Queens Park Rangers vs Newcastle United match banter and preview!

Posted on May 12th, 2013 | 137 Comments |

QPR v Newcastle United.
Loftus Road beckons
Venue: Loftus Road, London.
Date: Sun 12th May, 2013.
Kick off: 3.00pm.
Referee: Lee Probert (Wilts).
UK TV: None.

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to our penultimate “match banter” for the season.

This time of course, the Magpies face Queens Park Rangers and with Alan Pardew once again seemingly unable to find a win for love or money, each game becomes ever more crucial in the Toon’s bid to stave off yet another relegation. With our next opponents being Champions League chasing Arsenal, this clash with one of the three teams who have actually managed to be worse than us so far this season has assumed even more importance.

One bad omen for the Silver Supremo himself is that Newcastle United have never won their final away game in the Premiership (P18, W0, D8, L10), the most notable of course being that away game at Aston Villa in the 2008-9 season, which saw Newcastle relegated. Thankfully, Newcastle United didn’t heed the advice of Aston Villa fans and appoint Ant and Dec as joint managers, relying instead on Chris Hughton to guide us back to the top tier without too much fuss. Saving the worst until last, we would actually have to go back as far as 1976 to find the Magpies winning their last away game! I will return to more recent times and take a look at the recent Premier League form of todays protagonists, but before I do that, a reminder that you’re looking for the best match odds on Newcastle United and other teams, plaese don’t forget to check out Unibet first!

QPR and NUFC’s last six Premier League results (latest first).

Team Results Pts
Queens Park Rangers L | D | L | L | D | L 2
Newcastle United D | L | D | L | W | L 5

So, on a better note, although our last six games have yielded very poor results overall, especially the 0-3 loss to Sunderland and the even worse 0-6 capitulation to Liverpool, QPR have been so bad that they even make the Magpies look good by comparison! Hence, despite our lowly league position, we should still go into this game as favourites against a team who are currently rock bottom of the division and already certainly relegated.

Team News.

Queens Park Rangers.

Chris Samba and Andrew Johnson (both knee) and Arnold Jackson Shaun Wright-Phillips (ankle) are all knacked. Meanwhile, defender Tal Ben Haim has already signed for MLS side Toronto and goalkeeper Julio Cesar won’t be considered for selection.

Newcastle United.

Tim Krul (shoulder) along with Moussa Sissoko and Shola Ameobi (both knacked knees) will be out. Sylvain Marveaux (groin / pelvis) and Davide Santon (hamstring) have been in training but remain pretty doubtful, as does Steven Taylor. Finally, there’s Haris Vuckic and Ryan Taylor, who have been out since the early Jurassic period.

On the other side, miscreant, Mathieu Debuchy will be available for selction after serving his one game suspension. Also, Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson have returned from their loan spells at Middlesbrough and Birmingham City respectively and will also be available.

What the managers have been saying.

Harry Redknapp: “We won’t roll over this weekend. We will give it our best shot and I will pick my best available team. Newcastle have been hit hard by injuries this season to players like Coloccini, Taylor and Cabaye. Those are big losses throughout the season but I think they will be fine.”

Alan Pardew: “They’re professionals and any professional team is difficult to beat. Sometimes it’s about falling on teams; I think QPR three or four weeks ago have had some tricky games but they’ve got themselves together a little bit better. Certainly against Arsenal they were a lot more disciplined and I think that’s the team we’ll face, so it’s not going to be easy.

“They’ve got goalscorers – Bobby Zamora who I’ve worked with (at West Ham), Loic Remy who we tried to bring here, so we know the two strikers very well and we’re going to need to be on our guard against them because they can get goals.

“And obviously they have (Adel) Taarabt who is their Hatem Ben Arfa. He can create something out of nothing. I can’t say that this game is a game that we’re confident of winning but we’re positive in our attitude to go there and try and win.”

So that just leaves my usual reminders that I will be putting the team sheets up soon, along with some links to watch the game online as it isn’t being broadcast live in the UK. As always, I will also be posting highlights, post match interviews and even a video of the whole match when it’s all over, which only leaves it for me to say:

Howay the Lads!

Team sheets.

Queens Park Rangers (4-4-2): Robert Green (G), Jose Bosingwa, Nedum Onuoha, Clint Hill (C), Armand Traore, Andros Townsend, Jermaine Jenas, Stephane M’Bia, Junior Hoilett, Loic Remy, Bobby Zamora.

Subs: Brian Murphy (G), Fabio da Silva, Esteban Granero, Shaun Derry, Ji-Sung Park, Adel Taarabt, Jamie Mackie.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Rob Elliot (G), Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Yoan Gouffran.

Subs: Steve Harper (G), Danny Simpson, James Perch, Vurnon Anita, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Campbell.

 

Alan Pardew as Corporal Jones in "Dad's Army."
DONT PANIC! DONT PANIC!

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Comment on this post

137 Responses

  2. The last game i saw us play was at Southampton at St.James, while visiting my Dad, and it was a good performance and rays of hope for the future.

    I hope today is similar, winning by a couple of goals, and finishing the season with a little self respect.

    There’s good players in our squad, it’s just picking the best line up 1st time round (Pards getting a bit better at this now…rather than relying on subs), and playing players IN THEIR BEST POSITIONS.

    That’s been our (later stage) downfall i believe. Cabaye has been both a def mid spraying balls out like Gerrard, or lost in a att mid role. Sissoko = lost in atm mid/free role. Jonas = LB? LeftMid? DefMid?

    No one player has held down one position all season, bar Cisse (pun intended).

  4. My Team would be:

    ———–ELLIOT————-
    SIMPSON–COLO–SAYLOR–MAPOU Y

    HBA—TIOTE—-CABAYE—-MARV

    —–GOUFFAN—————–
    —————–CISSE——-

  6. Ah, i see…

    Basically the same, Marv for Jonas, and Willo for Saylor – both decisions based on fitness i guess.

    Debuchy at RB – big game for him. Simmo’s looked more defensively rugged than him since his re-inclusion, so he should step up today and really stake a claim for automatic selection.

  8. Milner says:
    May 12, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    “so he should step up today and really stake a claim for automatic selection.”

    As I pointed out before he signed, Milner, one of the biggest problems with Debuchy is keeping him out there without him being suspended or sent off.

  9. Afternoon lads….Expecting some riveting football to saved up by our Silver Headed Supremo.
    Excited :lol:

  11. “I think QPR three or four weeks ago have had some tricky games but they’ve got themselves together a little bit better. Certainly against Arsenal they were a lot more disciplined and I think that’s the team we’ll face, so it’s not going to be easy.

    “They’ve got goalscorers – Bobby Zamora who I’ve worked with (at West Ham), Loic Remy who we tried to bring here, so we know the two strikers very well and we’re going to need to be on our guard against them because they can get goals.
    “And obviously they have (Adel) Taarabt who is their Hatem Ben Arfa. He can create something out of nothing. I can’t say that this game is a game that we’re confident of winning but we’re positive in our attitude to go there and try and win.”

    Excuses at the ready!

  12. sirjasontoon says:
    May 12, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    “to be served up typo haha”

    Saved up was better SJT as we certainly haven’t seen any “riveting” football for a long while. As a Toon fan, the most riveting game I’ve seen this season was Wigan vs Swansea City.

  14. Was Zamora at West Ham when Tevez was there… Pardew must of rated him then. I know he certainly thought Harewood was world class :-)

  16. This match is crucial in NUFC’s bid to stay in the Premiership, yet they would only take 1600 away supporters’ tickets for the game. WTF?

  19. sirjasontoon says:
    May 12, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    “Or Big Ron (Worky’s Choice).”

    I think that he was Jimbob’s choice originally, SJT. I wanted to see the Bald Eagle himself rising like a Phoenix from the ashes.

  20. Can anybody get this bloody Acestream to work? I’ve always used VLC anyway so downloaded the Ace player and it never sodding works.

  21. I feel today is our last chance to get a win. More of an attacking line up unless he is keeping Cabaye is deep as usual.

    Believe!

  22. Jimbob says:
    May 12, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    “Did Pardew write this?”

    If he reads it there’s definitely some excuse fodder in there Jimbob.

    I hate Ace Stream. I watched one on there once but I never got to see the next game on it (it was Bloodzeed as well) and ended up just watching a browser one instead. Are you entering a stream address / number or whatever it is?

  23. Streams are shite today. None working except one and that one the video stays hidden.

  24. Haha Sorry for the mix up lads….both very austere choices in keeping with the current set up!

  26. There’s an option on VLC to paste a stream link and it never works. So now I just click the link and the small Ace player opens but just pre-buffers and does nothing else so I dunno what I’m doing wrong. I’m very familiar with VLC too. I notice Bloodzeed’s gone off Sopcast to Acestream. Nobody seems to bother with Sopcast now.

  31. Debuchy was daft, but more concerning is the total emptiness of confidence and belief that Martinez was able to bring out in his players yesterday, and seemingly always when required?

  34. workyticket says:
    May 12, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    “As I pointed out before he signed, Milner, one of the biggest problems with Debuchy is keeping him out there without him being suspended or sent off.”

    Or giving away penalties for that matter!

  39. We got four guys who have a chance of scoring, Cisse, Gouffran, HBA and Cabaye, in a game where we need goals.
    I see Worky’s favorite Williamson is included, I only hope it’s because every other defender or utility-man, is injured.
    Not looking forward to this game at all.
    And this is a typical example of the ignorance and fear, that exemplifies Pardews role here, a totally defensive side fielded, in a game we have to win.
    FFS ! put out young Ferguson, at least he’s capable of feeding Cisse, instead of Jonas, who could’bt cross his fingers never mind the ball and is there only to defend.

    I see where Pardew is Babbling incoherently, on anything and everything, contradicting himself and rambling on like a crazy man.
    Enough already ! please just tell him to go, I cant take it anymore.

  50. IF decisions had gone in our favour so far, we would actually be 2-0 up.

  51. Jimbob says:
    May 12, 2013 at 3:18 pm (Edit)

    “That’s a better link Worky, no commentary though haha.”

    They just make me angry with all the cliched, innaccurate bollocks they spout anyway, Jimbob.

  52. Debuchy just needs to not make wreckless tackles. I still think he is great.

  59. Don’t sit back and let them back into the game. I say that a lot when we go up in some hope we won’t, but I know we will.

  62. Without Bosingwa, we would actually be still 1-0 down. We have him to thank for this lead. Let’s hope we don’t now throw it away…

  65. Need to come out and bury the game next half instead of Pards shutting up shop.

  71. Cant handle the pressure perhaps, Worky? He used to be quality before he came to us…

  72. Should go goal hunting cos and guarantee survival cos even with a win we could still go down if we lose to Arsenal and Wigan win both their games.

  73. Nope Paulos, a win puts us above Villa & if Wigan win both their games that means Villa losing one. A win will make us safe.

  74. Phisix says:
    May 12, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    “Cant handle the pressure perhaps, Worky? He used to be quality before he came to us…”

    Phisix, he had a poor disciplinary before he came to us too. I wrote before he signed for us that he would be a problem in that area and that he was a clumsy tackler. Games like this aren’t the ones to be playing someone like him.

  75. Debuchy’s like Santon. Santon’s an alright tackler just his positioning is a bit off sometimes. They’re both pretty suspect defensively but better going forward.

  76. Paulos, if we win this game we are guaranteed survival because IF Wigan win both their games, that means they beat Villa who we will be above. (I think!)

  77. Best combo we had was a lefty (Enrique) and Jonas on the left side. Two right footers Santon and Jonas, one of which who is crap, doesn’t work if you play a 4-4-2 which Pardew will do again next season you can bet. If he’s here.

  78. Worky, I think it can be a bit harsh, or too soon, to judge a player in their first Premiership season.

  79. If Wigan win both their games and we win this but lose to Arsenal we’ll be level on points and could go down on GD? We need to score as many as possible today.

  82. Paul in Hollywood says:
    May 12, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    “Worky, I think it can be a bit harsh, or too soon, to judge a player in their first Premiership season.”

    Paul, as I mentioned in my previous comment, he has been the same throughout his career. That’s why I knew that he would be a problem in that area before he signed. I watched him very closely and I was far more worried about him than I ever was about Tiote. He can be a real liability.

  86. Would prefer Villa down than Wigan tbh, but cannot see Wigan winning the next two games even if they did win the FA cup.

  91. Sitting back trying to defend with 1 of the worst defensive records in the league. Well it’s worked so far this season so why try something different….

  95. Pards must hates Anita to never play him, but instead he puts on perch to shut up shop. I have nothing against perch but we need another goal.

  97. Sunderland winning too now so anything other than a win here is a bad result.

  98. Phisix says:
    May 12, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    “Pards must hates Anita to never play him”

    He’s too short for head tennis, Phisix. He’d be better off in a passing side like Swansea.

  113. Criticise Pardew all we want, but sometimes players have to stand up and be counted. Far too many are just not bothering their arses!

  124. JoeSoap says:
    May 12, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    “Criticise Pardew all we want, but sometimes players have to stand up and be counted. Far too many are just not bothering their arses!”

    Alot of people have said that about Pardew teams in the past when it all starts to go wrong, Joe, but they are shackled by Pardew.

  125. Hopefully, for Mike Ashley, the 2013/14 season starts right here with his own note pad scribbling: Need a new manager.

  127. JoeSoap says:
    May 12, 2013 at 4:48 pm
    “Criticise Pardew all we want, but sometimes players have to stand up and be counted. Far too many are just not bothering their arses!”

    How come Roberto Martinez can fire up his players when Pardew cannot? THAT is the problem that has to be changed. Pardew is fear based. Martinez is motivated by total belief.

  128. Joe Soap, on your previous point, don’t you remember when Haidara was criticised in public for trying to get forward and trying to help the team score a goal when we were already 3 down against Liverpool?

  129. I think we all agree about Pardew..but players have to take responsibility for their own performances. Rob Elliot for example…that was criminal no premiership level player should make such a stupid mistake…ever. Cisse’s pathetic swipe at the ball with 5 or so minutes left, carelessly giving away possession all the way through the game from Cabaye…I mean come on there’s a point where individuals need to show a bit of mettle. That performance was utter garbage. Agreed some of it’s down to managerial lack of motivation, but bloody hell!

  130. Joe, “carelessly giving away possession” is another hallmark of previous Pardew teams too with completely different players.

  131. Some of the players have been awful but too many of them. One or two being rubbish you can look at them accusingly, but the whole squad had been woeful. That’s down to the management and coaching, which Pardew is responsible for.

    When he gets defended it’s usually all about last season. If he can take all the credit for last season, and not so much the players, then he should take the brunt of the blame for this season. I’ll never understand the players being blamed for this season, yet they get no credit for last season, Pardew gets all the praise.

    Whatever though, he won’t be going anywhere, he’ll be here next season and he’ll repeat the same mistakes again. He’s done it throughout this season and managerial career tactically, squad selection, set-pieces and shooting himself in the foot through the media.

  133. Worky@127….Yes you’re absolutely correct! The manager should never publicly critisise his players in my opinion. But come on we as fans can see the one’s who are putting in a shift and who’s going through the motions. You said yourself and I agree Williamson was probably MOM, that’s likely because what he lacks in ability, he tries to compensate for in personal pride and integrity…he very rarely goes missing. But recently there are one or two who have bucket-loads of ability but just don’t seem to give a rats arse!

  134. JoeSoap says:
    May 12, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    “You said yourself and I agree Williamson was probably MOM, that’s likely because what he lacks in ability, he tries to compensate for in personal pride and integrity…”

    Joe, why do people always say “what he lacks in ability” in relation to Williamson? Collocini is better on the floor, but on the other hand, Williamson is better in the air (that’s why they work well together), yet people never go on about what Coloccini lacks compared with Williamson, just the other way around.

  135. We’ve got away with it, And make no mistake!
    We were rubbish again today, Especially in the second half, As per usual.
    I’ve got no idea what Pardew’s team talks consist of, But we seem to get worse, as a result.
    It was pathetic at the end of the game, to see how Pardew reacted, and you would have thought we had won the F.A Cup, The way Ashley and his cohorts went on.
    That win will probably keep that hopeless tosser Pardew, In his job.
    I just hope fat Ashley sees sense, And sacks the idiot, Because we cannot afford another season, With him at the helm.

  136. @133 I’m not going to critisise Williamson…I never have, but I can see that he’s not particularly quick and his reading is not the best [this might seem like critisism I know, but it’s not meant to be…just being a realist] He usually get’s done in by very mobile & crafty strikers I’m afraid.

  137. worky @ 134: I’ll keep answering as long as you ask it. The lack of ability for Williamson is a lack of ability with the ball at his feet. He’s useful and he played well yesterday but I still don’t want him starting.

    To show I’m not a bitter man, I have to say that I disagree with one point of JoeSoap’s assessment at 136. Both Willo & Colo are slow and can be beaten by attackers that play off their shoulder.