As explained in my match preview , there are several different permutations that would see us qualify and ultimately we could see ourselves with European football beyond the new year even with a defeat this evening.
However I’d like to be hopelessly and completely unreasonably positive by not even contemplating that. Instead what I want to see is a morale boosting victory which will hopefully instil a bit of confidence into a group of players that have increasingly looked shaky as the weeks have gone on. Mind you, what I wish for and what I get are usually two completely different things!
We are live on ESPN tonight which is great news if you subscribe to the channel and can’t make it to the game as it means that there are likely to be some streams knocking about. Even if there is nothing from ESPN there are several other overseas channels broadcasting the game so fingers crossed. Usual rules apply, those being that of you find a decent stream please share it with your fellow United fans.
Early team news has been discussed, as has injury news, in the previously linked match preview, however real team news will be added in below as and when it becomes available.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle:
Krul; Simpson, S.Taylor, Coloccini (c), Santon; Anita, Bigirimana; Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Marveaux; Cisse.
Subs:
Elliot, Tavernier, Ferguson, Williamson, Abeid, Amalfitano, Ba.
C.S. Maritimo:
Salin; Diogo, Roberge, Rosario, Ferreira; Luiz, Miranda, Simao; Dias, Adilson, Sami.
Subs:
Ricardo, Fidelis, Olim, Briguel, Antonio, Brigido, Guilherme
Kim-No contradictions there then, classic Pards 😆 😎
Newkie(Quote)
“whats with the pass and stand still as statues ****?”
I have said the same. It’s ridiculous that professionals are doing this. It’s as bad as leaning back when shooting, or jumping on the shoulders of an opponent when trying to win a header. These are footballing basics and should not be happening as frequently as they do at NUFC.
The Kid(Quote)
anyone got a link to the pardew interview. ❓
could do with a laugh
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
The kid ,Whilst I wouldn’t wanna dis your stats compilation it’s also important to remember that sometimes two players combined are really effective even though one may be less gifted. Ofcourse Colo is better than Saylor but together they are normally very good imo ,it’s possible to have a team of not overly gifted players who play better than a team of internationals, reason being team spirit. I like Saylor ,and feel he generaly links up well with Colo ,and I don’t care about the stats for Willo as in my opinion he’s not happy on the ball in fact he often seems terrified though I can’t give you a stat to back it up like. 😉 Saylor and Colo helped us get the great start we had last season remember and when Saylor got injured our defence became cack ,it did that pass you by like.
KIMTOON(Quote)
btw that was quite some booing at full time, for a small crowd.
I dont like to hear it, but it was fully deserved imho.
The troops are getting restless and the sacking season is upon us.
😯
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Kim-Colo makes them both look better than they are. Willo isn’t comfortable on the ball, but at the end of the day Colo is and for his partner I’d prefer someone who can actually just defend. Staylor helped us to a good start, surely Willo helped us to a good finish 😕 in fact he played a longer part in the season….when Tayls was injured we had an injury crisis, and I believe Willo had been out for a lot of the start of the season…
Newkie(Quote)
BB@155, Talking of which Rafa at Chelski 😆 😆 😆 😆 Romans gonna love Rafa knowing how he fell out with the liverpool board over not getting his own way. Yeh that’s gonna really last , 9 managers in 9 years they are the Toon of the south 😆 Oh yeah and I hope Clattenberg sues the arses off them.
God bad Toon showings put me in SUCH a foul mood . 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim the thing with stats as you know you can turn them round to suit your stance 😉 and going by them stats maybe Willo should get an England call up soon. or you could look at Simmo’s stats for last year that said he was in the top 3 RB’s in the Prem but if you listen to the Kid he is the worst RB in the prem 😀
BB I was trying to find the interview as I missed most of it, and yeah there was a lot of booing
Big Dave(Quote)
“Of course Colo is better than Saylor but together they are normally very good imo ,it’s possible to have a team of not overly gifted players who play better than a team of internationals, reason being team spirit”
I’m not sure I agree with this. Taylor’s lack of quality is often masked by Colo because the Argentine seems to put in all of the tackles and interceptions. Why not just sign a defender that can alleviate some of that pressure and still be fairly strong in the air? They are out there.
“I don’t care about the stats for Willo as in my opinion he’s not happy on the ball in fact he often seems terrified though I can’t give you a stat to back it up like.”
Taylor is probably marginally, and I really do mean marginally, more comfortable on the ball than Williamson. Neither are ball-playing defenders and that’s fair enough, but Williamson is superior in other areas…By the way, I’m not a massive Willo fan, but for the most part he’s been decent when he’s played this season.
“Saylor and Colo helped us get the great start we had last season remember and when Saylor got injured our defence became cack ,it did that pass you by like.”
I’m pretty sure our solid start came when Williamson was partnering Coloccini as Taylor was injured… Can’t remember, so will have to check that one. You might be right.
The Kid(Quote)
Newkie ,I just wish people would acknowledge his role in our good season start ,he may not be top class but he ain’t a bad player either imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Off to bed ,better mood tommorow hopefully .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Newkie
That’s it! Willo ended the season. I knew he contributed massively to the defence at some point last season.
Big Dave
If that’s the case, please feel free to find some stats that back up your point…Good luck with that.
RE Simmo: My biggest criticism of him is his lack of forward contribution and his insistence on backing off. Modern day full-backs are not expected to simply defend anymore.
The Kid(Quote)
Kim-there were many average players who contributed to the good start to the season-Raylor, Best, Obertan etc. I give them all credit but it doesn’t make them top players and we should have better in our first 11…..
Newkie(Quote)
I think you’ll find we went 10 or 11 games unbeaten with Saylor at the start of last season, but sure you can check it up
Big Dave(Quote)
I just can’t believe it’s almost 2013 and Steven Taylor is still living off of his 2007 promise. Madness.
Anyway, I’m off.
The Kid(Quote)
The Kid i’ll leave the stats to you, I don’t need stats to back up what I believe with my own eyes.
Ref Simmo you make out as if he is the worst in the Prem but still the stats say he was one of the top 3 last season, your the one that thinks stats tell you everything you need to know about a player, and continually use them.
For me Simmo was a middle of the road RB last season even if the stats say different, and I like Simmo
Big Dave(Quote)
Next home game versus Wigan get the bedsheets oot. Pardew out. Robbie Di Matteo in Bhutan Christmas.
A 170 mile round trip yo watch an abysmal performance for the third time in eleven days is doing nothing for my sanity
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Santon apart, our whole defence is too slow in regards to leg speed. So they hang too far back as a result. This allows teams to push forward and heap pressure on us. Have a look against Swansea. When we actually tried to be attacking and push right up the park, we easily got caught out on the counter and struggled to get covering players back in a hurry. And because our defence doesn’t push far enough forward, they have to hit fecking long balls more often than not… We really need a player with some real pace in the centre of the park.. the lack of speed we have there is hurting us more that we know… 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I see a few have turned on S.Taylor. Well that was our first choice back 5 out there tonight. They played okay/average/sufficient, but not good and totally done for the goal. The front 6 were under par/mediocre/incapable. God only knows how we are going to even SURVIVE this season if we PLAYING LIKE WE HAVE for these three home games and I’m not joking either. (Last time we lost 2 in a row at home was relegation season).
DJG(Quote)
Santon came back out to clap the fans after the match, will be away in Jan at this rate. I’m seriously worried now, our lack of spending has caused a ‘come back to bite on the ***’ time.
DJG(Quote)
AMF, I would love to disagree with you but I can’t. Collo is painfully slow and S.Taylor was seriously outpaced by a striker tonight in the first half. I can see why they have no confidence to push out. It’s not just that though. That isn’t even the half of it. We have no game plan, no ideas attacking, no width and can pass the ball at times. Long hopeful balls are going into no mans land or Ba and Cisse where there is a Carroll sized hole. Depressing at the moment.
DJG(Quote)
The KID ,Saylor played in our first 14 bar 1 and was on the losing side just twice. Willo played one early game but really came in at game 18 played in 21 of which he was on the losing side 7 times including the capitulation v fulham when we lost 5 .2. So that’s Saylor 11 wins .2 losses and Willo 14 wins and 7 losses. The Simmo perch raylor Santon combo lost twice when we had colo out as well aand no willo. It looks like a better win ratio with Colo and Saylor but agree it’s close. Early match reports cite the colo saylor partnership as outstanding. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
right really off to bed now. Morning Aussie by the way and nite 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
DJG,
Once again, Santon apart, we don’t attack from the back at all. When was the last time one of our big centre half arrived late into the box to knock a goal in during general play? When was the last time a left back or right back of our scored a goal during open play? When was the last time any of our defensive players scored a goal? To make matters worse, the one that did score (Raylor) is out injured for the year…. All the good teams build their attack from the back… We do not have that ability and it is frustrating to watch….
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Good morning & good night Kim
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Kim-We didn’t win 11 matches out of 14 with staylor in the side, we drew several of them…
DJG-I didn’t turn on Staylor, I’ve always had the same opinion tbh.
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie-Our last full back to score was Danny Simpson, against Nottingham Forrest at the start of last season, in what can only be described as a wonder goal…Oh he meant it alright… 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Seriously am I the only one with a decent memory on this blog… 🙄 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie 😉 They were rhetorical questions mate.. I know our defenders have scored goals but by f*ck they are far and few between… 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Yeah, they are and I agree. Colo had one special goal two season ago, where he pivoted and shot, great to watch. But since then he has been poor. I think it was our 2-2 with Spurs last year where he had a glorious chance, pivoted and smashed it miles wide when he could have won it for us, I’m not sure he’s recovered since.. He’s not bad in the air and I know our corners are poor, but someone should be able to scramble some more in 😕
Newkie(Quote)
I would not cry about this game it was far from crucial because we have points in advance. This game should have been about experimentation with our Elliots, Taverniers, Fergusons, Abeids and Amalfitanos.
Trying something new because we can afford it in Europa as we have the points to buffer.
Instead he plays key players HBA (injured) and then replaces him with Ba????? Two of our only performing players. What if Ba also got injured considering we have a growing list of injuries?
I accept HBA out means we can try someone else but man Pardew lacks the foresight. HBA is likely out this weekend leaving us without our only creative source.
POOR!
Michael12(Quote)
Newkie @176 ,Sorry was late ,I meant he was on the losing side just twice in 13 games . 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)