Game On! Fulham v Newcastle

It's 'Game On' at the Cottage
It’s ‘Game On’ at the Cottage
Good afternoon all, and welcome to this ‘Game On’ article which will take us through every twist and turn of our trip to Fulham.

After a week off United should be fresh and should have a spring in their step after back-to-back victories against Aston Villa and Hull City but as we know football doesn’t work like that.

The home side will be desperate for a win as they battle against the drop with new manager Felix Magath yet to taste victory as chief of Fulham with only a single draw being registered in three attempts to date. As detailed in the match preview, the Cottagers are on a woeful run of form which will surely end at some point. I just hope that today isn’t that day.

The aforementioned match preview is online and can be viewed here. It features injury news for both sides, a look at the history of the fixture along with some stats thrown in for good measure.

The game itself is not being shown live here in the UK so once again we are reliant upon picking up a stream from an overseas broadcaster. Fortunately a few have the match listed for transmission so hopefully finding a stream shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Again though guys, if you do happen to find a working stream then please share it by leaving a link in the ‘comments’ section below. Team news will be published at the very bottom of this article as and when.

And that is just about that. I said in the match preview that I hate games where we are dubbed as favourites because ultimately there can only ever really be disappointment. We either get the job done as expected of us or fall flat on our faces – there is no middle ground.

Howay the lads!

Fulham: Stockdale; Heitinga, Hangeland, Amorebieta, Richardson; Kasami, Kvist, Sidwell, Kačaniklić; Holtby; Woodrow

Subs: Stekelenburg, Riise, Rodallega, Dejagah, Roberts, Riether, Burn

Newcastle: Krul; Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran; de Jong; Cisse

Subs: Alnwick, Haidara, S.Taylor, Marveaux, Gosling, Armstrong, Shola Ameobi

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.

399 thoughts on “Game On! Fulham v Newcastle

  1. Surely we need a explosive young winger for next season. Somebody with pace and the ability to cross a ball. I really think Benny will leave as soon as he can come the summer. What kind of striker will we get? Somebody young and cheap perhaps? And the replacement for Cabaye now that Grenier’s price is skyrocketing? Poor old Mike SmallBerries. Where will the cheap new players come from now?

      (Quote)

  2. Howay mates. Let’s see you get on here and speak your minds! As Official Blog Hobbit it’s up to me to rouse the faithful! Harrumph!

      (Quote)

  3. what if they can get us 15 league goals a season?! My answer’s in the what if Sharpy. Byram? Unsure. Is he better than Tav? I just don’t want us stocking up with what if’s and players still with a lot to prove. I simply don’t agree about Holtby and never noticed him on Sat.

    Geordie you wee hobbit – I’d really like Grenier. Where are you getting the sky rocketing from? His chairman?
    The big problem will remain. If Pardew can reduce Benny and others to dust what’s the point of exciting players. Endless back tracking?

      (Quote)

  4. Geordie – Holtby is a different player to Grenier mate. I’d expect Holtby to work back. Holtby would be my Cabs replacement – Grenier, Cabella or Menez would be the Benny replacement. I think Grenier is an excellent player mate and I’d have him above Cabella personally. But Menez is available on a free in the summer where Grenier would cost around £15m I reckon. I think Menez is a very good player and is still only 26 – but this could be his ‘big move’ and may want bigger wages than we could offer.

      (Quote)

  5. Georgio – what nationality do you want up front mate?. There are no guarantees whoever you buy or how much you spend. Torres and E’to had nowt to prove before joining Chelsea.

    From what you’ve seen of Bony this season, do you think we should have bought him?

      (Quote)

  6. Some good thoughts there lads. Sharpy yep I see Grenier costing at least 15M pounds plus a good wage (15M is the latest price being quoted Georgio mate). Cabella’s price is going up as well and his club chairman hates us doesn’t he? Menez is definitely worth a good looking at from Carr. I worry about our ability to manage attacking players as well. Remy is going to leave and we’ll need to almost completely remake our attack with Cabaye gone, Shola finished, leaving only Gouffy as a good winger/striker. The jury is still out on De Jong I think. If he doesn’t score this season or ends up with 1 or 2 what do we do with him? Big questions for SmallBerries.

      (Quote)

  7. I see that apparently (according to Independent) – Arsenal are interested in Southampton right back – an English 19 year old….for £10m!!!!

    FFs the game is being ruined by money – he’s only played 19 premier league games. Why is Debuchy being touted around for only £5-6M??

    anyway – I’d still like us to go for a replacement for Remy. in my little world – we could get Kevin Gameiro from Valencia – we were up for signing him some years ago – but he made a mistake and knocked us back because he wanted to go to Spain. That hasn’t worked – and he’s not exactly set the world alight.

    Good player – next to nowt. Suit Fat Mick down to the ground

      (Quote)

  8. I hear the Gos got a 30K fine for his gambling infractions then? Not much really. Shouldn’t he get a suspension as well? No consistency in the punishments handed out lately.

      (Quote)

  9. Some interesting thoughts there Tattyheed. I love your name by the way. Lovely and tatty it is.

      (Quote)

  10. Aye Tatty madness reigns supreme. ManU are going to be throwing ridiculous money around this summer. Mike SmallBerries is already quaking in his boots. That’s a horrible feeling when you quake in your boots.

      (Quote)

  11. Sharpy , I read yesterday that Kasper is now linked with a move to Manure 👿 so you can probs knock him off your list mate. Got to agree on Holtby ,I do like the look of him, I said that a couple of blogs back. As for Jeremy Menez , it could be a good shout that , PSG ain’t using him that much, apparently he’s bagged 19 goals and 26 assist in 96 appearences , more importantly he’s out of contract come summer which could appeal to Jabba 😉
    I also read that Tomas Rincon is out of contract with Hamburg come summer and he can play anywhere down the right or at DFMFD so if any good could be a useful utility player. Must confess don’t know much about him other than his nickname ‘the general ‘ 😆 maybe Munich Mag can fill us in on if he’s much kop like , he could replace Raylor if he doesn’t make it back to playing like he used to.

      (Quote)

  12. G2 . they reckon £250m Manure have put aside for players, that will be a fair chunk of their new sponsorship deal I’d imagine. Even so they simply cannot compete with Citeh and Chelsea like they used to and if they don’t make CL ,lets hope, no one will wanna go there when it’s on offer with Citeh or Chelski or even Liverpool and Arsenal. Factor in the utter **** job moyes is doing and if I was a player I wouldn’t choose them I know that much.

      (Quote)

  13. How much panicking will ManU do this summer? It should be fun to watch. 😆 If they lose today is it another nail in Moyes coffin? Who else will get the sack at the end of the season? Surely not wor Alan?

      (Quote)

  14. G2 , I really don’t see them giving him the luxury of time that SAF got when he went there ,there is simply too much money at stake compared to back then . Even then SAF was apparently one game away from the sack the day he won and hung on to his job . Looking at SAF in the stands on sunday he looked beyond pissed off at the thrashing they were getting from the Dippers, what with their re emergence as a force and money bags city he must be glad he retired.

      (Quote)

  15. Spot on Kimtoon @313 and 315! As Official Blog Hobbit I must complement you on your blogging. A very informative, sensible voice on here. A nice counter to some of our riffyer raff if you know what I mean? You know who you are riff raff. Harrumph.

      (Quote)

  16. Kim – I put Kasper up there coz he’s on a free, but to be honest I think GK is the least of our worries at the moment. I’d defo take Menez, I think he’s a really classy player and exactly what we are missing in terms of goals and creativity from midfield.
    Munich posted the other day suggesting that Hunt and Rincon were average players in an average team. But we have **** players in an average team so they’d still be an improvement 😆

      (Quote)

  17. If Mike does put out some real money in the summer (seems unlikely) how much would it be? Say 25M? If ManU alone spend 200M imagine what 25M will get us? Especially in a world cup year. Mike will have to lay extremely low this summer I fear. A very difficult summer window coming for a number of reasons.

      (Quote)

  18. Don’t worry about me Kimtoon lass. I get silly on here at times. But I do really enjoy all your comments as well as everyone else. It’s a pleasure to read such a good blog.

      (Quote)

  19. I think City and Chelsea have cheated there way to securing champions league football. They can spend ridiculous amounts of money on players and wages. How can we compete with team’s that can afford 40 million on one man. I have accepted the fact that Ashley will only keep us in the league and that’s it. As long as his making money and getting free advertising for sports direct his happy. I think he blames the fan’s for the Keegan incident and has never gotten over it. He might spend the Cabaye money and a few free transfers but that’s it. He has no respect for the fans.

      (Quote)

  20. G2 , aye we have a pretty diverse lot on here, and by and large it doesn’t get too nasty. I read the blog for a long time before venturing on here as didn’t want to step into a vipers nest like some blogs I could mention 😆 Being female was another thing but seeing a couple of other lasses on here helped in the beginning like. A good bunch on here imo, even the nutjobs are ok 😉

      (Quote)

  21. Stem , Yep it’s much easier when you have untold wealth at your disposal and top players who are adapt at winning free kicks and pens that never are/were . Oh and mugs for referees often helps 😉

      (Quote)

  22. Does anybody else still listen to Kate Bush? We were just discussing her on another blog. Listening to Hounds of Love right now. Running Up That Hill is still my favourite song of hers.

      (Quote)

  23. The Placebo version has a much more ominous tone. Quite distinct and interesting though.

      (Quote)

  24. Glad you did come on and add your voice to this lot Kimtoon. You are one bright woman as far as I can tell. Fantastic work ethic as well.

      (Quote)

  25. Kate Bush’s greatest unreleased track is absolutely stunning on YouTube. What a voice. In her early years even more incredible.

      (Quote)

  26. G2 , Cheers mate, appreciated . 😀
    Re- Kate Bush ,great voice, I always liked the man with the child in his eyes , cloudbusting and This womens work myself.

      (Quote)

  27. G2 , My ex sister in law was a ringer for the young Kate Bush in her youth, sadly the years haven’t been too kind to her and the onset of breast cancer hasn’t helped her either, getting olds a ***** 🙁

      (Quote)

  28. Funny reading all the papers raving about RVP this morning. I watched the game last night and Rooney was the best player on the pitch closely followed by Giggs. Other than his goals – a pen, tap in and freekick the keeper should have saved – I don’t think RVP had a very good game at all personally.
    Football journos are stupid IMO. The headline for me was that Man Utd are still heavily dependant on a 40yr old midfielder

      (Quote)

  29. I imagine when Pardew reads our posts he’ll go “What? Arma and Gouff up top. Ijits! Cisse will score loads again. Luuk will come good – same as last week lads”
    For those of you who want exciting crossing wingers I ask what for? Crosses for Cisse/shola/luuk? It isn’t even Remy’s game. And wingers generally mean an over run midfield two.
    What I’d like this summer is a complete overhaul (dreamland now) with Pards gone. Quality signings meaning money thrown at Remy, Grenier, Zarate and a CB I really rate – Winston Reid from WHU. £45m spend. £20m Cabaye and another 5 from sales. Sustainable.

      (Quote)

  30. I certainly can’t see us getting Menez..he is basically ahead of Benny on the international set up anyway and he must have been paid a pretty penny at PSG. He will want champions league imo.

      (Quote)

  31. Stuart – basically the season died with the derby defeat. There’s only been Pardew’s headshake to talk about since so all we can do is fantasize.

      (Quote)

  32. Newkie – yeah I think Menez is on around 65k with PSG now so he’ll want at least 100k and CL footy I reckon. Still, Shola is leaving in the summer and if we get rid of Jonas then their wages combined would cover the 100k.

    I think Memphis Depay at PSV or Saido Mane at Salzburg are more likely targets unfortunately

      (Quote)

  33. Would anyone take Victor Moses?
    He’s on loan at Lpool at the moment but I don’t think he has much future at Chelsea really – don’t know how much they would want for him like

      (Quote)

  34. Moses, Zaha,Ince? Are they really going to make it? Look at young Campbell wasting away on the St Mirren bench or Vuckic doing the same at Doncaster FFS! They were OUR really hot prospects. Lets hope Armstrong proves himself but the problem is managers are under such pressure in every **** game there’s no thought of development or learning through playing.

      (Quote)

  35. Chelsea will probably be clearing out a few who could do a job for us: Ba, Marin, Chalobah, Bamford and Moses

      (Quote)

  36. Georgio – if a club puts some faith into them – why not mate?.
    Look at Sturridge – Man City and Chelsea put no faith into the lad. But Liverpool bought him for what looks like peanuts now and he’s one of the best CFs in the league – and he’s still only 24.
    I think Zaha made a mistake going to Man Utd, but I can understand why he did. He should have joined lesser PL club to prove himself first before going to a top 4 side – likewise with Moses, though I know he was at Wigan. I think all 3 could improve our team if they played regularly and grew in confidence.

    CC – I’d take any of those Chelsea ‘rejects’. A lad I work with is a big Boro fan and has been raving about Chalobah. He can play CB and DCM and is an intelligent player and a good passer of the ball apparantly.

      (Quote)

  37. Georgio Vukic is at Rotherham but he is not doing particularly well. Tavernier is there also but he seems to be having a cracking season for them.

      (Quote)

  38. Georgio – I think Campbell may be similar in style to Gouffran rather than an out and out CF. I think Armstrong is a goal scorer – Defoe style I suppose.
    I’ve seen nothing of Vukic or Tav that would suggest to me that they are PL standard yet like. But in fairness, it would be one hell of an academy if it churned out 9 or 10 PL players. Tav and Vukic could still be sold to a Ch side for a couple of million.

      (Quote)

  39. for me i would pull out stops to get lukaku a young kid with a great future seems JM does not like the lad,imo one of the best prospects for years

      (Quote)

  40. Ice @345 , I agree Lukaku would be a fine addition .
    Sharpy@339 , What sort of wage would Moses expect 😕 Same goes for Lukaku too I suppose . It could be our stumbling block the wages like with lots of potential signings . That and the fact we don’t really know what Jabba’s level of ambition is, then again maybe we do 🙁

      (Quote)

  41. Ice – I would love Lukaku, but Chelsea will likely want about £20m for him I reckon. Lukaku will want big wages and I think he’ll want CL footy if he can get it. I’d pay the £20m though coz I reckon he’d be worth double that.

    Kim – wages wise we should be alot better next season. We have already lost Cabayes wages – we will loose Remys, Shola, Jonas, Marv, Benny, Gosling – possibly Colos or Saylors as well. Hell we could loose Debuchy and Santon as well if the papers are anything to go by.

      (Quote)

  42. Sharpy , Don’t we have some sort of cap though ,which would mean it didn’t matter who we off loaded really to free up wages.

      (Quote)

  43. Kim – I think it’s around 80k pw – Colos wage at the moment. What I meant was if we got rid of them we could offer new signs as much as that. But I’m not sure if we could increase that with the new TV money at the end of this season?

      (Quote)

  44. Kim – I’ve just seen that link 😆 Do you reckon someone from the Mirror reads this blog or what? 😆

    We should do Roma a deal – they can have Santon and Paulinho if they leave us Lukaku – that’s fair isnt it? 😉

      (Quote)

  45. KIM sorry for late reply,but after the odd kip to get me back in tune,sorting mail paying bills ect,yes baby is super now at times being a new mum she panics at the smallest thing,well I saw how **** we played worse game I have seen but was not shocked we did not get a pen after all Webb give us nowt,would love for jabba to push the boat out and get Lukaku but will dream on,hope everything is well with you and lewis mate

      (Quote)

  46. Lukaku 😯 😯 does anyone really believe that we have any chance of getting him, or any other player like him 😕

    Sharpy @ 348 sorry but I dont think it matters what players we got of the wage bill Jabba will not buy unless he has to and even then he wont push the boat out on high paid players

      (Quote)

  47. DAVE we know jabba will not spend a quid if twenty pence will get him bye,but he cannot stop us dreaming although he tries, he’s happy to give us nightmare like

      (Quote)

  48. Ice – forget Jabba, it’s Dave with the bloody pin bursting everyone’s bubbles at the moment! 👿 😆

    I read an article earlier that suggested we would get £80m for a 9th place finish this season – add that to the £20m from the Cabaye sale and that’s a canny little kitty!.
    If we DONT properly strengthen in the summer when the money will clearly be there – then I’ll be leading the protests around Newcastle and kicking the doors of SJP down to drag the fat **** out of our club!.

      (Quote)

  49. Ice the c@nt doesn’t give two ***** about our club and will be happy to just stay in the prem, I want to dream but after the years under him have shown he has zero ambition for us.
    Well are you glad to get back home ?

      (Quote)

  50. Sharpy sorry mate for bursting your bubble but the last few months I have got really fuked off with the club, I only wish the club was like a wife and when your not happy you could divorce it but no luck.
    As for them not investing this summer, we had a better chance investing in the summer when we finished 5th and in europe, and didn’t really need that much investment but he didn’t think it was right to invest then, do you think it will be different this summer

      (Quote)

  51. SHARPY sorry but me and DAVE are normally on the same wave length, it just sometimes I like to think we are a club that wants to move forward then the truth kicks in,I agree 100% with Dave on this one jabba will JUST enough to keep us in PL the rest is dreams mate,its not that we haven’t given him a chance to prove us wrong IMO he gets great pleasure in sticking it up us

      (Quote)

  52. Dave/Ice – I know you’re both right, but I’m still young enough to buy into the dream ;-). I mean, I’m still hoping the Easter Bunny visits me next month – even though the buck tooth, fluffy tailed ****** hasn’t bothered for a number of years now!. 👿

    Do you think Ashley will hand the Cabaye money over?.

    I’ve just read an article on News Now which was an Arsenal blog suggesting that we are looking to loan Carl Jenkinson for all of next season. If there is any truth in that then I think that’s a strong indicator as to how things will go

      (Quote)

  53. SHARPY I like your faith but I don’t have any mate,I am not having a go mate you have your views and I respect that and always will,I also read that report it is the way I expect to go down that road of loans and cheap buys mores the pity

      (Quote)

  54. Dave – I’d take a couple of free transfers with the £20m spend. That would get us 4-5 players. But I’m not sure how much that would ‘strengthen’ us – it would just replace those who are leave/left – Cabaye/Remy/Shola/Gosling/Jonas

      (Quote)

  55. Ice – my views are the same as yours mate. I just remain delusionally optimistic knowing that there will be £100m in the bank come the end of the season.

      (Quote)

  56. United with Loic Remy in the side:

    P23 W13 D3 L7: goals for 37, goals against 25

    Without:

    P6 W0 D1 L5: goals for 0, goals against 15

      (Quote)

  57. 42 points in 23 games when we’ve had a decent striker up top.
    That’s almost CL form.

      (Quote)

  58. ST – I don’t disagree with you mate, but I think that’s only part of the problem to be honest. We do need a CF, but when you compare our stats to Spurs who are currently 5th, then actually we should still be able to cope without Remy.
    Spurs have scored 37 goals – NUFC have scored 37 goals.
    Spurs have conceded 38 goals – NUFC have conceded 40 goals.
    Yet Spurs have 53 points and we have 43 points.
    Spurs have 16 wins and we have 13.

    The difference is that Spurs have goals throughout the team and they can win games.

      (Quote)

  59. My team for the weekend would be:

    —————– Krul —————–
    Mapou – Willo – Colo – Dummett
    — Sissoko – Tiote – Anita —-
    ————- Ben Arfa ————-
    —— De Jong — Gouffran ——-

    I’m not sure on the fitness of Debuchy, Santon or Haidara so I’d change the full backs if any of those were fit. For example if Santon was fit I’d play him RB and Haidara LB if he were fit. I think they would be more offensive options and could hopefully get some crosses into the box for De Jong to get on the end of.

      (Quote)

  60. Nice analysis Sharpy – I’m amazed that season after season we still don’t have a midfield scorer. Cabaye got close but remember Robert Lee, Sellars and Clarkie all chipping in. Transforms results. Is it that difficult to get a quick accurate shot away? We get nowhere near it.

    I read what you said about young Arma. I’m not sure and I can forsee difficulties there. He’s not a No9. Seems more a no 10 but I worry he looks a little heavy, slowish. He’s undoubtedly got a trick beating a man and he’s a fantastic finisher. Hope for the best for the lad.

      (Quote)

  61. Like your team Sharpy but I’d prefer Haidara to Dummett. We haven’t seen enough of him yet but he has the makings of a top player.

      (Quote)

  62. Georgio – I would do anything for a Rob Lee in our midfield mate. He is my favourite player of my time anyway. The blokes a legend for me like.

    As for Armstrong, I totally understand what you mean about his build mate. The only thing I would say is that when you look at Wayne Rooney you don’t think ‘athlete’ do ya 😆
    Yet he covered more ground than any other player the other night and is usually the case in most of their games.
    From what I’ve seen of Armstrong in the reserve and youth games, the kid grafts.

      (Quote)

  63. Fair enough Sharpy – haven’t seen enough myself. Don’t think he’s a centre forward though.

      (Quote)

  64. Georgio – I don’t know if Haidara is fit mate. If he is then get him in, coz he’s better at getting forward than Dummett. Ive seen enough of Dummett to say that, whilst he’s far from the finished article, there is plenty there to work with and we keep him. I haven’t seen enough of Haidara yet and I think it would make sense to use the last few games of the season to look at these players.

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

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