Newcastle United v Norwich City - Official Matchday / Build Up Thread

Well if we don't have a natural right back we might as well give Colo a go there. Get's him back in the team, doesn't break up a successful CB partnership and gives us someone very comfortable on the ball and defensively sound at RB. It would mean sacrificing any attacking threat from RB but might make us feel bold enough to start HBA.

 

Well, if the form book is anything to go by then Newcastle will bork this game up totally.

1-3 to Norwich.

 

Krul

Colo
Mapou
Willo

Anita
Sissoko
Cabaye
Ben Arfa
Tiote

Gouff

Remy


That formation has goals and Tash jizzing written all over it.

 

The line up sounds decent, but I'd swap Ben Arfa and Gouff's positions. Get HBA in the free role behind Remy. I do think this will be a game for Hatem, he should be fired up after being left out completely in the last two games. I just hope Pards understands the concept of squad rotation, but I'm yet to be convinced.

Verdict- I think a defeat. No rational reason for this, just a gut feeling due to supporting Newcastle. Although it could just be the spicy Madras I've just eaten.

 

The line up sounds decent, but I'd swap Ben Arfa and Gouff's positions. Get HBA in the free role behind Remy. I do think this will be a game for Hatem, he should be fired up after being left out completely in the last two games. I just hope Pards understands the concept of squad rotation, but I'm yet to be convinced.

Verdict- I think a defeat. No rational reason for this, just a gut feeling due to supporting Newcastle. Although it could just be the spicy Madras I've just eaten.

 

I'm sorry not convinced, wing backs and one of them being Ben Arfa, Pilkington would be rubbing his hands at this.

 

Oh damn, posts going missing again.

 

Against that we have already had our away win for this season.

 

Oh well, if you've already had your away win for the season you won't go home too disappointed.


Hope you have a good visit anyway.

 

3 at the back isn't reality, though.

4-4-2 is clearly our best shot. The manager gets it, the players seem to understand their roles as a result and - at the moment - we can make definite changes to the tactic as and when we need to. I say "at the moment", because HBA isn't going to warm the bench into February. But such is the nature of our manager, our club - we get a first XI and try and stick with it. We did it when finishing 5th, we're going to do it again.

HBA may work with Remy up front. He may learn to work harder and start ahead of Sissoko/Gouffran, but I can't see either happening. In our style of play, we need a strong operator up front who can win a header, hold it up and bring others into play. The club plumped for Gomis, then when we didn't get him, Pardew had to spend a number of weeks working out a system that allowed Remy and Cisse to play, which mainly revolved around some half-ar$ed 4-3-3 attempt which never really got going.

There's just no need to shoe-horn HBA in for the sake of it, and surely doing so at the expense of a defender is insanity.

 

There's no need to shoe horn in HBA but he can be a joy to watch.

In a situation where we can sacrifice a bit of defensive cover and may need a key to unlock a team defending deep and in numbers, he is nice to have around. I'd start him this game.

 

I can see HBA coming on as a sub in this one. He'll either come on for a bit creativity if we need a goal or if we are ahead to capitalise on Norwich being a bit more open when Gouffran's legs have gone.

 

I am surprised so many formation and personnel changes are being advocated. There's an old saying which applies - if it ain't broke don't fix it. This is typically what we do and stuff it up. Then we all sit and wonder why we didn't just stick to the plan. While I think Norwich is a big game for us and a winnable game, I think it should be the easiest selection wise in a long time. Only chane needs to be a replacement for Debuchy. We're on a roll now, 10 points from the last 15. Not bad when you consider it quite possibly should have been more. Ifs and buts of course but we all know we deserved something out of the Mackem game, and but for Mbiwa losing his marbles against Liverpool, who knows. Of course you have to balance that by thinking Spurs deserved a point out of Saturday, buts lets not forget that run has included 3 clubs who will be in the top 7 come the end of the season.

Why would we try to find a way to get HBA in the team at this stage? Sounds like madness to me. We have the perfect situation whereby we have him in reserve as our impact sub ready when/if we need to throw caution to the wind. I don't think we should run scared of keeping the bigger reputations out of the side. It may be that Anita is a better option at right back than our captain. Offers more offensively, and is in form. Colo is allowed more time to recover.

My team:

Krul
Anita
Santon
Mbiwa
Willo
Tiote
Cabaye
Sissoko
Gouffran
Remy
Shola

Colo, HBA, Cisse, Sameobi, Tranny, Obertan, Bigi

 

I predict a cagey first half with Benni running the show in the second half.
Confident we will win 2-0.

 

Because a different approach may well be needed. Norwich I would expect to allow us to have possession more than Chelsea and Spuds so we need folks who are better in possession.

 

Seems a hell of a long time till our next game, I hope the guys don't go stale.

 

Aye this, Norwich will turn us over

 

Guess I'll just stay at home and watch it on TV then.

 

are Hacky's boys ready for Norwich??

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The key word is "may" for me. Its something that you change if things aren't working out rather than trying to re-introduce HBA, mess with the balance of the side etc etc. We are likely to have more possession, and there is no reason the side we have won those two games with can't do something with it. HBA is a luxury we can ill afford at present, but I think there is a role for him to change things up if we are struggling to break them down. Trying to predict that will happen before a ball is kicked seems a bit negative to me. I know one thing, if I was one of that 11 getting dropped for HBA or anyone else I'd be pretty pissed off.