A win against Sunderland tomorrow at St. James Park can see Newcastle up to 46 points from 27 games, and level with Chelsea in joint 5th place in the league, and 7 points ahead of Liverpool in 7th place.
Oh, and 13 points ahead of Sunderland.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool were beaten today by West Brom and Arsenal respectively, and those were two good results for Newcastle before their derby with Sunderland at high noon tomorrow.
A win tomorrow will give Newcastle their first double over Sunderland since back in the 2005-2006 season, and if Newcastle can play anywhere near their top form, the lads should be able to do it.
Newcastle have all their players available for the game, although Tiote had a tough return trip to the Ivory Coast during the week, but Senegal striker Papiss Cisse seems to have recovered from the groin strain he picked up against Wolves last Saturday.
And we think that Alan Pardew will start the same side he started against Wolves, which is probably our strongest side available at the moment:
Krul
Simpson Coloccini (c) Williamson Santon
Taylor (R) Tiote Cabaye Gutierrez
Ba Cisse
Subs: Elliot Ferguson Perch Guthrie Ben Arfa Lovenkrands Ameobi (Sh)
There are a number of factors that will be important if Newcastle are going to win tomorrow:
- The Newcastle defense will need to be a lot more solid than we’ve been int the last two games, when we have leaked 7 poor goals, so somehow the lads have got to keep the back door closed
- The Newcastle midfield pair of Cabaye and Tiote have to take control of central midfield, and they will be up against a five man Sunderland midfield spread across the park, but it’s vital that Cabaye and Tiote boss the midfield tomorrow, which we didn’t do last week against Wolves
- The Senegal twins Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are in goal-scoring form and can score those goals from half chances, as they’ve proved they can do in the past
If Newcastle can achieve those things tomorrow afternoon, especially to be very tight in defense, then we can win this game.
And we may even see Shola Ameobi in the second half tomorrow, and it would be a good time for Shola to show us that he’s a much better player than he’s been for the side over the last several games.
It would also be a great time to score his second goal of the season, and we know he’s adept at scoring goals against Sunderland, from his past history.
This will be the 20th Premier League meeting between the two North East clubs, and we have won nine of them and lost only three.
And in total Newcastle have won this fixture 53 times, lost 46 and drawn the other 46 games.
Newcastle are very well positioned in the Premier League table after today’s games, and we are due a win after two rather disappointing performances at Tottenham and at home to Wolves, in which we conceded 7 poor goals.
So tomorrow is the time for the Newcastle players to stand up and be counted, and we must go all out for the win, or die in the attempt as Cheick Tiote said earlier today.
This is what Cheick said in his interview when reviewing tomorrow’s game:
“If We Have To Die On The Pitch To Win – We Have To Die On The Pitch”
Of course Cheick Tiote is only making a point with that statement – well we think he is. 😀
We want to see Newcastle give an all out 100% performance of guts and passion tomorrow, and if they can do that the Newcastle fans will be able to celebrate for 8 days, before we have to meet Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, a game we won 1-0 last year.
Alan Pardew, in his press conference announcing the signing of Fab Coloccini and Tim Krul earlier today, said he wanted Newcastle fans to make themselves heard and cheer the lads onto victory.
But we have absolutely no doubts at all that’s what the Geordie fans will be doing tomorrow afternoon.
And it was obvious that Alan was simply delighted that Newcastle had managed to sign two of our top players to long term deals at Newcastle, so Alan is certainly upbeat about the future of Newcastle, and a win would be the icing on the cake tomorrow for the faithful Newcastle fans.
Go for it Newcastle!!
Howay The Lads!!
187 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:02 PM
Comment #1i doubt if it is that side tomorrow
9
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Comment #2Ed, I think you need to add Obertan to the bench; otherwise your selection seems spot-on
Ibizatoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:05 PM
Comment #3Why’s that Indian? Expecting Pardew to wake up tomorrow and think “today is the day for change”?
Indian Magpie
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:10 PM
Comment #4ibizatoon,
lets put it this way, i dont it want it that way, ill play 433
Beattie25
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #5The game is calling out for a change in formation. Whilst I think Paris will stick with the usual 4-4-2 I really think we could hammer them with a 4-3-3. I think ed is spot on with the team but I can’t stop hoping it would be:
—————Krul—————–
Santon—Colo–Willo——Fergie
————–Tiote—————–
——-Cabaye—-Guthrie——-
—-Benny————–Ba——-
————–Cisse————-
ToonDownSouth
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Comment #6I think Obertan will play instead of Taylor actually.
Ibizatoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:12 PM
Comment #7I know you don’t want it that way…most of us dont 🙂
I thought you were saying you doubt he’ll play Ed’s set up tomorrow? Which is what I think he’ll do exactly (with the inclusion of Obertan as “9” pointed out)
Ibizatoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #8Beattie…that looks like one mighty good team right there
ToonDownSouth
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #9Beattie
Pardew pretty much said yesterday we’ll be playing 442 lol.
From his comments a while back, he seems to think that the fans would criticise him if we played 5 in midfield. I’m not really sure where he got that from to be honest. It’s the most flexible (commonly used) formation in the game, and we have some very versatile players.
9
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #10Specifically, Obetran for Lover
Mark
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Comment #11Shola to start for me. Derby day at home is always the game where he plays like a god
Ibizatoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Comment #12Mark…it’s the one game the fans would understand him starting at least
Indian Magpie
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Comment #13when i cum to think of it 433, will benefit everyone in NUFC colors
9
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:20 PM
Comment #14(Message to Tony Anderson)
Don’t know how often you change your (excellent, by the way) header, but R Taylor ought to be in there for certain – Best and Steve ain’t gonna be playing for a while, if you need space.
Beattie25
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:21 PM
Comment #15I am certain pards will play 4-4-2 but and I am pretty sure raylor will play instead of ober. He gets enough stick playing against teams like Wigan do imagine what it would be like against the mackems.
I just can’t help feeling that the tactically astute o’niel will see our biggest weaknesses a mile off. Pack the midfield, stick a right footed winger on the left against simmo and draw the back line up the field whilst attacking the CB’s with pace.
It’s obvious and we have been done by this too many times so this is the perfect game to change it. If not I expect the unwashed to put Sessegnon against simmo, 5 man midfield with Campbell up front. Pards needs to show his tactical prowess to shut the likes of myself up.
Will he do it? I hope so !!!
ToonDownSouth
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Comment #16Indian
Except Simpson. He needs babysitting.
9
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Comment #17………..and, sorry to Ed’s headline comments, win lose or draw tomorrow we’ll still be 6th
Indian Magpie
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:25 PM
Comment #18unless its by more than 16 goals, My prediction 17-1 😉
Toon Tang
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:26 PM
Comment #19if we do them by 16 goals we go above chelsea hahaha cuuuummmmooonnnn toon . i might stick thrupney on it
rich_toonfan
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:27 PM
Comment #20Ferguson is a left winger not left back……why can’t people see this
Ibizatoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Comment #21Rich….I don’t think it’s people wanting Fergie at LB, more not wanting Simpson at RB
ToonDownSouth
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Comment #22rich
You’re actually wrong there mate. Ferguson and Pardew have both said that his future is at left back.
Toonboy
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:29 PM
Comment #233-1 Toon, Strolla, Ba with 2 HWTL roll on tomorrow
rich_toonfan
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:30 PM
Comment #24Yeh i can see that but for this season we need simpson there…..
and i am not wrong…look at how he plays, look at where he has played for his country…..he should be moulded into a left winger like gareth bale….not solid enough defensively but very good forward
ToonDownSouth
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Comment #25rich
If the manager and the player say he’s a left back, I’m fairly sure he’s a left back (;
Maybe it’s just part of how Pardew wants his team to play eventually? Very attacking fullbacks in Santon and Fergie?
I remember Arsene Wenger saying that young players need to play in the more difficult positions – defensive midfield and full back – before they can play in the advanced positions, because it’s a much better way for them to learn the game. He’s not bad at developing youngsters, so I’ll trust him on that!
TimKrulFan
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Comment #26Shola!!!!!
ToonDownSouth
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:37 PM
Comment #27I tought Shola was ill? :O
Macker Slayer!
9
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Comment #28TDS, on an aside, Mr Wenger’s most successful years are well in the past, despite a startlingly superb recent few weeks. Arsenal rank with Liverpool and Chelsea as amongst the clubs we are realistically challenging with in the League this year (fact, refer to table: who would have dreamt it?)
rich_toonfan
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:47 PM
Comment #29I know what you are saying TDS…and i do trust what they say.
I just remember Redknapp saying that after Bale’s first year at left wing he was a left back and would eventually go there.
I think Ferguson could be left back but from what I have seen he would be better in an advanced role.
jesperfuglsang
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:57 PM
Comment #30I Think Ed have the formation spot on 🙂
The question is – is it our strongest formation as Ed says and will it give us the win we so strongly need?
Those who are a big believer i 4-4-2 might agree others might disagree 😉
I know I am not that confident, but i’ll support the boys non the less.
HWTL
davybtoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 6:58 PM
Comment #31Tds I agree with u I’d go with obertan n my reason is bcoz mackems will play Richardson lb n Maclean lw n if it’s rtaylor n Simpson that’s is virtually attack v defence to the down that side but obertan will worry them with his pace forcing Richardson not to commit forward as much
rich_toonfan
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:05 PM
Comment #32yeh….agree davybtoon, we need to defend by ‘attacking’, keep there players back by worrying about us not our players sitting back
Indian Magpie
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:09 PM
Comment #33Gylfy sigurdson would be a very good signing for us. me thinks, any 1 agrees
rich_toonfan
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:13 PM
Comment #34yeh Indian, he looks a different class past couple months
geoff777
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:14 PM
Comment #35I think that will be the team if Cisse really is fit.
Otherwise he’ll start with Ameobi.
Still a 4-4-2 – I hope Pardew can think on his feet and change formation if our midfield is over-run. Signs are he can’t and will just stand there watching us get dicked. Fulham – Brighton – Spurs – Wolves.
I’d prefer 4-3-3 with Ben Arfa on the pitch.
Perhaps this isn’t the game to experiment, but I’d rather see HBA start on the left in a 4-4-2.
allan666
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:14 PM
Comment #36are we not already 13 points ahead os scumberland
davybtoon
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Comment #37Geoff cisse is fit pics of him in full training today
geoff777
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:23 PM
Comment #38Good news Davy.
Looking forward to the game.
I think we’ll beat them. Shame they finally have a good manager.
HWTL
DEAN
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Comment #39benny to replace raylor ,probably wont happen but again he can unlock games , getting nervous now ,please let us win the scum PLEASE !!!!
daffy
Mar 3, 2012 at 7:32 PM
Comment #40Nufc 1 – SAFC 3
Heard it here first lads.