Welcome one and all to this ‘Game On’ article which will take us through the highs and lows as we play host to Spurs in this evenings Premier league game (4pm kick-off), Newcastle United will be looking to end their five-game losing run.
A win for the Magpies would see them register their first double of the season in what will be their 400th Premier League home fixture.
United go into the fixture on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, while Spurs also lost last time out – going down 1-0 at home to strugglers Aston Villa. But most of the talk this week has been focused on the #BoycottSpurs campaign which I really hope is a success but fear it will be a bit of a damp squib. I could go on and quote Carver etc trying to get fans to stop the boycott, and as he says support the team but I am sure everyone has read all the stuff about it.But apart from that he has been talking ahead of the game saying, “I’m not bothered about performance – we need results. By hook or by crook we have to get some results. This weekend is important for the team and the Club and getting the right result, and I’m giving every single ounce to try and get that. We know that Tottenham haven’t been on the best run lately and they haven’t been scoring too many goals. Harry Kane, however, has been outstanding this season and I think he fully deserved to get into the England team. It’s great to see such a good, young English talent doing well.”
TEAM NEWS
Newcastle our so called Captain Fabricio Coloccini returns to the squad having completed a three-game suspension, and according to the Club could be joined by Siem de Jong, who came through 45 minutes for the under-21s on Wednesday night. De Jong had been ruled out since February by a collapsed lung ( but I suspect the club have said that to try to give the fans a reason not to boycott ). Winger Rolando Aarons is fit but unlikely to be risked against Spurs. Moussa Sissoko starts a two-match ban following his red card at Liverpool, while Papiss Cisse serves the fifth game of his seven-match suspension. Massadio Haidara (knee), Paul Dummett (knee), Cheick Tiote (knee) and Steven Taylor (Achilles) all remain sidelined.
Tottenham Full-back Kyle Walker is expected to miss out with an ankle injury, but Spurs could be boosted by the return of influential goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and defender Jan Vertonghen after a knee injury and illness respectively.
Howay the Lads
Newcastle united Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Anita; Abeid, R.Taylor, Colback; Gouffran, Perez, Cabella.
Subs Woodman, Sterry, Kemen, Obertan, Ameobi, Armstrong, Riviere
Tottenham Vorm, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen (c), Rose; Bentaleb, Paulinho, Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane
Subs Friedel, Davies, Yedlin, Dembele, Mason, Townsend, Soldado
G2 don’t forget there’s a programme on monday night at 8pm on channel 4 called ” the secret’s of sports direct”. You’re might even get to see Mike actually say something mate.
Terry(Quote)
Ta Terry. I’ll look for it on youtube.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Is Sammi Ameobi going to get a new deal? What about Remi Streete? Are either of them good enough to keep? Especially Sammi? Another lightweight player who seems to make an effort once in a while but not often enough. Where is the guts in this squad other than Colback and Janmaat? Sissoko wants to leave and Tiote has fallen out of favour. So many questions to answer and all we have is a pound of tripe as an owner.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I see Carver has admitted that him and Jonas had a falling out and have now shook hands and made up.
Big Dave(Quote)
How many changes would people like to see in the squad? I can easily see about 10-12 that could be made that would improve the club but how many changes would Ashley sanction? Four? Five? I mean he only wants us to improve enough to move slightly further away from the relegation zone and stop the moaning and protesting. Keep that in mind mates.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I’ve pointed to some of the changes I would like to see. Get rid of the absolute dross. That’s about 8 players or so. Then bring in some hard working, gutsy players to fight hard and win the battles we need to win. We used to have quite a few. Now we have 3 or 4. And some of them want out. Cisse is just far too flaky for me. He either gets himself suspended or acts like he has never kicked a football for months on end (last season is a perfect example). Perez needs a mentor and a partner up front. We could have a decent midfield if a few players stay healthy. We badly need decent wingers and defenders. Anybody have any players in mind?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The wages increased by 16.6M pounds. Supposedly there were bonuses for finishing 10th. It doesn’t add up to me. How big a bonus should you get for finishing 10th? If it’s true then Ashley is truly a lunatic.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Can’t make up my mind if Ashley is an idiot or a lunatic. But it’s got to be one of those.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Spending that amount of money for the bollocks we’re subjected to week after week? Unbelievable. Other clubs must laugh their heads off when they see our books.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
GeordieTwo- Bringing 10 players aint needed, we need 1st of all to get rid of deadwood, Gouffran, Obertan Riviere the first who should be shown the door
Out: Gouffran, Obertan Anita Riviere, Willo, Sissoko,probably Krul Colo Raylor Sammy Tioté and Jonas will leave. Id sell Cabella if £7m or more comes in
In: Charlie Austin, Nzonzi, Papiss Djilobodji, Fabian Schaar (For free), Ben Pringle along Lascelles and Darlow. James Tavernier if Janmaat leaves. Bring Vuckic back into the team and bring Kemen Armstrong Sterry Smith in the mix
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Mike Ashley is a director now his probably on a 10 million a year contract. He probably believe’s he deserves to be paid the most.
Terry(Quote)
Big Dave
I don’t know the ins and outs of Carver and Jonas falling out but from the outside looking in, anyone who is suffering from cancer should be given the best treatment medically and personally.
But who knows the facts. Certainly not us amd Carver strikes me as a people’s man.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy! So when did facts get in the way of you making an outlandish statement? Good to see you moving towards common sense. 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
It’s got to be mentioned that hearing the news that we have paid the 7th highest wages makes you wonder if the TV money hadn’t been so generous, how much **** we would have been in.
Put this on top that Ashley took over with a £70-90m debt and it’s increased to £130m loan to him.
What benefit have we had since he took over. I know we’ve been humiliated by relegation but now the whole country laughs at our plight more than ever.
So now is the time for every blogger who fought vehemently against me and a few others to hold their hands up and say, you were right, we were wrong.
Please form an orderly queue in the embarrassed department. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy did you see the Ashleyout.com open letter to JC yet
Big Dave(Quote)
Begas. On a very important time in the blog history. I feel it has approached D-Day.
This cannot keep going. Myself, Stuart and Big Dave have categorically cornered you and Huffy pants to the point where Huffy Pants is contemplating crying skinchies!
Can we reach a fair compromise?
You admit you have been wrong for giving Ashley 8 yrs before realising he’s a rotter. We will concede that Tim Kruls orange strip and boots are nasty. It’s like Huffy Pants wearing a full Kharki suit and corkscrew hat for work at the office. Poor Huffy Pants. He’s such a sensitive soul. If only Stuart hadn’t dissed his contribution to the blog. We could have took him seriously but for all the will in the world I can’t take anyone serious who goes into a hissy fit for months and makes an ultimatum that he’s off, never to come back and the blog will regret it, only for him to realise that the blog flourished without him and he had to crawl back a post per day and build it up slowly hoping no one would realise his humongous gaff in life.
Now let’s get this clear. Huffy Pants didn’t choose to go in the huff privately. Nar na. Nope. No way! He chooses to go in the biggest hissy fit worldwide.
The last I checked, this blog is readable in every couple try in the world where there is Internet. !
Woo hoo hoo hoo 😛 Huffy Pants Aussie has hissy fitted world wide and tried to sneak back as if nowt has happened. 😛
F*;k (n love Aussie Huffy Pants. He makes the world a happier place for everyone else. Hahaha.
😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Hahaha. Haha. 😆
That bloke must be dying. 😆
Can you imagine making a big announcement that they won’t be making a contribution to the blog again cos someone criticised your comments. Woo hoo hoo hoo 😆
TTAOSITM
(These Things Are Only Seen In The Movies) 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Oh god. I’m actually dying for Huffy Pants here. How can we as a blog family help him back so we no longer think subconsciously that his posts are worthless and to stop tippy tapping round him so we don’t upset him.
Difficult times ahead but as a blog family, he’s our runt puppy and we can learn to love him. Bless.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
🙄 I actually feel embarrassed for you.. 😳 😳
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
@461
“Mike Ashley is a director now his probably on a 10 million a year contract”
Nonsense
The notes to the 2013-14 accounts give the following information:
The total remuneration for all 3 directors (Ashley, Charnley and Irving) was only £190,000 (down from £327,000 in the previous year).
The amount paid to the highest paid director was £107,000. That wouldn’t have been Ashley, because it would have meant that Charnley and Irving only got £83,000 between them, which I think is highly unlikely. I think it’s safe to assume that Ashley took nothing by way of salary out of the club.
Chris G(Quote)
he works for nowt 😯 he just wants to have a bit of fun, he’s a canny lad 😀
although his bonus of £65m is a canny wedge for his ‘substantial contribution’ to SD…. probably getting worldwide advertising for nixy helped
Gashley(Quote)
@Troy ..can you stop your obsession with Aussie. It makes the site look very amateurish 😉
now lets be big boys and move on. Just because he took your “BBHFOTC”
“blogs biggest hissy fit of the century” title off you with your.. “no one calls my mommy” hissy & storming off to blog.com 😛 with his own hissy, theres no need to goad him. 😳 😳
Gashley(Quote)
OBSESSION a fragrance worn by troy “the troll boy” starvers. 😳 🙄
hitman(Quote)
*stavers
hitman(Quote)
Brett.
Doh. Don’t mention that he took the hissyfit title from me. I tried to be diplomatic last night and I think I got away with it. He seems to be embarrassed cos I lost the title to him. Try not to ridicule him. You know what he’ll do. Tin hats at the 😯 ready.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So Carver has now came out and said the boycott had an affect on him and some of the players against Spurs – Krul must have been one of those players then coz he was gash 🙄
He went on to say if fans protest this weekend, it would be better if they did it in the ground?! 😕 – coz that wouldn’t have an affect on the players would it John? …. Or is it that it’s actually had an affect on Ashley who didn’t like the lack of sales and empty seats, and he’s primed you to say this in your press conference you little puppet.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – Krul actually has cost us a fair few goals this season. Dramatically. He’s been unbelievable at times but this season? His kicking is awful and he’s really poor at coming for crosses. Maybe it’s time for him to move on. Seems harsh but everyone will in the end.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio add to that that his distribution is bad and very slow, I have never seen him release the ball early even when someone has made a quick break.
Big Dave(Quote)
BD – in mitigation – he’s had four years of Pardew and Carver coaching him.
On his day one of the best but he’s been flaky this season (who hasn’t?)
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – totally agree. On his day Krul is superb, trouble is he does have many of his days. Your right, he hasn’t been the only one to have an off season and I am still a fan of his. I’d keep him for at least another season to at least give Darlow a chance to bed in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Krul is a very good keeper and I would be concerned if he left as I doubt we would replace him with somebody as good. Although having said that I think he will be gone in the summer and Darlow will be his replacement.
His form has dipped but so has everybody’s and I’m convinced the club’s attitude has dropped down to the players. If the club aren’t arsed why should anybody else be arsed?
Stuart79(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/769613766?-11058:809:t
Stu – because not everyone should be sheep. I’m not saying they should be happy with what’s going on, but a show of professionalism and self worth is what I’d expect to see from any man worth their salts. For the 90mins they go out wearing that shirt and playing for those fans, all that should matter is winning that match. If they aren’t good enough then as long as they have given everything. But I’m not seeing players lacking in talent giving 100% or fighting. Yes Ashley is a shitbag and no Carver isn’t the best man for the job, but the players aren’t taking any ownership either, and that is cowardly in my opinion.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well actually, Sharpy they’re just not good enough. Williamson, Taylor, Gouffran, Ameobi and Anita aren’t good enough and they’re always in the team. The likes of Colo is now poor and Perez and Cabella aren’t really ready or settled yet.
It’s a mess.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – Leicester and Burnley are hardly littered with superstars mate, but week in week out this season we have seen them graft their arses off every game. Can the same be said about our players? – regardless of ability, are we seeing effort?
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s not because of a lack of effort were losing. You and I could run around for 90 mins but if we’re not talented enough we will get beat.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy – Gouffran runs his socks off every game. Stu’s right – he’s ****. And we have a squad full of them. Fairy weight Cabella pisses me off the most because he has some talent. He’s just so bloody weak.
georgio(Quote)
Well I don’t know what games you boys have been watching but I’m certainly not seeing our players closing the ball down quickly when we haven’t got it, or players busting a gut to get into the box when we do have it. I’m not talking about running round like headless chickens here, I’m talking the basics of football. You could go to any Sunday league game or 5-a-side pitch and see people doing this – it doesn’t need top coaches or tactics. I certainly didn’t see it against the Scum and that’s not the only game.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s not because of a lack of effort were losing… 😛
you could of fooled me. 60% effortless 40% lack of talent = the Toon
Gashley(Quote)
The effort was there against Spuds and we got beat by a better team.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy we certainly did get beat by a better team.
Terry(Quote)
The effort was certainly there against Spurs. It’s easy to see who the workers are on this team, and rather easy to see who the keepers are IMO. Collo is the only one I’m on the fence about.
I think I rate Cabella a little higher than most of you. To me he looks like he has a bit of a clue in the final third but he sees the game differently than those around him other than maybe Ayoze. He’ll benefit from De Jong I think
MDS(Quote)
maybe the better team but Chandli had any amount of time for there first goal
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well he hasn’t truly been with us a long time now.
http://www.squawka.com/news/fabricio-coloccini-admits-that-he-wants-to-return-to-san-lorenzo/362545
kimtoon(Quote)
So it seems Johnson is in trouble after all then. At least there’s one club in the league that’s always more embarassing than us. Shame we keep fecking losing to them 😆
Newkie(Quote)
KIM @493 think his heed has been in Argentina for a couple of seasons imo
icedog(Quote)
Kim its funny I have only heard of Colo talking twice and both times was about wanting to leave us, what a worthy captain we have 😳
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave, my thoughts exactly, how can they retain him as captain when his hearts clearly not in it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice@495 Agree mate
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim IMO he should never have been captain and only ever got it to try to keep him happy and not because he would make a good captain.
they should let him buy himself out of his contract at the end of the season.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave, he’ll be gone in the summer like a few others.
kimtoon(Quote)
Collo played his part in our relegation, and did his bit by helping us to come straight back up again. He put in a shift the first season back in the EPL, and would probably have preferred to leave after that season…but it obviously didn’t work out. We should let him head back home for the final few seasons before he retires, will also remove a huge wage bill from Ashley’s balance sheet. The slight problem will be to replace him of course. Can we rely on Ashley paying good money to replace our only decent but aging centre half ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sorry MM but I think he is only good in a handfull of games a season so we should be able to replace him 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Big D I agree we should be able to replace him. The question is whether the club think they have his place covered with Willo, Lascalles, Dummet or some other starlet from the Academy……or whether they will spend money. I fear the former…
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM if worst comes to the worst I think even Dummet should be able to replace him , add to that that I think we would benefit from the fact that we would have the chance of being able to replace our captain fantastic with a proper leader 😉 if Janmaat is still with us 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Troysta: do you ever go back and reread what you write? Obviously not, since you would then realise that you often act like a petulant 47 year old big kid. And that is not name calling that is me saying that maybe you should get on your own reality train, woo hoo hoo.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here is a full article from the Chronicle. He should either open his own comedy club or a “talk shyte” club. This is so different to what he said when he got the job and the guy does not understand that he is spouting shyte all the fucking time. Please not 7 losses in a row though John, then Jamie and Michael might pick on you again, but they don’t understand do they, the bullies? They were never managers, but you have a lifelong winning % of about 15% so can you even say you have ever done the job properly? Any other owner would have sacked you by now.
“John Carver has hit back at criticism from ex-players of his tenure as Newcastle United boss – insisting they should recognise that he is managing in a “difficult” situation.
Ex-Liverpool player Jamie Carragher branded United “boring” in a lengthy critique of Mike Ashley and while Carver says he doesn’t have a problem with people expressing an opinion, he says it is difficult to take from those who haven’t managed.
Last week Carver said he had received calls from managers throughout the country expressing sympathy for him – and ex-United legend Alan Shearer had also called in solidarity. Former chief Alan Pardew is a regular caller. And while the United boss – still a contender for the head coach job – didn’t want to start a “war” with pundits he has set out the problems he is contending with ahead of a game against Swansea that could extinguish the faint worry about relegation.
Carver said: “Ex-players? I don’t have a problem with anyone having an opinion. Where I have the problem is when there’s people that have an opinion who have never been in this situation – never been in my situation.
“They have never had to sit here and pick a team when you have got so many injuries, suspensions, or dealing with situations on the training ground or having to deal with things coming from left-field that you think ‘where’s that come from’. When I see someone like Peter Reid go on TV, who has been in this situation, he has managed in this region, he understands what it feels like. When he starts to say things, I listen to what he says. I respect what he says.
“That’s what I am saying. Let’s not start a war here because I accept that the likes of Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, whoever, have played hundreds of Premier League football matches and I haven’t. I understand that. I don’t have an issue with that.
“But sometimes there has to be a little bit of sympathy with the people doing this job. When you have never gone in and put your little foot in the water and tested it then it is a little different.
“There are a lot of people out there who don’t do it because they can’t do it.
“It’s easy talking with a tactics board, but in this position you have to make a decision because your back four is not high enough, someone is causing you problems because of it. If you don’t see that during a game then you have a problem. That’s the difference.
“People don’t see that. People are entitled to criticise and how they do it is up to them. Ex-players I don’t have a problem with, especially the ones who have tested the water.
“I never listened to Graeme (Souness) when I was academy director but he talks an awful lot of sense on the TV.”
Carver has Siem de Jong back on the bench and will have Rolando Aarons back for Leicester – and he has promised to alter the team’s tactics.
The hint was that United might go more direct, although it is difficult to see how they would do that with the resources available. Facundo Ferreyra, the Argentinian striker who has not played since the start of the season, has also been included in the squad.
Carver admitted that he will make changes for the Swans clash – tactically and with personnel – and said: “You will see something within the team that is a way of us trying to win a game. I have given one or two opportunities and they have not taken those opportunities so we will see.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Carvs doesn’t have a problem with ex-players criticising him and then spends the next five minutes complaining about ex-players criticising him !!! But they haven’t dipped their “little foot” in the water 🙂 They don’t know what it is like to have a 15% winning record. The man is a joke, a cretin, a knob. And ugly.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So when Carvs says he is changing tactics and personnel is that an admission that his tactics were ***** so far? That he picked the wrong players? That the players let him down? That the squad is actually not as good as he said in January when he said we didn’t need additions and was in favour of the Santon move? He has coached the players for 4 years. You would think he would know who is any good by now. Nah, he is responsible for one goal from corners in 2 years and the free kick to Williamson routine. But at least Payter Reid gives him a call to congratulate him on his astounding winning percentage of 15%.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I do have some sympathy for JC, he has a terrible injury list and a pitifully thin squad. His better match winners are either injured or suspended, but really there is no excuse for our corner and free kick routines. Quite simply they do not change and every other team knows exactly how we take them which renders them pointless. It’s hard to get excited over a corner or free kick when you know there will be no scoring opportunity from them or worse still there could likely be a breakaway goal for the opposing team 🙄 It’s gotten to the point where I dread us winning corners and free kicks, and don’t get me started on penalties, we don’t get them end of. 👿 Something has to be done about the refs this season, no excuse for some of the blunders from so called pros and costing clubs points is not on.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: I have a bit of sympathy for Carver until he opens his fucking gob.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
While Owens not my favourite ex player, He has only saying what lot of NUFC supporters have said.
In recent years Pardew, Carver & another of his proteges Rodgers between them have had digs at Owen, Carragher, Neville, Shearer, Hanson & Lineker off the top pf my head. Why when you have played at their level and worked with who these guys have do you need to have managed a club to have an opinion ??
CC(Quote)
I have to post this excerpt from Carvs’ interview again:
“It’s easy talking with a tactics board, but in this position you have to make a decision because your back four is not high enough, someone is causing you problems because of it. If you don’t see that during a game then you have a problem. That’s the difference.”
What f-ing planet is he on? He has lost 6 games in a row. Falls out with Jonas. Makes stupid personnel decisions. His “during a game” management has been perfect so far :)That’s why he has 9 points to his credit and a 15% winning percentage. He has a coaching badge though, do they give them out for free with a packet of cornflakes now?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
CC NO I don’t think they would need to have managed to form their opinion, as most of them have played at the very top level so would know the game inside out
Big Dave(Quote)
Eric @506
Any other owner would have sacked Carver by now.
Any other owner would not have given him the job in the first place.
sidekick(Quote)
And another re-post for emphasis, Carver said in his interview:
“You will see something within the team that is a way of us trying to win a game”.
Aaarhhh: does somebody have to tell the moron that winning is good and losing is bad. Stop me, but I assumed we were trying to win the last 6 games. He has had an epiphany now, a revelation, a message from God??? Winning good, losing bad !!! Go forth JC into that wilderness that is SJP, into the land of red and blue Sports Direct signs, and thou shalt hoof it to Williamson at the corner of the 18-yard box and the other team will have a fast break and score.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just reading all of Pyschos rants. He just relaxed Pardew’s name with Carvers.
Exactly the same irrational comments with little thought or common sense used. 🙄
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Relaxed ? Replaced rather
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The man is an imbecile. Who has ever heard of someone dipping their little foot in the water. The saying is dipping your big toe in the water. To test it FFS, not your little foot. When somebody makes such basic mistakes I have to question their ability to manage NUFC.
And who thinks that getting a call from Payter Reid to discuss managing NUFC is a good thing? I would have blocked his number 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Troysta: How is it irrational to complain about a 15% winning record and a repeat of Pardew’s 6 game record losing streak? How?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Troysta: you also didn’t answer my question from earlier about whether you read your previous posts? I am waiting, woo hoo. Reality bites.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And it is “MR.” Psycho to you Troy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He respects what Peter Reid says? Well that’s all hope lostthen 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie: just in case anybody couldn’t be bothered to read the full article above. This is a direct quote from Carvs:
“When I see someone like Peter Reid go on TV, who has been in this situation, he has managed in this region, he understands what it feels like. When he starts to say things, I listen to what he says. I respect what he says.”
Correct me if I am wrong but wasn’t he sacked for doing a ***** job?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
JC really is flapping now the poor lad. He needs to be sent to that same media course as the legendary Mr Alan Pardew….
Where is Wendy when you need her ? Didn’t she form an immovable and protective shield between Pardew and “the media” ? From one extreme to another…now JC is allowed to tell it like it is, without a bodyguard in sight. “Hung out to dry” ….death by a thousand blathers…. 🙁
Hope it all doesn’t cost us our place in the EPL, cos I agree with the pundits when they question where our next points are coming from… 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)