Kick off between Leicester City and Newcastle United is just under 45 minutes away with the Magpies in particular in desperate need of all three points. The starting line-ups for both sides have now been confirmed:
Leicester City XI:
Schmeichel,
Simpson
Huth
Morgan
Fuchs
Mahrez
Kante
Drinkwater
Albrighton
Okazaki
Vardy
Subs: Schwarzer, Wasilewski, Amartey, Inler, Gray, Schlupp, Ulloa
Newcastle United XI:
Elliot
Janmaat
Taylor
Lacelles
Colback
Shelvey
Anita
Perez
Sissoko
Wijnaldum
Mitrovic
Subs: Darlow, Sterry, Saivet, Townsend, De Jong, Riviere, Doumbia
What do you think of Rafa’s team selection on his maiden game in charge for Newcastle United? Have your say on this and all the action is it unfolds in the comments section below.
Sham I have been saying the same all season, apart from 2 or 3 games he has been ****
Big Dave(Quote)
Well at least we are fighting under McGrin it would already be game over .
AXEL(Quote)
Well not great so far. Let’s see what happens at half time and see what subs are made (and when they are made) I’d like to see Townsend and Doumbia get on.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
The player called Anita is Leicester’s best player by a country mile. Stops all our good play in a second. Cunningly he is kitted out as one of our team. Surely the officials will spot this
Toby Le Rhone(Quote)
Just hope put Townsend on for the big Sisy (cant spell his name) he’s been useless so lets get the new lad on
Simon(Quote)
Sissoko has put a shift in there like. His workrate and desire has certainly improved – yes his final ball could be better but I think that will come.
Him & Gini have been involved a lot in that first half. I want to see more from Perez personally – if not then get Townsend on over there for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That was a great finish from Leicester and that apart it was pretty even. Okazaki has 47 goals in 96 games for Japan. Got hattricks against Togo and also Hong Kong so the opposition wasn’t that strong. But still… Rooney has made a career out of flat track bullying the likes of San Moreno.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
yeah Vardy was off side
Big Dave(Quote)
Leicester have just hit on a freak season, where players like Vardy, Huth, Kante and Mahrez are all in the form of their career and the right age. It will be interesting to see if the club can manage transfers to maintain success or will they slip back to mid table? I personally think they will struggle to carry this into next season. Easy come easy go and like I said, freak season when 7-8 players are in the form of their lives.
DJG(Quote)
Well I thought they started falling apart defensively after their goal , I just hope Rafa can get them up second half. Thought Leicester looked a bit jittery before that goal, we looked organised but not after they scored.
kimtoon(Quote)
So Vardy was offside when he assisted Okazaki. D’oh!
I have seen nothing positive from Sissy Sharpy. Anita has actually played well from what I’ve seen.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham agree neets has done some good work tonight.
kimtoon(Quote)
Didn’t notice Vardy was offside in normal time
kimtoon(Quote)
Mitro is the player who looked reborn to me. If we’d played like this all season and taken some of those chances, we’d be fine. Time is running out though. Need need to test Simpson more, we know how he backs off.
DJG(Quote)
Although I do agree Perez has looked subdued too Sharpy.
Shamrock(Quote)
Reading the comments it is clear fans have their favourites and hates. Anita for me could score a hat trick and I would still think he was rubbish and I guess it is the same with Sissoko for others. Hey Ho that’s football
Toby Le Rhone(Quote)
Sham – the lad hasn’t stopped running all half. He’s got into the box more this half than I’ve seen all season, stuck a couple of canny balls into the box and closed down well. His decision making on when to play the pass has let him down and he should have got out of Mits way – but I don’t see how he’s been terrible or stood out for individual criticism based on that 45mins personally.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am going to make an official complaint to the FA about Leicester. There is just no way on earth that a set of players can be so fit! They just never stop running!!!
Stuart79(Quote)
I cant believe how often Sissy loses the ball or gives it away
Big Dave(Quote)
One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact we are pretty clueless in the final third. Maybe De Jong could help us there?
Stuart79(Quote)
Sham – I just meant I’m surprise he was a stand out for criticism ahead of one or two others that’s all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy Obertan does a lot of running too to be fair. It’s progress I want to see, not headless chicken syndrome. He gave away a free kick in a dangerous position just now too.
Fingers crossed he makes me eat my words this half mate.
Shamrock(Quote)
Panic stricken we are in defence and if this doesn’t go in I will think it could be our day.
Stuart79(Quote)
Uh oh.
Shamrock(Quote)
Leicester seem to know what each other is doing, who’s making the runs and where to put the ball
we look like a team that has never played together.
Just awful
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
First walk of shame coming up then.
Shamrock(Quote)
hope townsend can make the difference
Big Dave(Quote)
Townsend coming on
kimtoon(Quote)
Sissy in middle then?
Shamrock(Quote)
neets off
kimtoon(Quote)
getting sick of shelveys constant back passes now
enough
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Let’s see if Sissy is more effective in the middle
kimtoon(Quote)
Has he just gone 4-4-2 now then?
Move Perez up with Mit, Sissoko left and Townsend right – Shelvey & Gini through the middle
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ffs.
Shamrock(Quote)
I’m sorry but Sissoko needs to be hitting the target there! **** poor!
Stuart79(Quote)
come on Sissy 🙄
Big Dave(Quote)
garbage
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Why didn’t sissoko just hit that?!!?
Andy the Magpie(Quote)
Townsend was begging for that ball. Nonway he would have missed from there.
Shamrock(Quote)
We are playing well since Rafa’s change.
Shamrock(Quote)
no room now
Leicester happy to sit deep and absorb our pitiful attacks
game over i’m afraid
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
nice little passage of play there
kimtoon(Quote)
there is no way this team would have worked like this for Schteve
Big Dave(Quote)
I booed Sissoko last week and I’m not his biggest fan – and yes he should have shot there.
But in his defence tonight – he’s not a left winger, yet pretty much everything has went down that way in the first hour of this game.
We’ve seen hardly anything of Janmaat or Perez on the right – maybe Townsend will change that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave we still look fragile and toothless though at times.
Sissy is getting on my nerves a bit
kimtoon(Quote)
I am really sick of that Kante.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
These will get nervous and sit back like they’re nearly doing the longer it stays at only 1. We can get at them.
Still a couple of subs to use too. Need to keep it tight now for next ten mins.
Stuart79(Quote)
They have so much energy. How it is possible? We need their fitness coach.
Stuart79(Quote)
Let’s have Doumbia on for Mitro. His movement is better.
Groucho(Quote)
Just realised why we are losing, fecking Pards is in the stand jinxing us 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
I think we are doing OK. Early days but more compact and more fight. Just need the quality.
Shamrock(Quote)
And I wish they would take fuchs off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
De Jong!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Because they are league leaders Stu and that confidence will give you the extra yard, they are running on adrenalin .
kimtoon(Quote)
I’ve seen enough here to reckon Rafa will have a positive impact on us.
Stuart79(Quote)
Janmaat’s passing is like Sissoko’s.
Groucho(Quote)
get mitro off now ffs
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
never gonna get back into this, pity, undone by a bloody wonder goal 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Would like to of seen Dumdums get a run out tbh
kimtoon(Quote)
Kante is a good player mind
kimtoon(Quote)
Say what you like about De Jong but he does look comfortable on the ball.
Stuart79(Quote)
just pathetic in front of goal
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Was that a handball from morgan that’s the question
kimtoon(Quote)
hand ball. Penalty.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There’s a chance left in this game for us.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh bloody hell Mitro, you should of hit it
kimtoon(Quote)
Mitrovic is just a target man for me like. He carries very little goal threat after that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have had chances to get back into this, our confidence in front of goal is shot
kimtoon(Quote)
This ref is the worst i have seen since Trelford Mills
AXEL(Quote)
C’mon Dumdums get us the equaliser man
kimtoon(Quote)
too late
should have brought him on 10 mins ago
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Townsend trying to be clever with the backheel took our momentum away and nearly cost us a goal there.
Shamrock(Quote)
Claudio geeing up the fans, they had gone very quiet.
kimtoon(Quote)
well I have seen a massive improvement in workrate from us tonight. I haven’t seen our team work as hard as this in a very long time
Big Dave(Quote)
Encouraging signs but same old issues up front. Although we looked more hungry and tidier at the back.
Our season isn’t going to be decided by our games against Leicester ect.
Stuart79(Quote)