We understand why Alan Pardew plays a second eleven in the Europa league games this season, because our squad is still far too small, and top players cannot play two games a week and all of that good stuff, but we are jeopardizing our chances of qualifying from the group stages of the competition – that’s a concern.
The good news is that both Yohan Cabaye and Danny Simpson will be in the side tonight, and there’s quite some competition going on between the fringe players and the youngsters at the club, for a starting position tonight.
We expect Rob Elliot to get his very first game at St. James’ Park, after two good performances in the last couple of weeks, and we think James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic are also likely to start the important game tonight.
And after Shane Ferguson’s’ excellent two sub appearances in the last two games, he should get a start out on the left wing tonight.
Here’s the side we think Alan could put out tonight:
Elliot
Simpson Williamson Perch Tavernier
Obertan Cabaye Anita Ferguson
Aleobi (Sh) Vuckic
Subs: Harper Bigirimana Marveaux Ameobi (Sa) Gosling Cisse
Pardew could probably find a starting position somewhere for Dan Gosling, who’s now looking a decent player at the club, although he missed a couple of good chances at Old Trafford last Wednesday night.
Hatem Ben Arfa is now available to play in Europe, having served a three-game European ban, and he may even be on the bench tonight, although we think Alan Pardew will give opportunities to other fringe players against Bordeaux.
But we do expect Papiss Cisse to possibly be on the bench, and to make an appearance in the second half, as he needs to score some goals, and tonight’s a decent opportunity for the Senegal man to get a goal, as he did last week at Old Trafford.
This is Newcastle’s 124th game in European competition and we’ve won 70 and lost only 29, and the club has a good record in Europe – and in fact Newcastle are currently on a 19-game unbeaten run at home in European games, with our last defeat on Tyneside being against Monaco way back in 1997.
Let’s hope that record is not broken tonight.
We really do need the win tonight, and a draw will not really be good enough and that would leave Bordeaux still two points clear of Newcastle at the top of group D.
If we are to progress in the Europa League and out of the group stage, then we probably need the win tonight.
What do you think?
Howay The Lads!!
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175 comments so far
check the toastie
Oct 4, 2012 at 12:38 PM
Comment #1Would swap Vuckic for Sammi, he has had a few chances now and has looked pretty ineffective, Shola and Sammi for me, also would play Tav RB, Fergy LB and Marveaux LW, no Simmo for me, just come back from injury and is likely to be even worse than usual in his hesitant style.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 4, 2012 at 12:38 PM
Comment #2Being used as a space hopper while Derek is used as a pogo stick by kids from Elswick is too good for Ashley.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 4, 2012 at 12:41 PM
Comment #3Doh,Check man.
toonLYF
Oct 4, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Comment #4Very pleased Cabaye is starting tonight, I think in our other Europa league games we’ve played, our problem has been in the centre of the pitch, where we have lacked the composure and ability to control a game due to Gosling spending 70-80 minutes of the games out of position, and Bigirimana not being that style of midfielder (the pacemaker/playmaker). However, with Cabaye in the centre I expect him to ‘pull the strings’ against a team he is very familiar with. Was gonna just watch on the TV tonight but with dreamboat starting and potentially Simmo too, 15 quid is hard to resist. HWTL.
Tsunki
Oct 4, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Comment #5I dread the possibilty that pards underestimates bordeaux and we lose. If we do please don’t tell kets, the neutron bomb of blogging. It’ll be willo/simmo lost us the cup etc.
dave 1961
Oct 4, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Comment #6the above team has one goal in it, what we after a 0-0 draw if that’s the case we need to duct tape Williamson’s arms to his side’s.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Comment #7http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,18932_8137807,00.html
Rotonda heights
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Comment #8Not defending the Simmo / Willo bashers but it’s a bit disappointing when we have to play them when we don’t have better alternatives as a premiership club.
Really hope January will rectify that
If we play Ed’s suggested team Vuksic will disappear in the wrong position again. Gosling is not a good player Ed. Abeid is way more effective, but Pards has a blind spot with promoting Gosling and blanking Abeid.
Cisse and Ba in a 442 will never work and Cabaye is a 442 won”t work. These are all known to be true beyond all reasonable doubt.
Pards obviously did well last season and I don’t think it was a case of the players doing well in spite of him, but well maybe a little. Pards says he learns from his mistakes but it seems some were built to last.
NottsGeordie
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Comment #9Seriously Ed? How is this game must-win?
If we draw tonight, we’re 2 points off the lead, with 4 games left to play. You’re saying a 2 point lead would be impossible to close, with 4 remaining game…? This blog has become a joke.
NUFC_LEAZES END
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Comment #10My team tonight would be :
………………………Elliot……………………….
Simmo…….willo……..perchinio… Santon
HBA……………….bigrimana ………….fergie
……………………….cabaye…………………….
………………shola…………Ba…………………
NUFC_LEAZES END
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Comment #11@nottsgeordie
I agree with ed, we must win the home games, and at least get a point from the away ones
geordie157
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Comment #12Think Campbell could be on the bench, Cisse might start.
tequilamag
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Comment #13Yeah Ed, you spend all this time posting articles and providing a forum for all us people who CBA to make our own blogs and you still can`t make everyone happy.
And you sometimes make little mistakes that people can jump on.
Sort it out Ed
totsy
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #14Amalfitano to start, haven’t seen him have a solid it game yet tbh but wouldn’t mind seeing him against a french team.
tarie4
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #15Rotonda heights
“Cabaye is a 442 won”t work. These are all known to be true beyond all reasonable doubt.”
I disagree, cabaye played some great games for us in a 442 and in a 433. Last season, man united Aston villa to mention a few. against Everton he was completing lost but when we switched to 442, he came alive and produced two worldly passes in a space of two mins.
Have U seen abied play?? I saw him at the man U 21’s game last week and he wasn’t great. Inman was better.
His work rate was non existent, whereas gosling work rate is top notch. Every game he has played this season for the toon, he has been up and down that pitch getting into good areas.
I would play gosling over abied everyday of the week, until he improves his workrate.. Coz at the moment its really really poor, hence he is not being selected.
“If we play Ed’s suggested team Vuksic will disappear in the wrong position again”
I disagree again, vucik has been getting into fantastic positions, as every game so far he had 2-3 shots at goal, or good goal scoring opportunities.
However the whole team as a whole has been poor so far. Because we do not play that much in the oppositions final 3rd. This is where vucik is most useful. We play the ball between the defence and the midfield and back again and knock it forward.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Comment #16Must win in theory, mathematically, not at this point. It’s normally a fair assumption that home games are must wins, but reality is we could draw some and win away games instead. Not really worth pulling up imo and I thought I was pedantic….queue “You are pedantic comments”.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Comment #17Tarie…I was discussing Abeid with someone yesterday and said I assume it’s more to do with his workrate than ability. Pardew does not reward talent, but more so hard work and desire to do well.
tarie4
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #18Ibizatoon – Back by popular demand // Oct 4, 2012 at 1:40 PM
That’s 100% correct, and so it shud be. You just have to look at barca, its not their ability that makes them that good, it their work rate, their constant pressing etc. Look at Dortmund yday, macini said after the game, that is not enough to pass and move etc, but we (man city) must show desire and workrate in order to win.
Mister Tuff
Oct 4, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Comment #19Repost -apologies.
I’ve checked out a couple of Bordeaux videos and they certainly look a very good outfit. They are undoubtedly a side playing well at the moment. On paper we have “better” players –however there is definitely a potential for coming unstuck tonight –dependent on the strength of what team Pardew selects (bearing in mind the game on Sunday). If we get a bad result, all may not be lost –this is a group stage match and all we need to do is finish higher than Bruges and Maritimo in order to get through to the next round –which we should be able to do –then the “Champions League” sides join in the next round –some very good teams.
As for the Cabaye incident – was it a bid or an enquiry –Cabaye says one thing and Pardew says another –they both surely cannot be right (right meaning truthful in this context). Having the press officer blocking attempts to find out more from Cabaye does fuel the suspicion that something did happen and if that is the case Newcastles’ attempts to deny it look very amateurish. Pardew should not have dragged Cabaye along to the press conference –it seems obvious what the journalists would want to ask Cabaye. I think it puts in doubt what Pardew states in the future. Things can have a tendency to come back and bite you.
toonLYF
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #20i also agree with Ed. I have grown up with the belief we should win EVERY game at St James Park no matter who we’re playing. It’s the way my Granda brought me up as a NUFC fan, and that mentality will never change. It’s not an unreasonable belief either imo.
tequilamag
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #21Maybe Ed was referring to the point that if we lose a match his blog goes into meltdown.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:09 PM
Comment #22Tarie….Are you sure it’s not just because Pardew is clueless and has his favourites? 😉
We saw it last season with Benny. Pardew eased him in to things. If he didn’t show enough commitment, he was benched. Overall it worked well. I know some peoples opinion is that he should play regardless, however, I would argue we now have a more complete player in Benny and it hasn’t taken any spark out of his game either. The one negative is that perhaps he picks the ball up to deep, making his job harder to get in to the oppositions final third.
tarie4
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Comment #2319Mister Tuff
I think spurs contacted cabayes agent with an offer, like wages etc, before they actually put a bid etc. (backhanded tactics)
Pards did.allude to this after the transfer window had closed, that agents were trying to fix their players with new clubs etc.
I guess thats why the two differing topics. And for the press officer thing, dnt look to much into it. We were meant to be discussing the game tomorrow (today) and someone wants to.talk about cabaye and spurs. I’m sure most managers and press officers would hush those questions.
JAMSHA
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Comment #24Newcastle v Bordeaux Live On Tensports India At 12:30 am .. PLZZZZ BE AVAIBLE SHARP AT 12 AM AT UR LIVENG ROOM FOR THE POST MATCH PREVIEW
Jonny
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:13 PM
Comment #25My Team:
——————–Elliot———————-
Simpson—-Perch——Williamson–Tav
————-Anita——-Bigi—————
Obertan———-Cabaye————-Marv
———————Shola——————-
Pards Team:
——————–Elliot———————-
Simpson—-Perch——Williamson–Tav
Obertan—-Gosling—-Cabaye—–Fergie
————–Shola——Vuckic————
Rotonda heights
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #26Tarie
The trouble is we win the ball only to give it back again with hopeful hoofs. Barca press, win and retain the ball
in their 433 style.
We have the players to play 433 extremely effectively as has been proved. Manu home and Stoke away apart 442 always looks a struggle for us. The bulk of cabaye’s assists for Cisse was when we played 433.
Gosling may run around a bit, but I think I could manage that. He doesn’t create or score and I think most people see this. Yes we like seeing players work hard but it’s not all perspiration, you ‘ve got to have a bit of inspiration as well. Gosling doesn’t.
tarie4
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #27Ibizatoon – Back by popular demand // Oct 4, 2012 at 2:09 PM
I have seen that too, Benny picks the ball up way way to.deep, but I assume its coz tiote hasn’t been playing and cabaye has been off form. Otherwise he wudnt come to deep, coz he will be getting good clean ball into his feet in the oppositions half. However if he wants to play through the middle he better get used to picking up that ball in deep in our own half.
what’s ur view on that, shud he play on top of the midfield in a ozil, kagawa position or shud hr stay out wide?
cupiddstunt
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Comment #28Mister Tuff @# 19
Sorry disagree about the “they both surely cannot be right (right meaning truthful in this context”) they can both be saying what they both think is the truth so being truthful, and yet both tell different stories.
The fact that you appear to be reading between the lines and reading so much into the story and its potential difference of opinion I think shows this.
Let’s just say spuds made a tentative enquiry which AP sees as just that, Cabaye finds out about it and as English is his second (and only just learning it) language he interprets it as a bid.
So they could both be telling a different story and both being honest.
Bet you spend time on conspiracy theory sites as well, you are looking so far between the lines you are reading the weave of the paper and that rarely makes sense either. 😉
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Comment #29Tarie…..It’s not as if we haven’t seen Benny take it from our own half, past their whole team and put it away. He should just do that every time…simple.
Good catch on the fact Tiote has been missing and Cabaye ins’t at his best. All players need to be able to adapt their normal style to accommodate what the team is missing. Once we see players returning from injury and regaining form, we should start to see more of those brilliant moves from last season.
As to which side he should play, obviously comes down to formations etc. I’ve never seen him excel in an CAM role before, although you would be inclined to think he should be able to do really well from there. I think with the players we have, we should be rotating positions during games. Stops things becoming so predictable. So basically, no straight answer, bet you’re glad you asked.
Carryingcoals
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Comment #30Just finished my preview for tonight. Just been saying to a couple of people, despite Pardew calling for more from us, I still think we’ll keep it tight against a dangerous Bordeaux side.
Expecting another poor first half from us but salvaging something int he second half. http://www.carryingcoals.com/?p=239
Can’t wait for tonight’s game, european nights are back! Enjoy the game lads.
– Also looks like Michael Chopra is going to get done, his whole family live close to me in Gosforth and apparently he blew almost all of his money through a gambling problem. News today that he’s associated with corruption…. Shame too because I liked him at the toon, not good enough but a trier nonetheless.
Carryingcoals
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #31And in regards to the whole Cabaye/Spurs thing it seems a lot of people – fans and media – are blowing it out of proportion, a lot like the Demba Ba thing. It’s this weeks speculation. Whether an offer came in or not he’s still a Newcastle player and I’d be shocked to see him leave for Spurs!! Wouldn’t happen, not important.
tarie4
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #32Rotonda heights //
“Gosling may run around a bit, but I think I could manage that. He doesn’t create or score and I think most people see this”
this is why U sit at home and watch games while AP manages them. Pple will only notice a youngster if he creates or scores or puts in a goal saving tackle. Against maritimo if the ball he hit crept in, pple would sing his praises, against man U he got into good positions but his finishing wasn’t great. He has room to improve yes, but right now he is ahead of .abied, and rightly so imo. Have U seen abied play?? A full 90 mins??
“We have the players to play 433 extremely effectively as has been proved. Manu home and Stoke away apart 442 always looks a struggle for us. The bulk of cabaye’s assists for Cisse was when we played 433.”
We played poorly against qpr, fulham and got beat by Brighton in the FA cup.
Against Bolton we were poor, and lucky to have been at 0-0 right before some individual brilliance put us ahead. Dare I mention Wigan away??
What I am saying is that 433 is not as great as U seem to think it is, just like 442 we did look great, but also really poor. pple wanted that and against Everton we where ripped apart, went to 442 and we could have won. And looked much much better.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Comment #33Carrying…Another good read. Well done. It will be interesting to see who gets the starts tonight. I see Pardew as a take the risk earlier and change if needed, rather than starting strong and trying to put the game beyond doubt. So I expect a mainly fringe / youth side, with 2 or 3 experienced heads in there to try and make the difference.
Overall the younger players keep pretty solid, but lack that little spark to get a goal. Having Cabaye (assuming he’s playing nearer his capabilities) should help with this.
On Gosling….He has had a few close shots and does seem to get in to the right areas. His finishing isn’t wonderful, but not a million miles off either. I can see him almost being a Nolan type tbh, but isn’t there yet.
tarie4
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Comment #34Ibizatoon – Back by popular demand // Oct 4, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Haha.very diplomatic response there. Alan Pardew is that u?? 😉
yes u are very right, but I think our team really suffers when tiote is not there, just like yaya toure for city and essien for Chelsea a few seasons back. I think he sets the platform for cabaye and Benny to really work their magic.
His passing is getting better (what a ball to Ba say the weekend)
Cabaye always has his best games for us when tiote is playing.
Would love to see Anita along side tiote, just to see what his made of.
Carryingcoals
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Comment #35Cheers Ibiza, I’m not expecting a win tonight and I think we’ll be largely on the back foot. Hopefully we come out and look really good, would make a great night.
re Gosling: He gets slated on here but just needs time. Obviously looked really good at Everton and has come back from that horrific injury. Way too soon to write him off. There’s a lot of talk about Villa bidding for him but I can see him staying with us. A goal and consecutive starts could really spur him on, just has to take his chances.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Comment #36Tarie…..If I was Alan Pardew I would have by now given up on this terrible and outdated 4-4-2 😉
It’s definitely based on theory, rather than in practice, but I can’t help but feel the following formation (Defense and GK omitted before people start saying 11 players may be better) could be devastating.
——–Tiote——-Anita———-
————–Cabaye————-
–Arfa——Ba/Cisse—-Marv/Ba/Fergie
But then again, I do play a considerable amount of Fifa 🙂
Carryingcoals
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #37tarie4
As the season goes on I think we’ll be looking to play a midfield three of Cabaye, Tiote and Anita. Its got great potential and could see Cabaye flourish.
steveno7
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #38Ibiza .
So who demanded u come back ?probably urself and thats it .ha ha
and on tonight i would not entertain vukic im really not sure about him at all.
Will be a hard fought game tonight but do think we will win.
Ferguson deserves a start .if so we may actually have some decent balls put in the box.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Comment #39Carrying…Always expect a win mate 🙂 Otherwise you miss out on that gutting feeling of anger and hatred. Why would you deprive yourself?
If we turn up, then we can win. I’m also aware that we will likely face an in form team who are hard to breakdown. Just hoping for a good game of football.
I think you’re spot on with Gosling. He makes mistakes, sure. But he is far from terrible. We’re only in October, still plenty of games for everyone, the cream will always rise to the top in the end.
steveno7
Oct 4, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #40Another thing cant believe isnt in the u21squad