It’s good that Tim Krul has been able to stay fit this year, because our experienced back-up goalkeeper Rob Elliot has been out since the game at home to Chelsea on 6th December, when he injured his thigh muscle just before half time – and he is only now returning to full training.
Remy Cabella – back in training
That’s more than three months out with the injury, but that’s what you get when Elliot was played with a slight thigh injury before it went completely, and Newcastle have played players injured this season too many times with bad consequences.
Rolando Aarons is the other serious case, when he was played at Manchester City in late October while not fully recovered from a hamstring strain, and he is still not back in full training having suffered a few setbacks.
John Carver delivered some good news today for a change:
“What we need are a few days recovery,” “We’re down to the bare bones, especially defenders. We’ll give them a few days off, and then we’ll have a good seven or eight days to prepare for Everton.
“By the time we get to Everton we could have two or three players back.” “Remy Cabella’s looking like he could be back with us, Robbie Elliot could be back in the squad.”
“We could have one or two people back, which is good news, and Jack Colback, because he’s been suspended.”
We were hoping that Rolando Aarons would be returning to training this coming week but maybe not.
But having Cabella and Colback back for the game at Everton on Sunday is good news, and both are likely to start the game, with Rob Elliot finally back on the bench replacing Freddie Woodman, who turned 18 on Wednesday.
Local lad Jack Colback has served his two match ban, and he has been a big miss, and we are hoping that Massadio Haidara can also return from his knee injury, although both Ryan Taylor and Jonas can play at left-back in his absence.
And with Papiss Cisse likely to get a six or seven game ban today from the FA, Carver may try to find a place in the side for Ryan Taylor, because of his goal threat from free kicks.
We may even need him to score the winner again at the Stadium of Light next month. 😀
Newcastle need to find goals from somewhere in the next seven games, with 11 goal Papiss out suspended.
Comments welcome.
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19 comments so far
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Mar 7, 2015 at 9:04 AM
Comment #1“We’re down to the bare bones, especially defenders”
You think JC, but you had no problem with the club shipping out both Mbiwa and Santon while not replacing them!
This is why you’ll never get the supporters behind you (but like your predecessor I believe that’s the least of your concerns)
Reyantoon
Mar 7, 2015 at 9:05 AM
Comment #2Best case is to use one striker upfront, just like we used in the majority of the season.Arsenal usually use one striker,who supported by wingers in his side,and are successful most of the time.We have plenty good wingers as well.So he should go 4-2-3-1,Perez as the only hit man!
chasing_rabbits
Mar 7, 2015 at 9:19 AM
Comment #3He hasn’t got much choice but to play with 1 striker now. But Perez isn’t a target man like Cisse. And Riviere still hasn’t settled in properly. He needs more game time i reckon, but that’s being optimistic as he hasn’t showed many great signs so far. We are going to seriously struggle now to get goals. I had half my hopes pinned on de Jong, but now he’s out for the season I’m wondering where the goals are going to come from. If we lose at Everton then we could find ourselves 13th in 2 games time. You might think we were safe now, but anything can happen!
Blofal
Mar 7, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Comment #4Should have a decent team for Everton then..
Janmaat – Willo – Colo – Colback
———————-Abeid
—–Cabella – Sissoko – Ameobi
—————-Perez–Riviere
I realise that’s not a defensively strong midfield but it is offensively what I would like to see with Perez dropping deep.
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 7, 2015 at 9:47 AM
Comment #5chasing_rabbits – stick to PS4
Colback Gouffran Sissoko Aarons Ameobi Cabella have all scored this season
Haidara is the only defender not to have scored (even S.Taylor has a goal!)
(I deliberately left out Obertan btw)
spitfire_
Mar 7, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Comment #6“We’re down to the bare bones, especially defenders”?
As far as I remember, Carver was fine with our lack of transfers at January. Since then the only change at the back is Dummett injury… So one injury is the difference between “fine”and “bare bones”… What a team we are!!!
MrMojoRisin76
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:04 AM
Comment #7FA confirm 7 match ban for Cisse.It’s the only thing he got on target all game.
nut meg
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:08 AM
Comment #8breaking news…6 match ban for Evans.
Wellian
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Comment #9The club is sleepwalking to the Championship. History is repeating itself.
The next Mike Williamson
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:10 AM
Comment #10Krul
Janmaat Colo Williamson Haidara
Colback Abeid
Cabella Sissoko Aarons (Armstrong if not fit)
Perez
Thats a useful team. Very creative and attacking with enough strength in the middle.
Drop Obertan, Anita, Sammy, Gouffran, Ryan Taylor (&Williamson as soon as we have a replacement)
lochinvar
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:11 AM
Comment #11Thank you FA for proving me wrong and that that you do have the ability and impartiality to make the right decisions.
Evans six match ban should have been increased to seven because he denied the charges. That apart let’s just wait for the wringing of hands from Man Utd.
And Scoles……will he apologise for his inappropriate comments … perhaps Sky should sack him as he is clearly biased and not impartial in his commentary. That would allow him to go and manage at Oldham surrounded by Sports Direct tat. That would be justice.
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:12 AM
Comment #12http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31773054
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:22 AM
Comment #13As far as regards Spittinggate as its become known.
It would of been wrong for the FA to ban Cisse and not Evans in this situation, but i think this could of all been avoided had Cisse just walked away from Evans at the time !
@1: What is Carver supposed to do if players are Loaned out or sold ? He has no control or say in anything that Ashley or Lee Charnely arrange in that respect. This is , i think, why Pardew left! Carver just does what the Hierarchy says and does,nt create waves which is more than likely he will be appointed Head Coach permanently in the Summer.
God help us !
Reyantoon
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:29 AM
Comment #14Well that is disappointing on cisse,but Evans should have got 7 game ban as well for denying,6 plus 1 for denial..
If our interesting wingers,step up to the plate,we won’t get trouble scoring goals.
Infact it’s big opportunity for Reviere and Perez,plus Aarons still to come, so I felt positive regarding the final third.
I doubt it though if they step up under JC!
Offkey
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:39 AM
Comment #15The FA should have banned Evans for longer, he was the instigator and also denied it when it was plainly obvious…..showing no remorse unlike Cisse.
The FA is a joke and for both to be suspended for the same amount of time (+1 for cisse due to a previous ban) shows no judgement in the situation, just a blanket rule…..that is not justice
Offkey
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Comment #16I’m actually livid about this judgement…..
chasing_rabbits
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:45 AM
Comment #17Jeff
Other than Perez, nobody has scores more than 2 league goals. If we went back through all the games and took out Cisse’s goals, I wonder how many points we’d have. At least I can get Riviere to score on the PS4.
lesh
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:52 AM
Comment #18Jesper
You’re right about Carver and if he was happy with the squad in January, then he’s no room to cry now.
He’s paid to get the best out of the players he’s got and if they’re not up to standard, then it’s either the players ate poor or he’s not able to coach them to an acceptable standard.
So he either tells Carver that he needs players or he walks.
Now there’s an opportunity to say what needs to be said – face up to the reality of life under Ashley or admit he’s not up to the HC job.
lesh
Mar 7, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Comment #19* para 3…. tells Charnley (not Carver)