The Baggies are sitting comfortably in the top half of the table and whilst a stab at qualification for the Europa League may seem a long shot they need to win to keep any outside hopes of clinching a place in continental competition for next season.
Having recently bowed out of the Europa League, United are looking for the points for altogether different reasons. Relegation is the main concern these days and the quicker we can manage to get the points required to stay up the quicker we can turn our attention to perhaps trying to sneak into the top half of the table just in time for the season to end.
Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves though. As things stand our destiny is in our own hands but a helping hand wouldn’t go amiss. This is why the rest of the fixtures today provide an interesting backdrop to our game today. Those fixtures are as follows:
Fulham v Arsenal
Norwich v Reading
QPR v Stoke
Sunderland v Everton
Swansea v Southampton
West Ham v Wigan
All of those fixtures involve at least one team that are in and around us currently. It’s tight, very tight, and looking at the West Ham fixture demonstrates just how tight it could be. A Wigan win would mean we are just one point above them in the table assuming we lose, whilst a Wigan win will see us draw level with West Ham on points should we win. The other team not mentioned in that, Aston Villa, visit Manchester United on Monday evening.
For a bit more background on the match itself including news on the injury front for both sides, a history of the fixture, some facts and stats and a rather depressing ‘final thought’, why not have a look at my match preview if you haven’t already done so? You can view it by clicking here.
The game itself, being a 3pm kick-off, is not being shown live here in the UK although it is scheduled for broadcast on plenty of channels overseas. Only 3,000 (approximately) fans will be able to make it inside the ground today so plenty of people will need access to streams. This is the part where we all help each other out by leaving links to streams in the ‘comments’ section below.
Team news will be added in below by either myself or Big Dave. I’m currently off having a picnic with the wife and boy but I may well be back in time to add the team news in myself. If I’m not then Big Dave will ride to the rescue and fill my boots once more.
That’s about it to be honest. I’m not feeling confident at all, I just hope that the players show more urgency, passion and commitment than they showed last week which in fairness won’t be hard to achieve.
Howay the lads!
West Brom: Ben Foster; Billy Jones, Gareth McAuley, Jonas Olsson, Goran Popov; Graham Dorrans, Claudio Yacob, James Morrison, Chris Brunt; Marc-Antione Fortune, Romelu Lukaku
Subs: Boaz Myhill, Kemar Roofe, Markus Rosenberg, Steven Reid, Shane Long, Liam Ridgewell, Jerome Thomas
Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Mathieu Debuchy, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara; James Perch, Yohan Cabaye; Yoan Gouffran, Moussa Sissoko, Jonas Gutierrez; Papiss Cisse
Subs: Steve Harper, Mike Williamson, Vurnon Anita, Dan Gosling, Hatem Ben Arfa, Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi
Gosling before anita as well now haha WTF
Alex(Quote)
@Right, lets grab our pitchforks, and drive that cockney ****** out.
WE WANT SHEARER
Who’s with me!!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
To be fair Gosling was probably the tallest left on the bench.
griff(Quote)
djebs9 ..it’s obvious that the TV connection to neptune is functioning pretty good. I saw the same game as you today….pish poor in the second half and we got really lucky today. Elliot went down somewhat in my expectations after todays performance unfortunately…
Munich Mag(Quote)
ST
If you are as unhappy why defend his tactics and methods? I know you want to keep him but you just said you are unhappy with him as well.
@MM 368
Yeah im hoping for that. The Wigan fixture list looks hard for them but they can put in a random performance out of nowhere.
Santii(Quote)
@SteveP
Benitez? Are you high? I know it’s 4-20 but bloody hell you must have been hitting the wacky bacci hard.
No, I want Shearer, or Beardsley, but Beardo is already involved in the set up, maybe promote him to assistant manager as his coaching has obviously been top notch this year. The thing is with Pardew is that he just doesn’t understand the fan passion.
Reet I’m off to handcuff myself to SD in Eldon Square. Laters.
WE WANT SHEARER
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST@370 ,So if he’s rushing him back then that’s poor management no? as for not telling them to hoof it over his head then that suggest he’s told them otherwise and they are ignoring instructions .If that’s the case he’s lost anyway imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I agree…how the flock does Pardew bring on Gosling in front of Anita ?. That is just plain ridiculous. With our only other attacking option scoring a hat trick on Friday night in front of three men and a dog …
Laugh I almost got the beers in…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Pardew’s three golden rules.
1. First sub Shola.
2. Never take off Jonas.
3. Don’t play Anita. He plays the ball on the ground and doesn’t know how to hoof it.
Groucho(Quote)
Santii@380, if you had watched the Wigan performance away at Man City midweek you might be somewhat worried. 😥 They gave a great account of themselves, and if they had of had a Cisse up front they would have nicked at least one point.
Evereybody….everybody in the league plays better more constructive and thought out football than we do.
We play as if we have never seen each other all week.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Pardew now becoming delusional
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Santii @2 – could you call it 2-1 to us next week please mate – ya 1-1 prediction was spot on 2nd post of the day.
Early on after the match but when the dust settles tomorrow I think most will be well happy with that point like. We looked nervous in the 2nd half like we knew they would come out at us and I think the magnitude of the points effected the players.
I think we were excellent 1st half and that Cisse chance converted may have gave us the confidence to go on and win the game comfortably.
Listen we’re 1 point closer to safety with Wigan, QPR and Reading all getting beat today and for that I’m happy enough tonight.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think I have worked out the answer! All Pardew needs to do is wait for a TWO goal cushion in a match and THEN tell the team to park the bus 😈
But seriously, we matched West Brom at home. We played poorly in the second half but we played well in the first. Scuffed a few chances is all. We are a good attacking side, but no goals are flowing. A sign of lacking confidence. A winning mentality counts for a lot. Pardew and Co aren’t managing to create that this season. I hope we are safe but nervous times.
griff(Quote)
TLR…I think the toon juggernaut is creaking big time at the moment… 😥
Munich Mag(Quote)
For the Gosling change there is a over reaction. There was 20 seconds to go. It was a time wasting exercise.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
@383. I know you are upset but think about it. They are 94 minutes in and defending a corner. Last action of the match. Pardew is worried about Cabaye being carded. You put the tallest bench player on, not the shortest.
griff(Quote)
St with all due respect your comments on shearer and beardo etc are beyond thick, absolutely first class pure unadulterated stupidity
Wanting pardew to be sacked is mutually exclusive to wanting a Geordie to head the club and no one has mentiond that
You idiot
Doitforsirbobby(Quote)
mm@364-To be fair, fans of almost every side tend to think at least some of their players are some the best going. Last year all our lads were on fire so made themselves and each other look even better imo.
Newkie(Quote)
WBA have only won three of there last 14 matches since December. They battered us today in the second half. Make of that what you will… A point is a point, but still a pish poor second half performance from the toon imo..
Way too much load being placed on Cabaye’s shoulders, who is to blame for that ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
@MunichMag 372
Agreed. This is not going to be pretty. The season just cannot end sooner. 😥
Toon TRW(Quote)
@MM 394
Mike Williamson of course 😀
Santii(Quote)
I think we are going to be lucky because Wigan’s annual great escape seems to be misfiring this time around . Thats the only thing that will save us ,plus a win at QPR because they will be down when we play them and their big earners will already be looking to get out .
Axel(Quote)
Hands up who thinks we’ll get anything from Dippers ,West Ham ,QPR or Arsenal ,I can see a point maybe from QPR ,very very worried now. Suarez will torment us next week and being the home side will just add more pressure to an already fragile mentallity in the team . We won’t beat west ham away if we lose next week we’ll be scared shitless by then .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Newkie mate, that is where we seem to differ… I don’t think we have really been on fire, even last season. We ground out results and relied on brilliance from Ba, Cisse and HBA.
Of course we have the joker of HBA or Cisse who can score goals from nothing with flashes of brilliance. However that doesn’t have to mean the rest of the team are not contributing and creating nothing going forward.
When did Cabaye last have a shot from open play, or when did we have a winger getting to the by line and pullimng the ball back, otr us having more than 1 man in the box from an open play attack.
Way too defensive, with a fragile central defence learning to play together is what we have at the moment.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Too much responsibility being placed on new foreigners who are not yet up to speed with the EPL. Simple as that… The French adventure is being found out imo…sorry like…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Would like to know what happens at half time. Premier league first forty five. Northern alliance second forty five
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Typical toon….cannot see out the full 90 minutes…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich
Of your post @399 the most worrying part for me is the number of players we get in the box. Never going to score many goals. Fans say we need to share more goals through the team. Unless you get in the danger area you won’t score.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Cabaye took a shot today. First half of course 😉
griff(Quote)
MM i agree with you there, last year defensively we were good, attacking we relied on individuals.
Doitfor i’d bet there’s more chance of shearer returning if pardew left than benitez!
I think people think i’m pro pardew, i actually have been pretty peeved with him when our first bad run started and most anger was directed at.the board. He definitely gets stick undeservedly sometimes, gosling sub – come on man.
He is undoubtedly an average manager. I just fear the alternatives.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Griff, I must have missed that one mate. It’s not easy to watch the match on the laptop whilst doing the ironing 🙂 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Just watched Pardews post match interview on SSN or part of it anyway and I’m about ready to say **** him – get him out!.
Cheeky ******* said the team came in for some unfair criticism last week?! 😯
Your team got beat 0-3 in a Tyne Wear derby match dipshit!! – were you expecting the key to the fucking City or something?!
I think he needs to direct his attitude toward the players who aren’t winning gaming and can’t keep a fucking clean sheet!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am at a loss as to how many on here are dismayed with the performance.
We have played like this all season under the stewardship of our idiot manager who continues to play key players out of position.
Sissoko is a beast of a DM who is capable of turning defence to attack in the blink of an eye, where does Pardew play him? On the wing.
Gouffran is a decent striker who should play up alongside Cisse and not isolated on the wing.
Jonas and Shola are not fit for purpose.
Perch/Gosling ahead of Anita….. WTH.
Pardew MUST go at the end of the season.
TROY, where are you mate?
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Solano dude, why do you fear the alternatives when you don’t know who they are ?
TLR we are so stretched as a team that we will never manage a compacted attacking effort. Look how well WBA attacked us today as a group whilst still never looking in danger of being caught on the break. I was cacking my trousers every time we had more than 5 players crossing the half way line in the second half.
I think I just don’t trust our central defensive pairing 🙁
Munich Mag(Quote)
Let’s not forget two teams below us have games in hand ( rolls eyes )
KIMTOON(Quote)
Have not jumped in today and slagged all and sundry off as far as Newcastle Management is concerned, so now cool calm and collected but the outcome is the same.
We have a manager who is totally devoid of coming up with and sort of different tactic that is likely to surprise the opposition, same old style, same old substitutions, no idea how to do anything about corners and free kicks – sorry but PARDEW its time to go, and please please take Shola with you. Today should have been winnable, it was in the first half, but the second was a disaster and once again you stand with folded arms totally lost.
ash1001(Quote)
Kim.
I think the Wigan v Villa game may decide our destiny as QPR and Reading are gone.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Sharpy ,yeah just seen it mate ,I could of wrote his script ,knew the exact stuff he’d come out with.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Have just seen the Newcastle goal and have to admit it was a beautifully worked goal…
Munich Mag(Quote)
sorry but imo pardew cannot cut the mustard in the PL,cannot blame owlheed or jabba now he gave him 5 players in jan pity pardew hasnt got a clue how to use them or the rest if he had gave him ten he would still stick with jonas,shola and try to put square pegs in round holes
icedog(Quote)
“toonsy
April 20, 2013 at 08:33
B&B – Calm the pugnose stuff. Its boring and not relevant. I don’t mind people going off on tangents or having “banter” but at least try and keep the topic going for a bit first”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!
Toonsy, dear boy, you’re not one of Pugnose’s many bedfellows are you? It’s almost 1.00 in the morning with no one else about: the Marie Celeste. Get yourself a sense of humour instead of getting out of bed and coming on at 8 in the morning with a sore head and having a pop. Anyway, shouldn’t you be getting a man in to sort out these emoticons?
As for blaming players for individual errors I suggest you look a bit further, and perhaps think that if you adopt the wrong approach and invite pressure, the best players will be forced into individual errors.
I trust I’m on topic now. 😛
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
B&B@416, but Toonsy’s right, it is boring.
Munich Mag(Quote)
TGS @ 408 Never mind Troy! His bro is here and I agree. The best tactic of **** managers who can’t think of a better plan is always to keep your best player till last: there’s always a good chance he’ll come on and save your skin when your completely goofed up.
Can you imagine if you’re Ben Arfa and you’re held back until the last 15, watching Perch and Shola? What’s French for “Here mate, it’s been nice knowing you, but I’m off”?
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
MM-Nah mate, Jonas was MOTM several times in the early season,Krul and Colo were absolutely fantastic last season. With a solid defence, Santon was immense going forward. Perch convinced everyone he was a PL player. Ba, Cisse and Benny were the ones I was mainly referring to as they were all pretty immense at some stage or the other.
I didn’t mean “on fire” in terms of incisive football, I just meant most players were at the top of their game for a large chunk of the season imo. Raylor and Simmo inc
Newkie(Quote)
PARDEW OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
B&B, HBA is knackered apparently. There again it depends which Pardew you speak too. Two weeks ago he was out for the season and looked like he’d been on the Dickmans pies diet in Clairefontaine. This week we are all expecting him to come on and weave some magic in a game where we are being absolutely battered. Crazy crazy crazy.
Munich Mag(Quote)
@Griff 404: Some People on this forum will probably call to award him a ballon ‘d’or
michael12(Quote)
KIMTOON
April 20, 2013 at 17:48
‘Hands up who thinks we’ll get anything from Dippers ,West Ham ,QPR or Arsenal?’
I watched most of the West Ham vs. Man U game and West Ham could easily have beaten the seemingly invincible Man U. It will be a miracle if we get anything against Nolan and Carroll. Carroll looked to be in the best form of the last 2 years and absolutely battered Vidic and Manure, they just couldn’t handle him.
DJG(Quote)
Newkie dude, that’s more like it mate 🙂 On fire was a tad enthusiastic 🙂
Why oh why do we sem to have no ability in the side and players who can hold the ball ? What is the manager coaching into these players ?
Today I watched FC Bayern second team batter Hannover 1-6 away from home. You couldn’t see the difference between the first and second 11. They ALL played the same kind of football, play no risk passes, move and accept the ball. Players who hadn’t played for weeks fitted seamlessly into the starting 11 because they have a system of play dictated by a top manager, where ball retention is the key to the game..
We cannot retain the ball in the side longer than 3 passes and play absolutely pish football. Blunder the ball forward and let’s see what happens. Absolutely *****.
Munich Mag(Quote)
That Premier League table looks pretty ***** this evening 🙁 Thank goodness for that hard earned point today.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Tony @412 Aye could be mate.
KIMTOON(Quote)
MM we should be looking outside the normal run of the game managers in the uk,the club needs a right freshness brought in,they cannot be any worse than what the toon have imo
icedog(Quote)
Ice, I still haven’t got the makkem battering out of my system. Today could also oh so easily have ended up in defeat. Have watched a bit of all teams around the bottom of the league, and apart from QPR they all played good attacking football as a team
That excuse for football what the toon turn out is absolutely pish. Clinging on by our finger nails in EVERY match.
Obviously it has nothing to do with the manager though, as several people on here have clearly pointed out 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
Toonsy,
Have you considered running a pole on Pardew?
It will certainly generate a healthy debate.
Count mine as OOT.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
TGS that makes three you me and your old man i bet lol
icedog(Quote)
Ice have you anyone in mind ?
Big Dave(Quote)
TGS have you anyone in mind, I have stated before that Pards is not my type of manager but I just don’t have faith in the club getting anyone better in
Big Dave(Quote)
Amazed at all these people calling for pards out. If Cisse had hit the goal when he had a golden opportunity, giving us a 2-1 win, what then? Did pards tell Cisse to miss? How about if the Everton board had sacked moyes when they finished 17th after a good season previously? The nufc managerial seat has been a revolving door since Sir Bobby and we finally have a chance to get some stability. Who honestly thinks we will get some hot shot manager who will work under Ashley for 500k a year. I’m not happy with the results but think we need to give him a bit more time. Just my opinion…
Cologne-toon(Quote)
MM-They were still on fire..just in a very disciplined and defensive manner….. 😆 😆
Newkie(Quote)
@CT
If Pards hadn’t sent us out after halftime to defend the 1 goal lead we might have went on and won 2 or 3-0. No we just put all the pressure on our shaky defense and then say all the players are ***** because they are told to defend at all costs.
What will Stability cost? A place in the league if we carry on at this rate Pardew has actually almost relegated us.
I would take Lee Clarke in a heartbeat over Pardew and im positive he would work for less that him.
Santii(Quote)
Cologne-Aye, we had a brilliant chance to make it 2-0. Doesn’t excuse the poor second half, but we should have put it beyond them in the first place. Unfortunately that miss seemed to spark them into life because honestly they didn’t seem too interested until then and we were cruising. And some people say he doesn’t miss easy chances…As i’ve always said, serious lack of composure. But he had a great assist today and did well for the most part.
Newkie(Quote)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing Cisse… My point was that it wasn’t pards fault that we miss chances. We got battered second half, true… Think that may have been more West Brom pushing as the home side than us becoming too defensive. But I’m not a manager (otherwise I’d be winning the fantasy football league…)
Cologne-toon(Quote)
Munich @ 417, you were fast asleep FFS. Besides, are all your comments exciting? Is that what you’re saying? If you don’t like it, just skip and move on. That’s one thing, perhaps the only thing, I agree with Troy about.
The sooner Big Dave mans up and comes clean about everything, the better. He hounds me relentlessly and misrepresents me, but he is the first to chase anyone when he feels he’s been wronged. Stardy likes to jump in too for the wind up. So he too should answer. I hate hypocrisy and injustice.
Unfortunately, when you’ve got them banged to rights, they just disappear. They claimed to have me bang to rights, and I’m just trying to tease them out because they’ve not responded. I don’t like their style of hiding when it heats up and gets to the crux when they’re exposed. The slightest excuse and they’re off. I know it’s worthy to be bigger than that, but I hate injustice more.
I disagree with a lot of people but still appreciate their views and often they influence me. If you can stand your ground and not disappear, it’s because you’ve got a valid point. That gets my respect. Those that take a pop at me and then run, I’ve got that fighting urge to take them on and seek them out.
It would take one or two posts from both of them to answer the points. If they make me look like an ****, so be it. Unfortunately, Big Dave is better than Big Dale Winton for going into a sulk, whilst Starfish is great at surfacing from the depths, spitting a gob full of sandy bottoms from an orafice, and diving back under a rock, never to be seen again for six months.
I just don’t get those that can’t be bothered to post late at night criticising those that can. Anyway, now that that’s off my chest, I’m happy to move on!
I’ll make one more remark from one of my observations. Those that criticise other people for making a post that they find boring are almost always the ones who have very little of interest to say. I’m all for Michael12 even if I disagree with him.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It’s a free country. There is a broad spectrum of opinion on here, but the majority are pozzers and the neggers, including me, are, for the most part, tolerated. At least Big Dave and Stardy will join the ruck and like a bit of a wind up and I respect them for that. Their comments are rarely dull.
No emoticons, no nuance.
On the football, great first half, right tactics. Be confident, press high, take the game to the opposition; what I’ve been advocating for months. Embarrassing second half.
Pardew himself said before the game there can be no excuses. So what are his excuses? That would be a great showing on which to blame a Thursday night Europa League game.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
April 20, 2013 at 19:21
My point was that it wasn’t pards fault that we miss chances
Don’t let them hear you say that!
Newkie(Quote)
Munich – What do you mean, Benny’s been knackered apparently? He’s been class when called upon.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
I did notice that Cisse seems to have learned the offside rule. That’s a good thing. Assist was great and Gouffran put a great header in. Still need to slap Cisse’s chops for his miss though… 🙂
Cologne-toon(Quote)
B&B, I do roll past your comments. 438 was another posting which I skipped merrily past. The unfortunate thing is that I invariably end up skipping your toon related comments at the same time, because I simply cannot be bothered to stomach you’re constant battling and sniping with guys on the blog. Pity really, cos I like cracking on with you about the toon…
Munich Mag(Quote)
B&B @440, have you missed the Pardew/HBA he’s injured, oh no he’s not, oh yes he is, oh no he’s not Morecambe and Wise script that has been running for a couple of weeks ? That is what I was referring too in my tongue in cheek comment aimed at the silver fox..
Munich Mag(Quote)
B&B….Benny was far from class today when he was called upon.
Munich Mag(Quote)
April 20, 2013 at 19:38
B&B….Benny was far from class today when he was called upon.
Don’t let HBA39 hear you say that!
😆
Newkie(Quote)
emoticones banned by B and B…. 😥 nOoooooooo ❗
djebs9(Quote)
I know Big Dave is a stalwart. He was here before me and he’ll be here after me so I’d rather bow out than upset him. In fact, I hate picking on anyone but I find myself clashing inexpicably with Dave so that’s not good.
If I do bow out, I’m sure Troy will be back, and I know how much everyone is missing him, if not his ridiculous disclaimer.
I do feel that you’ve got to bide your time to post anti-pardew comments because this site is, on balance, a feel good site. Trying to hold other posters to account and pursuing them isn’t appreciated. Inane banter is much preferred. Unfortunately, I’m not sufficiently laid back enough to go that way, even though I do, for the most part, appreciate so much of the banter and find it a great laugh.
“If you show yourself up to be a complete ****, there is some merit in that.” Swalwell Sage.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
DAVE @431 nay mate thats the prob but there “has” to be a better all round guy than what we have,maybe carr has his eye on up and coming guy,for christ sake southamton have a guy that cannot even speak english and they play a better game than us,even wigan try to play the game its just they havent the class of player we have and never will but they give 100%,its a long time since ive seen the toon players give the same imo
icedog(Quote)
Munich@ 443 – I must have. It sounds like a good one. I love good ones like that too.
Blackley & Brownlie(Quote)
don t be sad mr b&b…
djebs9(Quote)