Newcastle will play their next two games in the league at St. James’ Park and we hope there will be a good turnout from the fans, although in our last home game, when we actually won against a 10 man Wigan side, we had only 43,858 in attendance.
Ben Arfa – after scoring on Monday night
But there are some positives, and while we have picked up only 3 point sin the last three league games, we played well enough at Stoke and Fulham but didn’t get anything out of those games.
And we have the great Ben Arfa back in the side, and he showed at Fulham just how influential a player he has become in the Newcastle side.
Sloppy defending at both Stoke and Fulham cost Newcastle possibly even couple of wins, but that’s all woulda coulda shoulda – and until we start defending like we can – we’ll continue to come up short.
This is what Alan said in the local press today:
“We’ve got the Man City and QPR games – they loom large.” “There’s no reason why we can’t win both of those.” “We’ve got to go and attack Man City.” “If we play at that level in the second half at Fulham, we’ve got a chance.”
And is we cannot get any points at home don;t hold your breath for Newcastle getting any away points anytime soon because we have away games at the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford after the QPR game.
There;’s a chance that Gabby Obertan will have recovered form that toe injury of his to be able to be in the squad for Saturday, and if he makes it, he could see some playing time in the second half on Saturday and we could have Ben Arfa and Obertan as two attacking wingers on the flanks.
Let us know how you think the game will go on Saturday.
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36 comments so far
obatoyou
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Comment #1Beat man city , nice
Rotonda heights
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Comment #2Beattie
some pretentious prat was giving you grief a few threads back, can’t remember his name now, but personally you’re a breath of fresh air and glad to see you back.
Beattie25
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Comment #3Does anyone remeber the last time we needed to ‘attack’ a team?
Spurs away????
Anybody want to help me finish of my desert? My spotted dick has gone all soggy and soft all of a sudden.
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #4You just know for a fact that QPR’s first win will come against us.
It would be so, so typical
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Comment #5I don’t like to be unfair to Pardew and have backed him a lot but what is he talking about?
we have to go attack man city? if we attack them why don’t we attack west ham? swansea? southampton? stoke?
all we do is sit back….we never atack until we are behind.
Beattie25
Dec 12, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Comment #6Cheers Rotunda
I have to get used to being a target again I suppose.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that people just don’t like me, oh well there are more important things like 3 points at home t MAn City.
I suppose I’ll have to play Fifa 05 to get that result.
geordie157
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Comment #7As we need a centre Back that is commanding and score goals, shawcross anyone?
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Comment #8sage
I must say I agree with you here. This is a very good point.
Like you I have backed him a lot but it’s infuriating what’s going on at the minute. It’s the same things, all the time.
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Comment #9geordie157
he wouldn’t leave stoke for us i’m afraid…..he said he wouldn’t even want to leave for man utd…he loves stoke as they gave him his chance.
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #10No 1 ever called me a breath of fresh air 😥
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #11carrying
if anything man city is a team where we would accept sitting back and looking to hit them on the break.
we need to impose ourselves on sides around and below us…man city is a team where you need to be solid and try to get a goal from a counter or set piece.
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Comment #12We’ll never get Shawcross, nor will we even be realistically considering it.
He would only leave to go to a big club, a club bigger than ours.
He’s good mind, perhaps currently overrated with the speculation that he’s about to sign a bumper 6 year deal at Stoke to fend off the lions Man U and Spurs.
I’d have him of course, he’d be miles better than WIllo! But even if we stuck ten mil in for him (which we never ever ever would) Stoke would probably still reject it.
Times like this resorting to Football Manager helps.
Beattie25
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #13Is anyone else saddened with the team coninously asking the fans to ‘stay with us’.
I dont think 1 fan doesnt see that the team we have is the best since the turn of the millenium and considering how far we have traveled and how much has been spent that us being with them is a certantity.
We are divided in the fact that the squad isnt big enough and we are being let down from all levels of management.
I am with you, players of NUFC, you live out my dreams on a weekly basis and I can see how hard you try for the shirt and badge. Form is temporary, class is permanent but if the heads above you will not bleed for NUFC as much as I would or you would then there is no hope.
Cut Ashley and he will bleed business models, cut Llambias and he will bleed money, cut Pardew and he will bleed arrogance, cut me and I will bleed black and white.
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #14beattie
just a thought….if we cut llambias when he is negotiating a deal that money he bleeds could be used to get the player over the line?
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Comment #15sage
Well yeah, exactly. O the irony…. It seems crazy at our club at present – does anybody have a clue whats going on?!
The manager in selecting a team and how he wants them to play
The board who wont have a purple player too many!
The players who dont seem to have a gameplan on the pitch
Indian Magpie
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #16Carrying
Williamson, Shola and simpson are bad apples, dont blame others
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #17Beattie – that was quite William Wallace-esque there!
I dont think 1 fan doesnt see that the team we have is the best since the turn of the millenium
– Bobby 2003? Shearer/Bellamy upfront, Given at his peak, Nobby, an explosive kieran dyer, woodgate, etc etc
Spoof
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #18How anyone can blame Pardew is baffling, last season he had a mid-table side which due to good management and a little bit of luck over-achieved, this season due to a lack of support from the owner Pardew has got virtually the same squad, with Anita replacing Guthrie, however the good luck we had last season has turned into bad luck this season due to injuries, combining the bad luck with the additional work-load with the Europa league we find ourselves at the wrong end of the league table, with all due respect to Pardew, if you have an injury ravaged mid-table side with no quality in reserve you will struggle.
If Pardew had his way poor quality players such as Ferguson, Perch, Williamson, Sammy and Shola would not be his first choice reserves, they are his first choice due to Ashley refusing to buy reinforcements, how the hell can we blame Pardew for that
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #19Next two games massive
CRAP – Every game is massive
Beattie25
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #20Also, whilst I am on rant mode, does anyone else think it is far too early for Pardew to give a tip of the cap towards relegation?
In my opinion now is the time to say ‘it’s too early to talk about relegation, and anyway this team won’t be relegated, we are still good enough to break into the top 8’.
Or even ‘If we are anywhere near relegation come Febuary then these players will be uttterly embarresed and it will stain the rest of the carrers’.
You know, go full out, one way or the other. Either inspire or ridicule, not just accept that we have to be cautios.
It is not good for fans or players to hear that.
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #21Indian
What do you mean? Who am I blaming?
Are you suggesting that you put what’s going wrong at the club down to Shola, Simmo and Willo?
I’d argue that Tiote, Jonas, Cabaye and Cisse have performed worse in their roles than Simmo has in is this season.
I will not dispute the fact that both Simpson and WIlliamson need replacing however.
As for Shola, hes not been involved too much. Not worth analysing his impact on where things are going wrong.
I didn’t rely get your comment there, sorry.
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #22Indian
What do you mean? Who am I blaming?
Are you suggesting that you put what’s going wrong at the club down to Shola, Simmo and Willo?
I’d argue that Tiote, Jonas, Cabaye and Cisse have performed worse in their roles than Simmo has in is this season.
I will not dispute the fact that both Simpson and WIlliamson need replacing however.
As for Shola, hes not been involved too much. Not worth analysing his impact on where things are going wrong.
I didn’t really get your comment there, sorry.
Carryingcoals
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Comment #23Spoof
We all recognise that Ashley and the failure to land new players is the root of the problem.
However we can’t neglect how Pardew prohibits us currently. Repeated mistakes have been made
hatemorloveit
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Comment #24Ed it really annoys me when you post the same thing, but under a different heading
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Comment #25Spoof
Do you think this current team of available players are performing to the level they can? I don’t.
Do you think they look comfortable in the systems we use and the style we play? I don’t
Have you seen any side as poor as us from set plays where everything is aimed to willo 9/10 times. I haven’t.
I think pardew hasn’t been helped at all by Ashley. He certainly needed backing to keep us in the top 6. But pardew is also causing a lot of problems himself.
TorqToon
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #26Morning gents. I don’t want to get into the usual stuff on here about picking the squad apart and calling for Pardew to be ousted etc blah blah blah.
Just reporting some news I’ve heard. Those who know me know I spend a lot of time in France, which is where I am currently, back and forth, and the big news that seems to have stepped up (more so than usual!) is 2 names in particular linked with us. One is very strong, with a highly respectable ‘friend’ of mine from his hometown and with family ties. The big news recently is the increase in contact between Newcastle and Mapou Yanga-mbiwa. Word around here is the club has been in direct contact with the club and his agent regards a deal. Montpellier aren’t having a good time of it at the moment, and no longer I’m Europe, the club captain is apparently getting itchy feet and has his sights set on the toon. He has visited Newcastle last summer. It depends on figures etc but would be a massive coup !
The other name is Loic Remy. Who apparently the club are looking to bring in whether big Demba leaves or not. He too is keen on the move and the club itself has had contact with Newcastle. I can’t confirm whether it is Remy they discussed, but there is a very strong vibe around here that something is in the pipeline.
I’m not an ITK or anything stupid like that, but I made a promise to Jesper I would put up on here anything that I see as relevant and not just paper talk etc. HTWL
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Comment #27torqtoon
thanks for that…always good to hear bits and pieces even if nothing comes of it.
Spoof
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #28Carrycoals and TS, lets be honest, for the best part of last season our performances were poor, good results but we played badly, not until the arrival of Cisse with Ben Arfa finally hitting form and Cabaye playing a more advanced role did we play decent football consistently, our performances against Stoke and Fulham were equally as good if not better than the majority of last seasons games, our luck has turned, we are not getting the results that we got last season, but the performances are just as bad
spitfire_
Dec 12, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Comment #29Pardew slowly became Wenger… THE PARDEWENGER… clueless speaking nonsense person. “There’s no reason why we can’t win both of those.”… Is he was in coma in the last… I don’t know… 3-4 months? I can point at least a dozen reasons.
Sav
Dec 12, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Comment #30Howay, Spoof this is at least 3 threads you’ve posted the same stuff. I don’t disagree but change the record, man.
sula
Dec 12, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #31SPOOF i agree with you mate. Last season we werent great but we were getting the results and other results were going our way a lot as well. Pardew can say everything to the press but even he knows he has a MASSIVE 6 GAMES coming up. For me i just want to see a change in tactics try something new cause whatever he is trying now is just not cutting it. TorqToon i really hope that news comes through a few new faces and everything can change it just need Ashley in invest some monies and why the hell would he not want to do that after being in this position before just baffles me why even buy a club if you dont want to spend any money it comes with the package. We would all love to be man city and chelsea and have the spending power but we dont all we want is some depth in the squad and we have seen with our players you dont need to spend silly money to get good quality. Maybe another striker will make demba see life will go on with or without him.
Transfer Sage
Dec 12, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Comment #32spoof
obviously things haven’t changed much but that’s my complaint.
I didn’t think pardew was a tactical genius last year.
He did very well in changing to a 433 with cabaye advanced really creating and scoring goals.
I’m saying it’s his fault we haven’t gone back to that, it’s his fault that we keep banging on with the same formation making the same mistakes.
Spoof
Dec 12, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Comment #33TS, I agree with you, I also prefer a 4-3-3, however last seasons 4-3-3 saw Ba on the left for long periods, during the summer Ba looked for and got assurances from Pardew that he would be played more centrally which he has been, as a result on the odd occasion that we have seen the 4-3-3 the start against Fulham for example its been Cisse who has been out on the right, that’s been a disaster, Ba has been playing for himself and not the team, if Pardew is guilty of anything its for being to soft with Ba, but as soon as Ba was dropped ( Everton ), there was hell on, his agent is a nightmare, if Pardew had sold him Pardew would have been slaughtered, so he done what we wanted and kept him, sadly it has not worked out how we hoped, we should should put Ba on the left as part of a 4-3-3 and if he doesn’t like it, tough, the team comes first, for me that is the biggest criticism that I have for Pardew, he is too weak with Ba
nufcusa
Dec 12, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Comment #34So many people think they are football managers. Try these tactics, pick this team. All opinions are welcomed but credit also has to be forthcoming when change does occur.
Pardew has tinkered with lineups in recent games and gotten the same results but due to poor errors more than poor team play. We actually played better at Fulham when playing 4-4-2 yet everyone is still harping in about 4-3-3 etc. give him credit for trying something then adjusting when it wasn’t working.
I personally would play 4-2-3-1 but select players who fit the roles and give them a few weeks to figure it out. With the current available players:
Krul
Santon
Colo
Williamson
Simpson
Tiote
Perch
Ba
Anita
Ben Arfa
Cisse
This gives us a weakness with Williamson but hopefully cole, him, perch and tiote could almost play a “box” style defense in the middle forcing play away from goal.
It gives us pace up front and enables Anita to be more advanced…. After all he is good on the ball and we need technical players in advanced areas.
If cabaye was fit, I would even consider playing Anita at Rb. This inhibits him a little but would allow fir more qaulity attacking play from our fb’s.
In terms of team strengthening. I have only read about Douglas and in sure he is very good. Personally I’d like to see a loan deal done for a player we know has immediate premiership qaulity. Michael Dawson would be a vast improvement on willo. Micah Richsrds is out of favor and Lescott looks like being moved on. We can not buy these guys but a loan could work.
Spoof
Dec 12, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #35nufcusa, the point I was trying to make is that our most successful formation last season was a 4-3-3 with Ba on the left, Ba can adapt better than what Cisse can, Cisse is an out and out goal scorer, playing him on the right was never going to work, Ba left, Cisse central, Ben Arfa right, does work, why not go back to it.
As far as the 3 English CH’s are concerned, that is a good shout, we know that they can do it in the prem, they are a safer option due to their experience of the Premier league
EastEndMagpie
Dec 12, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Comment #36dont think we should be pushing either ba or cisse out left or right!!
tbh i think ba is pretty much gone, so we may aswell imo play cisse up top and bench ba, and play like what nufcusa is saying, a 4-2-3-1, we have more than enough to play this formation, tiote and bigi holding, anita at rb, gutierez a lb, then marveux out right, benny in the middle behind cisse, and santon out on the left, which brings me to my next point,
i am 100% behind pardew, i do believe he will get us out of this, and i do think he is a good manager and try’s his very best to do whats he thinks is best for the club, but i wish he would see one thing,
JONAS AND SANTON SHOULD SWAP!
it makes perfect sense, jonas has the workrate of an ox, and is a decent defender and especially good at drawing fouls out of dangerous situations, and 9 times out of 10 is back helping santon anyway, where as santon is great at attacking, he has a really impressive shot even though he hasnt scored yet, and most importantly , he can see and pick a pass so much better than jonas, i dont think jonas should be dropped cos he gives his all every game and we need that so badly, but a swap of the two i believe could really open the door for us, i think santon used to be a winger anyway?
*1st of feb dream team 😉
krul
debuchy colo douglas jonas/alex sandro
tiote sissoko
benny cabaye santon/remy
cisse/ba (maybe?!)
what do you think guys, think theres any chance of pards giving that a go? (maybe not the dream team…)