West Ham v Newcastle United - Official Build Up / Matchday Thread

please log in to view this image

West Ham United v Newcastle United

Saturday 4th May 2013

Kick off 3.00pm @ The Boleyn Ground​

Squad
Santon and Krul are out along with Raylor.
News is awaited of Colo.
Other news will follow below.

Head to Head at the Boleyn Ground
2010/11: Won 2-1 Nolan, Carroll
2008/09: Lost 1-3 Owen
2007/08: Drew 2-2 Martins, Geremi
2006/07: Won 2-0 Duff, Martins
2005/06: Won 4-2 Owen 3, Shearer
2002/03: Drew 2-2 Bellamy, Jenas
2001/02: Lost 0-3
2000/01: Lost 0-1
1999/00: Lost 1-2 Speed
1998/99: Lost 0-2
1997/98: Won 1-0 Barnes
1996/97: Drew 0-0
1995/96: Lost 0-2
1994/95: Won 3-1 Lee, Mathie, OG
1993/94: Won 4-2 Cole, Lee 2, Mathie

Streams
http://www.firstrow1.eu/
http://www.viplivesports.eu/sports/football.html

ACS's View
I'm going for a 1-1 draw, a nervy one at that.

Betting
Toon win 3-1 - 22/1
Toon win 2-1 - 9/1
1-1 is 11/2

 

No prediction from me. On Saturday I am having a media free day until game is over.

 

2-3 to us. Andy Carroll hat trick for all of our goals. Howay Andy, do the right thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Monday morning and you've already got me dreading our game at the weekend, I was trying to postpone any sunch thoughts until at least after the Villa vs Sunderland game tonight

 

What are the odds on 0-6?

 

I stand before you all with my head bowed and accept that I am fully responsible for our dire situation. I have predicted a 3-1 Toon win every game so far this season, with hindsight I now realise the flippancy of such outlandish delusion on my part and now appreciate that me and only me could have prevented the agony you've been subjected to.

It goes against my swashbuckling, optimistic nature but unfortunately my head must rule my heart if we're going to survive this season, it is therefore with much deliberation and common sense, based on results of late that the only outcome I can see against West Ham is a 3-1 Toon win.

 

Will Pardew pick the team? If so we're knackered. Allardyce will be really up for this one.

 

Fatsham will so want to rub our faces in the faeces.

We are so poor/carp//underachieving away from home the most we can realistically expect is a draw. So, my prediction is 1-1 but not with much confidence.

 

1-1 all the way for me.

 

Omens aren't great. Pardew, Allardyce, Carroll, Nolan, relegation, yada yada. Plus Shola's playing. Sigh.

If I was in charge, I'd go with this;

Harper

Simpson, Colo, Taylor, Haidara

Sissoko, MYM

Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Marveaux

Gouffran.

Appreciate it's not the time to experiment, BUT....that back four can stay solid, Sissoko will be more natural and neither Perch nor Tiote should be in DM - I've seen glimpses from MYM that tell me DM is the position for him, plus being the most natural defender in midfield we wouldn't then leave gaps from DM's desperately bombing on. The communication between SIX Frenchmen would also be a benefit instead of mixing and trying to match Senegal, England, Ivory Coast, Argentina and France.

Cisse needs to be impact from the bence, so we don't rely on Shola and we in effect move to a midfield 6 with no out-and-out striker, thus negating our desire to play the long ball. If I needed to change, I'd move MYM out for Cisse and go 4-4-2 with the only other potential change being Shola (last ditch to go for a front 3) or defensively.





However, this will never see light of day. Instead, it'll be Harper, Simmo, Colo, Saylor, Haidara, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Jonas, Shola and Cisse. 4-4-2, utter **** and maybe a lucky point.

 

MYM is a big no for me at defensive mid. He's a great defender, and has ability on the ball, but I must say, I **** myself quite a lot when he's dribbling it about. He's not quite adjusted to the PL pace yet, and sometimes gets caught out.

Having him in front of our defence would be suicide. A similar thing has been done with Mbia at QPR. Great defender, decent on the ball, but definitely not a ball player.

Perch had a bit of a poor game vs Liverpool, but in most of his games over the last couple of seasons he's been solid. He's reliable in the tackle, and decent on the ball.

Tiote is the one that shouldn't be playing, after years of showing unreliability.

IMO, Anita should be given a chance. Anita's passing is sometimes questionable, but he's without shadow of doubt the best midfield player we have, in terms of being able to keep possession and hold onto the ball. His agility and reactions are very good. It's unfair that he's been cast aside since Sissoko has come. It could also be useful to have two midfielders at the back with pace to get up and down the pitch and to chase players down.

We need to take advantage of their lack of pace at the back. They have 4 big powerful defenders, that have little pace.

We should be playing with 3 pacey forwards, and have Cabaye in the attacking midfield role, playing balls through.

Sometimes we will be put under pressure, and we will have opportunities to counter attack.

Gouff------Cisse-----Ben Arfa

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

------Anita------Sissoko-------

Haidara---Colo---Saylor----Simpson

-------------Elliot----------------

I really can't believe some people are calling for Elliot to be dropped. The bloke was shakey vs WBA, but apart from that, you can't blame him for anything.

He's made great saves and is a lot better a distributing the ball than Krul. Whenever the ball comes to Krul to kick first time, I **** myself. But Elliot is a lot more comfortable.

 

Decent line up that, would actually fancy us to get three points if that's how we set up!

 

This!

Tash for NUFC manager!

 

REP!

It had better be 3-1 to the Toon, or I'll send the boys round to visit you Jimmy!

 

This worries me: 2010/11: Won 2-1 Nolan, Carroll

 

If Shola plays we may as well hand West Ham the points now. He will stagger round, barely moving except to give fouls away and will then shout at the ref. Even that small act will result in him breathing heavily. Thats all he ever does. It really is shameful he is still at our club, hanging on like a disgusting parasite but even worse he comes on to add to the humilation.

He really needs to **** off in the summer if we get relegated or not

 

I'll be there on Saturday - Was looking forward to it before Liverpool. Dreading it now. No prediction just hoping for a performance!

 

No prediction from me either. Just have no idea what is going to turn up in black and white any more. If they get their act together, we could get a great result, but recent displays only point to one thing, with Fat Sham loving every minute.

 

After Villa's great win tonight Saturdays match is absolutely huge. Here's hoping Nolan & Carroll decide to have an off day and take pity on us.

 

Is like a cup final.
Hope we can get over the line.