Our worst defeat against Sunderland in 34 years has left an awful taste in the mouth. It wasn’t just the defeat as we were beaten fair and square on the day, it was the manner of the defeat and the lack of effort displayed by any players in what is arguably our most important regular fixture of the season, especially in a season in which the only thing left to go for is to beat and finish above them lot!
Alan Pardew has come in for a lot of stick post-Sunderland, and so he should should, but as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa admitted to the press earlier, the players – a lot of whom escape criticism from fans in favour of piling more pressure on Pardew – must take a fair portion of the blame and collectively they need to start putting things right pretty **** quickly.
Tiredness was used an excuse after the match and I can sort of get that, if we got to say 60-70 minutes and started to look weary, but to look knackered from the first minute and bereft of ideas for the duration suggests to me that it was more than tiredness at fault. Whatever is blamed or whatever is wrong needs sorting, hopefully tomorrow at The Hawthorns.
West Brom:
Steve Clarke will be without the services of Peter Odemwingie and Izzy Brown who have been ruled out due to respective knee and groin injuries. George Thorne and Zoltan Gera remain sidelined. Youssouf Mulumbu serves the second of his three-match suspension following his red card picked up against West Ham while Liam Ridgewell is doubtful.
Newcastle:
Tim Krul (dislocated shoulder), Cheik Tiote (hamstring) and Sylvain Marveaux (groin) are the latest additions to the NUFC treatment room. Krul will be out for the rest of the season whilst the severity of the injuries of Tiote and Marveaux are as yet unknown.
Rob Elliot is fit to play after shaking off an ankle injury picked up against the Mackems while Steve Harper will be available to deputise if needs be.
Fabricio Coloccini is training again although won’t be considered for selection with the home game against Liverpool next weekend looking to be the game he could make a return in.
Looking longer term, Haris Vuckic is still sidelined and it’s not good news for Ryan Taylor. Having been out for eight months after injuring his cruciate ligament the former Wigan man had resumed training and was closing in on a return to first-team action. It’s now transpired that having battled back from one serious injury he has now suffered another cruciate injury and will miss the bulk, if not all, of next season also.
Previously…
Newcastle have won the last two fixtures between the two sides with Papiss Cisse grabbing one of those last-gas winners against the Baggies earlier on in the season handing us a 2-1 win at St James’ Park.
Our last trip to The Hawthorns produced one of the best away performances I’ve seen from a United side in a long time as we ran out 3-1 winners in a game we pretty much dominated from start to finish. It would be nice if we could do it again tomorrow but I doubt it.
This will be the 117th meeting between the two sides. So far West Brom have won 43 times times compared to 42 wins for United.
At The Hawthorns it’s not as close and we’ve generally struggled there in recent years, with last season proving to be an exception to what is pretty much the rule when these two teams meet in the Black Country. In total 57 matches have been played at West Brom with the home side winning 26 times compared to just 13 victories for the Magpies.
Stats and facts:
West Brom (along with Everton) have used the fewest players in the league this season (23) whilst United (32) have used more than any other side.
United managed to maintain 66% of ball possession against Sunderland – their best possession figure of the season – but still lost.
In total, Newcastle have had 47 attempts at goal in their last two league games against Fulham and Sunderland yet have just one goal to show for it.
West Brom have won seven penalties so far this season. Only Chelsea (9) have won more.
Chris Brunt could make his 200th league appearance for West Brom whilst James Perch could make his 300th club career appearance if selected.
Final thought:
I’m really struggling to get myself up for this game following the result last week. That defeat and the manner on which our players allowed it to be inflicted has really knocked the stuffing out of me and it will take a performance of immense magnitude for the players to earn my belief back.
Dramatic? Maybe a bit but I, along with scores of others, feel so let down after last week that it’s only the players and manager who can make it right. It’s up to them to do just that against West Brom tomorrow.
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 20th April, 2013
Time: 3pm
Venue: The Hawthorns
Aussie Mag, you’re right mate, but I’ve got nowt to be ecstatically happy about at the moment cos my lugs bleed every time I hear Pardew’s excuses, we just got battered by the makkems and my club are slugging it out in a relegation battle … and I’m not convince the bloke manning the tiller knows what he’s up to.. 🙄
Apart from that though I’m happy as flock 🙂 At least I’m not getting bullied by anyone …..;-)
Munich Mag(Quote)
AMF have you an answer to my post @73 btw ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
is it possible someone talk to pardew ❓ he is a fucking borshit manager 👿 how is possible keep ben arfa on the bench when the team playing like that… ❓ in france every body very very sad to see a team extremely poor like nufc ❗ and some body loghthin about pardew **** tactics and choice ❗ and somebody asking. 😯 how can he make mistacks bigger tha his fucking head.. ❗ never any manager play old school football like that on 2013 ❗ tell me now who (good player) want to move in a team playing like that and promise for.league one. . every body afraid for that… 👿 pardew sabottage nufc! !in big hazard danger!!! and ben ❗ arfa on the bench…..congratulation…what a genius guy…. ❗ help us god
djebs9(Quote)
Eminem, we are all in the same sail boat mate.. everyone is p’d off at the moment but hope springs eternal 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie you say he’s turning into one 😯 so what has he been 😀
It seems that the only time he’s happy is just before or after a trip to the beer tent 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Great use of the emoticons there Djebs 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Big Dave 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
go one there djebs9, get mucked in and tell it like it is. 😉 😉
I think HBA is knackered by the way. When it comes down to treating hamstrings and groin strains the quacks at NUFC seem to have have a poor track record :-(.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Big D, are you picking on me, I’ll set B&B on you again 🙂
btw I haven’t been to the beer tent for days mate 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
I’m on my 4th Lowenbrau Eminem, I feel quite chirpy 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
* you should try one 🙂 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
AMF @85, I can believe it mate 🙂 Löwenbrau is the real deal 🙂
As is often the case watching the toon, enjoy the build up, the crack, the excitment and the beers, the main event this season has been in itself somewhat secondary 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
I would take a point today which I think we should be able to get – if we can’t we are up **** street.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart79@88, don’t be such a realist mate, it’s not taken too kindly on here ;-):-)
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sorry but I predict a defeat, we have no tactics other than sit back and hoof it – when that doesn’t work Pards sticks shola on ….
I’m just hoping Wigan, Stoke etc continue to lose or we’re going to have to pull out a win against QPR which is probably our only hope of a win in last 5 games
stevep(Quote)
Eminem, 🙂 come on mate, you can be a realist, just be a bit more positive with your negativity 🙂 Lowenbrau is mothers milk 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
same old pardew started before we kick off,nee colo,krul,benny,marv,tiote,FFS man get on with what we have,build the lads up not down ffs
icedog(Quote)
Ice he is getting all the excuses out of the bag early. Just to make sure we all know it isn’t his fault if we lose again.
Santii(Quote)
AMF, not everybody has the Ozzie sun, a fridge full of Löwenbrau and bucket load of Vegimite to keep uz happy mukka 😉 . I’ll be right up there with the rest of the happy clappy team once we get the points in the bag 😆 divent worry yersel’ 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Benny def out as well Ice? Why the **** did Obertan play for the reserves yesterday?! Which wingers do we actually have available today except Gouffran & Jonas?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@ST
Maybe he will use Campbell there. Ben Arfa as well. I kind of hope Ben Arfa starts. Do you remember last year he was amazing against them and set up two goals and scored 1. Though that was at home 😀
Santii(Quote)
Oh wait just seen your first question lol 😛
Santii(Quote)
munich mag. hba is fit and he s the danger no 1 for wba…if u play aingainst him… the team change mind. ..nufc is stronger and wba afraid ben arfa impact…football is not just tactics. ..it is mental game too 😉 must important is hba on fhe pitch begining..and why not scoring first and boxing the game like a boss…that s the only way for success…if hatem come on pitch 60mn and loosing 1-0…poor tactics. ..wba stand easely behind and play conter attack. …with smoking cigare….hba must. begin with sissoko behind cisse and give hell on the pitch 1frst mn…. ❗
djebs9(Quote)
gob ***** says!
http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s70/st181965.htm?
icedog(Quote)
Ice – your dead right mate. Yes we’ve suffered badly with injuries, but it’s Pardews job as manager to promote confidence and believe in the players who are playing to go out and give their best.
We are probably only 3-4 points from safety here!. There are 7 other managers in charge of clubs below us who speak more positively than Pardew – I wish he’d just get on with it FFS!. We all know its been tough but get the team in the right mindset to pick those points up – then lick your bloody wounds!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eminem, its not all milk and honey here mate, sometimes my beer gets a little warm when I am in the sun..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
strangest hamstring ive ever know,are our medical staff out of there depth there record with the players are wonderful (not) imo have not got a clue when it comes to hammys,groin,ect ect,did real good job with taylor (not),somthing wants sorting there,they would have more chance in the bush with AMF or the beer tent with MM 👿
icedog(Quote)
Oi Ice take it easy, I am quite familiar hamstrings mate, I have two of them for starters 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
he need him for next year 😯 where ❓ league one ❓ ❗ alan u r fucking poor and **** coach i never seen….hba leave marseille beacause dechamp use him many time like impact player and hba hate that and he s furious and desagree with that 👿 he s 26 not 19 y old ❗ he s fit and a great player like u never seen in ur poor fucking life managment ❗ jalousie because the fans love lot him and hate u. …. i think it s enought. ..sack pardew or hba and co leave nufc next year. ..for sure ❗ ….
djebs9(Quote)
SHARPY ime not saying sack the useless get,but his man managerment in public is **** god knows how the players feel all i know is i would hate to have had him as a manager when i played i would be on a downer before a ball was kicked unless i was shola hes the only one he bulls about ffs 🙁
icedog(Quote)
@Djebs9
Where are you from? Are you using google translate?
Santii(Quote)
Ice @92, couldn’t agree more. Sadly think we will get beat today 1-0. Will be ecstatic just with a draw.
Geordie Deb(Quote)
i m from neptun…why..u don t understant what i say ❓
djebs9(Quote)
Ice ,just read the link you put up . I don’t get it ,first they say he needs a op on his hammy then oh it’s ok he don’t need one .Now it’s we need to protect his hammy (rolls eyes ). Either he’s ok or he fecking ain’t ,get it sorted one way or another , I do hope they arn’t cutting corners with his hammy ,end of the day they are risking his career if he does need an op.
Sky saying he is going to be assessed pre match (rolls eyes ) ffs.
Not hopefull on today at all ,too many out imo , need cheering up, **** week and then Lew puked up last night to round it off poor sod 🙁 .Pards better have his tactics head on today and the players better put a shift in too ,let’s see some bloody spirit befor it’s too late .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Anyone else looking forward to Tyson Fury making his US boxing debut today?
Santii(Quote)
At sharpy mm and st all valid points but we need a screamer a man to stand up and say boys pull ya frigging finger out I know that’s easier said than done but Nolan’s carrols snejders of this world is what we need I’m talking character here more than them individually I really used to think that was tiote but I was wrong but that’s née change lol
Ice pup(Quote)
Tyson fury is a mug IMO and a gob ***** …. Hopkins winning a title at 48 the other month there’s a sports man for ya
Balls the size of melons
Ice pup(Quote)
“Tyson fury is a mug IMO and a gob *****….”
Agreed Pup but it will be good to see if the gypsy **** beat that American ****. I like to see the British guys do well. I think Khan fights on the 23rd this month as well.
Santii(Quote)
cisse double and a taylor header
batty(Quote)
KIM @109 as i said the whole show has me down in the mouth surely jabba must see through it at some point hes not that dumb,we are not experts in all things footy but we can see things just aint right,jabba gave him players in jan more than any other PL club the medical staff have stuffed a few up imo and pardew trying to fit square pegs in round holes then moans about it hes now saying cabaye is feeling the strain and is tired what does he expect dont think the lad knows where hes playing half the time
icedog(Quote)
Batty@114 Let’s hope so mate.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ice ,it’s beyond frustrating isn’t it, all this getting the excuses in beforehand does my head in as well mate. 🙁
KIMTOON(Quote)
Batty thats the spirit 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
reet, am off to the beer garden for some scran and a few beers with wor lass. Will be back in time for the kick off though 🙂
djebs9
I’m 100% with you there mate.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Can’t argue with u there pal I love the game
U play football u don’t play boxing
Ice pup(Quote)
i m from neptun…why..u don t understant what i say ❓
If you’re from Neptune, why do you spend so much time talking out of Uranus?
Chris G(Quote)
Chris G – Kapouch 😆 😆 😆
toonsy(Quote)
I Hope Newcastle United can win this match and stay at Premier League this seasons…. 😆
Sepak Bola(Quote)