Newcastle Utd 3 - 3 Crystal Palace - 30/08/14

[Cal]

Today sees Newcastle welcome Crystal Palace to St James’ Park, three and a half weeks before we travel to Selhurst Park for our League Cup tie. Both sides have started the season poorly and currently occupy 17th and 18th places in the table.

Newcastle have so far been unable to score a goal (with only QPR for company on this stat) this season, a continuation of our poor goalscoring form for the whole of 2014, in which time we’ve scored just 14 Premier League goals. We failed to even register a shot on target in the loss to Man City, then were unable to find the finish in a goalless draw with Villa, and even in the cup we relied on an own goal to progress, but it’s arguable that if the defender didn’t get a touch it would have been an easy finish.

Palace’s season was thrown into disarray when manager Tony Pulis left by mutual consent less than 48 hours before it started, reportedly due to a disagreement over transfers. Neil Warnock returned to the Eagles this week, four and a half years on from his previous stint in charge of the club, and will be hoping to secure Palace’s first points of the season; they lost 1-2 to Arsenal and 1-3 to West Ham before his appointment. The last two times Warnock led Palace against Newcastle resulted in 2-0 wins for us, while Crystal Palace overall haven't scored against us this millennium, for whatever that’s worth.

Pardew had some words to say about how his former club and their managerial situation, as well as some disheartening comments about how he thinks such a technical Newcastle side will find its first goal of the season (via The Guardian):

"I'm a changed man, Neil gets emotional but I’ve never really had a problem with Neil. I think once at Sheffield United we might have had a bit of an issue but it didn’t take me long to give him my death stare and he backed off. He knows my death stare’s better than his."

"Seriously, it’s important that I show I’ve changed since the [Meyler] incident and limit my time in the technical area. I’m trying to keep my emotions under wraps to a certain degree."

"Neil has the experience and he’s going to make a difference to our game against them. A new manager always does; we’ve got to face that."

"I think Palace will be difficult for us. It’s very difficult when teams pack their defences and don’t give us any space.

"I think when we score it will be from a penalty or a set play or maybe a shot from the edge of the area or a ricochet. Hopefully."

"[Cabella] needs more games with more room, I think when team’s fall behind against us, we’ll see the best of him. I don’t really worry about him. I think he’s a good player."

Team News

Mike Williamson has served his suspension for his second yellow card against Aston Villa, while Rolando Aarons and Jack Colback, both recently called up to the England U20s and first team respectively, have recovered from the knocks that made them doubts for this one, with Pardew talking up the former’s chances of starting this game during the week. Siem de Jong may be in line for his full Premier League debut after having played roughly 90 minutes combined between our last two matches.

Yanga-Mbiwa appears likely to have played his last game in a Newcastle shirt, and although he’s officially out due to an ankle injury, there has been a lot of talk of a loan move to Marseille. Cheick Tioté is still out with injury, and will hopefully return alongside Papiss Cissé for the Southampton match in two weeks. Davide Santon and Ryan Taylor remain long-term absentees. Hatem Ben Arfa is likely to continue his exile, despite his performance for the reserves this week.

For the visitors, Joe Ledley is likely to miss out, Stuart O’Keefe will have a late fitness test, and Scott Dann may be in line for a return, having returned to training during the week. Wilfried Zaha is back at the club on loan.

My Line-up:

<krul>
<janmaat> <williamson> <colo> <haidara>
<anita> <colback>
<cabella> <dejong> <aarons>
<riviere>

I feel this match is probably one of the best to give Aarons his full PL debut in, as Pardew has alluded to, and also to keep his momentum going. I'd have Haïdara replace Dummett so that we have a bit more presence down the left wing in attack, especially as the Frenchman apparently impressed in the mid-week game. The rest of the team pretty much picks itself aside from the choice of pairing in defensive/central midfield; I don't like Sissoko in a deep role and feel that Anita can do a lot more for the side, with Colback picking up the more physical defensive duties and still chipping in upfield.

Predicted Line-up:

<krul>
<janmaat> <williamson> <colo> <dummett>
<sissoko> <colback>
<cabella> <dejong> <gouffran>
<riviere>

My Prediction

3-0. I’m trying to keep this optimism thing going. Palace have conceded five goals in two games, so hopefully their defence is poor enough to let us find that first goal and open the floodgates. I predict goals for Rivière, Cabella, and Colback, with de Jong picking up at least two assists.

Where to Watch/Listen

Palace didn’t take their full allocation of tickets, so more of Leazes Level 7 has been made available for home fans; however there will apparently be no cash turnstiles for the match, so get down to the box office if you want a ticket.

The match isn’t televised in the UK. There is radio commentary on BBC Newcastle, Absolute Radio and talkSPORT.

Overseas Coverage: (via nufc.com)
Canal+ Multideporte 1
Canal+ Yomvi + HD (Spain)
NBC Sports Live (USA)
PremierLeaguePass (NZ)
Sportsnet (Canada)
Stod 2 Sport 4
SuperSport 5 Africa

[dls]

Pardew: “I think when we score it will be from a penalty or a set play or maybe a shot from the edge of the area or a ricochet. Hopefully.”

f***ing hell Such a great tactical mind.

[Double Agent Bruce a.k.a DAB]

You can't be serious. Is this for real?

[jpg]

Pardew: “I think when we score it will be from a penalty or a set play or maybe a shot from the edge of the area or a ricochet. Hopefully.”

f****** hell Such a great tactical mind.

<pards>

[dls]

You can't be serious. Is this for real?

Yup.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... tal-palace" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Holystone...]

This campaign is going to be defined by our goal tally. I'm still unconvinced we've got the finished strike force we need. Lawro put it succinctly on Radio 5 yesterday, saying he looked at Newcastle and thought we needed a banker , not blooding untried talent at this level. Everton found the cash for Lukaku and Eto ffs.
Even up against Gillingham, our squad was unable to find the net. Palace will prove the easiest test so far for us.
God help us if we can't beat them.
1-0 to us.

[jpg]

Hopefully we have another stinker in attack, forcing the club to invest in a decent striker.

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

Pardew: “I think when we score it will be from a penalty or a set play or maybe a shot from the edge of the area or a ricochet. Hopefully.”

f****** hell Such a great tactical mind.

There's nowt wrong with what he's said.
As he says, Palace will sit back, get men behind the ball and try and hit us on the counter. Against teams like this, set pieces are useful and a scrappy first goal would be great, could open the floodgates. Liverpool's great attacking football last season was complimented by loads of set piece goals.

[dls]

Pardew: “I think when we score it will be from a penalty or a set play or maybe a shot from the edge of the area or a ricochet. Hopefully.”

f****** hell Such a great tactical mind.

There's nowt wrong with what he's said.
As he says, Palace will sit back, get men behind the ball and try and hit us on the counter. Against teams like this, set pieces are useful and a scrappy first goal would be great, could open the floodgates. Liverpool's great attacking football last season was complimented by loads of set piece goals.

Have you ever seen our set plays?
So taking that impotent mess out of it his gameplan is to hope for luck (a penalty, a ricochet) or a screamer.

[Duke]

f***ing hell

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

There's nowt wrong with what he's said.
As he says, Palace will sit back, get men behind the ball and try and hit us on the counter. Against teams like this, set pieces are useful and a scrappy first goal would be great, could open the floodgates. Liverpool's great attacking football last season was complimented by loads of set piece goals.

Have you ever seen our set plays?
So taking that impotent mess out of it his gameplan is to hope for luck (a penalty, a ricochet) or a screamer.

But surely we all hope for "luck (a penalty, a ricochet) or a screamer" too. Why is that a bad thing?

Saying "this is the most likely way" doesn't preclude other methods or even suggest he isn't going to tell the team to try other things. He never said his gameplan was that, did he? Just putting your words in his mouth, People are suggesting his comments are terrible purely because of who he is. If Rodgers or Wenger were to say "the way CP play, I'd imagine our goal will be a set piece or scrappy", no-one would bat an eyelid

[MultipleJesuses]

Pardew: “I think when we score it will be from a penalty or a set play or maybe a shot from the edge of the area or a ricochet. Hopefully.”

f****** hell Such a great tactical mind.

There's nowt wrong with what he's said.
As he says, Palace will sit back, get men behind the ball and try and hit us on the counter. Against teams like this, set pieces are useful and a scrappy first goal would be great, could open the floodgates. Liverpool's great attacking football last season was complimented by loads of set piece goals.

I think it's more the fact that it sounds like he's hoping our first goal comes from a bit of luck rather than having faith in our ability going forward and breaking them down.

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

There's nowt wrong with what he's said.
As he says, Palace will sit back, get men behind the ball and try and hit us on the counter. Against teams like this, set pieces are useful and a scrappy first goal would be great, could open the floodgates. Liverpool's great attacking football last season was complimented by loads of set piece goals.

I think it's more the fact that it sounds like he's hoping our first goal comes from a bit of luck rather than having faith in our ability going forward and breaking them down.

Who the **** cares where it comes from at this point, we just need one.

[Holystone...]

There's nowt wrong with what he's said.
As he says, Palace will sit back, get men behind the ball and try and hit us on the counter. Against teams like this, set pieces are useful and a scrappy first goal would be great, could open the floodgates. Liverpool's great attacking football last season was complimented by loads of set piece goals.

Have you ever seen our set plays?
So taking that impotent mess out of it his gameplan is to hope for luck (a penalty, a ricochet) or a screamer.

...
My memory is ok but not brilliant. Have we ever scored from a set play this year?

[MultipleJesuses]

I think it's more the fact that it sounds like he's hoping our first goal comes from a bit of luck rather than having faith in our ability going forward and breaking them down.

Who the **** cares where it comes from at this point, we just need one.

If we scrape a 1-0 by the method Pards suggests, I'll be f***ing delighted, no doubt, but it won't instill any confidence in me regarding our attack for the next game.

[Holystone...]

Who the **** cares where it comes from at this point, we just need one.

If we scrape a 1-0 by the method Pards suggests, I'll be f****** delighted, no doubt, but it won't instill any confidence in me regarding our attack for the next game.

...
Mate, I think you should change your avatar to the recent Pards Dance Routine!

[tomtom94]

Forgot about Pardew and Warnock having previous.

We're going to lose, aren't we

[Jaiston]

Please sack that idiotic t***.

[Jaiston]

This campaign is going to be defined by our goal tally. I'm still unconvinced we've got the finished strike force we need. Lawro put it succinctly on Radio 5 yesterday, saying he looked at Newcastle and thought we needed a banker , not blooding untried talent at this level. Everton found the cash for Lukaku and Eto ffs.
Even up against Gillingham, our squad was unable to find the net. Palace will prove the easiest test so far for us.
God help us if we can't beat them.
1-0 to us.

We could have the 'finished' strike force we need but...Pardew.

[LONDONTOON]

Pardew should be sacked by his comments alone

I have no faith in us with that clueless t*** in charge, we should blitz them but are manager is a joke, anything less than a win is unacceptable