Both teams go into this match on the back of 2-1 defeats in London last weekend – As we lost to already relegated Queens Park Rangers, the Hammers ended their home games with a reverse to Everton.
Speaking ahead of the game John Carver said “I’m looking forward to the challenge,”
“I have enough players in that dressing room who realise how much this game means. Let’s be honest – it’s the biggest game at this football club for six years.
“I’m sure that Sam (Allardyce,) will bring his strongest team here. Everybody wants to win a Premier League football match and Sam and Kevin Nolan won’t be any different.
“I’m expecting the players to step up to the plate and put in a big performance that’s worthy of keeping them in the Premier League.
“We have to win this game. I said a few weeks ago that four points was the target and we got one against West Brom so yes, we have to win.
“The lads have to play to the game and not the occasion because sometimes you can get carried away with what’s going on around the outside, but they need to stay composed.
“We can’t fear wanting to get on the ball and play, if we get that reaction and we get on the ball then I’m confident.
“I’m expecting the atmosphere to be electric. Against West Brom it was like being in a proper football stadium again – it was fantastic. I know that for the 90 minutes on Sunday it’ll be the same.
“Six years ago it wasn’t in our hands but it is now. We can take care of our own business and that’s the important thing.”
Also speaking ahead of the game Fan and blogger Big Dave said ” I am dreading the game as I just don’t think our players have the bottle/ spirit to go and really give the Hammers a fight”, ” and I think we will have to hope that Man United do us a favour by beating Hull”, ” I also think it’s a real disgrace that Mike Ashley has let our once great club get into this position again because he wanted to gamble from Jan that we would have enough points to secure our Prem status without having to invest in the transfer window, the same way he gambled in Jan last year”. ” I can’t ever remember feeling so disinterested in our club as I have this year, it is just one mistake after the other, we have an owner that has zero interest or ambition in the club except to stay in the prem for the huge revenue from the televised games, and keep using us as as a huge advertisement hoarding for his only love Sports Direct, ” I am very near the point of not really worrying about the outcome of todays game, as I think if we stay up the Regime wont really learn or change their ways, and it will just be more of the same,” ” if we get relegated then things will have to change and the Regime will have the ambition to win games to get promoted back in to the multi million £ honey pot AKA the Premier league” . so it’s a toss up of remaining the Premier league’s whipping boy’s, or being a competitive Championship side ? the sad thing for me is that I know there is a lot of other Toon fans are thinking the same way and that is all down to one Man Mr Mike Ashley.
TEAM NEWS
Newcastle– Mike Williamson is in contention for a starting spot after serving a two-match ban for a red card at Leicester earlier this month. Siem de Jong (thigh) has trained but remains a slight doubt, while Massadio Haidara (knee), Cheick Tiote (knee), Rob Elliot (thigh) and Steven Taylor (Achilles) will miss out once again.
West Ham – Centre-back James Collins is expected to miss out with a calf injury, having been forced off in the first half against Everton last weekend. Fellow defender James Tompkins could return, however, after a spell on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder. The Hammers will definitely be without striking duo Andy Carrol (knee) and Diafra Sakho (thigh), along with defender Guy Demel (calf).
HOWAY THE LADS
Team sheets
Newcastle United Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Gutierrez, Rivière, Cissé.
Subs Woodman, R.Taylor, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, de Jong, Perez.
West Ham Adrian, Jenkinson, Burke, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Nolan (c), Kouyate, Downing, Valencia, Cole
Subs Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Tomkins, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Lee, Nene
Personally I thought Ashley came across quite well. You could tell he was nervous in his voice but the important thing is that he walks the walk after talking the talk.
Stuart79(Quote)
Did Cisse do anything of note today? The Willo snub of Carver was blatant. He can’t get the job surely.
Shamrock(Quote)
Proof will be in the pudding with Ashley. Don’t believe a word of it until he actually consistent delivers.
Shamrock(Quote)
SHAMROCK
he never got what i would call a decent chance but he was only half fit
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Boots/Eric – yeah I think despite Ashley saying it’s down to Charnley and the board I reckon the conversation went something like ‘I will leave the decision up to you guys, but if you go with the bloke that nearly got us relegated … well, it’s over to you :twisted:’.
Eric – it hasn’t papered over anything for me mate. I’m relieved and happy that we won and didn’t have to depend on Man Utd. But there is lots to be done. As much as I dislike him, I’m pleased Ashley had the balls to speak before the game – and the words came from the horses mouth. Like Big Dave, I got the impression that he finally gets it, but for me it needs more than a manager & players. They need to repair the relationship with the fans too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think a good target to set for the team next season would be a positive GD. That would at least mean a top 10 finish.
A decent manager, given the right size and quality of squad, should be able to achieve that.
JC would have no chance.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Right my clear out would be: Willo, Carver, Riviera, Stone, Colo, Ameobi, Gouffy, Cabella, Sissy (today was too little, too late), Tiote, Raylor, Saylor.
In: 2 good strikers, 2 good CB’s, left back, 2 proper wingers. New coaching team. All chosen by a proper top proven manager.
Shamrock(Quote)
Stu – it offered a little hope though didn’t it mate – maybe things can change & improve under him, which is what we needed because I think finding a new owner could have proved hugely difficult in our current state.
Sharpy17(Quote)
im not keen on carver and i also aint keen on the wally with the brolly can just see every1 standing there with no shirts and him standing there with his brolly up any1 but them 2 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Correction: 3 good CB’S.
Shamrock(Quote)
well i say any1 i should of added JK to that list 😆 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
and right back cover. Hope Ashley is willing to splash a bit of cash this summer…
Shamrock(Quote)
how could i also forget dennis the unwise who buys the players via u tube any1 but them 4 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
so how much is that all going to cost Shamrock ?
Probably in the region of £80M or more.
That’s a BIG gamble even for the fat controller.
But you just can’t see any other way tbh.
Will be some good money to be made at the end of it though 😉
Speculate to accumulate
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
TAE – so you’d have Steve Bruce when he gets sacked from Hull 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB I heard it from the fat man’s own mouth. He wants Champions League football. Come on then Cashley, splash the cash. You get nowt for free. Oh and Cashley, you can’t take your billions with you when you go you know. Enjoy owning a football club for a change and become a God to the Toon faithful!
Shamrock(Quote)
Well, it’s easy to say the words but the proof of the pudding ect… But I do agree with Dave, I genuinely think Ashley has realised that it’s not working but I also think he’s had a shock at the protests, the boycott and I imagine the season ticket sales for next season are well down. But he’s been clearly shocked at how football works and how is modus operandi doesn’t work.
Hopefully we will see a decent coach get the job, some big money spent and also a complete change of attitude within the club and we start acting like a football club. Then he’s done his bit and then it’s over to the players and the supporters to do theirs.
Stuart79(Quote)
Lets hope Stu. I still think it’s more likely that once the dust settles and he realises he has kept his money safe spending nowt and staying in the league, he’ll do more of the same again. Maybe a token effort this summer to keep the season tickets coming in, then back to type afterwards. This fan won’t be convinced until he has proven himself over the duration of at least 3 transfer Windows.
Shamrock(Quote)
AND he needs to take the shackles off the new manager.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well I said before Klopp is willing to join Brentford surely we are a better choice,but don’t think toon will even talk to him
icedog(Quote)
BEARDSLEYS BOOTS 465
add him to me list also 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Klopp would be a real signal of intent. Or Benitez if Klopp got the Madrid gig. No chance of either though 😥
Shamrock(Quote)
Stu @ 451 well after watching Jabba’s interview a few more times, I tend to believe that he has had a right scare, as he even said up to a week ago or so they still thought they would have got out of it, but it has went to the wire this time and it wont get any closer than that. So I do think he has atlast caught on that it wont work the way he has been trying to do it, so I am hoping he is going to change the ways he runs the club, I don’t for one minute believe everything he says but I just don’t think he would have spoke for the very 1st time unless he really felt that he needed to get his point across. So I will wait and see what he does but I am feeling a lot better now as to the future of our club than I have for a long time. I have been saying for years that I think Jabba would do well to talk to the fans and now he has and for that i’m glad.
Big Dave(Quote)
I think there is plenty better, but I wouldn’t be annoyed if McClaren was appointed – providing money is spent on players. I’d love to see both Austin & Ings to come in and form a front pairing for us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Shamrock @ 468 I have been one of Jabba’s biggest and loudest critics, but he tried that after the relegation and after we nearly went down again, but in all that time he never felt the need to speak to the fans until now 😉 and they have never spoke about trying to win something, and he even made the point that being well run financially wasn’t the be all and end all and that they now need to bolt the horse to the cart.
So for me it’s over to Jabba to show us he has ambition
Big Dave(Quote)
of course he was shocked by the protests. I said all along there was a bigger picture in getting shot of Pards. Hopefully, in time we can celebrate Pardew leaving IF we get a better manager in.
Just think, we wouldnt of had this mini-disaster if Pards was here. We also wouldnt of had an Ashley interview promising cash. We would of finished 12th with more of the same planned for next season. It had to be drastic for Mike to realise a change is needed.
Although I wont get too carried away just yet 😀
Gashley(Quote)
Klopp or Bilic would be my choices before McClaren. But I still think carver will end up with it
Stuart79(Quote)
also meant to add I think a big thing for Jabba is that he is and wants to be known as a hard nosed but very very successful business man, but as our owner he has became a complete laughing stock and I honestly think that that hurts him more than we think it does so maybe he wants to be known as a successful owner too.
Big Dave(Quote)
Yeah Bilic is a good shout.
Shamrock(Quote)
DAVE thing that gets me with jabba he said the buck stops with him but will not have anything to do with picking a new manager?? it will be down to Charley and board,thing is a couple of months ago it was said jabba had joined the board,I just don’t trust the guy,how can you say the buck stops with me and then say someone else will pick the manager,imo they will just stick with Carver
icedog(Quote)
@BDave
you going all soft on Ashley now 😆
Gashley(Quote)
Karanka, Bilic, Klopp, Laudrup or Rodgers.. all better than SM
Please no to McClaren
Gashley(Quote)
Can anyone imagine Mr Charnley enthralling a potential new toon manager ? Mr Charnley ? … hmmmm
There again, Carver is there anyway. After a great performance today, and with the promised financial backing from the owner, JC should be given another chance imo.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Carver will not get the job. He’ll be reverting back to coaching very soon
Gashley(Quote)
Big D: you make fun of me for laughing at Carvs but the first thing that Ashley has to do is get rid of him. Carver makes everyone in the organisation worse – his body language, his interviews, his team meetings, his fights with players, his offering fans out for fights…the list goes on… CARVER OUT.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice it has to stop with him mate as he is the head man, for all we know maybe Charmless wanted players and a new manager and Jabba said the money wasn’t there ? As for the manager part I don’t and never have believed that he will let anyone have the final say it will have to come through him, but if he said that then it makes Lee etc look like puppets that don’t really have a say, but I would add that I think Carr would have a big say on the footie side.
Mark not soft but I do think he has seen the light but will wait for him to show it before I would get behind him 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
MM @483: great performance today despite Carver. He has a divisive personality and we see that in every interview he does. Giving him another chance will only delay the inevitable of us selecting a decent manager. Handing Carver the keys to this club will be a disaster as it almost was until today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Carver has gone through a massive learning curve, which he has admitted himself he found strenuous and trying. At the same time he has came up smelling of roses after today’s win, and a better man for it.
It would be crazy to discard him now after all he has been through..
If anything we know that Ashley (or is it Charnley) prefer consistency and continuity.
Munich Mag(Quote)
aye , we’ve been botted many times by mike. He did seem pained and apologetic this afternoon, even watching the game. Hopefully the pennies dropped
Gashley(Quote)
Mark @ 489 exactly, if we don’t have that hope what else do we have 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
I also seen pics of Charmless Lee and Jabba doing more interviews down at the side of the pitch after the game.
Big Dave(Quote)
Munich Mag @488: have you been on the Spaten mate or has someone stolen your nametag?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
well I give a hearty clap to all of the protesters this season.. well done lads. I don’t think we’d be in this hopeful position if it wasnt for you..
Toon Toon Roll on Europe 😯
Gashley(Quote)
Eric Sykes, if Carver gets the rap for a ***** performance, he should also take the plaudits for a fantastic win.
Tim Krul never had a save to make all day.
Look at Willo and Sammy celebrating, do they look like players who don’t care. I thought JC’s heed was going to explode when the final whistle blew 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
If Carver gets the job it’s probably because nobody else wants it.
Stuart79(Quote)
Dave, I’m with you mate on Jabba. He looks to of learned a hard lesson. I’m willing to give him a chance to right the wrongs .
kimtoon(Quote)
If Carver remains in position then Ashleys words today were wasted IMO. What Ashley has to remember is that while he is happy to leave these decisions to Charnley – HE is the current custodian of NUFC and the history books will show his name, not Charnleys.
There again, if he doesn’t want to sell the club then Carver is his man – coz we’re winning nowt with that clown in charge.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I cant believe how well Anita played 😯 he was like a mini-Tiote.
Going to enjoy MOTD tonight in the knowledge we’re still mixing with the big boys 😀 😎
Gashley(Quote)
does anyone really believe Carver will get the job 😯 He would of been sacked after accusing Willo of faking it if we hadnt of been in a perilous position
Gashley(Quote)
GASHLEY
i did think meself williamson done it on purpose i was shouting no about 2 secs before he hit him though i would defo of not said it to the media me opion would of stayed inside the camp
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
MM @494: too many excuses from Carvs and too many fallings out for me. The players stood up today, PLUS Wet Spam went on holiday – it is a bank holiday tomorrow after all and West Ham had nothing to play for 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
TAE: about Williamson – whether he did it or not is not the point. It is that Carvs called him out on the press conference and that is just bad management.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
how is a mananger surpose to keep the respect of the players when he hangs some1 out to dry like that showed a lack of class in carver in my opion
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE we agree @500 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Post-match from the Idiot Carver:
“It feels like you have just won the cup, that’s what it feels like. I actually sit here now feeling like I have won the cup, and wouldn’t it be great in the future to be sitting here having won a cup?”
Didn’t we have 5 “cup finals” before this and also the Hull result would have kept us up anyway. Appointing this man to anything other than putting out the road cones will be a disaster.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC SYKES
makes a change us agreeing on something 😆
is willing to give fatboy the chance this summer to put his money were his mouth is and start building a team that can take us to were we all want to be,but hes at last chance salon with me 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Eric you will be lost if Carver goes 😆 who will you abuse then 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
if fatboy means what he says in his interview i would expect us to have a good transfer window would you agree
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – If Jabba means what he says then we should have a cracking window. But I will only believe it when I see it. As I have said previously, it’s not just about buying players. The whole club needs to change and I’m not sure that will happen.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sky Sports News HQ @SkySportsNewsHQ 23m23 minutes ago
Sam Allardyce has left West Ham after four seasons in charge at Upton Park. Will he be missed? #SSNHQ
TAE @ 508 if he means what he says ( which I think he does ) then yeah we need to have a good window
Big Dave(Quote)
BIG DAVE
hope ya right over there bud 😀
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
R Keys says big a announcment on Tues,how the **** would he know ffs
icedog(Quote)
Absolutely loads to talk about but I’m too pissed ! Great result and I’m dying to see Ashleys interview.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Big D @507: I don’t ABUSE anybody except on very rare occasions when I get carried away. I was extremely insulting to The Troysta one time and Munich Mag thinks I said things that children shouldn’t read. That is not abuse and certainly the things I say about Carvs is not abuse – they are statements of fact – HE IS UGLY, HE DOES LOOK LIKE A PICKLED WALNUT WITH HAIR – that is not abuse – that is a statement of fact.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Troysta: whatever our differences I know we are both over the moon about todays results. And same to you Big D.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric> I don’t ABUSE anybody except on very rare occasions when I get carried away ?? you state boldly that you don’t and in the same sentence you then say only on a rare occasion 😆 😆 but I wasn’t talking about you abusing bloggers, I was talking about you abusing Carver 😉
But I have to disagree with > they are statements of fact – HE IS UGLY, HE DOES LOOK LIKE A PICKLED WALNUT WITH HAIR – that is not abuse – that is a statement of fact.
I think you might find that abuse is an opinion not fact 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
Eric @ 515 I have to agree with JC it for me was like winning a cup final, but then we wouldn’t really know what winning a cup final would feel like.
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice
I hope that announcement is the replacement of Carver & co with a top rated manager coming in with his own backroom staff., and who is being allowed to buy and sell players of his own choice..
It would be the first step in the redemption of Ashley.
sidekick(Quote)
Ice – When and where has Keyes said there’s an announcement on Tuesday?
Stuart79(Quote)
an interesting take from another vocal anti Jabba fan
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-next-coach-lined-9322584
Big Dave(Quote)
Big D: Carver has said every one of the last 6 games has been a “CUP FINAL”. His rhetoric gets old after a while. Now he feels like he has won a cup final – good for him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do we think that this blog is a decent representation of Newcastle fans?.
The reason I ask is that I honest expected alot less tolerance for Ashleys comments and more of a too little too late, we will boycott until the blokes gone.
Now I am not suggesting that we have all been sucked in off the back of 1 interview in 8 yrs. But I have to say I’m surprised and weirdly proud of just how many are prepared to give them the opportunity to address things this summer.
Does anyone know if the AshleyOut lot have said anything since his interview?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Think they’re carrying on as normal, Sharpy. Personally I have always said that if Ashley ran it like a football clubs would be happy. That’s all I want. but Ashleynhas to back up his words with actions otherwise he will lose a lot more than he already has lost.
We will soon find out when they appoint the next manager and if they sell the likes of Krul, Sissoko and Tiote.
Stuart79(Quote)
One other thing I noticed was Charnleys reaction to our first goal. He really did look as though he’d just been saved from the threat of having a red hot poker shoved up his ****!
Stuart79(Quote)
Loved the awkward moment ashey and charnley wanted to hug after sissoko scored, they wanted to but kept it very business like 😆
GASHLEY(Quote)