Which NUFC will show up tonight?

We need a win to have any chance of Champions League football next season but we also need to avoid a hammering in order secure top 6.

So which team will show up tonight?

a) The Embarrassing? - The team that went down to Spurs, Fulham and Norwich and got absolutely hammered, which showed no quality and fight whatsoever and allowed themselves to be embarrassed.

b) The Proud? - The team that went down to Old Trafford and played like absolute Trojan horses, refusing to lose. Probably our proudest away performance of the season and came away with a result.

c) The Unlucky and Not Quite Good Enough? - The team that went to Man City and Liverpool and dug in, didn't disgrace ourselves but in the end a couple of individual bad mistakes cost us taking home a result.

d) The Plain Lucky? - The team that went down to Blackburn, got totally outplayed but somehow came away with a 2-0 win. Say what you want about quality, there's nothing like a bit of luck on your side.

e) The Better Team? - The team that went to Stoke, Sunderland, Bolton and Wolves and showed up, played our natural game, had no fear and won the game convincingly. Obviously Arsenal are better than all of the above but last season we went to The Emirates and won 1-0, with more possession than Arsenal and played them off the park at times.

In my opinion as much as I would love d) or e) to happen...I'm looking at either a) or b) to be honest.

We'll find out come 10 o clock this evening!

HTL!

 

There are two factors which could work in our favour:

1). Arsenal underestimating us
2). Ourselves taking advantage of the underdog tag and coming out fighting, as we always seem to do well in those situations

 

I wish people would stop bantering on about the Spurs result1 we were missing Cabaye and Tiote and Tottenham played well that's all.

 

Option C for me. I have a predicted a 4-1 to them but I don't think we'll be embarrassing. I juts have a feeling they might be too hot to handle tonight. Ba will score though.

 

You guys have been very well organised defensively though. And the way you play (getting men behind the ball and then breaking on the counter) really helps defensively too. We, on the other hand, play with a high defensive line and have liabilities like Williamson, who has the turning circle of a oil tanker and looks like he's running through hummus.

It's slightly worrying, but having Tiote there to mop up defensively gives me some confidence.

 

Arsenal will not win

 

This, Missing arguably two of our most influential players didn't help.

Back to tonight tho, I haven't got a great feeling. IMO we haven't played well since Man Utd home game
and Le Arse are hitting abit of form. Hope I'm wrong tho.

 

I just think it's important that we keep a clean sheet... I would take 0-0 right now.

I honestly think that Arsenal really have their 'tails up' at this moment and we certainly don't.
It's looking like a narrow defeat I reckon - if we can get to half time level, they could well get edgey 2nd half.

I've got Sky Sports so will be glued to the box later...

 

Newcastle never seem to play well in these "late" kick offs, normally play like they're half asleep.
Hope this doesn't happen tonight.

Pardew needs to stop with these defensive team selections, that he's used for the last couple of games.
Add some pace to the wings like we used to have in the beginning of the season, with Obertan, Ben Arfa Etc.
Teams aren't scared of us anymore, because they know we don't have pace!

 

This is the key for me. We have to be in the game in the latter stages. if we are and frustration builds, they could leave themselves exposed. I must admit though I'm half expecting a footballing master class off them at present

 

Just keep it tight for the first 10 mins is always the first task. I dont want a repeat of Spurs.

...for all those defending that performance because we were missing Tiote and Cab, how would they have helped the defending of Willo, Santon and Simmo?!

 

Midfielders, especially holding midfielders, often provide cover for the defense, either by breaking up a play before it gets to the back four or by plugging a gap in the back four.

that said, the spurs performance was difficult to defend

 

Obviously. Spurs went down our left hand side for the first 2 goals. Wouldnt have made any difference. But I dont wanna talk about that sh*te.

Onto this evening....

Howay!!!!

 

So the answer was f). Get to 95 mins and then throw it all away with ridiculous defending.

Should have been a proud, hard fought draw just like at Man Utd.

Just ridiculous.

 

I'd say c. One moment of stupidity cost us. ****ing Simpson, but Arsenal were dominating the 2nd half

 

So wrong.......................

 

Probably. Just hard to say we were unlucky when we give away a goal after 10 seconds of scoring (nice one Jonas) then give away a goal in the 95th minute like that.

Just stupidity.

Infuriating.

 

Was it Simpson who took the throw in?

 

Probably was c) in the end...........so close to b).

Grrrrrrrrrr!!!