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Predicted Newcastle Starting LineUp v Swansea

10 years ago
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Swansea v Newcastle United 
Wednesday 4 December 7.45pm Live On BT Sport

Whatever the Newcastle starting lineup tonight, I reckon there is one bet that will definitely come in but the odds will be rubbish.

have look to have more of an end product under Laudrup but one thing hasn’t changed, their possession stats are rarely beaten.

Despite getting comfortably beaten 3-0 at the Etihad, remarkably Swansea still had more possession than Manchester City.

Two seasons ago, United conceded an unbelievable amount of possession but the home side were toothless, Krul hardly had a save to make while Cisse scored two great goals and United could have more from their counter-attacks.

I’m looking for a happy medium this time, as I think with especially Tiote and Cabaye in such good form in the middle of the park, Newcastle are capable of getting a decent amount of possession and most importantly, doing something with it.

You don’t want to tempt fate but with both Bony and Michu almost certainly missing, you have to fancy our chances tonight if the team turns up in the same mood as they have done throughout November.

Bony has scored 7 goals and Michu 4, next best is defender Ben Davies with 2 and Shelvey on the same, the ex-Liverpool midfielder almost certain to be pushed up high again.

The Swans have only notched one Premier League win at home and that was an eventual 4-0 drubbing of Sunderland, although even then Swansea weren’t great until they got in front in the second half and the mackems collapsed.

Poor draws against West Ham and Stoke must give Newcastle every encouragement, although the two losses they have suffered at the Liberty have been against Manchester United and Arsenal so it is more of a case of finding it hard to win at home rather than being totally hopeless.

Apart from preferring Coloccini to Mapou, Alan Pardew has kept faith with his winning team in recent matches but three matches in a week means I believe he is very likely to change it.

I can’t see Shola starting tonight and maybe the time is just right to bring back Hatem Ben Arfa, he looked up for it when he came on late in the Norwich match and retained possession well to help see out that victory. I do fancy at least one other change as Pardew shuffles his pack but I think he might spring another surprise in midfield with maybe Anita getting a game, or even Papiss Cisse getting a run out, though I do see the Dutchman as a more likely starter.

The back five would appear to be certs to be kept together and I can’t see Pardew breaking up the Cabaye/Tiote axis, so just maybe we could see one of Saturday’s goal scorers given a breather before Manchester United on Saturday.

To say we have had mixed fortunes on the road is putting it mildly, if the team that won at Spurs, Villa or Cardiff turns up then we should all be doing high ‘fives’ at the final whistle but…if the one that ‘turned up’ at Sunderland, Manchester City and Everton (first half) then we’ll be lucky to escape with a draw.

I really fancy Newcastle tonight and with the team riding high on confidence and such limited injury problems then I can see the lads doing a professional job against opposition with injury problems to key strikers and the hindrance of the Europa League hanging over them.

Betting – NUFC To Win 5/2Gouffran Man Of The Match 16/1NUFC Lead At HT and FT 5/1

To view all Newcastle v Swansea betting click HERE (Prices can fluctuate up and down)

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