Source: Northern_Echo
Plymouth 0 Newcastle 0
YOU could almost hear the heroes of Newcastle United's 1950s FA Cup winning sides turning in their graves following manager Chris Hughton's decision to rest several of his first choice team for the third round tie at Plymouth.[LNB] Big guns Jonas Gutierrez, Steven Taylor, Kevin Nolan, Steve Harper and Jose Enrique were all left out against Paul Mariner's Pilgrims as Hughton shuffled his pack in order to keep his regulars fresh for the rigours of the Championship challenge.[LNB] While you can understand why the United boss chose to leave out some of his senior players, to focus on winning promotion, you cannot help lamenting that it goes against everything the FA Cup's fine tradition stands for.[LNB] It also undermines Newcastle's Cup pedigree, given that they have won the competition six times, while Hughton himself won it twice as a player at Tottenham.[LNB] But with the riches of the Premier League by far outweighing the paltry £67,500 reward for making progress to the fourth round of the Cup, an amount which would not cover Geremi and Alan Smith's weekly salary, you can see why securing a place in the top flight is Hughton's priority.[LNB] The 52-year-old United boss is not the only one who has changed his priorities.[LNB] There has been a declining trend in the last decade, or so, where managers have devalued the most prestigious football competition in the world and last weekend was no different Every Premier League club played a weakened side, while only seven of 23 home ties on Saturday enjoyed crowds above their normal average.[LNB] Plymouth was one team who bucked the trend.[LNB] Nearly 6,000 more fans watched the 0-0 draw than their season's average, with 2,400 of those Newcastle followers.[LNB] This suggests that supporters do not hold the tournament in the high esteem they once did.[LNB] Either that or fans are making a statement that they won't be cheated or taken for a ride any more.[LNB] In years gone by clubs were fined for playing weakened sides. Sadly this is not the case any more.[LNB] But unless the football authorities clamp down on this practice, the world's greatest cup competition will be reduced to the embarrassing status of the Carling Cup.[LNB] Hughton was adamant he had no regrets about making the changes, after the hardfought draw at Home Park, nor did he believe the ploy backfired now the club have an extra game on top of their already exhausting schedule.[LNB] If you look at the team that started the large majority of players have played regularly this season: Fabricio Coloccini, Danny Simpson, Danny Guthrie, Alan Smith, Shola Ameobi and Fabrice Pancrate,[LNB] said the former Spurs coach.[LNB] He remained tight-lipped on whether the club were going to increase their £1.2m bid already lodged at Leeds for striker Jermaine Beckford, who yesterday grabbed the winning goal for his side at Manchester United.[LNB] You always take one game at a time and you make decisions leading into that game with what players you have available. But I have no regrets whatsoever.[LNB] My responsibility is that we have a lot of players who have played a lot of games.[LNB] Tamas Kadar is a young player who has been with us all season and all last season.[LNB] Tim Krul in goal is another that has been with us and has been part of that first team group. Apart from that there isn't really a young player that has been involved apart from Nile Ranger, who has come on (as substitute) in eight or nine games this season.[LNB] There isn't a young player that hasn't warranted a game.[LNB] The bulk of the team were experienced players. And if you look at the (travelling) support, they were happy with the commitment.[LNB] Everyone will have an opinion on what our strongest side is and I think if you look at the group of lads who played I don't think there will be any argument about the commitment and that we should have won the game.[LNB] The United boss is right and the visitors were the better team on the day, creating several chances against their struggling Championship hosts.[LNB] Pilgrims' shot stopper Romain Larrieu took some responsibility for thwarting the Magpies. But had Pancrate, Ameobi, Guthrie and Andy Carroll been more clinical, then there would have been no need for a replay.[LNB] Match facts Bookings: Arnason (45, foul); Ranger (53, ungentlemanly conduct); Duguid (53, ungentlemanly conduct), Fallon (81, foul); Taylor R (87, foul)[LNB] Referee: Alan Wiley (Stoke) - An excellent game. Tried to keep the game flowing and tried to keep his cards in his pocket 8[LNB] Attendance: 16,451[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-4-2):[LNB] LARRIEU 7; Duguid 6, Arnason 6, Barker 6, Sawyer 5; Judge 6 (Noone 90), Summerfield 5 (McNamee 73), Fletcher 5, Clark 5; Fallon 5, Mackie 5. Subs (not used): Saxton, Barnes, Gow, Folly, Joe Mason[LNB] NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2):[LNB] 6 Krul: Did not have a lot to do but capable when called upon;[LNB] 6 Taylor R: Defended well but set plays not up to his usual high standard[LNB] 8 KADAR: Composed, cultured and read the game superbly[LNB] 7 Coloccini: Pilgrims' strikers did not get any change out of the Argentine[LNB] 6 Simpson: Proved he can get up and down the line and use his left foot;[LNB] 4 Pancrate: Failed again to live up to his early promise[LNB] 6 Smith: Neat, tidy and dogged, and nipped any danger in the bud[LNB] 6 Butt: Showed his experience trying to turn the opposition around and unlucky not to score[LNB] 6 Guthrie: Started on the left before moving inside but unable to carve an opening;[LNB] 6 Ameobi: Excellent first half but faded slightly after the break[LNB] 5 Ranger: Needs to work harder on his first touch and build up play[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Carroll (for Ranger 69): Not enough quality crosses for him to thrive on 5 Gutierrez (for Smith 71) Lovenkrands ( for Pancrate 78) (not used): Harper, Enrique, Tozer, Donaldson[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] TAMAS Kadar one of United's brightest young prospects for years. Played like a veteran. Always cool and composed under pressure and, a rarity for a centre half, he can pass a ball.[LNB]
