Hatem Ben Arfa vs QPR

Load sof different ideas, just shows we really don't have a settled formation unfortunately.

Krul
Simmo Willo Colla Santon
Raylor Cabaye Abeid Jonas
HBA
Shola

 

Same team as me

 

I'd go with that. although, as long as HBA starts i dont really mind

 

Krul

Simpson
Williamson
Colo
Santon

Ben Arfa
Abeid
Cabaye
Jonas

Best
Shola

Guthrie in for Abeid if he's 100% fit.


I'm all for the 4-5-1/ 4-2-3-1 shapes but they require more flexibility, movement and require the midfield to get forward to support the attack. Newcastle, not just in the current version, but as long as I remember seem to have struggled to adapt to different formations. 4-5-1 with NUFC tends to just result in a lonely forward running about completely cut adrift from the rest of the team.

The formation first half against Blackburn was meant to be a form of 4-2-3-1 but it just didn't work. The movement on and off the ball is never good enough, far too static. Ben Arfa picks it up and turns on goal and everybody is glued to the pitch waiting for him to do something with it. The only time we really created anything was when one of Jonas, Ben Arfa or Santon took it up themselves to force the play and put a cross in, or run at them. It's never dynamic or through flowing interplay.

We looked far more at home once we switched to 4-4-2 and put Ben Arfa on the right. Seems our players are just more used to that system and having two targets to hit.

 

I wouldn't argue with this.

 

Why would you drop Santon?

 

Everyone assumes he'll start, as do I, but does Pardew run the risk of seriously upsetting him by not playing him?

 

Raylor on the right? people forgetting how good he was against united and how **** ober was against bburn

 

I didnt mean to drop santon. On auto pilt with that back 4 from earlier on in the season. Drop Raylor, put in Santon

Krul
Simmo - Willo - Colo - Santon
Guthrie - Cabaye
Ben Arfa - Vuckic - Jonas
Best​

 

--------------Krul
Simmo---Colo-----Willo---Santon
---------Cabaye--Abeid
Ben Arfa-----Vuckic------Jonas
-------------Best

 

It is very much a case of much of a muchness between Abeid and Guthrie but i think Pardew has already stated that Guthrie is the man to fill Tiote's place so he is virtually guranteed to be playing

 

Yes. He's the manager and his side without Ben Arfa convincingly beat Man Utd in the last league game. I'm not saying don't play him, but the reason to play him isn't to avoid hurting his feelings.

I'd go same as against Man Utd, with Abeid in for Tiote and Shola or Ben Arfa for Ba. Probably Ben Arfa then launch Shola as an impact sub late on, though I'd like to hope we won't need one.

 

Me personally, I'd go for this formation:

 

Ben Arfa would surely wonder what he has to do to start if he doesn't against QPR, he was our best player against Blackburn and QPR will be equally poor opposition.

 

He's only ever going to play 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 so its pointless speculating over these fancy formations you might want to use with Newcastle on football manager or fifa.

You've got to do it the way Pardew's going to be thinking...

Krul
Simpson Coloccini Williamson Santon

Is obviously going to be our back 5, unless Simpson is still carrying an injury and then, of course Ryan Taylor will come in.

I'd imagine he'd go for 4-4-2 considering Leon Best looks a little lost up front on his own and given Ben Arfa's performance against Blackburn out on the right.

So i'll go for:

Ben Arfa Cabaye Abeid Jonas

with Shola and Best up front.

This is assuming Guthrie isnt ready yet and i cant really see Gosling getting put straight back in if Abeid performed well, but i wouldnt be surprised if he did.

Im hoping ben Arfa plays on the right, so that two actual forwards can play up front because you get a lot more from all three of them that way.

No doubt he'd probbaly shift it at some point changing Ben Arfa for Shola later on and putting Obertan back at RM i guess...

Is Lovenkrands fit again?

 

Is it certain that Guthrie will be back though? If he is then definitely play him ahead of Abeid.

My point is that Vuckic should start. With Cabaye, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Vuckic and Jonas, we have enough creativity to score goals and I wouldn't worry about lack of chances created for Leon Best.

 

We've seen it so many times before though, playing Man Utd is a lot different to playing Blackburn, and Raylor I believe was only put there to give Simpson some support. Ben Arfa is a lot more attacking, which is what we should be going for right from the start.

 

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Traore is not a good full back. He's absolutely dire. It's a bonus for QPR that he's away.