A drunken hooligan invades the pitch at Carrow Road.Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich. Date: Saturday 10th Dec, 2011. Kick-off: 3.00pm. Referee: Martin Atkinson. Pies: D.Smith.
The Magpies of Newcastle United will be looking to pick themselves up after a tough trio of fixtures and recent injury woes as they visit the Canaries of Norwich City.
Even though this is an away game, some may have thought this would be an easy three points, until recently that is. The loss of Fabricio Coloccini with a thigh strain, as well as Steven Taylor for the whole season with a knacked achilles tendon puts a new complexion on matters as our lack of strength in depth has eventually been exposed. Like ourselves, Norwich have been something of a “surprise package” in the Premiership so far. Though Norwich City’s entire first team squad is worth far less than the amount Mike Ashley received for Andy Carroll alone, they are currently sitting quite comfortably at 11th in the table. That is quite an achievement for such a modest squad who were expected to be rooted at the bottom of the table, and not to be sniffed at, especially in the light of our recent circumstances injurywise. More on that below however…
Fabricio Coloccini: Hoping to be fit for Norwich game.Well, there was some good news (maybe) on the Fabricio Coloccini injury front as Alan Pardew struggles with Newcastle United’s post Chelsea defensive crisis.
Speaking at an awards ceremony in Gateshead, the permed paragon of our central defence revealed that a start in Saturday’s game against Norwich City at Carrow Road may indeed be a possibilty saying:
‘It is tight but I am hoping to play in the next game.’
Steven Taylor will still be out for the season with his Achilles tendon injury which requires surgery, but of course, Coloccini’s swift return without missing a game would be a huge boost for the team if it happens. Whilst Taylor will undoubtedly be a big loss to the side, losing two key defenders at the same time was testing Newcastle United’s lack of strength in depth beyind it’s linits, with Alan Pardew facing the prospect of playing someone out of their usual position, or turning to players on the fringe of the fringe such as Tamás Kádár, the out of favour Hungarian who hasn’t seen any first team action for some time, and was recently relegated to the reserve squad. However, on the other hand it would do no good in the long term if Coloccini is rushed back out of desperation, risking the chance of a more serious injury which will leave him out even longer. (more…)
Highlights of Newcastle United’s early kickoff against Chelsea, where we were desperately unlucky not to see Chelsea’s Luiz sent off in the first half.
There was also further bad luck with the Magpies losing their two main centre backs. Firstly, Captain Coloccini in the first half, then Steven Taylor later in the game; to say they will be missed would be an understatement. Judging by the post match interview with Pardew (see below) though, it seems that Taylor might be worse than Coloccini, and the permed one may not be out for too long, so fingers crossed on that one.
After Didier Drogba scored a headed goal, we then had to leave ourselves open somewhat to chase their lead, eventually going down by three goals after a deflected strike by Solomon Kalou and a third goal by Daniel Sturridge much later in in the game. We did have some chances of our own though and the three goal margin was somewhat deceptive. We were very unlucky with the Luiz decision, but we have ridden our luck sometimes this season ourselves, and I suppose that a bit of bad luck going against us had to come at some time. (more…)
Chelski: The last of our terrible trio of fixtures.Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle. Date: Saturday 3rd Dec, 2011. Kick-off: 12.45pm. Referee: Mike Dean.
Newcastle United will be looking to maintain their fine home form (undefeated in ten games) and increase the pressure on Chelsea’s beleaguered manager, André Villas-Boas in the 12.45 kick off at St James Park, Newcastle on Saturday.
NUFC report that the game is sold out so a capacity crowd will be able to watch an intriguing match up between the fourth and fifth placed teams both of whom have injured DM’s missing from their respective sides.
Cheick Tiote, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent months, will definitely miss the game adding to concerns by some fans that he’s been left out deliberately in order to avoid further injury in the run up to January’s transfer window.
Worryingly, manager Alan Pardew said:
“I am not going to say he will be fit for next week. We must make sure he is right because he is a very important player to us.(more…)
As an addendum to my recently published transcription of Joey Barton’s interview for QPR ‘blog “Open All R’s,” and also Derek Llambias’ response to it, I’m posting the video of the part where he lifts the lid on what was happening behind the scenes at Newcastle United during his spell there. (more…)
