Burnley v Newcastle – Premier League match preview

toonsy

More claret and blue for United
More claret and blue for United
Following the 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday, it’s a quick turnaround for United, who will be back in action on Tuesday at Turf Moor against Burnley.

While it would be nice to extend our recent winning run the reality is that it was never going to last. However against one of the favourites for relegation this game gives Newcastle a chance to get back on track.

Let’s start with the negatives. Newcastle will be without some key personnel on Tuesday, which is where the quick turnaround after the weekend will hurt. Most notably, Ryan Taylor and Gabriel Obertan are expected to be missing due to injury, as is Tim Krul. Krul’s continued absence is a real problem, though to be fair backup keeper Rob Elliot really couldn’t have done much about the goal that allowed West Ham to win on Saturday.

There will also be two noteworthy absences because of suspension. Jack Colback will miss a game after ‘totting up’ five yellow cards, and as the Daily Mail pointed out, Moussa Sissoko managed two bookings in under a minute earning himself an early bath on Saturday and as long as he wants in the bath on Tuesday! To sum up, we’re short of players.

That much is to be expected a third of the way through a league campaign though as the games start coming thick and fast. The more important trend isn’t missing key players so much as the outstanding and unexpected form of late. Before the West Ham match we’d racked up six straight wins. Also, a 1-0 loss away from home doesn’t really signal a loss of form and could just be put down to being a bad day. They happen. It’s how we recover form it that counts.

Still, it won’t be an easy affair on Tuesday, and a tense match with a single goal could very well win it. In a preview of this and other Premier League games scheduled for Tuesday, Betfair made the observation that neither side will have an easy time putting the ball in the net. It’s been pointed out that despite some improvement of late, Burnley struggle to score in general and that Newcastle have had far more difficulty scoring away from home this season. Both observations are undeniable. With both clubs missing a few key players — Burnley are without Matt Taylor and, for a while now, Sam Vokes — we could see some fairly conservative play.

For their part, however, Newcastle’s players sound as if they’re ready to seize an opportunity against Burnley to make it seven wins in eight matches. The Premier League website quotes Cheick Tiote with a strong positive outlook following the weekend defeat. Tiote said the club would do everything it could to come back strong against Burnley while acknowledging the significance of the game. These are easy things to say, but it’s nice to see the positivity for a club that could easily be somewhat disheartened after a sloppy loss ended a fairly remarkable winning streak.

Howay the lads!

Date: Tuesday, 2nd December, 2014

Time: 7:45pm

Venue: Turf Moor

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.

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456 thoughts on “Burnley v Newcastle – Premier League match preview”

  1. Dross. Especially the entire first half. So many poor first touches and turnovers by our attacking players. Cisse has so many poor touches. Perez looked lost today. Very disappointing game and we gave up 2 important points.

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  3. If we play like that against Chelsea they’ll tear us apart. Obvious but true. And could be very devastating to the players’ confidence.

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  5. I see the media is over us being linked with Ings and Dele Alli of MK Dons.

    Not a chance we sign either unless we pay going rates. Alli especially is going above and beyond Newcastle when he moves.

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  6. Sharpy17- Sammy played well in my opinion, he gets better. Gouffran doesnt have the edge to get the better of his opponent. Ings is worth the shot, no doubt about that. Id be happy for a De Jong Ings partnership upfront!

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  7. Sharpy17- Sammy gets tougher, for me he should be an option as 2nd striker too, and in terms of skills, he defo got that

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  9. Has anyone seen poorer scrambly bits than we offered up today? That first half was horrific. Cisse and Perez couldn’t control the ball to save their lives. Very worrisome with Chelsea coming up.

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  10. According to the Mirror yesterday we are hoping to get Ings on the cheap, though when asked about it Pardew sang his praises but said ” he’s a Burnley player and it’s disrespectful to ask us about him and we haven’t made any offer or enquired about him.”. Ings is out of contract in the summer and Toon are reported to be trying to sort a pre- contract with him. Can’t see it to be honest .

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  11. It would make no difference how well Abeid played last night I expect him to be dropped for the Chelsea game. Performance does not appear to influence Pardew’s selections. Cabella had a good game against QPR but was subbed and dropped from the starting eleven against West Ham and again against Burnley. I think he should be starting because he provides the necessary creativity to give balance to the team. I don’t think Alan rates technical ability because he was not that kind of player himself. Beardsley would have found it difficult to hold down a place in a Pardew eleven. I would prefer Abeid, on present form, over Tiote or Colback.

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  12. Said at the start of the evening I’d take the draw given our makeshift side. We had a decent second half. Don’t think Abeid played any better than Tiote, would expect him to make way for Sissoko. Let’s hope we can still put 11 on the pitch by the time we play Chelsea!

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  13. Goof seems to be a very form based player, when he grabs a goal his confidence is up and he’s more willing to have a punt at goal and be accurate about it, but when he is off form my oh my he is woeful. His best period with us coincided with an immense work rate, great defensive/ counter attacking and he was banging the goals in at the same time. I don’t really buy that he has been “pardewed”, he’s just in gash form.

    We did pay 500k for him and had no competition whatsoever, so I don’t think anyone should really expect fireworks from him.

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  14. Sammy is every bit as creative as Cabella and Aarons imo, He must be right near the top in our assists and chances created. His crossing has come on leaps and bounds and should have resulted in more goals

    Gouffran doesnt justify a place anymore, Its beyond a joke that Cabella still cant get a start ahead of him

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  15. To clarify my position on Sammy, I agree he’s doing well at the moment but he just doesn’t convince me over 90mins. If we were in a position to play our best 11 – would Sammy be in it? – if the answer is yes then IMO he’d be the weak link (again IMO).

    Dele Ali looks like a really good player at MK Dons, but Bigi looked good a Coventry and hasn’t really made the step up with us yet. If the ‘going rate’ is less than £5m then I’d go for the lad – if they are wanting more then I’d leave him be.

    Ings and De Jong would be like the poor mans Shearer and Sheringham – but god I would take that.
    I read that Southampton are also interested in Ings, but for me we should be doing everything in our powers to get him – the kids a real talent IMO.

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  16. Best 11 players dont necessarily make the best team, Weve looked at our best this season with Sammy and Obertan hugging the touchline

    If we picked what Pardew would regard as our best 11 well probably end up with Sissoko wide to accomodate De Jong and Santon at left back which would unbalance things again

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  17. CC – this 4-3-3 type formation has been Pardews most successful with us. He had his 5th place finish with it and changed his fate with the same formation this season. If Pardew sticks with it then it is my opinion we could improve on Sammy and Obertan. There are other areas too, but in terms of creating goals, I believe we need better players.

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  18. Sharpy – I think Sammy for 60 and Aarons for 30 or 45/45 depending on how they/the game is going as a regular sub would make sense anyway. Sammy needs to make the step up this year so we can decide if we’re keeping him, aarons needs regular time to keep improving and one day be a guaranteed starter. Would rather them see game time than Goof/Jonas/Raylor etc.

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  19. Newkie – no question in my mind that we keep him. He provides strength in depth to our squad if nowt else.

    I look at our midfield of Colback, Sissoko and Tiote/Abied and I reckon outside the top 4 sides it’s as good if not better than any other sides. I couldn’t say the same about our creative wide men. If we are playing this formation then those players take on a very important role in the side, and therefore we need the best possible players there.
    I agree with CCs point that the best 11 players dont necessarily make the best team, but you need the best players in the most important positions, and for me the wide players creating are just that.

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  20. Just been watching SSN and they are showing coverage of Phil Hughes funeral over in Oz.
    My god Michael Clarkes speech was seriously moving!. How the lad held it together was unbelievable.

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  21. The other thing SSN has shown is that Sean Dyche has been in charge of Burnley for 100 games now. Now I know about 85% of those games have been in the Championship, but it showed that they have only conceded 99 goals during that time.
    I found that a pretty impressive stat personally and shows why they were so difficult to break down in the second half last night.

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  22. Is Sammy injured? He hobbled off during the game. He can be very decent in patches but then seems to lose interest or even sulk. I hope Aarons can have a good long run without injury when he comes back. We need an extended look at this lad.

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  23. Let’s all get serious here mates. We’re now quickly slipping into our natural position in the table. Somewhere between 12th and 15th. That’s what the Parsnip method always brings eventually. A good run for a few games then disaster for many more. A repeat of last season again in other words. We’re just starting to slip now. Sack Percy and bring in a decent manager Mike Scroogely. Then **** off.

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  24. I have other exciting news mates. For those who already have their chest hair and trilbies I am now introducing a manly line of beer belly girdles. Excite your lass during the Christmas holidays with your sleek physique! Only 7 euros down and 7 euros a month on the HP!

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  25. I thought I would just dip briefly into the Blog Hobbit mail bag and see what our Blog Worshippers are most concerned about. Little Alfie writes:
    “Is that it then? Five in a row and now we return to normal? Come on Mr. Parsnip get it right!”
    Well said little Alfie.

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  26. Forster was world class again tonight. As he was at Celtic too but good logic by Pardew that because it was in Scotland, it does not count. Apparently being the player of the Champions League whenever he played did not count to playing away at Stoke either.

    At least Krul can maybe play half a season without getting hurt again though, the right choice was made.

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  28. No Sharpy – at home with nothing to say really. With Colback and Sissoko back I’d take Abeid over Tiote. Thought Sissoko’s ban would be 2 games, one for the five yellows and one for the sending off. FA rules are wierd!

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  29. georgio

    Sissoko’s cards have not been wiped off. if he picks up another booking this month he misses the next game

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  30. What has Colback done that makes him a Purple.
    Doesn’t score goals. He is another Jigsaw
    Doesn’t make any assists
    Doesn’t offer much protection, conceded 4 at Saints, 3 against Palace, 2 against Hull
    Just don’t get the hype

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  31. Colback – a leftie provides midfield balance. Good sharp passer, tireless worker with a good engine. True, he needs to score a few but apart from that very impressive to me.

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  32. Toby – just going on what they said in the commentary – fifth yellow. Colback’s pass for Sammy’s goal at spurs was a real beauty!

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  33. Toby – I think Colback is a real steady player mate, a good grafter and good passer of the ball. You’re right that he could add goals and assists to his game, but the same could be said about Matic for Chelsea – but I bet he’s one of the first names on Joses team sheet.

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  34. Still don’t get the Sissoko cards thing. Surely he got two against Burnley and that’s over five. 🙄

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  36. People want a win against Chelsea?? Bump that, I got this:
    —————Elliott—————–
    -Janmaat-Taylor-Coloccini-Dummett-
    ———–Colback-Abeid————-
    —————Sissoko—————
    —–Cabella————-Sammy—–
    —————-Cissé—————-

    Bring Ayoze and Aarons(if fit) as sub to grab the winner, and lets keep Cesc-Diego Costa-Hazard quiet! They may be the best team in the league, we can beat them

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  37. Toby- Do you complain about hoofball?? Colback is one of major reasons why we are much composed on the ball, along Colo as usual, Sissoko, Janmaat and Abeid.

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  39. CC & Cholo – me too but I would seriously consider Ayo ahead of Cisse. Cisse is such a poor footballer, dreadful touch and decision making he does my head in. And most of his goals would be scored by anyone else who was in that position.

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  40. CC & Georgio- If Colo aint fit, Id still go for Dummett Lb and put Streete with Taylor, we need to go physical for Costa, Hazard Willian and Oscar. Agree on stiker issue, as I wont complain if Ayoze starts for Cissé, but Cissé can score if we put him, as starter or as sub

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  42. It may be that Sammy is a doubt as well from what I’ve read.
    Also read that Cisse is playing through the pain barrier for us at the moment and should really still be resting his knee. With Rivière, Armstrong and Chucky all available you would think Cisse could get that recovery time wouldn’t you?!.

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  44. I see the sun is running with a story on Tiote driving while showing of with a bottle of champers, what a total knob he is, but then I think he is probably angling for a move come Jan

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  47. Big D, as a 3 million quid man Tiote has done his time at the toon, and has been a good servant…. If he wants to move on and we can make money on him, then we need to let him go. The question is who is going to pay the money for him ?

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  50. I think Fatty has made it clear, that money generated by player sales will be reinvested in new players.
    However there will be no more money out of his own pocket.
    Still can’t explain where the extra tv money has gone to.
    The next set of accounts should make interesting reading when they come out.

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  51. Did you see this:
    Hatem Ben Arfa facing Hull axe after angering Steve Bruce at half-time during Man United defeat
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2862754/Hatem-Ben-Arfa-facing-Hull-axe-angering-Steve-Bruce-half-time-Man-United-defeat.html
    Hatem Ben Arfa is to be kicked out of Hull and sent back to Newcastle
    •Hull boss Steve Bruce was furious with Ben Arfa’s attitude at Old Trafford
    •Issue arose between Bruce and French wideman when the players entered the dressing room

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  53. Tough match today
    hope the Lads are up for it at least
    If we sit back and try to contain them we will get stuffed
    I think we need to get on the attack early on and give them something to think about for a change.
    Lets face it we have nothing to lose any way.
    If Percy gets a repeat of last season then I will take my hat off to him.
    Howay the Lads

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  55. Don’t expect owt today but I do expect to see a shift being put in and a few more real attempts at goal wouldn’t go amiss either. We may as well go down fighting, no point standing back and taking the punches, go for it I say, you never know it could even pay off 😉

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  60. wow, brave line up by Pardew ! Game on !!

    Elliot; Janmaat, Coloccini (c), S.Taylor, Dummett; Sissoko, Tiote, Colback; Ameobi, Perez, Cabella
    Subs: Alnwick, Williamson, Haidara, Anita, Gouffran, Riviere, Cisse

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  70. Does anyone else wonder with the legendary Chris Waddle commentating ? The bloke must be almost 50 and still can’t talk proper 🙄 🙄

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  71. Sammy gonna have to put a shift in today, Ivanovich will get forward all day long and they are looking pretty dangerous, cabella not tracking back there then, Percy will not be amused.

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