Game On! Newcastle v Southampton

Game on at SJP!
Game on at SJP!
After the joy of progressing in the Europa League midweek, Newcastle United must now quickly focus their attention to domestic matters as Southampton visit St James’ Park.

The results yesterday mean that it’s easy to see what a win will do for each team. Three points for either side will extend the gap to six points between themselves and the relegation spaces.

If you want to get a bit more technical and look a little bit deeper, then a win for Southampton will take them above Sunderland and West Ham into 13th place whilst a win for Newcastle will be enough to propel us above the Mackems into 14th place. United could jump into 13th place aswell but they’d need to win by three clear goals and would then go above West Ham on goals scored. A draw for either side is no good to anyone.

Southampton go into the game having not played a competitive game for over two weeks whilst United, who named a strong side in Ukraine in midweek, have played twice in the period with a break of only two days between playing in Kharkiv and playing in Newcastle. Tiredness could play a part, but then by the same token the opposite could be true and Southampton could be rusty whilst we’ve continued to grease the machine with competitive games. We shall see.

The match preview is online and can be viewed by clicking here. It features injury news for both sides, a look at the history of the fixture between the two clubs, some stats and facts along with some of my random rambling at the end.

The game itself is not being broadcast live here in the UK as the TV moguls have opted to show Manchester City v Chelsea instead. That means a lot of people who aren’t going to the game today will be looking for a stream so if you happen to stumble across a good one then by all means feel free to leave a link to it in the ‘comments’ section below.

Team news will be published below as and when it becomes available and is once again being provided by Big Dave, who is doing sterling work keeping you guys updated with team sheets in my enforced absence through work. Not good for me, but probably good for United as they always seem to win when I’m at work. Hopefully that streak continues today.

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Elliot Debuchy Colo S Taylor Santon Tiote Cabaye Jonas Sissoko Gouffran Cisse

Subs: Anita Yanga-Mbiwa Marveaux Sho Ameobi Alnwick Perch Obertan

Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, S Davis, Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert

Subs: Davis, Fonte, Ramirez, Fox, Prowse, Mayuka, Puncheon

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

446 thoughts on “Game On! Newcastle v Southampton

  1. Sammy going to boro on
    loan,about time he went out and give it a go,wish he could take his brother
    with him

      (Quote)

  2. Yes they are a very nice passing team Kid @300. Very good to watch. A bit like Wigan who can really move the ball around as well but both clubs aren’t good enough at the back. Southampton had a bit of bad luck as well today with that own goal and Cisse was probably offside before moving back onside to accept the ball before his wonder goal. All in all though we were the better team and got the result. It should be interesting against Swansea next weekend as they are an excellent passing team as well. Elliot seems to be a very good distributor of the ball. Krul could actually learn from him. I think Krul is the better shot stopper though.

      (Quote)

  3. Woohoo, great result and some canny performances again. We’ve done well since the window slam shut, only Gareth Bale managing to narrowly beat us and that ain’t too shabby…..As for Cisse,4 goals in 7 league games since the turn of the year, how dare he!! 😆

      (Quote)

  4. Tiote = MOTM. He was flying. Cabaye looked quality too.

    Sayls seemed to be left with two men to mark for the first goal because somebody wasn’t tracking back. It might analyse on MOTD.

    I could see the second goal coming about a minute before it did. We just sat off them negligently.

    Cisse drives me mad with his offsides. 😈 It’s like he doesn’t understand the rule he’s so bad at observing it. His long rangers are spectacular, but he needs to put some in from two yards as well. 😈

      (Quote)

  5. and the Metalist slayer 🙂

    I think it’ll do Sammy the world of good to get in some games in the Championship. We should give him the time to mature, and what better place than with the Boro.

      (Quote)

  6. I thought the first half today was excellent, Southampton had us chasing shadows for 15 minutes, I feared a real hammering. The way we fought our way back into the game and wrestled the initiative back was superb.

      (Quote)

  7. Ice I love to sit and watch MOTD, but I haven’t seen it much this season 😆

    Richie @ 304 Your not as daft as Aussie makes out, plus add to the win that we have at last overcome our jinx of not winning after we concede 1st and we got over Aussie’s jinx as well, I bet he is over the moon with actually getting something right for a change

      (Quote)

  8. When Gouffran started doing those step-overs I knew he had the beating of their defence. He is so comfortable with either foot that you just don’t know what he’s going to do. Quality player.

      (Quote)

  9. Very good to see Cabaye slam that penalty home. Also good to hear Sammy might go out to Boro. I think it will suit him well and give him more playing time hopefully. Still in Europa as well. All in all things are looking up. That’s what an injection of class can do for a club. Better late than never but let’s not wait too long again Llambias. Do some work in the summer for a change.

      (Quote)

  10. Ice hopefully Sammy can be good for them and they might end up wanting to keep him, we could even do a bogof with them, if they buy Sammy for a score we’ll give them Strolla for free

      (Quote)

  11. yeah, that position just behind the first three substitutes is tailor made for him. 😆

      (Quote)

  12. I think it’s pretty clear Cisse is heating up again. Today he had, what, two chances (and really more like 1.5 chances)?

    Controversial, yes, but factor in one or two of those disallowed goals against MetalMania and he’s back to his historic ratio, basically.

    Since Ba’s last game for us, Arsenal on December 12, Papiss has three goals in ten games. That’s not including one that definitely should have stood against Metalica and one arguable call that, on another night, would have him at 5 goals in ten games.

    Or, counting from Everton, the first post-Ba game, where Papiss still played out of position, he’s got 3 in 9. Factor in those ghost goals, he’s back to 4 or even 5 goals in 9 games.

      (Quote)

  13. I don’t know why pardew doesn’t play him there more often … it worked a treat today. 😆

      (Quote)

  14. B&B @318, 322, 323 😆 It’s painful but true. Surely Shola needs to stay in that position for the rest of the season now unless we have injuries. I know about his faithful service to the club, but have watched him too often stand around watching the game while on the pitch. He’s a 20 minute man at best now in games where we have players who need a rest.

      (Quote)

  15. Gouffran has been superb for us so far Kid. He has tremendous pace which unsettles the full back on that side and his ball control and shot are excellent as well. What a steal he’s turning out to be! 😀

      (Quote)

  16. FSOTC – I think Cisse’s a better all round player than what he’s showing at the moment. Last season, as well as getting goals, he looked like a clever tidy footballer who holds it up well. I don’t think he’s shown enough of that this season, including today, and he’s still got a way to go. His strike today was absolutely class, but he’s got to weigh in with some simple tap ins. Unfortunately, he’s too often either on his heels or getting caught offside, sometimes a mile offside.

      (Quote)

  17. I think Cisse’s actually been playing well–hold up and otherwise.

    To score tap ins there needs to be service and defenses getting sliced open. You know what I mean? While that’s starting to happen with the new kids, I don’t really think we’ve been doing that over the season.

    I don’t think that first chance where he completely blasted wide with his left foot was as easy as it looked. He was clearly put off by the onrushing defender and I think the keeper had it covered anyway.

    Man, though, Gouffran and Sissoko have been excellent. And if Tiote plays like that from now on, well, that’s the bomb.

    Question: I’m not gunning for Saylor here, but he was part of the lapses for both goals today. How many chances does a player get before the “competition clause” kicks in and the hot-**** new kid gets a start?

    Same for Santon, who plays great going forward, but both of our goals conceded today came down our left side.

      (Quote)

  18. I think Vuckic and to a bigger extent Gosling have been left behind by the changes at the club FSOTC @331. Very little chance of Gosling ever getting into this lineup now. He probably needs a year in the Championship to regain his form and confidence. Not sure about Vuckic as we see him so little with his injuries. I would think he will still be around the club for a while yet but he must stay fit now to have any hope of even sitting on the bench.

      (Quote)

  19. B&B
    Do you see Cisse making a strike partnership work. Lets say we sign PEA in the summer can you see that working. When you have two up front there has to be interchange moving right, left staying central. do you think Cisse can do those things and be effective.
    Currently I just don’t know

      (Quote)

  20. FSOTC – I wouldn’t blame Cisse for that one. But what about him getting caught offside all the time?

    I would like to see their first goal on MOTD because I thought Tayls got left with two to mark.

      (Quote)

  21. Another player who will now be lost in the improvements at the club will be Obertan. He probably needs to be moved on. For me he just isn’t good enough often enough. Is he even a squad player now? I hope we move him on for his sake while he’s still young. Other players have done well at other clubs after failing with us and he may be one of those. I’m thinking of Routledge in the recent past.

      (Quote)

  22. yeah, the offside thing bugs me. I don’t remember him being offside so much last season.

    Just for argument’s sake, if Saylor was to blame, how many slip ups before a manage plays the new supposed prodigy? I feel like it might be harsh right now, but another couple of mistakes? I mean, literally, three clear mistakes and he’s on the bench? Dunno.

      (Quote)

  23. TLR that is a very good question @337. Cisse is great at wonder strikes but will he ever fit well with a partner. I’m not sure either. Shearer in his prime could do both. He could strike a ball better than anyone but was a tremendous passer with great vision as well. I don’t see Cisse as being the same type of player. He could well become a real problem if he can’t pair up well with the next incoming striker. I hope not but there is some evidence that it is already a problem. And I have to agree he has continued to go offside far too often and doesn’t even seem to be aware of it a lot of the time.

      (Quote)

  24. I feel like Obertan could still make a contribution, but we rarely play to his strengths–that blazing speed–and maybe he hasn’t been coached properly to get down to the byline and whip in crosses earlier than he does. Seems to me he plays well on the left, but maybe that’s just from one or two instances I remember where he’s beat a man or two and cut back on to his right to deliver a ball in the middle.

    Vukic is very young, right? I still hope to see good things from him. Hopefully he’s not actually injury prone, but just had a run of bad luck.

      (Quote)

  25. G2 I don’t think gosling has not moved on mate,Iknow hes been injury probe but the times I have seen him even at Everton he is very one paced and loses the heed to quick on the pitch

      (Quote)

  26. Ice he will still have to make way for Benny as Goofy and Sissoko offer a lot more all round to the team now, But imo Jonas would still be a good squadie and could be a useful player to bring on when needed

      (Quote)

  27. Well that game today just proves we are too good too go down and that without HBA . First 10-15 minutes i was starting to panic slightly but what happened after that shows we have not only brought in Skillful ,fast ,strong players but players that have a will to win and don’t let their heads drop . We now have a real team that wants too fight and i can remember a time when that was not the case . Onwards and upwards for us and i now dare too dream of winning a trophy .

      (Quote)

  28. To blame the first goal on Taylor alone is abit harsh imo. The crosser was not closed down and Debuchey completely missed the header leading to the goal.

    You could say the same for the second Santon was miles out of position and the crosser had loads of time.

    It really is a skill to be offside so much 😀 is there any other player in the league who get caught offside as much as Cisse?

      (Quote)

  29. TLR – I know what you mean. I don’t know this guy PEA, but I can’t see Cisse being adaptable enough to change his game to suit anyone else. Whoever comes in will have to suit Cisse.

    The strikers I like best are those who do their best work in the six yard box. Cisse gets in the six yard box, but unfortunately he’s oblivious to the offside rule. I’m interested to see what type Campbell is.

      (Quote)

  30. Yes, maybe a little harsh on Saylor. Their goals came from our left side, so Santon’s defending is suspect today. But, again, how many mistakes can a guy make before he gets dropped with all the competition on the bench? Honest question.

    Isn’t it nice to be in this predicament? Entertaining the thought of two good players competing for one position? Sigh.

      (Quote)

  31. Put it this way, I don’t think Cisse could tie Andy Cole’s shoelaces. Of course, Cole had the luxury of playing alongside the club’s all time greatest player.

      (Quote)

  32. Obertan is simply shocking. He hasn’t got a clue. He might outstrip Gouffran for pace, but Gouffran shows how bad Obertan is.

      (Quote)

  33. Spot on icedog @344. Gosling didn’t look quick enough even when he was fit. How all this time off will affect him I don’t know but it can’t be good at all. I could see him going to a Championship club to rebuild his game. Have to agree with you Big Dave @345 as well. Jonas could be a good squad player as he still has decent ball control skills even though his pace appears to be fading already at 28 or 29. I would keep him over some of the othere. Where will Bigi fit in now? It’s good he is very young as now we can develop him for 2 or 3 years with little pressure. The same with Campbell I would think. I don’t have much faith in the reserve system to develop players. Would much rather see the good younguns get loaned out now we are deep enough at most positions.

      (Quote)

  34. Good comments Axel @346. I was thinking much the same thing during the match. Up and down with the team (or down first, then up in this case). A real roller coaster but you could see our quality take the game over in long stretches.

      (Quote)

  35. GEORDIETWO i agree ie loaning out the youngsters in place of them playing reserve games ,but we should loan them out too a club playing at a good standard of football . Sammy going to Boro for example is better than the lads being loaned out too scottish clubs .I think 20 odd games for Sammy at that level will improve him .

      (Quote)

  36. got to loan players out to the highest clubs you can,not as axel says loaning them out to poor scottish clubs 2nd/3rd div clubs is pointless,good ccc would be fine,look how its helped,sturriage,whiltshire,the young kid at w.b.a. ect not saying they are in that class but move them to the best clubs poss

      (Quote)

  37. Ice @ 360 agree 100% I said as much a while back about our younguns going to the SPL on loan, imo even the Championship would be a better option option

      (Quote)

  38. Gouffran – Cisse – HBA

    Sissoko

    Cabaye – Tiote

    That for me will cause problems for any team in the country!

      (Quote)

  39. Was just thinking, if a bid came into Santon £11m+ should we accept it (it comes from a Italian or Spanish club)? I reckon we should, as much as I enjoy his runs into the box he is defensively weak and we have players coming through that will be given an opportunity to shine like Haïdara, Dummet and Riley coming through the ranks.

      (Quote)

  40. @Andy

    Santon is an Italian international. We have decent squad depth atm. What is the point in selling off first teamers just because you have a decent backup. That would just put us back to square one.

      (Quote)

  41. Andy why weaken the team ? I have heard ones saying that Debuchy is brilliant going forward like Santon, and like Santon he isn’t the best at defending ❓ but I wouldn’t want to get rid of either

      (Quote)

  42. Santii
    Would it not be an improvement as he appears to be a weak link on defence and the money gained can go towards other targets.

      (Quote)

  43. I thought Debuchy was amazing today. He looked like he had settled in and he had the perfect balance of going forward and getting back whereas Santon looks vulnerable with a decent winger running at him. I can now see why Debuchy was so highly rated at the Euros. He was the best RB I have seen at the toon today, better than Carr and Beye. Cabaye and Sissoko are incredible as well, Sissoko is just too quick and strong and no team has been able to handle him yet.

      (Quote)

  44. I totally disagree that he is a weak link. Haidara has played one game for us. How can you assume he is better than Santon?

    I think Pardew has faith in him as well (just look at his appearance’s)

      (Quote)

  45. FSOTC

    Nobody is answering your question, mate, so I will – A player should be dropped after making mistakes in a few games, but not straight away. CB is a toughie because a lot of it is about partnerships. Therefore you can’t keep chopping and changing.

    However, I do feel Yanga M’Biwa should be in the side ahead of Taylor. Taylor’s played quite well lately, but the simple fact is Mapou is a better player. I have seen a lot of him and he is pure class.

      (Quote)

  46. FSOTC
    If he can become a solid defender then he is worth more than £11m but currently I’d say £8m tops.

      (Quote)

  47. This really is a team to get excited about if we can keep all of these players and add the perfect one or two in the summer. I have not seen the potential before at Newcastle that I have in the last month (in my time).

      (Quote)

  48. Santon is weaker defensively than Debuchy, but that’s mainly because of his style of play. Santon likes to run with the ball at his feet, whereas Debuchy likes to make a pass, burst forward and then receive the ball further up the pitch.

    The latter approach is less risky and he therefore gets caught out of position less.

    Also, he is a lot more experienced. Give Santon time. He continues to improve and will be better next season.

    …I am a firm believer in the OL/BVB approach though, so if a great offer comes in for him we should sell.

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *