This is Newcastle final game of the season – a season that has been very disappointing for us in the Premier League – to say the least. But a win today could see us finish near mid-table and even in 10th place if other results go for us.
And of course our last two home games have resulted in two of the worst results in Newcastle’s history, when we lost to Sunderland 3-0 and then our worst home defeat since 1925, when we were embarrassed 6-0 by Liverpool, and they didn’t even have Louis Suarez playing in the side.
Goalkeeper Rob Elliot is suspended for this game, after being sent off after 81 minutes at QPR, and Steve Harper will be playing his last game for the club he’s served for 20 years..
Sylvain Marveaux is available again after overcoming his groin strain, and he will participate at some point in the game, according to the manager but we think he’ll start on the bench.
We are assuming that Davide Santon is still not fully match fit for this game – so this is the team that could start this afternoon:
Harper
Debuchy Coloccini (c) Williamson Yanga-Mbiwa
Ben Arfa Tiote Cabaye Gutierrez
Gouffran Cisse
Subs: Alnwick Simpson Taylor (S) Anita Perch Marveaux Campbell
This could also be Danny Simpson’s last game for Newcastle, if he gets on sometime in the second half, which has to only be if a defender is injured in the game.
The players will want to put on a good show after a disappointing season, and two very bad results in our last two games at home, and this is what Alan Pardew had to say about the game today:
“We’re very, very determined,” “We’ve got a good record against Arsenal at home, and we take that into the game so we’ll be in good confidence.” “I think it’s very important in terms of ourselves, most importantly.”
“It has been a tough season for us in many ways, and the last home game – the 6-0 defeat to Liverpool – was not good for us.” (you can say that again) “So it’s nice for us to have a big game with something on the game, which I think’s important, because Arsenal obviously need to get in the Champions League.”
“We owe to the standard of the Premier League and to ourselves that we put on a fantastic show. And I think we can.”
This could also be the final game for captain Coloccini, and Alan Pardew has asked the fans to let him know we love him and want him to stay at Newcastle for the next three years – and the manager has hinted there;s a chance the Argentine can stay on Tyneside.
The game will depend to a large degree how well our defense can play, with Arsenal being in good goal scoring form, and needing a win to guarantee them fourth place in the league table, and Champions League football for next season.
A full 43% of readers thin we are going to lose the game, which probably isn’t surprising given our last two performances at home.
We are hoping the lads can win or at least get a draw, and then they can celebrate with the fans for ending up in a decent position in the league table – and Mike Ashley will give out £1M in bonuses to the non-playing staff if Newcastle can get all 3 points this afternoon.
There’s going to be a minute’s applause for Steve Harper in the 37th minute of the game on Sunday – that’s his number – and it’s in appreciation of Steve’s 20 years at the club and all he’s done for Newcastle – so please pass this on to those attending the game on Sunday.
Howay The Lads!!
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296 comments so far
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 19, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Comment #81Spuggy…The fact that Cisse has had an underwhelming season and still got 13 goals (with a fair few not given aswell), within a team that has underperformed, just tells me we need to keep hold of him.
Could it not be argued that this is the worst that we could expect from him?
ToonDownSouth
May 19, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #82How many goals has Cisse wrongly had chalked off this season?
I remember 2 against Metalist at home, and 1 against Sunderland at home.
I’m sure there must have been more. Mind you, he has also scored a few from offside positions, so it probably balances out.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 19, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #83Looking at the stats, he’s got 8 in the PL this season. Not wonderful considering the amount of starts he’s had, but I suppose he was hampered for the first half of the season.
Spuggy
May 19, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Comment #84Ibiza
I agree on cisse, 13 goals and a few legit ones chalked off is a decent return for a team in a relegation battle. First half he was played on the right of a forward line too or dropped.
His header against QPR was great, just an inch or two offside. We need someone who can compliment him either on the wing, behind or alongside. A selfless player who will pass to him.
Tinman - Pardwho?
May 19, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Comment #85Still confident Pards is a dead man walking!
We’ll get beat today. If your a gambler back Arsenal/Arsenal in the full time half time.
Such a shame this season, I had quite high expectations. Injuries, bad luck and shocking management have really cost us.
Seems we brought in decent players in January. Get rid of the crap and bring in two or three more first teamers and we will have a very talented squad. Hopefully Pardew wont be here to manager them. After a good pre season ‘gelling’ these French boys will be ready to stick it to the crappy British Media next season.
Hopefully if we lose Cisse, Cabaye or HBA we get a decent fee for them.
Honestly think if we brought in Benitex we wouldnt lose a single one of our big players. Except maybe Colo but thats different.
discrepancia
May 19, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Comment #86who is going to the match today, guys?
hugotoon
May 19, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Comment #87Simpson really deserves to start today! Debuchy is a liability in defence at the moment and has given away two penalties in recent weeks. Simpson should start.
Spotlight Kid
May 19, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Comment #88NUFC can finish as high as 10th with a win and a 12-goal swing (£8.3m), or as low as 17th (£3m). That potential £5.3m is where the ‘bonus’ is coming from…
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 19, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Comment #89TDS…Not sure tbh. Think someone said on here recently it was 6 or 7, but no idea how accurate that was or if I’m even remembering it correctly.
Spuggy…I didn’t see the QPR game (way too hungover that day). We desperately need a winger or two, get Marv or Benny playing behind Cisse or as you say get a strike partner who can play WITH cisse. What a novel idea.
I know I’m always optimistic, so this may not mean much to many, but I do have a good feeling about next season.
Offkey
May 19, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Comment #90Ibiza – 😉 Smart-arse. ‘I suppose he was asked the question’ logical, cutting but not too offensive…….like it.
Anyway, what fans are all sensible and dream of mid table every year. Arsenal fans (large amounts of them) scream for Wenger to be sacked, there are always umbers of fans who want more (or just a change) and use whatever poor arguments they can……for me, if asked that type of quetion, he could have simply said ‘ They are right to dream and right to be disappointed.’. Simple, and few snipers would be after him.
Offkey
May 19, 2013 at 10:55 AM
Comment #91** keyboard failure on some letters****
Spuggy
May 19, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Comment #92I’m going 🙂
discrepancia
May 19, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #93spuggy
quick question , may I ?
toon kk
May 19, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #94Does anyone think we’ll win today or will we be ripped apart by a much quicker better passing side?
ToonDownSouth
May 19, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #95Ibiza & Spuggy
Assuming that any of the reports are true, do we think Carroll would partner Cisse well or not?
If played correctly then I think he would. As long as Pardew doesn’t elect to just use Carroll as target practise for our centre backs, I think he’s compliment him really well. Cisse isn’t a scrapper, it seems he needs someone to do the battling for him – what he is is a finisher, and when he’s confident you’d never back against him scoring from anywhere near the penalty area.
Laurent Robert 32
May 19, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #96I read the headline then read the piece straight after as I was typing and yes, my apologies, he doesn’t say those exact words.
However, Pardew is like the boy who cried though so it is highly believable that he would say something like that.
Telling us subs make an impact when they haven’t. Telling us he wants to play passing football when we haven’t. Telling us that he’s pleased we aren’t in Europe next year is a disgrace.
It’s a long line of massive errors.
Tinman - Pardwho?
May 19, 2013 at 10:58 AM
Comment #97I honestly have no idea how people can be criticising Ashley over the bonus. Its madness. All of the staff have end of season bonuses anyway, this is ADDITIONAL. And yes its a gamble, yes it will be payed for by his company and yes it will be more than covered by TV bonuses. So fuck. If I worked there I would be happy he offered us the oppurtunity.
Tinman - Pardwho?
May 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Comment #98Newcastle have won once in 10 Final Day Games in Premier League…. 1W 5D 4L
In our last 11 games in All Competitions, we have only scored more than 1 goal ONCE
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 19, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #99Offkey….Ha, that’s me 🙂
You’re not wrong, there are many people who will always want more and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but does often stand in the way of being balanced or reasonable.
I tend to not read too much in to what is said, there is no way he can please everyone. Of course he could answer a lot of it better than he does, but we wouldn’t want him being perfect, would we?
Spuggy
May 19, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Comment #100TDS
Interesting one on carroll – I think he could make a decent partnership with cisse, but at the sacrifice of any 433/4231 modern formation. Perhaps 442 is an alternative when we need it. Also should carroll return considering the debacle when he left. I’m not sure Ashley would have him back.
We certainly need someone who can head a ball from a corner or set piece, cisse is most definitely NOT a target man, hence playing Sissoko behind him.
Carroll would definitely add something we lack but would he change the style of the other players too much?
Get-Well-Ryan-Taylor
May 19, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Comment #101“As long as Pardew doesn’t elect to just use Carroll as target practise for our centre backs”
Unfortunately that is exactly what Pardew will do!
If we think we play too many long balls now, wait till Pardew gets Carroll.
We either support the hoofball or go with a change in management, I vote for change in management.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 19, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Comment #102toon kk…One thing I’ve learned from supporting the toon is you can never expect anything, whether it’s win, lose or draw. Full of surprises, positive and negative. Got to love the rollercoaster that is Newcastle united.
TDS…I agree. I think it can work, but there is the issue of a lazy approach being undertaken as he is a big lad. I would expect that to happen from time to time, but as long as it’s not the standard approach I think he could be extremely effective.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 19, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Comment #103Right guys, been a pleasure, but I am off for some coffee in the sun. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and lets hope for a good performance today and you never know, we may even get a result.
HWTL!
Laurent Robert 32
May 19, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Comment #104Ibiza, on the ESPN’S stats Jonas is down as zero for all competitions.
http://espnfc.com/team/squad/_/id/361/league/all/newcastle-united?cc=5739
Same with whoscored site
discrepancia
May 19, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Comment #105if pardew get carroll we will be definetely like stoke, with the difference that we have technical players, forced to play hoof
josetoon
May 19, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #106http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Assists/0,,10278~201210278,00.html. Jonas has 2 assists
Toon1978
May 19, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Comment #107Pardew needs to Foxtrot oscar. How can he blame the supporters foe this season. He blames everyone but himself. The sooner this bloke is removed the better. Never heard so much dribble for any manager at NUFC then Pardew. We have lost 8 home games this season and worst of the worst was the derby defeat followed by Liverpool kicking our backsides…ohhh yes Pards, the fans are to blame. Get out of this club ya mug. Rant over, i apologize.
TimKrulFan
May 19, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Comment #108I wouldn’t mind getting Carroll back if he was under 10m and pardew wasn’t manager!
discrepancia
May 19, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Comment #109tim krul..
i’m sorry mate but i wonder that then ours manager would be allardyce 🙂
Krul to be Kind
May 19, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Comment #110every team needs options… to be effective and unpredictable which we don’t have at the moment.
I think Carroll is a class act and a lot better on the deck than people give credit for… I would have him back in a heartbeat.
Cisse – finisher
Carroll – brut with aerial prowess
Gouffran – speed merchant (and versatile)
Options, options, options… playing with any variation of these could and should give us the diversity to surprise teams. At present we don’t have options so we need something different in the summer for me with Carroll being a shoe-in and AN Other to give further options.
Offkey
May 19, 2013 at 11:27 AM
Comment #111didn’t Jonas get an assist against chelsea?
Laurent Robert 32
May 19, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Comment #112Jose, I agree, there needs to be a balance in the system, but the balance isn’t there. Even when we’re pushing forward for patches of game though, we don’t look as if we know where teammates will run to and the lack of simple one-two passing and triangles is not a constant of our play. This is all coached on the training field.
As I’ve mentioned before, when we go a goal ahead we try to ‘shut up shop’, but instead of retaining possession and try to control the game, we panic and just sit back to defend. Not just for the last 5 or 10 mins, but half an hour or a second halves of games. Not far off how Chelsea played against Barcelona.
It worked for them for that game, but when it doesn’t work it is awful. Seeing it week in week out for large parts of the game is dreadful, especially against Reading at home who were bottom of the league. It is unacceptable for fans paying a lot of money and with the technical players which we have.
Even with Sir Bobby’s side, Robert hardly tracked back (a bit more than Ginola mind 😉 and Bernard bombed forward often. But we got goals. Goals win games.
We had the balance with Speedo and whoever else in the centre working and covering, but who could also score too. Balance.
Krul to be Kind
May 19, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Comment #113oh and failing we get Carroll – we need that Balde lad from Portugal… wouldn’t wanna come across him in a dark alley (and I’m a huge lad myself!)
HWTL
stuart no9
May 19, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Comment #114whats the odds on arsenal scoring in the 37th min.
now that would be a bummer !!!
discrepancia
May 19, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Comment #115I HOPE THE ANGRY FANS LET PARDEW AND ASHLEY KNOW WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT OUR MANAGER…
NO MORE PATIENCE ,IT IS TIME TO SHOW POSITION
bainbridge2930
May 19, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Comment #116Please start marveaux, him on the left and benny on the right is a genuinely exciting combination. Marv is one of few match winners we have and in my eyes is one of our best players at the club, just wish he was given a run in the first team to prove how good he is
josetoon
May 19, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Comment #117Not that alun pardew is having to try n blame fans as he is not it is a misleading newspaper headline. The fans should take massive blame the way they turn on there players at times they are the greatest at times I think no wonder they are poor who would want to play in front of these
Laurent Robert 32
May 19, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #118On whoscored.com
http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23
Which ever is correct or not, 1 assist is still shocking.
Santon got two assists to Jonas’ and Sissoko’s goal against Chelsea.
toonarmydownsouth
May 19, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #119Toon1978
Wow
You’ve taken a sensationalist headline and managed to sensationalise it even more!!!!
At what part of the interview did he blame the season on the fans?
I don’t want pardew here anymore but won’t resort to having to make up pure BS to make a point
hazzy
May 19, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Comment #120If we were to sell none of our regular starters and just offload the 4-5 fringe players like simpson, gosling etc we will have a much stronger squad than last season. Without the break of training for European football we should be a force again next year. A striker and a winger and a replacement for Colo should he leave and were a top squad