Vurnon Anita is going to be a very important player for Newcastle in the game against Stoke City on Boxing Day, as Cheick Tiote is suspended for the game after picking up his 5th yellow card at Selhurst Park.
Vurnon Anita – in action on Saturday
And Vurnon will need to slot in and produce a good performance in defensive midfield, if we are to continue our winning ways against Stoke at St. James’ Park.
With Arsenal and Chelsea drawing 0-0 last night Newcastle gained two points on both sides, and we are now only 4 points out of a Champions League place and 6 points out of first place. đ
But Alan Pardew is not letting his players get carried away with things, and proof of that is what Vurnon has told the local papers today:
âWe will go into these games with no fear, but we must take it one at a time.” Â âStoke is first on Boxing Day and we must prepare properly for that.”
“It will be like the Palace game and it will be tough but we must be prepared to battle and work hard.” Â âIf we do that then we can play our game and then win the game.”
âThis is a time that could shape our season.” âWe have a lot of games coming up, but we must take it one game at a time a see what happens against Stoke.”
âOur focus is on that and then Arsenal, but first we must look to Thursdayâs game and try to get another win.â âWe know where we are in the table, but we must work hard every week and keep our focus on each game that comes.”
“We have to take it game by game.â âWe canât let ourselves get too excited, but if we win our games then we will see where we finish.â
We are expected to beat Stoke on Thursday so it could be a banana skin kind of game – and we could slip up.
But if the lads are as prepared as we were at Selhurst Park, Newcastle could get another win and move even higher up the league table.
And that would be something in this festive season.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 on us on Google+
7 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2013 at 8:24 AM
Comment #1Jail’s too good for Ashley.
scout
Dec 24, 2013 at 8:26 AM
Comment #2Anita you can play a bit son. I can hear someone playing a piano when you knock the ball about. Keep it going
bills-son
Dec 24, 2013 at 8:28 AM
Comment #3Ashley’s too good for JFA.
Spoof
Dec 24, 2013 at 8:31 AM
Comment #4The Stoke game is a must win game, 3 out of our next 4 league games are at home, but after Stoke we have Arsenal and then Man City, 2 difficult home fixtures so we really do need to go into them with a win v Stoke, its typical that Stoke who had a decent start to the season hit some really poor form, but just as they are due to face us they turn it around and come to us in good form, mind we were saying the same with Palace and that ended well, here’s hoping for the same, what will be interesting is how do we line-up without the suspended Tiote, does Cabaye or Sissoko drop deep allowing Ben Arfa to come in, do we bring Jonas back in a central role, or go 4-4-2 with Shola coming in, if Shola comes in which is what will probably happen then Cabaye will probably replace Tiote as the anchor man which would be a crying shame as Cabaye is far better further up the pitch, I would go with
Krul
Debuchy Willo Mbiwa Santon
Anita Sissoko
Ben Arfa Cabaye Gouffran
Remy
but what I expect is
Krul
Debuchy Willo Colo Santon
Sissoko Cabaye Anita Gouffran
Shola Remy
I would keep the 4-5-1, our best 2 performances of the season have been Man U and Palace with that system, keep it as it is with Sissoko replacing Tiote and Ben Arfa replacing Sissoko on the right.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 24, 2013 at 8:40 AM
Comment #5Bills, deserves Vincent Tan
Slank
Dec 24, 2013 at 8:55 AM
Comment #6Spoof
I expect the same but perhaps Pardew will spring a surprise and play Ben Arfa instead of Shola in a role similar to Cabaye as the most advanced midfield player.
Krul
Debuchy Willo Colo Santon
Sissoko Cabaye Anita Gouffran
Shola Remy
70TWO
Dec 24, 2013 at 9:20 AM
Comment #73 games in 6 days is going to be tough going on the likes of Shola and with WBA being away, will there be enough in the tank?
When Cabaye was suspended, Pardew went back to a 442 and lost the midfield possession. Against Stoke hopefully he may move Sissoko back on the right, keeping the together with Debuchy and put in HBA on the wing, as Spoof says:
————–Remy
Gouffran – Cabaye – HBA
———-Anita – Sissoko
Santon – Colo – Willo – Debuchy
I imagine Cisse will come on when we are secure and save Shola for the Arsenal match, up front in the same formation.