After going out of the FA cup in disappointing fashion we're off to Ewood Park to play a slightly rejuvenated Blackburn. Cabaye has his hearing over the violent conduct charge this morning, which means we won't know until lunchtime whether he will be available to play. Ba and Cisse aren't expected back from ACoN duties until Thursday so there's no chance they'll play. Tiote obviously remains away. Still waiting to hear if Coloccini's injury that kept him out against Brighton has cleared up. It'll be interesting to see if Pardew keeps the 4-3-3 we've been playing since Cabaye was stretchered off against QPR, since seeing out that game 1-0 we've been fairly abject at Fulham (2nd half) and Brighton. The bulk of our success this season has been 4-4-2 and I'd like to see us go back to it. We've beaten Blackburn twice already this season, and lost once in the League cup. Yakubu is suspended for them, which is good news since he's their main goal threat. Kick off is 8pm (GMT), Howay the Lads and discuss.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] I think it will be a draw.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Somehow Cabaye's appeal fails... I assume since he isn't an English International.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Match is available in the US on ESPN3 (live only) at 255 est.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] And he doesn't play for a "Top 6" side.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] If only he'd run up behind a guy and stuck his fingers in his eyes rather than accidentally do something...
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] NUFC starting XI: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), David Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Ryan Taylor, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Leon Best. NUFC subs: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, James Perch, Mehdi Aneid, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Peter Lovenkrands.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] BRFC line-up: Robinson, Olsson, Givet, Dunn, Modeste, Gamst Pedersen, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Dann, Hoilett, Lowe BRFC substitutions: Bunn, Hanley, Henley, Formica, Vukcevic, Slew, Rochina.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Sian Massey linesman, again. Thought they couldn't do a team two times in a row? 12' Ryan Taylor with a deflection off Dann for the own goal. 1-0 for us.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 14' Givet knocks in from a corner, only to have it deflect off Simpson. Rebound put wide.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 20' Petrovic wide after a corner ball pingpongs in and out and in and out of the box.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 22' Santon warned, not carded by Phil Dowd, for keeping Hoilett from breaking free on a run after we took a corner.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 27' Colo saves a sure goal from Modeste. Dann with a tidy throughball to release the player. Willo caught standing and Krul came out. Colo came from behind the keeper to block the shot.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Hoilett flat out dove. Fortunately Massey was at the other end and Dowd awards the free kick outside the box. Raylor receives a yellow for dragging Hoilett to his feet. Hoilett dove when Colo pulled out of a challenge. Simmo never touched him, either.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 38' Givet, I mean Besty heads off the crossbar defending a corner. At least he can't score in our net, either.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 42' Perchy getting some instruction on the sidelines from AP. Possibly a switch for Raylor after the half?
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 43' phantom penalty kick awarded by Dowd. Simmo leans into Modeste inside the box. Too strong for the newcomer.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] 44' KRUL SAVES! From Dunn of the PK, from Pederson off the rebound. Givet had blocked Gamst. Should have been retaken from all the BRFC players encroaching. ** Dunn had actually pushed Modeste off from taking the PK as well. He took it side-footed and it was rather easily saved from Krul. Most work he's had this half.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] You name it, we're being dominated in it. Shots, saves, corners, fouls (8-2 we have more). Strangely possession is listed 50/50 but it seems BRFC has been bossing the game. We've been reactionary and ponderous. No attack, no bite. Just a lucky goal and a shitty penalty taken. Now, here's where you'd expect a total capitulation like what happened in Fulham. We have quite literally shown nothing on the day. However, I expect AP will have it all sorted at the half. We might not get a sniff at goal again, but I'll wager we don't give up one, let alone five.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Perch for HBA at the half. Sounds like we're gonna not even attempt to attack this half.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Tim Krul you big, beautiful, Dutchman. Really hope AP gets the boys turned around at HT. Somebody needs to walk up to LessthanBest and smack him upside the head and explain to him what offsides is because apparently he forgot what the rule is.
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Guess AP decided to park the bus early This must be AP's 6-2-2 formation
Re: PL Match 23: Blackburn Rovers Vs Newcastle United, Wednesday Jan. 31st [R] Would like to see Abeid or Ferguson brought in. Think Sham-eobi needs to come off and let Ferguson play wide with Jonas moving to the right or bring in Abeid so Raylor can play wide and stop pinching in so far trying to cover for Perch sitting deep and Guthrie just running around like a chicken with his head cut off.