Some good news for Joe Kinnear today, in that both Danny Guthrie and Charles N’Zogbia passed fitness tests and will be available for selection for tomorrow’s vital game against West Ham at St. James’ Park.
So Joe Kinnear will have one or two decisions to make on the team he puts out, although not many as we still have Ameobi, Barton, Smith, Viduka, Martins, Cacapa, Beye and Gonzalez (remember him) out injured, and Nicky Butt is suspended for one game having picked up his 5th yellow card again Hull City last Saturday. Eight players out injured – we just have to look into why we have all these injuries – every single season.
This is our first league match of the the year, and therefore our first at home since our complete demolition by Liverpool 5-1 on the last Sunday of last year.
So the lads have a chance tomorrow to put some pride back into the team and the fans, and maybe we can make this the start of a decent run-in to the season. But make no mistake we need to start winning games at home, if we are to survive this season, there’s no doubt about that.
As we have mentioned West Ham are 3 points above us in the league at the moment but a one goal win will just put us above them in the league, so there’s some incentive for the lads to go all out for 3 points tomorrow.
How we do will depend greatly on how the defense plays tomorrow, and their performance against Liverpool was worse than awful. But we have Sebastien Bassong back now alongside Coloccini, and full backs Taylor and Enrique will want to play well, so they can keep their places in the side, since full back is one area it seems like Kinnear will, be strengthening this month.
On paper the Newcastle back four looks good, and we think they should play quite well as long as Bassong has another good game, and is his usual calm and reassuring presence at the back. What a player this boy could become!
We expect Guthrie and Geremi to be in central midfield, and with Butt being fairly ordinary in the last few games, this is an opportunity for Geremi to show what he can do, and we think his experience will see him have a good steady game tomorrow.
All three wingers – Duff, N’Zogbia and Gutierrez are available and there’s not too much between them, and Joe will start one of them on the bench and then probably bring him on in the second half. We’ll go for Duff and Gutierrez as starters, because we are so fed up reading how Charles wants to leave Newcastle every single day. But he will participate somehow for us tomorrow, since he has been playing very well recently.
Andy Carroll – with new hair do – that should scare defenders!
20 year-old 6’4″ Andy Carroll, with his new braided hair style, will start up front with Owen, as long as Michael has agreed to play with him, after he had some doubts after seeing Andy’s new haircut. 😀
So we expect the lads to line up as follows:
Given
Taylor Colccini Bassong Enrique
Gutierrez Guthrie Geremi Duff
Carroll Owen (c)
Subs: Harper Edgar Xisco LuaLua N’Zogbia Tozer Xisco
For West Ham Matthew Upson is hopeful of a return to action, and we hope he plays because we think 6’4″ Andy Carroll will give him a very rough uncomfortable game tomorrow with his physical prowess and heading ability .
Former Newcastle player Scotty Parker is also expected top start and another former Magpie, Kieran Dyer, was back for 20 minutes in the Hammer’s last game, but seemed to find the pace very tough, so Kieran may be introduced as a substitute at some point.
Behrami and Neill are also look likely to be available, and that may mean a substitute position Frenchman Julien, who joined West Ham United from Bordeaux for £6.1M fee in July 2007.
Carton Cole will start alongside Craig Bellamy, yet another former Magpie, and Craig would love to score against his old team, but may find young Frenchman Sebastien Bassong just too strong and quick for him – hope so anyway.
Whether we like it or not, this is a 6 point relegation dogfight, and if we can be excused for getting hammered by Liverpool (excuse the pun), West Ham are a team we should be able to beat at home, and we usually do well against them at St. James’ Park – but that’s as far as we will go – we hardly want to tempt fate.
We’ll know how we have done at 5:00 pm tomorrow afternoon, and a win is just what the doctor ordered.
Howay The Lads!!
266 comments so far
The Entertainers
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Comment #1Another quiet day at the office.
I see JFK has made some comment regarding Smith and Barton.
I am starting to take what he says with a pinch of salt. Both Smith and Mido have made noises about the transfer, i dare says theres no smoke without fire on this one.
Zog still annoys me and hope hes benched tomorrow.
Can i say what a shame it is to lose Spyro. I didnt always agree with his comments, but if we were all the same then this site would be very boring indeed.
I hope he has a change of heart and some of the clowns on here use there common sense. It wasnt long ago that Ed almost closed the site down due to thier behaviour whilst on here.
jettson
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Comment #2funny game too call, but surely we will have enough to beat them at home, surely? fr me Caroll has to shine and use his 6’4” frame to his advantage, sumit Shola never does, so im going 4 a 3-1 win with Carrol getting first goal.
Tom_Toon
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Comment #3Ed – I dont think Tozer is in the squad mate.
My team:
Given
Taylor-Coloccini-Bassong-Enrique
Lualua-Geremi-Guthrie-Jonas
Carroll-Owen
Subs: Harper, Kadar, Edgar, N’Zogbia, Duff, Xisco, Ranger/Donaldson
Chizzy_Toon
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Comment #4I am learning to take it with more of a shaker of salt. He always seems to contradict himself, and i think half the time he doesnt know what is going off himself.
The Entertainers
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Comment #5I would be over the moon if Carroll scored and we won tomorrow.
I’ve yet to be won over by the lad, but would love for him to prove me wrong.
I’m so low regarding the Toon at the moment i reckon 1-1. Owen to score.
angry angry angry
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Comment #6we confirm to lose this one.. why?? because the team suck.. the board suck.. the fan suck..
sure it is very hard to be a fan of newcastle..
Waddle's mullet
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Comment #7Think we will get done the morra.
sorry!
safferusa
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Comment #82 -1 to the Mags!
Owen double and Bellamy
Shola Ameobi
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Comment #9Carrolls hairs canny gay like.
Ross
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Comment #10are you kidding me, carroll has braids. who does he think he is, lethal bizzle.
I thought January was bad enough, if he steps out onto any away ground looking like that he’s going to get demolished. I bet you this was Shola’s idea. Braid his hair, tell him he looks really cool.
“nee one will laugh at me fallin aboot the place like bambi on ice when this clowns got that hairdo like, ‘aye gan on andy it looks mint son’, :)”
JonnyNUFC
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Comment #11Thank god Bassongs back, that gives us a good chance of a decent result.
Gotta play Jonas on the left again after his showing at hull, get Duff on the right again he looked decent there to.
Bench Zog the whiner.
Bring Lua lua on at half time as Geremi will undoubtably be knackered by that point – but hopefully have put in some nice through balls.
Toon Graeme
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Comment #12Ed – Eight players out injured – we just have to look into why we have all these injuries – every single season.
Thats the question isnt it.
Its gonna be a tough slog tomorrow and the emotions in the stands will be up, down, up down, up down etc.
I remember when we went ahead against wigan – it was euphoria and then they equialised – rip me heart and balls out and stamp on em!!!!
Got to love the prem.
Sypro – stay fella. Granted it gets canny depressing on here at times but its just because of the lack of progress from NUFC and where we are in the league and injuries.
It’ll get better – i hope
fostino
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Comment #13carroll gonna be a young kluviert wit de new barnett………yikes
Toon Graeme
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Comment #14Here is another thing – no press conference from JFK only an extended interview with MO. Whats up with that????
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Comment #152-1 to the toon i reckon. Owen to score first.Havn’t been on the blog in ages. What happened to spyro then? He get the boot?
nuf-C you in the Championship
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Comment #16Shola Ameobi
I agree – lads check this out….!
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1514440,00.html
David Craig
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Comment #17Good evening
May seem quiet but they are working round the clock on bringing in new players.
You should have that 1st signing very soon and expect more soon afterwards
Nick C
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Comment #18aye Spyro mate. There are a few arseholes about. We know who the time served Mags are. They are the people with the strongest opinions. They are also the people whose opinions matter most.
Don’t let the charver element grind u down….
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Comment #19David Craig
Where are you gettin your info
Toon Graeme
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Comment #20Why good eveningh David Craig,
Forgive thecinicism or how ever you spell it – your talk is a load of sh1te!
If indeed you are from SSN like some think, you could pull better out your ar$e end.
Give us some names or stop talking absolute wank on here – it doesnt make the situ any better.
Anyway – have a good evening.
Toontastic
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Comment #21My team fo West ham
—————————Give—————————
Taylor——-Coloccini—-Bassong———Enrique
Duff———-Geremi——-Guthrie———-Jonas
—————-Owen———Carroll
Tom_Toon
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Comment #22Very soon?
30 mins?
tomlkier
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Comment #23i know we’re short of players, but do we really have to have xisco on the bench twice?
or is it that he’s put on so much weight from not getting a game that he now takes up two seats?
Ally
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Comment #24David Craig can you confirm that one of the players we are looking at is John Arne Riise and if so how far down the line are we regarding the transfer
simon376
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Comment #25Wish we could belive you David Craig, would be just what we need. But the signings you have mentioned for the past couple of days, the ones about to happen haven’t come off and I just don’t think we will get anything untile the last couple of days, no doubt kids on loans. Need a loan now as a min, so we can have a left back and a midfielder for this weekend, but no luck
Toon1978
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Comment #26Would like to see Lua Lua get 30 minutes tomorrow so we can all see what he is truly made of. We have seen him in glimpses but not enough to say “this kid is going to make it”. I would love to see all the youngin make it like Tozer,Kadar,Ranger just to name a few. And we have the likes of Baheng that sadly got injured against Blyth Spartens in the Northumberland cup many months ago. We have a lot of good kids but we need to bring them through at the right time.
David Craig
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Comment #27Left back they have been chasing is currently on Tyneside to tie up the move, all being well it will be confirmed over the weekend.
Toon Graeme
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Comment #28Looks like I had a post deleted – sorry ed I got carried away and Im sure that if you check the 99% of my post my word normally aint that bad.
Any I’ll repeat but tone it down.
David Craig – stop stirring up rubbish with your rubbish posts. If you are from SSN as some people think then you could at least drop a couple of names there fella.
Full a poop me thinks – have a good evening!
The Entertainers
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Comment #29David Craig
what do you make of the contradictions in the Mido and Smith story ?
Nick C
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Comment #30Spyro, Toon Graeme makes a good point there. This is the bleakest time to be an NUFC supporter since the 80’s IMO.
We are owned by people not many of us like or respect.
The same goes for the bulk of the squad. Can u name me 5 or 6 you even like?
People get bored and in fighting begins.
To be honest, I have seen a bit of it at the ground.
Most of us work hard. Some of us have wives and bairns. Matchday is like an oasis for me. I can go out with all me mates, have a few bevvies and a bit craic. The problem is, the game sometimes feels like a sideshow.
NUFCBlog is a microcosm of how people feel. Not happy, by the sound of things…
Toon Graeme
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Comment #31Come on son – drop a name!!! Dare you.
Ally
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Comment #32David Craig is it John Arne Riise!
Waddle's mullet
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Comment #33David craig
what do you know?
what position next then?
I’ll give you credit for shola and possibly left back from abroad.
any news who next.
P.s who the f do you know at club
Toon1978
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Comment #34Tom_Toon
Sorry for being nosey mate but whats this very soon 30 mins?
Nick C
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Comment #35To use a phrase from my nemesis, “Armchair” – David Craig’s a wind up…
Tom_Toon
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Comment #36David Craig said ‘very soon’, so I said ’30 mins?’.
David Craig
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Comment #37Yes the left back is Riise, re Mido and Smith the deal has been negotiated however while Mido is keen on the move Smith isn’t and has told the club he would like to stay until the summer and then assess his options. Personally I would still expect this deal to go through sometime next week.
Ally
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Comment #38Will Riise be at the game Tommorow David Craig
Toon1978
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Comment #39Tom_Toon
Ahh thought i was something to do with a potential signing some time soon.
David Craig
Jan 9, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Comment #40Mullett,
The club are working overtime in bringing in a quality attacking midfielder