We know the game is still 5 days away, but since it’s such an important game for Newcastle United, one the most important in our history, we’ll discuss the potential team today.
Peter Lovenkrands – we’d like to see this player start on Sunday
Unfortunately we heard that Bassong is out earlier today, because the English FA turned down our appeal against his sending off. But that should not come as too much of a surprise to Newcastle fans, although he will be a big miss at Villa Park – there’s little doubt about that.
We don’t know if Owen, Beye or Enrique will be fit – but we’ll assume Owen is fit and Enrique and Beye will not be.
Alan will have a number of permutations and combinations for the defense, but we expect Steven Taylor and Duff to keep their positions from last Saturday.
Then the question is who will replace Beye and Bassong, and the answer seems to be we don’t seem to have too much choice and that young David Edgar will be given his chance in one of the biggest games he’ll ever play in, and Coloccini will come in at center back. The only alternative is Claudio Cacapa – and Shearer will not play him.
David’s best position is center-back so it may be that Alan chooses him there and play Coloccini at right back. He’s played there before for both Deportivo and Argentina.
Up front – if Martins is fit we think he’ll keep his starting place, but Alan may want to replace the Nigerian with Owen, who is after all our captain, and Alan may want to give Michael a full game to score the goals that will save the side.
Either way we’ll see Martins and Owen playing up front with big Mark Viduka, unless Alan plays 4-3-3 and goes all out for goals. That may be a little dangerous against a side as good as Villa, and we cannot make too many tactical errors in this game.
Of course if we do go behind, then we’re sure Alan will try everything and anything he can to score – because otherwise we’ll be relegated.
Here’s the team we would start against Villa:
Harper
Coloccini Edgar S.Taylor Duff
Guthrie Butt (c) Nolan Lovenkrands
Viduka Martins
Subs: Krul Cacapa Geremi Carroll Gutierrez Owen R.Taylor
We prefer Guthrie to Gutierrez because he has more of an end product, and his corners will be important for Viduak and Carroll (and Taylor) to head home. Jonas recently has just run at the opposing defense until he’s dispossessed or falls over. That’s not to say he’s not a good player (to Gutierrez fans), but the lad is not in his best form right now.
We want to see Peter Lovenkrands start this game, because he can score goals, and vital ones too. If he can score on Sunday and we stay up – he’ll be given a longer term contract at the club – and all will be great on Sunday night.
But Alan must play players who can get us the goals.
We think Alan will likely pick the above team with Coloccini and Edgar switching positions, and he will in all likelihood start Michael Owen, and then use Martins as an impact substitute with 30 minutes of the season to go.
We will be hoping and praying – but we’ve done that all season – to little avail. We hope we don’t see the scenes of newcastle fans (and players) crying at the end of this game – because that will signal we haven’t made it.
So sad to see good club go bad – in the words of the Everly Brothers. 🙁
At the end of this game there will be unbelievable scenes of celebration if we survive, and the exact opposite (despair, anger, despondency) if we go down. There will be no half measures, although there never is with Newcastle, and it’s little wonder the game will be broadcast live around the world.
If we do get relegated, Newcastle will be the best supported club ever to be relegated, with an average home attendance of over 48,000. But that about sums it up at Newcastle – the fans are so much better than the team.
Lets know what you think the team should be for Sunday.
172 comments so far
Cooper
May 19, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Comment #1Biggest and most important Sunday of my life..
Only positive – because we are so close to relegation and odds on to go down, it would make it all the more sweeter if we went on to defy the odds. Would be even better if the mackems went down in 18th as all they seem to care about is our team.
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Comment #2_______________given_______________
beye________monc_____roed______albert
nobby_______robson____gazza_____ginola
___________shearer____milburn________
manager
harvey
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Comment #3my comments arent showing
donald
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Comment #4lol they only show when i say they arent showing
Flan
May 19, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Comment #5I’s change that team a wee bit Ed, I want Guthrie in the middle Jonas on the right and Nolan as far away from the pitch as possible.
toonoholic
May 19, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Comment #6Cooper, i disagree with mackems going down.
A healthy competition is required for anything. Do you think we the fans would be more pumped up before a sunderland and a boro game or before a wigan and fulham game ? Honestly i know my answer even though i am not a born geordie.
Its a sad day to see boro are as good as gone, And if we qualify for sunderland, (all would be happy because we gain our status), but its a big loss for football in the north east.
Derbys are the most awaited, we would be robbed of that next season.
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Comment #7Thats a great looking side there beyethegreat, but didn’t we sell Given and Habib is injured. LOL
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Comment #8_________________ant______________
dec________bless_____mccririck_____cole
eubank_____ryder_____green_____waddell
__________nail______logan___________
subs
halfpenny
air
heaton
donald
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Comment #9norn iron
lol
well there is my celeb dream team
also we should not have sold faye
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1184496/Golden-gongs-Who-won-vote-clubs-player-year.html?ITO=1490
Nobby_Long
May 19, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Comment #10We need to play with passion and with pace. We need to go for the win, play at a high tempo from the first whistle to the last.
I worry that Martins cannot link up with people very well…..he doesn’t read what other players are going to do, then try to anticipate and make runs to lay offs etc. Lately he is having more of an impact in changing a game as a second half sub than from the start. That could be due to his injury………but he’s just too hit & miss.
Owen, isn’t having any impact at all.
So why not give Lovenkrands a start up front?……….It probably won’t happen though.
I’m also more concerned with our midfield. Butt & Nolan are far too slow…..you could just about get away with one slow midfielder, but not two. Guthrie should be better in centre mid as the playmaker…so I would drop Nolan & ask Butt to play deeper.
On the wings……you think Guttierez has to deliver eventually….surely….Duff will no doubt be LB again…….trouble is, we have very few options……and that’s all over the park…..
It would be interesting to see what Lua Lua could do, but he’s young and lacks a bit of maturity, so can’t see him getting a game……….However, fortune favours the brave………….. & an unknown quatity to Villa could do the trick……can’t do any worse than the others..
Nobby_Long
May 19, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Comment #11Flan……..here, here
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Comment #12Beyethegreat.
Thats a good looking celebrity team but we need more legs in centre midfield. (just like are starting 11) Shaun Ryder would only last 5 minutes because his lemons are twisted. Jesus i crack myself up. Cole, Donna Air, Heaton and Halfpenny in the showers after the game. Yes please.
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Comment #13* sorry his melons are twisted
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Comment #14norn iron
i agree about the shower part though shaun ryder isnt a toon fan some 1(i have never heard of )called jack ryder is a toon fan or atleast according to the dvd book of newcastle united give me a few minutes and ill look him up
though as you said the best part of the game would be the end when we would see the likes of cheryl cole(recently voted the sexiest women in the world) in the showers
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Comment #15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ryder_(actor)
tdt
May 19, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Comment #16……………..Harper……………..
Edgar…Collo…S.Taylor…Enrique
Jonas….Nolan….Butt….Duff
……..Viduka…..Martins…….
Krul, Cacapa, Gutherie, Loven, LuaLua, owen, Carroll.
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Comment #17http://www.ave-it.net/newcastle_united%20famous%20fans.htm
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Comment #18i take it enrique is fit then
tdt
May 19, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Comment #19he’s got a change according 2 the gaf
tdt
May 19, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Comment #20*chance
Toon_Factor
May 19, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Comment #21Ed- Lovenkrands is awful on the wing and also Coloccini against A.Youngs pace, please!
tdt
May 19, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Comment #22*a chance
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Comment #23I know who he is now. Tony Blair is a toon fan as well, never knew that.
Toon_Factor
May 19, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Comment #24Anyone else think Edgar deserves to play at CB every week? because i do, imo he is better than steven taylor and coloccini in the centre, him and Bassong look like a good partnership
Toon_Factor
May 19, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Comment #25Penny pocket is a toon fan
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Comment #26norn iron
well he is from the north east he appeared on soccer saturrday im sure he claimed his dad used to take him to watch us in the days of milburn era
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Comment #27i was most surprised to find ut eubank is a toon fan also how come mccririck is a toon fan
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Comment #28Was thinkin that as well. Your man that does the horse racing is a knob. I suppose so is Eubank as well. Very strange!!
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Comment #29norn iron
he isnt “my man”
but yeah he is a knob
eubank isnt so bad but he is strange
i would love to know why they are toon fans perhaps mccririck is a fan coz of blaydon races ?
also i am thinking o f replcacing logan with blair as she is a glory supporter lol
i have just called a toon fan a glory supporter lol rofl
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Comment #30Blaydon races i see what you did there. I see you have no left winger so you had to put in an ex player (waddle.) Not picking holes in your team beye looks decent enough.
Doocey
May 19, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Comment #31……………….Harper……………….
—–S.Taylor……Colo/Edgar…….Duff
Jonas……Butt…………Guthrie….Lovenkrands
……………………Nolan…………………………..
…………..Viduka……Martins……………….
beyethegreat
May 19, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Comment #32norn iron
i am not talking about chris waddell i am talking about the darts commentator
will.dawg
May 19, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Comment #33I seriously don’t get why everyone’s putting Butt in their team?!
The guy is terrible! The amount of times i’ve seen him get the ball, then hoof it out for a goal kick.
I keep seeing “newcastle’s most consistant player”
I agree, consistantly absolutely bloody dreadful.
I don’t wanna hear “he’s got experience which will help the team” because that’s a loada bull, he’s about 50 and needs to hang up his boots already.
Marty-Toon
May 19, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Comment #34Canny see AS droppin Butt that is the problem,He has the experience but he does so many unexperienced type passes in the game.
Think we gotta stop sayin we can win at Villa…..they are so much stronger than us and that`s why there is so much room between us on the table-Doesn`t lie.
We can hope for a draw but we need to score first.
Duff won`t let milner past him so he is a good bet there.
AS needs to work with Jonas and get him to send the ball in the box as wtih R.Taylor who also needs to work on his deliveries.
Norn Iron Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Comment #35Ok sorry beye:-)Was Milner playin right back at the weekend?
Marty-Toon
May 19, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Comment #36Doocey…….
Don`t agree with your line up there as we will need 4 in the middle with Villa being very strong and agile there with good passers of the ball and physical players too.
R.Taylor……Edgar…S.Taylor…..Duffer….
Guthrie……Butt………Nolan…..Jonas/Loven
…………..MO…………Viduka…………
Butt to go off at 60 mins and Guthrie to move into CM and take in Loven or Jonas and change MO for OBA
Would also like to see OBA on the wing if AS goes with MO and VIDUKA…it would be fun to see OBA running at them as defensively he is good to come back and help out
G 2
May 19, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Comment #37Why are idiots still saying Butt should play centre mid? Are you people that thick!!! Play Guthrie in the middle with Guthrie and play Jonas wide. We need some fecking tempo!!
Turkish Magpie
May 19, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Comment #38Some people may remember that before the Boro game i predicted the score of the newcastle game and i gave 3 scores and i also said a defender would score
those scores were
newcastle 3-1 mboro
newcastle 1-0 mboro
newcastle 2-2 mboro
as you can see i was right
i shall make another prediction now as some numbers keep coming up
here are my predictions
A Villa 0-1 Newcastle
A Villa 0-0 Newcastle
A Villa 1-2 Newcastle
people may agree and disagree but those are my predictions
ian
May 19, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Comment #39Lovenkrands should be in central midfield not on the wing.
tripp
May 19, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Comment #40doubt we’ll go 4-3-3 unless we concede first. 4-4-2 because we don’t necessarily need to win, a draw can still save us and I don’t know that shearer will want to risk that “out”. A win would be brilliant though. At least we would have done the double over Villa. Not too many sides can claim that this season.