Whilst the manager appears to see the Europa League as a potential distraction and hindrance, tonight's game against Maritimo
could actually give us the perfect distraction from our woeful Premier League performance and actually get some confidence back which
we can then hopefully carry forward.
That is of course not treating this game as a gimme - where Newcastle United are concerned there is rarely such a thing - but Maritimo
are certainly the worst team in the group and we go into this with the incentive of knowing that a win will see us into the next round
with a game to spare.
I am guessing we will see the usual mix of 1st teamers and fringe players tonight, our current injury and suspension list makes that more
likely then in previous games but as ever we should be able to put out a more than competitive 11.
Tiote missed out after his booking in Brugge but again Europe gives Coloccini an opportunity to play whilst currently serving his domestic
ban and after being forced to miss Sunday's game after the disagreements with Senegal we should also see Papiss Cisse getting some game
time, hopefully from the start.
Would just be really nice to see us go out and get the job done tonight and really control the game from the start and look comfortable.
That is something we just don't seem to be able to do at the minute. Without being disrespectful these lot looked poor when we played them
in the 1st group game and we should have won that game comfortably but they will come with very little to lose. By my reckoning they are still
mathmatically able to qualify but would need to win tonight so they are likely to give it a go.
We are currently carrying quite a few injuries so there will be no Adam Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, James Perch,
Yohan Cabaye, Xisco or Gabriel Obertan tonight but Jonas Gutierrez should hopefully be back after missing the Swansea game with the knock
he picked up against West Ham which would be a big boost.
I would really like to see Marveaux get a full 90 minutes tonight. Opinion seems to be quite divided on him but I think there is definitely
a player in there but he simply just hasn't had enough pitch time to get up to speed with the Premier league and his team mates. A game
like this would be a perfect opportunity to give him a chance. It is a shame Obertan is injured because he has done ok in this competition so
far and I would have liked to see both of these guys start and give us some real pace and width maybe in a 4-3-3 with Cisse.
Will be interesting to see if anyone like Ben Arfa or Ba play any part or whether the manager will continue his policy of resting what
he sees as the key men where possible.
I would probably go with the following in a 4-4-3: Elliott, Santon, Coloccini, Williamson, Ferguson, Anita, Jonas, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi,
Cisse, Marveaux.
I am guessing the manager may go with Shola in there somewhere if fit although there is talk he maybe has a slight groin strain.
Whatever team we put out lets just get this game won, get into the next round and really just get some confidence back around the place.
could actually give us the perfect distraction from our woeful Premier League performance and actually get some confidence back which
we can then hopefully carry forward.
That is of course not treating this game as a gimme - where Newcastle United are concerned there is rarely such a thing - but Maritimo
are certainly the worst team in the group and we go into this with the incentive of knowing that a win will see us into the next round
with a game to spare.
I am guessing we will see the usual mix of 1st teamers and fringe players tonight, our current injury and suspension list makes that more
likely then in previous games but as ever we should be able to put out a more than competitive 11.
Tiote missed out after his booking in Brugge but again Europe gives Coloccini an opportunity to play whilst currently serving his domestic
ban and after being forced to miss Sunday's game after the disagreements with Senegal we should also see Papiss Cisse getting some game
time, hopefully from the start.
Would just be really nice to see us go out and get the job done tonight and really control the game from the start and look comfortable.
That is something we just don't seem to be able to do at the minute. Without being disrespectful these lot looked poor when we played them
in the 1st group game and we should have won that game comfortably but they will come with very little to lose. By my reckoning they are still
mathmatically able to qualify but would need to win tonight so they are likely to give it a go.
We are currently carrying quite a few injuries so there will be no Adam Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, James Perch,
Yohan Cabaye, Xisco or Gabriel Obertan tonight but Jonas Gutierrez should hopefully be back after missing the Swansea game with the knock
he picked up against West Ham which would be a big boost.
I would really like to see Marveaux get a full 90 minutes tonight. Opinion seems to be quite divided on him but I think there is definitely
a player in there but he simply just hasn't had enough pitch time to get up to speed with the Premier league and his team mates. A game
like this would be a perfect opportunity to give him a chance. It is a shame Obertan is injured because he has done ok in this competition so
far and I would have liked to see both of these guys start and give us some real pace and width maybe in a 4-3-3 with Cisse.
Will be interesting to see if anyone like Ben Arfa or Ba play any part or whether the manager will continue his policy of resting what
he sees as the key men where possible.
I would probably go with the following in a 4-4-3: Elliott, Santon, Coloccini, Williamson, Ferguson, Anita, Jonas, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi,
Cisse, Marveaux.
I am guessing the manager may go with Shola in there somewhere if fit although there is talk he maybe has a slight groin strain.
Whatever team we put out lets just get this game won, get into the next round and really just get some confidence back around the place.
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