Reflections, Sheffield Wednesday and Looking Forward

Jake Swinburn

The season so far, has been a great success, I don’t think that anyone would attempt to disagree with that.
We are sitting top of the league, we have been in the semi-final of one domestic cup and we enter the next one with a fairly winnable tie, away at Birmingham City.
So, looking back at the season is relatively straight forward. Keep doing what we are doing and we will all be very happy.
As for the player of the season, so far. Personally, I would say Ciaran Clark, however, Jonjo Shelvey, Dwight Gayle and Yoan Gouffran all have a very strong case.
Gayle, in particular, goes into the game today in excellent form and will be looking forward trying to bag another goal.
So, with so many players in good form and, of course, Jonjo Shelvey suspended, how should Newcastle line up today?
As always, this is purely opinion, but I would like (and expect) to see Rafa Benitez select this side:
GK: Karl Darlow
RB: Vurnon Anita
CB: Jamaal Lascelles (c)
CB: Ciaran Clark
LB: Paul Dummett
CM: Isaac Hayden
CM: Cheick Tiote
RW: Matt Ritchie
LW: Christian Atsu

AM: Mo Diame

ST: Dwight Gayle
However, with the situation with Cheick Tiote quite unknown, he may well not play. Other than that, I can see that team starting.
I also can’t see anything but a home win today, so I’ll go for a 2-0 score line.
As I said earlier, as for looking forward, we just have to continue as we are and we will be promoted. Perhaps we will add a couple of players in January to help us do that.

About Jake Swinburn

View all posts by Jake Swinburn →

You may like these posts

171 thoughts on “Reflections, Sheffield Wednesday and Looking Forward”

  1. we were in the quarter final of a domestic competition, not the semi final
    can see Yedlin at right back, perez behind Gayle, and a midfield of Gouffron, Hayden, Diame and Richie. The rest of the defence picks themselves.
    Expect a hard fought game and a 3-1 toon win.

    Tiote might make the squad, but not the starting line up..

      (Quote)

  2. I see tiote perhaps making the bench. Team for me;

    Darlow, Anita, Clarke, Lascelles, Dummett, Atsu, Hayden, Diame, Ritchie, Mitro, Gayle.

    Let’s have a bit of classic 4-4-2 please with some proper wing play and crosses into the box!

    Cheers for the thread Jake.

      (Quote)

  4. Cheers Jake. I cannae see Tiote playing but then again, not convinced on a mitro and gayle partnership up top.

    I’m gonna go for a 2-1 today.

      (Quote)

  5. Andy Magpie:
    Cheers Jake. I cannae see Tiote playing but then again, not convinced on a mitro and gayle partnership up top.

    I’m gonna go for a 2-1 today.

    i would never play Tiote ever again,he just sitting raking his wages in after refusing a move a few times because they would not meet his wage demands,sooner hes gone the better

      (Quote)

  6. FINALLY get to watch a match live on television. Can’t wait til kick off.

    Happy Holidays to the blog and let’s grab another 3 points!

    HWTL

      (Quote)

  7. MDS:
    FINALLY get to watch a match live on television.Can’t wait til kick off.

    Happy Holidays to the blog and let’s grab another 3 points!

    HWTL

    lets hope you see a win mate 😉

      (Quote)

  9. Can nee wait. Gonna hop on the bus and have a few sherbets in toon. 52,000 there, bring it on Sheffield, we aaaare, we are, we are, we are. 🙂

      (Quote)

  10. Well I hope they haven’t over eaten over the holiday. Last thing we need is a load of bloated players trying to run off their over indulgences . Will it be headless turkeys or finely honed pros out there ?

      (Quote)

  13. Season’s greetings everyone. Here’s to a good match. Haven’t got a score prediction (I’m superstitious). More goals for Gayle I hope. 😀

      (Quote)

  19. Merry Christmas heathens! 😯
    What’s the deal with stream links these days? Anyone got one?
    Cheers 😎

      (Quote)

  27. Exactly why the Championship teams struggle when they go up. Just don’t take chances – thankfully for us…

      (Quote)

  33. Not enough from Diame, Goof and Colback in the first half for me – need to see more from them or make changes for me.

    We’ve defo missed Shelveys influence in the midfield imo.

    Darlow has been outstanding tonight – MOTM so far for me.

      (Quote)

  35. Hope Santa was good to you lot. We’ve got huge amounts of snow this year to give it a real Christmas flavor.

      (Quote)

  36. Fucking hell man, is there only Darlow who’s turned up tonight like!!!!!

    Sheff We’d look like the home team tonight.

      (Quote)

  37. Get Yedlin in there and let him & Ritchie target their right back, who’s on a yellow?

      (Quote)

  41. Things are getting wild and wooly. We need more intensity. Pressurize their defense. Attack! Attack! Attack!!!

      (Quote)

  42. How does everyone feel about the Pards sacking? I think it was bound to happen. Palace are clearly under-performing.

      (Quote)

  44. Just what is the point of Vurnon Anita. I still don’t understand. Lego people have longer legs. My fkn hamster can cover ground quicker.

      (Quote)

  45. Stuart79:
    Our home form is pretty average of truth be told… Why is that?

    Stu – less urgency in our home games for me.
    There seems to be a real sense of urgency to get the first goal in the away games. Where with the home games they are happy playing the possession game and passing it round.
    It’s been a tough watch tonight like.

      (Quote)

  46. I’d like to see us do some proper 442 wing play at home with the crowd behind us. Create some atmosphere and urgency – put the heebie jeebies up the opposition…
    We are just too relaxed at home and invite pressure on ourselves.

      (Quote)

  48. Sharpy17: Stu – less urgency in our home games for me.
    There seems to be a real sense of urgency to get the first goal in the away games.Where with the home games they are happy playing the possession game and passing it round.
    It’s been a tough watch tonight like.

    I blame everything on Jesus.

      (Quote)

  52. I don’t care if it’s Delph or whoever – but get Colback replaced in that midfield!!!
    If he’s not slowing the play down he’s giving the ball way.

      (Quote)

  53. Yes, Jesus Gamez has been a real disappointment so far Rodz mate. Get us a proper Jesus or just forget aboot it Rafa!

      (Quote)

  55. Look at Hayden’s movement. Always taking up good positions and the players always missing his runs and passing backwards instead.

      (Quote)

  59. We need a shakeup. Rafa has let them get a bit stale. Give them a good talking to and extra practices before the next match.

      (Quote)

  63. Not good enough. Shef Wed wanted it more tonight.

    So frustrating!!!. Atsu & Mitro made a bit of a difference but too late for Mitro. Perez did nowt again – not good enough this season.

      (Quote)

  64. Very dogged performance from sheff wed, they deserved it. Maybe this league won’t be the walkover we thought it was 😐

    MOTM – Darlow

      (Quote)

  66. Andy Magpie:
    Very dogged performance from sheff wed, they deserved it. Maybe this league won’t be the walkover we thought it was ?

    MOTM – Darlow

    Andy – it should be though. Tonight was more a case of us being really poor over SW being really good.

    Doesn’t matter what league you’re in or what team you are playing, if you don’t want it as much or more than your opponent then it makes it a lot harder to win the game.

      (Quote)

  67. Well just got back from the match… gutted. That was so ****… only players that looked anywhere near good enough tonight was Darlow and Clarke… Colback was totally ****. Every ball went to the opposition. From where I was sat it seemed ref was giving us nowt and they were a hard team … just hope we do better iron Friday as I’m going to that one too.

      (Quote)

  68. Dubai I hope your loyalty is repaid by the lads against Forest. You have travelled a long way after all!

      (Quote)

  69. Shamrock:
    Dubai I hope your loyalty is repaid by the lads against Forest. You have travelled a long way after all!

    Cheers Sham… yes a long way indeed. Also got some friends from Shanghai coming on Friday to see them so really want a win and a good performance against Forest.

      (Quote)

  71. Out of the top 6 we have the worst form over last 6 games having lost 3 of those games . Reading are next having lost 2, Wednesday , leeds and Huddersfield have only lost once and Brighton haven’t lost any of their last 6 but have drawn two. Brightons last 6 are DWDWWW I fully expect Brighton to capitalise on our slip up yesterday today.

    We need bodies in come January, we are going to lose players and our form is way too inconsistent to create any meaningful gap. Yesterdays game showed how much we need Shelvey in the team and even when he’s back he’ll need to get back up to speed. Thought their keeper and Darlow both had excellent games yesterday. Also thought the ref let them get away with a lot of niggly fouls. Gayle was targeted throughout the game but in honesty they deserved the points, they wanted it more.

      (Quote)

  72. Brighton have only lost twice all season compared to our 6 and they have drawn 6 compared to our once. They seem better able to salvage a point than us.

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *