The Newcastle squad returned to training this morning in earnest, ready for what’s turning out to be a big battle for points against Wigan Athletic at home on Saturday afternoon.
Chris Hughton – how do you do this again?
Wigan have 8 points, one more than Newcastle after the first 7 league games, so Newcastle can leap-frog the Lancashire club with a win on Saturday.
The focus now is to concentrate totally on how to win against Wigan, and the Eastlands loss, however tough it was with the loss of the so talented Hatem Ben Arfa, , is now past and gone – and the players have to learn what they can from the game – and then forget about it.
Chris Hughton was speaking to Newcastle United TV this afternoon, and seemed sure his team would bounce back on Saturday:
“We have to bounce back – and we will do that.” “We have a spirited group of players and we certainly didn’t shame ourselves against Manchester City, with a performance that saw them struggle a little bit against us.”
“We had some great attacking moves, but didn’t perhaps have that quality in and around the box that we wanted.” “But we’ll certainly bounce back.”
A win against Wigan is just what the doctor ordered, and the lads must start to make St. James’ Park into a venue where the lads can get some wins, and pick up most of their points this season.
We also have to hope the crowd is bigger than the 41,915 that turned up for the last home game, when we lost 2-1 to Stoke.
We’re not sure if the crowd is low because of disappointments with the results so far, the way the lads are playing, or that the economy has tanked and money is short. Maybe it’s all three.
But there’s room for another 10,000 fans, and we have to hope that Newcastle will go all out and attack the Wigan side, whether Chris starts a 4-5-1 formation or not.
Chris will probably start 4-5-1 again, but a more attacking 4-4-2 could see both of our big local lads, Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi up front, and surely the two of them could cause the Wigan defense all kinds of problems in the air – and on the ground.
A good win on Saturday is what we need, and that will help no doubt help raise the spirits again on Tyneside, after two successive and rather unlucky defeats in the league.
Comments welcome.
41 comments so far
Zangwill_Ho
Oct 11, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Comment #1why don’t use L11, CH!!!!!!!!
Tom
Oct 11, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Comment #2Carroll/Ameobi would be a terrible decision, far too similar. We would be as limited as playing Carroll/Nolan.
Play Carroll/Lovenkrands.
G
Oct 11, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Comment #3I will be happy if they just play 2 up front at home. Don’t really care too much about which 2, as long as it is 2! (I admit, my preference would be Carroll / Ranger, but it aint gonna happen is it?).
chuck
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Comment #4Interesting, play Lovenkrands ?
Why not is he injured ?
Lovenkrands, a versitile player, Danish international, can play up front or behind the striker, plus can play either wing, has pace and can bag the occasional goal, why not ?
Noticed he has`nt got many games lately, perhaps if picked he can make an impact, if not there`s always substitution.
What`s to lose ?
lewisnufc
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:20 PM
Comment #5anyone else heard the rumours andy carroll got locked up again last night?
BeeGuy
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Comment #6While I would like to see NUFC use a more attacking formation, it won’t happen until CH sees that every week brings the opposition one nice goal & a penalty. Bogus as the pens may be, they keep coming. That may be because refs see NUFC as a “nothing game with a nothing team”, so point to the spot and get it over with. With HBA hurt, it could go to a 4-6-0 to try for scoreless draws and at least a point.
Howay The Lads
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Comment #7chuck, there’s a difference between somebody being able to play behind in certain positions and someone being PLAYED in certain positions.
Lovenkrands is no good out wide, or behind the striker, but I agree, I think he should be starting up front, if not then he should at least be given a good 20 minutes to show what he can do at HOME
Darling27
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:40 PM
Comment #8Carroll and Lovenkrands for me.
jarnytoon
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:43 PM
Comment #9********krul
Collo***willo****campbell***enrique
Routedge/xisco***tiote***barton***jonas
*************carroll***lovenkrands**
Wouldn’t mind seeing xisco get a game. He looked half decent on the right in pre season n his final ball is better than waynes! Give it a bash CH!
CT
Oct 11, 2010 at 6:56 PM
Comment #10Jarny, yeh could live with that line up! Xisco for Routs wide right, worth a shot,also got Danny boy on the bench so could go 4:3;3 pushing Xisco/Jonas forward, def more creative/potent line up!
Turkish Magpie
Oct 11, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Comment #11————————-Krul—————————
–Perch———Colo——–Williamson—-Enrique
–Routledge——Tiote——Barton———Jonas–
———————Carroll—–Lovenkrands———
This should be the team for Wigan, but Nolan is unfortuneately undroppable
DarloGeordie
Oct 11, 2010 at 8:37 PM
Comment #12I honestly can’t see what the problem is with having Carroll and Ameobi up front together simply due to the fact that we have some of the quickest and slickest (or did have R.I.P. Benny boy) wingers in the league so surely having two targets to aim for rather than one simply brings the law of averages rule up 2 fold. Either way i have my ticket sorted for the game and I am gonna be the loudest person in the crowd cheering for the club I love.. 3 points easy…
DarloGeordie
Oct 11, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Comment #13P.S. liking jarnytoons thinkin
callie9
Oct 11, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Comment #14Playing those 2 up front will guarantee us at best a draw. We will totally bypass the midfield and lump it up to their heads. 75% of the time they will win the header, only for their partner having no mobility to get on the end of it. Carroll and Lovenkrands for me. The problem with our “slick” wingers is that, although they cause unholy amounts of problems and drag defenders all over the place, the final ball lacks quality so Carroll is feeding off scraps too often.
DarloGeordie
Oct 11, 2010 at 9:03 PM
Comment #15with 2 of em feeding off it tho then more chance of em getting on the end of something because lets face it Carroll up front on his own in the last couple of games has been feeble at best, and u mention the fact that we hammer the ball up front and by pass the midfield well ya no what is needed to stop that??? thats CH’s management that needs to be tested by drilling into the players not to play the long ball and keep playing it through the wings. We look good playing this way Jonas and Routledge will hammer Wigan. Cant see how ya can say playing them two up front will bring us a draw. Play the wide game n we gonna nail this wkd…
Robby Bobson
Oct 11, 2010 at 10:00 PM
Comment #16Once again Joey ran the show against City with tiote backing him up, i remember in one 10 minute period we had 80 something percent. How can we go on dominating games and creating little before nolan comes out for lovenkrands.
IMO Nolan doesnt contribute to us dominating but slows down every attack and doesnt really offer much unless he scores, which he wasnt.
Lovenkrands will help us create more chances with his movement.
Robby Bobson
Oct 11, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Comment #17Also how has Rangers very good carling cup games not got him close to challenging for a first team spot.
In a Shola sort of way he looks really awkward on the ball, but he has pace, energy and a ridiculous leap!
Brutooon
Oct 12, 2010 at 1:41 AM
Comment #18the only way we play 4-4-2 is that we drop either Nolan OR Barton and play either Ameobi or Lovenkrands
Problem = Nolan is the Captain, so he is automatice selection (same as geremi before)
Barton finally manage to stay fit, its hard to drop him.
toon_auz
Oct 12, 2010 at 6:47 AM
Comment #19if you guys are saying don’t be so negative, i’m thinking we should play this line up.
Krul
perch –collo–williamson–bull
rout —barton–nolan–jonas
——-carroll—-loverboy——
Leave Tiote on the bench, no need to play out right defensive midfielder, let barton fill that roll, get nolan going box to box, like he does at the end of each game anyway. and push lovenkrands onto the wide areas for the quick switches, zogbia won’t track back.
no matter what the line up, i have full faith in hughton getting the boys ready for this game.
howay the lads
The Shola Show
Oct 12, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Comment #20Shola shola shola shola happy birthday LAD!
Ericles
Oct 12, 2010 at 9:55 AM
Comment #21Against Wigan I would have Carroll, Shola, and Lovenkrands!
Brutooon
Oct 12, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Comment #22toon_auz : i agreed with your formation but i still think to dropped nolan and give barton a full 100% forward.
we need tiote cos he control the midfield well and cover the back four.
Howay Da Lads
Toonboy_84
Oct 12, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Comment #23A couple of Birtday goals for Strolla?
Ericles
Oct 12, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Comment #24Happy birthday Shola.
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 12, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Comment #25I have been pushing for the 4-4-2 formation but, I just cant see it happening because Hoots has such a big decision to make – in order to get a second striker on the pitch, who do you drop but still have enough in midfield to provide the service for the two up top?
Sure, we all see it, Nolan is the man who should drop out, but its not going to happen, Hoots will not drop his captain, nor will he drop Joey, but if you take out a wide man, you loose some of the supply line to the front two.
One selection I could see working, which could drift between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 would be:
4-5-1
************* Krul
Perch **** Collo * Willo **** Enrique
************ Tiote
Jonas ****** Barton ****** McLoven
************ Nolan
************ Carroll
4-4-2
************* Krul
Perch **** Collo * Willo **** Enrique
Jonas **** Tiote * Nolan **** Barton
******** Carroll * McLoven
This still gives us the same strength as the 4-5-1 formation but on the counter, would allow McLoven to push forward to support big Andy.
What do you lads think?
Born Again Geordie
Oct 12, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Comment #26@Toon_auz post # 19
Spot on team selection for me and you are also spot on about Insomnia too !
Carroll and Shola – disaster !!!! 🙂
Born Again Geordie
Oct 12, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Comment #27@NUFC_Richygo1
Why play Jonas on the right – have you not seen the way he and Jose link up down the left?
They have a brilliant understanding ! Yeah i know he switches to the right now and then but always starts on the left !!!
Pay attention 😉 lol
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 12, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Comment #28@ Born Again Geordie // Oct 12, 2010 at 11:15 AM (27)
Yes I appreciate how Jonas & Enrique link up.
That said though, I cant say I have seen McLoven play on the Right.
But if you did want Jonas on the left then maybe look at using Xisco on the Right rather than McLoven, so your line up would be:
4-5-1
************* Krul
Perch **** Collo * Willo **** Enrique
************ Tiote
Xisco ****** Barton ********* Jonas
************ Nolan
************ Carroll
4-4-2
************* Krul
Perch **** Collo * Willo **** Enrique
Barton **** Tiote * Nolan **** Jonas
********** Xisco * Carroll
Either Xisco or McLoven work for me, its all about getting a 2nd striker on the pitch.
leedodd
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Comment #29It has to Be
T Krul
Perch Collo Williamson Jose
Routledge Tiote Nolan Jonas
Peter L Andy C
Thing is we also have a strong Bench Now to Bring on aswell .
But I reccon its going to Be 451 again ??
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Comment #30@ leedodd // Oct 12, 2010 at 12:14 PM (29)
What’s your reasoning behind dropping Barton??
stestickle
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Comment #31ameobi no no no no no NO Mcloven yes yes yes yes would start Mcloven most home games not sur
e about away games but at home Mcloven will get goals just look at last season surley he deserves a start before shola amadonkey
stestickle
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Comment #32GK Krul
LB Jose
CB Sol
CB Will
RB Colo
LM Jonas
CM Tiote
CM Barton
RM Raylor
SS McLoven
Cf Big AC
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Comment #33@ stestickle // Oct 12, 2010 at 12:33 PM (32)
Never gonna happen mate, Hoots is not gonna drop Nolan.
Also, in your line up, how do you end up with Raylor in rather than Rout?
stestickle
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Comment #34yer he will never drop nolan so ya going to have to drop barton or tiote i would pick tiote over barton if i had to but think tiote and barton are the best cm and with raylor and rout yer can run and beat a man every now and then but cant cross a ball for shite so bring raylor in for his crossing and dead balls then ya have got rout for last 15 20 mins against tired legs
stestickle
Oct 12, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Comment #35@NUFC_Richyg01
i see you have gone with xisco in your 4 5 1 i would personally like to see abit more of the lad cos come on he,s got to be a higher quality than perch and routledge
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 12, 2010 at 1:03 PM
Comment #36I would love to Xisco played, he did well in pre season and got some decent crosses in
Toon XI
Oct 12, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Comment #37We should play Shearer up front with Carroll. 🙂
NUFC_Richyg01
Oct 12, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Comment #38@ Toon XI // Oct 12, 2010 at 1:14 PM (37)
why not throw in Hoots, Calderwood and Beardo too then!
steve1980
Oct 12, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Comment #39Krul
Taylor Campbell Coloccini Enrique
Gutierrez Barton Tiote Lovenkrands
Guthrie
Carroll
steve1980
Oct 12, 2010 at 2:34 PM
Comment #40… Ryan Taylor and Gutierrez over lapping would be interesting, Jonas having played RB for his country, RT liking to come forward as he does. Sol & Colo in the centre of defence – thats a partnership of experience right there. Enrique we know about – class. Barton & Tiote in the centre of midfield – there should be no arguement. With HBA sadly out of contention, Lovenkrands down the left flank, cutting into the centre off Carroll when required. And rather than the paceless stodge of Nolan huffing and puffing it for 90 mins, how about Guthrie playing off Carroll. DG can hammer one in from 25 yards, can pick out a pass, and has decent pace. We all know about Big Yin jnr. Ameobi – nah, when will we learn. I’m sick of his bleating to the press that he’s not getting his chance – he’s a decades worth. I feel far sorrier for R Taylor getting bumped for the truly dreadful Perch, and of course the ‘Krands. But you watch, it’ll be the same old shit – same starting 11 as Man City, with the addition of Jonas for Ben Arfa of course. Hughton is in real danger of turning into Souness before our eyes, another one who went the journey because of his refusal to change things up…