Newcastle United V Chelsea - Official Build Up / Match Day Thread

Both departed with hammy's last night, can't see either being fit. I'd drop Sissoko and HBA too. Issue is Anita hasn't had a lot football, has then played 120mins and ran his socks off. I'd expect him to look jaded. I think we have to go more Liverpool than Man C but I think he is lost as to what to do with our lack of forward options (I am to be honest). I think it will be Shola to try and ruffle them as he has done in the past. Expecting two good games out of Shola in a row is like expecting to win the Euro lottery though.

 

To be fair P 45 I think Di Matteo is easily the best option available, impressed me with West Brom and won the Champions League with Chelsea.

 

Maybe he took him off after 60 mins hoping he'd get the other 30 against Chelsea.

You may be right, we may go with the "false number 9" option again and see if it works. Then Pardew will furiously scribble down whatever Chelsea are doing and "change thing around", a la Sunderland.....

Or we'll play the same formation vs Liverpool but with Ameobi up top and Remy/HBA either side, then a midfield three of Cabs, Tiote and one of Sissoko or Anita. I suspect Sissoko will look 'fresher'......particularly when you only run around for a quarter of a match.

Back four of Pardew's will pick itself anyway, Santon guaranteed a place, as is either Colo or Taylor if they're fit. I like MYM, think he's a very talented footballer. I'd sooner stick with that lad than persevere with Cisse/Sissoko. But we'll see.

Santon will never, whilst Pards is in charge, be anything other than Left Back No 1. I don't know why, I wish I did, but that's life.

 

WTF??? Just seen the tags.

ACS blows Giraffes???

 

He never has and never will be a left back. I remember having this debate on here. The same old thing up "he played left back at Inter under Mourinho....". He did. For a short spell when they had an injury crisis! He spent his formative years as a right winger in their youth sides, moved to right full back, has played right full back at every national level he has represented Italy, and played right back on loan at Cesena.

In a brilliant example of our warped transfer policy, we then bought him cheap as he had an ongoing knee problem, and converted him permanently to left back!

 

Think I'm gonna make a special effort to get down their early on Saturday.
Anyone know what time Shark Club opens?? before 11am?

 

Why isn't he just a fcking right back, then? Cover for Debuchy, allow Dummett and Haidara (injuries aside, of course) to actually play.

This really frustrates me about Pardew. Debuchy's expected to play every fcking game up and down the right, and we have three left backs. Even with what is perceived as a small squad, we are close to having a very good first eleven and s half-decent second eleven. Trouble is Pardew doesn't know the right formation, the right players per position, the right combination of players within those positions or how to make them all play well at the same time.

GK: Krul/Elliott
RB: Debuchy/Santon
CB: Colo/MYM
CB: Taylor/Willo
LB: Dummett/Haidara
DM: Tiote/Bigirimana
CM: Cabaye/Marveaux
CM: Anita/Sissoko
RWF: Ben Arfa/Jonas
CF: Remy/Shola
LWF: Gouffran/Sammy

Spares: Good, Streete, Tavernier, Vuckic, Gosling, Amalfitano, Oberan, Cisse, Ferguson

I cannot fathom what's so wrong with that bunch of players. I'm not pretending it's top 6, but on its' day it can compete and comfortably top-half.

 

Santon at RB seems the simplest of moves, really does.

 

Most of the fans don't want it though. I was shot down in flames for suggesting it a couple of years ago. We have two solid left backs in Dummett/Haidara.

 

Makes NO sense, at all. Well, it does in ONE regard - in that we have this weird "purple player" situation, where purples start no matter what. Debuchy's a purple, Santon's a purple. Anita's not, Sissoko is. It's the only thing that - whilst fcking stupid - makes sense.

We do seem to be managed in this way, which is unlike any other club. I understand we're not Man U, but if they're willing and able to drop players like Rooney, Evra, Valencia, Nani, Young and so on why can't we just play others? Most players are lucky to see 30 matches a season. Earlier in the season, when Debuchy was still learning how to play, it would have been EXCELLENT to bring on Santon. Instead, Debuchy just sees a match out, then starts next week. Meantime, Dummett comes in, plays well, back on the bench. Santon plays well (West Ham/Fulham), then fcing awful (Everton/Hull), but starts.

If we want to manage by standards, I'd do it as I've laid out in the list above. Not so simplistic, but I'd want at least two players competing for a place in the side. As it stands, I'll bet the players won't know til Friday what fcking position they're in for Saturday!!! Hacky moans about HBA (rightly, to a point) but ACS was right in saying the lad doesn't know where he's going to play. "Right, you know how you were right midfield, then right wing forward, then number 10, then on the bench? Well, tonight you're up front on your own." Its fcking nonsense.

Rotation of a squad is about having a definition in how you play. How easy would it be to say "right, Cabaye's my Deep Lying Playmaker, because THAT's my tactic. If he's sh!t or injured, Marveaux is his deputy. If Marv performs, he stays in the side, but not then out wide left - in the same position. Anita is my 'busy' midfielder - he needs to be pushing up, retaining possession, pulling players about, winning the ball in THEIR half. If he's off form or injured, Sissoko's his deputy. If Moussa does the business, he stays in. One slip you're out". Rinse and repeat throughout the entire squad. When we get down to having two players injured - as in the left backs - then Santon can be backup there, that's ok.

I don't know if Pardew's too long in the tooth to get it, but it just seems plain as day to me.

 

Worth noting tactics can still be changed within it. Two up top at the expense of a midfielder, but it's management by identity instead of whatever Pardew keeps trying and failing. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over yet expecting different results.

 

To be fair those 2 players weren't on the scene then and both still have to prove themselves over a sustained period of time. Debuchy is doing well at right back, personally can see Santon ending up playing further up the field.

 

No they weren't but my point at the time was we needed to sign a left back but it was "no Santon is a left back, he's class". We now have two better left backs, inexperienced or not, yet we persist with Santon charade.

I'd try Santon upfield too and if he fails to impress I'd sell him. I'd sell HBA and Sissoko too though. I don't really rate our team to be honest. We have a very good central midfield trio in Anita, Cabaye and Tiote but not much else.

 

Agree about the two full backs, like the look of both them, especially when 6 months ago I wouldn't have given Dummett a prey at making it at this level. Also as for Santon two years ago how much did fans know about him? I was under the impression he struggled at Inter because he couldn't get in at right back because they had Maicon who went to Man City a year later and struggled.

 

Pretty much how it was for Santon. Maicon was at his peak and an absolute machine. Chivu returned after smashing his heed in to take his left back slot back, they still had Zanetii and Cordoba could play anywhere across the back. He just couldn't get in. To be fair those players were top notchers. Had a loan at Cesena to get games. Then he got the knee problem and we pounced.

 

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free;
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, the injured players with knee problems,
Tempest-tossed to me
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

 

I think we should play this formation -

Remy-----Shola-------Gouffran

----------Cabaye----------

------Tiote-----Anita---------

Haidara--Colo---Willo----Debuchy--

-------------Krul---------------

Shola for me over Cisse. Shola brings people into the game and causes problems. Starting Cisse is just a waste of time at the moment.

Also Anita over Sissoko.

 

Got to say I don't watch mutch Italian football but I knew these players were quality, no shame in not getting in the team to those players.

 

Bang on but maybe Dummett over Haidara? Likely neither will be fit of course.

 

Anyone else heard about plans for our ST's to have a picture of ourselves on from next season like a driving license?
A mate works in the club shop that's all.
I'd rather my ST remain the same as my mug on it would taint it a bit