Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle United side travel to Blackburn Rovers today, with the hope and expectation of bringing back three points and maintaining their title hopes.
However, as Owen Coyle’s side proved last time that they met the Magpies, Blackburn will be no pushovers.
Newcastle will have to be on their game if they are to get anything from the game.
In the build up to this game, the debate about Jonjo Shelvey has died down a little bit, but no doubt waits to resurface as soon as the side has another negative result.
One argument that won’t go away though, is whether Jack Colback and Isaac Hayden compliment each other. Many fans think not, feeling that the side may need someone who can think forward more often, when in possession of the ball.
Someone who is good on the ball, is Vurnon Anita. Someone who has another fan favourite, in DeAndre Yedlin, competing for his position.
So, why not kill two birds with one stone? Anita in midfield? Obviously the manager knows far better and works with them every day in training, but could it be food for thought?
yedlin should start RB regardless if anita gets a game in midfield or not. another option…yedlin on the wing as hes good going forward and would track back and put ritchie as no10. with his class having that pocket of space close to goal will allow him to a) play clever balls through to gayle or b) shoot himself. the latter is something i feel we lack, shots on goal around the area. or shal i rephrase that…quality shots, accurate shots. as diame and perez have been poor unless they inside the box
matty g(Quote)
It’s crossed my mind a few times. Anita can play the dm role effectively and he’s quicker and more forward thinking than Colback. I’d go with that (I’d maybe prefer Hayden/Diame today) for the next two while Shelvey’s out.
georgio(Quote)
In an ideal toon world Anita would be nowhere near the toon first team.
However he will start today at right back, expect a turgid and bland toon defensive toon performance, with a 1-0 Blackburn win.
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
Yedlin has to start a RB with Hayden and Anita bossing the central midfield in the absence of Shelvey, Ritchie and Atsu on the wings,Perez number 10 with Gayle up top, makes sense but im not Rafa Benitez
Aron Crossley(Quote)
Never mind the colback situation, why not try Gayle and mitro up top , mitro win and flick for Gayle to run into channels ?
Andy(Quote)
Sorry I wasn’t round for yesterday’s article. Good read Kim and a good article based on recent rumours.
Personally I don’t think new owners means better times. It doesn’t mean better players are guaranteed, regardless of how rich they may be.
I didn’t even think I’d say this, but I would stick with Ashley just now. Our bad times were when he stuck his beak in and had too much say. It seems now that he’s stepped back and let Charnley get on with it we are heading in the right direction. The McClaren appointment seemed to be on Carrs recommendation and he seems to have wound his neck in as well.
With Rafa at the helm and everyone sticking to what they should be doing, I think we will get there.
I think the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd and even Man City prove that it doesn’t matter how much money you spend or how rich the owners are – it’s a manager that his the biggest influence on how successful a team is – and with Rafa we have a good un.
Sharpy17(Quote)
As for this article. Jake I would defo play Yedlin RB to give us that extra threat out wide.
Personally, I would play Diame in midfield with Hayden and play either Murphy or Mitrovic with Gayle.
Maybe drop Gayle to the bench if he’s carrying a knock.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watching This match and league in general does make me laugh at some of the comments on twitter/chron about Tom Cleverleys ability to play in the PL
The premiership outside of the top 6/7 teams if made up almost entirely of players our support would turn their noses up at…
CC(Quote)
Mitro’s not even in the squad. Very strange unless he’s on the way out. No mention of a knock either. Disappointed Colback’s still there – passing back no doubt.
georgio(Quote)
CC – I agree with you mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
No Mitro on the bench even though Gayle has a knock? I just wonder if Palace or Swansea have a £15m bid lined-up for him? If Rafa doesn’t fancy him for the PL then fair enough I suppose. Could be a good piece of business but would leave us vulnerable to a Gayle injury. It would be a gamble that could pay off, or backfire. I would say one thing, Rafa does not seem to like Mitro and doesn’t even bring him on until very late in games, seems very very odd that he’s not on the bench for a game like this.
DJG(Quote)
I’d hate to see Mitro go for a number of reasons. I think he’s just in need of refinement and Rafa is the guy to do it. A bit if a project sure, but one worth undertaking IMO.
They wouldn’t sell him without having a replacement lined up. Interesting timing considering we’ve been linked with quite a few strikers lately. Maybe Rafa wants one more in the Gayle-mode
MDS(Quote)
I agree but just looking at some of the comments from Everton fans worries me. Most can’t wait to see the back of him. I always look to see what other club fans think as it tends to be a decent indicator of whether a player is worth signing or not.
DJG(Quote)
Mitro must be leaving.
Are we on telly today?
Shamrock(Quote)
There’s a replay being shown here in the US later today so someone must be showing it live…somewhere
MDS(Quote)
Cheers MDS. I’ll fire up the laptop then.
Shamrock(Quote)
http://live.robinwidget.com/streamvideo8/blackburn-vs-newcastle-utd-live-stream-89671.html
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
That challenge was a bit naughty.
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
http://skyteacher.org/skysports1.html
Shamrock(Quote)
Nice effort from Diame, gonna take something like that to break Bburn down here I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Doing ok so far.
Shamrock(Quote)
Thank you very much for the links!!!
funrafa(Quote)
Brighton drawing but Fulham are all over them.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well there was talk of possession football a few days ago – we must have had around 75% of the possession in that first half and we didn’t do enough with it in the final third IMO.
Best chance was a long distance shot from Diame.
Need to do better in the 2nd half if we are going to win this game coz I just see Bburn defending deeper and deeper as the game goes on.
Bottom 3 would be happy with a point from top of the league I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Still a lot of variables, can we get our lead back from Brighton today? We’ve done everything but score, our players are so much better away. I’m not buying the ‘teams come to defend at SJP’ rubbish. Blackburn have spent most of the game today camped in their own final third! Our players just play better and with less pressure away from home. Mackems drawing, Hull winning, Palace play Swansea tomorrow, what a big game that is for them.
DJG(Quote)
I don’t have a good feeling. Blackburn rested in the first half and now they started pressing.
funrafa(Quote)
Fulham’s relentless pressure pays off. 1-0.
Shamrock(Quote)
I think he tried to direct the handball goalwards.
Shamrock(Quote)
Hogan scores again for Brentford.
Shamrock(Quote)
Adam Armstrong struggling this season.
Shamrock(Quote)
Come on lads wake up and make the possession count.
Shamrock(Quote)
It’s all gone a bit boring now – then Bburn nearly score!!!
Time for a change I think. Either Atsu or Murphy on to change things up in the final 3rd
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wish we had him on the bench
Sharpy17(Quote)
**** right off
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eff.
That kind of game.
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
Colback is *****. Utter *****.
Shamrock(Quote)
First Colback lost the ball in his own box then got isolated and had to lay on the ball whilst holding the Rovers player to keep the ball (he was actually fouling the Rovers player) and then he blatantly wipes out the Rovers player on the edge of the box and gives them a free shot at goal, which they score from. What a liability he has become. What does Rafa keep playing him?
Shamrock(Quote)
Brighton winning 2-1 away at Fulham.
Shamrock(Quote)
Right Murphy I know you only have 5 minutes but get us a goal!
Shamrock(Quote)
Possession football – better players counts no nowt if you don’t create chances and score the goals to win games.
People aren’t going to like this, but Rafa got it wrong again today by sticking with Colback and Gouffran.
His subs have been poorly timed as well in my opinion – needed to make the changes a good 5-10mins before they scored – not after.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I agree Sharpy.
Shamrock(Quote)
Well I been chatting to myself on the previous thread all game.
Can we PLEASE put links up to new threads, it’s getting beyond a joke now.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Fucking *****. Don’t deserve to be top or go up Champions IMO.
That was fucking ****.
Beaten twice in the season from Blackburn – bottom 3 team.
Disgusted.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Reading 6 points behind us having come from 2 down to win 3-2. Brighton 2 in front of us with a game in hand. Is Rafa deliberately taking the **** in order to convince Ashley to spend more in January?
We had 67% possession though…
Shamrock(Quote)
Hit the bar, two goals ruled out, 20+ chances to their, what, 2 shots? Sometimes you just don’t get the win.
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
Just shows like, this pretty possession football means nothing in the championship. Sticking the ball in the net is all the matters. Blackburn are probably going down and a club in crisis and they have schooled us over two games. We can never seem to beat them, I will be glad to never see them again hopefully. Mackems get two pens against Liverpool, total total day to forget. Just give Brighton the trophy now, based on our last 8 games. 👿
DJG(Quote)
I think maybe we need to relax a little bit here. We played pretty well, created lots of chances, had two goals disallowed and their keeper had a great game. These games happen. The fact Reading and Brighton both won from being behind is the things that pisses me off but hopefully it will give the players something to focus on.
I also think we will bring in 2 or 3 good players this January which will push us on again. I’m also pretty confident our squad depth will show later on.
Stuart79(Quote)
Colback always a disaster waiting to happen. We bring on Murphy, fair enough, but a goal down and two minutes to go our back three play keep ball. Unbelievable.
Groucho(Quote)
4 defeats in 8 FSOTC. 2 ‘goals’ ruled out because of fouls, so not goals at all. 20+ shots but only 5 on target and none of those shots looked like going in? That was utter *****. We need some quality signings and also need more than one system of play. Maybe Rafa only has one system because the players are not good enough for anything else? I don’t know, but what we are currently doing is not working.
Shamrock(Quote)
Fans – not quite though – only 5 shots were on target. Guess how many of Bburns 5 shots were on target…?.
Sorry mate, but I can’t just shrug my shoulders after that. Nowhere near good enough IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I been ranting on previous thread, Colback is a fucking liability, sell him now Rafa, the prat cost us the game today. I knew we’d get the sucker punch it had one of those days written all over it.
Oh and possession football, you can stick it up your **** imo. OK if you are Barca or Real Madrid but pointless with our players I’m afraid.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Last 10 games – W, L, L, L, W, W, W, L, W,L.
50% of our games being lost at the minute. That’s not good form for us and something has to change.
Shamrock(Quote)
Turned over twice by bottom 3 Blackburn is not the sign of champions, coming back like Brighton did is. Everyone around us did well today and we have to improve on what is becoming decidedly average performances of late.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Fed up
Thanks for the thread jake, try to post it on previous thread next time please
Kimtoon(Quote)
Reading have won 8 of the last 10 games and Brighton have won 8 and drawn 2 of the last 10. We need to sort our act out. Starting with selling or dropping Jack Colback. He offers nothing that Hayden can’t do. We need somebody else in there when Shelvey is not about.
Shamrock(Quote)
Stu – we played pretty well until we got to the final 3rd – then we were below average. Stats say 25 chances but only 5 on target. I don’t think we massively stretched their keeper – he made some good saves but it was their CB who got MOTM.
Too much standing waiting for the ball into feet and not running onto passes for me. Nothing created down the left and too much expected of Ritchie IMO.
I accept these games happen, but they are starting to happen too often for us. Shef Wed, we made hard work of Forest and we weren’t good enough today.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We’re having a bad run of form – it happens. We couldn’t continue winning games on the bounce. It’s just inconceivable that Brighton and Reading don’t have a bad run too.
January is coming at the right time imo. We just need to freshen up and go again.
Stuart79(Quote)
Trying to look on the bright side of a horrible defeat , Rafa may now be convinced to go and get the players we obviously need. Why does Dummet take throw ins? He takes too long allowing the opposition to mark our men and then usually throws it to the opposition.
Groucho(Quote)
You could just about see that coming, think Rafa needs to have a good sharp look at himself, Yes Gayle has scored a lot of goals but he needs help, and needs it now. Ritchie is probably trying to hard – wants to be involved in everything.
Possession means nothing, there was one occasion today when Lascelles and Clark exchanged 8 passes between them without moving forward, think maybe Colback played it once, tots up the % but achieves nothing.
Certain players were lost in the Premiership and are just as lost in the Championship, but they seem to be Rafa’s favourites, nothing out on loan is going to improve things, so its back to the cheque book – spend wisely Rafa or its bye bye promotion, its becoming a real threat now.
ash1001(Quote)
Thought for the day:-
What would be the fans reaction if it was not Rafa at the helm.
ash1001(Quote)
Brighton could go 5 pts clear if they win their game in hand. Reading will be 3 points behind us.
My prediction of being in the playoff may be right fi we don’t get our act together.
Some of the defeats have been shocking but deserved.
We need more creative players and others that can score or we’ll be well away from walking it…
Gashley(Quote)
I think we have flattered to deceive at time with some pretty, flowery showboating in the middle third. The truth is, without Gayle AND Shelvey we are impotent. Three games without Shelvey, two defeats. Shelvey is what lifts us above the quality of these sides and out of the *****. He can’t be back soon enough for me. Today had a draw written all over until Colback’s STUPID foul on the edge of the box.
DJG(Quote)
I’ve changed my opinion about saving our resources until the summer, we need two quality players in now just to get up IMO.
DJG(Quote)
Well myself and Kim been posting on last thread… please IF THERE IS A NEW THREAD PUT A LINK ON THE BOTTOM SOMEWHERE!
From last thread…
Reading won, Brighton won, both with game in hand over us… not even second place is safe anymore. ????????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I will be happy if we make the playoffs and beyond amazed if we win this league tbh. We are good in fits and starts but there is little consistency to speak off . Of the goals conceded , well Brighton have let in 5 less than us and Leeds and Shef Weds only 4 more than us. Work needs doing and players need signing.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Of the games we have lost this season, how many of them had Colback and Hayden together in midfield, I can think of at least 3… Colback is just ****, **** ****… I know he’s a local lad but still needs to go
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Stu – I get what you’re saying mate and honestly I didn’t expect to go unbeaten all season.
Teams like Bburn will make it hard for us and nick a win with their only shot on target.
What I’m pissed off about is that we are coming away from too many games with nothing. We have 1 drawn all season so far – 1 draw.
Today we should have won that game for sure – but if we don’t win, we should at least be coming away with something.
5 wins and 5 defeats in our last 10 is worrying mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy17
True mate, 7 defeats already, last time we lost FOUR all season. These players are not streetwise enough. Blackburn were shyte but just had to defend against us and we didn’t test their keeper enough with any real quality.
DJG(Quote)
Things must be bad as Rafa confirms Sameobi is returning from his loan…
Stuart79(Quote)
great we’ll win the league now for sure 🙄
Kimtoon(Quote)
For everyone saying we lose too many, I’d rather lose all these games we have if we win the rest and not draw them. Look at Villa – we have lost more than them but where are they in the league?
Sharpy – if we win 50% of our remaining games that puts us on 82 points. That’s normally enough to get us up or bloody close. If, on the other hand we have the same results as the whole of the 24 games we’ve played that will put us on nearly 100 points.
Nothing to worry about here, move on. Just a bad run of form which happens to everyone. Don’t forget this is the same squad that everyone was raving about when we were 7 points clear at the top…
Stuart79(Quote)
I don’t think there is any knee **** reactions on here , before it gets mentioned. We are seeing the perfect storm of chances not converted, not enough savvy from certain players and poor officiating in games. We concede from set pieces like today after having the lions share of possession in games and it’s infuriating . Are we a better squad than Leeds, Reading, Shef weds and Huddersfield, of course we are but we still have to fight for it. Right now I’m not seeing enough guile or savvy from some players, Colback, Diame and Dummet all poor today imo.
Kimtoon(Quote)
Colback is taking a lot of stick and rightly so – the freekick aside, he was very sloppy again today and negative in his passing – backwards and sideways too often.
But I don’t want Gouffran to get off lightly either. For me he doesn’t do enough. His work rate and creativity isn’t good enough in my opinion and he’s coasting through games. He needs to do better or be replaced as well – this is a kid hoping for a new contract after all.
Hayden was our best player today imo. He worked hard and trying to get forward and create through the middle. It never quite came off but at least he was trying.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – It’s the same group of players who were sweeping all before them earlier. We can’t have it all ways. They can’t be no good now just because we lose a few.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh and just to make a point – we are still 6 points clear of 3rd, ok they have a game in hand but they have to win it and we also play both Brighton and Reading again.
Stuart79(Quote)