Last five opening day fixtures

Based on their opening day fixtures in the last five years, Newcastle United must have angered the schedule makers. Drawing Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City twice. This article will examine the lineups, who was deployed, and what the result was for Newcastle.

2010-2011: Manchester United 3-0 Newcastle United
Scorers: Berbatov 33, Fletcher 41, Giggs 85

Manchester United starting XI: Edwin van der Saar, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic (c), John O’Shea, Jonny Evans, Luis Nani, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney

Substitutes: Ryan Giggs, Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez, Michael Carrick, Rafael da Silva

Newcastle United starting XI: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, James Perch, Wayne Routledge, Alan Smith, Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez, Kevin Nolan (c), Andy Carroll

Substitutes: Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Xisco, Shola Ameobi, Haris Vuckic

We begin with Newcastle’s first game in their return to the Premier League, after a year in the Championship. Newcastle were generally thought to have played a decent game at Old Trafford, beginning by deploying a 4-4-1-1, with Andy Carroll the lone man up top, and captain Kevin Nolan supporting him. The majority of the chances for Newcastle came early – within the first 20 minutes or so – almost exclusively through crosses and set pieces aimed at Carroll. Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring by flying past Newcastle left back Jose Enrique into the box to receive a pass, which he promptly buried in the opposite corner. Darren Fletcher doubled the lead for Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys with a great spinning shot from right in front of the net. Finally, in the second half Paul Scholes and substitute Ryan Giggs combined for a fantastic goal for the home side. Scholes crossed it to Giggs, who sent a thunderous left footed half volley into the right corner of the net. This game certainly reflected Chris Hughton’s strategy during the remainder of his stint as Newcastle manger, as Carroll was the focal point of the attack. This aided Carroll in scoring 11 goals in 18 league starts, which helped facilitate his massive £35 million move from Newcastle to Liverpool in the January transfer window. Fan favourite Shola Ameobi and young Spaniard Xisco were substituted in for Newcastle. James Perch made his official debut after having been signed for a reported £1million from Nottingham Forest in the summer.    

2011-2012: Newcastle United 0-0 Arsenal

Arsenal starting XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Gervinho, Tomas Rosicky, Andrei Arshavin, Robin van Persie (c)

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh, Theo Walcott

Newcastle starting XI: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Ryan Taylor, Joey Barton, Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba

Substitutes: Fraser Forster, Mike Williamson, Dan Gosling, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan

In manager Alan Pardew’s first opening day fixture in the hot seat at St James’ Park, Newcastle were able to take a point out of a game against perennial powerhouse Arsenal. The Gunners dictated play for most of the game, using the physical and technical skill of gifted attacking players Andrei Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, Robin van Persie and summer signing Gervinho to push Newcastle. The highlight of the game saw Gervinho sent off for raising his hand against Joey Barton, after Barton tried to make the Ivory Coast international get up after he dived in the penalty box. Newcastle then pressed for the last 15 minutes of the match, but to no avail, as the game ended in a scoreless draw. Newcastle deployed a 4-4-2 for this match, and started 4 new summer signings for their official debuts: striker Demba Ba, formerly of West Ham, and midfielders Yohan Cabaye, Gabriel Obertan and Cheick Tiote, of Lille, Manchester United and FC Twente respectively. This result was the beginning of an excellent campaign for Newcastle, who finished fifth in the league and qualified for the Europa League. 

2012-2013: Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorers: Ba 54, Defoe 76, Den Afra (pen) 80

Newcastle starting XI: Tim Krul, Davide Santon, Danny Simpson, James Perch, Steven Taylor, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Jonas Gutierrez, Chicek Tiote, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba

Substitutes: Steve Harper, Mike Williamson, Vurnon Anita, Ryan Taylor, Dan Gosling, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi

Tottenham Hotspur starting XI: Brad Friedel, Younes Kaboul, William Gallas, Kyle Walker, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jake Livermore, Sandro, Jermain Defoe

Substitutes: Carlo Cudicini, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Naughton, Rafael Van der Vaart, Jermaine Jenas, Andros Townsend, Harry Kane

In their only win in the last five opening games, Newcastle defeated Tottenham 2-1. With goals from Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Afra. Ba showed great control to bring own a ball at the top right hand corner of the box and fire it past Tottenham keeper Brad Friedel. Jermain Defoe answered Ba in 76^th minute by firing home a rebound off a Tim Krul save at close range. Ben Afra then scored the winning goal by coolly slotting home a low penalty finish, having won the penalty himself. Perhaps the most interesting moment, though, was a sending off for the second consecutive season opening match Newcastle participated in. However, rather than an opposing player, this time it was Newcastle’s own manager, Alan Pardew. Pardew earned this punishment for pushing the fourth official, believing the ball had gone out of play, and a Newcastle throw-in should have been called. Newcastle deployed Pardew’s 4-4-2, like Arsenal the year before, but with important additions since that opening game, such as Hatem Ben Afra and Papiss Cisse. Vurnon Anita, who came off the bench in the 71^st minute for the booked Cabaye, was the only Newcastle player to make a debut in this match, fresh from an August 15^th £6.7 million move from Ajax. Newcastle struggled over the course of this campaign, partially due to the demands of Europa League football, and finished a dismal 16^th in the Premier League.

2013-2014: Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United
Scorers: Silva 6, Aguero 22, Toure 50, Nasri 75

Manchester City starting XI: Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany (c), Pablo Zabaleta, Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, David Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero

Substitutes: Costel Pantilimon, Aleksandar Kolarov, James Milner, Samir Nasri, Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell, Alvaro Negredo

Newcastle starting XI: Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mathieu Debuchy, Steven Taylor, Moussa Sissoko, Jonas Gutierrez, Cheick Tiote, Papiss Cisse, Hatem Ben Afra, Yoan Gouffran

Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Paul Dummett, Vurnon Anita, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi

The worst match of the five listed in this article, Newcastle United were thrashed in the open of the 2013-2014 campaign by the Citizens. City opened the coring in the just the 6^th minute, as David Silva headed home a deflected cross. In the 22^nd minute Sergio Aguero, set up by a nice back-heel, raced to the top right of the box and unleashed a low, curling shot, which deflected off the right post and in. Steven Taylor was unable to match the classy Argentinian on the play. Taylor in fact was sent off right before halftime, effectively ending any hope the Magpies had of a comeback. If not then, it was when Yaya Toure curled in a free kick at he 50^th minute mark to make the match 3-nil for City. Substitute Samir Nasri beat Mathieu Debuchy in a footrace to the ball, culminating in the former Arsenal man Nasri netting the fourth and final goal of the game. Despite this being the worst opening game of the last five years, Newcastle achieved a respectable 10^th place finish in the league. Although the Magpies began by playing a 4-3-3, Taylor’s sending off caused a flurry of personnel moves, where Vurnon Anita took off Jonas Guterriez to restore four men to the back line, and Dummett coming on to move Anita back up to midfield. 

2014-2015: Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City 
Scorers: Silva 38, Aguero 90

Newcastle United starting XI: Tim Krul, Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett, Vurnon Anita, Remy Cabella, Jack Colback, Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran, Emmanuel Riviere

Substitutes: Rolando Aarons, Ayoze Pérez, Massadio Haidara, Rob Elliot, Gabriel Obertan, Steven Taylor, Mehdi Abeid

Manchester City starting XI: Joe Hart, Gael Clichy, Vincent Kompany (c), Martin Demichelis, Aleksander Kolarov, Samir Nasri, Fernando, Yaya Touré, David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Stefan Jovetic

Substitutes: Pablo Zabaleta, James Milner, Willy Caballero, Jesús Navas, Sergio Agüero, Fernandinho, Dedryck Boyata

In a rematch of the previous season opener, Newcastle put in a much more respectable effort, keeping the game interesting until the 90^th minute. A revamped Newcastle side gave City some trouble and didn’t role over like the previous year, but in the end the Sky Blues still prevailed. They broke the deadlock in the 38^th minute, when Edin Dzeko’s beautiful back heel pass was received by David Silva, who proceeded to slot it home past Tim Krul. Although Newcastle kept the game close, they really began to push City when Ayoze Perez was inserted into the game in the 83^rd minute. A deflection off of City midfielder Fernando caused him to miss perhaps Newcastle’s best chance. In the 90^th minute, ace striker Sergio Aguero slotted home the death blow for Newcastle, having only been on for 7 minutes at this point. Six players made their first official Newcastle appearances, with Daryl Janmaat, Remy Cabella, Jack Colback, Emmanuel Riviere, Ayoze Perez and youth product Rolando Aarons.