The question now is whether United can build on their midweek success by toppling a team who, thanks to having no issues with transfer windows, are one of the top sides in the Premier League.
It’s going to be a tough game but we usually manage to raise our game when the top sides come to St James’ Park, and with fresh hope and renewed impetus brought about by events of the past week or so I wouldn’t be counting on the three points if I was a fan of the West London club either.
Of course we have the extra motivation of facing our former striker and still our top scorer as Demba Ba makes a swift return to the club he spent 18 months at before moving to Chelsea at the start of last month. Personally I’m over that. He’s gone and it’s become clear that was part of the plan all along. He’s got what he wanted but also served us well in the process.
Newcastle:
Sylvain Marveaux’s foot injury is not as bad as first feared and the Frenchman resumed training yesterday. Ryan Taylor and Dan Gosling are also in training although neither are anywhere near match fit. Hatem Ben Arfa and Haris Vuckic are both still sidelined through injury. Cheik Tiote is away with Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.
Chelsea:
Eden Hazard is suspended for this one following the ball boy incident at Swansea. John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are away at the ACoN, Petr Cech and David Luiz are both doubtful as is Juan Mata who picked up an ankle injury in midweek against Reading.
Previously…
Chelsea beat us at Stamford Bridge earlier on in the season, and they won on their last visit to St James’ Park. I was at that game and although they won 3-0 they had an awful lot of help from the referee who failed to send off David Luiz in the third minute of the game.
At home we have had the upper hand over Chelsea through the years. Of 73 games contested between the two at St James’ Park, Newcastle have won 35, Chelsea have won 25 times with the other 18 ending in a draw.
Overall, home and away and in all competitions, our record isn’t great against Chelsea. There have been 152 meetings between the two clubs with Chelsea winning 64 times, Newcastle 49 times with 39 draws making up the numbers.
Stats and facts:
Newcastle now hold the record for the amount of French players fielded by a side in any one season. The previous record was seven but we’ve now fielded eight Franch players, and that could be nine if Massadio Haidara makes an appearance before the end of the season.
It’s been 27 months since United last came from behind to win a game. The last time we managed to do just that was October 2010 at West Ham.
Chelsea have not lost in their last five visits to Tyneside and have only conceded one goal in those games to boot.
Tim Krul is likely to make his 100th appearance for Newcastle, and Mike Williamson will follow him if he makes an appearance.
Chelsea have picked up more points away from home than what they have at Stamford bridge this season.
Rafael Benitez has two fewer points than Roberto Di Matteo managed in the same amount of games at the start of his tenure.
Final thought…
The win against Aston Villa was much needed but it hasn’t soled all of our problems. We’re still too close to the relegation spots for comfort and the only way to claw our way away from it is by winning football matches. To get to 40 points we need to grab 1.1 points per game but getting three each time is obviously the quickest.
The point being that a draw tomorrow would not be the end of the world but we should be looking to give Chelsea a game and grab three points. Don’t get me wrong, Chelsea are full of attacking threat but they also have a defence that can be got at and if we can do that and our new signings continue to impress then why not talk about winning the game?
Allez la lads!
Date: Saturday, 2nd February, 2013
Time: 3pm
Venue: St James’ Park
Promoted: Fancy a flutter on the match? Then why not head over to FREEbets.org.uk and check out their promotions and special deals that could be available to you. Good luck!
imo pardew will go with the same team as villa marv or no marv
icedog(Quote)
the best formetion for chelsea
1
28—2—–26—-3
7—10—-8—–11
9——29
tadesse(Quote)
I agree Ice- then bring Marv and Anita on as needed (assuming Marv is fit)
MDS(Quote)
Tadesse, I haven’t added all that up but it looks like you are looking to field around 90 players 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie – and we’ll still play backs to the wall in the 2nd half 😆
I also agree with Ice, I don’t see him making any changes against Chelsea. To be fair, the starting 11 played well in the 1st half at Villa and arguably Pardew was let down by what subs he had available to him in the 2nd half. Having Anita and Marv on the bench may allow him to change things in a positive way should he need to against Chelsea.
I noticed that Bburn released Simon Vukcevic yesterday. I know he didn’t make much of an impression there bit I saw him afew times at Sporting and he was a real danger on the right wing like. A bit like Marv but right footed. At 27 I’d see him as a better option to Obertan, especially for nowt!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Genuinely believe we can get 3 points in this one.
Chelsea are looking shaky at the minute, add that to our home advantage and a shed load of new signings wanting to impress the home crowd that spells toon victory.
Doubt we’ll keep a clean sheet though and you can near enough guarantee Demba Ba will score on his return.
Mata and Hazard unavailable. Another plus for us.
2-1 to the home side, Both Cisse goals and obviously Ba to score.
Wish we had Ben Arfa on for this one.
Nobby(Quote)
I’m bored
Who wants to talk to me?
Nobby(Quote)
How r u Nobby? Yeah I share your optimism going into tomorrows game, I would be happy with a point but think we could sneak all 3
Johno Toon(Quote)
pardew wants to keep his big gob shut,first he says graham is not good
enough for toon,sure to fire him up for derby,now he says we are going after a striker in summer,we know we need one,but how does that make the new lad feel,man management my aarose,bloody doe heed
icedog(Quote)
Nobby – it’s a dangerous game coz its one of those ones where you say ‘it’s a good time to play Chelsea’. They are on a poor run of form and as you say, they have some really big players missing. I’m not sure if Cech is back in goal for them, if not that’s another big bonus.
Our workrate will be key against Chelsea. We can’t give the likes of Lampard time on the ball.
The new signings will bring a positive feeling to SJP and if we get at Chelsea and even get the early goal, then I think the fans getting behind the boys could help get the result.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pardew says we have to have a cup final mentality for the rest of the season – lets hope that final isn’t against fucking Brighton!! 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
At the same time they could be hurting after reading and so will come out the blocks quickly.
We need to be at the the top of our game for 90 minutes
Nobby(Quote)
Anyone now when benny is due back?
Nobby(Quote)
*know
Nobby(Quote)
Sharpy – Pardew’s full of ****. Trust me!
georgio(Quote)
From what I can gather (rather than what AP says) it’s possible Benny will be back for Spurs. Definitely the game after. Can’t wait.
georgio(Quote)
The villa game reminded me of last season, beautiful football at times with
A lot of grit to keep the 3 points.
Yes the 2nd half wasn’t pretty but well done to the lads for coming up trumps.
For me Jonas shouldn’t be starting now, he should only be brought on when we go to defensive tactics which is his kind of football.
The blokes knackered at he minute and, like shola, shouldn’t be playing 90 minutes
Nobby(Quote)
Groucho – cheers bud! Can’t wait!
Nobby(Quote)
Georgio!!! Sorry bud, **** iPad auto correcting!
Nobby(Quote)
Ice, Gouffran is a versatile player. He didn’t come to SJP to sit on the bench and wait for Cisse to come off. A new striker is no threat to him.
It is a kick up the backside of Ranger, but that’s not such a bad idea!
Wellington(Quote)
When benny comes back I hope pardew doesn’t come out with, “it’s like a new signing” bullshit!
Everyone fit, our perfect team should be….
—————————Krul————————–
Debuchy—M’biwa———–Colo——–Santon
———————–Tiote—————————-
—————Cabaye——-Sissoko—————
–Gouffran——————————–Benny
————————Cisse————————–
With a lot of fluidity between our front 3, also if Tiote isn’t on form (after all he’s not exactly consistent) I’d stick Anita on and play either cabaye or Sissoko a bit deeper
Nobby(Quote)
It’s nice to have some options on the bench, people that could change a game!!!!
I’ve been sick of losing at 60 minutes and thinking, ‘we’ve literally no one to bring on to change this’
I know it’s a cliche but its very true, you judge a team by the strength of who’s on the bench
Nobby(Quote)
I’d be confident of getting 3 points but the fact Demba Ba will be nailed on to haunt us makes me wobble on it.
Hope we use it as a catalyst to do them though and Cisse remembers that it was against this lot he scored one of the greatest goals i have seen
Moreno(Quote)
WELLINGTON,i know what your saying but my point is its not the right way to go about running a football club,just shut his gob 👿
icedog(Quote)
Wellington
I agree about gouffran’s versatility. I think people are going to find out that they’re underestimating him.
Time will tell but I genuinely believe we’ve got a good signing there
Nobby(Quote)
Well the chelski fans don’t sound very confident ….
http://www.theshedend.com/topic/22831-newcastle-v-chelsea-pl-020213-ko-1500-gmt/
No Mata, Hazard banned – will still be a tough game for us – am hoping for a draw though think we could sneak a win if our new boys click
stevep(Quote)
Ice, I suspect he’s under pressure to make that announcement. Remember the comments that HBA made about wanting to be at an ambitious club?
Stevep – No Mata? We’ll win! 😀
Wellington(Quote)
Nobby – Looks good apart from santon who’s not a left back for me. He looks like he might be able to play centre back, and seems more suited to right or left midfield than full back.
But what happens if cisse gets injured? Where are the goals going to come from? Don’t say Shola. Why should we all be nervous wrecks for the next few months every time Cisse goes down?
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Aussie – I’ve never seen Lowenbrau over here for a few years now. Top brew.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
BB
Only tactic then is Gouffran up front with obertan/marveux/Jonas on the right side.
You’re right about Santon not a left sided LB/WB…. But I’m not sure if haidera is up to it yet.
Like santon last season the lad will need to be bedded in
Nobby(Quote)
Is haidera left footed? If so…. Great!
Nobby(Quote)
Again another Pardew quote – Haidara’s for next season. He’s definitely an option though if we wanted to push Santon or Debuchy into midfield.
georgio(Quote)
Definitely a much bigger challenge than Villa but we should give them a better game than their last visit. Icedog you’re spot on, Pardew should shut his gob. Talk, talk, talk. It isn’t going to help us, some decent tactics would though so focus on that Pards.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I have to hope that after all his performances, Pardew finally realizes that Jonas should be benched.
Please start Marveaux, Pards!
AndrewT(Quote)
I thought marveux is injured… Can he start?!?
Nobby(Quote)
G2 aye mate,maybe ime of the old school but surely these things are said in-house not in public,plus he kicks-off when players speak out in public
icedog(Quote)
BD – I see your comment on the previous thread. You sound like Troy’s poodle. Did I say Pards would be gone before February? 2.13 seasons is the average duration of managers. I used that as a marker to predict. So this is about the time for Pards, give or take a few months. He’s been bailed out big time by Ashley, which has given him a lifeline. However, I still reckon his days are numbered. I can’t see him lasting much longer. Is that fair enough?
We’ll be in deep ***** if cisse gets injured. If it happens, Pards cannot use it as an excuse for us not getting goals and losing matches. At some point he has to take some responsibility for putting this squad together. He was happy with the squad at the start of the season before the recent expensive additions. He chose how he wanted to spend the money on replacing Ba. He has blamed Europa League games and injuries, both of which are specious arguments. He cannot have any more excuses. It is all down to him from here on in. NO MORE EXCUSES ALAN! 😐
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Nobby – I fecking love the look of that line up like mate!!. With a bench of Krul, Saylor, Haidara (who is left footed), Anita, Perch, Marv and Obertan.
It isn’t ideal Santon being a right footed LB but he keeps cutting inside and having a shot from distance and I think Pards should encourage him to keep doing that coz I reckon he’ll get goals. Plus I think he and Benny could form a good partnership, as could Gouffran and Debz.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nobby – I agree, but doesn’t that worry you? Gouffran wasn’t prolific by any stretch in France. Who knows whether he can play that role here? What an almighty gamble!
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
BB, this is where we have to have faith in mr Carr. It may seem like a gamble from where we are sitting but they have more information than us
Nobby(Quote)
B&B – This season, Gouffran scored 8 goals in 20 (10 in 23 if you include the Europa League) before coming to us. That’s acceptable for a center forward.
Wellington(Quote)
Chelsea fans are saying..
“Cech and Mata available for the game against Newcastle but Luiz still out. ”
Within last hour
Moreno(Quote)
It’s acceptable for back up centre forward ( by centre forward I mean a 1for 1 with Cisse’s position
Nobby(Quote)
Welly – Doing it in the EPL is another matter, expecially as he will probably no doubt need time to adapt. Was he playing as a lone striker or what?
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
That’s a goal in every 2.odd games… Better than Best.
Nobby(Quote)
BB@44
This is what people said about Demba Ba, that he was unproven and will be lucky to score 10 in a season… Look what happened there!
Nobby(Quote)
Nobby – Sure, I’m not saying “Cisse out”, just refuting the nonsense that Gouffran couldn’t do a job for us. His record last season, 14 in 37 (all competitions) is good enough, too. Just a quick glance at the statistics shows the truth. The idea that he can’t get the goals is based on looking at his career statistics and assuming that the lad hasn’t improved.
Wellington(Quote)
B&B – What’s this? You need data on Gouffran? But @39 you were confidently telling us what to expect from him. Don’t tell me you didn’t do your homework! 😯
Wellington(Quote)
Well, i think we have the tools to beat chelski.. its if our manager knows how to use them. i just dont know. if we have some great players, and we do…AP only play hoofball, will he play to the team’s strengths and keep in on the floor? i doubt it. it will be championship footy all the way.
On the upside, hazard and mata out.. their best two i think. plus they have rafa who is ***** and everyone hates him… has a score draw all over it 2-2 i think.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Afternoon all , looking forward to tommorows game ,feel we could nick a draw if they all concentrate the full 90 plus mins. A win would be great and you never know the first home game for the newbies the crowd might just lift them enough for them to put in an extra special winning display. 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Think Ba could come back to haunt us though 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well, while B&B goes to ask the dog to give his homework back, I suppose we had better answer the question. Yes, Gouffran played as a striker at the head of a 4-2-3-1. He’s considered a good finisher, able to score goals with either foot or his head. (Not at the Cisse level of being able to finish with his ***, I suppose.)
Is this the player on which we pin our hopes? No, but if Cisse is injured, I am fairly confident that Gouffran can fill in. Until then, he gives us pace and an additional threat from wide areas.
Wellington(Quote)
Welly – You say I was confidently telling us what to expect from him. Was this when I said, “Who knows whether he can play that role here?” Odd remark indeed.
I seemed to recall his goals average was less than 1 in 4 or thereabouts, but I’m not confidently telling anyone that. Besides from the one game I’ve seen of him, which, granted, only gives you a little indication of what he can do, he didn’t look like he was a goalscorer a la Cisse.
That’s why I like to come on here and pick other people’s brains who do their homework, and follow the continental scene. That’s why, when I reckon there must be better managers in the world than Pardew who would come to Newcastle, I can confidently say that other people on here will come up with some good candidates. It doesn’t need me to come up with them.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
MATA is playing ime sorry to say 🙁
icedog(Quote)
B&B – most people don’t selectively quote themselves. Only you would try doing it on the same page! 🙄 You told us:
“doesn’t [Gouffran up front] worry you? Gouffran wasn’t prolific by any stretch in France. Who knows whether he can play that role here? What an almighty gamble!”
When you say it’s a gamble, you’re saying that Carr & Pardew had no firm reason to think that Gouffran could perform as a center forward. But Gouffran’s last two seasons, where he was scoring at about one goal in two and a half, then improving to closer to one goal in every two (must apologize, used dated figures for this season’s EL – he got 2 in the next two games, giving him 12 in 25 for Domestic & European competitions in a Bourdeaux shirt).
The almighty gamble was you rolling out that drivel and expecting not to get caught. It’s much the same at 37 where you pretend that Pardew has complete control over the club’s transfer policy – except that there’s no way you can plead ignorant on that one!
Wellington(Quote)
Ice – well, ****.
Hopefully Mata aggravates the injury and gets carried off… ah, I can’t wish for that, the way he plays is too beautiful. 😥
Wellington(Quote)
its ok.. if mata is playing it means that rafa is rushing him back and he will not last the game, creating chaos in their midfield when he goes off. the sort of thing we did with cabs at norwich.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Welly – No need to be facetious. 😥
After that write up, I was expecting you to say yes to your own question: he is the player on which we can pin our hopes. He sounds fantastic and I’m dying to see more of him. I certainly thought he had a good game the other night. Unlike Obertan, he looks intelligent and exploits space well. He just looks like he’d be a bit lightweight if he were asked to hold his own as a lone front man.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
So Welly, I say “I’m worried”, and I say “who knows” and I say its an “almighty gamble” because that is how it looks to me. I say he wasn’t prolific, but that was my understanding, and I’m always happy to be corrected. As everyone knows, you can’t say anything like that on here without being corrected. So where was I confidently telling anyone what to expect from him? You and one or two others turn discussion on here into an intellectual battle of wits, challenge and mastery. Ultimately, its my opinion against yours. As for the evidence, I’m more than happy to accept your evidence and use it to inform my opinion.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
*Sigh*
B&B do you ever get bored of spouting the same nonsense on every thread?
We are all aware of how much you hate Pardew and how screwed you think we will be IF Cisse gets injured. No need to repeat 2 or 3 times every thread.
Santii(Quote)
Oh and Chelsea game is a pretty hard one to predict. They seem to be on a downward spiral under Rafa. Just looking at that Chelsea thread linked a few comments up. They don’t sound to confident either.
Santii(Quote)
No this will be a sound victory for Chelsea anything less than defeat by 3 clear goals will be a bonus.
Michael12(Quote)
KIMTOON
February 1, 2013 at 16:27
Think Ba could come back to haunt us though 🙄
——————–
Kim, I would say that is practically a certainty
MDS(Quote)
Welly – “The almighty gamble was you rolling out that drivel and expecting not to get caught.” What a plonker remark!
As for selectively quoting myself, the only bit I missed was “I’m worried” and it’s an “almighty gamble”. There’s no confidently telling anybody anything other than that I’m seriously worried.
Besides, I don’t know where you got your figures from, but they’re selective too if Wiki is to be trusted. According to Wiki, when he first went to Bordeaux, he started “the league season off with no league goals after 26 matches …” You didn’t mention that. He had 31 goals in 141 appearances for them. That looks like 31 goals over 4 seasons. I don’t know how reliable Wiki is on that.
Furthermore, I don’t pretend that Pardew has complete control over the transfer policy. If he is to be believed, he sets out what he wants and he sanctions each and every purchase. If he is not ultimately responsible for footballing decisions, i.e. of those available, who he wants, who he doesn’t want, and what positions he wants to fill as a priority, then what the hell is going on? What are you saying is going on? That the regime make or help to make those decisions and can overrule him?
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
It’s probably a decent time to play Chelsea since they seem a bit disorganized under Rafa. He looks to be losing the plot. Could Abramovitch actually fire another manager in the same season? It may be possible if they continue their poor play. I like the look of Gouffran. He can definitely help us. We need to give him some time to settle in. Next season will be better to judge him. If we do strengthen at striker in the summer he should look good on the wing. I see growing confidence in the team but let’s give it a few games now. My guess is the last 7 or 8 games will be our best of the season.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
without a plan outside hoping, I don’t care who we have in the team, we will lose this.
Michael12(Quote)
Was just reading through that chelsea forum thread. They aren’t exactly fans of Rafa now are they 😆
MDS(Quote)
Santii – I’ve been spouting the same “point” lately because so many people keep creaming themselves about how fantastic we are, and just think we’re going to sail it after making these recent signings. It’s my opinion. It’s as valid as yours and no more nonsense than yours. There are only a few on here flagging up the same concern and we’re very much outnumbered.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Surely Rafa will start Ba after that most recent nonsense from him that lost them 2 points? If Ba starts he will give us plenty to worry about. Can see him scoring one given enough time on the pitch. We will need to score first. We don’t come back from behind to win with Pardew. Certainly the weak bench in the past didn’t help him. Having only Shola as a striker option since Ba left was desperate. Now we at least have a little depth although just Gouffran up front. It’s a big test for us.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Can’t wait for the game tomorrow. Just organised with daughter to pick her up from student digs early tomorrow morning (that could be dicey as they’re all out on the lash tonight) to go down to the coast for breakfast, back up to the toon for a meander around Fenwicks (miss it so much) then off to the match, lovely jubbly! Predict 2-1 to us, Cisse and Dreamboat again. If Mata’s playing, hope his injury flares up before he gets to do any damage. He looks like one of the few Chelski players who’s head hasn’t dropped. Vive Le Toon
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Santii – One other thing, half the time I’m answering jibes that people are now putting to me from comments I made back in November. I’m not bringing them up, they are. Because I pointed to the average duration of a manager as being 2.13 seasons, some clever toms have waited until the exact time of that statistic to say you’ve got it wrong when that is completely misrepresenting what I said. I used that statistic to make a prediction. I didn’t say it would happen there and then. I will follow your comments more closely now to see what wonderful insights you bring to the blog. 😉
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
B&B-
I agree about Pardew’s decisions being highly questionable this season. Any time we get a lead, we go into the fetal position. Villa was a bit different with so many new players, but the Reading game was a disgrace. We go one goal up, and then early int he second half, take off Marveaux (one of our two best players in the game up to that point, along with Cabaye), and bring on Perch. Pardew doesn’t seem to understand the concept that it’s harder for the opposition to score when we’re holding the ball and attacking.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
MDS, seems the majority want him hung, drawn and quartered 😆
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Pardew needs to keep his nerve and remain positive. We can’t have any repeat of the second half against Villa on Tuesday or we will get hammered.
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Don’t think i have seen anyone saying how fantastic we are. Most of us seem very pleased with the new signings and are positive about how things are going.
Everything that comes out of your mouth seems to be something negative. Have not seen you mention anything about how good are signings were. Just how awful Pardew is for not getting another striker.
Or slamming other peoples opinions for being optimistic and positive about the team they SUPPORT.
Santii(Quote)