It’s that time of the year again. The time of the year I love to hate. It’s FA Cup time!
Cue videos of Ronnie Radford and various other giant killings from over the years – Stevenage a couple of seasons ago will probably be there as well – and lots of talk about the “magic” of the cup. Pah!
The only real magic of the FA Cup I’ve experienced is the two finals at the turn of the millenium. You know, the ones where we got resoundingly turned over and gave not a mere whimper as Arsenal and Manchester United strolled past us. Magic indeed. In fact to experience the real magic of the cup from an NUFC perspective I reckon you need to be over the age of 60, and even then you’ll need to be at least five years over the age of 60 to really remember it. 1955 it was. Not many remember it well…
You see the cup has been filled with heartache all my life and I’m actually at the point of not caring about it. Especially this season when our need for Premier League points means we can’t really afford a cup run when you consider the relative lack of numbers in our squad and lengthly injury list we are having to contend with. So you see, you can poke that “magic” somewhere where the sun doesn’t shine, but we still have to play the game unfortunately.
Newcastle:
New signing Mathieu Debuchy will not be considered for this one after his move from Lille yesterday. Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor are back in training but, like Debuchy, won’t be considered for this one. The next Premier League match against Norwich is supposedly the target for all three of them.
Hatem Ben Arfa, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Danny Simpson ad Jonas Gutierrez are all still sidelined for this one, and they will be joined by Gael Bigirimana, who is suffering from a dead leg, Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse who are both carrying slight knocks and won’t be risked.
Brighton:
Bruno, Inigo Calderon, Vicente and Marcos Painter are all currently in the treatment room while Will Buckley – scorer of the goal via a deflection off Mike Williamson last season – has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to feature later today.
Previously…
The most recent meeting between the sides happened just last season when Brighton sent us tumbling out of the FA Cup at the 4th round stage.
The two side have a remarkably similar record having won seven games each from 17 meetings in all competitions between the two sides. Only three of Brighton’s seven wins have come in Sussex compared to four for United.
Stats and facts…
Newcastle have been taken to a replay in a third round tie nine times in the past 20 years.
Brighton will be looking to knock us out of the FA Cup for a fourth time in their history.
The last time United won an away FA Cup tie was back in 2006 when we visited Cheltenham.
Final thought:
As I say I’m not too bothered about this one but I still want us to win it. I want us to win every game to be fair. However when you look at the team we’re going to be naming you have to say we’re there for the taking and I won’t be to bothered so long as it’s not stupidly embarrassing, like Cardiff in pre-season for example.
Sorry, but I just can’t get excited about this one.
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 5th January, 2012
Time: 12:30 – Live on ITV1
Venue: Amex Stadium
You know the more i think about those Danny Graham Rumors the more i think so long as we get Remy in then why not ? He is better than Best was and is an out and out CF , Remy will be brought in for the left ,Cisse as the striker and Graham as a pinch hitter from the bench . He is quicker than Shola and would be a good Squad signing . First and foremost a bloody good CB though .
Axel(Quote)
G2 – I’d love to see us get someone like Tony Adams in as defence coach. Someone with a really presence who has played the English game at the highest level.
Andy – I’d go for the 2nd of your 2 options mate, really like the look of that, with Oba and Marv alternating throughout the game. Unfortunately I don’t think that’s how he’ll go and I fancy Shola will start in probably a 4-4-2 formation.
————- Krul ———-
Debuchy/Saylor/Colo/Santon
Obertan/Cabaye/Anita/Marv
——— Shola – Cisse ———
Sharpy17(Quote)
MM
Don’t even mention it, was heart-broken. Do you know how much?
Andymag(Quote)
Yes I remember that Munich Mag @71. I was thinking of a real defender in as a coach mate. But one with real coaching instincts. It looks obvious that we need help there. And yes I’m surprised Santon isn’t better defensively. He doesn’t seem to recognize the through ball very well. I would hate to give up on him but he will lose confidence unless we can coach him properly.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I reckon Ashley would fork out for a defender.
Pardew and Carr and whoever else is involved just need to identify the right bloke and Ashley will do the business. I’m not convinced they have identified the bloke yet.
The next stumbling block of course is that footballing expert deadly Derek and his cohorts agreeing terms with the bloke… 😕
Munich Mag(Quote)
Arsenal are making a move for Anderwiel 🙁 would love us too get him .
Axel(Quote)
That’ll be right Lescott on loan to Villa, Well Randy knows the value of shoring up the defence even if Jabba don’t 🙄 That’s just made Villa harder to break down when we meet them 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy
Would’ve thought Adams would be in the coaching system at Arsenal. How about ‘Agent Bruce’ 😆 .
Andymag(Quote)
Andymag@78, no I don’t mate. I just know he is out of contract in the summer, so Spurs probably paid thirty bob and a 12’er box of bovril crisps.
How foolish letting the lads contract run down without agreeing an extension… 😳 😳
Munich Mag(Quote)
Spot on Troy @75. He is looking better and better. Finally we are getting some decent games out of him. Now if Anita continues to improve, and with Debuchy in the lineup we should see a more balanced attack from out of our own half. There are some positives but we still need incoming.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Axel ,Me too thought Toby would slot in better than Douglas . We are too slow to act yet again ,god ain’t we been here before.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Axel
What is the rumoured bid? We need someone exactly like him for our defence.
Andymag(Quote)
MM
😥 😥
Andymag(Quote)
GeordieTwo@79, I would buy a decent left back and push Santon further up the field. Then I would spend 5 hours a day getting him to jink inside onto his right foot and welly the ball into the back of the net.
btw a horrible thought entered my head. Shola is the only penalty taker left in the whole toon squad now that Ba has left .. 😯
Munich Mag(Quote)
How about Lauren Blanc in as a defensive coach ❓ but he probably has a job .
Axel(Quote)
If Lescott does go to Villa it could be a real threat to us Kimtoon @82. He will definitely help their defence. Hated to see that Holtby is going to Spurs as well. I think he’s joining them in the summer. I would love to know who Carr has identified as our best bet for a new CB.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Who is this Danny Graham is he any good ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM
Cabaye took them for Lille and Shola is beast at them when he’s on.
Andymag(Quote)
Villa still have Adebayor and Bent to pick up there game. Lescott would settle the bairns down, and strengthen Villa for sure.
Munich Mag(Quote)
ANDYMAG they did not mention how much but they hardly ever do here in Holland until the deal is done , but it was from a reliable news source .
Axel(Quote)
MM
Pretty sure he was the top English goalscorer after Rooney in the PL last season. Or was that Holt? Anywho he is a geordie and a decentish striker who I’d love as a back-up striker, though doubt he’d leave Swansea where he’s getting little playing time to play for a side where he’d get even less.
Andymag(Quote)
Axel
You reckon the 8mill mark though?
Andymag(Quote)
MM,Danny plays for Swansea ,not a purple 🙄 imo ,o.k as back up scores more than Shola 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
MM
They wish they had Adebeyor, guess you mean Agbonlahor 😉
Andymag(Quote)
Kim
May be not a purple but he’s black and white through-and-through.
Andymag(Quote)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jan/03/arsene-wenger-arsenal-pressure-signing
Exactly, Arsene Wenger has it spot on. The emerging countries are Germany and Spain, and France isn’t the country it was for top talent. The problem is it’s usually quite difficult to get a good German to come to England. Lewis Holtby’s old man is English, but apart from Hamman and Hizelzberger there haven’t been many Jaarmans coming to the EPL.
I think we should also sniff around the Italian league for a good no-frills defender who actually defends. The bloke we signed cannot defend unfortunately 🙁 Maybe he will improve with age though…
Munich Mag(Quote)
I wonder what Frank Clark the former Newcastle left back who was in our Fairs Cup winning side is up to? Surely there must be others with experience from the past who could help out? Munich Mag, Danny Graham is a decent striker with Swansea, was their top scorer in the Championship last season I believe but Michu has taken over there now. Not what I would be looking for to replace Ba however.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Andy ,yeah Gateshead lad. As you said good back up and you never know playing for a really big hometown club could really push him on ,no offence to Swansea like. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Andymag@99 good job you’re here to keep iz reet 😉
We need more bodies up front anyway, why not sign this lad Danny Graham if he is any good ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
ANDYMAG i think 8-10 m , as for Graham the fact that he is a geordie could swing it for us after all we all dreamed/dream of playing for the Toon and having a trio with Angela Jolie and Shakira 😆 for me it was obvious that playing for the toon was a no go at an early age . 😥
Axel(Quote)
Yes I would have Graham as third choice striker over Shola any day Andymag but please Ashley don’t spend whatever money you are willing to pay out on him first. Get a top forward in and then see what’s left in the kitty.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MM
I remember a year or so back I read that England were trying to convince Holtby to play for England as he’d only played for Germany u21s not the senior side. So he has bound to have some ability if he was also the u21 captain.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy – I don’t think Adams is at Arsenal mate, Steve Bould is their defensive coach. Sol Campbell wouldn’t be bad either IMO, he’s got nee pace but a cracking footballing brain. Reckon Nicky **** would make a good coach as well.
I do think Ashley will give money for a CB, but if he’s giving £10m (ish) for a forward, I really doubt he’ll hand over any more than £5m for a CB.
As for Danny Graham – not my first choice but the kid can score and is defo better than Shola, Xisco and Ranger. Actually, I reckon played regularly he could be as good as Steven Fletcher for a lot less coin 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Axel
.
Might be beyond Ashley’s budget but you never know. Don’t give up on that dream mate 😉 , I haven’t, my mate always rolls his eyes when I tell him that when/if I go off to Uni, I’ll join the Uni football team, amaze a scout with my defending capabilities, play in the SPL and convince a PL/Championship team that I’m good enough, eventually have Newcastle notice me and hope that my price tag doesnt discourage them
Andymag(Quote)
Sharpy
Would **** work as a defensive coach? Thought he was a midfielder 😕 . Also isnt he still playing in China or has he retired yet? Campbell would be a good call as he was involved in that stuff when he ‘played’ for us, coaching the younger ones.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy@ 109 It’s good to have a dream mate,just make sure it’s not a Scum coach or sees you first. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim @ 98 scoring more than Shola doesn’t really say much for him
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave@112 ,He’s scored 15 goals in 51 appearances for swansea ,like I said not a purple but possible back up. True though scoring more than Shola ain’t nowt to brag about, it’s not exactly hard. 😆 :
KIMTOON(Quote)
Could you imagine if we signed Debuchy, Remy, Graham and a CB In this window. Never gonna happen but I like the sound of it. Graham as a 3rd choice striker would be a good bit of business imo. 😎
Oblong(Quote)
Also does anyone else think Simmo will still leave in this window even with his broken toe??
Oblong(Quote)
Simmo will have to man up ,I broke my big toe on 2 occasions ,agony for first week or so then back in regular shoes with gritted teeth.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oblong Simmo IMO won’t leave and never would have , why should he ? he might aswell wait till the summer and he’s free to do whatever he wants.
Kim I was looking the other day and Strolla has scored one goal in 426 mins Xisco scored 1 goal in 400 mins and he was labelled as **** 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
A pleasure as always. Talk to you all again tomorrow. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
GEORDIETWO
Big Dave(Quote)
@dave very true I was just thinking the board might try to push him out to raise more funds especially as he hasn’t signed a new contract. I fear if we are to get a striker and a CB that we need the board will want another player out first. 🙁
Oblong(Quote)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2257368/Newcastle-sign-Kevin-Mbabu.html
Interesting this one, anyone know anything? I’ve never heard of him and seems a lot of a 16 year old, who’ll go into the ‘developmental squad’.
Kim
If its between Sunderland and Aberdeen I’d choose the SPL 😉 , unless there was a fair chunk of dough involved 😎 , still try to engineer a move to the toon though, and would probably live in Jesmond 😀 . Now I’m getting a bit into this 😆 .
Andymag(Quote)
Dave@117 😆
Andy@121,Get into it all you can mate ,that’s what youth is all about. Like the odd fantasy myself ,though if I’m honest it doesn’t normally include football 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oblong I think there is more chance of us winning the Prem than Danny leaving before the summer, and like Guthrie it’s only the Regime to blame.
Big Dave(Quote)
Kim
Cheeky 😉 Considering I havent played football in a oproper team in a few years it definately is a fantasy 😕 , though I’ve set myself a fitness programme to be fi in time to try out for a Uni team/slash attract the student babes 😎 .
Andymag(Quote)
Dave
I seem to recall you doubting us getting debuchy a month or so back, when I predicted he’d sign and ‘read between the lines’ in his comments about moving out of Lille. Just saying could be that Danny leaves this month or even that we sign Remy another player who was ‘not gunna sign for us’. 😉
Andymag(Quote)
Kim 😉 another interesting one was that over the last 4 seasons Cisse has scored 62 goals, Vs Ba who has scored 47 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Andy your right 😉 I didn’t think we would have got Debuchy , but as Debuchy had clearly came out last window and said he wanted to come to us etc etc, add to that that he still had longer on his contract. It is a lot different to Simmo who can hold on for another few months and walk away free plus get a decent signing on fee etc or do you think they are they same ❓
As for “we sign Remy another player who was ‘not gunna sign for us’. did I say that ?? ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave
That is interesting especially when you think that hoffenheim is generally considered the better side with more creative players. Though those stats wouldnt take into account for the fact that Ba was sometimes deployed as a LW in a 433 for Hoffenheim and that the goals were more spread out for Hoffenheim.
Andymag(Quote)
Dave@126 ,Wow ,that surprises me thought they would be closer together, I said that Cisse was good 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dave
I am almost certain it was you that said it, pretty sure you used the annology of us having more chance of winning the prem than us signing him. On Simpson, it is slightly different given his contract status but I believe threr is every chancew that he will see his chances limited with the Debuchy signing and want out for game time as a result.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy ,I think he’ll hang in and go on a free as he will appeal to more clubs that way.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim
So do I 😆
Andymag(Quote)
Though if he doesnt get game time then clubs might not think he’s good enough for them as he isnt good enough for us, so he might not get any decent clubs after him.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy I haven’t said much on Remy simply because I know nowt about him, and I would be well and truly shocked if we do get him, but I can’t remember ever saying that we wouldn’t get him, but if we do sign him and you can find where I have said it I will admit I was wrong and apologise 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave
If I could be bothered I would have done it, so you win 😉
Andymag(Quote)
MM – I agree the best nations are German an Spain mate, but the nation that seems to have taken best to English footy lately is the Belgians and that’s where I’d be sending Carr and his scouting team I think. Spaniards and Germans tend to stay in their own league but reckon we could bag a couple of up and coming Belgian players like.
Andy – sorry mate, aye I meant Campbell for defence and **** for midfield coaching. Both good pros and good footballing minds, will have been well educated by the clubs they played for (pre toon), not sure if **** is still playing but we could make the offer or wait til he hangs the boots up, but he may be homesick by now like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy
Aye I keep saying to my mates and my dad and brother that the Belgians have really taken to the PL, in particular defenders, bound to be a few gems hidden in that waffle-eating nation.
Andymag(Quote)
Denmark is an untapped local source that we should look into, bound to be cheap as well.
Andymag(Quote)
Just saw that Schalke’s Howedes is thinking of leaving, we should definately go for him before Man U/Arsenal get him.
Andymag(Quote)
Dave ,do you read the mirror,if so did you see that lass on page 37 with 5 of her dead cats tattooed on her back? 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Andy not to burden the point as im going off now, but if you make a claim like that then surly you should be bothered enough to back up your claim ❓ no ? as I know if I ever make a claim about something you said I will try my best to back it up. I would look over it if we signed Remy but we haven’t even signed him 😯
Catch you’s tomorrow
Big Dave(Quote)
0 – 0 is very tempting @ 9/1.
roy cropper(Quote)
Andy,
I remember we signed a cracking one once Mr sorry, mean Prince Albert, if only we could have a centre back like him back playing for us. The good ole days!!
Simon(Quote)
We’ll be the surprise cup winners this year. And with being Euro cup winners and an 8th place finish in the league, we’ll all think what a great season that was.
I’m looking forward to the 10 game winning streak that is about to start.
brisvegas(Quote)
Dave
Sorry if I caused offense just thought I’d make the point on Debuchy, then I thought about Remy and what I thought I remembered you saying about him.
Simon
I’m not sure what your talking about.
Andymag(Quote)
Loving the confidence Bis 😉
Andymag(Quote)
Andy, a bit before your time. The all mighty Phillipe Albert 😉
Awesome days…http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qFF3BFJuajc
Shamrock(Quote)
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qFF3BFJuajc
How did it all go so wrong?! What a team that was. What players Sheare & Beardsley were…
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock
Know about Phillipe Albert, just didn’t understand it cus of the Prince Albert name.
Andymag(Quote)
Yeah, most people will have heard of him I should think but may not remember him and his nicknames… He got the nickname Prince Albert after moving to the Toon and showing us his fiotballing ability. The common link being the Queen’s other half obviously! Footballing Royalty..
Shamrock(Quote)