Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Newcastle Utd v Cardiff City
By Tyne-Talk
February 4 2010
Newcastle United host Cardiff City tomorrow night on the back of two wins from six games, three draws and one defeat, but remain unbeaten at home; Cardiff travel with a very good record from their last six games with four wins and two draws and are unbeaten in eight.
Whilst Newcastle struggle to maintain the top spot in the Championship, Cardiff are pushing for automatic promotion and with the top three all dropping points of late they could force an interesting battle over the coming months.
Newcastle have no new injuries to consider, Shola Ameobi (shoulder) and Danny Simpson (ankle) are both due to return, whilst Joey Barton is not fully fit and remains sidelined. Steven Taylor (knee) and Jose Enrique (hamstring) are both absent whilst new signing Leon Best is set to make his debut at St James' Park. Fellow new signings Mike Williamson, Patrick Van Aanholt and Wayne Routledge have all made impressive starts for the club and will all be looking to start.
For Cardiff, Gavin Rae (hamstring) is injured as is Joe Ledley who is recovering from a hip operation. Kelvin Etuhu (ankle) and Stephen McPhail (who tore a thigh bone before being diagnosed with stage one MALT Lymphoma) are both due to return in a few weeks but remain unavailable for selection.
Chris Hughton will be looking to maintain Newcastle's home record but may find it difficult should the side play as they did against Leicester last weekend, with just one a win in their last five, he will be hoping his team can pick themselves back up and secure 3 vital points against a side who have the highest goal-scoring tally on the road.
Watch Out For: Michael Chopra, the former Newcastle United striker has scored 14 goals this season, 3 in his last 2 games.
Fact: Newcastle have won their last 5 league meetings with Cardiff City, this will be their 51st meeting in all competitions.
Fact: Shola Ameobi will make his 200th appearance for Newcastle United if he is given the opportunity.
Newcastle Utd |
| Cardiff City |
|
|
|
27 | Played | 27 |
56 | Points | 45 |
16 | Won | 13 |
8 | Drawn | 6 |
3 | Lost | 8 |
43 | Goals Scored | 52 |
16 | Goals Conceded | 30 |
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This result will be a real turning point in our season, for better or for worse.
Quote:senyabtoon
This game calls for the 451 with Jonas and routledge playing out wide and quite high up the pitch so we can play on the counter with smith Nolan and Guthrie in the middle with smith as the anchor Guthrie as play maker and Nolan making late runs in to the box. As long as the lads at the back don't let us concede more than 1 i think we can win it 2-1 if we play well
Who do you play as your Striker though? Lovenkrands for pace, Ameobi for a goal threat, or Ranger/Carroll to feed Guthrie and Nolan? I'd lean towards Lovenkrands so we can hit the counter hard. Ranger's the best outlet man though.
As far as the midfield, I agree with you whole-heartedly. I'd play Guthrie as the "second holding midfielder" but allow him to roam the pitch. Putting Nolan there will keep him out of the game, as he can't keep up Box-to-Box.
Simpson Williams Colo Van Aanholdt
Guthrie Smith
Routledge Nolan Jonas
Lovenkrands
Ameobi if drawing or Ranger if winning off the bench.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:04:19:33:13 by waffles.
If we do play 4-5-1 then Nolan needs to play in the position right behind the striker, since he doesn't have the pace Guthrie does to cover ground in the middle of the park. Lovenkrands should be the forward, as Nolan will provide the physical challenge to the CBs.
I would go for:
Simpson, Williamson, Colo, Van Aanholt
Routledge, Smith, Guthrie, Jonas
Lovernkrands, Best
Hope Kevin Nolan can rekindle the goal scoring form from earlier in the season il go for him to score us to win 1-0


It will be a tough game, but I think we'll win by 1 goal.
C'mon Newcastle


NUFC: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Fitz Hall, Mike Williamson, Patrick van Aanholt, Wayne Routledge, Kevin Nolan (c), Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Andy Carroll, Leon Best
Subs: Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Nile Ranger, Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi, Ryan Taylor, Fabrice Pancrate
CCFC: David Marshall, Adam Matthews, Kevin McNaughton, Anthony Gerrard, Gabor Gyepes, Stephen McPhail, Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra (c), Darcy Blake, Peter Whittingham, Ross McCormack
Subs: Peter Enckelman, Paul Quinn, Mark Kennedy, Soloman Taiwo, Aaron Wilding, Chris Burke, Warren Feeney
Referee: Kevin Friend
Must admit, I'm worried about the backline. Furthermore Nolan and Guthrie in the middle is nice, except I'd have them playing with Smith just protecting the back four. Look forward to seeing what comes from the Carroll and Best partnership as well as the two wings tonight. Howay the lads!

Wasim's Sport Blog
Toon4life

Wasim's Sport Blog
Toon4life










Wasim's Sport Blog
Toon4life




Loven
i am delighted):
What a cracking score

: loven
best part of this? we have done it with so many of the new guys playing their part, after failing to gel first time out.
pinching myself here!
Loven and Big Andy-take a bow!
FFS, this would be an untelevised game! Can't wait to see the highlights!


Wasim's Sport Blog
Toon4life
The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.
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Everyone played their part and Carroll was immense. The new lads did great again espec Williamson and Rout.
Best put himself about and should have really scored. With four goals from our two forwards though I can see Loven maybe getting his shot with Carroll. If not, super sub.
It was just great to see our forwards being able to play high up the pitch and through the centre with our wingers/fullbacks providing the service.
Van is going to be some player. He is cool as for such a young lad.
Guthrie played well and was always after the ball.
Really pleased to see Guthrie in the middle and quite a few of us have been saying it for a while so hopefully he will be given the shot again. I wouldn't have started with Carroll but really pleased he did and proved me wrong but given the choice would like to see Lovernkrands start as he does offer us something different. Maybe we could go with both up front.
Maybe worth putting in a bid for Van Aanholt as he probably won't have a future at Chelsea with the age of Cole, so he may be interested in coming here, even with a fully fit team then he is going to be on the bench which is more than he is at Chelsea.
How did Best play, saw him miss a header but then it is early days. Bloody gutted we were not on Sky as they show loads of Friday night football
Attack! Attack! Attack!


