It’s going to be very interesting what side Alan Pardew selects this Thursday night for the first tie against Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League.
Metalist Kharkiv – Newcastle’s opponents on Valentines Day
The Ukraine team are already in the north east and they had drawn 1-1 at Whitley Bay on Sunday in a warm up game before taking on Newcastle United on Thursday.
It’s clear that the attitudes to the Europa League are different for the two clubs, with Metalist taking the two ties very seriously.
But of course with Newcastle now 5th bottom of the Premier League and still in some danger of being relegated, we don’t expect Alan Pardew to play his best side, and certainly not in the return leg a week come Thursday, just four days before our important league game against Southampton.
Newcastle are four points out of third bottom (really 5 points with goal difference taken into account) and 4 points out of a clear 11th place – so we can move up quickly if we can start stringing those wins together.
Alan Pardew could play a strong side at home this Thursday night, with the next game being in a week’s time – but this would be our best second eleven:
Eliott
Simpson Williamson Yanga-Mbiwa Haidara
Marveaux Anita Tiote Bigirimana Obertan
Ameobi (Sh)
Alan Pardew could play a stronger side than the one above for Thursday night, but that team shows just how strong the Newcastle squad is now after bringing in five top players in January.
It would be good to give it a go in the Europa League, but the Premier league comes first, especially when we are still down there near the relegation zone.
What would your side be for Thursday – let us know.
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34 comments so far
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 12, 2013 at 8:51 AM
Comment #1How on earth did these only draw with Whitley Bay?
Staggering.
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 12, 2013 at 8:52 AM
Comment #2All part of a cunning plan?
Troy Stavers
Feb 12, 2013 at 8:53 AM
Comment #3Better be the strongest team! This could set our season up for a great finale.
Step aside young guns, you’ve had your chance and blown it!
Troy Stavers
Feb 12, 2013 at 8:55 AM
Comment #4The new boys should be put in for match fitness. Absolute perfect timing for them. Forget about the youth. They are not up to it.
Bambams
Feb 12, 2013 at 8:59 AM
Comment #5@Troy…
I hear what you are saying fella, however if we get some needless injuries…….Back to where we were!
Its a fine balancing act, how many do we put in when we really need all hands to the pump for our league position.
Thats why pards gets his wages….
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:01 AM
Comment #6Anita, mbiwa, hairdryer, williamson, simpson if fit, shola, jonas.
We should have these in the squad I think
~ Phoenix Warrior Perch~
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:01 AM
Comment #7Anita, Tiote, Bigrimana in the center.
Doesn’t inspire me at all really. Two Defensive Midfielders in Bigi and Tiote.
Graeme
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Comment #8Ed, I would truly hope to see a far stronger team than your line-up.
We have no league game for almost 2 weeks and in reality we have to go flat out to win the home leg by a good margin. I would expect to see at least a team as strong as the one fielded against Spuds – or what was the point of fighting to get to the Europa League in the first place??
We are in it – we should be looking to win it; in which case Bambi should be nowhere near the starting 11.
Rotonda heights
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Comment #9sage,
I think a technical target man are few and far between these days, ie ibrahimovic. I’d much rather we went for PEA or similar than waste 10M on Carroll.
We need a quick, skilful, mobile guy who can play wide as well as centrally. Mind you so far Goofy has been a real revelation. Real grafter with skills and pace and an eye for goal. Quite a package that I didn’t see coming and which allows us to play 433.
I think our team is almost there now. MYM or Tiote for Perch and Benny / Anita for Jonas will work in a 343 with a sweeper and Debuchy and Santon as wing backs or a 433
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Comment #10Out of the youngsters, only Bigi and Campbell for me to get game time. Maybe Streete on the bench as a bit of experience of being in the match day squad. Other than that, I think Simmo will start if fit, otherwise it could be willo and Taylor with Yanga right back. Haidara left back. Anita, Tiote, Marv, Bigi, Sissoko and Cisse. Anita Sissoko and Marv all supporting Cisse.
Cisse needs to play as he needs to get goals and the only chance he will get for doing that is by playing.
Transfer Sage
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Comment #11same team as spurs but obertan for gouff, tiote or anita in for perch and mbiwa for saylor
Send out a strong team.
Why even try to qualify for europe if we just treat it as a problem. May as well aim for just 10th….players want to play in europe so let them play.
People can get injured in training so maybe we shouldn’t train anymore? or just train the back up players.
Toon-Prodigy
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #12Phoenix,
If i ever get to singapore i’ll check out the Toon bar 😉
saxonfenken
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Comment #13Hopefully a stronger team than that suggested, what was the point in qualifying, Astrong team first leg and a defensive team second leg if we get a result a SJP, it will give some newcomers gelling time as well.
sage from last nlog
Transfer Sage
So what we need is a Racist diving cheat like Suarez.
I do know what you meant though and agree
Byker Boy
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:08 AM
Comment #14Agree entirely with the line up you’ve selected, Premier League survival is far too important to risk losing members of the Purple Brigade that can’t be adequately replaced.
saxonfenken
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:08 AM
Comment #15Transfer Sage
my thoughts exactly
Markaccus
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:08 AM
Comment #16Goofy and debuchy can’t play in this competition (goofy played in it already, we chose mbiwa over debuchey) so there’s two places open to second choice players. Obertan or marveaux for goofy. Anita at rb maybe? Otherwise simmo. Socks should play at least a part in every game he can, he’s too good to drop (barca NEVER drop Messi!) Same for Cabaye. They don’t need to play the full game, maybe they could share it? Cisse needs every game he can get to try and build confidence. Good opportunity for tiote at DM to get his mojo (or his mofo’n mojo) back, alongside either Anita (if simmo at right back) or stick with perchinho. Jonas stays on the other wing as he has the right attitude for a euro game, santon, colo and mbiwa start. Krul in goal. That’s almost our first team with only a few tweaks.
Transfer Sage
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Comment #17saxon
Hopefully we get the player with the good qualities of suarez and not the bad haha.
Dude
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:14 AM
Comment #18Strongest team from now on till end of season. Go out and try and win every game. Old skool tactics. Winning breeds more winning.
Rotonda heights
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Comment #19Graeme
Spot on. After dismally been knocked out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle the Europa represents our only chance of doing anything this year.
It irritates me when Pardew keeps playing the Europa down all the time. As you say what was the point qualifying if you don’t have a real go at it.
I know Pardew f….d it up with Tevez and Mascherano but surely with the quality we have now we are well stocked to get out of trouble compared to a Wigan, Norwich, Villa, West ham, Reading, Fulham etc, so we could afford to give the Europe a good go, especially at home with a gap till the next games.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:20 AM
Comment #20I am starting to cringe again just at the thought of Williamson being anywhere near the back Four !
Plus putting Mbiwa alongside him on his full team debut would be a big mistake for me?
Elliot between the sticks; i can understand ; but Simpson needs to recover from getting his Tattoo before i would even consider him for a start!
Elliot
Debuchy Mbiwa Haidaira Jonas
Obertan Anita Tiote Marvaux
Cisse Sammi Ameobi
But just who are we trying to kid here? He will more than likely use Willo again? Which will be a big gamble on his part and could turn out to be a nightmare debut for Mbiwa?
Has anyone got any Internet links for the game! My satelite Sports net does,nt do F.A cups or Europa League games live?
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #21Forgot Debuchy is cup-tied? So put Saylor on in his place!
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Comment #22Really quiet on here this morning?
Moat1
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:33 AM
Comment #23NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Are u sue about jonas in defence? hes worse than simmo and willo put together!
stuart no9
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:36 AM
Comment #24if pards is taking this competition seriously . wouldnt it make sense to play his strongest team available on thursday. that way if we are good enough, lets get as many goals as we can in the home tie so we can afford to take a weakened team away, with the tie already in the bag, then all the big players will get rest they need for the soton game. makes sense to me.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:47 AM
Comment #25@23:
I can seem to remember, playing at left back just after or just before Enrique left us for Liverfool ! He and Ryan Taylor used to cover that position if i remeber rightly ! Anyone feel free to correct me on this?
Also Jonas has been played at Left Back for Argentina before now? Willo i would put on the bench, but my cringe feeling as far as regards him just won,t go away!
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #26Another Doubt about Jonas is: If he does,nt need a rest!
Jamiemac
Feb 12, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #27I think its safe to say Anita, Marv, MYM, Haidara, Obertan and Simmo will all play. And then you can bank of Shola and Bigi playing, the rest is a mystery..
cestriasteve
Feb 12, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #28I think we should play the strongest team possible for the home leg and then rest next week. Surely Pardew will know who needs resting and who doesnt. That Southampton team looked fresh versus a very sluggish Man City team.
weg
Feb 12, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #29I think we should play as strong a team as possible. Especially because we have no game on Saturday. Our new players are still adapting to new teammates, and we need consistency. We don’t want to disrupt the team’s flow by chopping and changing unnecessarily. Krul, Simpson(if fit), MYM, Taylor, Santon, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Marveaux, Jonas, Cisse.
Go for a strong win with this team, and then adjust the team the week after to cater for an away leg.
tooninspain
Feb 12, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #30Give me strength! Jonas left-back? Is this April 1st? Posters keep mentioning Jonas played at left-back for Argentina (it was actually right-back). Anyway, that was when that lunatic Maradona was in charge. Someone will be suggesting putting Anita in goal next….should be great for crosses.
sphinxhunter
Feb 12, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Comment #31Several of you guts make good points. Lots of you want to field the best available line up and rest up the purples before the soton game. All good. All valid. AP won’t pay any attention, of course. Pity.
I don’t think any of our so called purples can rest on their laurels after the Spurs rubbish. Yeah, some sporadic good stuff. Our best team need more practice, to start getting consistency. One injury should not derail a game plan.
IMO we should switch to a three CB line up – Saylor, Collo, Mbiwa. If we had a proper sweeper to play behind them, they could push well up the pitch, but that is just dreaming. I do think Santon is good and hear he needs a rest (?!?), perhaps. But, I like him on the bench as back up to either Jonas as a wing back on the right, or Haidara getting his debut on the left. I agree Cisse needs to start, so as to play himself into form (f***, when is that going to bear fruit), leaving four places for some creative midfield play – Cabaye, Sissoko, Marveaux, Anita, Tiote, are the best available (in that order), but I feel AP will give Perch a last chance while Cabaye & Sissoko will watch from the stands.
Troy Stavers
Feb 12, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Comment #32Bambams,
I’m a bit late but if you tune in,
I don’t fear relegation now, even with the odd injury.
We have chance to salvage our season and this cup should be targeted.
There’s nothing to stop us reaching the final stages and with a bit of luck, winning it.
I know you’ll have us as relegation favourites. 😉
AmericanGeordie
Feb 12, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Comment #33We MUST play our strongest side for the home leg. We don’t have a Premier League game for 10 days after. It’ll serve us well just to keep the lads sharp, continue their experience of playing together and keep our momentum going.
Plus, say we can put up a 3-0 win at home, then we can play an entire 2nd 11 next week, and still have a great chance advancing without compromising our Prem League focus.
Debuchy and Gouffran are ineligible for Europe anyway, so they’ll rest. If fit I’d like to see Ben Arfa get a run out in one game or the other, just to gain some match fitness.
Here’s my starting XI for the home tie:
4-2-3-1
Krul
Anita-Taylor-M’Biwa-Santon
Tiote-Cabaye
Marveaux-Sissoko-Jonas
Cisse
Ericles
Feb 12, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Comment #34Well said Dude. Best possible team from now on. For the Europa cup best team also but Haidara and Campbell on the bench plus either Krul or Harper in goal.