This weekend see’s Newcastle United travel to Stamford Bridge looking to consolidate their position clear of the relegation zone. Chelsea have been unbreakable since Guus Hiddink came in though, so this will be no easy task.
Chelsea:
The Blues are fortunate to have a very clean bill of health, with only 3 players currently injured. However, the loss of Kurt Zouma for 6 months with an ACL knee injury is a big loss. Ramadel Falcao has done his groin in (he rarely plays these days so he must have done this some other….’ahem’….way…) whilst ex-Toon striker Loic Remy is likely to recover from a calf injury in time to challenge for a place in the match-day squad.
Newcastle United:
Unsurprisingly, Newcastle United is top of the treatment table league. Tim Krul (ACL knee) and Curtis Good (hip) remain out for the season but we can expect returns to the match day squad for Siem De Jong (eye) and Jack Colback (hamstring) whilst Daryl Janmaat has shaken off a thigh injury. This game comes too soon for Kevin Mbabu (thigh) and Vurnon Anita (hamstring), who are scheduled to return at the end of the month. Gabby Obertan (hamstring) and Massaido Haidara (knee) are out for at least a month still, whilst there is no news on Paul Dummett (hamstring) or Chancel Mbemba (ankle).
Shamrock’s Stats & Facts:
1) Chelsea are unbeaten in the league since Guus Hiddink took over from Jose Mourinho.
2) Newcastle have failed to score or take a single point in their last 3 visits to Stamford Bridge.
3) Chelsea have failed beat the Toon in the last 11 games between the sides when Newcastle have scored.
4) Guus Hiddink has only lost 1 of his 21 Premier League matches.
5) The Blues are on the longest current unbeaten run in the league, with 9.
6) Newcastle have taken more points off Chelsea (13) than any other team in the last 5 seasons.
7) The Magpies have only won twice on the road this season, losing the last 4 away games.
8) Chelsea have drawn their last 4 home games – against Watford, West Brom, Everton and Manchester United.
9) The most goals ever scored in this fixture was in the 1958/1959 season – Chelsea winning 6-5.
10) The Magpies have scored less goals on the road than any other team this season.
Referee:
Officiating this one is 50-year-old Roger East, who represents the Wiltshire County FA. Despite his age, he only took to being the man in the middle from the 2006/2007 season – being a linesman before that, including at the 2004 FA Cup Final. East was only promoted to the Premier League Select Group from the 2013/2014 season. He is a relatively steady referee with no history of contentious decisions of note. He has taken charge of 4 Newcastle games this season, including our 2 losses to Watford, our draw with Stoke and our last away victory at Tottenham Hotspur.
Final Thought:
Whilst Wijnaldum’s goals and our 2 recent league wins have been a big lift for us in our relegation battle, it has all been at home. If Newcastle is serious about staying up, then the players need to start performing away from home. We are the worst team in the league on the road and that is really not good enough. Whilst Chelsea are unbeaten in 10, they just cannot buy win at home at the moment. If our boys apply themselves with the kind of passion and fight they showed against West Brom, then I’d be quietly confident of coming away from Stamford Bridge with a point – that’s unless McClaren gets his tactics and selection completely wrong again like he did against Everton during our last away trip….
One big thing we have going for us is that our side seems to step up for the games broadcast on national television. This fixture is on Sky Sports – so fingers crossed!!
Chelsea V Newcastle United
Stamford Bridge
Saturday 13th February 2016
Kick Off: 17:30 Live on Sky Sports 1.
Gashley: you have been pussying up to Troy lately so I assumed you had also taken to wearing skirts.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Has anyone mentioned Klinsmann 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Psychs
I would take Pearson on a long term fix. I don’t think he would work under Ashleys strict policies. That’s why I’m suggesting someone like Clarky who would jump at the chance.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Sharpy – but to be fair, everyone was also championing both of them in the season we finished fifth, they were our main pair until Wilo came in for tayls. I still keep hearing how good Taylor is, or how he is better than WIllo etc.
Taylor and Colo weren’t the ones getting slaughtered even when we finished fifth, that was Simmo and Willo. Easy to turn around now and blame individuals, but they’ve been spared it for a long time and I don’t think either of them are as bad as they are being made to look these days.
Newkie(Quote)
Eric Pussying up? explain?
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley: you just normally give him a much harder time and I needed to explain my skirt reference 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
wow Troy is deadly serious about Clark. 😆 😆 😆 YCMIUBHH
Gashley(Quote)
So it looks like Gashley is sticking with McLaren. 😯
Taking dithering to new heights 😆
I hope we get Jewell. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy: I think Ashley has relented on his strict policies:
1. McClaren is on the Board
2. McClaren is not just head coach now as he has a say in transfers
3. They bought English and loaned over 26
4. It is obvious that Charnley and Carrs power grab has not worked and that even Ashley can see things need to change.
5. Ashley is fickle as fck and might easily sack the lot of them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric. how can I give him a hard time when he’s mentioning Clark and Paul Jewell? he’s doing all my work for me..
Its like tossing a greggs packet full of dog ***** to an excited tramp..
tbh I feel a bit sorry for him. his logic is all over the place atm 😛
Gashley(Quote)
The Clarky ship has sailed. Get over him Troy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Psychs
Gashley has been pussying up to me. He has realised Clarky is now a real deal manager. Now in charge of Kilmarnock. A Scottish premier league club. We will be a championship club with McLaren. At least with Jewell or Clark we would have a chance.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So it looks like Troy is sticking with Jewell. 😯
FTSOTB I’m going to do something less boring 😀
Gashley(Quote)
hahaha you should be on stage Troy.
Toonsy. can I make a donation to Troy? you normally have to pay a small fortune for comedy like this 😛
Gashley(Quote)
We haven’t always been a laughing stock and are still in the top 20 richest clubs in the world. It is not crazy to suggest Favre or Pearson or Rodgers as Managers. Their egos are large enough that I am sure that they would believe they could keep us up with our current squad and still 12 games to go.
What is crazy is to suggest Lee Clark.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nope
To mention Favre, Rodgers or Pearson is crazy. You might as well mention Klinsmann.
We’ve had Kinnear, Carver, Pardew plucked from a 3 yr wilderness, then McLaren that nobody rated
But it’s ok to mention sought after managers?. They are all biding their time for a decent job.
Where do you get these ludicrous suggestions from. Please lower your standards. You aren’t in charge of nufc. Ashley is and history shows the type of managers he goes for.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Let go for Kenny Jackett or Simon Grayson?
Stuart79(Quote)
Troy: on the threads Shamrock posted earlier I said Pearson was the most likely and most realistic (that was a couple of months ago). I still think he would take the job and would not be a bad choice. We are in the position now of beggars not being choosers but, as I said, a person like Rodgers has such a massive ego I think he might go for it. Not sure if I would offer it to him though as he is a bit mad.
Enough of Klinsmann as well, I haven’t even brought him up for months, you did. Stick to today’s issues and stop dwelling on things said ages ago.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also, Ashley has a history of appointing Managers who are on the dole which is partly why Rodgers, Favre, Pearson come up.
He doesn’t want to give Steve compensation and then turn around and have to pay comp to another club.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Newkie I totally agree with you there regarding Simpson and Willo. Colocini is a heck of a lot worse, the weakest link. I’ll cut Taylor some slack because his been out most of the season.
Terry(Quote)
Clarky was on the dole until today. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy: being on the dole might have been necessary but it wasn’t sufficient 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Troy would you welcome Greame Souness back ? His out of work and has also won silverware as a manager. We got no chance of getting in the champions league now. He would do enough to keep us up.
Terry(Quote)
I hadn’t realised this but 4 of our next 6 matches are away!! Jesus Christ, man! Our home games might be irrelevant by the time we play them.
Stuart79(Quote)
Souness was a **** manager compared to Sir Bobby Robson but Souness would be a step up from McClaren .
Terry(Quote)
It is actually very hilarious that Troysta barks so loudly about how **** an appointment McClaren is and then puts up as an alternative someone who has done a lot less. He scoffs at managers that have managed in foreign leagues and then suggests as an alternative someone whose only decent results were in league 1, who failed miserably in The Championship and who has no PL experience. And he expects to be taken seriously when questioning others’ opinions 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Terry
I hated souness but as a short term fix until the end of the season, yes I woud give him a chance. He wouldn’t put himself through it though. He’s got a great job with no stress.
I’m sure you’ve realised by now, I would give many a **** manager a chance until the end of the season. That’s because I believe McLaren will take us down.
I don’t rate Clark as someone to take us to where I think we should be. I want all the big names mentioned. I’m just realistic
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Psychs
You choose to ignore the facts about Clark’s managerial record and the horrific circumstances he faced at Blackpool and Birmingham. It’s your choice you remain closed minded. I like to educate myself and look at the facts not just look at stats. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I’m trying not to laugh here.
Terry(Quote)
Has Clark been sacked by every club he managed? Has he managed in the PL? Is Clark even available? Why are we talking about Clark to begin with, he was never a a candidate except in Troy’s warped world?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Again, Ranieri and Flores managing a team that barely escaped relegation and a promoted team. How is it beyond Troy’s imagination that Favre, Rodgers or Pearson might want to manage NUFC especially when the Fat Man is spending money now?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Psychs
Are any of the names you mentioned candidates. ?
😛 only in Psychs warped mind 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Terry
I’m howling 😆 let yourself go. It’s infectious 😆 I’ve got the family joining in 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Would you have expected Ranieri to Leiceter or Flores to Watford? Certainly Pearson is a candidate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I warned you all when you wanted rid of Pardew. Ashley would only appoint another puppet. You all scoffed and thought he wouldn’t.
Oh dear. I predicted all this. 😆
I got the same flak then. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Pearson fell out with the leceister board over the transfer policy. Do you not research? Clearly you never researched Clark’s record other than look at stats. They tell you nothing without the circumstances that made those stats.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Back to Pardew. Now that couldn’t have been predicted, could it? Change the record Troysta.
But back to realistic choices. Ranieri went to Leicester. Check his record, is stallar even though he was sacked quite a few times. Sacked due to ultra high expectations. He finished second in Serie A and Juve sacked him, for example.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Are you sure there wasn’t a problem with the Thai owners and his son’s behavior as well Troy?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Troy: do your research mate. Here is a quote from The Mail (I know) about Pearson’s departure from Leicester:
“The belief is that an untenable frisson between Pearson and the board was sparked when his son James, the captain of the Under 21 squad, was sacked following a vile orgy in Bangkok as Leicester took part in a tour of the owners’ homeland.
James, along with striker Tom Hopper and goalkeeper Adam Smith, filmed themselves having sex with three local women using highly abusive language. One of the men is also heard to call a girl ‘slit eye’.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That underground ladder of Troy’s is looking a bit greasy
Stuart79(Quote)
So if we stick with SM now and we’re this **** can we assume he’s here next season if we stay up… Something to look forward to
Gashley(Quote)
Looks that way, Gashley. I doubt they’d sack him, if they won’t sack him now. Ashley must be completely oblivious to all this. Is he on holiday with no phone or Sky reception?
Stuart79(Quote)
If we want to talk about recent managers. I remember giving Troysta loads of information and stats about why Carver was **** when he was appointed and him saying give him a go. As the results went from bad to worse, Troysta didn’t say sack Ugly John, it was as if he and Ryder were in cahoots. Of course, Troy will ask for proof but I cannot be bothered to scour the archives. He can if he wants and he will see that I never once wavered on my opinion of Ugly John no matter how much Troy stuck up for him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric you complain about troy a lot but you can’t stop mentioning him in every post 😆
Gashley(Quote)
And Troy’s most fervent defense of Pardew was that he was average and we would not get any better – repeated over, and over and over I might add. That is the best he can offer and his only argument even though he changed his mind and ignored all of the death spiral facts and awful football. Sometimes survival is not enough and after 4 years of Pardew-ball it would be right to ask for a change, notwithstanding the fact that he quit. Troy always forgets that.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gashley: you are still upset about the skirt comment 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gashley: also, after all of my arguments with Troy about Pardew I still refuse to let him wear me down.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Troy can’t help but laugh these managerial names are hilarious 😎 Lee Clark got a job now so his out of the running. Paul Jewell didn’t he have a short stint at Southampton once so he does have some PL experience Eric. I would have Ian Holloway over McClaren any day of the week.
Terry(Quote)
Gashley: Everything doesn’t ALWAYS come back to Pardew with me though, unlike with Troy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Terry: I said Clark had no PL experience not Jewell.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
@stu.
Makes u wonder if the blokes totally thick or hes too loyal for his own good.
Gashley(Quote)
@eric. The skirt comment was below the belt. Anyway, it was a kilt 😀
Gashley(Quote)
😐 you know nowts happening when ice hasnt been on with some inside info. He’s the only person on here thats close to a rumour.
@hitman.. What’s happened to genesis? It’s **** now, no links
Gashley(Quote)
No improvement without change. No change without the removal of Ashley. Plan and simple.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Or even plain and simple. 😳
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I don’t think we should be scared to go after a “name” manager and think it is an insult that we should settle for someone like Lee Clark who has done nothing to even warrant consideration unless being a Geordie and getting sacked from every job you had is your only criteria. Even Steve hasn’t been sacked from ALL his jobs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric my mistake. Lee clark’s got a job now so we don’t have to worry about him joining us.
Terry(Quote)
When asked his message to supporters, Coloccini told the Chronicle: “They were fantastic. After the game we went to their corner and they were fantastic with us.
“We have to say sorry about what happened.
“It’s sorry from the team and sorry from everybody who was involved in this game.
“I know that it is very difficult for fans to forget this game.
“But we need to forget it because we don’t have many games to take points and wins.
“At the moment, we need to forget this game and try to improve for the next game.”
Newcastle were 3-0 down after 17 minutes but the home side took their foot off the gas and settled for a 5-1 win.
Coloccini reflected: “It was very tough. It was totally negative, we lost the game in the first 10 minutes.
“We conceded two easy goals and at Stamford Bridge, it is very difficult to come back from.
“To be fair, we didn’t do nothing right. That’s why we got this result.”
Coloccini has twice told the media that Newcastle will stay up – in both October and December.
When asked his feelings with 12 games to go, he said: “I still think the same. We need to adjust little things.
“We can’t speak too much about it because the manager and the staff know what’s going on and what needs to be improved.
“We have to listen to them and do our best to take points, and not look for excuses why we lost.”
Gashley(Quote)
Wow. 😯
I’m standing at the top of the ladder looking down at you all fighting to get on television first rung. 😆
Comedy gold. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Most managers get sacked at most of their clubs, unless they leave on their own accord after being head hunted by another side.
I think you can only judge a managers success 4 ways:
1) Longevity at their clubs.
2) Achievements at their clubs.
3) How many times they have been head hunted whilst still employed by another club.
4) what level they have managed at recently.
Judging somebody by whether or not they have been sacked a few times can’t be a very accurate way of assessing a manager – outside of the world’s very best of course, which is a very narrow pool…
Shamrock(Quote)
Ashley might be on the phone right now asking Joe Kinnear and Dennis Wise what they would do if they were in McClaren’s shoes.
Terry(Quote)
Colo with another apology. You could use the things as a huge door stop now!
Stuart79(Quote)
We can’t speak too much about it because the manager and the staff know what’s going on and what needs to be improved.
“We have to listen to them 😆 😆
Top secret stuff going down here like. I wonder what SM and Simpson have planned in training to get us winning again…sounds promising 😛
Gashley(Quote)
Troy: you have no self awareness do you? Comedy gold is Lee Clark.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Colocini can stuff his apology where the sun don’t shine. He was Chelsea’s 12th man yesterday
Terry(Quote)
Messi just did a lay-up / assist at a penalty. I have never seen that before. You should google it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Did McClaren apoligise? Or was it just one of those things that happen.
So we got hammered at City, palace…. at Everton, everything that could go wrong did but we’ll learn from it, then we get stuffed at Chelsea..
We’re learning nothing, if anything we’ve gone backwards
Gashley(Quote)
Shamrock: there is also the fact that Clark was sacked by several clubs in a short time. My point is not really that he was sacked, it was Troy’s insistence that he should be considered. You know yourself that often we exaggerate a point to make it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Psychs
The way you are going you are going to be holding the ladder to keep it steady allowing Stuart and Gashley to beat you to the first rung. 😆
Great view up here looking down at you. 😆
Clarky is on rung two. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I wonder if there is any coincidence in Colo apologising shortly after John Carver was on TV saying he wasn’t a leader and played for himself.
Am I being overly cynical or is there a motive behind Colos words?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Trains, Ladders, Laundry Baskets? How about talking football?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Also Troy: I have seen the Laundry basket post and you will certainly need that ladder to look down on most.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
SM said we need to work on results away from home. That was ages ago. Elliott said the same after Everton stuffed us… Whatever they’re working on isn’t working
Gashley(Quote)
Haha Eric. My mates a midget, even he looks down on Troy
Gashley(Quote)
Anyway. I think Steve should be sacked but will be really surprised if he is. There are many qualified candidates out there that we will probably not go after. It is sort of pointless to discuss Troy’s ludicrous suggestion but we were terrible and it is a bit of light entertainment when it is minus 15 outside after coming back from plus 30 in Thailand.
I have a fckin cold that I picked up in the tropics. Must be all you English bringing in the germs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)