News today that Nicky Butt may have damaged his medial knee ligaments in yesterday’s game at Bolton, and could be out of action for up to six weeks.
Nicky Butt – may have damaged his medial knee ligaments yesterday
Hughton talked about the game yesterday:
“I thought it was a spirited performance. We had the better opportunities, but there was that moment when we switched off and we were made to pay.”
“We perhaps lacked that little bit of guile and composure we needed to break them down.”
“We conceded at a very bad time and the goal gave them a lift. We were able to get back into the game. They were aware that we had to force the issue and at times we did – we at times took chances.”
“When you’re protecting a lead you do tend to get bodies back and I think they did that and defensively coped well.”
It may be that two of our most experienced players will miss the Manchester United game on Wednesday.
Damien Duff did not play against Bolton yesterday because of a calf injury, and there is worrying news this morning that Nicky Butt may have damaged his medial knee ligaments, and could be out of action for up to six weeks.
We should know more about Nicky’s condition later today, but that prognosis does not sound good, since we still have Joey Barton and Danny Guthrie out injured, and Kevin Nolan suspended for the next two games.
Newcastle are just two points above the bottom three, and host Manchester United on Wednesday night, and must try to take something out of that game to alleviate their poor position in the league.
And let’s hope Nicky’s injury is not as bad as first thought.
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
DanToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Comment #1Typical, i get a weird feeling that he’s bottled the Man Utd game as he don’t want to be battered by his former team… again!
RichY
Mar 2, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Comment #2is the game on TV at all?
Toon Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Comment #3RichY – iraqgoals.com
LoonyToon @ graft
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Comment #4Looks like we maybe forced to go 4-3-3 which in my opinion would be the right move….
A midfield 3 of Jonas, Smith and R Taylor…
We are going to need a hell of a performance on Wednesday to get anything out of the game….
It needs to be bubbling inside St James on Wed….We need to fully back the side, whoever is playing whether you agree with the team selection or not…
noticed on another thread the crack about Martins…personally I though he was woeful yesterday…missed out best 2 chances, kept trying fancy flicks instead of holding the ball up,in the process putting the team under constant pressure, especially in the 1st half….
The fact that he was taken off was down to the fact he has missed nearly 3 month with a hernia….it is obviously going to take him 2/3 weeks to become match fit and regain his match sharpness….
Kash
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Comment #5I’m glad he’s injured because he’s utter tripe! The midfield let the team down, not once did they get the ball down and play it around, just to take some pressure off the rest of the players!
ginkoh
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Comment #6Good news for us. please absent the match more.
Toon Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Comment #7Looney – It goes without saying I will be in fine voice on Wednesday. Im looking forward to it and yet fearing it.
Just pi$$es you off the way we are going tits up.
harry5450
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Comment #8Sorry but thank god he’s injured. For some reason i’ve never liked him.
He’s cr@p, he can have some half decent games but he’s too slow, can’t tackle and can’t control his temper
He does my head in!
sohica17
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Comment #9butt is a decent player,
though he doesnt make brilliant pass now,
but the rest are not so much better!
take care, we need u !
Macas35
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Comment #10The fact that we are pleased that Butt is injured amazes me, considering all our other central midfielders are missing. Didn’t see the Bolton game but thought Butt was excellent against Everton and is the kind of player we need in our current situation.
Ericles
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Comment #11His experience is going to be a loss during the run-in.
How long before we can have a Nolan/Guthrie pairing in midfield? I still do not think we will go down but it is going to be close. Trouble is we were not good enough to get a point against a Bolton side who should be either in a National Wrestling competition or at least rugby league. This Bolton policy of trying to play football with a bunch of heavies is shite!
DanToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Comment #12v Man Utd…
…………………………….Harper
…….S.Taylor – Coloccini – Bassong – Enrique
Lovenkrands – R.Taylor – Geremi – Smith – Jonas
……………………………Carroll
And just hope for the best, christ that’s a bad team!
RyanToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Comment #13my team for man u game
…………………………….Harper
…….S.Taylor – Coloccini – Bassong – Enrique
Lovenkrands – R.Taylor – Smith – Jonas
……………..Martins…….Carroll
murphy
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Comment #14Guys it’s time to face facts the squad we put out on sat was championship at best, Martins Looked like he wanted to be elsewhere and to be honest I expect him to be off soon too. The only little bit of hope we have is getting players like Beye, Owen, Barton, Guthrie, and Nolan back.
In the summer we need a few proven goal scorers cause at the moment I wouldn’t put ANY money on any of our players scoring if one and one with the keeper!!
LoonyToon @ graft
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Comment #15Toon Graeme // Mar 2, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Looney – It goes without saying I will be in fine voice on Wednesday. Im looking forward to it and yet fearing it.
Just pi$$es you off the way we are going tits up.
—————————————————
It frustrates me no end the way this season has gone but I am still very confident we will avoid relegation….
Looking forward to the game on Wed….
Macedonia toon
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Comment #16Butt out good news for us, this is a big plus for Newcastle and relegation fight believe me, we are going to safe now I’m sure 🙂
Team against mancester:
———————Hraper———————–
-S.Tejlor——BasS——-Colo——Enrique-
-R.Tejlor—–Geremi—-Smith—–Spiderman
—————–Lovenkrands———————
——————————–Martins————-
Result: 1 : 1
Toon Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Comment #17How many times have we read stories like the attatched:
http://review.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1575100,00.html
cloudstrife
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Comment #18it’s not a good time to be a Newcastle fan but as an honorary Geordie i will never be embarassed to say i support the Toon. i wore my black and white tie that i wear after a victory, mainly to show my support to the team.
my friends laugh at me wondering why i support such a sh*te team, but they’ll never understand. but mark my words lads……. WE WILL NOT BE RELEGATED!!!!
Toon Graeme
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Comment #19Cloudstrife – I admire the positive thought there mate. Lets just hope it remains true.
sahota
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Comment #20Long Live CLOUDSTRIFE
I appreciate the spirit you have. Like someone else said on this blog. yesterday’s defeat just made me shiver and realize we are in relegation fight seriously. Its terrible feeling. I hope your words become true at end of season.
Prince Bassong
Mar 2, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Comment #21Safety remains in our own hands but the next two winnable games (Hull and Stoke) are absolutely crucial and 4 points should be the very least we come away with.
We also have 3 good chances to win at St James near the season’s end against Pompey, Boro and Fulham, and 2 wins should be the minimum target there. That alone would leave us on 38 points and that should be enough with any points picked up in the other games being bonuses.
As hard as it is we’ve got to try and keep our heads up as much as the players will have to (on matchdays at the very least) and make sure we get these results and guarantee our Premiership survival.
Toon Sweden77
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Comment #22Well if Butt is out for 6 weeks then its really time for Smith to step up and show that he is worth he´s wages
Kash
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Comment #23I think the team needs a proper stimulus, and I think the only thing that will boost us is a new manager!
Hughton and Calderwood are ineffectual as caretakers, and considering Wise could be leaving in the summer, I think JFK may be moved upstairs.
The players are not performing for the current structure, and that is a massive problem. Alot of people are underestimating the extent to which the players are underperforming. We need a new manager to come in and stamp his mark on the team, get that little bit extra out the players and avoid relegation!
If thats not obvious to the current board, then we are FCUKED!
RyanToon
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Comment #24peter reid yesterday LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBMe4Kq8bWs
batty
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Comment #25kash could you tell me why jokerner should be moved up stairs plz cos lets face it as newcastle history books go he will get a very small paraghragh if any at all
Marty-Toon
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Comment #26Ryan Toon Post 13
Totally agree with the team you would put out on Wed.
We need to start with these guys that actually go in the direction of the Oppositions goal.
A positive side and defensively stable that can maybe steal somethin from the best teams…….
Sorry for BUTT but no loss to the team as long as he aint replaced by Geremi who is on a par with Butt pace wise.
Let`s see a lift from the team on wed night,they must begin to fight for the cause and Shola n Geremi only weaken that……
Pons Aelius
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Comment #27Assuming the worst this is what I’d reckonn would constitute our Championship 1st team:
GK Harper
RB R Taylor
LB Enrique
CB S Taylor
CB T Kadar
RW K Lua-Lua
LW P Lovenkrands
CM K Nolan
CM D Guthrie
CF A Carroll
ST N Ranger
(Assuming that we lose Owen, Viduka, Bassong, Smith, Beye, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Martins, etc)
Would we even get promoted if we went down?…
Kash
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Comment #28@Batty – Keep him on and he’s more of a friendly face for the dreaded Director of Football.
Either way, i’m not bothered what happens to Joe (in a footballing sense).
If I had my way, i’d bring in a new manager and take Frank Arnesan from chelsea at the end of the season (He’s apparently been told he’s going to be replaced)!
gibbotwg
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Comment #29our centre midfield is going to be so weak!!
Taylor and Smith vs Carrick and Scholes. i wonder who will win that battle
batty
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #30I think we will get summit of man utd on wednesday just because they are due to drop some poits soon
batty
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #31points soon
batty
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Comment #32http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=435337
gibbotwg
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Comment #33anyone know if Vuckic is playing for reserves tonight?
Kash
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Comment #34If we play like we did on Sunday and the way we played against Everton, then there is no chance Man Utd will drop points against us!
Our performaces have been indicative of the coaching used on the training field. When KK was manager, we played football which we observed against Man Utd.
My point is that whats going on the training field, is not how we should be playing. Since when has route 1 football been the geordie way. We don’t have the strikers to play that football!
Danish_Magpie
Mar 2, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Comment #35For the Man Utd game:
…………………….Harper………………………..
S. Taylor…….Colo…..Bassong……Enrique
R. Taylor…….Geremi…..Smith…….Jonas
………………..Carroll………Oba……………….
Bring on Viduka for Carroll after about an hour or so. Let Carroll batter the United defense all he can for the first hour and let him play his heart out, knowing he only has an hour.
When Oba tires after 70-75 mins or so, bring on Løvenkrands and use his speed to run at the defense..
In my opinion this formation is our only hope and to be honest, it’s piss-poor.
Kash
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Comment #36The one thing about Geremi when he came on was that he actually started passing the ball about!
Brutooon
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Comment #37Nicky Butt injured is a a good news. hope smith,ameobi get injured and we will survive relegation.
we can play geremi and taylor there for man utd game (why do we care? we will lose that game anyway)
bennytoon
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Comment #38Its quite funny reading through peoples teams for the man yoo game. You dont realise how poor the newcastle squad actually is until it is written down.
Spitfire
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Comment #39bennytoon
Of course we realise how poor the squad is – we don’t have to write it down. We have been banging on about it for 3 years now. We don’t need a Spurs fan to tell us. We know!!
Rodzilla
Mar 2, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Comment #40bennytoon
…remind me where Spurs are in the table at the moment? And what was the result the last time they played Newcastle?
…glass houses mate.