Alan Pardew has produced a couple of surprises in that he has given a start to Massadio Haidara at left back, and a good move is that Ben Arfa is also in the starting line-up at Southampton today.
Ben Arfa – starts today at St. Mary’s
And as half expected Luuk de Jong is relegated to the bench, and so is Paul Dummett after a mediocre performance against Everton in mid-week.
It’s not clear where Ben Arfa will play – maybe as a withdrawn striker or he could be on the wing, and of course he could easily interchange with Yoan Gouffran, who can also play in both positions.
It’s a surprise that Massadio Haidara has been brought in, but the young Frenchman must have been playing well in training, and certainly he deserves his chance, and he’s a very good young player.
And for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez is fit and starts for the Saints this afternoon.
This is a tough game for the Magpies, and we just hope somebody can get the goals, and we’ll have to start this game very quickly, as Southampton are often out of the blocks very quickly at home.
And only 17% think we can win this game and 65% think we’ll lose – so the lads can shock us on the positive side this afternoon.
And with the Saints being only one point behind Newcastle, we have to hope we can at the very least come away with a draw this afternoon at St. Mary’s.
Howay The Lads!!
Teams:
Southampton: (4-2-3-1): Artur Boruc; Calum Chambers, Dejan Lovren, Jose Fonte, Luke Shaw; James Ward-Prowse, Jack Cork; Steven Davis, Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez; Rickie Lambert
Substitutes: Paulo Gazzaniga, Jos Hooiveld, Harrison Reed, Morgan Schneiderlin, Gaston Ramires, Guly do Prado, Sam Gallagher
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Cheick Tiote, Vurnon Anita; Moussa Sissoko, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoan Gouffran; Papiss Cisse
Substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Paul Dummett, Davide Santon, Steven Taylor, Dan Gosling, Luuk de Jong, Shola Ameobi
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505 comments so far
Big Pappa Cissé
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:02 PM
Comment #1Now thats more like it. Are we sure Pardew has picked this team like 🙂 .
Ginger
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:02 PM
Comment #2Good team!
niafron
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:05 PM
Comment #3Will we see Beny CAM?
Ginger
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:05 PM
Comment #4However, the bench we have is awful!
toonbrother
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:06 PM
Comment #5With colocinni in the starting line up this could end in disaster
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:06 PM
Comment #6BPC…he probably thought he needed someone he could blame the worse happen!
…will also be fuel for some on here 😉
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:07 PM
Comment #7*should
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:08 PM
Comment #8We don’t have much option in midfield do we?
Brutooon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:11 PM
Comment #9Dummet is SLOW thats why we lose last match !!!!
might also bring in Santon late in the game for fitness
Ancientcoptic
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:11 PM
Comment #10I do not rate Rickie Lambert based on what I have seen recently, he makes Ameobi look mobile.
If we play long balls out from the back, we are doomed, if we are set up to play, I think we can win this.
The Saints are known for being pegged back after taking the lead, which indicates they start strong and drop off. If they are not ahead within the first 30 minutes, the game should be there for the taking.
Great to see Haidara playing, but why has it taken so long?
Big Pappa Cissé
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:12 PM
Comment #11How Gosling makes the bench over Marveaux I will never know.
At least Pardew has finally realised Haidara is our best Lb. Only took him the best part of a year like 😉
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:12 PM
Comment #12Like the team. Would have perhaps preferred to not have MBiwa at RB, but apart from that I’m happy enough.
Gouffran looked like he needs a rest, but not sure how many options we have with that one.
Lastly, where has Marv disappeared to again?
Come on Benny…give ’em ‘ell!
Big Pappa Cissé
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:15 PM
Comment #13This team is perfect for us to sit back and then counter attack with the blistering pace of HBA,Gouff & Sissoko.
This system has worked well for us away from home and I am much more confident now Dummet & De Jong have been dropped .
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:16 PM
Comment #14Big Pappa…Confident? Come on, don’t be selfish, share the goods.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:17 PM
Comment #15What will we do if we need to change the midfield with that bench?
…bring on Ameobi? 😉
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:18 PM
Comment #16Jesper…Maybe, although perhaps an outside chance only, Santon could come in on the wing if needed?
However, we just know Ameobi is getting on that field at some stage. It wouldn’t be right if he didn’t 😉
niafron
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:19 PM
Comment #17I don’t expect an important improvement, but at least we could have some fun otday…
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:19 PM
Comment #18Please don’t sit back that will only mean Benny gas to drop down…I thought we had been trough this 🙁
…if Benny starts we need to start playing differently. Did you guys read the Rob Lee interview? It should put everything in to perspective!
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:20 PM
Comment #19Niafron…We’ve already had a radical suggestion of confidence and now you bring fun in to it?
Madness 🙂
toonicle
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:20 PM
Comment #20Good to see Haidara starting
yo-yo
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:21 PM
Comment #21On the thickness of football players :
Been following the debate on here on the intelligence of young footballers – btw Pardew did not say that youngsters from middle class backgrounds were better or more valuable players Ruddy – you’ve misinterpreted the quotes there so your insult is way OTT.
Anyway…. tale from the late 70s. I used to work with a lass who, when she started teaching as a young 21 year old was a special needs teacher and had a ‘remedial’ English class of teenagers including Chris Waddle. At that time he could barely write his own name apparently. The other kids in the class used to take the mick and said it didn’t really matter as he was going to be a pro footballer and could always put an X on his contract with Newcastle – it was before he went to the Toon – I think he was with Tow Law at the time.
As it happened he later went to France for big bucks, absorbed the culture although he was homesick and became a very good French speaker – so hardly thick…
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:21 PM
Comment #22Ibiza…do you know if Marv is injured or something cause that bench does look a bit uneven?
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:22 PM
Comment #23Jesper…Do you not listen to Pardew? He’s only just got through telling us that neither Mike nor he likes the sit back approach.
Expect more full throttle attacking football today. Not sure how Newcastle will play mind.
theartfuldodger
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:22 PM
Comment #24Atleast cisse makes contact when striking. Benteke against manu has been woeful today.
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:24 PM
Comment #25Jesper…Uneven? Ah yes, now that Benny is off of it Sholas side does seem to be sloping somewhat….
No idea on Marveaux. To be honest, whilst you shouldn’t expect miracles in his little cameos, he did pretty much nothing in them to warrant being too close to the team. But then again, who has on that bench?
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:26 PM
Comment #26Ibiza
Nearly got my selection right from yesterd only difference I moved Mbiwa to centre and brought in Santon
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:28 PM
Comment #27Charlie…So close there could be good reason to think you’re Pardew himself!
Why didn’t you move MBiwa? 🙂
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:28 PM
Comment #28The ability to speak or write does not make you intelligent neither does the opposite make you unintelligent!
…if you followed the discussion, maybe you also saw Cyprus and my contribution? 🙂
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Comment #29Ibiza…I read that and had a good laugh afterwards. I even shared the quote with GT and he almost pissed himself 🙂
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Comment #30I don’t need to write well, eyes got streets smarts mes has…
Ancientcoptic
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:31 PM
Comment #31Man Utd should be paying Benteke’s wages this week. There is no way he should be playing international football in current form.
yo-yo
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:31 PM
Comment #32jesper
Being unable to read or write is a serious disadvantage in life for most people, but not always – which was the whole point of the story about Waddle
catchy in norway
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:32 PM
Comment #33isnt pardew responsible for southampton ? dont they still play to his “on the front foot system”
i like hiadara , but i dont get why he is in the team , i dont get why drummet jumped ahead of hiadara in the first place, and i dont see what drummet has done wrong to be dropped,
if i had the choice, HBA would be my no 10, but if that means putting sissoko on the right, then i would rather have HBA as my right winger, at least he can do something out there, sissoko is crap out there, as is goofy out on the left, he is a much better CF
still think we are in for a humping today,
all hale pardew
The next Mike Williamson
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:32 PM
Comment #34Shit. I’ve bet on Southampton and he goes and puts out an attacking team for once.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:35 PM
Comment #35Yo-yo…I got your point, but replied cause you said you had followed the discussion, but only commented on what Ruddy said.
Thought you might not had read what Cyprus or I said earlier? No pond indented!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Comment #36…maybe I should have phrased myself differently 🙂 but hi I am not English!
Ancientcoptic
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Comment #37No De Jong in our side, Lambert in their side… it makes a refreshing change for the dumb team selection to be on the other side. (I hope I am not tempting fate saying that)
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:37 PM
Comment #38Ibiza
Colo spat the dummy out!!!!
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:41 PM
Comment #39Charlie…Is that why Haidara is playing LB then?
Sorry, that was pretty poor 🙂
SpaceGhost
Mar 29, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Comment #40Lovin the Haidara & Benny inclusion. More important question, will we wear the Brazil kit today?