Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has come out today and said he doesn’t want to over-react to last week’s terrible result against Blackpool.
Hatem Ben Arfa – may start on the bench again tomorrow
But surely that doesn’t mean he will start the same side for a 5th successive time in the league, when we have good players like Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheick Tiote, Sol Campbell sitting on the bench.
There is a hint that he may indeed start the same eleven, in the same 4-5-1 formation he has used all season, at Goodison Park tomorrow afternoon, in a game to be televised live around the world.
If Chris does that it will be a disappointment to most Newcastle fans, who would love to see some of the new boys given their chance, after such a poor result last weekend against the firm relegation favorites – Blackpool.
Chris Hughton told the Newcastle Journal today:
“It’s vitally important not to over-react to the defeat,” “It wasn’t one of our best performances but we’d be happy going into future games creating the amount of chances we did against Blackpool.
“We’ve got to look past the last game – it hurt but we’ve got to look beyond that. The three games we played before then we were satisfied with the performances.”
“So we certainly feel there are more pluses than minuses in those games but, of course, it’s about gaining points.”
It’s OK being loyal to your players, but sometimes being too loyal becomes a disadvantage, and when a team doesn’t produce, and you have good players to bring in – surely that’s the time to do that – bring some new players in to give them their chance and revitalize the side.
Otherwise, when will Chris ever change the starting eleven?
And Chris continued by saying:
“You always want players knocking on the door and you want a group of lads who want to play and who’re disappointed when they don’t play,”
“What we said when the window closed was we wanted to have a squad that gave us decisions to make regarding the team selection and that is what we have.”
That sounds a little message to the new boys that they may not start tomorrow afternoon, as far as we can decipher. But we’d like to see changes made to the starting eleven tomorrow, but that’s a big hint today that just may not happen.
However, Chris can be wily before games, and he may just be masking what his starting eleven will indeed be for tomorrow afternoon.
Comments welcome.
32 comments so far
Darling27
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:44 AM
Comment #11st
Geordiedoonsooth
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:44 AM
Comment #23 points lost
Davies
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:48 AM
Comment #3He actually said that we be looking at “largely the same squad”, not team. Ben Arfa and Tiote were both on the bench I think.
We’ve got to do something about that formation. I say go on the attack from the off and frighten the s1t out of ’em – Ben Arfa in behind Lovo and Carroll, or out on the wing, with Nolan behind Lovo and Carroll. Awesome.
slazberger
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:49 AM
Comment #4he may just mean i will keep the same formation?
you said yourself in a previous article Ed that we had 3 clear one-on-ones with their goalkeeper. i know its an IF but if they had gone in would people complain, its a fine line between winning and losing in the prem and therefore doesn’t necessarily mean you have to change formations and 3 or four players imo. i could understand if we failed to create chances.
he may make 1 or possibly 2 changes which wouldn’t be an over-reaction. so lets not over-react to him not over-reacting just yet.
Indian Magpie
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:49 AM
Comment #5oh No! i say oh my God! what the F*** and r u Crazy.
Graeme
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Comment #6I would put Jonas on the bench – just to wake him (and a few others) up. There were times against B’pool when we were all over the place with too many headless chickens. We seemed to lose all sense of purpose in pursuit of the equaliser and that eventually led to them getting a second.
We have some strength in depth, now is the time to use it; not change for the sake of it but it will boost those on the bench to get a start and it will show those “Rested” that they are not indispensable. Ben Arfa did enough to justify starting, showed some great touches and not afraid to take his man on!
carlmc
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:56 AM
Comment #7my team would be :
……………………….harper………………………
raylor…….williamson…..colo……enrique…
guit/routledge…..barton…nolan…..ben arfa.
……………………………….lovo………………….
……………………carrol…………………………….
only my opinion of course, smith has to be dropped , and i would of stayed with nolan behind carrol and played tiote, as he has to be better than smith, but due to him not having any minutes at all under belt its a no go.lets hope we can snatch a draw as im certain we wont get a win
Flair:20
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:58 AM
Comment #8In hindsight, playing a 442 formation at home to Blackpool may have been a better option. But to make a knee-jerk reaction to that by suggesting that we should change our line-up and formation to a more attacking one in an away match at Everton is bordering foolish. Everton are a very strong side who have just come off the back of a great result at home to Man Utd. If we play an attacking formation, we could get severely punished. One poor result against Blackpool does not make us a poor team. Our previous home game had seen us win 6-0 against a top 6 side. How fickle can you be? Starting with the same team is the best option away to Everton. If things don’t go our way, bring on Ben Arfa and Lovenkrands. We must remain sensible – this is the approach Chris Hughton took last season and look how successful it was.
Indian Magpie
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Comment #9Flair20; two wrongs do not make a right. we played wrong formation against blackpool and we must learn from our mistakes and make atleast 2 changes.
We must play 2 our strengths and go for the jugular
WesJameson
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Comment #10I could of told you 5 minutes after the blackpool match, the CH would of kept the same side(barring any injuries that is)
Davies
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Comment #11Just a side note. I’ve read two interviews with Everton players; Tim Cahill and Phil Jagielka, and they were both very respectful. They see us as a team who they’ll have to work hard against to take any points from the game, and they are all too aware of the threat Andy Carroll poses.
It’s always nice to know that you’re being taken seriously, particularly by players and teams of such quality.
I’m still asking myself if we can actually get a result at Goodison…. You never know.
slazberger
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Comment #12WesJameson – he doesn’t say he is keeping the same side, wait until he names the side before kick-off, before you say i could have told you that
Howay The Lads
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Comment #13Well said, slazberger (4). If we won against B’pool, which we were very unlucky not too, nobody would be clamouring for wholesale changes
Brutooon
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Comment #14would go for tiote over smith, with smith we only play 10 men.
Even if you guys notice the 6-0 villa game, smith was halfly anonymous
carlmc
Sep 17, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Comment #15i do agree, we were unlucky against blackpool, and would it be that much of a gamble putting in tiote for smith??? i think not, you see many managers giving people their debuts in a new league from the start. its worth a shot imo
stafford
Sep 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Comment #16Not sure about the 451 formation all season? What I saw at the home games was Nolan more advanced than carroll and the number of times he was lazily offside proves this. Maybe Nolan should play in midfield away, but for me the newboy should take his position at home. I like nolans positivity but we have better players, unfortunately I think he has a large say in team selection.
As for smith….
hitman
Sep 17, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Comment #17theres no way hughton will drop nolan,nolan runs the show at the toon hughton is just the front man…
Sav
Sep 17, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Comment #18The formation against Blackpool was an away-day set-up. That was the problem.
Against Everton it could be ok, as long as the midfield don’t take all day to get up to support Carroll. And Guti seems better suited to playing away from home than when we are going for the win, inasmuch as he runs all day and tracks back and is always ready to chase after a breakaway ball. A bit like a JackRussell.
balubas1
Sep 17, 2010 at 11:45 AM
Comment #19hitman 17@, you sound ironic, and I hope you are, cuz that statement is bulls**t.
But I agree, to give the new lads a chance to prove themselves, Nolan should be rotated more, and given some time on the bench also. I’m not in for anyone being “dropped”, but rotation is good.
and… by the way ….. SMITH OUT!
never let that man play midfield again…. let him give it a shot as a striker again, and if he can’t make it he’s a goner.
NUFC_Richyg01
Sep 17, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Comment #20I can see us starting with something like:
********* Harper
Perch * Willo * Collo * Bull
********* Tiote
Rout *** Barton *** Arfa
********* Nolan
********* Carroll
john_cena163
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Comment #21I want arfa in for smith or jonas dats all.
brighter
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Comment #22We need absolutely change the starting XI.
BEN ARFA in for Jonas and Tiote in for Smith.
If CH don’t change anymore that will bother us
and easy to loss this important games i think.
Ericles
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Comment #23CH will not change his starting line-up. With what result? Everton will KNOW EXACTLY how CH has set his stall out. Same lack of imagination and, dare I say it – same lack of adventure and flair. Everton will know what to expect before we even get to Liverpool on our coach. And what of Shearer’s admitting he thought he was going to be offered the job after relegation. What a revelation! I hope these on here who are apologists for the fat carpet bagger listen to Shearer’s exposure of what a bunch of double dealers Ashley and his cronies really are!
On Saturday we have got to go for it and get 3 points – this slow moving pussy footing style of CH is doing us no good.
stafford
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Comment #24I am with you all on smith, he’s a non starter. You all seem to support Nolan though. I agree he no doubt runs the show behind closed doors, but I think he is a bit of a cart hours if you watch his alround game contribution. Granted spiderman has no end product but Nolan hasn’t really got a product, although in saying that he does cheat his position and sniffs around the goal, is that what we are really looking for – maybe!
Indian Magpie
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Comment #25NUFC_Richyg01 – that makes sense
chuck
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Comment #26Guess KK was right, Newcastle has 36,000 managers, 52,00 now, all of which know better than CH.
Lets just allow Hughton to manage, as that`s what he gets paid to do (though very little) and up to the recent B`Pool. game has been doing a pretty good job of it .
Yeah i know people like to win and most fully expected to beat the tangerines , but it`s not a disaster so stop looking for the panic button a tie or a win against Everton will start the emotional rollercoaster on an upward trajectory and everyone will be praising CH once again, that`s what football is about.
Just relax and enjoy the ride !
benscott123123
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Comment #27Stick to 4-5-1, Everton are a top team despite their position. We would be overun playing 4 in the middle. I do feel Smith Perch and Jonas need to improve there games. I’d like to see;
Harper
Taylor Colo Will Enrique
Routledge Barton Nolan Jonas
Ben Arfa
Carroll
I think we will probably start with the same team though. i’d like to see Lovenkrands and Tiote feature.
MacToon
Sep 17, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Comment #28Everton played really well last game even when they were 3-1 down. It isn’t going to be an easy game at all and who ever we play so might aswell put a couple new players in from the start. Arfa and Tiote and definately no (I’m gonna get the ball….oops) Smith (REF I GOT THE ******* BALL).
toon18
Sep 17, 2010 at 1:29 PM
Comment #29……………………….harper………………………
raylor…….williamson…..colo……enrique…
…………..…..barton…..tiote……
gutierrez………….nolan……..…ben arfa
………………………carrol…………………………….
……………………….harper………………………
raylor…….williamson…..colo……enrique…
…………..…..barton…..tiote……
routledge………..ben arfa……..gutierrez
………………………carrol…………………………….
Either of these and i would be happy. Love to see rout, arfa and gut roaming and changing positions throughout the game
KillyMag
Sep 17, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Comment #30Spot on Toon18 mate, I would love to see either of those teams start saturday. I’ve got a feeling tho that he is gonna give Smith one last chance. Its one too many for me.
moonraker
Sep 17, 2010 at 5:21 PM
Comment #31We need the new boys to start cos the team that started last week basically has an inferiority complex. They think they’re not worthy of being in the prem because of the relegation season.
It’s all down to confidence cos man for man we were better than Blackpool and we’re at least equal to Everton.
The new signings have no such fears as they probably think there as good or better than anyone in the league, therefore they will try to impress and play without fear.
If we take a negative attitude into this game we will lose; I know they got a good result against Man U but they were lucky getting those goals in injury time; Man U underestimated them and should have won 5-1.
We can win at Goodison; we have the players but CH has got to earn his corn this weekby selecting a team that can win. In my opinion he’s got to put Tiote and ben Arfa on from the start.
C’mon Chris GO FOR IT ! 🙂
chuck
Sep 17, 2010 at 9:56 PM
Comment #32MOONRAKER
So where did you get that from psychology 101 ?
However i agree with the fact we have signed two decent players in HBA & Tiote, and dont know why are we not using them.
We are desperately in need of a physical DM and a playmaking inside midfielder, come winger,or behind the frontman type, so why is it taking so long ?