Newcastle travel to Oxford today, and despite the knowledge that FA Cup ties can often cause upsets, there seems to be a sense of optimism in the air.
After a good run in the League Cup and a first FA Cup victory in five years, most seem confident that Rafa Benitez can take his side on a good FA Cup run, as well as guiding them to promotion.
However, at the time of the injury to Dwight Gayle, Newcastle fans could be forgiven for thinking that all of these plans could be derailed.
This worry was put to bed in the very same game that Gayle suffered his injury, with Daryl Murphy coming on as a substitute and grabbing the winner against Brentford, in that game.
Since then, there has been a starring role from Yoan Gouffran, who gave a brilliant account of himself in the replay against Birmingham, and another goal for Murphy.
The question is, should it Murphy to lead the line again today? Should Gouffran be given another chance in his proffered position? Or should Aleksandar Mitrovic come in after injury?
For me, Mitrovic is the obvious answer. With Sammy Ameobi Cup-tied and Christian Atsu still at the African Cup Of Nations, Gouffran will be needed on the left hand side, while Daryl Murphy should be saved for the league.
Mitrovic deserves the chance to stake a claim for the starting spot, and I would expect him to get the chance today.
7 years without a clean sheet in the FA Cup.
Shamrock(Quote)
of all the **** managers we have had over the years has been a nightmare winning jack ****,now we have a world class manager some fans are giving him **** its just un-real give the guy time ffs hes working with a arsehole of a owner hes on cleaning out the deadwood out hes changing the whole training set up ect ect,just put up and shut up and wait
icedog(Quote)
Ice
There is no denying, we were awful yesterday. Players were all over the place. Gamez was standing off crosses etc. The desire was not in this game!
Rafa has to take some responsibility for the players not listening to him.
With the team selected, surely they would be playing out of their skins to show what they can offer Rafa….
We have some difficult games coming up, hopefully Rafa will have them interested in these
Gashley(Quote)
Ice nobody is disputing he is a class manager, but if he makes mistakes he should be called out on them just like anybody else would be. You said the team was good enough to win at Oxford (I disagree) but then go on to lay all of the blame at the players doors and nine at Rafa’s. Surely he has to cop at least some of the blame for a 3-0 loss to a lower league side?
Shamrock(Quote)
There’s talk spurs are going to bid for Zaha. That could cause issues for any Townsend deal if it happens.
Shamrock(Quote)
you hit the nail on the head “players”must take responsibility,Rafa doesnt kick a ball,ime sure he knows now who he can trust,just take note how he has built up up Mitro this morning fans will be wondering why when he was **** he want no bad press for him as hes on his way out in the summer Rafa is a fox when it comes to shifting players out at good money,built Siko up and robbed Spurs of 30 mil
icedog(Quote)
The only issues being caused for a Townsend deal mate is that we haven’t bid for him. I’m all for exploring the loan option if they could have agreed that – but if not, then get a bid on the table.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree with all Ice of what says…
Aussie(Quote)
*all of what Ice*……. fuken beer ?
Aussie(Quote)
That was a ridiculous team IMO, Curtis Good!? I thought he’d gone back to Australia like two years ago. Like Kadar went back to Hungary. We are not THAT down on players, Clark and Dummett could have played. Just a pointless exercise using so many fringe players, it will knock their confidence and achieve nothing. I agree with the comment that said players get injured in training. If we get an injury, then someone else plays. 10 regulars and a fringe player, but not 10 fringe player and one regular!
DJG(Quote)
Promotion is the most important thing this season. Clearly the team selected in non league games should reflect that? Especially with all the missing first framers we currently have?
Stuart79(Quote)
thats because you know the game mate,have one for me 😆
icedog(Quote)
I don’t see what else Rafa could do to be honest. It would be crazy to risk injury to our best players in a cup game while we need to get promoted. Make no mistake Brighton and the others won’t give us a minutes respite in this race. Folk can moan about not going further in the cup and I understand I don’t like it either, but come on , if we fail to get automatic promotion all hell will be let loose . Any length of time without Gayle, Shelvey or other vital players will ruin us. We have already seen the no Shelvey impact on the team. That team should of won yesterday, we had lots of chances to go ahead all fluffed 1st half by the players not Rafa. At least he now knows who he can trust and who needs shifting come summer. Right now he needs the board to get him some incomings to boost our run in but I am getting increasingly worried that promises are not being kept AGAIN.
kimtoon(Quote)
Will do mate! ????
Aussie(Quote)
When everybody says we have the best squad in the championship, perhaps this shows that it is not as deep as we would like.
BTW did anybody come out of that looking good?
Premandup(Quote)
We have 9 first teamers missing yesterday, Prem. What are we expecting from a Championship club? I’m not sure too many Championship clubs would be still grinding out wins with so many players missing that we’ve had over the last few games.
Stuart79(Quote)
bloody common sense from kim as normal,what the hell do fans expect
icedog(Quote)
Cheeers Ice. End of the day we all want the same thing, the cup can wait another year once and IF we go up. Next season there can be no excuses if we are in PL we must go for the cups as it’s our only realistic chance of silverware. We’ll know for sure then if the clubs policy has changed or not.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have to agree with ice. Rafa is not the person who give up on cup in order to survive in league. He never has been like that. He did the best he can. Lots of new players yesterday. They haven’t trained together for long. Think about our 1st and 2nd league matches, we lost too although with much better players. Blame Rafa if you want. But as long as he gets Newcastle back to PL, he can leave with his head held high.
funrafa(Quote)
Spot on Kim,69 since we won a cup what’s another yr
Icedog(Quote)
Kim – I understand what you are saying, but this is football and it’s about winning games. We could loose Gayle or Shelvey to a training ground injury – or even a hot headed insult in Shelveys case!!.
I don’t expect us to play our strongest 11, I honestly don’t. My biggest problem is the changing of the whole back 5 who aren’t used to playing alongside each other – so you immediately make yourself weak at the back. Individually you might say they should be good enough, but as a unit they were disorganised – and that was telling in their goals – 2 set pieces and a cross into the box.
I said last night we had enough chances to win, so yeah it’s largely down to the players. BUT if Rafa makes as many changes as he did, we loose that organisation and coherence – and that’s is more important than individual talent IMO.
I can’t imagine too many travelling fans heading home last night thinking – well at least Gayle or Shelvey didn’t get injured.
I fully get the bigger picture, and emphasis being on the Championship. But we were building a winning mentality again after the last 3 games, and this sets us back.
As a Newcastle fan I have little passion left for domestic cups now coz as a club we always seem to have a greater priority. So honestly, I can’t say I’m that bothered. It’s more about momentum for me, and I can’t help feeling annoyed for the traveling fans.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I tell you want else pisses me off – these players quickly taking to twitter to hold their hands up.
I’m sure the fans had a far better journey home knowing the players acknowledge they were ****.
If they felt that bad about it, put your phones down, pick up your wallet and donate some of this weeks wage to refund those fans who wasted most of yesterday & some of their hard earned cash to go and watch you be ****.
If not, shut ya face, hop in ya sports car and go lick your own wounds in ya million pound houses.
Sharpy17(Quote)
won’t argue with that mate. I do feel for the travelling fans but did they all think he’d play most of the first team? I know I didn’t . As for conceding from set pieces, we been doing that all season if you think about it , regardless who plays . 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
I said it before and I’ll say it again, I think that team should’ve been more than capable of beating a mid table league 1 side. I cannot complain at Rafa’s team selection. We still had several 1st team players in there. Mitro was £14 million pound ffs… we had Perez, Hanley and a few others that should’ve been able to get a result.
I just didn’t see any real effort from any of them. It sounded as if Good had a better game than most, although hard to tell on the radio.
Very disappointed in the lack of effort.
Saying sorry afterwards doesn’t cut it for me like.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Well that’s Leeds out to a non league side.. ? And Hull out to lower league team as well as Watford.
The little teams rule the roost this season… 2 non league teams through into the next round.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Good was **** weak for their first goal.
Shamrock(Quote)
Kim – and I can honestly say I didn’t expect most of the first team, but a strong spine. Sels is *****, Good has never played, Barlaser has barely played. Replace those 3 with Darlow or Elliott, Clark or Lascelles and Tiote or Colback and I still think that gives fringe/reserve players a chance – whilst maintaining that core discipline.
Sharpy17(Quote)
“Lincoln are only the third non-league team to reach the FA Cup fifth round since the turn of the century, after Crawley Town in 2010-11 and Luton Town in 2012-13”
That was yesterday, Leeds have just lost at non-league Sutton United today also. It’s clear that there is a pattern emerging here. The domestic cups are becoming a side show that is just not worth it for the small beer in extra gate/prize money, for clubs who have an eye on the £100m PL money. I suppose after the dust has settled we can just look at it and say that our rivals are now focused 100% on the league. I believe we could could have played a stronger team though,Good AND Games in the same defence for example, was just one change too many. Losing to League 1 doesn’t look so bad I suppose when our rivals lost to non-league. These clubs treat the game as their FA Cup final and are desperate to win, maybe it’s not such a bad thing that some of the non-league clubs are getting to the fifth round and a decent crack at drawing a PL club. Is this the magic of the FA cup returning perhaps?
DJG(Quote)
So Palace either want their money back for Townsend or may be considering a swap for Mbemba as a loan deal for him.
So CP are only looking to get the money back – not looking to profit or have our pants down on a player they have had 6mth. If CP are still due to pay us £3m next month then it won’t be costing £13m either.
Alternatively the Mbemba option works for me too (especially if it’s just a loan move). Mbemba is sitting on our bench – he could go sit on CPs bench if it meant us getting Townsend to help with the promotion push.
Sharpy17(Quote)
My thoughts exactly. People seem to be struggling with the idea that a balance could have been found.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sharpy17, totally agree mate.
I think he could have easly played a team like this, without too much “risk”.
———————-Elliot—————–
Gamez–Hanley–Dummett—Hiadara
El Mhanni–Hayden–Colback—Lazaar
—————Perez-Mitrovic————-
With the others on the bench and thrown on if we are winning.
DJG(Quote)
I keep going back to my original point that this season is all about promotion . I know you can lose a player in training but imo there’s no point risking valuable squad members when so much is at stake. Maybe the defence could of been better as in DJG’s team but really defence aside the likes of Perez and Mitro should of done so much better. The players let themselves down yesterday with that performance.
kimtoon(Quote)
thats what Big Al thinks
http://www.footballinsider247.com/alan-shearer-slams-newcastle-senior-figure-for-cheating-the-fans/
icedog(Quote)
I didn’t like the score but I think we needed to be out of the cup. I don’t think we have the players to dominate the Championship and all that matters is getting promoted this season. We have a few players who are better than almost everyone else in the division, Gayle, Shelvey, and Ritchie coming to mind but beyond the starting 11 we aren’t that good. I don’t think either Mitro or Perez are going to be good enough in the Prem. And I would say the same for several of our defenders. That’s why we haven’t run away with it this season. Our inability to get draws from losing positions is another problem. Let’s go up and test Ashley’s resolve. Because it will be up to Ashley as to whether we can keep Rafa or not.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
DJG – That’s almost the team we did play!
Stuart79(Quote)
It’s easy for Big Al. He doesn’t have to get us promoted. It’s up to Rafa to set the priorities. I’m sure he didn’t pick a starting 11 that he thought didn’t have a chance of winning, but he has bigger fish to fry. We also have to find out who can answer the challenge of being put out there and rise to the occasion. I guess we found out not too many of the players chosen can do that. A number of our squad should leave in the summer to give to us any chance of being mid table. Those are the big issues Rafa has to deal with and I don’t think Big Al’s criticism will bother him much.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I agree 100% mate
Icedog(Quote)
Ta ice mate. The job of manager is constant pressure. As I recall Big Al only won 2 of 8 matches as our manager. It’s a bit unfair because he was thrown in at the last minute in that situation, but he should know what the problems that Rafa is facing are and try to explain it that way to the public. Too easy to do it the way he does. Yes it was hard on the supporters who travelled to watch the game but those same supporters would have been furious if we had played more of the regular starters and gotten some of them injured.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I think we’ve seen now in both domestic cups that we aren’t good enough to do well in the Prem next season if we get promoted. We need quite a few more very good players. Will Rafa get the support he needs from Ashley for that? I’m quite concerned that the answer will be no. If that’s the case it’s going to get very frustrating again next season for all of us.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kim – and next year will be about survival as it has been for the last few seasons before this one. When does a domestic cup ever become worthy?.
DJGs team is pretty much exactly what I mean. Gamez to rest Yedlin as Anita is out (we’d have Sterry there if anything happened to Gamez). I’d play Lascelles or Clark – or even Findlay as he played quite well against B’ham. Haidara at LB to rest Dummett. Colback or Tiote with Hayden – then have Perez and Mitrovic up front.
By the next round we could well have Anita, Mbemba, Gayle back and whatever (if any) January additions.
The other thing for me yesterday was that Sels, Gamez, Hanley, Lazaar, El Mhanni and Hayden were all signed under Rafa in the summer – I’ll let Hayden off coz he’s had more better than worse games this season – but the rest?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gamez will be leaving in the summer surely Sharpy mate. He’s past 30 and has been a flop. I think Sels will be gone as well. We have a decent set of keepers without him. Hanley I hope will stay as cover. The same for Hayden. El Mhanni is young and needs to be given time with us. Surely Gouffy is near the end as well. I would sell Mitro and Perez. We need another youngish, pacey striker and Perez is far too inconsistent. Shelvey will need more cover in midfield and I’ve never been happy with the thought of Dummett as LB in the Prem. I still think we need a dominant CB as well. There’s a lot to be done to get us ready.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
What would all that cost? In all honesty I don’t know. I mentioned bringing about five new players in and selling at least 5. If we got 20M for Mitro, Perez, and Sels combined (doubtful at this point I would say), Ashley we have to throw in another 40M at least to get the type of players we need. Gouffy, Anita, Ameobi, and Tiote all have contracts expiring this June. Will Ashley put enough money into the transfer kitty? And if he doesn’t get close to that what will Rafa make of it?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Oh, and I forgot about Colback. What to do about him? I think he signed a five year deal so he has a couple of seasons left on it doesn’t he?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sharpy, Hopefully it won’t be a case of sacrificing the cup for survival next season. With Rafa and some decent additions I hope we can go for it. I guess we will soon see jabba’s intentions come the summer.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well it’s very divided here regarding what happened yesterday. I got to say, what’s the point in being a footy fan if we don’t dream of winning so etching or at least cover ourselves in glory trying? That’s what cups are all about and where the magic of being a footy fan comes from. We know we are getting promoted and playing a couple of first teamers yesterday instead of kids and write offs would have done us no harm. Especially as incomings will happen. Would we have cared if Colback got injured, or Vukic, who has lots of experience at that level? Would it matter if Clarke picked up a niggle? Lots of people are saying Mbemba is a big prospect and should be first choice anyway, he will be back very soon. If we had put out a stronger spine (just 2 or 3 stronger players), I’m sure the result will have been very different.
End of the day, it’s done now so let’s watch out for signings. I’m certain at least Townsend will come in.
Shamrock(Quote)
The big issue with ech of our cup exits this season is the fact that really we should have done better and went through.
Hull was a travesty, Oxford a shambles.
Just watch this squad struggle massively in the Prem. For Rafa to turn this club round he needs a medal.
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
Where was tiote yesterday, is he at the anc ?
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
I forecast Rafa will walk in the summer he has no need to put up with jabba,plenty work for a guy like Rafa ,imo your looking at about 100 mil to be put in the kitty and 40 mil from sales,can you really see jabba stumping that kind of dough I cannot
Icedog(Quote)
I really hope Rafa gets backed by the board or I see him getting frustrated and walking come the summer. He won’t be content with just surviving, he’s no Pardew and defo no puppet that’s for sure. I would like to think we can go for the cups next season without the worry of reaching the magical 40 points in the background.
Anyway guys all is not lost we still have a cup to play for, League Champions , more than ever now I’d say.
kimtoon(Quote)
Nah mate he was sitting on his *** back home hoping someone throws him some sweeties,what a waste of space and a very expensive waste of space
Icedog(Quote)
Sham, hope you are right about Andros but I see Fat Sam being a real ball breaker over the deal. He says it’s nowt to do with him but we know he’ll put his two pennies worth in and there’s no love lost between him and Rafa.
kimtoon(Quote)
Icedog, the crouton was needed yesterday. Are they still paying his wages, this is scandalous, even worse than cisco picking up his wedge for doing nowt
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
Rafa says he’s going this window,I believe it when I see it,the hungary git
Icedog(Quote)
So the window closes Tuesday night at 11, only an hour or so after the PL and Championship games finish. I expect a lot of managers to be on their phones disappearing down tunnels during the matches and hopefully a lot of activity to.orrow before it gets too late. We don’t have a great track record with deadline days.
Shamrock(Quote)
Bit of a shamble really, Sham. The January window that is. Why doesn’t it exist? In fact, why do we have deadlines or windows at all?
Stuart79(Quote)
No idea Stu. No need for it imo.
Shamrock(Quote)
Glad i didn’t waste my time toddling down the A40 yesterday as I thought losing was on the cards
Was told that Villa netted £92m last season for 20th in prem while Real Madrid got £89m for winning Champions League. Anyone know if that’s true ?
Says it all if so .. and probably why Championship clubs will put all else aside for a crack at the Premier League.
Any surprise top three championship clubs went out yesterday
GlosMag(Quote)
Ice I think a little constructive criticism is fair from time to time. Plus giving credit when it’s due.
Stem(Quote)
My prediction is that we will sign no players at all.
How would people feel about that?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu. I agree, it’s looked that way since window opened, has a very familiar look to it. It also coincides with the return to games of the fatman. Let’s face it, we got players no trouble in the summer when no one knew how we’d do in the championship and Jabba was no where to be seen. This window we should be more appealing to players since we are top 2 yet seemingly we can’t get anyone and Jabbas back in town. Put it this way I’m not watching SSN all day tomorrow.
kimtoon(Quote)
If you buy in January, you get ripped off.. there are no good deals, just desperate ones… and we are not in a desperate situation
….yet!
Aussie(Quote)
A couple of decent loans would help us though.
kimtoon(Quote)
Loans don’t raise funds though.. ease wage bills, that’s bout it..
Aussie(Quote)
Thing is it’s a relatively small outlay for just 6 months and the payday at promotion surely makes it worth it.
kimtoon(Quote)
lets hope that we don’t get a couple of injuries to key players or red cards or our season could be seriously derailed.
kimtoon(Quote)
Talking about the selling/loaning club.. selling an unwanted player for a large fee is better than a loan.. most need the capital to buy themselves..
Aussie(Quote)
What is it with these Social Justice Warriors? Why are they signing petitions and protesting because the US President has implemented a policy he thinks will keep his country safer? Don’t hear a jot off them when Muslim countries ban Israelis from entering their countries or when Barack Obama bans Iraqi refugees in 2011. Take about rank hypocrisy!
This world is in danger and it’s not from people like Donald Trump.
Stuart79(Quote)
True enough… the same goes for all the top of the table clubs.. none are blessed with squads deep with talent.. I think we will be fine..
Aussie(Quote)
hope so Aussie
kimtoon(Quote)
Me too Kim!
Aussie(Quote)
I will be royally pissed if we don’t sign anyone. Rafa keeps saying he wants 1 or 2 in. If that does not happen, then the club is proven to be messing him about already – and the writing will be in the wall.
Shamrock(Quote)
Agree, Sham.
Stuart79(Quote)
If it requires a defender swap to get Townsend I would much prefer it was Hanley,never really rated him really gets shown up when he plays international football making the same mistakes over and over,I thought Rafa would have improved the lad but from what I have seen he’s no better
Icedog(Quote)
People didn’t care a jot about refugees until they knew they could use it as a stick to beat Donald Trump with. Don’t get me wrong, the guy’s an idiot but I find it hilarious that everything Obama did got swept under the carpet because he played a bit of basketball and was good with kids.
FYI: Our Jake has a transfer deadline day live blog coming tomorrow to see in the final bit of frantic activity.
Also, is the site still slow for everyone? I’ve removed most ads and trimmed down everything I could. As I said, for me it works absolutely fine on both 4g and Wifi.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Andy it’s working much better today for me at least. Cheers.
Shamrock(Quote)