Lets start off with the weekends game against Bristol City.
I’m sure that it was a game that most fancied Newcastle to win, and all the talk on the radio was on how many goals that they would score in the process.
However, despite being the clear, odds-on favourites to win the game, Newcastle found themselves two goals down, in what felt like no time at all.
The first was a great header from Bristol City’s Aaron Wilbraham, who found himself unmarked amongst appeals for offside.
The second, a clanger by Karl Darlow, which saw a mix up between him and Paul Dummett.
In the second half however, Newcastle did play some brilliant stuff, clawing their way back from two goals down, with Christian Atsu in particular, being excellent.
Moving on to tomorrow, despite his great performance, there never seems to be any guarantees that Atsu will retain his starting place, so don’t rule out a recall for Yoan Gouffran.
It would come as a surprise if that was the only change, with Grant Hanley and Rob Elliot possibly deserving of a game.
However, the question that everyone wants to know is will Dwight Gayle feature.
It’s true that, in the majority of games that he has missed, Newcastle have managed to cope well without their top scorer, but it would most certainly be a huge boost if he could play tomorrow, ahead of what could be the biggest week of the season for Rafa Benitez and his team.
Personally I would bring Elliot in because Darlow’s confidence is shot to pieces. I’d have Gayle on the bench as it seems his injury is more in his head than body and I think I would probably play Murphy instead of Mitro with Diame instead of Perez.
Stuart79(Quote)
Inclined to agree mate, though it could shatter Darlows confidence even more to drop him, difficult one for Rafa for sure. Elliott is also only just back so could be a gamble to start him in this game in particular . I would love to see Murphy get a start if Gayle isn’t right and I do agree that it is looking like it’s a mental thing with Gayle rather than physical. It’s a bit understandable as it’s gone twice now, first time at Palace and it must play on the mind. I know that since I had my knee op everytime I feel pain or a twinge I worry it’s gonna give out again, you can’t help it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Andymag, from previous thread, cheer’s for that link, I had been thinking about vit D for a while now.
kimtoon(Quote)
I would tend to agree with that take on this game Stu,but I do think will try and go with a brick wall if Gayle plays and look to hit on the break
Icedog(Quote)
Thanks for the new thread. Jake
Icedog(Quote)
Our defenders need to work on communication in training, we’ve lost a couple of preventable goals through lack of communication /understanding now.
kimtoon(Quote)
Tomorrow night is huge, because not only are we playing for three points, we’re playing for momentum for the next two. My biggest worry is how we seem to start slow in every game. Against Villa it took us a half to get going, we went 2-0 down against Bristol City and were generally poor against Wolves. Brighton will be at us from the start so Rafa needs to do something to galvanise us and get us out the blocks quickly (although a game like this should be motivation enough).
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Kim I still believe we will finish 2nd this season due to our defence and Colback. Mitrovic and Perez need to do better. Rafa or no Rafa you’re only as good as the tool’s you have to work with. Ashley should of got someone in January to boost morale. I hope I am wrong obviously but the board need to support there manager for the club to move forward.
Stem(Quote)
Andy if we play that slow in the PL we will be relegation candidate’s at best.
Stem(Quote)
This is what I mean about Ashley. I seen nothing in January to convince me that he has changed.
Stem(Quote)
Stem, aye, upgrades most certainly needed if we go up, as it stands we wouldn’t be competitive enough from what I have seen . Good squad for championship, not quite the real deal for prem though.
kimtoon(Quote)
Definitely. I think the step-up from Champo to Prem is vastly underestimated at times. Hull would smash up our league with the players they have but look certs to go down in their own.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
IMO to stay up, a player like Gayle needs to be a second or third choice striker. If Shelvey is still our best midfielder next season (assuming we get to the Prem), then we’ll also have problems.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Agree mate and more worrying still is that his hamstring may be a recurring problem .
kimtoon(Quote)
Andy and Kim the summer will be very interesting for us all I’m sure. As for Brighton I hope for a win 😆 Big game could go either way for me.
Stem(Quote)
Anybody noticed that 5 of our last 8 games are at home against: Wigan, Burton, Leeds, PNE and Barnsley. Normally that would be a plus but with our home form it’s not ideal, but having said that I think the fans will be up for them so we should perform better.
Stuart79(Quote)
I wouldn’t risk Gayle tomorrow night let him recover a bit more. No point risking another injury, especially a hamstring injury.
Stem(Quote)
Stuart I can see us winning promotion with those last 5 home games which is good mate. I’m not to bothered about finishing 1st or 2nd to be honest as long as we win promotion and no play off’s. I would be seriously worried about this team in the play off’s
Stem(Quote)
Andy – agree completely. Gayle was 2nd choice for Palace – that’s coz with the greatest of respect to him, he’s a very good Championship forward but not so good in the PL.
I agree with Stu as well, I’d go with Elliott tonight too. We need a commanding voice in that back 5, and Elliott is far better than Darlow & Sels in that department – he’s also a better keeper too, which helps.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t think it’s obvious that Elliot’s a better keeper than Darlow. In fact I prefer Darlow but he has to learn from these mad dashes to the edge of the box. Stay in yer six yard box mate and make saves if your defender is done.
Going to be interesting tomorrow night. The momentum seems to be with Brighton but we have a tremendous away record. Very hard to call.
georgio(Quote)
Villa posts losses of over £80m ?. That’s a club in the **** ? for sure coz they certainly won’t be back in the PL next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Scott Wilson
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Rafael Benitez admits anxiety is affecting #NUFC – as they prepare to head into their biggest week of the season…
We can all see that I think, important that fans stay off their backs, especially at home games
kimtoon(Quote)
Has Elliot been playing reserve team matches? I hope so. I would go with him as well. Darlow needs a bit of time off. These 3 upcoming matches are crucial. We’ll need some big performances.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Kim – It’s absolutely ridiculous the times our supporters oh and argh when there’s a Miss placed pass or when we pass it around at the back we complain in mass with shouts of derision! No wonder there’s anxiety when the fans are on their back so early on in games.
Stuart79(Quote)
G2 I don’t think many of our player’s are PL material. Shelvey, Murphy, Gayle as a back up striker and that’s about it. We got very few experienced player’s in the team which is just ridiculous. I must be the only fan dreading a PL return if Ashley doesn’t change his way’s.
Stem(Quote)
Stem – MURPHY?!?!?!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think we have become very predictable as the season has progressed.
I so wish Rafa would try something new, and give Brighton something to think about.
We are just not deadly or clinical enough in attack to justify sticking with the same old tried and tested routine. I fear for us tomorrow evening if I’m honest. We are conceding goals far too easily and really struggling at the other end. Brighton will be licking their lips at the prospect.
I wouldn’t be dropping Darlow for this match either, just get it sorted between him and the defenders.
I also hope he sticks with Atsu in place of Goufran, Diame not Perez and give Murphey a shot ahead of Mitro. Once again I would drop Lascelles and restore Anita to RB ahead of Yedlin.
In fact sod it, I would play Ritchie in the centre behind the striker, Diame in place of Colback and stick Yedlin on the right wing.
Too many changes for Rafa though, but it could work.
-Darlow-
Anita-Hanley-Clarke-Dummett
-Diame-Shelvey
Yedlin-Ritchie-Atsu
-Murphey-
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Gayles not starting
The Seagulls have the best home record in the division, having lost just once at the Amex this season, while Newcastle have the best away record.
Brighton’s only defeat in their last seven matches against Newcastle in all competitions (W4 D2) came earlier this campaign in a 2-0 loss at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies have never scored a goal at the Amex Stadium in two previous games there, both in the FA Cup.
The Seagulls have lost one of their last 19 home league games on a Tuesday (W14 D4), losing 1-0 to Ipswich in December 2015.
Newcastle, meanwhile, haven’t lost an away game on a Tuesday since going down to Spurs in December 2010, winning four and drawing three since.
Magpies striker Daryl Murphy has scored in each of his last four Championship appearances against Brighton (four goals).
Murphy is the highest scoring Championship opposition player at the Amex (since 2011-12), netting four goals in five previous appearances.
The Magpies are yet to win a Championship game in which they’ve conceded the first goal this season (D1 L6), while Brighton have won 18 out of 18 games in which they’ve scored first.
Gashley(Quote)
going for a 2-1 defeat. We’re in a little blip atm and Brighton are superb at home.
Gashley(Quote)
Defo start Murphy tonight please Rafa.
kimtoon(Quote)
Blip? We’re 8 games unbeaten and if it hadn’t been for some weird howlers we’d be on a run of 8 wins. No idea what will happen tonight but HTL!
georgio(Quote)
Although this is a big game I am not convinced it’s season defining stuff. A win for either side will be a great win but it won’t define the season. April will do that when there are 8 games in one month and I am convinced Rafa has picked his side and rotated his players with April in mind. That month will really decide the fate.
Also we are unbeaten in 10 and have won 6 of them so we actually go into this game on a good run of form. 🙂
Stuart79(Quote)
I wouldn’t mind seeing us going 4-4-2 tonight like –
—————– Elliott ——————-
Anita – Lascelles – Clark – Dummett
Ritchie – Shelvey – Diame – Atsu
—– Murphy ——- Gouffran ——
They have 2 big powerful CBs and I think 1 up front will be bossed by them.
I have to be honest, I’m worried about tonight – we could get we’ll beat tonight. They have only lost once at home all season. I hope I’m wrong like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Don’t understand people saying we’ve got bad home form – won 6 out of our last 9 there and lost just once.
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Pleased you didn’t go with Colback as we would nee chance if he plays,got a feeling we might see a sending off tonight
Icedog(Quote)
Anita is only just back training I think Sharpy.
kimtoon(Quote)
Any danger of a new thread for the match tonight?
Nervous about this one but I think the more important match is against Huddersfield. That’s a must win I think.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Stem mate, I think a lot of us are worried about what the owner will do if we get promoted. What kind of support does Rafa expect? I would think at least 50M but will Ashley provide it? If not we will battle to stay up. I think Ritchie, Gayle, Shelvey, and even Clark can play at the Prem level. Our keepers are decent although I think Sels will be sold. Our overall defense is bottom 10 in the Prem and we definitely don’t have enough goal scorers. We need another good striker, another holding MF, another winger, a decent LB and another CB, and they all have to be Prem quality.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
1-3 tonight Ritchie to score first and us to be 3 up at half time.
Stuart79(Quote)
anita was on the bench on sat – could make it
Gashley(Quote)
Looks to me like Rafa has picked a starting eleven to keep it tight and work hard. Gouffran up front on his own is a big call from Rafa. Bench is strong though. Perez, Mitro and Murphy to come on if anything goes wrong.
MOTM performance from Diame tonight for me.
Stuart79(Quote)
shocked at Goofy up front but I do think he’s capable . Did no one point out to Rafa how much Murph likes scoring against Brighton ❓
kimtoon(Quote)
😯 defensive from the off…hmmm could either be over quickly or a master-stroke by Rafa
without someone to hold the ball up front itll keep coming back to our defence…
Gashley(Quote)
actually it might be quite attacking with constant pressure on their defence from our front 2 and midfield.
TOON TOON
Gashley(Quote)
😈 😈 😈 Bloody ten men again with Colback
Icedog(Quote)
I don’t think Brighton is going to do counter-attack at their home, so yes I agree with Rafa, we may not really need a target man in the front.
funrafa(Quote)
Murphy can always come on later. Gouf normally can’t last for the whole 90 minutes.
funrafa(Quote)
Might be inspired stuff from Rafa…geared to play on the counter. I think he’s going for a clean sheet and try to nick one after seeing what Brighton did to Reading when all 3 goals came from Reading attacking.
SRF(Quote)
Tearing us up so far, Diame is such a one trick pony mind..
Newkie(Quote)
Never a penalty, fucking mug
Newkie(Quote)
Twatting referee
Dubai Toon(Quote)
FFS.
kimtoon(Quote)
Disappointing. They haven’t lost when they score first at home. 👿
GeordieTwo(Quote)
And we haven’t won when conceding the first goal…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
All I now ask is that he’s consistent
Stuart79(Quote)
For those who can watch, how bad was the call on the penalty?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Brighton fans chanting off when they’ve already been gifted a penalty, want the ref to just give them the match I suppose 😐
Newkie(Quote)
G2 – He was *****, both players had a hold of each other as is the norm, Clark got pushed over and pulled their boy went down with him. Foul on Clark if anything.
Newkie(Quote)
Thing is Championship refs let this stuff go unchecked and we could of had so many pens for pulling on our forwards in the box this season. It’s our luck thast when Clark does a bit of shirt tugging it’s a PL ref in charge and Pl refs are much more on it for shirt pulling. Also Bob madley is a ****
kimtoon(Quote)
Mo Diame is not a forward and he’s not even trying to pretend to be one tonight.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Why isn’t Murphy out there? He does well against Brighton. This is very frustrating. 👿
GeordieTwo(Quote)
This ref is terrible
Stuart79(Quote)
Fucking Stockdale!
Stuart79(Quote)
What a save, Jesus Christ.
Andy Magpie(Quote)
Go to Murphy straight away. Diame out.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Well we are trying st least, but Diame is not a striker… strange one that. We need Murphy or Mitro on. I would take off Colback, drop Diame back and bring Murphy on… but then I’m not the manager…
Probably just as well … I nowt about managing football… a bit like the ref. ??
Dubai Toon(Quote)
It seems Atsu on the right with Ritchie on the left works fine.
funrafa(Quote)
Strangely, the ref did not give a yellow card to Clark. Surely if it was a pen, then it should be a yellow too? He just wanted to give the pen… This is what happens when you put a Huddersfield fan in to ref a game like this.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
How many times does that happen in the box and nothing is given. It’s so frustrating. But, why on earth have the EFL decided to give this game to Madely? He has bad history with us and is a Huddersfield fan FFS!
Stuart79(Quote)
Atsu has impressed tonight
Dubai Toon(Quote)
It seems our midfield is weak. I read Gouf has to drop deep. No wonder he seems seldom show up in attacking area. I think Diame replace Colback may be a good idea.
funrafa(Quote)
Nice call Dubai mate. Murphy up front with Ritchie, Shelvey and Atsu behind and Diame replacing Colback. Push back hard at the start of the second half.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We’re paying the price now for Ashley not strengthening in January. Same old story. I thought we needed two or three good players.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
No subs at the half either. Mistake.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We need to take the next chance we get or it’s going to be one hell of a long night.
Stuart79(Quote)