Alan Pardew again used his bench wisely on Saturday afternoon, as the changes he made certainly made a difference, and had Newcastle playing much better in the second half.
Alan Pardew in Tiote’s face for some reason on Saturday
Ben Arfa we thought made a positive difference when he came on at half time, and Sylvain Marveaux set up Yohan Cabaye’s goal nicely with a deft piece of skill.
Alan Pardew must have a lot of players knocking on his door wanting to play these days, but he’s managed to keep most of his players happy so far, and has instilled in them a team ethic, and as long as the team keeps picking up the points like they’ve been doing, it’s just great.
This is what Alan said to the local Newcastle press:
“Our two wide players Jonás Gutiérrez and Gabriel Obertan have done terrifically well this year and Jonás was great against Wigan,”
“Obertan is trying to find his feet still but he has got Marveaux breathing down his neck and that is difficult.” “It would be the same the other way round.”
“I like it if everyone in the group is getting a piece of the action so I am spreading the bench around a bit at the moment, trying to keep our players mentally alive.”
“I have got absolutely no dilemmas,” “This is a great feeling being where we are. It is great for the players and we now go to the next game.”
Pardew is taking the Carling Cup 4th round tie very seriously, and is refusing to give even the slightest hint as to what his team selection will be tomorrow night.
There’s a chance that Alan may field a much stronger side than we expect, with only a few changes from the side that beat Wigan on Saturday.
Maybe he’ll bring in Davide Santon for Danny Simpson at right back, Ben Arfa for Leon Best up front and Sylvain Marveaux on the right wing for Gabriel Obertan, and that may be it.
But Steven Taylor is unlikely to play with his broken nose, and it seems that only James Perch is available as cover at center-back, with Mike Williamson still out injured.
That will be the main news before the game – exactly what side Alan will play at Ewood Park tomorrow night.
Alan has made it cleat that the Carling Cup is the best chance Newcastle have of winning something this season, so it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he only made three or four changes for that game.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
27 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Oct 25, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Comment #1All i want is a side capable of winning, not lumberjacks
pardew no 1
Oct 25, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Comment #2i think we should rest jonas and play marveux on the left and play obertan on the right because he is still not that confident we should rest ryan taylor and play santon were we bought him for at left back and ba for ben arfa and just play best to get him confident again and keep krul on and play the amazing perch as well lol
GeordieToon89
Oct 25, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Comment #3must say a dont think Obertan has been terrific like had 1 good game but maybe hes just saying it to give the lad abit of confidence
GeordieToon89
Oct 25, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #4—————Krul
Simpson-Perch-Colo-Santon
———Abeid-Gosling
Obertan-Ben Arfa-Marveaux
———-Lovenkrands
70mins – Obertan for Sammy
70mins – Ben Arfa for Vuckic
80mins – Lovenkrands for Best
Toon_Tom
Oct 25, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #589 > agree with that mate, however i would play Santon RB and replace Simo, as i strongly think that, moving forward, AP will look to keep Raylor at LB for the majority of this season, and Santoon will obv start playing, so i think it will be RB for him. (he says he can play both posisions himself) But i would definitely rest Jonas for Marv and let Oba have another crack at Blackburn. And i hope he keeps to his word and starts with Krul!!!! Dont trust Elliot = couldnt catch a cold!!!
WWJBD
Oct 25, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #6If Pardew keeps Raylor at LB for this season then it would be a huge mistake imo. He limits Guti and he is never in position. Mose and Hugo tore him apart against Wigan
Stuart
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Comment #7nail on the head there WWJBD, not only does it stop Guti getting forward enough, he isnt a natural defender, or left sided for that matter lol.
He’s been doing well so far but its mostly blocks hes been noticed for, not tackles or positional play.
Get Santon in and see what he can do.
PHOENIXNIGHTS
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Comment #8If we seriously want to win this then play the strongest team. Most of the clubs left are involved in Europe and will play second string for this cup. Strongest team please.
John
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #9Shane ferguson will get a game at LB Santon at RB.
Rowan Milsted
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Comment #10We’ve got to start palying Santon, for me the obvious thing to do is to play him at LB and swap Raylor to RB. I reckon Marveaux, Ben Arfa and Gosling/Guthrie could all get a start. Is Sammyobi injured? If not he should pplay some part. Blackburn’s defending is so, so bad, we have to attck the game and go for early goals. A quarter final draw would be immense.
WWJBD
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #11Stuart
Yeah mate his blocks and FKs have earned him decent reviews, and fair play to him for it, but Cabaye can hit very good FKs and as for blocks well am sure Santon can stick his long legs in the way of a ball
As for RB well Simpson is a better defender that Raylor imo and he doesn’t get covered as much
GeordieToon89
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #12why would we buy a player to play Left back and then only play him right back? yes he’s a natural right back who plays left back but we signed him as Enriques replacement and as far as i remember im sure Enrique played Left back, if Raylor is to stay in the team why not play him in his natural position of RB
ToonDownSouth
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #13Am I the only one that misses Guthrie 🙁
GeordieToon89
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Comment #14WWJBD – to be honest if Simo had someone like Guti on his side he would be in the england squad lol
GeordieToon89
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Comment #15TDS – yeah mate haha
nah he could of been a really good player he is so good at passing and is a good little battler in the CM problem was when hoots was here he kept playing him on the wing and he was terrible as he aint a winger but if he can stay fit and get his confidence and performances up he could be a real player for us
WWJBD
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Comment #16Haha very possible GT89 tbf he was being touted for a call up last season and he was on the right all by himself haha
ToonDownSouth
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Comment #17Fair play to Pardew for sticking with the 11 though. Some might say he doesn’t have the balls to drop them, but it’s also important that the players realise that there’s a reward for good team performances.
Look at City – Milner was benched all last season, then Mancini has given him a run of games and he’s been incredible in every single one of them!
As for Obertan, I think we should stick by the lad. Pardew said on the radio that he’s got next to no confidence. His defensive work cannot be ignored either, and we don’t yet know how Marveaux is with defensive duties.
andymac887
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Comment #18krul
r.taylor colo perch santon
guti gosling cabaye marv
ben arfa
best
to start if where winning bring cabaye off 1st
magpiebop
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #19V Blackburn
Krul.
Santon,STaylor?,Collocini(c),Ferguson.
SAMeobi,Gosling,Vuckic,Marveaux.
Ben Arfa.
Best.
Subs- Elliot, RTaylor, Kadar, Abeid, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Hooper.
Either Simpson, Perch on standby for bench duty, if STaylor unfit then Kadar plays!
It’s a long season and we need to keep the squad fresh to challenge for Champions League and the two cups aswell as finding our best starting eleven for the league wii the top 3 to play!
Sav
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Comment #20Blackburn won’t care too much about the Carling – can’t afford to – so I’d expect it will be a reserve side unless Kean thinks this will be his last game if he loses it.
LEROI
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Comment #21Ok lets just make 5 out of 11 possible changes here’s mine. 1=Kadar in 4 saylor. 2=santon in 4 raylor. 3=marveux in 4 obertan. 4=abeid 4 cabaye. 5=Hba 4 Ba. Ahh done & dusted just the way blackburn will be!
Cardboy
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Comment #22I think rest Obertan. The guy would endear himself more if he ran the line with his pace and took people on more. In the wigan game he didnt seem to want to do that. He’s supposed to be fast. Crowd wants to see some pace from him with a cross on the end. Confidence would follow the effort made and appreciation given.
Lew Davies
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Comment #23no way will Kadar get a start ahead of perch. so
I think Santoon, Perch, Colo, Fergy. Cabaye, Obertan, HBA and Marveaux in le diamond with Best and Ba up front.
But then again, thank gawd I’m not the gaffer.
😆
LEROI
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #24What does Perch do consistantly in trainin that we’ve never seen him do on the actual field of play??!! God he must be one hell of a worker up in benton like!
Toon Tang
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Comment #25hahaha that pic of tiote and pards is priceless like…
beefman13
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Comment #26there will definatly be a few changes 2moro night tiote is out and saylor is out for starters, i believe santon will play for simpson but i am really dreading the manager brings in alan smith instead of tiote, his time at NUFC surely has to be over we need to get vucic and fergie and abeid and gosling involved these kids are the future, and as for guthrie well he like smith is the past.
markmac
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:58 PM
Comment #27reading what AP said the other day i get a feeling we may see our no’17 playing…..