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Newcastle United v. West Ham (St James' Park, Wednesday 5 January 2011 — 1945 kickoff)


dbsweeney
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Thought I might just start the thread now as if we can nick all three points here, I think we may just be able to put a little bit of daylight between ourselves and the other potential relegation favs. West Ham have been on a bit of a roll recently, and would feel mighty better now they're not in the bottom three. However, I think that confidence can be easily punctured.

 

While we are without Carrol, I think we'll have enough decent passes from Barton that Shola will knock one in sooner or later and while Routledge and Jonas can't finish for shit, their speed will still disrupt West Ham's defence.

 

Would like to see Nile have a go, if only from off the bench.

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Think we'll win this comfortably.

 

Can also see Pardew dropping Lovenkrands and starting with Best. He obviously rates him.

 

Leon Best backed to be a success for Toon

 

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-u...72703-27929284/

 

KEVIN NOLAN has backed Leon Best to prove the doubters wrong – and feels the Ireland international can do it with Newcastle United.

 

Best is hoping for another slice of the action against West Ham United tomorrow night at St James’ Park as he aims to make his first Premier League appearance in front of the Gallowgate End – and Nolan has “genuine faith” that the striker will come good.

 

The Scouser feels that critics who have branded the 24-year-old a “flop” have done so without knowing just how hard Best has worked at the club’s Benton base after a serious ankle injury inflicted havoc on his Toon career.

 

Best signed 12 months ago from Coventry City in a £1million deal but found it tough breaking past the 35-goal promotion partnership of Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands in the Championship.

 

The Nottingham lad was in decent form in pre-season before disaster struck and he picked up an ankle injury that ruled him out of the Premier League’s big kick-off.

 

When asked what he thought of those who have been quick to write off a player who has made just six starts in a black and white shirt, Nolan told the Chronicle: “It’s harsh.

 

“But we have to give Bestie time.

 

“The lad’s attitude is fantastic, he wants to do well for this club.

 

“He’s champing at the bit and trying to do well and get in this team.

 

“When you have somebody like Andy Carroll scoring every week, it is difficult, plus you have Nile Ranger coming on and doing well here and there.

 

“Peter Lovenkrands has scored when he’s played too.

 

“When Bestie joined last season Andy and Peter were on fire, and Shola chipped in with a few goals.”

 

And reflecting on Best’s injury woe, Nolan said: “It has been difficult with injury as well for Leon.

 

“People don’t see what he has done behind the scenes.

 

“He worked his socks off to get fit again when he was injured and back to where he is now.

 

“I was delighted when he came on at Wigan but gutted his chance went just past the post!

 

“It was a fantastic run – he’s strong and powerful and he can bring that to the team.

 

“Hopefully, he can bring it in the next few weeks.

 

“We will see a lot more of him.

 

“I have genuine faith in him, he is a good player and he will be a good lad for this club.” Nolan – who has eight goals himself this term – has also thrown the gauntlet down to the rest of the Toon striking brigade in the absence of thigh victim Andy Carroll.

 

He said: “When you lose a player like Andy Carroll – who is probably the best young English striker around at the moment and has been for five months – it is a massive blow.

 

“But when you have somebody like Shola who can come in and play like he did at Wigan and people like Bestie who is champing at the bit and young Nile Ranger, it’s good.

 

“Nile is there or thereabouts.

 

“Leon has not had a chance and you have Peter Lovenkrands here too who is capable.

 

“We have enough to cover.

 

“The gaffer has also spoken of getting transfers in and that will be for healthy competition.

 

“But a few lads have a chance to prove themselves and hopefully make it hard for Andy to get back in. That’s their goal.

 

“We will miss Andy no matter what because he brings something special here, he’s a great lad.

 

“We can’t be a one-dimensional team and rely on Andy too much, we have to be a team.

 

“We have proved at Wigan we aren’t a one-man band.”

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Best is meant to be a good lad and a very good trainer and professional. Looks out of his depth like. Or rather he did last season.

Looked a yard short on sunday. He's a canny unit tbf. I thought his run on sunday was quite impressive until his knee gave way and he stumbled. Still got a shot away though. I think he's probably been given an unfair press since joining and hasn't really been given a chance to stake his claim. That may be down to him not doing well on the odd occasion he gets on.

 

Seems like Pardew's got faith in him, and some players thrive on that. I really hope he does well for us but can't see him ever being a mainstay in our 18 man squad.

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Best is meant to be a good lad and a very good trainer and professional. Looks out of his depth like. Or rather he did last season.

 

Dont know much about his background but having a quick google it says he got 19 goals in 92 appearances over three years for Coventry.

 

Serious question. Why did we buy him and why do people think he will come good. Its not as though he was on a fine streak of form????

 

Needless to say good luck to him if he starts and hope he gets on the score sheet.

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Best is meant to be a good lad and a very good trainer and professional. Looks out of his depth like. Or rather he did last season.

 

Dont know much about his background but having a quick google it says he got 19 goals in 92 appearances over three years for Coventry.

 

Serious question. Why did we buy him and why do people think he will come good. Its not as though he was on a fine streak of form????

 

Needless to say good luck to him if he starts and hope he gets on the score sheet.

I don't think he's good enough I just thought I'd pass on what I heard as at least he isn't just getting pissed every night and not trying in training. I.e. he might not be good enough but that's not his fault whereas his attitude is right, which is all he can control really.

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Best is meant to be a good lad and a very good trainer and professional. Looks out of his depth like. Or rather he did last season.

 

Dont know much about his background but having a quick google it says he got 19 goals in 92 appearances over three years for Coventry.

 

Serious question. Why did we buy him and why do people think he will come good. Its not as though he was on a fine streak of form????

 

Needless to say good luck to him if he starts and hope he gets on the score sheet.

I don't think he's good enough I just thought I'd pass on what I heard as at least he isn't just getting pissed every night and not trying in training. I.e. he might not be good enough but that's not his fault whereas his attitude is right, which is all he can control really.

;)

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Just been on a WHUFC forum to see what they're thinking about the upcoming match.

 

I was expecting them to all be a bit cautious, but they all seem certain they're gonna get a win.

 

Marky

 

Before beating a shocking Wigan team, they were beaten comfortably twice. We're on the back of an away win and an away draw, as well as a home win... unbeaten in 4.

You can feel 3 points.

 

As I say, no chance of a loss.

 

For me, it all depends on if we can get at least one of Barton's passes into the net.

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Before beating a shocking Wigan team, they were beaten comfortably twice

 

We were beaten twice by Spurs and Man City after beating Liverpool.

 

We've also beaten West Ham on their own patch. I don't think we'll walk it but I think we have enough to beat this West Ham side again. Looking forward to it. Wonder how many fans they'll bring?

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Decent enough for a midweek game post Christmas I suppose!

 

Last two times I've seen us play West Ham it's been 2-2, one at Upton Park where they went two up and in the relegation season where Carroll got his first senior goal. So hopefully we beat the bastards this time and the small 2-2 curse can die. :calmdown:

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"I was delighted when he came on at Wigan but gutted his chance went just past the post!

 

Aye, and Diana Ross narrowly missed her pen at the 1994 World Cup opening ceremony.

:calmdown:

 

Had me confused there. I'm thinking, I never said that. Then I looked back and see it's a Kevin Nolan quote.

 

No wonder I'm so misunderstood.

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Guest You FCB Get Out Of Our Club
Really looking forward to this. I love it when games come thick and fast.

We haven't got another home game for two and a half weeks man. The next two after tonight are two of my favourite dixtures of the season. Yids and Arsenal, we always beat yids at home and Arsenal, we'll have the big man back. Don't want to sound cocky but I'm totally relaxed about tonight, not worried by West Ham at all despite their good recent run.

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Really looking forward to this. I love it when games come thick and fast.

We haven't got another home game for two and a half weeks man. The next two after tonight are two of my favourite dixtures of the season. Yids and Arsenal, we always beat yids at home and Arsenal, we'll have the big man back. Don't want to sound cocky but I'm totally relaxed about tonight, not worried by West Ham at all despite their good recent run.

 

As I said earlier, think we'll get a win and no bother. Hopefully we'll put an end to Jabba's death rattle.

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