Newcastle United vs Liverpool match banter and preview.

Posted on April 27th, 2013 | 151 Comments |

Newcastle United v Liverpool.
Liverpool – Top scorer will be missing.
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Date: Sat 27th April, 2013.
Kick off: 5.30pm.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W. Mids).
UK TV: ESPN.

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to our “match banter” piece for this afternoon’s late kick off at St James’ Park, which sees Newcastle United taking on Liverpool in a bid to finally put relegation fears at rest with just one more win.

As you can see above, this one will be televised live on ESPN in the UK, though I will still be posting links to watch the game online for those of you who can’t get it, as well as team sheets when they are available, and finally, match highlights, post match interviews and even a video of the whole game when it’s all over.

Of course, the biggest news with our visitors (and for us) is that their runaway top scorer with 23 of Liverpool’s 61 league goals this season, Luis Suarez, has been banned for ten games for his second attempt at cannibalism on the field of play, this time against Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanović. That’s the good news, though the bad news is that one of their other strikers, January import Daniel Sturridge hasn’t been looking too shabby either. The ex-Chelsea striker / winger has been scoring a goal every 145.8 minutes (5 in 10 appearences) for the Reds since his arrival. In the absence through injury of Fabio Borini, and the banishment to West Ham of some big Geordie lump whose name name I can’t remember right now, Sturridge will indeed come in very handy for the visitors over their next few games. Besides the abovementioned Suarez and Borini up front, Martin Kelly and Joe Allen will also be missing for the visitors.

On our side of course there’s still a long list of casualties (Marveaux, Krul, Santon, Vučkič and Ryan Taylor), but the good news is that Tiote should be back and Cisse should also be playing after a rib scare which saw him travelling to France for treatment during the week. That only leaves Coloccini who has returned to training following his back injury, but is very doubtful and almost certainly not quite ready for a return just yet.

Recent form.

The two teams’ last six Premier League games (most recent first)

Team Results Pts
Newcastle United D | L | W | L | L | W 7
Liverpool D | D | D |W | L | W 9

One thing in our favour which isn’t in the chart however is that Newcastle United have won the last two fixtures between the sides at home, winning 2-0 last season with a brace from Papiss Cisse, and winning 3-1 in the season before that with goals from Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Andy Carroll.

What the managers have been saying.

Most of Alan Pardew’s week has seemingly been taken up making excuses for Newcastle United’s highly disapointing season so far, though he did manage to fit in a few words about the game this afternoon too, saying this:

“I don’t think we’re under any illusions about what we need to do, but we’re playing against a really good side and we’re going to have to be a full tilt to beat them.

“I know our fans are intelligent enough to know that we’re not just going to turn up and steamroller Liverpool. That’s not going to happen. This is going to be a really tight game, but hopefully a game where we can get three valuable points.”

On the other side, Liverpool Supremo Brendan “Chuckles” Rodgers touched on our horrible season so far, saying:

“I’m sure Alan will be bitterly disappointed with the season Newcastle have had. After finishing fifth last season, this has been a difficult year for them. But with (Yohan) Cabaye, (Papiss) Cisse and (Moussa) Sissoko they have good players.

“It’s always a tough game at Newcastle. The atmosphere is always passionate and they get the ball forward early. It’s about showing our ability to control the game, to play with intensity and aggression and then our quality will come through.”

Well here’s hoping that the last bit of that statement doesn’t come to pass!

So, on that note I will sign off for now.

Howay the Lads!

Team sheets.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Rob Elliot (G) Mathieu Debuchy, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara, James Perch, Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye (C), Moussa Sissoko, Papiss Cisse, Jonas Gutierrez.

Subs: Steve Harper (G), Mike Williamson, Dan Gosling, Vurnon Anita, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoan Gouffran, Shola Ameobi.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Jose Reina (G), Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Steven Gerrard (C), Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge.

Subs: Brad Jones (G), Andre Wisdom, Sebastian Coates, Martin Skrtel, Jonjo Shelvey, Suso, Fabio Borini.

Poll

NUFCBlog Author: workyticket workyticket has written 1096 articles on this blog.

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151 Responses

  1. TreeFuToon says:
    April 27, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    “Hmmm why on earth does Pardew continue to select Jonas?”

    My best guess is his tackling, TFT.

  2. Another modern system messed up. Sissoko and Jonas on the sides of a front three. Two defensive midfielders, or actually three as you’d expect Cabaye to be asked to roam forward but we all know he won’t be.

    Fair enough if fattem ain’t fit, but Gouffran should be in this team.

  3. TBH he has been lacking in almost every department this season. For me we should be attacking this game, I defo would have went with Goofy ahead of Jonas. He tracks back and has pace to burn – with Tiote, Perch and Jonas in the same side his tactics are far too negative IMO :(

  4. His tackling? Great. He’s supposed to be an attacking player, unless played in the centre (which he hardly has been this season). He creates bugger all. I used to love him, mainly because he contributed a lot more than people thought, but this season he’s been utterly useless much like Tiote. Where exactly is our creativity? Maybe we’re hoping to nick a goal from a set-piece. :-)

  5. workyticket says:
    April 27, 2013 at 4:55 pm
    Phisix says:
    April 27, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    “Or Guti is sucking Pards off, surely.”

    Well he does have lovely hair, Phisix.

    Wonder what special treatment Colo gets then :P

  6. Surely Anita could have fitted in this system and would have been a better option in that midfield three than Tiote or Perch (preferably Tiote).

    Fck me a very talented, pacy intelligent Dutch international footballer and Pardew has no idea what to do with him. Bit like Mascherano at West Ham.

  7. TreeFuToon says:
    April 27, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    “his tactics are far too negative IMO”

    Well perhaps Llambias should have done more research on Pardew (as I did) and listened to people who actually know about football before he hired him, TFT.

    I’ve been saying this since he was hired, but most people are only seeming to get it now.

  8. We need goals, what the f*** is Jonas and Perch doing on the sheet ?
    With HBA and Gouffran collecting splints on the bench ?

    Can someone tell me why we paid over seven million quid for Anita, to have him playing behind a jerk like Perch ?
    OK game’s starting!
    Don’t feel good about this game!

  9. Jimbob says:
    April 27, 2013 at 5:00 pm

    “Fck me a very talented, pacy intelligent Dutch international footballer and Pardew has no idea what to do with him. Bit like Mascherano at West Ham.”

    Jimbob, you forget that had to play Tevez out of position because he already had Marlon Harewood, and he had to leave Mascherano on the bench because he already had Hayden Mullins.

  10. I’d rather Tiote was benched Chuck than Perch. I can’t remember a player becoming the polar opposite of what he was a year ago like Tiote. Could be a morale thing. Pardew has a habit (Southampton) of destroying a players confidence.

  11. I’m don’t share the school of thought that Pardew isn’t a decent manager.
    Last season surely can’t have all been luck and there were times when we did look a very good side.
    I will concede that next season (if we stay up) is make or break for Pardew – I reckon if we don’t see a top 8 finish then he will be on his bike. Unfortunately I think that anything less than a europa league spot will see some of our top players lose faith and start to look elsewhere for employment.

  12. I know Worky. He’s a brilliant manager who won manager of the year remember so I guess we should take a long hard look at ourselves.

    If success is measured by finances (remember we’re not Chelsea or Man City) which he likes to repeat every six months or so. Then Pardew would win the worst manager of the year if it existed this season. We’re close to the bottom three with 4 games left, yet our finances are better than everyone bar the top six. So therefore by Pardew’s logic, we should be a top eight side. But we’re 16th.

  13. TreeFuToon, he is a decent manager but we should and could do so much better. It’s like being good looking enough to have Mila Kunis but settling for Anne Widdecombe.

  14. “We can never compete against blah blah blah we are a Top Sixteen side though so pi55 off”
    Said Pardew.

  15. Jimbob says:
    April 27, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    “It’s like being good looking enough to have Mila Kunis but settling for Anne Widdecombe.”

    :lol: That is one way of putting it, Jimbob.

    Of course, it still rankles with me that Llambias sacked a far better manager to bring him in for reasons which had nothing whatsoever to do with football.

  16. well at least wigan never won hopefully we can win at qpr and end this shit season get pardew the f**k out and get someone with a football mind

  17. Oh look,we are loosing.Anyone surprised?No?Didnt think so,once we loose again at home,will he get the sack?if so what then,why not sack him in January and give us a good chance at survival.

  18. Have faith SJT they will second half between the 60th and 70th minute when we put Shola on.

  19. You could fcking see this happening a mile off with this selection. Who’s fault is it today Alan? Should have gone six months ago when those who knew about the bloke could see this falling apart. FFS.

  20. Jim Bob your tactics are slacking we have HBA to save the day at 85 mins (even though declared himself 100% fit in the week) :lol:

  21. Not one of these players have been playing for him since November. But nothings been done.

  22. Board don’t want to look like they got it wrong…the whole set up is awful.

  23. How silly does Derek Llambias look now after his interview after the Chelsea game in the Chronicle.

  24. what a game! see the scenes at wolves today? could be us in 12 months if this f*cking useless twat don’t leave

  25. Lucky we have 3 defensive midfielders – Tiote, Perch, Jonas – to act as the creative spark for a comeback.

  26. They know full well they’ve ballsed up SJT. As you say, they won’t admit it though. Pardew should go no matter what though this seasons too late now. Llambias should go and never ever be allowed to make any footballing decision for the rest of his life. He’s been a complete and utter failure of a MD.

  27. Jimbob @50: what did h say, I can’t remember. May as well read that rather than watch this debacle.

    The commentators are taking the p*ss out of Jonas and Pardew.

  28. this is awful we are going to go down again,we are playing like we did four years ago

  29. Liverpool games always seem to be the signal of whether we’re going well or very bad.

    Gullit’s first game (kind of) was that Owen hat-trick 4-1 defeat. Look how well that went under him. The 5-1 when we got relegated, and who knows what this score will be. All I know is we don’t have Nolan and Barton in the dressing room this time.

  30. not to worry boys it’s only been 65 games since we won a game we was losing at half-time trust in pardews team talks they usually work a treat

  31. Relegation here we come !
    I hope Ashley is in a panic, he deserves to be because of his intransigence, both in refusing to strengthen the side during the summer and hanging on to this clown Pardew, when it has become obvious to everyone he’s rubbish and the cause of our present position.
    If Cisse is not scoring, then would it not be a good idea to put on HBA and Gouffran who can score, instead of Fu….g Perch and Jonas who couldn’t put the ball in the net to save their lives.
    We will probably come out after half time, protecting a two zip deficit.

  32. That was Pardews first move, to get rid of the two troublemaking scoucers, so he could have no opposition in the dressing room.

  33. Perhaps we should but Shola on now and go 4-4-2? Perch on the left-wing and Cabaye on the right.

  34. GS says:
    April 27, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    “They just had a close-up of John Gibson, it put me off my lunch.”

    He was in great form on Radio 4 today. They had a really good bit about Newcastle United with him and Newcastle supporting composer, Howard Goodall.

  35. Carver and Pardwew huddled looking at his notes.

    “So Basically, put Shola on yeah?”.

  36. How about us making a couple of changes – Ben Arfa, Anita for Perch and Jonas. Then have a second half like every team seems to have against us.

  37. I think the Europa League really took it out of them this first half. And the finances.

  38. I don’t even think Mike Ashley could afford a hairdryer for Pardew at halftime :lol:

  39. The excuse will be something about Liverpool being really fired up due to the Suarez ban OR that we were less fired up than we would normally be because Suarez was banned.

  40. Hate to suggest gamesmanship tactics but put hba on to run and run at johnson to try for a 2nd yellow. Shola on for midfielder to partner cissie and bully the defence. Not pretty but nor was that 1st half so beggers can’t be choosers

  41. Keep it tight for the first 25 minutes of the second half lads and then hit them on the break for 2 goals in the last 20 minutes.

    That was his game plan for Benfica, remember?

  42. The only solace in this performance is the fact the poorer we do, the closer to an ending, Pardews career becomes.
    Of course that still leaves us with the two footballing geniuses, on their unending slow learning curve.
    Why us ?

  43. when will the pain end,I ought to be able to claim disability benefits for the forty years of trauma that have been inflicted on me. when my little lad (called shay) came home and announced he was a man u fan my missus thought I would hit the roof, my thoughts were that saves mme from a chilld cruelty charge!

  44. God them Sports Direct signs look fooking worse every time I see them…Please GO!

  45. Liverpool’s Premier League record when 2+ goals up at half-time is P98 W96 D2 L0

    looking good

  46. Lets face it our defense is a shambles!
    If I r
    emember right didn’t that once stalwart defender , now useless manager Pardew, make a comment that stated he spends most of his time working on defense, hmmmm !
    That figures!

  47. allright lads I agree pardew must go now to give us some spark for the last three games or we are doon

  48. This is perhaps the worst performance I have seen in over 40 years of watching this lot.

  49. Haha SJT. I’m off. Never seen anything like this before. Worst performance I’ve seen in my 27 years. Laters lads, have a good night.

  50. What a travesty,
    Time for due diligence on a new manager, to keep this guy in place following the last two weeks of play would be an unbelievable mistake.
    Let the coach, Carver take over and put this S.O.B out of his misery.
    As it’s obvious the side is not playing for him.
    We still got QPR to get to forty points.

  51. Said it before will say it again “This team has not got a win in it as long as Pardew runs it”!!That will include QPR.

  52. Will this finally stop us playing with 3 or 4 defensive midfielders and playing for a draw?

  53. Wow.We are relegated with this clown.He wont even do the decent thing,and walk away.He will say we were tired and we had a long season and blah blah some sh+*.

  54. Look on the bright side lads, we could have been dicked by the mackems, oops we did. That twat pardew fff of down the tunnel quick enough. Deserve to go down.

  55. The worst home defeat since 1925, coming on the heels of 0-3 to Sunderland. How can a manager, who was given what he asked for in January, stay in this job? It is not the players who are tired, it is the fans. We are very, very tired of this nonsense and we do not deserve it.

  56. rob elliot; jury still out
    mbiwa; got the goods
    saylor; got the goods
    colo; on his bike
    haidara; could well make a player
    santon; top lad sorely missed
    debuchey; jury still out
    perch; squad player not a starter
    simpson; needs a new contract
    anita; pants
    tiote; dont know
    cabaye; whats happened?
    jonas; thanks for your service but you are past your best
    goufran; could be good

  57. Worky @135: I thought he did that as well. We all had a bad feeling as soon as we saw the team sheet.

    I try not to be negative before we start because I don’t want to jinx it, but I was very nervous today.

    We haven’t got anyone to take over if he gets sacked. Carver and Stone have not covered themselves in glory. Pardew is the main culprit but I have said this before – what the f**k are they doing? Yet another game without a goal from an indirect set piece, they have to take some of the blame.

  58. sissoko; got the goods
    HBA; dont think we will be able to keep him now
    krul; difficult to keep now
    papiss; will score anywhere if given a decent ball
    shola; shola
    all the rest; must do better

  59. I hate being in the position where we need a favour from them lot down the road but its where we are now. Watch them roll over

  60. big paul says:
    April 27, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    “I hate being in the position where we need a favour from them lot down the road but its where we are now. Watch them roll over”

    Even if they lose their game in hand 6-0 like us, they’ll still be ahead, Paul.

  61. <<<<<<<<<<< is stuned and shocked and looking over me shoulder at the chaseing pack

  62. <<<<<<<< would not sack him yet but as soon as the final whistle of the seasons gos so would he

  63. <<<<<<<<< this dude here expects the useless twonk and the useless twonks we class as a team to get us out of this bloomin mess they put us in