Every game in the league from now on for Newcastle United is a critical game in which 3 points are at stake.
Tomorrow’s game against Sunderland carries even more pressure for Newcastle as a win by Sunderland will give them the double over Newcastle this season, and quickly bring doom and gloom flooding back to Newcastle.
There has been some good news in the last couple of days after Wednesday’s disastrous game at Manchester City, where we weren’t only beaten once again, but we lost both Michael Owen and Joey Barton to long term injuries.
In the last day we have brought Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor in from Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic respectively, and there’s no doubt they are very good buys for the club.
But our failure to bring in Albin Ebondo last week from Toulouse is a big disappointment, after his club kept moving the goalposts when a fee had been agreed at least twice.
Shay Given looks determined to get away from Newcastle to Manchester City, after his 12th year at the club, and that is nothing less than an indictment at the way the club has been run since Kevin Keegan left for the second time, with the Newcastle Board not talking to the players at all, let alone the fans.
But Mike Ashley will be the game tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see how the fans react if the players put in another performance like they did in the first half last Wednesday, which just wasn’t good enough, and if repeated will almost guarantee another loss.
The team Joe will pick for tomorrow will probably be
Harper
Taylor Coloccini Bassong Enrique
Gutierrez Butt Nolan Duff
Martins Carroll
Subs: Krul Edgar LuaLua Geremi Xisco Ranger Smith
We assume Alan Smith will be on the bench tomorrow.
That’s not too bad a starting eleven, but it assumes that Oba Martins is fit again after his groin operation, and at the time of writing we don’t know if he’ll be fit in time. We’re also not sure if Ryan Taylor is eligible to play, but assume he isn’t.
But Martins has often said he loves playing with the 6’4” Carroll, and that may well be our strike partnership for next season, if we can avoid relegation, otherwise there will be massive clear-out of our top earning players, including Martins, because we’ll just not be able to afford the wages in the Championship.
Sunderland are a very decent team of late, and their front two of Djibril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones are a threat to any defense.
A Newcastle win of course is just what the doctor ordered, but the team will need to improve significantly over their play of the last few games to do that.
In our last 5 league games we have but a single point and have conceded 12 goals, and we haven’t had a win inh our last 7 games.
The defense is really where the improvement must be made if we are to get anything out of this game tomorrow, and recently Coploccini has looked slow and lethargic at the back and Enrique not good enough when defending.
It’s got to be all hands on deck for the players tomorrow, and the fans must do their part too.
It’s OK to complain about Kinnear, Ashley, Llambias and Wise, but when push comes to shove we must support Kinnear and the players. That’s the least we should be doing as fans, because only then can we have any chance to save the club from relegation.
But we know the fans will do that tomorrow, and we will hope and pray the lads can get all 3 points tomorrow, to give us all some relief from the seemingly never ending bad news surrounding the club.
Howay The Lads!!
338 comments so far
Toon_Fresh
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Comment #11st?
Toon Graeme
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Comment #2God bless NUFC.
Toon Toon Black & White Army!!!!!!
I plan on loosing my voice tomorrow.
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Comment #3howay the toon
lets get 3 points 2morrow (its a long time since i have said that
p.s any 1 gt good mackem jokes
hitman
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Comment #4Q: Did you hear that the British Post Office has just recalled their latest stamps?
A: Well, they had photos of Sunderland players on them – folk couldn\’t figure out which side to spit on.
JonnyNufc
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Comment #5So far we’ve spent 4 mill for Nolan, got 6 mill for Zog + Taylor…..
Thats already a 2 mill profit….
Add given into that for surely around 9 mill..
Thats 11 million pounds we still have to spend.
Ashley surely isnt looking to make a profit right now is he??? We should be getting in AS MANY decent players as possible!!!
hitman
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Comment #6Q: What do you call a Sunderland fan with lots of girlfriends?
A: A Shepherd
hitman
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Comment #7Q: How do you kill a Sunderland fan when he\’s drinking?
A: Slam the toilet seat on his head!
hitman
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Comment #8Q: What do you call a Sunderland fan with no arms and legs?
A: Trustworthy.
Ben_BKK
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Comment #9Ed, you seem to have forgotten that we’ve brought Lovenkrands in. Do you not expect him to even make the bench?
hitman
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Comment #10Q: What\’s the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead Sunderland fan?
A: Skid marks in front of the dog.
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Comment #11lol hitman
how do u know a mackem’s a virgin
he hasnt got a sister
what does a sunderland fan do after they beat real madrid
turn off his x box and goes back to bed with his sister
why dont they smoke in sunderland
they lost all their matches
dan in france
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Comment #12quite like the jokes 🙂
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Comment #13http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=eHWUzau5_Bo&feature=related
Turkish Magpie
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Comment #143-0 cumon!
hitman
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Comment #15Q. Why do Sunderland fans whistle whilst sitting on the toilet?
A. So they know which end to wipe!
kash@home
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Comment #16Have any of you lads had a look at the league table? Do any of you realise that a run of 5 wins on the trot, could see us in the european places?
Dennis Twice
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Comment #17Harper
Taylor Colo Basson Enrique
Duff Butt Nolan Jonas
Martins Lovenkrands
Brazilian Geordie
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Comment #18I’m so sad about the big likelylood of not being able to watch the game tomorrow.
I’m in a place which has a very slow internet and no way could watch this game on justin.tv whatsoever.
I wish I could come back to Rio and watch this game in a pub but these things are not that easy for me to do right now.
I’m really really depressed. I can’t stand losing this game.
But I still have some little hope.
toonarmyuk
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Comment #19Ben-BKK – exactly. I dont think Martins will make the starting team. I reckon Lovenkrands will start up front with Carroll.
Also Ed, you seem to be sure that Taylor has signed. Pretty presumtious bearing in mind it hasnt been officially announced by the club. We must all have learned lessons over the years NEVER to assume a player has signed until he’s officially unveiled!
Or have I missed something??
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Comment #20http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=PEFDGS9eIoE&feature=related
Brazilian Geordie
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Comment #21likelihood*
Fans Should Own The Club
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Comment #22I see Ebondo is on the bench for Toulouse. I was wondering if that deal might be revived, but I suppose not.
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Comment #23http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=7rFVI6rKVIA&feature=related
Alanmc09
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Comment #24Q:whats the diffrence between sunderland and a bucket of shite
A:the bucket!!
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Comment #25blaydon races at its best
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=1KXexwxxoyk
nufc_houlty
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Comment #26martins defo back?
Turkish Magpie
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Comment #27We should sing Blaydon Races before the match again, massive confidence boost like you’ll never walk alone, but this is just class!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LoJrCOGGKBI
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Comment #28turk mag we will as danbys sinigng a gain
Alanmc09
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Comment #29Turkish magpie,we are singing it again that opera singer is singing again!
Ally
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Comment #30http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=80dFjpCS2TU
the ranger scumderland special haha
Turkish Magpie
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Comment #31Get In!
ToonPhill
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Comment #32Q: How do you circumcise a Sunderland fan?
A: Kick his sister in the jaw.
Alanmc09
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Comment #33We havent signd ryan taylor yet have we?well it not on ssn or nufc!
Toon_Factor
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Comment #34————————-Harper————————
Coloccini——Taylor——-Bassong——-Enrique
Duff————-Butt———-Nolan———-Jonas
——————Carroll——-Martins—————
If martins is still out Xisco or Lovenkrands
Chris H
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Comment #35A Mackum supporter looks out the window and see’s his Sunderland top lying on the lawn. He say’s “mam, why’s my top lying on the lawn” and his mam say’s “some cheeky sod’s knicked my pegs”.
Tom1664
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:36 PM
Comment #36Why are there no Mackem fertility clinics?
They would just have to tell the women to try another brother.
OutClassed
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Comment #37Toon_Factor, that’s not a bad side as I can see Jonas and Duff switching flanks regularly through the game.
A win tomorrow could be the confidence boost we need heading into a tough period now. If we lose a gae and results go against us our backs are right up at it.
Not only that but we can’t let the Mackems do the double over us!
Tom1664
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Comment #38What do you call a Mackem family get together?
An orgy.
Tom1664
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Comment #39Q: How do you ruin a Mackem’s party?
A: Flush the punch bowl.
beyethegreat
Jan 31, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Comment #40its a shame keane isnt the mackem,s boss any more you cant make any songs up about sbragia