Newcastle United vs Fulham match banter!

Posted on April 7th, 2013 | 99 Comments |

Newcastle United v Fulham.
A must win game for the Magpies.
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle.
Date: Sun 7th April, 2013.
Kick off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leics).
UK TV: None.

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to the NUFC Blog “match banter” feature for this afternoon’s vital home game against the Cottagers of Fulham.

With only seven games of the season to go, Newcastle United are still not out of the relegation quagmire. With a strong, winning performance from Aston Villa yesterday, and Wigan going on their perennial end of season run, the pressure is well and truly on Alan Pardew now.

Pardew’s long balls.

Despite our awful season however, Pardew has stuck to his guns, insisting with the “route one” style which has made him one of the managerial greats. Indeed, as you can see from the table below, we have been the biggest long ball side for the whole of this season, eschewing the more Continental “passing” style embraced by top clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and so on. Here’s hoping it can keep us away from another season in the Championship.

Premiership long ball league, 2012-13.
# Team G TP LB LBG LB %
1 Newcastle United. 31 11803 1923 62.0 16.3%
2 Stoke City 31 10121 1616 52.1 16.0%
3 Reading 31 9287 1473 47.5 15.9%
4 West Ham United 30 10230 1530 51.0 15.0%
TP – Total Passes
LB – Long Balls (over 25 yards).
LBG – Average Long Balls per Game.
LB % – Long Ball %.
All stats by OPTA.

Looking at Fulham’s recent form though, it could be tough ask this afternoon, with Fulham coming into this game unbeaten in their last five games, their last defeat being a narrow 1-0 to Premiership leaders Manchester United at the beginning of February. The lads will also have to shake off their disappointment at their latest run of defeats against Wigan (2-1), Manchester City (4-0), and finally, our Euro capitulation against Benfica (3-1).

However, our Silver Supremo is hitting the season’s final strait in bullish mood as always, telling reporters in the run up to this game:

“I am confident we have the ability in the squad to get ourselves into a position where we are still a Premier League side next season. We are going to be under pressure against Fulham and we are going to have to cope with it. Then we switch back to the Europa League and try to climb what will be a difficult hill, not what I would call a mountain but a decent hill, against Benfica in the second leg on Thursday.”

“When you go away from Benfica, beaten 3-1 and you are really disappointed because we have gifted them two goals, you have got to take that into the next game. We caused Benfica some problems and Papiss Cissé in particular was a threat all night. Momentum will be key for the whole of next week.”

However, the great master is somewhat afeared by what Fulham’s Bulgarian bombshell Dimitar Berbatov might do this afternoon. On the languid stylist he reflected:

“There’s no reason why we can’t show our strength on the pitch at Fulham. It’s an important game for us, no doubt about that and we have to make sure we take care of Berbatov. He’s a great player who can cause us a lot of problems.”

Time will tell, Alan.

Well, there isn’t very long to go now, so I will sign off with my usual reminders about posting team sheets, links to watch the game online when they are available, as well as highlights and a video of the whole game when the game is over.

Howay the Lads!

Team sheets.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul (G), Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Davide Santon, Sylvain Marveaux, Yohan Cabaye (C), Moussa Sissoko, Jonas Gutierrez, Papiss Cisse, Yoan Gouffran.

Subs: Rob Elliot, Mike Williamson, Gael Bigirimana, Vurnon Anita, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi.

Fulham (4-4-1-1): Mark Schwarzer (G), Sascha Riether, Philippe Senderos, Brede Hangeland (C), John Arne Riise, Stanislav Manolev, Eyong Enoh, Giorgos Karagounis, Damien Duff, Bryan Ruiz, Dimitar Berbatov.

Subs: Neil Etheridge (G), Aaron Hughes, Kieran Richardson, Emmanuel Frimpong, Urby Emanuelson, Kerim Frei, Hugo Rodallega.

Poll

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

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99 Responses

  1. Jonas and Marv will tear the wings apart.

    Worky, just noticed your comment about Ryder and the Benfica coach. Personally I thought their coach was very respectful as were his team. That Cardoza fella (the one who scored the penalty) was very respectful even after scoring. I thought Benfica were very professional. You didn’t see them shoving or flying elbow first into challenges like Taylor and Cabaye. Fantastic technical team. We have technical players too but that’s slowly been coached out of them by the fantastic Mr.Pardew. If we stay up, lets give the man another season. He’s been so unlucky :roll:

  2. I read somewhere Brede Hangeland has the most headed clearances in the Premier League. So will be interesting to see if Pardew’s game plan is to hoof it. Senderos and Hangeland will struggle :-)

  3. Jimbob says:
    April 7, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    “Fantastic technical team.”

    They have to sell alot of their best players and start again every season too Jimbob. Alot of the previous season’s side were gutted by Chelsea, Real Madrid, Man City etc…

  4. Jimbob says:
    April 7, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    “I read somewhere Brede Hangeland has the most headed clearances in the Premier League.”

    Aye, he has Jimbob. 175 so they say.

  5. I think if we don’t get through they’ll win the Europa. Trouble is they will score on Thursday and can’t see Pardew inspiring the team to score three. If it does end up 3-1 we have extra time to contend with which doesn’t help for the derby on Sunday. Pardew has two problems for Thursday, 1) He has to attack the game and not try and defend a one goal lead if we score. 2) He’s Alan Pardew.

    As for Fulham this will be tough but we can do this. I seriously don’t see the point of going through pre-season with things as they are, only for them to mess up again next season. We need a change. 16 defeats from 31 in the league, and struggling to get to 40 points with that squad of players is shambolic. You could see this season falling apart from the first whistle but I just got moaned at, specifically after the draw at Liverpool on here. I don’t want a repeat of this season next season, and unless somethings changed, it will be the same all over again. To some degree players must take the blame, but all of them? In all of the 31 games? I don’t think so. Pardew’s quick to take the plaudits when things go right but not so much when things go wrong.

  6. Got a bad feeling about this one.Fulham was the last game I saw at SJP after many years and we were relegated soon after.Can not remember when we last took a game and nailed it.Sorry about the downer lets hope I’m wrong.

  7. “I want to play for an English mid-table club. Unlike Newcastle, Liverpool meet my criteria.” – Toby Alderweireld.

    Ouch! He’s probably narked both sides there.

  8. not even looking forward to this game we have crap last few games wouldn’t be surprised if berba turns us over

  9. WTF do the traing staff do up there? that’s 3 or 4 hamstrings now which can only be down to training and warm up. pathetic!

  10. Subz00 says:
    April 7, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    “WTF do the traing staff do up there? that’s 3 or 4 hamstrings now which can only be down to training and warm up. pathetic!”

    Don’t forget the groins, Subz. I’ve never seen so many knacked groins in my life.

  11. Luckily Villa didnt win yesterday and make this the most important game of the season. Oh… if we cant beat this shower of shyte we dont deserve…

  12. We have perfected the art of being shyte for our corners AND their corners. Fulham dont have a clue and then almost score.

  13. Our corners are more of a benefit for the opposition than us. It gives them a chance to catch us on the break.

  14. Had enough of this crap already. End the half then let Pards work his halftime magic, whatever that is.

  15. Newcastle have conceded 37 second-half goals, more than any other Premier League side bar Aston Villa (39)

    looking good guys

  16. Delayed tape, dont get the game until six pm, but who wants to watch a game that the result is known.
    Later.

  17. Chuck says:
    April 7, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    “Delayed tape, dont get the game until six pm, but who wants to watch a game that the result is known.”

    You wouldn’t want to watch the first half anyway Chuck. I’ve had to use drugs to get through it.

  18. I don’t understand.

    Sports Direct have been having a footwear sale and the signs say “this week only,” but they keep saying that and it just goes on week after week.

    Can anyone explain this please?

  19. I’m glad to be watching this on the internet. The most interesting bits are when it is buffering.

  20. Shola can slow the game down for us, we were looking far too dangerous for Pardews liking

  21. What’s Danny Simpson doing assigned to marking Berbatov from a free kick. That’s good organization.

    Yes Ameobi’s on! And for Gouffran…

  22. Phisix says:
    April 7, 2013 at 4:51 pm

    “Missed the goal as streams are not working for me. How did he score?”

    Very nice control of a ball from behind to volley it into the corner of the goal Phisix. I’ll see if I can get some highlights up soon anyway so you won’t have to wait long.

  23. Shame I missed it. There is always MOTD tonight. Sunderland next then we should be safe, right?

  24. Phisix says:
    April 7, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    “Shame I missed it. There is always MOTD tonight. Sunderland next then we should be safe, right?”

    It should only be a few minutes until I get some highlights up Phisix.

  25. Cr@p match. Fulham were even worse than us. We have a good chance to relegate the Mackems next week and kick fascism out of football.

  26. Phisix, I’ve put up a replay of Cisse’s goal just for you now. I wouldn’t have put it up normally as it’s just 18 seconds and with no sound (ie shite), but at least you can see that goal.

  27. we were f**kin’ s***e again!, as usual, and fulham should have had a draw, to be honest.
    the way grey gimp fist celebrated the goal, you would have thought we’d won silverware.
    i’ve just seen his interview, and true to form, he bemoans the europa cup, injuries, not being able to put a full side out etc.
    the bloke is a liability, and should have been sacked before xmas.
    i suppose the win will keep him in his post for next season, f**kin’ cnut!, i cannot stand the barsteward!

  28. Thought we played some decent stuff and were on top for the whole game, last third was our problem area until Cisse came up with the goods.

    Marv man of the match for me

  29. worky, i can’t help it, i love him so much, best manager we’ve ever had.

  30. @Prashanth – well it is a fans blog, just fans who want a geordie owner, a geordie manager and 20 young lads from wallsend in the first team – we’ll still moan like fook like, it’s the english way man