This will be Alan Pardew’s first game at St. James’ Park in the Tyne Wear derby game on Sunday.
Alan Pardew – gets side ready for big test against Sunderland
Pardew has fared very well against Sunderland in his derby game sat the Stadium of Light and we won 1-0 in August and were winning 1-0 back in January before Sunderland equalized in the third minute of injury time.
In this game Newcastle will be expected to win the game although Saturday’s second half display was a little worrying.
Bu Sunderland also didn’t play well over the weekend, in fact they put in their worst display under Martin O’Neill when they went crashing 4-0 at West Brom.
Alan talked to the local press today:
“Sunderland have had a heavy result, and they’ll be coming here to put that right.” “We’ve had the disappointment of leading 2-0 and getting pegged back.”
“Both teams look like they’re in good shape to have a bit of a ding dong.” “We’ve got a great points total, and it’s another point.”
“Never underestimate a point in the Premier League.” “On injury problems I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
We were devastated on Saturday that Newcastle couldn’t hold onto a 2-0 lead at St. James’ Park in front of 52,287 fans – a complete sell-out.
But we couldn’t, and credit has to be given to new Wolves manager Terry Connor, who cannily played with five across the midfield and got his players geared up for that second half come-back.
And Terry revealed that for the first three days of last week a lot of his players couldn’t train properly, as they were completely shocked with the dismissal of former manager Mick McCarthy.
So you have to give it to Terry Connor for making a good start to his new career as manager, and with Bolton and QPR losing, Wolves are now 5th bottom, one point above the drop zone.
Wonder if Joey Barton will be playing in the Championship next season, as they now have lost three games on the trot against Wolves, Blackburn and Fulham.
Giving three points to two of your relegation rivals at this stage of the season is not good.
And since Newcastle have not lost a game against Sunderland at home since way back in September of 2000, we don’t want to start this Sunday – that would be a complete disaster.
My arm started to hurt just thinking about it. 😀
Comments welcome.
13 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Feb 27, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #1Jail will be too good for Pardew if we dont win this one.
Ollieh51
Feb 27, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #2This game is going to be a proper battle!
Only fear is that if they go 5 in CM, Sessegnon is going to tear us a new one. We suffer against pace and when we get overloaded in CM.
Bloody hell there’s going to be sparks flying!
jayphoto
Feb 27, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #3Got a feeling Pardew will try and spring a surpise in this 1 with team selection! Got an absolute horrible feeling he might start Ameobi!
martoon
Feb 27, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #4You have to remember the internationals might play a part here. Cisse will have travelled to South Africa and back so Jayphoto could be right and Shola starts. I think Sessegnon has to travel to Ethiopia so he may not start.
ToonDownSouth
Feb 27, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #5You mean Shola ‘Mackem Slayer’ Ameobi? 😉
Ollieh
They’re so unbelievably negative they’ve been playing him as a lone front man. He’s been completely ineffective on his own up top. Although Williamson doesn’t seem to cope well with pace. Or skill. Or strength.
headtheball
Feb 27, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Comment #6I regularly read but rarely contribute but have noticed the constant comments regarding Williamson and Simpson and the below standard performances.It’s not a recent dip in form by either player and I cringe every time the ball gets near our penalty area.Why haven’t the purse strings been loosened as a priority and the problems been resolved.Blind Freddie has been aware so why not UknowWho.Please don’t say we have to play with what we have as we should have better than this.Which team will turn up against Sunderland?
Benton Toon Exile
Feb 27, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #7I think you can guarantee the Makems will play 5 across midfield, so we really need a performance out of Tiote and Cabaye.
Ba will be due a goal or 2, so my money is on 2-0 with Ba getting both.
BringBackTav
Feb 27, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Comment #8@JailforAshley-It’ll be voluntary for his own safety
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 27, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #9A severe tactical change is neccessary from Pardew!
If he loses this one due to more mistakes, something will hit the Preverbial Fan deffo!
Another potential loss in the making, this game is always a difficult one and the fact that is a local derby makes it all the more significant! and difficult!
Plus O,neil is no fool and will of seen that we are going through a bad patch of form at the moment! He will have his players all wound up and ready to be aggressive in the tackle!
If we play the same as at Tottenham and especially as we did last Sat we will be shagged!
I feel a 1-1 draw coming on or a 0-0!
Ollie666
Feb 27, 2012 at 5:31 PM
Comment #10team vs Scum
Krul
Simmo Willo Colo Santon
Tiote
Cabaye Guthrie
Benny
Cisse Ba
Gascoigne - Legend
Feb 27, 2012 at 8:13 PM
Comment #11There is no doubt whatsoever the SCUM will get a pasting by us. We will be up for this one big time!!
ferdinand85
Feb 27, 2012 at 8:28 PM
Comment #12Think it’s about time to start with obertan. He has inproved a lot in his last performances. I agree that raylor is a hard working lad and good to have on free kicks, but with cabaye back we have that. Obertan brings pace and creativity, AND he has improved his defensive skills a lot. By the way: what happened with guthrie on saturday??
arctoa
Feb 28, 2012 at 12:23 AM
Comment #13I’m not at all confident about this game. We both come into it on the back of horrible results; Sunderland will pack the midfield and hit us on the break, which is something we’re vulnerable to with the immobility of our back-line. The only one with legs is Santon but he keeps getting stranded up-field when we lose the ball — that’s something which the coaches should be looking at. They either need to get Tiote to drop back and fill in, or just swap Jonas and Santon around.
I read earlier that Cisse has a knock so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Ameobi getting a start. To be honest, though, his reputation for battering the mackems precedes him and that bit of uncertainty and trepidation on their part could open up gaping holes for Ba to run riot, providing we play to his strengths and not just hoof it upfield.