So that’s yet another international break over and done with, however there is still another one to go next month before we get into a good run of United matches. It felt as though we didn’t get to gain from our cracking win at Cardiff as we’ve had to wait a fortnight to play again.
I’ll be honest international football does nowt for me. Actually, I cant fucking bide England, but if it floats your boat, then fair enough, it’s just it seems a bit odd to me to be screaming ‘Ho’way Steviee Gee’ at the telly in encouraging manner, on Tuesday night, but then scream ‘Fuck off, you ugly, goblin faced, snidey, streaky, cunt’ to his face for 90 minutes on Saturday? Maybe I just don’t get it, but that seems a bit fickle and inconsistent to me! So I spend international breaks hoping our players return home fit, so, lo and behold, Coloccini has only come back cattle-trucked from his trip to South America. News is awaited on how the other lads got on but it appears the rumours of Remy being in crash in France are incorrect as he came on as sub in the second half last night. Tiote and Cisse appear to have returned safely.
So this Saturday there’s a march before the game. I’ve got to be honest, I’m not in favour. For a few reasons. I’ve read all of what they’ve had to say, I’ve read every blog that I could find so let’s not say Im not giving it a chance. But here goes.
1. In the True faith interview there is a clear mention that this is to ‘Call on time on Mike Ashley’s regime.’ This is not possible without an alternative. Currently there is no offer of an alternative and there is nothing in the pipeline to find one, which makes the whole thing an exercise in futility in my opinion.
2. In the same interview, there are mentions of plans to have a visual demonstration inside SJP as the teams come out. I am absolutely 100% against negative demos and the negative energy which emanate from them when the team are actually playing at the time, we seen what happened vs. Hull in 08-09 when we went down by 1 point, losing this game to a goal where N’Zogbia watched an anti-regime banner instead of the play. And finally.
3. The chances of this protest attracting those keen to hurl abusive messages into the sky to me seem reasonably high and whilst the statement reads that this is intended to be peaceful, some of the direct responses from those involved read, ‘We cant control who says what or who turns up’ which causes me to suspect that actually, this sort of behaviour is exactly what they would like to see. So there you have it, it’s a ‘No’ from me at this moment in time. Whilst I’m making myself unpopular with the masses here, I night also add that actually, if Mike Ashley opted to make his Senior football appointments on the ‘Best man for the job’ basis instead of giving the jobs to his chums in his circle of friends, then actually, I wouldn’t mind if he stayed at Newcastle as I think some of his financial decisions will ensure we’re still around as a club in 5-10 years time, unlike under the previous governance. I also think his ticket pricing policy is excellent.
He appears to have a sense of humour too, as bang on queue with people crying ‘Time4change’… BOOM, a new ‘change’ kit (Brasil too, if you don’t mind) goes on sale at the same time.
So, onto the actual match….. Immediately, last year’s massacre springs to the front of my mind, We were absolutely torn apart that day. It was horrendous. So I absolutely hope, that the manager, his backroom department and the players are intending to put right that particular wrong as that was a very grim day indeed. I’ll not hold my breath mind, as Liverpool have regularly thrashed us both home and away during my time of following Newcastle and it has to be said, this year, they look pretty tidy.
Brendan Rodgers used the summer to recruit some quality. Defender Sakho from PSG cost ’18m. Whilst ex mackem GK Mignolet and Iago Aspas cost ‘9m each. Tiago Llori and Luis Alberta cost ‘7m each, whilst Kolo Toure arrived on a free from Man City, Victor Moses and Aly Cissokho joined on loan. Out of the door went Borini, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll, Jonjo Shelvey and Pepe Reina whilst Jamie Carragher retired.
They got off to a flying start, winning 5 of their 1st‘7 games and sit in 2nd‘place. On the road, its 2 wins (Aston Villa 1-0 & Sunderland 3-1) and 1 draw, a 2-2 at Swansea, although they did lose at Man Utd in the league cup. 1-0.”Daniel Sturridge, is on fire for the Reds this season with 8 goals already and his partnership with Suarez looks like it’ll cause lots of problems this season.
Obviously none of their players managed to get injured during the internationals, in fact Joe Allen and Aly Cissokho are set to be in the travelling party, leaving Coutinho, Glen Johnson and the long term Coates on their injury list. They have no one suspended.
Team News
Coloccini’s injury has potential to see him miss out on Saturday, meaning it’s any 2 from Williamson, Steven Taylor and yanga-Mbiwa. Williamson has had a couple of canny games but the Cardiff goal shows how he cant be relied upon and Id also suggest that neither Sturridge or Saurez or the ‘type’ of striker Williamson likes to face. Mbiwa is in inconsistent form whilst Taylor has no form whatsoever to speak of so the back 4 selection will be interesting. With Taylor and Mbiwa all over the place against these last season, I’d be surprised if we went with it again.
At Cardiff, it was Anita who made way to allow Sissoko, Tiote and Cabaye to play in the middle. Fitness permitting, I doubt Pardew will change this area in a hurry.
Up front there was indeed a surprise as Ben Arfa was left out. Whilst I’d pick him every week, there’s nothing from Pardew which indicates he’ll be recalled for Saturday. Whilst Remy looks hot, we’re left to hope that a goal for Senegal kick starts Cisse, although we’re not oblivious to the fact that he scored the odd goal here and there last season but never found the form of the previous campaign. Gouffran’s place would appear to be most under threat from Jonas now that he’s fit again, whilst Marveaux’s not been seen since the Leeds game.
Injured
Massadio Haidara ‘ knee ‘ no return date
Ryan Taylor ‘ Knee ‘ not expected back this year
Coloccini ‘ muscle strain ‘ doubtful for Saturday
Possible Team (4-3-3)
1.Krul: 2. Debuchy, 5. Williamson, 6. Taylor, 3. Santon: 7. Sissoko, 4. Tiote, 8. Cabaye: 10. Gouffran. 9. Cisse, 11. Remy:
Subs
Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa, Shola Ameobi, Anita, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi
Referee:‘Andre Marriner
History vs Liverpool
As i mentioned earlier, there been some heavy defeats to this lot, but a few decent results thrown in along the way too.
1983/84 Keegan’s farewell and my second game at SJP. Spot Lawrensen being a sly, snidey, cunt’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHPCQW_VdP4‘(Preview)
1984/85 Back in the top flight, Liverpool taking their chances, whilst we couldn’t.’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke6ylS-6jc0
1985/86 A George Reilly winner although sadly, no coverage seems to exist! 1-0 to us
1986/87 Opening day 2-0 defeat with Ian Rush doing the damage with 2 clinical finishes.’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5_MLJTgnhY‘(Preview)
1987/88 Stuffed 4-1. Beardsley booed on his return to SJP, Steve Nichol being a goal hog and Spotty McDonald notching from the spot’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2dLU3g2eHk‘(Preview)
1988/89 Frank Pingel’s infamous backwards header. 2-2 draw as Liverpool found room for both Ian Rush’s and John Aldridge’s noses in their strike force.’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOfVlGlFtaE‘(Preview)
1993/94 Liverpool cuffed with an Andy Cole treble. A wonderful day.
1994/95 Robert Lee whacking in a long ranger off the post before Ian Rush fluked an equaliser
1995/96 Sir Les and Steve Watson rifling home a rebound with Rush again on the mark for the visitors.
1996/97 1-1 with Shearer putting us 1-0 up only for Fowler to equalise
1997/98 2 defeats in 2 weeks, firstly a Steve McManaman double saw us lose 2-1 in the league, and in the league cup, we’d go down 2-0 after extra time with Owen and Fowler responsible. Us playing with Rush and Barnes up front!!
1998/99 A Stephane Guivarc’h debut goal was not the main talking point of this day. A little, shithouse’s hat trick was… 1-4.
1999/00 What went down as a Shearer goal plus a Ferguson header either side of more torment from that little twat, Michael Owen. 2-2 not the worst Boxing day result ever!
2000/01 2-1 Solano and Dyer notching for us, Heskey made it a frantic last 10 minutes
2001/02 An early Risse rocket and a late Murphy goal. Comfortable away win.
2002/03 A wicked Robert free kick in the pissing down, happy New Year, Salif Daio sent off.
Robert’s goal is on here’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfyty0_9Iyo‘(Preview)
2003/04 1-1 Shearer’s penalty cancelling out Murphy’s goal.
2004/05 Another 1-0 win thanks to a Robert free kick. See on the link above.
2005/06 Remembered for Boumsong’s buffoonery as he miskicked the ball and dragged down Peter Crouch, 1-3. Awful!!
2006/07 2-1 win for us with goals from Martins and Solano, recovering from an early Bellamy goal for them, which he celebrated a little too over enthusiastically for my liking.
2007/08 Stuffed 3-0 fat Sam Allardyce conveniently forgets to mention days like this one.
2008/09 1-5 Fuck knows how we got to 30 minutes at 0-0 but the goals flew in after that. This was vintage Kinnear. He’s probably changed the result in his head by now. Shay Given’s dummy would soon fly over the East Stand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0H6WRH6iKA
2010/11 Pardew’s first game in charge and a cracking 3-1 win courtesy of Messrs Nolan, Barton and Carroll.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z33dzKHpZ7A‘(Preview)
2011/12 Another cracking win. 2-0, both goals for Cisse. The hilarious sight of seeing Enrique in goal for Liverpool. The whole game is here plus a montage of a host of our games’http://www.footballorgin.com/2012/04/newcastle-united-2-0-liverpool-full.html
2012/13 An absolutely horrendous day. Smashed 0-6.
So painful I advise watching it with foreign commentary.’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXrwBCnkLgI‘(Preview)
Liverpool Fanzines
The Liverpool way’www.liverpoolway.co.uk
BOSS Mag’www.bossmag.co.uk
The Liverpool Way”www.ttwar.net
Predictions
Who knows with us? Could be a win, could be another good hiding. I think our back 4 needs to contain Coloccini, if not, 0-2
Danger Men
The good news is Coutinho is fucked. That’s good news for Debuchy in particular. The not so great news is that…. Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard aren’t.
Chris Betts
@tfBettsy1892
Love how they used the badge that hadn’t been used for 5 years (and had been superceded twice) in the caption for Mira’s goal, ITV really were at the cutting edge of football coverage back then, as they are now (he lied unconvincingly!!)
Is there any form of protest the large number of supporters unhappy with the way Ashley is running NUFC can adopt? Bedsheets are ridiculed, the word cockney is insular, democratic supporter groups get hijacked, hankies might upset the players, walking from the City Hall to Leazes Park is apparently a hooligan magnet.
The march is a very simple concept that is being massively over-complicated. If you don’t like the way Ashley has treated our club over the last six years here’s an opportunity for you to express your feelings at a police approved event. Don’t be put off by the naysayers and scaremongers.