BPL Round 33: Newcastle United vs. Reading 05 April [R]

[tigerdave]

It won't be mathematically official, but this game very well could eliminate all doubt about our Premier League status if we beat Reading at SJP on Saturday. Bolton play at Villa Park so we could be 12 points up with five games to go if things go our way. In any event, we need a combination of 10 points gained by us or dropped by Bolton in order to be mathematically safe at this point.

To the match: We play Reading at SJP, TV in the US on Saturday is live on FSC at 10 am EDT. Reading beat us at the Madejski just like they did last year, but we won 3-2 on a memorable Emre strike at home last season. Hopefully the squad can replicate that feat. I don't foresee any changes whatsoever from the lineup unless KK decides Emre can play and slots him in for Barton to give a little more creativity to the side. But otherwise, it's not been broke the last two games so let's not go Benitez and tinker, is what I say.

Reading are awful on the road and we play well, generally at home. Add to the fact that we're flying at the minute and I think we'll take it, likely 3-1. Remember, Spurs "had nothing to play for" :rolleyes: and this club do, so it's likely to be a tighter game.

[Russell1892]

With Bolton being 9 points behind, I can't see them making that up, and given that we now sit in 12th place there are a lot of teams between us and them that would have to outperform us. I think we've just about put the idea of relegation to bed. Making this not our worst ever finish in the premiership seems to be the new goal in this general diarrhoea of a season.

We welcome the lads from Berkshire... or the Berks (if you're not familiar with rhyming slang it rhymes with "Berkshire Hunt"). Having claimed 7 out of the last 9 points on offer the lads are looking good at the minute... and with KK saying the Spurs game was the best Barton has played under him (including Citeh) I wouldn't expect him to be dropped. I think we're looking at the same 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 formation that we've seen in the last 3 games (barring any last minute injuries). Be interesting to see if there's a place for Milner when he comes back.

Reading have a team of battlers who are fighting for their lives.... but the same could be said of Fulham. We should spank their arses and send them back down the M1, feeling aggrieved they even showed up expecting anything. Lets begin fortress SJP now... better late than never.

"And KK said unto them 'Keepeth the Faith' and the faith was kept."

[NewcastleRBNY]

Even though we are in 12th we could easily drop to 15th if we lose to Reading and Borough and Sunderland win. The bottom of the table is so thick right now that from week to week there could be big fluctuations in standings when there is only 10 points that hold the position of 7 teams. If we come out on top of Reading and Bolton lose I'm definite we will stay up.

Even if we do get to the point where we know we are destined to stay up (still not there) we still have a lot to fight for (unlike what the Spurs and their fans claim). Our pride as a club is on the line, the pride of the individual players is on the line and many of these guys are still challenging for respect on their countries clubs, and finally some of these guys know that they need to fight for their place either in the starting 11 or even on the team for next season. Sure we aren't going to get to Europe or fight for cups this year but there is still far more to fight for until the end of the last match day.

[colinh9]

Well it is important not to get complacent but for once I have confidence in the ability of the staff to get us up for the match. A 4-3-3 is surely the way we go, with the exact line-up as the last I expect. Maybe Faye dropped if someone has been particularly effective in training but I doubt that. Even with a draw I'd say we are safe from relegation but for Keegan and his top-half finish dreams(laughable) its a must win. Hopefully we can get clear mathematically as soon as possible and give Caroll a real shot.

Now to last year's match. That was a turning point in our season, and I just want to remember how fantastic it was that day to watch Emre's individual effort. If nothing else we could use him for corners this weekend.

Sadly, I don't know if I'll be able to watch this match. Saturday will probably be my day of travel from DC to NY to watch the NYRB home opener.

[mplsTOON]

I think we'll do well. Maybe not as well as against the Sp*ds because the "Berks C*nts," as Russell1892 eloquently put it rhymeslang like, enjoy (need to) playing wide.

Enrique and Beye will be put on their toes, as will Barton and Geremi, the latter of which I am most nervous about. But when the dust settles we will prevail and send them back down south to their ex-urb bedroom community west of London...

2-1 Owen and Martins for us, with the ginger Kitson getting one for them 'cause he always does...

[tigerdave]

Emre's out due to injury (shocking, I know). So we should keep the team as is, since it's playing pretty well.

[JaredSS07]

Emre's out due to injury (shocking, I know). So we should keep the team as is, since it's playing pretty well.

Why not sit Geremi, move Barton to the right, and put Zog on the left?

[ToonUSA]

I don't think I posted predictions for the last 2 wins, so I'm gonna stay with that technique.

[tigerdave]

Why not sit Geremi, move Barton to the right, and put Zog on the left?

I've come to the conclusion that Zog is too selfish to play in a 4-3-3 where the team game needs to come first. The back three are responsible for staying back on defense and passing to the forwards. Zog won't do either.

[JayRockers!]

I predict ******** you sp*rs and ******** the mackems.

Thx,

Jay!

[BayernWake]

I predict ******** you sp*rs and ******** the mackems.

Thx,

Jay!

Seconded.

[Russell1892]

N'Zog is out because of a "slight knee problem" - whether he's hurt it begging for a transfer to the smoke has not been revealed. This leaves us with not a lot of creativity on the bench, so if its going into the final 30 minutes and we need something extra, I can't see where its gonna come from. But I think we should have enough to see them off anyway.

[Shameus]

I've come to the conclusion that Zog is too selfish to play in a 4-3-3 where the team game needs to come first. The back three are responsible for staying back on defense and passing to the forwards. Zog won't do either.

I agree, I think there is a reason that KK has been playing Geremi, Butt, and Barton in those 3 positions. For all of Geremi's and Butt's short comings as "playmakers", you have to say that they are experienced and team oriented enough to know what to do and what needs to come first in that formation. N'Zog for all of his skill doesn't strike me as the type of player that will be disciplined enough to work in that formation.

[Shameus]

Taylor is out with food poisoning, Edgar will partner with Faye in the middle today.

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

[tigerdave]

You know, I could get used to this early goal routine. Martins gets a decent diagonal ball from Butt, Rosenior slips and he's through on goal, juking Bikey on the dribble and drawing Hahnemann only to slip it past the keeper and inside the far post. 1-0 good guys.

[tigerdave]

No sooner than Jared tells me in AIM that we need to get Owen involved, he scores to make it 2-0 in vintage Shearer fashion. Ball gets clipped past the Reading back line and he's the first to react and stabs it past Hahnemann and into the back of the net.

[Russell1892]

2-0 Newcastle Michael Owen with his 4th in 4 games. Also the weirdest celebration I've seen in ages.

[NewcastleRBNY]

This is an entirely different team than the one from a few weeks ago. I really would like to know what Kev has done to turn it around like this. Their passing is tighter, their defense is spot on, their striking chances have been coming fast and furious.

Ofcourse we can't call the game yet (we came back big time against Spurs last week) but it looks like its another win for our side.

[JayRockers!]

So, KK's plan was to tear the shambles of a team down even further, only to bring them back more powerful than we could possibly imagine?

He's fookin' brilliant!

And David Edgar is ********ing mint, even if Steven Hunt was making him his bitch early on.

Has Faye ever tried to raise the line from center-half? He almost always is dropped a yard or two behind everyone else. With the knock he's been feeling, it may lead to something.

I see two more goals for the three-headed monster.

Thx,

Jay!

[Russell1892]

This is an entirely different team than the one from a few weeks ago. I really would like to know what Kev has done to turn it around like this. Their passing is tighter, their defense is spot on, their striking chances have been coming fast and furious.

Ofcourse we can't call the game yet (we came back big time against Spurs last week) but it looks like its another win for our side.

I think its a matter of confidence, plus we've had a few breaks (You've got to remember we hammered Blackburn and still lost 1-0). He's found a system that works I think... for the first time this season we now actually look like scoring goals, and look fairly solid at the back. (I think a lot of this is down to the midfield offering more protection).

Habib Beye has been a quality signing and Enrique is growing into his role.

the only bad bit of news is the Mackems are winning too.