The Newcastle United Blog

63 responses so far ↓

• 1 Matt Lacey // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:48

  Perhaps it’s too much to expect a result when Man Utd will be trying to close the gap on Arsenal, but at the very least we need a good performance - please Kev, leave Smith and Butt out of it, they’re useless and we don’t have to rely on them anymore!

• 2 CRAIGG // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:50

  We will win
  i am 100% sure for a weird reason i know we will win

• 3 Howard // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:56

  What about Emre? Is he injured? If not, he should start alongside Geremi. Definately not Butt, Smith or Carr!

• 4 scott 9 // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:57

  so are u able to watch games on the computer if u dont have sky

• 5 Tom_Toon // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:58

  we will lose 2-0

• 6 Ausgeordie // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:58

  Craig I love your optimism.

  ……Harper
  Beye……Taylor…….Enrique
  ……..Geremi…….Faye
  Milner….Emre………NZogbia
  ………….Owen…..Carroll
  Subs- Edgar, Barton, Duff, Viduka, Capaca

  What do you think fellow fans?

• 7 Tom_Toon // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:59

  Ed - You must have a major problem with our best midfielder - Emre.

• 8 milner fan // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:00

  ed, you said about putting carroll on the bench and leaving smith out. But the team you have down to do well doesnt have carroll and has smith in lol. I think someone really likes smith lol ; )

• 9 Tom_Toon // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:00

  4-4-2 all the way.

• 10 GM // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:01

  scott9 - yes mate, you just need to install the relevant plugins for the channels and then connect to it about 5-10 mins b4 the game starts, need a decent internet connectin though otherwise it freezes.

• 11 M // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:04

  Totally agree with the line up, all though I’d start Zoggy ahead of Duff I think… I’d say give Carroll a shout, looks sharp when he plays and can do no worse than Smith at the mo, lets start playing Enrique he is a massive talent in Spain, a regular in u21s I can’t understand why he is not getting played!

• 12 thelongshanks // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:06

  If we get a result i will be delighted,they may underestimate us and we could take advantage of that,i have a huge feeling faye is gonna play a blinder and we cud nick a draw.

• 13 tims // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:13

  where is Emre?

• 14 Rich // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:22

  No emre ed??

• 15 Rich // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:24

  Id have the same team as you Ed starting Duff but replace barton with Emre!

• 16 GM // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:26

  report on newsnow that Oba is fit to play tomorrow night, can anyone else confirm that? it would be a massive boost if he is fit.

• 17 broon ale // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:32

  rallying cry from nufc.com

  United Front

  While memories of the last time Kevin Keegan sent a team out at SJP against Alex Ferguson abound, we prefer to take our text for Saturday from a game we actually lost.

  “Thunderous and awe-inspiring” was our description of the support provided by home fans at the SJP meeting of the two United’s in March 1996, some seven months before the more famous “Howay 5-0″ game.

  A 1-0 victory thanks to Cantona’s second half goal proved to be the point at which the course of the Premiership title was re-plotted from North East to North West.

  But the vocal encouragement that day as Newcastle attempted to batter down the defence commanded by Schmeichel lives long in the mind - and that was from a 36,500 capacity SJP.

  We lost, but there was a sense that we’ve given it our all - whether shouting and playing - and competed. We can think of other C words to describe our second half capitulation at Villa Park two weekends ago…..

  This latest meeting is a massive opportunity to forget about safe standing, game 39, league form, misadventures of former players, the price of gas, whatever.

  Focus is required - from the stands and dressing room.

  If you’re going with a black & white heart, shout hard - after all, you did it for Allardyce’s side against Arsenal in November to good effect…and you didn’t even like him.

  And it doesn’t go right, let’s retain some pride and dignity and deny these b*stards the satisfaction of seeing us implode in public.

  Keep the faith.

• 18 mark // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:42

  Were gunner get slaughtered and laughed at for it. I blame the idiot fans. IDIOT B@STARDS!!!!

• 19 CRAIGG // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:44

  This is the team we should play balanced in every way and full of pace and power:

  Given
  Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
  Milner (player of the month as usual) Barton Emre N’Zogbia
  Owen Carroll (If Obas Injured)

  Subs: Harper, Edgar, Duff, Lua Lua, Viduka (If Obas injured)

  we will win 2-1 owen & Zog for us 27mins and 53mins
  Scholes for them late consolation 89 mins

• 20 STEPHEN14 // Feb 22, 2008 at 13:57

  Has to be 4-4-2 tomorrow

  ————given/harps

  beye——taylor–faye——enrique

  milner—–emre–butt——n’zogbia

  ———-owen—-viduka

  subs:given/harps, cacapa, duff, barton, carrol

  I thnik we might give man u a shock tomorrow if the crowd get behind the side like we did against arsenal we can give the dirty mancs a good beating! 2-0 to newcastle owen and emre to score

• 21 Graham // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:03

  Haven’t heard about Obas fitness but I always had a sneeking suspision that he may be fit - Kev you little tinker you!

  Craigg - you got a crystal ball there?

  I reckon that with a strong performance we could well get something out of this - i’m going for a 1-1 draw

• 22 Matthew Tom // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:05

  We are going to get a hammering, but hopefully a decent performance nevertheless. Viduka, Ameobi and Smith haven’t really done much so let’s give Carroll a big day out I say.

  Just keep Carr, Butt and Smith out of the team and we’ll have a chance. Also if we play Cacapa instead of Faye, we need to watch him closely and whip him off if he’s looking dodgy. From what I’ve seen of him, he’s either completely inspired or very very worrying, without much grey area in between and you usually have a good idea within about 10 minutes which it will be!

• 23 Robert from Serbia // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:05

  yeeeeeeeah !!! im gonna watch the game on TV

  RTS 2 Serbia

• 24 Graham // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:10

  On a slightly different note - how the hell can the newcastle players find time to train to get us out of this mess when they are constantly giving interviews to the press?

  Theres been about 5 of our players giving interviews over the last couple of days - including Duff spouting crap about his pal Carr. For gods sake - shut the f**k up and get on with what your being paid to do - How often do the Man Utd players give interviews??

• 25 Leo* // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:14

  i heard that martins would be fit

  and unfortunatly faye will have to make do with a place on the bench, this is from sky sports news, where they got that from i dont know

  i really like your line up ausgeordie, looks attacking yet defencive

• 26 Luke // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:31

  can’t wait…

  then it’ll be the most depressing sunday since the six nil battering.

• 27 Ed Harrison // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:35

  WHOOPS - missed Emre out - I’m going to update team

• 28 steve // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:37

  I’m hoping for a 2-0 win

  It’s on Digitalb as well

  @Graham - they only train 3 hours a day, tons of time left to give interviews, gamble, get drunk, spend their ‘hard’ earned cash

• 29 faustino // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:41

  Draw would be a godsend tbh. The best thing to come out of this would be a commited performance without another second half shambles.

• 30 Ed Harrison // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:41

  Tom_Toon, Rich and others -
  Sorry - I completely missed out Emre!!
  Have updated the piece at 2:36 pm Newcastle local time with updated team and we have Emre starting at the expense of Barton.

• 31 thelongshanks // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:43

  I hope keegan is using mind games calling oba injured when if fact hes raring to go.Cud be the reason why he is calling the team so early tommorow.

  given

  beye,taylor,faye,enrique

  milner,nzogbia,emre,duff

  owen and martins

  That team is full of energy and pace.

  cmon the toon!

• 32 GM // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:48

  according to reports now oba, emre and carr are all out injured, obvioulsy carr is a god send, hopefully he will be fooked for the rest of the season when his contract runs out, just hope this is all made up to confuse rednose n oba and emre are playing

• 33 Tez131 // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:51

  ——————–Given
  ————-Taylor - - Faye
  Beye—————————-Enrique
  —————Barton
  Milner————————–Duff
  ——————–N’Zobia
  ———–Owen—-Martins

  If martins is not fit use Viduka, same with if given is not fit pick Harper.

  Hope Barton can get back to his better days when he was a real asset for Man City.
  Then Milner or Duff could be taken off and emre brought on then move N’Zobia to the wing and Emre in the Att Mid.

  Any Thoughts

• 34 ronaldeano // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:58

  I expect to get beat tomorow, but if the lads show as much guts and determination as they did against Arsenal, and the filth get beat of Portsmouth, i will be happy. We NEED a good performance. COME ON TOON!!!!

• 35 YongMalaysia // Feb 22, 2008 at 14:59

  Given
  Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
  Geremi
  Milner Emre Duff
  Owen Carroll

  Subs: Harper, Edgar, N’zogbia, Lua Lua, Viduka

• 36 ronaldeano // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:01

  I think Emre should start Tez131, Zog on the left and viduka up front because he is the only striker strong enough to go against Ferdinand

• 37 Rich // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:08

  Haha no worries Ed! Looks a better team with Emre in i think.

• 38 Marty // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:17

  Craigg,you wouldn`t happen to have a brother called James by any chance that runs fast n works hard but can`t for some reason cross the ball.
  i think he can do better but kk needs to work with him on crossing,i`m often at st james n see that he needs it with my own eyes!
  Howay the lads,kick ass!!!!

• 39 Luke // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:18

  emre’s injured I believe

• 40 jj // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:21

  given fing rubbish please buger off u tosser let harps in

• 41 Rich // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:27

  I just read Emre is injured as is carr and martins which we knew. No emre is a blow for us , i just cant see us creating much through the middle and actually passing the ball without him. Its gonna be Barton and Butt again in central midfield im afraid

• 42 Luke // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:29

  that’s great. I really rate butt. top work rate, clever passes that open up defenses and a good eye for goal. should be good!

• 43 Tez131 // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:33

  @ ronaldeano
  I like Emre but I am not sure if he is strong enough to compete with the way we play. If we were able to play like arsenal then he would be great but he needs pass and move play around him to shine. N’Zogbia is stronger and can get past people with skill and pace.

  Does anyone think that Milner could be (if we brought in a new RM) a good Att Mid/ CM? I am not sure about his final ball but he is strong and works so hard and is not affraid to have a shot from distance.

  Or am I just crazy :)? Maybe its just because our team is just not playing at the minute and its driving me nuts!!

• 44 Macca // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:37

  Does it really matter who plays. We all know what the result will more then likely be the same. Man U are on a high, they’re not, they can’t afford to make any mistakes. It’s not a question of who has more pressure on them, it’s about what kind of mood Man U will be in.
  4-0 against Arsenal in the FA Cup, got their away draw and an away goal, they wanted in the Champions League. We saw what happened the last time the two sides meet 6-0 and that’s not to mention the amount Given kept out.
  If one Man U star isn’t preforming there’s a bloody good chance that the others are.
  IMO there’s way to much talent in Man U, and there’s only one Newcastle player who might get onto our team and that’s Given.

  So does it really matter who plays?

• 45 Luke // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:39

  re: macca

  nope.

  and Ps. my comments on butt were sarcastic

• 46 CRAIGG // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:45

  Marty milner was voted player of the month on the official website mate and yes he does need to work on his crossing

• 47 Tez131 // Feb 22, 2008 at 15:46

  @Macca

  Of course it matters, even if we come away with 0 points from this game it depends on how we play that will determine how quickly we can start to get some points!

  If we just roll over and let Man Utd beat us by 5 or 6 again then our confidence will be low the fans will low the players will not look forward to the next game and more pressure will be on.

  If we can play well give them a proper game and play to our best, no mater what the result is we can still go into the next match showing that we are not just willing to give up and then maybe start to get points from there.

  Your attitude basically says why don’t we just not play those games only play the ones we think we might have a slight chance in.

  I am firtly looking for a good performance tomorrow, anything else will be a bonus. Just remember a lot can happen in 90 minutes, as Liverpool found out in the cup!!

• 48 briss // Feb 22, 2008 at 16:00

  There is no way Carrol and smith will be let out of the squad, NO WAY! Heres what it will be:
  Given/Harper
  Beye Taylor Faye N’Zog
  Duff Barton Geremi Milner
  Owen Smith
  Subs: Given/Haper, Enrique, Butt, Viduka, Carrol
  I hope Keegan will see the light and leave Butt out of the starting line up like.
  HOWAY THE LADS

• 49 Ian // Feb 22, 2008 at 16:00

  I just heard Ronaldo was injured, my heart sank when it was the wrong one!!! Their team on top form goes in with almost a full squad, us lot struggling may have three out!!!
  Typical.
  If Martins is on, we may get an upset especially if it works with Owen, otherwise it is a case of watching through your fingers…

• 50 briss // Feb 22, 2008 at 16:03

  i do think emre is injured that y i left him off, but im glad to have a couple positions that are being contested in the squad now. the back four should be no question tho

• 51 ronaldeano // Feb 22, 2008 at 16:13

  Briss, fook Smith cos he is as much use as a cock flavored lollypop. Viduka up front is the way forward like

• 52 ScottyT // Feb 22, 2008 at 16:47

  could be another one of them home games where you hate to watch .. im fearing somthing like a 4-0 defeat would have the same team as ed apart from charlie in cm instead of geremi would also give harper a chance even if given is fit he shudnt be risked. hope emre and enrique both start as well

• 53 ToonRich // Feb 22, 2008 at 17:20

  I think giving the youngsters a chance could work…Put Edgar on Ronaldo/Nani, that should stop the showboating and let them know they’re in a proper match!!

  Try Carroll upfront, see if he can bully Rio a bit, and MO has the brain to outwit Vidic.
  I know putting Kadar in would be dangerous, but Rooney&co know how we defend, play the young lad they possibly wouldnt know what to expect.
  My choice would possibly be:
  Given/Harper
  Beye– Faye– Taylor/Kadar –Edgar/Enrique

  Milner/L-Lua — Geremi — Emre — Zog/Duff

  MO — Carroll/Martins(if fit)

  Zog could play on wing, or in centre depeding on if Emre starts! I just think the kids might show some Steal and ‘no fear’ attitude and suprise ManU…

  (I’m braced for a grilling!)

• 54 Whitt // Feb 22, 2008 at 17:57

  wow…Smith not even on the bench? this board goes ’round with scapegoats, and once you’re it, there is no hope for you…first Geremi, then Owen, Cacapa, now it’s Butt and Smith. in between was Carr and Ameobi…

  I agree w/ Butt being left off, but not Smith. not sure how you can pile up on Smith after last week, he didn’t have a ball played to his feet all game. instead he had to try to out-duel Laursen for high ball clearances.

  so now in a game where we need everyone in the squad to work their hearts out defensively, we’re going to leave off the only striker who does that for Viduka, who doesn’t pressure defensively or win many headers???????? WOW…

• 55 kris // Feb 22, 2008 at 18:08

  geremi for right back only, he”s no good in midfield well better than butt and smith

• 56 Ed Harrison // Feb 22, 2008 at 18:22

  Whitt - We’re sure Alan will be at least a sub tomorrow - I missed out Emre initially so dropped Barton and then Smith went from substitutes bench. We actually think Keegan will start both Butt and Smith tomorrow - but that’s the team we would like to see.
  Let’s hope we can get something out of the game.

• 57 scott 9 // Feb 22, 2008 at 18:24

  cheers mg

• 58 Swede1891 // Feb 22, 2008 at 18:35

  God im depressed that emre and martins will miss the match. ..:( Will probably have to watch the useless Butt again..for the 1000th time…have a bad feeling about this one…:( Proove me wrong!!

• 59 toon4lyf // Feb 22, 2008 at 21:08

  a was really lukin foward to this match before a found out emre and martins wer injured a cant see us winning this now and a actuli think if emre and martins wer playin we wud of won

• 60 Greg P // Feb 22, 2008 at 21:39

  I need to repeat this - Carrol is not a top level footballer, he was useless as Preston and has shown nothing when playing for Newcastle. I’d love to be wrong but honestly think he should be shipped out and allow others with more potential to develop.

• 61 AlexW // Feb 23, 2008 at 0:12

  WHY IS EVERYONE BLOWING CARROLS TRUMPET, AND DEMANDING HIM START, HE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH YET, HE CUDNT HACK IT AT PRESTON, HOW DO YOU THINK HE WILL HACK IT AGAINST MAN UNITEd?????? DO NOT START HIM OR HAVE HIM ON THE BENCH, ALAN SMITH IS MUCH BETTER

• 62 ToonRich // Feb 23, 2008 at 1:59

  Greg, Alex…Im not blowing Carrolls trumpet, but he cant really be any worst than Smith or Shola. I’ll admit i didnt watch him for PNE, perhaps they couldnt provide the service to him?! He scored against a strong juve side in pre-season, and has put a few away recently for the reserves.

• 63 hanzemre // Feb 23, 2008 at 10:23

  let’s us all pray for this….a win 3-2 /2-1 will do us a kick-start the rest of the season once again. We’d love it just love it to win against ManU at SJP.If Butt or Smith to play & even score 1 or 2 goals ( ah ha get real) why not we take a revenge of that 6-0 with a surprise win shall we? Come on lads!~

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