EL: Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Anzhi v Newcastle Utd
By Tyne-Talk March 6 2013
Newcastle United travel to Russia for tomorrow evening’s game against Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League. Both sides go into the game on the back of three wins, two defeats and a single draw in their last six games of all competitions. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted that he is disappointed to have taken Shola Ameobi to Russia as he had every intention of leaving the striker behind in Newcastle, but Papiss Cisse has been taken ill with a virus, meaning Shola once again needs to step in.
Pardew has also confirmed that Hatem Ben Arfa has travelled and could make his return from a lengthy spell on the side-lines with a hamstring injury. Rob Elliot will continue to deputise in goal for the injured Tim Krul (ankle), whilst Fabricio Coloccini (back) and Ryan Taylor (knee) continue to be unavailable.
Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran are both ineligible.
Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink goes into the game with the best home record in their League, having won 8 out of 10 games at the Dynamo Stadium this season. He also has no fresh injury concerns.
Pardew said in his pre-match press conference;
“Do I think we have got a chance in the competition? When you get to this stage, all the clubs have a chance. Do I think we have got a chance in the competition? When you get to this stage, all the clubs have a chance.
You need some luck, but you need a good technical game and you need to have the right mentality in the group. I think our mentality is strong. This tie is going to be close and I think the result here will have a huge reflection on St James’ Park because that is an advantage for us, that the second leg is there, for sure.
Papiss has been sick since Sunday, so myself and the doctor went to see him this morning to see whether we felt he could travel, with me definitely thinking he could. But he didn’t look well, to be honest, so we have had to leave him behind, unfortunately. That’s one of the reasons I brought Shola Ameobi, because I didn’t have any intention of bringing Shola.
It’s a surface that he’s been advised in the past not to really to play on, so it leaves me a little bit short of striking options. We have practiced with the squad for three days on the surface and we will have a little experience of it tonight, so we have prepared ourselves.
And we have got good technical players – you have to be very, very highly technical on an astroturf pitch, and we have technical players, and I will side with those tomorrow in this team.”
Hiddink said;
“It will be very interesting to see how we compare to a side from one of the top leagues in Europe. Newcastle did not start the season well, but they have improved a lot in recent weeks,
They are a strong team that plays modern football. They have powerful and skilful players in every position, such as Moussa Sissoko.
Their players are used to not playing in Makhachkala. We got a good crowd for our last game - even though the Luzhniki is a huge stadium we could feel the crowd behind us.”
5pm Kick Off
EL: Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Anzhi v Newcastle Utd
Posted by: TyneTalk (IP Logged)
Date: 06/03/2013 20:12
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According to the official Newcastle twitter feed it's so empty because the stadium is ridiculously far away from Moscow. They said it would be the equivalent of us playing our home games in Florence!
Sadly it's only on a specialty channel here and I'm too lazy to find a feed. But I do have to leave for work again soon too! Lousy need for money is interfering with my ability to watch Newcastle!!!
hmm, this second sub makes me think it's shut up shop and get outta town with a 0-0 draw and win it at St. James mentality down the stretch. (they don't call me Captain Obvious or is it Oblivious, for nothing kids )
Yes decent result lets hope for a big crowd at SJP next week keep the prices low and get 40,000 plus in the ground. The atmosphere tonight was awful but hardly surprising as their own fans had to travel about 900 miles I believe to watch the game very strange!
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Sounds a bit weird.
(they don't call me Captain Obvious or is it Oblivious, for nothing kids 
)
lol
