Welcome one and all to this ‘Game On’ article which will take us through the highs and lows as we travel to local rivals 5under1and for today’s Premier league game (4pm kick-off), having lost the last four meetings with the Mackems – the latest of which came just before Christmas when Adam Johnson struck a last-gasp winner at the Gallowgate End to break our hearts again.
But John Carver is determined to change United’s fortunes today and was speaking ahead of today’s clash.
“Growing up as a Newcastle fan it’s the first fixture you look for on the list,” he said.
“As a manager it’s a proud moment. We all know it’s one of the biggest games in the North-East and so it’s something I’m more than looking forward to.
“Our record isn’t very good and so I’m looking to break that. I think we have more than enough in the dressing room to do so. It’s a big occasion and we don’t want to make it five losses in a row.”
Carver also rejected suggestions that his overseas stars will not understand the importance of the fixture against their neighbours from Wearside.
“There’s a lot of people out there that say our foreign players won’t understand what the derby means,.
“But the majority of players in our dressing room have played in at least one and we drum into all of them how important this fixture is.
“Hopefully over the last four games they’ll have felt a bit of hurt because I certainly have, and sometimes that’s what you need to spur you on.
“It’s a cup final for us and that’s how we’ll treat it. Any team of mine that goes up against Sunderland will not be faulted for lack of effort, determination or not knowing what it means to the Club and the fans. I’ll be driving those guys forward.”
Sunderland appointed **** Advocaat as their head coach last month following the departure of Gus Poyet from the Stadium of Light hot seat.
And while he and Carver may have seemed an unlikely pairing to be coming head-to-head at the start of the season, the latter believes he may hold the advantage.
“At least I know what this game means, whereas it’s ****’s first derby,” said Carver.
“He’s in a difficult situation because he’s only had a couple of weeks to get to know his players. I’m sure he’ll get them prepared, he’ll have been able to get a couple of things across and he’s got a boost in the return of Cattermole.
“Sunderland have outworked us in previous games and that’s not a good stat to have – I don’t like that.
“If we can cover anywhere near as much ground with the same intensity as we did against Arsenal then we have a great chance at winning.
“I think we have everything to play for. We have a lot to prove. It’s not good enough to lose the last four derby games and I’ll be banging that drum in the dressing room without a doubt.”
So with the talking out of the way it’s time to show what we have and make sure we don’t give them anymore bragging rights.
Howay the Lads
5under1and Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Vergini, Cattermole, Gomez, Larsson, Fletcher, Wickham, Defoe.
Subs Bridcutt, Johnson, Reveillere, Graham, Coates, Buckley, Mannone.
Newcastle United Krul, R.Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Sissoko (c), Gutierrez, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, Perez.
Subs Elliot, Anita, Abeid, Kemen, Obertan, Riviere, Armstrong.
Absolute ***** display today
Terry(Quote)
we look so shitty and we bring no danger upfront. hopefully we made some points first half of the season
HBA39(Quote)
Fuk it took them 10 mins to bring him on 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
5 mins added, yeah lets prolong the agony 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
5 mins 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
rubbish!
georgio(Quote)
God it really is **** supporting NUFC under Ashley isn’t it!!. Mid table (if we’re lucky), no cup runs and can’t even get excited about Derby games.
Sharpy17(Quote)
**** utter ****.
kimtoon(Quote)
I wouldn’t blame every single player for leaving this cancer ridden excuse of a football club
Stuart79(Quote)
Helping the Scum to avoid relegation for another season
kimtoon(Quote)
There’s still time to get dragged into a relegation fight. No attacking threat today.
Terry(Quote)
Stu – they can all fucking go for me!! – they’ve been fucking ***** today.
Sharpy17(Quote)
No midfield no team, no wins. Defence was tight, but midfield was **** if you exclude Jonas, Sammy and Ayoze were decent, Cabella chocked. Gouffran as usual brought nothing and we were a 9 man team because Sissoko chocked too. Id like to say Sissoko should return right wing, and play with Colback Abeid and Jonas in central midfield,
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
This is what happen when you dont play your two most solid midfielders in Abeid and Colback
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Sat in silence watch that dross today, Carver you did a brilliant job of motivating Sunderland today
Have already made two payments off next seasons ST, but if Carver gets the job – Ashley just sue me for the rest because that is it.
Our club stinks from top to bottom,
Jonas you were the best of the geordie nation on there today, by the proverbial mile, Timmy nice to see you congratulating Defoe – I don’t think.
ash1001(Quote)
Kim @85 that’s the killing thing – without the points we’re gifting them the SMBs would be relegated in this and each of the past two seasons. At least they can’t give Carver the job now…can they? 😯
GTE(Quote)
This seasn, only time Ive seen quality was when we played 433 with Abeid Colback with Sissoko,and with any kof Sammy Aarons, Ayoze, Cissé and Cabella. So if Sissoko leaves I womt worry, we’ll need deJong or Vuckic or a new mjdfielder to replace him. But its obvious we know what we shohld build with Janmaat Colback Abeid Dummett Ameobi Aarons Ayoze Cabella Armstrong Heardman Satka Kemen Haidara Vuckic de Jong Darlow Lascelles and bring Austin Van dijk Kara Pringle as new players. Get rid of Gouffran Anita Obertan Tiote Sissoko Cissé Krul
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
I genuinely can’t believe how easy that was for them, Staggered no lack of urgency
Particularly like Carver telling them to concentrate on the 5-1, The Derby match before the slimy **** jumped into Hughtons shoes unnecessarily & Carver was brought from some **** lower league outpost
CC(Quote)
We give six points every year to scum,saved them from going down in the last two I give up with this circus of clowns,roll on to bank jabba with your summer sales,which decent would want to stay here anyway
icedog(Quote)
Player
icedog(Quote)
And I want to say one thing, remeber James Tavernier?? Saw him play right winger last season, can honestly say that we dont have any better right wingers than him at the moment. Id take him back, far more talented than Obertan Gouffran.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
R.taylor in the first eleven again????? Fuckkkkkkkk you jc
Bruneian Magpie Fan(Quote)
thats it for me like,im done with everything newcastle united.laters
hitman(Quote)
Carver is completely out of his depth. Would anyone seeing the way the game was going leave it until after half-time to make changes. Sorry he has no idea and no guts. It even took ten minutes to get Armstrong onto the field but what can you expect him to do with only 6 minutes to go to the 90 minutes. Riviere I thought made a difference. Not that he sparkled but the difference came from having another man in the box.
Groucho(Quote)
I don’t know if we are even mathematically safe yet, even the bottom 3 are giving it a go with spirited fights. We look an aimless spent force with square pegs in round holes due to injury. I can see our better players chomping at the bit to get the hell out of dodge and who would blame them.
Just listening to 606 and a Derby fan talking about McClaren was saying why the hell would he wanna go up there, that’s the worst Newcastle team I’ve seen for many a year. 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Nice programme on now about Robbie Elliott cycling around Europe visiting all the clubs Sir Bobby managed.
kimtoon(Quote)
Two poor teams playing out the string with just the one bit of quality from Dafoe. Our attack is non-existent without Cisse. More of the same to come from us I’m afraid. Two wins in 13 for Carver now. Good enough Ashley?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
On the bright side we had an actual shot on goal I think. Tremendous. Maybe we’ll get another one before the season ends? That’s what we get with cowardly owner. Cowardly in that he won’t spend some of the profits to improve the club. Carver has to go, as do many of the players. But has Ashley got any fight in him? I think the answer is obvious on the pitch.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Perez was alright today, nothing special but alright. Considering we are rallying on a 21 year kid to get the goals for us we shouldn’t expect more from him.
Riviere one assist all season is just rubbish to say the least. Monaco got a good deal there.
Gouffran brings nothing to the team and I don’t understand why he keeps getting picked.
Terry(Quote)
G2 Carver and the whole team need to be upgraded. Perez can stay because at least he tried to test the keeper today.
Terry(Quote)
Complete boycott until Ashley is gone. Nothing else will work. Carver is a dud. Everyone knew it except Ashley who doesn’t care enough to pay attention. Ashley will keep on doing the same thing to us year after year unless he is forced out.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kim
You don’t think the players actually should take some responsibility for this latest shambles
For all the palava happening around them at this mental club weve still manage to churn out victories over Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Man city this crappy season when interested. A fraction of the effort shown in those matches and the 2nd half last week & we’d have buried Sunderland who were above the relegation zone on goal difference pre match & had lost 7 in a row FFS
As for the derby fan, Were a premier league club and will be next season, You’re a championship club and barring a big turn around in form won’t even make the play offs let alone get promoted. So for all the faults at our club i can see why he’d wanna go up there…
CC(Quote)
Huge clearout needed in the summer Terry mate but Ashley is a coward. He will hide and let the others take the heat. He will spend a bit but not nearly enough. We are a permanently damaged club with Ashley in charge. No hope unless he leaves. I hope people like Shearer speak out against him again.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
CC your spot on there the players should take a hard look in the mirror. I think the midfield let us down today to be fair.
Terry(Quote)
We’ve all pointed out the problems time after time. Useless owner leads to useless management, a thin squad, poor performances, and yet record profits. The scab at the top needs to be removed. If the you go to the home matches you get what you deserve. Absolute shocking, abysmal performances.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Anyone who buys a season ticket now needs his head examined. Ashley will laugh and continue down the same road. Record profits, no effort from him required. Sycophants filling the management spots. It’s made in heaven for Ashley. Fatty Hogswill wins again.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ashley will just ignore Shearer, Keegan and the fan’s G2 mate. He thinks he know’s best. His very arrogant and stubborn towards us. He just doesn’t care enough about the club or results. Carver may be the head coach but the players aren’t fighting for him. I expect the save my job speech Pardew gave after all the big teams are out of the way.
Terry(Quote)
I hope there’s still a chance a relegation scrap. Just to teach Ashley a lesson. We will get nothing at Anfield.
Terry(Quote)
Liverpool (a) L
Spurs (h) L
Swansea (h) L
Leicester (a) D
West brom (h) W
QPR (a) L
West ham (h) L
39 points is my prediction
Terry(Quote)
I can’t see us losing to West Ham, they are on the beach as well
Probably a god awful draw or scruffy win for us considering we should have a few back by then
CC(Quote)
CC@107, yes they should look in the mirror, but there is only so much you can do as a player when, in Perez case for instance, you are isolated up front for most of the game. Factor in a patched up defence due to lack of depth and it’s a recipe for disaster. Our owner continues to gamble on our PL status by offloading without replacing and little wonder we cave in when injuries and suspensions hit, all things a blind man could see happening. Still we might JUST survive, more by luck than judgement and that’s another season chalked off to the annals of history .
kimtoon(Quote)
By the way Jonas motm for me, ran his socks off.
kimtoon(Quote)
Feel utterly deflated. What a pile of *****. 1 shot on target. I think we should’ve had a penalty in the first half but no ref is going to give anything to the toon. Doesn’t excuse that disgusting display. Carver just standing clueless on the side. Not a Pardew fan but at least he stood on the sidelines shouting his head off. Carver stood scratching his with not a clue.
So all that talk from Sissoko and Carver… They can both **** off as far as I’m concerned. Ashley is a cancer on our club. I’m just so **** sick tonight. Strangely I just had a bad feeling.
Need a few whiskeys I think….
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
Hang your heads in shame if you go to the next home game lads. Buy tickets and support Ashley. Is that what you want?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I have to say that the goal was a great one. Not much we could’ve done about it. Time for Sammy to go. Time for Gouffran to go, and Anita. A few others too. If the Wally with the Brolly comes I see just another few years of mediocrity. As Marvin the paranoid android used to say.. I’m sooo depressed…
Dubai-Toon(Quote)
With Sissoko, Krul, Janmaat, and Tiote gone in the summer and a few cheap young’uns in just think of the team we’re going to have next season. Don’t forget to buy those season tickets and support Ashley all you muppets out there.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Five in a row. Shameful, just shameful. They’re not even a half decent side. 😳
GeordieTwo(Quote)
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/05/john-carver-newcastle-relegation
kimtoon(Quote)
We’ve handed them 15 straight points now. I wonder what Shearer and Keegan are thinking now. I think I can guess.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Tragic that Ashley is getting away with it scott free. Unbelievable really. Any other club including Sunderland would have a riot on their hands at the next home game.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
i watched it on my android box i got from http://droidking.co.uk it pissed me off, good stream but again we fail to deliver
james(Quote)
I see J Jenas has said he would not join the toon if he was a younger player,and who would blame him or any other player not joining this lot
icedog(Quote)
G2@125,we need jabba out,even if he spends a few mil in the summer we know it would only be temporary he would claw it back at a later date,he’s a con man,he needs out
icedog(Quote)
Read nobody’s views. How can anyone blame Carver. Yes he’s a puppet desperately trying to save his livelihood for the sake of his family but don’t ever blame him for the result.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ha Ha Ha
Parver picked the team
Parver played all those lads out of position
Parver sticks Perez up front on his own
Parver stands on the touch line scratching his chin – clueless
Parver gives Arma 4 mins to make his mark with the game lost
Parver had the Lads fired up and motivated from the kick off -(NOT)
Parver set us up to contain in the Percy style, with zero game plan or attacking intention. Hopeless.
Parver talks **** before the match
But DONT blame Parver for the result.
aye right whatever.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Dreadful performance. Awful result. Terrible game. Thought Jonas and Janmaat were ok, but in general we were a rabble.
I really can’t see what Carver brings to the table. He seems big on the off-field rhetoric, but he’s got nothing happening on the field.
It’s unfortunate that we’ve had so many injuries, sure, but being down to the ‘bare bones’ is no excuse. As we hear so often, football is a squad game. This squad obviously isn’t good enough.
O wish we had somebody with a bit of vision running the club and the team, somebody who can see beyond the bottom line, somebody with a progressive football imagination.
If something drastic isn’t done during the off season, I can’t see much of a future for the club in the PL beyond next season. Hell, at this rate we’ll be lucky to end up above Hull and Sunderland come May.
Hopeless and useless. Truly hopeless football team. Truly useless management.
brisvegas(Quote)
Fucking woeful showing. No leaders, year after year I say it. Doesn’t matter who our manager is as long as we have these spineless cunts playing for us. Would help if they stopped scoring screamers’ against us every year though 😕
Newkie(Quote)
Ashley is to blame for all of this! We should have sorted this out in january. Why didn’t we replace Remy in the summer ? Why did we let two defenders go out on loan ? Why did we not replace Pardew ? Why didn’t we spend any money on transfers. This club is run by a complete amateur and it shows.
Terry(Quote)
Ashley is probably laughing his *** off at us right now. I understand Burnley and Leicester struggling but we got no excuse!
Terry(Quote)
We’ll there is 90+ minutes of my life I will never get back… it was like watching disinterested sunday league footballers running around. . Carver has not got the playing stock but the ones he had looked totally lost and without a game plan…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Did anyone really think we would have a decent set-up/shape when we were playing all wingers or part-time wingers – Jonas, Sammy, Gouffran, Cabella, Sissoko – that’s 5 wingers (maybe even 6 since Perez often drifts out wide). Our only players capable of playing defensive midfield were on the bench (Abeid) or leftback (Colback).
Is it any wonder that we looked so disjointed? I know we have many injuries but all of these wingers did not know where they should set up and what space to be in.
Carver contributed big time to his own, and our, downfall even if a lot of the players had off days. I had also thought that at no cost that Sammy might be a decent squad player. After recent displays I am not so sure.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see people criticizing Sissoko today but I don’t think he knew his role either. He wasn’t making the marauding runs he sometimes does and seemed to sit back as cover. The players were shyte, but does anyone really think they knew what the plan was? Was there a plan?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
On this game, the point is Krul had a very good game, the back four played too, but how can you build playing your best midfielders out of position or on bench in Colback and Abeid, those two can hold up, slow down game and control midfield, Sissoko is a very good player, but he aint good in that aspect, so he is untouchable, atnd also never understood why Pardew was critiscised for playing him on the wing, he played there for France and Toulouse. In my opinion, Cabella did not show up and hasnt a better game than Sammy who didnt have great game but tries to d something is wasting lot of energy by playing all those 50-50 challenge. In my opinion the way he is wrongly readed and he is absolutely not part of the problem and should stay. Ayoze was decent. Jonas had a good game and also said since 2012 season he should be converted as CM as when he got battery and plays well on the ground, in my opinon, in his best days, Jonas could of been a great Cm and Id like to see him play with Colback and Abeid in midfield, and put Sissoko on right wing. Not only Gouffran at this club is a disgrace for me as I know him for 10 years as I live in France, but Gouffran as CM, and ahead of Mehdi Abeid is a **** shame. Carver is that bad or he doesnt pick the team for some reasons?
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
This season we have seen we could do well when we build with the 433 around Colback and Abeid in midfield, with whether Sissoko Jonas Cabella as the 3rd man. We have also seen that our best defensive unit worked with Sammy as left winger double teaming opposite winger and also contribute good defensive partership with Dummett and Haidara. We’ve seen that our front 3 needs a solid midfield and thats key to our success as team. We badly need a physical presence at least able to hold up and play big, I miss Carroll, miss Ba, even miss Shola, even miss Leon Best. Riviere aint no better than the last 2. Also think that even Sammy Ameobi upfront would be better than him.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
In fact Id like to see Colback Abeid de Jong or Vuckic as midfield trio
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
James Tavernier>Obertan>Gouffran
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
And another thing, we complain about lacking identity, we should of give a proper chance to Conor Newton who had 2 very solid seasons at St Mirren, and from what ive seen is talented got skills and decent physical impact. We should of keep Vuckic over the last 2 years and try him as N10 when Cabaye left, hes been injury free for 2 years now, instead of wasting 2 years by playing this overrated players, James Tavernier played great last season and showed big potential, lot of pace skills set piece abilities, and maybe he was too offensive for a RB, but he definately could play winger instead of Gouffran Obertan this season. Id have him back any day of the week. All of them who obviously wanted a shot werent given a chance and actualky play for this club, allow the club to have developped around players who wants it more, and with quality signigns, and its a huge mistake as they could have similar impact than Dummett Sammy Abeid Aarons and Armstrong. Now hope we’ll bring back VuckGraham Carr is really overrated.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Graham Carr always been a bigger problem than Pardew, if he thinks he is bigger than the head coach or manager, then he must appoint fir the job. Why not adapt you transfert window to your manager even if you keep an eye one France or Holland. If we bring foreign players, I only ask to players from these leagues be. I wamt more Cabaye more Janmaat and no more Anita no more Gouffran no more Obertan no more Riviere or Amalfitano. Dont understand why this cristicsim for Ameobi( maybe the name?) or Dummett as Left back when you see that even unfashioned, he is our best otpion.
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Ha Cholo, you make a very good point.
Does Parver actually pick the team ?
I have to wonder, really I do.
How on earth Colback ended up at Left Back, simply beggars belief.
15 days he had to dream that one up.
It makes me think someone else is pulling the strings, because I just cant believe Parver could be that thick.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Seems I’m not the only one who hates that grey strip 😉 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-might-nice-balance-sheet-5465456
kimtoon(Quote)
i could’t believe that colback at left back scenario. carver actually weakens the team in TWO positions ffs. the bloke really is a fool and needs to be put out of his misery. but no, nobbin and dobbin let him take the flack for them, when its obvious where the problems lie. a **** mickey mouse organisation from top to bottom.
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM, he may as well of put Jonas at LB and kept Jack in MF, we missed him in MF yesterday.
kimtoon(Quote)
Feeling really deflated and I honestly can’t see any hope of points from next 4 games and by the time Leicester comes around confidence will be shot. If the bottom clubs keep picking up points while we drop them we will be in big trouble. We are far from safe, 35 points from 31 games so far.
kimtoon(Quote)
Feel we need a win and a draw to be sure.
kimtoon(Quote)
Regarding the hideous grey strip, when I saw that the writing was on the wall. Why play in Grey? We always use the home strip when playing the mackems. Is there someone out there who cannot determine the difference between black and red FFS? We give up on the B&W and we give up on our identity against the scum. Its giving them a phsychological advantage immediately. They are no longer playing the black and white magpies but just some grey team with a grey style and grey outlook … Cannot put into words how totally pissed off I was yesterday…
Dubai Toon(Quote)