When 7:30 pm rolls a round tomorrow night, Newcastle will have finished their second game in less than 48 hours, and a good result at Chelsea would be simply great, and Newcastle could have used as many as 25 players in those two games, which has put pressure on the still thin Newcastle squad early in the season.
Demba Ba – could be danger man tomorrow for Magpies
The squad is still thin but it’s looking stronger than it has for some time, although we are still hoping that one or possibly to new players will be signed before the transfer window ends a week today.
But Newcastle will have to get used to playing on Thursday’s and Sundays, which is not as bad as this week’s been, but they will need to concentrate on getting those Premier League points on the board, and can hardly use the previous European games as any excuse.
Bobby Robson used to challenge the side to win their Premier League games after playing in Europe in mid-week, and we could see that also coming as a challenge from Alan Pardew.
And that goes for tomorrow too, and it seems that Chelsea are wary of Newcastle, who won 2-0 in the same fixture last season, with two simply phenomenal goals from a certain Papiss Cisse, and we hope the Senegal striker will be in among the goals tomorrow, although he may not start if Shola Ameobi is fit.
Gary Cahill will not be taking Newcastle lightly, as the former Aston Villa and Bolton defender had this to say about the game:
“They are two great forwards.” “They were in great form last season and it looks like they have started that way again.” “It’s going to be tough for us against Newcastle.”
Shola Ameobi and Fabricio Coloccini – if fit – could come in for Papiss Cisse and James Perch tomorrow afternoon, so that Newcastle start 11 players who didn’t start in Greece, but we don’t know if Shola will make it, after injuring himself during the warm up last week at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle will hope to get at least a draw tomorrow afternoon, and keep their unbeaten run to the season going, and Chelsea could well see Demba Ba be the danger man tomorrow, and the Senegal striker has looked sharp in pre-season and scored a great goal against Spurs last Saturday, which was his first goal since early February.
We’ll take anything but a defeat tomorrow afternoon at Stamford Bridge, and a win would be phenomenal against a side that Roman Abramovich has now spent £1B on, since he took over in the summer of 1993.
You talk about buying success.
What do you think?
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259 comments so far
pawl250
Aug 24, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Comment #1My team for Chelsea
———————- Krul ————————
Simpson – STaylor — Coloccini – Santon
——————————————————
Ben Arfa — Tiote —– Cabaye — Gutierrez
——————————————————
————– Cisse ——– Ba ——————
This team would be strong enough in my opinion. You have the option to turn it into a 4-3-3 OR 4-3-1-2 during the match.
For me our key player would be Ben Arfa, give him a free to roam role. It would add pressure to our left flank but it would cause Chelsea problems.
We need to contain Hazard and Mata. They can change a game with just 1 sublime moment or pass. Torres should be easy to contain.
We need to not concede a penalty as Hazard will go down if touched.
If we play 1 striker I would play Ba.
———————- Krul ————————
Simpson – STaylor — Coloccini – Santon
——————————————————
Arfa – Tiote — Cabaye — Anita – Gutierrez
——————————————————
———————– Ba ————————–
Burni
Aug 24, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Comment #2I dont believe our squad is thin anymore. we certainly need two more players in but to say the squad is thin is an insult to the fringe players who we all know pardew will get playing well.
LeoMacedonia-NUFC
Aug 24, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Comment #3Can u please vote for Newcastle? This is voting for cheap flights to Newcastle so we Geordies from Macedonia can come to games… this is the voting – http://www.facebook.com/questions/266163080162819/?qa_ref=qts
this is our fan-page http://www.facebook.com/groups/nufcmk/
Many thanks… HWTL!
stu.toon
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Comment #4Burni you’re right our squad isn’t thin it just lacks the quality in depth. It’s ok saying Pardew will get the fringe players playing well, but when? The season has started and we need solid performances now.
Beattie25
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Comment #5Would love Anota to play but he played 90 minutes last night so I think he’ll be benched.
Got a feeling Marveaux will get the nod on the left with Guti coming central and Ba up front on his own with Cisse coming off the bench if needed.
pawl250
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Comment #6Personally I think we need 2 defenders.
I would be happy for our strikers to be
Ba, Cisse, Shola, Sammy and Campbell. It would certainly help the young kid to progress being so close to first team football.
In midfield we lose Jonas, Marevaux steps in, Cabaye, Gosling steps in, Tiote, Anita steps in, then you have Bigiramana, Amalfitano, Vuckic, RTaylor, Perch, Abeid, Obertan. The midfield is strong, maybe no quality but you cant have another Cabaye sitting on the bench he wont accept that role. Especially at Newcastle and limited wages compared to City where a player is happy to pick up 200k a week sitting on a bench.
Our defence looks very thin, in both back up and quality. Would think 1 centre back or/and fullback will give us an adequate squad to play this season.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Comment #7£1b….1 bloody billion pounds. It really is disgusting. Someone asked on here the other day would we be happy if the board spent say £100m and won the league. Yes, momentarily it would be great to win it, but where does it end?
I’m sorry, but that much money on a football team is madness and a gross use of money.
Abramovich is quickly joining the ranks of Rupert Murdoch as far as I’m concerned, how can you have that much wealth and power and not use it better.
Rant over.
Let’s stick it them on Saturday….again 🙂
Burni
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #8stu toon,
He will get them playing wellbut as the comentator said last night, that was the first full game a lot of those guys played together…. was perch very good to start with? not really, but now…. he would get into most teams in the PL now imo as he has proved that he is solid….. all it took was time and guidance…..
If we can perform like they did last night and draw or get a win, thats progress in my eyes. I dont think the squad lacks quality at all, I just think it needs to be brought out of the newer players …. and obertan 🙂
rainrix
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Comment #9Don’t see why cisse wouldn’t be able to play. Its not like he did much last night. :). Still i wouldn’t be against playing 5 across the midfield tomorrow. Push jonas into CM along with cab aye and tiote and stick ba on the left. Or if cisse is tired then bring anita in to CM jonas on the left and ba up front. Actually what side does hazard play on? Could really do with jonas doubling up on him.
lordy_geordie
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Comment #10Don’t mean to be anal about it but it wasn’t 1993 🙂
my team against
Chelsea
Krul
Simpson Colo taylor santon
Tiote Anita
Cabaye
HBA Jonas
Ba/cisse
For the game thursday I would play campbell with cisse or Ba
Drop anita for Gibi and play Raylor for Simmo
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Comment #11pawl…I go along with that assessment.
LewSpi
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #12I like you’ve look of your second team Pawl, but I must agree with Beattie that Anita will be tested after last night, which could leave this team.
————————-Krul
Simpson — Saylor — Colo —– Santon
Benny Tiote Cabaye Gutierrez Marveaux
———————Demba Ba
Spuggy
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Comment #13Burni, I think you’re spot on we have better quality in reserves now who can step up to the first team. A couple of signings and we will have 2x quality players in each position plus some decent (reserves/versatility).
GK: Krul, Harps (Elliott)
LB: Santon, Raylor (Anita)
CB: Collo, Saylor, Perch, NEW SIGNING (Willo)
RB: NEW SIGNING, Simmo (Tav)
LW: Jonas, Marveaux (Fergy)
CM: Tiote, Cabaye, Anita, Jonas (Gosling, Bigi, Abied, Amalfitano)
RW: HBA, Obertan (Sammy)
CF: Cisse, Ba, Ameobi, NEW SIGNING (Campbell)
With a new CB, RB/LB and CF we have two quality players in each position apart from RW, with Obertan being the weak link. So that makes us 3-4 players of a top side which can compete in all competitions.
Spuggy
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Comment #14And I missed Vuckic from reserve CM!
sholasupporter
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Comment #15As long as Marv gets in above obertan I’ll be happy!
davybtoon
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Comment #16Chelsea signed marseille rb so that’s them out of debuchy race
GeordieoftheSouth
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Comment #17alright chaps, was just thinking why don’t we have Ryan Taylor at right back?? Not saying he is better than Simmo defensively but purely the fact he is dangerous going forward with his crosses/corners/free-kicks etc…has to be worth another go.
demba_twins
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Comment #18my team to play chelsea would be
—————krul——————-
simo—Staylor—colo—santon
——cabaye—tiote—jonas——
ben arfa ——————marvo—
With cisse coming on in second half for marvo, does anyone els feel that jonas is more affective in the centre these days??
——————BA—————–
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Comment #19“To still be in the tie going back home, everyone – manager, staff, players and fans – will be happy.”
R. Taylor
Everyone be happy…over the wall Taylor has said it, now let it be done!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Comment #20Anyone think Pardew will start Raylor against Chelsea if he’s fit enough?
Ketsbaia9
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Comment #21We could’ve signed Cissokho for £4.7m. I’m shocked we didn’t make a bid for him. Would’ve fitted in nicely to the team. He’s younger and cheaper than Debuchy.
Our squad isn’t up to scratch. Because we haven’t strengthened, we might find ourselves in mid-table at the end of the season.
jayphoto
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Comment #22damn, read the adam campbell interview too late to post on that thread! Didnt see any of the game last night because I was out with clients (sneaky score checks every 5 mins on my twitter tho) but reading that campbell interview makes me think this lad has his feet on the ground, fantastic attitude (tho thats been said by everyone involved witht he club) Just want to throw a hypothetical dream up there! Imagine if we sign andy carroll back (really think we’re going to). In 3 seasons time, walking out of the tunnel at st james’ we have not 1, but 2 GEORDIE centre forwards terrorizing defenses with Geordie stevie taylor captaining the side from the back! Throw in the ever improving Sammi Ameobi on a wing and the monster that is Bigirmana by then, be an amazing english spine to our team! (hoping Bigi chooses to represent england, i know he said he wants to play for rwanda but think if he got an u21 call up that might swing it as in his interview he sounded like he wasn’t sure he’d ever get a chance for england)
pawl250
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Comment #23LewiSpi –
I could go with that. The main reason I would play Jonas on the wings though is to track Hazard. It would also be worthy to mention that Anita would track back alot more than Marevaux. OK it lacks attacking option on the left hand side but perhaps away against Chelsea it would allow our players to dominate the midfield with a higher work rate.
Cabaye, Jonas, Anita, Tiote all have decent engines allowing them to put pressure on the Chelsea midfield. My only worry would be leaving Ba or Cisse alone against Luiz/Cahill, Terry.
Ivanovic is also a weak link on the left flank for us. Good defender but not the quickest which would be an argument to play Marveaux, BUT as stated Hazard the other way against Santon could be very messy. Doubling up maybe very beneficial.
We are almost certain to play against –
Cech
Ivanovic, Cahill or Luiz, Terry, Cole
Mikel
Hazard, Ramires, Lampard, Mata
Torres
That is a strong line up but likes of Mata, Hazard, Lampard are weak defensive wise. We could perhaps take 4-3-3 and push up the pitch.
sholasupporter
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Comment #24@17 yes I have been saying that for some time! Raylor is probably as good defensively but offers much more going forward. Little bit slower too unfortunately. @18 also I think Jonas has been doing a much more effective job in the holding role than he does on the wings, he can still go forward and earn freekicks but no more useless crosses!
Ketsbaia9
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Comment #25Surprised we haven’t gone in for Biglia either. Norwich are going to sign him on loan.
Iceland
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Comment #26My team to play Chelsea:
___________________ Krul____________________
Simpson _____S.Taylor ________ Colo______ Santon
_____________ Tiote _______Cabaye____________
Ben Arfa_____________Ba_________________Jonas
___________________ Cisse ___________________
elpaso_geordie
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Comment #27Hope we get some sort of result at Chelski but am not too hopeful …..
Last year they were concentrating on Champions league by that point and we had Cisse bang in form…..
Cisse has looked bit out of it so far (temporary am sure) .
Sadly even home to spurs we look like a team that can concede a few goals on our day
davybtoon
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Comment #28No rtaylor won’t start
jayphoto
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Comment #29@Ketsbaia 9 – have you stopped to think that maybe we don’t scout on football manager and youtube and have actually watched Cissokho and decided he’s not worth 4.7m?? He’s been AWWFFFULLL for 3 seasons now! I appreciate he looked immense for Porto for 1 season 4 years ago but the law of averages say that 3 poor seasons against 1 good one makes him a poor player! Can name you so many players that were awful that had 1 good season….. Michael Ricketts anyone?? Habib Beye?? Marcus Stewart?? Amr Zaki? Francis Jeffers? Danny Cadamarteri…. you can’t sign someone based on the fact football manager and fifa have based his ratings on a season 4 years previous
jesperfuglsang
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Comment #30I see Ed is censuring my again this morning…and I have even been playing Lionel Richie all morning 😉 …maybe it’s because I switched to Stevie Wonder?
Ed just have no love for Stevie…lol
jesperfuglsang
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Comment #31*me
Ketsbaia9
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #32I don’t play football manager, but I know he has potential and he’s only 24/25, so we’ve missed out big time there. Apparently Valencia have signed two left-backs. We haven’t even got one natural left-back in the squad. It’s a joke.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #33Jay…Oh but he can and does 🙂
Davy…I don’t want him to, just thoughts on whether Pardew would think he “deserves” to. I wouldn’t expect any of yesterday’s starters to be starting against Chelsea, maybe Cisse be an exception.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Comment #34Jesper…..I think we have to accept Ed’s decision regarding Stevie and love him for all the things he does right 🙂
jesperfuglsang
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Comment #35Ibiza…Pardew does seem to rate Raylor so I wouldn’t say it’s completly in the wild to suggest Pardew would pick him for LB…
But I have a hard time seeing us play 4-4-2 against Chelski or 4-5-1 with a flad midfield (where else do we put Raylor?) 😉
Ketsbaia9
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Comment #36I’m afraid, we’re not good enough defensively to cope with Chelsea. 3-1 Chelsea. Hazard will make Simpson look daft.
pawl250
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Comment #37By the way off topic of Chelsea game but a subject I think should be looked at.
Newcastle set pieces. I mean seriously we are so obvious! AND yet you would think its world class, working everytime because we do the same thing every time.
No variation! Whether be corner or free kick its the long ball to Williamson/Taylor who has set themselves up wide of the goal mouth to head the ball back across the box.
It has worked ZERO times. I mean seriously we scored 1 set piece last season FFS you would think we could vary it up.
It was the same against Spurs, and last night. and ALL of last season its soooo predictable, and yet so easy to deal with its pointless!
I think Pardew and his coaching staff are doing miracles over the last 2 seasons, but seriously think the set piece play we have needs refreshed, it just doesnt work.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Comment #38http://www.chelseadaft.org/2012/08/pick-teamformation-for-chelsea-v.html
What’s this? A bit of respect? From a London team fan base? See Chelsea are finally playing one of the big boys 🙂
jayphoto
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Comment #39Think Chelsea will look to nab a 1-0 against us! In theory they should go all out attack as they’re attacking options are obscene but Di Matteo is a very very cautious manager, he’ll be aware of what we did to them last season at the bridge, think he’ll put out a very physical, pragmatic team! They got exposed against reading a fair bit, reckon on our day our attacking quality is much higher than readings and di matteo knows they would be punished if they played like that.
Our important areas for me in this game are
1) up front, John Terry hates playing against bigger, physical centre forwards (just see how andy carroll destroys him time and time again), Playing a pacey striker might not be of use as I read somewhere Gary Cahill was the quickest centre half in the premier league (on mph reached on opta stats) last season.
2) Ben Arfa! can change any game, looks crazily up for it this season, for me he’s a big factor in any game he starts for us)
3) Midfield – Chelsea flood the midfield, usually with 3 less than adventurous centre mids (obi mikel, ramires, essien etc) If we line up as we did against spurs they’ll dominate us and unlike spurs they have the attacking quality to make us pay. 3 centre mids is a must for me. Wish we were going Anita, Tiote and Cabaye. Saying that Anita is a fit lad, would shock me if he played some part.
jesperfuglsang
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Comment #40“Ed, for sure! that’s what friends are for”
(picturing Ed, Jesper & Peter singing behind a piano) 🙂 lol