Ikon

Is this the expected starting 11?

Can see us scoring a nice counter-attacking goal, Cabaye receiving the ball and quickly release Sissoko and Gouffran in to space with an awesome one touch pass A bit like HBA's goal against Swansea.

More or less the OP only tbf, for once...

Hope we press them, especially Parker.

Transfer talks...... http://i.imgur.com/ve5COGK.jpg?1

Even if we do get pushed back at times, i can now be confident that we'll be able to be very dangerous on the counter-attack.

YOAN GOUFFRAN has admitted that he has never witnessed anything like playing in front of the Newcastle United fans after making a dream start to his Toon career. The 26-year-old bargain signing from Bordeaux has quickly captured the hearts of Geordie fans with two hard-working performances in a black-and-white shirt. Gouffran’s non-stop display as part of Alan Pardew’s 4-3-2-1 formation against Chelsea helped net three points and keep up his 100% winning start. But after taking part in a lap of honour at a jumping St James’ Park following the victory over Champions League winners Chelsea, he confessed that he was loving life on Tyneside already. Speaking about the fans, Gouffran told the Chronicle: “I’ve not seen anything like this – never, not at all. “At the Villa game it was like a different ball game for me. “To have those supporters behind us was unbelievable. “But to see a full St James’ Park and have those fans behind us was just magnificent. “It was beyond belief.” Gouffran may well only know a few basic phrases of English so far. Yet Pardew, who compared his and Moussa Sissoko’s professionalism to Alan Shearer and Gary Speed on Saturday night, said that great players “quickly absorb” information. Pardew has sat down his new boys and underlined the rewards of playing for the shirt and the Geordie fans. Now Gouffran wants to pay back the fans by helping them climb the table. Gouffran said: “When I came to this football club the gaffer told me the most important thing was to come out fighting. There is no other way. “I personally don’t believe that the team or the club deserves to be where we are in the table. That’s what we as players remember. “Most importantly we must continue with the fight and show what playing for this club means to the fans.” Pardew sent his troops out fired up against Chelsea and the Magpies bombarded Petr Cech’s goal. However, they only managed to go in at half-time 1-0 up. Gouffran said: “In the first half we had belief from the start. That is the most important thing. But then we played, dominated the whole game. “Although we fell behind we quickly fought back in the second half. I believe overall we gave 100% and I am so happy we won.” Few will forget Gouffran and goal hero Sissoko’s home debuts in a hurry and after some observers had criticised Newcastle’s work in the January window, the former French Under-21 star says it has galvanised the team. He said: “It was very important to come out fighting and show togetherness. Our team has bonded. “When you come from another league, you need to get in straight away and there is no time to waste. “Most importantly we have shown we can play together and we can improve. We can work hard, and that’s the most important thing.” Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2013/02/04/yoan-gouffran-praises-newcastle-united-supporters-72703-32739864/#ixzz2JvQOoq6P

ALAN PARDEW described Newcastle United’s 3-2 win over Chelsea as his “best ever” as manager. The Magpies boss hailed the victory over the Blues as the greatest of his tenure as a manager. The win injected new life into Newcastle’s poor season so far and remarkably – in a season in which United were once staring into the abyss – just three points away from a top-10 slot. After seeing Moussa Sissoko’s second-half double floor the European champions, Pardew (pictuerd left) – also in charge of the 4-4 draw with Arsenal two years ago – told the Chronicle: “It was the best game I’ve ever seen as a manager. “Obviously, in the cup final we had the 3-3 against Liverpool in 2006. It was at that level, trust me. That was a real game of football. “The Chelsea team were determined to turn round the situation. It was their best team. Ivanovic was back in at right-back, John Terry in the team. “It took a real, proper performance from us to get a win against them.” United can add the Chelsea win to their list of top four scalps along with the first-day victory over Tottenham. And while Pardew endured defeat against runaway Manchester duo City and United, he reflected: “When you play the top teams, it’s very important to unsettle them, and we’ve done that. “Man United and Arsenal – we unsettled them. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough power and pace in the team, and enough squad players to come on and see it through. “Today, we did. Even Marveaux’s 10-minute cameo, which was outstanding, gave us a lift. They’re the things we’ve missed this year – having players of that ability come off the bench.” Marveaux was back after a foot injury but, Jonas Gutierrez – who scored the opener – got the nod ahead of him. Pardew talked about making tough decisions before the game, adding: “Sylvain was very unlucky not to start, but I was glad I started with the team I did.” Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2013/02/04/pardew-chelsea-win-was-best-ever-as-a-manager-72703-32739867/#ixzz2JvObNVFA

MIGHTY MOUSSA Sissoko has revealed that St James’ Park can be his “field of dreams” after sinking European champions Chelsea on a home debut that few Newcastle United fans will ever forget. The French international, who says he’s fallen in love with Newcastle already, celebrated the win with a “quick drink” as he gazed at the Tyne Bridge on Saturday night, before a quick turnaround this week as prepares to face Germany in a friendly in Paris. However, the powerhouse midfielder could not be in better mood after helping Newcastle come back from behind to win a Premier League game for the first time in almost FOUR years on Tyneside. It was Bobby Robson who admitted that players should have “wild dreams” before every game at St James’ Park, and Sissoko provided two moments that the Geordie Godfather would have given his full seal of approval to against the Blues. Man of the match Sissoko told the Chronicle: “It is up there with my best moments of my career. “I’m not sure if it is quite the best yet. “But to score on my home debut and get a brace against the European champions Chelsea and come away with three points is absolutely fantastic. Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2013/02/04/sissoko-st-james-park-can-be-my-field-of-dreams-72703-32739860/#ixzz2JvNm7YoU

Elfsborg will probably win it again (im from Borås) Not that i really care THAT much tbh. Weird somehow...

With no changes (there will be) we could have players like Ben Arfa, Marveaux, Yanga-Mbiwa, Tioté and Anita on the bench :lol: Feels so good looking at our team and squad seeing so many good players in it. Yes it needs maybe a couple of additions but with everyone fit and only looking at our possible starting eleven, we really do not have any position where i feel this player REALLY needs to be replaced asap. We even have players on the bench we'd like to start as well. Options It has taken some time, we didn't really strengthen the team/squad in the summer, but seriously, over time our recruitment has been absolutely brilliant compared to most clubs.

Gonna watch the Tioté vs Rooney clip (or was it vs Man U) Absolutely brilliant!

The first touch he took was quite heavy then?

Benitez "We didn't have the experience to stop their counterattacks,"

Aye, saw that. Mirror, Telegraph giving us some well deserved praise, feels good.

What a cunt.

Came in Ndoumint.

Is the MOTD coverage always as short? About each game. Watched it last night but there wasn't much said apart from showing some/most highlights.

Aye, but our Le Bomba Lads Santon and Debuchy will give plenty of width when needed while Colo stands in the middle of the pitch asking Cabaye what his next move is gonna be in the game of chess.

Opposition puts 4 up against HBA so that means they will only have maybe one against SISSOKO who comes running at full pace like a cargo train while Gouffran and Cabaye sit and play chess in the central circle with their feet up laughing and drinking wine :lol:

They have no pace in their team, overall. Their biggest weakness.

But, but, ours are french, aren't they supposed to surrender? They've only played in a Donald Duck league and are unproven and need to adapt. No big club wanted them. One is allergic to grass

Both of Gouffran and HBA are actually very good with their backs against goal as well, having good balance and strength to shield the ball from the opposition when needed to hold the ball for a second or two if they don't have an option to pass to at first. While not being target players it's good to have this attribute to bring others in to play and keep possession. Normally most wide forwards aren't very good at this. Gouffran did it against Chelsea a couple of times, very effectively. They can run at the opposition by dribbling (esp. HBA) or being very direct, but at the same time very good going deeper to meet the ball, even under pressure. Quick on the turn as well. Gouffran has played the central role lately but looks perfect out wide as well. HBA basically does what he wishes