Mid-table Newcastle and Stoke fight for top-half berth at St James’ Park
Having been appointed manager until the end of the season, John Carver got off to the perfect start with a 3-0 win at Hull last weekend.
Along with rounding off a brilliant opening to his fledgling managerial career, victory would see the Toon leapfrog Stoke into the top half of the table and bolster JC’s claims for the role on a more permanent basis.
Team news
Newcastle will be boosted by the return Paul Dummett (hamstring), Gabriel Obertan (thigh) and Ryan Taylor (knee) who are fit and will be included in the squad.
Striker Papiss Cisse has a week’s training under his belt following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations and could feature.
Siem de Jong (thigh) and Rolando Aarons (hamstring) need a little more time, while Davide Santon, Remie Streete, Shane Ferguson, Kevin Mbabu, Gael Bigirimana and Haris Vuckic all left the club on loan on Monday.
Stoke will be without skipper Ryan Shawcross for the trip to Tyneside. The centre-half is set to be absent for the next few games because of a back problem that forced him off in the first half of last Saturday’s 3-1 win over QPR.
Walters is a doubt due to a knee problem that has prevented him from training this week, although Hughes is hopeful the forward will be available.
HOWAY THE LADS
Newcastle Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Haïdara; Sissoko, Anita, Colback; Cabella, Perez, Ameobi.
Subs Woodman, Dummett, Abeid, Obertan, Gouffran, Rivière, Cissé.
Stoke Begovic; Bardsley, Muniesa, Wollscheid, Wilson; Whelan (c), Nzonzi; Walters, Ireland, Moses; Diouf
Subs Butland; Cameron, Wilkinson, Palacios, Adam, Sidwell, Crouch
Sharpy – From what I saw he only seemed to be annoyed that we couldn’t defend our lead. Surely he wasn’t happy that their Keeper only had one save to make in a home game or the fact we only ever get one or two people in the box when we Attack?
Stuart79(Quote)
Munich – aye I saw it on MOTD last night and the incident itself was just weird when he wouldn’t let go of the lads shirt. Fair play to McArthur coz I think a lot of people would have reacted to that like.
But I thought his arrogant attitude in the post match interview was a disgrace IMO. This bollocks about looking after himself – McArthur fell into him, he wasn’t starting on him.
I hope Leicester come out and say that’s what he’s been sacked for, rather than trying to sweep it under the carpet. They backed him in Jan again with signings so they obviously expected to stick with him despite results.
I watched the incident again this morning on Utube – more to see what Pardew did to be honest coz I couldn’t remember – **** all as it turned out.
But there was a few clips of Pearson where in one he’s telling Leicester fans to ‘**** off and die!’. I didn’t realise he was such a **** to be honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pish poor football by the toon, with at least half the toon side looking completely uncomfortable on the ball. We cannot keep the ball for longer than 30 seconds, there again that was the same problem during Pardew’s reign, and this is still Pardew’s squad at the end of the day.
Pity that the normally ice-cool Perez blazed over in the second half from a fantastic position. You could have Mourinho sitting next to Ancelotti on the bench, but if the finishing is poor what can you do ?
Carver is doing his best with an inherited squad 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sharpy17, after watching Pearson holding the bloke down, then hearing him claiming in the post match that he can look after himself…then if the bloke hadn’t been bladdered he should get a 6 game touchline ban after that performance.
In my eyes the bloke has moved into the überballbag category..
Munich Mag(Quote)
As expected…Stoke made it difficult forus and we lacked the nous and skill to handle that. Could / should have put the game to bed, but always likely to concede and equaliser. No suprises, no panic. We need more creativity and / or power up top (De Jong? Maybe?), more pace and strength in centre mid, and an upgrade at CB. Probably good that we don’t do too well under JC, as he’ll have nee chance of getting those players, where a new manager might just get one or two of them…
GTE(Quote)
I really like the new Big Dave Blog. Everything is so harmonious with no ***** slapping and back biting.
Keep up the good work 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Stu – He acknowledged it was a ugly game, he said he wasn’t happy with how the goal was conceded and he said that Oba and Perez could and should have scored. I didn’t expect him to give full match analysis and I’m sure there is plenty more that made it a **** match that he wasnt thrilled with.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Outrageous that for the second season running season ticket holders have paid for a full season and only get half seasons money’s worth.
Stuart79(Quote)
GTE – when we have a full fit squad I think we should try the 4-2-3-1 formation again:
———————– Krul ———————-
Janmaat – Colo – Dummett – Haidara
——— Sissoko —– Colback ———–
— Perez —– De Jong — Aaron’s —
——————— Cisse ——————–
I’m not usually a fan of that formation to be honest, but I think it’s the best formation to accommodate our best attack minded players. But I also think that Perez and Aaron’s work rate would mean that we wouldn’t be left overly exposed either – IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
MM @ 156 😆 😆 😆
Just watched the Nigel Pearson throat hold 😯 what a total fuking muppet he is and after telling his fans to fuk off and die at the end of the year 😕 I actually thought he was a quiet guy but it doesn’t appear that way.
Kim were you wanting to try writing a thread as if you are I think I could sling it up on here, and wouldn’t mind trying as it would keep us going and having something to focus on, as I think the lack of new articles really doe’s make the blog stale and I also think it would liven it up a bit.
No pressure on you only if you want or anyone else for that matter ??
Big Dave(Quote)
I’d agree with that Sharpy, except start either Cabella or Sammy, – Aarons can’t be more than a sub right now, given experience. Still highlights limitations – Cisse has lots about him, and lots of gaps in his play, and even if Dummy can become a good CB, he needs a strong leader to play alongside…
GTE(Quote)
Big D first game in charge today as blog master I suppose a 1-1 draw is good enough at the end of the day. 😉
I think your idea of posting more short articles will really stimulate interest in the blog, and have the old bloggers flooding back. I dare say Troy will also behave himself while he know’s you’re the man with the ban hammer and you’re not afraid to use it 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
I think ultimately Haidara and Sammy on the left, and Obertoon and Janmaat on the right will work out as a canny formation.
We just need to get the central midfield sorted out, and revert to 2 strikers, this lone striker ploy just doesn’t work..
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM I don’t like a lone striker,I prefer two,but it can work quite well IF you have m/f players running beyond the striker in support but we don’t seem to have a m/f that can do that well enough imo
icedog(Quote)
MM I have been the Ban hammer man for a couple of years but never really used it except in the early days when there was a bit of blog wars going on and we were getting kids coming on with multiple names during school days and abusing bloggers.
I would also update posts with team sheets etc but I couldn’t get my head round the formatting of threads but after a bit of pissing about today I managed to get this one up and running, so I think I could get the hang of it maybe, but I wouldn’t be very good at writing threads unless it was to do with SD’s free advertisement hoardings 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
On the game I would have took a point at the start of the day but after watching Stoke I can’t believe how we couldn’t get more from them
Big Dave(Quote)
Big D, I for one appreciate that you managed to get a new thread up there mate. I’m sure you’ll get a few bloggers sending through new articles before long.
I’ll pen summat myself once I get back from my hols.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Ice@164, there were times today when Perez and Cabella looked like they were forming a good understanding. I would like to see more of Obertan running at defences from a more central position, Sissoko too..
I think we’ll see Carver’s preferred team for the last 10 games of the season or so, then we’ll really get to see what we are made of. By then Aarons, Raylor and De Jong will hopefully all be fit and we’ll have an injury-free run in to the end of the season… I reckon Staylor will be the only one long-term injured ….
Munich Mag(Quote)
@Big Dave
well done mate and please submit your SD Ads article…I’d love it..
now we can have a new article every couple of days 😀
Gashley(Quote)
MM imo Perez is a tricky little sod and will turn out a canny player but we are not using him he right way to get the best out of him at the mo,not a big lover of oba has to many poor games for me,Aarons has pace to burn a could be a find but by the sound of it he has a problem off the field and has refused a new contract is he to big for his boots?? its a worry with him
icedog(Quote)
MM
I never understand bloggers making such a big issue about other bloggers. I never complain about anyone. I might defend myself but you will never see me going on the attack about anyone.
Why do you and others feel it necessary to clog the blog with targeting individuals?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Big Dave@160, yeah mate I’ll have a go when I got a bit of free time, do I just send it via the contact us link at the top and put it in the message box and let you know? Last one I did I sent to Toonsy’s email but It will be irrelevant now as was connected with cup game and it was just a short thing mainly to get a thread up as we had too many post on existing one. Begas came to the rescue in the end.
kimtoon(Quote)
Thanks Dave. Good of you.
Premandup(Quote)
Big Dave if you can print articles I’m more than willing to support the blog.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Vuckic scored for Rangers today by the way.
kimtoon(Quote)
😯 KK. fav to replace Pearson
icedog(Quote)
Gashley @ 169 maybe you can do one ❓
Kim sure if you want you can just email it to me but I can’t promise I wont muck up posting it, but I think I can do it.
Prem 😉 no probs
Troy you get one wrote up and i’ll sling it up
Even if we could get a few up a week for now it would keep us ticking over, I could probably do the match banter ones, but it will be nowt fancy infact it will probably be a bit of cutting and pasting but sure we dont really need that much for the match banter ones.
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice @ 176 I would be real surprised at that 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Troy@171 I never understand bloggers needing to hound other bloggers off the site to the detriment of the community.
Do you feel that I personally am clogging the blog by targetting individuals ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Icedog, I was reading that Martin O’Neil’s name is in the frame for the Leicester job…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Yeah if there is a way of submitting I will probably give it bash soon some point! Kim yeah, noticed only two of our boys started so as I expected their manager was telling porkies!
Newkie(Quote)
Wehey, that’s more like it lads and lasses. That’s why this blog is the best 🙂
Looks like you’re gonna be busy Big Dave 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
@Bdave. its not for me mate. I’d rather read others than write one myself. but the advertising one would be interesting 😀
Gashley(Quote)
MM there has been a rush of money on KK in the last few hours,could be the bookies trying to make a few quid,they good at that
icedog(Quote)
That would be a shocker KK to Leicester 😯 , We play them in the run in too 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Newkie if you want I can send you my email .
Mark I am the same mate in that it’s just not my thing writing, it’s ok posting etc but having to write an article 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
MM.
Yip. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I would not write a thread during the season,but maybe could write one off season about past players at the toon I could go back a while,but I don’t think it would interest many
icedog(Quote)
@Bdave. I hear you mate, I struggle just posting lol
Gashley(Quote)
@Ice it would interest some of the auld gits on here, me being one of them 😛
a trip down keegans lane would be lovely 😎
Gashley(Quote)
I see Cabella was pissed about being took off and threw the water bottle,Carver wasn’t best pleased
icedog(Quote)
Dave. Nobody expects you to write a post. Nobody expects anything from you. Nobody should ever put responsibility on you don’t feel pressured. Everyone knows you have helped out today as a one off. Remember, you have your family commitments and work and that is what comes first.
Don’t commit yourself. If you feel it’s ok then fair do’s but don’t feel guilty if your family and commitments come first. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ice im sure you could go back a while 😉 like what players you watched in the 1930’s 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Troy@187, if you feel as if I have targeted you then I apologise.
I hope that you keep posting on here though because I think you are really good crack at times.
Munich Mag(Quote)
crack pot more like 😛
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
GASH I was looking a wee bit before KK,maybe Joe Harvey times,as my dad was a friend of his,and me going along,and I had big ears lol
icedog(Quote)
so whats the score with Cisses knees. is he knackered? Carver said we didnt need anyone in Jan.. 😯 to me we desperately need a striker. Relying on a young Spanish lad, deemed only good enough for the development squad is disgraceful.
Fair enough we didnt realise Rivi was totally ***** and we could be waiting until the new manager arrives before buying 🙄 but its just another waste of a season, same ***** every year. I really hope Mikes offski’s once Rangers are promoted.
Gashley(Quote)
DAVE 😆 😆 ,I owe you one,you should know more than me,as you pushed my pram
icedog(Quote)
wooo icedog, I’m not that auld. 😯 do bloke that old have computers? joking mate. 😉
yes, I’d read anything, I love historic stuff, especially about the Toon
Gashley(Quote)
Troy@192, agree there 100%. Big Dave shouldn’t feel obliged at all to sustain the blog.
Big Dave, as Toonsy’s long term 2IC let me know if I can support the blog in any way…
Munich Mag(Quote)
I wish JC would try something different to this 4-2-3-1 thing
I know 4-4-2 is so yesterday, but I think it would have worked better for us today.
We just don’t get enough bodies forward quickly enough to support the lone striker.
The one time we did, we managed to score. Surely there is a lesson there somewhere.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
more like..I think you are smoking really good crack at times. 😆
Gashley(Quote)
Troy the only thing I worry about is that if a couple of bloggers send articles in round the same time I would like to give each a reasonable amount of time to get read, as I can remember once young Zoe wrote a big article that must have took a while and it was only up for an hour or so during the morning before another new one went up, and I felt gutted for her as I know she would have spent a lot of time writing and researching it .
And yeah I wont be able to do it all the time but I will try my best in keeping the blog ticking over until others come back.
Aussie comeback all’s forgiven 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
MM
Give owa. I’m a bloke who takes not one jot of notice of any criticism from anyone on this blog.
Nobody knows me and those that know me results in some of the best people being close to me and the weak and dislikable people keep their distance.
Don’t worry fella. I take not one jot of notice of anything anyone says on here. Unlike some who take this forum as their life.
For Aussie to react the way he has is a sad indictment on his personality. I would give him more credit if he came back fighting.
I honestly don’t get it.
As far as you. I love the cut and thrust banter. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Here, have a point Stoke. No it’s nothing we don’t mind. 👿
GeordieTwo(Quote)
BB@201, the problem as I see it is we have no pace in central defence, so are afraid to push the team as a unit further up the field. I’ve always felt under Pardew ther gap between defence and midfield was too big, and we have always struggled to get up in numbers and support the lone striker.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Newkie – all 5 toon players haven’t played coz it was a Scottish Cup game mate – it was a weakened team – defo an Ashley influence going on there 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
well said Troy, that was very emotional.. you big jessy 😛
Gashley(Quote)
Dave
Totally understand. Just to point out. I don’t like Eds blog for the reason that he produces too many threads in one day.
One article every 3 days is enough.
I will put the effort in and send some threads to try and make it work.
I’ll do it for you.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ridiculous way to give up a point. It was wide open at the end. We gave them all kinds of space to run in and they took advantage. What were we thinking?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We had ample chances to put that game away and failed. Obertan seemed to take some of the steam out of us, especially on the break. He wasn’t ready to play. Bad sub JC.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
GASH I can only think REV is not suited to the PL or just not settled,as his past shows he’s not a bad player,he even scored a couple of canny goals in pre season in Germany
icedog(Quote)
Troy@204, I hear where you’re coming from.
Time will show whether Aussie makes a return to the blog.
I hope and think he will return.
In the mean time it seems that a certain amount of responsibility may fall on Big Dave’s shoulders to keep the blog ticking over.
That’s not what we want, we can all support the blog because there are some canny lads and lasses on here and the crack is excellent.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Troy @ 209 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
When are we getting De Jong back then? Sick of not seeing him out there.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2@210, I have a feeling we maybe run out of energy ? Stoke sprayed the ball around a lot today and had us chasing the ball all day. Young Perez himself must have put in a canny shift…
Munich Mag(Quote)
What happened with Aussie then? Does he need some romantic advice from the Terrier of Tiffin? 😀
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Aye Munich mate but we should have been able to close that one out at home. Should have been 2-0, done and dusted. I’m still upset!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 IMO we won’t see the best of Jong until next season mate Ime afraid,might see a bit class from him in short spells
icedog(Quote)
Aye ice, that’s what I’m afraid of as well mate. A ruined season for De Jong. One that we can ill afford. But if we had a good experienced striker we would have won that game. Cisse just didn’t get involved enough after he came on. Another pox on you Ashley! 👿
GeordieTwo(Quote)
As I said we’ll slowly slide down the table with JC and finish about 14th. Pathetic Ashley. 👿
GeordieTwo(Quote)
How are we supposed to keep our spirits up when we’re presented with bollocks like that? It’s not acceptable. Next Crystal Palace away. I’m not looking forward to it after that shambles.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MM @ 213 some wise words there, I think this is one of the best blogs going with some of the best bloggers, but I do think it has suffered badly over the past 6 months or so, due to the state we find our club in and due to lack of articles on here with a couple doing the best they can to keep us ticking over.
I have touched on it before I know there is some on here that don’t see eye to eye with eachother, and there has been one or two that I don’t see eye to eye with but I find the best way round it is to just scroll past or just say nowt. 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
G2 aye mate Pardew has all our players sussed out should be a easy job for him imo,he will know how Carver works,my only hope is Carver holds a Indian sign over him like poyet has
icedog(Quote)
Good comment Big Dave @223.
GeordieTwo(Quote)