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.
http://dailym.ai/1oap5IH
Just about sums it up well
Stuart79(Quote)
the bloke cant stop grinning 😯 …
gashley(Quote)
Spot on, Ice.
Stuart79(Quote)
Would Benitez take this job if Ashley paid him enough and gave him an escape clause if we go down? I’m not convinced he would. Moyes is more realistic but he would want complete control. Is Ashley willing to surrender his backwards club structure in an effort to secure safety? Guess we will find out in the next week. If McC is not gone within 48 hours then we can take it he is staying no matter what.
Shamrock(Quote)
My worry is the board will sack McC, but will foolishly replace him with another has been or cheap yes man.
Shamrock(Quote)
By the way, we will know the clubs plans in the next 18 days. If we don’t make change in the next two weeks we never will and that will be that. Dice rolled and hold our breath. If we don’t make the change Ashley deserves what’s coming.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sham – My worry is that we won’t make the change. They’ve had plenty of chances and it’s been so poor this season but still nothing but absolute support! How much longer…
Personally I believe Charnley will not sack him because it will look like a failure from him. It’s inly Ashley who can make the decision but he seems so far detached it’s incredible considering we’re on the verge of losing over £60/£70m and possibly more if we stay down.
Stuart79(Quote)
I wonder how many of our away fans are grinning making that long trip back from London?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
thats been my worry all along Shamrock. the incompetence from Ashley down to SM is astounding..
McClaren will convince the “board” they’ll roll their sleeves up and get thorough it.. Ashley will believe him…
gashley(Quote)
What’s 60 million to MA when he has just lost 1.2 billion Stu?
They should sack McC within 48 hours. It should not take longer than that. I agree Charnley is unlikely to pull the plug unless ordered to by Ashley.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ashley’s lost £1.2b is only a paper loss. Relegation would require him to put his hand in his pocket for actual cash. He won’t fancy that as he’s unlikely to ever get it back. He will be lucky to get what he’s put in back now.
Sharpy – If I was them I’d be smiling because i’d have been on the **** in Soho since 17:50!
Stuart79(Quote)
Total agreement @381,why cannot ” everyone” fans/Penfold/jabba see/have common sense pity you cannot give some a brain transplant,their is more than need one they are out of their depth in the game of football
Icedog(Quote)
SHAMROCK if he is not sacked in the next 24 Hours then i think he wont be sacked .Todays result and more importantly performance should be the final proof too Ashley that McClaren is not the man for the job
AXEL(Quote)
Axel – Everton was as bad. Only their poor finishing saved us yet he kept his job. Games are running out and I don’t think they’re even thinking of a change. Which makes it totally bizarre when you consider who’s actually free and available. Redknapp (tried to appoint him before), Moyes (tried to appoint him in the past), Benitez (proven success) and Rodgers.
Stuart79(Quote)
It shouldn’t even take 48hrs if they are considering sacking him (which you’d think they would have by now) but if we’ve heard nothing by 48hrs we are stuck with the GRIN REAPER!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
“It’s a good opportunity to regroup, get organised, stay calm and don’t let this derail us. 🙄
he’s been saying this all season. stay calm after every loss…
I can’t believe Ashley won’t listen to some of his mates and consider McClaren position. Surely he’s not that blinkered that he lives in a bubble that only Charley can enter??
gashley(Quote)
Grin Reaper 😆 😆
Shamrock(Quote)
You would think that after Jabba realised that the prem cant be done on the cheap, and that he needed to spend money on proper players, that he would have worked it out that he would need a proper manager to get the best out of the proper players.
Stu I really cant understand how anyone cant see that on paper we have a stronger team than Carver or Pards had. But the results are worse, as has been proved in the prem that some “lesser” teams in the prem do better than us because they are better organised by better managers.
Big Dave(Quote)
Grin reaper! Very good!
Stuart79(Quote)
Having a good team starts with organisation, Dave. We’ve not had it at all under the Grim Reaper! 🙂 Not even pre season
Stuart79(Quote)
If any of us even have a little knowledge of the game we “all” must know this lot in charge are not even capable of spending our way out of trouble even if we could
Icedog(Quote)
* Grin!!!!
Stuart79(Quote)
Sham @ 392 I was scrolling through FB and came across Schteves interview, I wasnt going to click on it because his snarky grin does my fuking loaf in. So after thinking about todays performance I wrongly thought that there was no way he would be grinning so clicked on it , needless to say I felt like throwing my phone at a wall, the c@nt still has that stupid fuking grin on his face, making it out to be just one of those days.
Big Dave(Quote)
STUART The Everton game should have had the alarm bells ringing in Ashleys head , todays performance is the normal level of performance under McClaren . Trouble is a win against a very poor WBA is probably going too mean we are stuck with him , iTS all very well playing a possesion game but if your team does nothing with it whats the point . I am afraid he will now panick and resort too long ball and hit and hope , the bloke has just not inspired confidence in what is a half decent group of players and needs too go .
AXEL(Quote)
Axel – The players looked completely and utterly deflated today and also very frustrated. I would hope some of the players are talking to the mD about their fears. Or maybe they’re in too much of a comfort zone?
Problem is that after spending so much money they won’t want to sack the manager. They will think it will look silly.
Stuart79(Quote)
Ice @ 396 the problem for me is that the most important thing to spend money on is for a Footie man to run the club rather than a casino manager or a club secretary, then he needs to spend more on a proper manager not some failed championship manager. For me that spells disaster before a ball is kicked
Big Dave(Quote)
Stu @ 400 IMO it would make them look even sillier to stick with a failed manager that looks like a dead man walking
Big Dave(Quote)
Any other club and this record would not be acceptable. I am just dumbfounded that with the managers out there who are available that the club are sticking with him. It really is incredible.
Fans forum should be interesting.
Stuart79(Quote)
How do you defend the undefendable
Toby Le Rhone(Quote)
TLR you would need to ask Jabba
Big Dave(Quote)
DAVE I have been shouting for a few years we wanted someone like Dein to come in and run the football side of.things he done wonders with the gunners,I think he doing some poxy job in the FA he left the gunners when that Russian billionaire came on the board,getting someone like him would have the club on the right coarse and saved jabba a lot of cash in the long,old storey isn’t buy cheap buy twice
Icedog(Quote)
With the Grin Reaper as my witness I swear .com has published no less than 6 articles since the full time whistle went today. That’s some going!
Shamrock(Quote)
Agree Big Dave
Gashley
Would you consider sacking McLaren now for Lee Clark until the end of the season? 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ice its been more than a few yrs we have been calling for someone like Dein to run the club. And to make matters worse Jabba and Dein are supposed to be friendly with eachother.
Sham ref .com that is the main problem with them they are more interested with hits, I know sometimes we could do with more articles at times but at the end of the day we can all get involved in chats etc on here and the craic is normally good.
Big Dave(Quote)
Christ, Troy! We might as well appoint Neil Warnock as Lee Clarke!
Stuart79(Quote)
Sham – I can help with the match report here goes;
Utter garbage!
The end.
Stuart79(Quote)
I said after 10 or so games that McLaren should be sacked. I could see he didn’t have the capabilities.
After13, 15, 17, 19 and so on I kept repeating that it will be too late before the decision is made.
Many scoffed. Just like they scoffed at me sticking by Pardew.
I can see us with McLaren at 30 games sitting in the bottom 3 with some on here still dithering.
Pathetic really. It’s the fans that oust managers. Always has been. Trouble is, I find toon fans pretty poor judges of managers.
Thie bloggers on here are even worse judges.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Stu @ 410 I honestly dont think either could do worse than the smiling assassin
Big Dave(Quote)
Troy – I think the might Kilmanock are in discussion with Clarkie 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stuart
The point is, there are countless managers out there that could do a better a job. McLaren will take us down so anyone is worth a chance.
I would chance lee Clark based on the fact that he can’t do any worse than McLaren, might instill some grit and pride, understand the fans and the only club he had a chance with, Huddersfield, he played good football and was a fans favourite.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I would choose many managers above Clark but based on Ashleys policy, I would see him as a realistic choice. What’s the choice? Stick with McLaren? He’ll take us down. I’ve said for a dozen games.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Troy
I can’t take your Clarky craic serious mate..
but no I wouldnt sack SM for Clarky.. would I sack him for Paul Jewel.. NO
Moyes..etc.. as always maintained.. definitely
Gashley(Quote)
Troy – David Moyes is exactly a Mike Ashley manager. He is available so will cost nothing, will be thankful for getting back into the PL and has a track record of improving players. He should be the choice, not Clark.
Although it did take you ten games to come to the conclusion about McClaren. It only took me ten minutes – I never wanted him and consistently said he’d be terrible and unfortunately he is.
Stuart79(Quote)
Many scoffed. Just like they scoffed at me sticking by Pardew. 🙄 ]then you come out with your clarke ***** again. ne wonder we scoff 😛
Gashley(Quote)
Terry Venables or Ron Atkinson could take the job on till the end of the season. Anything’s better than McClaren
Terry(Quote)
Sven might even want the job.
Terry(Quote)
If there is any chance of us replacing The Grin Reaper, I don’t want a ‘can’t do any worse’ manager. I want a proper manager in – Moyes or Nuno for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Again the point is constantly lost on the Clueless Crew.
You simply don’t get it it do you?
McLaren has to go. He had to go 10 games ago. He’s taking us down.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Stuart
I never wanted McLaren as well. I didn’t want rid of Pards.
But even you were dithering at 10 games. Mark my words. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I would take Ron Atkinson, Terry vemables, sven and Clarky. I wish some could see the issue. McLaren.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Sharpy he would never have been in my top 5 a few yrs ago but now I think Moyes would be miles better than schteve the grinning reaper/ smiling assassin
Big Dave(Quote)
@troy. I’m sure you said not so long ago..u didn’t blame SM
I never wanted SM. He’s ****, always has been, always will be..but so’s clarky
That’s where your point evades me..
Gashley(Quote)
Big Dave.
Exactly. I used to challenge people who wanted Moyes but now I would take him at the drop of a hat. We’ve regressed that far.
Stuart says he would take Moyes before Clarky. 😀 wow!!
Who wouldn’t?
I don’t think Moyes would touch us with a barge pole. Hence I mention Clarky as our level.
That’s how low we’ve stooped.
Some just don’t get how low this club is now.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The whole toon fanbase waits with bated breath regarding moyes.. I wish Ashley could see it.. I’ll not be refreshing newsnow as I have as much faith in Santa buying the bairn xmas presents than Ashley doing the right thing
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley
You clearly think McLaren can get us out this mess. Otherwise you would choose Clarky who might, just might have a chance.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
At troy. I don’t think we’re that low yet mate. Maybe dropping points top of league 1 when we give clarky a shout 😉
Gashley(Quote)
HAHAHA unbelievable. SM has more chance than clarky & SM’s chances are very slim
Gashley(Quote)
Moyes still has a good reputation in English football. He will have been offered numerous jobs. The longer he is our of football his reputation will increase as the man Utd memories diminish.
He’s waiting for the right job. That’s not nufc. Stop dreaming.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So you are still dithering. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy – You’re pissed I’m sure! I have never for one single second dithered on my opinion of McClaren. Quite the opposite – I have continually and to the annoyance of some on here requested he be sacked.
Stuart79(Quote)
Moyes would take this job – no danger!
Stuart79(Quote)
Moyes would take this job – no danger 😀
Under Ashleys policy of being a coach only?
Wake up, smell the coffee. No I’m not pissed.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
night shift have to be quick.
isnt jabba a moyes fan.
hitman(Quote)
The longer he’s out of work his reputation will increase 😛 really.. Carver will be getting the Man u job next then.. Lenny Henry will be top billing at the Appollo & Keith chegwins the new bond… 😯
Gashley(Quote)
rolf harris the new arts director for the bbc.
max clifford the new pr consultant for channel 5
😛
hitman(Quote)
Well its getting too the point where its going too take something special too save us ,so how about trying too bring the special one in for the rest of the season ? And i dont mean Mourinho , Pearson he did a great job saving Leicester last season from a worse position than we are in now.
AXEL(Quote)
Ashley has already changed half his tune by buying British players and he won’t have any choice if he wants to stop up.
The problem is us not sacking McClaren not who would replace him.
Stuart79(Quote)
Gashley
Are you suggesting Moyes reputation is not improving? There’s many clamoring for him to be our manager.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Stuart
So are you suggesting that Ashley would change his tune and allow Moyes to choose his players? Please make yourself clear.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Haha and we’re an improvement on man u 😛 surely you’ve had one cherry too many..
Gashley(Quote)
Stuart
Could you find one single quote where you’ve said we should sack McLaren around the 10 game mark. ?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
No. I’m not. I’m hoping Ashley would see sense and tinker his policies. After all SM has apparently had a say in Townsend and shelvey??
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley
Cherrys are non alcoholic 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@troy..
I could. My first response to SM was I was finished with Newcastle if he was hired. I’m confident you can find it
Gashley(Quote)
Haha auto correct mate. It’s a nightmare 😯 😳
Gashley(Quote)