The news last Friday about Steven Taylor being a big doubt for the Sunderland game, seems to have been accurate because Alan Pardew said after the game yesterday, he was re-injured on Thursday in training.
Steven Taylor – injured again – but for how long?
Yet in his press conference on Friday Alan said that Steven Taylor had trained all week and was OK, so that must have been a ruse to not let Gus Poyet know he may not play on Sunday.
But it’s also true that Sunderland tested his replacement Paul Dummett from the get go, as they did that because of his inexperience.
And after the first 15 or 20 minutes Paul did well enough, but he was exposed for their first goal, when Fletcher out jumped him to that Johnson cross into the box – but this is all part of Paul’s’ education and he’ll become a better player for yesterday’s experience.
This is what Alan said yesterday:
“Steven got re-injured on Thursday and with Colo we are unsure whether he’s going to be okay for Wednesday.” “So we’ve got to make sure he’s right for the Premier League and I think Chelsea is the next chance we can see him,”
“To be fair to Dummett I thought he did well to come into that. There can be no slur on him. He performed well.”
So it looks like Fab Coloccini could be held back for the Chelsea game on Saturday, and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is available to play on Wednesday after his one game ban.
It’s not clear how long Steven will be out, and whether it’s just a minor knock that kept him put out of the Sunderland game.
If Steven is fit he could come in for Paul Dummett, and the 22 year-old will be moved to left back.
But if Steven is not fit we suppose Yanga Mbiwa will get another chance to show us he is good enough to be at Newcastle.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
101 comments so far
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Comment #1Mapou will be back.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Comment #2TS…that’s basically what I have been trying to say for ages.
First off I don’t think Benny has been great the last few games or so – but if he was the only one not producing I could understand the criticism, but fact it more or less no one is showing up (at least not for the 90 mins)
Ever since the Everton game when Pardew pulled Mbiwa and Benny and we played a better second half (that was bound to happen whether not he pulled anyone), there seem to be this sad fixation on Benny being the root to the problem.
I just think it is sad!
But as I said there is no easy fix to this problem unless Pardew accept what’s the problem and deals with it!
*on a side note, why are we blaming Ashley for the football we are playing? How those that work for you? That is just sad as well! Ashley is an idiot no doubt, but that is for so many other reasons!
What you guys are witnessing every week is down to players and manager!
Ciaran
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Comment #3Jesper
Ashley appointed the manager, who has shown his failings and has yet to replace him. Even if he did, we would still suffer from the same lack of investment and stifling lack of ambition.
Bigger picture please.
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Comment #4Happy Birthday Alan Smith Could have done with him yesterday.
OhSholaAmeobi
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Comment #5watched the match half cut, and glad i did. had an odd feeling that it would be a tough one and that sunderland would be desperate to win more so than us.
we didn’t control the midfield or impose ourselves on the game early on, which was exactly what was needed.
hats off to tiote, gouffran and debuchy for their efforts and also to mike for being relatively solid.
ben arfa poor once again alongside santon.
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Comment #6jesper
I agree with all of that.
I disagree with you about benny defensively. I think he needs to work harder closing down in the opposition half (but nobody does, we sit back so clearly a tactic from the manager). I also think he can get back a little more when on the wing, others do like robben and ribery and they still do a lot going forward too. But again this is the managers responsibility to get sorted, he seems to want the wide men too deep too often, needs to be the other way around.
I just think the manager needs to realise that passing it around the half way line is dominating a game, you need to find a way to play in the final third.
Ciaran
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Comment #7Gouffran? The man was anonymous the entire game, shied out of every challenge and offered absolutely nothing. As for people praising Debuchy?!? In comparison to the tripe on show he was mildly better, but was still very poor. Tiote is the only player who can come out of that game with some semblance of pride.
cyprus
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:10 AM
Comment #8Taylor against Chelsea. It gets worse…
theartfuldodger
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:10 AM
Comment #9Im liking the discussions today. Converging on Ashleys fault too.
In addition, we knew we were a striker short and 2 of our CBs are injury prone.
If its the players fault, sell and replace.
If its managers fault, sack him.
Lets see what we end up doing.
cyprus
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #10Himanshu,
You missed Smith eh 😉
Sounds desperate mate
OhSholaAmeobi
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #11Any blame for yesterday should lie with the tactics (the manager) and some of the players. Blaming ashley for yesterdays defeat is horrendous crack. He might be to blame for the oncoming hurricane and bedroom tax and 9/11 but he wasn’t to blame for that.
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Comment #12ciaran
I think we should invest more but the current squad is still good enough for a top ten finish, with ease i believe…honestly think 7/8th best squad in league..on par with everton.
I see why we blame ashley, i do to, he needs to restructure the club top to bottom, make sure that we the right people in the right jobs…only one he has got right is Carr as scout. Wonder how many 10/15 mil players he finds we never get chance to look at properly.
I think yesterday is down to manager though, not setting us up to pressure teams and play well.
Barca where smashed by bayern last year as bayern were the first team to pressure them and attack…we just ease off and dont press enough, thats unacceptable….all players can run and press.
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Comment #13i also think willo and debuchy, alongside tiote did ok and showed some good fight and commitment…the only ones though.
wolfshead@toon
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Comment #14ashley is a clueless moronic child and hes embarrasing the club and the city with his naff advertising splashed around the ground the shirts are sponsored by loan sharks a team that has more french players in it than a team in ligue 1 and his latest petulant act a press officer telling chronicle journos they cant ask questions hes just taking the piss now and making us a national laughing stock
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Comment #15Cyprus,
Just wishing him Happy Birthday. Coincidence?
People are saying Cattermole was the difference, IMHO he is a better player than him and would have brought the same passion.
Ciaran
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Comment #16Sage
I just think a lot of people are going to be massively disappointed by the end of the season. Sack Pardew, I’d go along with that if I thought we could get a decent manager in who would work under Ashley but decent manager’s stand up for their principles and refuse to accept the party line that Ashley forces them to come out with.
Keegan didn’t stand for it, and rumour has it that Hughton got the boot because he wouldn’t stand for it either. So we are pissing into the wind if we think that all we need to do is change the manager.
JARRAMAG
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Comment #17JARRAMAG // Oct 28, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Of course Ashley is to blame.
1)We have needed a commanding centre half for years,had one practically signed but Ashley wouldn’t pay the money for a free transfer(you will always concede goals when you have Williamson in your team-I feel sorry for Dummet who is a left back
2)He employs Pardue who is a second rate manager who should have been sacked before xmas last year-This manager had Gouffran playing as a second full back yesterday and hasn;t a clue how to get the best out of this squad.Any half decent manager with most of these players at his disposal would of wiped the floor against the mackems.
I would accept relegation if it meant we would see the back of these 3 jokers
god help us
Jail for Ashley
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:18 AM
Comment #18Of course Ashley is to blame, it is him that sanctions his lackeys to tell his paying public that top ten is the best we’ll ever aim for and that cups aren’t a priority, the players must be demoralised.
stuart no9
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Comment #19A message for the organisers of T4C – now is the perfect time for another march . The support would have increased tenfold since the last time , Ashley is rattled by the march , and for those who think it didn’t bother him, then why has he gone to the extent of banning the media ? That March done the trick , it tested his reaction to fans against him . It proved T4C DO BOTHER HIM
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Comment #20ciaran
I will continue to assist with any ashley out campaign I can as I think he is the route of the problems, agree with that.
But I think if you look around europe, not so mcuh england, then then are a lot of managers working with owners who buy the players they want, who sell loads of players to clear debt and leave the kids to play…there are many owners in europe who make it harder than ashley.
Ashley doesnt give pardew what he wants when he needs it always, but he has put a decent squad together a good manager could get playing.
Remember the PL is a big pull and i’m sure our club/players attract a manager too.
If we had approached pochettino i bet we’d have got him, same with laudrupp. Probably not now they have good clubs as well, but before they come to england. We just need to send Carr to scout some lesser known managers looking for a chance.
Rotonda heights
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Comment #21From TOTT
Pardew is obviously clueless at motivating them which does not help. Why would they respect him, what is his track record, gradual collapse after promising starts.
Could you imagine Keegan or Sir Bobby putting up with a performance(s) like that, not in a month of Sundays.
Pardwho’s bullshit bingo http://www.talkofthetyne.com
Ciaran
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Comment #22Stuart
Couldn’t agree more, here’s hoping they are listening and will take action. Losing to the Mackems and then banning the press is an affront to the fans that we cannot ignore.
lesh
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Comment #23Fear not peeps and don’t worry about Saylor’s injury or his susceptibility to them.
We can rest in the knowledge that Joe (Judge Me On My Signings) Kinnear has everything in hand. It was in anticipation of situations such as this that he blocked Douglas joining us and pushed Perch out of the door and let Good go.out on loan!
He misses nowt does Joe, well maybe a couple if strikes we couldn’t get over the line. It’s not easy being a complete tw@ so have some understanding for him.!
BandB
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Comment #24Lots of talk about lack of fight, lack of commitment, lack of inspiration today.
The players will decide how this season goes.
And there’s reasonable cause to suspect that some of them might have settled on the perfect way to get out of what someone yesterday called “jail sentence” contracts.
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Comment #25I feel for Pardew’s Notepad.
wolfshead@toon
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Comment #26sage
dont you think the football world knows about assley the gigs up mate its a managers graveyard poch/ laud woulnt give assley the time of day pards replacement will be another desperate man out in the wilderness
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:27 AM
Comment #27Ashley is a bully for banning local press. Hope this is covered Nationally
wolfshead@toon
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Comment #28lesh
i still think joe is a contingency if/when assley pulls the trigger on pards
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Comment #29Wolfs
As I said before. Plenty clubs around Europe, in Spain, Italy mainly have much worse owners or owners with little money who are forced to sell and only buy kids.
For all I don’t like Ashley, I think he has assembled a fairly good squad. One that a manager could work well with. We don’t often sell players and we usually at 1/2 a window which is good, not great but good.
My gripe with Ashley is more down to his appoints of people between him and the playing staff…mangers , directors, youth coaches, etc. And the way he has little respect for tradition.
My only real gripe in the transfer market comes down to timing of sales and buying…he gets the actual deal right a lot but doesn’t get them in when needed often enough.
jimmysmith
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Comment #30We played alright. They wanted it, more fair play to them. To be honest if I was pushed as to my favorite second team, it’d be them, a distant second, but them none the the less. Those cnuts went off at that winner, just like we would. And we could do with Fletcher and Johnson, just quietly, and although Tiote is better, Cattermole is also a good player. I think we are two or three of these types of players away from being a side to be proud of. Just a pity the owner is such an A – hole.
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #31Wolfs
Also why I worry when Ashley does sack pardew that we get a worse manager. Still want to see the change but not optimistic about a better manager.
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #32Jesper
Once again you have entirly missed the point, as always
Please by all means show one post where anyone has said that Hatem Ben Arfa is the root cause if all our problems and explain how were fixating the lack if form as him
If your going to accuse someone of spouting drivel try not to spout so much yourself, as you’ve failed to debate or even identify a single point made about Ben arfa from several posters!
Bills son
Completley agree
There are no natural leaders in the team, no one can take the game by the neck, there’s no one barking orders, getting in the faces of lads and trying to get some motivation going when were up against it
We just let are heads drop and panic
Tommyy
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:32 AM
Comment #33The saddest thing is, game by game I lose interest. It’s as if my passion and excitement is being sapped from me. That’s my biggest issue with Ashley, the core issue.
What is the point of football if you no longer get any enjoyment out of it?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Comment #34Ruddy…when I watch us play each week I need to judge what I see and base in on the squad at hand!
…Ashley plays no part in that only indirectly. But the team is good enough and the manager is not all crap (though looking at us play one should think so)
The bigger picture is just the bigger picture – we cannot blame the players or manager for the business side of the all either. We need to separate things a bit a think and focus and what’s a hand.
On weekends it’s all about the game – the team is there and if they don’t deliver it is not down to Ashley. Csn we not agree on that?
Himanshu Dhingra
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:36 AM
Comment #35Don’t know about others but I am fretting about matches rather than being excited.
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:37 AM
Comment #36jesper
agree…we could blame ashley for the performance if he never gave us a team to compete…but we have a team to compete therefore the manager and players are to blame.
although i see ciaran’s point on pardew….he is out of his depth so only doing what is expected of him…therefore the man above should make a decision to improve him.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Comment #37TS…I agree Benny needs to work harder closing down in the opposition half, but I don’t want him anywhere near our defense.
I want him to work harder on our offensive play and his vision.
Honestly I disagree with your assessment on Ribery or Robben’s defensive work. But I have said that before 😉
Rotonda heights
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:40 AM
Comment #38I blame Ash for appointing Pardew, JFK and Wonga.
That said, on paper man for man with 8 full intenatonals we were streets ahead of a team rooted to the bottom on one solitary point.
Yet Pardew was again spectacularly outsmarted by Poyet yet again. Wenger has 5 degrees and we have an ex-glazier, says it all.
Transfer Sage
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Comment #39jesper
I will see if i can find some footage…and pay close attention to the next game to make sure im not over exagerating and get back to you on it haha.
But i think the pressing high is a team decision…one doing it is pointless, they need to do it as a unit, something they don’t do. That’s tactical in my opinion.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Comment #40Tads…go away! you are getting ever so annoying!
…you are turning into a bad habit you just cannot get rid of. You are probably the only one I have meet in here who can spin anything away from himself and project it on anyone else!