Newcastle United’s central midfield of Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye were not at their best against Wolves at St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
Yohan Cabaye – will be better against Sunderland
But maybe we’ve been a bit harsh ion the tow of them, because they have been out for a while, and it takes a little timer to get back in the swing of things in England’s top Premier League.
Indeed with Cheick Tiote having been at the African Cup of Nations since 5th January, it was the first time they had played together since the Manchester United 3-0 win on January4th.
And it’s encouraging that while Cheick and others were away, Newcastle were able to keep picking up the points, and we now have 43 points from our 26 games.
And that’s a full 11 points better than we had after 26 games played last season, when we finally finished up with 46 points total in 12th position.
Unfortunately Tiote has had to travel to the largest city and former capital of the Ivory Coast, Abidjan, for tonight’s friendly game against Equatorial Guinea.
Let’s hope he comes through the game okay, but he’s going to be knackered when he gets back to Newcastle, after over a 3,000 mile trip each way.
Alan Pardew seems to have no concerns at all that his top midfield duo will come good for Newcastle:
“I think we all know that those two, Tiote and Cabaye, have put in fantastic performances.” “We’ve got 43 points because they’ve been so good in that area.”
“We’ve dominated midfield battles because of those two, but not against Wolves.” “That might have been down to the fact they haven’t played a Premier League game for a while.”
“Cheick for about eight weeks, or whatever it’s been, and Yohan for three and a half.”
Newcastle’s failure to beat Wolves was the first game this year that we have not won in five games at St. James’ Park, and we don’t expect the draw against Wolves to be repeated on Sunday afternoon.
We expect Newcastle to win, and we need all 3 points against our local rivals, and nothing less will be good enough.
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
davybtoon
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #1This hoof ball talk is rubbish if ppl like sfshola actually watched the game they wud see we do pass it about wish the ppl who see highlights n not watch matches properly wud stop posting crap on here
billy
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #2I hope Carver has educated the idiot pardew about how important the game on sunday is!
billy
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Comment #3davybtoon you seem as bright as an eclipse with your foul moronic rants go find a job!
Selbymag
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Comment #4Dannyo – I think a lot of it is based on Kruls long balls. There were a number of oppurtunities on Saturday (as most weeks) for him to play a ball to his full back or even Colo. He however continues to lump the ball at the Centre forwards.
I agree than once in possession we do try and build the play through Colo, Cabaye and Tiote.
Selbymag
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #5Davybtoon apologies I got you mixed up with Dannyo ! sorry
ted
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #6davybtoon is it true that you can’t be the village idiot until your father dies
SurefootedShola
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #7Just for you this time, Davy – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_populum
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ambiguous
More schooling than you seem to have had in total, right there! No charge!!
Could just continue being a benighted, bromide blot instead.
alex84
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #8Raylor did nothing on sat so to follow the pattern that goes for Ben arfa, Ben arfa should start instead.
SurefootedShola
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Comment #9My attempts at offering Davyb some guidance are awaiting moderation 🙁
davybtoon
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Comment #10Selbymag we do play football like u jus said, krul does kick long but unless I’ve missed something over the last 30 year keepers have always kicked long, my definition of hoof ball is when ya defenders n midfielders jus hoof it like stoke do
Dannyo
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #11@selbymag
U got a fetish for me eh? lol.
But u’re right, the hoofball tags come from Krul mainly, then Willo and Simmo.
Everyone else passes it along the ground, perhaps save Raylor, but he’s got a golden boot.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Comment #12Lets hope that the significance and passion connected with this fixture will not have the team playing with their heads up their arses again!!!!!
davybtoon
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Comment #13Ted the numpty who wanted pardew sacked coz he can’t take us to the next level, hav we not jus come from the championship to 12thin prem first back n now we’ve been top 7 all this season I’d say that’s progress
Selbymag
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #14Willo is scared to receive the ball you can see it – he instantly thinks ” bloody hell wheres Collo??” and trys to give if to Fab or just launch it.
Sunderland will put 11 men behind the ball and hope to nick something – MON has always set his teams up like this will be a dour battle.
If we nick a goal early and draw them out then we should be fine as long as we avoid any deflections or defensive lapses. A lot to ask I know
RobertLeeNo.7
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #15I hope Cisse will be ok for sunday and we could do with Ba regaining his confidence. I think we should start Raylor at right back and start Ben arfa behind Dembas. Go 3 midfield cabaye, tiote and jonas. Jonas loves that central role. I also think it will catch the mackems off guard tactically Cattermole will have to stop the runs of Jonas and Benny both and they can play around him. shitting myself about sessegnon running at colo and willo tiote has to cover there.
Griff-toon
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Comment #16I dont think we play the “hoofball” tactics, but I think Krul needs to play the pass instead of going for the long ball. However sometimes the long pass can give you a good opportunity while the other team is unbalanced.
He needs to know when to do it.
markmac
Feb 29, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Comment #17Regards Krul’s kicking doesnt always seem to be 100% accurate either, maybe someone should tell him to start rolling the ball out a bit more
davybtoon
Feb 29, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Comment #18Selbymag spot bout willo Simpson the same
RobertLeeNo.7
Feb 29, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Comment #19long direct balls have worked this season at times ie Manure for shola flick on and ba’s hook shot. But we don’t have the front players to win the ball in the air against premier league centre backs unless shola plays. Need to keep it on the floor and build from the back
BarcelonaMag
Feb 29, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Comment #20Yeah, I’m a bit alarmed at how badly we’ve been playing recently, too. Apart from the first twenty minutes on Saturday, we couldn’t string more than three passes together before losing the ball. What happened to the carpet football we were playing at the start if the season?
max
Feb 29, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Comment #21should play guthrie first then tiote come..
New kingdom United
Mar 1, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Comment #22some one in the mid has to start shooting. Cabaye bend it like Beckham i know u can.