It seems like the lads are in buoyant mood going into this weekend’s tough game at Stoke City, which somehow the lads have to win – somehow.
Alan Shearer – in pensive mood as he oversees the training
Newcastle will travel to Staffordshire tomorrow a full 3 points adrift of safety, following last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat against Chelsea, and Newcastle have a worse goal difference than 4th bottom Sunderland right now, so we are effectively 4 points from safety.
But like any good leader, Shearer has been quick this week to go over the positives of last week’s game, as he and Iain Dowie have reviewed the video of the Chelsea game with the players this week in training.
There were a number of positives to take out of the game, but all the good work seemed to end with a bad mistake from Coloccini, and once we got behind Chelsea there seemed no way back, for the in-form London side, as they proved last night with a good 3-1 win at Liverpool in the Champions League quarter final.
Alan talked to Newcastle TV this morning:
“The lads are in buoyant mood despite Saturday’s result,” “We can and will take positives from that game and we have told the players that.”
“It’s also been a help having a full week’s training compared to last week when we had just two days.”
“Every game is huge. But, after Saturday’s result, this one has got even huger – if there is such a word!”
No there isn’t, and the way to say that is probably this one has got more huge – or this one has got even bigger would be even better – but enough of the English lessons. 😀
We have to hope for a distinct improvement in the way the lads play, after Alan and Iain have had a full week of preparation for the Stoke game, and have studied videos of Stoke.
So we should have a game plan of how we can take all 3 points at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday – and anything less will be a disappointment, let’s face it.
If Alan is to become a top manager we would hope there will be some signs of his management effect coming through in the next couple of games, as we just have to get some points up on the board.
And it looks like the game is being televised live around the world again, and it’s a 5:30 pm local kick-off time.
Comments welcome.
40 comments so far
snorkelboy
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Comment #1ALAN SHEARER, can he fix it? ALAN SHEARER, yes he can.
Johno Toon
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Comment #2This is a massive game and i think it will be tight, think we will win , couldnt care how we do it as long as we do it it can be a long punt up field off a bird and into the net for all i care as long as we do it
Martnos
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Comment #3Can not wait for Saturday will be in the Stoke part of the south stand at the Britania stadium,
Whumpie
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Comment #4snorkelboy – that is a quality chant. Needs to happen on Saturday.
I’m going to have to risk a month of enforced celebacy to watch the game on Saturday – it clashes with a dinner she’s arranged – but bollocks, I’ll do it anyway.
We’ll know so much more on Sunday about what we can expect from Big Al and Dowie. I just hope it shows intelligence and an attacking bias.
Can’t wait. Bring ’em on!
Toon Graeme
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Comment #5Stoke will take the game to us I can guarantee it.
We need to be able to come out and out play them and get the damn ball in the net!
cicero
Apr 9, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Comment #6Positive to come out of the Chelsea game – they beat Liverpool 1 – 3 and only beat us 1 – 2 (if you count Owen’s not given goal) – really though player for player we are better than Stoke the lads just have to start believing in themselves and start playing.
Whumpie
Apr 9, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Comment #7Graeme’s right – these are hard, non-nonsense players who try to exploit exactly what we’re bad at defending – long balls and set pieces.
They will get past us at some point, so the old KK ‘score more than they do’ approach may have to be it. I just hope Taylor and Bassong are back – we need Bassong’s positioning and skill, and Taylor’s brick-wall defending to keep them out. Beye will be good for dealing with the set pieces, but one man can’t do it all.
As for going forward, I really think we’ve got enough skill and guile in there to get a couple past them.
I think we’ll win, but only by a goal. I’d take that!
cicero
Apr 9, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Comment #8Having said that I wish we’d signed James Beattie when he went to Everton, he would have thrived at the toon.
Toon Graeme
Apr 9, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Comment #9Whumpie – I would take 0-1 at this stage – but more goals the better for we goal difference.
richyg01
Apr 9, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Comment #10Last nights 3-1 Chelski win certainly makes our loss to them at the weekend look better, BUT we will get a spanking by Liverpool on 2nd May!
I think this weekend we should see some marked improvements in the team with AS being in there for a full week of training now and imposing his methods on the players.
Also AS has highlighted one of the most obvious things which other managers have not improved upon and that is to provide some Ginola-esque delivery into the box, until we get that, it doesnt matter who starts upfront.
I can see AS going with a front two of:
Owen & Carrol
Wether he decides to play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 will show how he feels we can attack the game, IMO if its 4-3-3 he feels we can take the game to them and really attack them and get some goals.
Time will tell…..
ALAN SHEARER, can he fix it?, YES HE CAN!
ALAN SHEARER, can he fix it?, YES HE CAN!
HOWAY THE LADS!!!!
Turkish Magpie
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Comment #11Dont care Who plays, dont care how much we beat them by, i dont care about the performance, i dont care about injurys
Aslong as we win for my first NUFC away game ever 😀
(thats the spurs game btw)
Martnos
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Comment #12I second that Turkish Magpie
Isaac Hunt
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Comment #13“ALAN SHEARER, can he fix it? ALAN SHEARER, yes he can.
ALAN SHEARER, can he fix it? ALAN SHEARER, yes he can.”
I think this is gonna catch on! Well done Snorkey!
Turkish Magpie
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Comment #14ig I remember, thats stolen from Obama who stole it from Bob the Builder 😛
ACD
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Comment #15We will win on saturday!
CHris foy has refereed both our away wins this season ( west brom and pompey) and he is in charge this saturday against stoke! This is the bit of good luck we have been looking for.
As for the other games…..the next 5 games are on tv!!
Keep the faith!
Fostino
Apr 9, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Comment #16what channels ACD, i no stoke is setanta and spurs is sky!!
Doocey
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Comment #17Any news lads?
boater
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Comment #18Anyone who has Jonas in their side must surely want us to go down..
Doocey
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Comment #19I can see Jonas scoring on Saturday
NotAGhostToon
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Comment #20NUFCBLOG DRINKING GAME
1) Whenever ed says ‘Mark my words’ – drink 2 fingers
2) Whenever ed reuses quotes to excitedly put a new spin on it – 2 fingers
3) If anyone says how bad ameobi/ how good bassong is- 2 fingers
4) Headline ‘Must win game’ – 3 fingers
5) Owen gets injured – 3 fingers
6) Ameobi scores – 4 fingers
7) Ameobi scores overhead volley from 25 yards – Down a bottle of neat vodka
8 ) Smith scores – Down two bottles of neat vodka
9) Viduka plays a full game and scores a goal – 1 Shot and a newkie broon in one go.
10) Ameobi falls over when the ball is passed to him – 2 fingers
11) Freekick/corner hits the first man – 4 fingers
12) (watching with a rival team, mate) Gutierrez skins their player – they have to down their drink
13) Taylor handballs/commits a foul and puts his passion face on/ clutches body part to try and con the ref – four fingers
(feel free to add your own, just thought i’d make it as its coming to the weekend)
WELSHMAG
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Comment #21Come on the toon! 1-3 with caroll getting the first from a set piece, owen notching a close range tap-in and Butt scoring a 25 yard screamer! Stokes goal from a delap throw in, bounces awkwardly, no-one touches it and it ends up in the net with harper looking red faced.
Stuart79
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Comment #22Doocey // Apr 9, 2009 at 1:12 PM
I can see Jonas scoring on Saturday
You on drugs?
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #23There for Welsh Mag would we not win 3-0 as a throw in must be touched by another player?
Toonkistan
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Comment #24Doocey….u’ve been saying this for the previous 10 matches hehe no offense but i can see you posting the same comment come the next match 😀 but god knows i’d love Jonas to start scoring for us 🙂 Howay the lads
RyanToon
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #25http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1622007,00.html
JOSE ENRIQUE OUT OF STOKE GAME
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Comment #26Sebs back for stoke but Taylor Enrique and McLovin are out
RyanToon
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Comment #27http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1622000,00.html
SEBA BASSONG FIT FOR STOKE!
RyanToon
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Comment #28edgasr gotta play left back now or even jonas
Stuart79
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Comment #29Can we be anymore unlucky!!
R Taylor will probably play at LB, Bassong to play centre half with Collocini unfortunately!
Toonkistan
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #30worst piece of news whole week….gawddd will we ever get to see our strongest line up play ….WTF
Toonkistan
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Comment #31cant we have a backline of
Geremi Beye Bassong Taylor
god know i dont want to see collocini in the starting lineup …geremi is not used anyways so better use him RB as he has experience
RyanToon
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Comment #32harper
r.taylor coloccini bassong jonas
guthrie nolan butt duff
carroll owen
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Comment #33Team For Satuday
—————Harper————-
Beye—Bassong—Coloccini—Edgar
—-Guthrie—Butt—Jonas——–
————-Owen—————–
———-Carroll—-Martins——
Fostino
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Comment #34harper
beye colo bassong r taylor
nolan butt jonas
owen
carroll martins
or carroll out for duff who pushes to the right and owen up front
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Apr 9, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Comment #35Personally Id like to see Xisco given a run out instead of Carroll
ACD
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Comment #36stoke – setanta
spurs- sky
pompey – setanta
liverpool – setanta
boro – setanta
i think!!
ACD
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #37—-harper—-
beye – colo – bassong – duff
nolan guthrie butt
owen
carroll – oba
come on the lads!!!
ToonRich
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Comment #38Dowie has been talking about how well the youngsters/reserves are doing…I wouldnt be suprised to see Mr.Ranger & Smudge on the bench this weekend – perhaps give Ranger 20mins 🙂
My ideal lineup:
——————Krul———————
Geremi/Edgar–Beye–Seb–Duff
—————-Butt—————–
——Guthrie——–Nolan——-
—————Jonas—————-
——-Carroll/Nile–Owen—
Duff & Jonas could always swap! Very much doubt we’ll see 3-4 of the players above!
Tom_Toon
Apr 9, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Comment #39/
Tom_Toon
Apr 9, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Comment #40//