Remy Has Real Fight On His Hands!

Last updated : 05 March 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Remy knows only too well he could miss out on Didier Deschamps squad, and if ever there was a time for a world stage to show his ability before a summer move ... THIS is that time.

French national boss Didier Deschamps is yet to be convinced by the QPR striker, but that could be good news for Alan Pardew.

No takers - and Remy could yet end up at St James' Park - because QPR look to be heading for the Championship play-offs, and that is a game Russian roulette.

Deschamps has one eye on trying out some new players and trying to get closer to his 23-man squad for the tournament in Brazil, and there are some difficult choices ahead.

Before the final 23-man squad, Deschamps will name a 30 name preliminary list, and then will have the painstaking task of telling seven players that they will not be getting on the plane this summer.

With some difficult choices ahead, here is the 23-man squad that I would take if the tournament started next month.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Stephane Ruffier (Saint-Etienne), Zacharie Boucher (Toulouse).

Defenders: Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Saint-Etienne), Eric Abidal (Monaco), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Patrice Evra (Manchester United. Layvin Kurzawa (Monaco).

Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Yohan Cabaye (PSG), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille).

Attackers: Florian Thauvin (Marseille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon).

In goals the undisputed number one is Lloris, Marseille's Steve Mandanda misses out due to his form this season, and veteran Mickael Landreau is currently injured. Ruffier deserves his call-up and Boucher has impressed since his move to Toulouse.

Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho misses out through injury, giving Chelsea new boy Kurt Zouma the chance to show what he can do in the national team squad.

PSG's Lucas Digne is left out due to a lack of playing time and the increase excellent form of Monaco youngster Layvin Kurzawa. With one eye on the future there is no real point in taking both Evra and Clichy; Evra gets the nod through experience.

Deschamps will take four central midfielders, three of them are certainties, and Gonalons has impressed this season as Lyon's captain, way ahead of Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko.

The most controversial position is in attack. Giroud and Benzema will definitely make the squad, even though over the past 12 months you could at some point question the form of both players.

Both players will fight for the lone striker spot, with Deschamps likely to play 4-2-3-1. That means the third back-up needs to be versatile, able to play centrally and out wide. Even though he has scored 12 goals in 13 games, which would rule out Marseille’s Andre-Pierre Gignac, making it between Newcastle's Loic Remy and Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette.

The Lyon forward gets the nod, mostly due to looking slightly towards Euro 2016 and his greater comfort while playing on the right. He has been excellent for Lyon this season, playing alongside Bafetimbi Gomis and currently has 13 league goals.

On the wings the inclusion of Ribery was never in doubt, but the other two spots cause a slight head-ache. Griezmann is enjoying an excellent season with Sociedad, and with his international ban now up, it's time for Deschamps to give him his first cap.

That leaves one space left on the wings, and it has gone to Florian Thauvin. The Marseille winger has become an important part of the club already, and has flourished after putting the messy transfer between Lille and Marseille behind him. He would be France's wildcard, that player that can spark a magical moment out of nothing and provide options on both the left and the right of the attack.

It remains to be seen whether Deschamps will be as willing to take some of those chances, or whether he will pick a more conservative squad. We will find out tomorrow afternoon.

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PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

1 Chelsea 63
2 Liverpool 59
3 Arsenal 59
4 Man City 57
5 Tottenham 53
6 Everton 48
7 Man Utd 45
8 Newcastle 43
9 Southampton 39
10 West Ham 31
11 A Villa 31
12 Hull City 30
13 Stoke City 30
14 Swansea  29
15 Norwich 28
16 C Palace 27
17 West Brom 25
18 Sunderland 24
19 Cardiff 22
20 Fulham 21

FA CUP

Saturday March 8

12:45 Arsenal v Everton

Sunday March 9

12:00 Sheffield United v Charlton
14:00 Hull City v Sunderland
16:05 Manchester City v Wigan Athletic

PREMIER LEAGUE

Saturday March 8

12:45 West Brom v Man Utd
15:00 Cardiff City v Fulham
15:00 Crystal Palace v Southampton
15:00 Norwich City v Stoke City
17:30 Chelsea v Tottenham

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Newcastle United Fixtures

Sunday March 9
16:00
Newcastle United v Everton

Saturday March 15
15:00
Fulham v Newcastle United

Saturday March 22
15:00
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace

Saturday March 29
15:00
Southampton v Newcastle United

Saturday April 5
15:00
Newcastle United v Man Utd

Saturday April 12
15:00
Stoke City v Newcastle United

Saturday April 19
15:00
Newcastle United v Swansea City

Saturday April 26
15:00
Arsenal v Newcastle United

Saturday May 3
15:00
Newcastle United v Cardiff City

Sunday May 11
15:00
Liverpool v Newcastle United

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14

PREMIER LEAGUE

HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita, Gouffran, de Jong (90' Gosling), Remy   
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick  

NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Cheick Tiote (89' Gosling), Anita, Gouffran, Remy, Cisse (72' de Jong).
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor

NEWCASTLE 0 SPURS 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (45' Dummett), Anita, Sissoko, Gouffran, de Jong (63' Ben Arfa), Sammy Ameobi (71' Marveaux), Cisse   
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Shola Ameobi   

CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (40' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, S Taylor, Dummett, Anita (84' Marveaux), Santon, Ben Arfa (64' Gosling), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, de Jong.   
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong  

NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (64' Dummett), Anita (74' Marveaux), Tiote, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi (45' de Jong), Shola Ameobi.   
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong  

NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (75' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi (87' Haidara), Remy   
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Dummett, Armstrong 

WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye 2, Remy)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (74' Dummett), Tiote, Anita (60' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy (78' Ben Arfa)
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan

NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (82' Ben Arfa),  Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita (73' Cisse), Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran (82' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi

WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45' Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara).
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor

NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi

NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor

CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan

NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi

MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa),  Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan

SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett

NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi

NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi

TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi

NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.

SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.

NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78'  Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.

CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett

EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett

NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett

ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett

NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett

NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett

MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan

LEAGUE CUP

NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi

NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick

MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete

FA CUP

NEWCASTLE 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko (85' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (63' Obertan), Ben Arfa, Cisse (85' Remy).
Subs: Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett, Alnwick