Steve McClaren has said today that he thinks the game at Arsenal tomorrow is one of Newcastle’s biggest tests of the season and we come into the game having taken only one point from the last three games against much lesser sides than the Gunners.
We are 3rd bottom of the league and the Gunners are in great form at the moment and the current favorites to win the Premier League.
In addition Arsenal have won their last eight league games against Newcastle.
So what does all that mean?
A great time for Newcastle to pull of a massive upset – obviously.
Arsenal’s legendary manager Arsene Wenger
And after a terrible 2015 it would be very good to get off to a good start to this year – which we are hoping and praying will be a lot better than last year – which was simply a terrible living nightmare for Geordie fans.
This is what Newcastle manager Steve McClaren has said about tomorrow’s game:
“It’s definitely one of our biggest tests of the season.” “Arsenal have had some injuries but they’re still maintaining their form and getting results. At this stage, I’d say they are certainly favorites for the title – but it’s only half-time.”
“But I believe in the squad that we have. They’ve shown already that they can compete with some of the biggest sides in the league and I expect them to put in a performance this weekend.” “A collective organisation, good discipline and a certain amount of aggression will be required from us to get a result.”
“We’ve come across many good players over the season and Ozil is another one we have to contend with – but he’s not the only one,” “Olivier Giroud is scoring goals left, right and center, Theo Walcott is coming into form and Aaron Ramsay is another very good midfield player.”
“Despite what they’re missing, they still have plenty of quality.”
Arsenal are getting back to their best and they are a great side to watch and certainly Mesut Ozil is showing what a world-class player he is.
And in our poll even our own fans expect it will end up in a defeat.
So we have Arsenal exactly where we want them – all we have to do now is have our players turn up ready to play out of their skins – and they can shock everybody tomorrow afternoon.
🙂
Here’s hoping.
29 comments so far
Slank
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:25 PM
Comment #1REPOST
Don’t like that team Ed.
Given as we are losing games playing two defensive midfielders (Anita and Colback) then there is nothing to lose, and much to gain, if we play a more attacking formation. My team:
Darlow
Janmaat – Mbemba – Colo – Dummitt
Tiote
De Jong – Gini
Sissoko – Mitrovich – Thauvan
Arsenal are so good that if we sit back we will be taken to the cleaners.
Having De Jong and Gini in the centre should create more goal scoring opportunities and hopefully force Arsenal to be less adventurous.
Also having Thauvan on the left should add much needed balance and an additional supply of crosses to Mitrovich who has been starved of them of late.
If we are going to get beat by the league leaders, as everyone predicts, we might as well go out fighting and attacking.
Jib
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:25 PM
Comment #2Apparently Bianca Parker (Mrs Austin ) has become reconciled to a move to the North East for a couple of years.
Big Sam is interested too.
So it is between us and the Scum for Charlie’s signature.
JamesToon
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:36 PM
Comment #3I’d go:
Darlow/Elliot
Janmaat-Mbemba-Coloccini-Mbabu
Wijnaldum-Tiote
Thauvin-Perez-Aarons
Mitrovic
JamesToon
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:37 PM
Comment #4If Aarons isn’t fit out SDJ in and put Perez LW
banjax
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:38 PM
Comment #5Anyone dreaming of an upset against Arsenal can forget it. It is just a fantasy. But there is some light at the end of the tunnel if we move fast for Frank De Boer. He is a manager of the calibre we need to the point that he is bored with his success at PSV and reports say he is looking forward to managing in the Premier League. Let’s not miss out on De Boer and for once grab at an opportunity to hire a quality Manager.
sparky55
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:39 PM
Comment #6Why on earth would Austin come to one of two cast iron guaranteed relegation clubs 300 miles from where he lives now when he can join Bournemouth which is 20 miles from where he lives now and they have a much better chance of staying up than Newcastle or Sunderland.
What would you do??
Jib
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:40 PM
Comment #7It is real easy to spot the FIFA players on here.
They bring in unfit players to their selection who have just recovered from injury as first choice , Ha ha ha.
hibbitt
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #8banjax……….as you say dreaming FDB would be a big step up for this club but its not going to happen with this set of clowns
Jib
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:44 PM
Comment #9sparky
Having wasted most of my playing career playing for peanuts I would probably opt for the best payday.
Plenty of time when retired to enjoy the South coast.
hibbitt
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:44 PM
Comment #10sparky bournemouth it is then
Jib
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:45 PM
Comment #11Jordan Graham coming on for Wolves (SS1)
sparky55
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:47 PM
Comment #12We’ll either get relegated or finish 16th or 17th no matter who is head coach because we have such a sh!te squad of cheaply bought potential which means we now have a full squad with no real premiership experience, no fight, no character and no clue.
colocinni and Cisse are the only two players with any real premiership experience and both a now way past their best.
Not even the great one could save us now unless we buy 4 players in the Jan window with at least 3 years premiership experience each under their belts.
We should be looking for players that have been in the premiership before and bring them back…and all of them should be over 28 years old so we have balance in the team.
croftus5678
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:47 PM
Comment #13austin will be thinking if he was on the end of some of the chances we have created we would not be in the relegation zone ! however the very little we do create can not be that appealing to any striker of quality imo.
we know sissoko has a good assist record and that wijnaldum from the past is very creative and that also goes for siem so maybe its time we lost those players who can “do a job” for us like anita/colback/dummett ect ect and replace them with players who can really effect a game.
sparky55
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Comment #14jib…every club now has a relegation pay packet clause in every contract…if they go down the wages go down…so what’s the point of getting good wages for 6 months and then playing in the championship on championship money or moving club and family yet again to a bottom half premiership club somewhere.
Nufc-83
Jan 1, 2016 at 4:58 PM
Comment #15I can’t wait to see Aaron’s back was amazing last season before he got injured then in pre season showed everyone up in all games then the clown mclaren puts him on the bench at the start of the season (typical pardew tactic). These idiot managers giving players 10 mins to do something in a game really annoys me it’s like they only stick them on to appease the fans and want to carry on with their useless selection so if they sin they can stand tall. As soon as Aaron’s fit get him on left wing move gini inside and drop a dm it’s insanely simple !!!
Blackley and Brownlie
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:10 PM
Comment #16Sparky @ 6
I’d like to think Austin believes he’s good enough to get the goals to keep us up and has the ambition to play on a big stage every other week. Newcastle is a massive club compared to Bournemouth. The potential to become a living legend at the Toon bears no comparison with becoming the top man at a little club on the south coast. I can’t believe your comment.
Rotonda heights
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #17another trait that SM seems to have in common with AP and JC is getting his excuses in early like a self fulfilling prophecy of doom.
This top picture shows exactly what we’re dealing with http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Newcastle+United
Rotonda heights
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #18Oops wrong link. It was a pic of SM gurning !
Very scary
Ron Knee
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:31 PM
Comment #19“Bordeaux winger considering all of his options and is concerned by Newcastle’s precarious position in the Premier League”
Who could blame him?
Jib
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:33 PM
Comment #20Rotonda heights // another trait that SM seems to have in common with AP and JC is getting his excuses in early like a self fulfilling prophecy of doom.
I personally don’t see that.
Give us an example
Blackley and Brownlie
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:35 PM
Comment #21McClaren said: “It is about collective organisation and discipline – and a certain amount of aggression will be required.”
You’re right Steve. It’s been about that all season. It’s your job to deliver it not to tell us what you need to deliver. We already know it.
Our organisation has been appalling. That’s a manager’s job to fix.
If you can’t get aggression, get power and strength. Colo will never stand up to Giroud. Drop him.
Rotonda heights
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:36 PM
Comment #22jib
Always talking up the opposition’s players to the nth degree.
stan anderson
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Comment #23Newcastle to cause big upset at Emirates.
My bare arse in Fenwicks window if that happens.
Ashley and his bunch of nobheads OOT NOO.
stan anderson
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:43 PM
Comment #24Banjax @6 this nufc you are talking about being abused by the fat slug Ashley and his nobheads.
Once more bare Arse Fenwicks window springs to mind.
ASHLEY OOT
jazzyp
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Comment #25ON THIS TRANSFER DAY: In 2005, Newcastle United signed Jean-Alain Boumsong from Rangers for around £8m. #NUFC
We can ill afford to be signing this sort of player in this transfer window.If 3 and 4 mill players are having doubts about joining us, What chance have we of signing any real quality
croftus5678
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:48 PM
Comment #26has anyone realised that henri saviet is mainly a dm ? maybe we are thinking of playing 3 dm’s ?
lesh
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:55 PM
Comment #27Arsenal’s one of our biggest tests eh?
What, along with Watford, Aston Villa and other top teams?
SUTTY1978
Jan 1, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Comment #28McClaren calling for a physical approach, sure the ref will have taken note of that, so who will be sent off? Colo, Mitro, Tiote or Janmaat?
My money is on Colo, rash stupid challenge when we are already 3-0 down
Munster Mag
Jan 1, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Comment #29Rotund, is that the same pardew as the one in sixth or somewhere in the league who tore us a new one a few weeks ago? Hmm, am still trying to explain to people I meet that he is as useless as people say. Thing is they all just think I am another delusional Newcastle fan.