We’re just minutes away from kick-off in the Magpies’ crucial match-up with fellow relegation strugglers Norwich City.
United boss Rafa Benitez has named his starting eleven and looks like this:
After recovering from his knock during the Tyne and Wear Derby almost two weeks ago, Dutchman Daryl Janmaat returns to the starting eleven in his familiar right back position.
Further up the field, striker Pappis Cisse starts a game for the first time since the 19th of December 2015.
What’s your opinion of Rafa’s team selection then folks? Voice your opinion below and get behind the Magpies this afternoon!
Stuart and I had argued a few months ago about whether NUFC needed Championship form to stay up. At the time we needed about 1.25 points per game to stay up which is mid-table form. Now we need Championship form 🙂
WTF has happened to Wijnaldum? Does he just not want to be here? I think it is time to give de Jong a go as the Number 10. I am not giving up on Gini but we have to try something different away from home. And Lascelles has to start to combat Pelle. Screw Colo.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
eric – wijnaldum?
he helped get us into the mess we are in – that’s what happened to him.
the nut-job shelvey and the waste of space townsend haven’t covered themselves in glory either.
roy cropper(Quote)
Roy to be honest I thought Shelvey and Townshend would have added a lot more to our team, more so Shelvey as I thought he would have added some much needed grit.
Big Dave(Quote)
The only players we have bought in that have impressed me are Perez initially,Mbemba and Mitro , Gini in spurts but frankly most are not up for the fight it would seem. Thauvin, Saivet, Doumbia, Cabella when he was here and you would have to say even Shelvey(1 good game in 4) and Townsend ( not sure he can be arsed tbh)same for Sissoko, are all flops of the highest order at this present time. Ye gods Rafa must wish he’d never answered his phone 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
If we do go down and get rid of some of our shiftless lot it should open up opportunities for the young’uns. Possibly we could even develop more homegrown talent. I’m just desperately searching for some positives.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
To be fair I think Townsend has given a good effort. He has a goal and at least 2 assists that I can remember. He can cross a ball decently. He is nowhere near our worst problem. Wijnaldum has been useless away from home and Cisse is such a flake. Mitro tries hard and has started to score. Perez hasn’t been as effective lately but does give an effort. Doumbia has been a disaster. Somebody should be sacked for that one alone.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
As I said before fans willsay we will sell our best players,what best players?? I haven’t seen many ” best” players in the toon team let them go and be best players somewhere else as they haven’t done much for us,go and get your big wage packet elsewhere,I want players with a bit fire in their belly and want to fight for their shirt and club,I won’t be sorry to see quite a few of them go,take Carr with yous please
Icedog(Quote)
Ice, agree
kimtoon(Quote)
I hope Ashley realizes what’s happening and begins to prepare for next season. Keeping some decent players will be crucial. We’ve to have a core of decent Prem quality players to get back up. Start with the back four. Janmaat will almost certainly leave so we’ll need a RB. I hope we can hang on to Mbemba and certainly Lascelles. Keep Dummett. Bring in an experienced central defender from a Championship club. Aarons on one wing and Townsend on the other? In the middle would De Jong stay? He might be decent down there. We’ve got to have Armstrong and Perez up front if we don’t manage to hang on to Mitro. He might be willing to stay for one season. Weed out a lot of the rest.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Well said icedog mate.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I think Townsend is currently our best player apart from Mitro and his goals. He’s a constant threat when we decide to attack with intent.
But for me it’s time we used De Jong instead of Gini, play Sissoko at left back and put Aarons on the left and tell him and Townsend to just get cross after cross after cross into the box for Mitro.
Stuart79(Quote)
Yep, De Jong is desperate to play, he’s said so often enough and lets face it he can’t be any worse. Actually the little I have seen of him he looks alright.
kimtoon(Quote)
Definitely agree. Wijnaldum out, De Jong in. Send that man back to the Netherlands (Wijnaldum that is). And pack Doumbia off to Italy while we’re at it. Useless, out of shape nitwit. Sell Cisse in the summer as well. Pack Sissoko off to France with some cheese and pickle sandwiches. Send Janmaat anywhere they’ll have him. Give Obertan away. Sell Thauvin. Sell Krul and go with Elliot and Darlow. Have a garden sale for Saylor. Hopefully he’ll be mistaken for a tall garden gnome.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
KIM there is one thing he does have unlike some a football brain,the little I’ve saw of him at the toon I watched him while in Holland he has it upstairs,that’s something you don’t lose
Icedog(Quote)
G2 you’re not suggesting we keep Riviere as our main striker next season ?
You forgot to add him to the reject bin mate.
Also you forgot Gouffran unless you have high hopes for him on the left wing with Thauvin as competition. Colocini in defense for another season I’m getting nervous already.
Terry(Quote)
I think De Jong, Perez and Mitro would work well together. We need to get Perez higher up the pitch. He often has to start from our own half. That’s ridiculous. With Townsend in there as well we’d have a chance. Play 4-4-2 and press hard from the start. It’s worth a try. If we fall back into our usual defensive shell early against Southampton we’re probably knackered. We give teams far too much space when they have the ball in our half.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ahhhhh! That’s horrible Terry mate! I’ve just broken out into cold sweats thinking about Riviere. I would dress him up like a seal and toss him in the North Sea. Surely there are Great White sharks around there? Colo at 35 leading the back four! Ahhhhh!!!! Oh God it’s nightmares for me tonight! Gouffy can stay as long as he’s willing to serve the half time tea.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Good news is Sammy Ameobi back. He may play a big part in are promotion bid next season. Armstrong may also be a big help in that respect. Carbella might be a good championship player if OM bail out.
Terry(Quote)
KIM Another point on Jong we both said at the time we signed him for six mil there must be a rabbit off to get him for that kind of money we were both right he’s been out a long time fitness wise,but as I said you don’t lose the brain and he has something to prove I believe
Icedog(Quote)
That was horrible thinking about Riviere after just thinking about Saylor. My God I’m still shaking.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Not keen on Sammeobi but we must play Armstrong Terry. He’s ready. A tidy goal scorer. If we can keep Mbemba and put a big man beside him (no not Saylor) and develop a pair of decent fullbacks it’s a start.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 I think Sunderland will be our biggest threat next season mate. If Dafoe leaves and Borini as well they will find life just as difficult as us. There best players will want to leave as well. As will Villa’s so we aren’t on our own in that respect.
Terry(Quote)
Cabella in the Championship? Where tbey fight fof every ball and the lace is ferocious? He’d get eaten alive. Same goes for Thauvin.
Id like to see a core of Mitro, De Jong, Townsend, Perez, Shelvey, Aarons, Armostrong, Mbemba, Dummett, Lascelles, Mbabu, Elliot or Krul and Darlow next season. Everybody else can go and can be replaced by grafters.
Shamrock(Quote)
Colback can stay too. Decent squad player.
Shamrock(Quote)
TERRY you must be joking Shola brother he’s third div at the very best he cannot even get a game in the ccc in a poor team at the moment perish the thought he plays for us
Icedog(Quote)
Start Mbabu at LB next season if we go down. Make it his position to lose. Get some pride in there. Same with Aarons. And Armstrong.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Just remember three of the championship’s best team’s will be promoted to the PL so we dont have to worry about them.
Terry(Quote)
Good choices Shamrock. Absolutely spot on.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 don’t worry about Taylor mate. he will get injured in pre- season if he’s still here so that’s him out mate
Icedog(Quote)
Icedog I just remember that one good game he had against spurs mate. I thought he was at Cardiff but I haven’t been paying attention to how well his doing there. Been more worried about the drop to even notice. He must be doing terrible.
Terry(Quote)
Sammi ameobi has played 35 times for cardiff. Of those, he has only started 11. Of the 11 he has started, he has been hooked 5 times. In total he has only completed 90 minutes 6 times and only has 1 goal and 3 assists to his name this season, in the Championship.
Ameobi quote as start of season;
“I was at a Premier League club, but the decision was that if stepping down to the Championship to play regularly was what I needed to do then my pride should be put to one side.
“There would be no point signing for Cardiff in the Championship and feeling I was too good. I want to push, I want to succeed and go back to Newcastle at the end of this season having scored 20 goals.
“The manager (Steve McLaren) wants me to have a massive impact for Cardiff, to score goals and provide assists. I want to achieve both.
“I came down to Cardiff and saw this beautiful city. The club has great facilities and the ambition here is to play in the Premier League.
“My job is to help achieve that. Newcastle monitor all my games and my hope is to have a great season for the Bluebirds.”
Oh dear… 😳
Shamrock(Quote)
TERRY/SHAM I saw one game when he came on as sub for Cardiff oh my god I thought Shola was bad but Sammy makes him look a world beater,quite a few times he cannot even get on the bench
SHAM love the quote you put on from him at least a had a laugh for a change
Icedog(Quote)
The shambles we’re in as far as players are concerned is beyond belief. After just spending 80M pounds! That points straight at the scouting. And the owner who is a fool who thinks every French midfielder is going to be Cabaye and loves the idea of selling them on. A fool is born every minute. We have several of them in charge.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I remember reading that quote and raising an eye brow seberal months ago Ice. Got to admit though, thought he would have done a bit better. He has been an utter failure. Not even Championship level. 😕
Shamrock(Quote)
Its like digging a the bottom of the barrel finding anything good to say about Newcastle lately. I try not to let them dampen my spirits, not easy.
Terry(Quote)
Well I can say I’vewatched the under 21s/refs twice this year and there is two or three canny players in there that could make progress into the ccc with a few wise heads in there to help them along the rest didn’t do much for me so there is a little hope
Icedog(Quote)
Shamrock like I said I haven’t been that interested in how well Sammy’s been doing at Palace. You can add Carbella and Thauvin to that list as well if you like. This place is to doom and gloom for me these day’s. When ever someone tries being optimistic people just knock them or thats what it feel’s like anyway.
Terry(Quote)
I want to see the young’uns next season. Give them a chance. The Championship will let us see what we actually have. And a good clean out of the executives. Just sack them all. Not a decent one amongst them except Rafa. The Board are clowns. They have to go. Fresh start time at the club.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
TERRY there’s nowt wrong with a bit of faith mate,well done just wish the players showed a bit of faith and guts of coarse,imo that was a 100mil game on Sat you wouldn’t think it watching the first half
Icedog(Quote)
If we keep Rafa and give him full control we could get back to a cup final. But it would take several years and the owner growing a pair.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ice, you are spot on about De Jong mate, he strikes me as composed and not a panicky pete on the ball. That’s exactly what is required right now, someone who won’t hide and wants the ball. His injuries have kept him back but I reckon he is chomping at the bit now.
kimtoon(Quote)
G2 yes mate we need a good clear out mate. We have been badly let down by a clueless owner who should have done so much better. If only he had the sense to hire the right people. I can’t wait for the day he leaves us for good. Like Kim said yesterday it will feel like winning the league.
Terry(Quote)
I see our young un’s are keeping within the club results structure. Getting dicked! How is Beardsley and the academy boss still got a job?!!! We have no decent young players coming through and they just keep losing in every age group.
What a bleeding mess!
Stuart79(Quote)
Icedog It’s been a horrible season for everyone. I’ll be glad when its over then we can prepare for life in the championship with a bit more optimism. New signing’s, cheaper alternative’s but one things for sure can they get any worse.
Terry(Quote)
I actually think if he’d started Mitro and they had played first half like the second we’d of nicked it on Saturday. The trouble all season with the team is they don’t turn up for the full 90+ minutes. I’m not sure why this has been happening, at first I thought it was McClarens fault, that they had no respect for him but increasingly it looks like laziness or lack of quality. All the same pound for pound I don’t think our players are any worse than Scums or Norwich’s. What the latter two have on us is a desire to run/win and fight to the death. I have said it many times, you can have a team of lesser skilled players with team spirit who will graft and get a result over a set of skilled pre-madonnas , you only need look at Norwich result V Man City to see that.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well said Kimtoon lass.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The whole problems have stemmed from the fact that whoever has been buying the players hasn’t for one minute seen the glaring gaps in the squad that needed filling. How on earth is it possible for us to spend £80m and only buy one defender?!! I mean that is just absolute Mis-management and negligence on a gargantuan scale!!! It actually is quite hard to even believe that it’s happened…
For the last few years all we’ve done is buy players who the club think offers value instead of buying players that the squad needs.
I really can’t believe Ashley would be so ‘hands off’ and negligent with Sports Direct?
Will Charnley, Carr and Moncur get the boot? Even Villa have acted and sacked their entire board and structure.
Will we…?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart I’m sure Armstrong being gone doesn’t help but yes Peter Beardsley is lucky to have a job. The club lost it soul the day Bobby Robson was sacked for me. It just keeps getting worse and worse apart from that one good season we had with Pardew. At least we could dream of champions league footy. Fair play it didn’t happen but it was a nice change from the **** we see today
Terry(Quote)
I’m off enjoy your evenings mates.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Stu, yes I said the other day £80m and what do we actually have? Seems to me we are so unbalanced it will never work on a consistent level, sure we might produce the odd result but not often enough to survive or get momentum going. You only need injuries in key places as witnessed and you are screwed because the depth in the most key positions isn’t and never has been there since we came back up. If they wanted to play fast and loose with our defensive line then they should of bust the bank on a quality prolific proven striker. As it is they extended the contract of a want away captain, bought in a promising PL unproven kid and another kid from abroad also unproven, albeit he shows promise. As **** as Scum are and they really are, make no mistake, they at least have a high probability of goals because of Defoe and a lesser extent with Borini. They also have scrappers, something Mitro aside we sadly lack. I see scrappers at Norwich too, that’s the key here and it’s what will prevent us bouncing back too if we don’t clear out and recruit wisely .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – Sunderland needed to tighten up their defence in January so they bought Kone and Kirchoff and both have been instrumental in their improvement. What did we do? We brought in three midfielders, one of which can’t even get on the bench and and a striker who also can’t even get on the bench!
Seriously YCMIU
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu ,I can only agree, it’s beyond a joke .
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s so far beyond a joke that it’s actually another joke coming the other way Kimtoon lass. If you know what I mean.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I’m ready, willing and able to support the club in the Championship. We’ll bounce back up. Don’t worry mates. I have many cunning plans for success in the Championship. All Mike has to do is ask me. Here’s a free tip for starters Mike. Try signing some players with nads. You know plums? Oh….. on second thought perhaps you don’t know. Has that been the problem all along?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Yeah will come up again G2 that’s the spirit mate. Yes no one likes relegation but it’s going to happen even if we like it or not. I’m prepared to support my team no matter what division they’re in.
Terry(Quote)
Mike Ashley losing his free advertising does make me feel a lot better 😛
Terry(Quote)
There’s supporting your team, Terry and supporting the club which ultimately means supporting Ashley. He’s taken a clear and obvious backward step from anything to do with the club over the past 12 months and he will think he can come out of this with no blame. He’s wrong! Yes he got us in great financial shape but he’s appointed the numpties to run the club so it’s his fault ultimately.
I really dread to think what the hell will happen when we go down. Who will take responsibility for this mess and who will step up and be capable of getting us out of this mess?
Stuart79(Quote)
dave
just saying what i see.
shelvey = a hollywood pass every now & again.
townsend = a headless chicken.
wijnaldum = no heart for a fight.
we needed a leader but got this lot instead.
let’s hope they get their acts together for a big promotion push next season.
roy cropper(Quote)
ROY get those so called best players shipped out,imo we need a clean sweep board included mate
Icedog(Quote)
It’s possible, if unlikely, that Rafa will stay. The only other PL job he can get and would want is if Everton sack Martinez. That would make a massive difference next year.
Georgio(Quote)
GEORGIO,yes Rafa is a top manager mate but do think he could handle the ccc it takes a different style of management imo and players that graft we haven’t many of those ime afraid
Icedog(Quote)
what & have it run like a football club!! ice – we’re talking ashley here.
whatever happened to the fit and proper persons test??
roy cropper(Quote)
I’ve never supported Ashley or his regrime Stuart you know that mate. If the club gets relegated early them maybe a boycott should be held. On the other hand it might not be good if we won’t Rafa to stay.
Terry(Quote)
There’s talk of Rafa taking over Spain. If I was him I would be worried as their best players all got old at the same time – Xavi, Xavi Alonso, Iniesta, Villa, even Silva is no spring chicken come the next World Cup.
If you look at Real Madrid and Barcelona their best players are not even Spanish and the Spanish “next big things” like Isco, and Jese are fringe players. After 2 Euro and a World Cup there will still be massive expectations and I fear the next Spain Manager will be on a hiding to nothing.
Remember Spain were always also rans until their Golden Generation and the Spanish Press are almost as bad as the British Press for hounding their coaches.
I wouldn’t say Rafa should avoid it but I don’t think it is a given. There again, if we are relegated it is still a much better option than us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There is no way on earth that the toon with the current squad of cheats and slackers would bring the club back up at the first attempt.
That leaves us wuth thd diddys running the club trying go sell ” a sleeping giant” to both new signings AND a new coach/manager.
The wheels are coming off Ashleys carriage big time, and to be honest it is no more than he snd the rest of the wasters deserve.
From first team, via reserves to U21 and juniors, the whole set up football wise is absolutely minging.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Eric – Del Bosque was asked about successors and name checked a few possibilities. Benitez and Martinez were mentioned but it was nothing serious. There’s no link, just an off the cuff remark.
I’ve a feeling he’ll stay here.
Not everything is minging about the team MM. The idiots just signed the wrong players for the wrong positions. We needed a CB, LB, striker and DM at Xmas. We still need them. Mingers!
Georgio(Quote)
Don’t panic, don’t panic!
I am going to Southampton on Saturday to watch the match and my last away game was Bournemouth – which we won! I am our lucky charm ❗ ❗ 🙄 😆 😕 😎 😐
Stuart79(Quote)
This really is it on Saturday, right. Don’t win and we will be down because we have the hardest run-in having to face Spurs, Man City and Liverpool. We have lost or drawn the easier games (on paper), now we have to win away to get any confidence for some really tough match-ups.
Southampton have been a bit of a bogey team for us but they are not unbeatable.
How many points do we have since the turn of the year? It must be the lowest in the PL, or maybe Palace or Villa have even less. Still, they should hang their heads in shame the lot of them and then win 4 and stay up 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah MM, one wheel on his wagon and the other ones hanging by a thread 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Boys and girls, the kind Mr Benitez is giving it his best shot, and really does believe he can save the toon.
However, we have so few good players, and our big money foreign signings Wijnaldum, Janmaat and Sissoko amongst others are all cheating the black and white stripes.
We’ve got no chance with a half a team, end of story.
We’ve slagged the owner and the numpty’s on the board, but the players on the park should take a hammering for the half-hearted displays they have put in this season.
Mickey Mouse club, the toon trying to play smart picking up players to then sell them on. Well the players in question have sussed us out and downed tools … No effort, no guts…no points…
Raffa will walk away with a nice little two month bonus for having tried his best, but sadly failing…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Eric, don’t spoil you’re Saturday night mate …. we are down already…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Well one thing you can say you cannot fault Rafa for work effort he had the players in on Sunday after the game,I think he’s flogging a dead horse like
Icedog(Quote)
We’re in a tight spot now. We have to win 4 of the last 7 to get to 37 points and give ourselves a decent chance. That’s a win rate of 57%. Our current win rate for 31 matches is 19.4%. Hmmmm.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So all we have to do is triple our win rate. Hmmmm.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
What is an owner in any case? A natural born pinhead. A man with no football sense whatsoever. A man who loves to hire flunkies. A man for no seasons.
GeordieTwo(Quote)