Nervy Newcastle squeeze past Norwich – Newcastle 1-0 Norwich

Demba delivers the goods
Newcastle secured all three points against Chris Hughton’s Norwich City outfit yesterday, but it wasn’t a convincing performance at all.

Three points is three points of course, and courtesy of Demba Ba’s fourth goal of the season midway through the first half those three points were registered in our favour, but there needs to be some serious improvement in our performances.

The upshot of it is that we are now one point off where we were at this stage last season having played three of the top seven sides from last term, two of which have been away from home. Granted our performances haven’t exactly been free-flowing, but we’ve also had to do that whilst balancing Europa League commitments and having a fair amount of key players out through injury. Not a justification but food for thought all the same…

After naming a largely second string side in Europe on Thursday night, Alan Pardew brought back the big hitters whilst he served the second game of his two game ban. Yohan Cabaye returned, as did Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa and Vurnon Anita. Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were paired together in attack, with the latter of the two able to breath a huge sigh of relief at the full time whistle!

It was the visitors who started the game brightly and created the first chance of the game. Wes Hoolahan met a Javier Garrido cross with his head only to see Steven Taylor deflect the ball behind for a corner.

However despite the bright start Norwich made they were undone by a moment of quality after twenty minutes as Hatem Ben Arfa teased the ball through for Demba Ba to fire past John Ruddy from the edge of the area. A great assist by the Frenchman and an equally cool finish from Ba.

Norwich were almost level minutes later courtesy of a Robert Snodgrass header, but Mike Williamson was perfectly positioned on the line to clear the ball away from danger and ensure United’s narrow lead remained intact.

The home side then showed some urgency in the final few minutes of the first half and applied some pressure to Norwich without really threatening. That was until Mike Williamson was barged in the back by Steve Morison leaving referee Neil Swarbrick little option but to award a penalty to the home side on the stroke of half-time.

After discussion between Demba Ba, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jonas Gutierrez it was decided that Papiss Cisse was to take the penalty. With the Senegal international still to get off the mark this season it was a decent gesture, but I would suggest sentiment should be put to one side when games are still there to be won. Up stepped Cisse who ballooned the ball high and wide in much the same way he did against Olympiakos in pre-season.

Half-time: Newcastle 1-0 Norwich

The visitors could have equalised once more right at the start of the second half but Steve Harper was alert to the danger and came off his line early to block and Andrew Surman effort after he was played through on goal by Wes Hoolahan.

Norwich continued to press for an equaliser without really threatening the United goal. Davide Santon nodded away again although it looked to me as though the initial header was dropping wide. Better safe than sorry though I guess. Meanwhile at the other end Hatem Ben Arfa stung John Ruddy’s palms with an effort from 25 yards out whilst Papiss Cisse headed over the bar before firing straight at Ruddy after being played in by James Perch. Mike Williamson, a threat at set-pieces all game, also forced a save from Ruddy.

The closest Norwich could come to an equaliser was via a deflected cross into the box which nearly found its way into the path of Simeon Jackson but the Canadian was thwarted by Steve Harper who took a kick for the team.

Ultimately the game petered out and Newcastle did enough to secure the three points, but it was only just enough and we’ll need to be more convincing in future games if we are to try and repeat the success of last season.

Full-time: Newcastle 1-0 Norwich

As a final note, our penalty taking needs sorting. I actually don;t have faith in anyone aside from Shola Ameobi from the penalty spot. It’s all well and good just seeing who is up for it at the time, Arsenal used to do something similar in their invincible days, but that miss by Papiss Cisse could have really cost us in the end.

Oh and just one more thing. Hopefully Troy Stavers had an excellent day yesterday, as did his son who was mascot for the day. I hope you all enjoyed it!

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Steve Harper, James Perch, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, Davide Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Vurnon Anita, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba.

Subs: Rob Elliot, James Tavernier, Gael Bigirimana, Cheick Tiote, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi.

Norwich City: John Ruddy, Russell Martin, Sebastien Bassong, Leon Barnett, Javier Garrido, Robert Snodgrass, Bradley Johnson, Jonny Howson, Andrew Surman, Wes Hoolahan, Steve Morison

Subs: Mark Bunn, Michael Turner, Ryan Bennett, Alexander Tettey, Anthony Pilkington, Grant Holt, Simeon Jackson.

Attendance: 49,402

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.

103 thoughts on “Nervy Newcastle squeeze past Norwich – Newcastle 1-0 Norwich

  1. thats 5 games and only 2 goal scores ba and ben arfa with out them ware would we be we need a goal scoring midfielder as i carnt see any one in the team except ba benni putting the ball in the net or cissie geting his shooting boots on its a bout time the players clicked

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  2. Yeah good to see we still have a wee list of possible excuses to justify our lousy overall performance. (injuries/europe etc)
    Begs the question, do we even practise taking pens or what. There is really no excuse for a professional striker not to at least hit the target.
    Cringeworthy
    Clearly Ben Arfa is our one shining light, thankfully.
    Also good to see Ba doing what he does best, and if Cisse hadn’t been playing, I think he would have scored more.
    We are almost trying too hard to get Cisse on the score sheet. He is fluffing so many chances that Ba would put away, its getting ridiculous.

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  3. Chris – agreed. Cabaye should be contributing more from midfield, but his shooting is woeful at the moment too.
    Its crazy, we DO have some good players, but they all seem off form together.
    Pardew and the coaches have alot of work to do in training with the Lads because at the minute we just look dross. 😕

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  4. Wexare in a decent position. Last term we looked shocking numerous times but still got results. I’d say not a lot has changed, just prople’s expectations being higher. if we did not have Ba, Benny etc etc bla bla. Well we do have them so whilo cares what if?! It’s just the same as what uf Arsenal dud not have Cazirla and Podildki, Everton did not have Fellaini, Pienaar etc. They do though. We are doing fine, bit ropey looking but we have injuries and are still getting results. If we were losing i’d be worried, butcwe arent so chill out people! Cisse is class, we all saw that last season. He’s just having a rough patch like all strikers do. He will come good, but Pards should have cracked a few skulls over that penalty yesterday. Like Toonsy said, there’s a time and place for charity. 1-0 up in a tight game is not the time and place!

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  5. Last season:
    Arsenal (h) 0-0 scrappy draw when we barely had a shot and clung on
    Sunderland (a) 1-0 scrappy game just about edged it in the 2nd half
    Fulham (h) Scrappy game where we could and probably should have lost
    QPR (a) 0-0 See arsenal
    Villa (a) Best of a bad bunch, Played well but against a god awful side

    We are one point worse off than this time last year and have had much harder fixtures and the european schedule to contend with, For me its a solid start…

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  6. Like you say Shamrock, bottom line is at least we are winning. Hopefully we can only get better from here. Our biggest worry tho is keeping the class players that we have. Not a problem when the whole team is performing. Things just need to click, and someones in for a reet good hiding. :mrgreen:
    Perhaps we are saving it for 21st Oct. 😆

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  7. Ironically the extra euro games just might play into our hands, as a few senior players need the extra games to get back into form. Certainly wont do us any harm. You never know, even Cisse may find his old scoring boots again. 😉

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  8. Sham your right about the what if’s, we didn’t have this player and that player, and if **** didn’t have this player and that plater etc etc. But what if Cisse’s pen that showed lots of team morale cost us 😆 😀 but thankfully it didn’t cost us .
    Toonsy I thought you might have touched on Tiote disciplined performance when he came on 😆

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  9. I think we have made a good start to the season, and no reason why we wont be pushing that top 6 again come end of season. I think in Ba Cisse and Ben Arfa we have 3 potential match winners , Cisse is off form but we can still fall back on Ba and Ben Arfa at the moment. After them its another story for another day.
    I see Nile Ranger is continuing to delvelop is career in crime down in his naitive London. What a good chap he must be.

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  10. Meant to add that I was pissed of with the links for the game as I was looking forward to seeing young Chip Stavers smile from ear to ear as he led the team out. I’m sure him and his Dad had a cracking day.
    Over all we were poor but we seem to be slowly getting there and getting better with each game.

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  11. Johno cheers but my phone won’t load that link but I guess he has been up to his usual ****.
    The sooner the club find a way of getting shot of him the better, as he’s a complete waste of space.

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  12. Just read through some of the comments posted in the ‘game on’ article last night.
    I fully encourage team spirit and really want to see Cisse amongst the goals. I agree with Pardew in his post match interview, that half time was not the time to reprimand the players about allowing Cisse to take the penalty. But I really hope that is addressed today!.
    I think overall, we looked alot better yesterday, but there are still players under performing.

    Harper – put Everton behind him and played really well.
    Anita – looks a better RB than DCM
    Williamson – played well, good in the air – turns like a tank.
    Saylor – below par in my opinion, but wasn’t terrible.
    Santon – looks really classy this season, another good game.
    Ben Arfa – What a player!, sheer class.
    Perch – not great at RB but looked competent at DCM.
    Cabaye – Really hasn’t got good at all this season, not close to playing to his full capability.
    Jonas – stupid hair, doing everything you’d expect of Jonas but isn’t going to be our goal scoring midfielder.
    Ba – great to see the thro the week stupidity didn’t affect his game, and took his goal really well – a real threat.
    Cisse – desperately needs a goal!, didn’t look great yesterday, but I’m sure it’s just a confidence thing.

    Subs – no game changers on the bench that I saw. Obertans decision making let’s him down nearly everytime!, could be a great player – but really isn’t at the mo for me like.

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  13. Its good to see Cisse still smiling, despite his poor form of late.
    No doubt something will happen and and it will all fall back into place for him.
    Typical of NUFC luck with strikers. 😕

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  14. Big D – Ranger has been arrested last night and charged with criminal damage to someones front door. 😕
    He has to appear in court later today.

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  15. Agree Ranger needs to be sacked , he is on a reported 10k a week. Im sure there must be something in his contract for gross misconduct which we could terminate it.

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  16. Its disgusting that somebody can earn thousands of pounds percweek whilst contributing nothing towards the 1st team and regularly getting into triuble with the law. He should be staying in every evening, busting a gut on the training pitch every day trying to justify his wage and break into the squad. He resembles everything that us wring with the image of the moden ‘pro’. He makes the honest lads in the game look bad. Utter disgrace, has no class and does not appreciate just how lucky he is. Total plonker.

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  17. yeah I can see it now. ….”Cisse wonder goal dumps manure out of cup”
    😆 😆
    Pardew hailed for keeping faith with his out of form striker. :mrgreen:

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  18. How to solve a problem like Ranger?!

    I have absolutely no proof of this but have convinced myself that the board have told Pardew that there is no money for a CF whilst there are 5 on our books, ie Ba, Cisse, Shola, Xsico and Ranger. I maybe wrong of course, but the sooner Xsico and Ranger are out of our club, the better!!

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  19. totally agree Sharpy.
    I wouldn’t be overly shocked to see a return of xisco sometime this season.
    Beggars belief we are paying these two £60k a week for NOWT. 😈 👿
    Thats over £3M a year ffs. 😯

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  20. The Win yesterday was important. We needed another to keep what can only be described as a decent start to the campaign. I cannot see us being the team we were last season as lots of other teams have elevated themselves and the mid table fight seems ever more competitive.

    Teams like Us, Everton, West ham, Tottenham, West Brom, Stoke, fulham, Sunderland and perhaps later Liverpool will be vying for the places behind city, united, Arsenal and Chelsea.

    The way we have been playing there are going to be very few easy win games but that is what makes the league exciting.

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  21. Ranger> aargh ,stupid stupid boy ,get shot please MA by what ever means possible .If anyone on this site did half what he’s done the’d get the sack from their job and be unemployable to boot. 👿 Utter disgrace and does nowt for the clubs image ,just doesn’t get how lucky he is ,there must be thousands of young Geordie lads would kill to have his shot at playing for the Toon.

    On topic ,glad to get the 3 points yesterday but underwhelmed with our performance again .Really feel for Cisse ,watching him is like watching Ba back end of last season ,you can almost smell the desperation to score. I reckon he’ll score a wonder goal and be up and running soon.

    Dave> I agree would like to of seen young chip come out 🙁

    My brother got his comp tickets for Reading today 😀 We get to go in box 13 where our host will be waiting 😆 .Would of prefered an away end ticket tbh but hey beggers can’t be choosers as they say. 😉 .Bang on cue Lewis got ill last night ,got to hope he’s better by saturday so I can still go 😕 ,Straight down the docs today for antibiotics and fingers crossed. 😉

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  22. Nice one Kim, I hope you and your son make it to the match on sat.
    should be a feast of goals for you to enjoy. 😉

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  23. Kim, hope you get to your game 🙂 Also, I think Rodzilla is unemployable so he must be hanging out in Rangers pose’ 🙂 🙂

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  24. Kim- KILL for a chance to play for the Toon? Is that not what we are condemning Ranger for? Are you suggesting he’s in fact, not bad enough for us?! 😆

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  25. BB – speaking of Lfool – worst start in 100 yrs, Shelvey suspended for 3 games and Borini, Agger and Kelly all injured yesterday – yip, Brendan Rodgers has certainly changed their fortunes 😆

    Kim – sorry to hear the lad ain’t great, hopefully he’s better before matchday.

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  26. Thanks guys , Shamrock> Yeah ,probs could of worded that bit better 😆

    Can’t wait for the game and hope we really go for it ,lots of goals from us I hope 😉

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  27. Yeah, I don’t entirely understand some of the whining about our play at the start of this season, we were dull as f*ck at the start of the last one as well, helped by an away derby win for sure, great goal, but ***** matches the lot of em 😕

    Agree with CC on that account.

    And agree with Shamrock re the “if we didn’t have Benny/Ba/blah blah”

    Do people expect us to have 11 equally immense first team players, and then a bench or even squad full of people who are equally capable of replacing them and playing to the same level? Because no team in the world has that…

    I said before the match i’d take an ugly 1-0 and that’s what it turned out to be, but 3 points is what matters. We can turn on the style once we’ve figured out how to get both strikers firing 😉 The penalty fiasco was the wrong choice but for the right reasons. Personally, I don’t even think a pen would help Cisse that much, I’ve seen it with other players because penalties just aren’t the same as a “real” goal, particularly if it wasn’t the same player who was brought down.

    Like two seasons ago when rooney took about two months to score, they gave him a pen to take, he scored, and it still took another month for him to score during play and he was ***** all the way. It happens to them all. I think the miss put Cisse under more unnecessary pressure and if we’d scored we could really have got at them, made more chances for Cisse and played less cagey and given the whole team more confidence, but there we go.

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  28. Newkie – I know you’re not referring directly to me (or maybe you are 😉 ). I’m certainly not whinging about the points accrued, but performance wise I do think we are capable of better – and the 1st half of Everton was shockingly poor. You’re right mate, we didn’t perform well at the start of last season either but a big difference was there was alot of new faces last season, and they took time to settle in.
    But the team this season is very similar to the one that ended last season, so on that basis it’s fair to say the level of expectation should be higher. I dont expect all 11 players to be outstanding every game, but I’d say that other than Ba, Benny and Santon, every other player has performed below par. The good news is that we get alot better!, but 5 games in and I’d expect at least 1 or 2 more to be performing better than they are.
    Even Pardew said after the game yesterday that he was pleased that we were picking up points without playing well.
    In terms of subs, I think with players like Obertan, Marv, Gosling and the Ameobi bros – again, I think it should be fair to expect those players to come on and add to or change a game, but I dont feel that they have so far. They earn a wage and are part of the match team so if I’m being critical of the 11 players on the pitch, I think it’s only fair that the bench players are included in praise/criticism as well.

    It’s it fair to say, so far ok but we are capable of better?

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  29. Off topic – and I see there are afew reports suggesting we will go back in for Debuchy in Jan. That will be an interesting one if true as Debuchy is now 27 which should technically put him beyond the age of our transfer policy criteria.

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  30. Thought Shola definitely had an impact against Everton but apart from that I agree with all your points Sharpy.

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  31. Newkie – I agree with the analysis. It was exactly the same last season. We were unbelievably bad against QPR then although the 1st half at Goodison was THE worst I’ve seen them. I said it all last season – we’re a very good team that just doesn’t look like one.
    Don’t know what the cure is. I guess they’ll play their way into better form.

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  32. heard Debuchy didnt sign in the summer cos cabaye was going to arsenal only for ashley to pull the plug on the deal.Maybe thats why his form has dipped this season.As for cisse,hes still getting into the same positions as last season but sadly he bang out of form.time to put arfa up behind ba and put cisse on the bench bringing him on with twenty min left

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  33. Does anyone know what Pardew sees in Obertan? He’s fast. Surely that can’t be all he is. Or Williamson. He’s tall. Is that it? To get into the Toon team you all you have to be is either fast or tall?

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  34. Bazza – Debuchy didn’t sign in the summer because Newcastle and Lille couldn’t agree a price. It never got as far as Debuchy having a say.
    As for Cisse, I think dropping him to the bench is the worst thing we could do. As someone said earlier, he’s still playing with a smile on his face and he’s getting into goal scoring positions. It’s a bit like Maverick when Goose dies in Top Gun – just gotta keep getting him out there! 😉

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  35. Sharpy-Nah I wasn’t referring to you directly I was just making a general point, the doom and gloomers seem out even though we’re essentially the same as last year, and are probably playing better. It’s just the shift in expectations I suppose given our general good play in the second half of last season.

    To expect the two Sholas to have contributed and change a game so far this season, considering they have both been injured up until everton, is a bit extreme for me. Did you expect them to play when injured? As for when they have been here, plus Shola did do well at Everton and assited the equaliser, a great contribution after being out for awhile imo…

    As for Marv, he’s essentially been out for two years. Bit much to expect game changes for him. As for Obertan and Gosling, well, they’re just average players really.

    Considering we’ve also had a makeshift defence who have essentially never played together, not even in cups let alone the PL I think we’ve done alright, add in the fact we’ve missed tiote for so long, and the fact we’re attempting various formations as well as allowing time for Anita to adjust and I don’t think we’re very different from last season….

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  36. Last season we had something ridiculous like the same backline for 15 matches (I think) we’ve had to jumble around already, and having to compete in Europe and are STILL essentially doing as well as last year, after playing tougher opposition.

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  37. The 8 points are fine so far but the team often looks poor on the pitch. Willo isn’t the answer even as cover at CB and if not for Anita we would have nobody to play RB because Perch just can’t cut it there. We’re hanging on by our fingernails at the moment. Two poor games against weak teams out of 5 games so far in the league. What has happened to Cabaye and Cisse? They look completely lost out there. If not for Ben Arfa and Ba we would have no attack whatsoever. Obertan isn’t even a good sub and none of the young ones appear to be ready. A strange mixture right now. It’s obvious how much we miss Collocini. Saylor doesn’t look nearly as good without Collo beside him. Now we have to play ManU twice within a couple of weeks with Reading in between. Granted the league cup isn’t a high priority but I’m not planning on living forever. Would love to see us hold up some silverware. Will we strengthen in January if we are sitting around 10th? Let’s hope so.

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  38. Bazza – Nice bit of rumour spreading ***** there about Cabaye and Arsenal…exactly what we don’t need.

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  39. Newkie, totally agree. Especially about our defense getting ripped up this season.

    I for one would like to see Cisse start against ManU, but if he doesn’t score to put someone else in his place for the weekend. We can’t be carrying players like this

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  40. Trouble is the ressies is U21 only now, so if a player is off his game he cant play a few matches there to get match fit after injury or to just get his form back. So basically he has to play for the first team until his form returns. Hence why we are carrying Cisse and Tiote and Colo will come back in, not 100% match fit. And we as fans will squeal like bitches, ‘cus they’re playing pish poor. 😕

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  41. If we sign Debuchy then where will Anita play? He’s sure as hell not playing CM, he’s **** there. Won’t be happy to be on the bench until someone’s injured.

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  42. I think anita is definitely showing signs of improvement. His biggest problem is tiote got injured when he arrived and he was asked to break up play. His natural game is a passer controlling the tempo of a game. Playing an unfamiliar role in a faster league is a very tough ask of a relatively young player who has just moved to another country, first time at a different club with a wife about to pop.

    Give him a few games playing alongside tiote/cabaye before you judge. He’s shown intelligence and a bit of pace, let him settle

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  43. BB
    We were hardly gunna play Cissé in a reserve match, even with his poor current form. If we play him Wednesday he’ll score, Man U have a poor defence. I also think Ferguson will play a B team whereas Pardew will play a weakened side but will have some 1st teamers out there.

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  44. I never said we would play Cisse in the ressies, hence my comment @8 🙄
    Manures ‘B’ team is no worse than their ‘A’ team, but I take your point. They also have another tough match on saturday, so I think its fair to assume we have a reasonable chance against them.

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  45. A few of their defenders took knocks yesterday too so hopefully someone like carsick playing centre back again

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  46. Andy @ 55 do you not think he would need a bit of time to settle ? because from what I can gather thats his best position.
    As for Wed I think Pards must be for playing his full strength side if he’s talking about winning it ❓

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  47. Andy, Anita was playing in the Dutch league only a month ago. That’s a big jump. If I remember correctly people in Holland thought he was best at cb

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  48. @Sharpy 41 Think that’s a very fair analysis.
    Such a shame about the Villa game, points wise a win there would have seen us have an incredible start to the season.

    @Dub
    Really excited to see how they line up. Think you’re right on Anita not being able to cover Tiote. Which is why I thought he was a first team signing. To play alongside Tiote so we can release Cabaye further up.

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  49. Three very important league games coming up. One of our priorities this season is undoubtedly being in the top 6 when we play against Jose

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  50. Suppose I should give Anita more time at CM before I condemn him as ****, but I’m a firm believer in that a player should hit the PL running or else be left behind with the ‘never-was’ crew. Could be like Perch, **** in the games he gets in his 1st season, reborn in his 2nd season as a versatile player who the fans praise but pundits ignore.

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  51. Update: From the Enfield Independent, Monday:

    Newcastle striker Nile Ranger is not allowed to enter Enfield following his criminal damage charge.

    The 21-year-old talent appeared at Enfield Magistrates today after a row with his ex girlfriend in Lancaster Road, Forty Hill, at approximately 6am yesterday.

    He was handed strict bail conditions and cannot contact his ex girlfriend – either directly or indirectly.

    Ranger will be allowed to enter Enfield only once – when he is escorted by a police officer to collect his car.

    The court also told him that he must sleep each night at his Newcastle home. Ranger, who was born in Wood Green, is due to appear at the same court on November 5 for a trial.

    (That comes after Ranger’s next scheduled court date in October, when he appears at Newcastle Crown Court to answer two counts of assault and and two of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Those charges followed Ranger’s night out in Newcastle in August 2011)

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  52. BB
    Scumbag should just be locked up. Thought I heard a while back that Ranger had a clause in his contract that meant if he went to jail or something the contract would be terminated.

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