Yohan Cabaye starts this afternoon in central midfield and Hatem Ben Arfa also gets a start today out on the right wing at Craven Cottage, in the important game against Fulham.
Ben Arfa comes in for Ryan Taylor, and it seems that Yohan Cabaye is indeed fit after sustaining an ankle injury last Sunday in the 1-0 win over QPR.
It had looked like Yohan Cabaye had been ruled out yesterday, as Alan Pardew had said the French International was really struggling to make the game, but that was probably a little gamesmanship from the Newcastle manager.
So there is only one change from the side that stared against QPR, and Ben Arfa is rewarded for his hard work last Sunday, but it’s pity that Ryan Taylor doesn’t also start this afternoon, because he is also a goal threat for Newcastle.
We have to hope that Leon Best and Shola Ameobi are among the goals this afternoon.
For Fulham, former Newcastle players Damien Duff starts and Aaron Hughes is on the bench and Bryan Ruiz, whom Newcastle went after back on August 31st before he signed for Fulham, also starts for the Cottagers.
Howay The Lads!!
Teams:
Fulham (4-3-3): David Stockdale; Stephen Kelly, Brede Hangeland, Philippe Senderos, John Arne Riise; Steve Sidwell, Danny Murphy (c), Clint Dempsey; Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora, Bryan Ruiz
Substitutes: Neil Etheridge, Matthew Briggs, Chris Baird, Aaron Hughes, Kerim Frei, Marcel Gecov, Andrew Johnson
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon; Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez; Leon Best, Shola Ameobi
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, James Perch, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Peter Lovenkrands
942 comments so far
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Comment #81Anybody know how Ed is doing? Ed hope your doing well mate! I’m praying for you keep fighting. This blog has been apart of my life for a long time now. My last tour I’n Iraq, when I would come I’n to a pog (person otherthen grunt) fob (forward operating base) that had Internet once every month or two from living I’n hides and firsbases I’n fallujAh and ramadi I would check the blog first thing. Thanks for everything you’ve done for the toon
super magpie
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #82Knew cabaye would be fit it’s pardews usual smokescreen
WWJBD
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Comment #83niafron
Mate I trust ur opinion of him, u know far more about him than I do or ever will most likely and u could well be right that he is a different type of footballer than the ones I campare him too (my view has been made biased by the amount of people who seem to favour him over the club on here in my eyes. Not his fault but it puts me on the back foot in terms of how I see him)
For me I just want players who put the team above themselves which from what I have seen of HBA this season for the most part he hasen’t which makes me wonder about his attitude. Again I could be wrong and he is just trying too hard
I hope he continues to play like he has been recently when he has looked like part of the team and he is happy to do what is needed for NUFC
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Comment #84I am from the south, little rock Arkansas, the dirty south of USA lol but I’m a yank to all my toon army brothers…. See y’all at half watching kickoff
Spuggy
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #85We could end up 5th above Gooners if we win and they lose to Manu tomoz!!
Hope Arfa does the business on the wing as I believe that’s his best position or right MF in a 433.
HWTL…!
Spuggy
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #86Chelsea lost 2 points!! (again)
WWJBD
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #87I do think it speaks volumes about how hard he has worked that he got the nod over Raylor today. Pards rewards work ethic rather than popularity imo
Steve_48
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #88Afternoon Lads
Cool Hand Luke
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #892 pts off 4th if we win. HWTL
Thump
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #90Pards is really pulling out the mind games, eh? Glad to see Arfa on the wings – now we’ll see what he can really do.
Toonboy_84
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #91Anyone seeing this raylor interview on ssn?
Rosted Pork
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #92i love simpsons smile 🙂
Twatter
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #93good link:
http://soccer-portal.org/online/
jayphoto
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #94Niafron: Benny’s full interview was unbelievable! Never seen a player so honest and baring his soul!\
Glad he’s playing today but i’d have rather have seen a formation that i call 4-4-1-HBA – which is essentially 4 at the back (the usual, 4 in midfield but obertan or R.Taylor right mid, Best upfront on his own and Benny literally just going wherever he likes! A true free role!
WWJBD
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Comment #95@Scottwilsonecho Scott Wilson
Mohamed Al-Fayed doing a walkabout milking the applause on pitch at Craven Cottage. Don’t go getting any ideas Mike…. #NUFC
Hahahaha
Nufcer
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Comment #96http://coolsport.tv/stream3.html
Stream for all my fellow norwegians here:)
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Comment #97as sonn as i read yesterday from cwarr07 that cabaye will miss tomorrows game as he has his foot in a proptective cast. even though he was on nufc.co.uk training with his team m8s i knew he was a cert to start.
Rosted Pork
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Comment #98lets win dis game an then try for the champian league spot 😉
GeordieGesus
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Comment #99Just time for a prayer before I go to fridge.
Our team that Plays at Saint James’ Park.
On that Hallowed ground.
The goals will come,
At home or away
Give us this day an easy win.
As we will forgive your miss passes
We will forgive those who miss pass against us.
Lead us not into relegation
But deliver us into top competition.
For this is Newcastle
Through ups and downs
For ever and ever
Howay the Lads.
Tonytoon73
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Comment #100GG that little idiot planb. I would kick him that hard up the arse, his arse cheeks would black his eyes.
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Comment #101WWJBD if we get back into europe and things keep goin well the not as fatman can go anywhere he likes.
Rosted Pork
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Comment #102imagen at the end of the season if we finish 4th. n the CL ANTHEM been played at SJP …. wow 🙂
Marty-Toon
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Comment #103Ha ha,
Ben Arfa up against Riise ….should be fun
Thump
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:55 PM
Comment #104Our lord who art in heaven,
Please read GeordieGesus’ post at 99 and heed his call. It is important.
Amen.
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:55 PM
Comment #105Hope the lads play with fire I’n there belly Chelsea dropped points and teams ahead of us are playing each other so pints are gonna get dropped ahead of us we gotta make a move, Besty and strolla gotta step up, see y’all at half hwtl
WWJBD
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #106BOOM BOOM
Dunno about that like…he steps foot on our pitch and I might not be able to hold back the boos 😉
Jonny
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #107http://www.firstrow.tv/watch/103346/1/watch-fulham-fc-vs-newcastle-united.html
Play it safe!
niafron
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #108@WWJBD
Well, Beny seem to be an independant mind, so it would be maybe right to say he’s an individualist, but it does not mean being selfish.
In my point of view, to sacrify everything to the group isn’t good either. It must be a point of balance between the interest of the individual and those of the communauty.
Between Freedom, and common work. The perfect conjonction between respect and solidarity.
Gateshead_Geordie
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #109Paul Merson is a tosser. 1st class w@nker. Lets go 5th today and shove his “punching above our weight” comment up his @rse
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Comment #1104 mins tick tick tick tick tick tock tick tick come on u geordies
RobertNufc25
Jan 21, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Comment #111Is it just me or does that first row ask everybody to download a plugin everytime you got to watch It??
Ilivid or something like that??
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Comment #112hes probably after been at the other stuff b4 he went on the show krul our best player? hes been good but hes not in my top 3 ba tiotecabaye and a toss upbetween collo and krul and if tayls was fit hed be top of that list.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Comment #113ben arfa to wreck havoc on fulham!
Thump
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Comment #114‘kin hell. I started giving up smoking last night. The second the match is close to kick off I start craving like mad.
Howay lads, don’t give me a reason to smoke…
WWJBD
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Comment #115niafron
Aye I agree mate and we will have to see if HBA can find that balance…though if I had to pick I’d have someone who gave his all for the team over someone who does it all for themselves
BUT I am looking forward to seeing Cabaye, Jonas and HBA having fun today
HWTL
ilovetoon8788
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:01 PM
Comment #116let’s hope the fulham that lost to blackburn turns up. because if the one that beat arsenal turn up, we might be in for a long day. they are good team, just so damn inconsistent.
Hatem
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:01 PM
Comment #117good start
Spuggy
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #118433!
Tonytoon73
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #119Thump bad time to give up smoking, transfer window time.
WWJBD
Jan 21, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Comment #120433?!?!