Could these NUFC players shine at the World Cup?

Debuchy looks likely for France call
Debuchy looks likely for France call
It’s fair to say that there has been a lot of frustration around St James’ Park lately.

Heavy defeats at the hands of Manchester United, Southampton and Everton combined with a poor run of form since the turn of the year have heaped pressure on Alan Pardew, whilst his headbutt which led to a seven match touchline ban certainly hasn’t done him any favours.

A season which had started with so much promise has petered out to nothing and now we are in danger of slipping out of the top half of the Premier League table. But whilst the performances from the boys in black and white haven’t been favourable, there is only a handful of games left to impress for those wanting to be on the plane to Rio come June.

A dip in form is that last thing those looking to book a spot in their respective international squads for the World Cup need so with that in mind, let’s take a glance at who’s in line to feature at the World Cup. Well, we need something to look forward to, right?

Loic Remy

Loic Remy looks set to make the French squad but a few decent performances between now and the end of the Premier League season would help his cause greatly. Karim Benzema has been in superb form for Real Madrid, scoring 29 goals, so will certainly be the talisman, but competition for a supporting role is well and truly up for grabs with Remy, Giroud and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette all on Didier Deschamps’ shortlist.

The problem with this is that we’re going to lose Remy at end of the season anyway as his loan deal expires, and a decent World Cup will easily push him out of our price range, if indeed he’s not already out of our limited transfer range. Remember, we can’t compete financially blah blah blah.

Moussa Sissoko

Moussa Sissoko is an absolute physical beast and should be in the France squad for the World Cup. The former Toulouse man has worried fans on the terraces of late with concerns he’s more interested in being fit for Brazil, but he looks like he’ll be thrown back into the team following a pulled hamstring, which will no doubt help build his fitness before joining up with France who are being backed to reach the quarter finals at the very least by freebets.

Mathieu Debuchy

The former Lille man has arguably been our best performer of the season, an accolade that could have been afforded to his mate Yohan Cabaye before he moved back across La Manche to Paris Saint Germain. Debuchy and Arsenal man Bacary Sagna are the two players who likely to tussle it out for the right-back spot in Dechamps’ squad.

Fabricio Coloccini

Over the years Coloccini has failed to nail a regular spot at centre-half in the Argentina squad, often having to pull out through injury, but the stalwart has World Cup experience and was trusted in the vital game that sealed the South American side’s place in the finals.
He’s also not happy with Newcastle’s performances of late. He recently told Sky Sports; “We are trying to win every game, of course we are. We have to play with pride for this club and for the fans.”

Hopefully the shaggy haired stopper heeds his own words in the final run in.

Shola Ameobi

The Newcastle veteran has only scored two domestic goals this season, but after a solid spell of form in November, followed by a goal for the Super Eagles against Italy, Shola Ameobi seems like he might finally get his chance at a major tournament.

He’ll be battling Victor Obinna and Emmanual Emenike for a place in the starting line-up though, whilst Ezekiel and Uchebo, who ply their trade in the Belgian leagues, will also be fighting for a position.

Cheik Tiote

It could be the Ivorian’s last chance to do something special this year with the likes of Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba perhaps starring at their last major tournament. And they have plenty to play for in a favourable group.

The defensive midfielder has played a major role on Tyneside this season and has allegedly caught the eye of Manchester City in the last few months.

The outsiders

There are several players who have a chance of finding themselves on the plane to Rio. Tim Krul perhaps has the best chance of the lot but is unlikely to be anything more than a squad member for the Netherlands. Vurnon Anita has not been called up fro a while and is not going to force his way into the reckoning now. For France there is Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Hatem Ben Arfa who have previously featured for their country but have fallen off the radar recently and I feel that they are in the same boat as Vurnon Anita and will have to watch from the sidelines.

When you look at it, especially the players who are near certainties to go to the World Cup, they haven’t done too badly at all. Loic Remy is our top scorer with Mathieu Debuchy performing well and Moussa Sissoko showing glimpses despite being played out of position.

However it is those on the periphery that have suffered. All four of my outsiders could have had solid seasons and worked their way into the thinking of their national team managers yet none of them have. In part that is down to Pardew and the weakness of the NUFC squad through lack of investment, but there must also be some blame apportioned to players who ultimately control their own performances.

Is it too early to start thinking about the World Cup? Not when you look at our season! If it’s not to the taste of some then tell me why, but personally I dislike going on about the same things over and over and there is only so many times I can write that Pardew must go or Ashley must go or we’ve been bad since Christmas and so on. Hence something different.

Has anything been missed?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

981 thoughts on “Could these NUFC players shine at the World Cup?

  1. Solano ,Good question mate , for me 8th is fine so long as we are playing attractive football and maybe having a good go in the cups. I’m not deluded enough to think that we have a right to top 6 and Idon’t think many fans are for that matter. What we want is a spirited performance a real desire to win with no surrender the second we concede a goal which is what happens time and time again. Last season when we were crapper than **** and some said Pards needed sacking people said he got us to 5th the season before he deserves another season judge him then . Well if we end up with 46 points that’s only 5 more than last year or if we beat Cardiff only 8 . This year we have an arguably better squad than we started last season with. Now we are already making excuses for him for next season before a ball is kicked by saying he has no say on signings 😉

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  2. Trouble is fatty isn’t just going to walk away for nothing, has no intention of selling on the cheap, and has no one knocking on his door to buy him out.
    So how do we achieve this ❓

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  3. Kim-we are certainly ending this season with a worse squad than we started the season with two years ago. Most people will probably say Remy is better than Ba as well, but Ba scored as many in a half season than Remy has this one.

    The only swap that could happen that i’d like to see would be “better” football and more goals, but that’s all open to interpretation and subject to constant change. Laudrupp played champagne football apparently and was booted out because the players had zero passion. 😉

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  4. Really I am staggered. I’m staggered at the number of people on here who seem to be insinuating that if we had another manager we would be higher than we are now! That’s incredible, just incredible. We are where we deserve to be. The clubs above us are better than us, it’s not hard to understand that is it?

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  5. Stuart I would have taken 8th before the season so I hear what you are saying. But surely way the club has played the second half of the season must factor into any honest assessment of Pardew.

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  6. MDS, agree mate, it’s not the position so much as the manner of the football. It is agony to watch it and has been for a long long time imo.

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  7. Cabaye is a huge miss but it wasnt all down to him when we played well at Villa, Palace, Cardiff, Man utd, Hull, Against Chelsea, Dug in against liverpool with ten men for an hour and the Spurs alamo style 2nd half. The half arsed way weve played since january is unrecognisable for those performances, There is something fundamentally wrong for us to drop from top six at christmas 6 points off the top and where we are now.

    A new manager would only make a 8-12 point difference, A place or two max difference. But something has to change as they arent listening to him anymore. This **** can not carry over into next season as it did with Bobby, Dalglish, Gullit before we get rid after a handful of matches and its yet another lost season scrapping to get to 40…

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  8. MDS – Squads are tested after new year. The strongest go on, the weakest fall off as injuries, suspensions and a loss of form effect the first team players and the weaker squads can’t replace them with like for like players. Spree odd squad might get lucky and have no injuries but not us. We had injuries to Remy (our top goal scorer) and also sold our best player and second top goal scorer Cabaye.

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  9. Absolutely Kim – its not that we expect to be higher really, but more that we want to see some attacking positive football. Pardew is a lost soul, bereft of a clue how to change anything.
    Its about the Football, Stuart, not the league position.
    Or isn’t that important to you

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  10. Stu,

    Thats very much part of the problem Stu. Pardew is a clueless, spineless coward and a yes man. He quite obviously has next to zero coaching prowess, and hasnt been able to get the best out of the majority of players we have bought (quite a few of whom came with a good reputation). Why would Ashley trust him with funds. Whilst I acknowledge that Ashley is the crux of the problem, I still feel another manager, ANY other manager for that matter might actually have a positive influence on MA in some shape or form.

    The longer we persist with AP, the worse the football we will play, the worse this malaise will become, the worse calibre of player we will attract and the lower the expectation will be driven. I cant see a single positive aspect of Pardew as a manager apart from the fact he gets on well with English lads. Not much of a positive when you consider a team of taylors, williamson, gosling, shola, colback etc etc

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  11. Stu the loss of Cabaye and Remy for a spell surely had an impact and that is why until very recently I supported Pards. But the nature of the most recent performances has to be blames somewhat on Pardew: the fact that certain players have regressed, others not developed, the lack of any tactical adjustments to suit a changed team, etc. It is far from all his fault but he hasn’t done a thing to adjust for the second year in a row and now the spirit of the players are gone. He’s far from the first manager that has had to deal with adversity

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  12. BB – I said a couple of weeks ago I would sack Pardew and replace him with someone who is just going to play good football as that’s all we have. We aren’t in to to win trophies so good football is all we can ask for. Problem is of course, there’s no guarantees we would get anyone better but it would offer us some excitement.

    We wouldn’t finish any higher though.

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  13. Stu ,That’s the thing for me mate , I don’t like the no cup effort or not striving to at least try for top 6 but I will accept it so long as the football is entertaining. I cannot accept being constantly embarrassed week in week out and even when not out of form boring stale 1.0 wins ,I may as well be in the garden pulling up weeds for all the enjoyment I’m getting at the mo.

    WHY has this guy been sacked by every club? read past fans forums from his other clubs you will find it’s the same things being said as by us ,it’s uncanny really.

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  14. Just seen a post on another blog that sums us up perfectly at present.
    ” we have become a farce instead of a force” 😳

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  15. Pardew has an excuse for everything! His not a fan and only cares about getting his paycheque! This run of form is totally Ashley’s fault for not caring and letting fucking idiots walk all over him! Weak team, Weak manager and a **** owner!

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  16. BB, He has been linked with a few clubs now, he’s defo away imo.good luck to him ,he’s been pretty loyal to be fair. There is a limit to how much anyone can take though.

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  17. Stu – you say:

    BB – I said a couple of weeks ago I would sack Pardew and replace him with someone who is just going to play good football as that’s all we have. We aren’t in to to win trophies so good football is all we can ask for. Problem is of course, there’s no guarantees we would get anyone better but it would offer us some excitement.

    We wouldn’t finish any higher though.

    That’s exactly where I’m at mate. I don’t have unrealistic expectations of CL or Cup finals. But good football, similar to what Saints have produced this season isn’t too much to ask I reckon.
    We played well against Hull despite the head **** incident, and that was with this group of players.
    Yes he needs some better players, but I honestly think this group of players we have now are massively underperforming and I do think they are better than their current form.
    I’m not letting the players off, but I do think that Pardew is tactically inept.

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  18. Bayern lost one match in 39 before they secured the title. After securing it they’ve lost 3 in 9.

    Some of the best players in the world with one of the most decorated and coveted managers showing clear signs of “can’t be arsed” syndrome. Because there’s nothing to play for. Now Pardew and co have been utterly rubbish, but the sale of Cabaye was a clear “season over” sign to everyone. Everyone goes on their holidays.

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  19. @Kim

    He’s the second longest serving Premiership manager. 95% of all other managers have been sacked whilst he’s kept his job.

    I’m almost certain if Cabaye and cover for Remy had been obtained in January then we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

    I’m basing my opinion on the fact he had us competing for 4th place late December.

    😉

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  20. @Kim

    The Ben Arfa article is a pile of **** IMO.

    He has been given chance after chance by Pardew. The crowd scream for him to come on the pitch and when he does they groan every run he makes cos he is too slow, greedy and fat.

    The best player at the club with the worst attitude. Unfortunately he’s only got himself to blame.

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  21. Troy , One question mate. Have you honestly, even with Cabs and Remy in the team enjoyed our football this season?

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  22. @Kim

    I thought it was great pre-window.
    He’s tried to play football this season.

    Unfortunately you can’t play football without a creative player.

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  23. Kim

    Competing for a CL spot is hardly being easily pleased. He has tried to keep the ball on the ground this season but that gone to wry since January.

    I’m certainly not pleased now. Ashley pulled the rug.

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  24. It takes a special kind of buffoon manager who after 3 years in the job relies on one creative player and one loan striker in his squad of 25 to get the points on the board.
    Any manager worth his salt would be demanding more from his chairman.
    If Parsnip is such a valuable asset/irreplaceable mouth piece to fat bastid, he should use that to his advantage and threaten to resign if the rug should be pulled mid season without replacements.
    Unfortunately he is a clueless, spineless, ****.

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  25. so the squad of players we have are ****, but at the same time competing for a champions league place. Hmmm 😕
    Whatever 😳

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  26. Troy, the highest we’ve been this season is 6th for a few weeks ,hardly competing for CL spot . Down to 7thby December when Cabs was still with us the only reason we aren’t lower than we are now is cause other teams have also stuttered . Even with Cabs we would never have gotten a CL spot, Everton and Arsenal were always the more likely to achieve that 4th place and deservedly so with the great football they have played.

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  27. @Bootsy

    Why would he want to lose his job? He’s likely to be on a basic wage with huge bonuses.

    He accepted the terms & conditions when he signed up. He’s in it up to the eyes with Ashley.

    He’s happy to go along with Ashley’s plans. It just so happens Ashley is starving him of quality players.

    Do you expect the next manager to question Ashley? Howay Bootsy. The terms & conditions are agreed from the outset. It’s Ashley’s way or Ashley’s way.

    I don’t know how you can’t understand the situation.

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  28. @Kim

    With the great football they play. And Arsenals great players you meant to add 😉

    We did well to even get near them. 😉

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  29. I don’t think we stuck to the Pardew game plan yesterday. I mean, the game plan was to befuddle them with wor scrambly bits wasn’t it? And to bamboozle them with wor cagey hoofball? We just didn’t do it. Did Arsenal look befuddled or bamboozled to you lot? No they did not. Harrumph!

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  30. @ Bootsy

    You say;
    so the squad of players we have are ****, but at the same time competing for a champions league place. Hmmm
    Whatever

    I say,

    They are **** now and we were competing at that time for a CL place.

    I fail to see how you can’t see it.

    Despite Kim’s response, we were within a few points of the CL places.

    You’s are blinkered by hatred towards Pardew. It’s a shame you aren’t acting rationally. 😉

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  31. Well Bayern are done. They’ve looked toothless against Real and they can’t defend either.

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  32. Howay Troy,
    The next manager might just play Goufran in a more attacking role as opposed to a defensive left midfielder.
    Pardew is too negative and has completely lost the plot.
    He has to go

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  33. How far do you lot think we are away from having a top, top side? Alan says the future is bright. So do we need possibly 2 players to really go for it next season? 3? I thought I heard someone mutter 3. 4 from the far side? Do I have 5? So it’s 5 going once. There’s 6 ladies and gentlemen, we have 6. 7 from anyone? Seven? Once more for 7. Ahhhh 7 it is to the gentleman with the Jackie Milburn sweater. Very good. 8, do I have 8? 8 anyone? Yes there it is 8, from the lovely lass up front. Now let’s go for 9. Come on you lot does anyone want in for 9? Yessss! We have 9. Funny that looks a bit like John Carver in disguise. So it’s 9 then, going once, going twice. Nine is the number mates! Only 9 good players need to make us a top, top side. Beautiful.

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  34. Troy – Boots has a point mate. pre-Jan we were a few points from CL spot. post – Jan and our form would have us in the bottom 3.
    I know you are talking about creativity but in the 19 games Cabaye played for us this season he had 4 assists.

    I just think its a really weak arguement to say, he’s lost Cabaye so he never had a chance. Yet he’s never tried Marveaux through the middle and he’s never went with 4-4-2 with natural wingers to get the balls in from wide areas.
    I agree with you about Benny, but he has 7 assists. Having lost Cabaye, maybe Pardew should have tried changing his game plan to accommodate a Benny or Marv. Build grafters like Gouffran, Tiote and Sissoko around those players.
    I’m not saying it was nailed on to work mate, but what I’m saying is that he’s sat there feeling sorry for himself about Cabaye and changed nothing.

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  35. Troy@872
    Troy Stavers

    April 29, 2014 at 20:37

    @TGS

    Goufran is **** wherever you play him like most of the squad. 😉

    That’ll be the same guy who has gotten us 7 goals this season then Troy

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  36. Yeah Kim. I thought Gouffron was a revelation in the first half of the season. Scored some big goals and generally worked his socks off.

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  37. @Sharpy

    Please don’t simplify my argument about the reasons we’ve lost form since January. If you can’t be bothered to read the dozens of previous posts where I’ve explained the full reasons then don’t bother at all. 😉

    @Kim

    Goufran is limited. I can’t be any more honest. He works hard but is very limited. If you think otherwise then I feel I’ve got the upper hand on you. 😉

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  38. Troy the team is without a captain. Colocini never communicate’s with the player’s. I don’t know if Cabaye was a better captain or more respected but it’s made a big difference. It could be Pardew can’t get the best out of them and was more of a manager than Pardew ?

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  39. Troy – I’ve read most of your posts, and I’m not trying to simplify anything. Cabaye was a big player and needed replacing, but he wasn’t and most of us said on here ‘season over’. Pardew has tried nothing different. He’s stuck to the same game plan and continued to use the loss of Cabaye or need to strengthen in the summer as the reason for our poor form in the 2nd half of the season.
    We had 40 points by Jan – we currently have 46.
    He’s brought Shola and Gosling into the team, both leaving at the end of the season?!.
    I just don’t think he’s tried enough mate.

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  40. just been looking at other unemployed managers win percentages throughout their careers.
    Di matteo – Chelsea 57.14%
    W. Brom 48.19%
    M K D 51.92%

    Laudrup averages between 28 -42% and his highest was 57.58% with Brondby

    Mackay – Watford 40%
    – Cardiff 43.20%

    Martin Jol – Spurs- 45.27%
    F/ham 35.63%
    previous teams between 50-64%

    Win % Pards

    Reading 48.11 %
    West Ham United 41.10 %
    Charlton Athletic 31.11 %
    Southampton 53.13 %
    Newcastle United 9 December 2010 Present 37.50 %

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  41. Find it hilarious how Troy always said Cabaye was overrated. He wasn’t a great player.

    Yet in his next breath he says the loss of Cabaye has seen us go from CL contenders to 14 loses in 18 games.

    He also questioned me when I suggested Ben Arfa was a selfish lazy player who only played for himself. Yet now seems to agree.

    Others laughed when years ago I suggested Ashley was making “false” bids for players with no intention of signing them. But again it would seem I was right.

    He’s about three years behind me.

    Just waiting for him to catch up now and realise Pards is a poor manager that makes decent players look **** poor.

    Ps. Gouffran is a good player Troy. So is Routeledge. But not under Pardew.

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  42. Mike Ashley’s a wonderful owner and Alan’s a wonderful manager. They will get us in the champions league next year. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

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  43. I agree with Troy on this one. Let Alan get his replacement for Cabaye, Arfa, Shola then judge him on results.

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  44. Well I almost got my wish for Brisbane to play Newcastle. Pity the Roar turned down the offer to participate in the NZ tournament in July. I’d have gone over there just for that game. 😥

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  45. You could still go just to watch the Toon Bris, you’d be one of the first to see the new free flowing attacking footy we’ll be playing next season 😉

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  46. I might well do that, Richie. Although in July our fantastic world cup stars probably won’t be there, but you never know, that fluid midfielder Jack Colback might be.

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