After our first win of the season last weekend, we can finally come into a game at St James’ Park with a genuine spring in our step – but underestimate our opposition and we’ll not be so lucky this time around.
The Watford win included certain things we’ve lacked all season – fight, grit, determination and luck. It may have been a well earned win last weekend, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that they’d have won that comfortably had they taken their chances.
We can’t afford to give Bournemouth the same sort of openings this time around – especially when we look set to be without two key players in Lascelles and Shelvey, with us up against a side who’ve won their last two league away games 0-3 and 0-4.
They are enjoying their best start to a Premier League season, are full of pace and energy and have one of the most in-form attackers in the league up top in Callum Wilson. He, Fraser, King and Brooks have scored 16 goals between them in the league already this season – which is over double what we’ve managed as a team in our 10 games so far.
Muto, Shelvey and Lascelles all look set to miss out, but, fortunately, all three of their likely replacements will be coming into this one full of confidence after impressive second-half cameos against Watford last time out.
Perez (Muto’s replacement) came on and scored the winner, Ki (Shelvey’s replacement) turned the game on its head and looked a class act from midfield and Schar (Lascelles’ replacement) put in a monstrous display from the back, bullying Watford’s strikers and looking extremely confident on the ball.
Let’s hope they can all have the same impact this time around. We may need them to if we want to earn a similar outcome against this in-form Bournemouth side.
Preferred XI
As ever, here’s the team I’d like to see, followed by the side I expect Rafa to go with:
Rondon proved his fitness after unexpectedly seeing out the entire 90 minutes last weekend, so he’ll start again – and with Muto set to miss out, Perez will almost certainly be recalled by Rafa. Let’s hope he can take confidence from last weekend’s winner and put in a much improved all-round display.
With Shelvey also out, Ki Sung-yueng looks nailed on to replace him in midfield alongside Mo Diame. This would’ve been a real concern a few weeks ago, but his game changing cameo last weekend has filled us all with hope that he can come in and do the business in Jonjo’s absence.
Kenedy and Ritchie seem pretty nailed on (although we need to see much more from the latter for me), but there’ll be a rare change to Benitez’s back five.
With Rafa confirming that it will be ‘difficult’ for Lascelles to recover in time for this one after aggravating a shoulder injury last weekend, Fabian Schar looks set to be handed what will be only his second league start of the season.
Hopefully he can come in and perform as he did against Watford. He didn’t put a foot wrong last time we saw him, winning all of his battles and being particularly impressive on the ball, so we’ll be in safe hands if he can continue that sort of form.
(4-4-1-1) – Dubravka – Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Dummett – Ritchie, Ki, Diame, Kenedy – Perez – Rondon.
The Opposition
Here’s a few ‘ones to watch’ in this in-form Bournemouth side:
Callum Wilson (ST): Recently called up to the England squad for the first time and rightly so, with him bagging an impressive 6 goals and 4 assists so far this season. He’ll be a handful and a real hard worker up top for the visitors.
Ryan Fraser (LM): Full of energy, pace and a winger whose first thought will be to run at his man. He’s been described as the ‘Scottish Messi’ and has an impressive tally of 3 goals and 5 assists so far this season – meaning he’s been involved in more goals than we’ve scored as a team!
Lerma (CDM): A player many may not have noticed so far this season, however he does a vital job in screening that Bournemouth defence while all others attack. The Colombian cost them £25m over the summer and is perhaps the signing they’ve been needing to make for a few years now.
Predicted Bournemouth XI – (4-2-3-1) Begovic – Francis, Cook, Ake, Smith – Lerma, Cook – Stanislas, Brooks, Fraser – Wilson.
Team news
Rafa has all but confirmed that Jonjo Shelvey, Jamaal Lascelels and Yoshinori Muto will miss out, with Florian Lejeune also out as he continues his comeback from a cruciate knee ligament injury.
For Eddie Howe, Joshua King is back in training and facing a late fitness test after three weeks out.
Match Prediction
If I’m being brutally honest, I can’t see us getting anything from this unless we tighten up at the back and show a little bit more going forward. We may have got a clean sheet last time out, but Watford would’ve had a few goals at least if they’d had their shooting boots on last weekend.
If Schar and Ki can come in and perform and we can match Bournemouth’s intensity then we have every chance, but I have a feeling Bournemouth will be a little more ruthless than Watford were last weekend – so there can be no room for error.
I think we’ll score as they always give you a chance, but I can see them outscoring us unfortunately. Let’s hope I’m proved wrong!
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Bournemouth
One final thought. Remember that there will be a minute’s SILENCE before kick off ahead of Remembrance Sunday. Please stay silent and reflect on those who gave their lives for freedom – don’t start applauding.
Howay the lads!
I mentioned Almiron a few months ago. Him and their other striker Martinez have taken Atlanta by storm and I watched them when Rooney played them. I think either would be worth a loan-to-buy move as MLS is winding down and would be over by the Jan transfer window.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BTW: MLS are getting more and more South Americans in and the quality is going up. NUFC should get a scout over here because there will probably be a lot of money pumped in before the North American World Cup which will raise the general standard of MLS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here’s a thought for you Olly. That Colombian cost almost as much as our whole team:
Dubravka – 5 million
Yedlin – 5 million
Diame -5 million
Ritchie – 10 million
Ayoze – 2 million
Schar – 3 million
The rest frees, loans and homegrown.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry, I think we paid something for Fernandez but you get my point.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
When did poppies become such a big controversy? I haven’t lived in the UK for 25 years but back then you bought a poppy and pinned it on your jacket, jumper or whatever. If you changed clothes you didn’t unpin the poppy and pin it on something else in fear of poppy police. I agree with the sentiment, I don’t agree with people being judgemental. There are many reasons you might not wear a poppy, like I said it could be on other clothes or have fallen off – remember they used to be pinned with a regular pin and invariably fell off. I say this because I read a story where somebody was stopped on the street and asked why their dog didn’t have a poppy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s some stat!
Just shows what we’re up against..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Bottom five have played the top five 19 times and have lost all 19.
22 points for safety given the current points accumulation of relegation fodder.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/09/premier-league-top-five-bottom-five-great-divide
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Extrapolation is a dangerous game but I have said a few times I thought 34 or 35 might be enough for safety. This mystical 40 point threshold just doesn’t exist anymore when there is such a disparity between the haves and have nots. You can see it is mostly about money. First the top 5-6, and then the have-some/spend-somes of Bournemouth, Everton, Leicester, Watford and Wolves are spending their way into a mid-table limbo with little chance of movement up or down (the Leicester miracle will not happen again).
The exceptions are probably Fulham who started from a low base. And Palace who have already spunked their cash and the cupboard is now bare. That means they are slugging it out with no-net-spenders like NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This 40 point number has always confounded me. It is an assumed safety number and yet is rarely needed to be safe. The real number is usually 36 or 37 but you don’t FEEL safe at this number. The 40 points gives you a sense of safety but it is both mystical and mythical because you don’t usually need the full 40. To add to this, sometimes you achieve it and still go down. I think West Ham were relegated on 42 or 43.
I don’t think we will even have to think about it this year as most of the bottom 7’s points are going to come from each other making a very low number likely safe.
What this means to us is that if we get to January with an historical low points number, SAY 15, we are still in the hunt. We will have 17 games to go and probably won’t need much more than a point per game from them to be safe. A certain FCB should be made aware of this and hopefully Rafa will be talking in public about 40 points but will be saying to Fatty that we realistically need 35.
Is it too early to think this way – have a look at our bench today and get back to me 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric could have gone for 10 comments in a row, surely 😯
And I’m not extrapolating on that! 😆
Toontaff(Quote)
Toontaff – he doesn’t need any encouragement mate!
georgio(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
It has been really quiet on here lately.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here we go…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Rondon
kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah it has, hardly ever get Sham on anymore .
kimtoon(Quote)
This doesn’t look good for the Bournemouth player… ☹️?
Great for Rondon to get his first prem goal for us.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I think Bournemouth will score so we need more goals though.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Rondon again.
kimtoon(Quote)
Get iiiiiinnnnnnn….Rondon again!
When was the last time a Toon player scored a hat trick…? I don’t remember
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Don’t wanna tempt fate, but I did say weeks ago that Rondon when fit, will be more potent than Gayle.
And against Bournemouth too, wasn’t expecting this must admit.
kimtoon(Quote)
Great pressure from us here like , a good save from bergovic and kenedy nearly scores.
keep it up lads, lets have another.
kimtoon(Quote)
bollocks, I meant from us not them ffs
we should be 4.0 up by rights
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh, Perez should of scored
**** it
kimtoon(Quote)
need to carry that on second half and not turn to ***** like we usually do.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shocking miss from Perez there … I hope we don’t regret these misses… I just had a feeling Bournemouth would score..?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
We have gotten weak at corners too
kimtoon(Quote)
Dubai, we miss far too many, have to be much more clinical
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh, Rondon , another chance
kimtoon(Quote)
Christ just gave away another free header, what’s happened to us at corners.
Could be 2.2
kimtoon(Quote)
jesus now Ritchie misses 👿
Gonna regret these misses
kimtoon(Quote)
Hayden for Ritchie !!!!really
kimtoon(Quote)
Turning to **** here like, knew it , nerves setting in.
kimtoon(Quote)
kenedy off Clark on
kimtoon(Quote)
Bloody talksport commentary is blocked here. Could get Radio Newcastle but don’t want to get depressed listening to “Ando”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Atsu forces a save, need one of these to go in really
kimtoon(Quote)
Hells bells here comes defoe
kimtoon(Quote)
off side ha gosling
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh Rondon, nearly
corner
kimtoon(Quote)
Showing the Leicester game and the tributes to the Chairman. Did they ever figure out what happened with the helicopter?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Get In , great game, unexpected win.
very pleased.
motm Rondon
kimtoon(Quote)
I know it worked out but I was worried that we went ultra defensive with Clark and Hayden on. Need a win from Spurs now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
FFS we’re 14th.
georgio(Quote)
not heard anything Eric, gone very quiet .
kimtoon(Quote)
Hughes will probably get sacked in the International Break. Jut saw the highlights and there was a penalty not given for Watford, then a makeup call with a S’ton goal incorrectly ruled out and then a deflected equalizer. I think Hughes is doomed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Maybe Rodgers to return to Southampton. He must be getting bored with The Scottish Pub League by now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Watched Burnley and they are not very good. There really are 7 teams that could go down including us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Was Ashley at the match?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Not sure if I agree with going with 8 at the back after the subs but we probably needed to make sure we could defend corners better.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, I’ll take that win but it was definitely squeaky *** time for the last 20 mins… we still miss so many chances to finish the game off.
I’m still curious however as to when we actually had any player score a hat trick for us and who..? It’s been a while I think.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Really pleased for Rondon getting a home brace. He spoke well about playing in front of the SJP fans – he’ll have liked it even more today I bet.
Big win that one to build on last weeks result – massive for player confidence and esp when 3 big players were out. Shelvey and Lascelles aren’t just 2 of our best players, they are leaders on the pitch too – so to win without them shows good resilience.
Perez missed a good chance to put the game to bed. I’m not having a go at him coz I think he played well today, but it’s that inconsistency in his finishing that I wish he could improve. It didn’t matter today, and like I say, I thought he had a decent game overall.
Well done boys ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Looks like Rafa might be going on one of his runs. Both our wins have been touch and go but we won’t remember that at the end of the season. Bringing on Hayden and Clark shows we need at least a midfielder and striker in January. With the return of Lejeune that might be enough.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dubai – I remember Demba Ba getting a hat trick against Stoke.
Didn’t Gini score 4 in one of our games – I want to say Norwich but can’t remember now
Sharpy17(Quote)
Palace look weak without Zaha. Hopefully lose today because their squad is not that great when you look at in more detail. They have a 30 million striker, Benteke, doing absolutely nothing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And… I like Townsend but when you look at his goals and assists he may be a flatter to deceive type player.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks Sharpy, yes I think Gini was the last one to score a hat trick for us… that’s a few years ago now… ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Looking at our remaining fixtures up to 1st Jan and the window opening:
Burnley
WHU
Everton
Wolves
H’field
Fulham
L’pool
Watford
I could see another 9pts from Burnley, H’field and Fulham and a few extra points from a draw or 2 in the other fixtures.
That could have us sat on 18-20pts.
Does Ashley spend in Jan?. He’s gonna wanna try and keep Rafa, so that may see him folk out.
But, might he also think that this set of players are enough to get the points to keep us in the PL – based on 20pts being halfway to the magic 40. But, not spending will likely see Rafa leave – will Ashley be fine with that as Rafa is on a big wage (in his eyes) – or has Ashley finally realised he has a top manager who could achieve something with his club – if he’d only back him.
Hopefully we pick up those points from those games to create that dilemma
Sharpy17(Quote)
Great win. Just two of our players were poor today – Perez and Yedlin. Like Watford last week Bournemouth have identified our defensive weak spot – Yedlin. Nearly all Bournemouth attacks came down our right. If Lascelles is fit then I would play Schar at right back Rondon’s Hold up play was excellent. I was surprised Kenedy wasn’t taken off earlier as he was clearly struggling. Diame was also carrying an injury. Ki had another good game and outpassed Shelvey again today. Atsu when he came on apart from one good run looked like a little boy lost.
Groucho(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/11/10/newcastle-2-1-bournemouth-salomon-rondon-steals-the-show-in-outstanding-display-at-sjp/
GET IN!!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)