Archive for category: Haris Vuckic.

Can Newcastle cope without Ba and Cisse? – An alternative eleven.

September 3rd, 2012 | 24 Comments |

A potential Newcastle United 11 without Ba and Cisse.
A potential Newcastle United 11 without Ba and Cisse.
Following the departures of Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands Newcastle United have only three recognised strikers in our 12/13 squad – fact.

A much documented lack of transfer activity has left countless Geordies despondent with the size of our squad entering a hectic season, yearning for the signature of a new striker. The biggest worry is that whilst both Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are competing in the African Cup of Nations (or potentially injured) we will be left unable to cope without arguably our two most recognised strikers, where a lack of goals could become a defining factor in our Premier League campaign. It’s worth noting that Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse contributed a huge 53% of our goals total in the Premier League last year (29 of 55), highlighting their importance.

So, should we of signed another striker? Not necessarily. Can we cope without Ba and Cisse? I believe so. A conventional 4-4-2 formation is unachievable should only one recognised striker in Shola Ameobi be available, but alternatives can be utilised to apt effect. Of 38 Premier League fixtures last season a 4-4-2 formation was utilised 26 times (68.4%). What about our other fixtures? We were often tagged as operating in a 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation with 1 conventional striker, 3 advanced mid-fielders and 2 central defensive mid-fielders in behind operating predominately defensively. Why could this not be used in the few games where both Cisse and Ba would not be available? Another alternative would be to play a 4-4-1-1 formation (often favoured by Alan Pardew’s predecessor Chris Hughton) with Ben Arfa operating in what is essentially a free role behind Shola Ameobi. (more…)



Monkey hanger massacre! Hartlepool v Newcastle United highlights, post-match interview, report

August 8th, 2012 | 101 Comments |

Highlights from yesterday evening’s monkey hanger massacre at Victoria Park. There are also some other highlights here.

Hartlepool United were trounced 5-1 with Shola Ameobi opening the account for Newcastle after only 3 minutes, latching on to an irresistable low cross right across the face of the Hartlepool goal by new lad, Romain Amalfitano. Sadly though, the big lad picked up some kind of knock just before half time and was out of the game for the second half. (more…)


Chemnitzer vs Newcastle United match highlights

July 14th, 2012 | 6 Comments |

Highlights of the first of Newcastle United’s first pre season friendly games, this one against German third string side Chemnitzer, at their place, Der Stadion an der Gellertstraße, Chemnitz.

A mostly second string Magpies eleven (with a few big names coming on before the end) succumbed to a solitary goal from Chemnitzer’s Anton Fink in the tenth minute. Sammy Ameobi thought he had levelled later in the game but he was judged to be offside.

New kids on the block, Romain Amalfitano and Gael Bigirimana both took part, with Amalfitano starting and Bigirimana coming on as a sub for for Mehdi Abeid in the 70th minute. The highly talented Haris Vuckic also managed to play 70 minutes of the game without breaking something!

Teams (more…)


Pardew – “I don’t envisage too many coming in”

July 11th, 2012 | 84 Comments |

Alan Pardew Press Conference.
Pardew: The silly season intrigue continues!
Newcastle United’s Silver Supremo, Alan Pardew, played down transfer fever at the club, saying that he doesn’t expect too many players to be coming in during this transfer window.

Speaking at his first press conference for the forthcoming pre-season programme, instead, Pardew preferred to put the emphasis on younger players such as Mehdi Abeid and Haris Vuckic breaking through for more first team action in the absence of departees such as Peter Lovenkrands, Danny Guthrie, Leon Best and several others. The Grey Gaffer said:

“I don’t envisage too many coming in.

“We have a lot of young players here who haven’t played much football.

“People like Mehdi Abeid and Haris Vuckic.

However, he was heartened that the club were still looking at players who could take the club forward, adding: (more…)