Why the fourth kind you might say? Well simply because United are bidding to avoid defeat for the fourth game in a row for the first time in over four years.
Will we or won’t we? We’ll soon find out although I’m at the point now where I expect nothing from a team that has looked short on confidence, short on effort and devoid of ideas for a number of weeks now. Worrying times, especially when you consider the strength of our opponents on their own turf and the injury list we have to contend with at the moment.
The game is not being shown live here in the UK although there are a number of overseas channels who are broadcasting the match. Which means normal rules apply regarding streams, meaning basically if you happen to find a good one then please feel free to share it by leaving a link in the ‘comments’ section below.
I’m actually at work right now so team news will be supplied by Big Dave as and when it becomes available. As ever it will be added in at the bottom of this article.
Which just about wraps it up really. My match preview is online here for you to read if you haven’t already done so. It features some grim injury news for United, a history of meetings between the two sides with some stats and facts thrown in for good measure.
Howay the lads!
Stoke: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross (c), Huth, Cameron; Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam, Etherington; Crouch.
Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Jones, Whitehead, Upson, Kightly, Jerome
Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (c), Santon; Anita, Tiote, Perch, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Tavernier, Ferguson, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ranger.
Willo stood and watched walters head that equaliser.
He a fucking disaster 👿
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Some one made a really good point – the nature of that loss is going to be crippling to the team’s morale. Pards has his work cut out.
Thought we looked OK, just devoid of ideas in the final 3rd.
As a thought, though… as was pointed out… better teams than us are going to lose to Stoke at the Brittania this season. If we weren’t on such a shocking run, that result wouldn’t be so awful.
blip(Quote)
Newkie @ 204 I never said you did ❗ did I ? but when you said > Anita did fucking shitloads of work, more so than both the forwards, he ran the whole match.
It sounds as if you didn’t think the forwards done much.
But for me Cisse done as much work as anyone
Big Dave(Quote)
Oh, and Tiote’s pass for their equaliser…
Cisse was free down the right and screaming for it! Why did he square it left? Get your head up and play the pass!
blip(Quote)
Kim, another thing to consider is this; If Pardew manages to get the team TRYING again, like he did today – but we lose the next 2 games – will that be enough to give the board confidence he can turn it around with a bit of investment in the side come January?
Or do they look at it and say hey, the team is trying but the results are still not coming – pointing to a problem with coaching/management.
In which case will they sack Pardew before our run with the big guns and give somebody else a crack at it with a bit of money to spend in the hope of avoiding relegation?
Another worry is this; Will the board continue to spend next to nothing this January and instead begin to prepare for relegation? i.e tout players for sale and slim the wage bill to suit a Championship budget? After all, a change of manager/playing staff does not guarantee survival?!!!!
It would not suprise me. Worrying times indeed. I cant wait until Ashley fecks off.
Shamrock(Quote)
BEARDSLEYS BOOTS
williamson losing that header mwas no excuse for how far collo was away for the dude that scored joging back there like a training session
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Actually a totally predictable result tonight although not in the way it happened. I didn’t think we’d compete as we’ll as we did.
Fck me, how big is the Wigan game now? We’re only 3 points off the bottom three and Wigan same points as us. Problem is Wigan always play well at St James’ and the players will be shutting themselves, not to mention the complete lack of creativity we’ll have on the field too.
Need a scrappy, lucky 1-0 to get us up and running again
Stuart79(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
My goodness grief. Willo is a nightmare !
An absolute liability!
It looked like we were going to do what we did most of last season. Play **** and score off the break with a moment of skill from Cisse.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Well Dave, you didn’t use a question mark so it seemed like a statement to me 😕 given you also used the shock face…
No both forwards did their share of tracking and set piece help, but Anita’s constant sprinting (which generally takes a lot more effort than shadowing) was a good sight to see. A positive sign showing he is adapting to the league’s demands. The other two already know about it.
Newkie(Quote)
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@toonarmyelite
I had an interesting discussion with Stardust tonight whilst watching the game.
I put equal blame on Colo for not tracking his man as much as Willo for not challenging for the ball proficiently, but I had to listen to his opinion based on him being a CB, albeit at an amateur level.
He reckons Colo was not to blame because Colo would have expected Willo not to be do far behind him when the ball was lofted over.
He reckons Colo was taken by surprise by Willo’s position and therefore tried to react to try and cover Willo’s mistake, this hoping to get the knock on by Willo but this resulted in Colo leaving his man.
Interested to hear your views?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Blip-I agree, what Tiote was attempting with that pass I have no idea. He was average most of the time but that lapse cost us, possibly the whole match although obviously Stoke were up for it anyway. Careless. Those errors need to be stamped out. That’s why Stoke have such good home form..
I guess we can still go either way, if the team play like that from now on and we can throw Benny into it we might be alright.
Oh, and Jonas is gash.
Newkie(Quote)
At fault for goal 1 – Jonas and Williamson. Shotton got round Jonas far too easily and Williamson was nowhere near Walters.
At fault for goal 2 – Williamson and Colo. Williamson should never have been beaten in the air so easily and I think Colo is still trying to catch up to Jerome now.
Bonuses tonight – No injuries!. good shifts put in from Santon again, Anita and Cisse who was sharp to take his goal – promising signs there.
Difference between Newcastle and Stoke. Pullis was backed financial when they got into Europe and has 4 CBs to choose from and 4 CFs to choose from then plenty of cover through the rest of the team. I don’t see player unrest there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@TROY STAVERS
felt meself williamson had to try for that header, point being williamson was in the right place with his man, unlike collo who might as well of been sat on the halfway line.Any centre back would be breaking his neck to get back to the fella, but collo just jogging back there likes its a sunday morning kick around in the park with the kids ,so blames collo for 2nd not williamson.
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
@Toonyarmyelite
That was my take on it but I’m no CB so it would be interesting if any other people have thoughts on it.
I found Stardusts take on it interesting. Any CB’s out there ?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
God i am depressed , football team playing ***** and my health still not right and the medics are as clueless about it as Ashley is about running our club . Please just shoot me , unless of course we win the fa cup then i will be happy again . 😯 🙄
Axel(Quote)
Newkie you need to take a breath and check before jumping in with both feet to attack , the question mark was to ask is that what you thought, and not stating that you said it 😉
Sharpy it seems Willo is the common denominator then 😉 for me he has always been an absolute liability .
Big Dave(Quote)
Shamrock@230 ,Bloody hell it hadn’t occured to me they might trim the high earners in prep for relegation ,gulp 🙄 Just hoped they would invest to try and survive . God I’m depressed. 🙁
KIMTOON(Quote)
KIMTOON welcome to the depression club m8 😥 🙁 😕
Axel(Quote)
Dave-Maybe you should check your statement again then. You didn’t use a question mark, you said “so you didn’t think Cisse done shitloads of work”
To me that’s a statement. I then stated that wasn’t the case and your assumption-which is what it was-was wrong. Some people are Big enough to admit when they’re wrong, some aren’t. But no worries, each to his own 😀
Newkie(Quote)
Kimtoon
It will defo be the latter. There is too much TV money next year for Ashley to risk not getting his share. Expect us to the most active if we are in the bottom 5 in January.
The Kid(Quote)
AXEL ,It’s proper crappy mate isn’t it . By the way Ihope your health improves soon mate. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
<<<<<<<<< cant rember the last time we lost 4 games on the spin,but whats more worrying for me is its against teams we should be picking up points off so im really peeved off at the mo 😡
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
The Kid@245 ,Well I hope for all our sakes it’s not too little too late by then.
KIMTOON(Quote)
2 points off the drop zone 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Unless Ashley has sold us by that stage…. 😯
Newkie(Quote)
Kid, us? Most active? Believe it when I see it. The point being spending £20m does not guarantee anything, its the business end if the season and most players dont usually settle straight in after a January move.
If we are in bottom 3 come January I dont see Ashley releasing much money at all. Yes he stands more chance of relegation without spending, but by what percentage rate? If he remains shrewd and we go down, we lose out on next year’s PL money. If he spends loads in Jan and we still go down, we lose out on PL money, are loaded with much more outlay on wages with long contracts and have put ourselves £15m to £20m on the wrong side of the balance books.
I dont agree with the above philosophy, but I’d sooner believe Ashley will take that approach as opposed to throwing caution to the wind and going for it… I reckon he’d just look at another structured plan to get us promoted again with a slimlined squad having retained 1 or 2 affordable gems…
Hope i’m wrong, but doubt it.
Shamrock(Quote)
Dave – no arguments here mate. Problem is the ****** never gets injured 😆
But again mate, the difference between Stoke and Newcastle is they haven’t put stupid transfer restrictions in place. So when they got into Europe they took Upson and Woodgate on a free, older players with experience to bolster there squad. Not future stars but can still do a job and the young uns can learn from, but we won’t do that tho. Instead well chance younger more expensive players and not get them coz we won’t pay what clubs want for their young talented players.
I know a couple of people have written they hate Stoke, but they did what we should have, with an owner who have less money at his disposal.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newkie 😀 calm down lad
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave-I just don’t like people saying I said things that I didn’t. I seem to remember you throwing your toys out of the pram when you thought someone did that to you… 😆
Newkie(Quote)
KIMTOON yes its crappy and thanks m8 . Cant believe we have deteriated so badly in such a short space of time . Yes we all knew their was not enough investment in the summer but i thought even then we had more quality in the squad than we are seeing so far this season .
Axel(Quote)
sack the **** and have done
kkforever(Quote)
best part of the game was when colo knocked crouches teeth out
kkforever(Quote)
Say what you like about Stoke, but they are bloody good survivors, like Wigan. We are not, that’s what worries me. When things get tough we always crumble. We can’t hang on to a lead at the minute + there was an alarming stat that we haven’t come back from being 1-0 down to win a game since 2010 or so = not good.
DJG(Quote)
Today showed Cisse is still a threat in and around the box. Was on to that loose ball like a true predator.
I hope we get rid of Ba and replace him wit Remy. 433 would be ideal then.
The Kid(Quote)
pay pardews 50k a year contract and sack the fcker
kkforever(Quote)
DJG-Exactly, many of the fans of those clubs are used to it and it means they don’t get the same negativity about the club as a whole as we do. We don’t want to be competing against those sides in the final run in, because they’ve all done it before and we’ll be fucking hysterical 😕
Newkie(Quote)
The Kid yeah I agree about Cisse, im just glad that Pards had faith to keep with him unlike a lot of our fans who wanted him dropped.
Newkie I thought my comment was obvious that I was asking if thats how you felt, and not stating what you said, so sorry for that I will know in future to make it clear.
KK who do you fancy to replace him ? should we bring Hooters back or smokin Joe
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie did you want Cisse to be dropped ❓ 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Both Swansea and WBA whipping balls into the box but along the ground, that’s the way to do it, especially for strikers like ours-namely Cisse. Bloody lofted/chip crosses are ***** man.
Newkie(Quote)
Well thank you dave 😀 Honestly it seemed like you were being arsey and obviously with the way the match went I wasn’t in the best mood for it 😆
Hmm I don’t think I said to drop him for this, but maybe I did? Funny though, where did the assist come from, your favourite player, Mr Demba Ba 😉
Newkie(Quote)
If Pardew was outed I would probably only like to see him replaced with Roberto Martinez.
He is the TRUE originator of Swansea’s passing football and has once again stamped his mark on a team, giving Wigan their current identity.
The Kid(Quote)
The Kid-And he knows how to avoid relegation 😆
Would be better than Di Matteo and any freebies I can think of but, would it be worth it..not sure. Wigan game is massive though.
Newkie(Quote)
dave him of idiot abroad could do a job for us
kkforever(Quote)
dave who do i fancy to replace him 😕 guardeola or mourhineo 😆 well you did ask 🙂
kkforever(Quote)
Newkie I think you did say he should be dropped 😉 but we’ll not dwell on that .
As for Demba good on him but I wouldn’t really say it was his assist more the goalies but sure never worry about that.
No I wasn’t being arsey I was just surprised that you said Anita done more than the forward considering Cisse ran his balls off all game trying to win the ball back, help the defence tackling every chance he got and scoring a goal, so Ba must have been anonymous in your view then, ❓
Reet im outta here
Big Dave(Quote)
the Kid … Agree about Martinez Said it last night in between troy and bb’d debate
Alex(Quote)
KK @ 269 I just can’t see that happen me old bean can you
Big Dave(Quote)
Just seen Ba’s goal and to me it shows what’s good and bad about him. He saw and opportunity and shot, which created the goal in the end…but he just doesn’t look at other options. Tiote was making a run on the outside and Ba doesn’t even know. We need more intelligent frontmen
The Kid(Quote)
Interesting to hear Llambias and Ashley’s thoughts at this precise moment. Their club’s value is plummeting due to their pathetic penny pinching in the summer.
Talk about false economies
Stuart79(Quote)
The Kid, aye, I think there are better managers than Alan Pardew around. 🙁 But who would want to come and work for Ashley? and is yet another change really what we need? It’s the **** football that is upsetting me most about Pardew, he said he played good attacking football etc. 🙁 He just seems like that film ‘catch me if you can’ where he goes around pretending to be a pilot. Every time he gets sussed he moves on the the next airline and gives it all the patter and smiles for the cameras. Regardless of the poor form at the minute, our passing, general play is awful and just trying to go straight forward and then lose it. Our set plays and corners etc. are so poor it is unbelievable. At least the Chuckle Brothers and Pulis have a plan about how they will score when they get an opportunity from a set piece. When was the last time we scored from a free kick or a corner?
DJG(Quote)
Dave-Pretty sure I didn’t today or yesterday…and I said after Southampton he looked sharper than Ba so I wouldn’t drop him. Not 100% but could be wrong.
Not an assist perhaps, but if he hadn’t shot, if he hadn’t been “greedy” then Cisse would have had nothing to poach 😉
The Kid-at the end of the day, Ba can score from that distance and IMO it’s good he had the confidence to go for it, it led to a goal. If Tiote had been Cisse then maybe he should have passed, as it was I’d rather Demba have a shot than Tiote slightly closer but also wider…
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie
Problem is, yet it worked today, but there have been numerous times in the past where he has tried to shoot from distance when there were better options available. He does it all of the time.
The Kid(Quote)
Also re the anita/forward thing. I just felt, considering Anita is new and traditionally a DM and has struggled so far he hassled and sprinted around well. Cisse did his tracking and tackling all over-Demba did his fair share, as well as helping out at the set pieces. I was sort of reacting to the commentators who confused our black players again, as they often seem to 😕
Just another positive-as well as the fact Ba/Cisse were working together-Ba coming over to Cisse and celebrating properly. Good to see, maybe they’ve put their differences aside and now Cisse has the monkey off his back, they might get a proper partnership going…
I can dream anyway 😉
Newkie(Quote)
I have to say our second goal, both CBs were fucking ***** there 👿 as they were for the first, but the whole team were poor for that.
Newkie(Quote)
Kid-Maybe so, but when it comes to shooting from outside the box, or even inside, I only want him Benny or Cisse. I don’t remember him ever neglecting HBA but maybe he did, Cisse he has done but that favour has also been returned…
What I was happy about was that they were passing, working and celebrating together. I hope that brings the whole squad closer. There was a problem between them two imo. I hope it is “was” now, rather than is.
Newkie(Quote)
@ TROY STAVERS
reguarding who was at fault with the 2nd goal that convo with startdust you say he was a cb well ask the dude whos names on the back of his shirt cause my moneys on collo
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Well, this is the first game in many a year I missed.
The reason… I fell alseep watching…
I started supporting Newcastle in an exciting first Kevin Keegan era with players like Beardsley, Andy Cole, Gillespie, Ginola.
I am now reduced to watching talented players play this ****.
We are more boring than Stoke and West Ham.
We have played more long passes that any other team in the league.
More than when we had Andy Carroll ffs.
That’s with two strikers who like the ball at their feet and players like Santon and Cabaye.
Pardew simply refuses to change his pathetic tactics and negative attitude and it is starting to influence the squad. Along with other factors.
The sole reason I have given up on him is his stubbornness ro do something different and be more positive in his approach.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the reason the players have lost heart too.
I really wanted to back Pardew but at the moment I can see anybody doing a worse job that he is.
In terms of MOTIVATION, TACTICS, TEAM SELECTION, AND FORMATION… he has been pathetic lately.
Unless he shows some positivity against Wigan. Regardless of the result then I want him out.
JJ(Quote)
If you were Ben Arfa would you want to stay playing in a team that plays hoofball in a physical league?
We must be the only team in the world that doesn’t play to their best players strength.
Simpson cannot cross a ball without stopping first and slowing play down meaning our strikers can’t time their runs.
The same on the other side because Santon does great but must then cut in onto his stronger foot.
Then Willo just hoofs and heads possession away all day. It’s so sad to watch.
People can moan about our defending but that can be fixed.
What can be fixed is players who arnt could enough to play the basics at this level offensively.
JJ(Quote)
Forgot Krul kicking aimlessly as well. It’s no wonder our midfield and strikers have lost their touch and skill because they hardly ever have the ball at their feet.
They are always chasing scraps under pressure.
Obertan might be poor in the final third by ffs at least he can get the ball to the final third where our strikers and Ben Arfa can be dangerous.
For me, if fit he needs to play right wing. Marvaeux left if we insist on 4-4-2.
JJ(Quote)
Keep your chin up JJ. We will come good mate…. Anyway just imagine how upset you will be when we knock your cricket team out of the world number 1 spot in the Perth test match
Wasn’t really expecting a win against Stoke but the defending that lead to the two goals was poor.. Collo was definitely to blame for the second, got caught ball watching and didn’t track his man’s run.. Jonas’s effort out wide was pathetic in regards to stopping that cross coming in for the first goal.. No effort or desire at all…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
titoe said “Tonight we played well and were the best team on the pitch.
“We tried to pass the ball well and scored the first goal, but after that we were unlucky because it was two sloppy goals that cost us the game. Everyone is very disappointed.”
I hope he means his sloppy pass
While Pardew said ““I think it is unfair to talk about transfers.
“I have an injury room with 10 great players in there. That has not gone unnoticed.
“Are we talking about it as a staff, directors and chairman? Of course we are.
“But I don’t want to publicly say who our targets are or where we are looking.”
lol total bullshit… If we’re still near the bottom come January, the transfer window will pass without any new faces. Why would Ashley sign if we have a chance of going down..
…
mark(Quote)
So I pick up the papers to read the fall out of our 4th straight defeat and hopefully how the club are going to work to improve things.
Instead what I read is how Mike Ashley is in talks with Rangers to rename Ibrox to Sports Direct Arena.
So I think we can see where fat Cashleys priorities lie then.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mark,
Agree, its always an excuse,
We want to ensure our Premiership status first
We want to ensure Europa qualification first
We want to ensure our progress to the next round of Europa first
We want to see if we qualify for the Champions League because then our targets change
In the meanwhile they get to sign nobody. Bunch of useless twats.
JJ(Quote)
mark @ 286
have you any idea who the – 10 great players – that’s in the injury room are? coz i’m lost on that one like.
he’s starting to sound desperate now.
roy cropper(Quote)
@289
i can only think of Cabaye, Raylor. Saylor, Barfa(just recently)
I’m more worried about going into a relegation battle with Willo as our mainstay center-half. Saylor has been dodgy before his injury. Colo has been missing due to his red card and being mugged by suarez. he also looked a little slow for their second goal.
Whats the options? Perch?? I wonder if we’ve even tried Santon there in training.
mark(Quote)
s taylor
afra
ameobie
obertan
cabaye
vuckic
r taylor
gosling
that’s 8 – i don’t fancy having to rely on that lot getting fit & pulling us out the **** either.
roy cropper(Quote)
See my post at 251. That’s prior to Pardew saying its unfair to talk about transfers. We wont get a meaningful number of quality players in and we will go down. Why? An owner that refuses to show affordable ambition on behalf of his club’s fans – and a manager that has lost the dressing room and insists on route 1 football despite not having the playing staff to compliment that style of play. Isn’t it hilarious that we insist on high balls on one hand, whilst we have not scored from a corner or free kick in **** knows how long? Showing we are obviously hopeless in the air? So why the hoof ball?! Hopeless.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock
I honestly think Pardew has lost the plot and has no idea how to get things right.
He is rapidly running out of excuses. I cannot think of anything he is doing right at this moment in time.
JJ(Quote)
This game reminded me of the Villa away game last year in that it looked to me like we were beginning to play well. The performance was much improved. I thought Anita was terrific and him and Cisse ran their socks off.
If you add Benny and/or Cabaye into that team we’ll be fine.
On the downside that total chump Willo is still there and as for Simpson. . .
That would be my xmas wish (it was last year too) just get rid of the two of them and play ANYBODY else!!!!
georgio(Quote)
I read yesterday that there 3 Italian clubs wanting Simpson. Can’t believe it really but if it’s true I’ll row him there from North Shields!
georgio(Quote)
Looking at available managers, there is not a lot of talent out there… Henrick Larson or Solskjaer? Martinez would be my choice but cant see Ashley forking out on compo. Dont fancy Zola or Di Matteo and any available British managers are shocking… Not a good situation
Shamrock(Quote)
Mark – I’d rather try Tav in at CB before Santon.
Only coz I think Santon at CB would be a waste, he’s one of our most offensive players at the moment.
Roy – you’re right mate, of the players you have listed there is only Benny who has had a positive impact on the team so far this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Further to my point yesterday about Ba, please see the following:
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/ba-to-cisse-not-likely/?
Hail on the head, for me.
The Kid(Quote)
Nail*
The Kid(Quote)
Yesterday was the first time I have seen evidence of Cisse working hard for the team, whereas I have seen Ba do it loads since he joined. Inevitably strikers will be selfish. I agree they cannot play together in a 442, again pointing to Pardew consistently trying the same thing and failing. They are simialr in that they are out and out number 9’s. The best outcome for us if Pardew insists on 442 is to gt a striker in with presence who cqn hold the ball up and sit further back- that playr would be 1st choice meaning Ba and Cisse ate rotated, never playing together unless the system is changed…
Shamrock(Quote)