Chelsea will be firm favorites on Saturday to defeat a struggling Newcastle United side, at Stamford Bridge.
Joe Kinnear – will go for it in London on Saturday
Since we are not really expecting any points out of this game, it also means that Newcastle have absolutely nothing to lose, and should go all out and try to upset the odds in London on Saturday. Stranger things have happened.
Chelsea beat Sunderland 5-0 in their last League game in front of their home fans, and earlier in the season they took Middlesbrough apart at The Riverside Stadium, also by a score of 5-0.
The latest betting on the game is that the London side are 5-1 on to win the game, so it looks like we have got them exactly where we want them. 😀
But we hope that Joe Kinnear will take up the challenge at the Bridge, and try to get a result, and not simply go into the game to defend, and try to hold the score down.
Joe talked to the Evening Chronicle today:
“Stamford Bridge has always been a bit of a lucky ground for me, as a player and manager.” “As you would have expected when I was with Spurs we often used to win at Chelsea.”
“And I can remember winning there 4-2 as a manager with Wimbledon, and it has been quite a good place for me.”
“Unless I’ve got it badly wrong, I’d assume you wouldn’t have to gee your team up to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.”
It’s also a good time to start Michael Owen, because if we do get any chances, it will be important to put them away, and Owen is our best player at doing just that, as he showed last weekend.
We’d also like to see a starting position for young Frenchman Charles N’Zogbia, either on the left wing or at left back. With the poor performance of the team over the last two games, surely Charles has earned a chance to start this game.
Comments welcome.
28 comments so far
toonoot
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Comment #1The Bridge? It’s never been the same since Pat Foley manned the pumps 🙂
ObaFan2
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Comment #2It will be interesting to see if JFK is up for the challenge as I think he’s lacking tactically.
Owen should play if fit, can’t believe he’d be benched in favour of Shola. If Owen doesn’t start then I’d agree with those who think he’s already sold.
Can’t trust this club anymore, maybe there’ll be good news about the sale this weekend but I’m not holding my breathe.
nufckev
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Comment #3Iam sorry but i have just got no faith what so ever in any of the muppets running our great club ,
They dont give a shit about newcastle or the fans its money money money we have got to get ashley and his sidekicks out before its to late .
JMC
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Comment #4Owen has looked rusty coming back despite his goal!
He missed a couple of clear chances over past 2 games.
Maybe he’ll get that clinical finish back with some more playing time under his belt!
Get him in!
C
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Comment #5I think that newcastle should sell owen. He’s just not worth the money and we have Martins who is the future. Sell him and get a great complement to Martins insteed.
Sun'lun's Burnin'
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Comment #6Anyone here going? I’m going down to a gig and staying all weekend but didnt put 2&2 together and apply for tickets!
What pub does everyone go to? is there a usual??
Sun'lun's Burnin'
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Comment #7C, we can sell him in jan but would only get pence. He is free to sign a pre contract agreement in Jan which will see him move in the summer for nowt. Which is what i think will happen, he will stay till end of season to help keep us up, he owes us that at least.
steve
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Comment #8hope kinnear goes for a 4-3-3 line up and plays martins owen and shola, at the end of the day it’s pointles trying to hang on and play defensively as we just can’t defend.
no shame getting hammered if we at least try to win
Obafan
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Comment #9Ashley’s hopes of selling the club have been hit by figures that show the Tynesiders are losing fans quicker than any other Premier League side. (Daily Telegraph)
Just read that on the BBC webpage.
Mr Ashley wha could be the reason of the club losing fans? Man what a tough question.
I hope Saturday brings us a new owner, cause we need to get rid of the fat (not dead) wood.
Xisco Stu
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Comment #10In other news, Krul has moved down the road to join Carlisle on a month’s loan.
The Alchemist
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Comment #11Personally what is the point in selling Owen in Jan. For the 3 mil or so we are gonna get for him who could we get that would guarantee goals like that? Without owen if our form continues like this we will get relegated.
Ever seen a mackem in Milan?
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Comment #12Its good Krul has went out on loan but a month? Seems a pretty pointless exercise. Back to the Chelsea game. Attack would be the best form of defence as Chelsea wont be expecting us to do that but i still cant see us picking up anything. Its a shame Terry is fit again aswell 🙁
Prediction: Chelsea 4 Newcastle 0
Craigg
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Comment #13Some might find this a bit weird but im gutted that Drogba is out, Because i think Chelsea with Drogba are predictable and one dimensional with Anelka they scare the crap out of me.
We struggle against pacey strikers and movement and have done for some time Howey, Peacock, Albert, Dabizas, Goma, O’Brien, Bramble, Boumsong, Faye, Ramage, Taylor, all have in common the ability to head balls away all day and are rarely outmuscled but all were/are weak when players are running in behind and the same could be said of Colo and Bassong.
I would go for a 3-5-2 system and play Coloccini as a sweeper to hoover up balls played in behind.
————————-Given—————————
———–Beye—–Coloccini—-Bassong———-
–Gutierrez–Guthrie–Butt–N’Zogbia–Duff
—————-Martins——Owen—————–
Keep it tight across the middle with Butt and Guthrie sitting trying to shut of the supply of Deco, Lampard (If he’s fit) and Mikel, With Zog, Jonas and Duff pushing up to support the front two whos pace is also the weakness of Chelseas centre backs Terry and Alex (If he’s fit).
Any thoughts ?
AndyNUFC
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Comment #143 in defence is suicide against Chelsea.
A draw would be a fantastic result against them, so people please stop with the all out attack suggestions.
4-5-1 if anything.
Given
Beye Coloccini Bassong Enrique
Gutierrez Butt Butt N’Zogbia Duff
Owen
B*llocks to the “big man little man” strike partnership, Ameobi was never going to win headers against Terry anyway.
With that formation in midfield we can keep it tight, not allow them through, yet also have a threat down the wing, and the chance for N’Zogbia to push up to support Owen, or switch to the left wing, with Duff pushing up to support Owen halfway through.
I’d go with that, but i’ll say Kinnear will go with 4-4-1, unfortunately.
AndyNUFC
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Comment #15I meant 4-4-2 obviously *
tomdwalker
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Comment #16Agree with Craig in theory but i would play Owen in behind Shola and Martins at the expence of Duff who, whilst playing better played a lot of minutes in the week and the Chelsea players will know how to minimise his threat. Have him on the bench and would play Zog wide.
Whilst no world beater i would play Ameobi against Chelsea you need a target player to hold up the ball and link the play, whilst offering a physical challenge. Otherwise the ball will keep coming back at us. It will also prevent the Chelsea defenders from sitting on Owen and Martins alloweing them to find space either beween the Chelsea midfield and defence or run in behind.
Good luck lads!!!
Craigg
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Comment #17Surely playing two Nicky Butts in midfield would give us enough cover to play three at the back.
Spyro
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Comment #18Beye———-Colo———-Seb———–Jose
————————Butt———————–
Gutierrez———-Guthrie————Martins
———————–Zoggy———————-
———————–Owen———————–
Spyro
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Comment #19With ZOg, Jonas and Martins all swapping positions throughout the match
AndyNUFC
Nov 20, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Comment #20Haha sorry Craig, only on 1 can and all! I meant Guthrie, sorry boys.
THE BEAT.
Nov 20, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Comment #21kinnear is up for the challenge at the bridge,is that for joe to try and walk across the tyne bridge in under a week?.
Karltoon
Nov 20, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Comment #22haha Butt Butt.. I thought u were being racist..
wigaz
Nov 20, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Comment #23We’ll get tanked simple as that! I just hope against hope that after this match we’ll have some news on the sale. Surely we’re are as just a or even better prospect as man city were & their sale went through in a blink of an eye! and they had money to spend on players just as quick! I can only imagine that Ashley is working himself trying to get more out of the deal and this is why the sale is taking so long. It’s so mad to belive how optimistic we all were when Fat Ash took over & I dont think anyone would of Guessed we’d of ended up the way we are. I always had doubt on his intentions for the club but had no idea of how big a fool he’d become! Please let the sale happen!
Sun'lun's Burnin'
Nov 20, 2008 at 5:49 PM
Comment #24Im taking the 14’s+ available on us winning! HOWAY THE LADS!!!
you cant predict footy and any team can beat any team in prem as hull/ stoke etc have proved, have made a nice few bob on the underdog this season, i usually back anyone that is 6/1+ in prem, apart from if they are away at chelski but its the toon so gotta believe!!! Cant beat a bit of blind faith! haha
Turkish Magpie
Nov 20, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Comment #25Craigg nice team, but your only problem is if they get through the midfeild we’re doomed!
Heres my team
——————–Given—————-
—-Beye——Colo—–Bass——Nzog
——–Jonas—-Guthrie——Duff—-
——-Owen—–Ameobi—–Martins-
Howay the lads!
Prediction chelsea 2-1
hope Newcastle 2-0
Partizan vs Newcastle is something i don't want to see
Nov 20, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Comment #26To get a draw i’d go for Croatia formation from France 98….5-4-1
……………………………Given……………………………
Beye……Coloccini….Bassong…Cacapa…….Bull..
……………………………Butt……………………………..
…..Jonas…………………………………………Duff……
……………………………N’Zogbia……………………….
……………………………Martins…………………………
We might get booed by Chelsea fans for this but who cares as long as we get 1 point from the Bridge.
vic
Nov 20, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Comment #27Partizan – It is suiside to put Bull and Cacapa unsupervised on Left Flank.
—————given—————————-
beye—cacapa—-colo—bassong–bull
—————-gutrie————————
jonas—————————–nzog
———–martins–owen———–
Ranger in second half instead of Cacapa to change 5-3-2 on 4-4-2 depending on circumstances
Cocney mafia OUTTTTttttttttttttttttttttttt
AHall88
Nov 21, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Comment #28Been watching this site for a year or so but never been bothered to comment.. i think now is about the right time! what a mess we are in… jus looking through the newsnow articles and stumbled across some interesting news…
“The Irishman has compiled a “hit-list” of potential signings for January, but still has no idea whether he will be in place to present it to Ashley. Kinnear has identified “two top-class players [who] would come here on a loan basis. They’re both worth £10million and neither are in their sides”. Cover at centre half and full back is required.” (quote from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article5202142.ece)
Interesting news saying Kinnear may be hear till end of season due to lack of progress with sale…
Who do you think the 2 players mentioned above are then?!