West Brom are a very good looking side under manager Roberto Di Mateo, and are one of the three promoted sides who seem to have revitalized the Premier League this season.
Joey Barton at West Ham – returns on Sunday
In a season which is more competitive than for many many years, West Brom, Blackpool and Newcastle United have been like a breath of fresh air to the Premiership, with their attacking play, good football and positive approach.
And that positive outlook has brought all three clubs some surprise and excellent results this season.
Newcastle put in a solid display against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, and it was very much like the last home game, when we drew 0-0 with Fulham, but were the better side in that game, but just couldn’t get the winner.
Of course the game in between those two was a disaster, and it’s Newcastle’s inconsistency that makes it difficult to predict the game at West Brom on Sunday afternoon.
West Brom have been good this season, but it may that they have been better away from home than at The Hawthorns, and if Newcastle can put in another solid performance in defense on Sunday, then we must stand a chance of winning the game.
The team would almost seem to pick itself, and we think there will be one change from the side that played so well at Chelsea – with the returning Joey Barton replacing Danny Guthrie in central midfield.
Our central midfielders of Cheick Tiote and Joey Barton, are probably the best two we have, with Nolan missing out through injury to his ankle.
This is the team we expect Chris to start on Sunday in a 4-4-2 formation:
Krul
Simpson Taylor (S) Campbell Enrique
Routledge Tiote Barton (c) Gutierrez
Ameobi Carroll
We have Joey as captain, and that may not happen and Shola Ameobi will probably keep the captaincy, in the absence of both Nolan and Alan Smith.
The big key to the game for Newcastle is to put in a solid defensive performance, and with the experience of Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor in central defense, and Simpson and Enrique both in very good form, that could well happen.
Then it will be up to Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi to get some goals up front, and with Joey Barton returning what are the chances of Newcastle scoring when Andy heads in a Barton cross? High we hope.
Certainly Chris Hughton will be looking for the win on Sunday, because we haven’t won since we got all 3 points at Arsenal a full five games ago.
Let us know what Newcastle team you would start on Sunday.
Comments very welcome.
10 comments so far
dak76
Dec 3, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Comment #1Would rather have barton replace routledge on the wing as he’s been effective there in the the games he’s played. Keep guthrie in the middle. If the game’s not going to plan, move barton into the middle and bring routledge on
dak76
Dec 3, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Comment #2Krul
Simmo, Talyor, Sol, Jose
Barton Guthrie Tiote Jonas
Ameobi Carroll
subs: Routs Loven Ranger Kadar Smith Perch
Bucks mag
Dec 3, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Comment #3That team looks a very balanced one, hopefully Routledge can step up so Joey can do his work in the middle of the park.
craignufc
Dec 3, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Comment #4Krul
Simpson, Taylor, Sol, Enrique
Routledge Tiote Barton (c) Jonas
Carroll and Ranger
I think ranger deserves a chance, his pace is frightening and ameobi has been terrible for the last few weeks. Give the young lad a chance, carroll flicks the headers on for ranger whos got the pace.
howay man
Dec 3, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Comment #5ameobi should be dropped, he was absolutely horrendus against chelsea. lovenkrands has a good record against west brom aswell.
—————–krul
simpson taylor campbell enrique
routledge barton tiote gutierez
——-lovenkrands carroll
subs;
soderberg,best,guthrie,ameobi,ranger,smith,perch
Newcastle Rock
Dec 3, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Comment #6—————– krul
simpson taylor campbell enrique
ranger tiote gutierez
————Barton – Guthrie
——- carroll
Thats more like it
Ranger overlaping and crossing for Carroll
Barton and tiote moving backwards to help defence.
What you guys think ??
BeeGuy
Dec 3, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Comment #7This may be a “crunch” game for WBA. They lost to Ipswich Wednesday night & Matteo did not speak to the press. Was he fuming?
But, that said, you can only play as well as you can play. Try harder and you lose your touch, speed, etc… Let’s hope they are overstressed by ther boss.
Baggies seems to get the ball inot the box, but don’t have a great finishing touch. So NUFC inside defense must be strong. In fact, CH IMHO, needs to field the strongest team he can put out there. That might even mean Ranger or Xisco instead of WR.
Certainly Barton is back in, replacing Danny G. Do we know who the Baggies wind-up man is so we can alert Joey?
Jamma
Dec 3, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Comment #8—————– krul
simpson taylor campbell enrique
routledge barton tiote gutierrez
smith carroll
“ameobi should be dropped, he was absolutely horrendus against chelsea.” – howay man. AGREED.
and i don’t trust ranger’s finishing to award a start yet – he needs to prove he can be more clinical..
Charlietoon
Dec 3, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Comment #9I really want Loven to start as he is not afraid to have shot and we need to put them on the defensive from the start
Sav
Dec 4, 2010 at 1:29 AM
Comment #10I think Dak76 is right :
Krul
Simmo, Talyor, Sol, Jose
Barton Guthrie Tiote Jonas
Ameobi Carroll
and if Shola is not fit, Barton will replace him, with Guthrie playing further forward.
subs: Routs Loven Ranger Kadar Smith Perch