With the tie balanced at 0-0 following the stalemate in Moscow it’s all still to play for and neither team is out of the running.
The presence of away goals is dangerous one and no doubt Amzhi will be looking to exploit that so we have to keep things tight at the back. Having said that, we still need to score if we are to make sure that it’s us who progresses to the next round so we can’t “park the bus” and will need to push forward ourselves which could leave holes for a rather threatening Anzhi attack to exploit.
Another interesting balancing act is the need to progress tonight whilst keeping one eye on our fixture against Wigan on Sunday. Granted we don’t have a 4,000 mile round trip to consider this time, but we still need to keep a degree of freshness in our side ready for a trip to an in-form Wigan side. Some rotation may occur, but I still expect to see a strong side picked.
For a more detailed look at the fixture, including injury news for both sides, some facts and stats and some random thoughts about the match itself, why not take a look at my match preview, which is online here, if you haven’t already had a peek at it.
The game will be live in the UK on ESPN so if you can’t make it to the ground then don’t worry. If you haven’t got ESPN then a whole host of overseas broadcasters are showing the match so picking up a stream shouldn’t be a problem. Once again guys, if you do find a good stream then by all means feel free to share it by posting a link to it in the ‘comments’ section below.
I should have been home tonight but I’ve been exiled in Europe for an extra 24 hours due to the snow and travel conditions which means I’m not around to add the team news in. However, Big Dave is and will add it in at the bottom of this article as soon as he can.
I think that’s just about all of it covered and we can leave the rest of the story which will unfold this evening up to the players and manager at St James’ Park. Hopefully we’ll be talking about the match for the right reasons at full-time and can look forward to who we might be facing in the Quarter Finals of the Europa League.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Elliot; Santon, S.Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara; Anita, Tiote, Cabaye (c); Marveaux, Cisse, Sissoko.
Subs: Harper, Perch, Bigirimana, Obertan, Gutierrez, Campbell, Shola Ameobi.
FC Anzhi Makhachkala: Gabulov; Eschenko, Ewerton, Joao Carlos, Zhirkov; Jucilei, Ahmedov, Diarra; Boussoufa, Eto’o, Carcela-Gonzalez.
Subs: Pomazan, Agalarov, Tagirbekov, Shatov, Logashov, Traore, Smolov.
you there for grandprix munich?
alanthedog363(Quote)
Guus Hiddink said: “If football was decided by a jury then we would have won, but congratulations to Newcastle. We can blame ourselves for not scoring.” Fair comment IMO. 🙁
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
The inconsistencies in Marv’s game come from the manager’s indecision as to whether or not to include him. Marv just gets a settled run, and then he’s out. Pards needs to stick with him, build him up and make demands on him.
Some players are consistent in that they’re consistently average or consistently good, but never brilliant. Marv has combined brilliantly with inch perfect balls to Cisse to get us our last two wins. I can’t believe some people have been saying get rid. Only HBA gives us that sort of creativity and people often criticised him for being too inconsistent.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
Inconsistency is the only consistent thing at NUFC, agree about Marv, all the lad has ever needed is a decent run of games and a bit of faith shown in him. He’s a cracking player given the chance.
richietoon(Quote)
JJ – Got to disagree that Cisse was brilliant. He did bring down a couple of high ones and played a nice back heel. His general play was better, and he got in brilliantly for the goal. However, he looked like a duck egg too often for me, and didn’t look happy. I think his frustrations were shown by his goal celebrations. To be fair to him, Pards’ game plan and defensive mentality meant he was isolated for far too long. It looked as if Sissoko was meant to be supporting Cisse and Haidara, but the job was too much for him and he didn’t do either very well.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
JJ @ 229
Agree with that really. Cisse played well and showed some good control and, as you say, had some nice takedowns of the high balls lofted up to him.
He almost got an assist, had two chances – one was a header which forced a good save from the keeper and the other one was a goal.
Dunno what the Muppet division want from him really. Maybe if he changed his name to Ba they would give it a rest.
Mbiwa did have a few wobbly moments don’t think I’d go so far as to say he had a shocker though as he also got in some important tackles.
Taylor was excellent.
Marveaux had a great game and showed some neat touches. He has to start doing it when ever he is called on though. Its all very well people saying he needs a run in the team to be consistent but he’s been almost invisible in some matches when picked which will make it hard for Pardew to justify picking him when everyone else is fit and available.
Haidara looked decent. Santon looked like Obertan, indecisive and unable to decide what to do with the ball meaning he ended up doing nothing with it most of the time.
Sissoko and Anita had strangely subdued games.
Elliot did well again.
Gutierrez looked decent when he came on. He demonstrated some nice control and helped us to control the play with some good decision making.
If only he could have done this regularly this season.
Tiote is still a mixed bag. Brought fight to the midfield and some good strong tackles but also silly challenges and loose passing.
Pootle(Quote)
Where’s that Aussie one , that 2 games in a row that he didn’t have his good feelings and thats 2 wins 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Agree with BB, don’t thik Cisse was brilliant all round but he did what he was supposed to do and got us the goal. He didn’t play badly but the link up with Sissoko just wasn’t there, sometimes I thnk we ask too much from him in the build up to goals, playmaking is not a strength, he should be given lisence to roam up top and find holes in the opposition defence. He was still getting dragged onto the wing and was unable to cross to anyone or cause any damage
Newkie(Quote)
Its no wonder you disagree with JJ.
You even seem to disagree with yourself 😯
“Cisse’s general play was suspect again, not least his first touch”
“He did bring down a couple of high ones and played a nice back heel. His general play was better, and he got in brilliantly for the goal”
Pootle(Quote)
I don’t think Cisse could be brilliant unless we are providing him with decent balls. But for me he played well and was brilliant in that he got one proper chance that resulted in a goal what more can you ask of him
Big Dave(Quote)
Our biggest problem was a lack of movement in the final third.
There was one point in the second half where haidara broke down the left and got to about 30 yards out. We had four or five men around their box and not one of them moved, whether to run to Haidara to give him someone to pass to or to try to beat their defenders. They all just stood still.
Pootle(Quote)
Dave @ 310
Exactly so.
Cisse played as well as be expected given the lack of decent link up play from the midfield. He demonstrated good control and good deciion making. He had two decent chances though. One excellent run that ended in a backwards header that forced a very good save from the keeper and the one that he scored.
He also brought down a cross for Taylor in the box that should have ended in a goal.
Like I said, I just don’t know what he has to do to get the Muppets to give him a break.
Pootle(Quote)
Brilliant result last night. Anzhi looked a different team to the one we played last week just goes to show that synthetic surfaces should be dug up and forgotten about. Lightning quick and clever on the break they were a top class opponent.
Saylor first half was a hero. Think AP got the starting set up a little wrong. Could see his thinking in starting Anita central and Sissoko on the left of the centre but it didn’t work. Anita probably had his worst game for us poor lad but he was in a role alien to him and despite being employed in an attacking midfield role he was facing our goal more than Anzhi’s. Sissoko was also wasted in this set up. Both these factors I also think had an effect of Hadiara who was exposed at times and looked vulnerable. Judging purely on last night Santon is our first choice left back. Both full backs did something that annoys me. When attacking they both wanted to cut inside and the trouble was they were running into players and losing the ball and Anzhi were quick to counter capitalising on the space available.
Marveux is giving the manager a conundrum but a pleasant one. He was very good last night. With a fully fit squad can we afford to play Gouffran, Ben Arfa and Marveux behind Cisse. It only leaves Cabaye and Sissoko in midfield. Against the majority of EPL sides you need physicality in midfield and fear we would be overrun. At least now we are beginning to talk about who is unlucky to be omitted rather than who to bring in.
Cisse must have read my post a couple of weeks ago. Big Dave certainly did as he wont let me forget. Long may his goal scoring continue just please score before stoppage time.
Finally my man Jonas proved he can play a part in this squad.
Onwards and upwards HWTL
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
TLR I think you’ll find that im not the only one to remind you, but atleast I have been civil when reminding you 😉
But then when you hammer Cisse for being **** and saying that we should loan him to a championship side you don’t really expect people to forget it and remind you 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
If we draw Basle today we’ll go on to win the whole thing.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart – wouldn’t mind Fener myself or Benfica even. Just avoid Bale!
Heard nothing on Cabaye – groin strain (again) has been mentioned. Only good thing is he has a history of leaving a game early with us and France, only to be OK for the next game. Here’s hoping. Very sensible guy if a little touchy about his own fortunes.
georgio(Quote)
Big Dave
The civility is appreciated.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Stuart
Basle have turned Manure over before. No easy ties.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
TLR your welcome 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
i think marveaux dissapearing is one of his strenghts aswell as his weakness, berbatov and le tissier got branded lazy players but a lot of there movement is more subtle and in turn allowing them to create a lot of space for themselves
alanthedog363(Quote)
http://nutjob.eu/njtvx3.html
live feed of the CL and EL draws
M(Quote)
EL draw starts in 10 mins
M(Quote)
Steven Taylor has been our best defender in the last two games now. I lost count of the times he was in the perfect position to block their shots last night. He is maturing from someone with potential into a class defender at this rate IMO and he lead the line well last night. Mapou was good as well I thought and I can’t understand anyone saying he had a poor game because there were times when he kept getting the ball back and he was passing better than the midfielders, he also had Eto’o in his back pocket for the first half.
DJG(Quote)
**FC BASEL,FC BASEL**
**Pray**
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2013/draws/index.html
offICIAL SITE VIDEO
alanthedog363(Quote)
The gorgeous Daveeed Ginola (the original Dreamboat) commentating on the draw, hopefully will be a lucky charm
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Bloody Chelsea have Russian side at home
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Benfica!
Stuart79(Quote)
Awwww….
Benfica then. 🙁
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Benfica, happy enough with that !
Newkie(Quote)
That’s OK. Portugal’s a lovely place and then win it back here!!!
georgio(Quote)
So Bale drew Basel, will be easy games for Chelski and spurs en…
Newkie(Quote)
back to Lisbon then
M(Quote)
happy
alanthedog363(Quote)
Could have been worse. Not too bad.
Geordie Deb(Quote)
Benfica – Happy enough with that like – could have been better but could have been a lot worse!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Could have been easier but at least we didn’t get one of the other big English clubs.
sjp14(Quote)
Pleased we didn’t draw a domestic team, kind of defeats the point of playing in Europe. We could have drawn any team at this stage and it would be a hard game, no easy teams at this stage. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Relatively easy access for the team and fans. 2nd leg at home. The best we could have wished for
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
They are winning the league but only by 2 pts. Would think that is their priority especially given the Champions League implications of winning the league.
sjp14(Quote)
Could have been worse, Chelsea have to travel to Russia so we avoided having to go back to the frozen North. Lazio or Fenerbache would have been just as hard as hard a game and Portugal is not a bad place to have to travel.
DJG(Quote)
Crazy to notice the top two teams in their league (Benfica and Porto) are unbeaten, and people are worried about whether the Premier League is competitive!
sjp14(Quote)
Our advantage lies in that almost all these teams are competing on other-more important fronts, meanwhile, once we hit safety, we have nothing to play for… 😆 Sucks we can’t bring goof and especially Debuchy in though 😕
Newkie(Quote)
Good win, knew we would, just didn’t get time to voice it on here 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
NUFC have a great record at the Stadium of Light, no fear! (pun intended)
😆 😆 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Jonas had a solid game last night in the centre. but surely Marv has cemented his place. Thats 2 games in a row hes saved our bacon!
We can do Benfica. Heres Hoping.
Alex(Quote)
Another Cisse late winner…another hangover. That boy is going to kill me at this rate.
Moreno(Quote)
Personally I think the 1st leg being away is a bonus as well. I think the idea of knowing what we need with the home advantage for the 2nd leg, as was the case last night.
Sharpy17(Quote)
For those who don’t know, check out the stadium name of Benfica. 😉
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
AOD we’ll have played there more than S*nderland. We have to play Shola for the first leg- it might confuse the mackem slayer enough to pop up with a few goals.
sjp14(Quote)
SJP-Aye, and burn all of benfica’s kits and back ups on the day and sportingly give them the same colours + names on the back as the scum, that should do it.. 😛
Newkie(Quote)
well i think it is a very tough draw they are one of the best teams left in euros
not saying we cannot get through but it will be real tough imo
icedog(Quote)
Anyone seen any news on Cabs injury yet this morning?
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY cabs himself does not think its a bad one and not in the same place as his last groin problem
icedog(Quote)
Loved the ‘Ketsbaia’ from Papa aswell 😆
Moreno(Quote)
Ice-will be tough but hopefully good games, these are what the euros should be, matches against other top european sides, not other english ones or minnows from switzerland :gri
Saying that now, honestly wouldn’t care who we beat if we won a trophy…but if we don’t at as long as we hold our hands up and say we played our best against the better side, there’s not much more we can hope for
Newkie(Quote)
fucking hell man
Paul Fraser @paulfraserecho
Bad news for Hatem Ben Arfa. Looks like he will need surgery on hamstring injury. AP says he’s likely to miss rest of season. #echosport
M(Quote)
Lee Ryder @lee_ryder
But better news on Cabaye: “Cabaye is good news and has a half chance for Sunday.” #nufc
M(Quote)
Ice – that’s a relief if true coz we’d defo miss him at the moment.
M – that’s ***** news about Benny. Hopefully though other clubs are now crossing him off their transfer wish lists for the summer.
I think 4-6 points and were safe in the league, but Benny will be a miss in the Euro games IMO
Sharpy17(Quote)
Benny out for the season? This is a joke, we need to get to the bottom of how this was allowed to happen surely? He wasn’t ready first time round, one mistake, but now? Just think if we hadn’t bought in Jan how much trouble we’d be in..
Newkie(Quote)
Sharpy-Aye, we signed him properly when he was crocked, maybe put a new contract infront of him now he can’t walk away from it eh? 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Brendan@298 aye, Melbourne Australia, but now I’m back in the real world of baltic bavaria 🙁
are you in Melbourne mate ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Icedog
True but all of the teams are hard now, getting Lazio or Fenerbache would have been tough as well. The media are saying Spurs have done well to get FC Basel, but they have just beaten Hulk and co. at Zenit St Petersburg home and away so they can’t exactly be an easy draw. 😯
DJG(Quote)
Regarding Benny, someone wants tghere heed slapped there if you ask me. ffs if Marveaux is looked on as injury prone, what about Benny 🙁
Not too convinced of Cisse doing a radgie on the advertising boards. Didn’t look a happy camper to me like.
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM aye mate i wondered what the kicking of the boards was all about,nowt being said on it,this benny carry-on beats me whats going on are our medical staff not good enough but in saying that those in france who looked after him havent done there job 😕
icedog(Quote)
Icedog a few seasons ago Arjen Robben was knackered but still joined up with the Holland team, and there doctors said he was ok. He played and came back to Bayern even more knackered, there was nowt the matter, Bayern were getting mucked into the dutch FA there was a real scandal. Holland ended up playing a game against FC Bayern in Munich 18 months later to heal the wounds between the teams. Clairefontaine blew it with Benny, but Pardew and his bunch aggrevated the whole situation imo. We haven’t seen a lot of Benny this season have we 🙁 “Injury prone” comes to mind.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Re: Kicking the boards.
Just pumped up testosterone I think. What would he not be happy about 😕
Unless he’s been on here and seen half of us calling him **** 😆
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno, something isn’t quite right there with Cisse.
Does anyone have a link to his interview after the Anzhi game ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
wonder how many tickets we’ll get for Lisbon ? Could be up for that one though but…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Can’t see what he’d be pissed about, most of us backed him to come good, probably just frustration that it had taken so long to score because of **** poor creation?
Newkie(Quote)
Yeah Munich I live in Melbourne. Bummer you’re not here for the weekend, would’ve had you over for the Wigan game.
Brendan(Quote)
Brendan, cool, good to know it. I would have liked to have enjoyed the periphery of the Formula 1 over the weekend, but we needed to get back to Grermany. Do you live in the city mate, and are you a geordie boy or an auzzie mag ? I’ll be back in Melbourne for a longer stint at the beginning of next year, so I’ll give you a shout…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich Mag says:
March 15, 2013 at 04:17
Howay the lads, greetings from sunny Melbourne 🙂
Munich Mag says:
March 15, 2013 at 14:01
Brendan@298 aye, Melbourne Australia, but now I’m back in the real world of baltic bavaria 🙁
**** me, that was a quick flight.
Melbourne Australia to Bavaria in slightly under 10 hours 😯
Chris G(Quote)
These comments about Benny being injury prone are off the mark. He’s had 2 injuries since we bought him. One was a serious leg break (injury prone?) and the other a really bad hamstring injury. I saw the close ups when he did it and the muscles in his leg were flying all over the place. He has no history of hamstrings and this one wasn’t a pull or strain it was just a really bad fall onto that leg.
Now the management of it – I’d call that injury prone. Was the same early season with Cabs. You could see from day 1 this season something was bothering him but they waited and kept playing him. ***** management, poor medical team!
georgio(Quote)
Chris G it’s down to the time differences mate 🙂 The times posted as you mention are created automatically, or maybe they come about because I didn’t update the clock on my lap top which I had with me underway.
The time difference isn’t the big problem mate, it’s the 40°c temperature differences which are a tad uncomfortable 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)