Yanga-Mbiwa and Steven Taylor start the game in central defense for Newcastle today in the 3rd round of the FA Cup at home to Cardiff City, and Mike Williamson gets a well deserved rest, and this is Taylor’s only second appearance for Newcastle this season, after he started the first game at the Etihad Stadium in August.
Yanga-Mbiwa – gets a start in central defense today
So that looks like Alan Pardew has made six changes to the side that disappointed and lost 1-0 at the Hawthorns to West Brom on Wednesday afternoon.
It will give some of our fringe players a much-needed chance to shine today, and hopefully we’ll be good enough to get through to the 4th round of the FA Cup by 5:00 pm local time this afternoon.
Fab Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye and Tim Krul are all out injured, and Mathieu Debuchy is suspended for the first of three games, after his straight red card on Wednesday.
And Ben Arfa, as expected, gets a rare start and has a chance to shine for the Magpies today, and Davide Santon switches over the right back – to allow Massadio Haidara to comes in at left-back, so there are four changes made to the defensive five with only Santon playing in the last game.
Jak Alnwick, the Ameobi brothers, Loic Remy, Mike Williamson, Gabby Obertan and Paul Dummett are on the bench.
Cardiff City play a strong side, in the first game for new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and last time out they were unlucky to lose to two very late goals to Arsenal on Wednesday.
We need a win today.
Howay The Lads!!
Teams:
Newcastle:(4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Davide Santon, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara; Cheick Tiote (c), Vurnon Anita; Hatem Ben Arfa, Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran; Papiss Cisse
Substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Paul Dummett, Mike Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy
Cardiff 4-4-2): David Marshall; Kevin McNaughton, Mark Hudson (c), Ben Turner, Declan John; Don Cowie, Aron Gunnarsson, Kim Bo-Kyung, Peter Whittingham; Peter Odemwingie, Andreas Cornelius
Substitutes: Joe Lewis, John Brayford, Steven Caulker, Tommy Smith, Craig Noone, Craig Conway, Fraizer Campbell
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
454 comments so far
roblee7
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:29 PM
Comment #41Last season he had chances in the Cup competitions, particularly UEFA Cup and flopped spectacularly IMO. Given his reputation when he signed, very disappointing player for me
dogg
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Comment #42radio newcastle coverage available thru bbc football page apparently
davetoon
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Comment #43What gives me the sheets is that the romance of the FA Cup in showing teams from lower divisions wouldn’t be happening if Man Utd was playing any team.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Comment #44TS…I would have dropped both Gouffran and Sissoko!
…I don’t believe in picking players who are not impressing 🙂
Marty-Toon
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:32 PM
Comment #45Not one CM on the bench,could cause a problem if one of the lads are tired
JackButler
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:33 PM
Comment #46Gouffran has looked out on his feet over the past few games, should have been given a rest today.
Gotta really bad feeling about today 🙁
Themesh
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:33 PM
Comment #47on the website its saying it wont be aired online
Willo4England
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:34 PM
Comment #48@dogg can you link me the bbc radio coverage plz
Our Toon
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:35 PM
Comment #49Lads on the HBA debate I think he should be an automatic starter in a team lacking any creativity, I keep hearing the same arguments of well he has never got 10 goals or assists anywhere he’s played or that previous managers have dropped him!! Let’s have some perspective on this debate, HBA has 3 goals and 6 assists from 9 starts and 9 sub apps, in previous years no manager has ever doubted HBA’s abilities pards is the first, previous managers have critisied his behaviour and attitude because he was very argumentative, something the lad has mentioned time and time again, he was childish, petulant and fell out with managers….that’s how he arrived here, however he has said that he has grown up and it shows by no toys being throwin out of the pram, for this reason the argument of “well he’s never done it at any club” just doesn’t sit right with me.
Debuchy has been fantastic but as a FB his first priority should be to defend and unfortunately he isn’t very good at that aspect of the game hence why he needs a babysitter (Sissoko) don’t get me wrong Debuchy has been fantastic, but defensively he is mildly better than Santon, so we sacrifice one of our best attacking threats to compensate for Debuchys inability to defend, before you all start I remember watching Matt Jarvis tear Debuchy a new one, more recently Assidi from Stoke scored when Debuchy backed off and backed off to then show him inside on his strong foot to score!! Very rarely was Debuchy on a 2 on 1 situation however he is now apart of a 2 on 1 defensive duo which seriously limits us when attacking!!
If I look at the excuses fans have used for HBA to not be included these are the very same ones that Pards uses, first of all pards said he isn’t consistent enough, certain fans jumped on that bandwagon, yet Sissoko his replacement is consistent, consistently poor on the right and in the middle!! Than pards said he loses the ball in key areas and them fans jumped on them words, this has more recently become well he doesn’t track back or work hard enough and the sheep follow suit and now use this as an excuse…..yet Shola who hasn’t scored a PL goal in 2013 and has 1 assist to his name from more games started is adored!! Consistency is something that should be levelled at every player.
Final thought on this subject, if you were HBA and got dropped after getting 3 assists against Stoke in your previous game how would you feel? Arguably the best player on the pitch that day, you get dropped for Arsenal game and the team manages 1 shot on target (not including Shola’s pass back) I would be fuming, it basically says to the lad do what you want your not getting back into the team, personally I would shoot from anywhere and carry on with my strengths as it’s quite clear I will never change the mind of a manager who has no clue!!
JP...from The Rock
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:35 PM
Comment #50Tsunki- Thanks anyway. What a shambles that there are no live feeds anywhere for our match. It’s the FA Cup FFS!
I thought this was THE FAMOUS ENGLISH CUP that is renowned all over the world!?
Just shows that’s a load of bollocks!
Gutted
Transfer Sage
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Comment #51radio link – might be UK only
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewcastle/on-air
jesper – gouff has been great recently, scoring goals and working hard.
belgrade fan
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Comment #52Lewandovski signed for Bayern. 5 yrs contract. wow
JP...from The Rock
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Comment #53Radio link guys :/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_newcastle
Ancientcoptic
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Comment #54Jesper – comment 44… my thoughts exactly.
Hopefully they will come off at half-time.
MacToon
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Comment #55http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_newcastle
davetoon
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Comment #56@ OurToon Debuchy isn’t very good at defending?
Please tell me you are on the wind up
Ancientcoptic
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Comment #57Thx for the link, Sage.
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:39 PM
Comment #58As expected, rest players who are carrying knocks or genuinely tired and give some others a chance.
Decent squad, proves that we’re still going to take the cups seriously while also focussing on the league.
Cantbuyye
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:41 PM
Comment #59@dave toon.. not sure, it’s working fine for now.
@Ts.. maybe conceding the game’s what we need, especially if we don’t strengthen in this window.
mattnufc
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Comment #60Debuchy has largely been great at defending this season, a lot better than Santon.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Comment #61TS…the last two games Gouf has not been great far from it mate!
…so is the game not on the telly?
Transfer Sage
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Comment #62our toon
i think to say debuchy is poor defensively is wrong, he has now settled in the league…of course he benefits from sissoko helping him but he has improved massively. Fullbacks do have days where they get beaten by a winger, it happens to them all.
For me debuchy is a class act and a great player for us. I’d still like to give ben arfa a run, especially as sissoko looks a bit tired and his crossing isn’t up to standard for a wide man. Not saying he is a bad player, just a wide mans job, especially with two DM’s is to attack.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:43 PM
Comment #63I am worried that there have been too many changes in one match. They have been frozen out of the team and now they are expected to play a blinder? I don’t know how well M’biwa and Saylor know about each other to form a good understanding today and keep the opposition out.
Is Santon going to play RB and Haidara at LB? I hope Pardew knows what he’s doing because we really need to win a cup to keep the belief in players / fans minds that we can achieve something here.
Ancientcoptic
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:43 PM
Comment #64Radio link says
”FA Cup: Newcastle United v Cardiff (3pm) with Mick Lowes and John Anderson. NOT online.”
We may be in for disappointment.
JackButler
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:44 PM
Comment #65Lads any truth in the report we have made a break through in a move for Rhodes of blackburn???
Williamson is Bramble in disguise
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:45 PM
Comment #66The reason why benny has been haggled for more of a defensive contribution is because pard’s cant seem to fit his players into the right formation, whenever weve played 4-3-3 this season its been more of a 4-5-1, in a 4-3-3 its not the winger/forwards job to cover the defence that responsibility falls at the feet of the dm, whether it be tiote or anita covering that side of the pitch, that’s how we played in the season we finished 5th, with guti and titoe covering santon and simmo respectively, ba and arfa on the wings, I don’t remember them defending a great deal then, but its a formation designed to absorb pressure and attack quickly, overriding the opposition in defence.
This season what with remy dropping so deep weve looked like weve been emulation spains 4-6-0 at times! I also think this might be the reason for cisse’s drop in form when we reverted to 4-4-2 and then 4-5-1 last season, he thrives on chances being put in front of him, and in either one of those formations we don’t work our chances intot he box, or have enough players around the box quite simply, so hes been lost, often offside, if we want a return of cisse we need to start playing a proper 4-3-3 again, attackers to attack and defenders to defend.
As for arfa id play him on the right of a front 3 in a 4-3-3, free role forward in 4-4-2 and number 10 in a 4-5-1, although this is much the same formation essentially, with wingers covering fullbacks.
Would like to see a proper 4-3-3, tiote and anita/sissoko depending whether cabayes fit covering debs and santon, with a front three of:
remy—gouff/cisse—benny
depending on the form on gouff/cisse, remy isn’t a proper out and out forward he thrives in the gaps and space, whereas id put gouff as more of a poacher like cisse, although with a much more rounded overall game. Alternatively, id like to see arfa in the middle role as a false 9, bringing remy and gouff/cisse into play, giving it the opportunity to convert into a 4-5-1/4-4-2 diamnd when in or out of possession. not that pards would experiment with anything new, or go back to what got him that 5th place finish int he first place, why he seems to reluctant to go back to that is beyond me, point blant refused 4-3-3 last season, then this season hen we start half playing it again, were miles better! bearing in mind this is the formation most of ourt French contingent is used to playing from a young age…
Finally anyone calling for ben arfa to be sold needs their head checked, the lads our best player along with cabaye, these 2 are our future!
Rotonda heights
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:45 PM
Comment #67Saylor apart, quite happy with this team and a lot of them should have played over the the festive period to keep everyone fresh, not just wait for injuries that could have been prevented by non overuse.
Transfer Sage
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:46 PM
Comment #68canttbuye
horrendous attitude to have, we have enough players to compete in the league and FA cup, espcially for the next ew rounds as they postpone all prem league games for the cup games so we’d only be resting for 2 weeks if knocked out.
jesp
he hasn’t and he looks tired, remy looks fully fit so i’d have gone for him on the left, not gouff.
JackButler
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:47 PM
Comment #69Our Toon
You will not find a better right back in the league than Debuchy this season, the lad has been outstanding
Ciaran
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:47 PM
Comment #70Do people genuinely think we have a squad capable of competing on all fronts?
Transfer Sage
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Comment #71jack
not heard those reports but on soccer saturday they said that it’s oddd he was left out of the city cup game and maybe due to a bid
Big Pappa Cissé
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Comment #72Well that is oficially the end of Sylvain Marveaux at NUFC .
Can’t believe the likes of Obertan & Sammy get a place on the bench ahead of him . Pardew clearly has a personal issue with the lad and it is totally unfair.
If we were 1-0 down in a game or drawing and needing a win, honestly ask yourself who you would bring on off the bench out of :
.Sammy
. Obertan
.Marveaux
I know for a fact who I would chose . Imagine Marv in the Swansea team, he would be perfect for them IMO .
JackButler
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Comment #73Sage
Heard that us and West Ham have been in talks with Blackburn and that Rhodes would jump at the chance at coming to SJP while he’s not fussed on West Ham because of their position in the league, fee reported to be around 8 million
Transfer Sage
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Comment #74ciaran
yes i do….why can’t we compete in the league and the FA cup?
it’s only an extra 5 games….2 of those games the prem league clear a weekend for and the final is the week after the end of the season.
Cantbuyye
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Comment #75Ts
Yeah if we have no injuries from now till the end of season. Europe is in our grasp through league position. I’m just like any other fan who wants his team to win a cup but don’t think we have enough decent back up to go for both this season.
sweendog
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:51 PM
Comment #76complete change of spine in the team .. this is gonna be tough .. we should have kept willo alongside yanga and Anita replacing cabaye with arfa in there as well ..hope we scrape this one
JAMSHA
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:51 PM
Comment #77didnt rodes jst play today
LGFUAD21
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:51 PM
Comment #78Good team choice IMO. Come on cisse.
Transfer Sage
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:52 PM
Comment #79jack
would love the lad here, big talent and has a great finish
JackButler
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:52 PM
Comment #80Ciaran
Seeing as all front consists of the league and FA cup, yeah we can compete, if, and it’s a big if we get into Europe again then we will fall short as the squad stands now