Newcastle managed to keep all their top players during the January transfer window, and even bring in top Senegal striker Papiss Cisse for £9M from SC Freiburg.
The Senegal strikers Demba Ba and Papiss will not however be available for tonight’s game at Blackburn, and the big problem we have about this game is who is going to score the goals for Newcastle?
Shola Ameobi and Leon Best didn’t look like scoring at all in the last game at Brighton on Saturday, and they were not helped out by Ben Arfa and Danny Guthrie, who scored the goals in the 5-2 drubbing at Fulham in the previous game.
In that game in the second half Newcastle’s defense looked hopeless, but on Saturday it looked stronger, but we still conceded a soft goal to go out of the FA Cup at the 4th round stage to a lower league side for the second year in a row.
We have to think it’s about time Danish striker Peter Lovenkrands gets a start tonight, and probably in place of Shola Ameobi, who has shown little form over the last couple of games.
Of course Alan Pardew may keep Shola in the line-up exactly because of that – since he must be a due a goal – having scored only once all season, in the home game against Tottenham, when he rifled home the equalizer in great style.
Yohan Cabaye has received a three match suspension so is not available tonight or for the next couple of games against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.
We have a feeling that Ben Arfa will not start this game, after he was not in good form at Brighton, and gave the ball away too much.
Alan Pardew will not want to lose possession too many times in tonight’s game and we think Ryan Taylor could start the game on the right wing.
And as for who comes in for Cabaye, maybe it’s time to give young Dan Gosling a start, and it’s his 22nd birthday today.
But the good news is that captain Fabricio Coloccini is fit again after his groin injury, and will lead the side out tonight.
This is the team we think Pardew will start tonight:
Harper
Simpson Coloccini (c) Williamson Santon
Taylor (R) Gosling Guthrie Gutierrez
Lovenkrands Best
Subs: Harper Perch Abeid Marveaux Ameobi (Sh) Ben Arfa Ferguson
The keys to the game are that first of all the defense has a solid game.
We’ve been too prone lately in letting goals in and in the 12 league games since the Chelsea 3-0 defeat Newcastle have concede three or more goals in six of those games, and that’s not good.
Davide Santon is an excellent player on the ball, but his positioning at left back is often suspect, and he cannot let the winger get around him on the outside and get the cross over.
And in midfield, we will have to hope that Danny Guthrie has one of his better games tonight, and that some players will be able to go on the goal trail, although exactly who they will be, we don’t know.
Ben Arfa will play some part tonight, and of course he can score goals, but it’s about time our strikers produced the goods tonight.
Lovenkrands (3), Best (4) and Shola Ameobi (1) have only eight goals between them this season in all competitions, and that’s simply not enough.
We are not too confident about this game, and will be happy to take a point from Ewood Park tonight.
Let’s hope the lads can surprise us on the upside and win tonight, and 3 points will take us up to at least 6th position in the league, and maybe even 5th place depending on how Arsenal fare at Bolton Wanderers.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
335 comments so far
Rosted Pork
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Comment #41newcastle vs aston villa live on espn 6.25pm on sunday 5th .cheers 🙂 bak 2 bak live games
Rowan Milsted
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Comment #42@ Beattie25
I’d be surprised if we sold Guthrie, Raylor, Willo, Best or Gos. They’re all decent enough, some are better than that, and they are all good enough to be in a squad. If we lost all those players then we’d have to buy, like, a lot!
ToonMax94
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Comment #43Oryt fellaz, new to this although I have been following now for a while.
Personally think the team tonight will be
Krul
Simpson Willo Colo Santon
HBA Perch Guthrie Jonas
Shola Best
ted
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Comment #44Will the chumps at FA ban Spurs Ekotto for that tackle last night?
jesperfuglsang
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Comment #45@-Tendo-
I don’t think it’s on TV. I think they’re showing Bolton vs. Arsenal
ToonDownSouth
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Comment #46You need to have squad players…
Ashley’s not going to pay for replacements for Guthrie, Raylor, Best, Gosling, etc this summer is he?
geoff777
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Comment #474 browser links
http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/
I use firstsports if I can’t get Sopcast. Good for SSN too!.
It’s decent quality. Use fullscreen to avoid ads.
ToonHeart
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Comment #48I would like to see Lovenkrands start tonight. He must have more chance than Ameobi surely?
Eastander
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #49How about Lovenkrands and Santon up front, that would be something a bit more pacey up front haha
Afterall, Santon was a striker at inter till he was 18
drongo
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #50I think for tonight well line up as
—————Krul
Simmo—Willo–Collo—Santono
——-Raylor–Guthrie–Jonas
———HBA–Shola—Best
And I think Demba 1 and Ober will come off the bench, as will perch
Enough there for a win if you ask me
NUFC_Croatia
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #51if someo0ne have a dreambox you can watch on tring sport 2 sattelite-eutelsat w3c on 16 degress east
Colo-Sus
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #52Beattie
You are panicking and over reacting mate, we wont have an exodus, it will be gradual, It will all be about youth
and thats a good thing
-Tendo-
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #53jesperfuglsang – i meant anywhere! i know SS are showing unwashed vs norwich and i think its ESPN showing aresnal game but we can usually find most games as long as its being aired somewhere,
bob
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #54Oh no not Lovenkrands we will certainly be beaten with another numpty in the team!
Toon_Tom
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #55Abu Dhabi Sports
AD Sports HD
ESPN 3 (USA)
ESPN Caribbean
Fox Sports 3 (Australia)
Sport TV4
SportKlub+ (SE Europe)
SuperSport 7 (Za)
Tring Sport 2
TV2 PL HD3 (Norway)
Viasat Sport (Sweden)
Viasat Xtra PL2
likeajediknight
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #56like to see tonight a solid team, think pardews missed a trick taking obertan out of the squad, he tracks better than HBA and teams dont double up on him like they do HBA either. return to a more pardew like team if u ask me as these random formations and weak attempts at total football are ruining our season so lineup tonight should be:
Krul
Simpson Colo Wilo Raylor
Obertan Guthrie Gosling Guti
Best Loven
Might be seen as backwards but without cheik on the pitch i cant see HBA getting a game, n obv put the dembas in when theyre back
Toon_Tom
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #57jedi – you would drop Santon???
bob
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Comment #58Best must be chuffed hes surplus after being offered to Celtic and Rangers that will do his confidence the power of good!
laurent roberts left boot
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Comment #59laurent roberts left boot // Jan 31, 2012 at 2:07 AM
Not sure if its been mentioned but about 15 reserves got released today (well yesterday), the ones that stand out being Tamas Kadar, Phil Airey, Jeff Henderson, Johan Edmundsson… Bradden Inman and about 4 others have been kept on, Dan Taylor from the academy has also been released i personally didn’t expect this at all, thoughts? and as for the Ba rumour, b0lick$!! ..
ok maybe not 15 haha but i was sort of right, dont understand why this has happened as i thought these lot were the brightest prospects below the obvious vuckic, abeid etc oh well
NUFC_Croatia
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:43 PM
Comment #60my team for tonight
krul
simpson willo collo santon
r.taylor gosling guthrie gutierrez
ben arfa
best
-Tendo-
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:44 PM
Comment #61bob – he wasn;t offered to either, celtic tried signing him on loan last night but he decided to stay
Toon_Tom
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Comment #62bob – a loan bid came in, he wasnt offered as we/he rejected it!
Toon_Tom
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Comment #63Tendo – you stole my reply 😉
VanToonMan
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #64I think this should be the team:
Krul
Simpson/R. Taylor Willo Collo Santon
Ben Arfa Guthrie Gosling Jonas
Obertan Best
Ben Arfa and Obertan can interchange at some point. Obertan’s pace is blistering and he has a good shot on him…he will be too quick for Blackburn’s centrebacks. Pace is what will scare the blackburn defence tonight. Don’t rate ameobi that much but could be effective coming on in the last 20mins. What do you guys think of the lineup?
Lynxie
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #65For me, I would bring in Perch to the rescue tonight as def mid. Just sit in front of the back four. Done OK in recent weeks, we might just have found his best position (apart from on the bench that is).One thing he knows how to do, is tackle his body weight (are you reading this Simpson / Shola?)……GRRRRRRR
Shola will be hopefully creating havoc in Row Z or hopefully in the dugout (and at the very very back of the dug out) or at the concession stands (coz he is a devoted loyal geordie………….).
t00ntime
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #66Newcastle and best both rejected the offer, proves bob is a mackem 😛
GeordieMeerkat
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:48 PM
Comment #67Assou-Ekotto’s not getting banned for his poor tackle last night. What a surprise!
-Tendo-
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #68how has asso ekoto (cant spell his name) got away with what he did last night and cabaye gets punished!? Bet its because its one of dirty ‘arry’s players! The FA are a joke
Lynxie
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #69van Toon Man@62:
‘Obertan has a good shot on him’?
What are you drinking man? Exactly when did this happen? (date / fixture / time / drugs taken / amount of drink consumed?)
jeeeezus………………..
Toonboy_84
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Comment #70I would rather raylor or even Jonas over gosling in cm.
Lynxie
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Comment #71My team for tonight
Krul
nattrass
kennedy
Moncur
Burton
Hibbitt
Green
Messi Ronaldo Shearer Ginola
etc etc etc
its easy this! bears no relation to reality ……………
WWJBD
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:52 PM
Comment #72Krul
Simmo willo colo santon
HBA Raylor Guthrie Gutti
Shola Best
That’s my bet on tonights line up
-Tendo-
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:53 PM
Comment #73Sky Sports are saying that Yakuba is still suspended
Toon_Tom
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:55 PM
Comment #74Van Toon Man – Obertan has had 1 shot on target this season. That is FACT, honestly, look it up!
VanToonMan
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:55 PM
Comment #75@Lynxie
Haha honestly i think he has a decent shot and a lot of man utd fans say the same thing. He has no footballing brain and takes too long to cross the ball but he is express quick and has got power in his right foot when shooting. Him running in behind the slow blackburn defenders would be effective in my opinion.
jatt1988
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #76Why isnt vukic been included the last few squads he is more than good enough to play and should get a chance upfront playing with best.
euanpolo
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Comment #77Krul
Simpson – Williamson – Coloccini – Santon
Ben Arfa – Guthrie – Abeid – Gutierrez
Best – Lovenkrands
Subs: Harper, Perch, R. Taylor, Gosling, Vuckic, Obertan, Shola Ameobi
jatt1988
Feb 1, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Comment #78This should be tonights team
krul
simpson collo willo santon
ben arfa abeid guthrie gutti
vukic
best
mattyNUFC
Feb 1, 2012 at 3:02 PM
Comment #79toonboy84
agree 100%. anybody but gosling (abeid, Vuckic, HBA, Raylor, Jonas) Abeid’s my first choice. let’s see if pardew has the balls
True-Geordie123
Feb 1, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Comment #80Has anyone got an idea on a live streaming websitE for tonight’s game, really want to watch it 😀 much appreciated