Newcastle United are very likely to be without both strikers Ob Martins and Damien Duff for tonight’s 2nd round Carling Cup tie at Coventry City.
Oba is out for at least 2 weeks with a groin injury and we doubt very much that Damien will be risked tonight after sustaining a knee injury. Both injuries were picked up in the win against Bolton on Saturday.
But match-winner Michael Owen is likely to start tonight and it could well be that Alan Smith will need to be drafted in to play up from with the Newcastle captain.
But no doubt the injury situation will already be worrying Keegan, because our squad right now isn’t big enough to deal with any sort of injury crisis whatsoever.
Quite honestly we are not too sure at all what out Newcastle team will be, with Kevin saying he will play his best available side. But we’d be surprised if a place wasn’t given to Steve Harper and Sebastien Bassong, Jose Enrique and maybe even David Edgar, otherwise when will they ever get a chance?
We think we can still field a strong side, and the following line up would also give a game to some of our fringe players while giving a rest to some senior players
Harper
Beye Taylor Bassong Enrique
Geremi Guthrie Butt Gutierrez
Smith Owen
Substitutes: Given Edgar Coloccini Milner N’Zogbia Donaldson Zamblera
But don’t be surprised if Kevin plays more of the senior players in the starting line up.
Chris Coleman, the Coventry manager will also field an under-strength side in tonight’s Ricoh Arena, and he seems to have quite a few out injured himself.
We expect we can win the game tonight, and that would see us through to the next round, in a Cup we have the best chance of winning this season.
But we will not get very far if we don’t get more players into the squad before next Monday, that’s a certainty.
The next six days are starting to look critical for our season - far too critical for our liking.
Comments welcome.
59 responses so far ↓
1 Brettoon // Aug 26, 2008 at 17:48
Lets do them tonight!! Big score would be really nice..
Then for the next three days lets have a LB, CM and ST..
Much needed
2 ELTSACWEN // Aug 26, 2008 at 17:51
any reccomended bets for tonight
3 scottish mag // Aug 26, 2008 at 17:52
i reckon tonights team will be
———–harps—————
edgar colo bassong enrique
—geremi–butt–guthrie—
jonas———————zogs
————-owen————-
4 ELTSACWEN // Aug 26, 2008 at 17:57
harper
beye edgar bassong enrique
butt
jonas n’zog
guthrie
owen
5 magmick // Aug 26, 2008 at 17:58
we really need to add to our squad before transfer window closes our squad is reduced allready due to injury atleast 3 more quality signings otherwise we could feel the short fall as season progresses . Look at the number of signings sunderland have allready they are in the news everyday where as we just here rumours all the time
6 Viper // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:02
any of the above, but lets not see our jinx.
smith. no offnce mate, but you and toon, chalk and cheese.
7 Danny // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:03
i think we will get atleast a couple of surprise signings, when they announce it the last day of transfers
seems to be the way things are starting to work…
8 Estechco // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:03
ELTSACWEN, are you so confident that we can beat them with just 10 men?
9 ashleys wallets cobwebs // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:04
lets do them tonight , then get some signings wrapped up, infact lets have martin tyler tell us the good news that moutinho is over and sealed
10 Tom_Toon // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:05
Ed - Zamblera isnt even in the squad for the game.
Duff is in he squa though.
11 Marty // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:08
Hey guys is the game being shown anywhere????
Anyone got a link?
HOWAY THE TOON
12 xfer // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:13
Line up i think KK will put out.
————————–Harper————————-
Beye———Taylor——–Bassong——Enrique
Geremi——–Butt———Guthrie——N’Zogbia
———————–Milner————————–
———————–Owen————————–
Colo and Guti to be rested due to international commitment last week. Hopefully no Smith in the starting line up, cos he isnt part of the “best team”.
13 SD Toon // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:13
Please dont play Edgar he is rubbish he is like Peter Ramage caliber and will be playig championship football as soon as Keegan decides to ged rid.
14 nightfall // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:15
no no no…not smith…that’s not our strongerst team…kev, use this guy instead of him:
http://www.supplierlist.com/photo_images/30548/Love_Dolls.jpg
..has way more potential
15 pak-toon // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:17
anyone have a link for the game?
16 Tom // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:22
Also, its only 5 subs for the domestic cup games isn’t it?
Other Tom, what is the squad for todays game?
17 pak-toon // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:23
http://www.justin.tv/barcelonaecuador
18 Frank // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:24
Keegan said he would want to rest players but didn’t have the depth to do so.
We must not play N’zogbia at left back he can’t play there at all, personally i think Enrique is one of the best left backs in the league and I don’t understand why Keegan doesn’t play him because every time he plays he looks top quality if I was the coach he would be in the starting lineup evey week.
19 Tom_Toon // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:27
Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Beye, N’Zogbia, Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Bassong, Edgar, Butt, Geremi, Milner, Duff, Guthrie, Jonas, Smith, Owen, Ameobi, Donaldson.
20 OzZyMaG // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:27
testing
21 Will Camp // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:28
evening chronicle says we are closing on a young striker from southpton. dunno who. could be nile ranger (knowing the chronicle and anal oliver ), who are about a week behind with all the news. hahahaha!!
22 pak-toon // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:28
one of the best left backs in the country??
thats putting it quite frank, frank
23 ashleys wallets cobwebs // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:35
where is bull shitting big willie nowadays ?he is good cracking jokes, who is his source ? peter kay ?
24 Chris H // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:39
I reckon it’ll be 3-1 to the Toon tonight.
25 roscoe // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:40
any other links to the game? mine seems to be really slow?
26 Guinea Mag // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:43
Two games played and so many injuries already; we need more players and quickly.
We must win tonight and KK needs to play a decent side to achieve this. Expect Owen to play at some stage this evening with Harper, Enrique and Smith all starting the game….
27 Matty // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:45
Completely off the subject but i saw Gomis this weekend and he had an absolute shocker. He looked slow, lethargic (similar to shola actually!) and he couldnt get a shot on target if his life depended on it. I know you cant judge someone after one game but im glad our supposed £10m bid was rejected if that showing was anything to go by. i love the look of menez, would be quality addition to add creativity. he would cost alot tho and probs wouldnt be interested. prediction for tonight, 2-0. It will be tighter than we think with our injuries.
28 keegan is king // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:47
cov 0 - 2 the toon
smith scoring both…. you heard it here first
29 whitey // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:49
marty, the game is on sky. forget choppin and changin, lets just put out our team and get the result. its early season, players dont need resting, if they are tired after the game take in easy in training for the match on sat. get the first choice back four together during matches so they can continue to work at competitive level. fringe players are fringe players because at the minute they are deemed not good enought to get into the starting x1. lets keep it that way. winning breeds confidence.
30 mitch // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:51
I would love to see smith score tonight just to give the lad some confidance he is not leaving so I think we should get behind him eh lads
31 oZzyMaG // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:55
name me a creative mid who is really good at holding up da ball… some1 ballack-esque
so yea a tall and physical creative mid…
that guy would be da perfect signing for us…. tom toon me out…
milner to villa
SWP to toon
Insua to toon
Derdiyok to toon
& dat guy i was talkin abt..
we’d hav a good lineup i reckon
given,beye,tayls,colo,insua,barton,SWP,jonas, dat guy, owen, martins
very fine indeed
32 LATINAMERICATOON // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:55
I have a feeling smith will be given a game, as if he isnt given such games, he would be sold by now. Unless, he is being kept aside for everton. We need to sell him as everton haven’t got anyone in and will pay more than anyone else would due to their desperation. I can’t see keegan breaking the colo taylor partnership as he wants them to form a good yoke. Finally, n’zog will probably be replaced by enrique, who should get the nod. In my opinion, enrique is a better player at left back than n’zog and this season if played he will show his maturity.
33 steve // Aug 26, 2008 at 18:57
If Smith plays 90 mins we’ll be out the cup - we should just give him away and save on wages - I can’t believe people on here keep saying we should give him a go and yet slag off ameobi - at least ameobi has actually scored some goals, some of which were crucial under roeder
sooner smith is gone the better, hopefully ameobi won’t be far behind but it’s looking like they’ll both be here until at least january
34 Tom // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:00
Team
NUFC: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong, Nicky Butt, Danny Guthrie, Geremi, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner, Jonas Gutierrez
Subs: Michael Owen, Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, David Edgar, Ryan Donaldson, Nile Ranger
So I’d guess at it being 4-4-2
Given
Beye, Colo, Bassong, Enrique
Geremi, Butt, Guthrie, N’Zogbia
Milner, Jonas
Or maybe a 4-3-3 with Milner, Jonas and the Zog.
35 toooooonfan // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:04
scottish mag
thats a good team that is mate
36 steve // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:04
who’s this Nile ranger? is he any good?
37 James // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:04
Strikers injured and still KK is reluctant to play Smith…..why oh why oh why oh why are we paying Smith’s wages.
If he can’t get a game when the entire front line is missing he’s never going to play for us this season.
38 Spyro // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:05
Nile Ranger is on the bench, class! I hope he gets some minutes, i wanna see how good he is
39 Leeg123 // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:06
we got nile ranger
40 Spyro // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:08
nile ranger is young striker who we had on trial and we must have him signed now
He is known to have a bit of a bad attitude but A LOT of potential. This is from what i have read of course, never actually seen him play
41 LATINAMERICATOON // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:09
I agree james!
I live in Peru and there are some good players available at the moment, two young guys have the countryu talking, especially raimond manco and Andrés Vásquez. I think we should go after Vasquez as a young and hungry play maker check out this goal http://www.surnoticias.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2936
tell me what you think. cheers
42 beyethegreat // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:09
what about zamblera a little worried that we are playing with 6 midfielders and ranger or donaldson probably will get a few miutes unless we need a goal then owen will come on
43 Matty // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:10
jonas and milner up top, biggest indication that we are looking to sell smith yet! if kk doesnt trust him against coventry then he will always use jonas milner duff or someone else in a league game when injuries hit us. both glad and surprised to see nile ranger on the bench having not heard any official news on him? hope to see him have a run out!
44 steve // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:10
hmm you gotta think that Smith and Ameobi are effectively sold if they can’t even make the bench when most of our strikers unfit - good times
Still no sign of incoming signings - bad times
45 Michael // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:10
NUFC:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong, Nicky Butt, Danny Guthrie, Geremi, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner, Jonas Gutierrez
Subs:
Michael Owen, Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, David Edgar, Ryan Donaldson, Nile Ranger
Thats the team according to nufc.co.uk. No real strikers in the starting 11. Looks like spidey and milner up top.
46 Spyro // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:12
smith is injured guys, kk said something about it at the end of the bolton match
47 Spyro // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:14
Jonas can play striker if needed, and milner can play supporting striker if needed. It is a makeshift strikeforce, but at least Smith aint on the pitch
48 smiley_nufc // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:14
Guthrie to score today - you heard it!
Come on you geordies!!!
49 James // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:15
Spyro - So that’s another £250K paid to Smith this month without him playing one single minute.
Talk about Ashley throwing money away….
50 beyethegreat // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:15
how good is this vasquez
51 ADtoonAM // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:15
anyone got a link for the match?
52 smiley_nufc // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:16
Anyone heard anything about cardozo -(spell) from benfica.
Heard a promising striker who we’ve already had a bid rejected for?
53 James // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:17
Gutierrez is our Ronaldo, and Man Utd wouldn’t hesitate to play Ronaldo that far forward, so why should we
SPIDERMAN SPIDERMAN!!
54 Tom // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:19
I was quite surprised that we only have six subs, and none of them are midfielders. I know we have enough of them on the park (!!!!) but still, there must be some reserves? Kazenga if he is fit? And why not include a reserve for the experience of going away with the first team to a competitive game? Tozer, Zamblera, Danquah, Godsmark etc etc etc
55 beyethegreat // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:19
adtoonam its on sky
56 James // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:22
Smily NUFC - Oscar Cardozo - scores goals for fun at Benefica, who claimed they turned down a £20 million bid from us at the start of the summer. Jeff Vitere is a big fan of him, tried to get him for Real Madrid a few seasons back.
57 ADtoonAM // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:25
cheers beye, a thought it was on setanta then realised it wasnt checked ss1 but not ss2 lol
58 Toon1978 // Aug 26, 2008 at 19:32
Click Post 17 i’m pretty much sure the match is on that link.
59 LATINAMERICATOON // Aug 26, 2008 at 20:09
beyethegreat. He was linked with a move to bayern last christmas, but has since gone to grasshopers zurich, he is a very good playmaker and is the swedish and peruvian FA’s are fighting over him to play for the national side. In peru they regard him on par or even higher than raimond manco. he has played 60 times scoring 4 goals for gotenberg including the rabona. Not too prolific but he is a playmaker and played 60 times at the age of 19 for gotenberg. watch this space
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