The attendance is not expected to be too high for this match. Not only is it a midweek game that is more than likely going to feature two weakened sides, it’s also being shown live on Sky. Add to that the fact that Manchester United (with the approval of Newcastle) are charging an eye-watering £45 for a ticket for the match and it all adds up to a low crowd.
The Red Devils owe Newcastle one after last season. The Magpies earned four points from the two league meetings between the sides with the help of a dubious penalty at Old Trafford (one for the away side for a change!) which was enough for a 1-1 draw. However the hosts for this evening can have no complaints about the reverse fixture as United (the real one) blew them away 3-0 a St James’ Park.
Newcastle:
Fabricio Coloccini and Cheik Tiote are back in contention for a start tonight. Danny Simpson, Ryan Taylor and Tim Krul are all still sidelined.
Alan Pardew will also return to the touchline after serving the last of his two game touchline ban at the weekend against Norwich.
Manchester United:
Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young could feature for the Red Devils. Darren Fletcher is also in line for a start following on from his return to action against Galatasary last week. The midfielder has been missing for almost a year due to suffering from ulcerative colitis. Nemanja Vidic is out after undergoing a knee operation while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are both out long term.
Team selection:
It remains to be seen just how strong a side both managers start with this evening. Alex Ferguson is known for playing “weaker” teams in this competition and is likely to give his fringe and reserve players a chance to impress.
Meanwhile Alan Pardew will have to balance his team selection. On one hand the team needs to be strong enough to win on the night, on the other hand he also has to keep players fit and fresh for Reading on Saturday. Will we see a side similar to the ones we’ve been seeing in the Europa League? Or will we go for it a bit and name our strongest side?
Previously…
Aside from last season our record against Manchester United hasn’t been great. All in all there have been 155 meetings between the two sides and Manchester United have come out on top in pretty much exactly half of them (77 victories for the Red Devils). Newcastle meanwhile have won just 40 matches between the two sides.
In terms of the League Cup it isn’t great either, although admittedly there is a much smaller sample to choose from. There have only been two League Cup meetings between the two sides and both sides have come out on top once. Manchester United triumphed 7-2 back in 1976 with Newcastle managing to balance that record in 1994 with a 2-0 win at St James’ Park.
Stats and facts:
Newcastle have not won at Old Trafford for 40 years.
Newcastle have been knocked out of the League Cup by a team from the Premier League in seven of the last eight seasons.
Newcastle reached the final of the League Cup back in 1976. We lost 3-0 to Manchester City. Since then we’ve never progressed past the quarter final stages of this competition.
Final thought:
It’s going to be a tough game whatever side Alex Ferguson decides to play and whatever team we put out will have to be at their very best if they are to come out on top over the 90 minutes, or indeed extra time or penalties if they are needed.
Neither side have really hit their fluent best but anything can happen in cup football and on the night you just never know. I just hope we go to Old Trafford and give it everything we’ve got as this is one competition that is actually winnable for a larger percentage of teams.
Howay the lads!
Date: Wednesday, 26th September, 2012
Time: 7:45pm – Live on Sky Sports
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Will be interesting to see what sides the two teams put out tonight, I cant decide whether we should put out our Europa team or really go for it against what will probably be a below strength man u, nothing like a win at old trafford after all
Instructatoon(Quote)
It wouldn’t surprise me if Sir Alex plays Rooney and Young, as it will be a good game for them to work on match fitness. Around them I expect to see a ‘weakened’ team, though that will still probably include Henandez up front with Rooney.
Personally, I think going for 3 points against Reading at the weekend is more important than the win tonight. That said, it would be a good opportunity for Colo and Tiote to gain some match fitness for the Reading game. So I’d like to see us set up:
————- Harper ———–
Tav — Colo — Willo — Fergie
Ober — Tiote — Bigi — Marv
—– Shola —- Campbell —-
Sharpy17(Quote)
and my prediction is….. a defeat
to be honest this cup is probably the lowest of our priorities and the last thing we want is injuries to anyone which given the weather is highly likely on a rain sodden heavy pitch
Good chance to give the fringe players a run out and a chance to impress
stevep(Quote)
Well if as Pards says he fancies winning the LC I would suggest we’ll see a near full strength squad with maybe 2 younguns thrown in, and if so I think it will do the younguns a world of good.
Im just pissed that i’ll miss the 1st half and that it’s on sky 👿
Big Dave(Quote)
Cant see us getting anything out of this. Manure will be playing a few experienced quality players and their youths coming through look very good. No matter what sude we put iut, it’ll be tough and if we do progress, it will be a big achievement for our lads.
Shamrock(Quote)
The focus should be on the league and the europa in my mind, so I wouldn’t send out the first squad. I think we’ll see a reserve squad with Shola, Cisse and Collo included. Sharpy’s team isn’t far off imo
MDS(Quote)
Nice preview Toonsy, enjoyed the structure.
We tend to struggle at Manure’s ground, but if hoof ball works against any of the big teams, its Man United.
Without Vidic they struggle with high balls, and I guess if Shola is going to be a threat in any game this is the one.
Reckon Shola and Ba should start, but I’d rest Ben Arfa and Jonas.
I’d go with a long ball specialist team.
_________________________Harper__________________________
Anita__________Taylor______________Coloccini___________Santon
Obertan________Tiote_____________Cabaye____________Marvauex
___________________Ba___________Shola____________________
Then I’d like Cisse and Sammi on the bench along with Bigi.
I see no need to risk Ben Arfa in this game. Save him to be fit and ready for the league.
Only reason I’d play Colo, Tiote and Cabaye is to give them some game time to find some form and fitness.
JJ(Quote)
MDS,
I agree, concentrate on the league and Europe. But lets try get past Manure first… 😉
Only player I see as important enough to rest is Ben Arfa. He has been excellent this season.
JJ(Quote)
MDS/JJ – out of interest, if we win tonight would Europa still be a higher priority if we win tonight, based on the teams already knocked out of the league cup last night?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy- yes it would still be a higher priority for me, but I’d be willing to give it a go if we ended up in the semis. For me, winning it is only good as a backdoor into Europe- I won’t be dowsing my house in champagne if we win it, trophy or no trophy
MDS(Quote)
MDS – knowing our luck, if we get passed Man U tonight we’ll draw Chelski in the next round.
I’d say if we get into the Quarters then we should really have a go at it. Regardless of Euro qualification it’s a trip to Wembley and a trophy.
I’d still want us to do well in Europa but I just see it as less winnable than the LC with the teams that would have been knocked out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
surely this must be obertans big chance to put a performance in,think we might play on the counter attack so he could be vital tonight,hope young fergie starts tonight,another who could play a big part.what odds both shola and sammy up front? me to you, you to me, chuckle
bazza(Quote)
I’d like to see some good football as I expect us to lose, as long as we give em a run for their money, hopefully it can help us gel a bit more and build momentum for the league.
Newkie(Quote)
JJ @10
I like the look of that team, but I think it’ll be Ferguson instead of Marveaux on the left, judging by what Pards was quoted as saying in the local press this morning.
I thought this bit was very interesting:
“Pardew also feels the left foot of Fergie junior could prove potent tonight, adding: “He’s quick and fast. He has probably got the best natural left-foot delivery at the football club.”
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/09/26/shane-ferguson-s-chance-to-shine-against-manchester-united-72703-31907529/
Sounds to me like he’s definitely going 4 4 2 and looking to Fergie to deliver the crosses. I guess it makes sense, in view of Manure’s injury crisis at the back. With Vidic, Jones and Smalling all injured they’re only left with Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand as the last two senior central defenders. Also, I noticed there were a few reports last night that they’ll probably need to rest Ferdinand anyway because he can’t really play more than one game a week these days, and they need to keep him fit for the game against Spurs at the weekend. The reports I read suggested that they’ll either bring in Michael Carrick or young 21-year-old Scott Wootton to play there instead. All of a sudden, I’m beginning to feel a little bit more optimistic 🙂
Chris G(Quote)
Loving the positivity lads 🙂 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
I really shouldn’t care about this.. but I cannot get past the base, overarching need to see a load of miserable, never-been-near-manchester glory-chasers filing out of the Exmouth Arms tonight. 😈
I hope we put out a team that at some points sees Ferguson, Vukic, Campbell and Sameobi – and that they open up a whole can of manc-twatting whoop-****. 😎
Whumpie(Quote)
If we play our strongest available team and Tiote moshes their midfield to pieces, do we have a chance to face lesser opposition in the next round and maybe play the kids some more after this match?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Saw an inspired performance from villa last night to deservedly knock out city. Picking up tickets at OT now, hopefully a similar performance from our boys tonight. hwtl
Dubtoon(Quote)
AMF-It’s always my football manager tactic to play down our chances in cup matches. It work’s a treat, so we will definitely win now 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Fergie does have a great delivery on him-I remember he set up a few chances for ranger in the 4-3 Chelski game two years ago. One of them was pinpoint but ranger duly ****** it up 😆
Newkie(Quote)
I hope so Newkie, not sure about the validity of your theory tho 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Ferdinand and Evans are non too sturdy at the back, but they might even be rested for youngsters. I would say this is a game for Ameobi and Ba/Cisse to play upfront. They are a bit of an unknown quantity because they have some very good young players that are capable of beating other teams first eleven.
DJG(Quote)
DJG – I don’t know much about Man U’s young uns, but I think they have a but of a defensive crisis at the mo, so he may be forced to player Evans and Rio or Carrick out of position at the back. I know they bought Buttner and Powell in the summer and they will likely get a game, but other than that, I don’t know of what youth players are coming through, hence they rely so heavily on Giggs and Scholes.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What exactly was Vuckic’s injury anyway? How long’s he out for?
Newkie(Quote)
Vuckic is injured? 😕 Do you mean Vidic? Or is Harris actually made of glass?
Andymag(Quote)
Andy-Nah Vuckic, remember he got taken off in our Europa match? I suppose its just minor as I didn’t hear anything afterwards, was just wondering if he was fit.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie
I assume if he was out we would have heard about so I reckon he’s fine.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy-Yeah, or our reporters have just got bored about writing of his injures 😉
Might be worth a cheeky sub at the end. Would like to see Shola and the Cis start up though.
Newkie(Quote)
Reckon Campbell should be on the bench tonight, these are the sorts of games we need to bleed them into. Will be a perfect sub at the end of the game, Rio struggles to deal with quick players when fully fit, at the end of the match he’ll be knackered. Harris and Adam seem to link well together do if they’re both on it should be good.
Andymag(Quote)
If Campbell wasn’t used in Europe he won’t be used against Manure, imo. Tho if we start with Shola I can’t see him lasting the 90…but I reckon that would mean sammeobi or someone else coming on for the last 20min rather than Campbell.
Newkie(Quote)
Good match preview Toonsy.
Was expecting some mention of the fact SAF’s first trophy for manure was the league cup all them yrs ago, and manure beat crystal palace in the final, who’s team included one Alan Pardew.
Time for Pards to exact his revenge tonight perhaps ❓ 😕
Gonna be a tough one this, most likely lose to a dodgy decision by the ref 😈
But I’ve actually gone 1-2 with Cisse to score first. 😆
Howay the Lads
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Ah the referee from Manchester yes? 😆
How that has been allowed I have nee idea 🙄
toonsy(Quote)
woo hoo. Just got 100-1 for that bet on paddy power. 😛
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Hopefully the ref is a blue Toonsy 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Toonsy I hope the ref goes out of his way to prove he isn’t biased,
Big Dave(Quote)
In fairness I hope nobody is talking about the ref come the final whistle. We should be looking to get the job done ourselves regardless of the ref but I have a sneaky feeling that won’t be the case 🙁
toonsy(Quote)