A very Happy New Year to you all folks! We hope it’s a happy and healthy one for you and your families. On the football side of things, 2018 really does look set to be a massive year for NUFC. From Stoke today (huge game), to must-needed January signings, potential new owners and the hope that we’re still a Premier League team come the middle of May. All these things will unfold over the next 6 months and it feels like a necessity for the future of Newcastle United that all these things occur for the better.
After a disappointing draw and pretty dire performance in the home draw to Brighton on Saturday, today’s trip to Stoke is another six pointer at the bottom.
We rested players last week in the hope that we’d be fresh and firing over the weekend, but we were anything but. Our most recent away game saw us pick up a vital win at West Ham, but we’ve failed to score in two home games since and will be going into this one at Stoke in a similar position to how we did against the Hammers – we cannot afford to lose.
Saturday’s performance was one to forget, and although playing soon after can be the best way to put things right, we looked surprisingly sluggish and sapped of energy – so I can’t help but worry how we’ll fare against a Stoke side that rested so many at Chelsea on Saturday.
Hughes left out most of his big hitters and practically handed Chelsea the three points in their 5-0 stuffing at Stamford Bridge. He’s admitted since that he did it with the belief that his reinvigorated first team will now be ready to beat Newcastle today, but he is a man close to the sack and they are a team shipping goals left, right and centre. Here’s hoping we can take advantage of that today and put in a repeat performance of the one that best West Ham in a similarly crucial away day recently.
Team wise it’s hard to say who Rafa will pick. We’ve seen almost 20 different NUFC men start over the past week and few have done much to nail down their place in the side. More rotation can be expected for obvious reasons, but it’s essential that the 11 that go out on that pitch today show more than they did just 48 hours ago.
Might we see something like this start today?
Wouldn’t surprise me if Diame started, but Perez’s return is likely due to him being one of few players who’ll be fresh for this one – and his defensive work could allow Rafa to go for the adventurous midfield partnership of Merino and Shelvey? Gayle and Hayden to be dropped after poor performances vs Brighton?
Teams above and below us have proven in recent weeks that they have big wins and battling performances in them and today we’re playing a side who’ve conceded more than any other in England and one whose manager’s on the brink – if there was ever a chance for us to prove that we’re good enough to survive this season, it’s today.
Win and we’ll be heading into Swansea in good spirits and in a strong position to step up our survival bid, but lose and it really will be a nightmare start to a new year that could hold the key for NUFC’s long-term future.
All that said, I’m predicting a draw here – although that really will pile the pressure on us to beat Swansea in two weeks, and that is hardly a given after our winless streak at St James’ Park.
If we can contain their attacking flare (Shaqiri), manage Peter Crouch and unsettle their leaky defence then it could quickly become toxic at the Bet365 Stadium, but energy levels and invention must be upped considerably if we want to come away with three points here.
A repeat of West Ham away would probably see us win here, but have the boys got it in them? Let’s hope so.
Prediction: Stoke 1-1 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
All the best for 2018 Olly mate.
It’s not the 11 I would go with personally – mine would be:
——————— Darlow ——————
Manq – Lascelles – Clark – Dummett
Ritchie – Hayden – Merino – Atsu
————-— Joselu- Gayle —————
I think Manq is a better RB than LB and is better defensively than Yedlin imo. Dummett is a better LB.
If Shelvey is unhappy – and he’s been playing like he is lately as well, then he wouldn’t be in for me.
Perez has offered absolutely nothing so far this season other than being a light weight, going down on every challenge, then throwing his hands around when he doesn’t get a freekick.
Gayle & Joselu aren’t great, but have been our best partnership up front so far – chances are being created, just need Gayle to start putting them away.
Sharpy17(Quote)
WBA supposedly interested in Mitrovic. If we could do a swap deal for Rondon, I’d probably go with that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brighton take early lead
kimtoon(Quote)
Hoots lads going for this alright
kimtoon(Quote)
Nice to see innit Kim.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t look at Brighton’s squad and see any more quality there than in ours. I do see a very different approach in their play though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
very good defensively Sharpy, easy to see how they have collected so many draws, they also have a very good player in Knockaart .
kimtoon(Quote)
level, I guess that was coming with Brighton going for it like they were.
kimtoon(Quote)
more goals in this one for sure if they keep this up
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – they are but that’s as much down to coaching coz I don’t look at their defenders as any better than ours. I think Lascelles and Clark are every bit as good as Dunk and Duffy personally.
Knockaert is a good player, but I think Ritchie is just as good when both on form. Knockaert has 1 goal and 1 assist this season – Ritchie has 0/6.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Hope you’re wrong. A draw would be the best result for us I reckon
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, no way this ends a draw
kimtoon(Quote)
Murray, brighton 2 up
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stalemate-has-newcastle-fans-fearing-worst-m2sf8pbhn?shareToken=33a179dd7f256816961e8f12cdc01f57
kimtoon(Quote)
Brighton were already 6pt ahead of us & Bmth only 1pt.
I think I would have preferred trying to drag Brighton back into it, but at least B’mth haven’t pulled away any more. If we could get a positive result today then we could leapfrog B’mth – which would be another positive.
Sharpy17(Quote)
… or a draw would do ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Looking like a draw at Brighton which is best we could hope for I guess. I see Perez is our lone striker up front. ?. Still no Saivet, not even on the bench… surprised at that after he did so well at West Ham.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Another must win game. Unfortunately we will have more and more “must win”.
funrafa(Quote)
Well, I don’t believe it , yet another draw for Brighton. Should of won that to be fair, had enough chances.
kimtoon(Quote)
So important to keep crouch quiet, no assists or goals from that ****** today please. Oh and keep Shaquri quiet too while you’re at it lads.
If we can stop giving away too many corners it’ll help.
Feeling very nervous about this one, our record there isn’t great.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well I have no idea what the hell to make of that starting 11. Another masterstroke or act of madness – we shall see.
My initial thoughts, Rafa over complicating things again.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Then again they have conceded loads of goals this season so………..
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy, no Gayle ! tired from Saturday perhaps. All on Perez then, oh hum
kimtoon(Quote)
funrafa(Quote)
And with 20 odd mins to kick off this site starts playing up for me.
Every bloody match it’s happening now, just had to close thread and reopen it.
why does this keep happening ?
Well if I don’t comment on the game, you know I can’t get on to post 🙄
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Sky panel mostly going for a Stoke win with one saying Draw
kimtoon(Quote)
Happy New Year everyone.
Hoping for a real happy start to the year with 3 points today.
sidekick(Quote)
3 chances for Atsu, no return 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
4 chances
kimtoon(Quote)
jeeze, we have to take these chances, Clark now 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
How did Clark make it? I am speechless.
funrafa(Quote)
mental mate, we are DESPERATE for a quality forward, the points we would of gained for want of a better forward .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, it’s the same for me… site playing up and have to keep re loading it.
**** first half. Too many chances missed. How could Clark miss that? We will regret those missed chances.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Yes everybody is desperate except the owner who is still on vacation.
funrafa(Quote)
Always on holiday every time the window is open , summer and winter
kimtoon(Quote)
It should be a penalty.
funrafa(Quote)
Finally! We deserve it!
funrafa(Quote)
Good goal but why no pen for Gayle AGAIN
kimtoon(Quote)
Fingers crossed. Would be a much needed win!
shamrock(Quote)
Apparently Burnley had a stone waller denied as well Kim. They too have not had a penalty this season.
shamrock(Quote)
Come blow that whistle … YES!!!!
Oh my, the Potters are pissed off with Sparky!!.
Good performance – Great result!!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good stuff. Much needed win. Bye bye Hughes.
shamrock(Quote)
Great result. Needed that. Well done to Darlow as well. He pulled of some very good saves today to keep us in it. Murphy played well and great cross in for the goal.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Great result today. Well pleased for us. Now hopefully our home form improves and we get even closer to safety.
Stem(Quote)
Darlow was motm for me today. A much better GK than Elloite
Stem(Quote)
I see Slimani played and scored for Leicester today as well.
I’d be happy enough if he found his way to us by the end of Jan.
Sharpy17(Quote)
great result
kimtoon(Quote)
Yes I wanted to say the same thing. He is growing. If he can maintain this kind of performance, he will be a great goal keeper.
funrafa(Quote)
The better he plays now, less likely he will come. He will become expensive and we can’t afford it. We can only get those who is under-performing.
funrafa(Quote)
Sadly, I think you are exactly correct, Funrafa.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
He’s a very good keeper. He just needs a bit of self believe/arrogance about him. If you look at someone like Pickford, he has a self assurance about him & I think Darlow lacks that a bit. Maybe game time & afew good performances will encourage that. But he has to look like he believes he should be there – and sometimes I don’t think he does.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah I also agree mate, and Algeria aren’t at the WC so it’s not like he’s going to be pushing hard for game time ahead of that.
My only hope is that with Vardy, Inacheo (not sure if that’s right), Ulloa, Okazaki – they may, or Slimani himself may go with the move ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well I wanted 20 points by jan so happy enough with 22
onwards and upwards hopefully
but please Mr A shley get us a quality forward who can put away all our chances we waste.
kimtoon(Quote)
NEW THREAD!!!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/01/01/stoke-0-1-newcastle-tenacious-toon-start-2018-in-style-with-a-well-deserved-win-at-stoke/
GET IN! 😛
Huge win and promising performance. Up to 13th
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I dont understand why they nominate the man of the match a few minutes before the end of a game. Quite often it will be close between w or 3 players and if somebodybdoes a Ben Afaesque mazy run and goal or a superb double save in injury time – tjat should swing it in their favor – but by then the award has already gone!
shamrock(Quote)
That save from Diouf from 3 yards out mind, wow brilliant from Darlow
MOTM for me
kimtoon(Quote)
Record where Lascelles/Clark both start:
P9 W5 D2 L2
Record where one of Lascelles/Clark don’t start:
P13 W1 D2 L10
kimtoon(Quote)