Newcastle United v Manchester United - Official Build Up / Matchday Thread

That could work in our favour.

 

aint looking forward to this one ...

 

I can see another hammering, I'm afraid.

Just to divert from the gloom, was having a little ponder on tactics as our glorious leader claims he'll shake things up a bit (probably..) and reckon we should perhaps be playing with an attacking, not midfield, diamond. So it's kind of 4-2-4, but defensive and with a number 10. Here's how I'd line up against Man U

GK: Elliot (difficult to swap out the MoM!!)

RB: Anita
CB: Colo
CB: Willo
LB: MYM/Haidara

DM: Sissoko
DM: Tiote

10: Armstrong

RW: HBA
LW: Santon

CF: Gouffran

Now hear me out - we've got 6 games to go, likely to lose vs. Man U and have suffered from a complete lack of heart coupled with appalling ability, so something needs to change. I always think Santon's a winger, but with a life spent sometimes defending he offers that bit of cover for MYM, who I would pick as he's better LB than RB, needs confidence and won't have a winger against him vs. Man U.

I'd stick Anita at RB, because I want Sissoko in the middle with Tiote and Anita doesn't deserve to be dropped. He's got a real Lahm/van der Wiel quality about him, so I think he'll do a job. The CB's need to stay and pull their socks up. Playing with two defensive mf's with one having a real engine to go box-to-box supports the back four enough to the extent where the wingers won't need to "work back" - a Parpoo trademark I long to see die.

Gouffran gets a shot up front, because he's been ok, LDJ/Cisse are dogsh!t and as I said Santon could well be the best left winger at the club. HBA starts on the right because we don't have anyone else, with Armstrong in the Rooney role.

Enough change to give impetus, an attacking tactic with enough cover, but the chance of any of this happening? Zilch. Thanks for reading.

 

Can't argue with any of that and where LDJ got any kind of good reputation from is beyond me, he hasn't had a half decent game for us and has added nothing to the team.

Maybe Dummett's name should be there though.

 

I'd take haidara ahead of dummy. The latter is far too quick to hoof it. We need full backs who can either carry or play the ball out.

 

We won't have a better opportunity than this to beat Man Utd. They're still very much in the tie with Bayern and have nothing really to play for in the league - indeed, they don't even want to finish in the Europa League places.

But of course we'll still lose, perhaps just by the odd goal in 3 rather than 5 or 6.

 

Yes, but Haidara's name was already there.

 

Man U may well play a weakened team, but, Moyes will still have the likes of Mata, Januzai, Hernandez, Young, Nani, Cleverley as attack minded players. I can see it being tough on the full-backs especially on the right side with Januzai as the opponent.

 

Hell, the way we're playing it would be tough playing the Heed.

 

I'll assume a 3-0 defeat with anything better being a bonus. That way, I have at least a slight chance of not being bitterly disappointed and angry.

 

Sissoko out for 2-3 weeks with a thigh injury. Down to the bare bones now.

 

ffs!

 

Can't get much worse.

Can it?

 

Eliott (I'd like to see Alnwick given a go but would be seriously harsh)

Santon (only fit right back)
Haidara (despite an absolutely abysmal showing at St Mary's I would give him another chance as Dummett got a few - looks like we need a left back though)
Willo (not his fault at St Marys the problem was down the sides)
Colo (as above)

Tiote (tried but was simply trying to cover holes left by others and fighting a lost cause)
Anita (as above but was quite poor in possession)

Remy - meant to be back, needs to be
Armstrong (may as well give him a blast)
Aarons (**** it)

Cisse (wasn't that bad at St Mary's considering the carnage happening behind him)

Only one I feel slightly sorry for is HBA. He was ****e against Southampton, no excuses. However he was cruelly hooked while Gouffran continued on his ****ty merry way. If we weren't so short I honestly would not consider MYM or Gouffran for this game. There has to be some sort of stand made against those kind of performances. Horrific.

Bench: Alnwick, MYM, Dummett, Kemen, Gouffran, HBA, LDJ

 

Could have had Krul, Elliot and Alnwick in goal on Saturday and it wouldn't have made much difference, it was just a game of potty in for Southampton.

 

Ok, nice thoughts, but it's a Parpoo team, so Gouff will start, Armstrong won't. Cisse may not.

We've been promised change, so we'll see. I'd be amazed if it's not just 4-4-2.

 

I'd try wing backs, both our available full backs are good going forward but not so clever at defending. I'd go:

Elliott
Willo Colo MYM (3 CB's)
Santon Haidara (Wing backs)
Tiote Anita
HBA
Cisse Remy

 

Who are you, Steve Bruce?! Good luck with 3 at the back.

4-2-4 for me, as I said above, with a forward diamond. Especially now Sissoko is out, you need Ben Arfa attacking, not defending. Worked for Ginola/Robert, and he's as talented as either.

 

See Parpoo's been rolling out the usual sh!t.

"We wasn't good enough", "We've got to try and put in a performance", "5 of the players who beat Man Utd (yes, don't forget how awesome I am) won't be playing Saturday".

Does anyone else think that the fact he isn't at risk of being sacked works against him? It's like, we'll TRY and put in a performance, but if we don't, well.....meh. We'll "try" again against Stoke. And if we don't? Meh. Wouldn't it be nice to hear him explain his comments midweek about his "winning mentality"? Maybe he could explain the relegation form since we beat Stoke's 9 men? I really struggle to hear him ever say anything of actual value, I wonder if he's like that on the training pitch or in the dressing room?

 

The best part of the trip to Southampton was was watching the DVD of Ginola and Robert crashing the goals in for fun. Oh to see some goals scored these days.