Preferred XI
I’d make just one change from the side that beat Man Utd and that’d be Merino coming in for Perez. An unlikely alteration from Rafa, but I think it could work well..
Perez put in a decent shift against Man Utd, but still frustrated even though just about everyone else was at it that day. He’s ‘busy’, but his output isn’t enough – and today’s game could be decided by making the most of the big moments each side are presented with.
I’m not backing on Benitez making this change, but I think it could work well.
Predicted NUFC XI – (4-2-3-1) – Dubravka– Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett – Diame, Shelvey – Ritchie, Perez, Kenedy– Gayle
The Opposition
A few to watch our for today:
Callum Wilson – On his day he’s very difficult to deal with. Pace, power and an eye for goal.
Lewis Cook – A few Cherries fans have told me that England should be looking at this kid. They rate him highly so he’s one to watch in midfield.
Charlie Daniels – An attack minded wing-back whose got a quality left foot. Yedlin and Ritchie will need to be on their guard.
Nathan Ake – He’s not big for a centre-back but he’s an impressive athlete, good on the ball and a danger from corners.
Predicted B’mouth XI – (3-4-2-1) – Begovic – Francis, Cook, Ake – Fraser, Gosling, Cook, Daniels – Ibe, Stanislas – Wilson.
For an inside look into this weekend’s opponents, take a look at the latest edition of the ‘Opposition Opinion’ . A great insight into today’s opponents from a Bournemouth fan.
Form
Newcastle – 13th (28 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 1 / Drawn: 3 / Lost: 1
Bournemouth – 10th (31 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 3 / Drawn: 1 / Lost: 1
Team news
Benitez confirmed Islam Slimani is OUT of this one, with the Algerian set for at least another two weeks on the sidelines.
Ciaran Clark is back in contention after overcoming a knee injury, however Jesus Gamez remains out (as ever).
For Eddie Howe, Jermaine Defoe is back in contention, although he’s unlikely to come in from the start – even if he does have a worryingly good goal record against us recently.
Match Prediction
Bournemouth are a dangerous side when they have their tails up, with their recent home win over Arsenal or 3-0 win at Stamford bridge proving that they can blow teams away when they’re ‘at it’.
That being said, they can be got at (as Huddersfield’s 4-1 win proved) if you unsettle them early, get in their faces and force mistakes out of them.
I don’t see why we can’t come away with all three points if the players put in another huge shifts and carefully follow Rafa’s precise game plan, however I think this one might be a draw.
I see us coming out the traps quickly and taking the lead but failing to hold onto a lead. We don’t seem to have that killer instinct and second goal in us (especially without Slimani).
Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
Cheers Olly, yeah I would try Merino there too. Gonna be a tense one I think and I agree I have gone for 1.1 too unless Defoe starts in which case I see them winning.
kimtoon(Quote)
Really frustrating about Slimani, he could of been the difference today, lets hope Gayle and Perez have their shooting boots on.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://twitter.com/dpcoverdale/status/965897361921904641
shockingly bad form from Owen, if true .
kimtoon(Quote)
i think its true alright,he wouldnt put it in black and white otherwise
icedog(Quote)
Ice, that is shocking, meant to be a professional footballer and he was on a fair whack too. When you think how much grief some of the other players got that season, Owen got off scot free with just the sicknote tag. If in fact he wasn’t injured but actually protecting his future then that is outrageous and he was truly stealing a living from the club.
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s really hacked me off actually, little ****. His goals could of saved us, that’s the reality .
kimtoon(Quote)
always boils down to money with Owen,i never ever had any respect for him during his playing days,hes a creep
icedog(Quote)
Stoke winning… 👿
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh no they’re not !
Premandup(Quote)
1.1
kimtoon(Quote)
Murphy not even on the bench???
icedog(Quote)
Aye, strange one
kimtoon(Quote)
Well, back to being nervous again… pissed off about Slimani like. We really need him in th3 team.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
A win today would be amazing but I’d also take a point.
Stuart79(Quote)
Scum 1 up
kimtoon(Quote)
A lot of these games have draws written on them. I hope so, really as long as we get something.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
West Ham doing OK at Liverpool. Just hit the bar. It is the live TV game here.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Get in Gayleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
kimtoon(Quote)
Gayle
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This Liverpool dodgy keeper gives me some hope.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Get in!
A very typical away performance so far. One day we will keep a 1-0 lead or even add to it. Today…?
Stuart79(Quote)
Brighton 1 Swans 0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Liverpool 1 Wham 0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mackems down to 10 men. If it wasn’t for bad luck they wouldn’t have no luck at all.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: you listening to Radio Newcastle? I think I prefer Howey to Anderson. Much more positive.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Boro down to 10, sounds like an interesting game at SOL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
2 up 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh yes!
It’s fair to say 2 nil is a dodgy score line. Next goal winner?
We need to stop them from scoring in the first 15 mins and we will win.
Stuart79(Quote)
yeah mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Get in… 2-0.. that will do for me… pleased for Gayle. Let’s see if he can get his hat trick. Or is that asking for too much? Playing quite ok so far. More of the same in the second half.
I think our second was a massive mistake by their keeper like, but I’ll take it? In fact he was **** for both our goals.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Hopefully we don’t rest on our laurels second half, would be idea to get an early third and take away any hope they had. If they get a goal it will get very nervy, anyway after the last time we played them we are owed a result, should never have lost that game what with the wrongly chalked off goal .
kimtoon(Quote)
Hudders 1.0 up v Baggies
kimtoon(Quote)
Salah 2-0. West Ham back in trouble?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pardew said he had a bag and a half packed. I know it was a reference to Conte saying he always had a bag packed and was a joke but in his position it was a really stupid thing to say.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We need this win so, to an extent, we can stop worrying about what other teams do. Saying that, I think WBA are done if they don’t win today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sun 1 Boro 2
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So is Slimani worth the loan if only to galvanise Gayle ???
GlosMag(Quote)
Huddersfield 2-0 up. Where is Troy to defend this “average” PL Manager?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
lots of goals flying in today
kimtoon(Quote)
Pool 3.1 v West Ham
kimtoon(Quote)
Saints losing
Swans losing v Hoots boys 2.0
Baggies losing 2.1
kimtoon(Quote)
Defoe on then, oh dear
kimtoon(Quote)
Brighton 3 Swansea 0 now , has their bubble burst ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Scum 2 boro 3
kimtoon(Quote)
West ham losing 4.1 now, that goal difference getting a hammering.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: Swansea have a **** squad. I still think there is a good chance they will go down.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
jesus, chance squandered, that was needed to shut them out
kimtoon(Quote)
Just tired of how many times we do this! But it shows why teams battle against relegation. We need so many chances to score and it bites you!
Stuart79(Quote)
And bang on que they get one back, always likely to happen.
Nervy last 10 mins now.
I swear if we throw this away I will go nuts, we are better than them, we were in the first game too.
kimtoon(Quote)
C’mon ffs, do not buckle now lads please.
kimtoon(Quote)
And Defoe hasn’t scored yet 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Un fucking believable
fucking Gosling as well 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
And Saints level now
kimtoon(Quote)
You have to wonder about bringing on Hayden and Manquillo.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We ARE better than them, should not be in this position. Need something from this cause Pool will be tough
kimtoon(Quote)
agree, Manquillo is poor and with Kennedy and Gayle off we have no threat
kimtoon(Quote)
A point then but 3 would of been better and a nice early birthday present.
Oh well, that’s life supporting the Toon I suppose.
If only Shelvey had scored.
kimtoon(Quote)
feels like a loss that like.
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s a pisser. Would have been happy with a point b4 the game but not this way
GlosMag(Quote)
drop to 15th but could of gone 12th
kimtoon(Quote)
In recent games I have seen Hayden has been anonymous and as for Manquillo enough said.
Groucho(Quote)
Big chance missed there to give us some breathing room.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Absolutely gutted…. we miss an open goal and then throw away a 2 goal lead. I know we drew but that feels like a loss. Down to 15th now…
Not good enough.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
You have to think that is Arrogant Alan and Ugly John done with the PL FOREVER.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mbemba would be a better substitute than either Hayden or Manquillo. When we stop attacking we seem to invite other teams to step up and then panic sets in. This has been a pattern alll season and we end up losing points when we shouldn’t.
Groucho(Quote)
Icedog: Richard Keys said that Scotland had “done the right thing” by appointing McLeish as Manager. What! He ran out on them to go to Brum and then left Brum for Villa. He really is a man of honour 🙂 And a **** Manager, just ask Villa fans about his football.
Keys has a stick up his **** about British Managers and I bet he thinks Pards didn’t get a fair shake and has him on their show for the WC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That one’s on Rafa I’m afraid and possibly Shelvey for missing a sitter. Sometimes Rafa is just too conservative.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He plays awful footy,he’s only in it for the money would sell his mother,Keys I hate with a passion
Icedog(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/02/24/bournemouth-2-2-newcastle-from-dreamland-to-disaster-as-nufc-blow-it-at-the-death/
Gutted..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
How the hell Perez and Shelvey missed those open goal I don’t know???
Icedog(Quote)