March 30th: Tottenham Hotspur Vs Newcastle United

[Russell1892]

After 4 points gained last week its looking less likely that we'll be in the business end of the relegation battle... however we can't afford complacency. Points would be handy, and after recent positive results maybe this is the "turning a corner" we all hoped would happen. The big picture remains the same we're just looking to get to the end of the season with us still in the Premiership. Our opponents are playing for nothing apparently (other than still being at the club next season, so.. much like OUR players then?)

Tottenham are dangerous going forward.... but despite the signings of Woodgate and Hutton are almost worse than us at the back. In Keane and Berbatov, Taylor and Faye (if selected) will have a much sterner challenge than they've had in the last 2 games.

So what formation should we line up with? 4-3-3 would be crazy going into an away game against a team like Spurs surely? or is attack the best form of defence? Spurs aren't as formidable as the top four (and we looked terrified against them). I'm hoping for a draw or a lucky win from another Martins' bullet.

Out: Given, Carr, Milner
4 Yellow cards: Beye, Faye
International duty: We had one player involved in midweek action for full internationals - Owen. N'Zog played for the French U-21s. (I remember when the ones left behind were in the minority) Spurs had Berbatov, Hutton, Tainio, and Lee. (Woodgate withdrew from the England team with an injury... it remains to be seen if he'll be back for Sunday)

KTF.

[mplsTOON]

Difficult to plan for. 4-3-3 worked well last weekend, only if KK can put the blocks to the Yids early. Or will it allow us to be torn apart by Keane and Berbatov and that twat Pascal Chimbonda because he wants to show us he can play so we'll sign him next year (God forbid:rolleyes:)..?

4-4-2 would put a more defensive presence about us but does nothing really to protect the center and (our)left where Keane and Berbatov will be running into, thru, about, around and from.

Regrettably I see Smith starting, us scraping out with a loss and Faye getting a 5th yellow and missing Reading Home...(is it Reading at home next?)

But it is my birthday Sunday so a nice present of 3 points from White Shite Lane would be fantastic.

[tigerdave]

Regrettably I see Smith starting, us scraping out with a loss and Faye getting a 5th yellow and missing Reading Home...(is it Reading at home next?)

The Reading date falls in the seven day rule, so it'd be the Portsmouth game he'd miss if he's booked. On the flip side, if those two avoid getting booked, it's all wiped clean on April 1.

[Dirt McGirt]

Play a 4-5-1/4-3-3 and look for the counter, stay compact in the back and try and get out of there with at least a point.

My prediction 3-1 Spurs.

[conchobar7]

I'd like to see us play like we did last week. Which seemed to be more of a 4-3-1-2. I liked seeing Owen drop deeper, he controls and distributes the ball nicely and has the pace to run off of Viduka from a deeper position, but still get back when needed.

Geremi is terrible, but if we see him playing and in a 4-4-2 we are going to get destroyed because he will always venture into the middle and Beye will have to create the width, then we are in trouble at the back.

It will be interesting to see what Keegan decides, play for the point or just play.

[Russell1892]

I forgot to mention that Chris Hughton returns to WHL... it'll be interesting to see if he has any notes to pass on to Keegan about where they're vulnerable and any potential exploitations. He should know their players inside out.

A lot depends on which Spurs show up I think - the one that got spanked 4-1 at Birmingham, or the one that beat Chelsea.

We've got more to play for so hopefully that'll go in our favour (much like it did for Birmingham).

Hopefully Ramos will shuffle his deck to have a look at which players he wants to keep in his squad. I'll be chuffed if Berbatov or Keane gets a rest.

[BayernWake]

Good God I hate Spurs.

[Russell1892]

Good God I hate Spurs.

Indeed... I concur.

Its looking more and more likely that KK is going to line up with the 4-3-3(ish) formation he's gone with in the last 2 games. This of course means no wingers and 3 battlers in the center... which again means no place for N'zog. No real prospect of Alan Smith coming back into the team either.

I don't think we can play a "keep it tight" game... we're hopeless at that, I think Allardyce found that out to his cost. This doesn't mean we need to see Nicky Butt charging into the box and Enrique and Beye up by Spurs corner flags the whole game. We will get chances I think... the key is how well we put them away (this means putting them away better than we have done recently... including Fulham.)

We also hope Geremi has been practicing his corners. Geremi incidentally was the only Newcastle player named in a stat related programme called "The Actim Index". I'm guessing its a lot like Opta... and he's in there because he got 2 assists last week. According to this index our only player in the top 100 players in the League is ... Stevie Taylor :confused: at number 92.

EDIT: I also forgot that Emre and Cacapa are out. Will Emre ever be back? Cacapa's like Boumsong with a crap goatee.

[ToonUSA]

Play a 4-5-1/4-3-3 and look for the counter, stay compact in the back and try and get out of there with at least a point.

My prediction 3-1 Spurs.

What is this compact at the back you speak of? Is that some sort of a parking space?

[Dirt McGirt]

What is this compact at the back you speak of? Is that some sort of a parking space?
Ha Ha everytime I see one I try and fit my wife's SUV into it and it's cool until you have to get out.

I mean keep the defense shape and not get caught on the break. I really want KK to try and play for a point and pick a choose the times to attack. I ********ing hate Spurs but Jaunde will tear us apart if given the chance.

[Big Soccer Member]

This fixture last year was the game of the season in the Premiership, of any team. 3-2 to us with Martins's best goal ever. In truth though, we were out played that day and that was at the peak of our form.

WE HAVE TO KEEP POSSESION. Spurs make a threatning attack almost everytime they have the ball. So no Alan Smith or Geremi as they lose the ball too much. 4-3-3, not 4-5-1 with Owen, Viduka and Martins all starting.

[Russell1892]

Note to all you Yanks the clocks change here in England tonight to BST... which means they go forward one hour. Convert what time kick off is where ever you are yourself... I get confused enough here. Kick off is 3pm.

[JaredSS07]

Note to all you Yanks the clocks change here in England tonight to BST... which means they go forward one hour. Convert what time kick off is where ever you are yourself... I get confused enough here. Kick off is 3pm.

Somehow the game is listed on FSC as Live at 4:30pm Eastern. No way it is live, but at least I won't have to think about time zones.

[colinh9]

Note to all you Yanks the clocks change here in England tonight to BST... which means they go forward one hour. Convert what time kick off is where ever you are yourself... I get confused enough here. Kick off is 3pm.

I don't get it. 10 kick off here then since it goes back to a -5 hour difference here?

The pressure is off us tomorrow going into this result. A loss isn't the end of the world. However, we all want to build on the positives of the last week and get a real result under our belts. You never know whats going to happen against Spurs. How sweet iat would be to go to WHL and win again. I should be watching this with a Spurs fan which will either end up in a huge disaster or me being extremely obnoxious.

I start with a 4-3-3 again with Viduka, Owen and Martins all starting. Why not give it a go? It's been working the past week and with the pressure eased off a bit we can afford to actually go at Spurs.

[Russell1892]

I don't get it. 10 kick off here then since it goes back to a -5 hour difference here?

The pressure is off us tomorrow going into this result. A loss isn't the end of the world. However, we all want to build on the positives of the last week and get a real result under our belts. You never know whats going to happen against Spurs. How sweet iat would be to go to WHL and win again. I should be watching this with a Spurs fan which will either end up in a huge disaster or me being extremely obnoxious.

I start with a 4-3-3 again with Viduka, Owen and Martins all starting. Why not give it a go? It's been working the past week and with the pressure eased off a bit we can afford to actually go at Spurs.

If its currently -6 it'll be -5 (which is the usual time difference other than for about 3 weeks a year where clocks get changed at different times.) I think after today's results I'm more eager for us to get points. Everyone has pretty much pulled away from the bottom three, but there are plenty more twists/unexpected results to come.

Worth noting - We've beaten them the last three times we've played them. If we won it'd be back to back doubles against them (not that I'm holding my breath but would be class if it happened).

C'mon you mags.. howay man bonny lads.
KTF

[Shameus]

But isn't this 4-3-3 that has been played the last 2 weeks more like a 4-3-1-2 with Owen dropping in behind Oba and Duke and playing more like an AM than an out and out striker?

[NewcastleRBNY]

I'm liking Owen in this AM/play maker role. He has been putting out a great work rate as of late. He is up front for the attack but makes it back to fight for the ball in the midfield. I'm not going to scream his praises as being amazing in the role but its a good change for our team and it seems to be working.

I think Newcastle needs to come out and push the attack with a 4-3-3 again. We need that early goal to motivate our side and to ease the jitters. Whenever we give up a goal first we crumble and almost give up. Maybe if we have a strong attack it will keep Berba and Keane back in the midfield working for the ball instead of in our box serving it up.


We had some decent results in our favor this week with some key teams around us missing out on points. Fulham, Derby, and Bolton are luckily still where they were and everyone but Birmingham (lucky bastards) and Middle (at Chelsea tomorrow) didnt come out with points. If we win tomorrow and Chelsea pulls it out then we will hop up in the standings and just be 4 points behind Tottenham. As much as they are safe for this season they know that if they lose this game then we are coming up on them fast.

[Shameus]

Same squad:

NUFC: Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Geremi, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka
Subs: Fraser Forster, Alan Smith, David Edgar, Damien Duff, Andy Carroll

It also looks like Spurs will be using 3 strikers as well as Bent, Keane, and Berbatov are all in the starting lineup.

[colinh9]

Come on boys!!

Edit: I'm good thanks!

Here we go!

[Russell1892]

I'm watching this on sopcast. Wearing my old school Newcastle 95-97 home shirt... hoping it'll bring back the old King Kev days.