Newcastle will try to get off to a good start in their Europa League group tonight, when they take on Maritimo in Madeira at 6:00 pm Newcastle time. Madeira is of course famous for cake and wine, and they go well together, along with a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale. 😀
Alan Pardew has left both Senegal strikers Ba and Cisse behind, with Papiss Cisse said to have a virus, and French internationals Yohan Cabaye and Ben Arfa are also not in the squad.
This is Ben Arfa’s final game of a three match suspension he picked up when he was at Marseilles in early 2010.
And of course we have injuries to Ryan Taylor, Danny Simpson, Fab Coloccini and Tim Krul, so that’s quite a lot of experienced players not in the squad tonight.
This is the 19 man squad that made the trip yesterday:
Mehdi Abeid, Romain Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Vurnon Anita, Gael Bigirimana, Adam Campbell, Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, Dan Gosling, Steve Harper, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, James Perch, Davide Santon, James Tavernier, Steven Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Mike Williamson
And it’s anybody’s guess what the starting eleven will be, but we expect the team to be something like this:
Harper
Perch Williamson Taylor(S) Ferguson
Obertan Bigirimana Anita Amalfitano
Ameobi (Sh) Vuckic
Subs: Elliot Santon Tavernier Abeid Campbell Gosling Ameobi (Sa)
Shola Ameobi will wear the captain’s armband tonight, and could be an important player too, as he looks to be in top form with Alan Pardew saying he’s looked terrific in training.
There could be some changes to that team with Tavernier, Dan Gosling and Sammy Ameobi possibly in the starting line-up.
And we expect that 17 year-old Adam Campbell could see some playing time in the second half, and the local lad has been in outstanding form for the Newcastle U21 side this season.
The keys to the game are that Newcastle can be solid in defense, and especially against the Maritimo set-plays – which are apparently very good.
And that we can put the ball in the net, and we’ll look initially to Shola Ameobi and Haris Vuckic to do that, and of course Haris scored the winning goal at home to Atromitos, which got Newcastle into the group stages of the competition.
Both clubs finished in 5th place in their respective leagues last season, and Alan Pardew made it clear at his press conference yesterday, that the Premier League was Newcastle’s biggest priority this season – how many time have we head that one – but that he would pick a team that could win this game.
And at the end of the press conference, Alan was asked if he was going for the win and Alan said this – which is almost like poetry:
“We always come to win – we are Newcastle United.”
Let’s hope we can indeed get the win and all 3 points tonight.
Let us know how you think we’ll fare tonight, and what you think the team will be.
Comments welcome.
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110 comments so far
outsidethebox
Sep 20, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Comment #81boater @ 76
sorry just reread your post ..agree but would play anita at rb and perch/bigi in midfield
AmericanGeordie
Sep 20, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Comment #82@Carryingcoals #67.
That’s my lineup!
Ever since our failed pursuit of Debuchy, I’ve longed to see us set up in a 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1) with Jonas @ LB and Santon @ RB.
cndrbrown
Sep 20, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Comment #83Is there a site to stream on an iPhone
cupiddstunt
Sep 20, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Comment #84For those debating the pro’s and con’s of who is better Ba or Cisse they are both 27 year olds and born just nine days apart.
They have a career in goal scoring almost as close as their age, both are almost bang on 1 in 2 goals to games almost to the same decimal point (depending on how many places you want to go to).
Neither appear to go through rich and lean spells, but score more like a constant stream, I think this spell for Cisse is about as long as he has gone ( three–four games) without scoring although his last season 13 goals in 14 games, career wise needed a quiet spell to balance it all out .
So anyone coming out with proof of one being better than the other I think it is all in your head.
I think the only question being asked is can they learn to play together
Carryingcoals
Sep 20, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #85PushyPardew
Thanks a lot – I’m optimistic for a result tonight, I just don’t think we will go to Portugal and come back with a 4-0 battering!
AmericanGeordie
Hopefully we see it one day! Perhaps not against a top 6 side but maybe against one of the lesser league teams when the rest of our first team starters are back. Santon could strike a great understanding with HBA on that other flank.
cupidstunt
Very good point. I’d love to see them hit it off against Norwich.
mindshaft
Sep 20, 2012 at 3:15 PM
Comment #86I’m not buying this rubbish about players needing to be rested, Ronaldo played 54 competitive games last season, Messi played 57, it’s a load of bollocks that english teams play more games
ppb
Sep 20, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Comment #87@mindashaft those two are far more capable of playing so many games. its not that English clubs play more games. its a faster pace. a lot more running.
catchy in norway
Sep 20, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Comment #88just for you guys who have HBA in your line up for tonight,, he is serving the last of his 3 match european ban
catchy in norway
Sep 20, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Comment #89on the gary nevil thing, i ated him as a player, but as a pundit, the guy speaks alot of sence, he always give very good answers and opinions,
for some of the other pundits, they let there haterid be seen by given very biased views, matt letiss and phil big nose thompson , are the 2 i hate the most, followed by lee dixon,
ToonJovi
Sep 20, 2012 at 3:38 PM
Comment #90My team prediction!
—————–Harper—————–
Tavenier–Willo—STaylor–Anita
Obertan—-Big–Gosling–Ferguson
———-Vuckic——————–
————–Ameobi—————
obatoyou
Sep 20, 2012 at 3:40 PM
Comment #91get in there
Amal, bigi, anita, harper, ferguson, vuckic, its great that they get a go!
they gon show their stuff cmon!
darrenfletcher88
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #92For obertan takes his chance tonight,3-1 to Newcastle vukic to score first!!
Dannyo
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #93I expect a win tonight. It’s one thing to be back in Europe, but it is a joy to behold watching these youngsters play with passion and fire in their bellies.
It’ll benefit us immensly in the long run.
Dannyo
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Comment #94I expect a win tonight. It’s one thing to be back in Europe, but it is a joy to behold watching these youngsters play with passion and fire in their bellies.
It’ll benefit us immensly in the long run
IFC.Toon
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Comment #95Imagine this team…Just a thought (obviously not tonight)
——————-Krul——————-
———-Colo————-Saylor——
Santon—————————Fergie
————Anita——–Tiote———
——————-Cabaye————-
—————————————-
—————-Ben Arfa————-
Obertan——————–Marveaux
Ben Arfa as the ‘faux no.9’. Would be interesting
Transfer Sage
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Comment #96Ppb
Mineshaft is right.
Look at rooney, Gerard, lampard….etc when in their prime they played every week.
Players get tested but the most important ones barely miss a match.
And they amount I movement ronaldo and messi have they will cover more ground and at a faster pace than most prem league players
Magpies-till-d3ath
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Comment #97The only way pardew is gonna play Anita tonight is if he’s confident that tiote is gonna make the Norwich game!
darrenfletcher88
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Comment #98Is tiote and colo back for Norwich??
Super Magpie
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:45 PM
Comment #99Boring 0-0 for me tonight Unfortunetly.
I think a lot of you are underestimating this team.
Remember we are AWAY in EUROPE.
On the whole Ba release clause (sorry for bringing it up again).
I really don’t know why Pardew would publicly say that the clause is still active. He’s either absolutely certain Ba will sign a new contract or just resigned to losing him.
Also agents talk Sh*t and are total C***s. IMO, any player in football who is on wages of £50,000 p/w and asking for more is just greediness and should be slapped across the face and told to wake up. This applys to all footballers btw.
I do believe Ba is happy here but I cant say if he stays or not because nobody really knows what he thinks. He can say what he likes to media but his agents seem to be desperate for him to move.
There really needs to be something done about these agents. Everything is just getting totally ridiculous and out of touch with the real world.
Grafton83
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Comment #100Colo def not, not sure about mr T
Super Magpie
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Comment #101Darrenfletcher
We’ll probably get a clearer indication tomorrow.
I reckon they’ll both miss out tbh.
Super Magpie
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:50 PM
Comment #102Boring 0-0 for me tonight Unfortunetly.
I think a lot of you are underestimating this team.
Remember we are AWAY in EUROPE.
On the whole Ba release clause (sorry for bringing it up again).
I really don’t know why Pardew would publicly say that the clause is still active. He’s either absolutely certain Ba will sign a new contract or just resigned to losing him.
Also agents talk Sh&t and are total C@nts. IMO, any player in football who is on wages of £50,000 p/w and asking for more is just greediness and should be slapped across the face and told to wake up. This applys to all footballers btw.
I do believe Ba is happy here but I cant say if he stays or not because nobody really knows what he thinks. He can say what he likes to media but his agents seem to be desperate for him to move.
There really needs to be something done about these agents. Everything is just getting totally ridiculous and out of touch with the real world.
Magpies-till-d3ath
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:50 PM
Comment #103We’ve really been missing Tiote like!
Toonarmlee
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:54 PM
Comment #104Is the match on t.v tonight lads?
darrenfletcher88
Sep 20, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Comment #105The game is on Espn tonight pal, we do miss tiote and colo mind,maybe are too best players, but don’t forget we now have played chelsea.spurs, and everton,real test is on Sunday show us where we are at!!!
JAMSHA
Sep 20, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Comment #106OMG FEEL SOOOOOOOOO GOOD HEARNG THE EUROPA ANTHEM
Big Pappa Cissé
Sep 20, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Comment #107Strong team like
JAMSHA
Sep 20, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Comment #108#Maritimo (4-2-3-1) v #NUFC :
Salin; Briguel, Guilherme,
Roberge, Olim; Miranda, Luiz;
Heldon, Simao, Sami; Dias.
#newcastle #europaleague
Toonarmlee
Sep 20, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Comment #109Darrenfletcher88
Cheers mate
JAMSHA
Sep 20, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Comment #110Newcastle starting line: Elliot;
Perch, Williamson, Taylor,
Santon; Bigirimana, Gosling;
Obertan, Vuckic, Amalfitano;
Shola Ameobi. #NUFC
elliot in goal doesnt look good