supermac
Silver Member
Howay the Garçons!
Posts: 175
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Post by supermac on Aug 21, 2013 14:00:37 GMT 1
We got thrashed by Man City. Okay.
We're seemingly on the verge of selling Cabaye. Okay.
Our summer transfer policy has been rubbish. Okay.
Let's move on to, if not bigger/brighter/better, at least different things.
Saturday the Hammers travel to St. James' Park in advance of our trip to Morecambe in the League Cup, and matches home to Fulham, away to Villa, and home to Hull before the calendar officially turns to Autumn. While we may have put ourselves in position for these fixtures to appear more daunting than they need be, we can at least agree that this is a more viable stretch of schedule for Newcastle to contend with.
My biggest question ahead of the West Ham game is, obviously, the status of our central midfield. Our starting 11 from City was something along the lines of:
Krul
Debuchy-Saylor-Colo-YangaMbiwa
Gutierrez-Sissoko-Tiote-Ben Arfa
Gouffran-Cisse
What precise formation they played wasn't particularly discernable...but I know those lads were out on the pitch. From front to back for this upcoming weekend?
Goalkeeper
At the risk of alienation, I'm going to suggest that Krul showed just enough on Monday night that he's probably earned his place in this week's squad.
Defense
While Debuchy and Yanga-Mbiwa certainly did not have their best nights on Monday, they'll surely be in the squad on Saturday, I would think, with Yanga-Mbiwa moving back into a central defender role and Santon (if healthy) or Dummett picking up the left-flank. See you in time for Hull City, Saylor.
Midfield
Maybe I missed something or maybe I'm too biased, but I was shocked when Marveaux didn't get the call in place of Cabaye. I thought he showed great signs at the end of last season. Let's just play offense, I say. I know Gutierrez is in the lineup if healthy, so maybe Gutierrez-Sissoko-Marveaux. I realize that leaves us incredibly exposed defensively with very little interest by anyone tracking back, but, well, we can't win if we don't score...
Strikers
Oh, the plethora of options! Back to hoofing it to our lone striker, Cisse! May as well put Ben Arfa and Gouffran up there, too...that way some of our strikers can create their own scoring opportunities.
It's probably more of a 4-3-2-1 line-up, but, well, it was nice talking about this nonsense instead of dwelling on Man City.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2013 21:12:46 GMT 1
One thing for sure Mac is that there will be positional changes in the make up of the side as well as personnel. I thought Krul had no chance in stopping any of the goals and had he not made at least three or four other amazing stops the final score could have been a whole lot worse. That said I expect him to retain his place for Saturday. Debuchy will keep his place at right back simply because there's no bugger else to play there unless APee fancies putting Anita in the frame. Mapou also looks a cert to move back into the middle alongside Colo. Dummett did enough for me to be worth persevering with at left back, particularly if there are serious doubts about Santons fitness. The last thing the side needs is for Davide to come back too early and pull something which means he is then out for weeks or months. In fairness the midfield were always on a hiding to nothing given the farce with Cabaye before the game had started and the subsequent enforced reshuffle thanks to Saylor's moment of madness. Going down to ten men didn't help their cause one bit and bringing on Anita for the injured Gutierrez while sacrificing Gouffran for Dummett simply exacerbated matters. Like you I do wonder if Marveaux just doesn't come into APee's thinking at all as evidenced by the substitution of HBA with Bambiameobi. As for Cisse well I did wonder at times on Monday night was he even on the pitch. I expect the side which will face The Hammers to look something like this: Krul Debuchy, MBiwa, Colo, Dummett Sissoko, Tiote, Anita Hatem Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran Although given a choice I would play Marveaux in place of Anita on the left. Also don't be surprised if Stroller returns on Saturday and Gouffran is given the left side midfield role. Lights Oot!  |
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supermac
Silver Member
Howay the Garçons!
Posts: 175
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Post by supermac on Aug 23, 2013 23:59:08 GMT 1
When I wake up stateside Saturday morning here're the facts I'll know:
Newcastle is undefeated at home this campaign.
Newcastle's only loss of the season came away to one of the Top 3 teams in England.
Anything is possible.
HWTL!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2013 9:42:09 GMT 1
Here are few more things to think about from those nice people at Opta... Newcastle have lost three Barclays Premier League games in a row. They've never lost four in a row in the competition. Will West Ham inflict further misery on the Magpies? West Ham have won just one of their last 14 away games in the Barclays Premier League (W1 D3 L10). The Hammers were the only side that managed to keep a clean sheet both home and away against Newcastle United in the Premier League last season. Newcastle have suffered just one defeat in their last 10 Premier League home games against West Ham (W5 D4), but this defeat came last season; 0-1 at St James Park. Kevin Nolan has scored in three of the last four Premier League encounters between these two sides, although two of those goals came for Newcastle United. West Ham were the only team not to win consecutive Barclays Premier League games last season. They have a chance to do this at the first opportunity in 2013/14. After creating the most chances without an assist in the Premier League last term (46), Matt Jarvis assisted Joe Cole's goal with his first chance created in 2013/14. Newcastle have been given five Premier League red cards since the start of last season, only Arsenal (6) have more in this period. Since the start of 2012, Newcastle have won five of their seven Premier League home games against sides from London (L2). Lights Oot! |
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supermac
Silver Member
Howay the Garçons!
Posts: 175
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Post by supermac on Aug 24, 2013 14:26:36 GMT 1
I understand Santon and Anita in for Gutierrez and Saylor (obviously)...and I like Marveaux in for Tioté...but Slowla in for Gouffran? Maybe APee knows something different, but I liked the pace Yoan can bring...
Krul
Debuchy-Colo-YangaMbiwa-Santon
Ben Arfa-Sissoko-Anita-Marveaux
Shameobi-Cissé
HWTL!
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supermac
Silver Member
Howay the Garçons!
Posts: 175
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Post by supermac on Aug 24, 2013 14:42:03 GMT 1
PS - why do we seem to be the one squad who won't play anybody even remotely involved In transfer rumors?
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supermac
Silver Member
Howay the Garçons!
Posts: 175
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Post by supermac on Aug 24, 2013 16:32:24 GMT 1
WL -
I've saved you time in doing your match recap today by taking care of the 1st half for you:
Kick-off.
Half-time whistle.
You're welcome!!
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Post by Pollypeterborough on Aug 24, 2013 16:53:08 GMT 1
What a load of rubbish. CRAP. The football that is.  |
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Post by Pollypeterborough on Aug 24, 2013 16:57:21 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2013 20:51:29 GMT 1
Ho fn Ho.......sometimes vacations are bliss.......wtf is going on?
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Post by Pollypeterborough on Aug 24, 2013 21:15:58 GMT 1
Ho fn Ho.......sometimes vacations are bliss.......wtf is going on? The football we are playing if you can call it that Canny. |
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Post by standanders on Aug 24, 2013 22:38:35 GMT 1
bobby robson got names wrong and we embraced him for it.
i think we should embrace kinnear.
see the humour in the names he comes up with.
charles n'somnia
yohan kebab.
he'd be great on this forum.
lets face it you call steven taylor, saylor
that's a 'kinnear'.
lets think of some more.
tim cruella de ville
jonas guttering
shola amoeba
papis silly
and our rival manager
paolo de can opener
you got to laugh guys?
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Post by Fairscup on Aug 25, 2013 6:32:47 GMT 1
Thanks for that StandAlone - funniest post ever on this forum!
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Post by standanders on Aug 25, 2013 22:15:24 GMT 1
Thanks for that StandAlone - funniest post ever on this forum! no problem fairs. anytime. in fact here's the 'kinnear' on your name. fairscup = furcup. like it? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2013 22:31:34 GMT 1
WL - I've saved you time in doing your match recap today by taking care of the 1st half for you: Kick-off. Half-time whistle. You're welcome!! Mac the second half wasn't much better and a poor advert for football at this level. Definitely a case of couldn't and wouldn't. If I supported West Ham the first thing I would be asking big Spam was why didn't they really go all out to win the game? Looked very much to me they were more afraid of losing than trying to actually take the three points. Also it appears The Toon's game plan at home is not to park the bus, but to run around trying to look as if they know what they're doing without really achieving much. Then hopefully score in the last minute so the opposition have no time to recover. Problem is the side actually need to create a chance for someone to score from and based upon yesterdays showing plus the Monday night horror show they are incapable of doing either of them. I was pushing for Marveaux to start and sure enough he did, however he may as well not have for the contribution he made during the game. Absolute bare minimum in effort and creativity. Sadly far to many of the side are looking exactly what they are, cheap buys! The jury may still be out but with one game gone it's not looking very good for Alpha Papa. On top of that this week could be one of the most crucial during the whole of our most benevolent owners tenure. Lose on Wednesday night in the Capital One Cup to Morcambe, followed by another dire showing at home against Fulham, with no incoming signings in sight and Cabaye looking on the way out even die hard Supporters will show their true feelings. There were a lot of disturbed and angry people around me yesterday. With not one of them having a positive word to say about any of those in charge of running and managing NUFC. Lights Oot! |
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I've seen Newcastle United win silverware!