The Newcastle United Blog

64 responses so far ↓

• 1 toonking // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:07 PM

  even if we do miss out on the league cup we still have the fa cup and that usuall haves lots of mega upsets.

• 2 jimmysmith // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:07 PM

  Just imagine if Sammy and Goofy step up this season and we are fortunate with injuries.

  Top 6?

  Hey c’mon, could happen. Both look capable of it. Football, funny old game, after all.

• 3 manxpie // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:15 PM

  does anyone think we got not just the better deal but better player in mbwia instead of sakho
  sakho is big n strong but looks very slow n clumsy so far this season?

• 4 toonking // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:16 PM

  jimmy
  when i look back at last season we may of had loads of awful games in the premier league but in the Europa league their is not one i can really think that was poor to watch and most of them games also were when we mainly saw players such as anita make his way into the first team this year.

  next year i think will be the big stepping stone for both dummett and Sammy because if they can continue to perform like they have in the last few cup games.
  pardew could look at using dummett as the FB and remy along side cisse or swap them.

• 5 Ciaran // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:20 PM

  I have little faith in our fringe players, Obertan, Williamson, Gosling, simply are not good enough. Very few of our younger players are making the grade either.

  We should have a stronger squad, but we don’t, and as such, it is seen, not alone by me, but by the club as well that we would be under relegation threat if we tried to attack the cups.

  This isn’t my opinion, this is the opinion of the club. So what you should be asking is, does the club rate our fringe and younger players?

  Also manx

  I was commenting on the general state of the squad, not specifically this match. Did I need to see the game to comment on how good or bad our squad is?

• 6 toonbrother // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:27 PM

  The cisse detractors on this site are clearly idiots. Fake fans the lot of them. Happy he stuffed humble pie down their throats tonight

• 7 jimmysmith // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:29 PM

  Ashley a gambling man, only with our emotions. I really have to resist the urge to hate his guts, and still I can’t help see hope and silver linings, where if I had any sense, I certainly wouldn’t.

  Still, could be far worse, imagine a life without Newcastle. Doesn’t bear thinking about really.

• 8 Ciaran // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:30 PM

  Toonbrother

  If all it took to be considered a quality striker is to score against Leeds then there are a lot of quality strikers out there.

  Cisse has scored one goal since April, and it was against a Championship side. Don’t think anyone is eating humble pie.

• 9 manxpie // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:31 PM

  ruddy you must have read about how sammi n dummet played n guess wat there two not just young players but fringe players?
  plus we started 6 new players from our loss at hull and won the game very easily
  and to me seeing how good our squad is, IS seeing the team play using that squad play but maybe that sounds utterly stupid!! mmmmm??

• 10 santonthenewmaldini // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:32 PM

  Just watching the highlights on BBC again see having a player on the wing on his proper foot being able to play a ball in first time can make such a difference

  Cisse does make great runs but because we cut inside a lot it takes up valuable seconds and gives defenders time to recover

  Gouffrans goal was quality have not seen a centre forward score a goal like that since Demba Ba or Carroll one touch then boom brilliant

• 11 Ciaran // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:34 PM

  Manxpie

  A lot of people were commenting how good our first team was when we beat Villa. That exact same team got rolled over by Hull. We made some changes and beat a Championship team at home. Great. Does it mean we have a good squad? No.

  I fail to see what is confusing you.

• 12 santonthenewmaldini // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:35 PM

  I will say though Cisse’s goal was totally on a plate but his general play was still gash even after the goal I would have expected him to be buzzing but he still did not contribute to the team

  Gouffran on the other hand his link up play is so much better his wee back heel to set up Obertan was nice

  Still no clue how we will fair against Everton because Fulham beat them and they are terrible so who knows?!?

• 13 manxpie // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:39 PM

  agree santon wat a goal and very good point on cisse i remember shearer sayin not long ago how as a striker knowing when the ball is coming in is a strikers dream because there run depends on it and we’ve had opposite footed wingers for some time now
  if only we could find a right footed arfa lol?

• 14 jimmysmith // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:39 PM

  I think you either persevere with Cisse or you get rid.

  He won’t come good on the bench and when he does it’s likely gonna be in a torrent of goals, particularly if our other attackers and apparent excellent midfield strikes some consistent form.

  In my humble opinion, an in form Cisse is easily arguably the most valuable player we have.

• 15 james589 // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:42 PM

  Gouffran and Cissé, our two poorest finishers this season both scored extremely well taken goals. Is this down to great service, looser marking, or just them finally shaking the dust off? I’m hoping it’s the latter of the three and this marks the breaking of Cissé’s duck for the season. Hopefully he’ll go into the next game with renewed confidence.

  Best result we could have asked for after Saturday. HWTL

• 16 santonthenewmaldini // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:44 PM

  @ Manxpie

  Why not just play Arfa on the left ?!? For me he is always much more dangerous on the left because he can just whip it in when he plays on the right it can be too easy too read and he is hardly prolific in front of goal he should be more concerend with creating chances than scoring them

  @Jimmy smith

  For me its difficult to know if Cisse is totally off form because we rarely create good chances for him must be shite running about closing defenders down all game waiting on scraps he is capable of scoring wonder goals that can win close games

  I think with the players and system we play we need a striker who can do more than just score goals we need a player who can bring others into play more which Cisse cant do unfortunately

• 17 manxpie // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:44 PM

  ruddy we have got a good first team and wat shows tonight is that we’ve got a good backup 1 loss doesn’t change that in my eyes so not confused at all ruddy
  but the fact you’ve wrote of that 1st team shows that you are!

• 18 toonking // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:50 PM

  santon

  that formation was really set up in a similar fasion to what we were using two seasons ago

  it’s sort of a 4-4-2 which has the occasional switch to 4-3-3

  anita sissoko

  HBA cabaye remy

  teams know that HBA is going to come into the centre as he likes to take players on debuchy is theirfore always needing to get forward leaving space at the RB also remy too prefers to get into the centre so santon himself is having to get forward and again that is another load of space at the back and what that means is defenders are now all running up to close in on remy and HBA which unfortunely means we have the trouble of cisse being offside and debuchy or santon too.

  but when you have a winger like Sammy who can himself come into the centre but can also provide the crosses it means cisse will now be able to stay onside as defenders are not moving up the pitch they are moving across to the side and santon can come forward to and provide assists or dummett they know that they can do passing much easier.

  some might think that a 4-4-2 will create hoofball when really the thing that causes hoofball is when the midfield is getting closed down so easy and that is done when players are always running into the centre.

• 19 Ciaran // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:53 PM

  In the same sense that 1 loss doesn’t change your view that we have a good squad, 1 win doesn’t change my view that we have a distinctly average squad.

  Nearly half of the starting line-up tonight were first team starters, Tiote could even be included in that list too, which makes 6 players who would be starting week in week out. The likes of Dummy and Sammy have been doing well in recent weeks, it’s good to see them step up. Gouffran looks like he could be good for the squad and it’s great to see him playing well, but we need more than 14/15 players. We need competition in all sectors, every single one of our 25 man squad should be in genuine contention for a place and that’s not the case in our squad.

• 20 manxpie // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:53 PM

  santon yeah i think we should swap n change alot more but i think arfa himself wants to cut in ala messi but if marv would put in the effort that arfa has shown in coming back we’d have 2 very productive attacking wingers that could swap very easily
  but marv seems to not have the work rate
  for me gouff has been the best all round signing we’ve made recently he works very hard in a lungbursting position if he doesn’t start at the weekend i’ll feel very sorry for him

• 21 toonking // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:54 PM

  the right side is the biggest difficulty for wingers all our wingers really are left.

  what i am starting to think now is why not just sell marvo Sammy looks to be a one coming through HBA can be a starter and Jonas is back up even ferguson could be sold to Birmingham and use all that for a RW.

• 22 Ciaran // Sep 25, 2013 at 11:56 PM

  Don’t get where people are praising HBA’s work rate either. He played very well against Villa, but followed that up with one of the laziest displays I have ever witnessed in a Toon shirt. HBA is class, but he’s hot and cold. If we’re going to slate Marv for work rate, then HBA comes in under that bracket too frankly.

• 23 jimmysmith // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:00 AM

  Sh@t yes, I can think of half a dozen players who likely won’t contribute who I’d exchange for one tip top quality winger in the Ribery mould.

• 24 santonthenewmaldini // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:00 AM

  I still harbour a little hope Ferguson can come back and be decent for us what we really lack in a winger is someone who can just pump balls in without thining about it and he can certainly do it who knows Clarky turned Redmond into a quality winger might do it to Ferguson ?If not another team might buy him for a small fee

  Yeah its a shame about Marveux because he can play a lovely pass he is always looking for movement when he has the ball its a shame he does not have the work rate to be a starter dont know if thats attitude because he is not a starter or confidence

• 25 toonking // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:05 AM

  ruddy
  where do you come up with all this

  one minute your saying we have got a bad manager who is destroying a good set of players the next minute your saying that this team is just an average team

  one minute your saying pardew is making bad sustitutions and team selections the next minute your saying we have no decent depth or youth

  one minute your blaming pardew for a bad season which was hit by masses of injury the next minute you sayig we have a very poor squad.

  you want pardew to tell the truth so come just admit it youself

  you don’t really follow Newcastle you just want to be negative.

• 26 jimmysmith // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:09 AM

  Obertan, Marv, Fergie, Gos, Tav, R Taylor oot! No room for sentiment, proven top winger in. Actually don’t see that weakening the squad.

• 27 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:09 AM

  Toonking

  We have a good set of 11-13 players, whom are not being fully utilised by a poor manager.

  The squad behind that is poor and lacking in depth.

  Nothing contradictory in that at all.

• 28 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:11 AM

  “one minute your saying pardew is making bad sustitutions and team selections the next minute your saying we have no decent depth or youth

  one minute your blaming pardew for a bad season which was hit by masses of injury the next minute you sayig we have a very poor squad.”

  You also realise that in both these statements, both can be true at the same time?

• 29 toonking // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:15 AM

  well i’m off to bed
  i am very happy with todays result and the performance of the team so only talk positive go night m8s

  as for youruddy
  you might want to be negative ruddy but your very much alone the other negatives are missing today.
  simple as that

• 30 manxpie // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:16 AM

  ruddy so in other words you want a man city or chelsea squad then?
  thats bonkers fella seriously bonkers and it takes a hell of alot of years from being in the red to black for that to happen unless some oil baron comes in thats reality
  so unless you’ve got this master plan that gets this kinda buyer your dreams aren’t gonna happen and probably no quicker!

• 31 jimmysmith // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:19 AM

  Actually, Strolla can be on his bike also, to the UAE for a big pay day and the World Cup with my best wishes, and maybe keep Marv, who might just be great coming off the bench, for a few oles if our first choice has done its job properly.

• 32 manxpie // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:20 AM

  ruddy arfa has SHOWED his improvement in his all round game marv hasn’t simple as that mate

• 33 manxpie // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:22 AM

  toon king couldn’t have put it better meself lol!!

• 34 manxpie // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:24 AM

  Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:11 AM

  “one minute your saying pardew is making bad sustitutions and team selections the next minute your saying we have no decent depth or youth

  one minute your blaming pardew for a bad season which was hit by masses of injury the next minute you sayig we have a very poor squad.”

  You also realise that in both these statements, both can be true at the same time?

  ruddy you do realise thats his point?

• 35 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:25 AM

  Manx

  Has HBA shown his all round improvement? For a game here and there yes, but consistently? No. He is still our best player, but his work ethic is suspect at times. Not comparing him to Marv, as both have suspect work ethic, just don’t think we should be slating one and praising the other for work ethic when they both lack in it.

  It doesn’t take mega bucks to have a competitive squad, we could have signed another 4-5 players for less than 30 million. Even if we signed 3 players for less than 20 million quid we’d have a very strong squad. Stop exaggerating my points in an attempt to invalidate them. It’s a silly tactic.

• 36 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:28 AM

  Manx

  It’s actually not. He’s saying that I am being contradictory, when I am being the opposite. You really are confused this evening.

• 37 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:33 AM

  Anyone interested in reading the NUFC Daily just click on my name or alternatively follow @NUFCDailyBlog on twitter

• 38 manxpie // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:37 AM

  no ruddy he has perfectly pointed out your contradictions as you say both them statements can be true at the same time but still contradict your statements why don’t ya have a look again?
  and on arfa yes he has but lets not forget wat injuries have held him back from having even more progress (god only knows wat player we’d have on our hands now)
  but marv doesn’t seem to have the same drive at all i remember seeing a post on here saying you really could show all marvs good points in a 1 min youtube vid and its true and he’s been here wat 3 years!?

• 39 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:42 AM

  Manx

  Nope lad, think you need to have a little look again there lad.

  I’m not defending Marv, he hasn’t been good enough. I’m simply saying that HBA’s work rate is suspect at best.

• 40 manxpie // Sep 26, 2013 at 12:57 AM

  nope ruddy you are still massivley contradictive to me and many others are and on this season so far we are showing we’ve got a competitive squad!

  and please tell me the prem league teams that have got 25 players that could seriously target every position?
  there’s city man u (possibly) chelsea thats it!!!!?
  and lets see how much there team costs or could afford to ours hey!?

• 41 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 1:01 AM

  Manx

  Based on what exactly? Struggling past Morecambe and beating Leeds at home? Despite being bowled over at home to Hull with our best 11? Oh aye, really competitive. We should have 16/17 players ready to slot in and out of the first team squad, ie senior squad members, the best of the squad should either be useful utility players, or promising youngsters.

  As it stands, we have 11-13 first teamers, 3/4 pretty useless squad players, and the rest are decent fringe players/youngsters, some of whom shouldn’t be here, they should be on loan. What would it cost to have 5 more first team players and more promising younger players? I would say 30 million would do it.

• 42 Ciaran // Sep 26, 2013 at 1:02 AM

  *rest of the squad.

• 43 jimmysmith // Sep 26, 2013 at 1:31 AM

  Krul
  Elliot

  Debuchey
  Mbiwa
  Collo
  Santon
  Haidarra
  Dummet
  Tubby Taylor
  Williamson

  Sissoko
  Anita
  Cabaye
  Guttierez
  Tiote
  Bigi

  HBA
  Cisse
  Remy
  Gouffran
  Sammy
  Marv

  And Frank fuggen Ribery.

  That’s top 6, nailed on. Got ya cheque book out ya rotten skin flint, bloody disgrace!

• 44 jimmysmith // Sep 26, 2013 at 1:35 AM

  Ok, ok, Ribery’s a stretch, but really that one more truly legit attacker and were odds on quids in.

• 45 Sydney Toon // Sep 26, 2013 at 4:53 AM

  Jimmy
  I was shocked to see a little bit of positive from you then back to your old self

  Okay, so say January is the window and you play the role of DoF and this is your realistic shortlist of targets. Bearing in mind our conservative (my viewpoint) or hopeless & skimpy (your opinion) owner likes to do his shopping in January.

  Budget = 15m with 60k per week per player for wages

  Wide Players (Values are hypothetical):
  Andre Ayew, Marseille Value = 9m
  Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Arsenal, Value = 20m but available on loan (possibility I believe)
  Georgino Wijnaldum, Ajax, Value = 6m
  Antoine Griezmann, Real Sociedad = 13m
  Viktor Fischer, Ajax, Value, 8m
  Thomas Ince, Blackpool = 7m
  Adem Ljajic, Fiorentina, Value = 11m

  Strikers
  Demba Ba, Chelsea ,Value = 10m (possibly available on loan)
  Luc Castaignos, FC Twente, Value = 6m
  Bafetimbi Gomis, Lyon, Value = 8m
  Abel Hernandez, Palermo, Value = 9m
  Jordan Rhodes, Blackburn, Value = 7m
  Seydou Doumbia, CSKA Moscow, Value = 11m

  We need a wide man and a striker, or perhaps we need a wide man therefore forcing Pardew to use Remy as a Striker. Perhaps we need a striker, therefore forcing Remy up front but back to a 442 formation.

  Here is the catch, any funds not spent will be rolled over into the summer but will be your remaining budget till next January.

  What do you do?

• 46 Malta Mag // Sep 26, 2013 at 5:56 AM

  So that’s Sammy, Cisse and Goofy off the hate list for a few blogs. Who can you have a go at now?
  It’ll be interesting to see the team for Everton as Pardew has some big decisions to make?
  All of a sudden in the last few games our squad doesn’t seem as “thread bare” as most on here were claiming although I still would have liked to have seen an experienced Centre back brought in.

• 47 theartfuldodger // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:24 AM

  I thought we did well last night, including sammy dummett and williamson.
  Debuchy was too high up the field on many occasions,but Pardew seems ok with it.It was seemingly intentional.

• 48 Lilongwe Geordie // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:29 AM

  Sydney,
  In that scenario you miss out the fact it should have been done already.

  Now, going through the list you made, Gomis will be half that price due to his contract expiring, Rhodes was bought for £8mill, and his value will only have increased.

  On wingers, I’d want Mohammed Salah of Basel. Transfrmarkt have him down as a value of 6.5 million Euros. I’d say he would cost a bit more than that, but worth every penny. So lets say we spent £7million on him, leaving 8.

  I’d then look at Lazar Markovic from Benfica, again Transfrmarkt has him at 7million Euros, I’d say we would need to pay £7/8million for him. Can play as a striker, or just off, or on either side. Ideal for our 433 style.

• 49 Lilongwe Geordie // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:34 AM

  Malta,
  Really? How doesn’t it look threadbare? We beat a team that are in the division below. Now I agree, we aren’t in any real relegation danger, but we are lacking width both offensively and at right back, we lack a top striker in competition, and the centre back replacements have proven flaws in the prem. Rob Elliot has conceded more goals in his first 10 prem games than any other keeper.

  As for Everton, he has to stick with the side that beat Villa and lost to Hull. It is our best formation and if he can perform minor tactical tweaks it will work very well for us. Jury is out as to whether Pards can do tactical tweaks though.

• 50 Lilongwe Geordie // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:36 AM

  Artful,
  I missed it,if Debuchy was high up the pitch could you tell me whether Anita or Tiote were holding back in the centre, slightly to the right, or was everyone pushing on?

• 51 Santon03 // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:38 AM

  Llajic just moved to AS Roma

• 52 Charlietoon // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:41 AM

  Sydney, Ba is no longer a 10m striker, at least not fur us. Someone else could happily pay that but after we sold him for what 6 mill, he has barely played and when he has, he has not scored very often, so Ashley justifying buying him back at his new “chelsea wages” for 10 mill is so laughable it’s not worth considering. Even though I personally think he would shine as he would be back under an appreciate crowd without the pressure…which he has clearly not handled

• 53 Lilongwe Geordie // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:45 AM

  Charlietoon,
  I don’t think Ba failed under the pressure, he is a much moredirect type of striker, one that doesn’t work as effectively when played with numerous jinking playmakers in behind him who want to walk the ball home. That and woe betide any manager who drops Torres for too many games.

• 54 Santon03 // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:47 AM

  Sydney sorry for butting in

  If I have to choose within budget I would say Wijnaldum/ Ince and Hernandez/Rhodes

• 55 Santon03 // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:50 AM

  Ince & Rhodes because they are English

  or

  Wijnaldum because he is the cheapest and Hernandez because he is strong and very quick.

• 56 theartfuldodger // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:50 AM

  Lilongwe,
  Perhaps it was better with tiote and anita both in the middle,but Leeds were not hull and did not test us in the same way.
  Maybe someone who watched the entire game closely for 90 mins can tell us better.

• 57 Santon03 // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:52 AM

  Also Hernandez can dive and he has been playing against nasty and tricky Italian defenders.

• 58 Lilongwe Geordie // Sep 26, 2013 at 6:58 AM

  Artful,
  I’m hoping he plays the same team as he did against Hull on Monday, as it will be my first time to watch that lineup and formation play.

  It is my preferred formation (given our squad of players), but from what people were saying about the Hull game either one or two players weren’t playing their role properly, or Pardew got his instructions to them wrong. It may only need very subtle changes to make it a very good line up for us.

• 59 doonundertoon // Sep 26, 2013 at 7:10 AM

  @sydneytoon

  your prices are pretty rediculous for some of those players, they will be worth a lot more money than what your saying, not saying some of your prices aint close, but most of them aint running out of contract at the end of the season so they will cost a fortune to get out of the club in january

  i would really like to see a list of players whos contract is running out end of this season, im pretty sure they will be the more likely targets in january, ashley has never spent big money on a single signing in jan, expect the same type of shopping if history is anything to go by

• 60 theartfuldodger // Sep 26, 2013 at 7:16 AM

  Lilongwe,
  I agree. Subtle changes are enough. Some of them eg back four solidity,full backs focusing on defending as a priority etc should come automatically given that Everton are a better opposition

• 61 Santon03 // Sep 26, 2013 at 7:18 AM

  If I can fantasize buying players cheap and decent, I would consider Nicolas Lodeiro and Sebastien Coates, probably a lot less than 10 milion for both of them.

• 62 Santon03 // Sep 26, 2013 at 7:21 AM

  Sydney toon said hypothetically

• 63 John Tudor // Sep 26, 2013 at 7:44 AM

  shall i get or will you oh shit they got it
  dont let the ball bounce

• 64 Charlie in the Gallowgate // Sep 26, 2013 at 7:49 AM

  I quite liked the midfield of Tiote Anita and Marvo last night.
  With Tiote and anita playing a more holding midfield role it allowed Marvo to be the play maker – Don’t know if it would work in Premier.
  I was more impressed with the Dummett, Sammi link up down the left – set up the first goal with two first time balls ligtning quick move strike. But when Dummett went forward Sammi came back and acted as the full back which we failed to do
  Maybe HBA could learn from Sammi .
  Also mention for ‘Iron Mike’ stepped in last night and played well kept it simple and was also available for a pass out from Krul.

  Who does Pardew start upfront as I thought Goufran had anpther good game and capped it off with a very good goal.

  Krul has GOT to work on his distribution poor again last night

  Good atmosphere last night made by thye Leeds fans weho were outstanding in their support.

  And nice minutes applause on the 11th minute for Garry Speed.