The season so far, has been a great success, I don’t think that anyone would attempt to disagree with that.
We are sitting top of the league, we have been in the semi-final of one domestic cup and we enter the next one with a fairly winnable tie, away at Birmingham City.
So, looking back at the season is relatively straight forward. Keep doing what we are doing and we will all be very happy.
As for the player of the season, so far. Personally, I would say Ciaran Clark, however, Jonjo Shelvey, Dwight Gayle and Yoan Gouffran all have a very strong case.
Gayle, in particular, goes into the game today in excellent form and will be looking forward trying to bag another goal.
So, with so many players in good form and, of course, Jonjo Shelvey suspended, how should Newcastle line up today?
As always, this is purely opinion, but I would like (and expect) to see Rafa Benitez select this side:
GK: Karl Darlow
RB: Vurnon Anita
CB: Jamaal Lascelles (c)
CB: Ciaran Clark
LB: Paul Dummett
CM: Isaac Hayden
CM: Cheick Tiote
RW: Matt Ritchie
LW: Christian Atsu
AM: Mo Diame
ST: Dwight Gayle
However, with the situation with Cheick Tiote quite unknown, he may well not play. Other than that, I can see that team starting.
I also can’t see anything but a home win today, so I’ll go for a 2-0 score line.
As I said earlier, as for looking forward, we just have to continue as we are and we will be promoted. Perhaps we will add a couple of players in January to help us do that.
So Tevez signs for Shanghai. His wage? Over 600k per week! Is there really that much money in Chinese footy or are they going to dig themselves a huge financial.black hole? Anybody got any ideas? If there really is that much money then all the best players will end up out there before long.
Shamrock(Quote)
Tevez going to China for £610k a week …. mental!!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – I disagree mate. All the mercenaries will end up out there, or those past their best and wanting a huge pay day – like Tevez.
But the top players will still want to play at the highest standard, getting the most exposure.
It will be a long time yet before the spotlight is on Chinese football.
They would need a WC and some kind of entry into the Champions league before the top players want to play in China – I think anyway.
Sharpy17(Quote)
why the hell are we looking at players in the Championship ? Brentford? 🙄
We’re already lumbered with a few from this division we may struggle to sell due to wages etc (if we go up).
We need to spend for the future, not for the next 6 mths.
Surely we have enough up front without signing someone permanently? Decent loans, yes.. but Rafa only plays one up front, we have two other strikers that never play..
Gashley(Quote)
I don’t know Sharpy. At the end of the day players don’t know how long their career will last. If I had the option of a 5 year contract at 50k in the PL, or 5 years at 200k in China then Im pretty sure I’m taking the 200k.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sharpy17, they’ve got flushing toilets in China these days I think mate. 😆
DJG(Quote)
Yeah but the top clubs in Europe pay 200k and more in some cases.
Don’t get me wrong, I think players will end up over China – but the prime years of their career will be at the elite level of football.
Any sports person wants to perform at the highest competitive level with the most exposure. They may see out their time in America or China but European football is still where the best players want to be.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aye but they still eat crickets n stuff out there mate. Meal times are like bush tucker trials ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh dear, asunderlands Pickford out for 2 months. ?
Shamrock(Quote)
I saw something the other day that the standard of Chinese football is at least 20 years away from being top level. Worse than MLS in the USA and worse than League 3 even. The reason they stated is that until recently gatherings of more than a few men were banned so they really couldn’t practice team sports, and they weren’t encouraged. They didn’t have the grass roots participation so had nothing to build on. They went more for the individual sports like diving where the government could control the groups.
I don’t know if this is true but it came up on BEin sports I think.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I haven’t thought much of Dummett this season. If he can’t handle the championship then what good will he do us in the premiership.
Stem(Quote)
I was kind of hoping Pard’s would waste 9 million on him so we could find a replacement. Pard’s scouting knowledge is just terrible.
Stem(Quote)
Is that so he’s not sold do you think Sham. Very fortunate timing with Mannone just back from his injury
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see our under-23 side slaughtered West Ham 7-0. That’s a great sign for the future. Callum Roberts doing very well again.Would like to see him getting introduced to the first team.set up.
Shamrock(Quote)
Do you think Rooney will be off to China? If the England Manager will never pick a player from The Championship, would they pick someone from an inferior league? Of course they would because it is Rooney and they always make exceptions and excuses for Rooney. He would probably remain captain.
He acaually hasn’t looked as bad in his recent games. The problem is that he still slows the team down and Man U now have younger and better options. They aren’t going to win the league this year so, unfortunately for Wayne, it is time to phase him out. He has a lot of mileage in those legs but he would be a coup for Chinese football in its present state.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What a big game we have tomorrow then. We need a win and then we need to bring in a couple of decent players to give us some momentum.
Still fancy we will start to pull away from the Readings and Leeds in Feb/March when our squad and rotation plays its part.
But, I still have concerns about our home form. Why is it so average?
Stuart79(Quote)
Pressure of 52,000 maybe stu ? some players just can’t hack it, god knows why, if you can’t get motivated by that amount of vocal support something is very wrong.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Or maybe we aren’t as good as we think we are.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa says he is considered changing the system for home games, as we struggle against sides playing counter attacking footy. Well we would if we don’t actually attack them. Passing the ball sideways and backwards until we lose it is not going to test the opposition or put them under pressure. If they are sitting back, we need to run at them.and test them! Let’s see it happen against Forest and let’s see a nice convincing home performance and winning margin.
Shamrock(Quote)
I read that Pickford is out for at least six weeks with a knee injury. That’ll be a blow to them considering the form he’s been in!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38461674
DJG(Quote)
New thread!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/12/29/old-geordie-geezer-weekly-nufc-review/
Rob Brown aka Old Geordie Geezer is back with a special Video Blog
Andy The Magpie(Quote)