Welcome to the season opener, where Fulham play host to Newcastle United. Rafa Benitez and his troops will be hoping to get off with a positive start to the campaign in an effort to build early momentum and live up to the tag of being favorites to go back up to the Premier League as Championship Champions.
This squad has seen significant change this summer, with much more change to come – so although a strong start would be great, realistically it will take a few weeks and maybe even months before the side is firing on all cylinders. There is no doubt we have the best manager on board since Sir Bobby Robson and he has made a big committment to the Geordie faithful by agreeing to stay on in the face of relegation. Lets continue to show him the same support we gave him at the end of last season, regardless of how the next couple of months go.
Fulham:
27 Button, 26 Kalas, 4 Odoi, 15 Madl, 3 Malone, 6 McDonald, 19 Tunnicliffe, 10 Cairney, 24 Aluko, 11 Ayité, 9 Smith, Substitutes: 5 Stearman, 8 Parker, 13 Ream, 16 Woodrow, 21 Christensen, 37 Edun, 41 Joronen.
Newcastle United:
28 Sels, 22 Janmaat, 6 Lascelles, 5 Hanley, 3 Dummett, 8 Anita, 14 Hayden, 4 Colback, 11 Ritchie, 17 Pérez, 9 Gayle, Substitutes: 12 Shelvey, 16 Aarons, 18 Mbemba, 26 Darlow, 27 Gámez, 32 Armstrong, 42 Sterry.
Interesting see new boys Grant Hanley and Mats Selz given the nod over Chancel Mbemba and Karl Darlow. A first game as Newcastle United Captain for Jamaal Lascelles and great to see youngsters Sterry and Armstrong in the match day squad. Also of note is Daryl Janmaat in the match day squad. This puts the rumoured move away form the club to bed.
HWTL.
Good to see were still being robbed, fucking joke
Newkie(Quote)
Thanks Sham,appreciate it as there really should be a thread up for the fist game.
Well we’re losing when in reality we should of been 1 up before they scored, cause that was a stone wall pen that hooper missed.
Kimtoon(Quote)
our captain to blame there let Smith get one on him there
CHEERS SHAM
icedog(Quote)
Cheers Sham
Big Dave(Quote)
We haven’t worked out how to defend corners all pre season…
This was always going to be tricky and I said before the game it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t win. Our players will need a lot of adjustment and we might not get going for 4 or 5 games when things settle down.
Stuart79(Quote)
Beats me why no one was covering that post
Kimtoon(Quote)
Anyone got a working link?
Shamrock(Quote)
I don’t know what’s worse…the way we conceded or having McClaren criticise our defending as if he was an expert!
SRF(Quote)
My thoughts exactly
Kimtoon(Quote)
He’s probably feeling pretty smug about now
Kimtoon(Quote)
We can’t afford to take too long to adjust and gel though cause wins breed confidence. Hopefully we’ll get a couple in the second half.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Shame Mitro is suspended
Kimtoon(Quote)
Here we go:
http://www.antenasport.info/now3.html
Shamrock(Quote)
Not one shot on goal in the first half, to be honest if it was not NUFC would have switched off.
ash1001(Quote)
Ritchie is our only attacking midfielder. Need more creativity in there?
Shamrock(Quote)
They look far more threatening than us at the moment
Kimtoon(Quote)
first shot on goal
Kimtoon(Quote)
dear oh dear, get a grip lads
Kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa rolling the dice with Aarons
Eric Sykes(Quote)
aye Eric, could he be the difference
Kimtoon(Quote)
Lascelles can see him been left out after one game for Mbemba
Colback cannot complain about been hauled off, he has brought nothing to the game
ash1001(Quote)
Fulham are OK but I don’t think they are going to win the league
Premandup(Quote)
Lascelles is captain though so that would be a difficult call
Kimtoon(Quote)
Are we been too critical, its the first game of the season
ash1001(Quote)
Oh Rolando…
Shamrock(Quote)
Nor me Prem, we are not at the races that’s all, gonna take time to gel me thinks.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Fulham going defensive.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Not if Rafa, plays it straight, Lascelles looks lost
ash1001(Quote)
Big Dave(Quote)
Ash, yeah it’s too soon to judge but I am disappointed at our lack of sharpness up front, possibly still need a potent forward and defo someone able to drive the ball forward into the danger zone.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Rafa , now faces reality, knowing that certain players are not even at Championship level, this is not preseason any more.
ash1001(Quote)
Hopefully the captaincy doesn’t weigh heavily on Lascelles
Kimtoon(Quote)
Come on Armstrong. We need Shelvey in the middle imo.
Shamrock(Quote)
Bloody hell Dummett, that was poorly timed
Kimtoon(Quote)
Dave, Fulham have more new players than us and are defending well, so that one does not stick.
ash1001(Quote)
Here’s Shelvey
Kimtoon(Quote)
Arma looks fresh too, he’s pretty quick footed mind
Kimtoon(Quote)
How in the hell is Anita still on the field, wish I could work out what he brings to the game. Mind you could say that about one or two others,
This is not good at all, Fulham seem better organised.
ash1001(Quote)
This is why I was baffled lots of people were over confident at getting promoted this season.
It was clear we are gonna struggle. People thinking we’d walk it are mental.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Yep, we’ve just not been good enough tonight.
That skill from Adoye though…
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Tell you one thing, no matter what anyone thinks we have to hold on to Sissoko and Tiote, we have no strength or height up front, that need sorting quickly
ash1001(Quote)
That’s 3 handballs in the box now and the ref has missed them all
Kimtoon(Quote)
I have been saying all summer we need another big guy up front to balance it out. I still think we will walk the league, just need a few weeks to click. In the meantime I expect us to tread water around the top 6.
Writing us off after one game is ridiculous.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sissoko can **** himself, it would take some turn around in attitude to convince me he’s worthy of the shirt
Kimtoon(Quote)
There’s a long way to go – both to get this team moving and in the season. Not very inspiring.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Anita gives the ball away again, that guy should not be allowed on a football field with a NUFC shirt on again.
ash1001(Quote)
We needed Mitro tonight imo, I would play him up front with Arma. Not convinced Gayle will get us 20 on this showing
Kimtoon(Quote)
Come on now
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, be real, Sissoko whatever you might think about some of the supposed press, he is better that anything out there.
ash1001(Quote)
Bris are you renewing the H2H league this season?
Shamrock(Quote)
Disappointing all round, ref wants shooting missed two decent shouts for a pen, possibly 3. Wanna look at them 3 handballs again
Kimtoon(Quote)
Haven’t thought about it, Sham. Probably not. But I’d join one if somebody sets it up.
Brisvegas(Quote)
I agree 100% its our 1st game of the season away to Fulham, and add to that we should have had 2 stone wallers but then 😐
Big Dave(Quote)
Alright mate. I’ll sort something.
Shamrock(Quote)
Don’t care, can’t stand another season of him going on about how he should be playing at a higher level and declaring love for Arsenal or who ever he thinks he has a chance to join again. Sorry Ash, the bloke stole a living off us last season.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Summary:- New team or not, I was expecting a lot tonight, and got nothing, did not see a lot of organisation at the back, Dummet in my opinion, is not even Championship class never mind PL, Colback did nothing and like Anita gave the ball away far to often, both created nothing for the forwards.
Ritchie was never really in the game and the same can be said about Perez and Gayle, plus the are far to light weight and do not push the defenders around at all.
A very poor overall performance and would find it hard to give anyone a 5/10 never mind anything higher
ash1001(Quote)
Ash yeah he is better than any of them tonight, the only problem is that that was only in a handfull of games in a season. I’m with Kim 100% I want players that want to play for us, and it is crystal clear that he doesn’t want to be with us.
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave After listening to McClaren before the game, I can fully understand why players did not give there all last season. not that I agree with that approach at all.
ash1001(Quote)
I’d be pissed off if I was a defender and any of those hand balls were given. The first one was probably the best shout – they often get given – but they were all ball-to-hand.
The hard truth of the matter is that we’re pretty mediocre up front, and there’s not a lot of creativity behind them. Hayden has a worse first touch than Cisse.
Brisvegas(Quote)
We had no one to pass to him. We played Perez in that role for some reason and he can’t pass to anyone.
Gayle feeds off runs. He is like Vardy or Bellamy back in the day. We didn’t seem to have a system to recognised we had a striker.
I know we won’t walk it like some think but I have faith. Rafa needs to tinker. He also knows we aren’t balanced and Sissoko fucking off gives us the dosh to sort it.
funkyjesus(Quote)
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Shamrock(Quote)
Well same **** different day as far as I can see… But ref was shocking… 2 demo penalties missed third (middle shout) I don’t think would ever be given but 2 clear pens not given.
I think this is a reality check that we cannot be complacent. Looking forward to getting Diame in the team.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
fair shout tbf mate, looking forward to a couple more in cause it’s not quite right yet
Kimtoon(Quote)
Our build up from the back is pedestrian. By the time the ball gets to the front men they are marked out of the game. I get fed up watching the ball being passed backwards and sideways across the back. Oh for some pace going forward. Not Sissoko though.
Groucho(Quote)
Its good to chat with all you guys again, chat like last season is better than the football.
Sad to say, although its early doors, central defensive partnership has to be Hanley and Mbemba, and a creative midfielder is a must along with a powerful forward.
ash1001(Quote)
Nice to see our captain speak after the game, spoke well too, when did Colo EVER front up.
Kimtoon(Quote)
yeah it’s not the best start but great to have the football to chat about again I agree Ash
Kimtoon(Quote)
Kim we have spent £45 million – question and be honest where you expecting more tonight.
Sissoko what ever anyone thinks of him, is far better than anyone on the field tonight based upon the way Rafa had him playing at the end of last season, we want the best and at present he is the best we have.
ash1001(Quote)
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2016/08/05/so-much-for-predictions-aston-villa-owner-takes-swipe-at-newcastle-after-defeat/298487/
****
Kimtoon(Quote)
ASH, yep I expected more but i’ll pass on Sissoko if that’s ok
Kimtoon(Quote)
For all he’s a total bellend I do think we miss sissoko. Not in converting chances of course, but his pace scares people and opens up space for our finishers. We shouldn’t have lost today, but we were still awful.
Newkie(Quote)
We will be the pantomime villain this season because we kept Rafa.
Also this impression we are trying to buy the league despite briging in more than we’ve spent so far.
Hardly Man City….
funkyjesus(Quote)
Kim, I am not having a go at Rafa, but we have spent a lot of money and not sure what it has brought to the club.
If Ritchie and Gayle are as good as there price tags we need players to give them the ball where they want it, and unfortunately that did not happen tonight.
My favourite dislike players Dummett, Colback and Anita offer nothing, yet they are still there.
Lascelles was very poor, not only for the goal, but the number of time he lost his man was alarming, that really is worrying, because Smith was so slow I could have caught him and I am 76.
ash1001(Quote)
Yep, we need a specialist LB. I must admit, I did not really understand playing Anita, Colback and Hayden at the same time. Left us completely devoid of creativity. Hopefully we don’t go down that road again… Still think we win the league though.
Shamrock(Quote)
Ash I will give Lascelles a bye ball for tonight as just maybe the realisation of being the new club captain has maybe put a lot of pressure on his shoulders. From what I have seen of him last season he is a better player than what he showed tonight.
Big Dave(Quote)