Steve McClaren has announced the Newcastle team for today´s tough game at the Etihad Stadium and there´s one change with Yoan Gouffran coming in for the injured Jack Colback in defensive midfield and the team will continue to play in a 4-4-2 formation.
Maybe if we had taken Jack off when he first was injured last week he would have been available today?
Newcastle (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Kevin Mbabu; Moussa Sissoko, Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran, Georginio Wijnaldum; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Jamaal Lascelles, Mike Williamson, Cheick Tiote, Siem de Jong, Florian Thauvin, Papiss Cisse
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
It´s an unusual position for Gouffran, but we assume he must have looked good in training playing in that position – but he has to have a good game today.
No doubt it´s an excellent chance for the Frenchman to show head coach Steve McClaren what he can do for the side.
The way the team is set out Sissoko could be playing in defensive midfield and Gouffran on the wing – we´ll see who´s playing where when the game kicks off.
It’s good to see Cisse and Tiote back in the squad and both could possibly get some playing time – with Cheick maybe coming in for Gouffran at some stage.
If we are to do well today both Mitrovic and Perez up front will have to be a threat to the City defense, but they looked excellent together last week against Chelsea.
This is some of what McClaren had to say yesterday about this game:
“Consistency now, that’s what were after,” said the Magpies’ head coach.
“That kind of performance we saw last week, particularly in the first half, is what we are after and now it’s about maintaining that.
“We’ve been inconsistent from the start of the season but we had a good performance last weekend and hopefully we will tomorrow as well.
“The first eight games were always going to be tough when you’re playing against last season’s top teams. After seven games we are starting to get a little closer to our starting XI, our system of play and our style.”
Newcastle will have to play really well today to get something out of this game.
Three in five fans think we will lose this game which is a little more positive than the poll for the game against Chelsea last Saturday when three in four fans though we would lose the game.
Comments welcome.
405 comments so far
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:04 PM
Comment #1Interesting to see Gouffran getting a game. I have been a fan of his, think the lad works very hard, seems to know where the goal is too when he is able to get in the box.
People might complain but what the other options? Thauvin? Obertan, hardly inspiring.
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:04 PM
Comment #2Gouffran has a good engine and will stand strong. Not many options so okay with that line up
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:04 PM
Comment #3I always try to sit to wait and see, not pre-empt our performances, but Gouffran, presumably at CM, is depressing. Hope he somehow has a cracker, just can’t see it in my wildest dreams.
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:05 PM
Comment #4Ruddy
Who knows, the 2 CBs for man city are far from fantastic, we have a chance if we go for them and don’t just sit back.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:05 PM
Comment #5JB
You mean he’ll stand strong like this?
https://vine.co/v/OQb92WTIhih
Toonfan8
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:05 PM
Comment #6I am waiting for the game, Goofy isnt really a CM, but hope he will play there good…nice to see Perez and Mitro upfront and Mbabu on the LB position…we definetely need a CM, strong one…
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:06 PM
Comment #7Hail
what other options do we have
Toonfan8
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:06 PM
Comment #8and what the Man city line up is?
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:07 PM
Comment #9Jack
Agree mate, obviously some big money players have a great impact. Ronaldo for example at madrid.
But look at Bale, has his 86mil move really been worth it? Plenty in Spain who rate Isco much higher.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:07 PM
Comment #10We’re talking about City missing key players and that we have a chance and we’re putting players like Gouffran in the starting line up?
Bloody howay lads, Gouffran is shite, no two ways about it.
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Comment #11Hail
You pull out on five second clip to prove a point!
Interesting
SUTTY1978
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Comment #12Gouffy did alright against Northampton, so city should be a walk in the park!
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Comment #13Hail
I think gouffran will be on the left.
What else is there? Obertan or Thauvin.
firebug666
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:09 PM
Comment #14#MCFC XI vs Newcastle: Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:09 PM
Comment #15Ruddy
I disagree, I think gouffran is a decent finisher, not a star player but he’s alright.
We are limited for options. Shows how much McClaren has had a say on transfers when his star signing Thauvin can’t get in the team.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:10 PM
Comment #16JB
Thauvin out wide and either Sissoko (my preference) or Wiji central. Not a half-arsed ST come LW come LWB turned CM.
Maybe we’ll go 4-3-3 with Perez and Goffran out wide, although having Perez and Mitrovic nearby centrally is key.
Foxworth
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:11 PM
Comment #17It’ll be
Sissoko – Anita – Winji – Gouff
Madness to think Gouff will be CM.
Hope Mitro breaks his duck today!
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:11 PM
Comment #18Hmmm Gouffran. Not sure on that one. Much prefer the line up I posted on my site. But I guess he wants to go for a similar team rather than change things up. Not a terrible line up to be honest. Hope Gouffy plays well.
Like Transfer Sage said, he does know where the goal is, would be great to see him nick one today. And he does have one of my favourite ever Newcastle chants…
On 100% for my tips so far. Yes so there has only been 2… But 3 more posted today if anybody likes a flutter http://forevernewcastle.com/31015-go-for-the-hat-trick/
Toonfan8
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Comment #19now we know selling Abeid was a mistake and what is the point in having 50-60k/week Tiote in the squad if Goofy is ahead him in the squad…
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:13 PM
Comment #20Hail
I don’t think I’ve seen sissoko have a good game out wide ever, very poor there for me.
As for thauvin, I’ve not seen a lot of him but doesn’t excite me in the slightest.
The less said about Obertan the better. Somebody needs to sit him down with the video of him flying past people at Bordeux and ask him why he doesn’t even try that anymore. At least if he kept failing doing that I’d appreciate that he tried something.
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:13 PM
Comment #21Hail
Sissoko’s will be central with Gouffran out wide. Thauvin. Shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting 11 right now
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:13 PM
Comment #22Sage
Decent finisher? 12 goals in 88 games would beg to differ. Just because our options are crap doesn’t make Gouffran less crap.
Yes, his presence in our side is demonstrative of how rubbish our squad is. Him being our best option doesn’t suddenly make him a good player – or even an alright player. He’s shite. He’s just not as shite as our other options.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:13 PM
Comment #23JB
That’s just one instance, he’s been half-hearted for a long time and even when he did bother he was a disaster on the edge of our box for a string of games in his last run in the team. If he can make a fist of this and see today as a fresh start than great, I just have my well founded doubts.
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:14 PM
Comment #24Foxworth,
Gouff has played in the CM every game he has played under McClaren
JDdubai
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:15 PM
Comment #25Gouff will be CM today, i remember McClaren using him there pre-season and since then.
City’s front 4 look terrifying..
catchy in norway
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:15 PM
Comment #26Goofy would not be any where near my team , esp in that position , he hides in games
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:16 PM
Comment #27Toonfan,
Think Tiote is coming off the back of an injury. I’m sure he is ahead of Gouff. It’s actually refreshing to see a manager playing someone who is fit rather than letting the returning player pick up a more serious injury
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:17 PM
Comment #28Hail
I don’t rate him to highly myself, but given the other options we have, he’s the best of a bad lot, it goes to show just how poor the depth of our squad truly is.
It’s also a kick in the teeth for Carr as his star player, one he’s chased for years can’t get into the team as he’s so poor
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:17 PM
Comment #29with Goufy there dear lord :-/
Terry
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:18 PM
Comment #30Whatever chance we had has just gone with the inclusion of gouffran.One of the laziest I’ve seen.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:19 PM
Comment #31Thauvin is just a younger Cabella. Full of ability, but is weak and has no physical presence and is incapable of tracking back. Absolutely no point to him.
Why do we even bother with these types of players? Bloody ninnies who do nothing but dance on the ball, can’t beat their full back and offer nothing going back?
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:19 PM
Comment #32If gouffy plays central midfield it is a total waste mind, I’ll agree with you all there.
Ruddy
I think gouff is a good finisher, stand by that comment. He’s never had a run as a striker so that record is alright. I’d also say that when you play in a team who keeps everyone behind the ball you won’t have a good goal record.
Ba only got goals when he was up top with shola or cisse, when alone he was as isolated as anyone else.
Hail Wor Ashley
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:19 PM
Comment #33Thauvin is poor so far and I don’t think he’ll cut it in the long run, but he’s still a bit of an unknown quantity, there’s still potential for improvement, Gouffran has been rubbish for a long time. If he is to be on the LW, when did he last provide anything from out there?
Needs to remember what got some calling him Gouffran-ran-ran in his first 6 months here! Probably why he’s in there as he may be showing that appetite again. Hope so.
Shadow_Shearer
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Comment #34I see goufran is the talk of the toon line up!
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Comment #35Ruddy,
Whilst Cabella and Thauvin are similar in stature they are different styles of player. Thauvin is more of an out and out winger whilst Cabella is probably better as an inside forward or Number 10.
I think the axe is being swung a bit too early on Thauvin. Let’s see how it goes. Not a promising start so far mind
Rotonda heights
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Comment #36Before Mag 52 start his Pardew hero worship and love in again, ask yourself why with arguably better players he never played that way with us, apart from 2 x 6 match spells in his second and final seasons, nearly 2 years apart, when we played 433.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Comment #37Sage
Stand by it all you want, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that it’s true. The guy played solely up front for Bordeaux and his record in a considerably worse league does not set the world alight so I’ll take facts over opinions every day of the week mate.
Wherever Ba has gone his record has followed him – he’s a good finisher. Good finishers get goals – Gouffran doesn’t get goals.
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:22 PM
Comment #38Ruddy
I’d agree on your Thauvin comment from what I’ve seen. i think cabella offered more, still not enough mind.
For all ben arfa has his problems, he was a hell of a lot better than the wide players we have replaced him with. He had strength, amazing acceleration to beat his man and could score goals.
chicousa
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:22 PM
Comment #39Oh my….Having Gouffran at CM is like giving City a 12th man! He gives up the ball so easily and so frequently, that he might as well just pass it to Arguello straight away!
Jib
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:23 PM
Comment #40Toonfan8
Try singing this :-
Whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge whinge
To the tune of “All creatures great and small”