Newcastle manager Chris Hughton makes three changes to the side which was beaten at Derby County 3-0 during the week, for the tough game at Swansea City today.
Mike Williamson, Jonas Gutierrez and Leon Best are not in the starting lin-up, and Fabricio Coloccini, Alan Smith and Peter Lovenkrands come into the side.
It would appear that Newcastle, rather surprisingly, may keep their 4-4-2 formation, with Lovenkrands up front, but of course Peter could play on the left wing ina 4-5-1 formation, with only Andy Carroll up front.
Coloccini is back from his hamstring injury, and surprisingly partners Fitz Hall at the centre of the defense – we had expected Mike Williamson to have started with Fabricio today.
Danny Simpson and Patrick van Aanholt continue to occupy the full-back positions, so Danny is fit following his slight hamstring strain on Tuesday night – that’s good.
Alan Smith is back in the starting line-up, and Wayne Routledge, Danny Guthrie and Kevin Nolan complete the Newcastle midfield.
And we’re pleased that Peter Lovenkrands comes in to start with Andy Carroll up front – hit the back of the net Peter!.
Both Jonas Gutierrez and Shola Ameobi miss out because of minor injuries.
TEAMS
Swansea City: Dorus de Vries, Ashley Williams, Alan Tate, Garry Monk (c), Darren Pratley, Andrea Orlandi, Nathan Dyer, Federico Bessone, David Cotterill, Shefki Kuqi, Joe Allen
Subs: David Cornell, Gorka Pintado, Mark Gower, Tom Butler, Angel Rangel, Lee Trundle, Ashley Richards
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Fitz Hall, Fabricio Coloccini, Patrick van Aanholt, Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith (c), Kevin Nolan, Wayne Routledge, Andy Carroll, Peter Lovenkrands
Subs: Mike Williamson, Ryan Taylor, Leon Best, Fabrice Pancrate, Tamas Kadar, Tim Krul, Nile Ranger
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Attendance: tbc
97 comments so far
MacToon
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:45 PM
Comment #81The Entertainers, plenty more entertaining teams around, shame really we play such tragic football.
gunnarnufc
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:45 PM
Comment #82Awful game. Nice to get the point. But we never deserved it. There is no one in this team who seeks to get the ball and take it farward. We need a creative midfielder who has the slightest idea of how potentially to attack. Watching this really frustrates me. How many times did Guthrie and Nolan loose the ball in midfield becouse they basicly did not know what the hell to do with it so they just waited for someone to tackle them from behind. No need having 4 decent strikers if you have no-one who knows how to give the ball to them.
Oba
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:45 PM
Comment #83The Entertainers – None of our team is good enough for Prem football. We’d just be like Derby were when they were up there, and like Pompey are now.
Unless we have some investment.
But anyway, promotion on current form looks unlikely.
The Entertainers
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:49 PM
Comment #84Harper 7……………..steady
Simpson …………6, PL class??? Big doubt.
Hall………6, average CCC player
Colo………6, 1st game back.
VA…………..6, Still a lot to learn
Routledge……..7, a bit headless at times
Nolan………..3, disgraceful
Smith…………5, no authority
Guthrie………..5, NOT A WINGER!
Lovenkrands……….6, huffed and puffed
Carroll…………….6, scored, but looked lost at times
Best………….6, great cross
Marty-Toon
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:49 PM
Comment #85Good job Carroll stayed on eh!!!
Bloody cack game for us again.
Guthrie,smith and Nolan couldn`t pass wind.
I was watchin the game for 20 mins before i knew smith was even on.
The movement was non-existent.
Incredible that Pro players can pass so poorly-absolutely amazed how rubbish it was.
Got off big time.
We Just wont hack it if we go up,teams will tear us apart.
Best did well after coming on and Routledge played well.
The Entertainers
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Comment #86Mactoon
i agree there are some decent teams in the PL. But THIS season their seems to be so many poor attacking football teams in the top flight .
Shame really
jimiley
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Comment #87We are a very ordinary side. We are top of the league. What does that say about the Championship? Crap standard. I would rather win some games in this league than be outclassed next season. The big fat man will not spend. I’ve seen faster midfielders in wheelchairs. Smith will never score a goal as long as he has a hole where the sun don’t shine. Embarrassing team which is top of league. This lot makes Sam’s team look like Brazil. Patience, patience I hear some of you boys call. Well I have not been watching for 5 years but 50 years. After 50 years, patience does start to run a bit thin.
stk85
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Comment #88i’m hoping ranger, inman, vuckic all get places in the team in the next couple of seasons
coxonfamily
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Comment #89Ive got to be honest Ive been hugely impressed with chris until signing best and then playing players out of position, however can we really complain? We are still top which is about 11 places higher than I expected at the end of last season! But to be honest the biggest thing that is annoying me is the players talking themselves up and then not showing up… I had enough of that towards the end of last season… then this is my biggest issue with Chris… how many times has he said he isnt looking at Forest or WBA…. then look at the last few interviews hes done that are all on here, it looks like he knows more about WBA than he does our team! He knows Dorrans is scoring loads and what position he plays… has anyone told him where Guthrie can actually make an impact? lol
Eaststander
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:55 PM
Comment #90Guthrie was awful today. I had high hopes for him this season but today he proved that he is definatly a bad championship player.
Sav
Feb 13, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Comment #91Smith and Nolan were hopeless, even aside from their fabulous salaries. No ideas. Poor touch and no energy or drive. They both gave the ball away far too much. In fact, the difference in passing between the sides was remarkable:
Swansea all along the flat, rolling the ball,
NUFC, all looped, casual stuff, flicks and stabs with possession lost 9 times out of 10. Bloody rubbish.
We have far better strikers than most Championship sides, which is what has kept us in the hunt today and all season. But there is still NO sign of a pattern of play or any real belief. After the Derby hiding, where was all the blood and guts we were promised? All piss and wind, I’m afraid. Yet another televised let down and Hughton’s reign will be cut short after this season if he keeps this up because any new owner with any savvy will know he is going to be a drowning man in the deep water of the Premiership.
Sorry Chris. You are the weakest link. Goodbye.
Sav
Feb 13, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Comment #92After his handbag stealing episode, I’d be worried if I was a player to see Nathan Dyer going off early. ‘Don’t let that little tea leaf near the changing rooms!’
Sav
Feb 13, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Comment #93No wonder they lost concentration and let Carroll in.
MacToon
Feb 13, 2010 at 3:09 PM
Comment #94The Entertainers, I meant there are more entertaining teams around us in the CCC, can’t say I’m missing playing the likes of the top 4 etc in the prem!
Marty-Toon
Feb 13, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Comment #95We need Jailbird Joey to come in with a the Bit between his teeth when he gets back.
Jonas Barton Guthrie Routledge
JAM
Feb 13, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Comment #96I state again Gutrie is a horrible player, I actually was laughing at him at one stage when he went to take on Dyer down the left and just fell over himself looking for a foul. Pathetic!!! And Oba open your eyes, when he was moved into his favourite postion in CM he played well, not true, he was basically playing CM the whole match as he kept drifting in and crowding the middle giving Nolan and Smith no room to work in. This meant that with no one on the left, Swansea couldDouble mark Routledge!! Leaving us with no forward thrust all day.
Oba
Feb 13, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Comment #97Because Guthrie isn’t a winger. He hasn’t got the pace.