on did. If you’re good enough you’re old enough and all that
I reckon Collo is going to play at Chelsea and I would hope for,
————————-Harper———————-
Tavernier–Williamson—-Perch—–R.Taylor
Amalfitano–Bigirimana-Gosling-Marveaux
——————–Obertoon————————
————————Campbell——————–
Krul, Saylor, Simpson, Anita, Jonas, Cabaye, Cisse
and Santon rested.
same team as JOHNO TOON @45 I think that is a team that can do something whilst resting key players.
From the quotes Rodgers has made about Carroll, he seems to have backed himself into a corner on this one and has handled the whole business badly.
He obviously doesnt want him at Liverpool, Dempsey has effectively gone on strike at Fulham waiting to join Liverpool and he is is obviously the3rd striker he is referring to.
His sideswipe at Newcastle yesterday is a bit petulant and petty and they seem to forget about the anger it caused when they took one of our best players away on deadline day so if our board have given them a take it or leave it offer whilst watching them squirm, good enough for them.
Carroll himself must be seething with the public discussions Rodgers is having about his situation, bit of a farce all round.
I’d go;
—————-Harper—————-
Vuckic Williamson Vuckic Taylor
—————–Anita——————
————Vuckic–Bigi————-
Oba——————————Marv
————–Vuckic——————-
Agree Robert @ 118, surely Carroll cannot stay there after the end of the transfer window, his heart will just not be in it with the way he has been treated. From a starter for England at the euros to a sub for a player who didn’t even make the squad, ridiculous situation that Rodgers has created himself. Poor, poor management.
Robert – we certainly seem to have got under Rodgers skin like don’t we. Bit of an over reaction considering he wasn’t even there when we sold Carroll in the first place.
Think the truth is that Rodgers wants rid of Carroll for Dempsey but the Lpool board wouldn’t sell for £12m which is seriously pissing Rodgers off.
It doesn’t get us any closer to signing a CF but it’s always great to piss the bindippers off!
Brendan – I’ll take one for the team and jump straight into ya net … Vukic didn’t travel with the team mate
Sharpy
.
He also didn’t clone himself
I like Brendan’s line-up, regardless.
I’d probably put him in goal as well though, just to balance it out a bit more.
I don’t even know the way I ended up here, but I thought this publish was once good. I do not recognise who you might be but certainly you are going to a famous blogger when you aren’t already. Cheers!
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