The reality is that many Newcastle fans won’t be at the ground in Swansea this afternoon and only a few thousand fortunate souls will be inside the ground cheering on United.
So for the rest of us why not sit here and chew the fat with fellow, like-minded, Newcastle fans most of whom will be watching the match at the very least? Sit back as we collectively guide ourselves through every twist and turn of our second Premier League game of the season and see where our team has improved, or hasn’t if that is to be the case, following the 2-2 draw with Southampton last weekend.
The full team news will be posted below as soon as I can get my hands on the information but please feel free to look at the comments section below as there is always somebody quicker off the mark than me!
There is an accompanying match preview that I penned yesterday which features a history of the fixture, some injury news for both sides some match stats and facts and touches on just what our team selection for today may be. You can find it by clicking here and we’ll find out just after 2pm whether or not I was right with my musings about the side.
Other than that there isn’t an awful lot left for me to write other than saying that I hope for a win, would be happy with a draw but expect for us to travel away from Swansea empty handed. Hopefully I’m going to be pleasantly surprised come the full-time whistle.
Howay the lads!
Swansea: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Jack Cork, Jonjo Shelvey, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Ayew, Jefferson Montero, Bafetimbi Gomis
Subs: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Kyle Bartley, Leon Britton, Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer, Eder
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Daryl Janmaat, Fabricio Coloccini, Chancel M’Bemba, Massadio Hadiara, Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum, Gabriel Obertan, Papiss Cisse
Subs: Karl Darlow, Mike Williamson, Rolando Aarons, Ayoze Perez, Cheik Tiote, Steven Taylor, Aleksandar Mitrovic
I see G2 has started early doors hounding the new manager. I predicted this but not so early. 🙄
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Lionel
The man at the top has sole responsibility. Full stop. It’s not like it’s his first year and trying to get to grips. This is year 8!
Think about what you’re saying.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Just think if Jabba had spent that little bit more to land Gomis or Ayew.
kimtoon(Quote)
Swansea absolutely outclassed us in every dept.
That’s an awful thing to say for a toon fan.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, but very true.
kimtoon(Quote)
Has Eric and bootsy started slagging supermac off yet. I normally give them 3 games but who knows?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
“We’ve learned nothing today apart from we need to keep 11 players on the field,” said McClaren.
I do hope that’s not true Steve
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim
I saw no hope from that performance. Nothing.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ashley needs to step up now.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, yep we were very poor, second best all over. Let’s see how we go next week, it will be tough but Manure didn’t look overly great on Friday.
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-united-injuries-how-long-9865439
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim
Howay work kid! I’ve seen enough of man Utd and nufc in two games to confidently predict we will get stuffed royally.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troysta: you never really got that I didn’t like Pards’ and Carvs’ personalities and will give Steve more time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<< theres more chance of me geting a head on them high balls sitting on the couch at home than collo 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
seems like the dude dont want to get his hair style ruffled 🙄
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
How long Eric? 3 games? Do you like Stevies captivating personality? 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
It must be hard to get through 90 mins and not trouble the keeper. If you asked a team before the game not to do it then I think they would struggle. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Trouble is there’s no easy games anymore now (if there ever were any). It’s just one hard game to the next. After Man United and Arsenal it will be West Ham away, that won’t be easy. It’s getting difficult just to survive now. The games we would get points from, Stoke, Leicester, Southampton, are all difficult games. Hopefully the board will recognise that we need to invest in more than one defender. We are relying on players like Coloccini, who actually isn’t good enough anymore.
DJG(Quote)
Oh and another thing. I’ll admit there was a narrow window of time of about 90 minutes in the match when we didn’t play well. But other than that wor game plan was excellent. The warmup was good. Lots of…..well, errm warming up etc. etc. So just keep the proper perspective you lot!!! Harrumph.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Can’t believe some of you moaners. We looked very bright up until the kickoff. Some excellent stretching on the sidelines etc. etc……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I also thought Steve looked relaxed and confident throughout. That’s the way to do it Steve!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sing along with me mates:
I’ve got those Norwegian Bues!!
Oh baby I’ve got those Norwegian Bluuuuuesss!
I know we’re just resting baby!
But I’ve still got those Norwegian Bluesssss!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I really do have those Norwegian Blues…… 🙁
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ooh, ooh baby!
We’ve all got those Norwegian Blues
We know wor lads are just restin’
But we’ve got those Norwegian Bluuuuuue’s
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I watched the game in a drunken haze after a party. Even so, it didn’t look good. Just what Janmaat was thinking to get sent off is anybody’s guess. Maybe he didn’t fancy the next game.
I didn’t see why Mitrovic was booked (but by then I was watching through little slits of eyes). It seemed to me as if all he did was give the defender a heads up. If anything the defender should have seen yellow for a bad challenge. And there seemed even less reason for him to get a talking to the next time he was fouled.
No doubt that performance will bring the drama queens out in force again, and those featherweights that blow with the breeze. We play well and all is right with the world; we play badly and we are relegation fodder. It must be hard being a yo-yo.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Can the person who told Geordie Two that he was funny please tell him the truth.
Brisvegas(Quote)
@251 – he won’t get the hint, just don’t read his ***** 😉
M(Quote)
One of the joys of supporting the Toon, Brisvegas, is those quick shifts from highs to lows and back again- always has been! 😀
Gotta say I was expecting our defense to be coming out and looking a bit more robust this season, though, in reality big changes will take time. But basic professionalism and doing their jobs should be nailed on, it does show how deep the scars are for the players as well as for a lot of fans.
Few more points out of these two games would have been nice, or at least something defensively to be seen to build on, as games coming up are tough. The predictability in the way we concede goals is a worry that needs correcting pretty quickly. Then we can get back to pushing on.
Lionel(Quote)
Janmaat needs to be sat on the bench for at least 3 games.. a message needs to be sent that selfish irresponsible football will not be tolerated in a team culture. Really poor form!
Glad to also see that some have passed judgement after 2 games.. laughable stuff!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
We’ll get there Aussie Magpie Fan, but going to be a little bit of a rough ride on here and out there in the meantime!! 😀
Lionel(Quote)
Yep, a bit of patience is needed..it won’t be pretty until we get the right players in and the culture with in the playing group improves!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
We of course do need more players in, but your latter point is the thing that really needs work and is why I am medium to long-term optimistic, as I think the staff we have now will be onto that, plus we have a lot of space for improvement. Colo, Williamson, Janmaat, Cisse, Sissoko, to name a few, were all utterly unprofessional at different points last season, and now, and as much as Carver wanted the buck to stop at the players door, you had to look at what was breading that culture, and it wasn’t just Ashley.
Lionel(Quote)
I am not happy with the performance, the result or Janmaat but I am not going to judge after 2 games. It took me about 2 and a half years to get thoroughly disenchanted with the Pardew regime. Sometimes I think that a few people would rather make a point than see us succeed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Apologies if this has already been answered [only read the last 80 or so comments] but can someone tell me how many red cards Janmaat has accrued in his time here and how that compares with Debuchy ?
SandyMag(Quote)
If Steve wants improvements he needs to build from the back. You can plan, train and talk all you want but if there ain’t no new signings we’ll struggle playing McLarens way.
I’d like to see Perez given a chance, he can give us options on the left/ upfront
GASHLEY(Quote)
I’d also like to see someone with a football brain who can deliver the killer ball from midfield. Someone like Barkley. Colback / Anita are too defensive minded. We have loads of defensive midfielder, none capable of splitting a defence.
Michael Carrick might be a cheap option
GASHLEY(Quote)
Here is an idea: why don’t we just buy up the back four of a team we played against in the friendlies. I think it was Portland Timbers(maybe?) that had tree trunks as defenders and they did great against us. We got to get some height into our back 4 and work out how to defend (especially from corners). They were strong, solid and way better than us. Plus USA seemed to give PL a lot of respect but to be honest they out played us all over the pitch!
Jill(Quote)
Janmaat “We will learn from this game – you always can learn from defeats – and hopefully we will go and get a result at Manchester United.”
Easy to say when you’re banned and won’t face depay 😆
GASHLEY(Quote)
Must add.Janmaat looked like he deliberately got sent off again. Totally bottled it.
GASHLEY(Quote)
Yohan Cabaye says the opportunity to work under Alan Pardew again and the lure of returning to the Premier League were behind his move to Crystal Palace
Funny that. Alan couldn’t even get him to play for us after Arsenal showed an interest 🙄 I’m sure 100k a week / 3 yr contract had nowt to do with it 😆
GASHLEY(Quote)
Bit early for the wrist slitting isn’t it?
I don’t think many would have predicted is being too flush with points after our first half dozen matches regardless of how last season ended
CC(Quote)
Also well done Jermaine Jenas for becoming a proper pundit, “Optimistic last week but after that…”
Sod sticking by pre season predictions change it by the week depending on results
CC(Quote)
CC@266, take your head out of the sand mate 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
The toon are currently 15th, if we end the season in this position that will be a succesful season imo.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Gashley@264, I agree 100% with you there.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Well I have calmed down a bit now and am trying to look at it logically. I think Janmaat getting owned by Montero was always on the cards, and I suspected as much before the game having seen how he gave Ivanovic a torrid time last week and Mbemba didn’t fair much better with him either when he switched to RB. Janmaat lost his head and professionalism and now he doesn’t have to face Depay next week, probably a good thing in so far as his confidence is concerned. Truth is I don’t see too many RB’s having a good day at the office against Montero this season and I think we will see evidence of this over the coming weeks. This of course doesn’t excuse the rest of our poor defending. For me Haidara is a wing back not a full back, that’s probably true for Janmaat too, great bombing forward, both poor at defending 🙄 . Mbemba looks like he could be an excellent CB, has good pace but I really feel the extension to Colo’s contract was a big mistake, he looks terribly slow and uninterested to me. Sissoko had another poor performance and now he’s crocked too so that’s two senior pros out for the Manure game which won’t help our cause. Still much work to do and players needed before that window shuts. couldn’t face watching MOTD, I didn’t need to watch it again to see how poor we were. 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t know any reader that suggested we would get off to a good start. We have pretty much all said that with new coaches, ideas and players it will take time – and we all pretty much agreed we can’t challenge the top half without more signings. We can’t expect immediate miracles. That said, we clearly need more signings if we are going to avoid being stuck in the bottom quarter – primarily in defense. I like the idea of benching Janmaat. He needs to learn a lesson and show some desire – but we have nobody to replace him!
Still REQUIRED: Striker, Winger, Right Back, Central Defender – in reverse order.
Shamrock(Quote)
Meant to add Swansea are a very good side, lots of excellent players in there, Shelvey, Gomis, Ayew, Montero, Siggy all ran the show yesterday, we won’t be the only side embarrassed by them this season that’s for sure. What’s more worrying is that we need to be better than them to get 8th or higher this season and quite simply we aren’t at the present time.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shamrock, I’m doing a match report shall I send it to you? or Has toonsy done one do you know?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim
I think they could finish higher than 8th better defensively than Liverpool & better going forward than Spurs & Southampton
Munich
Heads not in the sand, I just think some of the reaction is OTT, Swansea are a good side who are way ahead of us and we played The last 50 minutes with ten men (not that it would have mattered) it’s going to be a tough opening month or so but in such a poor league we will definately improve and climb imo
CC(Quote)
Gotta love the optimists 🙂
We’ve had a gash defence and creation-free midfield for at least 2 seasons now.
Fabricio Collocini is one of the main protaginists.
Do you a – get rid of him/replace him, b – extend his contract, giving him a pay rise into the bargain ?
How many UEFA badges do you need to be able to see the obvious ?
Carver got one thing spot on, the DNA of the toon is all wrong.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
Munich Mag(Quote)
CC@275, we might, if we’re lucky, climb above a maximum of 6 teams – Sunderland, Aston Villa, West Brom, Norwich, Watford and Bournemouth.
The rest are way ahead of us.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Kim send it to me and I’ll stick it up by early afternoon. 😀
Shamrock(Quote)
Mbiwa has landed back in Ligue 1.
Ditto Marveaux, ultimately Gouffron, if we screw our loaf Riviere too.
Sissoko is inconsistent/infuriating/doesn’t want to be here/whatever…
Obertan is inconsistent/infuriating/whatever…
McLaren, who is also decidely average, can’t be expected to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
A finish around 16th is what I see this season.
Munich Mag(Quote)
What Coloccini used to give in footballing ability and organisation!? doesn’t make up for how weak in the air and slow he is now. I hope he’s not un-droppable if we sign a CB to partner Mbemba (who shouldn’t need to keep being moved to RB)
DJG(Quote)
Shamrock, Mail for you. 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
Well imo the last 7/8 years has come back to haunt jabba with his tight fisted attitude of past seasons he could have slowly built up year by year but no just spend enough to get by,he now needs to spend 100 mil this season if he wants to get into the top ten and then spend again in the following windows to keep up he’s brought this on himself,will he do it?I doubt it,he’s only spent about 30/35 mil so long way to go
icedog(Quote)
So, who do we want to see in the defence.
After yesterday’s comments I suppose that Janmaat who many wanted as captain is now seen as backup RB. Colo has to go apparently. Haidara is at best a back up.LB? Dummett is not ready yet. So that leaves Mbemba. **** nearly typed Mbiawa then.
OK so our back four is ………………????? money no object, this is the new era.
Premandup(Quote)
Newcastle as a unit have been standing off teams for ages now, both midfielders and defenders.
We should be getting in there faces more, but we can’t because the players in question have no desire to work hard..
Look how many crosses we allow into the box, why don’t the full backs prevent this ? We have 2 centre halves who can’t jump, and one who doesn’t want to upset his perm.
Surely this is easy to work on in training, is it really that difficult ?
There again if our weak defence have to mark our weak forward line in training we aren’t really going to improve the intensity and malaise running through the team.
I love seeing Sissoko flailing his arms and passing the buck when a player goes past him…. mint…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Premandup @ 283 did you watch the game yesterday mate ?
Ignoring “yesterday’s comments”, what do you want to see in defence if “money is no object and this is a new era ” ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
I haven’t given up on Haidara and Janmaat yet but admit they have made a poor start to this season. McClaren seems to want CBs who move out to the side, wingbacks who move forward and a DCM drop into the middle. I think this suits Haidara and Janmaat, it wouldn’t suit Dummett or a new defensive RB.
DJG(Quote)
Steve Stone & JC on Goals on Sunday. 😆
DJG(Quote)
Maybe my football brain has gone to sleep but I cannot see where Siso is a good player one good game in ten is of no good and as for oba oh well enough said
icedog(Quote)
Stone getting the best coach in the world dig in early doors there 😆
Seem like decent guys; Shame they ever worked under Pardew. Carver did some great work under Bobby & the U21 results were markedly better when Stone was working with Pedro before his promotion
CC(Quote)
Giz a job! 😆 JC (Jesus Christ) has been on a 5 week ‘holiday’ to Toronto. Giz a job! Lol.
DJG(Quote)
Dear oh dear oh dear! The Aussie contingent accusing people of being drama queens and passing judgment after just two games… Try two seasons! Yesterday was NOT a one off and it will happen again and again and again until we have better players.
As DJG pointed out very well, the teams we expected to beat like Stoke, Leicester, West Ham or Palace have all strengthened their sides significantly and that makes it harder for us to pick up points unless we do the same. We are now suffering from years of Mis management and bad management of the squad. We have only one defender at the club who is a competent defender for gods sake – that is scanderlous!!!
This is a trend that’s gone on for more than one game and I will be amazed if we have more than 4 points after our first 6 games. That takes some coming back from and confidence won’t exactly be sky high!
We need three new players to give everyone a lift as the three we have aren’t enough.
Stuart79(Quote)
Prem Janmaat has made a big f up and pros are rightly off with him. What we need is competition for him. He has no challenge for the shirt so he does not need to prove himself. How we don’t have 2 for each position is a joke. I’d like a good young RB as his understudy. Also would like a proper established CB in his prime to play alongside Colo – Mbemba is still young and inexperienced at this level. We can’t expect him to take straight off but he’s a great understudy. We need a proper winger down the right and a striker. Same goes for Mjtrovic that I just said about Mbemba. It will take time for them. We won’t progress if we don’t sort the defense, it’s that simple..
Shamrock(Quote)
NUFC: we played **** and have 1 point. MUFC: They played **** and have 6 points. JUST LIKE YOUR DAD, YOU NEVER CHANGE.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well I have half nights last night so luckily missed the 2nd half, but I’ve since watched McClarens post match interview and he uses the word naive a few times. I think he’s referring to Janmaat picking up 2 yellows, but in my opinion it was him & the coaching staff that were naive yesterday.
He said they learned nothing yesterday – they should learn from every game – good or bad. For me what he needs to learn is the ability to adapt his team based on who they are playing. He should also learn that if Janmaat got booked so early on against Montero it was likely he’d be a target and should either have been taken off or give extra help.
I haven’t lost faith in Mc and his team yet, but the ‘we learned nothing’ comment worried me a little. It should be a wake up call that some players still ain’t good enough, and that 4-2-3-1 doesn’t work for us!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Times have definitely changed in terms of discipline. Janmaat (ok it was stupid ) should never have gotten a yellow card for pulling a shirt. Free kick yes but yellow card? That’s what you used to get for a leg break!
Rubbish performance yesterday and as I predicted if we don’t get hold of Siggurdson and Shelvey, they’ll destroy us. Have to admire Swansea’s style of play though. What’s Montero worth?
georgio(Quote)
Stuart79@291…. stop being a drama queen mate… 😉
rearrange these well know words …. and follow the mantra ……
sand ….bury…….head
😆 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Icedog@288, I reckon theres nowt wrong with your footballing brain mate.
Munich Mag(Quote)
New thread>>>>>>>
Shamrock(Quote)
I would say, Sharpy, to McC’s credit, that what he means is that he actually already knew how **** we could be, he didn’t need the match to show that. But, what he does not expect is such naivety/ unproffessionalism. He can call naivety on TV. I hope he calls it bloody stupid, irresponsible and unprofessional behind closed doors. I hope he makes Janmaat feel the whole weight of that defeat. Because we go into a tough game with some even tougher games coming up, with a fragile defense, you got to have your more experienced pros standing up to be counted, certainly not leaving your teammates with a pretty impossible task.
With 11 it was always a difficult game, but if you hang in there, even at 1-0 down, and frustrate them a bit and then get a few half chances, whatever, games can change. Janmaat gave us no chance of that.
And no one should be blaming McC for not subbing Janmaat before half time, he admitted it was dicey but come on, Janmaat’s got to at least get himself to half-time. Then they can re-assess and maybe make changes or at least get his head re-focused.
Janmaat has got to be professional, Sissoko has to man up and put in a full shift every game and Colo has got to start attacking the ball and the player and every”fuckingthing”else around him!!
This is not just about bad players, this is about bad attitude. And that can be worked on.
But, squad pressure would definitely help that.
Lionel(Quote)
Sorry Lionel but McClaren should have subbed him. He had already been booked and he committed another foul after that so he knew one more foul and he was off. Silly on both parts him and the player. When a player is literally on his last warning he either gets every tackle right for the next 60 mins or he doesn’t make a tackle which would be useless for the team or he gets sent off. He should have subbed him the minute he committed the first foul after his booking.
Stuart79(Quote)