Anything out of tomorrow’s game at Manchester United, which has a 5:15 pm KO will be a decent result for a Newcastle side without a manager.
Nigel Pearson will be in charge of the team at Old Trafford tomorrow, just like he was at Watford in the last game of last season, after Newcastle had just dismissed Glenn Roeder.
As far as our injuries are concerned Newcastle United look to be OK, although Ameobi (knee), Milner (virus) and Emre (knee) are all slight doubts, but the late news is they should all be available. Stephen Carr, who played for the Reserves last Tuesday evening when they were beaten 3-1 by Sunderland, will be available.
African Cup of Nations players Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye and Geremi will obviously not be available, and we don’t know whether Oba Martins will return for the 5:15 pm kick off. He already reported to the Nigerian squad, and it seems a bit pointless to play him. Late news is that Martins will not be released by the Nigerian squad.
Rozhenal, Viduka and Enrique limbering up this morning
Of course Joey Barton is still not available as he is in rehabilitation nd awaiting his next court appearance next Wednesday morning in Liverpool. Peter Ramage is still recovering form his ACL knee injury.
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed it’s unlikely that Owen Hargreaves, struggling with a rib injury, will be risked but Saha will probably be OK and will have a fitness test just before the game.
Gary Neville, who’s been out most of the season, felt his hamstring on Wednesday and was substituted at half-time as Manchester United Reserves earned a 2-2 draw at Everton. Gary will not feature tomorrow. Tevez has had a sore ankle recently but is expected to be fit. Paul Scholes and Silvestre are still out with longer term injuries.
Nigel Pearson – former England Under-21 coach in charge tomorrow
We’re not sure which team Pearson will pick but we think it will either be 4-42 or even 4-5-1 but it’s hard top play anything other than 4-4-2 with Michael Owen in the team.
This is the team we expect Pearson to play:
Given
Rozehnal Taylor Cacapa Enrique
Duff Butt Emre N’Zogbia
Viduka Owen
Subs: Harper Carr Milner Carroll Smith
We could have Smith in place of Emre, but we’re put Emre in because he has class, and deserves a chance of a start. It could also be that Carr could replace David Rozehnal, who had a couple of uncertain moments against Stoke City last Sunday at right back. We have the big FA Cup replay with Stoke City on Wednesday, so we’ll need to use our squad to maximum effect over the next 3 games.
What do you think our team should be?
Let us know – comments always welcome.
71 comments so far
Tom_Toon
Jan 11, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Comment #1Thats the team i want to see, Pearson doesnt appear to be a mug, so hopefully thats the line up.
HonoraryGeordie
Jan 11, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Comment #2Lets really take the game to them and shove sam allarshites tactics up his…
Given
Taylor Rozehnal
Butt
Milner Emre N’Zogbia Duff
Smith
Martins Owen
Bring back the Keegan days for 90 mins at least!
Ed Harrison
Jan 11, 2008 at 6:59 PM
Comment #3Agree with both you – give it a go. If Harry is new manager would like to see him there – as an incentive for our players.
ToonKing
Jan 11, 2008 at 6:59 PM
Comment #4imagine if we hammer Manure tomorrow while playing beautiful footy ???? lol my vote for new manager is Pearson!!!!!
ToonKing
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:01 PM
Comment #5i think Pearson will really give it an all out go tomorrow. If he pulls off a win, who knows, he might end up in a race for manager.
Obafan
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Comment #6Good luck Pearson, cause you will need it…
I really hope they can get a good result, cause I like him and he deserves a good result.
hope Emre plays
HonoraryGeordie
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Comment #7Pearson, Terry Mac dream team, title in 2 years!
Steeley
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Comment #8I dont reckon Pearson will rock the boat too much – a similar style so Sams I think, and to be honest I wouldnt blame him for playing defensive against them….I think the best thing we can hope for is a draw. That, or anything more will be amazing.
Jamie
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Comment #9I think the majority of fans see this game as a bit of fruitless visit to old trafford, so anything from the game is a bonus. I good performance with a few goals is what we want, we will need a lot of luck and and massive performance to get anything, but with recent trends – a manager is sacked, the players want to play again! lets hope this is the case. I think we should have bloody good go at Utd and not show to much respect, get stuck in lads.
HonoraryGeordie
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Comment #10Steeley, this is Pearson’s chance to say “sam, you deserved the sack you big ponce! your tactics were crap. you wasted our attacking players. watch how its done!”
And what bigger stage is there than Manure away?
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Comment #11By the way Martins is coming back for this game so he’ll be available tomorrow as well. It was confirmed this morning
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Comment #12Michael Owen loves scoring against Manure more than anyone, so lets get the ball into the box as often as possible so that he can.
Adam B
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:10 PM
Comment #13smith has to start – skipper…..
ToonKing
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Comment #14i really don’t want this to happen 🙁
http://www.thesoccerblog.org/premiership/ac-milan-in-talks-for-newcastles-emre/
Edd Case
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Comment #15I think we’ll get spanked tomorrow, but we generally do at Old Trafford.
As for our new manager being there…hummm…
It’d be hard for Harry to get from Sunderland to Manchester in time for kick off – but if he showed up at half time?????????? Alarm bells WOULD BE RINGING…..
Fortunately though, I think there’s more chance of Harry POTTER being our next manager than Redknapp…
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Comment #16A Good Team for tomorrow :
3-5-2 with Milner and Nzogbia as attacking wing backs that can also drop back into Defence.
Given
Taylor Capaca Enrique
Milner Butt Emre Duff Nzogbia
Viduka Owen
keeganpleasecomeback
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Comment #17given
Carr/taylor cacapa roz Enrique
milner butt nzogbia duff
smith Owen/martins
Edd Case
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Comment #18Actually, Im a dumbass, Mackems V Pomp is Sunday, right?
keeganpleasecomeback
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Comment #19if pearson thinks he hAS a chance of getting the job he must play gung ho ..but he wont risk playing a new system he will play 442 with attacking wingers….like his mate roeder..
beating manure you have to have a go..look at last season where we got a draw and west ham did well…but this is old trafford so we need to wish for a lot of luck as well…at least we wont play hoof ball which is candy for vidic/ferdinand..
go on lads..you’re also playing for your future
ToonKing
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Comment #20bad news :
Oba not allowed to return for Manure. 🙁
http://www.newcastleutd-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=371929
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Comment #21Pearson will be gone after the game regardless of what he does. He was Sam’s number 2, and won’t be around for the new manager.
So he might as well go Gung Ho and attack United for all his worth. I’d rather lose 4-0 attacking them, than lose 4-0 by sitting back and hoping for the best.
I expect a big game from Butt tomorrow. If he could only learn to keep his passes short he could be very effective for us. Anything more than 10 yards and he gives it away.
Ed Harrison
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Comment #22Edd Case – it’s Sunday and you cannot say we’re not helping Sunderland with all the unrest we’ve caused the Pompey team and players 😀
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Comment #23ToonKing – good news actually. At least I won’t have to scream at the TV because Martins has missed another 3 chances.
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Comment #24An Interesting Debate For You All :
Assume Redknapp is the new Manager. Who do you think he will want as his captain? Either someone we already have, or one he wants to bring in? Let’s hear the names
Edd Case
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Comment #25Vid and Owen up top then?
A nice midfield of Emre, Butt, Duff and Zog.
Taylor, Rozy, Enrique and sadly Carr…(unless Cacapa plays, then expect Tayls at RB
Given in goal…
The best team we can put out and we might just give them a game.
Edd Case
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Comment #26James – I think he’d pick Owen.
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Comment #27Edd Case – I agree, and I’d pick the same.
However, we both know Mourinho is on his way
keeganpleasecomeback
Jan 11, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Comment #28new captain…i think shearer will pick Owen…
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Comment #29Monday 14th Jan 2008
“Today Mike Ashley has taken us all by surprise and appointed ********** as the new Manager of Newcastle United. Neither Portsmouth or Harry Redknapp have commented on what happened to Harry’s so called deal to take over. He now looks forward to his future at Portsmouth.
In a statement earlier today, Chris Mort said the British media had created a circus story that no one at Newcastle appreciated. However they are thrilled with their new man and have handed him a sizeable transfer kitty to take Newcastle back into Europe.”
Tom_Toon
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Comment #30If anyone picks owen its a fkin disgrace and they should be cut.
Shearer's the man
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Comment #31Mort said they had to go through the right protocol meaning the new manager is in a job.
Ashley told Everton they wouldn’t take someone who was managing another team.
That means getting Shearer out of his BBC contract, probably with Venables as his number 2.
Harry is just milking this for his own publicity and to increase his Portsmouth contract nothing more.
They don’t want to get Shearer off to a bad start with a thumping at OT so he won’t be announced until Monday when he gets back from Barbados.
Mort is probably there right now!
Tom_Toon
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Comment #32I heard a rumour mort is in spain and portugal.
KevinHann
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Comment #33Tom – one foot in spain and the other in portugal? 😀
scott9
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Comment #34HonoraryGeordie thats a meantal line up play that formation and we will get hammered and show ourselfs up
James
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Comment #35Tom Toon – I’ve heard that neither Mort or Ashley is in the country, so how can Harry be meeting any of them? I heard this from someone who works at SJP.
steve
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #36James – and when did Mort say that?
Shearer's the man
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Comment #37Steve… This coming Monday morning when he announces Shearer!
cooldj
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Comment #38given needs to be man of the match if we’ve got any chance.
who remembers when we took the lead through darren ambrose? I thought we were gonna do it and then up popped Wayne Rooney. I watched an interview with him on soccer AM and he seemed a really good guy. I then saw one with Ronaldo and he seemed an aragont sh*t.
Shearer's the man
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Comment #39Ashley said he would make the fans happy and give us what we all want. Who doesn’t want to see a successful Alan Shearer as manager of the Toon?
carl
Jan 11, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Comment #40anyone noticed all betting for toon manager job has been taken off websites?