It’s do or die for Newcastle on Sunday, so we cannot hold back our best players in the final game of the season, and there’s some good news that Mike Williamson returns from suspension, and this may come as a surprise to some, but Mike can be a big match player for us, and he could come straight back into the side – and Mike should be motivated to do well in this game – which could be his last for the club.
Papiss Cisse – must start the game
Dutch midfielder Siem de Jong has also been training this week and he should also be available for the game as should 19 year-old winger Rolando Aarons.
Senegal striker Papiss Cisse is now fitter than he’s been for a long time, and is even running without a limp for the first time this season, and Papiss must start on Sunday in preference to Manu Riviere.
Papiss can score at any time – and we need goals to win this game, and Papiss has 11 Premier League goals in only 20 appearances for Newcastle this season.
The problem with Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons and Papiss Cisse is that they are all short of match practice, and it’s something John Carver has to decide – who to start on Sunday.
But John must make a bold team choice, and he’s told us a few times he’s bold – but he cannot be too conservative and keep all our best players on the bench on Sunday – we need them playing.
It’s good that these four can all play a part on Sunday, in what is Newcastle’s most important game for six years.
A win against West Ham at 5:00 pm on Sunday will see us safe in the Premier League .
Comments welcome.
109 comments so far
Laurent Robert 32
May 22, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment #1Shame we don’t have a star owner or manager.
dantoon85
May 22, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Comment #2Mclarens left Derby
Average_Contents
May 22, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Comment #3Honest john I’d suggest not holding your breath in anticipation of a call from your mate big mike.
On second thoughts….
lesh
May 22, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Comment #4What a snivelling git Carver’s shown himself to be. He’s a disgrace to Geordies the world over!
Laurent Robert 32
May 22, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Comment #5The sad thing is that you could actually see the headlines if we won on Sunday…
‘This win will ignite us for next season with John at the helm.’
…and the rest of the propaganda.
No.
ashleyout.com
WestOzMag
May 22, 2015 at 10:08 AM
Comment #6Can somebody please tell me who the star players have been this season. I certainly cant think of one.
toon1707
May 22, 2015 at 10:12 AM
Comment #7There have been no star players but I do think janmatt has had a decent season and that’s my choice for player of the season
lesh
May 22, 2015 at 10:16 AM
Comment #8If there is a god, please let there be some truth in this
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-owner-mike-ashley-9308049
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 10:19 AM
Comment #9WestOzMag @ 6
Perez
optimistic prime
May 22, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Comment #10Lesh
I read that earlier in hope.
mindshaft
May 22, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Comment #11We need to go all out to win this game and that means starting our best players whether they are fully fit or not, pointless having them on bench then bringing them on for last 20 mins when we are 2 or 3 nil down
However I expect Carver to name the same starting 11 as last weekend
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 10:31 AM
Comment #12Lesh @ 8
I believe one of the major reasons why Newcastle (together with Everton and Villa) have not been bought is the European Fair Play Rules. They have put off new owners as the EFPRs prevent or seriously curtail new owners from pumping their own money into the clubs. They can no longer do what the owners of Chelsea and Man City did and therefore can’t buy success. There has been a campaign in Europe to relax the rules and it looks like UEFA are responding.
There are more than enough rich individuals around to buy Newcastle but once purchased more money needs to be spent to get the club up to higher levels in order to compete with those at the top table.
lochinvar
May 22, 2015 at 10:34 AM
Comment #13We have to strip the veil from our eyes.
Ashley is ONLY using NUFC as a hoarding to hawk his Sports Dire empire to the world.
He doesn’t need to and nor are the channels to do it available to mass market advertise to the populace of China, Australia, USA , Europe and Scandinavia – where he has business interests.
The Premier League and Sky deliver a cost effective even profitable route to market for him as the global audience for Premier League football is insatiable. Particularly in the Far East where betting goes alongside watching football. If you doubt me check why there are so many Betting Companies advertising in Chinese at Prem League Grounds alongside Sports Direct and / or other Sports and Outdoor Companies with business interests outside the UK.
If we stay up he’s probably bought time to review his options.
If we go down he looses the impact of his billboards and might bail out – don’t put it past him to sell us and then move on like a locust to Villa or West Ham or other clubs he could buy for pocket money.
Be under no illusion – its only about the money.
Blackley and Brownlie
May 22, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Comment #14Surely Ash is ready to sell at a knock down price even if we were to stay up. Blackley has had the feeling in his water for the past week or so that something’s going to give at Gallowgate. Still, the hard part will be to find a buyer. Wouldn’t it be a nice gesture if Ash would sell the club to the fans if they could raise say £50m. Of course, he’d have to see the ghost of Christmas past.
tequilamag
May 22, 2015 at 10:40 AM
Comment #15Blackley why would Ash sell at a knock down price?
He is a man of mystery but the one thing we all know is he loves money.
And for those that think relegation will cause him to sell are living in dreamland. If anything it will only delay a sale.
lochinvar
May 22, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Comment #16Previous topic: ” I expect Mike to call me before the game ”
Clearly John there’s more to this than meets the eye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JIbFLH7FFY
WestOzMag
May 22, 2015 at 10:47 AM
Comment #17Slank
perez is great albeit his first season and played out of position has showed good potential. I feel sorry for him having to do it all alone up front. Hes not that type of player. We’d know that though not carver
geordiemark
May 22, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Comment #18everyone who Ashley has employed at st james has to go simple as that and that includes Ashley himself its the only cure we have left now doesn’t matter if were relegated or not
BandB
May 22, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Comment #19Ashley doesn’t own Sports Direct in the way he owns us.
He has shareholders to keep happy.
There is evidence that his adventures here and at Rangers have been toxic for SD name recognition.
And the old chestnut that there is no such thing as bad publicity is just that….an uninformed assertion.
How can people say “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” in one breath and moan about the desperate spin of “bullish*t Bishop” the next?
I really don’t think the big three at SJP are quietly working through their summer transfer targets at the moment.
Something much bigger is up.
Stuff that isn’t in the FIFA game engine.
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 10:54 AM
Comment #20Blackley and Brownlie
Even if the club was sold to the fans for £50M how would those same fans pay the club’s wages which I think are in the order of £75M ?
How would those same fans also pay for all the other expenses ?
And how much would those same fans have to stump up to buy new players even if they could all agree on who they want which is definitely not a given ?
geordiemark
May 22, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Comment #21BandB
aye he owns 52% of shitty dire direct doesn’t he so how come the company doesn’t pay for advertising because he doesn’t own it outright does he think theres some dodgy goings on here but don’t worry mike the media and politicians are onto you but then again money pays for protection doesn’t it but money cant protect you from the whole of Tyneside running after you though can it
Blackley and Brownlie
May 22, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #22Tequilamag
I’ve said for a long time that Ash would find buyers hard to come buy – even if we were the only club available.
Ash likes being the big fish but I cannot see him having the stomach for this much longer – at least not at NUFC.
A good investor knows when to cut his losses and move on to the next deal.
If this is all about SD, it’s backfiring. The brand’s association with NUFC is becoming toxic.
I’ve always said the fans should sully the name of SD rather than boycott games. There are loads of ways of protesting against SD other than cutting our noses off. Sports Direct is f’ing sh1te and all that. Better that Ash boycotts.
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #23BandB
There is no evidence that the SD brand has been affected by adverse publicity of Newcastle United and Glasgow Rangers if the success or failure measure of a Plc is its share price and profits.
catchy in norway
May 22, 2015 at 10:58 AM
Comment #24parasite
(?pær??sa?t)
n
1. (Biology) an animal or plant that lives in or on another (the host) from which it obtains nourishment. The host does not benefit from the association and is often harmed by it
2. a person who habitually lives at the expense of others; sponger
take your pick, we have a few at the club
BandB
May 22, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Comment #25Slank,
I was talking specifically about name recognition, which has bombed in the last six months, particularly among football fans, a key market.
The buzz metric is down to -19.
You may not accept that as a serious source of potential concern among people with their money is SD, but you can bet they do.
Blackley and Brownlie
May 22, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #26Slank
The clubs biggest source of revenue is tv money. That should cover wages.
I’ve always said the club needs to make a profit to be able to buy players.
The fans would find out that it’s not easy running a successful football club. I asked yesterday whether any would buy champions league standard players who show case their talent for 12 months and then get off to a top club? This is the sort of hard question that fans would be faced with.
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #27Blackley and Brownlie
Sports Direct has nearly 1000 shops across Europe and is about to branch out in Asia and Australia. Newcastle fans have absolutely no adverse impact on SD.
Have you been to a Sports Direct shop outside of the North East or the UK ? If you have you will realise why its customers couldn’t give a toss about Newcastle United.
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 11:13 AM
Comment #28catchy in norway
‘ parasite ‘
‘…a person who habitually lives at the expense of others; sponger..’
You do realise that the North East is the poorest part of England and has more people unemployed, receiving benefits and employed by the government than any other region in the country ?
It has been said before that if it wasn’t for the wealth generated in the South by those terrible ‘Cockneys’ the North East would be on its knees as the region doesn’t generate enough to pay for itself.
toon kk
May 22, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Comment #29I’m looking forward to relegation, this season has been coming for a few years now, although most fans actually thought we had a top eight side. MA actually works his magic on gullible fans who are happy watching dross.
When we’re back in the Championship at least SD won’t get the same free world wide advertising via Nufc.
we’ll be able to compete for top eight. There’s absolutely no point playing in the premier league if the club has no ambition.
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 11:17 AM
Comment #30Blackley and Brownlie @ 26
I think it’s admirable that fans should own the club they support.
However, the financial demands of the Premiership would scupper this dream, which is what it is.
Pokat
May 22, 2015 at 11:20 AM
Comment #31Slank @ 23 the article at
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/05/06/sports-direct-allegations-leading-shopper-snubs-hi/
Suggests you are talking from the top of your head rather from tangible information. Not trying to pick you out but you also said
“Even if the club was sold to the fans for £50M how would those same fans pay the club’s wages which I think are in the order of £75M ?
How would those same fans also pay for all the other expenses ?
And how much would those same fans have to stump up to buy new players even if they could all agree on who they want which is definitely not a given ?”
I believe the answer to you questions would be that the fortunate fan consortium concerned would utilise its,appointed professionals to manage the clubs existing income streams to continue business. I thought that was pretty obvious.
Pokat
May 22, 2015 at 11:22 AM
Comment #32Not saying that they’d be any more successful than any other club with a less than fabulously wealthy owner of course.
BandB
May 22, 2015 at 11:25 AM
Comment #33Slank
I think your post @28 sums up your position very nicely.
You haven’t a lot of time for the old folks back home, have you?
dave 1961
May 22, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Comment #34Blackley
You are wrong we should attack from all angles a empty seats cheapen the brand and makes it less effective, if we go down he will put the club up for sale if it looks like we will stay down he will sell if it looks like we will come straight back up he will do what he did last time. he has a plan”B” or should i say “V” and villa are closer to Ashbrook.
Slank
May 22, 2015 at 11:39 AM
Comment #35Pokat
The graph in the article covers the period 1st April to the 31 April.
Now if the graph covered 12 months or the financial reporting period of SD that would be more interesting and a greater reflection on the buying habits of SD customers. As it is it doesn’t and therefore its totally unreliable as evidence of the trials and tribulations of Newcastle United and Glasgow Rangers on the success of SD.
Pokat
May 22, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Comment #36And I was going to say that your post about the north eastern parasites, apart from being highly insulting, is also an unhealthy mix of old data, political propaganda and southern city myth.
I only have to do a small bit of googling to find that the bit about the north east being dependent and sponging is tosh. it’s a minefield of political bitching of course, but the overall consensus is that it’s spearheading technology entrepeneurship, and creating wealth siphoned by government into southern coffers. Of course it’s unemployment is high, relatively that is, but it always has been, coupled with the exploitative way that manpower and low wages have been leveraged traditionally in the region for the benefit of the UK governments economy. Without the sheer industry and hard work of the north east the uk as a whole would suffer greatly. That’s a fact not an opinion.
Ron Knee
May 22, 2015 at 11:42 AM
Comment #37toon KK
Right on!
Pokat
May 22, 2015 at 11:45 AM
Comment #38Slank like all polls the results are snapshots in given time slots that are like a thermometer measuring the current temperature. it’s designed to be a pulse taker. It proves that the UK WIDE opinion of SD has suffered due to recent external events, including but not limited to the documentary, and the rangers and nufc dealings the public and especially the football interested public have become affected by. Nationally, they’re not necessarily worried about nufc, but the image such dealings within a sporting institution has projected on the sport.
one fine day
May 22, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Comment #39Dave 1961@34
Whilst I could not think of a bunch more deserving of Ashley’s dispicable ways than villa,I do think unlike us these clubs now all have the benefit of the coverage given to ash and what he will do to the things/ones you love so I think he will struggle to get a foothold in the premier league with anyone else .
Much was said about the differing way rangers stood up to him in a way we only dream off but then had we known 8 years ago what is now public knowledge I am sure he wouldn’t have had such an easy run.
Janmatt would be my one standout in this shocker of a season
Pokat
May 22, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Comment #40Plus you’re saying that data generated by an analytical company with the reputation that yougov has cannot be trusted. Hm.