The fact that the Wolves ground is being redeveloped has partly contributed to a meagre away allocation of just 1,200 seats for the travelling contingent which has, unsurprisingly, sold out.
Mind you, I was there last season and the allocation wasn’t much bigger in fairness although I suspected, and was subsequently proved right, that this was down to our rather rotund owner not wishing to shell out money for tickets that he might not be able to shift resulting in our club only taking tickets for away grounds on a sale or return basis.
Anyway I’m sailing dangerously close to ripping apart the NUFC ticketing policy which, as you can probably guess by the title, is not the actual point of the article so it’s back to the match for now.
The last time Newcastle secured a top-flight win at Wolves The Kalin Twins were number one in the music charts with their song called ‘When’ while Elvis Presley sat at the top of the album chart with his album ‘King Creole’. Not familiar with such ditties? No, neither am I really but then again it was back in September 1958!
Since then we’ve tried 15 times to come out on top against the Wolves and have failed on each and every occasion. However such records are there to be broken and with Newcastle on a great run of form and having dispelled the recent hoodoo’s against Aston Villa and Blackburn Alan Pardew and Co must surely be confident of ending another results jinx?
Wolves
Richard Stearman is likely to miss the match after injuring his toe against Liverpool last week. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Ronald Zubar, Kevin Foley and Jody Craddock are all out of action for Mick McCarthy’s side however Steven Fletcher returns to action and will partner Kevin Doyle up front as Mick Mac has promised to resort to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation for the visit of Newcastle.
In terms of form it’s a case of must do better for Wolves. The season started off well with wins away at Blackburn and at home against Fulham. However they are winless in the league since then having drawn with Aston Villa before going down to Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Their last game was a 2-1 defeat at Anfield where they lined up with a team of:
Wayne Hennessey, Richard Stearman, Stephen Ward, Roger Johnson, Cristophe Berra, David Edwards, Karl Henry, Stephen Hunt, Matt Jarvis, Jamie O’Hara, Kevin Doyle
Newcastle
Alan Pardew has no fresh injury concerns for the trip to Molineux and only has Mike Williamson, Alan Smith and Haris Vuckic ruled out through injury although the latter is so close to returning from a hand injury that he has been called up by his national team.
Rob Elliot is likely to take a space on the bench as Steve Harper goes missing again. Don’t shoot the messenger, but I have heard that he has shown an unwillingness to travel to away matches just to sit on the bench. Maybe his knees are worse than first feared? On the plus side Davide Santon is included in a matchday squad for the first time since his arrival from Inter Milan.
In terms of the starting XI it’s unlikely to be changed from the team that beat Blackburn 3-1 last weekend. That means that we’ll line up looking a bit like this:
Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Gabriel Obertan, Cheik Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Leon Best, Demba Ba
Facts and stats
The meeting between these two sides last season saw referee Stuart Attwell produce the yellow card no less that 12 times. That was a Premier League record high for bookings in one game last season, and most of them would have been for tackles on Joey Barton.
Kelvin Henry is a bellend. Fact.
Newcastle are unbeaten in nine league games.
Steven Fletcher has scored 7 goals in his last 11 games.
Leon Best is now Newcastle’s most aerially dominant player winning 63% of his headers in his 4 starts and 1 substitute appearance in the Premier League. Best also has more shots per game than any other NUFC player, notching up 2.4 per game. Ryan Taylor is a close 2nd with 2.3 followed by Jonas with 2.2 shots per game.
Wolves have won four and drawn two of the last six home matches between the two sides in all competitions. However three of the last four Premier League meetings have ended all square at 1-1 with the exception being the 4-1 victory for Newcastle at St James’ Park back in April.
Wrapping up
In terms of a result, I think we should be aiming to extend out fine run of form with a win although I recognise that Molineux is not an easy place to go to. In all honesty I’d be happy with a point which would more than likely be enough to secure a 4th placed spot heading into the international break. It may not last forever, but there is nowt wrong with wanting to prolong our occupation of a Champions League place.
For those travelling to the game, from experience I can tell you that you will be able to get a beer in Walkabout on Queen Street in the City Centre. It’s about a five minute walk from the train station and about ten minutes from the ground. Be on guard though as there is a minority of Wolves fans who appear to be stuck in the 1970’s with their knuckle dragging behaviour. My sheer silver tongue’d smoothness managed to get me, Marktoon and Jay Jay out of trouble after a group of blokes decided to have a pop at us for some reason after the game last season.
In short, stay safe, enjoy, and sing your hearts out for the lads!
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 1st October, 2011
Time: 3:00pm UK time
Venue: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Didn’t last long though. And it wasn’t even me who pushed the button 😯
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy that makes a change 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
said before i think there is about six guys on there talking to each other,put the six together you woundnt get a half-wit
icedog(Quote)
Ha, just looked at dotorg for the hell of it for the first time in months.
It just seems like a sad place now.
Especially when I look at their comment history! 😛
AndrewT(Quote)
Ice 😆 😆 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave…that’s the thing, he hasn’t got the balls the come on here & have a rational discussion.
You’re right tho, he did come on here & couldn’t hack it. Now he slags off this site & the contributors from a distance. .org’s apron strings don’t stretch this far anymore 😆
witters(Quote)
Batty where are ye you dirty dawg 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Off topic and I’ll apologise now for the negativity but…
Ever since Jonas signed a new deal, the cynic in me has thought that it’s a tactical ploy. Colo is on big bucks and isn’t getting any younger. With Jonas already signed up till 2015, I reckon the board are about to start fucking about with Colo’s offer. Kevin Nolan style. In the belief Colo won’t want to leave now his good friend has comitted. Colo is doing well in his role as captain, the lads are off to a blinder and he now even has his own space in the car park. Opportunism by the board? Or do you think Ashley will use some of the 35 million to secure him on similar terms?
Anyone else concerned? Or should I should I just calm down on the old biere de luxe?
KillyMag(Quote)
Dave…that last comment was perhaps contradictory…he tried to come on here, couldn’t hack it & hasn’t got the balls to come back
witters(Quote)
Killy, hopefully theyll offer colo a decent deal as an apology to Pards for not getting a striker in the summer. Wishful thinking? 😐
Btw, toonsy, did u get any interesting ideas for the direction u want to take the site from your jaeger-induced thread? 💡 Any new exciting features we should look forward to?
Dubtoon(Quote)
The place looks so much brighter with all these emoticons all over the place 😛
Dubtoon(Quote)
Dub – Nah not really. A few more stats etc etc. Gauging reaction thus far it seems as though the vast majority are happy with the way things are going and as a few have said, if it aint broke don’t fix it. Always looking to improve and add new things though 🙂
I just look back to January 1st when I started this place and where it was then to where it is now and it’s kind of staggering really.
toonsy(Quote)
Batty- Apparently I’ve banned you? 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
its getting harder to get into the starting 11,its getting just as hard to get on the bench for some,my lucky wk again shola is injured again 😀 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
workyticket says:
September 30, 2011 at 10:11 pm
It’s all gone quiet over there…
he he he..love it you could here a pin drop owa there…
hitman(Quote)
Ice…just saying that to mate today, a while back the first 11 was easy to pick, it’s even getting hard to pick the subs now 😀
richietoon(Quote)
Where is the little scally? He’s just gone offline on Facebook aswell. He’s up to something 😆
toonsy(Quote)
where’s Jobey lately? did he get sick of Zoe taking credit for his articles? 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Dog I love hearing that news too, music to the ears. When he’s playing well it’s one thin but those days seem few and far between and he’s played on potential that he never fulfills
That’s what hard work and long hours gets you. Glad to see you got te advertising and servers and all that sorted pretty quickly. I can’t believe how I used to get by on .org and .com now 🙂 and never commenting (some of you might wish that’s where I still was 😛 ).
Dubtoon(Quote)
Dub….whey we didn’t want to say owt, but…… 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Rich – He’s had a big college project to do this week and he’s away on the **** this weekend. No doubt he’ll have been playing FIFA al night like I have aswell 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Dub – Tomorrow will be the test of the new server as the Match threads are where the old one used to trip up more often that not. Fingers crossed 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
DUBTOON there all canny lads on hear doubt anyone thinks that mate,mind you always get the odd-ball from time to time,but thats life eh
icedog(Quote)
“big college project”…..we used to just call them “a fat lass” in my day 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Rich – I used to call them “sessions” 😆
toonsy(Quote)
….or 12 pinters
richietoon(Quote)
never seen waddles mullutt on for a long while,or is it just while the transfer windows are open he pops on?
icedog(Quote)
“never seen waddles mullutt on for a long while”…. why is ya mirror broken or have ya just lost the wig? 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Ah i know ice, only taking the ****. Make the new lads feel right at home so ya do. Big part of what makes this place so much better than the rest imo. No community on ed’s, just a loada people ranting and raving, and .org seems a bit inbred…..no offense toonsy, i know you were born there an all
Dubtoon(Quote)
RICHIE 😆 get to bed 😆
icedog(Quote)
Ice…ya know the rules…not while there are beers in the fridge
richietoon(Quote)
Cracking read this: http://markbrophy.blogspot.com/2011/09/tale-of-two-treaties-insight-into.html
toonsy(Quote)
RICHIE 😳 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
later lads,my bottle is empty 😥
icedog(Quote)
reet lads thats me finished playing with me crayons for tonight 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
cya Ice…..canny read that Toonsy
richietoon(Quote)
Toonsy that reminds me do you not miss playing with your cars 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Haven’t noticed Rodz having any late night conversations with himself lately actually? Has he gone missing?
Aye, good read. Was jonas’ contract improved? i assumed it was the same/ slightly lower basic wage but longer term and possibly a few incentives.
Dubtoon(Quote)
Dave – Nah not really. Much better job now, more sociable hours and more money in the end believe it or not. Fell on my feet kind of 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
Feel a little late to the party, but that was a great read, Toonsy! Very insightful. Can’t really fault the logic either. Could be…
AndrewT(Quote)
bollocks to a point, we should be going down there looking to win
M(Quote)
God, you guys are lucky on matchday. You wake up, have a bit of nookie, get up, have breakfast and before your eyes are fully open it’s time to go for a pint before the match.
Me? I have the whole day and night to live before kick off. And today I have BBQ to go to and tonight I’m dining with some expat scousers so I’ll be pissed as poet by the time the Toon game comes round at midnight.
Brisvegas(Quote)
In case I don’t make it home tonight – Howay the lads!
Brisvegas(Quote)
Bris..pissd is often the best way to watch the Toon 😉
richietoon(Quote)
M….don’t think anyones saying we shoudn’t be looking for a win, just that they’d be happy with a point and owt else would be a bonus. I think we’ll get at least a point tbh but still think it could be our toughest game so far.
richietoon(Quote)
Nookie? What’s that then?
toonsy(Quote)
Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?
MDS(Quote)
MDS – ?????
toonsy(Quote)
I’m here and I’m receding….
Can’t wait for tomorrow…last chance to see the lads for 2 weeks…it’ll be like a fucking eternity
MDS(Quote)
I am, always 😉
jay jay(Quote)
Jay jay… nice to hear from ya
MDS(Quote)
if we lose it will be a bad 2 weeks if we dont lose it will be decent if we win it will be a good 2 weeks ,iam going with bad 🙁
batty(Quote)
Aye batty. Just pick against us…it’s worked so far
MDS(Quote)
I’ll be happy with a point, always am away from home
jay jay(Quote)
mds 🙂
batty(Quote)
[email protected] more certain that Cashley will try and negotiate Collo’s wedge down. I suppose it’s a question of what Collo will accept, as you say he aint getting any younger, and maybe cannot expect to get such a huge pay deal elsewhere. The worst case scenario is that he runs down his contract and leaves for nowt, we all know how that one works don’t we… 😥 😥
I’d like to see Collo sign up for 3 – 4 more years, but 90K a week is a lot of spondoolicks…
Agree with you regarding Jonas, Ashley playing a bit of a psychological card to pull on Collo’s heart strings…but Collo aint that daft. 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
At wolves…. the *******, we’ll be lucky to have 3 players standing upright by the end of it
MDS(Quote)
munich i reckon jonas and colo have talked too each other and both agreed too sign new deals 😉
batty(Quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=988Cst8qXGo&feature=related
MDS(Quote)
I don’t really believe that our wagebill is limiting on individual wages. I believe its as a total. So say for arguments sake they want the entire wagenill down to 50 million say, but from that its not overly important who gets paid what as long as the entire wagebill is under control.
toonsy(Quote)
Today will be a real test for the new slick toon, away at Wolves, the crowd will be up for it, and so will the team, they’ll be hoying a few tackles in there. I’m curious to see how wor fleet footed lot tackle it, especially the French lads, would love to see us tie them in knots football wise. At the same time if we can stand up to the rough stuf and still do ok that’ll be a great sign to everyone…we aint gonna be intimidated..
As Batty says, lose today and it’ll be a long two weeks, we must avoid defeat today… I fancy us to sneak it 1-2 or 2-3…
Howay the Lads !!.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Agree with batty@133 and Toonsy@135
richietoon(Quote)
Plus even if there is a more incentivised deal, I’d be ridiculously confident of reaching those targets if I was Colo given the shape he is in. The guy virtually never misses a game. He’s like a machine 😎
toonsy(Quote)
Batty@133…you got it sussed mate 😉 You’re right, Jonas wouldn’t sign up without consulting his big mate Collo. Fingers crossed he’ll be signed up too in the course of the next couple of weeks.
Munich Mag(Quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDzL_WU3mmE
MDS(Quote)
Flippin heck, all the good lads on the Blog this morning, and so early…! I like it..! 😆 😆
Coffees brewing in the background..howay..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich and me
richietoon(Quote)
Munich, love a coffee mate, but i need to sleep at some point 🙁
MDS(Quote)
Munich – In fairness i could easily still be in bed. I’m just up to watch the Rugby for some unknown reason, even though I hate it.
toonsy(Quote)
Whey after Batty tipped us to lose again, I’ve now changed us from a draw to a win in the predictor league 😀
richietoon(Quote)
i had to get up at 5 to gan up the farm and clear the horse ***** up ,ready for bed already 🙂
batty(Quote)
These boys on the back page travel bus certainly no how to enjoy themselves
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqJJdiG61jo
MDS(Quote)
Can’t wait for today!
If we win today then we really have to start believing in this team.
I’m totally at a loss as to how good we really are.
We’ve had a mixed bag of performances so far but great results.
I’m heartened by the last 2 league performances, so if we do it again today then it will be a great indication that it is down to being a good team.
A result today will put us in a very strong position and other teams will have to start taking notice.
HWTL ! Toon ! Toon ! 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Toby…..been there done that 😆
Big local derby match today, Everton against Liverpool………
wonder who will steal it
richietoon(Quote)