That slither of light was provided by Swansea in midweek, who thankfully beat Wigan on their own turn ensuring that we don’t enter this match against QPR in the bottom three of the Premier League table.
In fact the result for Swansea has given us another chance to get ourselves out of this mess and could potentially see us safe on Tuesday evening providing to things happen. The first thing that needs to happen is that we need to pick up at least a point at Loftus Road tomorrow, although ideally we’d pick up three. The second thing is that Wigan must lose at Arsenal on Tuesday (or achieve no more than a draw if we win at QPR) which would be enough to see us safe heading into the final league game of the season and would see super Roberto Martinez – managerial mastermind in the eyes of some – relegate Wigan with a record that isn’t even comparable to that of Steve Bruce!
QPR
Chris Samba is doubtful for the visit of the Magpies as he battles with a knee injury. Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) and Andrew Johnson (knee) will both miss the match and what is left of the season as both have undergone surgery on their respective injuries. Tal Ben Haim has already left the club and has signed for MLS side Toronto FC while goalkeeper Julio Cesar won’t be considered for selection.
Newcastle:
Mathieu Debuchy is available once more after sitting out the 0-0 draw with West Ham last weekend due to suspension. Tim Krul, Shola Ameobi and Moussa Sissoko have been ruled out for the rest of the season and will join Ryan Taylor and Haris Vuckic on the treatment table. Sylvain Marveaux and Davide Santon are training again although their readiness for match action remains unknown while Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson are available again after returning from loan spells at Middlesbrough and Birmingham respectively.
Previously…
United go looking for a first league double of the season following on from the 1-0 victory recorded at St James’ Park back in December. The goalscorer that day – Shola Ameobi.
Newcastle last tasted defeat at Loftus Road back in 1995. The scoreline was 3-0 that day and whilst 1995 sounds a long time ago there has only been three matches in West London since then with United recording two victories (one in the Championship) and one draw.
Home and away and in all competitions our record against each other is remarkably similar. There have been 41 games contested between the two sides with United winning 18, QPR winning 16 with 7 draws making up the numbers.
Match stats and facts:
QPR have the worst home record in the division having won just two games in front of their own fans all season long.
United have the third-worst away record in the division and have won just once on the road all season.
QPR have failed to score on 15 occasions this term and have not scored in their last four league games.
United have kept only two clean sheets away from home all season. Last week at West Ham was one with the other coming against Norwich in January.
If Newcastle fail to win tomorrow it will be our worst season away from home in terms of wins. Even in our relegation season we managed to win two games away from home.
Final thought:
On the face of it United have everything to play for whilst QPR have nothing, but that isn’t strictly true. Their pride will be hurting and they will be wanting to sign off the season with a win in front of their own fans. They owe us no favours.
We have the capability and quality to win this game no doubt, but we’ve had that in other games also and have crumbled before. The pressure is most definitely on us and we must get a result, whether it be through nice football or dog ugly long-ball stuff I don’t care as long as we get the points on the board. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re hardly in a position where we can be picky about the type of football we play, are we?
P.S: I’m getting a bit fed up of the snide remarks people seem to be aiming towards each other and the amount of general bickering right now. Fed up to the point of considering whether it’s actually worth keeping this open bearing in mind I set it up with the aim of encouraging RESPECTFUL debate between ADULTS who support NUFC. I know a lot of people are annoyed with things right now, but come on, it doesn’t mean that people have to act like peckers does it now? Calm it down please, make your point, respect others, and all will be good.
Howay the lads!
Date: Sunday, 12th May, 2013
Time: 3pm
Venue: Loftus Road
duster @ 60
they’ve had enough of him & he knows it – that’s why he’s loosening his lips.
good riddance!
roy cropper(Quote)
A Chelsea win is what we need. Come on Chelsea 👿 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)
😆 yeah I guess I will go from Shanghai- Toon, then Cologne-Toon to Dubai-Toon. Original huh? 😆
My new job is with Jotun! Currently just finished with DuPont, but started out many years ago with international (which became Akzo) Did 18 years with them and almost 10 with Dupont. Not offshore, I’m in powder coatings not liquid paints…
Cologne-toon(Quote)
Villa are another team who cannot last the 95 minutes…
Munich Mag(Quote)
C’mon Chelsea ffs
KIMTOON(Quote)
MM@70 Steady you’ll have Micheal 12 after you 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Get in Lamps 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Super Frankie Lampard get in 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 Take that Villa 😈
KIMTOON(Quote)
Get in lamps
Newkie(Quote)
GET IN CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Munich Mag(Quote)
villa is safe.mate… lose or not againts chelskovsky…
and hope they re playing well vs wigan…if we have bad news… ❗
it is just what i m afraid…
djebs9(Quote)
7mins fergie time
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
@MM – I think Ben Arfa being back (if allowed to concentrate on attacking) is a massive plus as he bring that unpredictability we lack to opposition. The biggest plus in my opinion is Colo. All in all I fancy our chances tomorrow. If we set out with the intent of pinching the game then that will be down to the occaasion/situation and not being focussed on a team that player for player we should ordinarily simply look to beat.
Golden chance. 3 points please. 🙄
HODDO(Quote)
What a fab player he’s been for Chelsea ,tell you what if they don’t wanna keep him ,can we have him 😉
This means Arsenal have to really go for it v Wigan now 😀 and Villa have it all to do last day.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kimmy@81, I’m not afraid of Micheal12 mate 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
ffs hate added time
KIMTOON(Quote)
hasard have a benarfa hamstring symptome…. 🙄
djebs9(Quote)
MM,@81 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Hoddo@88, I agree mate, hence my 3-0 up after 12 minutes comment. Quick out of the traps, full power play and 2 quick goals, they won’t know what has hit them 😉 HBA the main man….replaced by Campbell at half time with his socks round his ankles.
Coolo being back is also an immense improvement in the team …
Munich Mag(Quote)
Dave , I think the loss of Benny and Colo has been a major factor in our form along with numnuts negative play. Reckon we have missed Raylor too .
KIMTOON(Quote)
i cant see that…
djebs9(Quote)
bloody hell Villa going for it
KIMTOON(Quote)
c’mon whers all the negativity gone. If everybody is cheerful who am I gonna grumble at.
Premandup(Quote)
10mn 😯
djebs9(Quote)
All over ,Villa stuck on 40 ,win tommorow and we leapfrog them 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Interesting..
Newkie(Quote)
Cologne-Toon, good luck with the new start mate, keep posting, and keep us posted of developments. Rest assured you can get some of the good old German nectar down Dubai way too 🙂
Can anyone explain why we have +7 minutes added on time at Villa yet the ref plays +9 minutes ? It seem sas if quite a few games last 97+ minutes these days, could it be a directive from up above ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Good. A win tomorrow and we are safe.
brisvegas(Quote)
cood says kimtoon…this tve summary of season…global players injury and particulary miss hba and colo 😥
djebs9(Quote)
If we draw out last two games and Wigan win theirs, Aston Villa could go down on goal difference. I hope they somehow manage to go down. I don’t like Wigan, but Villa’s fans make me sick. They’re as fair weather as they come.
The Kid(Quote)
any result is more important than the fucking win e ffs 3points sunday… 😐 i m sic….
djebs9(Quote)
Cheers MM!
Cologne-toon(Quote)
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/new-study-ranks-alan-pardew-as-second-best-manager-in-europe-last-season/
Interesting readings, seems the silver fox was even better than we thought last season, I think it kind of puts to bed the whole he fluked it last year. Not defending Pardew from this year’s performance however, just think that when/should we stay up he should be given the start of next season to prove that last year wasn’t a one off. Also he came second to that Montpellier guy we have been linked to so it would be sensible to go for him should we part ways with Alain Pardeux.
Andymag(Quote)
The Kid ,Agree ,I don’t like Wigan or Villa for obvious reasons and rather them down than US the Scum or Hoots lot.
KIMTOON(Quote)
What’s everyone’s thoughts on the team for tomorrow?
I’d go with the same team that played vs West Ham in a 4-3-3 formation. Hopefully Marv can make the bench to improve our attacking options off the bench.
——————Elliott——————-
Simmo–Saylor–Collocini–M’Biwa
————Tiote——Jonas————
—————–Cabaye—————–
—–Ben Arfa–Cisse–Gouffran—-
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Perch, Marveaux, Anita, Samiobi, Campbell
Oblong(Quote)
what is the table now since mackems… ❓
djebs9(Quote)
I see Lampard scored twice to become Chelsea’s all time leading goalscorer.. just in time eh. 😯
DJG(Quote)
See Pards has said in the Ronny Gill – “I dont think my contract is cast iron either”
Stardust(Quote)
@ STARDUST 23 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Wow some match that was.
Cant believe we are over 100 comments already. 😯
Peace and Love to everyone.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Balls I forgot about Debuchy being back…..put him in for Willow on the bench 😆
Oblong(Quote)
Oblong@110…… have you toasted Debuchy 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
another game another missed goal 😯 watched the chelsea game thought ba effort was over the line meself 😯 roll on next season when they bring on the goal tech cant come soon enough in my view 😐
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
is it still possible for villa to go down please ❓
That really would make my season complete.
I may even forgive Pardum all his crimes if we can just get 3 points tomorrow.
Howay the Lads n Lasses
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Interesting Read Andy. Also I like the approach used for the study. Is a bit sqewed against the big clubs I would have thought but valid nevertheless.
Good result for us as Spurs can no longer catch Chelsea. That makes the fight for 4th down to Spurs and Arsenal. Best result for us would be Stoke v Spurs to be a draw. That would mean that Arsenal could clinch 4th place by beating Wigan, Then even if spurs won their last game Arsenal would win on Goal diff even if they lost to us. IF Stoke beat spurs the pressure is off Arsenal and if Spurs win the Arsenal will need to beat us in the their last game.
Premandup(Quote)
TAE – agree about the goal-line tech. It could end up costing a club multiple millions the way it is currently going on. Madness.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Prem – the permutations are getting mind boggling. 😕
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB
Yeah Villa can still go down if Wigan beat Arsenal, we beat QPR and the others pick up points. Then Villa go to Wigan without Benteke on the last day and if they lose and others get points they can still go down.
DJG(Quote)
Has Ashley pulled the trigger yet on the “FOOL” 😈 😈
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
MM – I agree. AndyMag 108 – I agree.
I ‘m just hoping for a hardy performance with real intent.
It can’t be nice for the players, the pressure is on and we are favourites with a hell of a lot to play for. But from a fans point of view if we show we’re turning up to earn 3 points outright a draw or even a loss is easier to accept. I hope we’re out of the blocks, fast… the longer that game is at 0-0 the more we’ll panic and the toon are’nt blessed with enough quality to handle calm. We have good players but as a team we ain’t that good. We’ve got to be at it.
Fingers crossed
HODDO(Quote)
Not only are there three points to play for tomorrow, but there is also a shed load of money to be won by achieveing a higher place in the league 🙄
Ashley should offer the players a special one-off bonus for the last two games 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM ,Agree ,I wouldn’t mind betting Whelan has already done that at Wigan.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Prem
I thought so too, using betting odds and how well a club defied them to calculate how well a manager did is very smart.
Andymag(Quote)
MM what more do the players want he’s already agreed to give them SD vouchers 😯 is that not enough
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave
Ashley has also thrown in a years supply of knock-off trackies.
Andymag(Quote)
Andy don’t be telling Batty that as he will blow a gasket as he normally gets them of Jabba 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave you forget that certain people amonst us have seen the pics of you in your blue and pink shell suit 😉
batty(Quote)
MM – can you please highlight where I’ve said everyone should agree? You won’t because I’ve never written that.
All I’m saying is that if people are going to disagree then do so respectfully and don’t be a ****** about it. Its really not hard to understand.
toonsy(Quote)
Batts blue and pink 😀 does it suit me 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
yes it suits you dave it matches you pink dunks 😆
batty(Quote)
I have a feeling Mancini will part ways if he doesn’t win today. But they should win and I hope they do, I would hate to see Wigan win owt
Big Dave(Quote)
Toonsy@133 – can you please highlight where I said you said that everyone should agree ? 😯
In my post @6 I was actually picking up on your own stop bickering request. You were the one who chose to do a “Pardew” and go public, whereas you chose to completely ignore my suggestion of having a word with the “bickerers” off the record… 🙁 Then you play the sympathy card by threatening to shut down the blog … 😆
I thought I made some pertinetnt points @6 mate, sorry that it obviously wound you up, that wasn’t my intention at all.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Batty
😆
Andymag(Quote)
QPR have completely imploded on themselves now so if we somehow dont manage to beat them i will be shocked. I think 1 point will keep us up as i don’t see Wigan beating Arsenal or even getting a point.
@DJG
I think if Jose becomes the manager he will instantly give Lampard the year extension that has been talked about. Beast player like and he does seem like a top bloke
Santii(Quote)
Batty, pink shell suits are a bit 80’s though mate….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TDhvLDj-68
Munich Mag(Quote)
Big Dave@136, that would be ironic if after all the cafuffle over Mancini, he won the FA Cup today then said flock it and moved on to the Real Madrid job or a big job in Italy…. They really don’t know how lucky they are over at Man City… With SAF moving on the EPL next year will be wide open, and who better than Mancini at the helm..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Santii@139, for the second goal today Lampard just passed the ball with perfect pace, then sauntered into the box for the return and finished brilliantly. What a great servant for Chelsea, he got Benitez single handidly out of jail today and was the difference between 1 and 3 points.
Munich Mag(Quote)
i think man city will deal wigan another nail in the coffin for them today, be tough to lose a cup final and pick ya self up in 3 days to play at arsenal
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
MM I didn’t think the lime green suited you in your pic 😆 oh and I think Toonsy has picked you up wrong as I thought you were backing his points up about the **** that has been going on, & I know you were one of the ones trying to calm things down most of the time, admittedly it was in your ham fisted way 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
I wonder who Pardew was having a shot at when he was blaming “2 local journo’s ” for letting him down over the last couple of weeks ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/john-gibson-alan-pardews-place-3605338
It doesn’t seem to be John Gibson……and the Chronicle have been supportive of AP… ok hands up……who was it … 👿
Munich Mag(Quote)
Big D@144, I was just trying my best to talk B&B down from the ledge after you had him ducking and weaving last week with your tactics 😉 Nailing water to a tree is what someone called it …
Munich Mag(Quote)
Big D, I can understand if some of the longer words I use come across for you as ham fisted … 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM been i long time since you saw water 😀
icedog(Quote)
Icedog, have you got your thirty bob on Cisse scoring a hat trick tomorrow ? You heard it first here mate 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)