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
Shadow_Shearer
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:24 PM
Comment #41Personally I see SM tactics in this game to be defend the wings, sissoko & gouffy drop off to help the wing backs. & attack through the centre. That’s why we have two up front, & wijnaldum in a central role. I reckon it’s the right thing to do
Rotonda heights
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:24 PM
Comment #42toonfan8
absolute insanity selling abeid and kemen. Colback isn’t really top drawer, tiote looks finished and don’t even get me started on playing goofy who was a half decent striker, but never a CM.
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:24 PM
Comment #43Tinman
I agree it’s early on in his career here but some players just have that look where you think, yeh he’ll be good, or I can’t see him making it….shame it’s the latter from what I’ve seen.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:25 PM
Comment #44So without Colback who is tracking Silva? Didn’t think so…
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:26 PM
Comment #45rotonda
I never got why we sold abeid and kemen but chose to keep players like obertan.
The whole club is a disgrace really. top to bottom.
Can’t wait until this cycle is over and we can get our club back again.
Jib
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:27 PM
Comment #46Chicousa
Gouffran does not give the ball up easily.
Which Arguello do you mean the boxer or the tenis player ?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:27 PM
Comment #47I think Gouffran might be back in his baby sitting role on the left wing to protect Mbabu
Its a strange one if he plays the Colback role I honestly think we will line up with Sissoko in the middle we need a big performance from him no matter where he plays
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:28 PM
Comment #48Transfer,
Well when his first touch was to skip past Shaw I thought hold on, here we go. But he has faded since then. A star performance in the league cup isn’t going to win too many plaudits. Some of these French boys just don’t show the passion and desire
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:28 PM
Comment #49Ruddy
Fair enough, I just think gouffran has a knack for finding the goal when he plays regularly and gets a chance.
the broons
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:28 PM
Comment #50Gouffran in centre mid! *huge sigh*
Jib
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:30 PM
Comment #51Rotonda heights
and don’t even get me started on playing goofy
or what
will you stamp your little foot and thcream and thcream and thcream til you go blue in the face ?
toonking
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:31 PM
Comment #52ruddy
it’s not as hard to aswer as you’d think.
at palace he’s got the pace, here he didn’t other than obatan and throught a lucky gouffran injury arrons although arrons soon go injured.
We had to play cisse statue all the time as well because he was the only goal scoring striker we had most of the time, perez was a newbie, rivere is like another shola whilst remy and ba both got sold.
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:32 PM
Comment #53If the reports are true that Tiote is now fit this is a kick in the teeth for the lad.
Think today we are going with a midfield five with
Perez, Sissoko, Winni, Anita, Gouffran
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:32 PM
Comment #54Tinman
For me it’s not just the french lads who lack passion and desire, it’s quite a lot of them. I wish they all had the attitude of Perez. Every time he steps on the pitch you can see he wants to enjoy himself but it means the world to him.
Yes the club set up isn’t conductive for success but these players should be putting a lot more effort in to improving themselves and wanting to win games. Too many are just happy to sit collecting wages.
I think the manager is important but when any good pros talk about playing they always say its leadership on the pitch and adjusting to game situations that is important. A manager can only do so much.
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:32 PM
Comment #55I’m off to watch the game folks. Enjoy. See you later!
toonking
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM
Comment #56If our squad is as good as you think ruddy why the hell is goffran coming in for colback?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM
Comment #57Cabs with a goal and an assist for Palace today, pulling the strings in the middle of the park and an all-round good performance from Pards’ Palace side.
*Sigh*
lochinvar
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM
Comment #58100,000 Scots trying to get into SJP or at least surround it with a fevour that we miss ( at the moment )
Imagine that passion converted to a 100,000 NUFC fans swamping the town for a winter nights game under floodlights against Barcelona in the Champions League
Stuff dreams are made of – oh yes I am dreaming, time to wake up !
Crow59
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM
Comment #59Paul meson just made a good point on SSN, hard work doesn’t win you football matches in the premier league. For me goofy has the work rate but that is it, it takes something special to win especially at city away.
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM
Comment #60jack
He’s not going to be match fit though, be a huge game to start him in. He’s not even made the bench before today so he can’t be 100%`
Dennis Twice
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM
Comment #61Attack Toon attack, attack!
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Comment #62Toonking
Where have I said that I think our squad is good? In fact, I am pretty sure I’ve said exactly the opposite to that.
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Comment #63@Transfer
Sorry no time to reply.
Can Steve Black help give some of these boys an attitude adjustment?
Having players like Mitrovic, Perez, Janmaat and Wijnaldum, who leave it all out there can only be beneficial.
Sissoko is the prime offender for me, but like you say there are otheres. Just take a look at the captain on occasion
Jib
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Comment #64Crystal Palace 3rd place
Where’s Catchy when you feel the need to take the piss out of someone ?
SuperShearer
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Comment #65Anyone got a working link to the game?
Transfer Sage
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:34 PM
Comment #66crow59
I’d disagree with Merson, hard work does win you games, but you need the balance.
Can’t just be hard work and can’t just be skill, you need the right amount of each, otherwise you will get no where.
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:35 PM
Comment #67@lochinvar
Stop it. 😉
chicousa
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:35 PM
Comment #68Jib
Aye I mangled the spelling of Aguero’s name, you got me there! But as for Gouffran giving up the ball easily, go back and watch any game he has played in over the last couple seasons! He is terrible!
JackButler
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Comment #69Sage
Possibly, but we could get a good hour out of him If he’s fit, but if we play with a five in the middle with Perez and Gouffran out wide I think it’s about the best we can hope for
catchy in norway
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:37 PM
Comment #70jib I’m right here,
wait until Pardew the ego turns up;)
Jib
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:37 PM
Comment #71Crow59
Paul Merson knows nowt , that is precisely how West Ham got their win at the Etihad by working their socks off.
Shadow_Shearer
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:37 PM
Comment #72Is aguero not just back from injury. So is silva. Hopefully they both will not be fully fit
Whumpie
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:38 PM
Comment #73I see the logic. In Goofs we have a player with a great engine and brilliant work ethic but who hasn’t had the end product on the wing in terms of crosses. Putting him in the middle as the central attacker alongside Anita as defensive midfield makes some sense. Anita gives us the pass option and Goofs the charge forward option.
Could work.
boater
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:42 PM
Comment #74The points differential between Gouffran playing and not last season is considerable- also we conceded 5 times after he came on as a late sub: four of those down his flank and 3times directly after misplaced passes/ not holding the ball up by him. Obertan may fail to spark but surely that’s nothing compared to being a proven liability.
Tinman
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:43 PM
Comment #75Quickly back to confirm gouff has been training in the cm role this week.
catchy in norway
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:44 PM
Comment #76Jib
P45 left us,
He is a very poor manager and coach , we may be second bottom but I’m more than happy to see this season as a transition season, I see changes already , but the hardest change is changing the loser mentality that P45 installed in the players, that will take time.
it was also the most difficult start of the season for any of the prem teams, in the games against the bigger teams we have played well, tha just needs to be replicated in the the games with the other teams in the prem
Mister Tuff
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:44 PM
Comment #77Must surely be a 3 -0 or 4 -0 trouncing. They should have a go – nothing to lose.
toonking
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:45 PM
Comment #78my mistake ruddy
got mixed up with names there, my post was meant to be a rely to rotanta 36 just above your post
soz
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:46 PM
Comment #79Toonking
No worries mate!
catchy in norway
Oct 3, 2015 at 2:46 PM
Comment #80palace score 2 cabaye scores one and gets 2 assists
how does that work ?