On Wednesday we head to White Heart Lane to take on Spurs in the quater final of the League Cup. Depending on who you ask, this is either a very, very important game(fans) or it is not that important and we would rather concentrate our efforts on premier league games and survival (club). To me the game on Wednesday is a great chance to push for some silverware and we must go in with the strongest team possible. However one eye must be firmly fixed on this weekend fixture against our most bitter rivals Sunderland.
As much as I would like to progress in the league cup, I want to see a good showing on the weekend and three points put in the bank after a win.
So with this in mind, there really are a few selection issues that need to be taken into account so that we don’t head into Sundays game with a bunch of tired players. From what I can gather at this early stage, we should have all of our regulars (apart from Janmaat – card trouble) available to play but I do not think we should be loading up the team too much for Wednesdays clash.
I think we should rest Sissoko and start Abied. If required we can bring Sissoko on late to add some fresh legs and drive. I would also look to rest Perez and Cisse and give Riviere a run out so he can get some game time under his belt. I would also leave Taylor out and play Williamson so that come Sunday, Taylor will be fit and firing.
It really is a hard one to juggle, how strong of a side will Pardew be prepared to send out? It really is a doubled edged sword, play a weaker team on Wednesday and lose and there will be derision amongst the fans. Play a stronger team and then lose on the weekend due player fatigue and things will get very gloomy indeed.
I hope Pardew can strike a good balance over the two games and we can come away with two victories!
It would be a very good week of football if Pardew and the lads could pull it off!
What are your thoughts?
Need to give a chance to Vuckic, dont need a new CB signing, just need to get rid of Willo, and put Satka and Streete in the mix
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
LETS SEND OUR SECOND BEST DEFENDER OUT ON LOAN, DONT WORRY WE GOT WILLO.
Terry(Quote)
I trust more Dummett as Left Back than Haidara, may have less skills, but he plays decent, Haidara does too much on the ball for no end products, no goals, no assists, and not a great defender. Our best defense is by far Janmaat Taylor Colo Dummett
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Cholo agree with you there mate. I’m still angry about last night.
Terry(Quote)
At the end of the day, regardless of team selection we had two great chances and let in three goals through mistakes.
If we had a decent squad – who knows?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Agree on the defence Cholo but when Santon’s fit I’d move Dummett to CB and leave out Taylor.
Sharpy – Cabella may be fine in France but just doesn’t look the part in the PL. Far too lightweight, he’s easily muscled off the ball and he shoots at featherweight. Poor.
georgio(Quote)
I think fans are also short-sighted on Pardew picking Cabella/Riviere. True – they look **** at the moment, but they have been signed for him so he has to give them a go.
Secondly – many didn’t rate Cabaye straight away, and Sissoko has only come good this year.
Given a few months maybe they will adapt.
Our problem as usual lies with the board. Instead of waiting until our squad is on breaking point to sign players and throwing them all in together – we should have a settled, decent squad that is able to sell one player, while easing another in.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
A club where many demand top 8 minimum yet you are essentially forced to play Williamson for 3 years straight.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Davide Santon is the best Left Back at our club and we need to bring him back asap
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Solanostrumpet- For me jury is still out on Cabella, but Riviere is **** in my opinion
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
**Can I say I think that Riviere and Cabella do look too weak for the league but that I don’t blame Pardew for trying to persist. It’s not down to physicality – players like Perez/Bellamy are fine because they have cajones. Maybe with a bit of confidence they’ll be able cope…
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Cabella was always meant bo be a decent signing, but not for £12M, more for £6M. Riviere aint worth more than £2M, he really is nothing special. And Pardew has to play Ferreyra who I have no doubts is a superiour player than Riviere.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Solanostrumpet, you know what difference was between Cabaye and the rest of French players we signed? 1. He is by far the most established player for Ligue 1 we signed and was really to deliver straight away for us.
2. He had to prove a point in a team with a british core, which gave us perfect balance. This season proves to be the same for Sissoko who grows in his role. But if we want French players, I want quality not quantity and **** players like Gouffran or Riviere
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
At some point, we need to get rid of Tioté, put Abeid in, and we also need to use Coloccini as DM when Abeid and de Jong aint fit. Id like to see a line looking like this:
——————–Krul———————
-Janmaat-Taylor-Dummett-Santon
————-Colback-Colo————–
—————–Sissoko——————
—–Aarons——————Sammy—
——————-Ayoze——————-
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Yeah I’d like that team. Could see it happening with Colo at CB and Abeid at DM.
Where do we play SDJ when he’s fit?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
The situation with the Argentinian guy is exactly why no quality manager would come here. Sell your top striker replace with an AWOL guy, a lightweight mediocre French scorer and a young Spanish 2nd Division striker (who luckily turned out to be great)
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
For Derby game, if Abeid, Santon, Aarons not fit, but with Janmaat Taylor Sammy back, Id go for this:
——————Given/Harper————–
–Janmaat-Taylor-Coloccini-Dummett–
————Colback—-Sissoko————–
———————Vuckic———————
——Ayoze———————–Sammy—
———————-Cissé———————
Subs: Woodman, Haidara, Anita, Bigi, Cabella, Armstrong, Ferreyra
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Solanostrumpet- My team with Abeid and SDJ fit?
———————Krul———————-
-Janmaat-Taylor-Coloccini-Dummett-
————–Colback-Abeid—————
——————-Sissoko——————-
——Ayoze———————-Sammy–
——————–S. de Jong—————
Subs: Elliott, Streete/Satka, Santon/Dummett, Jonas/Raylor, Obertan, Aarons, Cissé
For me, like Raylor, Jonas is now a CM option, a logic evolution, if he is fully fit, with the same workrate, Im sure he would be a very decent option as CM/DM in a 3 man midfield and then we can sell Tioté and Anita easy, loan Bigi for 6months and bring him back for nxt season.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
ST – your point on Sissoko not hitting the ground running is exactly why I’m reluctant to overly judge Rivière and Cabella. How many of us wrote Colo off based on his first season.
For people to be saying put Chucky in instead of Rivière?! – based on what?. Great way to build the confidence of a player we’ve went out and bought – you’re dropped for a loanee who hasn’t even made the bench yet 🙄
Cholo – I like the looks of both formations mate. Not sure about Colo in midfield like but I know you are only suggesting it short term due to others being injured.
I read an article earlier that linked us with Brazilian forward Jo, who is currently a free agent. Not for me thanks.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy17 maybe I’m going a little over the top but the truth is they cost a lot of money and should be doing better. I’m not saying they should hit the ground running but we could have easily gave Bigi and Armstrong more chances. I was impressed with Armstrong yesterday and giving the more chances he could shine for us. Riviere missed a seater but yes you’re right, they need more time. I ain’t happy about MYM going out on loan. We over spent on these french players and Ashley will be lucky to get his money back.
Terry(Quote)
ST I agree Sissoko never hit the ground running but he always showed glimpses of the qualities he had, for me I haven’t seen owt from Cabella that makes me think he is going to be a top player for us.
Cholo you say Ferreyra is a better player than Rivi ? So I take it you have seen a lot of him playing, though I would say Pards mustn’t think the same as you, otherwise why would he not play him
Big Dave(Quote)
I would say a new centre back is needed in january more than a striker. Williamson should be nowhere near our first team. A emergency sub at best. The board is to blame at the end of the day.
Terry(Quote)
Sissoko scored two goals against Villa on his first game.
Terry(Quote)
Sissoko, Cabaye, Debuchy, Remy all sensible signings.
I expect Carbella to be as good as L. Robert at that price.
Terry(Quote)
Riviere should have been the same price as Gouffran. Carr’s made good signings in the past but this year not impressed at all
Terry(Quote)
Terry – Based on the current market neither Cabella or Rivière was signed for big money. Cabella was big money as NUFC signings go, but £6m for Rivière isn’t big money at all really.
Solano is right though, these players come in as replacements for our better players that have been sold and so the level of expectation placed on them is high. If they don’t make an impression immediately then they are *****, or a waste of money!!.
I’ve read so many times that Rivière is Remys replacement, Colback for Cabaye, Cabella for Ben Arfa. The 3 pretty big sets of boots to fill to be fair.
I don’t blame the players, and I don’t blame Carr. With respect to the players, I don’t believe that they were the cream of the crop scouted by Carr and his team.
It’s completely down to Ashley and the board IMO, you simply aren’t going to have a top 6 squad with the money we spend on transfers – coupled with selling your better players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – I agree. 3 out of 6 ain’t bad for us. Colback, Janmaat and Perez have all been very good. Cabella might come good next year and we await your favourite SDJ.
georgio(Quote)
Need to beat the mackems, at least not lose again, to get set for the Everton and Burnley home games coming up (and blow away some of the bleak gloom on here). Spurs just proved that they have a deeper squad than us – with our pretty mucb bare bones eleven we weren’t competent, while their second choice mob are average, so boo hoo. If we hadn’t lost first two senior keepers, plus whole right side to our defence, plus Santon ;long term injured, plus Cisse, Aarons etc etc etc…put it right on the weekend – these three home games are the kind of games we need to ger 6-7 points from,and show that we can break down defensive minded teams, so rather than getting on Cabella we have to hope that he can show that kind of lock picking ability…
GTE(Quote)
Georgio – yip and the 3 you mention cost a total of around £6.5m as a net – Colback = free, Janmaat = around £5m and Perez around £1.5m.
But that’s my point really, with that kind of spending, we can’t expect too much from these players immediate. To be fair to them, even world class players like Ozil take time to adapt.
Established PL players cost the kind of money we would spend on 2 or 3 players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Tbh, from what I’ve seen of Cabella, he looks nowhere near a £7m+ player. Jonas created more and scored goals and Cabella is supposedly a creative player. Bring back Jonas the defender!
Perez looks a much better player already,for £1.5m.
DJG(Quote)
I think it’s difficult for overseas players to adapt to the physicality of the PL in fairness. When you look at French and Spanish players they are way more technical than us and are used to more time on the ball I think. Our game is very quick and physical, for every team that plays the pretty technical game here ( very few outside top 4 ) the others must be somewhat of a culture shock to these players and you either adapt or flunk. It helps if you have a strong physique as well which is why Anita for instance has spent a lot of time in the gym working on his stamina. I do rate Anita he is an intelligent player who sees a good pass yet still the pace and physicality is still a big problem for him, it may be that it always will be.
kimtoon(Quote)
DJG@330, Jonas was one of my favs mate, he is such a hard worker, he may of lost a bit of pace but he got to grips with our league and won us plenty of free kicks.
kimtoon(Quote)
Pack out the side with as many Geordies as possible on the weekend, hopefully it’ll make the difference on the day. I would chuck Arma on to, reckon he’s good for a goal or two .
kimtoon(Quote)
I would like to see Roberts given a chance to show what he can do. From the little I have seen of him his all-round talent IMO make him a superior player to either Sammi or Obertan.
Groucho(Quote)
Personally I would player Alnwick, Dummet, Taylor, Ameobi, Colback and Armstrong on Sunday. All good players and know exactly what it means on Sunday.
4-4-2 with Perez and Arma up front, Colback and Sissoko in the middle with Cabella and Ameobi out wide.
Let’s just gan for it!
Stuart79(Quote)
Alnwick
Janmaat, Taylor, Colo, Dummett
Tiote or Abeid
Sissoko Colback
Cabella Ameobi
Perez
After an hour, Cisse off the bench
GTE(Quote)
Aaron’s has rejected newcastle’s offer. 6 grand a week for 6 years. Jabba’s should stick to star wars.
Terry(Quote)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30540019
Looks like Pardew was justified on this one?
There have been times this season where Aarons/Sameobi/Perez when playing deeper have had notable team-saving moments in defence, having a player that contributes defensively really can be the difference between winning and losing.
Ben Arfa has never been consistently good enough to justify him being a lazy liability imo.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
I remember saying we should cash in on Barfa a couple of years ago and got abuse from the Hatem-worshipers. On his day he can be great but his days rarely show.
shirkers get found out in life, he’ll probably retire now and write a book 😀
mark(Quote)
I reckon Cisse will defo be fit. He was probably fit for Spurs but Pards wants to keep his savior for Sunderland. I’d start Arma. he did more in 5mins than Rivi did in 70
I can see us struggling on Sunday. I’ll be happy for a draw but think a 3-1 defeat is on the cards 👿
mark(Quote)
Mark – I think both managers would be happy with a draw as well mate.
I do get the feeling that we will have more players fit and available than Pardew is letting on though. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s hoping to try and keep Poyet guessing to try and gain a small advantage.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Sharpy
Poyet is probably well sick of draws, he’ll be going for a smash and grab again. He has Pards sussed and alan is too pig headed to try something different.
Our contain footy only works with our decent players available. I was hoping for a day out on Sunday but after the Spurs debacle I’ll be in the house watching it
mark(Quote)
Well I managed to get a couple of tickets at hugely inflated price… As this will be first time I’ve managed to get to a derby match I thought **** it and just paid the price. Hope it’s worth it. Roll on Sunday.
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
Dubai I hope you bring us luck mate
Big Dave(Quote)
Cheers Dave. I hope so too. The last match I was at was the 5-1 win against Stoke… That was a while ago! 😯 really hoping for a decent win after that debacle against Spurs.
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
Mark – I bloody hope Pardew is well sick of getting beat now (in the derbies anyway).
I said the other day that I didn’t feel confident about this week and derby day nerves are kicking in – not helped by Pardew pissing about with the formation either by the way.
I want to see us get back to winning ways. It may not be to everyone’s viewing pleasure, but we win games on the counter attack and we should go back to that way of playing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dubai – pleased for you mate, something’s are worth paying that but extra for – and hopefully you’ll leave a happy man.
Failing that, I’m sure the Toon will be filled with scantily dressed Mrs Claus’ 😛
Sharpy17(Quote)
Lol Sharpy. I’ll have my wife with me so no looking at the tottie unfortunately.
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
It will be a completely pathetic game to watch. Not much quality from either side in the final third will make it hard. Could be 0-0 or 1 nil either way. Cannot see Sunderland having a go at us so we cant play the counter and we will need to take the game to them and I cant see us creating too many chances if they sit back.
I will need to be just pissed to watch this I reckon. Good job I will be…
Stuart79(Quote)
Dubai – does the missus read this blog like mate?! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ha! Can you believe it, well yes I can, Aarons has turned down our offer of a new contract… Well at £6k a week that is an insult for a player who they club think a hell of a lot of! This is going to happen a lot in my opinion. Why would any good young player commit 6 years of their career to a club who have no ambition and only want to stay in the PL?
You reap what you sow, you fat ******* and its starting to reap plenty. This will just be the start. 🙁
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – I personally think £6k p/w is a fair offer for a 19yr old how hasn’t actually proven anything yet. No doubting the kid has potential, but we give him £20 p/w now and he doesn’t live up to the hype, then that’s a lot of money laid out.
I think 6k p/w with an annual review is a pretty fair offer just now – if he has a good season they increase it in the summer and so on. Makes sense to me like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The problem with what your saying, Sharpy is that £6k a week isn’t a good offer these days. There are many average PL players old and young who are earning 5 times that amount. It’s the economies of scale. Look at the money in the game so £6k is nothing now. Plus other teams will not think twice of offering 2 or 3 times that amount and take the ‘punt’ on his potential being fullfilled. We would look rather ridiculous wouldnt we if he left and became a great player just because we wouldnt pay him £15-£20k per week?
We have to move with the times whether we like it or not.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – what I mean is that his current contract is around £2k p/w, so to triple his current contract is a fair offer. I agree that there are lot of average players earning more but maybe that’s what we are trying to avoid. The kid has bags of potential but so did Obertan when Man Utd signed him and he hasn’t really hit the big time has he?!.
All I’m saying is offer him incentives to earn the big wages, and prove himself first. Don’t forget, it was that long ago that he was released by Bristol City. I wish was earning 6k p/w at 19, with an incentive to say treble it again next summer – that’s the offer I’d be making.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We cant offer him incentive based contracts as I very much doubt he will be offered similar by other clubs. We wont be playing on a level playing field then would we?
You are right about it being the correct way of doing things, buit this is football, not reality and if we were a successful football club where players wanted to come and play and have a chance of winning things we could be strong but obviously were not so we have to be different and I think offering him a better wage up front is the way to do it.
Stuart79(Quote)
If of course we think he’s worth it. The club might not think he’s worth the punt.
Stuart79(Quote)
6k a week for someone with Aarons potential is a joke. He’ll easily get 12k elsewhere. he’ll obviously go elsewhere
R Sterling had just turned 18 old when he signed a 30-40k per week deal and he’s due another deal in a years time. he was on 2k in the reserves
mark(Quote)
It amazes me how we are prepared to take a punt on a French player and pay them about 30k a week but feel its necessary to offer someone like Aarons £6k! How much is Riviere on? Aarons has proved himself more than that pile of ****.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy @354 I wouldn’t set much store by Bristol City letting him go, they are renown for major **** ups where players are concerned. The academy is a joke they are constantly losing decent players to other clubs and it’s a standing joke down here and one of many reasons I became so disenchanted with them sadly. I got to say I’m with Stuart on this one, we should be offering a lot more to Aarons, make no mistake the lad has bucket loads of talent and we are a PL club and wages should reflect that. It’s not as if he is a fringe player as when fit he has to be a certainty to start imo. No doubt he’ll go to a Chelsea, Arsenal or Manure and fatty will reap what he’s sown, bloody crying shame imo and I’m gutted.
kimtoon(Quote)
Pards was only saying the other week how we need to bring through talent from our academy and how the young ones at Saints were good footballers and smart guys too. Well Aarons is smart enough to know when he’s being insulted so how does that sit with Percy and co.
kimtoon(Quote)
I see Alnwick is now passed fit for the Scum game, he had a shoulder injury apparently. It will be pretty embarrassing if it plays up mid game and we end up throwing a 17 year old kid on 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30540019
Oh dear, that’s disappointing to hear, seems he really is a nightmare then. Big fat sorry to Pards from me. 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Haidara signed as a 20yr old, apparently on 30k per week now. total unknown and may not have suited the Prem, some say he still doesnt.
6k is a pittance, his agent will be lining up teams as we speak
mark(Quote)
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/trial-date-set-newcastle-defender-assault-charge/
YCMIU 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Its an opening offer, They will offer him more and he will sign
What has emerged is the press were **** stirring about him being out of contract at the end of the season; In reality he has 18 months left and the option of another year. Which they would undoubtedly take up if he hasnt agreed a new deal by then (Which he will have)
Theres should be more urgency with Sammy who is out of contract at the end of the season and has been much improved
CC(Quote)
Mark – that’s my point though mate, Sterling has proven himself and still is.
However Haidara hasn’t and if he’s on 30k p/w then that’s ridiculous. Equally, Obertan is on 40k p/w and has contributed very little to the team since we signed him.
As much as it should work my way, I suppose Stu is right – in that the offer of 6k is pittance in comparison.
Sharpy17(Quote)
All right then let’s get FUNKY!!!!
Owwww!!!
Yeah, they were dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ to the groovin’
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music Geordies
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music Geordies
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music till you die
(Hey,hey) till you die
Yeah, yeah
GeordieTwo(Quote)
But on to more serious events. We will come to our senses and make Aarons a better offer. It has to be.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Trying to find sources for that 30K a week claim for Haidara now.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I think it’s actually Santon who is on 30K or more per week not Haidara. The press report is slightly unclear on this.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
There is no readily available data on Haidara’s wage. Santon appears to be on 25K-30K per week.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
http://youtu.be/GnuQBYAZocM
Lovely that is.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
An update on one of my recent articles:
Have we Gone a Percy Too Far?
This is a question of great seriosity to all Newcastle supporters. We’ve had some difficult times with managers over the last 7 years or so.
Very few had much to offer. Glen Roeder, Big Sam, even Hoots. But here we are in our 4th year with Percy Parsnip. What has he got to offer? He loves Mike, he has his favourites in the squad, and he has a fairly feeble head **** on him. Is that enough? Nay I say!!! This is not enough! We need strong new leadership. We need wildness and wooliness combined…..
More to follow. Harrumph!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
@G2 aye, i’d be surprised if he was on 30k. I think it was the Chron where I read it
mark(Quote)
Agreed Mark mate. It doesn’t add up. Very difficult to get accurate wages on players though. Especially with the tightwad in charge.
GeordieTwo(Quote)