Newcastle v Wigan – Match preview.

Posted on October 15th, 2010 | 94 Comments |

Beware of the zog!
Beware of the zog!
Newcastle entertain the pie-munchers of Wigan Athletic tomorrow in what is set to be another do or die encounter.

It’s another game against a team that is tipped to be in and around the relegation scrap with us come the end if the season, and Newcastle will have to make sure that it doesn’t go the same way as our last two home game against a similar calibre of opposition went.

Newcastle need to get back to winning ways, and a home game against Wigan should present the ideal opportunity to see that happen. It won’t be an easy game though, none of them are, and Wigan will have their eyes firmly set on taking the three points back with them in their minibus to Lancashire.

Chris Hughton will begin a lengthly spell without Hatem Ben Arfa after the French schemer suffered that horrendous double leg break against Manchester City a fortnight ago. Steven Taylor is on the verge of returning to full training but will still be unavailable, as will Steve Harper, Leon Best and Dan Gosling.

On the plus side, Danny Simpson is close to a return to first-team action after coming through a couple of reserve games unscathed. Danny Guthrie is also close to returning after a long injury lay-off with a knee problem whilst Fabricio Coloccini is fit to feature after picking up a groin injury against Manchester City but is likely to be rested as a precaution. Sol Campbell is likely to deputise.

The reliance on 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 or whatever you want to call it is again being brought into question with some fans believing that the formation will be our downfall. Personally I think it is time for a change and would like to see a team of;

Newcastle – Tim Krul, James Perch, Mike Williamson, Sol Campbell, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Cheick Tiote, Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez could recall on-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley for the trip to St James’ Park. Cleverley had been out with a knee injury but proved his fitness midweek with the Under-21 squad. Ali Al-Habsi is fit to start in goal although Antolin Alcaraz and Gary Caldwell look likely to miss the match.

Last time out Wigan beat Wolves 2-0 where they lined up with a team of;

Wigan – Ali Al Habsi, Steve Gohouri, Antolin Alcaraz, Emerson Boyce, Maynor Figueroa, James McCarthy, Hendry Thomas, Charles N’Zogbia, Jordi Gomez, Franco Di Santo, Hugo Rodallega.

As I said earlier, it won’t be an easy game, but it is one that we have to win. Both teams have been unpredictable results wise so far this season but I fully expect that Newcastle will take the three points tomorrow and finally start turning those promising performances into points.

My prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Wigan.

Howay the lads!

Date – Saturday, 16th October, 2010.

Kick-off – 3:00pm.

Venue – St James’ Park, Newcastle.

NUFCBlog Author: toonsy toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.

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94 Responses

  1. Hoping for plenty of effort from the lads on the pitch and also from us lot off it, bring back the noise.

  2. I would settle for a draw. Avoiding defeat is the main thing because games like Stoke, Blackpool and Wigan are the relegation six pointers that decide who stays up and who is relegated. If its a draw then at least they don’t gain any points on us. I have a feeling N’Zogbia/Insomnia will come back to haunt us this weekend.

  4. When I say gain points on us I mean the gap between us and them doesn’t get bigger. I didn’t word that one right.

  6. I’d like to see Loverpants given a go, we really really need someone playing off Carroll.

    Someone who can actually play off Carroll I mean, rather than trundle around half a pitch away from him..

  7. Toonsy-

    I like your lineup. Lovenkrands and Carroll up front hopefully *should* provide us some better attacking options. Think McLovin’ is up to the challenge?

  8. Agree with mclovin n carrol , think they played really well togther at the end of last season , didnt both of them go a fairly big scoring run after xmas when playing together?

  9. Johno-

    Yeah they did, mate. They were all close to 20. Very tit for tat, and that makes for a nice scoreboard!

  10. Toonsy going by the team you picked you must have some insider knowledge that Captain Tugboat is injuried, or else its wishful thinking as there is no other way CH or Tugboat would drop himself.
    I honestly feel that if we play the way we have been playing for a draw we will be lucky to get the draw, but if we setup to go out to win the game we can.
    CH the choice is yours

  14. Id like to c two upfront id personnally like ranger n carroll, fink he may go carroll n ameobi, but id b ok wit lovenkrands up there he ain’t had lookin this year

  15. Jay Jay me bad mouthing ? I havn’t even started on him :lol: yet.
    I meant to ask yesterday what exactly is a chutney ferret I can guess but I thought I would ask mate

  16. I heard Wigan are yet to concede an away goal (haven’t had chance to see if that’s true) – it would be brilliant to put a few past them but would happily settle for a 1-0 win!!

  20. Richie meant to ask you did you see the prog last week I think it was called the Secret War about Iraq about the Yank troops in Baghdad and the British troops in Basra ?

  21. I think Chris knows that although he may slightly upset his Captain if Nolan is dropped tomorrow, he would win a huge amount of positive energy from all the supporters and whoever the lucky striker is to partner Carroll. Most likely he would go with Shola based on what we’ve seen this season, but I think Lovenkrands offers a whole lot more and showed that in the second half of last season as we destroyed almost every Championship defense that they encountered.

  22. Dave…..just watched it a couple of nights ago, we were always screwed there without the manpower.

  23. Having said that, if I had my choice, (which I know I never will unless on a video game) I would partner Ranger with Carroll and see how the two young, strong, energetic strikers do against some halfway decent defense.

    Although I would simply be ecstatic if anybody aside from Nolan or Xisco were partnering Carroll this weekend!

  27. aye seen the second one Dave,yesterday actually but missed the first one.

    Got another one recorded…. Dispatches:Bravo’s Deadly Mission about the US Marines in the Stan.

  29. For the pessimists out there: Wigan holds form & does not concede goal. A weary Krul misplays one and the defense concedes its weekly penalty kick on a questionable call. So, 0-2.

    For the optimists: Laws of averages catch up to Wigan & NUFC pop in 3. No penalty kicks assessed and Krul remarkable with new found additional confidence as Dutch captain. So, 3-0.

    And as always, I stand behind these definite predictions, Way, way behind, in fact.

  30. I’m good thanks big dave, my bro is on the piss for the first time in 3 months, hope you and the family is well.

  32. If we don’t win tomorrow I think the alarm bells will start ringing and the tin hats will be on. lol

    Seriously though I will be amazed if CH drops Captain Tugboat.

    I will take 1 – 0 to the Toon with a scruffy goal.

  34. Always play attacking formation at Home. for Me. 4-3-3 is the best and most stable attacking formation for NUFC.

    (4-3-3 formation)
    ——-Harper———-

    —Perch—-Colo—Mike—-Enrique—

    ——-Gosling—Barton–Guthrie—

    ——Xisco—–Carroll—Peter—-

    Sub/bench: Nolan,Tiote,Krul,Leon Best,Ryan,Smith,Sol.

    This is taking account that when all are fit. So for tmr match,

    GK change to Krul.
    Gosling change Nolan.

    then Sub Bench:soldeberg,Tiote,Shola,Jonas,Sol,Ryan,Smith.

    But that’s what i want,as usual CH will put his favourite formation.

    If i see only 1 striker in tmr match starting,i see wigan winning 3-2. ;)

  38. AOD @35 that post on Spew Tube from some idiot is a load of retarded bollocks…

    Boys and girls, we gotta beat Wigan tomorrow, paint it however you like, if we can’t beat Wigan at home then we’re officially struggling imo..

  41. Got to get up at half 5, should stop drinking and go to bed, not gonna though, it’s what batty would want :)

  42. Consistency unpredictable is what we are now. I really don’t know what will happen today but hopefully we can fight it !

  46. Roll on 3pm, bring it on :-)

    batty….I’ve given goals galore one more chance, if I divn,t win this week then it’s obviously a con trick ;-)

  49. rich its a tw@t when u pick 4 or 5 teams and they all score bar 1 and that 1 misses a pen in the 87th minute and lets u down for a few hundred quid :)

  50. shocking behaviour batty, has he been up all neet in his bedsit wi a couple of bottles of Lambrini?

  52. batty… I’ve gone for 6, did the same the other week and only Bournemouth didn’t score v Southampton and that was the last fixture on the results page so I’d got mesel all excited :-(

  60. batty… I divnt usually bet cos I’m crap at it and know nowt about the horses.All me mates bet daily like but I’ll give it another go just a fiver on 6 games.
    I’ll tip my usual 3-1 win for the toon(has to be right some time)

  61. richietoon dont be greedy , just pick 3 teams on the gg and you will still get 9/2 with a better chance of winning.

  62. Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing for something :-)

    jay jay… ya going to Bolton away?

  68. @67 – move on man, sun is a joke rag and to report that as news is a bit of a joke
    Glad to finally return to some league action, should get a win so therefore my prediction is a draw …… nah think I’ll go for 2-1 toon

    By the way reckon streams will be shite today :(

    HWTL

  69. Been to the dentist this morning, got a clean bill of health and now I’m out for lunch and to get pissed. Somethings telling me I’m going to need to be pissed to watch this game.

    1-1 my prediction

  72. A quick one lads, does anyone know/think that there will be tickets on door and how much will they be if I was to go now?

  77. There’ll be tickets available on the door, don’t worry about that. We’ll be lucky to get 40k there today.

  80. in about 10 minutes Ice, when I ‘ve finished me cuppa…aye the only way is up……or doon….or stay the same ;-)

  85. jay jay….ya shouldnt start so early then…still waiting for wor lass getting ready, story of my life!!

  93. Best Tiote song/chant attemot I have heard so far;

    “I know a midfield man, he comes from far away, where does he play! He plays in midfield. Tio Tio Tiote, Tiote, Tiote”

  94. TOONSY not getting much time to yourself lately m8,its a hard life eh,keep ganning kidda.

    not keen on that chant like