Game On! Club Brugge v Newcastle

Game On in Belgium
Newcastle prepare to do battle in Belgium this evening knowing full well that a win at the Jan Breydel Stadium will ensure qualification through to the knockout stages of the competition.

We will of course be boosted by a sizeable presence from our own fans, both inside the ground and in the centre of Brugge itself.

This follows some rather harsh words from the Belgian police pretty much threatening fans who are in and around the ground without match tickets with arrest. However from my experience of them they just sit around not doing a lot. In Brussels there has been a police van parked on the corner of the financial district since April. It’s never moved and I’ve never seen anyone in it which just about sums them up for me!

Those harsh words have since been diluted and it would appear that the Belgian authorities have relaxed their stance and have decided to be rather more pro-active in their approach to us. This includes setting up a kind of fan park in the centre of Brugge, complete with big sreen, so fans without tickets can enjoy the match and a bit of atmosphere. I dare say it’s also viewed that having everyone in one place is much easier to handle, a bit like the pub in Shameless if you like. If you’re interested you can see what fans in the Market Square are up to by clicking here.

In terms of the game itself, the match preview is situated here if you haven’t already taken a look at it, or if you just want to see what people are saying ahead of the game tonight.

It is an early start at 6pm UK time, but it is also live on ESPN for those who aren’t travelling to the match or watching in a pub. If you haven’t got ESPN then don’t worry as it is also being broadcast on numerous overseas channels so finding a stream shouldn’t be too much of a big deal. As always though, if you happen to find a good one, or one that just plain works, then please feel free to leave a link to it in the ‘comments’ section below.

Team news, as ever, will be added below as and when it become available.

Howay the lads!

Club Brugge(4-4-1-1): Bojan Jorgacevic; Tom Hogli, Carl Hoefkens, Michael Almeback, Jordi Figueras; Maxime Lestienne, Ryan Donk, Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Ivan Trickovski; Jesper Jorgensen; Carlos Bacca

Subs: Vladan Kujovic, Mohammed Tchite, Bjorn Vleminckx, Bart Buysse, Bjorn Engels, Birger Verstraete, Nathaniel Lagrou

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Vurnon Anita, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, James Tavernier; Gael Bigirimana, Cheik Tiote; Gabriel Obertan, Sylvain Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi; Shola Ameobi

Subs: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, Davide Santon, Steven Taylor, Yohan Cabaye, Romain Amalfitano, Papiss Cisse

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.

167 thoughts on “Game On! Club Brugge v Newcastle

  1. Newkie yeah it was disappointing but we gave them a few chances that luckily they couldn’t convert so I guess we have to be thankful for what we got 😉

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  2. Some good points. Anita’s goal. Marv’s crossing. Thought Anita and Tav gave good support. Sammy very good in parts but runs into trouble unnecessarily. Shola has always had a lot of ability but I don’t think he can play 90 minutes anymore. Still has the tendency to foul and lose the advantage. Talking of fouling, what was Taylor doing shirt tugging in the box?

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  3. Unfortunately I got the 1st 10-15mins of the game before the boy wanted me to play with him before bedtime. Just come down now to see Spurs give a ridiculous equalizer away 😆

    Newkie – I didn’t see much of the game but to be honest, that line up was good enough for a win. They have done well to come back from 2-0 down, but for me that was a far stronger 11 than I would have went with.
    From what I saw, I was pleased with Anita, Sammy and Obertan.
    I was disappointed with Marv and Tiote still looks such a liability to me – he worries me whenever he gets near to a challenge.

    Anyone fancy giving me a run down and player rating?

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  4. Obertan is still ****.

    Even when fizzy as **** – still ****.

    Tesco value diet lemonade, left overnight with the top off, just the dregs in the (side) bottom of an empty plastic bottle, left next to a radiator.

    That ****.

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  5. …I’m just about to watch the second half anyway, so apologies if anyone’s commented on my bollocks. I’m typing this blind so as not to pick up any score hints.

    I’ll be back in 3…

    HA
    HA
    HA

    The Count Arnold

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  6. …I’m just about to watch the second half anyway, so apologies if anyone’s commented on my bollocks. I’m typing this blind so as not to pick up any score hints…

    I’ll be back in 3…

    HA
    HA
    HA

    The Count Arnold

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  7. Don’t want to sound all doom and gloom here but for that was a very very average performance. We were too casual, played with very little intensity and at times it looked like I was watching a preseason friendly. I know that a draw is fine in terms of the group positions but I just got the feeling that’s all we wanted. The passing was sloppy all night, and we were happy to knock it around in the middle no direction. This is a team without a manager, have lost 5 league games in a row and lost 4-0 to Bordeaux (whom we beat 3-0). We conceded a goal from a route one again. Which needs addressing fast. It was too easy. Tiote booked again as well. We dominated possession but should have been more clinical and really should have won comfortably. Anita, Sammy and Tavernier all impressed me but Obertan, Marveaux (in particular) were very average.

    We only looked to have any intensity after we were two (very soft) goals down! Then second half we seemed to be happy to settle for a draw . Yes i realise that its a point closer to qualification and its an away draw but Brugge arent a very good team really and I was really looking forward to watching a good performance and a comfortable win which I feel it should have been. Oh well I guess we are one point closer to qualifying and the second string got a good run out as well

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  8. Pearceet – I think that pretty much sums up most of our season so far to be honest mate. Our passing is very poor and I’ve yet to see any kind of kill instinct from the team yet this season.
    I remember when we were destroying the likes Antwerp in Europe. Yes, I know it was a different team, manager and time at the club but we should be dominating teams and winning fairly comfortably.

    I do hope that Anita continues to be selected because I reckon over the last couple of games I’ve seen glimmers of a player who could be a real consistent talent, and a leader within the team

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  9. MASSIVE SHOOT OOOOOT 😯 😯

    …for our ever-reliant chums ‘nufc.com’ around the 67 min mark.

    First time I’ve heard reference to biffa and the ponce on Live TV.

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  10. I think some people expect too much from our lads at times.
    Its not easy for a player to come in and start a game having not played all season virtually. How fair is it to expect them to be on top of their game from the off.
    At times, i felt it was one of our better performances, tho slightly disjointed, and lacking a cutting edge.
    We really need a midfield General to control and organise the team better.
    More worrying, was that we ran out of steam after 60 mins, and were happy to settle for the draw. We were lucky not to lose at the end.
    Very lucky with the Taylor shirt pull penalty appeal too. Tw@t.
    Oh and Tiote is becoming a proper knob. Gone right off him and his petulance. He is a liability. Its not his reputation that got him booked yet again, just his lack of ability. Poor show on his behalf.

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  11. Pity we didn’t show up for the first quarter. The defense looked really shaky, even Colo. They settled down and played some decent football after that. Anita looks decent going forward but he might be too small to be a fullback in the Prem. Obertan worked hard and got into some good positions. Marveaux took a few decent set pieces but couldn’t strike a crossed ball in the first half (air shot). Tiote looks out of sorts and not able to tackle with discipline. Sammy and Shola looked decent at times. Not sure about Tavernier. Another player who looks better going forward but shaky on defense. His header clearance was the giveaway for their second goal.Pardew will have a lot to think about from that.

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  12. Dave-Indeed, did you notice how they came into the game when Willo went of ? Solid as a rock that boy 😆

    Sharpy-Yeah, well two be fair it was literally two errors that cost us, and they were from the veterans. The second goal I mean…if Elliot had done that there’d be outrage, or harper even. So obviously we’d take the draw from 2-0 down, but it’s a shame not to win it.

    I disagree about tiote too, one moment of stupidity from him giving the ball away then waving his arm around. Other than that he ran the midfield pretty well I thought, put in a great tackle to stop a 1v1 after everyone else had been skinned.

    I’d say
    Shola-7
    Sammy-7
    Marv-4
    Obertan-6
    -Krul-6
    Colo-6
    Willo/Staylor-7
    Tav-7
    Anita-8
    Bigi-6
    Tiote-6

    Obertan was actually pretty good on the left, constant skinning and put the ball on a plate for Marveux, who’s miskick was reminiscent of a certain Leon Best while still in the CC. He went on to become a bit of a cult hero, here’s hoping Marv can do the same… 😕 Really poor from him though.

    But as soon as Obertan went to the right, vanished and/or became **** 😕

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  13. Boots – I get what you’re saying mate, but these are professional footballers who train every day and if they are not in the first team will play in the reserve games. I accept they may be a little rusty and that may affect their passing and general play, but I’d still expect to see a desire and fire in their bellies that just wasn’t there tonight.
    Plus, most people have suggested that it was the senior players who were at fault for the goals tonight.
    I do think that Anita could be that midfield General that you refer to as well – given time.
    I would love to see a midfield of Cabaye/Tiote/Anita, but I don’t see Pardew dropping Jonas, Cabaye or Tiote so I still see Anita struggling to get in once Tiotes ban has been served.

    Newkie – I’m pleased for the Ameobi boys tonight. Well done to them, also to Anita and Tav who also did well.
    I said within the last few weeks about getting shot of deadwood who don’t take their opportunity when they get it. Obertan did ok tonight but still wasn’t brilliant and Marv was **** poor. These players are showing little signs of improvement, so for me, get rid and replace them for fresh young talent and send a message to the rest of the squad that they’ll earn their money or they’re out!.

    Checking through local rags, and the Evening Gazette has reported that smoggies can’t agree a new contract with CB Matthew Bates. I reckon he could be picked up for around £1m or less and would be a good squad player for us IMO

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  14. I just think we need to give out some serious loan time to these players, especially the “flair” boys, like Marv. We can remember how rusty Benny was after he got back, and he was playing often enough. Obertan is still young enough to have a chance to improve, but I think we have to play him on the left in a forward 3 more often, not as a right winger in 4-4-2. He can’t cross and he’s too indecisive.

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