There’s no doubt that Newcastle gave a flat performance at Villa Park last Sunday afternoon.
Shola Ameobi – back Tuesday night – hopefully
But it seems that the Newcastle players have had a good week in training, and there are no more injuries, thank goodness, and Shola Ameobi will in all likelihood be fit to start against Manchester United next Tuesday evening.
Shola had a scan done on his swollen knee last Monday, and all seemed well with no damage showing up, and we have to hope it is clearing up just fine, and the 29 year-old is due to resume training tomorrow.
Alan Pardew talked about what has happened this week:
“We’ve done some good work this week.” “We were a bit disappointed with the Aston Villa game. It’s one of those where it’s hard to understand why it didn’t catch light in any period.”
“It was a flat game, although both teams had good levels of motivation.” “There was a lot of nervousness on their part, and on ours, and we were a bit light.” “But I think we’ll be a lot stronger on the bench against Manchester United, on Tuesday, with a situation where we can change it in terms of personnel and senior players.”
“Shola Ameobi’s scan came back clear, which was obviously very important for us.” “Someone missing like Shola can make a big difference.” “He was the man-of-the-match in the win against Wolves in my opinion.”
“You’re going to get injuries and suspensions that affect you and your performance.” “But as we head towards Tuesday in preparation for Manchester United, we have Stephen Ireland training and we think Shola will be fine – but we’ll wait and see on Sunday.”
“Everybody else who played at Villa has come through.” “The mood in the camp is determined.”
At the very least it would be good to see Newcastle give an all-out performance against the Red Devils, but whether we can get anything out of that game, we don’t know, but it’s unlikely.
But we also have to think that the game at Blackpool a week tomorrow has become a crucial game, which Newcastle should win, so if there’s any doubts about players for Tuesday night, they probably should be saved for the very important Blackpool game.
Cheick Tiote is back on Tuesday night, and Kevin Nolan is due back from suspension for the Blackpool game, so we have to hope there are no more injuries picked up against Manchester United.
Blackpool have very poor defense, in fact the worst in the PL, having conceded 66 goals in 32 games, and there has to be a good chance that Newcastle can score some goals at Bloomfield Road.
If we cannot then we could be in big trouble, let’s put it that way.
Comments welcome.
19 comments so far
boater
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Comment #1Shola gives the team shape and a much needed outlet. We couldn’t get hold of the ball in their half against VIlla.. add to that shola is daft enough to score against manure and you realise how important he is as the focal point of attacks these days, like it or not.
Still say he has the huge advantage of being able to turn with the ball over Carroll.
scottoon
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Comment #2Very happy to have Strolla fit for this match. Can’t believe I am sayin it, but such is the state of our strike force at the moment. What I will give Strolla is that he can be a great target man, and can win the knock ons. Ranger seemed to mistime every leap last week, and was very off. Keep him on the subs bench as the impact player over the last 10 or 20.
MacToon
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Comment #3Man U have got themselves top of the league and haven’t really been playing that well……
We have Tiote back which is good and should really strengthen our defense. Can’t believe we have to wait ’til Tuesday 🙁
Suppose we watch the other results over the weekend… what fun!
ganiyu
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #4give shola ameobi the no.9 shirt. He is worthy of it. A newcastle legend
ArtyH
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:50 PM
Comment #5Yeh good to have Strolla back, but would really like to see Airey start before Ranger, when he gets his chance he will take it with both hands just you watch!
ToonAndy
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #6Against Man U..
————————HARPER————————-
SIMPSON—-WILLO——-COLLO—–ENRIQUE
JONAS——BARTON——–TIOTE——FERGIE
————————IRELAND————————
————————AMEOBI————————-
scottoon
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Comment #7Manure road record has not been great. We have the same number of road wins. They have scraped out many draws in games they should have lost. I think we can get something out of this if we can get Jonas and Joey tracking back to the corners to deal with their wide play. Everything they do will come from wide positions through Nani and Valencia. Cut off those supply lines, and hit them on the counter. 2-1 home win!!! HWTL!!
roshan MAGPIE
Apr 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Comment #8hope there wont be any injury s to any players and there wont be any set back on Shola too
coolcatcarter89
Apr 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Comment #9That’s the one, ToonAndy!
ganiyu
Apr 15, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Comment #10another 3pts lost……there is nothing like hope here
Davies
Apr 15, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #11That’s the team I’d go for ToonAndy. Best starting line up available at the moment, as long as Ireland’s fit. Pardew has already said he won’t start Ireland, which is a shame. Think it’ll be Lovenkrands up front with Shola until one of them gets subbed.
scottoon
Apr 15, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Comment #12Harps
Simpson — Willo —-Collo —— Enrique
Tiote
Barton Jonas
Ireland
Loven Stolla
Just don’t see AP getting away from the left side link up, nor giving Fergie the start when he has the experience. Not that I agree, but seems to be AP’s way. Not sure about Ireland either, but IMO we need that creativity in the centre of the park in front of Cheick
ytz
Apr 15, 2011 at 3:14 PM
Comment #13Hope everyone survives the warm-up though….. – –
boater
Apr 15, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Comment #14scottoon – I’m with you marra.
dave 1961
Apr 15, 2011 at 5:08 PM
Comment #15I would save shola for winnable games because the fact that nothing showed on the scans can sometimes mean that they simply did not find the problems, my last scan on my knee showed bone damage but my cartilage was found to be shredded and this was not picked up on the scans, so its sometimes not good news, just not bad, we should not take any risks in games like these, I would give him until the Blackpool game, my consultant told me its not unusual for an mri not to find problems in the knee’s. I am not an expert on orthopaedics, but my consultant was one of the top in the uk.
GeordieTwo
Apr 15, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Comment #16Unfortunately they are in great form and right now our strike force is a shambles (saying it is a strike force is a huge exaggeration). Shola is the best we have and you never know what kind of game you are going to get out of him. Thank the owner for the lack of striker options, we have known for years that we needed another striker. Now we need 2 and I have no idea whether Ranger is going to turn out to be good or not. Bad attitude for a youngster or should I say gangsta? The owner has paid the bills but has sold the heart of the team several times over, and broken the hearts of the supporters several times over. Now we pick through the bone pile of other team’s discards. The summer should be the final judgement of Ashley. Buy intelligently Ashley but get out there and buy good players for this team. Don’t just go after other peoples’ out of contract players like Elmander and Larson. Keep the good players with proper well-earned contracts especially Jose. Keep the bargain basement stuff for your other business. Don’t look for your next manager in the casinos and pubs of the world. Treat the supporters with respect and talk to them regularly. Sack Lambias and hire a football man. Then I might have some respect for you.
dave 1961
Apr 15, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Comment #17Never a truer word said 100%
Jose Enrique
Apr 16, 2011 at 6:32 AM
Comment #18Funny how when Shola is out everyone loves him but if he plays bad everyone will be like ‘sell him’ and ‘play Ranger’
Lee Dodd
Apr 16, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Comment #19Geordie Two Spot On Son !!!! I Never thought we would see the day when Shola Was our Number 1 Striker !!!!! I also think we need to Tie Up Ferguson How Long Is His Contract ??