Southampton v Newcastle – Premier League match preview

Saints or sinners?
Newcastle and their travelling fans will make the longest trip in the Premier League this weekend as they face a 700 mile round trip to take on Southampton.

The Saints are back in the big time this season after a seven season absence which has seen them drop through the Championship into League One and back to the Premier League finally.

This game also rounds off a trio of Alan Pardew’s former clubs that we’ve come up against in recent weeks. A draw at Reading and a home loss against West Ham have ensured that we haven’t fared too well against Pardew’s former employers but I’m hoping that changes this weekend. In fairness I think we’re all hoping that changes this weekend.

Newcastle:

If it is to change we will have to do it with a lengthly injury list. Newcastle will be without Shola Ameobi, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Dan Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Xisco and Adam Campbell through injury with Fabricio Coloccini also out of the game as he serves the final game of his three game suspension following his red card against Liverpool.

Papiss Cisse, Jonas Gutierrez and Gabriel Obertan are all doubtful although James Perch is reportedly close to making a comeback. Another comeback kid could be Nile Ranger who has been named as part of the matchday squad against the team who once had him on their books. Ranger was released by The Saints in 2008 following a string of off-field issues.

Southampton:

Frazer Richardson and Richard Chaplow are the only absentees for Southampton. Guly do Prado and Artur Boruc could be recalled after missing the games against Swansea and QPR.

Previously…

Newcastle have one just one game in the last 19 league trips to St Mary’s and, prior to their new ground, at The Dell. That win was our last visit to the South coast back in 2004 with a rare goal from Stephen Carr sealing the three points on that occasion. Our last win prior to 2004 came in 1972!

There have been 43 meetings at Southampton over the years. Southampton have won 27 of those games, Newcastle just five with the other 11 ending in a draw. Newcastle just shade it overall though with 34 wins compared to 31 for Southampton with 17 draws making up the 82 meetings between the two sides.

Match stats and facts:

Newcastle are looking to avoid three straight defeats. the last time we lost three on the spin was back in September 2008.

Southampton are the only side in the Premier League without a clean sheet.

Newcastle have won just one game since Alan Pardew was awarded his eight-year contract.

Final thought…

It’s going to be a tough game, any away game in the Premier League is in fairness, but with the clutch of missing players we have to contend with it leaves us looking light on numbers.

Not only numbers are light though. Also confidence seems to be in short supply at the moment which isn;t a good thing.

We haven’t had things are own way this season and you could argue that this run we are in currently is the first real test of Alan Pardew’s Newcastle tenure. The only thing that will turn it round is results which will buy time to get the performances right again.

Unfortunately I can’t see that happening tomorrow.

Howay the lads!

Date: Sunday, 25th November, 2012

Time: 3pm

Venue: St Mary’s Stadium

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.

305 thoughts on “Southampton v Newcastle – Premier League match preview

  1. Sharpy 😆 Unlucky! It’s alright mate, my old man’s a monkey hanger, no chance of any derby’s with us…well, hopefully not anyway 😯

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  2. Dave-But if you never drop anyone for being off form, what exactly is the point in having squad and competition? “Alright Cisse, doesn’t matter how you play because you were good last year. How’s it going Jonas? Haven’t found a cross in five of six games have we. Still, you run around a lot and maybe if we keep playing you you’ll get us a wondergoal, or just a cross…”

    If we’d bought in another striker would you still be saying the same? Surely it would be an insult to them and indeed why would any player want to come if there was no chance they’d get in the side…

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  3. Dave- ‘but the stats say he has had 13 chances’. What does that tell you then? To me it means we aren’t creating enough chances or playing well enough to carry a finisher in the team. We need someone with more than one string to his bow, who can hold the ball up, or play the channels. Villa have a hugely expensive English finisher in their team, and they are in the relegation zone, do you think they should stick with him?

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  4. We’ll probably see more ineffective 442 with Cisse partnering Demba up top, Jonas on the wing, Sammy simply trying on the right, and Simpson and Williamson booting past the midfield 60 times

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  5. Agree DJG-If we’re not creating the chances we need to make more chances for 1 striker or have a striker who can create “his own” chances i.e via dribbling, beating a man etc. I’m not sure Cisse has ever done that..

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  6. wigan winning drops us down another place in the league.
    down to 14th now.
    No pressure tomorrow lads

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  7. Instructatoon @66 ,Re Ba .I think you are spot on in that assumption mate.

    Sharpy@ 69 😆 Ndubz
    Sharpy@74 , Wow lifes dealt you a **** hand there mate 😆

    Dave,@73 Agree ,we should not drop him yet ,keep the faith I say.

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  8. Its a good question tho, if we had more choices in the striker department, would Cisse still get the start?
    Once again Llambsarse 😳 😳 epic fail

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  9. Agree with most on here RE our chance creation. Even last year we didn’t create much. We were just very clinical. We don’t have a threat on either wing. Our best two wide players look best when they cut inside and the other two are just plain dog s**t. We haven’t got any quality wingers.

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  10. cant believe I actually want arsenal to win later, but we dont need villains picking up points too.

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  11. DJG – we created chances on Thursday, how many times was Cisse caught offside?!
    That said, I do believe in sticking by players who are putting the effort in and working hard.
    It paid off with Benny and Santon. I always think, give those players an hour and if they aren’t doing it then hook um – but obviously that’s not a hard and fast rule like.

    I made a mistake in my line up. I’d go Jonas and Tiote in the middle, then go with Obertan/Anita/Marv in behind Demba.

    Newkie – I could live with a monkey hanger mate, although they are struggling at the mo. Would be good to offer them a couple of our young uns like Good a couple of others to help them out.

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  12. SHARPY17- I posted at the time that he must be learning from Shola re. the offside rule. 🙂 …but at least Shola occasionally holds the ball and brings someone into play (without falling over the ball) or heads the ball on the Ba to score. How many times has Cisse won a header with back to goal or successfully beat someone and got a cross in? 😕

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  13. I don’t understand the notion that Ba “forced” us to change the system so he could play through the middle. Surely Cisse did the same to Ba when Ba was in form last season.
    It shouldn’t be either – or anyway. If Pardew can’t find a system to suit Ba/Hba/Cisse together then the Cisse transfer has done more bad than good imo. I know Cisse’s goals fired us over the finishing line, but Ba was scoring before he came when played centrally, and has continued to do so this season. We would have been better off buying a diff type of striker that could play alongside Ba or a winger that will actually get to the byline and cross it.
    Still so peeved from last week, not ready for another disappointment 🙁 Seriously fcked off with everyone involved in the club, players/board/coaches/manager, all have had shockers. Even Carr – surely Ashley has a price in mind for a defender, no matter how average the player you’d think after over two years we’d identify SOMEONE that fits our restricting budget. And whoever works on our set pieces needs to think about changing careers.

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  14. Crucial game tomorrow even though it’s away. We’ve put ourselves in this spot with poor play so it’s time start digging ourselves out. Can we do it with a depleted squad? I would put Marveaux in there behind Ba for his pace and passing. Go with Tiote and Jonas in CM. Try Fergie and Obertan if he is fit on the wings. Cisse to come in if it isn’t working but not to start (too many offsides disrupting our attack). I’m going for 1-2 away win with Ba getting both goals. Howay the lads!!!

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  15. Kim – you don’t know the half of it hun 🙄 keeps life interesting though 😀

    DJG – appreciated mate, and I’m not going to clutch at straws with the goal scoring argument, coz there isn’t one this season. The only thing I can cling to is that everytime he was caught off side I was left think – keep at it son coz you’ll time one right and you WILL score – no offence to Shola but he doesn’t leave me with that feeling.
    I wish we did have options up there tho. From what I’ve seen it would be Haris for me if he was fit.

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  16. Have to say spot on to you Solanostrumpet. Get that out of your system and then support the lads tomorrow. I’ve been fed up for a while as well. Get us a bloody managing director with a football brain Ashley. I think all that’s in Llambias’s head is a pile of used feminine hygiene products.

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  17. 2 stupid games and our season could be looking so different right now. Imagine the different vibe on here if we’d won those 2 home games and were going into tomorrow on 20 points (though probably still having not played well) P!ssed. 👿

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  18. Sharpy-Yeah mate, they managed a draw away which is a superb result for them so far 😆 That’s actually a very good point, forgot about his offsides. He was the most offside in the prem at some point, although that’s probably not the case anymore. He’s not an easy guy to make official chances for…

    AndrewT-Exactly mate.

    Also agree with Solano, I don’t get why people get so upset with the Ba positioning….if he wasn’t up front for us this season, who would have scored all our goals I wonder….Claiming that Cisse would have hit form simply by being put forward in a 4-3-3 is nonesense-he’s played there several times this season and still been *****….

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  19. At the minute I’m trying to think, ‘are there 3 teams playing worse than us’. Villa- I need to watch a bit of now. QPR- Are playing some decent stuff and have just been really unlucky or lose concentration or whatever, they played well and were winning at Old Trafford yet got another 0 points. They scored in the first half as well and it was only just offside. I would say they are passing it and playing better than us but not getting any points for whatever reason. Reading- Are pretty poor. Sunderland- They played well in their game against Fulham. Norwich- Are no above us and getting results. Southampton- Could beat us tomorrow.
    So some teams have less points but they are playing well in the odd games.

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  20. Solano .Ba was offered the number 9 shirt but refused it as it’s not the number he wants apparently. The reason myself and posters like Dave have an issue with the Ba thing is because when Pards publicly stated he would be up front 90% of the time in the summer, Ba was in woefull form and to me it sent a strange message to Cisse who had got us a bagfull of goals to help us into 5th. I can’t imagine what Cisse made of it , no promises made to him assuring our number 9 of his place 🙄 .No wonder his confidence is on the floor . Look it’s obvious Ba hates it on the left ,despite playing there at west Ham and doing well and the truth is that move must of been made to placate him and prevent him leaving for peanuts ,why else would Pards give such backing to only one player .I have never heard him promise any other player a 90% of the time playing role have you. In the case of Benny he activly slags the guy off 🙄 sometimes .

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  21. I’m certain Benny has stated his wish to play in the centre, but Pardew keeps him out on the right wing, where he is least effective.
    I really feel sorry for HBA, yet he keeps his head down and gets on with it.
    Another one I can see leaving NUFC soon. 👿

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  22. Kim-He didn’t need to give Cisse an assurance because it should be fairly obvious where he’d play. He doesn’t have the ability to play anywhere else really…As for “I can’t imagine what Cisse made of it” er, well, considering this is a player he has played alongside up front for Senegal with, it should be fairly obvious. “Oh, i’ll be playing alongside a striker.” If Cisse is a player who HAS to play up front alone for his own sake then how is that any different to what Ba wanted 😕

    I said at the time I didn’t initially understand the 90% up front thing, I assumed it would mean benny in the whole and those two ahead of him…but for whatever reason that didn’t happen..

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  23. @Kim but what did Ba make of being shifted out to the left when Cisse arrived even though he’d been in such good form before ACON? I just don’t think the whole “Cisse being sent a strange message” is valid, as it works equally for Ba.
    I agree though on that assuring Ba he would play through the middle was daft and unnecessary.
    And I didn’t mention the no. 9 shirt?
    One of them needs to be sold. Neither will be happy on the bench, and we can’t play them together. We need to replace with a young, promising striker and a player that will suit playing with the one of the two that we keep.
    If Cisse can find form I’d like Ba sold as I don;t think it’s healthy to have a player that can be poached for such a tiny fee at any moment.

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  24. @Newkie
    Yeah pre season we were thinking it would be a three man midfield, (Cabs/Tiote/Anita) with HBA behind the front two. Bit bizarre it hasn’t been attempted. It would leave us solid defensively and free HBA to wreak havoc.

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  25. ST-Exactly, still can’t for the life of me work out why not. Initially I passed it off, 4-4-2 is an easy formation for people to get back into a season with-maybe it could work…Anita to adjust, blah blah…then it was injuries/suspensions, don’t want to switch too much around at once…but now? Once Colo is back we’ll have our best in the hole player out, along with Cabaye…there’ll always be something wrong. Sometimes you need to throw the dice.

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  26. I can understand fans wanting Marv in their starting line ups as he is the best passer we have available. My concern with him is he is not the bravest in the world. On Thursday he hardly made a tackle. The Premier League is all about dominating midfield if I was to pick him it would be part of a midfield five with others doing his share of the ugly stuff. Cisse would be sacrificed to accomodate him

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  27. Solano ,I only mentioned the number 9 thing out of interest so don’t call me on it .
    As for what Ba thought of playing on the left, who cares ? he should play where we need him and where he is effective end of and he’s not our no 9 Cisse is ,it’s more strange to put your number 9 out wide especially if it’s not his best position or he’s ineffective there.

    Newkie, but why did he feel it so necessary to assure Ba publicly unless he’d been having a moan about the left.

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  28. I’m not saying where Ba should or shouldn’t play. He should play where the team needs him, and if he doesn’t like where he’s being played then fair play, look for a transfer. I just take issue with the idea that Cisse has been hard done by by Pardew when the EXACT same thing happened to Ba last February.
    Not even exact tbh, Cisse is at least still playing up front, he hasn’t been shifted out wide this season.

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  29. Kim-Well he was asked a question about Ba so he answered it…

    “And I think that in 90% of the games next year that’s where he will play”

    At the end of the day, if Ba wants to play in a central role for the rest of his career that is a decision that you can’t really argue with. It’s like Walcott leaving Arsenal…Also-you were saying he was in terrible form at the end while on the left. Would you want him played there from the start of this season? To carry him? Or would you then ask for a replacement, someone who can contribute more from that position….Ironically aren’t you defending Cisse on those grounds?…

    Did you not also say something a couple of weeks back along the lines of “I hope Cisse goes in Jan…we don’t deserve him” Was that in relation to him not being played, or being played out wide? 😕

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  30. As for Cisse being the reason that Ba was pushed out to the left ? does anyone really think that Cisse told Pards im not going to be happy playing out on the left so I want to play in the middle ? the guy played where he was told to play same as Benny etc
    The difference is that Ba went crying to Pards that he wanted to play in the middle, so Cisse gets pushed out not because thats where Pards wants him to play but simply because Ba dictated to him that he wants to play in the middle and If people can’t see the difference well im not going to waste my time.
    As BB has stated Benny has stated that he wants to play in the No10 roll and Pards has even stated that that is where he sees Benny playing , but does Benny get what he wants ? no he gets sent out to the wing because thats where Pards wants him to play, and as Kim said Pards has came out and run the guy down about he needs to work harder for the team etc etc this is the guy that is the only real spark in our team and the guy that has a hand in almost every good move we make.
    I said before That I strongly believe that there was some stuff going on in the dressing room and it wouldn’t surprise me if Ba has something to do with it

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  31. Newkie @ 111 you left the bit before that quote out

    “Demba wants to play in a central role.” “He wants to get himself chances to score goals.” “And I think that in 90% of the games next year that’s where he will play.”

    Do you think Pards should give Benny the same backing because he is our best player and wants to play in the No10 roll ???

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  32. Dave-If you’ve read anything I’ve said you would know I’ve wanted Benny to play in an attacking midfield role behind the two strikers from before the season even kicked off 😕

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  33. Interestingly how many want to give Benny the free role behind a striker/two now? From what I hear, most fans want last years 4-3-3 which is him actually still out on the wing…Are you the same Dave? Is that not essentially the same thing, not caring where he wants to play….

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  34. No I disagree Newkie, I think most fans want 4-3-1-2 but Pards wont EVER try it, or so it would seem.

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  35. Newkie @ 111 you quoted “And I think that in 90% of the games next year that’s where he will play.”
    So I said that you left the 1st bit of the quote out that states “Demba wants to play in a central role.” “He wants to get himself chances to score goals.”

    I never said you didn’t want Benny playing there 😯
    I simply asked do you think Pards should give Benny the same assurances as he gave Ba ?

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  36. Plus we need two strikers who can play together up front as a pair, not two individuals who get in each others way and go for the same ball and have no communication between themselves.

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  37. BB-Indeed, I bet a lot have changed their tune from the start of the season though, simply because of Ba’s scoring prowess. They forgot how good a finisher he was because of his end of season form in comparison to Cisse. Now it looks a bit ridiculous to want 4-3-3, although some still want it. You still get the whole “WHY DID PARDS CHANGE IT AT ALL” line banded about.

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  38. It begs belief that he can give any assurances to any player tbh.
    Whose the fucking boss like ❓ ❓ ❓

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  39. Newkie @ 115 😳 if you actually knew how I felt you wouldn’t need to ask I have been a strong supporter of Benny playing as a No10 with a free roll to do what ever he wants, I have also been a strong supporter of the fact that he shouldn’t be burdened with having to comeback atleast 50% of the game to defend as he is then wasted 😉

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  40. Dave-Right so, what exactly are you asking me? Benny wants to play that role, although I’m unsure as to how strong his feelings are in general. He’s admitted he’s learned from playing on the wing and defensive work I believe and from what I understand he’s rarely played behind the striker in his career. But I know he wanted an attacking role and Pards said that is where he ideally saw him playing..

    When he did with us he was poor. Put it down to rustiness or form, whichever you like, but he was average. Similarly Ba out wide was poor…I think players should be played in their best positions. On the other hand, Benny was brought in under the assumption he would be a winger IMO. Ba was bought in under the impression he would be a striker-not a winger-which is essentially where he was being asked to play….

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  41. I think what people are more concerned about isn’t exactly the 4-3-3 formation it was the exciting attacking football that gets you of your seat not the ***** we’re having to watch now you would still get exciting footie with Benny as a No10 sitting behind 1 or 2 strikers as long as he didn’t have to always comeback to defend because it’s like Troy said before Benny is having to play with a ball and chain round his legs

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  42. BIG DAVE
    November 24, 2012 at 18:54
    The difference is that Ba went crying to Pards

    BIG DAVE
    November 24, 2012 at 19:23
    Newkie @ 115 😳 if you actually knew how I felt

    Looks like you may have been taking crying lessons off a certain Mr Ba, Dave 😆

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  43. Newkie @ 122 its very clear that Benny wants to play as a No10 he has stated it a enough times, Pards has also stated thats where he see’s him

    So it’s an easy one to answer do you think Pards should give Benny the same assurances as he has gave Ba ?
    YES/NO 😉

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  44. imo the “boss ” should not give the players any assurances of anything even down to if there in the team or not you should earn that right from game to game,you play for the team the boss the club and the fans not for yourself get your bloody fingers out your no one without the “team”

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  45. I agree we’re not very entertaining. Although I dare say people wouldn’t care so much if we’d actually gotten results.

    The 3-0 over manure was a thrilling match with some great football. Didn’t we start 4-4-2 with Shola up front and Raylor on the right wing? 😆 Just goes to show…

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  46. Ice your spot on and the reason I believe Pards has bowed down to Ba is simple ££££££s He is trying to keep Ba onside so that they don’t loss out on him because they allowed him to have a stupid clause in his contract that would mean we would lose out on money, they will have a right shock if he **** off in Jan after bowing down to him and after pushing Cisse to the side in favor of him

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  47. Dave-Benny hasn’t been asked to play an unfamiliar position, he’s been asked to play his normal one-but is asking for a different one. Ba was played out of position last year…There are differences, well, I can see them anyway.

    Also, Benny is actually good on the wing and possibly better than he is in a number 10 role=we haven’t seen enough of him I suppose. Ba on the other hand, clearly a very good striker, ***** on the wing. I said at the time I didn’t agree with the assurances, he was probably wrong to raise it in general-although like I said I understood it IF it meant 4-3-1-2 or any such variety of formation. Would I tell Benny that he can play centrally 90% of the time even though he’s shown virtually nothing there? No. Different scenarios, but maybe you can’t see it.

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  48. DAVE i agree BA is causing “something” in the dressing room what i dont know, but sumit isnt reet imo 👿

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  49. Ice-I agree with that, the boss is the boss. Equally though, you can’t blame a player wanting to play in a certain position, i’ve said about this before it’s similar to a player wanting more game time. I had no ill feeling towards Gary Speed leaving us because he wanted to be assured of a role Sir Bobby couldn’t give him. Bobby went on to regret that decision…Management is tough.

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  50. Newkie thats fine don’t answer the question. as for Benny not being as good in the “No10” role why when did you see him play there

    Stu @ 131 😀 😀 fuk this has been a funny week for the manager merry go round

    Ice I said at the time that there seemed to be something not right about the team etc and it was round the time that Ba stated that there was things he wasn’t happy with and his agents were making it quite clear to, and that was even before Steve Wraith came out with it

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  51. Dave-I know your old mate, but your eyesight must be as poor as your memory 😆

    Clearly answered your question here-Would I tell Benny that he can play centrally 90% of the time even though he’s shown virtually nothing there? No.

    See above 😉

    When did I see him play there? If you’ll remember last season when Benny was returning from injury he made a few appearances in that position, such as Manchester United away and a few others in that period. I wouldn’t expect you to remember, I seem to be the only one here with a decent fucking memory 😆 😆

    Also-if you don’t remember, that means you want him playing in a role that you HAVEN’T seen him play in. Unbelievable 😯

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  52. Newkie > Would I tell Benny that he can play centrally 90% of the time even though he’s shown virtually nothing there? No.

    When or where did I ask you would you tell Benny he would play there???
    I never once asked you that 😳
    so why answer a question that wasn’t asked while also trying to be a smart *** about it 😕 yet still failing to answer the one I did ask, 🙄
    As I said it wasn’t a hard question to answer but maybe you don’t want to answer it so just forget about it

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  53. Dave, Seriously 😕

    “So it’s an easy one to answer do you think Pards should give Benny the same assurances as he has gave Ba ?
    YES/NO ”

    The same assurance to play in the hole? As an attacking midfielder? The number 10 role? Are we clear on that question? Right. My answer-NO.

    I answered it quite clearly, several times. Obviously you ignore all my other points as well like 😆

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  54. BB-Aye, did check a scum blog for info but they seem “relaxed” although apparently David Craig has tweeted big news? Not really sure….I doubt it’s true, but equally it’ll be funny if it isn’t. This kind of speculation rarely helps a squad on poor form. Long may it continue 😎

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  55. word is he tendered his resignation, but it was rejected.
    Even so, good for a laugh 😆

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  56. BIG DAVE
    November 24, 2012 at 19:05 (Edit)
    Newkie @ 111 you left the bit before that quote out
    “Demba wants to play in a central role.” “He wants to get himself chances to score goals.” “And I think that in 90% of the games next year that’s where he will play.”
    Do you think Pards should give Benny the same backing because he is our best player and wants to play in the No10 roll ???

    Well done Newkie it only took you 1hr 10 mins and 11 posts to get around to answering that 😉
    Now would you please pick all your toys up as the place is a mess

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  57. Despite the fact I actually said it 50 minutes ago, in plain view

    Oh dear, Taxi for Dave. Can’t read nor hack the banter 😆 😆

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  58. Newkie@111 ,Correct I did say that and I said it in relation to bloggers constantly running him down and many saying he was no good opn the ball and conveniently forgetting how he helped us get to 5th last season ,that was I think my main gripe ,If you look for my post you will find that I think ,I won’t look as I can’t be arsed but feel free to put it up if you like 😉

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  59. Ah Newkie your a gem 😀 where did you answer it @ 50 mins ago I must have missed it 😆 you have a real bad temper on you 😉
    Ice that isn’t opening for me

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  60. DAVE soory wrong one 😳 the one i was trying to give you was a clip of a sniper shooting a guy at 1mile away

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