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…)
Who will replace them?Newcastle United’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea pales into insignificance compared to the prospect of playing without Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor.
I’m not particularly worried about the 0-3 scoreline on Saturday. Things didn’t go our way with the sending off that didn’t happen, the loss of Coloccini early on then Taylor near the end of the game and the infernal woodwork that saved Chelsea on a number of occasions.
That’s not to say that Chelsea weren’t threatening – they were – but on another day I could have seen us get a draw from that game, or at least only lose to a scoreline that was more reflective of the game than 0-3. I think what I’m trying to say is that we certainly weren’t completely outclassed or anything like that.
Looking ahead, though, what is worrying is our extensive injury list, particularly in the defensive region. (more…)
It's three fingers Mike.Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle. Date: Saturday 3rd Dec, 2011. Kick-off: 12.45pm. Referee: Mike Dean.
Newcastle made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 at Old Trafford last weekend, with the suspended Jonas Gutierrez replaced by Peter Lovenkrands. For the 13th time this season, Newcastle United were able to field the same defence that has conceded the joint lowest total of goals so far in the Premier League (12).
Frank Lampard returned to the Chelsea midfield, in place of Raul Meireles, who dropped to the bench. This was the Blues only change, with striker Fernando Torres again having to settle for a place on the bench. Danger man Sturridge was chosen to play wide right with Drogba and Mata completing the front three.
The players took to the field in front of a full house at SJP and joined in with the crowd of 52,305 for a rousing minute of applause for Gary Speed. Newcastle coach John Carver was clearly upset as he had worked with Gary as recently as last season when they were at Sheffield United together. Incidentally Speed scored his first goal for Newcastle in this corresponding fixture in 1998 which ended in a 3-1 defeat of Chelsea. (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…)
Manchester United: Not getting all their own way for a change.Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester. Date: Saturday 26 November, 2011 Kick-off: 3.00pm. Referee: Mike Jones (replaced Phil Dowd).
After such a great result was over-shadowed by the deeply sad news of the death of a true Geordie Legend, Gary Speed, I’ve found it very hard to commit to a match report. It’s with a heavy heart that I put finger to keypad to type out something that pales into insignicance in such upsetting circumstances. It times like these that football takes a backseat.
The game:
Newcastle traveled to Manchester for the second week running to pit themselves against the current champions at Old Trafford. Having not won there in almost 40 years, every pundit and their dog probably had us down for a loss. But despite playing the final 15 minutes with ten men after the senidning off of Gutierrez, and receiving everything Manchester United had to throw at us including the kitchen sink, once again it was some great last ditch defending including a few more great saves from Tim Krul helped Newcastle to snatch a rare point from Old Trafford. (more…)
