This is another tough test for Newcastle today at home to West Brom, and it’s never easy to win games in the Premier League, as West Brom found out on Monday night when they were 2-0 up at home to Aston Villa after only 10 minutes, but Villa came storming back in the second half to level the scores.
And how many times are the two halves so different in a Premier League game this season, where one team is on top in the first half and the other side comes storming back in the second – the answer is a lot.
Newcastle will have to combat the quick and skillful Shane Long, who is in top form at the moment for West Brom, and Alan Pardew may want more movement and quickness in central defense than Coloccini and Williamson can provide, so there’s a chance that Yanga-Mbiwa could be drafted back into central defense.
But that’s still a long shot, and we expect Yanga-Mbiwa to be the unlucky one who loses his place from last week, and the Newcastle manager again has a full squad of players from which to choose the side today, so it will be difficult for a number of good players to even make the bench at St. James’ Park today.
And it’s unlikely that the manager will make many changes from the side that did well last Saturday to beat Norwich City 2-1, although we expect French International Mathieu Debuchy to come straight back in at right back after his one game suspension for picking up five yellow cards.
So this is a possible team for today:
Krul
Debuchy Coloccini (c) Williamson Santon
Sissoko Tiote Cabaye Gouffran”Ameonbi (Sh) Remy
Subs: Elliot Yanga-Mbiwa Taylor(S) Anita Ben Arfa Gutierrez Cisse
Let us know what your team would be for today.
And 57% of fans think we can win this game this afternoon and get our 4th win on the trot, and that would likely send us higher than 8th place by tonight.
The keys to the game today are that the defense can be solid and strong at the back, and there were some glimpses of sloppiness at the back against Norwich City, so we’ll need to show some improvement in that area today, against a better West Brom side, or we could be punished for that sloppiness.
And we hope that Loic Remy and Shola Ameobi are again in good form, as they were last week against Norwich City, and maybe Shola could even get his first league goal of the season today – that would be good.
Alan Pardew will have lots of choices from the bench in the second half, depending on how the game is going, and it would be great to see Ben Arfa get a run-out, and maybe even tilt the game Newcastle’s way, with some of that mercurial skill of his.
Quite honestly, we’d be happy enough with a draw today, but Alan and the lads will be going all out to land our 4th league win in a row.
And if the lads can get the job done today, Newcastle fans will be just a little bit higher in orbit tonight.
Another win would simply be unbelievable.
Howay The Lads!!
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102 comments so far
Jonny
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:03 PM
Comment #1Strongest bench we have had in years.
JackButler
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:04 PM
Comment #2If Pardew wants consistency then he has to stick with what has been working and not change things simply to bring one player back into the starting 11 as what message does that send out to the player being dropped?
Drop Colo back to the bench and stick with Mapou and Willo as they work better as a pairing. Colo get’s caught out far to easily in the air and his lack of pace will allow Shane Long to have a field day.
beddersmag
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:22 PM
Comment #3Jack butler
Only problem is willo is much slower than collo. That would be even more of a mismatch if long starts running at him
beddersmag
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:23 PM
Comment #4For this one maybe collo and mbiwa?
toonbrother
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Comment #5If yanga gets dropped i dont expect us to win. Certainly will not get a clean sheet.
only fools fail to learn from their mistakes, starting coloshitty is a mistake weve made far too often
JackButler
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Comment #6beddersmag
I would say Willo is as quick as Colo and more physical, but Mapou has the outright pace to deal with Long and Willo can deal with any aerial threat, they complement each other well and have been the best pairing we have had this season so why look to change what has been working?
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:35 PM
Comment #7Got to be Iron Mike and MBiwa for me one can deal with the aerial threat and one with the speed.
basically the same team that started against Chelski and the Spuds
askar
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Comment #8Hello Everyone!
I would Drop Willo and Shola and play Mapou and Ben Arfa.
—————————Krull——-
San—————Collo—Mapou————–Deb
————————Tiote———————
Gouf—————Cabaye——————-Sisso
———————Ben Arfa—————–
———————–Remy—————–
Win and 3-1 : goals from Remy, Sissoko and Ben Arfa 🙂 🙂
Howay The Lads!!
askar
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:46 PM
Comment #9Hello Everyone!
I would Drop Willo and Shola and play Mapou and Ben Arfa.
—————————Krull——-
San—————Collo—Mapou————–Deb
————————Tiote———————
Gouf—————Cabaye——————-Sisso
———————Ben Arfa—————–
———————–Remy—————–
Win and 3-1:goals from Remy, Sissoko and Ben Arfa 🙂 🙂
Howay The Lads!!
Ancientcoptic
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Comment #10Sessegnon is my biggest worry. If they are to have any chance of a result in this game, it will almost certainly be coming from him. Tiote & Debuchy should have him singled out for a bit of special attention – sounds painful lol.
I fancy us to nab this game, but I think it could be as late as the last 10 minutes until we break them down.
C’mon the Toon!
asenski
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Comment #11Hallo everybody,
as to the topic – as far as know pardew he will not drop collo , moreover I also expect to see jonas ahead ben arfa after 70th min
Yohan Kebab
Nov 30, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Comment #12if stoke beat everton and we beat wba we can go fourth!
Ketsbaia9
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Comment #13Can’t understand why Pardew is playing Marveaux. He deserves to at least be on the bench. We have no creativity on the bench. Obertan shouldn’t be ahead of Marveaux. It’ll be a tough game today. It’s our best chance to beat Man Utd next saturday. With the players we have, I’m expecting us to win.
Yohan Kebab
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Comment #14sad day today, the day we drop mbiwa, reinstate colo and lose
Ginger
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Comment #15Why do people want to play Collocini and Ben-Arfa?
Ben-Arfa has been dropped for a reason and what message does it send to Shola if he gets dropped considering he was one of the best players last week? Moronic.
As for Collocini he’ll get ripped apart by Longs pace, for me it has to be Yanga-Mbiwa and Williamson, been the best pairing by far and compliment each other perfectly.
We should stick with the team that have beaten Spurs and Chelsea.
Yohan Kebab
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Comment #16my dream is we go unbeaten for the rest of the season with a barrage of clean sheets and willo gets into the world cup squad 😉 nigeria england final with shola scoring the winning goal!!!
asenski
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Comment #17i really cannot understand how pardew rates willo ahead of mbiwa
surely there is a place for ben arfa in the starting , but pardew obviously cannot take the best of this player
Tsunki
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Comment #18Like most I think Colo needs to play his way back into the tam like anyone else, just because he is captain he shouldnt be auto selction.
However I think he is far from rubbish, and the toonbrother character is to Colo as Indian Mag is to Shola. Give it a rest slagging off your pet hate you numbnut.
anthc
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Comment #19Happy with a draw? These are the games we should be winning at home to maintain hope of a top ten finish. However, hull is one of a few examples of how unpredictable this league can be. Willo and mbiwa for me with debuchy back in. Shola to score first with a 3-1 win. Heres hoping anyway!
JackButler
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:17 PM
Comment #20I simply can’t get my head around the fact that people want to drop either Mapou or Willo to accommodate Colo and drop Shola (who was man of the match against Norwich by the way) to accommodate HBA?
The 11 that beat Chelsea and Spur’s have earned the right to keep their place and should not be dropped to accommodate a want away Captain or to satisfy their need to drool over an inconsistent/over rated HBA?
JackButler
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:19 PM
Comment #21http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/9049923/newcastle-united-announce-plans-to-construct-new-training-complex
Tsunki
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Comment #22Ketsy @13 – you cant understand about Marveaux what, exactly? Let me explain what it is you cant figure out – he’s not good enough.
Himanshu Dhingra
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Comment #23For me only correct line up is the one which played against Spurs and Chelsea
Tsunki
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Comment #24Errr got out the wrong side of bed ths morning……
The Baggies are like us, at times resilient, a nearly team who occasionally punch above their weight but at sme point will fall short of the mark. Problem for us is they usually have form against us. Dont expect it to be easy. I have forebodings that they will catch us out and deal a blow to our confidence with a busy run up to xmas. I am hoping for a 3-1 win though. We need to play Benny at some point.
Ciaran
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Comment #25Think people who slag Colo seriously are lacking in respect for one of the best defenders we’ve had in years, probably the best centre half we’ve had since Woodgate.
I do however think Willo deserves to keep his place. Despite being a limited player he has given 100% in the last number of games and he is as honest as the day is long and seems to complement M’biwa really well.
As for HBA, doesn’t deserve to start, bring him on if we’re comfortable towards the end and see if he can show why he should be starting. Shola has been immense in recent weeks, and while he might not play pretty football like HBA he has also been giving 100%, something I doubt HBA ever has.
asenski
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Comment #26Jack
why do we need to talk about accommodation – you just play the better players , right?
I do not see willo as better than collo or mbiwa, same for shola to cisse and arfa . I agree when a team plays , make no big changes – but let’s look at the whole picture- willo and shola’s appearances are due to a short momnetum which probably will be gone tonight or vs swansea – then what – pardew will do what he always does- deligitimaze himself bringing back guti for example
Moe
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Comment #27“Quite honestly, we’d be happy enough with a draw today,”
the only thing I didn’t like on the article. We should be looking for a win against West Brom on the SJP, a draw doesn’t speak for the ambitions of the fans.
Long and Sessengon are surely dangerous, but I’m hoping that Odemwengie doesn’t go under the radar, he can cause a lot of trouble too.
Agree with most of you here, Colo shouldn’t just walk into the starting line up, he’s gotta earn it like the rest.
Tsunki
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Comment #28Indian – the one with Shola up front? 🙂
Hats off to admitting that one mate!
Ciaran
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Comment #29Until Willo or Shola play badly changes do not need to be made. You reward good performances. Dropping Willo and Shola for Colo and HBA is not rewarding good performances, it would be punishing good performances and rewarding bad ones! Insane.
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:30 PM
Comment #30Really really tough game to call today
WBA are and have our biggest bogey team for years now, even when we were both in the fizzy pop!
A lot of today imo depends in his team selection, for me Willo and Mbiwa have to start, so does shola
Heart says 3-1 win head says 1-1 draw!
Hope we rout them though, be great to see Ameobi get a goal today he deserves that on his recent form
JackButler
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Comment #31asenski
You don’t simply pick your best players, you play the players that make up the best team and that doesn’t necessarily picking the best 11 individuals.
Mapou and Willo work well together and you have to look at what message it sends out if one of them are dropped to allow Colo or Saylor to simply walk back into the starting 11.
You want players fighting to get into the side and not simply getting a start because of reputation. Picking players on form counts for more
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:33 PM
Comment #32Asenki
Eh? Mate it’s not a simulated game on fifa mate, the best starting 11 doesn’t always included your best players it includes the players that compliment there team mates and the formation best
toonarmydownsouth
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Comment #33Ciaran
Imo opinion if a players is dropped today it will (sadly) be MYM, you simply can’t play him and colo as a pair
But don’t think colo can cope with the pace of long
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Comment #34If Collo starts for M’biwa today then Pardew has no balls whatsoever and he should be ashamed .
Ciaran
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:37 PM
Comment #35On a side note, this is rather good news.
http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/News/Gallery/0,,10278~3556734,00.html
Mister Tuff
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Comment #36I think Percy should go for a Willo/Mbiwa pairing and because he had a good game last time -Shola up front.
Percy has a decent bench today and if things are not working out he has plenty of options to change things around. Also if things are going good bring on Benny for the last 20 -25 mins -(please no Obertan though).
Ciaran
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:38 PM
Comment #37Tads
I think you’re right. Although if he picks M’biwa ahead of Colo and M’biwa has a poor game you will have people slating Pardew for sticking by his guns. I don’t much like Pardew but I will have a little more respect for him if he sticks with the team that has been in such good form recently.
Ancientcoptic
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:39 PM
Comment #38Why Ben Arfa should play? because he has form against West Brom. They absolutely hate playing against him.
Steve Clarke will be walking onto the touchline feeling lucky with Ben Arfa on the bench.
I fully understand people supporting Ameobi playing as he adds a shape to the side, plus his last game was good, but I am not expecting anything from him today – playing a big striker against big defenders is playing right into their hands if you ask me… that being said – I will hold my hands up if I am wrong.
Mister Tuff
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:42 PM
Comment #39Ciaran – that link does not work. Was it about the new training facilities – if it was I was reading about it earlier on. We should have the most up to date training establishment in Europe which can only be a good thing.
Ciaran
Nov 30, 2013 at 2:47 PM
Comment #40Tuff
Yes it was about the proposed new training facilities. It is some form of progress off the field. Apparently they still need to file for planning permission though so it is early days yet.