Newcastle have won only three games of our first 10 games in the Premier League this season and we’ve drawn five, and to climb the league table we need wins, and that’s what we’re looking for in today game against West Ham United today at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle are in 10th place on 14 points from 10 games, and West Ham are one point better off and one position higher than us, in the league table.
West Ham haven’t done all that well on their travels in the league so far, and they have one win, one draw and two defeats in their four road games, and have scored only 3 goals and conceded six in their four away games.
And old faces are returning to the club today with former manager Sam Allardyce now managing the Hammers, and former captain Kevin Nolan, and local striker Andy Carroll will both start the game for the opposition this afternoon.
As far as Newcastle go, we have Coloccini suspended for the next three games and Cheick Tiote suspended for this game, but this will be his final game he sits out, after being sent off after 25 minutes at Sunderland.
And just by the way – Sunderland lost again 2-1 at Everton yesterday – and yes – they actually scored through Adam Johnson just seconds before half time to go ahead, but let in two goals in the final 45 minutes, and now find themselves 5th bottom of the league.
Haris Vuckic, Ryan Taylor and Dan Gosling have long-term injuries at Newcastle, and Alan Pardew said during his press conference on Friday that Sammy Ameobi was a slight doubt for this game, and of course James perch is out for several weeks.
Danny Simpson is also a doubt, but we’ll assume he will be fit, so here’s a possible team that Alan Pardew could start this afternoon:
Krul
Simpson Williamson Taylor (S) Santon
Ben Arfa Cabaye Anita Gutierrez (c)
Ba Cisse
Subs: Harper Tavernier Ferguson Bigirimana Ameobi (Sa) Obertan Ameobi (Sh)
The question is who will Alan play in defensive midfield today, since Tiote is suspended and James Perch is out injured for a few weeks, and it could be that Alan prefers 19 year-old Bigirimana, because he is a more physical type of player than Anita, and probably better fitted against a strong and physical West Ham side.
But given Anita’s excellent game on Thursday night at Brugge, and his fantastic goal we expect Anita to start somewhere today.
The main battles today will be between Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor against the aerial threat of Andy Carroll, and the goal scoring threat of Kevin Nolan.
For West Ham United, defenders James Collins and former Newcastle target James Tomkins will have fitness tests and could play, and Guy Demel is available again.
But significantly West Ham are hit by injuries with Matthew Taylor, Ricardo Vaz Te and Jack Collison all out injured, and they will not play today.
The referee for the game is Mike Dean of Wirral.
The game today will be preceded by a wreath laying ceremony and one minute’s silence as part of Remembrance Sunday, when we remember those who gave their lives and perished for their country in previous wars.
It’s simple what Newcastle need today – a win and all three points.
And finally, let us know how you think the game will go today.
Howay The Lads!!
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
94 comments so far
Transfer Sage
Nov 11, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Comment #81Tequila
Spot on with shearer.
It was a combination of money, a decent team around him and his love for the club that kept him.
I don’t he would have stayed on 10k a week but I have no doubt man utd would have probably doubled his wages and given him more than enough trophies.
He genuinely did love the club.
On badge kissing…I don’t mind it. Players may move on to a better offer but they could still love and respect the club they left.
catchy in norway
Nov 11, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Comment #82TS/RUDDY
our squad is far more suited to 442,,
we have 3 CF that are big, none of them suited to running the channels, 2 of them are great finnishers, 1 goo at flick ons
wingers, HBA sammy, ferg, obertan,
DMF bigi perch anita tiote
AMF cabaye ( i wold play HBA here to)
a diamond 442, and play to our strengths, get the ball whipped into the box as much as possible,
if the ball is coming from ferg on the left, BA/CISSE in the box, HBA coming in from the other side incase it gets through, cabaye hanging around the edge of the box ready to smash the ball goalwards
Dannyo
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #83Meh, i was wrong.
Newcastle United FC ?@NUFCOfficial
#NUFC (4-4-2) v #whu: Krul; Simpson, S.Taylor, Williamson, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gutierrez (c), Ferguson; Cisse, Ba. #epl
Dannyo
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #84Newcastle United FC ?@NUFCOfficial
#NUFC substitutes v #whu: Elliot, Anita, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi #newcastle #epl
Dannyo
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Comment #85Newcastle United FC ?@NUFCOfficial
#NUFC substitutes v #whu: Elliot, Anita, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Marveaux, Obertan, Shola Ameobi #newcastle #epl
Dannyo
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Comment #86Ooops, odd, said i was posting too quicly, posted again, now duplicate messages…
Transfer Sage
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Comment #87Catchy
I think the squad is capable or 442 or 433 equally as well
Could easily play cisse or Ba alone up top with cabaye behind and Ben arfa and marvoux/fergie/obertan either side of the striker.
The problem I have is we seem to play 442 with the wrong players.
I don’t car what formation we use as long as the 11 lads on the pitch suit it.
With Jonas the left on a 442 and cabaye so deep we offer nothing much in midfield.
toonbrother
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:06 PM
Comment #88Stupid and ridiclous line up. Ferguson will give the ball away too often. Other than cross every now and then he’ll deliver nothing. Jonas and Cabaye alone in midfield will result in us being overrun
MUTINYbyLEMONS
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #89Our wings should provide good service to our front men. Our midfeild should do ok too, our defence should be ok too so should or defence, basically everything is fine and we will win
catchy in norway
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Comment #90tequilamag /
big al came to win things, we had a great team, and it was built around him, and then re built around him by BOBBY, and for me, AL earned his money while he was here,
while Bobby was in charge , we looked like a team that could win things,
the figure 99.9% was just me, because our league is filled with so many players from other countries now,, most have not even heard of norwich, sunderland, newcastle,
liverpool, man u, have history
ars have not done anything for a long time other than hang in the top 4
tequilamag
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Comment #91Jesper all generalisations are simply that. It may well be true that the fact majority of players are interested only in the money, but when an example of that generalisation is false it would have been a mature response to acknowledge that. In my opinion your response to the most gentle of criticism displays a lack of maturity. It was never the case that i disagreed with your general view only that I found it too sweeping a statement.
beadyeyesbb
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Comment #92Anyone have a link for today?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Comment #93Good match everyone 🙂
jawballsaswallwell
Nov 12, 2012 at 3:30 AM
Comment #94Jesper – patronising, immature, arrogant, unable and unwilling to defend his fatuous, ill considered comments, well really, you could have knocked me down with a feather.