Newcastle take the long trip down south to my hometown city this weekend when they take on Lee Johnson’s Bristol City.
I can’t promise you sunny southern weather since the sun has decided to take it’s own holiday for a while.
Instead Newcastle will be greeted by gale force winds and rain if our local weather men are right. However Toon fans will get to see the newly revamped Ashton Gate stadium which looks very good. I have passed it by on a weekly basis and watched it slowly take shape and it wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier league now and that after all is where Bristol City want to be.
City manager Lee Johnson has brought in a number of new players this summer and one in particular takes the eye and that’s the loan signing of Tammy Abraham from Chelsea. The lad looks a belter and has already got himself on the score sheet 4 times in their first three matches. I have a sneaky feeling he may prove a handful on saturday so our defence will need to cut out the lack of concentration that has proved our downfall oh so often.
Another player to look out for is Aden Flint, a centre back that Sunderland wanted last season and we were recently linked with. I know that City fans were desperate to see him stay with them as he is an integeral part of the teams spine and were doubtless breathing a collective sigh of relief when we went shopping at Blackburn instead.
Lee Johnson says he’s excited at the prospect of pitting his wits up against Rafa Benitez and Ashton Gate will have it’s biggest gate for 25 years helped by the newly built stand which has increased the capacity. Some 21,000 are expected on the day with 2,500 from Newcastle.
Referee for the day will be Tony Harrington from Cleveland. He likes a yellow card does Tony, so far dishing out 17 since the season kicked off. Maybe this isn’t the game to push boundries then.
Newcastle will be without Sissoko again due to a knock, but Diame is back in contention, Mitrovic serves the last of his 4 game ban.
Bristol City are without defender Derrick Williams (shoulder injury) and both goalkeeper Frank Fielding and midfielder Korey Smith are out with ankle injuries.
Let’s hope Newcastle can pick up some more points and build some momentum.
HWTL
Sharpy – I’d prefer they’d up the bid on Knockeart til Brighton can’t refuse. Take out their best player in the process. I know nothing about Judge even though his stats are good.
Is Yedlin an upgrade on Anita? I don’t think so.
georgio(Quote)
Have I missed something but why are we signing another right back? Assuming Janmaat is going then? But what about Gamez? It’s a left back we need.
Stuart79(Quote)
Anita is a lot better r/b by far mate
icedog(Quote)
I have been reading up on this Judge lad. Although he can be played on the wing, he is actually a CM. He is apparently decent defensively but very effective in a #10 role, where he got most of his success from last season.
I don’t really get the move unless he is coming in to compete with Diame. Not sure where that leaves Perez mind and we would still need a big man up front and a LW.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham – I’m not usually one for Utube scouting, but if you look at the clips of him on there, most of his attacking work is down the flanks.
I think the plan would be to have him & Ritchie either side of Diame or Gayle if he goes 4-2-3-1 with Mitrovic or a new arrival taking that lone striker role.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This latest transfer talk is confusing. Hopefully it all makes sense by the end of the window but we are currently very weak down the left side and don’t have enough depth up front, yet we seem to targeting areas to strengthen that do appear necessary to address. I’m sure there is a plan in place, but ive not caught up with the script yet it seems. Binning one sick note and signing another is odd. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a player being g signed who was injured at the time with a major double leg break.
Shamrock(Quote)
Georgio – where do they stop though mate. If Brighton say £20m?.
Then all you are doing is removing 1 player and handing them a load of cash to strengthen again.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy I have done more digging and he does play on the left, probably 1 in 4 games. The other games he plays as #10. So maybe Rafa likes him for his versatility. I am seriously concerned we are looking to sign a guy out with a double leg break though. We need players for now and there is no guarantee he will ever reach the same levels again after an injury like that.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well Mbabu has been shipped out OldBoys on loan.
Shamrock(Quote)
Is it possible that they are thinking about a January transfer, and want to baseline the injury so as to comapre inJanuary.
Premandup(Quote)
That would be sensible Prem. I could understand that.
Is it also possible that Gamez has been assessed up close and has been found out? Hence the move for this Spurs kid?
I’d be happy with Anita and Sterry for the season mind.i feel sorry for our youngsters at the minute. Sterry needs game time or he will go stale. Same as young Callum Roberts.
Anyone heard anything regarding Sammi Ameobi? Surely a Championship or League 1 club would take him in?
Shamrock(Quote)
Likewise mate, and whilst he plays on the left he’s a right footed more often than not. Unless Rafa wants the 3 ACMs to move around and make it more difficult for the oppositions.
It looks like it’s going to be an interesting week though.
Mbabu going suggests he’s either keeping Janmaat or these Yedlin rumours could hold merit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
pity i quite like the kid and i think he will make a good defender if he can stay fit
icedog(Quote)
a lot of this transfer talk is down to the rags fireing up the end of the window,talk we are after a r/b from scotland,take it all with a pinch of salt imo,a m/u player on a 190,000 a wk going to Celtic dont know how they make these storeys up,never going to happen
icedog(Quote)
Newcastle are in talks over the potential signing of Brentford’s Alan Judge, but a deal may not be completed until January,now that makes more sense
icedog(Quote)
I agree with Beardsley Boots regarding Siem De Jong. He did milk the club for every penny he could get and gave nothing back in return. Glad his gone.
Terry(Quote)
Judge in jan makes more sense will see if he’s back to best after the break by then, defo not now though that’s nuts. Could be Rafa see’s him as cover for Diame when he’s at ACON with Senegal in January-feb.
Yedlin ??? nope prefer Anita frankly at RB
Where’s our Striker and LW ?
Kimtoon(Quote)
you could be spot on there Kim forgot about that,womans logic see lol
icedog(Quote)
Miles Starforth
@milesstarforth
Understand DeAndre Yedlin is due on Tyneside today or tomorrow to complete a move to Newcastle. #nufc #thfc #safc
Kimtoon(Quote)
Yedlin now and then Judge in January? I’m a bit puzzled by these moves. Yedlin is quite small. He was ok with Sunderland on loan but not great. Judge has had a double leg break. What is going on? Is Gamez a dud? Very strange to bring him in if so. SDJ was certainly and dud. What a waste of space he turned out to be.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Ice, It’s very hot in Bristol, surprised my brain is working at all
Kimtoon(Quote)
What happened to the Das Boot rumours? I quite liked those ones. Gone and forgotten already? Another bit of fiction from the rags I suppose.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2, Wasn’t overly impressed by Yedlin but he is pacy i’ll give him that.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Well with this kid coming in at RB it must surely mean Gamez has been found wanting.
Shamrock(Quote)
How is it possible that Gamez can’t manage it at this level? I understand he’s injured right now but he’s hardly played! This doesn’t make sense to me. Is he sulking because he doesn’t want Championship football? How do we manage to be so bad at recruiting?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
This is madness I say! We can’t keep players fit for more than one game? We’re trying to sell players or loan them out but we can’t stay fit. Mbabu, always injured, Gamez the same, SDJ a walking crock, Dummett frequently injured, Haidara, constantly injured. It goes on and on.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 he’s not played a single minute this season. Did he not only play 1 game in pre-season, in which be want sent off?
Shamrock(Quote)
yes he was Sham
Kimtoon(Quote)
Pacy but very small Kimtoon mate. I’m not sure it makes sense. Why can’t we keep a LB fit? And why have we let it go on and on? I would have to say overall Janmaat has been a disappointment as well.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Is there no match preview again then????
Kimtoon(Quote)
G2 I have never really rated Janmaat as a defender
Kimtoon(Quote)
You see? It’s madness. Gamez plays one pre-season game and gets sent off. Now he’s constantly injured. Sounds like he doesn’t want to be with us to me. Another flop in the making. Absolutely infuriating!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Agreed Kimtoon lass. He’s a wing back at best. Caught completely out of position defensively time and time again. He should leave. I’m fed up with these one trick ponies!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So Janmaat is leaving. Have to be honest and say that really doesn’t bother me. He just can’t defend, which is a problem for a right back. Hope we get £10m min for him.
Stuart79(Quote)
Gamez played for Ath Madrid FFS! Surely he can play Fizzy pop standard… Thought he was just not fit.
Stuart79(Quote)
Why don’t we just get it over with and bring back Carroll? Put him in a body cast and wheel him around the ground before each match. The Newcastle Crocksters! Put the injury count on the front of the jersey and have everyone where head bandages.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
What are we doing with Dummett? Is he head of laundry now? And what is Gamez planning to do for the season? I want to get some work out of these plonkers for their wages!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Rumours about West Ham snapping up Janmaat.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Oh you can Yedlin me this and Das Boot me that but I want to see solid performances out of the players we have! None of this “sorry gaffer but I’ve got chapped lips. I’ll be out of action for at least six weeks” malarkey. It’s just not on!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
The business in the last couple of days has been criminal, If people think Janmaat is ropey defensively they will be in for a rude awakening with Yedlin…
Loaning out our best goalkeeper & the now fit Siem De Jong replacing them with Sels & some lower league plodder with a broken leg
Fucking hell are we setting ourselves up for a long stay in this division
CC(Quote)
Yedlin has quality if given the freedom to get forward. Would immediately be the fastest player on the squad and is a good crosser. Not particularly sound defensively and can be sloppy with the ball at times. Might be best suited for the wing which is where he plays for the US (largely because Klinsmann doesn’t trust him defensively). He’s wasted if asked to solely sit back and defend.
Made his name against Belgium in the WC where he came on as a sub and drove Hazard and Vertonghen absolutely nuts. Highlights below:
https://soundersnation.com/2014/07/06/deandre-yedlin-belgium-video/
MDS(Quote)
5M pounds? That seems like a lot for Yedlin. I hope this isn’t another disaster in the making. If Spurs rate him so highly why are they parting with him? It could be it’s because he’s quite short. He has to put on his mam’s high heels to get his heed over the ticket counter at the airport.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Unbelievable this is. Already fannying aboot trying to replace a player (Gamez) that we just brought in…. It’s testing my patience. I’m verrrrry disappointed!!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So yedlin, a defender, can’t defend. Great. What is going on? Is he coming g in as a back up winger or what? We do need a stand in for when Ritchie is out…
Shamrock(Quote)
Beardo is hopeless as a manager. Why is he still with us? Get him oot Rafa. Sort this whole Gamez affair oot as well. Does he want to be with us? If not point point him at Europe and give him a size 12 up the ****.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
MDS summed up Yedlin very well. Bringing him in does seem a bit odd, but if we’re selling Janmaat then I can see it. Anita is our best RB, but it’s pretty clear that Rafa doesn’t see him being locked into that spot in the lineup, given where he’s played in preseason and the first four games. Having someone like Yedlin, able to fill in at RB or RW, or play RWB if we go with three of Lascelles/Mbemba/Hanley/Clark at the back, would provide some flexibility.
I’m hoping Gamez has just been injured – I can’t see Rafa bringing him in and then immediately giving up on him. Also, when we brought him in, wasn’t there a lot of talk about him being able to play “anywhere” across the back four? If so, Rafa might see Gamez, Dummett, Clark and Haidara as enough depth at LB. Personally, I’d still like to see a quality dedicated LB come in.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
I have compared yedlin v Janmaat based on averages over 90 minutes last season.
Results as follows:
Yedlin wins on blocks, clearances, take ons won and cards – both yellow and red.
Janmaat wins on shots, total fouls committed, interceptions, pass completion, headed duels, total duels, tackles made, goals, assists, key passes.
All in all I’d say Janmaat is better going forward and defending.
Why do we want a poor man’s Janmaat? Surely it’s best to get a guy in who is a specialist at one thing, preferably defending?
Shamrock(Quote)
Excellent comment Shammy mate. That sums it up nicely. Why do we want a poor man’s Janmaat?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I’m not saying we should bring in Yedlin to replace Janmaat, but if we do, the reasoning would probably be money, potential and versatility. Yedlin is four years younger and is seen as still having a lot of potential. If he can spell Anita/Gamez and Ritchie from time to time, that would be OK, with the idea that he could improve and grow into our starting RB of the future. But I wouldn’t want him to start over Anita right now.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Not disagreeing (the move is a bit of head scratcher to me) but tbf to Yedlin last year was his first season in Europe and was at a club that supposedly didn’t allow him to play to his strength.
Other than being short, he has all the physical abilities you could hope for…he just needs a lot of polish. Maybe Rafa thinks he can coach him up
MDS(Quote)
hes cutting the wage bill mate seems the only answer imo,maybe Rafa can learn the kid a trick our two 😉
icedog(Quote)
Ah well. If he’s in, he’s in. Like some have said, there is the Rafa effect to consider.
Now where’s the LW, LB and striker?!
Shamrock(Quote)
Did you know Spurs’ two right backs are both called Kyle Walker?
Shamrock(Quote)
Krul off to Ajax on loan after signing a contract for another year (makes two years) as dont **** to risk losing him on a free
icedog(Quote)
He’s probably right footed. He’s got pace. He’s younger than Janmaat. Possibly he will improve under Rafa. Those are the pros I see. The cons are he’s small, and he’s relatively inexperienced (I don’t really count experience with Sunderland). Let’s wait and see.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
want 😳
icedog(Quote)
guess no thread for the game then 😕 😕 😕
icedog(Quote)
Darlow, Sterry, Lascelles, Hanley, Gamez, Aaron’s, Shelvey, Colback, Perez, Diame, Mitro.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sterry and Gamez start tonight 😯 be good to see how they do…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
link for game
https://www.geogebra.org/group/stream/id/V8mZ3Eanj
icedog(Quote)
No mate. They still managed to publish at least 15 articles in the last 48 hours mind. Shame it’s all ‘clickbait’ for news now and nothing actually related to the bread and butter of a football club. You know, like footy games. The click bait is fine, but there needs to be a balance.
Shamrock(Quote)
Looking forward to seeing how Mitro does. We have missed him but 6 points from 4 games is OK.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Karl Darlow; Jamie Sterry, Jamaal Lascelles, Grant Hanley, Jesus Gamez; Jonjo Shelvey, Jack Colback; Rolando Aarons, Mohamed Diame, Ayoze Perez; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Matz Sels, Paul Dummett, Chancel Mbemba, Vurnon Anita, Isaac Hayden, Yoan Gouffran, Dwight Gayle
icedog(Quote)
I’d like to have seen Sterry get a proper go at it this season. Not sure how that will work with the Yank kid coming in.
Be good to see how Gamez gets on.
Shamrock(Quote)
Didn’t we have like 3 points from the first 7 games last year under Schteve. I know it was the PL, but still.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Expecting a substantial win today.
Shamrock(Quote)
G2: the Yanks and their names!!!! I have lived here for 27 years and it still cracks me up what they call their kids. It used to be that they would have a surname as a first name or a President. Harrison Ford or Grover Cleveland. Now they put a “de” or a “la” at the start.
I am changing my name to laEric deSykes.
DeAndre, FFS 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
testing to see if it worked.
laEric deSykes(Quote)
😆 😆 😆 that works for me LaEric… Cracks me up the names the Yanks give. Knew a couple a few years ago when I was living in Korea and they called their kid Lawyer… Because the father was a … Yup, a lawyer. Took a lot of thought…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
ah a new blogger 😆
icedog(Quote)
Link wants me to buy a subscription
Ice pup(Quote)
DT: lucky the dad wasn’t called busdriver, or poolcleaner.
laEric deSykes(Quote)
Sorry, I meant luck the dad’s job was not a bus driver or pool cleaner.
laEric deSykes(Quote)
Yeah, or bin man… The mind boggles sometimes… ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Ban ice dog for posting spam ?
Ice pup(Quote)