It looks like Jack Colback – probably our best player so far this season – is doubtful for the game at Southampton on Saturday, after he came back crocked from the England training camp – and that’s always (very) frustrating for clubs – when their players get injured while on International duty.
Jack Colback – crocked while training in England squad
And Jack went to the England camp fit and well and came back injured, and almost the opposite has happened with Cheick Tiote, who has been out injured since the game at Sheffield Wednesday.
He joined up with the Ivory Coast squad for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers last week supposedly injured, but actually started the game in the 2-1 win over Sierra Leone on Saturday night in the qualifier for the African Cup of Nations, and played the whole game.
Now the Ivorians play their next African Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon on Wednesday night, so we have to hope he can come through that game unscathed – but we still think it would be a push to start him at St. Mary’s Stadium.
There was a lot of speculation that Cheick wanted to leave the club in the summer, but according to manager Alan Pardew he didn’t see any of that coming from Cheick himself:
“Not really, not that I’ve seen.” “We’ve all speculation about our players, we’ve had it in the past.”
“Some of it carries weight – there were a lot of rumors last season with Yohan Cabaye and PSG, and it happened, so I’m always open minded about it.”
It looks like Siem de Jong is out for up to four months with his right thigh injury, and Jack Colback will be missing with a calf injury for the Saints game, but we must take something out of this game.
If we lose, it will be just 2 points from the first 4 games, and after what happened this year in the second half of last season, a disastrous slump, the manager must get off to a decent start to the season and 2 points from 4 games would not be good.
What do you think?
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13 comments so far
Laurent Robert 32
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:02 AM
Comment #1Open minded? Alan, you actively advertise that the players are available. Complicit in Ashley’s whole money making marketing scheme.
gazza85
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:05 AM
Comment #2Repost.
Calls for Pardew out are a waste of time tbh (not that I disagree he needs to go).
We need Ashley to leave or he’ll just replace Pardew with more of the same, Pulis!? Bruce!? Moyes!? Names who don’t exactly excite very much plus in all honesty none of whom would probably want to work under Ashley.
We’ll end up with a dinosaur looking for one last payday or a lower league manager who can’t believe his luck (ala Pardew himself or Hockaday at Leeds).
Ethiotoon
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:06 AM
Comment #3krul
janmaat. William. coloccini. haidara
sissoko. tiote. Anita. Goufran
cabella
Reviere
sub:Elliot, Aarons, Perez,s.tay,obert,cisse,abeid
Laurent Robert 32
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:09 AM
Comment #4Gazza, ideally that is right, but we also need a buyer. Pardew needs removing immediately. Whoever comes in can’t do much worse.
firebug666
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:17 AM
Comment #5Repost
It’s just amazing how well these players do for their respective countries, but show us little under the inept one.
Surly the manager (and I use the word lightly) can see that if the players are given their proper roles on the pitch they will settle more quickly, and produce the kind of football we should be playing.
More to the point, Ashley should be able to see that the inept one is out of his depth at Newcastle and needs to be replaced.
The other thing is, normally when stuff is written about the club, players or manager that is on the less positive side, the club pounce to rebuff the stories and ban the author and his employers from the club. There has been a lot written over the last two weeks but nothing from the club itself.
The inept one as expected has gone into hiding after his transfer deadline day comments. ” We have our targets it just about the finance”, ” If we ship anyone out we will replace them”, and is unlikely to surface before his pre-match interview for Southampton.
Maybe he is supervising the builders who are creating an 18 foot wall around his house.
beermonkey
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Comment #6gazza85
pulis moyes and bruce would be a step up on pardew
ok those 3 may not be the best but they know how to organise team,
don’t think pulis or moyes would come due to the way we buy and sell players
bruce on the on the other hand prob would come
at least you know he would try and understands the history of the club
i don’t buy into the 2 game 5 or 10 game thing for pards so many reason to get shot yet he is still here xmas is his deadline if were in the shit then he will go
TH0MPA97
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Comment #7Eithotoon
Yh the 4411 formation wud probley work. But i fear cabella wud b marked out of the game by sciderlin. I wud go with
Krul
Janmatt, colo, willo, haidara
colback, tiote, anita [if tiote nd colback r fit]
Sissoko, reviere or chucky, cabella
Subs: elliot, saylor, abeid, arma, arrons, perez, reviere or chucky
Thump
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Comment #8@gazza: I agree, but the one we might be able to affect is Pardew. We can only wait in hope that somebody comes along and gives the Fat Man what he wants.
firebug666
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:29 AM
Comment #9Thing is under the inept one, we know what we are going to get. The fans can name the team that will play form the players available, the formation we will use (always the same 4-2-3-1) and how the team will set up tactically, (defensively).
This just shows how single minded the inept one is, he has no clue how to change things and be a surprise to the opposition.
If the fans can predict the team etc and even who the subs will be, how easy is it for opposition managers to set up their teams against up.
The inept one has no clue, or surprises up his sleeve we have exactly the same every week and have become more predictable than the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.
catchy in norway
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:34 AM
Comment #10it’s worth repeating , and it proves the football has not changed and never will under pardew , regardless of who he has playing for him
catchy in norway // Sep 8, 2014 at 6:36 AM
some stats from our 5th place season , grim reading really
Now, before Newcastle fans jump on this quicker than a sacking in the Chelsea boardroom just because it has ‘weaknesses’ in the title, the article is not aimed at slashing any Newcastle United throats or criticising anything that has gone on this season.
The aim here, was to highlight statistical statements about Newcastle United in the Premier League this season and look at what needs strengthening/improving to consolidate on the season gone and continue being a force in the English top flight.
There is absolutely no doubt that this season has been nothing short of amazing for us Newcastle fans, but every team has its shortcomings. NUFC_Stats looked at some statistical statements from this season and some of the things Newcastle United can be doing to get a little closer to that elusive Champion’s League spot in the next campaign.
Newcastle finished 14th for shots per game (12.9) & 13th for shots on target (4.1)
The last article highlighted the difference between last season’s shots, assists, chances created and chance conversion rate and it was shown that although Newcastle United had less shots at goal, their chance conversion was slightly better. That is down really to the composure of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
Having said that, to finish above only 6 teams in terms of having shots this season is surprising and shows once again how important it has been for us to have quality up top. Even when having shots though, 12 teams have been superior than Newcastle United for hitting the target.
It just goes to show the margins in the Premier League – without a good frontline, these kind of statistics could see a club languishing dangerously close to the bottom, but real ability and finishing prowess makes a huge difference. Newcastle have managed the 6th most open play goals this season (37) and the 4th most from fast breaks (4).
It’s not just about scoring goals though – Newcastle United have been immensely strong at the back at times this season which is vitally important in our division and they finished 12th for the number shots conceded per game on average (14.3).
Only Swansea & Aston Villa scored less from set plays (8)
Alan Pardew himself recently paid tribute to this one saying that he has been disappointed with the threat Newcastle United have had from these situations. And, it is quite an eyebrow-lifting stat when you consider the ability Newcastle’s attacking line have had this season and the quality of set piece takers they now have in their ranks.
But, when you see City (19) & Man Utd (18) as 2 of the top 3 for goals from set plays, then the benefits of having that in your locker as a team in the Premier League are quite prominent.
Only Fulham & Blackburn produced less crosses (722)
Some may argue that this isn’t a weakness of Newcastle United’s play, certainly in the latter of this campaign, and that it is a by-product of the switch to the more attacking 4-3-3 formation that was implemented.
However, crossing is still an integral part of the modern game, especially with players like Ba & Cisse who feed off good service as they have shown on countless occasions this season. And, it hasn’t just been the number of crosses that Newcastle have produced that has been of slight concern, but their quality at times.
The fact that Yohan Cabaye, as a central attacking player, has produced more crosses than any other Newcastle United player in the Premier League this season, tells its own story!
Only Swansea (22%) had less possession in the opponents half – 26%
A somewhat ironic statement this one, considering the result and performance of both teams at the Liberty Stadium this season, but again, for a team with European aspirations, Newcastle need to take more control of games, keeping the ball for longer periods and knowing how & when to change the tempo of play to suit themselves.
Having a low percentage of play in the opposition’s half means that when chances arise, you have to take them. The conversion rate numbers compared to number of shots in general have shown that this has been Newcastle’s strength this season. However, next season, when teams know more about how Newcastle play, particularly individuals like Papiss Cisse, it will become more difficult a task to score the quantity of goals that were notched this time around.
Furthermore, Newcastle feature 12th for average possession (46.8%), 14th for short passes per game (331) and 12th for pass success rate (76.7%) – all areas that will have no doubt been highlighted by Newcastle’s backroom staff and looking to work on as we speak.
Only Norwich produced a lower percentage of shots from the right hand side – 14%
It probably won’t surprise too many people this one – Newcastle have been inconsistent with their choice of personnel on the right hand side this season and even when Hatem Ben Arfa’s selection became a certainty, he wasn’t going to change that being a left footer who likes to cut inside.
Right-foot dominant teams will always produce their shots from central and left areas more so than their right and Newcastle United are exactly that, with Hatem Ben Arfa & Tim Krul the only natural left footers in the starting X1 this season.
Ironically, Newcastle have actually conceded the lowest percentage of shots in the entire top flight from the right hand side this season; just 13% coming from that side.
Newcastle United were 1 of just 3 sides (Wolves & Bolton) in the entire division not to lose 1-0.
This stat was touched on in the last article – when Newcastle have lost games, particularly away from home this season, they have done it in style! The mentality of the team definitely has question marks hanging over it, as going a goal down has appeared to have a very detrimental effect on the team outlook.
Alan Pardew is still searching for his first win as Newcastle manager after going behind and when conceding more than 1 goal in the Premier League this season, only Spurs gained fewer points (2). Newcastle also lost the most games in the division (4) by conceding 4+ goals and were 1 of just 4 teams failing to score 4+ in a game.
Again, this is not a swipe at any of the Newcastle team or management – simply a highlight of some of the areas that Newcastle United need to strengthen to make sure they progress on their terrific successes this season.
The question is how? The priority at this stage is definitely going to be to hang onto the ones that helped make this season so vibrant, but if that fails, then replacing them will take priority.
If not though, more recruitment of the same nature as the superstars that have walked through the door of late may well just lift the Mags to real stardom next season!
213catchy in norway // Sep 8, 2014 at 6:38 AM
for you’s who think I may have made them up
http://eplindex.com/14847/newcastle-united-201112-statistical-weaknesses.html
GatesheadMag
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:35 AM
Comment #11Really fear for us away to southampton on saturday. Pardew said we struggle to compete on financial terms with them, and we all know we cant compete football wise.
Can see us losing 3-0
jimmysmith
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Comment #12Obviously still dirty about not replacing Ben Arfa and Mbiwa, although I was not a great fan of either, but to sell and then not replace does grate as a borderline big f@ck you from old beer bottle pockets to the faithful. Nonetheless, still very happy to have Colback, Cabella, Perez, Rivierre, Janmaat, De Jong on board and of course to see Aaron’s emerge, to add to some very good players already on the books. It was a disappointing end to the window of course and I concede Mike might just be the tight egregious c@nt that many claim and Pards bog ordinary, but there’s still plenty of interest about when the lads run out at St James’. So f@ck em’, Haway the Lads, forever and always.
banjax
Sep 8, 2014 at 9:59 AM
Comment #13The owners of Newcastle United need to act quickly after Southampton to change managers if we lose on Saturday because apart from Man City the next three games were definitely winnable . Better still, maybe some rich bastard can buy our club, tell us what is going on, have ambition and buy good quality players to match the supporters of our great club !