Newcastle have another important league game tomorrow afternoon, and it will be no different for the remaining 16 league games after this one.
The only thing the Newcastle team has to play for is the league and we will again play only 41 competitive games this season, because we’re not ion Europe and have been eliminated again early in the two cup campaigns.
But it’s also too easy to complain about how bad things are, and we are looking forward to maybe getting a good result tomorrow, though that will be difficult since we still have massive injuries to overcome.
But Blackburn have beaten Newcastle in their last four league meetings, so the history is not with us for tomorrow, but perhaps it’s time we reversed that trend, and, after all, our best form seems to have been away from St. James’ Park this season.
We still have Ameobi, Viduka, Smith, Martins, Enrique, Barton, Geremi, Cacapa, Beye and Gonzalez (10 senior players) definitely missing this game with big doubts also over Steven Taylor (calf) and Andrew Carroll (hamstring).
But we’ll assume both will be fit, and maybe if Carroll can put in a decent 45 minutes then Xisco can also put in 45 minutes up front with Michael Owen.
Michael is due a goal or two after missing a couple of good chances on Wednesday night against Hull City, when we were eliminated from the FA Cup.
We expect Joe Kinnear to field the following team for tomorrow’s game – with almost a a full team on the injury list:
Given
Taylor Coloccini Bassong N’Zogbia
Gutierrez Butt Guthrie Duff
Owen Carroll
Subs: Harper Kadar Tozer LuaLua Edgar Xisco Ranger
Blackburn have kept just one clean sheet in their last 7 games at Ewood Park so goals could be there for the taking, but Newcastle will need to play very well on defense if we are to get anything out of this game.
On the Blackburn side of things Allardyce is ready to give loan signing Gael Givet, his debut. The French international has joined Rovers from Marseilles and will remain in England until at least the end of the season.
David Dunn comes back into contention after a hamstring complaint, but Steven Reid has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a knee problem.
A win will do Newcastle players and fans alike a world of good, as we start to see some stability finally being introduced to the club, with Joe Kinnear today being offered a lucrative longer contract to stay at the club.
Results have been disappointing in the last 5 games, but that has to be down to so many injuries, and the fact that our squad is just far too small. We thinks any blame towards Joe Kinnear is unwarranted as he is trying his very best to put things right, and it’s our view that he deserves our full support.
Why? Because he’s the current manager of the club – it’s as simple as that – and we want Joe to do really well, because we want Newcastle United to do great.
We’ve been disappointed at all the criticism of Joe on this site, since it was announced Joe had been offered a new contract and quite honestly the last thing we want now are any more demonstrations against the club – because we for one are fed up with it all, and it’s about time we got fully behind our club again.
It’s just too easy to criticize things all the time.
After the last 5 months of utter turmoil, we can only hope the Newcastle fans will get behind the manager and the players for the rest of the season, starting at Blackburn tomorrow, where no doubt we have already sold out our ticket allocation.
We can still do well in the league this season, but everybody connected with our club – the players, the Board and the fans have to be aligned to make that happen.
A win tomorrow and that will be a much easier sell to everybody connected with Newcastle United.
The keys to doing well tomorrow afternoon is that our defense must put in another good performance and
Howay The Lads!!
48 comments so far
tom tomb
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Comment #1Hate Saturdays now – scared what it is going to bring in the latest episode of -Bellenders.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Comment #2I think Kinnear was just resting Taylor, Carrol and Enrique on Wed night. I even saw Steven Taylor running up and down the touchline during the match. Andy Carrol also came on as well when we were told before the game that he was injured.
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Comment #3Not sure what way its going to go. Maybe another ex player or mananager bitting us on the ass. 1-2. Me thinks
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Comment #4Oh well just cracked another can open.
Doocey
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Comment #5indeed
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Comment #6Need a bit of positive thinking maybe we can turn it round. Cheers Warwick Hunt just opened another one meself
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Comment #7http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2141803.ece
BAD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Timmers
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Comment #8Sorry if this has been mentioned already, just got in from work-
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_4803772,00.html
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Comment #9@ Norm.
What’s a mananager? Is that a cross between a managrie and a banana?
Doocey
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Comment #10BS Ryan. Look how small the article is!
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Comment #11Cheers Norm.
What you on? I’m on the Boddingtons after the wine of course, so excuse my speeling as well!!!!
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Comment #12Thanks man. Spelling is a bit off.
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Comment #13they also say man city are gonna bid 40m for terry, so its hopefully BS
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Comment #14@RyanToon.
If Given is worth £8M then I’m worth £7.5M and I’ve never played in goal in my life, plus I’m well over 40!
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Comment #15Box of bubbley beer.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Comment #16How many times have the Sun said arsenal in £10 million Martins bid. The best example though to sum up The Sun is this. Last week they said Tony Adams has only £5 million to spend this transfer window yet 3 pages behind Portsmouth had made a £10 million bid for Christian Obodo and another player who i can’t remember for about £4 million.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Comment #17Sorry but if City can afford £107 million for Kaka then they can give us more than the going rate which for any normal club would be £10 million, possibly more if we are lucky. They should be demanding £15 million at least.
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Comment #18@ Dan_Scott.
Was it not the Sun that said that Hitler was hiding in a bunker on the moon or was it Osama Bin Ladan, can’t really remember. I’ve saw pictures of the American flag on the moon but I’ve never seen a picture of a Swastica or a Turbin on the moon???????????
pdidy
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Comment #19It’s the Sun FFS! It spouts more shite than Joe Kinnear.
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Comment #20IM GOING BACK TO SUPPORTING RUGBY UNION.
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Comment #21I think this match is gonna be like the Portsmouth game, most people think we’ll lose, I feel quietly confident and we pump them.
Ed – I agree with your line-up but I think Donaldson will be on the bench instead of Tozer. More versatile.
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Comment #22@Tom_Toon.
Know owt about the 2 youngsters we have supposedly got?
@Norm
You know what, I have got 3 boys and there is no way I can afford to take them all to the matches so I was thinking of taking them ot see the falcons instead as a cheaper alternative?
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:58 AM
Comment #23Saying that, I have no confidence with Taylor in the team, hope he is still out, I prefer Edgar at RB.
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Comment #24Warwick – Nope, not really, just what I have read about them on the day they signed.
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Comment #25Warwick Hunt
My local team is Ulster.
Tom_Toon /
Has Germie left yet? if not play him at right back
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Comment #26Injured. Well, ‘officially’ he is, but I bet their just saying he is so that he can seal his move, if he gets injure dit may be delayed, maybe even past the end of the window.
Brutooon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Comment #27we signed Haris Vuckic -Slovenian Youngster..
never heard of it. hope he is a good player
Xisco to start tonite! maybe after that we can start to judge him
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Comment #28@Tom_Toon.
There was some links about FM09 and the like on the last blog.
Agree with you about Taylor, I had really high hopes for him but he just doesn’t cut it for me now.
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Comment #29Get rid of him. Could we put him in the possible move with mbia or what ever his name
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:06 AM
Comment #30Im on about Germie
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:06 AM
Comment #31Tom_Toon
What do you think about the M’Bia situation. There has only been setanta sports carried the story that Rennes rejected our bid. There have been a few sites said afterwards that they are still considering the deal. I think if it had been rejected there would be something either on the official site or on Sky Sports.
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:07 AM
Comment #32@Norm.
Do you get over here then? I’ve never been over your way like, although I know loads of lads who had a great time working over there in the shipyard.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:08 AM
Comment #33Brutooon
I got to see Xisco in the flesh on wed night and trust me he looks like a non footballer. He shoould be playing a few games in the reserves before he even gets near the bench but personally i think any one with football talent would have buried the shot he scuffed wide in the early stages of the game.
Doocey
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:09 AM
Comment #34Get M’Bia in lads 😀
I’m off to bed, night.
p.s, don’t forget to click me name to see my site 😀 cheers lads 🙂
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:12 AM
Comment #35Dan – Kinnear said today they want £15mil, I suspected they wanted about £10mil or just under.
Doubt it will happen, never thought it would though.
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:13 AM
Comment #36i think the other 5m bid could be for skjelbred, what do you reckon?
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Comment #37Sorry thought Xisco was alright considering he aint played since October. Was quick caused their defence a lot more problems than Own.
Only go to see the Falcons if that ginger numpty aint playing fly half I have wasted a fair bit travelling back home to watch the falcons for that idiot to ruin games and throw points away better off with miller at 10 that Clegg
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Comment #38Tom_Toon
When did he say that, do you have a link or quote. He surely cannot be worth £15 million. I think we are wasting our time with this one. They should be looking for someone else now if they are not already.
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Comment #39anyone got any idea who the italian loan player is?
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Comment #40Dan – I think its in the telegraph link about Kinnears new deal. Look on newsnow.