Not much needs said about the set up for this one, replay of "classic" FA Cup tie apparently. Its never easy going to play a lower league side in the Cup, they've nowt to lose so can play without fear and the pressure's on our lads to get a result. In team news, Leon Best picked up a heel injury scoring a hat-trick the other night, but is likely to pass his late fitness test. Krul's likely to play, Shola, Tiote, Jonas, S Taylor are all out with minor injuries. Smith and Sol are struggling. AC9's in Dubai on the lash if the press are to be believed. So regardless of the fact that teams often play fringe players in cup games, we will out of necessity it seems. Dan Gosling might get a spot on the bench having worked his way back from injury. Howay the lads, progress to round 4 please. Kick off's at 5:30pm (GMT), live on ESPN in the UK.
NUFC XI: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Colo, Perch, Barton, Smith, Nolan, Routledge, Best, Lovenkrands Toon bench: Ranger, Guthrie, Soderberg, Tiote, Kadar, Airey, Ferguson Live on FSC (DirecTV 619) at 12:30pm Eastern. Thx, Jay!
Shocked to see Barton, Nolan and Colo out there, but this is basically our full squad. Jonas shouldn't be a big miss, and Tiote is given a rest which he deserves. Should be a good one, hoping for the win and a kind draw, because this squad is certainly capable of a good cup run.
Love watching games from the smaller teams. The lighting, camera angles, stands, pitch all remind me televised high school football games in Indiana. You can tell we have a makeshift team with many players out of position. We look like shit, our passing is awful, and we seem to have no tactical plan. After 30 minutes, I would be happy with a draw.
Outside of Barton, we don't really have an individual who is capable of changing the game. I think Best has been withdrawn due to his injury, so Ranger will have a full half. Stevenage up 1-0 as I type this, OG (well that's a bit harsh really) on Williamson.
Nice header by Willo, totally wrongfooted the keeper. What? It's an own goal? I've gotta stop watching two games at once.
And now we are ********ed. About right with this football club. Terrific goal, give them full credit I don't see where we can get two goals from but I've been wrong before
Not sure I even want it to come back. Match isn't over but not looking good. it's all hilarious because this story came out earlier..who knows if there is any credibility to it but it's not that far fetched Pardew sacked in the morning?
Tiote, come on mate. I'm not sure that's a red but use half your brain and you don't make that tackle. I really, really, really don't like the change by Pardew there anyway. Tiote is a good player but he's not going to turn a 0-2 match on it's head, instead now you've put a guy out there who is prone to these tackles and he's gone and screwed us for next week. Only Barton looked like he gave a damn when we went down.