By Tyne-Talk
August 24 2013

Newcastle United host West Ham this afternoon in their first game of the season at St James’ Park. Newcastle go into the game on the back of a heavy defeat against Manchester City on Monday night, whilst West Ham travel on the back of a win at Upton Park against Cardiff City.

The best news for Alan Pardew’s side is that former Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll will not play against his old team-mates as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury. West Ham are also without defender George McCartney (knee).

Sam Allardyce is expected to give Razvan Rat his club debut and a start to Stewart Downing.

Newcastle’s season couldn’t have got off to a worse start as fans watched in dismay as Steven Taylor got himself sent off during their 4-0 defeat at the Etihad on Monday night. Taylor starts his three game ban this afternoon, whilst Davide Santon (hip) is a doubt.

Jonas Gutierrez (hamstring) is unavailable and joins Loic Remy (calf/shin), Mike Williamson (knock) and Massadio Haidara (unspecified) on the side-lines, whilst Cheik Tiote (groin) is a concern as he faces a late fitness test.

The on-going debate around Yohan Cabaye could see him once again excluded from the side for “having his head turned”, despite the club continuing to pay him a hefty wage to actually play football and not sit around contemplating his future.

Alan Pardew is under huge pressure to perform this afternoon against his former club, whilst former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, who went to watch Newcastle on Monday night, will be once again relishing the opportunity to be victorious.

Fact: Kevin Nolan will be the man to watch today after scoring in three of the last four games between the two sides (twice for Newcastle). However the last time Newcastle won this fixture was in 2011 when Nolan scored. West Ham won this fixture last season thanks to a Nolan goal.

Fact: Only Arsenal have had more players dismissed than Newcastle since the beginning of last season (Newcastle 5 – Arsenal 6).

Fact: West Ham were the only team to keep a clean sheet against Newcastle home and away last season.

Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Newcastle Utd v West Ham Utd

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 24/08/2013 10:26

TyneTalk
24/08/2013 10:26

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Andrew The Mag
24/08/2013 10:31

Its early in the season to say this but this is a must win game in my opinion, nothing less can be settled for in this fixture, we need this to at least show the fans some hope in the coming season.

Reply Quote Report

swamprocker
24/08/2013 10:54

WITH GUITI OUT TODAY I WOULD PLAY SANTON IN HIS POSITION WITH DUMMETT FILLING IN AT FULLBACK!!!

Reply Quote Report

davenufc
24/08/2013 11:08

I don't think this will be an easy game, got to be honest.

Hopefully an improvement on Monday woeful showing.

I am meeting up with a friend of mine who happens to support west ham after the game before he returns to London, the thought of putting up with him gloating is more than I think I can stomach.

I don't know if anyone remembers this fixture last year. I think it was possibly the worst game I have ever actually been to.

So with all that in mind I am going to go for a 2-1 win.

Reply Quote Report

MissC
24/08/2013 11:13

I think I 'l go with that Dave. My cousin is a Hammers fan - so will get stick after if we lose again.

Reply Quote Report

tom09
24/08/2013 12:29

Can't see where we're gonna get a goal with the tactics pardew plays ! Cisse up front on his own is pointless and might as well just play 6 in midfield , can't see a win today but a performance is a must

Reply Quote Report

MissC
24/08/2013 12:32

6 in midfield would be an improvement on Monday when we appeared to just have open space

Reply Quote Report

annie
24/08/2013 13:26

2-1 sounds good to me.


C'mon Newcastle, make us proud.

Reply Quote Report

mentalman
24/08/2013 13:39

just heard the team will be;

Krul
Debuchy Mbiwa Colo Santon
Ben Arfa Anita Sissoko Marv
Cisse Ameobi

Cabaye left out again because his head isn't in the right place, if this is true i just want him sold now!

Reply Quote Report

MissC
24/08/2013 14:22

He is being paid to play - if his head is not in the right place he shouldn't be here pretending to be a footballer as generally most footballers want to be playing

Reply Quote Report

mentalman
24/08/2013 14:25

the club will quite rightly hold out for how much they want for him, if the deal doesn't happen in time will he be accepted back into the team, he's apparently decided to train on his own

Reply Quote Report

MissC
24/08/2013 16:04

Reply Quote Report

TvA
24/08/2013 16:52

HOW THE !!!! COULD HE MISS THAT ONE ? ? AAaaaaaaRRGGHHHH..

And why did it take 55 min before our players showed up,n for us to play some decent ball..?

All first half our players were clueless...

Reply Quote Report

mentalman
24/08/2013 18:53

i thought we played well, good build up but no end product

Reply Quote Report

MissC
24/08/2013 19:12

I agree mental. We didn't play badly today - Cisse wasn't great but there we go.

We clearly had no end product though. It was like an invisible barrier on the pitch .

Reply Quote Report

davenufc
24/08/2013 19:18

Could be worse. Imagine having to watch west ham every week?

Reply Quote Report

tom09
24/08/2013 19:21

Did everyone miss the wild passes from the midfield that squandered possession on a regular basis today and almost cost us dearly by putting west ham clean through on goal ?
It wasn't untill the 70th minute that they seamed to wake up and actually play , is it to much to ask for it to be the other way round and get 70 mins of football and 20 where they disappear
They may not have been quiet as bad as last season but still a very long way off being good enough

Reply Quote Report

MissC
24/08/2013 19:24

Our midfield today was an improvement on Monday.

I'm not saying we were great but we were a hell of a lot better than we were earlier in the week.

It was an improvement but we aren't going to get much else without making some signings

Reply Quote Report

mentalman
25/08/2013 08:30

we were better than west ham and thats something we couldn't say last season!

The midfield might not have been amazing but they were better than we had a lot of last season, they weren't over run like most games last season and once Anita and marveaux start getting more game time they will improve.

Reply Quote Report

davenufc
25/08/2013 11:38

West ham are dreadful though. Thank god we got rid of big sam.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net