Welcome one and all to this ‘Game On’ article which will take us through the highs and lows of our Premier league meeting with Manchester Utd this evening, St. James’ Park 7.45.
Theres not much to add to the preview except that it now looks like Haidara is now out of the game so should be replaced by Ryan Taylor’
John Carver has been speaking again in the lead up to tonights game. JC believes his squad is adequately prepared to face the Red Devils and sees no reason why his team can’t come out on top.
“I think everyone was feeling the pressure against Villa,”.
“I think there was a great reaction from the players though. We need to build on that and react again now as we face Manchester United.
“The fixtures coming up are a bit daunting, but they’re also exciting. I love a challenge and the players are up for it as well.
“We’ve discussed it and we’ve set a target for those games. We seem to really get up for it when we welcome the big teams to St. James’ Park.
“We’ve looked at Man United’s record away from home and it isn’t that great, so there’s no reason why we can’t get at their defence.
“They have some super players going forward but they are also vulnerable in certain areas and hopefully we can exploit that.”
Daryl Janmaat and Tim Krul will be no strangers to Van Gaal’s style of play after playing in his squad during the 2014 World Cup, where Holland reached the semi-finals.
“One or two of the Dutch lads have been giving me a bit of advice,” said Carver. “It was quite an interesting insight but I’ll keep that private for now.
“I think it’s difficult for Manchester United fans. They’ve seen how entertaining they can be always on the front foot and playing exciting football.
“Now Van Gaal has come in with a different style and lots of different systems. His principles are still the same they like a lot of possession but he’s a little but more patient.”
“you just have to think of when we went to Old Trafford and won 3-0. The stats then said we hadn’t won for what, about 40 years?
“I’m always looking at the positives. Why shouldn’t we get a good result again?”
So the time for talking is over and lets see the Lads putting up a fight and show a bit of pride and determination.
Howay the Lads
Newcastle United Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, R.Taylor; Obertan, Sissoko, Abeid, Ameobi; Rivière, Cissé
Subs Woodman, Satka, Anita, Gutierrez, Gouffran, Armstrong, Perez
Manchester Utd de Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Evans, Rojo; Herrera, Blind; Di Maria, Fellaini, Young; Rooney (c)
Subs Lindegaard, Jones, McNair, Carrick, Mata, Januzaj, Falcao.
Dummett has played here, there and everywhere. Perez has played left wing, right wing and behind the striker. Goufrran has regular played behind the striker or on the left wing, when he’s a striker apparently. Riviere has played up front on his own when he clearly isn’t suited to that role, due to us having nobody else to play with him.
Stuart79(Quote)
Isn’t it nice seeing Mike Ashley with a big smile on his face again ? He really does care about the club and is showing an interest again. John Carver is doing a good job as head coach. Lee is doing a good job balancing the books and Carr’s out there looking for amazing players for us. Two more wins and we are safe. HAPPY DAYS 🙂
Stem(Quote)
The ‘facts’ as you say are seen loud and clear and have been there for the last few years but for some reason you don’t seem to see them. I am all for loyalty but blind loyalty is the first step to oblivion.
Stuart79(Quote)
Getting 40 points is very important these days. We have nearly reached our target. Now that’s ambition.
Stem(Quote)
Stem, we won’t be relegated but I record when we go into our last 3 games we will be pretty close to the bottom 3. Still be a few points clear of them but I can’t see us scoring the goals required to collect points over the next few games.
Stuart79(Quote)
Going off youre post @ 220 Dummett a defender who has played across the back four shouldnt really be on that list should he.
Gouffran and Perez are strikers/wingers have alternated those positions throughout their careers and Riviere played up front on his own last season when Falcao was injured for monaco.
CC(Quote)
Everyone notice Aussie completely disappeared at only the meariest suggestion of an actual debate.
A real miss to the blog… NOT!
Stuart79(Quote)
CC – Big difference is that the teams you mentioned have played Debuchy or ramires out of position once, not every other game like we do. They are also seasoned proffesionals, not young players trying to find their feet. so again a non comparison.
Also Perez has been a striker in his short career, so that’s just wrong. Riviere played up front on his own last season – so bloody what? Doesn’t mean it’s his position does it? he can’t do it, we have seen that, but we have had no choice but to use him there. We will probably do it again in the next games Cisse is out and he will again fail to perform and be detrimental to the team.
Stuart79(Quote)
The squad is a mish mash of average players, decent players (few) and topped off with young players who we have no idea whether they will make it in the game or not. Not to mention it’s completely lob sided, short of strikers and defender of any real quality (Jamnatt and Cisse aside) and has about as much creativity as a blind artist on a galloping horse using a a coffee bean to draw with.
Can’t argue with them facts.
Stuart79(Quote)
Realistically we wouldn’t expect much from the **** and Pool games anyway even with Cisse in the squad, but it’s a shame we’ll be handicapped for the Toffees and scum as both them teams are beatable .
kimtoon(Quote)
Stuart
Perez played mostly on the left for Tenerife
Debuchy may have been a few matches but Arsenal have switched Chambers and Monreal from full back and centre back all season. Exactly the same as we have with Dummett.
Irrelevent whether Rivieres any good or not, He is not out of position he is a centre forward who has played as a lone striker many times
CC(Quote)
CC I have asked you twice if you dont want to answer me at 215 that fair enough just let me know 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
I think his prefermances show he is being played out of position. Perez scored his goals as a striker.
As for Chambers – please check as he hasn’t been moved too often. He played a couple of games at centre half then reverted to right back for the rest of the games he has played. But lets be honest he is an England internation who many think will win 100 caps so comparing him to Dummett is a little silly.
Stuart79(Quote)
The point is that I doubt many other clubs leave their squad with only 4 defenders and one reasonable striker with half of the season still to go.
Stuart79(Quote)
Dave
Yes that right, Weve won 6 when Cisse didnt score and 3 when he did
CC(Quote)
Very disappointed in Cisse really, he seems like someone who wants to be seen as a good guy with his charity work but he does seem to get himself into bother, on and off the pitch. He’ll probably miss a good 7/8 games now, so he’ll have missed almost a third of the season through suspension.
The elbow is somewhat excusable given Coleman was fouling him, but getting up to spit in Evans face? Don’t get me started on Evans but Cisse should know better.
Trying to put the positive spin on it – like I said before, Perez has often looked better without Cisse, he leads the line in a much different way and it allows us more control in matches – which we will badly need in the games coming up. Rivi, after missing several sitters, will know the pressure is really mounting on him. Make or break run in for him really, but maybe if he can get one in off his **** it will get him firing again, god knows we could do with a bit of luck in the next few fixtures.
Or on the other hand, we get thrashed in every match and our overreliance on Cisse is made clear to all and sundry. Who knows, we might even get some new players in the summer 😆
Newkie(Quote)
CC@240 – That’s a very interesting stat actually, did you look it up yourself or is there perchance a long and detailed article on the subject? 🙂
It does surprise me, but then it does back up the idea that we struggle as a group when Cisse is involved, despite the fact he bangs them in.
Newkie(Quote)
Also agree officiating was a joke yesterday. Booking Jonas on his first tackle, not sending Rojo off, not giving a clear as day penalty (which all the Manu pundits agreed was stonewall). Absolute joke really, about on par with the football that was served up.
Newkie(Quote)
I do think it was a case of see how you like it, with Cisse last night. All the same it’s a filthy thing to do, he should not of retaliated.
kimtoon(Quote)
refs a manc isn’t he ❓
kimtoon(Quote)
Not sure how true it is to be honest the stat on Cisse.
If you look at the results and points that he has been involved in it is clear he has saved us many a time from being beaten. Hull, Swansea, Burnley, Palace etc… All games when we drew and Cisse scored. He has also scored when we won against, Chelsea (2), Everton (1) and Villa (1).
So while saying we have only won 3 when he has scored you forget about the points he’s saved us.
Stuart79(Quote)
Newkie
Weve gone off on a massive tangent but the initial point was how would we fare without and the answer is not too badly.
Thats not saying i want him sold as hes scored many vital goals and helped us to plenty of points. His goals against Hull, Swansea, Chelsea, Villa etc. were priceless but for whats left to play for this season i think we should be ok.
If we were 6 or 7 places higher or lower id be pissed off or if he did that on the last day and would miss the start of next season id be pissed off, But i cant see much more than a couple of wins, a couple of draws and a fair few defeats between now and the end of the season with or without him…
CC(Quote)
This season the officials they are full time now have been of a very poor standard a insult to the game its no wonder players lose their heads,no excuse for spitting like,there needs to be a big shake up a poor standard can and has cost clubs millions of pounds and heart breaking for some fans
icedog(Quote)
Kim – yeah, Evans is worse for kicking it off, it’s just a shame Cisse had to retaliate with the same. Maybe if the ref had been closer and seen Evans do it sooner he’d have held off…but there we go.
CC-Agree with that, in a way it helps force our hand and see what else our team of capable of, rather than limping to the end of the season with Cisse in anyway. Gives Carver time to plan (or, ideally, a new coach to watch what the rest of our players can do)
With nothing to play for I’d be very happy if Aarons and Armstrong got some serious game time. Carver seems a bit reluctant though, and he will try to play it “safe” to get the job, which I guess you can’t blame him for.
Newkie(Quote)
So, concensus is that we were ****. Gutting way to lose in the end, but still ****. Question is why we were so ****.
Standard answers – 1. Players aren’t good enough. 2. Management and coaching are hopeless. 3. Squad is too thin so too many players can’t be taken out of the firing line to reciver losqt form or are just knackered.
On 1. Same players took on Chelsea and Spurs earlier this season. this isn’t the best set of individuals we’ve had over the AShley years, but its not th worst either.
2. 4-4-2 against Man U’s set up. Naive.
3. Suad’s at bare bones and it shows.Abeid got exposed for the novice he is, talented, but out played last night. Raylor and Jonas did ok, but look at Sissoko and Perez, they just need taking oit of the firing line.
Even with Cisse’s ban, we’ll stay up. Every match that goes by tells me more and more clearly that to stay still in the 8th-12th zone we need a new coaching set up and several new players in the summer however – not even necessarily big name star players, just better squad depth (and a new ‘purple’ centre half and centre forward).
GTE(Quote)
Newkie, I’d agree with that. With little to lose I’d love to see us give game time to Satka, Abeid, Aarons and Arma (though probably not all at the same time). I’m becoming convinced that Elliot (for Darlow), Taylor (for Lascelles), Raylor, Oba, Tiote, Cisse and probably Sissoko are on tbeir way this summer, so surely we need to find out if one of the kids above can really step up?
GTE(Quote)
GTE – We might not have a choice other than to throw in the kids.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart @200: do the FIFA rules apply to the PL? I never quite understand how all the governing bodies’ (FIFA, PL, UEFA) rules apply. I think in this case it is totally up to the PL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
GTE: I doubt anyone will take Taylor with his injury record. Isn’t this his second ruptured achilles? As for Cisse, his offer was from some useless megamoney middle east team. If I was him I would want to play a few more years in a top league. That offer will still be there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Taylor, due to injury record and contract up until 2016 may stay one more year, Eric. On CIsse depends whether he wants a paycheck or better football – and whether the club wants to capitalise on its asset. My guess is he’ll be gone. Of the list, the only one I’d be gutted to lose would be Sissoko, but it does give us a hell of a rebyuilding job – and you can bet the incoming players won’t be blue chip. Hence my belief that we need a European coach, used to seasonal rebuilds…
GTE(Quote)
Sharpy: The Northern Echo says that the FA will launch an investigation into the spitting and that the FA handed out a 3 game ban to Hull’s George Boyd for spitting last year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I did it again, I meant Stuart.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here’s something from The Guardian:
“John Terry was banned for four games after being found guilty of using racist language on a football field. In 1999 Patrick Vieira received the same punishment – plus a further two games for his reaction to being sent off – for spitting at Neil Ruddock.”
So Vierra got 4 games and Terry got 4 for something that most agree is more vile. I think talk of a 6 or 7 game ban is a bit over the top and fueled by the football pundits on TV trying to one-up each other.
Which brings me to another point. All of these ex-players like Savage or Phil Thompson trying to be controversial to keep their name out there and make themselves the issue to keep their newspaper columns. It seems like they are mostly making a living now by going over the top, each trying to one-up the other. It sort of started with Andy Gray who would get all excited over a corner or free kick. When something really happened that was spectacular he had nowhere to go, he couldn’t raise his voice anymore as he had reached a crescendo over the mundane. Now there is all this faux outrage by the likes of Savage. It is like Roy Keane or Souness criticizing a bad tackle or bad reaction.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It seems that the rules have changed. I just read in The Guardian that spitting now carries a MANDATORY six game ban (not sure if that comes down from FIFA or FA, probably FA.). So you get 3 for almost maiming someone (Ireland and Matic, recently), 4 for pure hatred racial abuse (Terry) and 6 for spitting. Hmmm.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I just read on Football365 that there should be a punishment of “at least 4” games for Cisse and Evans. It seems that there is quite a bit of confusion as to what the rules are.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
On a somewhat related subject (punishment fitting the crime). Those Chelsea fans who were singing racist songs on the trains will probably get banned for life and the Captain, Leader, Legend gets 4 matches for calling someone a F@cking Black C*nt.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cisse should appeal against the decision, he might get lucky. If he doesn’t get away with it he should be fined because that’s a 100 grand towards a new player in the summer.
stem(Quote)
Eric – the racism one is out of order, if you’re a proven racist then you should get banned for life, same as fans, pretty simple imo.
Spitting though, and tackling are different. I know you aren’t going to ruin someones career with a spit like you could a tackle – but there are some pretty horrific things you can catch via saliva, so you could in fact ruin someones life (I know, very low chance, but the argument can be made)
Tough tackling is also part and parcel of the game – some people do need to be reined in, but it is something everyone who has played football has experienced and will expect to experience again at some point or another. Spitting is just not comparable imo, there is no justification. Agree pundits mostly talk trash – but I said the ban would be 7 or so because like you said, the new rule says at least 6, and Cisse has already clocked someone this season with his elbows.
Newkie(Quote)
GTE – Exactly, I think it would be to Carver’s credit if he did try and blood the kids too. Problem is he will be desparate for the job (which he doesn’t deserve, for me) so he will go for the experience of Goof and the like over youth…
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie: you make excellent points and from reading a few papers it looks like the ban will be 7 games for Cisse because the FA (not FIFA) changed the disciplinary rules. I am just a bit pissed off that there seemed to be double standards from what had happened in the recent past. This new punditry where they offer no better insight, and are just as OTT as Neil Ashton or Piers Morgan at the Daily Mail is something that should be frowned upon. I might be an old fart (50) but this new class of twitterati, self-publicizing type pundit makes me cringe.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hopefully I am not tempting fate (more) here but the January transfer couldn’t have gone much worse, could it. Letting go left back cover and in obvious need of an experienced CF and CH. Now we have Dummett and de Jong out for the season and Cisse suspended for 7 games. It almost makes you feel sorry for Carver, almost.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just spoke with a manure fan I know and he reckons had we got the pen and Rivi taken his chances they would of lost 3 or 4.0. He said most of their fans thought we played better than them.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, you could almost predict this, though I thought it would be Cisse knee playing up again not spitting and we were always gonna have defensive issues being left so ridiculously short. So yes I feel a bit for JC, but not too much cause he’s as bad as Percy for defending his pay master.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric – no, it’s not enough to make me feel sorry for JC. I have nothing against him, he seems like he’sa good guy, who the players like and who loves the Toon. Nothing, however, in his career record or in his impact over the past several games marks him out as a manager in waiting who will keep us competitive (I use the word loosly, but competitive given the financial constraints, then). While thinking that the injuries just offer the club fig leaf to give him the job full time ven if we finish outside stated top-10 ambition, I cling to a hope that the clear out in January and lack of contract work now is because we have decided to bring in a new coach and are storing budget and squad flexibility for him. But then I still also believe in the tooth fairy!
GTE(Quote)
Cisse will be missing for min 6 games. I read somewhere that he’s apologised so I can’t see him challenging the charge.
Stuart79(Quote)
We only need 2 wins out of 11 games and I think Carver will get those results and get offered the head coach position full time.
stem(Quote)
The Troyster might disagree with me about Carver getting the job permanently ?
stem(Quote)
Well, you know that Colback will be back in for Abeid. I hope it doesn’t affect his confidence too much as he made a couple of mistakes last night. With Cisse out I think Carver will keep faith with Riviere and pair him with Perez (what other choice do we have). Cabella will come in to replace Obertan which is good news in my opinion, even though I thought Obertan did a very good job defensively. But f@ck it, he is a winger and praising him for his defensive display is falling into the Pardew trap of wanting our attackers to act like defenders.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – No arguments on the punditry mate, I virtually rate none of them. Even Shearer is tiresome, he’s just lucky he’s among worse company on MOTD 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Smart move Mike, not getting another striker in now that Cisse will be suspended for 6 or 7 games. Now all we need is an injury to Willo or Colo. How much more stupidity will we have to put up with? With Ashley the sky is the limit.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So Cisse admits to spitting and apologises and gets a 7 game ban. But Jonny Evans wont admit it so I think they should ban him longer, but they wont 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
Stem
Why would I disagree with you about that? I’ve maintain ed throughout he’s odds on to get the job permanently. He’s cheap and would jump at the chance to be Ashleys puppet. His CV is building up nicely with each interview he does.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So what is our likely finishing position with Cisse likely out for 7 game?. I’m guessing 40 points and 12th place surprisingly. There are terrible sides below us who won’t get to 40 points. The division is really dividing up into terrible teams (the bottom 10 to 12) and competitive teams (the top 8 to 10). We are one of the terrible teams thanks to Mike.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Big D: we have 10 days to go before you have to write another article 🙂 It could be worse, we could be QPR. ‘Arry really dropped them in the **** – what a plonka. Took them down with a massively expensive squad, barely got them back up after being a lucky fucka against Derby, and then bailed on them when he couldn’t get even more overpriced players in and claimed it was a bad knee.
We are just ferkin lucky that Mikey Boy never managed to persuade ol’ droopy to come up North.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Riviere has 759 minutes in 16 appearances of league play under his belt with no goals. Clearly he is going to be our goal scorer now with Cisse out. Not. Well done Mike and staff. What happens now? Pile pressure on Perez to score? Bring in Armstrong if he’s fit but has had no playing time? What’s the brilliant plan JC?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Troysta: coldest February since 1875 since you asked if I was kidding about the cold a couple of weeks ago. Only 3 days above freezing since Christmas. Lucky I was in Thailand for 3 weeks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
G2: How about recalling Campbell from Gateshead? Wasn’t he supposed to be the next big thing before he went to St. Mirren and … erm … Gateshead?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Football Pinhead of the Season Awards should be very exciting this summer. I think we can sweep all the major categories:
Owner with the Pimple for a Heed: Mike Ashley (unanimous choice).
Managing Director Pinhead Award: Lee Charnley (near unanimous, 1 vote for Sunderland’s managing director apparently).
Head Coach **** Kissing and Platitude Award: John Carver (again unanimous!!!!)
Honorable Pinhead Mention: Gus Poyet
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Now Campbell is thought of as the next small thing Eric mate. Very tiny impact. No, we have that superstar Ferrerya to step in. Relax mate, problem solved! 😆 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Nah, G2:
Fall from grace: Roberto Martinez
Most wasted money, done a runner: Harry Redknapp
Most wasted money, fall from grace player: di Maria
Overhyped: Louis van Gaal
Resurrected: Brendan Rodgers
Most expected: 3 promoted teams being in bottom 5
Owner who is 2 stone fatter after previously going on a successful diet: NUFC
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Excellent nominations for Football Pinheads of the year Eric mate. I like them all but I still favour our lads Mike, Lee and Johnny C. to sweep the lot. They’ve done so little with so much. Hard to beat I would say. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ashley is trying his best. 40 points a season is excitement in his eyes. Lee does the books, Carver and the players get the 40 points. Carr find the cheap bargains. The 50000 fans cheer them on and everyone’s happy.
stem(Quote)
Stem: doesn’t seem like everybody is happy on here 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we’ll see a lot more hoofball with the exciting lineup of superstar strikers we’ll have available in the coming weeks!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
In fact that should be Ashley’s motto: Doing So Little With So Much. Mike Ashley Our Beloved Owner.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Eric our club is a circus run by clown’s. They will never live up to the fans expectations. There only setting themselves up for a big fall in the summer. Let’s face it 40 points plus is as good as it gets under Ashley.
stem(Quote)
Are we all excited? This is our owner! Our pinhead!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Our beloved Owner should go on a diet or do some training with the players.
stem(Quote)
Stem man: I think we have all switched off and last night with Cisse being suspended is about it. We will stay up, Carver will be manager until the end of the season, and it will be boring.
We have almost the equivalent of a second/youth/pre-season team out now. How can we get f2cking excited about this?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is 40 points beyond us this season come to think of it? 7 losses and 3 draws in our last 10 games only gives us 38 points. Hmmm. 38 points might only get us 14th place? Is that acceptable Mike? How about 15th place? Does that ensure JC the head coach position for next season? It’s exciting but is it exciting enough Mike?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2: we beat Hull and Villa under Carver. So, even though I don’t want him as manager he still has 2 wins.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric I feel most people on here are going to end up feeling disappointed about who the next managers going to be. Ashley shocked us all by appointing Joe Kinnear ( twice ) so I reckon the next head coach could be a real outsider.
stem(Quote)
Mikey! He’s the cool in Cool Whip
Mikey! He’s the blast in bean dip
Watch out! Wow! ‘Cause here he comes
A totally modular fellow
The maraschino in Jell-o
Mikey! What a baby boomer
Mikey! He’s a real consumer
If the rinse cycle of sorrow is spoilin’ your day
There’s a rum soaked pinhead headin’ your way
Mikey!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
It’s probably someone not even on the bookies list.
stem(Quote)
I love Mikey the Pinhead songs.
GeordieTwo(Quote)