Newcastle went on the attack against Spurs at White Lane earlier this year and were taken apart and four goals down after only 34 minutes of the game.
Alan Pardew – we must try to stay in the game
So you would expect that Alan Pardew may be thinking a bit more of defending much better than we did at White hart Lane, on our last visit to London, when we were taken to the cleaners 5-0.
Alan is focused on trying to stay in the game, and if we are level say in the last 20 minutes or so, we would even have a decent chance of sneaking a win, which would be our second successive success at the Emirates, after we won 1-0 in the same fixture there last season.
This is what Alan said to the local press today:
“We have to be in the game still to attack.” “Let’s get this right, we need to go to Arsenal and be in the game still at 70 minutes.”
“At Tottenham we weren’t. It was gone, finished.” “So we have to be in the game first and then I am trying to go out for the win if I can. Arsenal will be going for that too.”
“The last period of the game could be a bit lively. We have got to earn that to get there.”
Arsenal have won their last four league games and gave a gallant performance at home last Tuesday night, when they just failed to overcome a 4-0 first leg hammering at AC Milan in the Champions League.
Arsenal gained a lot of admirers with their terrific effort last week, but they just couldn’t get those two second half goals that could have taken them through, and certainly at the end of the game, the Arsenal players looked knackered.
But they should be okay for Monday night, with a couple of extra days to recover from their adventures against AC Milan.
Alan was asked if he thought the Arsenal players could still be tired after their phenomenal effort last week:
““Yeah. It was a physical effort as well.” “You could sense that in the last few minutes when they really had nothing to give, bless them.”
“They couldn’t look for that extra goal they were so tired.” “I think he’ll change it because he hasn’t got a lot of players available.”
Former Southampton player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was given his league debut by Alan Pardew while Alan was the manager down south, is doubtful as is another former Southampton youngster Theo Walcott.
Both youngsters picked up slight knocks against AC Milan, but whether they play or not Arsenal are likely to be strong on the wings.
And they will test the Newcastle full-backs – whoever they are on Monday night – with Ryan Taylor possibly starting in place of Davide Santon at left back.
What do you think the team will be on Monday night?
Comments welcome.
45 comments so far
steve
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Comment #1Sounds like it may be 4-5-1…
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Comment #2Ibiza i agree barton could walk into any top 7 side…. In the championship…….. Thats true ambition
Slow down ed your banging them out!
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Comment #3Steve lets hope so have a feeling may mean raylor for simmo?
Rotonda heights
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Comment #4newcastle went on the attack against spurs. When was that exactly?
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #5Ah rotonda chirpy as ever
steve
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #6I would be happy with that toonarmydownsouth, my worry is that he does this in midfield, Raylor Guthrie Tiote Cabaye Jonas. Leaving BA (or shola) isolated up top
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #7I think it was an attack against all common sense.
Ibizatoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Comment #8Looks that way. Going to be a defensive one too it seems. Will Benny be included in that or used in the last 20 to go at them?
Must be gutted the guys who left in the summer after loosing Andy. I know who I’d rather be supplying balls to out of Ba, Cisse and Carrol. Hmm….supplying balls, let’s try and keep the homophobic jokes to a minimum here lads
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Comment #9I wonder if HBA will pay with Cisse on the bench?
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Comment #10Yeah raylor has been pretty ineffective in midfield last couple of games
Ibizatoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Comment #11Tsunki..lol. Let’s not get into the Spurs game again…will just ruin another weekend
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Comment #12Don’t worry theres a load of balls coming later this afternoon when the unwashed trinity turn up for their daily 3 hour slagfest.
Ibizatoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Comment #13Does anyone know why Raylor get’s all of the freekicks? I thought Cabaye was supposed to be able to hit the odd special one too?
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Comment #14Its on sky at 8pm aint it? Playing footy mesel that exact time, radio silence and sky+ – hope I don’t end up ff through a dozen goals against!
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Comment #15Wow think bartons arrogance and petulance with placing the ball for corners has just cost QPR big tine
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Comment #16Yeah dreamboat has a fantastic strike on him I just hope he gets pushed forward a bit without our mid falling to bits, if he gets his eye on goal more I think he will not be far behind in nufc top scorer list one day
Tommyy
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Comment #17As Jimmymagpie pointed out on an earlier thread, our form since Christmas has been abysmal. We’re really struggling. I think that second half against Sunderland has glossed over it quite a bit tbh.
No matter what anyone says albeit Pardew, players or people on this blog, I’m worried about Monday. Could very easily be another loss and a horrific dent to our goal difference tally.
Something like 5 wins in 16? That’s bottom half form. we need to pick up the performances… And fast!
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Comment #18Qpr are a good example of how spending big but not wisely will knack your club and your business.
Tommyy
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Comment #19I also get the feeling, we think we’re better than we are. We could be a top 6 side performance wise/ results wise. Unfortunately, we aren’t at the moment.
Tsunki
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Comment #20Tommyy – keep calm lad, don’t hold your breath for the Arsenal game to be our turnaround, but I think we’ll be pretty consistent in the run in. Remember that this season is work under way, pardon our dust etc.
gorgonzola
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Comment #21“ewcastle went on the attack against spurs. When was that exactly?”
Not chirpy, 100% right
Tommyy
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Comment #22Tsunki – true, and I appreciate that. I just believe with our squad we could be putting in better performances and getting better results.
I have no doubts we’ll get there, just confuses and frustrates me at the moment that we can’t seem to do it yet, we have the players and they have been training together for a long time now. Yet there has been no improvement whatsoever.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Comment #23Is Pardew wary of Arsenal !
He is right to be!
Tommyy
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Comment #24If Arsenal tonk us, morale will be low, our goal difference even lower and the way we are playing I can see us really struggling for the final stretch, potentially destroying the great position we find ourselves in.
It is pretty much guaranteed next season won’t see Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea underperform so frequently. I also think Sunderland, Fulham and possibly WBA will be a lot stronger / more consistent.
Hope I’m wrong of course and we show the quality we have got and really put some teams in their place, rather than let them walk all over us ala Wolves, Fulham second half and Sunderland first half.
MacToon
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Comment #25I just wish we’d play for 90+ minutes and not just parts of each games. It’s been the story of our season imo.
Against the hacking scum I had invited some friends (abroad) to watch the derby and tbh was embarrassed by the first half. OK it was a derby and we were hacked to death and the teams kinda cancelled each other out.
The second half was the opposite, better passing, attacking football (even before Sessègnon was sent off) and dare I say entertaining. We were all agreed HBA changed the game.
Play for 90+ mins and we might do OK.
Pardew's fist pump
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #26Well if he wants to cut the amount of times in half we give it straight back to an Arsenal team, who are fairly adept at keeping possession on their own, then he’ll drop Simpson. I’d love to drop Willo too, but well, we know the predicament we’re in.
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #27Pardew’s fist pump would also like to see him tell timmy not to hoof the ball with every goal kick we lose so much possesion through those dodgy goal kicks we play much better wen a move starts with colo, santon starting it off
AndyMac
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Comment #28PFP possession and Pardwho dont go in the same sentence I’m afraid 🙁
http://www.eplindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/POSSESSION.jpg
Ibizatoon
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Comment #29Right guys…I am off. Enjoy your day and have fun childminding this afternoon 🙂
MacToon
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Comment #30lol @ AndyMac
*should have said Shola did good as usual against the smb’s too, won a pen and scored equaliser in his 20 mins.
brutoon disappeared! lmao well done Shola 😉
ThaiMag
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #31This would be my team against Arsenal
——————————–Krul
Simpson——Williamson—–Coloccini—–Santon
——————————–Tiote
———————Cabaye——–Guthrie
Ben arfa———————————————Jonas
———————————-Ba
Sub.
Elliot
Perch
Raylor
Gosling
Obertan
Cisse
Ameobi
AndyMac
Mar 10, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Comment #32Strangely enough Tommyy despite what you believe (and me as well) we still remain fourth in current form table although admittedly it only covers the last 8 games.
http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/oform.html
Its another stat that confirms my suspicions that this is a poor league, in terms of quality. The top two out of Europe at first stage followed shortly by the other two English sides and only one English team made it past the group stages in the Europa League.
I think the Premier League listens too much to the Sky hype and fails to notice the slide in overall performance. Bilbao wiped the floor with the Mancs and Citeh will be lucky to get through against Sporting. If they dont there’ll b no English involvement in Europe in mid March for the first time since PL records began!!!!!
Robby Bobson
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Comment #33We cant go in against Arsenal away with 2 vs 3 in centre midfield….i think ThaiMag got it spot on.
A trio of Cabaye, Guthrie and Tiote can match anyone…the system didnt work with a Striker on the wing but with two proper wingers in Jonas and HBa and Ba up front, could be useful.
Harsh on Cisse but he cant lead the line on his own.
Toon-Barmy
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Comment #34Possible/Probable plan for next season:
GK: Tim Krul
GK: Rob Elliot
GK:
RB: Davide Santon
RB: Danny Simpson ??
CB: Steven Taylor
CB: Fabricio Coloccini
CB:
CB: Mike Williamson
LB:
LB: Ryan Taylor
RM:
RM: Gabriel Obertan
CM: Yohan Cabaye
CM: Cheick Tiote
CM: Danny Guthrie ??
CM:
LM: Jonas Gutierrez
LM: Sylvain Marveaux
??: Hatem Ben Arfa
CF: Demba Ba
CF: Papiss Cisse
CF:
CF: Shola Ameobi
Reserves: Tavernier, Ferguson, Vuckic, Abeid, Sam Ameobi.
So that means we need: GK, CB, LB, RM, CM, CF. (6 top players in)
OUT: Smith, Lovenkrands, Forster, Xisco (Please God), Ranger, Best, Harper, Gosling (Loan?)
HowayTheLads
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Comment #35Is it just me of is Paul Merson the most self righteous piece of ****, as anyone one else noticed he puts the Toon down at every oppertunity… I know Sky Sports isn’t the BBC but shouldn’t he at least try to be impartial?
GeordieCoaster
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #36Just heard Remie Streete will be out for 6 months with snapped ankle ligaments
super magpie
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Comment #37@Htw
Yeah, he’s a prick, he’s worse than lawro. I’ve never seen him say anything positive about us in ages.
super magpie
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Comment #38Looks like QPR will be in the championship next season , so much for ambition joey.
eaststandgeordie1982
Mar 10, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Comment #39MY TEAM FOR ARSENAL
krul
simmo willo colo santon
obertan cabaye HBA tiote jonas
ba
we need pace on the right just could be the game ober needs tiote and cabaye will sit deep so HBA should be fine sitting in front of them and it gives us some creativity in the middle that we are lacking
AndyMac
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Comment #40Spuds wenet 4-4-2 against the Gooners and got thumped so I’d go with 4-3-3 moving to 4-5-1 without the ball 🙁
Guthrie and Cabaye looks good on paper with Tiote holding slightly deeper but the key is the two wide men. They’ll have to work hard to nullify Arsenal’s wide men (although Walcott and Chamberlain are doubtful) but they’ll also have to provide ammunition for Ba up front.
I dont trust Obertan to do that so I’d go with Thai Mag but the other way around. HBA on the left (notionally) and Jonas back to his rightful (geddit) position.