Pre-Match Ramblings

Jake Swinburn

Newcastle prepare to Neil Warnock’s Cardiff side, complete with some new big (ish) name additions, in a game that could well prove to be crucial for both sides.

Cardiff are struggling, Newcastle on the other hand are flying but Rafa Benitez’s side will know just how crucial this game is, simply put, they can’t slip up.

Cardiff may well be boosted by their new additions but Newcastle’s recent form and home advantage should mean that they have enough to win the game.

If Newcastle are to win, their forwards will be key, be it Aleksandar Mitrovic or Dwight Gayle, whichever you prefer, get behind the one that starts.

Not only Newcastle’s forwards will be to their success obviously, the whole side will be.

So with this in mind, just what should the side be? My preference would be:

GK: Darlow

RB: Anita

LB: Dummett

CB: Lascelles
CB: Clark

CM: Shelvey

CM: Hayden

RW: Atsu

CAM: Diame

LW: Gouffran

ST: Gayle

Although, what my preference is does not matter. All that matters is what Rafa Benitez thinks. Benitez has been at the very top of the game and is doing a remarkable job with Newcastle, in the Championship, long may it continue.

In Matt Ritchie’s absence, which is due mainly to the Scotsmans fiery attitude, Christian Atsu is likely to come into the team. Atsu will no doubt play his game as normal, with pace, power and skill.

Atsu is probably even more exciting that Ritchie is, so it is down to the Ghanaian international to show that he can produce just as regularly as his Scottish team mate.

With Atsu likely to be giving his all to keep his place in the side, it could be an exciting day for Newcastle fans, although probably not for the Cardiff defence.

One worry will be the strength of former Liverpool striker, Rickie Lambert, although Jamaal Lascelles should have enough to deal with that.

Junior Hoilett and Anthony Pilkington will carry the other main threats for Cardiff, but with both Newcastle fullbacks in great form and with the home side likely to dominate possession, they may soon become starved of service.

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144 thoughts on “Pre-Match Ramblings”

  5. Anybody listening in?
    Are they putting up a good fight or was it against the run of play?
    Hate not being able to see what’s going on!

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  23. Very nervy at the end there, but I’ll take that. Scum get their first win. ? And Burnley get a late winner vs palace.

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  26. 10 points clear of Norwich. Weird to think back on how our head-to-head felt like a must-win.

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  27. Well done NUFC. Thanks for the thread Jake.

    DLLLL Pardew’s latest death spiral.

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  28. Also, the difference between us and 3rd place Huddersfield is the same as between Huddersfield and 15th place Ipswich.

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  29. So that saved Moyes’s job maybe. There were stories that he would be sacked if they lost.

    I still think they will be relegated because they just don’t have very good players.

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  35. Heard today it’s 5 wins in 37 at palace or 7 in 35 .. whatever.

    Just pleased we’re not suffering the odious git, so lets move on and enjoy the fact we have a decent manager and we’re 8 points clear of the playoffs

    Tottenham Waddler-Brooklyn:
    Well done NUFC. Thanks for the thread Jake.

    DLLLL Pardew’s latest death spiral.

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  38. GlosMag:
    Heard today it’s5 wins in 37 at palace or7 in 35 .. whatever.

    Wow. Palace spending is mid table level. They sit mid table. YCMIU ?

    Just pleased we’re not sufferingthe odious git, so lets move on and enjoy thefact we have a decent manager and we’re8 points clear of theplayoffs

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  39. DIvvent kna what happened there. Anyway I meant to add, Palace spend which equates to their position. Why are people surprised at their position?
    Same when Pards was at the toon. The outlay reflected their position under Pardew.
    So sad that most don’t look at the facts and just concentrate on his personality. That says a lot about those who criticise Pardew
    Despite Palaces record, they are good to watch and have some talented attacking players.

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  42. If there’s a half a dozen teams I want to watch in the premier league for their football attacking ability it’s Palace.

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  43. Does anybody still use the blog?
    Shame if they don’t. It’s had a lot of history. Funny characters and great debates. 😯

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  44. Hope we all enjoyed the game today! Thought we were great for the first 60/70 minutes and then dropped off, the main thing is the 3 points though!

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  45. Jake
    We could play ***** all season for me as long as we get promoted
    We did in in 2008/2009

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  46. Wow, Troy can’t even muster a bite 😆 .. such a peripheral figure now days, no one even takes notice! 😆 😛

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  47. would you believe it , two old bloggers, seldolmnly seen in these parts, oot and ploot return to the blog to continue there wum agenda. 😆 😳

    good game for the fans yesterday to have the team wobble a bit at the end, need to keep focus.

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  49. Aussie Magpie Fan:
    Wow, Troy can’t even muster a bite..such a peripheral figure now days, no one even takes notice!

    Troy who? Is that the Palace fan that has a crush on an older man? ?

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  50. Troy Stavers:
    Jake
    We could play ***** all season for me as long as we get promoted
    We did in in 2008/2009

    Troy..do you still hate us for getting rid of Pardew ? Do you wish he was still here for the next 6 years? ?

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  51. Great win yesterday. As ever, when you take an early lead it becomes a long 90mins.
    I’m starting to believe we can walk it. We will have a blip, but not Huddersfield or Norwich blip.
    Seems atm, it’s two teams in it..

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  52. Troy Stavers:
    If there’s a half a dozen teams I want to watch in the premier league for their football attackingability it’s Palace.

    Palace messed up yesterday with mistakes as usual, sloppy play in the middle and switching off at the back. Townsend had a hand in the errors.
    Something we use to see here under Pardew. Is it the coaches or the manager that irons out mistakes like this??

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  53. I’m quite surprised that Norwich have given us a 10 point lead. Perhaps the clue was them throwing away a 1-3 lead against us, champions don’t do that. I’m less bothered about Brighton, they are having a good run atm but I don’t think they will maintain it forever, away in Yorkshire for example. Happy days. Rafa could beat our previous points total, or even Readings record yet. Hard to believe after the first two games. Even games where we didn’t play well we seem to be winning, which is a good sign.

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  56. How anyone can defend Pardew is beyond me. This is his team. He got players he wanted..

    They have now only won five games in their last 34 in the league and if the league table was going off 2016 results alone, Palace would be rock bottom…. pards for England ?

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  57. Troy did you end up renewing your season ticket ? Some canny half season ticket deals doing the rounds for adult+ bairn deals. I can imagine you leading the singing in the family enclosure.
    Do you reckon Rafa can persuade Ashley to extend the Gallowgate End so we can get everyone in ?

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  58. Eminem, no wum, just a bit of auld time fun with what’s his name! 😆
    Good to see you are not constantly bagging the team any more! 😛

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  59. DJG regarding Norwich, just watch the Norwich fans implode and end up forcing out the manager and derailing the promotion bid. Stability is what counts, thank flock we have the Rafalution and the big fish in a small pond scenario.
    The same stability that Pardew brings to Palace, its not by coincidence that they seem toon like in their mistakes. A typical Alan Pardew performance by all accounts.

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  60. AMF has your missus let you back on the PC ?

    I knew we would come good mate, are you doubting me now ?

    There again, cuffing Preston reserves with a champions league winning manager should be within our abilities don’t you think ?

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  61. Nah she hasn’t… just sneaking a few posts in while she was not looking 😉
    Our team is fine for where we are at mate. . Could we have a better list, of course but it is what it is for now..

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  63. Did anyone else see the issue with Mitro and the Cardiff defender giving it the big wrestling match in the toon box yesterday ? Could have easily been a penalty !
    There again, as Rafa intimated in his prematch interview, if Cardiff were going route 1 and launching everything including the kitchen sink at the toon, we need to defend this type of thing.
    Would be curious to hear from someone who was at the match yesterday, did we win at a canter with the Cardiff goal a blip, or was it a hard fought victory ? Oh for the lack of televised games 👿

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  64. MM, the game yesterday really did go with the old saying game of two halfs. First half we were in total control but did back off a bit after first 20mins. 2nd half they came out fighting. Never thought we would lose it, but after they scored, was a bit edge of your seat stuff at times

    As for Mitro, set first one up, but didn’t do a lot else. I thought only right to rest Gayle and give his hamstring extra time to recover, but I can see him starting next game and Mitro getting last 20 as a replacement or 2 of them together if we need to push for a win

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  65. Simon, thanks for the heads up mate. Strange why we backed off, maybe we had the wrong midfield set up ?

    If I was the toon I would sell Mitro pdq to the Italians for 40 mill. If he can’t make it happen against the mighty Cardiff then he’s got no chance against proper grown up centre halves in the Prem (puts fingers in ears and waits for a big bang)… Cut off his wingers service and he’s knackered.. pity like, he’s been taken to the hearts of the toon fans…

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  66. I was fortunate to be at the game yesterday. The passing and movement at times, especially in the first half, was exhilarating. Surprisingly for some perhaps my man of the match would probably be Gouffran. His movement off the ball was excellent and he was ever ready to make himself available drawing defenders away from other players. I was surprised he was subbed. I was equally surprised that Atsu wasn’t subbed. Presumably Rafa wanted to try him on the left. On Ed’s blog at one stage it had Atsu as clear MOM. Just shows that many vote not having seen the players play. Set plays have clearly improved under Rafa. Some obviously well rehearsed moves. Is this because we have no Williamson or haven’t a clue Pardew?

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  67. well that was a hard fought game have the players not learnt the same old storey of most games if you dont put your chances away your going to suffer i thought Rafa would bring Dwight on in the 2 nd half just to upset Cardiff with his pace but we got there.Leeds game next which imo will be the hardest game of the season to date and i would be happy to take a point now,its a team ive always hated in the past i went to every game home and away for a number of years and found Leeds fans the worst fans in the world ten times worse than Millwall/W Ham fans,any fans going there want to be very very careful

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  69. Groucho, thanks also for the heads up mate… “exhilarating”, that’ll do for me like, haven’t heard that word associated with the toon for yonks !
    Icedog, Iike yourself I was at Leeds a few times in the 80’s and it realy was like the bronx. The Gelderd End I think they called it then, got really ugly at times. I expect a tough game in a few weeks against them, but I reckon we have too much class for them now and will be disappointed if we don’t come home with a win.

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