Manchester United vs Newcastle United match preview.

Posted on November 25th, 2011 | 71 Comments |

Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson.
A date with Alex "Chuckles" Ferguson awaits.
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester.
Date: Saturday 26 November, 2011
Kick-off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Mike Jones (replaces Phil Dowd).

Well, it’s almost time for the second of Newcastle United’s triumvirate of clashes against “the big guns” of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. Like the last one, we will also face the further disadvantage of playing away in the hostile environment of Manchester United’s “Theatre of Dreams,” Old Trafford.

Stats, previous matches etc…

Much like our previous Manchester opponents last week, our recent record against Manchester United at their place is rather dire unfortunately. We haven’t won at Old Trafford for over 39 years. In the days when Supermac’s sideburns were growing ever bigger, we managed 2-0 victory in February 1972. Our last victory at St James’ Park was a glorious 4-3 victory under Bobby Robson in September 2001. In our last six games at Old Trafford we have lost five, but did manage to scrape a 1-1 draw in our opening game of the 2008/09 season.

The Manchester machine were totally undefeated at home in the Premiership last season, the closest they got was a 2-2 draw against the throstles of West Bromwich. This season however, they were of course given a sound 1-6 home thrashing by their noisy neighbours from just down the road. That’s about it though as the rest of their home Premiership games have all been victories, with their best result being a comprehensive 8-2 home stuffing of Arsenal.

On the Magpie side, being fourth in the table, it’s hardly surprising that our Premiership away record hasn’t been too bad either, with three wins, two draws, with our first defeat home or away coming against Manchester United’s nemesis at The City of Manchester Stadium.

For those of you who have been watching all the games, it will come as little surprise that wor centa back, Steven Taylor, has been the best blocker in the Premiership so far, blocking no fewer than 19 goalbound efforts in our 12 Premiership games so far. If he starts, which, of course, he almost certainly will, it will be his 150th league start for the Magpies.

Our all time Premiership record at Old Trafford is: P 17, W Nowt, D 6, L 11.

Team news, squads, probable formations etc

Newcastle United.

Firstly on the Newcastle United side, the club’s official site have reported that winger Gabriel Obertan has recovered from a toe infection and should be available for selection. Cheik Tiote and Leon Best, who were out of our last game against Manchester City with a knacked knee (medial collateral ligament) and “Gilmore’s groin” respectively are still doubtful. Central defender Mike Williamson is still ruled out by the club for this game with his ankle/foot injury, but should be available from selection very soon after a long, long spell out. Fianally, winger, Sylvain Marveaux should be out for quite some time with his groin, which has required surgery once again.

Getting on to the tactics / formation front, though Leon Best is still somewhat doubtful, if he is fit, this leaves the “To Ben Arfa or not to Ben Arfa, that is the question” question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to stick with the silky skills of the French Tunisian number 10 in the hole, or go back to the big hold up gadgie who worked so well with Demba Ba in our first 11 games. To put it another way, will there be a repeat of the 4-4-1-1 formation we used in Best’s absence, or will Pardew go back to the 4-4-2 which saw us undefeated in the league this season until the clash with moneybags Man City last weekend?

Manchester United.

On the other side, Darron Gibson and Rafael have returned, probably to keep the bench warm, along with Nemanja Vidić, who will probably start. All you Magpies out there will no doubt be shocked to hear that Michael Owen will definitely be out with a thigh injury, as will Tom Cleverley (ankle) and Anderson (knee).

Once again on the formation / tactics front, Alex Ferguson, has been a flexible, pragmatic fellow without dogma when it comes to this sort of thing. Though recent performances heavily suggest that he will go with a 4-2-3-1 affair which can always slip back into a 4-5-1 if needs must, which is seldom necessary with kind of quality they have in the side. There’s a good chance that this formation could line up with the Mexican Javier Hernández aka “Chicarito” upfront, with Wayne Rooney slipping comfortably into his hole, with possibly Nani and Ashley Young on the attacking flanks of a cosy threesome behind the striker. Behind that, Waalsend’s very own Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher will be favourites for the more defensive central midfield positions. Finally, Phil Jones will probably be at right back, with Sepp Blatter’s best mate and team captain, Rio Ferdinand, taking up his usual central defensive position along with Nemanja Vidić, and finally, Patrice Evra on the left with doughnut nicker, David de Gea, between the sticks.

Having written all that, there are mixed messages about Wayne Rooney’s fitness, though the official site seems to have ruled him in so I haven’t put him on the “doubtful” list. As usual, the excellent Park Ji Sung should be in with a shout of a starting place along with those mentioned above along with one or two others.

Squads

Newcastle United (from): Tim Krul (G), Rob Elliot (G), Danny Simpson (D), Ryan Taylor D/M), Steven Taylor (D), Davide Santon (D/M), Shane Ferguson (D/M), Fabricio Coloccini (C, D), James Perch (D), Yohan Cabaye (M), Jonas Gutierrez (M), Gabriel Obertan (M), Dan Gosling (M), Danny Guthrie (M), Hatem Ben Arfa (M/F), Mehdi Abeid (M), Haris Vučkić (M), Alan Smith (M), Demba Ba (F), Leon Best (F), Shola Ameobi (F), Peter Lovenkrands (F/M), Sammy Ameobi (F).

Doubtful: Leon Best (Gilmore’s groin), Cheik Tioté (knacked knee).

Injured:, Mike Williamson (ankle / foot), Sylvain Marveaux (groin).

Manchester United (from): David de Gea (G), Anders Lindegaard (G), Ben Amos (G), Phil Jones (D), Rio Ferdinand (C, D), Nemanja Vidić (D), Patrice Evra (D), Jonny Evans (D), Chris Smalling (D), Michael Carrick (M), Darren Fletcher (M), Nani (M), Park Ji-Sung (M), Ashley Young (M), El Radji Diouf (M/F), Wayne Rooney (F), Dimitar Berbatov (F), Danny Welbeck (F).

Doubtful: Danny Welbeck (thigh), .

Injured: Michael Owen (thigh), Anderson (knee).

What the managers have been saying

On the Magpies side our Silver Supremo has acknowledged that like last weekend’s game in Manchester, it’s gannin’ to be a tough one, but also held to the theory that it’s so long since we had a victory there, we must get one eventually! He said:

“I know he will be smarting from Wednesday’s draw (against Benfica in the Vhampion’s League), so unfortunately, we are on the back of a negative from Manchester United’s point of view, so it will be a tough game for us.

“If you are going to Old Trafford against the quality of player and the atmosphere that’s created, of course you are going to find it very, very difficult.

“The odds are that you are not going to get many victories, and 1972 suggests that maybe we are due one.

“You need a bit of luck, sometimes the ball to roll your way or fortune to favour you. But you have got to force that. We have got to force them into a situation where they might make a mistake, or we have a forward running beyond and a player commits himself and they are down to 10 men.

“It’s crucial when that chance comes along that we take it, because we aren’t going to get many chances there.

On a similar note he also said in another interview:

“We are coming up against the champions this week and they will be eager to show us how powerful they are.

“They had a disappointment on Wednesday night, and they need to put that right, so we come up against a motivated side and probably the strongest side, so it is a big test for us.”

Meanwhile on the other side of the fence Alex Ferguson, much like Roberto Mancini last week, was quite fulsome in his praise of what Alan Pardew and the Magpies have achieved so far this season saying:

“Alan’s done a great job at Newcastle. He’s galvanised them and got them fighting for each other.

“I watched their recent 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham and it was a great game, end to end, with both teams trying to win.

“When you’ve got a Newcastle team doing that, with their great support behind them, you know you’re going to get a difficult game.”

Well that just about wraps it up for this preview except to say:

Howay the Lads!

NUFCBlog Author: workyticket workyticket has written 1095 articles on this blog.

Related Posts:


71 Responses

  1. The whole week I’ve been quietly confident of this game. Whats more likely is a tight game with us going down 1 or 2-0. Perhaps another penalty to break us in. I think tiote will start, he was borderline fit last week. Hoping for a bit of luck and a result so the team can be recognised with some deserved respect. ..HWTL

  2. well worky I was worried about this match until I read Pardew’s incisive insight
    – “unfortunately, we are on the back of a negative from Manchester United’s point of view” which he must have pinched from George W Bush’s manual of football coaching.
    your usual excellent summary, thank you, which leaves me thinking that on any normal saturday we will get stuffed cos they are better than us
    – but
    if we play the same team as last week,
    and assuming Raylor is back to his now normal dependability,
    and (as I asked last week but he didn’t listen) we keep HBA & Ba well away from the penalty area
    then we do stand a chance
    either 0-1 and we are everyone’s heroes
    or 1-0 which is what everyone expects so why worry

    HWTL

  3. GeordieDan says:
    November 25, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    “Cheers for the article Worky. Good read”

    Thanks Dan. hope you read it before I edited out all the little cock ups. I rushed it out because it’s so late now.

  4. Don’t know how this article came up on my City News Now page, but best of luck against the Rags anyway Geordies :)

  5. City Till I Die says: best of luck against the Rags anyway Geordies – thanks mate, stuff Liverpool for us please, they’re breathing down our knecks!

  6. City Till I Die says:
    November 25, 2011 at 11:45 pm

    “Don’t know how this article came up on my City News Now page, but best of luck against the Rags anyway Geordies”

    Thanks City Till I Die.

    Probably because I mentioned last weeks game against your lot a few times. Well done on the 6-1 BTW. Hope we do half as well as that.

  7. Worky>

    Never noticed anything mate.lol. ;)

    I reckon with some good fortune tomorrow and a proper effort from the lads we can get something from Man U.

    It’s going to be very difficult obviously but I can’t remember the last time I felt this confident going in to a match against them.

    Could be a cracking game!

    HWTL

  8. Btw mate>

    Not sure if you’ve checked out the video footage posted earlier (and on the Chronicle pages I think?) but contrary to it being reported that Tiote is doubtful he looked very, very lively in training!

    At the end of the clip he’s running/sprinting around during training.

    Not concrete like of course but happy days if he’s good to go tomorrow afternoon! :D

  9. good luck guys remember you playing against 12 at old crappford,the refs up there should be wearing red too.i hope you attack them and turn them over.so old red nose can storm out another interview in a big sulk.

  10. Tell me, will Rooney be playing just behind Chicharito when he “slips comfortably into his hole”?

    Anderson being out is a big miss for them. We can get something out of this game, but Raylor can’t play like a crackhead again…

  11. With Ben Arfa showing glimpses of genius against Man City, he will play an important part in this game. ManU loosing to us ‘ll be a slap on the face for the champions and to avoid it they’ll try to raise their game in turn committing some mistakes for which Benny & Cabaye will definitely punish them. Let’s hope we win..

  12. For me Gabriel Obertan is not the best winger to pull on the black and white, however I feel that we have missed his pace in the time he has been away. Ok he does not track back as much as I would like, but when we are under the cosh as it were, he is always available to chase down balls pumped down the right channel. His pace means that teams cannot fully commit full backs in attacks in fear of him running on to one of our clearances. Also, apart from the cross at Stoke, he has not really provided. but like I said, it is his pace ans energy that we need and have missed despite his short comings.

  13. Reading that Collo is a possible doubt with a Back spasm and Kadar is beng brought in to replace him.
    Think we will be spanked without Collo.

  14. Colo will play i wreckon there is nowt wrong with him … i saw dat story newcastle blog it spouts shite at the best of times… this story prob only emerged because he is yet to sign a new deal

  15. about tiote been a doubt … fergie is known for mind games by sayin players are injured an suddenly the line out in the starting 11… pards could be giving him a taste of his own stuff :P come on the toon .. 2-0 demba ba and cabaye to score :)

  16. danny simpson tweeted this at 9 am ……This will be my only tweet the neet as my Internet is down. Darn it! , speak tomorrow but wanted to wish the Toon all the best. Howay! …… this a sign he was left in toon

  17. Johnnygg says:

    “danny simpson tweeted this at 9 am ……This will be my only tweet the neet as my Internet is down. Darn it! , speak tomorrow but wanted to wish the Toon all the best. Howay! …… this a sign he was left in toon”

    Hmmmm Simmo not playing, Tiote not playing and Colo not playing. All of them off in January ?

  18. “but should be available from selection very soon after a long, long spell out. Fianally, winger, Sylvain Marveaux should be out for quite some time with his groin”

    Not quite Pulitzer material WT :)

  19. “There’s a good chance that this formation could line up with the Mexican Javier Hernández aka “Chicarito” upfront, with Wayne Rooney slipping comfortably into his hole”

    and this of course is based upon nothing but hearsay !

  20. @19
    ‘ Danny simpson tweeted this at 9 am ……This will be my only tweet the neet as my Internet is down. Darn it! , speak tomorrow but wanted to wish the Toon all the best. Howay! …… this a sign he was left in toon’………

    are you a bit chicken oriental? this is a RT by danny that ant and dec said.. simmos playing RB today and has travelled … durr O_o lol

  21. joppadoni says:

    “are you a bit chicken oriental? this is a RT by danny that ant and dec said.. simmos playing RB today and has travelled … durr O_o lol”

    and who says English isnt an evolving language ?

  22. exactly Andy – looks like collo is oot tho and perch is taking his place.. :P might just watch something else now ha. ( not likely )

  23. Jeez doppadoni I was just about to post this

    “Newcastle’s last win at Old Trafford was by 2-0 in February 1972. It’s 17 league matches since their last win against United, a 4-3 victory on Tyneside in September 2001.”

    and say todays our best chance to right this situation and now you tell me Perch is at CB :( Could it get any worse ?

    If Perch and Saylor are the central pair then we should cover them with at least two DM’s maybe have a three in CM with Tiote, Gosling and Cabaye and leave Jonas, HBA and Ba to hunt in a pack of three (oooeerr)

    As “they” say attack is the best form of defence so lets just have a go :)

  24. Is this game on sky sports at all? I looked on the website but only shows one game which is on at 12 ish.

  25. SuperMac, he looks a lot happier than I usually do after we lose a game, so I’ve only looked like that once this season so far.

    My missus hates it even more when we lose cos I get a tad grumpy. She reckons the whole street can hear my rants at the Telly, not happened much this season though. She does tend to exaggerate a wee bit however and I am usually a calm laid back sort of person IMO. :)

  26. andy in all honsesty i think if we dont get humped all over we will have done well. i posted 2 – 4 to the toon yesterday if rooney wasnt playing and we had a full squad, now with tiote and it appears collo out im throwing that one back in the sea.

  27. hopefully AP is hoping fergie will rest rooney if he thinks collo and tiote arent playing. however ive never seen pardew pull a stunt like that before ( would be a bloody good time for a first though !! ) lol

  28. Phisix says:

    “Is this game on sky sports at all? I looked on the website but only shows one game which is on at 12 ish.”

    You’ll never get a live 3pm Saturday kick off on TV Phisix as it contravenes the BPL terms and conditions. However there are always alternatives :)

    Where’s the “winky” emoticon when you want it ?

  29. 20 Andy Mac says:
    November 26, 2011 at 10:15 am

    “Hmmmm Simmo not playing, Tiote not playing and Colo not playing. All of them off in January ?”

    There is still 5 weeks before the transfer window opens, I would doubt that even Ashley would deliberatly weaken the team for that period just to cottonwool certain players to ready them for transfer. I think we will still have them on our books after the window providing there is not silly (Carrol type) money involved.

    As per my comment yesterday I don’t think we are, a selling club!

    We will miss Collo more today than anyone else if he aint playing, turns a tough game into a glad to salvage a point one, somehow.

  30. “I would doubt that even Ashley would deliberatly weaken the team for that period just to cottonwool certain players to ready them for transfer.”

    So you dont think he did that last season with AC G O-T ?

  31. Everyone is for sale.
    Look how many players have been shipped out in the last few seasons-shitloads.
    Any decent offers come in for players they are gone.
    Most are paid much less than other clubs would be paying so tapping them up is easy enough.
    Most players that leave double their wages….sure AC went from 40k a week to 80k and I am sure Jose is now on a good screw now as well.
    All these players we have imported are on paltry wages to what most prem clubs would pay so if a club comes knocking with a decent contract they will be off in a flash.

  32. Andy

    Don’t think it was for 5 weeks and don’t forget we had Shola and Best, to fill in for him. ;)

    Seriously, I do get your point but I doubt (hope) he wouldn’t mess about too much with a team that is actually doing ok by dropping vital players for such a long period.

  33. Shola and Best….to Fill in haha
    They couldn’t fill a rusty bucket with bad apples from 5 yards most days.

  34. Tell you what like MA and his sidekick have spread so much bad vibes between fans….DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

  35. sirjasontoon says:

    “All these players we have imported are on paltry wages”

    Chickenfeed even ?

  36. Haha Turkey Tokens….. :lol:
    What’s yer perdition today Andy?
    Had this down as 1 nil us but without Collo and Tiote I think we will be battered.

  37. Now hopei we dnt gt battered. jus herd rooney cud b playin in midfield, with javoet upfromy. Wud love to see simpson or oberton score today. Game will b won or lost in midfield today cayabe n guthrie w8ll av t av game of there lives.

    Goin to say a lucky 2-1 win for toon.

    HWTL

  38. As you say with those two missing life suddenly takes on a different hue.

    I wrote earlier that with Perch at CB, it couldnt get much worse unless………………………………………. he chooses to bung up the midfield with Smudger :(

  39. “unless he chooses to bung up the midfield with Smudger”

    Normally you’d say “stiffen” the midfield but I believe I chose my words wisely :)

  40. News on Shields Gazette saying Harper is back at the club….must be getting some practice in so Krul can be sold in January-as predicted by me a little while ago.
    How much for TK?
    Bout 10M I reckon.

  41. Collo – 10-14M
    Tiote-20M
    Simpson-4M
    Krul-10M

    Few nights out at Aspers for Ashley and Co over the Holiday period,KERCHHHHHHHING !!

  42. I hate to say it but you may well be right SJT.

    I remember, in the run up to last January’s window, that I staunchly resisted the notion that Carroll would be sold partly becuase of Pardwho’s prattlings and partly because I thought (wrongly as it turns out) Fatman wouldnt want to dilute the team in its first season back in the BPL.

    Once shafted never forgotten !!!

  43. BTW I wouldnt take anything less than £30m for Tiote so that would be £10m for the club, £10m for Fatman and £10m on “agents fees”.

  44. I wrote earlier that with Perch at CB, it couldnt get much worse unless………………………………………

  45. MM….The Comedy Club at SDA has long ceased to amuse me.
    If any points I make are wrong let me know…If you are seeking gags and chuckles maybe try another blog?

  46. sirjasontoon…I was giving you a compliment mate. No problem though, I’m not bothered about it, I still think you’re a laugh a minute mate. I really enjoy reading your insight about NUFC.

    By the way, who are you to question me visiting this blog ?

  47. I can question everything I want MM…it’s a blog…i thought I was making you unhappy so thought maybe you needed to chill on the graham norton forum or something to bring a smile back to those rosey cheeks :lol:

  48. sirjasontoon…you, make me unhappy ? Far from it mate. Every time I read your gash twaddle you make me laugh.

  49. SJT says:

    “If you are seeking gags and chuckles maybe try another blog?”

    Munich Mag replies:
    “By the way, who are you to question me visiting this blog ?”

    Can you read English if so please tell me where SJT’s comments question your right to post your usual tripe on this blog?

    If you ever bothered your arse to think about why other people on this board ignore your whining, sniping, criticisms of people who have a right to voice an opinion then maybe you’d realise that bullshit in = bullshit out !

  50. Well twenty odd minutes till kick off, for anyone in the NYC area its being shown on ESPN 2#.
    Though we are unaware of the lineups (I think ?) their being a few injuries to key players, never the less hoping for a good game.
    This is not the best Man.U. side i have seen, seems they no longer have the wherewithal to go out and buy anyone they want, that having shifted to their fellow Mancunian side Citeh!
    Must be a bitter pill for them, ah well they have had a good run.
    A win for us to-day would be outstanding, hope our side are willing to give it their all, hell i would even be satisfied to split the points.
    But we cant loose sight of what it’s all aboot, watching a good game of football.

  51. C’mon guys, he’s obviously got problems, needs a bit of attention’s that’s all.
    Be nice !

  52. That’s it, gotta listen to McManaman now, got the color commentary job with ESPN, Become quite good at it, later !

  53. sirjasontoon says:

    “Come on lads no fighting…otherwise it’s an away win to MA and OwlHeed !!”

    Chuck says:

    “C’mon guys, he’s obviously got problems, needs a bit of attention’s that’s all. Be nice !”

    Soz never been able to suffer fools gladly, should try harder in certain cases I suppose ?

  54. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I uncover this matter to be in fact something that I think I would never realize. It seems too complex and incredibly broad for me. I’m searching forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it! xrumer