As expected Davide Santon comes in at right back, but there’s a bit of a surprise in that Dan Gosling is given a chance to add some much needed creativity to the Newcastle midfield and Dan gets a start this afternoon.
It looks like Vurnon Anita will play out on the right wing in place of the injured Moussa Sissoko, in a 4-4-2 formation, with Dan Gosling in central midfield, but of course the two could also switch positions.
Luuk de Jong and Papiss Cisse are again up front, but maybe Shola Ameobi will be given a chance if the two strikers look as poor as they’ve looked in the last several games.
And it’s good to see young Adam Armstrong on the bench, and also Ben Arfa, and both creative players could well see some action in the second half this afternoon.
For Manchester United Javier Hernandez gets a start up front in place of the injured Wayne Rooney, and Anders Lindegaard gets a start in goal.
76% think we’ll lose this game so the lads have nothing to lose but to go for it.
Newcastle really need to take something out of this game, even if the odds are stacked against them.
Howay The Lads!!
Teams:
Newcastle (4-4-2): Rob Elliot; Davide Santon, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita, Cheick Tiote, Dan Gosling, Yoan Gouffran; Luuk de Jong, Papiss Cisse
Substitutes: Jak Alnwick, Paul Dummett, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Steven Taylor, Hatem Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Adam Armstrong
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Anders Lindegaard; Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Patrice Evra; Darren Fletcher, Marouane Fellaini; Ashley Young, Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa; Javier Hernandez
Substitutes: David de Gea, Alexander Büttner, Nemanja Vidic, Tom Cleverley, Adnan Januzaj, Nani, James Wilson
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
387 comments so far
Ancientcoptic
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:54 PM
Comment #81Man Utd look to be playing a 4.2.3.1
I would be surprised if they come at us playing central… as their lineup indicates.
Try to run through Tiote, or attack our makeshift fullbacks, it should be a simple enough choice for them.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkddL1ZIgAAQ8kw.jpg:large
It looks like Young is going to be giving Haidara a test today.
santonthenewmaldini
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:54 PM
Comment #82This is almost as bad of a suicide note as last season when he played 3 defensive midfielder’s at home against Liverpool and we all know what happened there ??
Its a weird one bringing Gosling in straight from the cold should have got him playing more we lost the midfield battle in the last few games as he is actually decent on the ball and gets stuck in
Should be Cisse or De Jong not both and Arfa should be playing instead of the other one
Stupid Pardew
danishmag
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:54 PM
Comment #83links anyone?
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:55 PM
Comment #84Jesper
It’s not a cheeky point at all, comparing players like Beardsley, a genuine legend at every club he ever played for, to HBA, the player that never reached his potential at every club he ever played for, is utterly ridiculous
toonking
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:55 PM
Comment #85wolf
they do seem to up their performances against teams who are quality.
they think the premier league is like every other league in europe where relegation strugglers are easy games when really the premier league has no easy game.
just ask chelsea recently.
Big Pappa Cissé
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:55 PM
Comment #86Team today should have been:
—————————Elliot——————————-
–Santon———Willo———-M’biwa——–Haidara–
————Tiote—————————-Anita————
—HBA—————-Marveaux—————Sammy—
—————————Gouffran—————————
But what do I know, I’m just a mug .
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:56 PM
Comment #87Yo yo
Spot on with all points, fully agree
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:58 PM
Comment #88Gosling surely isn’t playing RM? He’s too slow, needs to be CAM
manxpie
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Comment #89jesper how many oppertunities has arfa had??
and how many times does he just revert back to being lazy and greedy?
and wats with this thing with saying anyone who argues with you must be tanked up on alcohol?
how about its just that they disagree with your points
but me personally its because your a hypocrite as proven with you benny bashers post earlier which isn’t allowed by your own rules of blogging 🙂
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Comment #90Moyes makes 8 changes and tasks them to prove there worth to the club
We make changes on the premise oh well they can’t do any worse
How the hell can any one be happy with the state of the club at the moment
Tom4Nufc
Apr 5, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Comment #91Hi Chaps,
Has anybody got a decent working link for the game?
Cheers,
HWTL
Rotonda heights
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:00 PM
Comment #92Pardew is priceless. He says no excuses and then goes on how Manu are on a high and we have injuries, never mentioning Manu’s sapping game against Bayern, Us been at home, no RVP or Rooney etc etc.
We’ve probably played less games than anyone this season, out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle and no Europe!
toonking
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Comment #93http://vipbox.co/soccer/watch-177a49-newcastle-vs-manchester-united
ilovetoon8788
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Comment #94http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=253522&part=sports
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:08 PM
Comment #95Tads…I don’t really want to have this pointless Benny discussion.
…we view it from a different angles and so see everything about the matter differently!
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:09 PM
Comment #96Jesper
So why post about it then?
Ancientcoptic
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:09 PM
Comment #97The formation looks bang on… it is surprising to see man utd playing with so little width.
Gosling looks well worth his inclusion.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:12 PM
Comment #98Ancient
Agreed
Thought they would over run midfield but were applying pressure well
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:12 PM
Comment #99Manx…definitely goes for you too!
Enjoy the game.
Toon Tang
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Comment #100plenty of goals being knocked in up and down the leagues i see
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Comment #101You do know that nit everything needs to be turned in to a discussion right?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #102*not
Oleg G
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #103I was happy that Young is off as he looked sharp. But his sub is not a bad player himself so, not sure now.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:24 PM
Comment #104Not everything needs to be an underhanded dig either
MacToon
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:26 PM
Comment #105Man U are making us look good 😉
Marty-Toon
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #106Any decent links lads?
Mine is useless
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:28 PM
Comment #107The fuzzy Belgian throwing his elbows around again…..
Filthy b@statd
Marty-Toon
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:28 PM
Comment #108Cheers,got those
Average_Contents
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:29 PM
Comment #109All the links seem to be shite today I usually find one decent one
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:29 PM
Comment #110Not a lot of quality or tempo. Need to step up a gear before Man Utd do.
Oleg G
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:30 PM
Comment #111Now that is a header!
Oleg G
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:31 PM
Comment #112Who needs links should look for Sopcast or Acestream today. They are very good (you know, Man U game so…).
Oleg G
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:31 PM
Comment #113MacToon // Apr 5, 2014 at 3:26 PM
True.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:31 PM
Comment #114Man U absolutely here for the taking, look less interested than us!
Oleg G
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:34 PM
Comment #115Usually when we look like Man U are looking so far, we get ripped apart. The only problem is, we are the ones who are playing against them today.
Hope we can play better than our normal.
Toon Tang
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:35 PM
Comment #116playing some nice stuff, just need a few more cracks
Mike's Iron Curtain
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:35 PM
Comment #117Is Luuk De Jong the weakest striker ever to play for Newcastle? Utter ponce.
Rainrix
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:36 PM
Comment #118Shock horror, santon looks miles better on his stronger side @_@
Douglas
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:37 PM
Comment #119Wonder wot the odds are that we go down next year
Blofal
Apr 5, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Comment #120Does anyone else think our midfield looks so much better with Gosling in it?