How Newcastle do tomorrow in London against West Ham depends largely on which side turns up.
If it’s the side that turned up in our last two home games we will probably have little chance of winning the game, but if it’s the feisty and gutsy team that played at Everton and Man City in the last two away games, we should have every chance of taking points from this important game.
Newcastle have put in some excellent performances at home to Aston Villa and away at Wolves, Everton and Man City, but the side is just too inconsistent with three sloppy performances in the last three home games against Blackpool, Stoke and Wigan and we got just a single point from those games.
The players just have to start to be more consistent, and get into that habit sooner rather than later, if we are to avoid another relegation scrap this season.
West Ham are bottom of the league but just 2 points behind Newcastle, so a home win tomorrow and the Hammers could go above Newcastle in the Premier League table.
Under new manager Avram Grant the Hammers have also been improving of late, following a poor start to their season, and now have a four game unbeaten streak going, although there was only the excellent 1-0 win at home to Spurs in that sequence.
But those 6 points are all the points West Ham have got so far this season, after losing their first 4 league games on the trot.
Newcastle will not be expecting an easy game at Upton Park tomorrow, and they won’t get one either, as the Hammers seem to be picking up steam under the guidance of Avram Grant, who has proved himself an excellent manager in the Premier League at both Portsmouth and Chelsea.
Newcastle still have Ben Arfa, Gosling, Steven Taylor, Harper and Sol Campbell unavailable for the game tomorrow because of injury, but we do think that Danny Simpson will recapture his place at right back for tomorrow’s game.
We expect Hughton to play his usual 4-5-1 formation with a single striker, and this is the side we expect to start tomorrow:
Krul
Simpson Coloccini Williamson Enrique
Guthrie Barton Tiote Nolan (c) Gutierrez
Ameobi
Subs: Soderberg Kadar Taylor (R) Carroll Smith Lovenkrands Perch Ranger
No place on the bench tomorrow for Wayne Routledge, as we think young Danny Guthrie will be given another start on the right wing, but Chris may prefer Routledge to 19 year-old London striker Nile Ranger on the bench tomorrow.
We prefer Shola up front only because of the goings on this last week with Andy Carroll, and of course Andy has his court case next Monday, and that’s expected to last a few days. That was for his assault and battery altercation at the Blu Bambu night-club in Newcastle, last December.
And we think it would be better to at least start him on the bench tomorrow, but it would not be too surprising if Chris decides to keep Andy in the starting line-up.
The next three games for Newcastle will be crucial in shaping the season Newcastle will have back in the Premier League. As we said earlier, we don’t know which team will turn up tomorrow afternoon, but if it’s the team that turned up for our last two league games away from home, we will have every chance of getting a result tomorrow at West Ham.
Comments welcome.
49 comments so far
Toon XI
Oct 22, 2010 at 2:25 PM
Comment #1Three points tomorrow. Nothing less!
safferman
Oct 22, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Comment #2a win tomorrow, a victory against the mackems at home next week, move to the top half of the table, everyone happy again 🙂
liam85
Oct 22, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Comment #3I’m OK forus to lose games which I feel we could win but if we lose this game tomorrow I will not be very happy at all.
Sky Sports 2 5pm :D.
Come on lads make us proud!!
Ericles
Oct 22, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Comment #4A must win game. Now this IS a cockney’s team!!!
Ericles
Oct 22, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Comment #5Just heard that loony Rooney has signed a new 5 year deal with the Manky’s. What a hypocrite. It just goes to show what a money grabbing manipulative sleeze bag the fat forward really is. Len White was a far better player. Rooney will never be able to kiss the boots of Wor Jackie!
BeeGuy
Oct 22, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Comment #6Speed kills, and except for the anchor in the middle NUFC has it with WR and Jonas on the wings. But, please give Danny G a start in mid-field, and consider Ranger on the wing as he has more of an eye for goal than WR Ranger also can hold up play long enough for Nolan to catch up with the pack. Nolan is dangerous if he can get into the play.
Howay The Lads
Oct 22, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Comment #7Ranger on the wing is an accident waiting to happen. Especially with Perch behind him!
Ranger is a striker, when he’s played on the wing, he looks good going forward, but has cost us goals defensively.
If he plays, it should only be as striker or an out-and-out winger in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.
I think Hughton will go with the same team as he’s gone with for previous away games, but with Shola leading the line.
And so he should too. People want to see changes – and rightly so probably – but we’ve dominated every game away from home with that team, so why change that?
From the last away squad, the only positions I’d consider changing for THIS game is Simpson/Raylor for Perch.
For the Mackems I’d go 4-4-2 with Shola and Carroll up top and then Gutierrez, Tiote, Barton and Routledge in midfield and a defence of:
Raylor — Campbell — Coloccini — Enrique
Sinner
Oct 22, 2010 at 4:20 PM
Comment #8Its a make or break situation tomorrow.
PaddyToon
Oct 22, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Comment #9am i the only 1 that would like 2 c routy on the pitch?if we playin 5 in the mid surely we cant play 4cm’s??we need wingers esp if we only got 1 striker????
Thump
Oct 22, 2010 at 5:21 PM
Comment #10Agreeing with Paddy here. We need a wide attacking player – not a RAM.
CT
Oct 22, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Comment #11Simpson**Williamson**Colo**Jose
***************Tiote
Raylor********Barton*********Jonas
************Nolan
******************Shola
That`s my starting line up for W`ham
Thump
Oct 22, 2010 at 6:15 PM
Comment #12Remember that cwarr07 lad on Twitter and how he correctly called a few transfers (most, actually)?
“cwarr07 Colin Warris
Hughtons last game tomorrow, seems Mr Ashley has Alan Pardew lined up to take over #nufc”
Hope that’s a piss take…
http://twitter.com/cwarr07
jimiley
Oct 22, 2010 at 6:56 PM
Comment #13If Hoots plays Perch again he deserves the sack. No kidding!!!
Rotonda heights
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:16 PM
Comment #14are we missing a trick with Raylor ? Not as a full back but in a Beckham position. No pace, but great crosses, free kicks and a hell of a shot. Could be seriously under rated and just not getting a fair go.
Rotonda heights
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:18 PM
Comment #15be really gutted if we get pardew instead of Rickjard !!!
Darling27
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:19 PM
Comment #16There’s a rumour going round that Enrique has a suspected cruciate knee ligament injury which he picked up in training today. I hope it’s not true 🙁
Darling27
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:20 PM
Comment #17Good lord if it is true i can see CH playing Perch at left back instead of Ferguson ffs!!!
Howay The Lads
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Comment #18Rotonda, there is simply NO WAY we’d get Rijkaard!
I’m not sure whether you’re joking about getting him or not, it’s that unrealistic!
Rotonda heights
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Comment #19HTL,
We can dream can’t we.
Rotonda heights
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:41 PM
Comment #20Darling 27,
CH really doesn’t seem to like playing the youth does he, unless it’s really forced on him by injury etc. I think Ranger could do just as well as Carroll, is quicker and more technical, Lua Lua just as fast as Routledge, Krul is only now finally getting a chance due to injury and perch gets a game ahead of Kadar etc.
john_cena163
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Comment #21Dnt tel me enrique is injurd il b sad:-(
Black n whiteSi
Oct 22, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Comment #22If that rumour on post 16 is true, about el toro knacking his knee then we really are in the preverbial. Our right side with him and gutierrez is really strong but we have mothing on the left, nothing at all at present which is left even worse with perch at RB.
Would like to see Simpson back and hopefully him and Routledge can form the kind of bond El toro and Guti have on the right side. We need to be able to pepper teams on both wings to provide service for our big front men.
Wigaz
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:05 PM
Comment #23Bad news for pompy gettin liquidated but could be chance for us to pick up free transfers players with no club. I’d still take nugent off em for nothing would give us somethin else upfront in case daft twat goes to jail rather than havin to wait till jan. Also pires is looking for a club 2 players we could add 2 the squad rw cover while ben arfa & gosling are on the mend & upfront where we need new blood.
aDeadlyTicTac
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:14 PM
Comment #24Hey guys, if you go to the game tomorrow, no booing Scott Parker kay? Thanks.
Howay The Lads
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Comment #25Why, TicTac?
Thump
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:21 PM
Comment #26Well, at least I saw Portsmouth play before they ceased to exist. Not something any football fan should like to see – a club going out of business is a sad state of affairs.
Wigaz
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:28 PM
Comment #27Very true thump all coz they tried to live beyond their means .Very sad. But would you take any of their players?
baro
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:40 PM
Comment #28I’m going for a 3-2 win for us tomorrow.
Guthrie, Barton to score with Nile Ranger grabbing the game winner!
baro
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Comment #29—————————Krul—————————
Simpson—–Willo—————Colo——Enrique
R.Taylor——–Tiote——–Barton———Jonas
———————Guthrie—————————-
—————————–Ameobi——————–
Put in Nolan and Carroll for Guthrie and Ameobi at 60-70 minute, and sub on Ranger in for R.Taylor on 80th minute.
CT
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:50 PM
Comment #30RE. Portsmouth, uncle arry del boy screwed them! Close shave for us! Tossa!
Howay The Lads
Oct 22, 2010 at 8:54 PM
Comment #31Anyone know how easy it is to upgrade on Sky?
They’ve got me hooked by giving it to me free and taking it away! 😀
Anyway, if it is, do you think I can get it for the game tomorrow?
Rowan Milsted
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:29 PM
Comment #32Howay The Lads, they’re usually very quick mate, ring them up as early as poss and just explain you want to upgrade and you want SS2 as early as poss. I think you’ll get SS 3 and 4 thrown in as well… but yeah one good thing I can say about Sky is that they’re quick, especially if you phone them and are polite etc. Good luck, you don’t want to miss it!
Rowan Milsted
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Comment #33In fact the phoneline may still be open now until 10pm… give it a try.
Rowan Milsted
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:34 PM
Comment #34Anyway, I’m hoping for Simpson at RB, R Taylor RM, Tiote and Nolan in the middle, either a 4-4-2 with Ameobi and Carroll up front or a 4-5-1, throw barton into CM with Tiote and Nolan, we should boss it in the middle and will have several players capable of scoring goals. I really, really hope Enrique’s not injured, who the hell are we going to replace him with?
Howay The Lads
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:55 PM
Comment #35Cheers, Rowan. I’ll try now!
Toon XI
Oct 22, 2010 at 9:58 PM
Comment #36I am really nervous about tomorrow. Win or lose, I have a feeling that it will be a pivotal day for our club this season.
willowdalerez
Oct 22, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Comment #37Barton & Ameobi on bench… here’s my line-up & explanation!
Krul
Simpson Coloccini Williamson Enrique
Guthrie Tiote Nolan (c) Gutierrez
Carroll Lovenkrands
Subs: Soderberg Kadar Taylor (R) Barton Smith Ameobi Perch Ranger
I think Lovenkrands can play and Carroll can shine he just needs smebody to feed him the ball. Barton has failed at that so bench him and let him refelct on his failure to play it into our new No. 9. Meantime let the dutchman take some corners and work some back n’ forth with Andy round the net front & the chemistry he has with Carroll will soon be apparent for all to see; that kid has stacks of talent he was an Dutch teen whiz too Eh! Nolan, Tiote & Gutierrez can all feed the ball in from the mid-pitch… it’s time Hughton upped the offensive and ante & lit a fire under Carroll’s arse (legal troubles be damned the kid’s a born scorer and lives for the game). He just needs (i) ball time get him the damn ball, and (ii) someone to play it bacn n’ forth with to make it all fun n’ games again a.k.a. Peeeeter Lovenkrands!!!!!
umermaliknz
Oct 22, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Comment #38That enrique injury rumour could be bull. It says he got it today today in training but they didn’t have training today according to kevinandandy twitter acc which is updated by kevin nolan. they didn’t have training and they just flew down to london in the arvo. bollocks i reckon. if it’s true then we’re f*****
Turkish Magpie
Oct 22, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Comment #39For those who are reminiscing about the Enrique rumour
it’s probably 99% false however it’s not the end of the world if he is. Shane Ferguson is one heck of a good player for his age and was by far the best player against Chelsea, however i do hope if true that Hughton picks Ferguson (or Kadar who can do a good job) and not play RTaylor or Perch there.
Thump
Oct 22, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Comment #40lol kevinandandy is a joke feed, mate. Do you honestly think Kev would have waited until the news broke mentioning it? Do you also not think that it would be the first tweet before “Andy just came down wearing a hairnet”?