This is not good news, because once again we’ve lost a player who has picked up an injury while on International duty, and this time it’s Yohan Cabaye of France, who will not be able to play on Saturday against Swansea – and that scenario has already happened this season to both Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul.
Alan Pardew – we have problems
And of course Newcastle will also be without Jonas Gutierrez through injury, and Fabricio Coloccini through suspension, so a few class players will be missing on Saturday afternoon, which could event things up a bit in Swansea’s favor.
Shola Ameobi is fit and could well get a place on the bench on Saturday, after he returns to Newcastle tomorrow for training after flying back from Miami, after making International debut for Nigeria last night.
That’s unless Papiss Cisse is stopped from playing, after he pulled out of the Senegal squad for the mid-week game with back injury, and Senegal may invoke the five day rule – which would prevent him from playing on Saturday.
Alan Pardew gave his press conference this afternoon, and he had this update to give to the local press:
“We’ve got a few problems.” “Cabaye didn’t play for France and it doesn’t look like he’s going to play for us at the weekend either.” “Jonas will be missing, Coloccini will be missing but Shola looks okay.”
“A couple of the guys who were on international duty are coming in Friday morning, so it has really stagnated the week again for us, not unlike a lot of teams in the Premier League.”
“But we have got enough quality in the squad to put a good side out on Saturday, for sure.” “With Papiss we have a bit of an issue going on at the moment with the (Senegalese Football) Federation.
“We feel we covered all the bases in giving them information but they seem to have not received it.” “So we are in discussions with Senegal and the FA about his availability for Saturday.”
“We gave a report and an email straight after the game saying that at half-time he was feeling his back. We took him off and our doctor also sent reports on the injury.
“We didn’t, as far as I’m aware, get too much information back and now it seems that Senegal are upset that he didn’t appear for them.” “Somewhere down the line there has been something lost in translation there and we are trying to sort that out.”
“Hopefully it will be cleared for Papiss to play on Saturday and clear for him to continue with Senegal going forward, because nobody wants any bad feeling.”
These International matches in mid-week, which are principally arranged to make the National football bodies some money, are hardly important, and to expect top players to travel long distance to play these games – which literally count for nothing – is a little unfair on the clubs who pay their wages – like Newcastle for instance.
That’s our view in any case.
What do you think about this?
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87 comments so far
jeff
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Comment #41my team for swansea:
———————–krul
———–simpson-williamson-taylor
santon————————————–ferguson
—————anita——tiote
———————ben arfa
———–ba———————–cisse
toonLYF
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:29 PM
Comment #42sirtoongospel – Raylor is a big miss you’re right. From what i can gather he seems to be a massive part of the dressing room, and whilst he probably wouldn’t be starting..we could definitely use his delivery and set pieces at a time when we are not creating many clear cut chances.
I’d even be tempted to start him on Saturday on the right of midfield with Arfa on the left and just have them both cross from deep. or hit the byline when possible. We just haven’t had the ball in the oppositions box anywhere near enough considering what our two front men are capable of. Too much passing backwards.
sirtoongospel
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Comment #43I love how we all have different ideas as to how to shape our team. One thing nearly always there is Ba AND Cisse in the team, and rightly so. We need to find a way to play to both their strengths. All i want us for us to pass the ball. And that includes Hatem! He has been trying too hard and too much, when just a simple pass can get us ticking over nicely
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Comment #44Krul
Santon Saylor Willo fergie
Anita tiote marveaux
HBA ba sammy
If cisse can play
Krul
Santon Saylor willo fergie
Anita tiote marveaux
Ben arfa
Ba cisse
sirtoongospel
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Comment #45Completely agree. Gutierrez for most of this season has been s defensive player, as has Cabaye. When Cheick does that anyway, we have 3 defensive midfielders, HBA tries to beat the whole team and Cisse moved left because Gutierrez vanishes. Still though, we are top half, coasting in Europe and with masses of improvement in us.
toonLYF
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:39 PM
Comment #46sirtoon – Nice positive spin on things, thanks for that. 🙂
sirtoongospel
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Comment #47If you need cheering up just think of the filthy mackems. They are woeful and probably can only get worse!
toonLYF
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Comment #48the morality in me is almost starting to feel sorry for them, but my heart is crying buckets of laughter 😉
sirtoongospel
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Comment #49ha ha ha ha their Party with Marty is going well!!
wingspan
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Comment #50I really like your team jeff but i think the team will be what toonlyf says. Which i think will be a shame coz swansea will have 3 in there midfield and just pass around our two, cant just say Tiote will stop everything because swansea arnt physical. Dont need to be physical if you move the ball well. Barca the best team of the modern age are a team of midgets
Graeme
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Comment #51Agent O’Neil may well turn out to be an even better version of Agent Bruce lol
sirtoongospel
Nov 15, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Comment #52He he he he he agent o’neil!! Brilliant.
breno95
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Comment #53@toon
Who are you tempted to start on Saturday? Are you making reference to Ryan Taylor?
Bit strange seeing as he is out all season.
Not one for keeping up with state of play it appears eh?
jeff
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Comment #54my team for swansea:
———————–krul
———–simpson-williamson-taylor
santon————————————–ferguson
—————anita——tiote
———————ben arfa
———–ba———————–cisse
heres the idea:
pardew is never gonna play 4-3-1-2 because he really likes to have players to double up on the flanks, especially if the wingbacks on the opposing team are extremely offensive. if we want to cover the wing backs, the midfield trio are gonna have to do the work which opens up a huge hole in midfield. this is seen by how hard he made ben arfa and ba track back last season
now 3-4-1-2 gives us the ability to double up quite easily. lets consider baines and pienaar. simpson and santon can cover them easily and simpson is able to come out of the back three to help santon because we will have saylor and willo in the box – and vice versa on the opposite side with fergy and saylor.
3-4-1-2 also will play to willo’s strengths- there wont be the issue of strikers going on the outside of him as ideally he would be playing in the centre between simpson and saylor, so if our rb does get forward, the shane longs etc are not going to be skipping around williamson.
because our wingbacks offer protection and service we will be able to play ben arfa behind two strikers and the creativity he offers in a central role will offset the loss of cabaye. anita will be able to keep thinks ticking and tiote will be able to win back the ball easily.
swansea will struggle to pass the ball around as we will have five in the midfield meaning they will be forced back where our two strikers are eagerly anticipating a misplaced back pass.
ferguson and santon on their favoured sides also allows for some good crosses for our two strikers
toonLYF
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:04 PM
Comment #55wingspan, fair point that – Swansea are neat passers which could well be a big factor on the day, but if Tiote puts a few rough yet fair challenges in and gets them hesitant when in possession; he could effectively disrupt their rhythm as he will always be in the back of their minds when they have the ball.
Just a way of thinking about it, obviously doesn’t always apply.
sirtoongospel
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:06 PM
Comment #56breno95, you need to read the whole post. If you read it again you will see that the state of play has been well referred to.
toonLYF
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Comment #57breno – I was saying it in context, as if he was fit as me and sirtoongospel were discussing. I’m a season ticket holder and regular reader here, i know who’s injured and who’s not. 😉
toonLYF
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Comment #58jeff – Was a good read that and a very good and well thought out idea, good post.
SupaToonKid
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:17 PM
Comment #59We need good crossers on both wings and Marv (RW) & Fergie (LW) will provide this as will Santon. Time to give Ben Arfa the freedom to unleash his talents to full effect I think this weekend, placing him behind Ba will shatter Williams & Chico!
My XI:
Krul
Simpson, S. Taylor, Williamson, Santon
Tioté, Anita
Marveaux, Ben Arfa, Ferguson
Ba
Subs: Elliot, Tavernier, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Obertan, Shola, Cissé
wingspan
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Comment #60Very good counter argument toonlyf hadnt thought of it like that.Im sure Cheik is capable of rustling a few feathers 😉
soundoid
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Comment #61Simmo—Willo—Taylor–Santon
Anita———-Tiote———Fergie
Hba————-Ba———-Sammi
JAMSHA
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Comment #62Ben Arfa up for
award
Hatem Ben Arfa
is in the running
for FIFA’s goal
of the year
award along
with the likes of
Lionel Messi
and Neymar.
Sure to see arfa in top 3 on 29th
fray bentos
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Comment #63Someone poster asked how many goals cisse would get in the Man U or city teams, well based on thus season he wouldn’t get anywhere near their team, yeah he would bag a few goals but he would waste opportunities to make chances which he has done for us
Yes he hasn’t had many chances with us but he has offered nothing In setting them up with the rest of the team and he often blunders build up play. No big teams will allow the from their players, u have to he more all rounded.
Graeme
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Comment #64Jamsha, if enough from TOOOOOON register a vote for him, he could win it!!
On a couple of previous posts someone put the link up so you (and anyone else) can vote for him!!
JAMSHA
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:44 PM
Comment #65Graeme
can u post da link if u dnt mind 🙂
JAMSHA
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Comment #66founded…will tell frnds to vote n spread it like virus lol
euanpolo
Nov 15, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Comment #67Team for Swansea then:
Krul
Simpson – Williamson – S.Taylor – Santon
Tiote – Anita
Obertan – Ben Arfa – Marveaux
Ba
Subs: Harper, Tavernier, Ferguson, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Sa. Ameobi, Sh. Ameobi
nick_9
Nov 16, 2012 at 12:02 AM
Comment #68“Coloccini will be missing but Shola looks okay” – Phew, our most important player. It’s going to be a hard slog this season.
With cabaye out it might be best to give 4:5:1 ago with Benny infront of Anita and Tiote and ferguson obertan on the wings? That’s if cisse isn’t available, what a silly issue that is with the Senegalise FA.
I suspect the Senegal fa will relent and Pardew will field
Krul
Simmo, Williamson, Taylor, santon
Ben Arfa, Anita, tiote, ferguson
Cisse and Ba
obatoyou
Nov 16, 2012 at 1:42 AM
Comment #69Was coloccini not suspended?
JAMSHA
Nov 16, 2012 at 4:43 AM
Comment #70is the 3 match ban for tiote over?
obatoyou
Nov 16, 2012 at 4:54 AM
Comment #71Yeah tiote’s ban is over, colo’s ban must have been over as well. Think we’d all feel a bit better When krul colo and tiote are all playing, maybe it means we need some more world class players in … we need some more tiote’s maybe a lampard, a gerrard, or a terry that’d be nice
obatoyou
Nov 16, 2012 at 4:56 AM
Comment #72Whoops re-read the article there looks like colo is suspended. Is it an auto 3 match ban for a red? Or dOes it depend on previous cards and such?
89Norcal
Nov 16, 2012 at 6:31 AM
Comment #73Well if Colo is out at least Perch can put in a good shift.
For some reason our midfield is a mess without Tiote. Not sure if I’m too bothered with Cabaye out since his nagging injuries were wrecking his form.
Maybe Pards will play Sammidinho and he’ll show Swansea a thing or two?
jawballsaswallwell
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:15 AM
Comment #74Krul
Santon – Williamson – S.Taylor – Fergie
Tiote – Anita
Obertan – Ben Arfa – Ba
Cisse
C’mon Pards, a little attacking intent – it’s Swansea for goodness sake and couldn’t we all do with a lift. If we get done you can blame injuries and suspension and we need a good performance as much as 3 points. Let’s get about them. I can’t take it anymore.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:25 AM
Comment #75Morning lads!
Oba…a straight red is always a three match suspension!
jawballsaswallwell
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:26 AM
Comment #76Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi
had special words for Eagles debutant, Shola Ameobi,
“Shola was awesome the moment he got into the pitch. He showed his experience in the game and even when he was provoked his calmness was amazing. He was talking to the other players on what to do at a time we were under pressure and he was resilient, we sure need his experience for big tournaments.
“Look at the way and manner he shielded the ball, evaded being brought down before passing to Mba, who also gave it to Onazi for our third goal, Shola is a special player.”
Ged in, son! I’ve never tolerated a word against ya!
check the toastie
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:30 AM
Comment #77My team, just go for it Pardew you dinosaur, 4231.
We have so much attacking talent at the club, its about time this team tried to entertain. Take the shackles off Pardewasaurus.
Krul
Santon Tavernier Saylor Fergy
Tiote Anita
Marveuax Ben10 Sammy
Ba
Would love to see that team named, however we know it will be 442.
Krul
Simpson Willo Saylor Santon
Ben10 Anita Tiote Fergy
Ba Cisse
Actually this team does work a lot better as a 442 than previous sides as we havent now got Jonas holding up play at every opportunity, Expecting a win whatever side we put out, we should have miles too much quality for Swansea. Fancy 2 or 3 nil actually.
Indian Magpie
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:38 AM
Comment #78OBA,
A straight red card is not always a 3 game suspension.
For example if you hand the ball on goal line or you are a last defender and denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity then its a straight RED but not a 3 game ban.
A straight RED for violent conduct is 3 game ban, +1 for subsequent REDs
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:42 AM
Comment #79Thanks Indian Magpie…for clearing that up! Didn’t know that 🙂
89Norcal
Nov 16, 2012 at 7:44 AM
Comment #80Surprised you guys havent realized the futility in posting formation suggestions yet.
I did the second I capped off a 500 word essay with “Pards will probably use 442 again”.