Following an excellent win against Derby, and the failures of those around them, Newcastle United now find themselves top of their division, which is not bad after what seems like a lot of recent setbacks.
They were by far the better side against Derby, playing some great football, especially in the first half.
However, one potential worry seems to be that the side, without Dwight Gayle in, take too many chances to score a goal.
Where Daryl Murphy had been largely ineffective against QPR in the previous game, Aleksandar Mitrovic was simply wasteful against Derby, just has he was against Oxford in his previous appearance.
Mitrovic again had some great chances to score goals, but failed to hit the target with the best of all of his chances.
Matt Ritchie however, added another goal to his tally, but the chances being wasted could well come back to bite Rafa Benitez’s side.
Dwight Gayle is said to be returning this weekend, and he will be needed, as away from home we will need to be much more clinical than we have been in the last two games.
Ice – it’s an injury he had at Palace, so it must worry him if its happened again now.
I say give him an extra week if needed – his goals will be important for us, so it’s no good rushing him back for him to be out longer.
We’ve already got a good return for our money with the goals he’s scored, and we shouldn’t have to depend on him. Mitrovic & Murphy need to step up – Mitrovic in particular.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree mate,the m/f need to step up with few goals to help out as well
Icedog(Quote)
Sick of getting this error 520 😈 😈
Come back Toonsy
Icedog(Quote)
well, that’s Tiote off. All in all for 3,5 mill we probably got our money’s worth. When he was good early days he was awesome, though he tailed off badly the last 3 years.
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
Apparently Gayle’s never managed 30 games in any season. He was out for months with his last hamstring although Pardew didn’t help bringing him back too early. Rafa will know the score.
Never said but on Saturday I was totally surprised and impressed with the crowd support for Rafa. It was absolutely amazing and way beyond anything KK or SBR ever got or indeed Rafa got at Liverpool. The crowd really got behind the team too. Great day.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio, good to hear it cos I was at the Rotherham home game a few weeks back and the atmosphere was abysmal
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
Jawdee – agree mate. Lots of times this season it’s been really quiet. It’s the way the fans react when something threatens the momentum, particularly Ashley. I’m a lifer and I’ve never seen anything like that before and you can be sure the attending Bishop and Charnley will have got the message through to Ashley.
georgio(Quote)
I have no problem with loading the site. Though when Stu and Eric post something it comes up as spam. My phone is so smart it knows when somebody is full of ****
Sometimes I get an error message telling me that I should goto some other place for interesting commentary about NUFC, but I usually just ignore it and come here anyway because I’ve yet to find a place that gives interesting commentary about NUFC.
😆 😆
Brisvegas(Quote)
BrisV: have you ever considered doing stand up? I hear there is an oversupply of lettuce and rotten fruit in Oz and it might be useful for when the audience see your act.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is pretty slow on here which I doubt is all down to the server. There just seems to be a general apathy which is really strange considering we are top of the league, are odds on for promotion (literally) and fill a 52,000 seat stadium every other week.
Match is on live tomorrow. That’s only about the 5th time this season. NUFC TV have repeats but it is not the same.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Team selection should be easy with the only real question being Mitro or Murphy.
Darlow
Yedlin Lascelles Clark Dummett
Ritchie Shelvey Hayden Gouffy
Diame
Murphy
Eric Sykes(Quote)
not a bad team,i would play Atu in place of Goofy for his pace and crosses into the box if Murphy plays up top
icedog(Quote)
no Gayle for Sat hes not traveling down to Wolves
icedog(Quote)
What’s happening with Elliot? Is he fit again? If not, why not? I was thinking we would have seen him back in goal by now. It would be good to get him some playing time in case Darlow gets injured.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
He has played mate for the res,I think made some good saves by the reports
Icedog(Quote)
So Rafa has the highest win rate of any toon manager,he also had nearly 65% win rate in Italy and nearly 60% win rate at Chelsea,imo not many managers can match anywhere near his success rate,jabba doesn’t know how lucky he is to have him at our club
Icedog(Quote)
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Not convinced Lascelles is good enough at his job aswell as being club captain.
I think I would like to see Richie with the armband and let Lascelles concentrate on defending properly.
Rightly dropped last week but what is going on with MBemba ? Gone from hero to zero, yet I thought he was probably one of our best defenders last season.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB: I read somewhere that MBemba was struggling to settle and was having difficulty with the language. He is still just a kid so he does have time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wasn’t Elliot on the bench against Derby?
Groucho(Quote)
yep, pretty sure he was mate. Writings on the wall for Sels imo he’ll be gone In the summer.
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/rafa-benitez-gives-update-on-contract-talks-with-yoan-gouffran-and-vurnon-anita-at-newcastle-1-8383344
I hope we keep Anita as I like him at RB, even Goofy has found form again under Rafa.
kimtoon(Quote)
Lol sorry been out of contact a bit with travelling and work stuff. To answer Sharpie and Shamrock.. I work as global innovation manager for a big paint company. Global responsibility means a lot of travel. My company is Norwegian but I’m based in our Middle East HQin Dubai.
Wish I was a scout for the Toon… ??
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Kim – the keeper situation is really interesting. Despite his great form at the back of last season Rafa wasn’t convinced and bought the giant Sels. However he didn’t impress and Darlow’s done well again. But he has had dodgy games again and made a few errors v Derby, notably fumbling crosses and dropping the ball.
I think Rafa wants a big guy who will come for crosses much better than Darlow, Sels or Elliot and I wouldn’t be surprised if he bought another in the summer and got rid of Sels and Elliot.
Georgio(Quote)
but i dont think Goofy is good enough for PL,but if jabba doesnt give Rafa enough cash we may have to keep him
icedog(Quote)
New thread!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/02/11/wolves-v-newcastle-failure-is-not-an-option/
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
I think Anita & Yedlin are competent enough RBs for the PL.
I don’t think Goof is good enough for the PL and will need upgrading.
I think we really need to be ruthless with the squad again & get rid of players who aren’t good enough or have no future at the club.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So that’s 6 goals in 10 starts for Mitro. Not bad for someone who gets an awful lot of stick.
Stuart79(Quote)