The first game of the two game World Cup Qualifying playoff between France and Ukraine takes place in Kyiv today, and it has a 9:45 pm local kick-off time.
Mathieu Debuchy – likely to be in France’s starting line-up
There are four Newcastle players in the French squad for the two games – Mathieu Debuchy, Yohan Cabaye, Loic Remy and Moussa Sissoko, and of the four it seems the in-form Debuchy, who has looked in great form for Newcastle over the last few league games, has the best chance to start the game.
Yohan Cabaye could also start, although 20 year-old 6’3″ Juventus and former Manchester United youngster, Paul Pogba, got the nod in the last World Cup group game, and Yohan came on as a second half substitute.
And if French manager Didier Deschamps goes with the in-form players, then Loic Remy will surely also start.
The winner of the two-legged play-off goes to the World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer, but it’s by no means certain that France will qualify.
Ukraine finished second in England’s qualifying group just one point behind England, and they drew both of their games with England, and looked a very good side
It will be crucial for France to defend well tonight in front of a very partisan crowd in Kyiv, and England in their group game there did very well to hold on to a 0-0 draw, and at Wembley the score finished 1-1.
We’ll be reporting on the game tonight, once it’s finished, and we wish our four Frenchmen all the best in the two crucial upcoming games.
Comments welcome.
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218 comments so far
pottsclock
Nov 15, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Comment #1Not sure what outcome I want.
If they qualify, our French players will be giving it all in the PL to get in the squad for Brazil.
If they don’t qualify, they won’t have the distraction towards the end of the season and will not be in the shop window in Brazil.
Thanks Ed for adding an extra thread so that we can preserve the Gary Speed tribute one for its intended purpose.
Munster Mag
Nov 15, 2013 at 1:47 PM
Comment #2Our Toon, Enrique wasnt slow when he joined us. He took a while to acclimatise, but you could always see potential. The managemnet, if they have realised Santons weakness on his left, have never really tried to use him on the right. I think we’ll sell him, and I;ll happily wave him goodbye. He contributes so little. Keeps the ball well but looks neither a full back nor a winger. I’d put him on the right and keep him there. IMO Dummet will be a better defender, He is more of a simple defender than Santon, who falls between stools , in my book anyway.
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 1:50 PM
Comment #3Santon has always been a left back and played there during his time at inter milan and a lot during his time with italy too.
I do agree that it seems like he would be a better RB though as he is too heavily right footed, right footers can be good left backs but more often than not they are better right backs, but debuchy is better so will obviously have that role long term.
Santon needs to work more on his left side I feel if he wants to be a left back.
ED posted an article a couple days ago about santon, where he says he can help the right side but when he cuts in he is on his left foot and not as good attacking…..surely he needs to see that he should be getting to the touchline or whipping in a cross….not just cutting in for a shot.
pottsclock
Nov 15, 2013 at 1:53 PM
Comment #4I had a dream last night that Sunderland had just signed a massive sponsorship with Anusol and were looking for ideas to rename the stadium…..
Ibizatoon
Nov 15, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Comment #5Munster…How’s things? The fence is fairly battered. I’ve left martoon to look after it for me for now.
Interesting to read your thoughts on Pardew. I do feel he is limited, but I am far from writing the man off. I agree there has been “improvement” with his approach this season. No it’s not amazing attacking football, but it’s better than what we had to endure last season.
Our Toon
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #6Munster:
Enrique took a good couple of yrs to adjust to the league though, he was younger when he joined but matured, that’s where the difference is. I find it astonishing that people on here rate Dummett so highly, what is the basis for this lad to be rated as highly as he is? He’s 22 and hasnt managed to break through to the first team, had a good season in Scotland, what else has he achieved for the hype? Dummett & Santon are both at the same age. Santon has alread achieved more in football than Dummett ever will, the jury is out on Dummett as far as I’m concerned and the hype is typical of a British born player….all hype and no end product. Santon had a few games at RB last season and did very well, think he even scored against Wigan. Debuchy should be ahead of Santon though with Santon as his understudy and Haidara ahead of Dummett
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:06 PM
Comment #7our toon
I do agree there is a lot of hype on dummet but he has done well when he came in, when at left back.
Players develop at different times so harsh to rule him out just because santon came through at a younger age. But in genera I agree, need to see more than 1 or 2 games, need a consistent performance for a half season/season to realy say somebody has broken through.
Rainrix
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Comment #8Its so painfully obvious what santon is going to do when he attacks down the left which is almost always cut back onto his right foot. Santon himself says he prefers LB, i find that baffling surely he’d want to be on his stronger side. I’d like him to get a few games on the right just to see if there’s any improvement but as sage says its going to be impossible for him to replace debuchy,
Our Toon
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:17 PM
Comment #9I agree Rainrix and Transfer Sage, which is why I have said he should be Debuchy’s understudy….I can see Debuchy picking up more suspensions though so he will get games!! I hope I’m wrong on Dummett but our academy hasn’t filled me with any real promise for sometime
kieranflood
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #10Has anyone seen Steven Taylor’s atomic bomb of a tweet?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/15/steven-taylor-apologises-racist-tweet-newcastle?CMP=twt_gu
Rainrix
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Comment #11Kieran…. Haha oh dear, i know he probably meant nothing by it but jesus. Its always been known that tayls wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, that just confirms it +100 🙂
kieranflood
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Comment #12I’m still in disbelief. How can he possibly of thought it was a good idea?
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Comment #13Our Toon
You are the kind of football fan who really gets on my nerves. You think you know more than Pardew, his coaches (and Mourinho and his) about Santon?
Perhaps you should consider that they know a lot more about Santon’s abilities as a full back. He is not a right back, neither is he a winger. I’m sure he could play in both positions but his specialist position is left back.
Rainrix
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Comment #14Kieran…. Probably just something he put on impulse and didn’t think there was out wrong with it. I don’t know, can’t really rationalise that apart from the fact the lad is really really dense 😐
croftus5678
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Comment #15re-post from 2 topics ago.
@10 tads
because i think we remember how good luuk was dont we ?
a lot of strikers lose form inc shearer who went 13 games and no goals but i wouldnt have turned down the chance of signing him based on those 13 games of that season !
luuk is what 23/24 ? has proven record but lost favour this season and a loan move would not hurt anything and besides he prob still has a way better record than cisse atm.
gomis is a shola replacement with his strength but like was stated here 3 goals in 9 games vs shola’s
thats how imo it would improve our squad.
cyprus
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:39 PM
Comment #16Munster,
I wonder who’s your pet hate:) Who’s the guy who has figured it all out and the culprit is… Colo. I guess we all fall into it!
Lot’s were saying the same about Debs. Don’t forget he’s only like 22 AND he’s the new Maldini! So, let’s not wave him goodbye just yet. Lots were saying the same about Enrique remember.
Our Toon
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:41 PM
Comment #17Saylor has just shown that he is naïve and private jokes like that should be conducted in private. Having said that I don’t think there was any malice in what he posted but you will always get some who are up in arms about anything like that…..like they troll the net waiting for someone to slip up so they can fulfil their day. Being of Muslim origin and a different complexion to Taylor I wouldn’t be offended by what he put because it’s not directed at me, I think we have become quite ridiculous with all this PC stuff. My cousins kids don’t even sing bah bah black sheep at school because its perceived to be racist!! Saylors only mistake here is that he posted such a thing on Twitter…not the brightest thing to do!!
Ciaran
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:42 PM
Comment #18TDS
Where the hell do you get off? I know I’ve been accused of being arrogant in the past but you take it to another level. It’s like you need to be the centre of attention all the time. I can readily recognise it because that’s all I used to do in my petulant youth – try and wind people up, however you are supposedly a man in your 30s yet you’re telling people they cannot discuss the merits of a player’s worth in the team. Is this not what a bloody football blog is for?
You are hands down the most egotistical, ego-centric, pathetic excuse for a human being that has even posted on this blog, and I include Ian Toon in that list. Do everyone a favour, change the record or piss off.
Ciaran
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Comment #19*ever. While I doubled up on the ego references, goes to show you how much I think your ego drives your personality.
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Comment #20TDS
I agree the lads position is left back, its where he has always played but Our Toon does raise a good point that he isn’t left sided enough, most left backs who are right footed are very comfortable on their left foot also and santon isn’t. Which to me makes it very strange he ever became and then stayed a left back.
Kieran
I don’t know how racist that tweet is, possibly not the smartest move though. It’s not that he is generalising by just putting 4 random people are saying they look the same due to the colour of their skin.
The haidara and sissoko ones aren’t great pictures but the one meant to be cisse and vurnon there is some resemblance there, can see some features of the face which are similar and slight look-a-likes.
People need to stop presuming everything is racist/sexist/homophobic/etc and sometimes look at the point being made/individual situation.
Not the smartest move, and can see the first two not showing resemblance, but if taylor had done this with debuchy, santon, cabaye and krul, posting 4 what he deems look-a-likes it wouldn’t be a race issue, we’d just be criticising him for finding 2 poor look-a-likes and two slightly similar ones.
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Comment #21our toon
good point….what i have found from my life is that the people of whatever minority who are supposed to be ‘offended’ often aren’t and it’s more a reaction from people not of that minority who worry.
It just creates tension where it isn’t needed….get ignorant people who then blame minorities and minorities who feel like they are being spoken for and against what they feel.
cyprus
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #22Just saw Taylor’s tweet… really dumb. Could cost him the price of a brand new Mercedes!
Our Toon
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Comment #23TDS
Football is all about opinions and I was merely suggesting the lad has a go at RB, you can call me old fashioned by believing a right footed player should be on the right and a left footed player on the left but that’s my opinion, either way I will retort to your comments. Santon was converted into a FB by Mourinho the same coach who said he is the next Maldini, yet you don’t believe he is good enough, do you know more than Mourinho and Pardew? As for Pards, maybe if someone teaches him that when attacking only one FB should pass into the other teams half, by committing both we leave ourselves exposed, that’s just basics of football!! Pards is not a tactical genius, Santon is a lad who was taken from being a winger and converted into a FB, why not move him to the right? Makes more sense than Pards playing Sissoko who has only ever known CM as a RW or Cisse who had only ever know CF as a Right sided forward!!
Transfer Sage, I just feel the world is going a bit bonkers with this PC stuff, it’s really frustrating and if anything I feel as if it creates a bigger divide!! The Jury is out on Luuk De Jong for me, yes he did well in the dutch league but so did Alfonso Alves and Bony, RVW but they hardly set the world a light when they left that league, if Luuk is struggling in Germany than he will certainly struggle in the PL
Thanks Ciaran but I believe TDS just needs attention.
croftus5678
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Comment #24@23 our toon
i agree with you to a point ! “imo” santon struggles to cross with his left and i do think he’s a lot better on the right when it comes to defending (deb’s is hands down a better player though imo) and like yourself i do think he would be better rw than sissoko but i do think he’s a luxury when classed as a lb considering we have hairdryer/dummett as prominant lb’s and if a decent offer came in for him and that money “is” going to be spent on the team then there are weaker areas we could strengthen.
kieranflood
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #25Did you see the accompanying text? “It’s always good to see you guys smiling?” If not racist, it very much is bordering on.
All I know is if i sent that as a text to someone at work, I’d most likely be sacked in an instant. It might be a private joke, but to make such a thing public is clearly ill advised, when so many are likely to take offence. Perhaps many won’t, but a lot will….
cyprus
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:21 PM
Comment #26🙂
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/funny-twitter-reacts-to-steven-taylors-racist-faux-pas/
croftus5678
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #27with saylor i think the only thing bad with it is that twitter is in public viewing !
i think most of us have a laugh and joke with our mates ect dont we ? we show embarasing photo’s or say things we wouldnt to strangers ! i just think we forget footballers are human and have a laugh and take the pisch out of eachother like most of us lot do.
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:31 PM
Comment #28Kieran
It depends on what he meant but you guys…those 4 or black people in general, one much worse than the other.
For me little jokes like this aren’t a huge issue, against white, black, Indian, Chinese etc….for me true racism is what people have fought and died for, such as equal rights, living conditions, employment opportunity, pay, etc etc
This is small issues taken light hearted
Munster Mag
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Comment #29TDS, perhaps your post is directed at me more than anyone else, thats fine. I’ll back my player evaluation against anyone, you included. If you want to go with whatever coaches say, thats fine, be a sheep. Most of your posts seem to be about accountancy and Ashley from what I can see. I’m not sure what you know about the game itself but it doesnt seem a strong point, whereas defending our esteemed owner for everything except Kinnear and poor communications seems to be. In the time santon has been with us, I see nothing to suggest he will become a really decent defender, certainly not at left back. And I couldnt give a monkeys what Mourinho thinks. Maldini my arse. I’d be delighted to be proved wrong though, and seem him develop into a Baines or whatever. Cant see it happening though. He has qualities, but defending on the ground, in the air, and setting up goal chances from decent crosses are not some of them, more’s the pity .
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:33 PM
Comment #30…So we have two Ciaran now (just spelled differently) 😉
International games is that tonight?
Our Toon
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Comment #31Croftus5678
I think Haidara should be LB, I’m not sold on Dummett, Santon should be Debuchy’s understudy though and Dummett understudy to Haidara. Saylor’s only mistake here is that he put it on a public forum…Silly boy!! Oh and I correct myself on the academy not producing anyone good for years, think Forster will become a top keeper….just not with us
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Comment #32Our toon
My view is that are the 4 players involved genuinely offended? If so, why? If they feel it’s racist then they need to speak to Taylor to see what he meant and maybe advise him against doing it publicly without their consent.
As far as I’m concerned nobody else should be offended at all.
Our Toon
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:02 PM
Comment #33Transfer Sage
Think Haidara passed it off as banter which is exactly what it is. If Saylor used Krul, Santon, Debuchy and Cabaye instead of the players he did use and posted a picture of 4 random white people would there be such an uproar? I think not, to me that’s where the issue lies!! It either is or it isn’t and it must work both ways. This is a private joke which has nothing to do with anyone else, the ppl involved weren’t offended so I ask what is the big issue?
lesh
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:02 PM
Comment #34Transfer Sage….. A lot of folk get offended at something that’s got F all to do with them. Just can’t visualise these people, shocked, disgusted, hysterical….. For chrissakes, it’s not as though it was a picture of something really horrendous – how would they handle any such? Beats me
roy
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:03 PM
Comment #35The race fascists will be gunning for Saylor for having a joke tweet the thought police are watching.
Transfer Sage
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:04 PM
Comment #36Our toon
Spot on. I can see why people from other races may be offended more than white people as over the years they have sufferer horrible treatment and even still today are victims of genuine hatred based soley on race so it is difficult.
I just think so many people say other should be offended that people almost feel they have to be offended.
Tsunki
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Comment #37Good call on Santon Mr Munster, I got some fairly robust stick for saying he wasn’t all that deep in the time everybody was buzzing over him and saying hour should be a winger – good grief ! I also said that Haidara looked better after three games than he had for two years. Shame about that Wigan smash or he would have had Santon as understudy.
Munster Mag
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:12 PM
Comment #38Agree Tsunki. Just wonder has Santon ever been MOM for us? I dont recall him standing out much. I think he was poor against Sunderland too. Lets hope he gets better but not optimistic.
G
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:15 PM
Comment #39Ciaran – Post 18, 2nd paragraph, bang out of order mate.
So you and Our Toon don’t agree with TDS, whom, as far as I can see from his post merely expresses and opinion about Our Toon, which to be fair is a little harsh, but something I’m sure Our Toon can take on the chin without too much upset. Your scathing attack is unfortunately not only directly offensive, but contains an unfortunate choice of words which Ed does request we bloggers refrain from. Come on now mate, sort it out. No need for us to argue just becuase our opinions differ is there.
Tsunki
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Comment #40It might have been better if someone had tweeted to Saylor to the effect ‘er, mate,do you realise how that looks?’ and allow him the chance to retract rather than pee themselves falling over each other to spit hatred at him. Hate racism, was brought up not even understanding the idea behind it, but this rabid McCarthy-style pillory bandwagon I hate just as much. So he is a twerp, let his mates slap him. Too many twitter nerds posing as moral superheroes.