Newcastle United v Anzi Makhachkala- Official Build Up / Matchday Thread

Errrr, Apollo Creed died?

 

I thought that was going to end in some topical satire about Jade Johnson pouchy...

I always get ribbed for it, but number 4 was my favourite in the Rocky series. He was incomprehensible in 1, slightly less so but with the added annoyance of being happy in 2 + 3, 4 I could understand him and Rocky Balboa was ridiculous as a premise, but ok as fantasy entertainment.

 

Not in our hearts Obi... Not in our hearts...

 

"He's cut, he's cut, the Russian's cut and it's a bad cut, and now it's Rocky Balboa coming after Ivan ..."

 

"If he dies, he dies!"

 

Pay on the door for the game....

http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-wire/pay-on-the-door-for-newcastle-v-anzhi/

 

I see Hatem has been ruled out of the match by Pardew this lunchtime...

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hatem-ben-arfa-ruled-out-1742582

Another 'setback' on his hamstring so he could be set for another lay-off sadly, just when we hoped he was back!

 

Not good news at all.

 

an annoying side effect of cisse's virus and shola's hip.

if we'd had a striker fit, HBA would have got 20 minutes on the wing, not an hour up top

 

Big shame on HBA. An obvious concern given how cautious Pards was before allowing him to return.

 

If Hatem wasn't fit what was Pardew playing at allowing him to play up front for 60 mins and on a artificial pitch.?

 

I expect that's what's knackered him. Trouble is, you've got to get him back playing when you at least believe he's ready or he'll not get match fit.

I don't blame Pardew for that, it's always a bit of a gamble and it appears to have backfired...

 

HBA had been sayign he ws fit for weeks - - it was Pards holding him back.

Pards was in a situation where he had an important match, a player who appeared to be fit and no real alternative. I think Pards would have liked him to ease back a bit more slowly, but the only way he could do that was play with no striker, or a striker who had received medical advice not to play on an artificial pitch.

He took a calcualted risk which misfired somewhat (though it did get us a draw in the away leg)

 

So, if we win tomorrow, we reach the quarter finals of a big competition. If we get a bit of luck and manage to avoid Spurs next round, then I could really start smelling the final.

 

or if Bale has a bit of Cisse's virus if we do draw Spurs. I'd never wish real injury on a player, but a well timed 48 hours with the trots wouldn't trouble my conscience too much. Without Bale, Spurs are no better or worse than the rest of the teams in the hat

 

Willian is out for them as well:

ANZHI Makhachkala have suffered a blow on the eve of their Europa League tie against Newcastle United.

Willian – the club’s £30m forward – has been ruled out of tomorrow night’s Europa League tie at St James’s Park through injury.

The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring problem during last week’s goalless draw between the two clubs in Moscow.

Anzhi coach Guus Hiddink hoped the Brazil international would be fit to face Newcastle in the return leg of the Round of 16 tie.

But Hiddink was forced to leave the 24-year-old in Russia after he failed to prove his fitness.

Good news for us, I think if we can start well we could go on to score a few, if we are rubbish as usual for the first 20 mins it'll be a close game but hopefully with the home advantage we should win.

HTL

 

I'm now thinking we will in 3-0. Serious.
Bookmark this.

 

3-0 ? Very positive ACS.

I think it will be very tough. Will be interesting to see Pardew's tactics for this one as that away goal will always be on the mind. I can actually see us being done over via a 1-1 draw.

 

We're due another amazing performance.
Anzi may not have seen fans like ours.

 

I saw us win The Fairs Cup in 1969 and who'd have thought I'd see us win another European trophy only 44 years later, I always knew we'd be prolific in Europe once the new tea lady settled in.