There’s no doubt that tonight’s game is a pivotal game for Newcastle for their season. Things are delicately balanced at the club right now, with a new owner expected to be announced possibly within the week, and a possible 3rd new manager this season being brought in.
But Joe Kinnear in his 3 weeks at the club, has settled down the players, and to a large extent the Newcastle fans. He’s done this by not changing too many things on the field, and quickly instilling the pride and passion that every Newcastle United player should have.
By Kinnear himself letting his players know just how great a club Newcastle are, and how honored he is to be at the helm of Newcastle United, even if it’s just for a few games, seems to have worked wonders in getting the fighting spirit back into the side.
All this is very good but we all know football and football management is all about getting results. If you get wins you are great – and if you get defeats you are little short of terrible – it’s a thin dividing line indeed.
We think Joe will field a strong Newcastle side tonight as follows:
Given
Beye Coloccini Taylor Bassong
Duff Guthrie Butt N’Zogbia
Xisco Martins
Subs: Harper Cacapa Tozer Geremi Enrique Ranger Ameobi
Jonas Gutierrez will not be risked, and Nacho Gonzales is still out with a sore Achilles heel.
The team is a good one that should be able to score goals, and on Saturday Joe should also have Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton back for the important Sunderland game, so things on the injury front are slowly improving.
This is what we think we must do tonight if we are to win this game:
- The defense has to perform a lot better than it has over the last few games. We prefer Bassong to Enrique tonight, because he seems to be the steadier player right now, and it’s important the back four are solid and don’t make any mistakes. Coloccini and Taylor must have confident games and communicate well.
- The central midfield two of Nicky Butt and Danny Guthrie must get a stranglehold on midfield, and they’ve shown in the past they can do this well. With a large and supportive crowd behind them tonight, there should be no reason why they cannot both have good games, but getting a grip on central midfield will be important for a win tonight.
- Up front we’re not sure who Martins will be partnered with, but we expect the young Spanish Under-21 player Xisco to start the game, and it will be important that he gets the head-ons and knockdowns that Martins can take advantage of.
It’s asking a lot of Oba Martins in his first game back, but we still expect the lad to put in a strong performance, which will not be lacking in heart and fight, that’s for sure. This lad has a heart as big as Tynemouth!
- We must make a good start to the game and not start playing once half time approaches, when we are usually already a goal or two behind.
Joe will stress to the players that they must start like a bullet train in order to get an early grip on this game.
We think if the lads can do the above then we have every chance of getting all 3 points tonight – and that’s just exactly what the fans, the players, Joe Kinnear and the Newcastle United club need right now.
Howay The Lads!!!
40 comments so far
Tom4Nufc
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Comment #1I hope that the Xisco/Martins partnership does well, as I can see it being a long term strikeforce for us, assuming Xisco can cope, and improve in the Premiership.
Mac
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Comment #2I am so so nervous about this game. We need a win tonight no 2 ways about it. Glad Martins is back. And i’m over the moon Barton is back on Saturday.
Make no mistake about it tonight is our biggest gane of the season so far
selly no skill
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Comment #3need to be careful not to get caught on the break by them.they will play counterattacking football.need to be patient for first goal and dont concede.
SamsFat
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Comment #4http://www.nufctube.net/view/55/man-city-v-newcastle-fa-cup-final-1955/
stuart
Oct 20, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Comment #5Anouncement on new owners expected possible this week?
Where you getting this info from? God i hope ya right! But i’m gettin more and more resigned to the fact that Ashley is here to sdtay!
thelongshanks
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Comment #6CMON THE TOON!
ariel7
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Comment #7Ed.. i think Ameobi will start with Martin up front 🙁
J Tudor
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Comment #8Just read the quotes by Joe Kinear in the chron ahead of todays game, can alan oliver and co get any further up S Taylors arse. Even Joe Kinears at it ‘future captain’ I hope not. He might be able to talk a good pre and post match interview but Taylor cannot defend to save his life, waving his arms about like a f***in seagulls wings, well I hope he takes flight and hovers into the stands. Get young Basong next to Collicini.! Just because he talks with a geordie tongue dosen’t mean he’s good enough!!! And before you say it ‘yes’ he did rescue us against Everton but he’s meant to be a centre half defending and he’s shite at it!!!
IndiaMag
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Comment #9Hey guys!! Any links for tonight’s game yet?? I’m in India and I don’t have setanta here, and this is the first time I’m watching the game via the internet as we usually get live telecast for Newcastle mathches on espn so any pointers that i might need to watch it online??
mushy
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Comment #10@indiamag
Try justin.tv
I’m sure there are other live-stream sites, but this one has definately worked for me in the past.
Happy watching
J Tudor
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Comment #11try liveonlinefooty.com you have to pay a couple of quid but its good quality, alternativley there’s live footy.doctor but the quality isn’t that good, it’s worth paying £2-3 quid for a decent stream if you cannot get it anywhere ou there.
najikhin from malaysia
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Comment #12@broon ale: u suck man!
can some1 fwd me the link for tonights game plz..
no setanta at my place..
canucktoon
Oct 20, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Comment #13ameobi will start
graeme
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Comment #14I dont think Oba is going to last more than an hour tonight, so we will need at least someone on the bench who can score goals.
I certainly wouldnt be betting the farm on Shola suddenly becoming a footballer though. Give one of the younger players a run out – fresh, keen legs could work wonders!!!! Nile Ranger is banging them in for fun at the moment, give him a chance to shine for 20 – 30 minutes.
Flan
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #15I have a feeling that Geremi will start tonight on the right and Duff will play up front with Martins.
neeraj
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #16http://www.justin.tv/directory/sports/soccer?kind=live&order=hot
Flan
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Comment #17I’d love to see Ranger given a chance tonight for 20 mins too.
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Comment #18Given
Beye-Colo-Taylor-Bassong
Geremi-Butt-Guthrie
Duff-Zog
Martins
…Maybe 442 tho’…
…I’d have:
Harper
Beye-Colo-Bassong-Enrique
Geremi-Butt-Guthrie-Duff
Xisco-Martins
…If we play 442 meself like!..
Shanghaitoon
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Comment #19Can we please just get Nicky Butt to stop giving away penalties and putting us behind before 15 mins is up… !
Flan
Oct 20, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Comment #20I backed Toon to score in both halves at 5/1. It’s a good price but i think i may be a bit optimistic or mad 🙂
xisco biscuits
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Comment #21sorely tempted by backing SWP to score anytime in a man city win, and my betting is crap so hopefully that will jinx them!!
also had a horrible dream about a richardson free-kick next saturday so i might put a jinx bet on that aswell
Tom_Toon
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Comment #22Taylor needs to be dropped!
Bassong move into the centre and Enrique at LB.
Denver Mag
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Comment #23Don’t believe Taylor should start in CD based on current performance, so my team selection is:
Given
Taylor Cassapa Coloccini Bassong
Duff Guthrie Butt N’Zogbia
Xisco Martins
Subs: Harper Beye Tozer Geremi Enrique Ranger Ameobi
I expect Beye to get a run out at some stage or may even shade Taylor’s selection at full back; we’ll see…..
A win or draw is important due to the upcoming game against Sunderland!
Ageordiedoonsooth
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Comment #24J Tudor are you Tom_Toon under another name? Taylor will not only be a future Newcastle captain he will also be a future England captain.
Rasko a.k.a Hadji
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Comment #25Agerordiedoonsooth……I gotta tell ya,if we end up with owners who have high ambitions for the club,you gonna see Taylor launched in a space shuttle far away from SJP 🙂
Toon
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Comment #26given
beye taylor colo bassong
geremi butt guthrie nzog
duff martins
OR
given
beye taylor colo bassong
duff butt guthrie nzog
xisoc martins
…i hope ranger gets a shot tonight
im setting of soon come on n’castleeee
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Comment #27Defo prefer
Beye-Colo-Bassong-Enrique
Who is Derek Llambias?
Oct 20, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Comment #28JFK will start Shola with Martins. Guaranteed
simon376
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Comment #29I can also see Taylor as a future captain. For him being a captain, it doesnt matter how good he defends, its how he can get info across to his team mates. As for his game, yes he makes some mistakes, but who doesnt?
There was a good interview by Mick Mcarthey on Sky Sports earlier. He ws complaining about a small section of the crowd getting on one of his players backs and booing him. As he said, this effects the player and his team mates and the fans should be getting behind the team. We should do the same both on here and at St James Park. Lets give the lads the support they need and show we are righ behind them. As Mcarthey said, if people around start booing, give them a dig and tell them to shut up. At least the lads next to me back the team and clap and sing all the way through
Punk Skunk
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Comment #30Aye Simon,
It’s our duty to support from the 1st min to the last!..
…Ho’way!..
Toon, Toon!..
Tom_Toon
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Comment #31Taylor future England captain, ahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahah……………………..ahahahahahahahahahaahahahaha
He’ll never even get a cap.
Flan
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Comment #32Im gettin nervous now. I hope we get a result.
C’MON THE TOON!!!!
Nufc_DC
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Comment #33http://www.freesportonline.piczo.com has our match LIVE IN HD THE NIGHT!
I Made 1000
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Comment #34awwww nooo spidey!!!! 🙁
Flan
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Comment #35On the captain front i’d like to think that Bassong will one day be captain. He looks like he oozes confidence and he isn’t afraid to bark orders at his team mates or give them a bollocking and he’s only here a wet week. Imagine whst he could be like in a few seasons.
J Tudor
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Comment #36Ageordiedoonsooth, No Iam not tomtoon under a different name and what the f**k are you doing listening to Mick McCarthy?? I would never boo a toon player, can’t see the point but you and simon376 are seriously deluded if you think that Taylor will become a top centre half. He will be below average premiership defender just good enough to hold down a place in a shite premiership club, but as long as he’s playing for toon I will cheer him and hope he does well but that does not mean I think he is a good player!
Obaf3m1
Oct 20, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Comment #37Newcastle United win lads, Obafemi Martins HAT TRICK! I just feel that he’ll be wanting to stake his claim as the top striker at St. Jame’s Park.
I so wish Jonas Guiterrez was playing tonight but you have to be cautious, you don’t want him coming back to early and provoking a reaction to his shoulder injury and being out for even longer.
Bassong looks the real deal btw. Confident and he’s talking all the time, i don’t think I’ve seen anyone else in our back for do that besides Habib Beye and it’s what we have needed. Communication between all the players on the pitch.
Nicky Butt is finished if you ask me. He is too slow! Making late challenges giving away penalties and freekicks a little bit too often for my liking not to mention the wayward long lobbed passes he fails at miserably. I have great respect for Nicky Butt, all he has achieved but there is time when you body should start telling you that it’s not up to it any more.
simon376
Oct 20, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Comment #38Must remember that, next time I’ve got Sky Sports News on, must turn it off if an ex sunderland manager comes on.
Steve_48
Oct 20, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Comment #39Off to the pub to night lads to watch this one, best of British to all
Dannufc
Oct 20, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Comment #40On saturday do u think hell drop Buut for Barton or Gutherie for Barton hope its Butt