Really good news on the injury front today is that it seems Fab Coloccini, Tim Krul and Steven Taylor have been training well this week, and hopefully all three will be in the starting line-up at Sunderland on Saturday.
A great shot of Steven Taylor in action
Taylor has been out since the Reading game with a calf injury, and Coloccini has had a hamstring problem ever since he went to play for Argentina in August, and when he was called up again in September, he only aggravated the problem.
So the Newcastle captain has played only four times this so far for the Magpies this season.
Goalkeeper Tim Krul has been out with an elbow injury he picked up in training while with the Dutch squad last month, and the 24-year-old seems to have suffered no adverse reactions since he returned to training on Wednesday.
Alan Pardew seemed upbeat on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show as he had this to say:
“I’ve got a stronger hand, because Coloccini has been in training, Steven Taylor has been training and Tim Krul has been training. So that helps my selection process. You do need big players for these games.”
It will make a huge difference to the Newcastle starting line-up if these three players, along with Danny Simpson, can start the game at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, where hopefully the lads can pick up all 3 points.
Howay The Lads!!
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
202 comments so far
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:16 PM
Comment #81We’ve missed Simpson IMO. He’s solid but unspectacular. He’ll go on to be a first team starter in a decent enough premiership outfit in January.
Just hope da boosh lives up to nufcblog’s expectations.
89Norcal
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Comment #82@FatmanJoe, couldn’t agree more.
Hopefully Saylor stays healthy, I noticed in the few games since his initial return he was slightly out of sorts in the backline and made a couple mistakes.
MagpiesFlyHigh
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:22 PM
Comment #83Beefman
At least if yer a Holstein or a Friesian yer a black and white hunk of beef.
BigKirky
Totally agree that a flanking left position is not the same as a left wing position and Ba should jest get on with it
Shola needs half an hour to weave his magic…
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:23 PM
Comment #84I agree. Saylor looked really shakey at times. I don’t think saylor-willo works as well as saylor-colo or willo-colo. Both British lads need that commanding argie next to them.
89Norcal
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:26 PM
Comment #85I also really really hope Cisse get get on the scoreboard. Cabaye should be near 100% now after all the issues about his fitness following the Euros. He has looked great for France over the last 2 breaks, so lets work the play through him some more!
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:26 PM
Comment #86I really like the front line of Ben arfa cisse ba but not if he’s going to spit his dummy every time he’s put there. I think we looked really dangerous on the break with those three up top.
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:27 PM
Comment #87I’m going to argue with myself now tho – ba is scoring at the moment so it would be right daft to move him to the left when he’s on form.
89Norcal
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Comment #88@FatmanJoe, Yes it would be a bad move IMO to run a 433 with Ba wide. If anything I think we should try Cisse there instead if Pards insists on starting them both. Ba is most dangerous in that 12 yard area, I just feel Cisse could do more than Ba coming from a wide position and around the top of the box.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:36 PM
Comment #89Steveno7…All looks perfect mate. Never a truer word spoken.
Beefman…..You should see how many friends I have on facebook like….made it to double digits last week!!!
Jamiemac
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:38 PM
Comment #90In my opinion Simpson is our best full back defensively yet he get abused on here. He may not be the best offensively but his main job is to defend which is what we have needed in recent weeks.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:41 PM
Comment #91On Simpson,if Dastardly describes him as a ‘purple’ then why wont Mashley offer him a purple contract ?
hotdog
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:43 PM
Comment #92When was the last time hatem played behind the front man. To my recollection it was against Everton when he scored that screamer. He has to play in that Beardsley ( no 10) role for me, he would be devastating!
hotdog
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Comment #93Jfa – his colour is fading a bit to a mmmmm mauve 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:47 PM
Comment #94FMJ,
Would it do any harm to put an in form player on the left who is well capable to score from that position, if it meant Cisse was getting as many,with Ba’s form at the moment he should be feeling like he can score from anywhere,it should be about the team and not just his feelings.
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:48 PM
Comment #95Does he see him as purple tho? I thought the implication was that he didn’t.
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:50 PM
Comment #96He didn’t score from the left tho. That’s when the goal scoring stopped last season. In his eyes it was coz he was left
archaeomag
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:53 PM
Comment #97@Jail good point – we just don’t know WTF goes on
Think of all the goal line clearances – saved a few points
beefman13
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:54 PM
Comment #98HaHa ibiza, probably got a handful more friends than me though.
munstermag, got in touch and wanted to be my friend.
Then he changed his mind and said i wasnt such a bonny lad after all.
He knows how to hurt!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Comment #99FMJ,
I’m quite sure that Dastardly said we have eleven purples,I’m assuming he meant one for each position,unless he meant Anita was a purple RB,maybe they’ll give little Vern an extra three grand a week to go back on the holding midfield promise.
On Ba not scoring from the left,in all fairness he came close a few times last season then i think it became a confidence issue rather than positional,I think it could be worth going back to that formula that won us so many games toward the end of last season.
beefman13
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Comment #100Magpies, the beefman is a belgian blue! but black and white through and through!
89Norcal
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:58 PM
Comment #101@Jail for Ashley, it SHOULD be about the team, but I can’t help but think Ba is selfish by nature. He wants to be THE target man or at least in the center.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Comment #102Archaeomag ,
Amidst all the rubbish I spout I do come up with the occasional valid opinion.
hotdog
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:01 PM
Comment #103Is my font colour in white :-/
leefire
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:05 PM
Comment #104Krul
Simpson. Taylor. Collo. Santon
Tiote
HBA. Gutt
Ameobi. Ba
Subs to come on. Cisse, Anita, Ferguson
hotdog
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:07 PM
Comment #105Leefire – go on pick another
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:07 PM
Comment #106hotdog,
No its in back,on HBA,I’m nor sure when he played in that exact position you talk about but when I watch him he seems to be all over the pitch,probably does what he wants.
leefire
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:07 PM
Comment #107I think we could beat them with that team. And I missed out Cabaye, so we have nothing to worry about. We could beat them with 10 men and might do if Tiote kicks ass.
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:12 PM
Comment #108Pretty sure he meant anita not Simpson.
Criticising a player going out rather than the one coming in.
hotdog
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:13 PM
Comment #109JFA- yes but with four behind him he would not have to track back as often.
Just keep shola stretching all game that will have the unwashed bricking it 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:13 PM
Comment #110I’m a bit gutted I’m not at home for this its a little bit hard to get fired up for it ,there’s not even a mackem on site to banter with and the three other geordies are into that UFC caper,a taxi into Bologna and a day on the lash would have been just the ticket.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:17 PM
Comment #111FMJ,
So you think little Vern is pencilled in to be the new LB or RB,that would make sense as they’ll probably wait till a bid for Tiote comes in before making a decision.
hotdog,
I’m not really a tactician I played 4-3-3 on FM,unless I played a top flight club and then I went 4-5-1.
hotdog
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:18 PM
Comment #112JFA- get the taxi mate and spread the word. Geordies on tour. Have you ever seen a Mackem in bologna!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:24 PM
Comment #113hotdog,
130 euros on ya own is a bit steep,I can get pay per view in the hotel for 7.
Tonytoon73
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Comment #114Jail, you must have a good little number of a job mate
Quasi.modo
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:29 PM
Comment #115Evening chaps, the weekend is almost upon us and we have the misfortune of having to wait another day to get to see our boys on the field, let’s hope it’s worth the wait.
I for one will not be watching the match, will just watch the highlights on MOTD because derby day has given me many a near heart attack and I can’t keep my sanity unless we’re winning, so I’ll be otherwise engaged and praying for a good result.
As for who to start and what formation to go with I would advocate a 4-5-1 in this game, overrun the midfield and choke off their supply to Sessegnon and we’ve got the game in the bag. HBA will be up to his usual tricks and Cabaye and Tiote will finally come alive, perhaps this is just the game to get Cisse firing up front by himself. Play Demba LW HBA RW and go for it.
Can’t see Anita playing in this game if I am honest, more likely to see Guti or even Perch playing in DM as they have much more experience of these games and I fully expect Simmo to play RB too.
I think we’ll win it 2-0 and finally kick start what has been a somewhat sluggish start to the season.
MagpiesFlyHigh
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:29 PM
Comment #116Beefman
Lean and muscly then
Jail for Ashley
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:29 PM
Comment #117TonyT,
Not always pal but this ones not bad.
Tonytoon73
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Comment #118Jail, plenty of pasta mate.
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:33 PM
Comment #119I see what you’re saying about perch however Anita has much more experience in the big game. I really have faith in the lad.
FatmanJoe
Oct 19, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Comment #120Sorry, that was directed to quasi…