Newcastle v Man Utd - SS1 : KO 8pm

MagicMarker

Damage control will be Manchester United's objective when they visit Newcastle on Wednesday night stinging from their humiliation at home to Blackburn last weekend.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men saw their Premier League title bid take a surprise blow on New Year's Eve when they were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford by struggling Rovers.

That slip allowed local rivals Manchester City to reinstate their lead at the top of the table after they thrashed Liverpool 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Rooney return

The Red Devils could close the gap again with the right result on Tyneside and will be boosted by the return of talismanic striker Wayne Rooney, who was axed for the Blackburn defeat along with Darren Gibson after reportedly angering Ferguson by his performance in training after a Boxing Day night out.

Rooney has scored nine goals in 13 Premier League games against the Magpies and could help get the reigning champions back on track after Saturday's setback marked their first league loss since they were memorably demolished 6-1 at home to City back in October.

The Magpies will also be keen to steady their campaign after losing 3-1 at Liverpool last time out, leaving them with just one win from eight encounters.

After a storming start to the season the Toon's season has hit a definite rough patch, with injuries and tough fixtures prompting their form to slide.

Despite losing five of their last eight, Alan Pardew's men remain a respectable seventh in the standings and could cut the gap on nearest rivals Liverpool to just a point with a giant-killing at St James' Park.

Newcastle have not beaten the visitors on home turf since September 2001, but will be hoping to capitalize on a wounded Red Devils side and take something from the clash.

Late check

Pardew will make a late check on Gabriel Obertan ahead of Wednesday's match, with the former Manchester United midfielder expected to recover from an infected toe and be available.

The manager otherwise has no fresh injury problems, with Danny Guthrie (groin) and Peter Lovenkrands (calf) close to returns.

Steven Taylor (Achilles) and Sylvain Marveaux remain on the long-term casualty list.

The returning Rooney could be joined by Chris Smalling (tonsillitis) and Rio Ferdinand (back) if they recover in time for the trip to the North East.

If the Red Devils duo are fit it would provide a welcome boost to Ferguson's injury-ravaged squad as they look to keep pace with leaders City.

The visitors remain without a host of long-term absentees including captain Nemanja Vidic (knee) and key midfielder Tom Cleverley (ankle).

Possible starting XIs:

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Jonas, Tiote, Cabaye, R Taylor, Ameobi, Ba.

Man United: De Gea, Evra, Smalling, Jones, Rafael, Park, Carrick, Valencia, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov.

Hard to say what the line up with be. I think Berba has earned his spot so I'm going to go with...

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rio Evra
Valencia Jones Carrick Nani
Berbatov Rooney

But could be Smalling at RB and Jones CB which would probably mean Rooney back in MF.

If neither Smalling or Rio are fit then who the **** knows tbh.

Hank Scorpio

Wouldn't be surprised if this ended 1-1 but can see United nicking it. Should be a good game

That_Guy

We badly need to get in their faces early on and throughout if we're to stand any chance in this game. We sat back and let Liverpool come onto us on Friday which was suicide and ultimately cost us.

This would be my ideal line up but I reckon he'll start Best ahead of Ben Arfa.

Krul

Simpson --- Colo --- Williamson --- Santon

Obertan --- Cabaye --- Tiote --- Jonas

Ben Arfa

Ba

EDIT: The one positive is that Rooney hasn't scored against us since 2009 and Pardew is unbeaten against Man United since he's joined us.

Jax Teller

Hopefully back to winning ways tonight .

Hoping For a proper defence .

ShamoBuc

A Man Utd win means Newcastle lose = good result.
A newcastle win means Man Utd lose - good result.
A draw perhaps?

After losing to Blackburn you would think they will come out with guns blaring and they have a pretty good record up there aswell I think. I expect to see a few changes in their line up if the 'injuries' have cleared up.

Newcastle at home will put it up to them but I can see Man Utd sneaking this one maybe 1-2. ( Still prefer a draw though!)

me-skywalker

We've a decent record there, I reckon Rooney will be like a raging demon. Ill give it 2nil United.

markc1184

Rooney is definitely due a goal vs Newcastle, but I can see Newcastle scoring so I'm going for a 2-1 Man Utd win.

Crazy Horse 6

Newcastle will get beat bad tonight imo. I'd say we could see a Rooney hatrick also. 1-4 to United.

Corvo

Berbatov has earned a start in the last few matches and there is no point in disrupting his fantastic goalscoring run. I know Rooney and himself are the not the most dynamic of partnerships, but play who is in form and we should be ok.

Rooney will have a point to prove, especially after being dropped. He will want to show why he should never be left on the bench.

I'd agree with the OP's line-up, but with Evans in for Smalling.

Big game for David De Gea and he will be tested by Ba getting in behind our defensive line.

Prediction: 0-1 United. Berbatov

MagicMarker

Griffin1988 wrote: »

I'd agree with the OP's line-up, but with Evans in for Smalling.

Still injured isn't he?

Seannew1

That_Guy wrote: »

We badly need to get in their faces early on and throughout if we're to stand any chance in this game. We sat back and let Liverpool come onto us on Friday which was suicide and ultimately cost us.

This would be my ideal line up but I reckon he'll start Best ahead of Ben Arfa.

Krul

Simpson --- Colo --- Williamson --- Santon

Obertan --- Cabaye --- Tiote --- Jonas

Ben Arfa

Ba

EDIT: The one positive is that Rooney hasn't scored against us since 2009 and Pardew is unbeaten against Man United since he's joined us.

I agree with the team,If Ben arfa starts I can see us scoring 2 goals anyway,I don't know what Best will bring other than his work rate.Need big performances from Obertan and Gutierrez too tonight,there due a big game.

The_Kew_Tour

Think Giggs may start tonight.

Mitch Connor

Hope Ferdinand is back tonight, we need him back so that we can get some form of shape back to the side.

---

De Gea

Rafael--Ferdinand-Jones-Evra

Valencia-Carrick-Park-Nani

---

Rooney-Berbatov

Possibly changes would be Anderson for Park and Welbeck for Berbatov.

If Smalling is indeed fit, I'd go with him and Rio with Jones moving into midfield beside Carrick.

Cantona's Collars

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Hope Ferdinand is back tonight, we need him back so that we can get some form of shape back to the side.

---

De Gea

Rafael--Ferdinand-Jones-Evra

Valencia-Carrick-Park-Nani

---

Rooney-Berbatov

Possibly changes would be Anderson for Park and Welbeck for Berbatov.

If Smalling is indeed fit, I'd go with him and Rio with Jones moving into midfield beside Carrick.

Anyone but Park in CM,his touch & vision is terrible and not suited to that position where he got found out by a poor Blackburn side,he gets away with it on the wing.Anderson or Giggs will play the central role.

Rooney to get a couple tonight as Newcastle aren't in great form and if United are to prove the Blackburn game was a blip then a fast start and convincing win are a must.

Mitch Connor

zerks wrote: »

Anyone but Park in CM,his touch & vision is terrible and not suited to that position where he got found out by a poor Blackburn side,he gets away with it on the wing.Anderson or Giggs will play the central role.

Rooney to get a couple tonight as Newcastle aren't in great form and if United are to prove the Blackburn game was a blip then a fast start and convincing win are a must.

I don't like Park, nevermind as a CM, but I'm putting the team up that I reckon Fergie may go with, as opposed to the one I would like.

Not sure about the match fitness of Giggs or more particularly Anderson, which is why I could see Park in CM.

WallyGUFC

Demba Ba and potentially Leon Best against De Gea worries me a lot.

MoscowFlyer

Do not want to see Berbatov starting tonight. I don't think he suits our style away from home. I want us to attack with pace and power, he slows up the play too much IMO.

I'd rather see us go with Rooney up top supported by Nani and Valencia out wide. Carrick - Jones - Giggs midfield 3.

No chance we go with this but I can dream.

Vurnon San Benito

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

Newcastle will get beat bad tonight imo. I'd say we could see a Rooney hatrick also. 1-4 to United.

Ah now, we're not that bad :pac:

Jax Teller

WallyGUFC wrote: »

Demba Ba and potentially Leon Best against De Gea worries me a lot.

He's faced much better than that before .

_blank_

Coletrickle88 wrote: »

He's faced much better than that before .

I think he may be referring to the fact that they are tall, well built forwards who will try to batter DeGea on high balls and crossed, where he is fairly suspect.

Jax Teller

Des wrote: »

I think he may be referring to the fact that they are tall, well built forwards who will try to batter DeGea on high balls and crossed, where he is fairly suspect.

I know what he meant . I don't think it will be an issue tonight though .

gav86

It will be important for Newcastle to get in and around him though for corners/free kicks, Williamson/Ba/Colo (even Obertan if he plays) and put the ball in on top of the keeper and see how he copes.

That_Guy

HOWAY THE FÚCKING LADS

The_Kew_Tour

^^^Whatever they do in spare time is none of our business

Leiva

Newcastle have nothing in the middle of the park .

easy Utd victory me thinks

That_Guy

mixednuts wrote: »

Newcastle have nothing in the middle of the park .

easy Utd victory me thinks

Say that again.

marwelie

I dont like De Gea and if he never played for Utd again it wouldn't bother me so I'm going for Lindegaard in goal
Evra Ferdinand Jones Smalling
Nani Carrick Park Valencia
Chicarito Rooney

Loads of time left in the season of course, but the way cITY demolished the Scousers last night United have to win this and will, at least 3-1.
Nani, Chicarito and Rooney

Eathrin

As a Man Utd fan, I would actually think Newcastle have stronger CMs at this point in time.

_blank_

mixednuts wrote: »

Newcastle have nothing in the middle of the park .

easy Utd victory me thinks

ha!

they have a better middle than United currently.

tiote by himself would be better imo.

Seannew1

mixednuts wrote: »

Newcastle have nothing in the middle of the park .

easy Utd victory me thinks

Utd would kill to get a cheick tiote or yohan cabaye!

G.K.

Tiote/Cabaye is up there with Ramires/Romeu/Merileiles, Modric/Parker and De Jong/Silva/Toure as one of the best CM partnerships in the league.

Leiva

That_Guy wrote: »

Say that again.

Des wrote: »

ha!

they have a better middle than United currently.

tiote by himself would be better imo.

Seannew1 wrote: »

Utd would kill to get a cheick tiote or yohan cabaye!

OK OK

Should have read they had nothing in midfield against Liverpool on the 30th .

Cabaye got bossed and was lucky to stay on the park .

We will see tonight hey

ThePower11

G.K. wrote: »

Tiote/Cabaye is up there with Ramires/Romeu/Merileiles, Modric/Parker and De Jong/Silva/Toure as one of the best CM partnerships in the league.

Come on now lets not get carried away here.

1-4 Rooney hatrick!

double GG

Totally depends on what team is put out. If we actually have a centre midfield this time, I can see us winning. If we play with a massive hole there like we did at the weekend I can see us struggling badly.

Would take a scrappy 1-0 win all day.

G.K.

ThePower11 wrote: »

Come on now lets not get carried away here.

I'm not, it's an excellent partnership.

RayCon

I can see Utd getting the 3pts they need.

KeithAFC

Can see Newcastle destroying Man Utd. 5-0. :P Demba Ba will score. Utd don't have a great midfield and I can see Newcastle exposing that.

Jax Teller

Spooky

Johner

Fancy Newcastle to get a point here.

Copper_pipe

Coletrickle88 wrote: »

Spooky

Inspect element on google chrome perhaps

s_carnage

marwelie wrote: »

I dont like De Gea and if he never played for Utd again it wouldn't bother me so I'm going for Lindegaard in goal
Evra Ferdinand Jones Smalling
Nani Carrick Park Valencia
Chicarito Rooney

Loads of time left in the season of course, but the way cITY demolished the Scousers last night United have to win this and will, at least 3-1.
Nani, Chicarito and Rooney

Marwelie for next City manager please.

double GG

Have a feeling United will win this one.


Then SAF to complain like crazy after losing two games in a row.

kmart6

double GG wrote: »

Have a feeling UnitedNewcastle will win this one.


Then SAF to complain like crazy after losing two games in a row.

FYP!

Mr.Crinklewood

kmart6 wrote: »

FYP!

Ach don't bite.

kmart6

Not biting, just clarifying his post!

MagicMarker

Don't know if this is confirmed.

Lindegaard, Valencia, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Giggs, Rooney, Nani, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov

If it is then I can see us dropping more points.

Vertigo100

MagicMarker wrote: »

Don't know if this is confirmed.

Lindegaard, Valencia, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Giggs, Rooney, Nani, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov

That's surely not right!

Jax Teller

Think that's right yeah

TheTownie

MagicMarker wrote: »

Don't know if this is confirmed.

Lindegaard, Valencia, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Giggs, Rooney, Nani, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov

If it is then I can see us dropping more points.

Rooney in midfield if thats true.

At least Giggs/Rooney is better than Rafael/Park.

MagicMarker

TheTownie wrote: »

Rooney in midfield if thats true.

And Giggs....

Lindegaard
Valencia Carrick Jones Evra
Nani Giggs Rooney Welbeck
Berba Chico

Mars Bar

That would be?

Val -- Jones -- Carrick -- Evra

Nani -- Rooney -- Giggs -- Welbeck

-- Hernandez -- Berbatov --


Meh.