Obertan Injured

---------------------Kurl--------------------------
Raylor ------ Staylor----- Colo ------- Santon
------------------- Tiote------------------------
------ Cabye----------------------Guti----------
-------------------- HBA -----------------------
----------Best--------------BA-----------------

Thats how I would line up

 

If we are picking wingers based on defensive cover then that says more about Simpson then any of the above.

If you were the France manager. Would you select HBA? Marv? Or Obertan in your squad? I know my answer quite clearly.

 

I'd scan the history books and hope Sammy Ameobi has a French grandma...

 

I never said he'd refuse either, I was just reacting to 'who the **** cares if he doesn't want to play there!'. I'm no expert on his time in France, but from what little I've seen of him at the Toon, especially last season where he was playing in place of Jonas he doesn't look like he remotely wants to play on the wing. His only start at SJP against Stoke he drifted for the whole game, so if his skill lies in cutting inside, beating players and picking a pass why play him on the wing?

 

Yes, we know Simpson is poor. What do you suggest? We just acknowledge that he needs help but ignore it because it 'says more about Simpson' that we need somebody who is defensive minded? Terrible idea.

Our team isn't France, it's Newcastle - and at Newcastle HBA wants to play the number 10 in the hole position because he said he feels most comfortable there - therefore if he were to play on the wing he is the sort of player who would probably drift inwards anyway. On the flip side to that we have Marveaux who has played on the right wing a couple of times this season already and has proven to be effective there. So I'd go for Marveaux.

 

I actually think it may be no bad thing that Obertan injured himself, assuming it's nothing serious and assuming we get past Everton. As Obertan was the clear starter when he got injured and as he hasn't been dropped, his confidence shouldn't take much of a beating. Marv can be told to take his chance in a couple of games where we don't expet any points anyway. He either takes the chance or he doesn't. If he doesn't Obertan can slot back. If he does, competition betweem two confident players should be healthy

 

Yeah this is true, I was just concerned given how Obertan seems to be a confidence player. Pardew said at the beginning he needed plenty of first team games to build back his confidence. May not be a problem though, since I'm expecting Marveaux will leap at this chance and play very well!

 

Jonas has made that left wing spot his own this year. He quite clearly cuts inside aswell as helps out 'when needed' defensively. Marv and HBA should follow this lead if they have any aspirations to be in the team or not. 4-4-2 is quite clearly working so for either to think they will get in the team by either forcing Jonas out or in HBA's mind change the formation just to suit his own personal pleasures...they can think again.

We dont know exactly how it would turn out to play HBA on the right for us. But its worth finding out. All I know is, he has played their for years especially at Marseille. He knows the role. So if we ask him or tell him to play their, then he should jump at the chance.

 

Most of this is quite clearly from the right hand side.....gets me juices flowing. Get him in the team.

[video=youtube;jzbLwSNHM-U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzbLwSNHM-U[/video]

 

This. Might see Ferguson back on the bench as well as wing cover

 

I bet his right back ****ing hated him though, putting him on the wing would be the exact opposite of Jonas, no support whatsoever and leaving him very exposed.

 

I can't imagine he'd drop Simpson after perhaps his best game this season, but if he were to bring in Ben Arfa on the right, I'd be much inclined to put Santon at Right back, as Ben Arfa won't do the defensive work Obertan does.

 

Yea im sure all fullbacks hated playing with Ronaldo & Messi when they were right wing demons.

And im sure we werent decent at all with Ginola and Robert on the wing.........oh wait.

Whats with all the negativity?!! Get him on the wing and let him tear up Everton again. Im sure Simpson can cope!!

 

I'd put a lot of money on neither Jonas, Raylor or Ben Arfa starting on the right wing. Jonas or Raylor wont be moved because of how well they're doing in their current positions. Pardew said, literally two weeks ago that he only sees Ben Arfa as a number 10 and the player himself joined the club on the promise that he would be given a central playmaking role.

That leaves us with two very different options, both with some merit to their cause. Marveaux has impressed a lot on the left/centre, but it remains to be seen how effective he can be on the left, and while Gosling has played there before, his lack of pace would compromise our game plan. I think Marveaux will start, and if he leaves Simpson too exposed then Gosling will be our plan B.

 

He's not Ronaldo or Messi, he's a partially fit Ben Arfa. And what's the point even arguing about it, Pardew isnt going to play him as a winger and Ben Arfa clearly doesnt want to be one either.

It amazes me that people can slate Simpson so much but be happy to put a winger in front of him who is A) left footed, B) not a winger and C) who would do very little to track back.

 

My point exactly. He's a match winner on his day and we might just need one of those in what will be a tough game on Sat.

 

i don't see what the debate is here? obertan often drifts inside and marveaux offers more defensively that obertan anyways. i reckon marv is a cert to start.

 

I agree, and at the risk of GrimReaper or whatever his name was coming back and kicking off because I apparently slated Robert (not true!), our success so far this season has been based on being solid at the back and building on that. Its not luck that we've conceded less goals than anyone else, even if I expect that record to be gone by December, and suddenly throwing Simpson to the wolves puts that at risk.

Ginola and Robert were fantastic, but were classic examples of 'you score one, we'll score two' that has always left us close to winning something but not quite. It also killed Olly Bernard. Not literally, but his hips not very happy.

 

Agree 100%. That's why Ben Arfa would be better as the second striker. If/when he loses the ball there it's not the end of the world, they still have to get past Tiote to put pressure on our defence.