Newcastle United v Norwich City - Official Matchday / Build Up Thread

please log in to view this image

please log in to view this image

Newcastle United v Norwich City

Saturday 23rd November 2013

Kick off 3pm @ SJP​

Squad (injury update from physio room)

P Dummett (Hamstring) Return date- 23rd Nov 13
S Taylor (Hamstring)- Return date- 23rd Nov 13
R Taylor (ACL Knee Injury)- no return date


Betting (from PP)

Head To Head
2012/13 won 1-0 Ba
2011/12 won 1-0 Cisse
2004/05 won 2-1 Jenas, Sh.Ameobi(pen)(LC)
2004/05 drew 2-2 Bellamy, Hughes
1994/95 won 3-0 Beardsley 2(1pen), Kitson
1993/94 won 3-0 Cole, Lee, Beardsley
1988/89 lost 0-2
1987/88 lost 1-3 Gascoigne
1986/87 won 4-1 Goddard, Gascoigne, McDonald(pen), D.Jackson
1984/85 drew 1-1 Waddle
1981/82 won 2-1 Varadi, Mills
1977/78 drew 2-2 Burns, Kennedy
1976/77 won 5-1 T.Craig, Gowling, Oates, McCaffery 2
1975/76 won 5-2 Gowling 2, Macdonald 2, OG
1973/74 drew 0-0
1972/73 won 3-1 Tudor 2, Guthrie
1964/65 won 2-0 Cummings, Robson
1963/64 won 2-0 Cummings, Iley
1962/63 won 2-1 Fell(pen), Thomas
1961/62 drew 0-0



Streams
http://www.firstrow.org/

ACS's View
I fancy us for a 2-0 win here given recent form and the fact that Norwich are struggling right now.
​

 

We didn't struggle second half against West Ham but St James Park is a different prospect.We would obviously be extremely pleased with a point but don't expect one against a side that has just seen off Spurs and Chelsea.To be honest our only real hope is if you have a Mackem day.

 

Not taking anything for granted against Norwich.
We have both had good wins this weekend and hope we come back from break all guns blazing.
Looking forward to seeing Chrissy back at SJP.

 

The last two performances have been based on letting the opponent have the ball, then attempting to hit with a sucker punch. Against Spurs, we probably almost scored too early, but the nature of the game was similar. We pressed probably a little harder v Spurs, mainly because their backline plays higher up so we have to close down more. I think that resulted in us having to 'dig in' more than we did V Chelsea.

Now we play a technically inferior side in Norwich and it's arguably a bigger match than either Spurs or Chelsea. Why? Because unlike those two, we are both expected to win and dictate the tempo. They will not play with the same thuggish fire Sunderland did, they are defensively among the worst in the league. I think the players should just play the natural game. I would look to press similar to the Spurs match in the knowledge we're unlikely to then face any kind of onslaught, instead more likely to unsettle their rhythm. Colo should remain on the bench, and I think he will - he's a proper captain and would likely insist that the winning partnership continue for the time being! Same with the rest of the pitch - no-one is playing badly enough to be dropped, Pardew is also much happier going 4-4-2 at the start, then tinkering during the game. He doesn't do so well when he's tinkered in the build up to the game - just look at Sunderland, he sh!t a brick last time he started with a more 'modern' formation.

What's interesting is our players seem to get it. Liverpool are similar - they mumbled around with the 3 at the back, switched to 4-4-2 against Fulham and more or less murdered them. If I look back, I think it's always been about trying to shoehorn Benny in and it just doesn't work for this team.

 

I bet he'll still get a good reception.

 

Have to show the same application and hard work against Norwich as we did v's Chelsea & Spurs. On a slightly different note a win for us could spell the end for Chris H which would be such a shame for one of the games good guys.

 

Doubt it, they picked up a big win on the weekend over Stoke. Jol's next to go, surely.

 

Hard life being a manager these days.

 

Put simply this is a must win game.

Failing to beat Norwich makes the victory against Spurs pointless.

Our next three games are Norwich (h), West Brom (h) and Swansea away. We have a great opportunity to put 6-9 points on the board and finally show some consistency. I personally think we need to tweak the system for these two games as Norwich won't take the game to us like Chelsea and Spurs did so I'd bring back Ben Arfa in place of Ameobi.

I know people say Ben Arfa doesn't deserve a start but his last appearance was three games a go and for me he's now done his time on the bench. He's more suited to this game than Shola as he can stretch teams with his running and as Norwich will sit deep this is what we need. For sure away from home I wouldn't be starting him as we currently have a winning formula on the road, but at home against a team where we're likely to have more of the ball it doesn't make sense to not start him. I'm very excited about this season for the first time since it all kicked off.

We simply can't afford to make a mess of our next two home games.

 

Pretty much spot on. Same line-up, but the beauty of our system is that against Chelsea/Spurs we're playing a banked 4-4-2 with onus on defensive responsibility, then 4-5-1. Against Norwich it'll be more 4-3-3 (ish), but with the same 4-4-2 line-up if that makes sense. HBA will surely start and drop off, with Sissoko and Gouffran able to get much further forward to support Remy. Very excited about the prospect, and the lads must be fcking buzzing. Hope France get a result in the meantime.....

 

Well Debuchy's banned, so I definitely think Colo will come back in. He might switch Santon to RB and play Mapou at LB.

A win against Norwich is important, as I think West Brom will be really, really tough, as they've shown against Man Utd and Chelsea this season. Swansea away will also be difficult. Offer me 5 points right now and I'd bite your hand off.

 

Wouldn't give you 5 points to have my hand bitten off.

 

Good points made. Although we may have to shoehorn in the likes of HBA in at home to Norwich otherwise we won't create enough against a side that sits back more than Chelsea and Spurs. Can't see Norwich playing with a high line.

We will probably start with a 4-4-2 but bring on HBA if we are not in the lead fairly on in the second half.

 

Snodgrass and Howson are the two to fear at the moment,both had great games against WHU.Hooper getting off the mark might spur him on too but overall I think your posters are right.You will get a lot of possession and we will fall deeper.If Ruddy does a Krul then our best chance is to nick an unlikely point.I don't see Hughton coming under threat unless it's a big score but I think Citeh was a one off,everything they hit went in,the first was a freak OG and the second a good yard offside.Hughton's big fear will be not beating Palace,which I am guessing is about the same as you not beating us.

 

What about Anita at RB for the suspended Debuchy?

 

It's a though, but I'd be surprised if Pardew went with it. Plus I'll always put Colo in the team no matter what.

 

Don't see him a RB somehow.

How about Tavernier?

 

Anita's played there before for us though, hasn't he?

 

He covered there for Simpson, when he first signed, struggled against Villa but was fine after that.

 

Hoping for a win. Not expecting one and personally think its wrong to do so. I don't see it as must win because the PL is never that simple. We just need to remember the 5th place season, the key is just to regularly pick up points. Keep chipping away. 4 from the next two would be a nice enough return. Depends which Norwich turn up. 2nd half against West Ham they were very very good. 1st half they were horrible. Anyone looking at the table or oppo and thinking "we should win this", should think about Hull and Sunderland. Teams are scrapping for everything and you can have luck go against you.

Stick to the basics for me and play the same team. Colo or Anita in for Debuchy but no positional changes for those in possession of the shirt. We have players who can play right back, so let them do that. Don't try to be clever and tweak our style or personnel, this is where we always come unstuck. If they are going to sit deeper, just be patient. The fans have a massive part to play in these kinds of games. Often when faced with this kind of challenge we have been a bit quiet and sat waiting for them to spark us into life. We need to get back to the days of every game being vocal rather than just your Liverpools or Chelseas. We shouldn't underestimate how big a part the atmosphere plays for oppo players and our own.

We need to aim for 40 points and then anything else is a bonus.