If the lads make safe passage to the 5th Round it will be the first time in six years they have managed it, so the Magpies are due a bit of luck! This result could also have some bearing on any signings we make this January, as it always helps to convince players when a team is in with a shout of earning some silverware.
Brighon & Hove Albion:
Former Magpie Kazenga LuaLua, fellow winger Craig Noone and full-back Mauricio Taricco are all pushing for returns after recent hamstring complaints. It will be touch and go for this match though. Midfielder Gary Dicker (don’t laugh) is out after having surgery for a fractured fibula, whilst defender Tommy Elphick will miss the remainder of the season with an achilles injury. New signing David Gonzalez will be available should Gus Poyet chose to put him in between the sticks.
Squad from: Brezovan, Ankergren, Gonzalez, Greer, Dunk, El-Abd, Calderon, Vincelot, Painter, Taricco, Cook, Hall, Sampayo, Navarro, Sparrow, Noone, Vicente, Harley, Bridcutt, LuaLua, Buckley, Hoskins, Barnes, Mackail-Smith, Forster-Caskey.
Newcastle United:
Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse (both Senegal) and Cheick Tiote (Cote D’Ivoire) are all away on African Cup of Nations (ACON) duty. Sylvain Marveaux (groin), Sammy Ameobi (knee) and Steven Taylor (achilles) are all long term absentees. Other than that we are OK. Cptain Fabricio Coloccini is a slight doubt and faces a late fitness test.
Squad from: Krul, Elliot, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, R Taylor, Simpson, Ferguson, Kadar, Perch, Gutierrez, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Smith, Guthrie, Cabaye, Gosling, Vuckic, Ameobi Snr, Best, Lovenkrands.
Shamrock’s Top 10 Really Interesting Stats And Facts:
1 – Like Newcastle, The Seagulls have had a number of nicknames down the years – including: Albion, Shrimps, Lugworms, Limpets, Flounders, and Promenaders.
2 – Although the two teams have rarely met in their respective histories, they have been paired against each other in three previous FA Cup ties, with one match going to a replay in 1983. The most recent FA Cup tie was at St James’ Park in 1986 for a 3rd Round encounter. Brighton won 2-0. The Toon will have to go back to 1930 to find the last time they knocked the Seagulls out of this competition.
3 – We are not the only team affected by dodgy stadium renaming. The Falmer Stadium is ‘officially’ called The American Express Community Stadium, or AMEX Stadium these days. It is a brand new stadium with 22,374 capacity. They have just applied for planning permission to expand to 30,000.
4 – Brighton are a club on the up under Gus Poyet. They sit in 10th place in the Championship, only two points away from the playoff positions and are in good form having gone five games unbeaten. That said, they have been up and down all season and can best be described as inconsistent.
5 – Newcastle are hot favourites for this one as expected, with odds of 10/11 against Brighton’s 12/5. The draw will fetch 9/4. Looking around there are not great odds out there, but a 3-1 Toon win would fetch 14/1 with some bookies.
6 – Brighton have failed to win 70% of the games they have been drawing at half time this season. Of the seven games they have been losing at half time, they have gone on to lose five times. However, they have only lost one of the 10 games they have been winning at half time.
7 – If our forwards are going to have any success, they will need to avoid being hacked down by Seagulls’ center half Gordon Greer. He is their dirtiest player with five bookings and one straight red to his name this season.
8 – Shola Ameobi will be looking to score his 2nd ever FA Cup goal if he plays.
9 – Newcastle’s squad is worth £105m. Brighton’s is worth just £9.3m!
10 – A goal for Peter Lovenkrands would be an ideal early birthday present to himself. He turns 32 years young on the 29th.
Tactical thoughts and ponderings:
The first thing that strike me is that Brighton have one of the worst disciplinary records in the Championship. We all know it is a physical league and you wont survive unless you have a bit of steel about you, but I wonder if they will try and change things against us? We are not a Championship side and I believe that if they try to be too robust and one dimensional against us, it simply will not work.
The Toon players have shown already this season against the likes of Stoke and Blackburn that they have no problem adjusting to the physical side of the game, but they tend to keep a decent balance there. They can comfortably play the long ball game as recent games have shown, but we know from early season form that this side will also play the ball along the floor with relative ease. OK, against Fulham it went a bit wrong for a number of reasons – but we will put that down to a bad day in the office for everybody and pretend it did not happen!
I think a blend of flair players such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Jonas Gutierrez and even Gabriel Obertan will work well alongside players such as Yohan Cabaye, Leon Best and possibly Dan Gosling or wait for it…Alan Smith. We need one or two players that will get stuck in and win the ball, who can show we are no pushovers. From there they can play the ball out to our flair players who can either expose a lack of mobility and get through on goal, or draw plenty of fouls.
I know Leon gets a bit of stick from some fans, but he is definitely capable of putting in a shift and disrupting defenders whilst others reap the rewards. That’s partly why Demba Ba has done so well this season. Players like Benny and Gutierrez just don’t exist in the Championship and that’s why Brighton’s more defensive players should have a nightmare trying to stop them if they are given licence to really attack.
I don’t see the point in playing the guarded, patient possession game. Being away at a Championship side, we can expect to be harassed, harried and pressed all of the time. Granted, patience may lead to a great opening at some point, but we might also be forced into an error at the wrong end of the pitch by trying to be too clever.
That’s why I would not be too concerned about what formation Brighton set out with. We need to set a game plan involving a high tempo and plenty of football in the opposing half. Ball to feet of particular players and make sure they are given options for 1-2’s. Based on Ameobi’s lack of movement in the last 2 games, that rules him out of this one.
Against Fulham we kind of played like this, with Benny and Guti going central a lot. I’d be inclined to try and stretch them a bit with a 4-4-1-1 formation, but with central play our preferred means of penetrating the opposition defence. Guti and Obertan both have a tendency to drift narrow as opposed to staying out wide and crossing. Seeing as we don’t really have and aerial forces up front or in midfield at the minute, I don’t see the point in sticking to wide play.
With Benny behind Best, Obertan and Guti can both link up with him and they all have scope for swapping position occasionally and keeping Brighton on their toes. All Best has to do is chase and harass, the other three can find a way in from there. Then, Best can sweep up any loose balls in the area. With Cabaye and one other keeping things ticking over from the middle, simply making the challenges and laying the ball off we should have the protection we need whilst the others get on with it.
I would not start Smith, but he could come in handy later once the legs start to tire, just to break up play a bit and get physical. I’d be reasonably confident that he could come in for Leon Best, who goes flat towards the end of games more so than a lot of other players. He has actually been substituted off the field of play 12 times in 16 starts. That said, maybe the extra bite in midfield will be required and Vuckic could slot in up front?
There is an argument for maybe holding one of our pacey players on the bench to open up the opposition later on, but the above plan does not work unless all three are on the pitch in my opinion.
This is an opportunity for players such as Obertan and Santon to build up a bit of confidence. Obertan has come in for a battering recently after a succession of dodgy performances. This game could be his breakthrough on goal if he wants it bad enough. Santon had been beginning to draw the plaudits until the recent Fulham match, when he imploded. Alan Pardew will have to decide whether to punish him and bring in Ryan Taylor or even give experience to Shane Ferguson, or let him continue to build up experience of the English game.
Otherwise it will be the same back line as usual for continuity. We will need Simpson in the side if Obertan is playing, as he is a better defender than Ryan Taylor. He just needs to be told to stay back in his own half, as when he gets forward his crossing might be good, but he loses possession too much and leaves us exposed.
I realise we have not talked too much about Brighton’s strengths so far, but in all honesty they are an average Championship side, with average players who are up and down on form. Lewis Dunk is a strong defender, but I can’t see him containing our forwards if they play to their full ability. Their striker Craig Mackail-Smith is probably their star player, but with just 7 goals in 32 games (30 starts and only 4 times taken off early), he is not exactly setting the world alight. Our defence should be more than able to cope. Their golakeepers have been prone to dodgy decision making and poor handling this season too, so plenty of shots at them should hopefully bring rewards.
The key to this game is simply not to let the occasion cloud judgement, stay focused and there is no reason the boys cannot win this. I’m not writing Brighton off, they are more than capable of putting us to the sword if we let them. That’s the key though, staying concentrated, consistent and disciplined in our approach. We are usually good at doing those things and the only way I can see the Seagulls beating the Toon is if we throw it away. Simply because we are a good Premier League side and they are far from it.
My team in a 4-4-1-1: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Ferguson, Obertan, Cabaye, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Best.
Subs: Elliot, Santon, R Taylor, Gosling, Smith, Vuckic, Lovenkrands.
Referee:
39-year-old southerner Lee Probert takes this one. Don’t worry though, he hails from Bristol originally and now lives in Wiltshire so nowhere near Brighton. He has been a professional referee since 2003 and joined the Select Group in 2007. No International games for him so far, but this season he has been officiating Europa League matches. He’s had a bit of stick from some managers from the ‘Top 4’ sides, but to me that means he’s remaining impartial. You may remember him for booking Javier Hernandez for diving during an encounter against us in 2010. Sir Alex did not like that!
So far this season he has taken us for the 2-2 draw with Spurs and the 3-1 loss to Liverpool, so a win is obviously the next result for us in order to return to our equilibrium! He has taken Brighton once for their 3-3 home tie with Leeds United.
A word from Danny Guthrie:
“I watched the third round replay game when Brighton won on pens, and looking at the pitch I thought ‘do we want to go to Wrexham?’. Brighton’s a good draw. They’re a good footballing side. I’ve seen them play a couple of times on telly, and it’ll be a good tie. We’re really looking forward to it.”
“The manager’s already said he likes the FA Cup, and I think it’ll be a strong team.”
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
F.A Cup 4th Round Tie
Saturday 28th January 2012 Kick Off: 17:15
Venue: Falmer Stadium, Brighton
Howay the lads!
Happy to have this game on TV this weekend. No offense, it’s tons of fun watching you all post during the game, but if I can sit my happy **** on the couch and watch away from the computer…much preferred.
Would love to see an advance to the next round. This week there was a show on Fox Soccer Channel – FA Cup Goals: Newcastle United. Basically a highlight of Newcastle United’s FA Cup goals spanning the decades…even some footage from 1955. Got me excited for this game.
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Good preview as always Shamrock….remember the 1983 tie, Trelford Mills, biggest cheating coont ever to ref a game at St James’s……I’m still fecking seething now 👿
richietoon(Quote)
Am going to the game, anyone else?
stevep(Quote)
I wish…stream for me 😥
richietoon(Quote)
Newcastle have made our picks for the weekend. See how we rate your chances and where you can catch the game where ever you are in the UK.
http://www.matchpint.co.uk/about-matchpints-weekly-guide-to-the-games-you-need-to-see-2829th-january-10
Cheers
Pete Starr(Quote)
Hmm, this article and it’s comments are not appearing on the home page – so nobody knows it’s here… Technical problems Toonsy! Call the Cops ❗
Shamrock(Quote)
Another good preview Shamrock 😉 your getting the hang of this writing lark 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
RICHIETOON@2 Your right Trelford Mills has too not only the biggest coont but also the worst ref ever to walk on this planet . Hated it every time he reffed one of our games , i truly think he hated us .
Axel(Quote)
At a birthday tommorow so will be checking my phone 🙄 . Going out tonight but when I get back I’ll start me article, History essay complete.
andymag (scot toon)(Quote)
Axel….while I was in me “angry” mood just thinking about the cheating fecka, I watched the youtube clip of it again, the cats in for a reet kickin the neet like 👿
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIETOON brave of you too watch a replay m8 , i dare not otherwise my blood pressure would hit the roof and i would explode .
Axel(Quote)
@2 & 8 – Bit before my time, that one 😀 I’ll jump on the boat though – That Trelford Mills – What a w@nka! 😆
Shamrock(Quote)
SHAMROCK be glad he was before your time , it took some of us years of therapy to recover . 😆
Axel(Quote)
Great job Shamrock. Looking forward to watching the game tommorow and hopeing for a much better display this week too. i have just seen that Watford have turned down our third bid for Mariappa. think it’s time to walk away and activly pursue a decent loan signing now befor we end up with nowt. Hope we don’t go back in with a silly offer and get in some stupid and pointless bidding war .All that’s gonna do is waste time as they don’t wan’t to sell to us and just using us to get top dollar off some other mug club (Swansea) imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shamrock…I was laughing at the mackems for still despising Jimmy Hill the other day from a grudge in ’77….and here I am nearly 30 years later 😆 ….he was a dorty cheatin c@nt though…….so was Jimmy Hill like but his was for a good cause 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Axel….it shows how bad he was when every Toon fan can remember his name and he ref’d in an era when they weren’t as well known as they are now……feckin tw@t
richietoon(Quote)
RICHIETOON lets face it it was a poncy name for a poncy tw@t i am afraid the khunt’s name will be burned into my memory untill my dying day .
Axel(Quote)
What did he do then lads? I’m intrigued!
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock.. http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-columnists/in-the-city/nufc-v-brighton-%E2%80%93-trelford-mills/
richietoon(Quote)
Don’t think that link works. try this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9jIjfH4F6c
richietoon(Quote)
Ah, 2 good goals disallowed and a good penalty turned away too. 🙄 Tell you what though, great football there, despite the poor quality footage… Dont see much of that anymore, gone too tactical!
Shamrock(Quote)
Shud win it but potential banana so no counting eggs before they’ve hatched
TOONPIPES(Quote)
I’d sooner play Brighton than play Wrexham because that is more of a bananacock that. Oop’s I meant skin. 🙄
wolfie(Quote)
When did Butch Dingle become the manager of Watford 😯
richietoon(Quote)
Pipes…aye, worse teams than Brighton have knocked us out the cup before 😕
richietoon(Quote)
I’ve made a song for when I’m down Brighton tomorrow, setting off at 6am, Here’s the song I’ve made.
This is to the tune of the Wanderers music.
Well, I’m the type of guy, who’s getting in my car, I’m travelling to Brighton …..and I know it’s very far,……. I’m chanting and a singing….. driving in my motor car cos I’m a Magpie fan,…. yeaaaaaaaaaaa a Magpie fan,…. I roam around around around around around.
Well I go from Hartlepool…….. with my scarf on I look cool….I’ve even got a massive tool……and I’m not too bad at snooker and pool…..ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I’m the type of guy who’s got a sweaty Knob…… they call me davey Wolf …..but people think they call me bob…..my knackers are so sweaty and my **** smells of poo……… and I have a feeling I’ll get bummed in a Brighton loo…cos I’m a magpie fan…yea a magpie fan and I’m a puff a puff a puff a puff a puff.
What do you think ? 😀
By the way, I’m not really a puff so don’t start, it’s just a bit of fun, duckies. 😆
wolfie(Quote)
Wolfie…do you live in a dirty, dark, smelly bedsit all on ya own by any chance? 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Richie, no mate, I’m happily married but I’ve got one weird mental mind and I’m a wacky *******. 😆
wolfie(Quote)
I’ve got a mental image of you as Rik off The young Ones 😆
richietoon(Quote)
taking my son tomorrow and after last week,just a tad worried.if we lose thats him banned from going ever again,hes only seen us win once.
toonitis(Quote)
I hope ya’s all enjoy it, have a cracking day and of course the right result. It’ s what I miss most over here, going to the match 😥
richietoon(Quote)
Weirdo!
Stuart79(Quote)
Poor Richie im sure thats how Carroll feels aswell but if you turn your back on your hometown thats the price you have to pay 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
****…Spurs 1 up
richietoon(Quote)
Dave…if I was getting £80k a week like Judas it would soften the blow a little though 😉
richietoon(Quote)
agree with stu and dave 🙂
batty(Quote)
Batty, Stu and Dave coming on at the same time, if Ice suddenly appears as well it must be kicking out time at the Wheeltappers and Shunters club 😆
richietoon(Quote)
rich ive been watching wolfie flirting with you 😉
batty(Quote)
I agree with Stu and Batty 😆
Richie money doesn’t make it any easier a Judas is a judas 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
ime here 😀 😀
icedog(Quote)
oh it would make it easier Dave 😉 ….is it worth having a match thread tomorrow as we won’t be allowed to give an opinion if we’re not there 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Batty I have been watching Richie flirting back 😆
Ice hows you me old bean 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Batty…aye, Wolfie must have seen that youtube clip of me 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Richie fuk him I plan on giving him more abuse if he starts that **** again 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Batty do you agree with me about that Chimp vid ? Troy thinks its a kid but a kid wouldn’t be strong enough, I think it’s that dwarf warwick davis ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave….doubt he’ll be back on, the internets doon in pennywell
richietoon(Quote)
DAVE batty has me on duty oot-side sjp to see any new signings so he can get a bet on first,only get paid on results like 🙁
icedog(Quote)
RICHIETOON @31 thats what i miss the most as well , going for a bevvy before the game then the match and afterwards back to the pub to either celebrate or drink the defeat away with the lads . Luckly you can get most of the Toon’s games live on the tv here . Then the wife and kid go’s shopping or too bed while i sit with me toon shirt on with a few cans singing me heed off and swearing . 😀
Axel(Quote)
Ice good old Batty he’s always looking out for you 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
on eds site Jan Wuytens is having a medical
icedog(Quote)
Axel….I have to rely on streams, feckers wouldn’t let me put a dish up here 👿
richietoon(Quote)
feckin hell man, Watford shouldn’t be losing this like 🙁
richietoon(Quote)
Bit injury prone that lad, decent passer though and left footed. Not a bad option…
Shamrock(Quote)
carver and stone at the game,where is the silver fox???
icedog(Quote)
Who is Jan Wuytens? 😕
Shamrock – Belatedly sorted the home page issue out.
toonsy(Quote)
RICHIETOON that’s fecked up . watching on the PC is , as they say here in holland Klote
Axel(Quote)
Axel…aye it’s ****, when we get our own place I’ll get a dish though
There’s one of the sopcast channels that’s as good as watching on the tv, but the internets not great here and it needs to be having one of it’s better days to get the sopcast 😕
richietoon(Quote)
TOONSY shame on you a man of footy knowledge 😀
Belgian footballer
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy Wuytens is a belgian defender that is at PSV and he is **** ,hasn’t played, much if at all this season and there are no reports here we are after him .
Axel(Quote)
Is he not at Utrecht?
richietoon(Quote)
RITCHIETOON hope you get your own place soon .
Axel(Quote)
dont know the lad axel seems to think hes ***** so can only gan from there but if he hasnt played much he cannot be a carr gem,seems funny like
icedog(Quote)
Ritchie – also alittle before my time but just watched the link, I thought bellend refs were just a recent thing but clearly not. I’m sure I made out a mackem tatoo.
Tell you what though, Wardle is such a legend for me like, and love the fact that even as a young un he walks round with his hands on his hips always looking knackered… proper hero!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sorry lads my mistake the Wuytens at PSV is Stijn , RITCHIETOON has it right Jan Wuytens is the Utrecht player but he is imo not good enough for the premiership either . He has played 9 games for Utrecht this season and again no reports we are after him.
Axel(Quote)
SHARPY waddle is a prize ****,aways running the toon down and giveing us ****,should have stayed in the sausage factory at tow law where he came from 👿
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy -Wuytens is at utrecht. has been troubled with knee probs since late last year. ..Now then where have i heard that befor…. apparently he’s not that good 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Axel – Credit Google for that. Not Richie 😆
toonsy(Quote)
WOR RICHIE is always right well so his mrs says like 😀
icedog(Quote)
AxeL -64 – They are related ,something mad like uncle and nephew i think.
kimtoon(Quote)
its on some tweets now so it must be **** imo 😉
icedog(Quote)
Toonsy…credit google wi nowt….wiki on the other hand… 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Richietoon@71- Can’t beat a bit of wiki 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Trelford Mills I had forgotten about him.
He was a total ****
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Wuytens is a wind up on Ed’s Blog by Hainsey, ya daft shites 😆 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)