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It’s not clear where Ben Arfa will play – maybe as a withdrawn striker or he could be on the wing, and of course he could easily interchange with Yoan Gouffran, who can also play in both positions.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
Mike's Iron Curtain
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Comment #81Elliot’s better than Krul, just not as fashionable
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Comment #82Wow. Elliot has kept us in the game. 2 goals saved.
TheToonKing
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:17 PM
Comment #83We’re getting hammered. Elliott making some great saves.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:17 PM
Comment #84We are a shambles defensively. Mbiwa is a CB for God’s sake! Whenever Ben Arfa gets the ball the entire team stops moving and he’s looking around for a quick option and there’s nothing. It’s embarrassing and we’ve not improved in 3 years.
mindshaft
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Comment #85Jeez – we’re hanging on by the skin of our teeth here
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Comment #86They are sitting on our part of the pitch.
We look poor. They look organized.
Mike's Iron Curtain
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Comment #87Getting torn apart at will. Should be 2 or 3 already. We haven’t threatened their box, nevermind the goal.
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Comment #88Yanga is very poor so far. Poor on defense and poor with his touch in attack.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Comment #89Absolute pants today. Southampton showing us how far behind them we are.
Toon1978
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Comment #90Dear me. We should be 3-0 down. AWEFUL!
Ancientcoptic
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Comment #91Why is Ben Arfa being played against their best defender? Earth to Carver! switch flanks.
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Comment #92Their fans are making good noise. I didn’t hear ours in the last two games at home (and many times before by the way). Sad a little bit about that.
Toon1978
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Comment #93How we miss Cabaye
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Comment #94You got to be kidding me!!!
He is free. What is that? 3-4 great chances for them to score. We are lucky it is still 0-0.
Mike's Iron Curtain
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Comment #95A young, exuberant and imaginative team against weary, demoralised plodders with no discernible philosophy. Modern vs archaic
colwell
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Comment #96Saints playing like Barca we are playing Stevenage.
We could/should be 4 down
ilovetoon8788
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Comment #97We’ll be lucky to go in halftime at 0-0
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Comment #98This is shocking, but absolutely anticipated. We’re an incredibly poor side who have relied on individual brilliance all year. Simple as that.
Toon Tang
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Comment #99no telephone pards? they’ve probs confiscated it for bad taste
Cabyebye
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Comment #100http://www.vipboxeu.co/football/210921/1/southampton-fc-vs-newcastle-united-live-stream-online.html
Another link if anyone is looking for one.
Poor performance thus far though, so not sure if you’ll want to watch it….lol
Douglas
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #101Once the first one goes in the flood gates will open. 4-0 to the Saints, and thats just half time!
colwell
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #102Gouffy has been w@nk for a while now
Mike's Iron Curtain
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #103We are the worst team in the league. It’s a wonder how we are where we are.
Toon1978
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #104OMG we are even trying to hand the game on a plate. Had enough already.
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #105Wow they are making us look sh*t.
What a pressure in our third of the pitch.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #106Absolutely absolutely dominated
Toon1978
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #107As soon as Soton lose the ball, they work hard to get it back. We do not.
Ancientcoptic
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #108If we are getting cut open like this, the obvious thing to do would be change the formation. orrrrr we could just carry on with things as they are.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #109Southampton making us look like a league 1 side
Toon Tang
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #110you can see the massive gap in determination and will to win between the 2 teams. Shouldn’t be paid if you blatantly don’t try at all
Ibizatoon
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #111It’s a good job we’re only struggling in the final third aye Alan!
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #112Exactly the same as when we played Everton
No one has a clue what to do positionaly
Saints happy to sit back, wait until we’ve played ourselves into a nothing position, nick the ball and hammer us on the counter
Oleg G
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #113For the first time I really seriously think if I want to spend now 70 mins + half time break watching this or go for a walk with the wife and kid. 🙁
Toon1978
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #11425 minutes, still not a shot on goal.
knottsy82
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:26 PM
Comment #115These are premier league defenders are you kidding me
beermonkey
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:26 PM
Comment #116well this is fun to watch
Toon1978
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #117We get a free kick……gave it staright back to Soton.
colwell
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #118Worst we have played all season
ilovetoon8788
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #119So pardew. What improvement from Everton?
Same old dross week in week out.
toonarmydownsouth
Mar 29, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #120Not one player out there looks good enough to play on the prem