Pre-Match Ramblings

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.

144 thoughts on “Pre-Match Ramblings

  1. great to have a pre-match thread for a nice change,cheers Jake,i think Rafa will have to much for Warnock

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  2. Well done Jake, we do like our pre match threads.
    I agree on your starting 11, but you never know with Rafa so I don’t often try to second guess.
    Hoping for the win which I will take in any form, thumping or scrappy, just get the win so we can go into this bloody break in a good mood.

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  3. Good man Jake. Home game against Cardiff before another International break & I only see a win today like.
    I hope he rests Gayle today. No need to rush him back with Mitrovic in form IMO.

    Watching the Derby game and if we want an attacking midfielder – Will Hughes is the boy we need to go and get.

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  4. Kim. I think he needs stable situation where he can focus on Training and tactics. His management skills appear to be average, and his ability to take a club by the cruff of the neck ala Rafa, non existent

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  5. Nice thread Jake although you need to be more careful proofreading yourself (1st line). Don’t worry, the Chronicle often make mistakes in their headlines!

    The line up with Mitro and Perez is my preferred one for a change. Don’t know why, when the evidence suggests otherwise, but I just can’t get behind Gayle. I’d like to. I have a slight worry about a pairing of Atsu and Yedlin on the right. Both very forward thinking but some balance is needed there and I like steady Eddie Anita. Perhaps I should give Rafa a ring as I can see he’s struggling in the job. 😮

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  6. I like Anita too Georgia.

    Andy Murray becomes world number 1 then after Raonic pulls out of Semi with injury.

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  7. Going for another 3-0 today. Need an early goal so they need to come at us but pretty sure we’d break them down eventually.

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  8. Stuart79:
    Going for another 3-0 today. Need an early goal so they need to come at us but pretty sure we’d break them down eventually.

    Stu – it wouldn’t surprise me if Warnock just sits in today and accepts a damage limitation defeat.
    He knows he’s going to struggle this season with Cardiff and a thumping today may cost him big on goal difference.
    Hope I’m wrong coz it will make for a boring game, but it would make sense from their point of view.

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  9. Well radio again.. that must’ve been a quick goal! I missed it while waiting for Pepe to get going on the app

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  10. I’ve got the mixlr audio going (slightly ahead of the vid) at the same time as the periscope video

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  11. Yeah, it’s no great shakes, but 2nd half could be better if we continue to boss it.

    Now, if we could get the camera guy to get his thumb off the lens…

    Dubai Toon:
    The radio link that Kim posted earlier is working for me. Periscope looks like some guy in the stands with a phone.. poor quality for me.
    http://Www.mixlr.com/rarestpepe

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  12. Dear me, millions of pounds being spent and squandered in the Championship, 50K crowds, and the best we can get is a dodgy vid from behind the St John’s Ambulance Stand. I know the Premiership is where it’s happening but the drop off to the “zweite Bundesliga” is shocking. Sky, you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves !

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  13. By the way …Howay the Lads !!! 1-0 Toon !!!!
    The sooner we get out of this chicken **** league the better 🙂

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  14. Pardew seems to have Palace in one of his death spirals again. They’re down by 2.

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  15. This video would be better if the guy in the stands would just shoot video off the big video screen in the stadium!

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  16. That’s actually a really good idea–they even show replays up there, don’t they? Just shoot video of the stadium video, son!

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  17. Munich Mag:
    By the way …Howay the Lads !!! 1-0 Toon !!!!
    The sooner we get out of this chicken **** league the better

    if only to avoid the dreadful officiating at this level MM

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  18. Gouffran scores, just as that periscope video gives up the ghost!

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  19. Here’s a fun fact:

    Newcastle have won a Premier League game more recently than Sunderland.

    Their last win in the league was May 11, 2016.

    Ours was May 15.

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  20. Kimtoon, have to take your word for it mate regarding the reffing…since we have no TV streams to rely on 🙁

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  21. Well 2-0 is a good half time score. Still need Mitro to score his brace so could be 4-0. ?? 😯

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  22. Last week my missus asked me if it isn’t better that we stay in this league and win every week, makes for a better weekend 🙂
    Good point 😆 😆 😆

    Reminds me of the good old days when we just had to guess on getting the score right 🙂

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  23. Hats off to Goofy like, you know what you get with him. That he has turned his toon career around and will ultimately leave with a big Mag thank you, a slap on the back, and a Championship medal is immense.
    Great stuff, well pleased for the lad. He’s the first one on record to have been “un-Pardewed”…

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  24. MM, your mrs has a point mate, I’m enjoying this winning feeling very much, was the same last time we dropped. Recent PL seasons have been nothing short of torture. Didn’t help that the coaches we had were a collective hopeless case.

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  25. Munich Mag:
    Kimtoon, have to take your word for it mate regarding the reffing…since we have no TV streams to rely on

    Seems every game in the EFL has talking points , the ones I have watched the refs have been useless.

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  26. Kimtoon, you would have thought that once there in the Prem it would have been a doddle with a gazillionaire in charge and the power of the Geordie Nation behind you it would be realistic to be 4th worst in the league and to stay up. Obviously when you have the likes of Carver, McClaren and Penfold around, obviously it aint so..

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  27. Is Ian Cathro still at the club ?
    Maybe Rafa has had a word with the Chronny and asked them to wind it in…
    So many daft Chronny articles about him being the next big thing etc etc etc.
    Since Rafa arrived the daft articles have reduced… Talk about click-bait !

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  28. Way too good for the Championship, not good enough for the EPL.
    Next season will hopefully be different…

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