Alan Pardew was full of praise for Southampton today, the club he managed before becoming the Newcastle manager in late 2010, after the shocking sacking of Chris Hughton, and Alan thinks it will be a great game between two hard-working and honest sides tomorrow afternoon at St. James’ Park.
Mauricio Pochettino – has done great so far at Southampton
Hopefully, we’ll see another sell-out at St. James’ Park tomorrow afternoon, and we see the club has been selling some tickets at £5 each in an effort to fill the ground – and a sold out Stadium can only be an advantage for the Newcastle team.
This is what Alan Pardew has said about the game tomorrow:
“I think we’re a very hard-working side with talent, and Southampton are like that, and I think it’s got huge significance on the result on Saturday that these two teams are going to collide in a real hard-working way.”
“And therefore it’s going to make for a great game, I think; both sides set up to attack and both pretty solid when they do attack.” “We’re very similar and I think it’ll make for a cracking game.”
“I think the biggest improved player there will probably be missing on Saturday and that’s Schneiderlin. He wasn’t quite as good as that when I was there but he’s made himself a terrific player.”
“Southampton’s a great club, they have a great tradition of playing football in the right manner, but this new manager has done a good job and taken them to a real high-pressing game without losing that formula.”
“They’ve had some tough fixtures but they’ve really conducted themselves well in those fixtures, although they could have had better results.” “I think Pochettino is handling the situation very well because this is probably the only ‘down time’ that he’s had since he’s been there and that’s a tribute to him for what he’s done there.”
Southampton have always been a great club, and they get some great support down there too, and have recently built a beautiful ground – St Mary’s Stadium – where they’ve been getting regular home crowds of around 30,000.
Both Newcastle and Southampton play good attacking football, and always go for the win – so it should be a good game, and we think it will be a fairly even game too.
Here’s hoping Newcastle can take advantage of the home venue and get another win to make it six wins out of seven – that would be great.
Comments welcome.
Note: South Shields local artist Robert Olley has a new painting out called “Derby Day Home” and it can be personalized so that any surname can be put on the striker’s shirt – the one scoring the goal – take a look.
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55 comments so far
Mint
Dec 13, 2013 at 7:17 PM
Comment #1I think we will see a slow match as we will be working the midfield all day but with few cutting edge chances. Either 0-0 or a 3-0 to whoever scores first! You heard it here first!
Rotonda heights
Dec 13, 2013 at 7:25 PM
Comment #2”has done great”
Great grammar there Ed !! Are you speaking Pardish?
Jeff from Benwell
Dec 13, 2013 at 7:32 PM
Comment #3Rotonda @ 2
Are you a full time Ass or do you just help them out when they are busy ?
swemag
Dec 13, 2013 at 7:48 PM
Comment #4With this positive vibe that going on at the moment and the belief in the team and so on…I just cannot see us win tomorrow.
Saying that I think this is the toughest game of the coming three. Not only because they are the best placed team but because we seem to struggle against teams that likes to pass the ball around.
Someone was mentioning the amount of injuries they have, well, they still managed to get a point from Man City, and from reading about the game it seems they were the better side.
Either way, if we win tomorrow, maybe I will really start believing in top 4.
stuart no9
Dec 13, 2013 at 7:53 PM
Comment #5i must say, having to sell tickets at a fiver to fill the ground really is a sad reflection on the modern times of NUFC. I suppose gone are the times when you couldnt get a ticket for love or money in the classic KK days .
UpAndHatem
Dec 13, 2013 at 8:01 PM
Comment #6Bills last thread @ 18
“He doesn’t just need a goal he needs to score four or five in six or seven games”
Are you serious?
Not many top strikers possess, let alone maintain that form.
Personally, I think 1 or 2 goals in the space of a few games will light the blue touch paper with Cisse. He is a condidence palyer no doubt, but he also needs service. This has to improve, but IMO, I see it as a case of ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ with Pardew at the moment.
JackButler
Dec 13, 2013 at 8:05 PM
Comment #7So has the fall in attendance has been combated by offering admittance for a fiver???
Gone are the days when you couldn’t get a ticket for love nor money
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Dec 13, 2013 at 8:06 PM
Comment #8thanks bills-son , re saints i find it strange that some posters are so worried they have taken 1 point from the last 12 have won two away scoring five goals have conceeded 9 in the last 4,have 1draw in the last ten games at st james.their goalkeeper played very well against us at st marys but is not brilliant.they should be worried about us.i hope this is the day we beat a team easily and it would be good to create a gap so newcastle have to start well.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 13, 2013 at 8:35 PM
Comment #9I see RVP is out for a month . Man U are screwed 🙂
martoon
Dec 13, 2013 at 8:41 PM
Comment #10Stuart & JB – To be fair crowds are always down in the run up to Christmas.
I think tomorrow’s match will be a tight affair with the sides cancelling each other out but hopefully our superior players will triumph in the end so I’d say an edgy 1 – 0 win.
toonbrother
Dec 13, 2013 at 8:48 PM
Comment #11everytime this blog gets too cocky we suffer a humiliating defeat to bring us back down to earth. I hope we win but with COloshitty in defence a horrific outcome is very possible
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:03 PM
Comment #12I agree with the view that we are not creating enough chances inside the box. Rarely do we get around the back of the defence – Debuchy is the most likely to do so, which in itself says something – nobody gets to the dead ball line and crosses flashing across the six yard line are unknown.
In part this is because we rarely have more than two players in the box except at dead ball plays. Against WBA we had a breakaway, got the ball down into one corner……… And when Remy looked up six of our players were still in our half! There was only one player on the edge of the area. This sort of thing is commonplace but other teams seem able to get several players into the box. We seem to lack an advanced midfielder like Bowyer with an instinct for getting into the box. The only player on the books who has done this consistently on his few outings is Gosling.
Lastly I wish HBA would look at how Messi gets his goals. He’s got great control but doesn’t get them dribbling from the halfway line. He gets, gives and goes. Most of his goals come from a short pass to his feet received when already in the box.
Passes not stupid low percentage blasts from 40 yards by HBA, Cabaye and of course Tiote.
swemag
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:04 PM
Comment #13@ toonbrother
exactly my point. it just smells of a banana skin wake up call.
I will be the happiest person in the world if I’m wrong.
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:04 PM
Comment #14BPC.
Man U are screwed anyway.
Kets was right for once.
JackButler
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:11 PM
Comment #15martoon
Is this the first time we’ve done this then???
JackButler
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:12 PM
Comment #16jasper
Kets is always right 😀
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:13 PM
Comment #17As for tickets for a fiver in those days it was exciting as we had a realist chance of winning the league : Abramovich et al hadn’t arrived to buy it for cash.
The economy was on the up and fans felt flush, not so now. I’m no great fan of MA but for those who complain of our failure to improve income should compare the ticket prices at NUFC – essentially flat for years- with those at Spurs or Arsenal. Can’t have it both ways.
Sgt. Heagerty
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:17 PM
Comment #18Hopefully the lads will have an bit of swagger from the absolute 1 nil thrashing we gave man ure last weekend when the Geordies laid siege to and sacked old trafford!!!! Lol seriously though I think pards is up for this one against his old club and though their are some similarities between us and them lets be real, we are a much bigger club and are playing at fortress st James we should boss the game and when 3-1…. Oh a cisse will bag an absolute stunner in this match if he gets on for more then 10 minutes you heard it here first… Close to January and cisse always heats up when it gets cold!!!! Hwtl
JackButler
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:21 PM
Comment #19jasper
Ticket prices in the capitol will always be higher as the overall cost of living is higher, average wages are higher.
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jun/19/premier-league-ticket-prices-club-charge-the-most
G
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:37 PM
Comment #20Well, I haven’t called a score, or even a result correct all season. Therefore, I predict a Southampton win.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:40 PM
Comment #21I reckon it will be a 2-2 draw tomorrow .
70TWO
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:41 PM
Comment #22jasper @ 12
You gone part of the way to explaining your latter point about HBA with your initial point about there being no support in the box.
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:42 PM
Comment #23JB
of course. However I was picking up the oft quoted references to our failure to increase income and compete financially. Your table shows that three of the big clubs that are trying/forced to balance their books – Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool – charge twice what we do for an ordinary season ticket.
Do we want to try to compete by doubling ST prices for the ordinary fan? I think not. Indeed in the current economic climate I don’t think the market would bear it.
Mind you I am surprised that Liverpool can get away with it.
toonincheek
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:47 PM
Comment #24jasper – take care.
By highlighting the much lower season ticket prices
at SJP, you run the risk of being labelled pro-MA!
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:57 PM
Comment #2570TWO
Yes I find it very frustrating. I can get to the matches and see the whole field but I sometimes wonder if the distribution of players on the field is obvious on TV. I do prefer the wider angle view offered by continental TV, Sky seem to be fixated on close ups of the play.
I can only presume that the players are following instructions not to overcommit numbers upfield. Especially if we are not losing. Which is most of the time at the moment, which is not to be sneezed at, but it then makes for nail biting wins by a single goal margin.
I may be greedy but it would be nice to luxuriate in a multi-goal thrashing of some unfortunates once in a while (especially of the red and white variety).
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 9:58 PM
Comment #26Toon,
I can feel the ice cracking under my feet, scrabbling to get back on Ibiza’s fence……..
70TWO
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:02 PM
Comment #27As confident as I can be about tomorrow.
i) Pardew wants to beat his old team so motivation and tactics should not be an issue.
ii) They have not won in 4 games where as we have won 5 of 6.
iii) Our stats are very similar but we have the ability to keep them in their own half and not get caught out conceding the ball.
iv) They don’t perform at St. James.
v) Remy has not scored in 3 games and HBA will get one also.
JackButler
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:11 PM
Comment #28jasper
Agree that ST prices should not be increased but we need to look at all the other ways that we generate revenue at the club with SD free advertising being the first thing that needs to change.
We cannot compete with a lot of clubs in the league financially which is ok to a point as our transfer policy shows we can sign very, very good players for very good prices but we are always open to losing these players as we simply cannot compete with wages
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:23 PM
Comment #29I know the issue of the in stadium advertising really grates with a lot of people and fair enough. Though I am not persuaded that the going rate for it is really all that high. Nothing like the sponsorship that can be achieved by stadium naming rights, especially a new stadium. And I am not going there.
I sometimes think that we have a chicken and egg problem. Big sort sponsorship deals require a big international profile – like L****pool- which requires big wins, which requires a v good team, which requires money, for which a good shirt deal would be a good start………
bills-son
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Comment #30The best way MA can justify JK’s appointment and it give it some credibility is for JK to get the plaudits for pulling off a couple of good signings in Jan.
Wishful thinking maybe but I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the plan.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:30 PM
Comment #31the omens are with newcastle .mark lawrenson tips us for a defeat ,merson a draw ,i have missed seeing only three games live ie some on streams- west ham hull and swansea so must see tomorrow. jaspar gosling may have got in the box but never did anything with it .he scored away to man city but we would have got a penalty anyway,he used to put in the odd really bad pass or tackle or both as away to norwich when he cost us the game.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Comment #32bills-son i hope he signs 1or two also.hope one is fingobosson who scored 1goal and also another penalty tonight and always seems to be in the right place.
Beardosfacedouble
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:38 PM
Comment #33Yeah, yeah, lots of polite respect to Southampton and their “in-your-face” high up the pitch style of play. But howay man, if we can’t beat this lot at SJP we might as well stop trying to keep hold of our “purples”.
3-1 HWTL
bills-son
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:40 PM
Comment #341949,
Only seen Finboggason on youtube and he reminds me of Van Wolfswinkel who looks as if he might struggle with the physical side of the Prem.
What’s your take on him?
bollance
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:42 PM
Comment #35Bills
Therefore it will be British talent brought in because anything from abroad has G Carr written all over it.
In my opinion now is the time to bite the bullet and pay the British premium and bring in the cream of the championship which includes Ince, Hughes and Ings. If the policy is to sell at a profit which is not definite then these players will be wanted by the top 6 providing their progress continues and they become internationals like their promise suggests.
The powder has been kept dry from the summer through little fault of the club. We have a very successful transfer policy / model so why change it. The players we wanted were too expensive compared to what we wanted to pay.
Slow progress is the key. We all want instant success, be patient good things will come as long as we keep signing cut price internationals and young hopefuls.
The best transfer business would be remy although his trail has been delayed until February.
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:43 PM
Comment #36Bills,
I am strongly persuaded that “the plan” is to sign players who are markedly better than the weakest of the current first teamers (other than signing development youngsters). This is a well recognised strategy to work ones way up.
But the problem with it is that players of such quality may simply not be available. We need a dominant CB and a strong CF but a Sammy Hyphia or another Lukaku don’t grow on trees.
If they are going to sign someone then they have probably been watching him for months already but will keep their cards close until the last moment as they did with the five Frenchmen. Even closer I suspect since they blinked and missed Remy last Jan.
By the way to the best of my recollection the only poster who picked up on some of the French contingent’s imminent arrival was Torq. But after the undeserved crap that was shovelled on him by you-know-who last time he surfaced I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t bother this time around.
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:44 PM
Comment #37Some people are forgetting that for all Southampton have been great this season, their away record is poor and St’ James Park holds no prisoners .
Big Pappa Cissé
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:48 PM
Comment #38Team for the Saints :
—————————–Krul—————————–
–Debuchy——–Willo——–M’biwa——–Santon–
–Sissoko———-Tiote———Anita——–Gouffran–
—————————–HBA—————————-
—————————–Remy—————————-
jasper
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:52 PM
Comment #391949,
Yes Gosling didn’t get many (in the limited time on the field he’s had) but the point was that he did show that a midfielder getting into the box can be done.
For some time we have tended to have a big gap between the midfield and strikers – nobody getting into space between the lines. If there’s nobody there then there’s no-one to link play or burst into the box.
As others have observed Shola has been dropping back into this area of late which is good for link up but “burst into box” and “Shola” don’t go well together…….(and this is from a Shola fan)
bills-son
Dec 13, 2013 at 10:57 PM
Comment #40Bollance and jasper,
Agree with you both although I still think JK will negotiate and sign players scouted by Carr.