Alan Pardew is not blaming the make-shift center-backs for the defeat on Saturday.
Fab Coloccini – will definitely play on Saturday
And he points the finger at the general team display, which was just not good enough to get anything out of a game we would have been looking to have won with our best side out.
But it wasn’t the best side by any measure, and we had Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson and Cheick Tiote all missing, and any one of those could have assisted the defense on Saturday, big time.
This is what Alan said about the game on Saturday:
“When you are under pressure you are going to concede set plays, we just had to do better at them.” “We should have been a bit more competitive when the ball was being delivered, regardless of our center-halves.”
“When a team is missing centre-halves, you incentivise your side to put delivery in and go and attack it.” “There was perhaps a little more venom in them at set plays.”
“Cheick Tioté has a very good chance and Colo certainly, we think he will be back. He was touch and go on Saturday but we could not risk him.” “We went down to ten men and we were still in the game.”
“We have a nice points tally but we hive come into a run against the top teams, and we have lost players through injury.” “We are just having one of those little injury runs and it is affecting us this year.”
As we said over the weekend, there’s nothing much wrong at Newcastle, that 3 points will not put right on Saturday afternoon.
And that’s even more true if we can get Mike Williamson back playing again, and if not on Saturday, then the next game, which is a home game against WBA on Saturday 17th December – KO 3:00 pm.
Both the next couple of games are at home and winnable.
Mike Williamson can do a job for Newcastle now that Steven Taylor is out injured fit the season, and if history is anything to go by, that’s just exactly what the 27 year-old 6’4″ center-back will do.
Comments welcome.
134 comments so far
Klatoon
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Comment #1Is Best fit,it should be him or HBA alongside Ba. Shola is more effective as a sub when the defenders are abit tired.
partizanovec
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:37 AM
Comment #2Finally some good news.
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Comment #3@Klatoon
Agreed, but i thought Shola was decent on Saturday, and even better in the 2nd half, a gem of a pass he had to Ba to score the goal.
Anyone seen the “Tiote goes to witchdoctor” thing yesterday? He’s a muslim, muslims don’t use witchdoctors, unless he practices his religion poorly.
It’s piling on the pressure this rumour about Tiote leaving, Pardew should cut the cord on it soon if there’s no truth in it. Even i’m starting to be suspicios now.
Jan Stavik
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Comment #4We’ve lost some steel up front with Best out. He’s making room for Ba, and his hold up play is very good. Shola has a couple of decent games before he’s off to a terrible streak and then eventually gets injured, so just drop him asap.
Klatoon
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Comment #5Dannyo
he was ok but compare that to when he came on against Chelsea,he was immense! That Tiote story is bollocks,it says he flew back to Ivory Coast some time in the last 3 weeks WITH THE CLUB’s APPROVAL,really?????????
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #6@klatoon
yeah, my thoughts on the story exactly. It’s just so unlikely it could be true, lol.
And yes, Shola is a supersub, and should stay that way, but then again, this was Norwich, the one team to not have a clean sheet so far this season.
daztoon
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #7@Dannyo
For sure if they aint got the ball they can`t hurt us.Yeah Shola did ok but left his man Holt twice for his goals and even saw Simpson marking Holt at one point
GeordieToon89
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Comment #8Must say if coloccini is back for swansea we should give williamson an extra few days keep him for the west brom game instead ano its not ideal cos means havin perch cb again but its worth it so we dont risk a big setback with willo
jayphoto
Dec 12, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #9Very interested to see if Santon starts at home to swansea! Thought he looked good against Norwich, certainly more assured than Taylor!
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #10@Jayphoto
Compared to Raylor, Santon was the best LB in the flippin world, thats the difference between them.
toonbrother
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Comment #11Pardew has noone but himself for the defeat on Saturday. If Tiote isnt fit I dont see us taking anything from the next game either. Pardew isnt bright enough to come up with a winning strategy without him or Cabaye .Note that we havent won a single game since Leon Best dropped out of the team . Even radio commentators observed how important Best has been to us in defending set pieces yet PardUMB in his infinite wisdom opted to start Strolla and leave him on the bench on Saturday. SMH
Jail for Ashley
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Comment #12I dont think we should all be so quick to slate Pards as his tactics have been ok so far this season,and I remember him saying in an interview earlier this season that he’s not going to get it right all the time,maybe he was to blame on saturday but he certainly hasnt been helped by this latest injury crisis,and who comes in for Tiote now that Danny Guthrie is crocked,Dan Gosling has proved himself incabable and suspended for three games anyway I can only think of Alan Smith unless hes prepared to give that Abeid a shot.
jayphoto
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Comment #13I think he’ll play abeid before Alan Smith! Tbh though, If tiotes out on saturday, It wouldn’t shock me if Ryan Taylor comes into central midfield. Can’t blame pardew, We have 5 centrehalves injured if you count 2 of the young lads and possibly our prize asset most valuable player in Tiote! Most teams will struggle when they have 3 players out, their best player, and their best players replacement in Guthrie!
WWJBD
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Comment #14Really? I mean really? Are people seriously slating Pards this season? What do u want CL?
We are 7th and lost a match were our KEY players were injured
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #15@Jail
Yeah, it was a one game thing, all we can assume is that he bases his selection allot on what he sees in training and on-form players.
All we see are the matches really. Cabaye is also booked and is suspended for a match.
It’s either Cheik-Abeid, Cheik-Smith or Smith-Abeid in the middle. And ofc there’s Vuckic who could prob do a job. But i dunno, i’m guessing Smith would be preffered due to his “experience”:
WWJBD
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #16Dannyo
Are u sure Cabaye is suspended? There seems to be some confusion on that point
daztoon
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Comment #17what about Guti in the middle and fergi on the wing
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Comment #18@WWJBD
Pards took a gamble imo, and a bad one at that. I was furious when i saw that team sheet. It’ll happen, everyone will have a one off one time or another.
But against Norwich strength would be key, he KNEW that, he knew that 100%, and still didn’t field Kadar. Even if fielding Kadar, it couldn’t have gone much worse could it?
This is hindsight tho ofc, but still, he took a highly risky gamble, and i can understand him wanting to use speed against strength. It worked in open play, not so much on set pieces/crosses. I knew it would be troublesome when i saw the sheet, i flippin knew it.
But it was a gamble i can understand, but i wouldn’t have done it myself.
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Comment #19Just saw NUFC.com fixtures list, cabaye has only 4 yellow cards not 5, so i think he is available
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Comment #20@WWJBD
Pardew said so after the match in his NUFCtv interview. He’s had things wrong before tho, lol.
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Comment #21Just recieved answer for Mark Douglas and nufcfans on twitter.
Both saying Kadar is just not rated. Hopefully Mark can pose the question as to why there was no Kadar in the squad.
WWJBD
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Comment #22Dannyo
He had to take a gamble, there was no one else. Kadar is obvously not nearly good enough just because he is taller is no reason he should play.
Pards et al are paid to pick and judge the team Kadar was judged to not even make the bench when we had no CBs fit that tells me a lot and for fans to say he should of played makes no sense imo
And u say it couldn’t of gone worse well possibly but Pards wouldn’t know that unless he had a crystal ball my friend
gorgonzola
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #23What the team is missing Pardew is common sense and that is Perch not to play at NUFC ever again
Dude
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #24not knocking pardew, he’s been immense. but what is it with kadar ? heard rumours that he gets anxious with big crowds. would explain him playing regular in the stiffs but never 1st team. and where’s vuckic ? he is always somewhere else. think hba should be a fixture. with only one of colo and tiote missing we’ll beat swansea. with 2 out we’ll struggle for composure again.
WWJBD
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #25Dannyo
Haha aye Pards said he was suspended but, bless him, he does make the odd interview mistake
From what everyones said Cabaye is free to play. Will find out on Sat I guess
davybtoon
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Comment #26From the highlights I’ve seen I don’t think u can really blame the cb for the goals gosling at fault for one, another there 3players marking holt n he still wins it n non of them r cbs, n the other 2 was really bad marking on 2 set pieces, ba goals r amazing, also goslings tackle never a straight red if that’s what it was, I don’t think u can really blame pards he shud played kadar but apar from that there’s nothing u can say, u can’t even blame not buying CBS in the window as the way our lucks goin with injuries there chance they wud injured
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Comment #27@WWJBD
Yes, i’m well aware of what difficulties Pardew has picking a back four so depletet of bodies.
But the lads the captain of the reserves, who’s only lost two matches i think so far? Could be wrong.
But then he isn’t rated highly enough to start over two fullbacks in the CB position.
I mean, the lad must be an AWFUL player to not even make the bench. And i mean bad. Loven and Smith are bad players, and outdatet, but still manage to be selected.
I just don’t get the reasoning for picking who he did. And it’ll baffle me forever, atleast until our next win, lol.
And ye, hope Cabs is available, was terrific against Norwich.
gorgonzola
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #28Dannyo well said..infact the way these peapole describe him he should not play football at all yet he is an international ..HAHHAHAHAHHAHAh what a joke nooo dont pick Kadar he is isss soo baaaddd he iss soooo not rated..then WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING IN MY CLUB THEN…Play him or ship him FFS….
idiots…
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Comment #29@davy
Thats what i said too, i really cannot fault Simmo and Perch tbh. But the markings where’nt good enough, Holt was allowed to move freely when he scored, atleast 2 yards between him and any other players. Someone should’ve been blocking him infront, made him either miss the header completely or atleast he’d struggle to get a clean one on it.
I think Gosling will come good, he just looks overly energetic to me, he wants it too much and ends up making mistakes. Probably because he pressures himself so much he just won’t stay calm on the ball. A bit erratic at times.
mattnufc
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Comment #30What is with Pardew’s refusal to play Ben Arfa on the wing? Would surely have more of an impact than Sammy.
gorgonzola
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #31Not fault hm..Perch all he did was give away free kicks Look at the way he market holt when he nearly scored across the wing….its a JOKE and it was SICK to watch…. reminds me of how amateurs play….
Stuart
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #32Dannyo – You seem to want to refuse the opinions of our manager, assistant manager, reserve team manager and all the coaches concerning Kadar haha.
If all them people who see him day in, day out don’t rate him, why do you? When was the last time you saw him play?
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #33kadar is not RATED, i dont know so i will not comment.
But Perch is rated?????????????. i C sum1 saying that he had a good game and we conceded 3, well i shutter to think what will happen if he had a bad game,
did we not concede when he played against forest.
No wait that was collo’s fault
gorgonzola
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #34“What is with Pardew’s refusal to play Ben Arfa on the wing? Would surely have more of an impact than Sammy.”
Amen….would also have more impact than Obertan for sure too…. I dont get it he would be a REYES for Atletico or Hazard for lille makes no sense
WWJBD
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #35Dannyo
Captain of the reserves again doesn’t mean much to me haha
Imo if he was better than either Perch or Simmo at CB Pards would of picked him only thing that makes sense is he just isn’t which isn’t a shock considering what came out about him recently.
Aye I love Cabaye like close to my Barton love 😉
gorgonzola
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #36Indian Magpie….
Mate I am just as confused as you are….
Klatoon
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #37People on Twitter reckon Maiga may be in Toon this week for preliminary talks,unlikely but it would be good to know we are starting our January business early. Watched him against PSG this weekend and he was uncormfortable in a lone striker role,definitely a natural support striker.
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #38@ stuart
Kadar played for us in championship, did well kept a clean sheet against 1 of the sheffield clubs.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Comment #39Its plain for all to see that we need a bigger squad,but even so I think any team would have struggled with the injuries we’ve suffered coild be a blessing in disgiuse this could be the only situation that makes MA realise he has to spend a few quid in January.
Dannyo
Dec 12, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Comment #40@Gorgon
Ye, but we all knew Perch and Simmo would be bullied if there was a powerstruggle for the ball. Thats why we deployed the high back line, so they would run out into offside. And that worked farely good really, got them quite often, but it’s risky business, miss it once and it may be a goal. Simmo covered well and blocked the shot when Holt came from the edge.