Newcastle are now in a relegation battle for the second time in two years, and one area we are very weak in is goal scoring, after we failed to bring in enough strikers last summer, and there’s news today that head coach John Carver may have to bring back French striker Emmanuel Riviere, although he is yet to score a Premier League goal this season.
Manu Riviere – after scoring at Crystal Palace
But with Papiss Cisse getting himself banned for seven games, and Newcastle not bringing in enough strikers last summer, Manu’s all we have available along with youngsters Ayoze Perez and Adam Armstrong.
Carver wants to play two strikers up front to try to get some goals, and we have only scored two goals in the last six games, and with our defense leaking goals far too easily, things do not look good at the moment.
The head coach had to admit after the loss to Tottenham, our sixth in a row, and seventh of the last eight games – that we are now in another relegation battle.
This is what John Carver has said:
“My job is to find a solution – to find a way of playing – where I can get maybe two strikers on the pitch,” “The only way you can win games is by scoring goals.”
So it looks like John could play in a 4-4-2 formation with Perez and Riviere up front, and it would be a good time for Manu to score his first Premier League goal – although he has two goals in the League Cup.
Siem de Jong is getting fit quickly after his collapsed lung in February and the surgery which followed that, but the best we can expect from the Dutchman is that he is on the bench on Saturday.
The defense must be a worry for Carver too, and the first two goals against Spurs last Sunday were preventable, with Tim Krul seemingly going through some poor form at the moment, and he should have done better with both goals.
Paul Dummett is getting fit from his knee injury, but Saturday could be too early for him and we expect Vurnon Anita to remain at left back.
Papiss Cisse still has two more games to serve in his seven match ban, and he will be available for the home game against West Ham on 9th May.
Papiss has been a huge loss for Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:22 AM
Comment #1Information from the club is very difficult to reach but it would appear that they have not actually made approaches to any potential coaches and have missed out on better candidates. When McClaren joined Derby he described it as like ‘coming home’, a role he was destined for and was a long term project. Where is his loyalty? His track record does not point to long term success and if Paul Clement replaces him at Derby I will be livid. If the choice is between JC and SM then its just the same sh#te carrying on. No positive approach, no new horizon and nothing learned.
martoon
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:23 AM
Comment #2Ibizatoon – ” I have no comment to make about the mystery man, but I’m delighted to see Lee ”
So now we know who the mystery man is in that picture 🙂
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:24 AM
Comment #34-3-1-2 is the way forward! Some discipline in midfield, attacking speed and no Gouffran.
cyprus
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #4Don’t play Ober, Raylor, Arms. Maybe then we’ll pull off a miracle;draw
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #5Mystery man NZ rugby man, makes sense and no story.
cyprus
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:28 AM
Comment #6Yes, Gouffy too. Don’t know what happened there.
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:32 AM
Comment #7John Carver and Steve McClaren – makes me feel sick just thinking about it – its not a choice because both will be here next season.
hibbit
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:34 AM
Comment #8i think the only way Mcclaren will come to newcastle is if derby sack him no way will ashley pay compen…………… if derby go up why would he leave them to work for ashley were the head coaches uniform is a straight jacket
Ibizatoon
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:37 AM
Comment #9martoon…Ha ha, well caught! 🙂
How you feeling about things lately?
Lindisfarne…NZ rugby man?
MeCanny…From previous…Statements have been made that basically people are allowing a little dust to settle, assessing ideas, and planning the next steps. No need to rush, as we keep getting told, Ashley isnt going anywhere! 😉
Broons…Step by step mate.
Average_Contents
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Comment #10Ibiza from last thread.
In a nutshell. No more needs to be said.
Average_Contents
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Comment #11Oops forgot
Hwtf
Ibizatoon
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Comment #12Where I really get stuck with this “it’s about to change for the better idea” is that it would be so simple for the club to just come out, give us a proper indication of what is going on.
Stop pushing us to guess. Their track record is appauling and they wonder why we have no faith? For this relationship to work they need to take some huge steps to try and repair it. They aren’t. They’re not learning anything.
You don’t need to wait to commuincate if you have an end game plan. Not unless you know that plan will not please people.
Something, somewhere, is amiss.
The money is there this time, well, it was also there last summer and this January. The accounts say so, right?
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Comment #13Steve McClarens’ record:
Team/Country/From-To/Goal/Win/Draw/Lose/Win %
5 years – Middlesbrough/6.2001-5.2006/250/97/60/93/38.80
1.25 years – England/8.2006-11.2007/18/9/4/5/50.00
2 years – Twente/6.2008-6.2010/101/64/21/16/63.37
.5 year – Wolfsburg/7.2010 -2.2011/24/7/8/9/29.17
.3 year – Nottingham Forest/6.2011-10.2011/13/3/3/7/23.08
1 year – Twente/1.2012-2.2013/64/31/17/16/48.44
2 year – Derby County/9.2013-Present/92/51/20/21/55.43
Does not last long
Total 562 262 133 167 46.62
Ibizatoon
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Comment #14AC…Sorry, you forgot your HWTF, you’re out of the gang. Hand over your membership card 🙂
Wait, did my post have it? Uh oh.
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:47 AM
Comment #15Ibizatoon – I presume you are talking about the picture of Charnley with a much taller guy in the stadium? Someone said earlier they recognised him as a rugby commentator from New Zealand, which makes sense as they are playing at SJP.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Comment #16The broons,
Well John Anderson might read this blog as I’ve been saying for ages now if you sell your best players and have the players you mentioned on long contracts you will eventually end up with a full squad of shite. That season we finished fifth was the second worst thing that has happened to us under the Ashley era.
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:53 AM
Comment #17http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/mh17-tragedy-liam-sweeney-john-9090684
GET YOUR VOTE IN
Ibizatoon
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Comment #18Lindisfarne…I was and oh I see! 🙂
Man, I thought we had a new manager lined up!
Lindisfarne
Apr 22, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Comment #19https://www.facebook.com/mirrorfootball/app_370670299785157
A direct link to vote for Alder & Sweeny as football fans of the year. If you don’t like the Mirror or awards on the whole please just vote in this one category.
murvar
Apr 22, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Comment #20The only option for Carver is to resign.
Mister Tuff
Apr 22, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Comment #21Very suspicious about the Lee Ryder intervention declaring sources tell him it’s Carver or McLaren.
I could just imagine NUFC allowing this story out as it includes McLaren who the powers that be must think if Toon fans believe Mclaren is coming it will kill off the AO campaign. it will probably have the reverse effect.
Whilst McLaren will no doubt know his job inside out he certainly does not offer me any inspiration for the future and more of the same crud will be on display.
To me opens up the question should we be protesting against the potential of a mediocre coach/manager at this moment in time, I do not know the answer to that.
mkhalaf
Apr 23, 2015 at 8:12 AM
Comment #22I personally believe that Manu is the WORST player on our whole team! (including Fucando) he is absolute rubbish,, and a terrible excuse for a striker! not worth 500K in my opinion