Preview: Newcastle Utd vs Arsenal – 21/03/15

Click here to go to the discussion thread by Cal

After losing 4-1 in the reverse fixture in the December of despair that followed a brief period of hope in the prior months, Newcastle welcome Arsenal to St James’ Park three months later in a depleted, dejected, and desperate state.

So it’ll no doubt be of comfort to know that we’ve lost our last six games against Arsenal, who have averaged three strikes per match over that span of fixtures, while we’ve not even crossed the goal a game mark (and more than half of those we have scored came in the 7-3 loss). We’ve only defeated Wenger’s side twice in the last decade; Andy Carroll’s goal granting us a 1-0 away win in 2010, and a Nobby Solano effort earning a 1-0 home victory all the way back in 2005.

Arsenal have been in excellent form of late, as they sneakily edge their way into the title picture while Chelsea and Man City have begun to stumble. The Gunners have gained victory in their last five Premier League games, taking them from sixth to third, a point short of the Citizens, and seven off Chelsea.

On the other hand, Newcastle have been trying their best to drop down the table, after having established a buffer zone around eleventh place, protecting us from the rest of the top half and the relegation battle below. Three losses out of four, with a win over Villa mixed in there and a couple of draws beforehand mean we’ve taken just five points from six games, and have eroded that cushion over the rest of the bottom half to the point that West Brom and Pardew’s Palace are able to overtake us this weekend. Continue reading

Preview: Everton vs Newcastle Utd – 15/03/15

Click here to go to the discussion thread by magonmersey

Newcastle travel to Merseyside without the banned Papiss Cissé to face the Everton side he picked up his first long suspension of the season against. Going into the match we’re seven points ahead of the Blues, who should be safe from relegation with a win on Sunday. However, despite the lowly league position it is Everton who still have things to fight for this season, hoping to continue their strong run in the Europa League.

At St James’ Park in December the weaknesses of both sides was apparent in a 3-2 home win. Everton’s defence has been leaky this season, with their full backs mostly an attacking force the old Jagielka-Distin partnership has felt the strain. Whilst Newcastle can’t defend or hold leads well, but can rely on Pérez and Cissé for goals from nowhere.

Everton come into this game having fought back from behind to win 2-1 in the last 16 (first leg) of the Europa League on Thursday. Some have suggested this cup competition has contributed to their poor league form this season. However, what I hear on Merseyside is that their main striker is played out of position with low confidence and their defensive organisation is poor. Indeed Martinez is known to be inflexible with formations, forcing players to play out of their natural roles.

Your writer has been trying to think of something more interesting to write. However, if one is honest, Newcastle’s season is limping home now without much scope for drama. There’s nowt incisive to write. Continue reading

Preview: Newcastle Utd vs Manchester Utd – 04/03/15

Click here to go to the discussion thread by Cal

After a weekend in which we picked up our second win of the year, and Carver’s first at home, today we welcome Manchester United to St James’ Park for our tenth match of 2015. A depleted Newcastle squad on the brink of turning to free agents, following injuries to areas of the squad already weakened by questionable loan deals and a lack of positive transfer activity, is unlikely to come out of this one with three points, the failure to do so would put Carver the Brave’s win rate at 20%.

In our last six matches we have won, drawn, and lost twice each, the most recent game a 1-0 home win over Aston Villa, which thanks to other results going our way has opened a five point gap over the rest of the bottom half, with a game in hand an potential to go eight clear with a win today. Stoke City, West Ham, and the top half are currently four points above us and both have matches that run concurrently with ours tonight.

The visitors come into this match in good form, taking four wins, one draw, and one loss from their previous six league games, most recently beating Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford. They sit fourth in the table, with a point and a game over fifth place Southampton, and potential to leapfrog Arsenal into third, should they better the Gunners’ result tonight. Despite their impressive points haul recently, the Manchester side have struggled on the road recently, winning just one of their last six away games, although they have also only lost once in the same span of games.

The reverse fixture was an insipid 3-1 loss in which Pardew elected to play hoofball to two strikers with an average height of 5’9”, earning him the second lowest TFI rating he would have at the club, and on the site of his best performance a year prior. Continue reading

Manchester Utd Fans’ Thoughts on the Match

Click here to go to the discussion thread by Yacob

I went over to RedCafe to post the questions and as usual we got a good response. The questions were:

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
2 – Do you think that Moyes was treated unfairly given that LVG has spent over £100m on players and there is no real improvement in the quality of football?
3 – Is there any merits to the Rooney in midfield experiment?
4 – How far away are you from being able to challenge the likes of Chelsea for the title?
5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
6 – Who do you think will be the three clubs to get relegated? And who will make up the top four?
7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
8 – Why do you think Di Maria and Falcao have struggled to adapt? Is it LVG’s fault or is there another issue?
9 – Have Newcastle made a mistake by waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent manager?
10 – Scoreline prediction?

roonster09

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
ManUtd 4th (Hopefully) and Newcastle 10th.

2 – Do you think that Moyes was treated unfairly given that LVG has spent over £100m on players and there is no real improvement in the quality of football?
No. He was not. We have improved, not much but at least we haven’t lost against every top 7 team like we did last season. Van Gaal spent money but he also lost most of the first team players. Still for the money spent we haven’t seen superb performance but I’m more relaxed that Moyes not in charge anymore.

3 – Is there any merits to the Rooney in midfield experiment?
None. Weakening 2 positions with 1 decision. He is our best striker and should be played upfront in every game.

4 – How far away are you from being able to challenge the likes of Chelsea for the title?
Hopefully next season with 1 or 2 big signings this summer and a fully settled squad.

5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
None.

6 – Who do you think will be the three clubs to get relegated? And who will make up the top four?
Relegated: Leicester, Burnley and Villa.
Top 4: Chelsea, ManCity, Arsenal, ManUtd

7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?

8 – Why do you think Di Maria and Falcao have struggled to adapt? Is it LVG’s fault or is there another issue?
I can’t fault Van Gaal for Di Maria’s problems, he is played as winger, CM and a forward but he has struggled in all positions. He is still adapting not only to the league but also to Van Gaal’s slow build up play. Im sure he will be fine next season.

Falcao, I think injury has done him. He looks so slow he can’t outpace any defender. Didn’t even look sharp at all. It’s to do with injury and his ago IMO.

9 – Have Newcastle made a mistake by waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent manager?
I don’t think so. Europe is out of equation and no way you are getting relegated, so it’s better to wait till summer and see who’s available. Also one negative is if Newcastle appointed new manager then planning for next season could have started from this season but not sure who was available.

10 – Scoreline prediction?
1-1. Away form is very poor, so can’t see us winning this one at all. Maybe a draw or close defeat.

Continue reading