The Newcastle United Blog

80 responses so far ↓

• 1 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:38 AM

  hba is the best player weve got,,,,its that simple…
  put him on the left and i would love to see jonas on the right where he could actually cross with his right paw…..santon dosnt need that much baby sitting so hba on the left is the way to go and also i think simmo could need a chaperon from time to time….so everyones a winner…
  just imagine the crosses from benny….ohhhhhhh i now i need to go change my pants

• 2 Indian Magpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:40 AM

  No ed who exactly said that

• 3 JackButler // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:41 AM

  shearermania – You’d put HBA ahead of BA, Tiote, Cabaye, Colo, Saylor and Krul???
  All players that have been consistent all season???

• 4 Indian Magpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  Mark Lawrenson May be

• 5 eastend toon // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:42 AM

  rav, still got those tickets for sat? los_miller@hotmail.com

• 6 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:43 AM

  @ jack butler….definately ….but as a left winger if we have to go 442

• 7 Stuart // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:45 AM

  As much as I believe HBA to be a class player you can’t put him above the players JB mentioned as they have been consistantly brilliant all season.

• 8 Indian Magpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:46 AM

  forget right or left, given JONAS is a shoe – in (any wing), would you have RAylor and obertan over HBA,

  I wouldnt

• 9 Raymonator // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:47 AM

  14 games to be played. 7 wins, 3 draws, 4 loss thats my bet. In Cisse we trust. Howay The Lads

• 10 norwegianmagpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:48 AM

  Joan Edmundsson apparently having a trial at norwegian club Viking.
  (Article in norwegian) Basically says he’s a player they’ve watched for a while, and that they want a closer look.
  http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/02/07/sport/fotball/joan_edmundsson/20120416/

• 11 IrishToon009 // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:49 AM

  I don’t understand how people can say HBA is our best player when he hasn’t been playing much. And isn’t showing great consistency when he is on

• 12 JackButler // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:54 AM

  I see why people want HBA to play more, but after inconsistent performances its down to him to up his game. He is capable of brilliance at times but can easily go missing during games very much like Robert used to, but its down to the player to prove that he deserves a place in the starting line up.
  To put him ahead of players that have consistently put in massive performances is crazy to me and I cant see how he has taken on this almost mythical status

• 13 hotdog // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:54 AM

  IrishToon009
  I think fans are saying he has the potential to be the best

• 14 Indian Magpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:57 AM

  My point other players were given (e.g obertan) consistant long runs in the team, he hasnt been given that

  May be injury but i dont think so

  HBA was very good against MANchester clubs

• 15 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:58 AM

  were the entertainers for gods sake..the boy needs to play….

  krul

  simmo colo willo santon

  jonas cabaye/gutrie tiote benny

  demba1 demba2

• 16 Indian Magpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:58 AM

  One of my first and fondest Memories of NUFC

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuEOkPtIynk

• 17 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:00 PM

  side note…..
  am i the only one who havent seen santons left foot…everyone was saying he could use both feet equaly good but he never uses his left and every time he comes inside on his right….
  hes a good player but very predictable

• 18 lewytoon // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:01 PM

  the thing which worries me what pardew said was
  ‘he isn’t out of the picture,yet’

  this to me sounds he has to prove himself if not, bye bye hatem

• 19 Colo-Sus // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:02 PM

  Shearmania

  I usually agree with you, but you are displaying typical nufc fan attitude here.

  We are not the entertainers anymore, thats the past move on.

  Benny will play when Pardew,(the guy that coaches/watches him every signle day) deems him ready.

  The fact is he has been 80% average 20% brilliant this season and until that balance shifts he warms the bench.

  I hope to god he pulls his finger out soon mind as I want to see him playing as much as the next NUFC fan.

• 20 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:04 PM

  colosus

  we both know you’re right……im still stuck in the nineties….cant help it….

• 21 Colo-Sus // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:06 PM

  Agree with you baout Santon btw, but a quality player in the making none the less.

  I think the wingback formation works tbh

  —————————-Krul——————————————
  —————–Sylor—–Colo—-Wilo——————————
  Santon——————-Tiote——————————–Jonas
  —————–Cabaye————Guthrie——————————————————-HBA————————————————————Ba—————–Cisse—————————–

  Still with width and crosses and a solid/more solid spine. Saylor replaced by Simmo or perch at right CB for the ime being. We dont lose height.

• 22 AdG87 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:06 PM

  Ben Arfa has a “mythical status” purely down to the fact that he was always one of the best players on football manager for years. Therefore people think he is amazing through playing a game! He is a good player with skill but tries to beat his man 3/4 times before passing/shooting (like when he ran the ball out against Brighton) and his distribution in the middle of the park is terrible. He could be a great player I agree he has a lot of skill but I’m fully behind Pardew, he needs to adapt to the league and a player shouldn’t just play due to his status (like players we bought in the past)

  People won’t like this statement but I firmly believe that at the minute our best right winger is Ryan Taylor. Can cross the ball, shoot, take free kicks, take corners, defend a bit and also play anywhere in the team quite happily.

• 23 ilovetoon8788 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:08 PM

  @Indian Magpie // Feb 7, 2012 at 11:58 AM

  i still remember when that Bellamy goal went in. i woke my entire house by screaming at 4am+ in the morning. lol..

  its been 10 years. how time flies..

• 24 Colo-Sus // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:09 PM

  the above should look like HBA sitting in behind the Dembas, I think this team plays to our strengths in every way, nothing to stop cabaye and HBA drifting wide as there is plenty of cover

  SORRY I put Guthrie in by accident just take him out with Tiote and Cabaye Cntral

  12men haha

  TYPO

• 25 nufc mad man // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:12 PM

  if chelea won the champions league would we get in as 5th place or can you only have 4 per country

• 26 ashwin say's // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:14 PM

  @sheerarmania
  dont u think
  krul
  santo.wilo.colo.jonas
  tiote
  cabaye.gutrie.hba
  ba. No9
  is more entairtaining

• 27 SurefootedShola // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:16 PM

  Well seeing as the ‘pressure is off’ for the Spuds match, maybe AP will be more inclined to try something new?

  Jonas____Perch____Guthrie____Ben Arfa(LW)

  That midfield would undoubtedly lay on some chances for Cisse and Ba.

• 28 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:16 PM

  not sure about the 3 in the back…..still remember the stoke game last season….

  first of all i think our players are very unadaptable to any system change……when we try to change our average players seems to show their inability…..
  im afraid its a 442 for the time being

• 29 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:18 PM

  @ashwin

  jonas as left back would indeeed be entertaining…remember him as a right back at the world cup and thats was pretty funny

• 30 VanToonMan // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:19 PM

  On the subject of HBA guys, take Man Utd for example….how hard working are their wingers..nani and young?…not as hard-working as pardew expects our wingers to be. That is because they have solid fullbacks like evra. The same goes for chelsea..how hard-working are Mata and Sturridge?….My point here is that FOR NOW…HBA should not play because 1) we don’t have our strongest midfielders (tiote and cabaye) back….and 2) Our fullbacks are not completely solid.

  When we have Tiote and cabaye back HBA should play. There should be no doubt that our strongest team with this season’s squad players is:

  Krul

  Simpson Taylor Collo Santon

  HBA Tiote Cabaye Marveaux

  Ba Cisse

  Which is why a top quality LB in the summer like Pieters is VITAL….Then santon moves over to RB and with Pieters at LB our fullbacks are in not in need of such hard-working fullbacks like jonas. I appreciate what jonas does for us but he basically plays like a second fullback….wingers should track back but that is not meant to be their primary goal…it’s what they do creatively which is their main task…and if we require our wingers to be ultra-defensive like jonas is then that tells us something about the ability or lack-of defensively of our fullbacks.

• 31 Wor Shearer // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:19 PM

  @nufc mad man

  Do teams still get automatic qualification for winning? not sure about that.

• 32 Wor Shearer // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:21 PM

  If we can’t fit HBA in the middle, i’d like to see him in front of Santon. I think he (and Pardew) would be more comfortable to attack.

  You could also put Jonas in front of Simmo, as I think he’s the weaker of the full backs.

• 33 ilovetoon8788 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:21 PM

  @VanToonMan // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:19 PM

  Agree with you. If we had better fullbacks we don’t need our wingers to be so hardworking every match. Except against opponents like Bale or another quality winger we can change to players like Jonas for extra cover. If not we should just throw in our wingers to attack and provide for Ba and Cisse.

• 34 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:23 PM

  @vantoonman

  with you on that one….but their whole defense is not as streched as ours which i feel is the difference…
  it seems to me one long ball perfectly weighted and we are in trouble

• 35 Wor Shearer // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:25 PM

  @shearermania

  “one long ball perfectly weighted” will beat any defence. Phil Jones own goal…..HAhahHAHA

• 36 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:27 PM

  would i love the samba monster from blackburn….would be perfect….as we dont score enough goals from corners…..besides that hes a fricking monster

• 37 IrishToon009 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:28 PM

  Granted HBA probably has the potential to be brilliant but potential shouldn’t win you a starting spot. I trust Pardews opinions of the lad and I’m sure he wants to fit him in, but that may have to wait.

• 38 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:29 PM

  against the yids i dont think bale is going to be the biggest threat…..Modric needs to be shut down, then we will get a result….and their full backs are not bad either

• 39 IrishToon009 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:29 PM

  Oh and I remember that Bellamy goal…I was very ill (was in school) came home certain of a day at home the next day. Mother saw me shouting and jumping after that goal….i was in school the next day

• 40 VanToonMan // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:30 PM

  @ilovetoon 32

  Exactly….there will be the odd few games where a team has unbelievably dangerous wingers…not many in prem but if we were in europe too maybe more so….but for most of the games…we should not need our wingers to have to double-up all the time and play as second fullbacks.

  Fullbacks are primarily there to defend and then support secondary our wingers attacking….and vice versa for our wingers….as I said I appreciate the hard-work Jonas does…but i honestly feel that he is not good enough at the task he is primarily meant to be doing…which is being a creative winger. If we had better fullbacks atm…Jonas would be on the bench because we would not require such level of protection for the fullback

• 41 Rowan Milsted // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:30 PM

  European qualification will definitely be difficult but is also doable. The league has got more competitive in my opinion, with teams like Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool slipping a bit (but still being big teams), Man Utd not hitting fifth gear, and the rise of Tottenham and City. There are now several teams who could finish top 6, and we’re one of them. I also think there are about fifteen teams with a realistic chance of finishing in the top half of the table.

  The key to us getting into Europe will be staying injury free, especially at the back. An injury to Colo or Willo could spell the end. The two Dembas need to fire on all cylinders also. If we can keep getting all 3 points against teams like Villa, and get results with games like Spurs away, I think we’ll just about do it.

  At the start of the season I targeted a top half finish, maybe top 8. As time went on top 8 got more and more realistic. Now I’m dreaming of a top 6, and it’s a realistic dream, but will be very tough due to the competition for those places, the tough games we still have left and the fact that our squad is still fairly thin.

• 42 Dannyo // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:32 PM

  I fear Tottenham, realistically i doubt we can get anything there. They’re immensly strong atm.

• 43 JackButler // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:35 PM

  After watching Spurs last night, don’t think we have anything to be overly worried about other than Bale diving.
  It will be interesting to see how King and Dawson cope with the Demba’s

• 44 ilovetoon8788 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:36 PM

  I think we should just have a go at Spurs and play without any pressure. Don’t need to be too defensive as well, as we need tremendous luck and hope they don’t turn up if we are going to even get a point there. Far too strong.

• 45 ilovetoon8788 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:36 PM

  Realistically, i don’t think we’d get anything from there either.

• 46 Jonty // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:36 PM

  Shearermania what are you on man. HBA our best player? He may be one of the most skillful but he has to contribute more to even get in the team never mind first name on the team sheet. At the moment he is so wasteful. I’ve rarely seen such an inept 45 mins that HBA put in agaisnt Blackburn last week.

• 47 shearermania // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:37 PM

  theres no doubt that so far we have over archieved…but theres many games left we could still loose a few…..im worried about the scum over taking us…..europe would be a massive archievement…..probably harder than winning one of the cups

• 48 Dannyo // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  @ilovetoon
  If we had Cabaye and Tiote, then yes, i’d be inclined that we actually could and most likely would get something, but with a midfield consisting of Perch and Guthrie, then no.
  Perch has been good in the last 3 matches, but i honestly cannot see him match up against Modric and Parker. Guthrie could, if he plays like at Villa, but Perch just isn’t that good.

• 49 hotdog // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  #15 Happy Days – We were in Osbourne’s everybodys pints got launched off the low ceiling, coverd in glass and beer haha

• 50 GeordieGesus // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  Rowan Milsted

  “I also think there are about fifteen teams with a realistic chance of finishing in the top half of the table.”

  Not a chance

• 51 JackButler // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:40 PM

  Strange we seem to worry about other teams, the fact is we are 5th and most team will worry about playing us

• 52 ilovetoon8788 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:40 PM

  @Dannyo // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:38 PM

  Agreed. Perch is decent. He played like how a DM should against Villa. Nothing out of the ordinary. But to contain players like Modric and Parker you need someone who can do the extra ordinary like Tiote.

• 53 jesperfuglsang // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM

  @JackButler

  Tiote has definitely not been consistent this season. I think you’re confusing him with last season

• 54 Rowan Milsted // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM

  Dannyo

  They’re a frightening outfit for sure. Fast, well organised, loads of goal scorers and full of confidence. I was thinking of a game plan though, it’s pretty simple but reckon with a bit of luck we could get a win out of this, though a draw will be fine by me!

  Our wingers will have to run their socks off all game (so no change there), Obers keeping pace with Bale and keeping him under pressure whenever he gets forward. Wingers and full-backs doubling up on their wingers. Look to hit them on the break, use the pace of our wingers or pass through the middle via Guthrie, keep counter attacking with Ba and Cisse running at them and causing problems. Hopefully they’ll be closer to full fitness but not sure if they’ll both make the full 90 mins. I know it’s pretty obvious stuff but if you think about it enough times it sounds like it might work

• 55 JackButler // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:46 PM

  jesperfuglsang – Take away the first few weeks of the season where he along with Ba struggle due to Ramadan, he has been consistently solid in our midfield

• 56 Jonty // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:46 PM

  However Shearermania I do agree with you about Samba. His physical prescence in both penalty boxes is immense. He would do me nicely.

• 57 Rowan Milsted // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

  GeordieGesus

  Think about the 3 teams that went up and how they’re doing (esp Swansea and Norwich), then teams like Villa, Everton, Fulham, Stoke and the Scum (unfortunately). West Brom just got top half last time. Then of course you have the ‘bigger’ teams. Competition for those top 6 places will be fierce, even the top 8 will be a close run thing.

• 58 hotdog // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

  If we perform like we did against manure we can win it. It will take that sort of performance though, here’s hoping!

• 59 jesperfuglsang // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

  @shearermania

  Like you I would love HBA in out team.

  And like so many other I would love for AP to play the kind of football he talked about when he bought Cabaye – an attacking passing style build around our #10 instead or 4-4-2 hoofball 101

  But we’re in 5th – not because of pretty football, but mainly because of luck – whether we’re the smith of our own happiness or not – but we’re there. I don’t think AP is going to change anything drastic.

  But we can also hope

  Here’s to victory on Saturday – whether it is hoofball or not.

• 60 VanToonMan // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:51 PM

  I do think that a midfield 3 of Tiote Cabaye HBA could match up to Modric Parker VDV….just a shame this game is one too early to see that battle.

• 61 jesperfuglsang // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:57 PM

  JB, I have had the same problem with Tiote this season that most people on here has with HBA; he has been giving to many balls away in central midfield.

  …and sloppy passing. Maybe I judge him because he was so immense last season.

  Hope he comes back stronger and better from the ACON

• 62 ballerfan2 // Feb 7, 2012 at 12:57 PM

  Guttierez will never be played as a right winger! Santon was bought as a LEFT back! The best premier league players, of whom I would include Santon and Gutti, although they may favour one foot or the other are very comfortable with either. Gutti’s cross for the winner was from his left. (Even the supposedly one footed Beckham in that 5-1 thrashing of Germany assisted at least 2 goals with his left.) The point is – if Pardew is happy with these players on the left then why should we keep harping on about moving them to their “natural” position as though they are being played out of position at the moment.

• 63 JackButler // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:01 PM

  Santon may be naturally right footed but his preferred position is at left back, hence the label he had as a youngster that he was going to be the next Maldini

• 64 stk85 // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:07 PM

  i have not been this happy with all things NUFC in almost ten years. wahey.

  don’t move players positions, obviously means they’re comfortable. and, instead of struggling to decide who gets the last 2 spots out of 7 mediocre players, we now have about 7 or 8 spots up for grabs by about 15 players. fantastic, and more of the same when the summer comes around.

  but of all things football that really getsa me at the moment is liverpools defence of suarez. sure you defend your own, but surely none of us would tolerate this from an nufc player? even my mate a pool fan defends suarez saying he didn’t know better. maybe not but he was still found to be a racist. surely a slap on the wrists instead of constantly defending his behaviour?

• 65 paul_nufc_87 // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:08 PM

  Given where we are you cant argue with the way pardew has handled HBA. I dont think we would be higher had we played him at every given opportunity and thats what it comes down to. Our season has been based on being the hardest working team in the league and he hasnt fit in with that. Most of our wins have been really hard faught. If he can buy into that then it will benefit the TEAM

• 66 toonfan76 // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:09 PM

  norweiganmagpie posted this earlier on, I personally think it is a really good formation.

  —————–Krul———————–
  —–Saylor—Colo—Williamson—–
  Santon————————Gutierrez
  ———–Cabaye—Tiote—————
  ——————-HBA——————–
  ——–Demba1—–Demba2———–

  Santon and Guti as attacking wingbacks.

  If the game requires it all you then have to do is take off Willo if you need to change tactics and put on Simson to revert back to your 442 and switch HBA to the wing giving you the option to swap him for Obertan if necessary.

• 67 RobertLeeNo.7 // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:09 PM

  would have to completely man mark spurs forwards and midfield and double up on there wingers and full backs, constant pressure on modric and parker is how to beat them stick guthrie to modric with no more nails glue and Gosling to Parker even when parker drops back in his own half stick to him so he can’t be used to fall back on to keep possession. When we snatch the ball when they are running out of options use quick and direct football to get it to the Dembas to run at there de3fense.,. Very old school italian football but is the only way we would get anything at white heart lane.

• 68 Rowan Milsted // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:15 PM

  toonfan76

  I think in certain situations that could be a great formation. I like it, only fear would be getting caught on the break against quick opposition with Guti and Santon committed to attack. Cabaye would have do his fair share of covering the defence a la Tiote, but he does that anyway. I wouldn’t expect us to use it any time soon though!

• 69 WWJBD // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:18 PM

  Another day another HBA debate. Easy answer work harder get in the team.

  Europa will be a hard thing to get but on our day we can beat the best in the league imo and we have some cracking players coming back we might not get it but we are capable of it specially if Cisse lands with a thud into the PL and Ba keeps his form rolling on

• 70 toonfan76 // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:19 PM

  Think that formation is dependent upon the opposition, but at the same time we really just have to play a formation that suits our players strengths. Just thought it was a good way of fitting HBA into that danger position just behind the front 2.

• 71 ToonHeart // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:21 PM

  i really want to see HBA play with Ba and Cisse… I’m sure somethign strong could come out of them!!!

• 72 tooninspain // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:28 PM

  Toonfan. Are you for real? Our left side would get roasted. I can just imagine what Lennon and Bale (who does swap wings now and then) would do this weekend against Willo and Jonas. All you’re doing is selecting what you believe to be our 10 best outfield players and coming up with a system to accommodate them. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…..I despair.

• 73 jesperfuglsang // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:28 PM

  @WWJBD

  And tomorrow will be another day where we will be discussing something else. That’s the circle of life

  But surely it’s not as simple as that; but agreed, HBA has to work harder for the team and keep it more simple.

• 74 stk85 // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:33 PM

  that formation is great. however saylor might object to playing with an injured Achilles!!!

• 75 WWJBD // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:38 PM

  Jesper
  Haha I doubt there will be out different tomorrow fella haha

  Aye its probably not as simple as that but its a easy asnwer plus I had a big debate about this yesterday and didn’t want to get into it again

• 76 Colo-Sus // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:40 PM

  Vantoonman

  Spopt on with that mate I totally agree that Pieters should be the one we sign , hes a versatil defender and can play CB comfortably too.

  __________________Krul______________________Santon________Colo_____Saylor___________Pieters
  HBA__________Cabaye___Tiote_________Marveaux______________Ba________Cisse_______________

  Our Strongest team with Pieters.

• 77 jesperfuglsang // Feb 7, 2012 at 1:41 PM

  @WWJBD

  and nor should we

  But it will always be there, coming back up from time to time because we are all so passionated about our club and hoping he will succeed.

• 78 Jinky Jim // Feb 7, 2012 at 7:51 PM

  I don’t think Benny will be considered until Cabaye and Tiote are back in the team. He is too much of a liability, he is brilliant at times but has lost the ball too many times,however we could afford that with Cabaye and Tiote in the team.

• 79 Jamesthefirst // Feb 7, 2012 at 8:25 PM

  Completely disagree with the headline of this article.

  Newcastle will finish at least 5th this season. Better defence than Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. And a midfield that Liverpool and Arsenal would kill to have.

  On top of this, the most in form striker in Europe with BA.

  Only thing that can stop us is injuries to what I regard as our 4 most important players (Krul, Colo, Cabaye, BA). Those 4 stay fit, champions league beckons lads.

  Let’s start on Sat by putting Dirty’Arry’s scum to the sword.

• 80 shpetmeister // Feb 7, 2012 at 10:32 PM

  Okay boys lets change the subject to the real problem:

  If Liverpool wins the leauge cup there qualf. So nr 5 and 6 gets europe, and nr 7 fari play, dont think engand will get that! Than so if liverpool pasts us, and one of the top teams wins the fa cup, city, arsenal, tottenham, it means another spot is for us.

  Meaning: chelsea, newcastke arsenal lverpool nr 7. From 7 amd up to 4 will get europe this season. And i think we will end in nr 7, with the lower team breathing down our neck!