|
|
The Opposition:Newcastle United, arguably the biggest club in the Championship, currently sit top of the table and look certainties for promotion, they can mathematically achieve a return to the Premier League at the first attempt this Saturday in-fact. Newcastle were a team that divided opinions as to where they would finish in the table at the end of this season following their relegation from the Premier League; it seemed they were a club in turmoil that would lose their prized a sets and in Chris Hughton they had an inexperienced manager at the helm and many stated that they may well be in for a tough season in the Championship, some even suggested that they may be the next team dramatically fall from greatne s. After losing a huge total of 15 players, either on loan or via a permanent transfer, including the likes of Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen, in the summer transfer window Newcastle had to undertake a huge overhaul to decrease the ma sive wage budget that the club was paying out, it was simply not viable in Patrick McCaw Jersey the Championship and would have led to major financial problems within the club. Talent still remained in the Newcastle squad, however, with full internationals and experienced Premier League campaigners still deciding to stay with The Magpies. This formed the basis of their promotion push and meant that the Geordie faithful, who have stuck with their side (Newcastle have an average attendance of over 42,000 this year), would still have plenty to cheer about, in-fact the Toon Army have only seen their team lose 4 times all season and boast an impre sive unbeaten home record. Even if Newcastle dont achieve promotion against The Posh it is almost a certainty that they will in the very near future and it looks increasingly likely that they will win the Championship by a comfortable margin as well.The club was founded in 1892 after Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End, two local clubs, merged and formed Newcastle United. They dominated English football for much of the early 1900s winning the League Championship 3 times, in 1905, Charles Oakley Jersey 1907 and 1909 as well as reaching 5 F.A Cup finals between the years if 1905-1911 although The Magpies only won the competition once. After a bit of a barren spell for the club they won the league for the fourth time in 1927 and the F.A Cup in 1924 to add to their already impre sive trophy cabinet. The club won the F.A Cup a further three times before qualifying for Europe for the first time in 1968. The following year Newcastle had their first European trophy, their only major one to date, in the form of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, now the Europa League. After that succe s in Europe though things took a turn for the worse for Newcastle, they slipped into the Second Division during the 1980s twice and have not won a major trophy since (Newcastle have won the Second Division trophy and the Intertoto Cup after winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup). Kevin Keegan took over at Newcastle in 1992 when the club was at the depth of their decline, it looked almost a certainty that they would be relegated down to Division 3, or League 1 nowadays, but under Keegans guidance the club pulled of the great escape and the following season achieved promotion back to the Premiership. Keegan resigned in 1997 with Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit both having short reigns at the club but it wasnt until the late Bobby Robson took charge that the club enjoyed a very succe sful season again. In the 2001-2002 campaign The Magpies put up a strong challenge for the Premier League title but in the end had to settle for fourth, this saw Newcastle qualify for the Champions League for Malachi Flynn Jersey the first time in their history. Unfortunately for the club everything seems to have turned sour after that season, with a high turnover of managers and a chairman who is despised by most of the Newcastle faithful taking over. The Toons struggles were enhanced last campaign when they club were relegated when they lost to Aston Villa on the final day of the season.The Form Book eterborough United go into the fixture on the back of four straight defeats and can be mathematically relegated if Watford and Sheffield Wednesday both win their games at the weekend. To be honest Posh havent look like putting up much of a fight in recent weeks and after a mini revival when Gannon first took charge the club look to be slumping to relegation back down to League 1.Newcastle United are unbeaten in 10 matches and as stated before can be promoted if they win and Nottingham Forest lose meaning the bizarre situation of one club being relegated and one club being promoted in the same fixture is a po sibility. The Magpies have lost just 4 times all season and Posh will be major underdogs to get anything out of the match against them.Last Time Out:The clubs met back in November 2009 in what turned out to be Darren Fergusons last match in charge of Peterborough United. On that day Newcastle won 3-1 after two early goals from Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll set them on their way before a great goal from right back Danny Simpson put the hosts 3-0 in-front. Dean Keates pulled one back late on for Posh to give the large away following something to cheer about but it was only a consolation as Newcastle went on Vince Carter Jersey to record a comfortable home win.Key Playerseterborough: Joe Lewis the tall goalkeeper has enjoyed the best season of his career to date this campaign being, arguably, Peterboroughs most consistent performer. He has been made captain by Jim Gannon after leading by example in many fixtures. To the naked eye it seems as if Lewis record this season is poor after conceding a large number of goals but if it wasnt for the England U 21 international Peterboroughs goals against tally would have been considerably higher. It is likely that Lewis will have to perform miracles in the Posh goal, with Newcastles attacking threats almost guaranteed to bombard his goal with shots, if Peterborough are to get any points from this very tough fixture.Newcastle: Jonas Gutierrez Despite not being a prolific goalscorer for Newcastle there is no doubt of Gutierrezs ability. The attacking winger has some high profile admirers including Diego Maradona who stated his Argentina side is made up of Mascherano, Me si, Jonas and eight more. He is also famous for his trademark celebration which has seen Jonas nicknamed Spiderman; his celebration involves a Spiderman mask which he puts on after he has scored. He is often given the free-role by Chris Hughton and tore Peterborough apart during his brief period of play, due to picking up an injury, in the earlier fixture between the two sides. Posh will have to be very wary to make sure he doesnt add to the three goals he already has for Newcastle.Team Newseterborough: Mark Little, Craig Morgan, Izale McLeod, Chris Whelpdale and Aaron McLean all are sidelined for the hosts as their injury hit squad is down to the bare-bones. Ryan Bennett and Liam Dickinson both look set to return.Newcastle: Andy Carroll is a doubt for the visitors with Fitz Hall and Stephen Taylor certainly out. Alan Smith is set to return.Match Odds (William Hill)eterborough 4-1 Draw 5/2 Newcastle 4/7Please leave any comment on the match, predictions or general discu sion, below. There will also be a match report, on Jalen Rose Jersey this page, after the game.
Click here Click here Click here |
|
發表於 2024-10-29 11:04:30