An early start awaits as United head off to White Hart Lane to take on Andre Villas-Boas and his in-form Tottenham Hotspur outfit.
I don’t like Villas-Boas, purely for comments made after Chelsea took all three points at St James’ Park last season. That was the match David Luiz escaped a red card for hauling down Demba Ba in the third minute. Being the last man Luiz should have walked but the referee failed to send him off. It didn’t matter as Villa-Boas and his disrespectful trap insisted they only needed ten men anyway, even though they had twelve!
Anyway, let bygones be bygones and all that. That was then and this is now, and while Tottenham have been impressive of late the upturn in fortunes for United can’t be ignored. If this game had been just a few weeks ago I’d have been dreading it but now I have a sense of hope. Call it blind optimism if you will but I’m certain that even if we don’t manage to grab a positive result today it won’t be for the lack of trying.
The match is being broadcast live here in the UK and around the world so if you’re not heading off to White Hart Lane or don’t have access to any of those channels then the chances of picking up a stream are pretty good. Once again normal rules apply and if you know of a decent stream then by all means feel fee to leave a link to it in the ‘comments’ section below.
The match preview is online here for you to peruse at your leisure. It features injury news, stats, facts and a some background behind the fixture. For team news you will need to look below as it will be published as soon as it becomes available. For now though it’s game on!
Howay the lads!
Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson (c), Caulker, Naughton; Parker, Dembele; Lennon, Holtby, Bale; Dempsey.
Subs: Friedel, Vertonghen, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Livermore, Sigurdsson, Adebayor
Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini (c), Santon; Cabaye, Perch; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran ; Cisse
Subs: Harper, Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita, Tiote, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi.
Arm wrestle at the moment.. who will give?
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
How long more is AP gonna stand on the sideline with a dumb look on his face. This game is there for the taking. AVB has gone for it. We need Anita or tiote to get a grip in midfield
Buddy(Quote)
Aussie, I’d go with tug-o-war, but even if we do lose today, I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen. We really do have a good team.
JJ(Quote)
I’d like to see Anita on for Jonas. He looks the most tired. Anita has bags of enery. But after the Chelsea game, I’m going trust Pards here.
JJ(Quote)
****
Rinton man(Quote)
fucking hate bale
Newkie(Quote)
****
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Ai… Bale is a great player. Bags of pace, powerful runner and composed finisher. He’s been the difference today. Nothing to do about that.
JJ(Quote)
FFS
Big Dave(Quote)
Why the hell did Perch not lie down, until Tiote was ready to come on, AP use your brain you muppet
ash1001(Quote)
Well done AP, totally inept at using/not using the bench effectively. He has stood there like a tool while AVN took the game by the scruff
Of the neck. We have our strongest bench of the season for god sake. Krul has been **** poor for both goals I think
Buddy(Quote)
What Bale offers in his pace and skill, we see what we lack when Ben Arfa is out the team. Huge weapon to have.
JJ(Quote)
😯 lucky there
Big Dave(Quote)
Buddy, don’t think Krul could have done anything about the goals to be honest. The first he had no chance, his wall failed him. The second. He makes himself big and it goes through his legs.
JJ(Quote)
Half an hour too late pardew…gettin sick of being outdone by the opposition manager
Buddy(Quote)
What i dont get is if we all know that bale is THE man for the yids.. why have we not addressed that at all. he was always going to be the difference between a win or a loss today.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Fact – 273 corners since we last scored from one
Fact – AP does not have a clue re Tactics
Fact – Wrong subs are used at the wrong time
Common denominator = Alan Pardew
ash1001(Quote)
come on lads we can get back into this, just keep your heads
Big Dave(Quote)
I dunno JJ personally feel it was too easy for bale both times! Poor reactions
Buddy(Quote)
AP has very good players now, we have a better team than the spuds…. AP is a tactical fukwit.
craig chisholm(Quote)
Strolla to save us 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
**** – its Shola time,
ash1001(Quote)
jonas off shola on 🙄
Toon TRW(Quote)
Jonas off! (about 40 mins too late)
M(Quote)
Great save Krul, bale leaves defence in tatters
Newkie(Quote)
This Spurs side also proves my point with grafters.
You can teach quality players to work hard (Bale and Lennon), but you can’t teach hard grafters to be quality players (Jonas and Perch).
Still. the team has been good, Today. Not a good result, but a good display.
Ameobi coming on… Guess we’ve thrown in the towel… hahahaha.
Jokes aside, I guess with 5 minuts to go, he can get us a knockdown or something. Would prefer Anita though.
JJ(Quote)
well done Krul
Big Dave(Quote)
And now begin the roll arounds 🙄
Newkie(Quote)
I think Pards, should have replaced Taylor with Mbiwa to cope with the pace of Bale on the counter attack. And Anita for Jonas half and hour ago, to give us more energy and another runner on the field.
Hindsight though…
JJ(Quote)
Sissoko’s passing has been off today
Big Dave(Quote)
Who has cost us more points this season…Williamson or Pardew?
Buddy(Quote)
Buddy,
My first reaction with the first goal was Krul should have done better, but after the replays I just don’t see him ever getting there. The second I guess he could have done better. But its still a great finish.
JJ(Quote)
BD, he is getting doubled up every time… Spurs have shut him out nicely…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
reet 7 mins to get a point
Big Dave(Quote)
JJ, his save for Bales potential
Third was by best shot of the three and he saved it. Won’t blame krul in the bigger scheme just think he could have done better. AP the weak link today
Buddy(Quote)
Craig,
I wouldn’t say we have a better team than the Spuds. We’re pretty close in ability but our best player is injured.
Plus our players have played together less…
Shola use your LEFT foot! Jees Cheick! What has happened to your head?
JJ(Quote)
Great save again, the defence have been poor.
Newkie(Quote)
well done again Krul
Big Dave(Quote)
If we had Bale today we would have won this… He has been the difference today. In remarkable form! What a player.
As for the squads, I think they are pretty even. But Spurs have more depth in attack.
They bring on Adebayor, and we bring on Shola. Plus they have Defoe out injured. So I’d say on paper that’s the difference anyway.
JJ(Quote)
We miss Ben Arfa. Thats it.
Toon TRW(Quote)
Not going to dwell on it, but AP and Perch lost us that match,
AP for his tactics, and Perch for just been Perch and no more than League 1 standard
ash1001(Quote)
As much as I dislike Spurs they are a good side. We played well in parts today. Game turned when we lost gouffran. We Sat back after it and just switched off. But I think we done well
Johno toon(Quote)
ah well a bit pissed we didn’t build on our wee run but I think we played some decent stuff and fought well, but I think the game changed when Gouffran went off
Big Dave(Quote)
Can’t really blame Pardew for that. First was a wall mistake, second was a mix up between defenders.
People say “why didn’t he acknowledge Bale’s threat” as if it’s simple. 🙄
He doesn’t have a fixed position so it’s near impossible to mark him.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Cheick needs to have a run of games to get back to his best. The problem is, his tackling has been so wild he will never get that run of games without being suspended. Its a shame he can’t keep his head because when he’s composed there are none better in his position.
JJ(Quote)
Good game the better team on the day won. We didn’t play badly but tired abit towards the end. Though the game did turn in their favour once Gouffran came off.
Think Marveaux was the worst player on the park tbh, did he even touch the ball? cant remember seeing him once the whole 40 minutes he was on.
Santii(Quote)
Pardew was the difference today. He has no excuses we don’t have enough players to be able to mix things up a bit.
Another second half disaster by him. Square pegs through round holes. HE has to shake things up and stop playing every game the same players and system. It took the teams 1 season to figure us out now its two games and they have figured us out. Probably going to need 4 new players every two games.
Michael12(Quote)
Once again some harsh reactions on here. Thought the lads played well, and didn’t think Pards did anything spectacularly wrong.
In all honesty, better teams than us have failed to stop Bale and it’s going to happen again & again to other squads too.
Heads held high after that, let’s get back to winning ways against Metalist, then let’s go into our next PL game with some confidence!
blip(Quote)
with out doubt Bale was the difference today
Big Dave(Quote)
We had a go but one player made the difference, referee was absolutely Twatfull!
Awful from Collocini and why did Pardew leave Perch on so long after he was injured.
Robert(Quote)
bloody horrible winning goal. Taylor doing his ‘**** out avec jazz hands’ while Bale breezes by, Krul letting the ensuing shot through his body
M(Quote)
Big Dave,
Look at my comment @138
I know my stuff 😉
Also look at my comment on the Reading game when we were 1-0 up. I said after the first substitution we’d lose the game because of Pard’s negative substitutions.
And yet, people like Aussie still argue my clearly superior knowledge! 😆 😆 😉
JJ(Quote)
Michael i’m not surprised you think it was Pards that was a difference as it normally is, but I and others would argue that it was Bale that made the difference ❗ but sure don’t let that get in the way of a good old Pards rant
Big Dave(Quote)
M
You can’t blame Taylor for not keeping up with Bale for pace… There aren’t any players faster with the ball at their feet.
We should (in hindsight) have had Mbiwa on to try cope with his pace on the counter attack, and man mark him, because in all honesty. He was their only threat.
JJ(Quote)
No shame losing to Bale today. I think we did good apart from one or two mistakes which of course, cost us today.
Any news on Gouffran? Hope that his injury is not too serious.
Can the club send someone to Ivory Coast? Please bring back the real Cheik Tiote. His tackling is so bad these days.
Toon TRW(Quote)
Thought overall the lads did well. Lost count though how many times Spurs attacks were started by Krul’s kicks. I would have brought Anita on for Jonas not Shola. We are continuing to improve I think.
Groucho(Quote)
Thought Tiote looked a lot better than Perch when he came on. Passing forward, such a novel idea!
Newkie(Quote)
JJ @ 202 😆 😆 it’s not Aussie’s fault he’s from down under
Big Dave(Quote)
Agree Dave,
Bale was **** hot today. Pards could have done a couple of things different but when a quality player is on fire like that there is only so much you can TRY do…
We aren’t the first and won’t be the last team he ripped apart in his career.
JJ(Quote)
JJ –
when u see the replay again, you’ll know what I’m talking about
M(Quote)
@Blip
Most of the people yappin about Pardew only ever seem to come on here after we lose to complain about him.
Tiote should of started that for me was his only mistake.
Santii(Quote)
by the way, did anyone noticed the incident Cabaye was booked?
Debuchy was beaten by Dembele and Cabaye, presumably mad at the Belgian for beating his best mate, swept him out.
Best friends off and on the pitch. 🙂
Toon TRW(Quote)
Michael @197
Spot on mate. Now that Pards has depth in his squad we should be annihilating every team in our path. I can’t believe Spurs pipped us 2-1 on their home ground with Bale at the peak of his form.
Its a disgrace.
Haha… he isn’t the best manager in the league, but today you cannot blame him really you can’t. We put in a good display against the most form team in the league over the last ten games.
JJ(Quote)
Amazing… We have so many incredibly tactically astute managers on this site. This was not Pardew’s fault. Bale was stunning and he was the difference. Cannot believe the negativity sometimes. Spurs are not in the top 4 because they r a pushover **** team… They are there because they have some excellent players (and Peter Reid’s love child)
Cologne-toon(Quote)
Santii @ 211 I agree that there is some that seem to come on and give it everything when we lose.
Bu there is also some fair weather onest that only come on when we play well and win, to tell us all how good things are and how well the Regime has done 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
@Toon TRW
“swept him out.” Don’t you mean Studs rite into the ankle 😀
Santii(Quote)
Santi #211 Yes I complain about Pardew, because he is not good enough in so many areas, as for coming on here and complaining, I have only missed about 10 home matches in over 45 years, and in the early days went to every away match as well, now I am only on here on away match days, so I reckon I have earned the right as well as having the knowledge to know along with many others, that Pardew is not good enough, and probably the same applies to the coaches,
Just look at the club overall , Academy has been revamped that many times its unreal and still cannot obtain a class 1 level
Reserves won ther first game since October last night.,
First X1 have the worst record in the PL for not scoring from corners and at the same time have the worst record for defending set pieces.
Enough said – now tell me Pardew is doing OK
ash1001(Quote)
A point would have been brilliant. We could have achieved that. Perhaps deserved to until the last 15 minutes when Spuds (Bale) took charge. Parker was excellent too. We should never have sold him IMO. great player.
We lost, at the end of the day, its only one point difference. I’m more than happy with the display.
Three weeks ago I thought we were in real trouble. Now, I’m not too worried about relegation. Think we can push for top 10 and challenge for the Europa League final place. Which at the end of the day. Wouldn’t be such a bad season.
JJ(Quote)
Toon TRW-Probably took him out more so we wouldn’t be destroyed again, we got punished constantly for having our full backs push up, even Santon couldn’t get back in time, Debuchy with his pace stood no chance.
Newkie(Quote)
Actually… we dealt with Spurs pretty well (Bale included) after the opening 10 mins. Defensive howler let him in for his 2nd, then we were chasing an equaliser and open to counters
M(Quote)
Ash1001,
I’m torn. Because I honestly feel that Pardew shows big flaws in his coaching and tactical ability.
When riding the tide though, he is a brilliant motivator.
I think with the players we now have, the club can do well (challenge for 5th to 8th) with a manager who motivates (ala Keegan/Pardew) and perhaps Pardew can develop tactically.
We do need stablity.
On the other hand. IF we could get a quality tactical manager in to guide these talented players we could be seriously pushing the top (5th to 3rd) in the league in time. But will they come? Will the removal of stability effect the squad morale which is now quite high?
I think the last period of the season will tell us just how far Pardew progresses and learns from his mistakes. Its only fair to judge him properly now because he has a quality squad to work with.
As for this specific game. I don’t think you can blame Pardew much. Bale was the difference without any doubt.
The aren’t many defenders who can cope with him in full flight. He is basically a left footed Ronaldo.
JJ(Quote)
@Santi 216
😆
Toon TRW(Quote)
@JJ: Im not annoyed in the performance particularly in the first half. I am annoyed that Pardew is doing it again. We have depth now but he still tries to put square pegs into round holes.
This is the same team we played against Villa. Playing one style is one reason teams figured us out. By Half time AVB figured us out we came out still playing like we did vs Villa.
We have depth shake things up so we are not so predictable. A bit of imagination and invention would certainly do.
Michael12(Quote)
Well like it or not peeps, Pardew is here to stay. Listen to what the club say 😀
toonsy(Quote)
M
@220
I agree, that’s the main thing Pards did miss for me. We needed Mbiwa on to cope with the pace on the counter attack because he is the only centre back we have who can keep up.
But even then, who is to say Mbiwa would have coped with Bale.
If he’d come on and Bale had skinned him and scored, there would be loads of fans getting on Mbiwa’s back saying he looks like another Boumsong.
As much as well all criticize some times, these managers can’t really win can they?
JJ(Quote)