We start at home this season against a Southampton side who were amongst one of the surprise packages of last season. Ronald Koeman, in his first full Premier League campaign guided the Saints to an impressive 7th placed finish which has seen them participate in the qualifying rounds for the Europa League – a feat even more impressive when you look at the changes in personnel that took place last summer at St Mary’s Stadium.
While Saints fans will be looking to replicate a memorable and unexpected season, United fans will be less than willing to replicate the events of last season which saw us escape relegation by the skin of our teeth on the final day of the season following a rather timely 2-0 victory over West Ham United at St James’ Park.
It was the opinion that we required investment at the end of last term, and to a degree we’ve had that. In have come Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba while, as yet anyway, none of our first-team players have been sold. We also have a new Head Coach/Manager/Director or whatever in the form of Steve McClaren who will be taking charge of a Premier League side for the first time since departing Middlesbrough for the England team in 2006.
Newcastle:
Fabricio Coloccini has recently signed a new deal with United and so, as Captain, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t start although I’d be equally surprised if he lasted the full 90 minutes after sitting out all of pre-season. Who partners him is the question?
Chancel Mbemba could be in line to make a debut pending receipt of a work permit, or it could be Steven Taylor or Mike Williamson and there’s a case for each of them to be honest. While Mbemba looks to be the long term option it’s perhaps expecting too much for him to slot into the Premier League at the age of 20 (or 24, or 34) with roughly 30 minutes of pre-season under his belt. Steven Taylor is arguably more solid than Mike Williamson although choosing between the pair as a defensive partner is a bit like choosing a favourite ********.
While Williamson is not the greatest and has, ahem limitations, I do feel the barracking he has been on the end of is harsh. It’s not his fault he is not at the level required – it’s the clubs for allowing it to happen and at least he gives his all. Steven Taylor can be a solid defender on his day but there’s always a clanger in his locker and he’s prone to long term injuries.
Moving into midfield now and Cheik Tiote is back in training but is unlikely to feature unless it’s from the bench. Siem de Jong will probably play second fiddle to Georginio Wijnaldum with Vurnon Anota and Jack Colback playing deeper roles. Arguably the player of pre-season – Rolando Aarons may start in the left leaving Moussa Sissoko out on the right.
Up front the choice is simple – Papiss Cisse or Aleksandar Mitrovic although I’d like to see the pair of them play together.
Southampton:
Fraser Forster remains sidelined through injury with Gaston Ramirez, Ryan Bertrand and Florin Gardos also out through injury. Shane Long and Jordy Clasie are doubtful but have not been ruled out. Another of the Saints contingent missing out will be Manager Ronald Koeman who has undergone surgery on his Achilles and will not travel to Tyneside.
Sounthampton warmed up for the trip to Tyneside by beating Vitesse Arnhem 2-0 in Holland on Thursday sealing a 5-0 aggregate victory in their Europa League qualifier.
Previously…
Southampton did the double over us last season beating us 4-0 at St Mary’s and winning the return fixture at St James’ Park by a score of 2-1. In fact you need to go back to February 2013 to find our last victory against the Saints with our winless run extending to four games since that 4-2 victory.
However as fixtures go this is one that has very much been dominated by the home side over the years. As we’re at home I’ll look at our record, naturally. Of the 40 games played on Tyneside it is United who come out on winning on 29 occasions, Southampton have won on five occasions with six draws making up the numbers.
Overall it’s United who shade the head-to-head having won 34 of the 80 matches contested between the sides. Southampton have won 29 times with 17 draws.
Stats and facts:
Premier League openers are not generally great days for Southampton as they’ve win just twice in 16 opening day attempts. It’s not much better for United who have won seven in 21 attempts.
Newcastle have failed to score on four of the last five opening matches of a Premier League season.
United do however have a chance to record back-to-back wins since November 2014.
The Saints have not won away in the Premier League in the last seven attempts. Six of those matches ended in defeat.
Their last away victory came at QPR back in February.
Final thought…
We’ve invested a fair amount in three players but it’s important not to expect too much from them immediately. Remember they are all new to the Premier League and may not adjust immediately so if they don’t score a hat-trick on their debut it doesn’t mean they should be written off. Likewise should they have a good game it doesn’t mean that they should be awarded an elevated status with higher expectations.
A lot of people have judged us on pre-season results and performances. Personally I’ve not really batted an eyelid – remember last season we had a decent pre-season and look how that shaped the campaign! The time for looking at things properly is now and that starts against Southampton.
Mike Ashley’s words mean little to me but to be fair we’ve got a recognised Manager in and have spent some considerable cash (by Ashley’s standards) on some highly-rated players so I’m prepared to see how it turns out. Do we need more? The answer from me will always be yes, but lets gauge where the current influx of new blood has take us first.
Howay the lads!
Date: Sunday, 9th August, 2015
Time: 13:30
Venue: St James’ Park
http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/newcastle-united-send-scouts-to-watch-leeds-united-star-in-action/
kimtoon(Quote)
Shamrock, Forget Pards tactical nous, it’s the embarrassment of headbutting opo players, calling other managers old ****s and blaming everyone but himself when it went tits up but taking all the credit when it went right. Well shot imo, horrible bloke, no class and boring football and if he didn’t like Carvers coaching he should of stepped in to rectify it.
kimtoon(Quote)
All good points Kim. The standard of footy was shocking for a good 2 years, like watching paint dry. Fingers crossed McC delivers the changes we all hope for.
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock, He isn’t Pardew and that’s a great start. 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2015/08/10/juventus-fail-with-bid-for-newcastle-target-aymen-abdennour/228479/
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I thought he had joined Barca?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, doesn’t look like it mate
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – he’s the fella we need then IMO. Big tough commanding CB – none of them would dare concede a goal in fear of having to face him in the dressing room 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have watched most of pre-season and yesterday and de Jong still seems off the pace. It is not surprising though as he has hardly played for 2 seasons and is not used to the PL. It might take a few months to get his wind back as well and that is probably what he is holding him back. Luckily we have a few players who can play his spot. Maybe a few reserve games would help?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim I always thought Pardew was a lazy manager myself. He did just enough to please Ashley.
Stem(Quote)
Although I enjoyed the game and thought a lot of our players did well, it played out just about exactly as you would expect when you saw the team sheet – vulnerability to the high ball into the box and 2 goals from headers. This has been our achilles heel for at least 2 years and needs to be addressed. The question is can a 33 year old really be coached to position himself better at corners and can a 27-year-old Timmy command the 6 yard a bit better. I think Tim would rather stay on his line and block a shot but he has to be encouraged to come for more balls.
I think this is obvious to anyone who has watched our games and I am sure Steve sees it. It was very encouraging that finally someone saw that Williamson is a very limited player. There is no way he will fit in a pass and move “Dutch” system.
Does the fact that Coloccini remains captain make him undroppable?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Fantasy H2H report (results not finalised at time of writing, but probably won’t change unless somebody used a joker card)
First game saw hitman’s army as top scorers, thrashing my Roar lads 61-28. Inter Yasista were the lowest scorers, losing 15-49 to Nik Nak Utd.
Close games between Aussie Mags and Schteves Schitty(51-48) and Axel’s cloggs and Macas Pony and Trap (37-39).
Only one draw: Dem Warriors and PremandUp (29-29). Lucky lads. Both would have lost in just about every other game.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Table:
1 hitmans army 3 (61)
2 Aussie Mags 3 (51)
2 He’s called WYNALDUM 3 (51)
2 Shamrocking It 3 (51)
5 Dubai Toon United 3 (50)
6 Nik Nak Utd 3 (49)
7 Natalie Sawyer Fan 3 (47)
8 Born Winner FC 3 (40)
9 Macas Pony and Trap 3 (39)
Brisvegas(Quote)
Bris. Yes 10th just like a real team
Premandup(Quote)
I see Rivière may need a knee op. So that will put to the test this new ‘football before profit’ attitude of the club.
Stuart79(Quote)
Nice to see my team get off to a winning start. Joint top of the classic league with Aussie too 🙂
My boys have gelled really well considering they have only been together a couple of weeks and I have to hand it to the chairman – despite being a relatively unknown club he has really splashed the cash and we have some cracking players on board such as Kompany, Kane and Fabregas. How we managed to steal Wijnaldum off Toon so soon after he signed for them I’ll never know.
Shamrock(Quote)
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/08/11/report-newcastle-not-interested-in-completing-deal-for-jetro-wil/
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – that’s a real shame IMO. I’d rather go for him ahead of Thauvin personally. Rivieres injury may see us step up the pace for Austin though
Sharpy17(Quote)
Axel said that Jetro is rubbish and he is more educated on that league than most – so I’ll trust his opinion. I know we will still make signings – but really would like to see some dead wood shipped out now. So far we have only let Ameobi and Ferguson go out on loan (from the players realistically counted as senior squad players) with Guti and Raylor out of contract.
There are several fringe players that need to be let go. The club should just sell ’em for free. They wont pick up much in transfer fees anyway and their wages need to come off the bill.
Shamrock(Quote)
Anyone doing an article today, like a match report maybe? I have not seen the full game so can’t write one. If not, I’ll knock up something else later in the afternoon.
Shamrock(Quote)
All a bit quiet on the transfer front it appears. Would still like a striker, winger and a centre half. If not all 3 then prioritise on striker and centre half.
Stuart79(Quote)
striker and centre half? Who would you like Stuart? The guy at Monaco is still available but at £18m?
georgio(Quote)
I’m starting to think the unthinkable – we need a new goalie!
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – I don’t really know who I want. Just something better than we have. I think the guy at Monoco would be decent. If it’s £18m then forget it but if its €18m then why not? As for the striker, we clearly want Austin and although I’m not totally struck on him the club seem to like him.
Stuart79(Quote)
Ime thinking SM played oba because of the pace of their r/b but also putting him the shop window as I cannot see him getting a new contract he is in the last year of his present contract so will want to move him on
icedog(Quote)
Talk of big headed arseholes,was reading storey from J Jenas,Leeds offered 5mil to sign him toon offered the same,Fergie at M/u offered only 2mil and said to Jenas he offered less because its a honour to play for him,the cheeky *******
icedog(Quote)
georgio 698
a new goalie, please dont be doing any more thinking over there 😆 😆
TOONARNYELITE(Quote)
that save krul made at the start of the 2nd half should of been a goal all year long
TOONARNYELITE(Quote)
Soccer sauce: toon are trying to convince Shaqiri to join them even though he’s had a medical at Stoke
icedog(Quote)
There are some glimmers of hope for Krul:
– without Willo he will not get as many mis-directed back passes and should have more time on the ball.
– without Willo he will actually have someone who wants to receive the ball to pass to.
– his confidence should increase and with it his decision making. He actually made a throw that reached one of our players Sunday.
– there is actually room for a few hoofs and with Mitrovic and/or Austin we might even end up winning a few aerial battles.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice – I really can’t see that happening and I expect to see him holding. A Stoke shirt this afternoon.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART you could be right,I think the hold up is because two clubs being involved
icedog(Quote)
Ice: Daily Mail say Shakiri picks up a lot of injuries. I would still take him but fear for him under the care of our medical team:
“Like a lot of speed merchants, and Bellamy will identify with it, Shaqiri had injury problems from the time he started out at Basle, particularly his thigh. At Bayern, he suffered a tear at the back of his thigh muscle and also suffered hamstring trouble. At Inter, his action was stop-start because of calf issues.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean keeping Colocini as captain and offering him a new contract is like putting a silk coat on a pig. We should be going after Virgil Van Dijk and instead.
Stem(Quote)
Thats a good idea Stem. Lets start with 2 CBs neither of whom hape EPL experience.
Premandup(Quote)
Stuart – the Monaco CB, they want 25m euros.
TAE – Krul hardly ever comes for crosses. We need someone who does. Besides Krul was decidedly iffy last season and his distribution is ****. I’ve always liked him (that save on Sunday was pure accident) but I’m starting to wonder about the number of goals we concede from crosses. e.g. Hart came out and caught several crosses last night, one on the penalty spot.
georgio(Quote)
Just commanding the 6-yard box would make a big difference. With some decent coaching and without Williamson, I hope to see a big difference in Timmy after a few games. Fingers crossed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem what have we got to lose seriously. We had the second worst defence in the league last season. We still conceded two goals against Southampton and where lucky it wasn’t three. A fresh start at the back is needed. Virgil Van Dijk couldn’t be any worse than Colocini. Memba can’t be any worse than Williamson. Sometimes in football you have to take risks.
Stem(Quote)
Champion’s league experience has to count for something ? Surely.
Stem(Quote)
Shamrock: I sent you an idea for an article that I was going to wait until after Swans to write. If you are interested, I think i have enough to write it now and send tomorrow or Thursday. Let me know.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Taylor still has PL experience anyway.
Stem(Quote)
I was just thinking about the Swansea game and thinking how will we do. Made me think it was good we started with what will, for now, be out central pairing, and that the goals Southampton scored were the ones they did. As it absolutely, categorically highlighted what needs to be worked on this week: defensive communication, attacking the ball, marking and mixing it up with the attackers, get the link between keeper and CBs tighter etc, etc. Thus, in a leap of faith, I am going for a clean sheet prediction this week.
2nd, I was thinking about Anita’s comment about McC that: ““The way he sets his team up is fairly similar to a lot of Dutch sides.” We can of course discuss the merits of different managers and Pardew v McClaren, but after a few weeks Anita can say that about McC, I wonder what he said about Pardew after 2 years!?
I am going to stick Anita’s comment also in the well and truly positive column, and off the back of it go for a sneaky 0-1 or late sealer of 0-2 at the weekend.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
People constantly going on about the right footed wingers on the right and left footed wingers on the left…are you forgetting that SBR did this all of the time? Everyone entitled to their opinion, but why do some get so passionate about this when some of the best managers in the world implement this tactic?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
To us, of course. 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
PREMANDUP
Glad to see you saying the same sensible thing about our CBs. Baffled why some people seem to think it’s a good idea to sign another CB (likely from abroad) and play him alongside Mbemba, just because they’re so negative about our existing CBs. We need a calm, experienced head there and we’re not likely to sign one from another PL team, so Colo must play when fit.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Bristol City sign Dwight Gayle for 6 mil rising to 8 mil with incentives! There is a mad scramble to get into the PL and also to stay there. No wonder Fatty has finally realised he has to spend a few bob with what is at stake now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry but Colocini is a terrible defender. Titus Bramble was better than him and he got more stick which I feel is unfair. However Williamson makes Colocini look good which probably takes some of the attention away from Colocini. I’m happy we got Memba, we are going to need him.
Stem(Quote)
To be perfectly honest I am really pissed off Colocini got a new contract.
Stem(Quote)
ERIC@708 didn’t know his injurys was that bad mate lads only 23 as well
icedog(Quote)
No, Eric, he has just re-discovered his love of the game and fallen in love, for the second time, with the great Geordie nation. And, just wants to be in charge of a great and successful footballing institution 😎
Lionel Speed(Quote)
@ Icedog Wenger was just saying the other day, with regard to Wiltshire, that from his experience players that have a lot of injury problems when they are young start to find that they clear up around 23. So, could actually be the perfect time to get him.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Stem.unfortunately the stats don’t back that up. He has been consistantly our best CB since he joined us. It is quite clear that he is staying until Chancel demonstrates that he can lead the defence and we can then blood a second CB in alongside him.
premandup(Quote)
If one of our top targets becomes gettable the situation may change, but for the moment we need him.
premandup(Quote)
Shaqiri has signed for Stoke,dam
icedog(Quote)
Well, at least, they have got him in his prime! 🙄 😉
Lionel Speed(Quote)
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Man U
5. Liverpool
6. Stoke
7. NUFC
8. Spurs
9. Everton
Places 7 & 8 could swap.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Prem I understand what your saying mate. He was our best CB last season but Taylor was mostly injured and Williamson is just a disaster waiting to happen so that doesn’t say for much about our CB’s. To me a contract is something he should of had to earn by playing well and being a good influence on the team. Lascalles will probably hardly get picked this season and the same goes with Darlow. I hope they still do well of course. If only we could find another Woodgate without the injuries, I would be really pleased 🙂
Stem(Quote)
Stoke signing another reason why it won’t be too easy for us to finish top 8. Most clubs making big signings now due to TV deal.
Stuart79(Quote)
@ Stu. See final table above. 😎
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Eric, yes get it written mate 🙂 I wont be writing today.
Shamrock(Quote)
Eric I think a lot of people would be interested in that story mate – it’s unique and original. Go for it.
Shamrock(Quote)
I have and in still trying to get my head round it
Stuart79(Quote)
Intriguing, Shamrock. Looking forward to it, Eric.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
@ Stu 😀
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Jeez, Prem. saying Colo has been our best defender for the past few years is not saying much considering we consistently concede more goals than the majority of PL sides. He’s still not been very good, it’s just that everyone else has been utterly shambolic! He’s just not been quite as bad as that.
Stuart79(Quote)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-newcastle-everton-transfer-target-6234428
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh dear our preferred partners gonna get a slap on the wrist for this 😉
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/millions-pouring-premier-league-clubs-6233102
kimtoon(Quote)
Articles like that, Kim are why clubs want to control the press.
Stuart79(Quote)
good read
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-uniteds-dutch-invasion-capturing-9834449
kimtoon(Quote)
I do think some underate our own players. With the rightcoaching and setup they have nearly all played well at some time. Though to be fair, not necessarily for us.
premandup(Quote)
georgio 711
its not the keeper its the cbs if we had cbs that did not get constantly owned in the air there would not be a prob would there,
TOONARNYELITE(Quote)
weve blamed every1 over the years bar the dude the finger should be pointed at but i forgot the sun constantly shines out of collos **** dint it
TOONARNYELITE(Quote)
this is what ya get when the numptys keep telling us what a great defender collo is headers constantly raining in on goal
TOONARNYELITE(Quote)
It was Janmaat who was out jumped for their 2nd wasn’t it? But yes Colo needs to be much better this season and it will be interesting to see what kind of partnership he forms with Mbemba. I just hope Mbemba doesn’t get cast out like Mbiwa if it don’t work out because you would have to question why it isn’t working .
kimtoon(Quote)
Problem is that players very rarely start getting better at the age of 33.
Stuart79(Quote)