The Toon Army Thread

[NUFC Tiger]

Pretty certain the City game has been postponed right? Due to the league cup final. Definitely works in our favour

Think we're playing on Sunday night (our time) - though I could be wrong lol.

City are playing in the Ukraine I think tomorrow morning for the Champions League - hopefully a bit of jet lag to help us out!

Tyneside is around 3 hours further north and London 3 hours south lol, I'm sure if a job closer to London cam up he would jump at it, maybe even Palace? I don't think the Toffees would give a hoot that he managed Liverpool, they have had a shocking season, with their squad ( like us ) they should be in the top 6-7 and even pushing CL with the downturn of the big boys this season. Oh listen, if he became available I would jump at it, I just can't see it happening.

On the captaincy, I'm not a fan of a full back taking the gig, imo you need to hold a really important position on the ground ( CB/CF/CM ). Jon is cut from the same bread of Stevie Gerrard and whilst Gerrard came across as a complete tossa he was a brilliant captain. I'm in the Shelvey corner, the guy really is an exquisite player and is an angry ant which I love, I want to see our captain having so much passion he near on head butts his team mates but has the utmost respect from them ala Kevin Nolan.

Yeah, I tend to favour 'central' players as well just not sure what it says about the team if we give the armband to a guy who has played only a handful of games for us/might not have strong relationships or the full respect of his peers as yet.

Shelvey is also prone to some quiet games here and there so if the captaincy and added responsibility helps him be more consistent, that would be a definite plus!

 

[robertg22]

Think we're playing on Sunday night (our time) - though I could be wrong lol.

City are playing in the Ukraine I think tomorrow morning for the Champions League - hopefully a bit of jet lag to help us out!

The league cup final is this weekend though, City vs Liverpool - 3:30am Monday morning.

Just checked:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-set-18-day-10800431

Newcastle United ’s Premier League fixture with Manchester City has been postponed after Manuel Pellegrini’s men qualified for the Capital One Cup final.

With the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley scheduled for Sunday, February 28 - the same day as United were supposed to host Man City at St James’ Park - the Magpies’ clash with the Citizens will have to be rescheduled, though no date has yet been set.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Yeah just saw that myself - that's really good news actually!

Mbemba and Lascelles would be my preference for a CB pairing. The added few days might see a few others come back from injury too with some luck.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Massive game for us against Stoke tomorrow. We have 2 games in hand over most of the teams around us and a point would take us out of the drop zone. We've been fortunate those most of the teams around us didn't pick up points on the weekend or this morning as well - think only the scum got a point (right at the death too) out of Villa, Norwich and Sunderland from their last 2. Bournemouth won this morning which is a bit of a worry...

Seems like Mbemba is still out but we should regain Dummett, Anita and De Jong. Mitro and Cisse are back in training but I doubt we'd rush them back.

Will be interesting to see what team Stevie goes with. I'd go with a 4-4-1-1 personally.

-----------------Elliot---------------
Janmaat--Lascelles--Taylor--Dummett
Sissoko---Saivet---Shelvey---Townsend
----------------Perez------------------
----------------Doumbia---------------

Subs: Woodman, Anita, Gini, De Jong, Colback, some young CB from the reserves (whoever we have - Sterry maybe?), Aarons.

Apparently Doumbia is capable of playing a lone striker role so I'd opt for him over Perez up top. Perez just behind Doumbia might be a good option if we play on the counter.

Dropped Gini as he struggles a lot in away games for some reason.

Either way, McClaren has had something like 18 days to get us up and ready for this one so hopefully he put the time to good use lol.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Also, if that is the XI we go with, I'd give the armband to Shelvey (not sure if it's been decided yet who will skipper in Colo's absence).

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Townsend missed due to minor hamstring injury. Made it to half time 0-0 though apparently a shocking contest. We need to try and create more. Also, Gouffran starting over Perez or Aarons??

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[robertg22]

I watched the second half, was a shocking game to watch. We worked hard but still a moment of class from the opposition handed us another 1-0 loss.

Defensively we looked alright, no real blunders from what I saw.
We didn't control the ball in the middle enough, I don't know why Colback started over Saivet, what has Saivet done wrong? Wijnaldum was better than he normally is in away games. Sissoko barely touched it.
Gouffran starting was a bit of a mind boggler but he was ok, didn't really do anything wrong but didn't impact us going forward either.
Doumbia was a positive when he came on, but came on in the 82nd minute? Far too late. Perez was also good when he came on.

 

[tige19]

Absolutely no positives.. If this game doesn't prove that Mclaren has NO Farking idea I don't know what will.

Colback starting ahead of Saviet
Gouffran starting ahead of Aarons
Rivière replacing Gouff what the actual feck?
Reactive subs with Perez and Doumbia for the final 8 minutes in a mad panick because of his initial inept strategy.

We barely held possesion, we bombed long time and again and we had ONCE again the wrong players in the starting 11. Mclaren had 2 weeks to prepare for this game and this was the best he could come up with?

Mr.Pearson - SOS

 

[tige19]

 

[NUFC Tiger]

I think I'm in the McClaren needs to go camp now. Man seems completely clueless with selections and substitutions. If we lose to Bournemouth at home next, we're in real trouble.

Only probably us, Sunderland, Norwich and Villa are in immediate danger which is a worry. Other teams around us have picked up some points and put some distance between us and them.

 

[robertg22]

Only probably us, Sunderland, Norwich and Villa are in immediate danger which is a worry. Other teams around us have picked up some points and put some distance between us and them.

Yeah the Swansea win over Arsenal was awful for us. It really is down to 4 teams now (and Villa are pretty much cooked), we have a game in hand on those guys and have some 'soft' games.... but we're looking so vulnerable at the moment. I'd get rid of him too.

 

[Moo]

Future on the line in 11 mins

 

[Moo]

You know I feel sorry for the teams in positions 6-14 ....they don't get these blood pumping games at the end of the season.

Viva la Rivière !!!!!!!

 

[Moo]

We're about it early ...just ****ing smash them lads

 

[Moo]

Who am I talking to?

Future Moo that's who!

 

[Moo]

Turnovers in the midfield under no real pressure FFS

 

[NUFC Tiger]

I'm here Moo!

 

[NUFC Tiger]

no win today and McClaren has to go IMO. Worrying that Bournemouth are taking the game to us at our home...

 

[Moo]

FML

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Bournemouth up...

 

[Moo]

Bournemouth stay up...

EFA

 

[NUFC Tiger]

worrying is they look like scoring again - or more likely than us at least.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Only a handful out there deserve any kind of credit. Big second half this...

 

[Moo]

Amateur hour

 

[NUFC Tiger]

McClaren either goes now or we're down and out.