Stoke have turned their home ground into a fortress to be fair. Rarely does any team take anything from The Britannia with only those at the top of the English league tending to take anything from the Potteries. Having said that we did manage to win there last season but we were in entirely different form back then. Stoke have not lost at home all season and have conceded just one goal on their own turf this campaign.
Expectations levels are low for this one amongst NUFC fans. Devoid of confidence and lacking in fit and available senior players, Alan Pardew has a job on his hands to turn things around and I honestly don’t believe many travelling Newcastle fans have any real hopes of coming away celebrating anything this evening. Downbeat perhaps, but entirely accurate given our level of results and performances this season.
Stoke City:
Former Magpie “favourite” Michael Owen is likely to miss the game against his former employers this evening. The former England striker has only just returned to training after a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury so although technically available he is unlikely to feature.
Andy Wilkinson is also likely to miss out with a back problem while Marc Wilson and Rory Delap are longer term injury absentees. Other than that Tony Pulis has a full squad to choose from.
Newcastle:
Further terrible injury news has revealed that Steven Taylor has now joined the casualty list and will be out for six weeks or so. He will join Yohan Cabaye on the treatment table with the French midfielder likely to be sidelined until February after undergoing two groin operations. Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Hatem Ben Arfa and Shola Ameobi are all also out through injury.
There is at least some good news for United as Fabricio Coloccini is available after completing his three game suspension following his sending off against Liverpool.
Previously…
Last season we did the double over Stoke winning 3-1 and 3-0 at The Britannia Stadium and St James’ Park respectively. They remain our only two Premier League victories against The Potters. In the previous season we lost home and away with results in our relegation season ending with both home and away games being drawn.
At The Britannia it is Stoke who have the upper hand overall having won 19 of the 41 contests compared to just 10 for United. However Newcastle shade the overall record having won 41 times in 83 matches in all competitions compared to just 23 victories for Stoke.
Stats and facts:
Newcastle have lost three on the bounce for the first time since September 2008. That run extended to four defeats in a row which is something United will be looking to avoid repeating.
Stoke have not lost in 13 games at The Britannia.
Newcastle have yet to win away this season.
Stoke have kept five clean sheets at home this season but they’ve only scored five goals at the other end in home games.
Final thought…
You know what you are going to get when you come up against Stoke. The game will be physical and they will threaten from set-pieces and long throws. United will need to be up fro the fight to stand any chance of taking any points home with them.
Unfortunately that fight that I witnessed last season seems to have disappeared somewhat and we’ve now got to a rather unacceptable stage of seeing the team coast through games when the reality is that anything less that 100% effort shouldn’t be enough. I’ve seen less talented players be revered at Newcastle because they would stand up and be counted, sweat and drip blood for the cause. It’s time for this current bunch to step up once more.
Howay the lads!
Date: Wednesday, 28th November, 2012
Time: 7:45pm
Venue: The Britannia Stadium
This is going to be a very tough game. Even if we were playing really well of late a point would be a good result. I hope we can get a point , but more importantly a good performance. We need to turn things around.
Johno Toon(Quote)
Toonsy our relegation season we drew both games ,the season we came back up they beat us 2 1 at sjp perch own goal and lost 4 nil 😉
kkforever(Quote)
rel season we drew 2 2 after being 2 nil up under jokiner then 1 1 at the shithole carrol goal under shearer 🙂
kkforever(Quote)
i just hope the 6 toed fckers slag demba before kick off like last season 😉
kkforever(Quote)
They have made it a place where nobody goes with confidence. But they lost 4 times last season all to normal clubs. Can we be the first this season. Not holding my breath. Would like to go. But not taking my 9 yr old to the Britannia.
premandup(Quote)
Why not Prem? Is it that bad of a place to go?
Johno Toon(Quote)
Pardew needs to change the team around. Personally I’d never play the muppets again in defence.
Bigi, Tav, Colo, Jonas.
Santon, Tiote, Perch.
Marv, Cisse, Ba
I’d change it that much and see what happens. Can’t be worse than Sunday!
georgio(Quote)
I imagine in the home family area it would be alright but that is sold out. There are no two seats together in the home stands, and whilst I would not mind going in the away area, getting in and out of the ground would prove tricky. Anyway I’ve not got tickets so it’s a mute point.
premandup(Quote)
Also the language & behavior are not good according to friends who do go.
I’ve been taking him to Crewe (League one) & Nantwich (Level 7) both good times.
premandup(Quote)
prem i know young byron moore who plays for crewe very well ,hes my sons best mate ,ive told him to look after young brad innman 😉
kkforever(Quote)
Right. The new candidate replacement for Pardew is Moyes.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1243173/david-moyes-is-undecided-over-his-future-at-everton?cc=5739
Not a cert, but a believable improvement.
Wellington(Quote)
KK sounds good. You living round here??
premandup(Quote)
Wellington.
Get real he’s holding off to see if he’s getting the Old Trafford Gig. He ain’t coming here.
premandup(Quote)
prem aye i live in the dump ,where abouts are you ???
kkforever(Quote)
nr the Little Man at Wettenhall
premandup(Quote)
stoke itself me prem
kkforever(Quote)
Prem – natch, the Old Trafford job is being shopped to the likes of Guardiola & Mourinho.
I don’t think the change is particularly likely (as Wilson notes, our problems are bigger than the manager http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/magpies-strike-pairing-spells-two-for-sorrow-at-newcastle). However, Moyes being “in play” provides an answer to the retort, “Then who?” for those calling for Pardew’s head. Given the number of people with such views in this community, I consider it a public service to notify them.
Wellington(Quote)
Wellington, isn’t it a bit early to be drinking?
Like the interview though, anyone that is still angry about the idea of losing our top players needs to adapt to Moyes’ point of view. No point arguing about it, we know that’s the boards stance. Just need to hope Carr doesn’t lose his Midas touch and we eventually gather a squad of about 15 actually quality players. What are we on now? 8? Hopefully Anita will join that bracket at some point.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Wellington
Why on earth would Moyes come here? We are a sideways step at most currently. Backwards step if anything as he is coming into a less stable board. Also you read Everton fan boards and they have accepted their position financially in the league, and are just hoping at some point everything clicks, our fans as a whole are still some way off that imo.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
(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)
@welly
Moyes? Do you really think he would commit career suicide ? 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
(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)
I remember Moyes jumping at the chance last time 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Good preview Toonsy, I would be well pleased with a pt but think we’ll struggle.
KK so your a potter man 😯 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
paddy no iam a geordie born and bred unlike some 😉
kkforever(Quote)
paddy we had a few bombings around here not so long ago nothing to do with you was it 😆 😆 😆
kkforever(Quote)
KK you just stick to the pottery lessons, though does the extra finger and thumb not get in the way potter boy 😆
Reet back to do a bit so save your stick for later 😉
As for Moyes I don’t think he’s that game
Big Dave(Quote)
KK nowt to do with me we have decommisioned all weapons etc 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
you meen your off to scar a few more poeple for life ❓ and i dont meen your tatts i meen the mental scars when they see how ugly you are 😆 😆
kkforever(Quote)
One of the best games I saw live last season. Obertan was outstanding 😯 and Ba score the perfect hat trick. As a team we were class and Stoke just couldn’t handle us.
God that was a long time ago 🙄 🙁
Stoke are strong defensively, but haven’t really scored a boat load of goals this season, which is all I am clinging to at the moment. I don’t think he will, but I’d like to see him go:
———— Krul ————
Nbubz/Colo/Wilo/Fergie
Santa/Anita/Tiote/Marv
————- Ba ————
———- Cisse ————
It wouldn’t be my first choice with everyone fit for selection, but I do think Fergie and Marv on the left could get good ball in for Ba and Cisse. Likewise Santon on the right is worth a shout. He’s more right footed than left and likes getting forward so could be worth a look, if not it would be Jonas but he’s not been good enough for me this season like. I think that team could get something out of the game tonight, and anything other than defeat is a good result I think.
Sharpy17(Quote)