I can’t lie, I’m dreading this one – based on a combination of our predicament both on and off the pitch and the sheer quality of opponent we’re set to face.
This marauding Man City side have scored 30 goals in their last seven games in all competitions – averaging over 4 a game. We, however, have managed just 19 all season in the Premier League – scoring three league goals for the first in our win over Cardiff just over a week ago.
It’s going to be a backs to the wall job where we’ll be lucky to see more than 25% of the ball and a night where every single player in black and white will have to carry out their role to perfection if we’re to stand a chance here.
Predicted XI
We’ve often played 5 at the back, but had Perez and Atsu either side of Rondon, however I see both ‘wingers’ playing just ahead of our wing backs in this one, with us likely to put 10 men behind the ball.
With Ki, Shelvey and Diame all out, Hayden and Longstaff will almost certain to start in midfield. After all, they are our ONLY fit central midfielders.
On that note, Rondon is also our only available striker with Joselu injured, Gayle out on loan and Muto at the Asian Cup – yet we don’t even own him.
A reminder that we’re the ’19th richest club in the world’, yet this is what Rafa’s dealing with..
Predicted NUFC XI – (5-4–1) – Dubravka– Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie – Perez, Longstaff, Hayden, Atsu – Rondon.
The Opposition
In this section I usually pick out the ‘ones to watch’, but in all honesty there’s not a player in this City side who won’t pose a threat.
Aguero’s record against us is incredible, wingers Sterling and Sane are devastating and will drift infield as their wing-backs overlap and, in central areas, the likes of De Buryne, Bernando Silva and David Silva will be the playmakers pulling the strings. What’s scary is their centre-back Aymeric Laporte is probably a better footballer than most of our attackers..
Predicted Man City XI – (4-3-3) Ederson – Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Danilo – D.Silva, Fernandinho, B.Silva – Sterling, Aguero, Sane.
Team newsS
Shelvey, Diame and Dummett have all been ruled out once again by Rafa, although it sounds like all three and Ki aren’t TOO far away from returning.
Joselu will also miss out with a twisted ankle.
For City, Kompany is unavailable and left-back Mendy is being ‘monitored’ after making his long-awaited comeback last week.
Match Prediction
This is a Man City side that win 3-0 on a ‘bad day’, so that combined with our woeful record at St James’ Park is pretty damning.
We won our last league game at home convincingly vs Cardiff, but the lack of transfer activity since then and the pitiful FA Cup performance against Watford over the weekend has killed any momentum we created.
I’m just hoping this isn’t an absolute hammering. I don’t expect us to score and would be surprised if we had more than a handful of shots on target, but I think Rafa’s tactics will help stave off a cricket score.
Prediction: Newcastle 0-3 Man City
Howay the lads!
Olly: you didn’t mention the sit-in organized by the Magpie Group after the game.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And we’ll see what the 62% really do tomorrow. I will be shocked if there are more than a couple of hundred participating in the “sit-in”. Most of the crowd will leave anyway if City go 3 up. Then the Magpie Group are probably dispersed around the ground anyway so nobody will even notice. I am sure the TV cameras will be turned off by then.
I doubt if even the Chronic will post a picture as it will not back their agenda that the Magpie Group know what they are doing – WHEN THEY DO NOT. There is plenty of anger at Ashley but as I have said before this lot could not organize a p!ss up in a brewery. Not yet anyway. We will see when the window closes and if we get beat by Spurs and Wolves.
The sit-in will be an embarrassment. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it….
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – have you seen the new suggestion of a pitch invasion?
Can’t say I like that idea much – mainly because those involved get a football ban and ultimately it’s a frustrated fan that suffers – or it just encourages the horse punching hooligans to cast a bad light on our true fans.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That was my “62% reference. All talk.
Obviously people could ask me what would I do since I am complaining. I have no idea. Nothing seems to phase the Fat Man so I have absolutely no idea. I would not be wasting my time on a sit-in that nobody will do and will make it worse for anything they organize in the future.
Any organized protest should have at least some chance of success in order to build momentum. This has no chance.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There will be anger if/when we blow the transfer window again. Then there is a good chance it will be losses to Watford-City-Spurs-Wolves. That is when you organize something. BUT not before the match because that is too important to have so much negativity.
If we get very little from Huddersfield and Burnley then all bets are off for me and they can all protest to their hearts content – before, after, during the game. I will not care by then.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
As for the game itself, it’s just another game of how many goals we can restrict them to really.
City have a squad of 2 teams that could both probably finish top 4.
The huffy side of me wants us to get slaughtered to further put the heat on Ashley – but I know that just isn’t the case, and actually the heat would be more on Rafa and the players – those who actually give a ****.
I don’t expect anything out of tomorrow – 2-0 defeat or better would do I think. But they are desperately wanting to make that ground up on Liverpool and keep the pressure on them – so they will want to smash us
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – the Bolton fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch in a televised game the other week. I’m not sure why tennis balls like ??♂️, but probably more effective than a sit in and less aggressive than a pitch invasion.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Apparently chocolate coins are going to be thrown around the pitch edge and 40,000 flyers being handed out with DW sports on them for people to show during the game.
KIMTOON(Quote)
We should throw plastic or fluffy fat pigs onto the pitch with Ashley out on them.
KIMTOON(Quote)
MONOPOLY money could be thrown or bits of wall paper
KIMTOON(Quote)
I think you have to be careful throwing chocolate coins. How can you tell if it is not a real coin on CCTV?
I know a protest has to start somewhere, I just think the City match is not very good timing and few will join in.
Will anybody watching on TV even know what a DW Sports sign is about? I am telling you these protest groups have no clue. Who is going to make the leap from a DW Sports sign to Sports Direct if they are not a NUFC fans? Just stupid.
DW Sports made a profit if 4million pounds last year. Hardly a major player and very likely to go bust in the near future with all of the competition from SD and Amazon.
Whelan sold Wigan for 22 million to a Hong Kong Group. Hardly something for NUFC to aspire to.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DW Sports signs FFS. These people are morons.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
West Ham going for maxi Gomez £43m !
KIMTOON(Quote)
Personally I would like to see either baseball, cricket balls or basket balls thrown into the directors seating area tomorrow.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sports Direct Revenue 2017 = 3,245 million, Income 231 million.
DW Sports Revenue 2017 = 120 million, Income 4 million.
I happen to think there is a good chance that both will go bust in the next 10 years unless Ashley can keep up his internet presence. His “saving the highstreet” is a property play and very risky anyway.
Even if you ask the City fans tomorrow what the DW signs are about I bet most wouldn’t know. How do you expect the TV audience to know.
Magpie Group are fckin clueless.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hopefully not from Adil Rashid judging by his 1st test display. He got lucky against the Indians and is not a real leggy. His googly is his best ball and he telegraphs it to right-handers by bowling a foot outside off with it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Uncle Ed’s prediction for tomorrow is 5 centre halfs across a back 5 – Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Fernandez, Clark.
I think he has lost the plot. He does know we are playing City, right? The City that doesn’t have a forward over 5-8. Aguero, Sterling, Silvas, Sane etc.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Heed predicts City 3 NUFC 0. That sounds about right.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Every time I see Merse he reminds me of when a little kid draws a face on a balloon. The 2 dots for eyes, the inverted question mark for a nose and a little smile. All it would need is a few warts and it would be the spitting image.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
NUFC fans receive massive boost before City game – Joselu out with twisted ankle.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think we will just park the bus, not venture out of our half and try to keep the score down… goal difference will very likely be what might just keep us up or at least give us a chance. We will not win, but if we can somehow keep it to 1-0 or 2-0 that will be as good as we can hope for I think. ????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I expect there to be a couple of positively spun stories this evening or tomorrow just in time for the game tomorrow and the various protests.
Eric – I see the weather is due to be -27 during the day in Chicago this week… ? I’d like to go there for that if only for an hour.
Stuart79(Quote)
So Rafa has said this;
Rafa Benitez has admitted he has little control over transfers, stating he ‘doesn’t know’ if we’ll sign anyone as it’s the ‘clubs policy’ that he isn’t involved in deals.
Sorry but that makes him as much of a puppet as Pardew, McClaren and Carver imo. If that HAS been the case for the last few windows, then I have lost a lot of respect for him to be honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Or the complete opposite of positive news. Rafa refuses to rule out walking away on Thursday after the deadline passes. I wouldn’t blame him one bit. Let’s hope this galvanises the supporters to create real hell for Jabba tomorrow.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy I’m starting to believe Benitez is a yes man as well mate. I agree Pardew and Carver would be getting a lot more stick right now.
Stem(Quote)
Rafa has the final say on transfers. The problem is the players he mostly puts forward the club don’t sign. He then has to go down his list. I wouldn’t think any less of him if he left but I also expect he was hoping every window would be different. I suppose the fact he would have to pay £6m had an impact too…
Stuart79(Quote)
He may have ended up a puppet but not by choice, and he’s got £6M reasons for not walking out on the job.
The fat odious one has conspired against him.
cross the fat pig at your peril.
The fat pig never loses.
Little Davey(Quote)
Comparing Rafa to pards or carver is madness. They actively towed the party line, Rafa does not . He used to have a little dig in the media over lack of signings but likely now realizes it’s pointless and he’s away come may so probably is past trying to get blood from a stone .
KIMTOON(Quote)
He doesn’t need the money, has a very big personal fortune and gave a few million to the Hillsborough fund as well. It would seem a point of honor that he see’s out his contract and tries to keep up up.
I believe he’d love to stay and take us forward but knows it’s futile under the current owner.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Hi KimToon, its been awhile. How’s Lew ?
Little Davey(Quote)
Final say on transfers but not budget apparently. So basically no say then, since you never get first , second or likely third choice.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ok , mate , had a rocky 5 months back end of last year but all good at the mo. How’s you ?
KIMTOON(Quote)
https://twitter.com/UtdAgainstAsh/status/1089961390088118272
KIMTOON(Quote)
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-6641729/Mike-Ashley-plots-bid-collapsed-cafe-chain-Patisserie-Valerie.html
KIMTOON(Quote)
Should be fun. I have all of the gear but sometimes that is not even enough.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He will be the biggest loser when the club is relegated.
funrafa(Quote)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47031665
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – I don’t think it’s that mad. He’s a better manager by far, no question of that. But actions speak louder than words and he may have had the odd pop at Ashley, but he’s put up with the same working conditions as those other managers – if true.
I reserve my judgement just now, but he can’t twist and stick around collecting his coin in my opinion. Keegan walked, and Rafa could have at any time.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’d hate to see Rafa leave coz that would be as a result of not being backed, and it looking highly unlikely that a takeover happening – both bad for us and Rafa leaving would be ‘bad things come in threes’.
But, I would respect him all the more for it – and I think most fans would. He would not be see as the villain for walking away – Ashley would be for not doing what was needed to keep him.
Who knows who we’d end up with – who cares?, it won’t really matter coz they aren’t fixing anything. If Rafa can’t make a success of NUFC under Ashley, no manager could.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, He saw the potential and if he’s guilty of anything it’s the naivety of believing Ashley is a man of integrity. I also think he thought Stavely was taking over last year and knew she wanted him in situ . When that fell through i think he hoped a new buyer would come in , which if we are to believe the latest batch of BS , looked possible. Again it’s the fakeover and we’ve all been strung along again, Rafa included.
He is a very wealthy man Sharpy, believe me, he does not need the money, his love for football is his driver. He donated loads to Hillsborough fund, almost as much as he earns as our coach so it’s a bit simplistic to say he’s he’s just picking up the coin as it were.
I know what your’e saying as KK, walked but i really believe Rafa wants to try and create something and by the way, KK made a pretty penny in compo from walking out, so not that different from Rafa staying for his wage.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Not digging at KK, there by the way, he was right to do what he did, but all the same he made money from walking away. Rafa makes it by staying and trying to effect change, albeit he’s trying to hold back the tide of apathy .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy, my guess is Moyes, Sherwood, anyone desperate and with the ability to say yes that’s fine Mike. 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – of course he’s a wealthy man, if not he would have taken a job in China for 4 times what he’s getting with us now.
I know what he’s said about building something with us and all the other right things the fans want to hear – and I might believe most of it. But don’t miss the fact that what he has at NUFC works very well for his personal life. He’s very well paid, close to his family – which he has said many times is hugely important to him at this time of his life. He is also at a club where he has absolute security – he knew he was never getting sacked – he was either walking or extending his contract. He also knew that the fans would get behind him and hoped that would be the leverage to get what he needed out of Ashley – it didn’t work.
I don’t think he was naive at all. I think he knew what he was letting himself in for and knew it was a no loose situation – I say no loose rather than win/win because I don’t think he’s won here, but he hasn’t lost either.
I think it’s right KK was not financial worse off than Rafa, and yeah there’s no real difference between the compo and wages – the difference is by staying Rafa is essentially accepting the working conditions. KK leaving and getting his compo was him saying ‘this isn’t right’ – the compo was a backing of that and Rafa should have done the same imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – Yeah, either of those 2 would be the obvious types. It wouldn’t surprise me if Pardew was there too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well i’m glad he hasn’t walked away, if he had we’d still be in the fizzy imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
If I was Rafa I too would have walked but I can’t be too critical of him for not walking. He does have the final say on transfers and that may have been why he’s still here because he, probably like us is wondering why the club aren’t spending money and he maybe hoped it would change like many fans did.
I would be staggered if Moyes wasn’t appointed by Jabba if Rafa left. Either now or for next season.
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim – He could have walked the Jan we were in the fizzy, coz he wasn’t backed then. But the time to walk was the summer gone. Ashley publicly said that Rafa would get every penny the club generated for transfer (after running costs) – that clearly was not and has not been the case.
To me, that would be a sufficient enough breach to walk. He could have held his head high with a champions promotion and 10th place finish and hand over a PL side to the next mug.
Not being backed may not have got him a pay out – but I think it would have been enough to not owe the fat $hit any money back.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see Napoli have got in there for Almiron. What’s the betting they’re selling him to a PL team in a couple of years for £50m…
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – this Almiron thing makes me laugh mate. He was never an option at that fee – which for the record I think is a very fair and reasonable fee in today’s market – but is probably double what we’d spend on a single player under Ashley.
He won’t be the first or last players we could have bought and doubled the fee of though. There was Bony who we decided was too expensive at £12.5m – he went to City from Swansea for double that – and of course Delle Alli who we decided was crazily priced at £5m – I wonder what Spurs would get for him now?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mark Douglas
Verified account
@MsiDouglas
1h1 hour ago
More
I don’t think Rafa walks this week. He’s a man of honour and he made a promise to see out his contract.
But not buying players for him is/ would be an act of huge self harm for the club. Their policy is their policy. But what good is it if they get relegated?
kimtoon(Quote)
? ?️UNITED Against Ashley ? ?️
@UtdAgainstAsh
7h7 hours ago
More
Despite @NUFC calling the police on one of the lads, tonight’s peaceful protest is still 100% on.
He, nor we have done anything wrong!
Just goes to prove how sly and rotten the club is !!!
This has made the team more determined – especially if a leaflet has rattled them (1/2)
kimtoon(Quote)
I am going to go against everything I have said before and say I don’t mind that there will be a protest att he game tonight. For the simple reason that I don’t think it will affect the result. I still don’t think the sit-in will work as nobody will take any notice and the DW Sports leaflets will just be confusing to anybody watching on TV.
None of this will mean anything to Ashley though. He will do what he was going to do anyway. Perhaps he will wake up and make a late bid for Almiron and I am not going to believe the deal is dead because Ryder says so. Ryder knows nothing and is as much in the dark as the rest of us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
When was the last time we were 18 to 1 to win a home game?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
When I grew up watching football you pretty much knew what the team was going to be week in, week out. There were injuries and that is what would change things. We don’t need a massive squad because we only play about 42 games a season. The 38 league and 3 or4 in the Cups. That is the same as the old First Division WITHOUT the cups.
So, why do we need Joselu as backup? We have 2 centre forwards and can play a false 9 if both are injured. You know what I am going to say – Joselu is a false 9 anyway.
City and Liverpool need massive squads because they are usually fighting on 4 fronts. What do we need 25 players for apart from the fact that about 10 of them are ****.
Sell Joselu, loan Murphy. Addition by subtraction because Joselu will never be good enough and Murphy needs some confidence and we might be able to sell him if he does well in the Championship and we stay up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am beginning to wonder if Uncle Ed knows anything about football. I think he is stuck in his basement and only ever talks about football with one of his sons. I have been in Chicago a long time but I get out to the pub and watch a few games and not just NUFC. If Ed is getting his feedback from the constant bickering on his site then I fear he has lost touch.
I say this because of his 5 centre half prediction for tonight – all over 6 foot and in a back 5. Maybe Rafa will play it as a way to show up our limited squad but it would be crazy against a team of midgets. Surely, you play Yedlin and Ritchie as wingbacks because they have a bit more speed and agility? If anybody has watched City, ever, ever, you would know they attack you first on the wings and then try to pass it into the box for a tap-in, with De Bruyne and Silva waiting on the edges for rebounds.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Jabba is buying a sofa comoany as well as a cafe. He loves investing in everything apart from newcastle united.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – if this plank doesn’t get his hand in his pocket before Thurs, the protesters can do what they bloody want for me mate – I’d be passed caring by that stage.
Their action would be the reason for us going down – home form or not.
As for Rafa keep calling for calm and unity. If Ashley doesn’t get us players in he can shove his unity up his ar$e. Coz he’ll be gonna at the end of the season – so what unity then???.
If he was so keen on unity, sign the contract Ashley wanted him to sign before he’d hand over the money.
Rafa will leave and we will be stuck with Ashley – there’s the unity right there.
So let the protesters do what they want I say.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am sure he is going to turn the Department Stores into multi-use with European Style arcades on the ground floor (not like the one on Percy Street 🙂 ). Open up the front windows so you can see inside with shops, bars, and restaurants in full view with people sitting outside them. It is the only way I can think to drive traffic to Sports Direct.
Find some way to keep the teenage brats away and he will be onto a winner as he will squeeze the landlords for rents and the councils on rates. They will have no choice.
It is still a risk though, but that is what has been done in the successful big city downtowns like Chicago. It is all hotels and service (bars and restaurants) with some high end (and low-end TK Maxx) shopping.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The club have cancelled season tickets for those organising protests… ? It’s like North Korea.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: just been out and my car door is frozen shut (luckily I don’t need it this week). It only gets worse from here as predicted wind chills are minus 50. Supposed to get as cold as a week in 2014 when it was the coldest I have ever known it here. Went to the store that time which is only 200 hundred yards away and had to stop at a coffee shop half way home to warm up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I didn’t understand why they sacked that steward for taking a selfie with players either. A warning if it was prohibited, but to sack him for that!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – this country is too busy arguing and pissing about over Brexit that they don’t realise there will be nowt left by the time we leave!!!.
Ashley is buying it all up, but the government should be trying to help save these companies.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Charlie Austin available from Saints. I know he’s had his injuries and hasn’t played much this season, but I’d take him over Joselu.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Here’s what I think, bearing in mind that I’m totally pissed off and depressed now,…
1 we will not get any players over the line,we try but just couldn’t do it..
2 Rafa decides he has been humiliated enough and walks away
3 we bring back Alan Pardew for the rest of the season
4 relegation
5 embarrassing derby defeats in the championship
????????????????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Not allowing leazes flags to display flags because they had the audacity to moan about binned flags.
Cancelling season tickets of those organising protest
Reporting fan in the united against Ashley group to the police for organising a peaceful protest
Sacking a steward over a bloody selfie
Turning off concourse tv’s when fans entered 11 mins late for game in protest
Silly little slights by a once proud institution
RIP NUFC, welcome police state united
Pathetic little owner with his broken and tatty plaything.
Think most of us are about done now, the anger and any hope is slowly turning to a well rounded who gives a *****.
I will watch tonight, more out of morbid curiosity now and sure in the belief that no takeover or transfer in are gonna happen.
Isn’t the beautiful game supposed to be fun, at least some of the time .
kimtoon(Quote)
Sky sports breaking news
Newcastle in talks for Samaris and Barreca
Hardly gonna save us them two and i knew we’d see a breaking news story, helps to quell any protest later.
Tomorrow , SSN will have breaking news that talks broke down .
kimtoon(Quote)
So, what have we seriously considered so far:
* Lukaku. We knew he was injured and he failed a medical.
* Samaris. Out of contract in the summer.
* Monaco reserve.
WTF…
Almiron – I think he is a good player but he plays in MLS FFS and Rooney looks good here. So, still a gamble.
That’s it. We really should have changed the name to Sports Direct Park and now change the strip to Red and Blue.
He is definitely repaying the bulk of his loan. There is no other explanation for us sleepwalking into relegation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – hardly breaking news either. We’ve been mincing on with those 2 loan deals for the last 2 weeks – so says Sky’s own Keith Downie – so hardly hot off the press.
Oh, and Samaris will only come in so Ashley can sell Hayden – so another window of profit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ashley also delayed the tax filing for MASH, owner of NUFC, which was due this week. Last year he delayed the NUFC account filings from March until May (after season’s end). We all know he is hiding the repayment of the loans, but why does he even care if we know at this point? Just trying to scrape by and hope Rafa saves us from relegation before Fatty really antagonizes the masses?
4 losses in a row (Watford, City, Spurs, Wolves) and no significant signing and there will almost certainly be trouble. If Rafa walks, then all bets are off.
I can see us maybe picking up a point from those 3 league games which will certainly put us in the bottom 3 and in a terrible mood before Huddersfield and Burnley.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DT: I bought a second hand Nikon 800 to take my mind off this NUFC malarkey. Checked the sensor and all the buttons and it is like new. $700. Now have to plan a few trips so I can find subjects worthy of this monster.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy, it’s a cynical ploy to dampen down protest to use today to confirm they are in talks with them though.
As if the thought of them two would excite most fans. 🙄
Pathetic attempt at good news
**** off jabba and let us at least try to compete again.
kimtoon(Quote)
Good for you Eric, I don’t know much about Nikon though, I’ve always used Canon as my main camera, although I have about 30 or more cameras at the moment. (None of them Nikon though) … ?. Enjoy using it. I’m sure it’s a great camera.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Olly reporting that we might get Almiron. That would cheer me up no end. We are desperate so it might be true and you have to believe that there might be something in it because Ryder was so sure that the deal was off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Keith Downie
Verified account
@SkySports_Keith
2m2 minutes ago
More
BREAKING: Newcastle have agreed terms with Atlanta United for Miguel Almiron. We understand he’s travelling to the UK for a medical. Likely to be a club record transfer. #NUFC
But will it break down at the last min ? Don’t stop the protest
kimtoon(Quote)
this guy broke it
https://twitter.com/DougRobersonAJC/status/1090302001085329408
kimtoon(Quote)