After a much needed win over West Ham, a disappointing deadline day followed by the dreaded international break has seen us lose a little bit of momentum, but tomorrow’s trip to Swansea is now upon us, giving Benitez and the boys the perfect chance to put some much needed smiles back on the faces of the fans.
We may, however, be up against it without even kicking a ball, with it looking increasingly likely that Benitez will be forced to sit out the game, having failed to recover in time from an operation earlier in the week.
Benitez is a ‘busy’ manager, often directing his teams from the sidelines. It’s undeniable that his presence and tactical nous would be a big miss, but the players – who look set to be lead by Rafa’s trusted right hand man, Paco Moreno – will be ready to put in a performance on the back of our opening win of the season over West Ham.
Swansea, like us, are coming off the back of their first league win of the season, however Paul Clement’s side, unlike us, have a spring in their step from signings made since then. It’s a big game for us. Losing could be another unwanted reminder of how Ashley’s lack of investment will cost us. A win, however, would install some much needed positivity around the club, showing we can compete with our Premier League rivals on the pitch, despite enduring a summer that suggested we couldn’t off of it.
Hopefully Merino can put in another calm and composed performance, whilst Hayden’s combative style could be key in the potential midfield battle involving a certain Renato Sanches.
Atsu and Ritchie’s effectiveness on the counter will be vital to our threat going forward, but hopefully the pair can continue where they left off after lively performances against West Ham.
Given our tendency to sit deep and look to hit teams on the counter (especially away from home), there will also be a big emphasis on Joselu (who I expect to start) to hold up the ball and bring others into play when we instigate attacks. He did that very well against West Ham so here’s hoping for more of the same tomorrow.
The Opposition
Their capture of Portuguese sensation Renato Sanches is an incredible coup for the club, whilst the return of former marksman Wilfred Bony will have the fans in good spirits. Both are expected to be involved.
Tammy Abraham – who, at one stage, looked all set to join us over the summer – got off the mark for Swansea in their win at Palace last time out. He’s believed to have been quietly impressive during his brief time with them and will be one to keep an eye on.
Click here for a closer look into tomorrow’s opposition, as we’ve been speaking to Swansea fan Seab who gave us his thoughts on NUFC and some insight into his team’s season so far.
Form
Swansea (13th) – Played: 3 / Won: 1 / Drawn: 1 / Lost: 1
Newcastle (14th) – Played: 3 / Won: 1 / Drawn: 0 / Lost: 2
Team News
We look to be heading into this one in decent shape, with Florian Lejeune, DeAndre Yedlin and Dwight Gayle all in contention after missing out through injury.
Jonjo Shelvey is back from his ban, however Aleksandar Mitrovic will sit out the first of his 3-game suspension. Chancel Mbemba will miss out after suffering an injury on international duty.
For Swansea, new boy Renato Sanches looks set to make his debut, whilst fellow Deadline Day signing Wilfried Bony is also expected to be feature.
Jordan Ayew – who starred in their 2-0 win at Palace – has won his fitness race, but Kyle Bartley, Nathan Dyer and Ki Sung-yueng will be missing for the Swans.
Predicted Line-ups
Newcastle United XI – (4-2-3-1) – Elliot – Manquillo, Lascelles, Lejeune, Clark – Hayden, Merino – Ritchie, Perez , Atsu – Joselu
Swansea City XI – (3-5-2) – Fabianski; van der Hoorn, Mawson, Fernandez; Naughton, Clucas, Carroll, Sanches, Olsson; Ayew, Abraham
Head-to-Heads
Match Prediction
I expect a good atmosphere and them to play at a good tempo. We’ll have to be resolute and far more effective going forward than we were in our last away day at Huddersfield.
In Bony and Abraham they carry pretty potent threat up top. Starving them of service and stopping the likes of Renato Sanches could be key.
A repeat of the Huddersfield performance and I expect the outcome to be the same, but replicate the sort of energy and enthusiasm we showed against West Ham and i’m confident we’ll get a result.
Prediction: Swansea 1-1 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
Thanks Olly, Would be happy enough with a draw but we really need to pick up wins in the next few games which should be winnable .
Ice , from previous thread, what a miss by Rivi, really poor that like.
KIMTOON(Quote)
It’s a difficult one I think. Do you pick your strongest 11 or do you stick with a winning team.
I think all on form, you’d have to say that Gayle & Shelvey are in the strongest 11. But do they deserve to be back in the team based on their contributions so far this season – I don’t think so.
I would hope that rewarding the 11 that beat WH so convincingly with making no changes (other than Mbemba of course), that would see the same work rate & effort. Weirdly I think see that is more important than the win for me. Of course it’s important to win, but I know we can and won’t win every game – but I want to see us trying to.
Sharpy17(Quote)
soccer Saturday lads writing us off again I see. Full of praise for Swansea signing Sanchez and Bony but not one good word for Merino only Ritchie , oh and think Rafa will soon be gone yadda yadda ya .Just once you would like to see some incisive comment other than complete rehashes of stuff already said or printed. How much do they get paid I wonder , stealing a living, only decent ones are Le Tiss and Jeff, the others are useless and biased.
I hope we thrash Swansea tomorrow, just to ram their words down their collective throats.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Hayden off, Shelvey on. Hayden offers nothing other than a defensive foil.. Perez off, Gayle on..
Perez is average. .
Aussie(Quote)
Kim – I stopped watching them coz they are so full of ****. Merson, Thompson & Champagne Charlie are just gash IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aussie – I would keep Hayden in personally. I think we need him in there if our fullbacks bomb on he provides that cover by moving over or dropping back and making a 3 man defence.
I’d love to see a 3 man midfield of Hayden, Shelvey and Merino. The Joselu with Gayle left of him and Ritchie right of him. That would mean dropping Perez and Atsu – which may be unfair on Atsu but I think Gayles greater goal threat gets him in for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhiWGK4hioc
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – that is hilarious, just shown the boy and he couldn’t breath laughing when the dog pissed & the bat landed on the window of the door ?.
It works so much better with the Irish accent too I think.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, I couldn’t type anything to go with the link cause I was crying, it’s so funny.
I heard about it a few days ago but only just got to watch it, it’s the accent that does it, like something out of father Ted 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
https://twitter.com/TaylorandBesty/status/906498571587014662
yes nasty boot to the head , defo a S/O, Mbemba knows how that feels, very different outcome though.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – these pundits **** me off so much. Fair play to Carra – Liverpool lad who you’d expect to say no sending off has said it was.
If that was Mitrovic or someone like that, I’m telling you now EVERY pundit would be saying 100% sending off.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Doubt Sanches will start after only arriving in Swansea yesterday.
Apart from Manq, Lejeune, Lascelles, Clark at the back I expect the same team. Shelvey to come on at some point.
georgio(Quote)
Sharpy, aye, you just know they would mate. Thommo was still banging on about Mitro on soccer Saturday so it’s quite nice to see HIS team get a poor result with a S/O too
KIMTOON(Quote)
I’m not sure Lejuan will go straight back in but then again donwe have a choice? Clark at left back makes us short at centre half with Mbemba’s injury. Who knew something like this would happen…
Can see a close game but not sure we’ll come out on top. Defensively we might be all over the bloody place
Stuart79(Quote)
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fascinating-furious-newcastle-united-transfer-13594544
KIMTOON(Quote)
Thierry Henry on Oxlade-Chamberlain: “I’ve been watching him for a very long time and I still don’t know what he’s good at.”
😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
That’s my worry too Stu , need to get to grips with and own the MF and protect the back line .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Paul Clement on Renato Sanches: ‘We’ll check him over. I anticipate he’ll be involved (against Newcastle) on Sunday
KIMTOON(Quote)
(((Dan Hodges)))Verified account @DPJHodges · Sep 7
More
Nigel Farage to adress German far-right rally at the Spandau Citadel. The actions of a true British patriot.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Telt ye swapping Lukaku for Rooney wasn’t a good idea. Not even sure if he is playing but it has to be a distraction. Role model 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pundits on 5 live think Sissoko has tweeked his hamstring.
#Expensive, useless and injured
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric, he is playing
Saw an article today, he’s willing to give up booze but wants Coleen to stay home a bit more, she’s had 10 holidays this year apparently.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/coleen-wayne-rooney-news-drink-13585062
KIMTOON(Quote)
Just got home from Zanzibar. I see the mackems are losing 2-0… ??? they are not finding the championship that enjoyable are they?
Without a decent left back I’d be tempted to try 3-5-2 tomorrow with a couple of wing backs instead and lejeune, Lacelles and Clark as the back 3.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Eric, here’s a Rooney quote, just for you
Becoming a dad means you have to be a role model for your son and be someone he can look up to.
Needs a rethink on that one doesn’t he.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yep pack the midfield but Rafa won’t do that I’m sure.
KIMTOON(Quote)
It’s the booze that made him pick up that extremely strange looking woman with bad makeup. And Colleen’s fault as well. Nothing like taking responsibility for your own actions! And this is nothing like taking responsibility for his own actions 🙂
Rooney should have got a red card as well. I wonder if there will be Trail by Match of the Day on that one?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think I am getting old as well. I cannot understand the obsession with selfies. That Rooney woman just exemplifies it. She is not even good looking and is overly made up and yet has to have pouty lip selfies everywhere. Who puts up a picture of their own **** on Instagram? Models, strippers and actresses maybe, and she is none of them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know, I actually think Rooney got lucky, even if he gets a driving ban. Can you imagine if he had shagged that? Can you say blackmail? Can you say serialization in The Sun. Can you say Celebrity Big Brother?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyway, I am going to watch the Man U game. If they win I will have to turn my smug detector up to 11 because I think Mourinho will be unbearable. Him and Allardyce are the worst winners in the history of sport.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I disagree. He carries the ball forward well, has aerial presence and is level headed. Having a more defensive inclined midfielder is important for a team like us, especially away.
shamrock(Quote)
Erm, ouch.
shamrock(Quote)
Sorry but I agree with him,has a good shot on him but after that???
Icedog(Quote)
Scum fans screaming for managers head already lol
Icedog(Quote)
Good stuff Olly contacting the Swans fan to get a backstory and opinion.
I am going to use that stick to beat the Chronic with (because that’s what I do 🙂 ). How can they not do something similar when they have 6 full-time football writers? What do they do all day? Interview Stevie Taylor, like he has anything interesting to say, FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Karma Ice. You have to laugh, but Grayson is on a hiding to nothing. The club he left, Preston, are 11th and Scum are 20th.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah mate I dont disagree. Just a crushing comment from a legend of a club he has spent so much time at haha
shamrock(Quote)
Villa not doing much better haha. Bet the fans who put those bed sheet banners out feel stupid now!
shamrock(Quote)
Sunderland have to be careful. When a toxic atmosphere develops it is very hard to turn around. Ask Pards at all of his clubs and Ugly John at NUFC. I like to make fun of Mackems to a point but I don’t want them to implode. I am not the horse punching type of Geordie.
Now Villa can fck off. I have no idea why they had any animosity to us in the first place.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am watching Barcelona and Messi is on a hattrick against Barcelona’s other team. He just scored a goal and the other team’s players were shaking their heads. Not because of anything they did wrong but because of the brilliance that is Lionel Messi. I have watched a lot of football and the debate is over. Messi is the greatest player of all time. Pele was great but Messi scores more goals from midfield. Maradona was great but Messi is a team player and scores more goals.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nobody can chip a ball like Messi thats for sure.
shamrock(Quote)
Olly – I don’t know if you get chance to look through our comments, but if you do, can I just say that this article is spot on mate.
Being one who comments if we don’t get a pre/post match article, it’s only right that I acknowledge this one and the effort you have put into it mate ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yes agreed. Good job Olly. I like the Q&A session with opposing fans too. We used to do it on this site a long time ago. Good to see it back.
shamrock(Quote)
Agree with your predicted lineup Olly.
Do not agree with:
Swansea will have a spring in their step? They lost their 2 best players. Llorente had 15 goals and Sigurdsson had like 9 goals and 13 assists.
They replaced them with yesterday’s man. Bony did nowt at Citeh and had 2 goals in 10 games at Stoke. I hope I am not tempting fate.
And I am not sure if a Bayern reserve can be trusted on his first game in the Pl, no matter how talented he is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric , the soccer Saturday lads think Swansea have signed the second coming in that reserve player mate 😆
Not a word about our signings mind .
KIMTOON(Quote)
And, I appreciate what the Swansea fan said but you do not replace 24 goals from Sigurdsson and Llorente with a player that has barely played in 2 seasons and a Bayern reserve with no PL experience.
2-0 to the Toon.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He hasn’t played a single PL minute yet mate. I have seen him and he is good but Keiran Clarke is a big lad and might give him a smack.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yep, I know how much you like the Soccer Saturday crowd. They really are a bunch of jumped up wankers. Even the match commentators are all about themselves and giving it large all the time.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I like Klopp but Liverpool getting spanked has to be worth it just for the way it makes Lawro, Thommo and Carra feel (Carra is the best of a bad bunch, BUT THAT VOICE!!!!!)
They were all good players but can we get a few of the ex-scouse, **** and Mancs off the telly? Because they could kick a ball doesn’t mean they can talk.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric , I love it when they write us off and then when we do well they have to report each goal through gritted teeth.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Carra’s voice is like nails down a blackboard to me.
Can you still say blackboard ?
KIMTOON(Quote)
I am a bit insulated here because I don’t have to hear the British commentators all of the time and the US networks seem to have picked some great pundits who were for the most part not super-stars.
There is one glaring exception to good commentators over here and that is Arlo White, who seems to think he has to give you every piece of information on his yellow legal pad in the first 20 minutes.
That is balanced by the best commentator I have ever heard who happens to be a Yank. Phil Schoen. Just brilliant. The right amount of information. Gets excited but doesn’t go over the top.
They have picked some really good people. Warren Barton is great. As are Robbie’s Earle and Mustoe. Graeme Le Saux is fantastic and Lee Dixon has the driest sense of humour.
If they would just sack Arlo White it would be perfect. Then there is Ray (marmite) Hudson. You either love him or hate him. I love him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
as long as you don’t say n-word board.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You feeling better Kimtoon? Hope your boy is too.
Nobody commented on my Steven Taylor Book rant yesterday. I thought it was funny, but ho hum 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Jabba has offered the players £20m if they win the FA cup! What a laugh! 🙂
Stuart79(Quote)
Apparently Rafa will be travelling from Merseyside to Swansea on Jabba’s helicopter tomorrow. He’s all ❤️
I’m sure he’d rather have a striker
Stuart79(Quote)
OK, I am going to dwell on this. Win or lose, those idiots at soccer Saturday need to do some homework on Swansea in 2016/17 before jerking off.
Number of goals scored in PL: 45
Number of goals scored by Sigurdsson Llorente tandem: 24
Number of assists by Sigurdsson: 13
Number of goals scored by Bony in 2016/17: 2
Number of Premier League games played by Sanchez: 0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ronato Sanches, Bundesliga 2016/17.
Appearances: 17
Goals: 0
I am not saying he is a not a good player. What I am saying is those Soccer Saturday people should do some research. It took me 3 minutes on google to find out that the players Swansea sold for 60 million scored more than 50% of their goals last year and assisted many others. Their replacements scored a total of 2 goals and played in precisely 27 games between them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is true though about Soccer Saturday. They watch a youtube video of Ronato Sanches doing some tricks and assume he will take the PL by storm – zero goals last year. They look at Bony from 3 years ago and assume he will be exactly the same player now.
Was the Michael Owen that Man U got the same player that won the Ballon d’Or?
Why did Bony only pay 10 games for Stoke?
I really hope I am not tempting fate, but at least I looked at what these players have done over the past year, unlike experts like Phil Thompson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Perhaps Sanches will prove to be the steal of the transfer window like Soccer Saturday think. Zero goals in 17 games. Hmmm. Falcao is tearing up Ligue Un. How did he do in the Premier League?
These pundits have a groupthink going on. I tell you, they look at a reputation and youtube and all get into a wankfest without looking at facts.
Again. I hope I don’t jinx us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I thought he was hard up? He can afford to sign a player or two then!
shamrock(Quote)
He’s offered it mate cause he knows it’s a safe bet, he’ll lose no sleep over that offer, we’ll likely be out at first attempt like the Cari bloody boo or what ever the hell it’s called.
Like you say if he has a spare £20m why wasn’t Rafa offered it . Blokes a ***.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sham, could be worse, he could of offered the players rolls of wallpaper 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yes Eric, I’m a lot better just tired, been up most nights for 10 days now with the lad . He’s got bronchitis poor thing, one minute calm but the minute he lays down bouts of horrendous coughing resulting in vomiting episodes 🙁 Anti biotics had to be changed to a more suitable one so hoping they work better. He has a spinal kyphosis so his lungs are all out of their normal position and he’s not able to blow his nose cause of how he is which means I go through boxes of tissues wiping his nose every few mins. As you can imagine, it’s how I caught his original cold, there’s only so much hand washing you can do before your hands start getting sore. Anti bac wipes help but are very expensive .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric, re Steven Taylor, less said the better mate. 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)
Thanks mate, appreciate it.
It’s something i’m going to do each week to gain an insight from the ‘other side’. Glad you enjoyed.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Thanks mate! Much appreciated.
Apologies that they disappeared for a week or two a few weeks back – I was away on holiday and it turned out our other writers were too. Bad timing!
Will make sure they’re a regular thing.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
It’s something i’m going to do each week to gain an insight from the ‘other side’. Glad you enjoyed
nice one Olly. 😎
KIMTOON(Quote)
Fair comment. I think losing those seemed inevitable through the eyes of Swansea fans mind, so I think they are just quite relieved to have replacements – Bony and Sanches appear to have excited them.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
the best offer he has made is as safe as houses,hes offered them 500mil if they win the PL this season,safe as if they did he would go to court as say it was a joke to get out of it
icedog(Quote)
I happened to be on YouTube and this was offered for viewing. Don’t know when it was but hes sympathising with Pardew, so a while ago I guess …
https://youtu.be/ENfD_z7yde8
Then this was linked to it. Big Al talking at the Fed brewery, and it sounds like this was half way through Houghtons Championship season. 2 legends of the club talking about a problem that has just happened this window too
https://youtu.be/AbFGJkOm2B8
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly – thanks for explaining mate, but I think some of the frustrations of our poor window may have been aimed at you guys. Hope you’s enjoyed your hols anyway, and try to make a habit of popping on once in a while and putting your opinions in as well mate.
You’re a good writer in the sense you keep your pieces quite neutral so as not to influence – I like that coz it encourages debate. But it would be good to read what you and the boys think about it all as well ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jabba’s chopper must have no fuel in as Rafa won’t be at the ground today. Suppose he is skint after all. The chopper mustnt accept wall paper as fuel…
Stuart79(Quote)
OLLY and the fans are not nice,because nobody wished Jabba a happy birthday yesterday 😎 😆 :
😆 😆 well done boys/girls
Icedog(Quote)
How would people on here react if their bosses were being tossers with regards to bonuses? Would it encourage you to do your job brilliantly and go that extra mile?
Stuart79(Quote)
The only bonus the fans want is for him to leave,but it wont happen as he now wants 450 mil 😯 😯
Icedog(Quote)