Alan Pardew has brought Fabricio Coloccini back into central defense, and he has moved Frenchman Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to right-back – in a shuffle made necessary because Mathieu Debuchy is suspended for this game against Norwich City today.
Fabricio returns to captain the side and takes over from Cheick Tiote, who did very well in that role while Colo was out.
Newcastle will continue to play in a 4-4-2 formation with Loic Remy and Shola Ameobi up front, and the hope is that Newcastle can get their third win in a row today against a struggling Norwich City side.
And 20 year-old Massadio Haidara returns as a substitute, after recovering from the hamstring strain he picked up against Manchester City in the League Cup, but there is no Steven Taylor, who is fit again after recovering from his hamstring strain.
This is a game we should win today, but these types of games for some reason are never easy for Newcastle – but we hope they can come through for the fans today with a win.
Howay The Lads!!
Teams:
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Yoan Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara, Vurnon Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse
Norwich City (4-5-1): John Ruddy; Russell Martin (c), Michael Turner, Ryan Bennett, Martin Olsson; Nathan Redmond, Bradley Johnson, Leroy Fer, Jonny Howson, Anthony Pilkington; Gary Hooper
Substitutes: Carlo Nash, Steven Whittaker, Sebastien Bassong, Josh Murphy, Wes Hoolahan, Johan Elmander, Lucianno Becchio
Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral)
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246 comments so far
Himanshu Dhingra
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Comment #81mackems down to 10 AGAIN
Benji84
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Comment #82not knocking our boys but Norwich are really play so shithousee its very sad to see
Himanshu Dhingra
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Comment #83May be Tiote’s super power is in his Captain’ armband
JackButler
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Comment #84Wes Brown given straight red card for what commentator said wasn’t even a foul
Ancientcoptic
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Comment #85If we go 3 up, I say bring out the beast around 70 mins; let them face the punishment of Ben Arfa.
(Take back what I said about Ameobi, I did not see a Alonso style reverse ball coming, followed by a Bierhoff type header)
Nufc4Ever
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Comment #86Would be fun to put Benny on now. He could work some real magic here. Enjoying this stream 😀
http://firstrownow.eu/watch/223032/2/watch-newcastle-united-vs-norwich-city.html
Ted Bundy
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Comment #87As the commentator on my stream said, that cross was the first foot Shola has put wrong. Rolled his man excellently just before – it’s great to see.
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Comment #88Mackems down to 10 as well 🙂
JackButler
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:45 PM
Comment #89FFS leave HBA on the bench
Ted Bundy
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Comment #90Ooof!
Shola is on fire!! 😆
Ted Bundy
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #91Shola rolling the years back to a time that never happened – best half I can remember him having!
Cruising, but need to cut out those lapses at the back.
davetoon
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #92Really hope that Cisse gets on at some stage and scores a goal, he needs the confidence badly
NUFCarter
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #93Shola Ameobi MOTM at the moment!
Ted Bundy
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #94NUFCarter
Undeniably so.
toonicle
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #95Surely Shola deserves a goal in this game, I thought that was it.
colwell
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Comment #96Damm I love gouffy easily one of our best bargains for a long time.
Everything good today Shola has been involved, really deserves a goal.
NUFCarter
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:50 PM
Comment #97Ameobi deserves a goal. Please let it be.
davetoon
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Comment #98Norwich will get the hair dryer treatment from Hoots and will be bang up for it for at least 15 mins after half time.. need to keep concentration
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Comment #99Bring HBA on for Shola when he inevitably gets tired, then maybe give Cisse a run out as well .
HWTL .
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Comment #100Shola MOTM so far the lad has been immense!!!
Oleg G
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Comment #101As much as I want to see Hatem playing, and as much as I want to see him enjoying an open game, and being able to show what he has to offer. I am afraid that he is mentally not there for us. He had a great start to the season and everything went downhill from there.
If he won’t show in practice that he will give 100% in getting back and helping the defenders, he won’t find a place in this squad. We cannot afford him. Not even in a 2-0 over Norwich. If it will be 3-0, fine. Still, he has to show commitment and will to defend. And more importantly, he has to give the ball faster away, otherwise we are just losing the ball in the middle of the pitch and we get a counter attack from the other team.
Himanshu Dhingra
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Comment #102“Only Lyon (19) have more goals from French players than Newcastle (16) in the major Euro leagues this season.”
Rotonda heights
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Comment #103My word what has happened to Pardew? I’ve seen more movement on and off the ball in that 45 mins than I have in an absolute age! Absolutely brilliant 1-2s, triangles, overlapping, going beyond the man with the ball and going for more than 1 goal – superb stuff.
Old Shola is having a renaissance and on days like these he’s unplayable. Lovely balance in the team and with any luck a 3rd or 4th goal could mean party time with Benny and Anita getting on.
NUFCarter
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Comment #104Tiote especially, needs to learn when not to shoot. But he has been playing well. Not sure what was going on when he just left the ball that one time. i thought he was having a laugh
Thump
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Comment #105Anybody else reckon that Shola’s been on the bull testosterone? He’s looking more tuned in than I think I’ve seen him in the top flight.
santonthenewmaldini
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Comment #106Well well well what a first half some of the 1 touch passing we have been doing has been excellent movement all over the park better finishing could have seen us 3 or 4 goals up
Just got to concentrate at the back as nearly got caught out by Redmond Sissoko is a right winger he played for Toulouse and France there and causes so much damage as can pretty much beat any full back with pace and power needs to improve his finishing though as thats 3 games in a row he has missed a good chance one on one with the keeper
What to do now though? I think we should keep the same team get the 3rd goal and then bring on Arfa and Cisse and Anita just hope we dont sit back cause Norwich are likely to collapse under anymore pressure dont invite them back into it
NUFCarter
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:54 PM
Comment #107Thankyou NIGERIA!
santonthenewmaldini
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Comment #108Also does anyone think Faye Downey is having an influence in our team ? Cause they just look so fit especially Shola ? Sounds cynical but i quite like how our players like to get stuck in and kick players up and down the pitch Cabaye , Tiote and Sissoko bully teams quite a lot its good to see bit like a Mourinho original Chelsea team
Oleg G
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Comment #109davetoon // Nov 23, 2013 at 3:51 PM
so true.
Oleg G
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Comment #110Rotonda heights // Nov 23, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Maybe he finally got to that “Football 101” book that was planning to read? 🙂
manxpie
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Comment #111ameobi has been fantastic especially after that crunching tackle
and rotonda i’m in shock was that a compliment for the silver fox!? 🙂
colwell
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Comment #112M’Biwa and Sissoko on the right are ruining Norwich, great touches and passes, too much power and pace for them . LOVE IT
JackButler
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:58 PM
Comment #113santonthenewmaldini
Faye Downey is without doubt having a very big influence as we are far fitter and sharper than we were last season
Junior90
Nov 23, 2013 at 3:59 PM
Comment #114Have been a fan for a long time and it’s interesting to see how newcastle changed in just 2 years, as players like Ben Arfa, Cisse, Jonas, Taylor etc are no longer in the first team while players like williamson, ameobi suddenly seem to have a new lease of life.
Anyway, the first half was pretty decent. Lets hope that we don’t collapse in the second half as it’s happened far too often this season
Ancientcoptic
Nov 23, 2013 at 4:04 PM
Comment #115Norwich came straight out with the idea of attacking us down the left… Mbiwa has destroyed that idea. It is back to the drawing board for Hughton.
colwell
Nov 23, 2013 at 4:04 PM
Comment #116How the fcuk was that a foul he pulled up????
Belfast
Nov 23, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Comment #117that didn’t look a free kick to me, think he just pulled up
Oleg G
Nov 23, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Comment #118A lot of extra time to this half time already. Better not be only one goal up during that time.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 23, 2013 at 4:06 PM
Comment #119Don’t want to see HBA on unless Norwich come back into it. I don’t trust him to keep possession and that’s what we need to get the 3 points.
JackButler
Nov 23, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Comment #120ToonDarnSarf
Jesus Christ…………………we actually agree on something 😀