Hughton v Sousa: A defensive chess game at SJP?
The Swans are officially the in form team in the Championship winning 14 from the last 18 points and chasing their fourth successive victory.They’ve also chalked up an unequalled 10 clean sheets this season, half of which have been in goalless draws, so you have been warned. This defensive bias is clearly heavily influenced by Paulo Sousa the ex Portugal defensive midfield legend and good friend of Sir Bobby Robson. Sousa, who played for Sir Bobby at Sporting Lisbon and remained in regular contact with him until Sir Bobby’s death in July, was apppointed manager in the summer following the departure of Robert Martinez.
After a shaky start, the loss of some important players such as influential midfielder Ferrie Bodde out for the season with a cruciate knee injury, Sousa has managed to take the Swans to their current position of fourth in the league despite his team scoring the lowest number of goals.
With goals in such short supply, Swansea took steps to try to rectify the problem by concluding an emergency loan deal earlier this week for Sheffield United’s welsh international David Cotterill. His move is set to be made permanent in January. Captain, Garry Monk could miss the game having missed the last two matches due to a calf injury. Federico Bessone is likely to deputise if Monk is ruled out. The Swans will definitely be without Scottish striker Stephen Dobbie who has an ankle injury, while Mark Gower is also expected to miss out with a hamstring problem.
Recent positive influences include Spaniard Andrea Orlandi and Argentine Federico Bessone with Craig Beattie the leading league scorer for the Swans with 3 goals from the last five League games.
Chris Hughton promised to take the game to the Swans and commented ‘Swansea’s record speaks for itself, saying:
“They’re a tough team with a good shape and difficult to play against. We’re the home side and we have to force the issue. We can’t afford to take them lightly. They are where they are on merit. We’ve got to make sure we’re on our game.”
So fighting talk from Chris. Let’s hope he follows through with ‘forcing the issue’ and finds a way to break down their defence with a good attacking performance. Harewood will hopefully be left on the bench and Swansea could drop him off in Birmingham on their way back to South Wales as he serves no real purpose staying here.
It’s not known if Carroll will be fit to play on Saturday. He returned to training on Thursday after playing while unwell in Monday evening’s victory at Preston. Hughton will be waiting to see if Carroll, as well as Ryan Taylor (calf) and Danny Simpson (thigh) will be fit to play after all suffering illness or injury earlier in the week.
On-loan Defender Zurab Khizanishvili is available after completing a three-match ban but Shola Ameobi, who has not played since damaging his foot ironically while producing his best run of form earlier this season, may have to wait a little longer to appear despite having a week’s training under his belt. Hopefully he will get a run out in the reserves before he’s back in the first team.
So the Toon will be aiming to complete five wins in a row for the second time this season, and become the first club in the division to rack up a dozen victories with a win against Swansea. It’s likely to be a very difficult game and you would expect a goalless or low scoring draw. However With our current penchant for winning ugly, one goal may just be enough to pip it for the Toon.
Finally, Sousa paid tribute this week to his good friend Sir Bobby Robson
“He was one of the best managers I have ever known and one of the kindest people I have had the pleasure to meet. His image and memory will remain with me forever.
“I hope his soul can come close to me on Saturday and give me all the happiness, emotions and enthusiasm that he always had.
“I remember how he was on the sidelines, the way he motivated his players and I hope it can inspire me at Newcastle.”
Good words from a manager to watch out for in the future. Let’s hope the inspiration of Sir Bobby doesn’t help him too much at St James Park and the Toon rack up another home victory.
Howay the Lads
NUFCBlog Author: geordie deb
geordie deb has written 38 articles on this blog.
NUFC News 24/7
Loading ...
..Why not get a 
It will probably be 5-4 now you’ve written all that, Deb.
2 nil
agree with batty 2-0 with alan smith to score first @ odds of 50/1 !!!..
& a little saver bet….the mighty heed to smash crawley town @ 5/4
HOWAY THE LADS..
It’s got “draw” written all over it.
So it probably won’t be LOL
Anyone thought for a second…
Newcastle United, famed for its cavalier ‘you score 3, we’ll score 4’ attitude, constantly questioned about defensive frailties, has the best defensive record in the league and is up there for one the best in the country!!
I know I know, I can hear the arguments already, drop in league, quality etc etc however, im gonna still revel in it while it’s a reality lol!!!
Mick I agree with you. How many years have we been berating the defense, wondering when it will ever improve? Well it has. In particular I think Enrique has been playing out of his skin, but imo we must give credit to Hughton and Calderwood also.
No Andy Carroll today!
http://blog.lfe.org.uk/article/training-with-gazza
it looks as though here is a new blog where some of the younger lads from the academies up and down the country can tell everyone how things are going this is an article by patrick nzuzi from our academy writing about a training session with gazza
worky….just checked the odds on 5-4 - it’s a trouser wetting 500/1 !
deb , the mackems are gonna make a move for enrique in jan….more dosh for fat boy ???…
Komfort I hope not. Even by his decision making skills and knowledge of football, he must see that he can’t sell Enrique. Can’t he???
Yep, makes a nice change to see us looking good in defence. As was said, we may have droppeda division, but we can only compare ourselves to the teams we play, and we ae looking good at the back.
On another note, still trying to stay positive, but I was going through some old videos last night, came across the match against Sunderlan at home in 93. Funny looking back at what the ground used to look like. The downside was the skill from the players and the way they played. It was a derby and they are nomally scrappy and the pitch was sooden wet. We had quite a bit of skill on the day really, we looked good. I look at us now, same division and it’s justa case of kick the ball in the air and hope for the best. People slated Keegan for his tatitcs, but we looked so much better back then. But staying positive, we are top of the league and thats all that matters right now.
Just hope when I get up there in 3 hours time, we can win again with a bit of a show if thats possible
I don’t mind Sir Bobby inspiring Paulo to have a happy personal life, but not a football one (not today at least).
Don’t seem to get much time to participate on blog so my apologies if I am a bit of an itinerant.
Anyway I expect a tight game but hope we can do a bit better than the Spurs managed at Wigan last weekend.
deb….with any normal person you would have thought so but when this bloke sees the £ signs it’s kerching ! & off to the casino we go….lol
Mick says:
November 28, 2009 at 10:08 am
“I know I know, I can hear the arguments already, drop in league, quality etc etc however,”
Aye, but we’ve also lost our two best defenders from last season too, along with many of the rest of our top show ponies.
Deb, comment 11, you would hope he wouldn’t but we all know he has a penchant for doing things to p*ss off the fans. Its not as though we have a plethora of left backs to fall back on either.
On a culinary note about today, Swans used to be a feast for kings so I am hoping we can dine well today. On the other hand I don’t think Magpies are an easy bird to digest, have I just devised a new prediction method?
The best thing to happen would be an early goal for us. That would draw Swansea out as they have to try and get one back. Hopefully we can pick them off on the counter and seal the game.
i’m with you toonsy… otherwise its gonna be a slow game i reckon.
although, think about it… swansea might have a mean defence, but they’re yet to come up agaisnt the attacking prowess of Guti’s feet!
any good paint drying sites??
LOL @ attacking prowess of Guti’s feet.
The first thing i thought of was the chance he had to make it 2-0 in the dying minutes at Preston. A chance he promptly skied over the bar!
Good lad, works hard, can dribble. Just a shame his feet are on the wrong way
Anybody privvy to a radio link?
his funiest moment to date is in the same game toonsy, just before half time, receives the ball in the box, tee’d up perfectly… goes to strike with his left and his right boots it out for a goal kick… it was literally my standard of football!
i think his confidence is shot to hell because he seems to panic on the ball a lot and make supid errors
does anyone have the line up yet???
if we win and scunny can pull of a result against leicester i’ll be getting trashed tonight… if not i’ll stay at home with the missus. which is the same pledge i make every game… she saw a lot of me last season!
Anybody know of a radio link that works outside the UK? maybe on ustream?
the swans have a player called angel rangel
you have to love your folks sometimes eh!
FSOTC – I’ll have a look mate.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/newcastle-v-swansea—live-radio
I’m looking for a radio link
Thanks Toonsy–I think I’ve found one: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/newcastle-utd-vs-swansea-city
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/newcastle-v-swansea—live-radio
Found one, its radio only mind.
Are we all refugees from Ed’s shut-down site? This is the first time I’ve posted. Have to admit feeling a bit lost since Ed shut down.
Hmmm……. Harewood and Lovenkrands up front.
FSOTC – Most of us yes, me included
. Stick on here mate, its good.
Thanks Toonsy. Alright, let’s see, boys. Swansea are 4th, so could be a tight game, right?
Happy with lovenfrands up front , think he gives us something but Harewood has been poor since coming in, when in SHola back anyone?
Why Lovenkrands instead of Ranger ?!
Beattie scares me a bit…. and Dyer can run like hell…Enrique should handle him though….they are not a bad team…this should be interesting…
Johno Toon says:
November 28, 2009 at 2:55 pm
“when in SHola back anyone?”
Next game he should be fit, Johno.
Leicester winning at Scunthorpe already
Good start … were pushing
Just thought, we have a free kick on the edge of the box and we dont have a set piece taker
1-0
wey-hey–Harewood scores!
Harewood you mule !!!!!!
Well done Harewood. Still poop though
Great start, early goal. It might loosen Swansea up now as they come out and look for the equaliser.
I just hope we dont sit back on the lead.
Cheers worky but always belived in harewood
Hughton is true to his word he did say we would attack from the start
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/newcastle-utd-vs-swansea-city
toonsy says:
November 28, 2009 at 3:10 pm
“Well done Harewood.”
toonsy, if Bowburnmag slags a player off in here, he’ll always score in the next game.
Have a look at this–Ed’s commenting on this blog. http://www.tynetime.com/2009/11/27/is-the-impossible-becoming-possible/comment-page-1/#comment-1178
2-0 Lovenkrands
Lovenkrantz! 2-0
Lovenkrands scores !!! i was skeptical of Hughtons selection for the attack, but credit where credit is due….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/radiowales/
Heres the Swansea commentary
ustream.tv/channel/newcastle-utd-vs-swansea-city
Another radio link. Sound is rubbish and its biased to Swansea but its better than nowt.
Toonking he has gone for expirence up front to break the 2nd best defence in the leauge . The more the season goes on the more i am bigining to belive in hughton he does seem to have tactical sense
Well lads Jonas seems to be doing good today and all the people that thought there was no end product
Guthrie’s corner for the first goal, Jonas has only set 1 up so far
3-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!! the mule again…
Always said Harewood should start! The legend that he is
Hope we dont do a Peterboro and sit back. We can do our goal difference a world of good.
ToonKing says:
November 28, 2009 at 3:30 pm
“3-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!! the mule again…”
He was rusty, the only way for him to get back into form was by playing.
Worky BBMs methods are working we will have to draw up a slagging list for him.
FSOTC hows it going mate. its a good blog here and there is quiet a few from eds on here.
I wonder when Capello is gonna give Harper a go in the national side. Sign of a good keeper when he has nothin’ to do for 30 mins then pulls off a great save.
tell you what lads the radio link i’m listening to is the Swansea commentators and they’re being very complimentary of us!..sounds like we’ve had a canny first half. They seem to break quite quickly but have nothing in the final third whereas we’re taking our chances. Very impressive against the best defensive record in the league!
Doctor Khumalo I dont think Capello will give him a go while we are in the CCC even if he is better than what he has got.
The other radio commetary is back on.
Sounds like we went in for HT 5 minutes early! Why on earth dont we keep up what we were doing earlier?
Arse! It’s gone off again.
and on again…
Doctor Khumalo – Harper has no chance of getting in the England squad. We both know that. As Big Dave said, he playes in the wrong league!
I dunno lads, he had the Peterboro keeper in the squad a while back.
Doctor Khumalo – Was that for a friendly? I very much doubt it was 3-4 planning matches away from a world cup!
Tim Krul coming on at half time. Guess that would knock Harpers England chances back eh doc?
toonsy, your comment was held for moderation because you used the word “Scunthorpe”. The blog thinks it’s a very rude word for some reason
Krul on
Haha Toonsy me and my big mouth hey.
Pancake on too.
Any word on Harper? How did we start 2nd half anyone?
Worky, i guessed that. They shall now be known as Scunny for blog purposes.
Is Pancake really on? I havn’t heard owt about that…… not as though Hughton would phone me up to check first like
Johno Toon – No word on Harper as yet. Seems we have started the 2nd in 1st gear.
42,616 attendance. Not the nearly 50,000 so the record stands. It will get beat soon im sure.
these commentators are quite funny. “we just dont get the shot away. if that was newcastle, they’d be shooting! if that was newcastle..if that was newcastle” lol.
Is pancake on? i havent heard him mentioned yet like.
toonsy says:
November 28, 2009 at 4:17 pm
“Is Pancake really on? I havn’t heard owt about that”
No, I’m not sure about that at all now. The commentator on my thing did mention him.
no the fancy french pancake is still keeping the bench warm
Ranger is getting ready to come on.
Come on Ranger, bag a goal.
toonsy im surprised the hare made way for him, but not dissapointed I hope Ranger opens his account today
Smith and Nolan arguing! Shades of Bowyer and Dyer lol
Sloppy sloppy sloppy 2nd half
Ranger should have scored.
Flattered to decieve. Literally a game of 2 halves!
Boro dropped more points!
on the up side, Scunthorpe have equalised vs Leicester! Bigger gap to 3rd place
smithie boy that was your chance
Well, we started playing with 2 minutes injury time left
get in scunthorpe!
Scunthorpe have just done us a massive favour we are noe 8 points above 3rd place
2nd half went downhill but a great win, we are still ahead of WBA by 2 points and more importantly were 9 points clear of having to play in the play-offs.
So far so good.
Not trying to steal the thread but was just reading Lambsarse’s interview.
He said: “As you know, Mike made it clear after the end of last season that he was trying to sell the club and although there were a number of interested parties, none of them were able to match the £100m asking price.
“As a result, Mike decided that the best course of action, one that would put the welfare of the club at the top of the agenda, would be to remove the club from the market and concentrate solely on the aim that everyone connected with the club passionately desires – promotion straight back to the Premier League.
No mention of the 80mill to Marry Boat
Big Dave what 80 million to Barry Moat? You have lost me there
Howay the Toon. Solid result today. Happy to see the Great Dane bag us a goal.
howay the lads…. get in there if were still top in January were going back home were we belong
See what happens when you play Lovenkrands more often?
Play him up front with a big man and he will get more.
Johno Toon it was said that Ma was going to sell to Moat for 80 mill for a quick sale, But from that I would read that it was 80 upfront with 20 mill to follow
get us to 50points lads by the half way mark and we’ll be well on our way. but the second half of the season will take its toll on our lads… another 8 games to play on last season, and dont no one be fooled, still a tiny squad.
i’m happy with our strikers, no love lost when harewood goes back would like to see kilgallon come in and hopefully we wont lose anyone… could all go tits up come feb tho!
Just going back to the possibility of Enrique being sold… Seriously if we played as Mike Ashley on this year’s FIFA we’d be stopped from the amount of players we’ve sold for changing the team too much.
We need players IN, not OUT!
I cant see Enrique going. Its not like we have a back up that can slot straight in!
That said, this is Mike Ashley and nowt surprises me. It wouldn’t be a smart move though, especially if he plans to get us up then sell quickly for more money. Selling Enrique would only damage those chances.
well currant logic of ma goes along the lines of… if i sell enrique and take the gamble and we dont get promoted, thats still 6mil in me sky rocket!
geordie joe for england
batty says:
November 28, 2009 at 9:42 pm
“geordie joe for england”
Is he in that X has the talent factor thing batty?
aye worky he has the best voice ive heard for years m8
Is he in that X has the talent factor thing batty?
=============
Indeed he is although i thought he was from Shields? Perhaps the NUST could sign him as a “high profile”
investor?
Hmm i dunno Batty, Joe has some pretty stiff competition!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkd_hIl3LsM
x factor joe is a sand dancer and we love him ….. dont we chuck.
toonsy fancy puttin that on i love that bloke that much ide marry him lol
komfy were u at the game m8
is this site ever going to keep up,fk sake we beat swansea hours ago and still theres no thread……at least ed was on the job,just like batty.lol
komfort says:
November 28, 2009 at 10:06 pm
“x factor joe is a sand dancer and we love him ….. dont we chuck.”
Divven’t start him off again FFS!
batty .. i was on my way but decided to go to wach the heed instead , they were crap firs half but it was like watching brazil the second half m8 great day all round regarding the results…..happy days m8.
HEED ARMY !¬!
worky are you ever going to get this blog sorted,or are you hoping others will.
komshot,what you saying batty was good in the first half but ran oot of steam in the second half.
Just read hitman’s comments after I finished that article off…
I’m already getting grief off the missus for being up here and doing this
Catch yas later after me Chinese!!
how are u ronnie barker look a like alias hitman
nice 1 , batty hope your cush kid seen you were in in bit of a stewer , a bit back hope your ok kid.
sound m8 thanks xmas shoppin with the missus keeps me busy especialy wen she tryin to spen all me cash lol
i see stardust still has his head up workytickets arse
hitman u couldnt fit stardys head up any 1s arse have u seen the size of his head he looks like E T
batty,wheres our thread saying we won the game,this site is run by a bloke that couldnt give a shite,he has to pick up his game.
HITMAN IVE BEEN ON HERE A LOT ON FACEBOOK >>>>LETS TRY TO GET 1 MILLION PEOPLE TO HATE SUNDERLAND <<<< SLAGGIN THE MACKEMS TO FCK
hitman theres 1 up m8 match report