Newcastle were drawn against FC Metalist in the round of the last 32 of the Europa League, when the draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland this afternoon.
Newcastle have drawn FC Metalist of the Ukraine in the round of the last 32, and the games will be played on the following dates:
First leg on February 14th at St. James Park – and the second leg away on February 21st.
FC Metalist play in the city of Kharkiv (founded in 1654), which is in the north-east corner of the Ukraine, and they play at the 40,000 capacity multi-use Metalist Stadium, which was built in 1926 and was recently reconstructed to its current capacity, in order to host Euro 2012 football.
The club finished third top of the Ukrainian Premier League last season, and came out top of Group K with a 100 per cent home record, and were tied on 13 points with German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen. They had a one goal inferior goal difference than Leverkusen but finished top because they took four points out of the German club in their two group games.
They drew 0-0 in Germany and then won 2-0 at home in the Ukraine, and they seem to have an excellent defense – conceding only three goals in their six group games.
They won four games and lost only once at Rapid Wien 1-0.
If we do get through the round, then we will face winner of the tie between Hannover 96 of Germany and Anji Makhachkala of Russia, and those games will be played on on 7th and 14th March – and if we get through that one we’re in the quarter-finnls.
We have to stand a reasonable chance of making it through to the last 16 – although Metalist seem like a very good side, but we hope most of all that by the time these games are played we are not in any relegation trouble.
Then we could even enjoy watching the games.
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155 comments so far
Magpie from Lithuania
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Comment #1and ANDZI OR HANOVER. GOOD DRAW. I AM HAPPY.
Indian Magpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Comment #2Ed you knew about Kharkiv
Joe Blog
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Comment #3Well while we’re there, why not scout the Tschernobyl area, see if we can pick up 7ft CB with 3 legs and super-human speed?
Magpie from Lithuania
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Comment #4NO AJAX, CHEALSEA, NAPOLI, BENFICA, ATLETICO, BAYER, LYON AND OTHER REALLY GOOD TEAMS.
Magpie from Lithuania
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Comment #5INTER, TOTENHAM OR LIVERPOOL ALSO.
MacToon
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Comment #6Good draw for us imho.
Magpie from Lithuania
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Comment #7TOP 8 HERE WE COME 😀
MacToon
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Comment #8So how did the mentalists do in their group, who did they play and how did they get on?
nufcusa
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Comment #9Only downside to this draw is the potential ofr long haul flights to Metalist and then Anzhi. This will make Sundays tough. However, if my calculations and dates are correct both away legs would be followed by home games against saints and stoke.
Two very winnable european ties for a performing Newcastle. Heres hoping.
rainrix
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #10I thought we played away 1st because we’re unseeded?
Anyway good draw hopefully our shop is in order come February although it would be wise not to underestimate metalist or hannover and andzi for that matter. All in all though i don’t think the draw could have gone any better
2_goal_tino
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #11As i said on previous thread, I think supporters see this as a good draw with a great chance of progress. Pardew and the club on the other hand I think see it very differently, they will not be happy. I think it has all but ensured a run out for the reserves, nobody at the club wants a long trip to Ukraine and then potentially Russia.
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Comment #12decent draw in terms of chance of pregression.
Would rather play a big team but this is ok.
markmac
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #13@3 LMAO
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #14I dont see how a long trip will make much difference.
Players can sleep on a plane…or lie down, not that tiring.
Only in the country for a day or so therefore wont adjust to tme difference in russia so jet lag shouldn’t be an issue.
A good nights sleep after a flight and the players will be fine….too much is made of travelling….especially when the club manage everything so you dont have the main tiring aspect we have which is stress (tickets, passports, family to watch, etc)
Special K
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #15Dream draw from a progression standpoint. With a fully fit XI there’s no reason we can’t make the QFs looking at those ties. Anzhi didn’t look particulary impressive in their games with Liverpool.
Let the bigger teams knock each other out and lets see if we have a glamour tie in the QFs. HWTL
Indian Magpie
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Comment #16kharkiv will be tough, they were Qfs or SFs last year
pieceofpapiss
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Comment #17Lithuania, take your caps lock off!!! 😉
Metalist is a tough game and Anzhi are a quility side as are Hannover.
2_goal_tino
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:57 PM
Comment #18@TransferSage – Fans think that but all clubs in every competition complain about it, so there must be something in it. Besides it doesn’t matter whether it’s real or not, it’s how the club perceive it that is important. We already know Pardew thinks traveling makes the players more tired given his press conferences after away performances. If he thinks that he’s not going to start our first team cause he will, as he’s said many times he will prioritize the premiership. As I say it doesn;t matter whether this long trip stuff being a disadvantage is verified in physical performance it is much more important in determining his selection in the first place.
MacToon
Dec 20, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Comment #19Their group and finishing places:
1 FC Metalist Kharkiv – 13 points
2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen – 13
3 Rosenborg BK – 6
4 SK Rapid Wien -3
They drew with Laverkusen away 0-0 and beat them at home 2-0. Should be an interesting tie.
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Comment #202 goal
agree that it will influence the team we take out there
and also if you repeatably tell players they are tired they will be tired
My point is that look at teams in NFL and football in USA….a regular league game can result in you travelling 1000’s of miles…..much further than a trip to the ukraine but they don’t seem complain too much when I watch NFL.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #21Good draw from a progression view but ffs when we were back in europe i was looking forward to seeing us turn out against teams like lazio inter athletico ajax etc
For all i know this is the equivalent of playing fcuking dagenham and redbridge!!
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Comment #22Sage
Agreed about MLS travel but thats why there season is so short!
Joe Blog
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Comment #23TS
It’s just a popular myth. A manager would have constructed it as a defence one day, it piqued other managers lugs up and they added it to their repertoire of excuses.
I’m such a jaded cynic.
2_goal_tino
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #24Transfer Sage –
Few things about that. US sports teams generally do stints ‘on the road’ to stop back and forth traveling. Most NFL teams for example play two away games, then two home games etc. NFL is very different too because there are over 50 players on a team with the lineups changing constantly and the total playing time is just 1 hour with short bursts of intensive action. Much less conducive to tiredness. Thirdly most teams are actually clustered in certain areas e.g North East. Seattle Seahawks on the other hand over on the West coast near Canada have no near neighbours, so there local rival is San Francisco. They as a team are famed for having one of the worst home vs away records of any team, precisely because they have to travel so far. Finally the regular season in NFL is just 4 months long so they have prolonged breaks
I do agree with you though that a bit too much is made of traveling tiredness considering the fact they very rarely have to do it. I just hope Pardew actually gives us a chance of getting through by putting in a few of the now famed ‘purples’
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Comment #25tads
mls is quite short but NFL goes on a while as do other major sports in america
It probaby helps if you are used to all the travelling too.
I’m not convinced sitting in first class is that tiring really.
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Comment #262 goal
Yeh but even 2 away games at once is still a lot of travelling in the states.
I think it doesn’t help that most of our players used to only playin in england and not used to travelling much.
The main issue with travelling is purely that the time it takes impacts on the amount of time you have to train and prepare for games.
Last year we played 1 game a week so had 7 days to rest and prepare….not we have 2 in a week so twice as many tactics and things to work on, less recovery time and less time to work on plans.
Thats why I think during europa weeks we would benefit from a steady team, not chopping and changing 8/9 players.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Comment #27TS
Not sure about that they have to press a button to get the stewardess to come over and then ask them for a drink then wait for it and after all that they have to sit up to reach there peanuts!
Spreadthetoon
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Comment #28“To put it in some sort of context – from 2013-14 the Premier League’s bottom club is guaranteed at least £60million. The winners of the league are in line for £100million, sums that dwarf what is on offer to anyone trying to climb out of the Championship.” The Journal
On that basis it looks like ALL clubs will be busy this January…..just hope MA is willing to compete and put his money where his mouth is! We need at least 4 players and ideally 6 – no more excuses!
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Comment #29Tads
Knowing how cheap Ashley is and how skilled a negotiator llambias is maybe our players load the whole plains luggage and sit in the Cargo storage just to save a few quid
WWYCD
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Comment #30Hopefully when these games come round we will be a lot stronger and we can give them a real game. Cabs and Saylor being back isnt going to be enough though imo
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Comment #31Sage
Aye i think the travelling excuse could perhaps be applied too players like wor perchy tayls willo simmo and the like
But your dembas tiote cabs anita gabby colo santoon all have european and international experience
Like you say a but much is made of travelling although i suppose it eats even more into the training and prep for a game
Catchy
What are we going to do for a manager now that martinez has done a pards and blamed there form on injuries this season? I mean martinez is such a yes man puppet always blabbing to the press with his pathetic excuses 😉
catchy in norway
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Comment #32th good thing about this team is they have wrapped up there season for winter, and it wont start again until march,, this should be like a pre season game for them
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Comment #33Catchy
We wrapped up our season in August
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #34YO
Completly agree mate
In all honesty i was saying all summer we needed another creative midfielder, yes were stocked in CM but mostly with more defensive minded players oh and gosling!
Also for me you cant plan a season and have taylor in those plans for the season he’s less reliable than an expired condom! A CB needs to be bought in that can easily walk into the first team, i like taylor but he’s never reached his potential and prob won’t through injuries think he gets alot of slack for being a local, who knows a new cb threating his position might up his game a bit
Theres no doubting his fight when he plays throws homself at everything but technically he’s not great and always dread him being the last man!
markmac
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Comment #35@28 – ”4 to 6” players? that would be nice,but really really cant see that happening, if we say 2 to 3 we ‘might’ have half a chance of being right :-/
catchy in norway
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #36Charlie in the Gallowgate
hopefully it will kick off for us soon,,
wel when pardwho is gone it will 😀
Transfer Sage
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Comment #37catchy
whats the tv coverage like in norway? get many games or do you have to stream games?
karasu
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #38We’re really lucky to have a good draw. We stand a decent chance against a strong Metalist side. We must take advantage of the pocket of time from now till February to get our house in order so that we can take Metalist on with less worry.
Tinman
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #39Ukraine in the dead of winter. Bah. Just saying…..
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 20, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Comment #40catchy
starts Saturday 3.00pm – hopefully, fingers crossed and owt else