However I see not a lot has changed. Alan Pardew is, against all odds, still in the managerial hotseat, we’re still struggling as a team and we’ve still yet to record a win in the league this season.
United will be aiming to change the last part of that statement this afternoon when newly-promoted Leicester City visit St James’ Park. It’s an interesting one for me personally as I live near Leicester these days and married into a family of which half were born in Leicestershire, so for me today the banter stakes are high.
For Newcastle, the stakes are even higher. Results may have been poor but I cling onto the fact that we’ve salvaged recent draws against Hull and Swansea when we could have hidden and got beat. Again. Although a large part of avoiding defeat has been down to the return of Papiss Cisse who will be hoping to add to his tally of four league goals this season.
Newcastle:
Emmanuel Riviere is doubtful as reported yesterday although the other injury concerns, namely Tim Krul, Daryl Janmaat and Paul Dummett, should be fit to feature. French pair Moussa Sissoko and Remy Cabella returned from international duty with France with no problems while Cheik Tiote and Papiss Cisse survived long-haul international trips unscathed which means that Davide Santon and Siem De Jong remain our only senior first-team absentees.
Leicester City:
Matt Upson and Zoumana Bakayogo are the only injuries that former United caretaker boss Nigel Pearson has to contend with.
Previously…
We haven’t had much of a recent history against the Foxes with our last meetings coming from when we faced each other in the Championship where United secured a 1-0 victory at St James’ Park while only a draw could be mustered against 10-men at the Walkers Stadium.
Historically though we do have the upper hand, especially at home where the 54 games played at St James’ Park have yielded 36 victories for United with Leicester returning home South with victory on just seven occasions.
Overall 108 games have been played to date with Newcastle winning 46, Leicester winning 37 with 25 stalemates thrown in for good measure.
Stats and facts:
The Magpies are the only side yet to score first in a Premier League game this season.
Out of the 17 ever-present Premier League sides in 2014, Newcastle have earned the fewest points (20), scored the fewest goals (21) and conceded the most (49).
Leicester have only found the net once in their three league matches away from home this season.
However they are the second-most efficient scoring team in the Premier League, with 11 of their 62 shots resulting in a goal (18%). Chelsea lead the way with 20 goals from 101 shots (20%).
Final thought…
It’s actually starting to get desperate and we’re almost at the point where we’ve gone beyond a bad start and look to be settling into a battle to get away from the bottom of the table. That will get harder and harder unless we start picking up points and even a win today would only see us potentially move up one place.
But we do need that win and the longer it takes to come the harder it will be to achieve. Haven’t we waited long enough for one now?
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 18th, October
Time: 3pm
Venue: St James’ Park
Can someone please explain to me what Gouffran does to get in the team ahead of Cabella?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I agree mate. For me Cabella should be out on the wing. He may not have the physicality to play through the middle but he has the pace, tricks and delivery to be a more effective wide man than Gouffran IMO. If he was playing Gouffran at all it should be through the middle off Cisse instead of Sissoko.
How personally, I’d drop both Sissoko and Gouffran in favour of either Perez or Armstrong off Cisse.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Realistically speaking it’s not hard to predict we won’t get any points from Spurs or bindippers sharpy mate. The main defeatist is Ashley as far as I can tell. Neither of those teams would have to play brilliantly to beat us. They both have solid Prem teams. We don’t. Call it defeatism or realism or anything else you like. It’s a fact. We have an incompetent owner who should leave as soon as possible.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
If you really think we have good enough players you haven’t been watching the games in 2014 Sharpy. It’s sad but true. We’re a bottom 5 team. No doubt about it. Ashley has destroyed any semblance of a decent club in his time here.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
And this from Mike:
“I’m really enjoying going to the matches this season. We’ve built such a solid club over the years here. I’m proud of the tremendous talent I’ve brought in to the management side. Other clubs are green with envy. It’s a stability thing you know? I just aim for stability. I’m still very close with the supporters. As long as my body guards are well armed I feel quite comfortable.”
Brilliant Mike.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 – yes but fortunately Ashley won’t be on the pitch to face either team 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
G2 – there’s no doubt that the players have been in shocking form. But that doesn’t make them bad players. We’ve had players played out of position regularly. Players playing without confidence or leadership, and players that should have been dropped with others in the squad given a chance.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy I agree with you to an extent but there is no excuse for a pro footballer not to be able to pass the ball or make a tackle
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave – to whom do you refer ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB this season ? Most of the team couldnt make a simple pass, as for not making a tackle Willo and Collo have been the main culprits, but there has been others
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – I agree mate. I think for a good while now they play like startled rabbits and panic on the ball or if the opposition press them. For me a big problem is lack of leadership on the pitch during that 90mins. A calming influence, encourager and someone to get hold of things when we’re under the cosh.
These are PL players and obviously have the ability, yet all too often get that rush of blood and loose discipline.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The players on the park have often looked confused by the tactics.
That’s down to Pardew.
Yesterday was no different except we had added attacking impetus.
But I agree, the midfield is all wrong.
Again that is down to Pardew.
I just wish he would try 4-4-2 for a change
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB Pards has to take a lot of the blame but there is noway he can take the blame for players not being able to pass a ball or make a tackle.
Sharpy on the leader I am and have been saying the same from Colo took over, he couldnt even lead himself never mind other.
Big Dave(Quote)
I’m far from convinced about Cabella. His passing has been terrible. As much as Goof is a French Jonas, he’s doing his bit which is a bit more than Cabella (at the moment)
I’d prefer to see Arma there instead. but what do I know? Pardew see them in training. So much he tried to flog Willo and Ober 🙄 and released some decent players, we could do with now.
contrary to what Percy said, apparently Ober doesnt suffer from confidence, .
mark(Quote)
Dave – I think the reality is that it’s a number of things isn’t it. If the players are sent out with clear instruction and a clear understanding of what’s expected of them, then they play with comfort and confidence – because they know what their managers gameplan is. If that starts to slip, or a player isn’t adhering to what’s been said – then the captain should be there to remind them on the pitch. It’s about good communication – however from top to bottom our club is ***** at communicating.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Lots of honesty from PL managers today 😯 The FA will be busy tomorrow morning 😆
Just watched the Scum 8-0 drubbing again on MOTD2 and it was great to see Koeman waving his players on at 6-0. I bet the Saints fans can’t believe their luck after the summer they had.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Munich Mag: people get into fights about football because it brings out highly charged emotions that they have had for many, many years. The nature of an internet forum also allows you to say things that often you might not say face to face for fear of getting into a physical fight which I certainly don’t want at my age. So have a read of some of the football threads on The Chronicle or The Guardian and look at the comments section. You will see that people get charged up and emotional all of the time on public forums where football is concerned. So stop preaching.
Better still, check out a twitter thread. It is really tame on here compared to that 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ric whats your name on twitter ?
batty(Quote)
troy get that reaiyly train stoked up pardew needs gone and you know it mate no chance of gett rid of ashley while he is taking millions oot of the club if we hadnt of won yesterday it would of been the worse start in 108 years Pardew out and quick the smug cnt ,dave plz dont cal him pards even your not that thick and you know i am not havin ago at the pair of you ,troy bring back sounes 😉
batty(Quote)
ERIC what your name on twitter mate ile add you ❓
batty(Quote)
Batty
Pardew can stay for me. Im taking it one game at a time. He won on Saturday and keeps the gap between us and the bottom cubs in sight. Just need to make it to January like that.
As I keep saying, the change for another cheap manager does not excite me. I’ve explained my reasons a thousand times. But it all boils down to Ashley and his ambition.
It’s false hope wanting Pardew sacked. As long as those **** payers are grafting for him and he’s keeping us in touch , then he can stay for me.
There’s no saviour going to step in his shoes so my Pardew two seater saloon drives on. I’m chauffeuring Pardew alone at the moment but I’ve got a fleet on order 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy ide try get pulis to keep us up not long term or morather have moyes who can do a decent job without spending much ,108 years 😯 bring back souness 🙂
batty(Quote)
Batty
If Pulis was appointed, it wouldn’t be for the short term. You’ve seen his loyalty to Pardew. We would be stuck with a manager who plays **** football and within 12 months everyone would be whinging for his sacking.
Got to be realistic fella. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy as you know i never whinge but he needs gonegone gone ,
batty(Quote)
and i suppose we are playing good footy now ❓ taylor looked ok on sat instead of williamson hoofing it up the field taylor played it out
batty(Quote)
loyalty more like crawling up fattys **** ,he would be there if beardsley wasent stuck up there ,so if they are reported missing we know whare to find them 😆 got drive 20 miles now take daughter college now catch ya in abit 😉
batty(Quote)
Batty
Are you not banned from driving? 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Batty – I’m not thumbing a lift in Troys Pardew passion wagon by any means, but I think the fact Ashley went to the dressing room after the game on Saturday is another clear indication that he has no intention of getting rid of Pardew.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yep we’re stuck with him, only hope is fatty gets fed up with club and buys Rangers and ditches us. Of course should we revert to type and start losing again and get cut adrift then he may reluctantly sack him but tbh I don’t want us in that situation as I don’t want us relegated which is a real possibility right now.
Hopefully when Aarons returns and De Jong we will have more threat, that’s if Percy sees fit to start Rolando. Taylor needs to stay at CB for now as he did well on Saturday with a great last minute clearance too, hope Percy recognises this and doesn’t just drop him for Willo who spends all game hoofing it out. He HAS to set us up to attack from now on, we are still far too defensive and we don’t have the personal to play well that way as we look like rabbits in headlights. More pace on the wings please with better quick service and we may actually score a few.
kIMTOON(Quote)
Got any A League updates Aussie?
Toon based A League Fan(Quote)
Good to see Ashley showing his passion for the club. Hopefully it might silence the haters a bit.. he does care!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
No news Toon Based…. people get touchy on here if you talk anything that cant be described as bitching/complaining/hating life in general! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
MM @ 336 I guess I can’t let your comments go unanswered. Those games would have been Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney Wanderers, and the other game was Adelaide v Melbourne Victory. Obviously you were keeping a close watch on the game. 😆
Just on the Oz scene: There was a record attendance for a full round of games at the weekend. The game is progressing nicely. I’m very happy to support it. Good to see you are too by tuning in.
As for that game game at the weekend between Some Northern Side and Leekchester, I’m very pleased we won and kept a clean sheet. Should have scored 2 or 3 though. And although it was a poor game it had me on the edge of my seat at the end.
That’s what football does when you invest something of yourself in the game. The standard is irrelevant. Passion is more important. If all fans watched with a dispassionate and critical eye there’d be nobody interested in 99.99% of games.
brisvegas(Quote)
Agree Vegas, I am wrapped with how the game is progressing in Oz. I watched 3 games over the weekend and will do the same next week and so on and so forth.. love it! ! Not so sure if the missus feels the same tho!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I watched all 5, Oz. And all 5 last week as well. Hope to watch all 4 this weekend, plus WSW in the Champs League final.
Congrats to Perth, btw. Maybe they will do well this season finally. Though rather fortunate at the weekend – played off the park and still won. 😈
brisvegas(Quote)
Played off the park! 😆 😆 your boys reminded me of swansea a few seasons back under rodgers.
Lots off neat little tappy passes and no end product.. great goal for your second tho… it was all you could muster in the second half..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I was out all Saturday so missed all the action..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
A penalty from a rare attack, a lucky deflection from a shot going well wide and a mis hit injury time header.
Against a sweeping move resulting in a tap in and a rocket from 700m out.
Barely troubled the penalty area in the first half.
brisvegas(Quote)
Ha, the roar… I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll…… huff some more.. your lads are nothing without your diving champion Berisha.. end of an era I am afraid! 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Batty @ 401
I couldn’t agree more, the two of them have sold their souls to Ashley.
You can hoy Bob Moncur in with them as well.
Mr October(Quote)
I agree. Said something like that in my wrap up on the other thread.
brisvegas(Quote)
Your lads seem to have lost that fear factor that they had. However, if you make the finals you will be one hell of a threat. It will be a good test to see what Mulvey is made of. ..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Dear me 🙄 FTSOTB 😯
This is NUFCBLOG not amateurdramatics.oz.blog 🙄
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Pissed off because we’re not talking about you?
Work around it, mate. Isn’t that what you tell others?
brisvegas(Quote)
Well if you can’t beat um, join um. So while we’re talking Aussie football – anyone know what’s happened with Curtis Good?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Injured Sharpy… one of those mystery season long jobbies… he was injured just before the world cup..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Troy try this site… you’ll like it..troylovesericlovestroy.co.uk
Its an attention seekers utopia! 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Hook, line and ozzies 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy @396-it wouldn’t even be 12 months, the guy is as aggravating on a personal level as Pardew IMO.
Newkie(Quote)
Are we slagging off Pardew for him not playing Obertan now? Despite the abuse that he has had from people on here and in the stands? 😆 And for trying to offload him, when most were annoyed (myself included) when we signed him in the first place!
He’s done enough to oust Goof for me now, give goof a month off and see if he comes back hungry.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – it’s always been the problem at NUFC for a long while now. Pardew selects the same players regardless of form. First team players know that they are in week in week out. For me Gouffran and Sissoko should be dropped in favour of a LW and a second forward.
Aussie – it’s a shame that Good is out for so long, coz I think he could have been given a chance at the heart of our defence at the moment as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So can we cheer on Man U against West Brom? West Brom are one of our competitors in this relegation fight so we should hope they lose, right. If you are being chased by a bear, you don’t have to outrun the bear, just the person next to you?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Does he though Sharpy? I commented about this last season when people were making the same complaints, our back four, midfield, and striker choices and positions varied and changed throughout the whole season – and they weren’t down to injury, they were generally due to poor or good form, Benny, Cisse etc.
He got hammered for taking those two out of the team too, so I don’t think there is anything unanimous about what we as fans want in our team selection. Goof played a vital part in Cisse’s goal against the swans lets not forget. I just think he burned himself out in the first half of last season and needs a break. The rest of our team is still open for debate..
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie says
Aussie Magpie Fan
October 20, 2014 at 10:12
Good to see Ashley showing his passion for the club. Hopefully it might silence the haters a bit.. he does care!
Oh yes he certainly cares, not about us though or nufc as a football entity but the investment, money is his god end off, not football.
kIMTOON(Quote)
Newkie Goofy looks shattered to me, he’s been overused and run out of steam and that’s what happens when there is no variation in squad. Also I don’t like him out wide at all, I think he’d do more damage as a second striker.
kIMTOON(Quote)
Kim and Newkie – agree about goofy. He’s been awful all year and looks like his heart for it has gone. I’d leave him out and bring in Perez. He looks a real prospect, quick feet, likes a dribble, composed with head up. Like him a lot!
georgio(Quote)
Newkie – my issue with Goof isn’t with Goof as such, it’s how Pardew uses him. His played LW, RW and 2nd striker. For me, there are better options at LW and RW – square pegs in square holes if you like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I agree Kim, although Goof himself was saying in the press last year he loved working for the team and would continue to work his hardest to remain in the side.
He had the summer off with no international commitments, I would usually expect a professional footballer to have recovered by then, but perhaps not. He might just need dropping to rediscover his mental hunger rather than his physical fitness. He was clearly knackered in the new year but should he really be now?
Playing him as a striker now limits our options out wide and I’m hoping Riv will come good doing the ground work for Cisse in a partnership.
Newkie(Quote)
Yeah I’d line to see a bit more of Perez myself.
Still think this team needs an attacking CM that can run the show (a Cabaye replacement) far more than it needs a striker
MDS(Quote)
MDS – not many of those around I’m afraid and the ones that are would be way out of Ashley’s spending kitty. £15m for Shelvey?
georgio(Quote)
It doesn’t have to be an Englishman. Carr found Cabaye after all. Grenier is supposedly that type of player.
MDS(Quote)
Sharpy-agree, would defo prefer Aarrons over Goof. A winger who can cross and all that, my word
But I also think there are better options as second striker. I’d give Rivvy more time – and like Georgio and MDS say, I’d like to see Perez getting more time up top rather than Goof, at least on current performances.
Newkie(Quote)
Clark’s been sacked by brum then, he didn’t do well at all down there despite the complete ****storm it’s been down there with Yeung in jail and all that. I’d hoped a few years ago we might have the chance of one of our own coming to manage us but he doesn’t seem to be in with a shot. Although he would be cheap! 🙂
Newkie(Quote)
Eric@392, “So stop preaching”. Had me chuckling that one 😆 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Troy @402 no ,arnt you banned from SJP ❓
batty(Quote)
I think one thing we should all keep in mind is that we’re arguing about an 18th place team. Every time we start to develop into an improving side Ashley sells a key player. The last one being Cabaye. Now we’re weak up top and weak at the back. That doesn’t look to change much either as Ashley just won’t spend enough. Yet if Ashley continues to dither we may go down. He’s pushing his luck to the limit again this season. I see no sign he has learned anything from 7 plus years of ownership.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We need Aarons or Sammy instead of Gouffran who should be sold ASAP, and we need Cabella as Attacking CM, alongside Colback and Tioté the Anchor! So drop Sissoko too. At the moment id prefer see the younger players instead of them! And Id take Lascelles, Carroll and Ings this winter!
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Good comments to read. How we improve enough to avoid relegation with an idiot for an owner is my main concern. I don’t see us having the players to get far away from the bottom 3 at any point this season. Our backs are up against it for the next 2 games. Then it’s West Brom away and QPR at home. We need at least 4 points from those two games. It looks like an endless struggle to me. If the back 4 have a bad patch we just won’t get the points we need as we can barely score at all.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
ManU aren’t even a shadow of their former team now. Astonishing how they’ve let it all fall apart at the back. No effort to try to bring in a decent CB in the summer. Strange behavior indeed from a former top club.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Id like to see the same back5 Krul Janmaat Taylor Colo Dummy again
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
To be fair Man U had a lot of holes in their roster and weren’t going to fill them all in one window. They’ll be a different team next year
MDS(Quote)
Sharpy17- Shelvey is a great talent that we should have sign when Liverpool(Rodgers) got stupidly rid of him, it would of been the perfect replacement for Cabaye, much better than Grenier
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Batty
Haha. I would have been if Souness hadn’t been sacked. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Isn’t it strange how Harry was touted as the best man for the England job when at Spurs, plus we all know he’s a decent manager. But his team are bottom of the league.
Anyone care to comment whether there’s similarities with Pards?
Decent managers can’t do anything with **** players.
Pards is no different. Harry is now favourite for the chop.
He’s complaining one of his players is overweight and he can’t do anything about it. Pards was crucified by many on here when Barfa was a fat slob.
So first of all, is Harry a decent premier league manager?
Who do you think is at fault for their league position. Players or manager or both?
Who is the better manager, Harry or Pards?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Very entertaining game. ManU managed a draw but they’re going to struggle until they sort their defense out. We’ll struggle until we sort the defense, attack, and midfield out! That shouldn’t take long given we have Ashley in charge. However I’ve decided not to hold my breath. 😆 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)