Sorry for the lack of articles, I have been working away all week in 40deg heat and I have been drinking beer in my minimal spare time because it was simply more appealing than typing away in my stuffy hotel room.
Anyway, today we meet QPR at home after another international break. Our form leading up to that break was exceptional and I guess the big question is will we be able to maintain the rage and take another win. QPR are there for the taking if we are good enough but they are no mugs. This has all the hallmarks of a tough affair and if we take this game for granted we will be in for a shock or two.
Collo is out injured and Pardew has this list to pick his starting eleven from.
Newcastle United (from): Alnwick, Elliot, Krul, Dummett, Haidara, Janmaat, R Taylor, S Taylor, Williamson, Anita, Bigirimana, Cabella, Colback, Sissoko, Tiote, Vuckic, Ameobi, Armstrong, Cisse, Ferreyra, Gouffran, Perez, Riviere.
I really can’t see any change other than Saylor in for Collo and Tiote for Abeid. It has been reported that Saylor if in doubt for this game and if he is, I am sure Williamson will slot in to take his place. It is a shame for Abeid as the lad was looking really good and it would have been nice to see him continue to get games.
QPR are missing Taarabt and Rednapp has these players to chose from.
Queens Park Rangers (from): Green, McCarthy, Murphy, Caulker, Dunne, Ehmer, Ferdinand, Hill, Isla, Onuoha, Traore, Yun, Barton, Fer, Henry, Hoilett, Kranjcar, Mutch, Phillips, Sandro, Wright-Phillips, Austin, Taarabt, Vargas, Zamora.
It will be interesting to see how the crowd reacts to Joey when he makes his return. He certainly seems to be a popular felon..err fellow, amongst some sections of fans. 🙂
Match Facts:
Newcastle United have won five and lost none of the last six Barclays Premier League meetings with Queens Park Rangers.
In those six meetings, QPR have opened the scoring three times and lost all three, while failing to net in the other three matches.
So if we go by the stats we are looking good for a victory but with Newcastle United you never know what will transpire on any given game day.
Howay the lads!
G2, I think that West Ham and Stoke will probably get caught by the (lack of) squad depth, over the season. Swansea had a canny start, but are now a bit hit and miss. saints might well have a good season (5th, 6th?) and, sure, second half of season Liverpool and Spurs will come good. With our squad, unless there’re reinforcement in January, we’ll also be in and out, form-wise, so I see us firmly in the 8th to 12th range, with Toon, Everton, Swansea, West Ham and Stoke separated by a few points.
GTE(Quote)
Well impressed at the movement Soussoko put in for the toon goal, the bloke was perpetually in motion, and never stopped running..he was all over the left side there. What a magnificent effort so late in the game…
Munich Mag(Quote)
I’m quite curious as to how the toon handle Andy Carroll… 🙄 … we need to stop the balls coming into the box, and I think in Janmaat and Hairdryer we have the players who can cut out the aerial supply to Carroll..
Munich Mag(Quote)
I just see us sitting fifth right now Munich mate and wanted to point out how temporary that will be. There are too many struggling sides who will come good and our form is bound to dip. Sissoko was tremendous again yesterday. When he has his confidence he is almost impossible to stop. I can see someone coming in with a huge bid for him which Ashley won’t be able to refuse.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Have to go for a bit. Excellent bloggery today mates! 😀
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MM & Eric
I fully understand the criticism and desperate feelings of the supporters towards Pards. He’s deserved some of it. The difference is, I always felt he was working under difficult conditions. The second half of last season was a very difficult period and I don’t believe he deserved the huge criticism given by Eric.
Losing Cabaye and then Remy to injury would affect any teams performance. Two key players. Trying to keep the squads motivation up when seeing this happen is a very difficult situation.
It has been the extremism of the anger that I’ve reacted to. I have no doubt that if we lose 3 games off the bounce the vitriol towards him will return.
All I’ve maintained is that he’s an average premier league manager who does a decent job under difficult conditions. To suggest by some, that he’s out of his depth in the premier league is laughable. They are the type of people that need showing up for their ridiculous stance.
Eric, you’ve been one of the extremists. Though you wouldn’t commit one way or the other whether you agreed with Bootsy that he was out his depth. To me, it’s as good as saying yes.
We won’t get anyone better than Pards whilst Ashley is here therefore I see no sense in hounding him to be sacked.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The acid test for the great Percy will come when he has a full squad of players to pick from.
He is looking good right now, as the team practically picks itself.
But once he has choices to work with, will the percy brain cell will kick in and help him screw it up completely as per normal?
Picking his favourites over players in form, Playing square pegs in round holes. Totally losing the players with his gash gameplans and tactics etc.
Can’t wait til we have a fully fit squad to find out.
Toon Toon
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
spot on troyster 😉 not under fatty
batty(Quote)
Troy: the crazy injuries in the past six games have conspired against Pardew and amazingly everything has worked out. He now has the midas touch for a few games whereas last year everything he touched turned to ****. Hell, even his sub with Gouffran worked out yesterday when the obvious like for like was Anita.
I will quit arguing with you, not because I think I am wrong but because Pardew has bought himself another year with recent results. I don’t take anything back I said about him. He has picked bizarre formations, set us out not to lose first, played terrible mind-numbingly boring football, alienated a lot of players, talks sh!te, contradicts himself and is an arrogant pr!ck. He has also been let go from every other job in the premier league he has had and survived by the skin of his teeth this time with an owner who admitted in a Soho Pub that he was close to sacking him.
If Pardew is an average Premier League manager then it says a lot about how **** the rest of them are. However, with Pardew’s habit of losing by big margins and going on unbelievably bad runs of form he has been afforded the luxury that other “average” managers don’t get – keeping his job. I have no regrets about calling for his head.
You can’t really sack him in the midst of this run and with him seemingly changing his tactics but I would be looking around for alternatives. As soon as he looked like returning to his old ways (apart from the blather which he cant help) he would be gone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Troy: if you dig deep in what I have said I have given you some compliments for sticking to your guns and not going all emoticony (not that you need credit from me 😉
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Must say his decision on HBA is looking more and more one of perfect management. He looked about as useful as a Bacon sandwich in a mosque today.
Stuart79(Quote)
well said Eric 😉
Stu 😆
mark(Quote)
Oh well at least the **** squad comments have dried up.. but i see the two main perps now just gloat and call everyone else out on their Pardew is **** comments. .. unbelievable hypocrisy…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Now I know what the thing is, we have to go back to 442 for home winnable games when de Jong fit, to play the trequartista/Target man role with Ayoze as poacher like this:
———————Krul——————–
-Janmaat-Colo-Dummett-MH/DS—
-Cabella-Sissoko-Colback-Sammy-
————–de Jong-Ayoze————-
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
I give Pardew and the players full credit for turning things around but I hope the next time we lose the team bounces back straight away instead of going on a terrible run. If january comes around and we still have a chance of winning the capitol one cup I hope Ashley brings in a couple of reinforcements, not expensive players but useful. Just to help us get players back from injuries and buy some time. I don’t think that’s to much to ask for as a fan.
Terry(Quote)
What’s happened to Rodzilla ? Miss his comments at times
Terry(Quote)
Come on now Aussie, don’t say you weren’t expecting it 😀
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie everyone’s still in shock mate. Including myself but we dropped from 4th to 5th. Pardew out 🙂
Terry(Quote)
Cholo. De Jongs return will be most welcome. If I have any worries at the moment it’s that we need to find a few more goals. He should help with that
MDS(Quote)
Its all well and good calling on fatty to buy players, but do we have spare slots in the rosta ?
maybe just one ❓
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB we’re right at 25 by my count.
MDS(Quote)
We’ll have room for an addition when we sell Sissoko in January 😀
Newkie(Quote)
That’s the spirit Newkie:)
I would guess Jonas and Vuckic would be the most susceptible to being left off the 25 man for the second half of the season
MDS(Quote)
No doubt someone will have to be sold in January.
How else would we raise the funds to buy a replacement. 😕
percy will be busy touting players to the worlds media any week now.
Aarons
Perez
Abeid
Sissoko
Santon (?)
Janmaat
none of these Lads are safe. 👿
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
MDS 😉 I’m thinking we’ll hold on to him for a while longer yet, but can’t help but think if he keeps up his current level of performances he’ll start getting linked here then and everywhere in a years time. Ah well.
Vuckic for me just has to go, there is no place for him here sadly. Jonas, well, I love the guy but I just don’t think he is a good enough player for us anymore. If Sammy and Obertan are now ahead of him in the pecking order then it’s time he was let go.
Tiote seems like he could be on his way too…something fishy up with that situation, but if we want to bring Abeid on, or Bigi, then someone in the midfield has to go. Which leads us to Anita. I just don’t think he is built for this league. He was bought (imo) purely as a potential profit maker and I can’t see it ever working out for him now. Would defo rather keep Tiote out of the two.
Newkie(Quote)
I think Santon and Tiote are the most likely to be sold. I wouldn’t sell Santon as I think his best footy is in the future and he could do a job on the wing if needed. Tiote makes the most sense as he’s approaching 30 but is still a sought after player. Stil Id hope they wait until the sinner on that one
MDS(Quote)
“Summer”
MDS(Quote)
Beardo – Aaron’s won’t be sold in Jan mate, his contract is up at the end of the year isn’t it? So more likely someone will just tap him up for the summer. The club need to sort out his contract sharpish or we’ll struggle to keep onto him.
Newkie(Quote)
Anyone else puzzled at the way our defensive play has tightened remarkably? It’s not just the clean sheets but there’s been no heroics from Krul, no late sieges, very few chances created and hardly any missed. I can’t remember this before – if we score we win.
Janmaat’s finally up to speed and is blocking the left completely. Haidara’s doing well and Dummett’s a real revelation. Maybe that’s all it is, plus Colback and Abeid providing fantastic protection. Or maybe it’s having a handful of Geordies playing for the shirt!
georgio(Quote)
Haidara hasn’t been great this season, and Dummett will now be playing centre back for a bit I imagine, so hopefully they’ll hold back on selling Santon. He will go if an offer of around 10 mil comes though.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie it been reported that there’s a year extension on Aaron’s contract but yeah it still needs sorted
MDS(Quote)
MDS- I think that’s like an “optional” clause if both parties agree – but I don’t like the sound of that.
Georgio – I think it’s a bit of all of that, plus of course playing with some confidence. It can transform a team totally. We didn’t actually start the season out as bad as has/was made out, we just couldn’t grab the wins we should have done against Villa and Palace and that negativity seeped into the crowd and the whole team/staff.
Everyone seems to be learning their roles – we did have perhaps too many new faces in at one time, but we seem settled now and the lads keep getting better and better. The energy in the midfield now with Sissoko and Colback is great to see, we haven’t had it in years, and it means we can get bodies back and forward far more successfully than we ever could with Cabaye, who for all his gifts could never really beat a man for pace.
Newkie(Quote)
Yes it will be interesting to see if any big offers come in for our ‘ **** ‘ players, cause apparently Percy is the only one who can get a decent standard out of them they’re so **** 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
KIM@258,I don’t think pardew can sugar coat our “****” players he’s not willy wonka 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Dog leave wor percy alone ,theres not many managers that would work with fatty ,he has seemed to have got the team working together 😉
batty(Quote)
blame it on the fatman 🙂
batty(Quote)
BATTY the mans a creep ****-licking scum bag,we done it for mike **** turns my guts,he needs to shut his gob and just get on with the job,sorry mate but that’s what I think of him,call a spade a spade that’s me 😉
icedog(Quote)
Should be like king keV and tell him some home truths,thing is he got nee guts
icedog(Quote)
dog we know what he is thats why he works for the slimey fat ******* 😉 i used to get slated when i stuck up for king kev and sir shearer by some of the wankers on these blogs which never botherd me 😈
batty(Quote)
Ice@259, 😆 no but willy wanka possibly 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
BATTY@ 264 as I’ve said before on here,common sense doesn’t grow in everybody’s garden we have to put up with some weeds in our garden mate 😉
icedog(Quote)
Merrily we roll along, roll along, roll along …
The blog h2h top 8:
1 Stripes and no stars 30 (641)
2 Newbriscastle Roar 27 (561)
3 Haven’t Got a Kalou 25 (670)
4 Solano’s Trumpet 24 (649)
5 Natalie Sawyer No.1 24 (573)
6 WaWa Toures 21 (617)
7 Joshua 21 (573)
8 Niknak Utd 20 (511)
And those who are not rolling along quite so merrily:
17 Dubai-Toon United 12 (567)
18 Aussie Magpies 12 (524)
19 Ivory Toast 9 (454)
20 Durham dynamites 3 (394)
brisvegas(Quote)
I think getting rid of HBA and Marveaux was a lift to the team and Pardew. We wouldn’t have seen Aarons/Obertan/Sameobi given a proper chance without fans getting irate if they were still hanging about imo.
Also the togetherness very much seems there again. Easy to say when you’re winning sure, but having a couple bad eggs gone has surely helped the dressing room.
How are the two messiahs doing now anyway? 😆
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
My lads are doing well in the Premier fantasy league and the in the real world.
In contrast my Oz fantasy team has scored more points than anybody else but sit rock bottom with no wins. And Brisbane Roar are doing only mildly better. One win in 7, sacked the coach, total disarray … from champions to chumpians in 6 months.
Ahh, the topsy turvy nature of football.
brisvegas(Quote)
Tell yo what Bris I may be sitting 4th in the other league but in your H2H league I’d be sacking the manager on the run of defeats I’m having. 👿 😀
Premandup(Quote)
ST definitely agree on Ben Arfa and said so at the time. I’m not sure if Marv is a bad egg or just not as good as the others. I wouldn’t mind him back for depth but really Don’t think there’s room any more
MDS(Quote)
See young Callum Roberts scored two for the U21s last night. Real prospect!
I think it’s the kids coming through and into the first team that’s giving me more pleasure than anything at the moment. It’s a real surprise after nothing for bloody ages. Arma, Aarons, Dummett, Sammy, Abeid (plus Perez) with Roberts and Streete close too.
georgio(Quote)
I always love how people rewrite the history books. So now Ben Arfa was **** and a malcontent who disrupted all of Pardew’s great, GREAT, plans? All the people in the stands chanting “Hatem Ben Arfa” when we were playing a totally **** brand of football were wrong? Pardew was playing dire football and Ben Arfa’s flashes of genius actually made a few games worth watching.
But now we are doing OK again, it is time to say that Pardew was right all along and Ben Arfa was wrong? Was Capt. Coloccini wrong for also criticising Pardew after the Man U 4-0 loss?
ST – Pardew got lucky because we seem to have a good batch of young players who can make up for our injuries. He really should have been able to integrate Ben Arfa especially into the team. His forte is supposedly man management after all?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know Ben Arfa is a difficult character but that is sometimes what you get with sublime talent. I grew up watching NUFC in the late ’70’s and saw the same criticisms made about SuperMac being selfish and not a team player. But, who would you rather see, and who do you remember – McDonald or Kenny Wharton and Alan Gowling?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
SuperMac & Barfa in the same sentence 😆
SuperMac did his job, Barfa does his once every 7 games..
mark(Quote)
Supermac and Ben Arfa??? Seriously?
MDS(Quote)
The West Ham game will be very interesting. I would predict a draw but if we are going to win I’m going to have to predict a loss for us. Very well then. We lose 2-1. 😯 I know it’s very difficult logic but my predictions are so awful that we always win if I predict a loss.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So Ben Arfa is now a pariah? Who were half the crowd chanting his name when Pardew cast him to the stands? Some of you have very short memories.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Where’s Munich Mag to pester me today?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ben Arfa is not a pariah. He is a very talented but very inconsistent lad who could have been brilliant. He would be fantastic playing on the right wing instead of Obertan.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Mark: I also mentioned Gowling and Wharton in the same sentence as Supermac.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Very well then. I’m going to mention Terry Thomas and Malcolm Muggeridge in the same sentence as Ben Arfa if that’s the way it’s going to be! 😯
GeordieTwo(Quote)
And don’t anyone think I won’t mention a few other names either! Harrumph!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Well I’ve certainly brought that discussion to a halt! Now I’ll sit back and read some sensible comments and keep quiet.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So, lets have a look at this: the players that are doing well were not rated (for this year at least) by Pardew for the first team:
Abeid
Perez
Sammy
Obertan
Haidara
Steven Taylor
Reserve players according to Pardew, but now part of a youth movement and exciting attacking verve. Some people have very short memories of what Pardew has said about any and all of our players. Please praise him for changing his mind, but please do not forget what he said in the past.
I will give him credit that he stuck with Dummett and saw the potential in Perez and Aarons when he played them. Pardew is not totally **** but what comes out of his mouth usually is 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Remember also that Coloccini turned on Pardew after Man U, so it wasn’t just Ben Arfa and Marveaux.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aussie aussie aussie.
At this moment in time it looks like I underestimated the squad. In my defence, I was limited to watching Riviere, an unfit De Jong, a lightweight Cabella. Pards had to test them out as he was given them and like me, was probably expecting better.
Players like dummy, Perez, Sammy and Obertan have certainly played exceptionally.
I’ve never blamed Pardew and he’s done a fantastic job fighting back against knockers like you.
You called that one terribly.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I know I repeated myself about Colocinni and Man U but that is because some of you have such short memories 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Must have been a different club that I saw people taking selfies in the stands with HBA, chanting his name all the time, wanting him to turn up at the book shop until the club shut it down? Must have been a different club!
I saw him for Hull at Liverpool and he was the best player on the pitch. Missed a sitter this Saturday and was taken off because they got a red card. If he can summon up any energy to play for Brucie in f@cking Hull he deserves a medal not a dressing down by Salano’s Trumpet. Especially since he was messed around so much by the great and wonderful Pards – who, by luck, hook and crook has only saved his own job by the skin of his teeth.
SO THERE!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyway, whatever happened to pickled onion flavour crisps?!
…does my bleedin’ nut in! 👿
Monster munch my ****. Poncy ballet crisps.
Harrumph. 😡
Rodzilla(Quote)
Evening Rod
Good to see you again
Premandup(Quote)
Rod, it’s cheesy wotsits or nothing mate. 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
Rod – Bovril flavored crisp for me mate. Your pickle onion monster munch has to be the worst out there!! – self harm crisps I call them, coz I destroy the roof of my mouth every time!! 👿
Eric – I agree with ST personally. I was one of the few who thought Benny didn’t justify the hype. A talent no doubt, but so inconsistent and poor decision makers in alot of games.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m with Sharpy and ST on HBA, Eric – If we still and him, he’d still be failing to make effective use of his pace and skills in 9/10 games, giving the ball away cheaply in dangerous areas – one astonishing goal a couple of times a season just doesn’t make up for it, especially if he’s pissing in evyone’s pockets in the dressing room as well.
GTE(Quote)
Nobody really knows what went on in that dressing room with Benny, Pardew, Colo and Tiote especially. What is obvious is that a truly great talent has been wasted for us and mostly because of Pardew’s tactics.
Still can’t stand the bloke and will never forgive him for that.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – if he was such a great talent, why wasn’t he saved from Pardew by another club?. Even when it was clear he was available in the last year of his contract – he ended up at Hull … that has to tell you something mate.
If Benny was putting it in, then he would have absolutely been in our first team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anyway forgetting about players that have left, what are people’s thoughts for Jan?.
We obviously have a number of players out injured at the moment, so where do we really need strengthening?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Cant see any new players arriving in January if I’m honest.
Unless we lose one or two.
Possibly another striker is all.
We are half way to safety already, Percy keeps telling all and sundry how we have great squad depth now.
We have players to come back from injury too.
The only spanner in the works is the ACoN buulshit. Which could hurt us.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I reckon Ashley will defiantly sell someone in january for a profit. He might just keep the squad as it is then Pardew will say I’m happy I kept hold of my best players speech. It all depends I wouldn’t even like to guess.
terry(Quote)
Sharpy17: we all should let it go. Ben Arfa has been sent to exile in Hull and Pardew will do it again with other players just like he did with Tevez.
I get a bit sick of people rewriting the history books after a very good run of form. I dare anybody to replay any of the games from January-May 2014 and tell us that Pardew had a f@cking clue what he was doing. Now everything is hunky dory according to ST and Pardew had it all planned all along.
Eric Sykes(Quote)