Alan Pardew says the players last night gave him exactly what he had asked for.
Alan Pardew – last night at the City Ground
And that amounted to some good performances from his “fringe” players, which will not make the task of picking a team for the Blackburn home game at home on Saturday, very easy at all for the manager. That’s good.
Peter Lovenkrands proved again he will score goals if given the opportunity, and the brace he scored last night gives him 28 goals in 77 total appearances for Newcastle, and two goals in four appearances this season.
And certainly the squad is not lacking in confidence, with the lads 4th top of the Premier League table, with 9 points from five games, and now through two rounds of the Carling Cup to the 4th round, the round of the last 16.
It seems that Pardew is smelling a good Cup run this season, as he had this to say today about the Carling Cup:
“What is important to us is getting another two wins. If we do, then we can attack the cup.” “I have to pay tribute to the players and make sure all of the group are getting enough game time.”
“I will look at the Premier League fixtures and make sure we are competitive.” “I told the players they could not do any more than make my job difficult and they have.”
“They all produced and they all know they played well.” “Any game where you make nine changes you cannot expect a team to be nailed down and not make any errors.”
“If I had lost the game I would still be in positive mode.” “We had some great performances.” “Ben Arfa had a 60-minute game through the middle, Marveaux’s effort and application, Sammy and Obertan were great – and Peter bagged two goals.”
“Mehdi always wanted to be on the ball and never stood off. Guthrie also chipped in and played well.”
Newcastle are in the round of the last 16 so a win in the next round puts us in the quarter finals, and a win then puts us through to the semi-finals, and of course two more wins after that and we’ll have won the thing.
And since both relegated sides West Ham and Birmingham reached the last four of the competition last season, and Birmingham even went on to win it, there’s not reason why Newcastle cannot do that too, and that would be great because we’ve never won the League Cup.
The French lads of Ben Arfa, Mehdi Abeid and Sylvain Marveaux were all outstanding last night, and 19 year-old French U 19 player Abeid could be the surprise player this season, if he keeps putting in assured performances like he gave in the center of the midfield.
Two of the goals Newcastle conceded were from Newcastle errors, so the defense could have been tighter last night, and we’re sure the two Taylors, Steven and Ryan, will return to the back four for the game on Saturday, with Steven currently showing his very best form for the Magpies.
It was a good win last night, and we saw that the squad is maybe better than we had first thought, and that things may just be looking up big time, with a win against Blackburn.
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
geordiefinn
Sep 21, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Comment #1http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/09/21/hatem-ben-arfa-hails-nufc-fans-for-support-72703-29459213/
Does anyone know how is Hatem’s English? Is he still giving interviews in French? Btw it was very promising ‘debut’ by him yesterday, hopefully he will stay fit!
geordiefinn
Sep 21, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #2And another question as I didn’t see the match: what is exactly Abeid’s role in midfield? Firstly I thought he was winger/attacking midfielder, but it seems that he played in some kind of ‘Cabaye-role’ yesterday?
Stuart
Sep 21, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Comment #3thats what I’d say like geordiefinn, a cabayeish role.
PujiT
Sep 21, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Comment #4great game last night, and judging by the goals we scored there are some good players first in doubt , giving brilliant performances. our back line looked shaky for only the first time this season but, considering cup games are often filled with giant killers and upsets i would say our spirit to fight to the end was exceptional! we march on!!
AMEOBI
Sep 21, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Comment #5Abeid plays CDM – RM + CAM/CM good player
Troleibusiukas_LTU
Sep 21, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Comment #6@AMEOBI, AND SAMMY PLAYS….? RWF, SS?
TS -77
Sep 21, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Comment #7Mr Pardew will for sure have some selectionproblems when they´re all fit! Back 4 picks it self until Williamson and Santon returns to fitness but we have plenty of options in the middle. Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas, Marv, Ben Arfa, Gosling, Abeid, Guthrie, Obertan, Sameobi, Vuckic… and do I dare to say….. Smith..
Lovenkrants did himself no harm yesterday with two goals and Leon keeps banging them in.. so I thought i might give Pardew som help and present him the team to abuse Blackburn.. 🙂
Krul
Simpson – King Colo – Saylor – Raylor
Ben Arfa – Tiote – Cabaye – Marvaux
Lovenkrants – Best
Subs: Harper, Gosling, Abeid, Jonas, Obertan, Ba, Guthrie
Newcastle – Blackburn 4-0
Best 2, Lovenkrants, Cabaye
Troleibusiukas_LTU
Sep 21, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Comment #8I BET LWF…
AMEOBI
Sep 21, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Comment #9Sammie plays both wings for reserves for what I’ve seen mate
GeordieToon89
Sep 21, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Comment #10Ben Arfa wont start and neither will Lovenkrands a think it will be same team as at Villa
———Krul
Simo-Taylor-Colo-Raylor
——Tiote-Cabaye
Obertan———-Jonas
—–Ba—–Best
dak76
Sep 21, 2011 at 3:04 PM
Comment #11Just be typical if we drew man u next round!!
Mexes
Sep 21, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Comment #12when is the draw for the next round ?
Willo
Sep 21, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Comment #13Saturday
AusMag
Sep 22, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Comment #14Look where West Ham & Birmingham ended up. Relegated. Not saying we don’t have a bit of depth with our fringe players to get us in a good position for a crack at the cup – but wouldn’t be too disappointed if we bowed out. Wouldn’t want the cup to detriment our potential league position.
Lee Dodd
Sep 22, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Comment #15I still feel even though we have a Good squad we still need a quality Striker for £10 Million + !!!!!!!!! Maybe a Central Defender aswell !!!! A Good Cup run would be great Can You Imagine if we won it God The Geordie Nation Would Be Drunk for 3 Months !!!!!