We have an important FA Cup 3rd round replay tonight and the very last thing we want to happen is to be beaten.
Stoke City have never beaten us in the FA Cup, but they are the in-form team, and are unbeaten through 12 games since 10th November. Stoke have to fancy their chances because of all the upheaval currently going on at Newcastle with a new manager unlikely to be appointed until late in the week or over the weekend.
In Sam’s last game in charge at Stoke Sam looked absolutely delighted to have gained a 0-0 draw against the Championship side but that seemed not good enough for Chairman Mort and owner Ashley who sacked Sam late last Wednesday afternoon.
Newcastle played well in defense in that game, which is something we cannot say about our 6-0 thrashing at Old Trafford on Saturday when all the goals came in the second half. Tonight will be the first time Nigel Pearson has managed a side at St. James’ Park, and we expect another attacking side to line up.
Not available because of African of Nations Cup duty are defenders Faye and Beye, along with defensive midfielder Geremi and striker Martins. Both defensive midfielder Butt, and Alan Smith will miss this game and the game against Bolton on Saturday because of suspension. Joey Barton is back in training, but suspended by his conditions of bail.
Joey will also be appearing today in front of the Liverpool magistrates so we’ll report what happens there later today.
We need to find somebody to play defensive midfield but we would like this side to line up in a 4-4-2 formation:
Given
Carr Taylor Cacapa Enrique
Milner Zog Emre Duff
Viduka Owen
Subs: Harper Edgar Carroll Lua Lua Rozehnal
Charles N’Zogbia – defensive midfield tonight?Â
It’s also possible that Pearson could play Rozehnal in the holding midfield position, but David’s looked a little dicey in his last few games. We think the in-form N’Zogbia should be able to do a better job there tonight, and the young Frenchman will certainly not let the side down.
Stoke City have injuries at full back, where both Wilkinson and Dickinson face late tests, and former Newcastle player Andy Griffin is apparently cup tied.
We would hope we can get through this tie so we can face Arsenal at the Emirates with our new manager. If necessary the game will go to extra time and penalties. The players have to produce tonight and get us through to the next round of the FA Cup – they owe the supporters that at least after Saturday’s terrible second half performance.
Comments welcome.
32 comments so far
James
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Comment #1Harper
Tozer Taylor Rozenhal Enrique
Troisi Lua Lua Nzogbia Duff
Owen Carroll
Subs : Given, Viduka, Milner, Cacapa, Emre
We need a midfield of pace and go after Stoke from the first whistle. If they get a sniff of confidence they will beat us.
AdamCF
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Comment #2I’d go Rozenhal before Cacapa at the moment. His second half against Man U was woeful.
AdamCF
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Comment #3Tozer’s a left back isn’t he.. it’d be a tad early for his intro. Don’t mind the idea of Harps starting though. Nice to see u bring Troisi in though 😉
surey
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Comment #4To be honest Ed I want to see more than just a win
James
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Comment #5Adam CF – I know, but I’d rather see anyone at right back than Carr.
ak
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Comment #6is the match beeing televised ??
nightfall
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Comment #7given
tozer taylor rozehnal enrique
milner/lualua edgar emre duff
owen carroll
subs: harper, cacapa, n’zogbia (time for him to rest a bit), lualua, shola
bob@Aber
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Comment #8i thought troisi was currently playing in holland on trial with Roda?
James
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Comment #9The perfect team:
Given
NZogbia NZogbia Nzogbia Nzogbia
NZogbia NZogbia Nzogbia Nzogbia
NZogbia NZogbia
AdamCF
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #10what about this..
Given
Taylor Rozehnal Enrique
Lua Lua Milner Emre Duff N’Zogbia
Owen Viduka
And out attack Stoke.
Steeley
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Comment #11AdamCF – quality! I like that idea a lot!!
surey
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Comment #12james – I know NZogbia is great but what does that mean. He can be at ten differnt places at the same time, like God.
Ed Harrison
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Comment #13James – hey – what’s wrong with Zog in goal?
😀
ObaFan2
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Comment #14Funny I had thought of a 352 considering the lack of players available atm but if BSA had suggested it we’d, I’d have shot him down in flames lol.
AdamCF
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Comment #15The difference is Oba.. that Sam woulda played 5 defensive midfielders..
Bosck
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Comment #16We dont have to have a defensive midfielder for this game. as was said yesterday the whole thing is a relatively new idea introduced by capello at milan.
Against a championship side we should definately play with 2 attacking centre mids (especially as thats all we’ve got) none of this rubbish about playing a defender in DCM faye is the only one who can do that as his 1st position is DM.
emre and zog in midfield should have more than enough quality to trouble stoke. The problem last time round and the reason stoke were so in the game is that their midfield had more than enough time on their hands. As smith and butt sat so far back in our midfield and were ineffective going forward, stokes midfield could join in the attacks and get forward as often as they wanted, as they new they would not be leaving their defence outnumbered. With emre and zog in there they will be under far more pressure as Zog and emre will look to get the team going forward at every opportunity and stoke will therefore have far less opportunity to get men forward.
hopefully now emre can get a run in the team and produced the consistent performances we all know he is capable of but that many of us are beginning to despair of ever seeing.
broon ale
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Comment #17james and adam, Troisi isnt at the club anymore. he is with a Belgium team(cant remember the name) nice thought though
Sturla
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Comment #18Are we actually considered as the underdog against championship club? That might work in our advantage. Really hope we can get our first win of the year, we need it although we will face arsenal in the next round and will most likely fall out of the cup then anyways. If we loose it might take long time to restore the confidence, perhaps rest of January and all of February.
nightfall
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Comment #19Bosck – we have edgar
ObaFan2
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Comment #20Win tonight then don’t bother going to Gooner land 🙂
Bosck
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Comment #21nightfall we do have edgar yes, but he is a defender. and as i said i dont hold to playing defenders in DM. Faye is different as he plays both and started as a dm.
as i have posted on another thread i would play this team tonight:
——————-Given———————-
Edgar——Taylor—–Cacapa—–Enrique
Milner—–Emre——–N’zogbia—-Duff
————-Viduka——–Owen————–
But it is more likely that Carr will start ahead of edgar.
Edd Case
Jan 16, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Comment #22I agree with your line up Ed.
Now we just need the result to go with it.
Marguerite
Jan 16, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Comment #23Troisi is currently at a Dutch club FC Brada I think, with a view to buying him!
keeganpleasecomeback
Jan 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Comment #24carr didnt do too badlu against man u and there for deserve another go at right back….
ill go for this formation (duff has played striker with ireland)
given
carr taylor cacapa enrique
milner emre roz nzogbia
duff owen
mark
Jan 16, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Comment #25Troisi is in Holland.
We will win tonight…2-0.
Micky Micky Oooowen.
Lads, just on the manager situation, we have had as “favourite” so far
1. Alan Shearer
2. Harry Redknapp
3. Mark Hughes
4. Kevin Keegan
5. Gerad Hoola Hoop
6. Didier Deschamps
“The bookies…they dont get much wrong!”
Dingo
Jan 16, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Comment #26get Lua Lua in the midfield with Zogs… that will put the shits up any team.
Leo*
Jan 16, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Comment #27adamcf i love that team. would be great to watch i think, but if it goes wrong and we go a goal behind the fans will get at the manager for not playing 442. oh wait a minute we havent got a manager
Aaron D
Jan 16, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Comment #28HARPER
EDGAR TAYLOR CACAPA ENRIQUE
MILNER N’ZOGBIA EMRE DUFF
OWEN CARROLL
SUBS: LUALUA ROZEHNAL VIDUKA GIVEN TOZER
Obafan
Jan 16, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Comment #29Harper
Carr – Taylor – Cacapa – Enrique
LuaLua – Emre – N’Zogbia – Duff
Owen – Viduka
I go for a 1-0, but I hope the players make a bigger difference. I defo do not want the same thing to happen then about 1 year ago (remember Birmingham 🙁 ).
To those who again point Cacapa as bad, start to realise that our defence, who ATM are not playing with lots of confidence, was in the 2nd half last Saturday under pressure every second of that half. With class players like Tevez, Ronaldo the diver and Rooney; that is very difficult…. Okay they looked not good, but our defensive mifielders are the 2 who we have to blame the most IMO…
Jon
Jan 16, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Comment #30Rozehnal and Duff should not start they are not good enough for NUFC 🙂
wozza
Jan 16, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Comment #31What i’ve heard about Troisi is that he’s on trial at NAC Breda(i think) with a view to a loan.
virdie
Jan 17, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Comment #32newcastle united will triumph..
with Given edgar taylor carr jose enrique duff emre troisi n’zogbia viduka and owen they will triumph!!!!!!!!!!!!!