Newcastle United v Arsenal League Cup match banter!
Posted on October 27th, 2010 | 259 Comments |
Of course, a fair amount of the pre match speculation has revolved around how strong a sides the respective managers, Hughton and Wenger, will put out for this competition. With Newcastle facing a crucial local derby with the unwashed vagrants of Wearside, and of course, having to concentrate on Premiership survival above all else. Arsenal meanwhile will always have an eye on keeping their place in the top four “Champion’s League” places, with the League Cup sometimes becoming something of a sideshow for major teams and relegation battlers alike. However, it should not be forgotten that Arsenal have not won a major trophy since 2005, and with many of the other major teams already eliminated, Arsene Wenger may well be tempted to field a stronger side. A Wenger pre match interview, in whivh he was quite fulsome in his praise of Hughton’s Newcastle, suggests that he might. He said:
“When you go to Newcastle you as well have to be realistic. That’s why I repeat we play with a good team and we do our best.
“Newcastle are competitive. They have a good mixture between physical power, technical level and spirit.
“That is why they will be a dangerous side for everybody.
“It is important that we go into the game and think we want to qualify, also we want to produce a great performance because the Chelsea game has shown that you don’t get away with an average performance against Newcastle.”
He was also fulsome in his praise of Newcastle striker Andy Carroll, telling Arsenal’s website:
“On the pitch he has a presence and a charisma.
“This guy is just scared of nothing and that’s why I believe he has special charisma. It looks like he can carry the weight on his shoulders.
“You just think there is something there for him from watching from the outside.”
Meanwhile in the other camp, Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton spoke on the use of the fringe players in the squad, saying:
“There is nothing that lifts and breeds confidence like winning football matches, and whether that’s the same team, whether that’s a completely different team or whether that’s a mixture, it’s a feeling that goes through the club. That would see us going into the Sunderland game certainly more confident.”
Speaking of youngsters to have risen to the occaision, he added:
“It’s an opportunity for them, it’s a challenge and we have had some young lads in the last two rounds who have very much accepted that challenge and come through it in very good shape.
“Young Ferguson did very, very well in the last game; Vuckic, it’s a tremendous opportunity for him, as it is for Tamas Kadar, who missed out on the last game, but is now back in contention again.
“But the responsibility I have is to try to get the right balance. We are healthier at the top end at the moment and it will be a good opportunity for me very much to use the squad I have.”
Speaking on the looming Tyne Wear derby, Hughton also commented:
“We can’t underestimate the importance of the game.
“Our fans have had to wait a while to get it back so it is a big game and I have to be conscious of that.”
As always, time will tell. Few would have guessed that we would beat Chelsea with a significant contingent of youngsters in the last game. Here’s hoping that feat can be repeated!
Teams:
Newcastle: Krul, Perch, Williamson, Kadar, Ryan Taylor, Routledge, Guthrie, Smith, Vuckic, Lovenkrands, Ranger.
Subs: Soderberg, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Carroll, Gutierrez, Tiote.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs, Denilson, Eastmond, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner, Vela.
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Fabregas, Arshavin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Lansbury, Nordtveit.
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
workyticket has written 1092 articles on this blog.
1st again!