With all games played this weekend already it is up to United ad West Ham to bring this latest round of Premier League fixtures to a close.
With the Magpies still looking for a first league win of the campaign and the Hammers looking for a first home win of the campaign it looks set to be an interesting game played out between two managers who have some competitive history between them at international level.
It was that match in the rain at Wembley where Slaven Bilic’s Croatia side pit an end to Steve McClaren’s tenure as England manager and earned him the now famous ‘wally with the brolly’ tag. While there may be a personal score to settle on that front undoubtedly the focus from McClaren will be gaining three league points for the first time as boss of Newcastle United.
West Ham
Former Magpie Andy Carroll could be in line to feature for the Hammers against the club where it all began for him. He’s never reached the heights he managed at St James’ Park in those formative years of his career and injuries have played a huge part in that buy on his day he is still a massive threat aerially which is not great for a defence which has a bigger fear of crosses than Count Dracula.
In other news Enner Valences is still out although three new signing – Victor Moses, Michail Antonio and Nikica Jelavic – are available for West Ham
Newcastle
Aleksandar Mitrovic will watch this game from the stands as he starts his three match suspension following his straight red card against Arsenal. Paul Dummett has suffered a setback as he attempts to recover from a hamstring injury while both Emmanuel Riviere and Sylvain Marveaux are some way off a return tof irst-team action desoite stepping up training recently. Otherwise McClaren has the majority of the squad he’s had available for the opening few weeks of the season to choose from after welcoming back his players from international duty and confirming that none of them picked up any knocks.
Previously…
The most recent meeting between the two sides was that memorable final day victory over West Ham which secured our Premier League status although away from home we suffered a 1-0 reverse in a fixture that tends to lean towards whoever the home side may be on the day. The betting odds for the match would also tend to point to a home win.
Overall there have been 122 games played between the two sides, with Newcastle being victorious on 48 occasions and West Ham on 39 occasions with 35 draws bringing up the total of 122.
Stats and facts
The draw against Manchester United ended a run of seven straight defeats on the road for Newcastle.
However United have lost only two of their previous nine visits to the Boleyn Ground.
Newcastle’s indiscipline has been picked up on but the reality is that neither team are exactly saintly. Newcastle have picked up nine red cards since the start of last season while West Ham have picked up six from their ten competitive matches so far this season.
Final thought
A lot has been made of our lack of possession in the league but rather conveniently the fact we’ve played over 45 minutes against Swansea (a possession team) with ten men and over 70 minutes against Arsenal (perhaps the ultimate possession team) has been glossed over. An away match against Manchester United has also been discounted as has the draw with Southampton who aren’t too shabby either.
Broadly speaking, 11 v 11 and the game against Swansea aside, I don’t think we’ve looked too bad. However looking ok is all well and good but eventually points need to be registered on the board and the longer we go on without a win the harder those points will be to come by. The aim has to be three points on our final trip to the Boleyn Ground with a point being acceptable.
Howay the lads!
Date: Monday, 14th September, 2015
Time: 20:00
Venue: The Boleyn Ground
wheres Ron Vlaar nowadays? has anyone signed him??
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley, that game really concerned me.. a winnable fixture and we were half arsed most of the game..too many players that have no investment in the team… play **** football》collect money》drive Bentley》 visit hair dresser》tell the press how much you are hurting》play **** football…ect ect…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I reckon the fatman will be seething at this start, if only cause the ‘ making our own luck’ and not leaving until we win something comments will be making him look a fool now. £50m was never gonna be enough spent, in todays market that gets you maybe two quality players.
kimtoon(Quote)
spit balling …. is that english ? what does that mean ?
mclaren needs to get a team made up of foreign mercenaries all pulling in the same direction. the three new players seem to be trying thee best, they need support from the seasoned pros who went awol for the second half of last season. its gonna be tough, but already i don’t like mclarens pardew like “it’s a tough job” blather. as soon as the team show some willing and nads, the supporters will respond.
Munich Mag(Quote)
R Vlaar. A leader, a quality centerhalf, a free
oh, he’s 30 👿 didnt stop Colo signing a new contract and playing every game..
Gashley(Quote)
Google it ya lazy git… 😎
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
MM: I can ignore everything Pards does and would gladly never talk about him again, but he keeps coming back on here – due to one person in particular. I am not sure who you are thinking Troy is hooking but all he is really fostering is a really boring conversation about the past (and I know I egg him on when he does it).
Enjoy Octoberfest with all the Aussies and Yanks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
GASH@751 he’s out injured for six months that was two months ago
icedog(Quote)
Even if we were to spend in January, I can’t see any decent player coming to a club that may still be in the relegation zone.
kimtoon(Quote)
MM: I only went to Oktoberfest once and I was surrounded by Aussies and Yanks (i was with some German friends and lived in Munich at the time). The good thing is that Yanks are almost always fun drunks.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: it gets much easier fixture wise after Man City. We just have to hope we have the players and coaches to get us 20 points or so by January. We have the fans – 10th in Europe, and we have the payroll, 7th or 8th in the PL. Do we have the scout, Manager and MD.
I know this is heresy, but with the payroll we have, is Ashley the one letting us down at this point or is he making bad choices of Executives and Managers?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
GASH sorry he’s now fit and looking for a club,but he will be very unfit imo
icedog(Quote)
There’s major problems at the club and it’s a big job to sort out. Is McClaren the man to do that? I have never been convinced but I just got told I was being harsh on him, even though he’s a coach who was sacked by a failed Championship club.
Amazed Sharpy thought Colo played well yesterday. By he amount of times he was beaten and pushed off the ball with ease was staggering and his form along with Sissoko, Colback, Cisse and Hadaira was a major reason we failed. Half don’t want to be here and half just aren’t good enough.
Still looking for the Rose tinters. Where are they?
Stuart79(Quote)
KIM my very words @667
icedog(Quote)
What’s more important is that I just saw an article about this woman who had to be winched out of her Apartment in NYC because she was 800 pounds. They wrote down her daily intake of food which included 10 whole chickens and 8 pounds of chips. Who feeds these people and gives them sponge baths?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well done for being right about everything Stuart.. fuk you are awesome! Pat yourself on the back mate.. you are right about McLaren even though you put money on Carver still being in charge! 😳
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Stuart: I know Sharpy was at the game an-all but it was obvious that Coloccini had a nightmare. As I said earlier – towards the end, he showed their right back the inside instead of tackling him, got caught flat footed and gave a clear shot on goal from 16 yards. That was one of the worst pieces of defending I have seen in a long time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice, It really is worrying, right now I can’t see a single positive. Rumours of player indiscipline and unrest and the return of I can’t be arsed attitude of some, combined with inexperienced youngsters is a recipe for disaster. They say steve is a great coach but is he a great man manager?, gonna take all his skills and then some to steady this ship. Get it wrong and we’ll drop quicker than the Titanic. 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
@Eric
it wasnt that important 😛 wasnt even surprised she was a yank…
gashley(Quote)
AMF: I thought it was Troy thinking Carver would be made permanent manager?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyway, I didn’t think it was all **** but Coloccini and Cisse were bad today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gashley: just tried to change the subject for a minute for myself to get my head together and think if I still want to still support NUFC. I have a new Broon Ale shirt that I haven’t even worn yet, so I suppose I will go to the pub for the Chelsea match 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Any forward who runs directly at Colo just gets past. Easy. He like a statue, just sticks out a leg and no recovery. Gone. Past it. Play Dummett instead.
There were some signs of improvement from Gini and Thauvin if only slight. The english game’s a shock to them except Mbemba. Very good player.
georgio(Quote)
Not sure what me expecting Carver to have the job has to do with my opinion of McClaren but don’t let that bother you, Aussie. Just go and smell the roses in you and the others garden of NUFC. Most know it stinks of **** but you keep the rise tints on
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric, Forget Troy, he is winding you up big time! Stuart placed a bet on Carver being our coach but because he was wrong, he doesn’t mention it now! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Eric – I was at the game (a box not a season ticket) and Colo was horrendous. He was all over the place and was so lightweight it was scary. None of us could work out what positions the players were suppose to be playing. A real shambles and whatever else everyone says about McClaren, they all say he’s organised. Well if that’s organised we are going down.
We have no goals in the team and everybody knew that but the board.
Reckon Ashley will act if it keeps going like this and Charnley will be the fitst in line.
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s true Colocini is fing useless. It’s no laughing matter keeping him. His only staying here because no other club is dumb enough to have him or pay his ridiculous wages. I could have done a better job in the transfer market than those four idiots we have in the have currently. We needed two defenders in to replace Colocini and Willo. We needed Ayew and Austin without a doubt. We are going down unless january can save us but it might be to late by then.
Terry(Quote)
AMF: I don’t mind Troy and I know he is ALWAYS on a wind up about something.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
KIM@768 what’s going on lol we must be reading each others mind,I also said earlier on the thread SM is a good coach everybody seems to say,but is he a good manager there is a big difference
icedog(Quote)
I would put Gini RW next game instead of Sissy who I think only turns it on when he feels like it. Would love to see Mitro and Perez as a front two, don’t know why everyone is down on the old 442 formation these days, Watford used it to good effect yesterday.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice, Sorry, I’m not copying mate honest 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Stuart, Sharpy and AMF: Colocinni was the worst player on the pitch. We were lucky they didn’t take their chances. They were lucky that Sissoko and Cisse snatch at every thing though – but it was the correct result, they deserved the win.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is actually good to see that people are still talking and still care. I thought there might be a deathly silence today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bris v is correct though, we should of had a penalty
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon@780, I thought Janmaat made a canny go of it playing right back, right midfield and right wing in the second half yesterday until he got cream crackered and got cramp.
I reckon our attacking formation will eventually come good, but our central midfield and central defence are the problems at the moment. The central midfield are not doing the job, either defensively nor offensively.
Perhaps our scouting staff should look beyond the skills of a player, and scout players who are more athletic and have more all around awareness and fit into the team ethic. We have so many lightweights in the team it’s abysmal. I’d love to play against the toon, way too predictable, slow slow slow and labourious… easily pushed off the ball, no one willing or able to take a risk.
Our strikers Cisse and De Jong constantly caught flat footed, or on the balls of there heels.
Munich Mag(Quote)
It’s a huge worry that our most threatening attacking player is our right back.
I’m just watching Sunday Supplement and they’ve made a really good point about McClaren. Good coach but is he a good manager and can he bring players together in a dressing room?
I honestly think, NUFC more than any other club currently, need a manager, not just a coach. The club only want a coach and they’re adamant about the structure but it just doesn’t seem to work for whatever reasons.
Problem is, who would come and manager this club currently?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu/Eric – I didn’t say Colo played well, I said he did OK. It was in response to people saying he was the worst player on the pitch – I disagree with that. Haidara was at fault for the first and Mbemba let his player go for the 2nd. I thought Cisse, Haidara and Sissoko were dreadful. Thauvin was OK in the first half, but looked exhausted and should have come off when Aarons came on IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Is anybody writing anything to limit the thread to less than 1000? I can do it, but I have to try to think of something positive to say and that is difficult at the moment. I have already vented my spleen about Colo so I have to move on.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu @786 – I think that’s what he brought Stevie Black in to help with.
What worries me is that he’s saying he doesn’t know his best side. I think he’s been there long enough now to know his players & have a good idea of his best side – even if some positions still need strengthening.
The other concern for me with Cisse coming off at half time is that – does that mean he’s pinning everything on a 21yr old lad who can’t keep himself on the pitch.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m not on a wind up. I just remind people about Pardew. Those that drove him out hate being reminded. Don’t blame me. Blame yourselves. 😉
Regarding McLaren. If we are in the relegation zone and have not won a game after 10 matches then I would sack him before its too late to recover.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troysta: you are always on a wind up! I don’t mind that about you though, at least you are consistent.
Here, I will do your tactic that you always use back to you. Sack McClaren and hire who? Tick, tock, the clock is ticking for your answer. Tick, tock, I am waiting, why haven’t you replied even though you haven’t seen the question yet? Tick, tock.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mbemba–Lascelles-Dummett-Haidara
Janmaat–Wijnaldum-Anita–Aarons
————–Mitro–Ayoze—————-
Extreme changes needed. Steve you need to drop the 4231 and play something like this.
DJG(Quote)
If the dogs of war win and SM gets the push who the hell is there about to take over,knowing jabba he will ask Moncer to ride to the front of the cart
icedog(Quote)
DJG – I said similar to that 4-4-2 formation yesterday mate. But I would keep Colo in the CB and Dummett would be LB. Colback would be there instead of Anita – but the right side looks spot on. Janmaat should be right wing for now until we can get a proper one in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – Nigel Pearson 😯 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
DJG I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but I can’t see them changing this awful 4 2 3 1 formation. It’s not working for us so why not try another formation ? Beat’s me, what have we got to lose. Dropping Colocini is a must. I would rather have Willo in defence.
Terry(Quote)
I see Armstrong scored for Coventry scored again yesterday.
Recall Armaz and let Cisse leave to the Middle East – I know Armaz is young but really he can’t do any worse than what Cisse is doing just now. I think Armaz & Mit could be a good strike partnership
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy17 leave him at Coventry mate. His doing well there and it better than getting 4 minutes on the pitch when we are 3-0 down.
Terry(Quote)
If cissie leaves before the end of this month tiote will have no one to sulk with
SHARPY Pearson no thanks
icedog(Quote)
Terry – who said anything about the last 4 mins? – I’d be starting the kid alongside Mit week in week out mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
“I’m not on a wind up. I just remind people about Pardew. Those that drove him out hate being reminded.”….
The majority of bloggers are abroad and never go to the games, only Troy and Stuart had season tickets, plus there are maybe a couple more who get to the games…
….and those that “drove him out” ….sob….hate being reminded 😳 😳 😳 😆 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
@sharpy
Armaz & Mit?
That means SM will have to lose his favourite, tried and tested 1 up front *****.
At least mitro will be better with the useless lofted balls we insist on supplying.
Not sure who he’ll knock them down to. 1 step at a time
Gashley(Quote)
Palace look well drilled under Percy. Very organised with a not so great squad.
Fighting for each other with a plan in mind…
Gashley(Quote)
Leave Arma where he is to keep honing his skills, when he finally returns he’ll be far better and oozing confidence. Stick Perez up with Mitro that could work really well I reckon. Put Gini on the right wing too, drop Sissy .
kimtoon(Quote)
Newcastle United were a hot topic of debate on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement – with many people associated with the club – including Steve McClaren – taking a hammering from the journalists on the show.
Matt Law of The Telegraph was particularly critical of McClaren, admitting he found the United head coach’s smiling demeanour “strange” following the Magpies’ 2-1 loss to newly-promoted Watford at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies remain winless from their opening six Premier League matches, yet McClaren smiled throughout quite a few of his post-game interviews after the Watford loss.
Interestingly, Law also questioned whether McClaren was merely a coach and “not a manager”.
Speaking on the show on Sunday, Law said: “I disagree slightly on John’s (John Richardson’s) point about McClaren. I’m not saying he’s not a good coach – obviously too many people in the game say he is a good coach – but I think he was lucky to get that job.
“He had a huge budget in the Championship with Derby and didn’t even get them up, didn’t even get them in the play-offs last season.
“He didn’t want the job when they offered it to him with three games to go to come in and try and help save them last season.
“I thought it was a very odd decision to go back to him.”
After Law had said this, host Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail interjected.
He asked Law: “You say he’s a good coach and a lot of people do say that – can he hold the dressing room?
“When he walks into the dressing room at West Ham and after yesterday’s defeat at home to Watford, can he walk in there? Is he the man?”
Law took a second to respond, before adding: “This is the question mark on Steve McClaren.
“As you say, having not worked for him it’s hard to know definitely.
“But too many people say he’s a great coach for him not to be, and too many players praise his coaching.
“People at QPR when he went in there coaching thought he was fantastic.
“But there’s a difference between being a great coach and a great manager. He seems to fall somewhere in between.
“He seems to be able to do the coaching thing and I don’t think he has quite proven he can do the managerial thing.
“I think you make a good point about whether he can hold a dressing room together.
“To me he always looks like he’s panicking a little bit. He’s always got a strange demeanour about him.
“Yesterday after the game in his interview I noticed he was kind of smiling through it, which I found a little bit odd considering the situation they’re in.”
Gashley(Quote)
We should of signed sako when we initially sniffed around. Strong as an ox, good shot on him and works really hard 😥
Gashley(Quote)
I am a season ticket holder and do not regret for one minute that we got rid of Pardew. I did want a foreign manager and didn’t get my wish. I have not forgotten how awful it was watching Pardew’s teams and I find the football better to watch at the moment even if the results are not what I want to see. I agree that Colo who I have long admired was turned over yesterday and the time has come to replace him. Janmaat put in the effort yesterday but he is an awful defender, worse than Haidara. Colback puts in a good shift but is very ordinary. I still like Cisse but he needs the service and support and is not getting it. Sissoko looks good at times and promises much with his scintillating runs. Unfortunately it ends there because there is usually no end product. Very like Obertan.
Groucho(Quote)
Just four of Newcastle United’s 40 crosses 😯 so after realising we were never gonna win balls in the air against Watford, we continued to cross balls in, 40 times.
Surely with 1 up front we should keep it on the ground
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley – They were spot on about McClaren in my opinion but that Law guy let himself down by completely having a go at Thauvin for wearing a tux. Wft! He wore a tux on the first game too but nobody had a go then. Talk about nit picking.
Regards McClaren though, they’re spot on. He failed to get even a play off place with the biggest budget in the a Championship and he’s been away from the PL for ten years. No other PL club would have given him a job
Stuart79(Quote)
I agree stu.
Shearer also had a go regarding the tux… 🙄
Anyway, before negativity totally takes over me I’m gonna refrain from talking about SM
Let’s see where we are after his 10 game promise, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he had a poor fixture list and two red cards but we look a shower atm
Gashley(Quote)
Sharpy – Colo wasn’t ok yesterday. I think he was poor. Or if you’re comparing him to Hadaira and Cisse he was ok but that’s not a way to judge players.
We have a major disease in the whole football club and it will take time to rid the club of it but I just hope we don’t get relegated before it can be rectified.
Stuart79(Quote)
Colo was **** yesterday.. Ran ragged again, what other options do we have??
Told you keeping Willo was a good idea 😯
Gashley(Quote)
@DJG
I like the look of that team. Would like to see janmaat on the wing
Gashley(Quote)
I agree with that idea of playing Janmaat RM. I also think we need to put Lascelles, Dummett and Aarons in the line up
Cholo A. Sall(Quote)
Stu – people were/are saying he was our worst player yesterday – I disagree. Yes he was out muscled at times but both their forwards are big lads & will get the better of a lot of CBs this season. He wasn’t at fault for either goal and I don’t remember him being the cause of any Watford chances – could be wrong coz I haven’t and won’t watch it back.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Psychs
I haven’t got a bloody clue who to replace McLaren with but I do know you can’t stay on a sinking ship. If after 10 games we are still bottom and no signs of improvement then change must be made.
I said the same about Pards if he had lost the crucial leceister game. You can’t mess about if you look like you are going down.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
MM
You bite more than psychsy 😛
That’s guilt for you. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@troy. It took pards 8 game before his first win, then he got us to Europe etc, and you’re only giving SM 10 game of what is a hard fixture list and new players haven’t bedded in yet..
I thought you said he was a safe pair of hands, who would take 18mth and if backed could get us to 8th 😯
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley
I’ve gave my reasons. You can’t stick with a manager if it looks like they aren’t going to get us out of the relegation zone.
I find his tactics and motivation of his team very dubious so far.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
You seem to have forgotten pardews s poor tactics and motivation yet you constantly backed him for yonks, even when Alan said himself he was very fortunate to still be here.. 😛
Well, as much as I don’t like the bloke, I’d give him to the end of the season to turn it around, if it results in relegation, fine. Perhaps mike will make another announcement promising to sack Carr and our crazy transfer policies. Either way he’ll have to face the **** he’s created
Gashley(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-poison-like-cheick-10094484
Gashley(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mike-williamson-snubs-chance-join-10094531
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim. I’m glad he didn’t join Preston… That’s how ***** we are when Willo may have a place in the team…
Gashley(Quote)
Gash – I’d rather get rid of him personally. Get Ron Vlaar on a free to replace him, or just clear Willo out to make room for for Matip coming in in Jan.
We can slaughter the defence as much as we like, but if we look at the league table, we have conceded as many goals as Leicester – having faced tougher opponents and having 10 men in 2 of our games. But they are 3rd with 12pts because they have scored 13 goals to our 3.
Our biggest problem isn’t our defence, it’s fact our right back is our most creative player (and joint top scorer). Our problem is our offensive players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim if that’s the case can’t we just give Toite a free transfer or just release him ? His been poor for a couple of season’s now and it’s no great lose anyway. As for Nolan he might restore a bit of faith in the dressing room.
Terry(Quote)