The Team
No need to make any changes at the back for this one, but there’s a few areas ahead of that which may need addressing after Monday’s performance.
Merino is out, but Isaac Hayden has recovered from a ‘slight knock’ that made him start from the bench against Burnley.
With that in mind, I fully expect him to come in for Diame in midfield and partner Jonjo Shelvey – one of the few players who came out of the defeat at Turf Moor having earned some praise.
Diame has been doing well in training according to Rafa and did give us something different in a short cameo against Palace in our last home match, but his performance from the start against Burnley did little to suggest he’ll keep Hayden out once again now the latter is fully fit.
With a real lack of alternatives waiting in the wings behind Ritchie, Perez and Atsu, that trio will no doubt start once again tomorrow – however I’ll be hoping for more offensive contributions from Perez and Ritchie in particular, with the latter having a quiet last few games by his standards.
Up top, I honestly think it’s Mitrovic’s turn to be given a chance. I highly doubt Rafa feels the same way however, and that’s what counts at the end of the day.
In his defence, our home form may be good with Joselu in the side – winning three and drawing one of the four he’s started – but he’s offered so little in the last three and looks pretty shot for confidence.
I’d also argue that it doesn’t send out the best message to the players if under performing players are selected week in week out? Yes it’s about the result not the performance for Rafa and the ability for a player to fit into his intricate system, but I believe Mitrovic deserves his chance now.
He’s been in great form for Serbia, started the season off with a few goals for us and surely deserves a chance to prove he actually has learnt his lesson and can be trusted by Benitez.
It’s a risk I don’t see Rafa taking unfortunately, but he’s served his time on the sidelines and Joselu probably needs rotating.
I’m forgetting Gayle in all of this, but that sums up the sort of season he’s had. He’s barely played so it’s hard to make too much of a comment, but he looks out of sorts – so much so that I feel like he barely breaks into sprint even during his 10 minute cameos?!
The Opposition
I watched Bournemouth’s last away game on Match of the Day a few weeks ago and Junior Stanislas looked like one of their main threats. The winger, fortunately for us, is out of this one with an injury however!
Their top scorer from last season Joshua King is also facing a race against time to make tomorrow’s game. Hopefully he misses out too, being the sort of pacey goal-threat I’d rather we didn’t have to deal with tomorrow!
Callum Wilson is back from injury and has looked sharp by all accounts. He’ll be one to watch, as might Jermaine Defoe be if King doesn’t make it- a player whose done very little so far since returning to Bournemouth, but a deadly finisher who couldn’t be given a sniff.
In midfield, England U-20 captain Lewis Cook has been catching the eye and Harry Arter is a work-horse in the middle, whilst club-record signing Nathan Ake is a very decent defender who will be an asset for them at the back.
For an inside look into tomorrow’s opposition, see this week’s edition of ‘The Opposition Opinion’ where we’ve gained the thoughts of Bournemouth fan John ahead of the game.
Form
Newcastle – 9th (14 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 1 / Drawn: 2 / Lost: 2
Bournemouth – 19th –7pts) – Last 5 in the league / Won: 1 / Drawn: 1 / Lost: 3
Team News
Mikel Merino is OUT with a back injury and looks set to miss 2-3 weeks.
Benitez has confirmed that Isaac Hayden is now fully fit, also revealing that Paul Dummett is back in training, but tomorrow’s game will come too soon for him.
Bournemouth will be without Benik Afobe (thigh) and Junior Stanislas (groin) after both were forced off in the defeat to Chelsea last weekend, whilst Joshua King faces a late fitness test
Howe is boosted by the potential return of Callum Wilson however, who could make his first league start in more than a year following a serious knee injury.
Predicted Line-ups
Newcastle United XI – (4-2-3-1) – Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Clark – Hayden, Shelvey – Ritchie, Perez , Atsu – Joselu
Bournemouth XI – (3-5-2) – Begovic – Cook, Ake, Francis – Smith, Surman, Cook, Arter, Daniels – Wilson, King.
Head-to-Heads
Hopefully we don’t see a repeat of the last time Bournemouth travelled to SJP last March – a 1-3 defeat and dismal display that proved to be Steve McClaren’s last game in charge of NUFC.
I somehow think we won’t see this Newcastle team collapse like we did that day however!
Match Prediction
Providing we don’t take Bournemouth too lightly, we have every chance of another win here, with the visitors struggling so far this season.
They’ve scored just 6 goals in 10 games so far this season, which doesn’t bode well for them given we have the joint fourth best defense in the league, but I’m expecting reaction from both teams in this one.
They like to pass the ball and, like us, tend to be pretty high energy, so it’ll be an interesting mix of styles.
If we can get into them from the off and shatter any confidence they’ve been trying to build in recent weeks then I think we’ll see them off, but I’ve got a feeling they’ll be better than many fans heading to St James’ tomorrow are expecting.
Heart says 2-1 to us, head says it’ll be a score draw.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Bournemouth
Howay the lads!
Besiktas are almost through to the knockout stage of the CL so I doubt they will let Tosun go. He’s the only striker I have seen us linked with.
From personal experience I am worried about Mereno because it is a back injury. I herniated a disc 15 years ago and have not been right since. He is a young kid though so hopefully it will be fixed but whenever I see back injury I worry. It was quite funny when I threw my back out. I was literally crawling on the floor for 3 days because I couldn’t stand up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Back to tomorrow. I said this on the last thread but we have to win because negativity could creep in again during the International Break and to keep a struggling team struggling. We need a buffer between us and about 5 or 6 in a relegation scrap.
I agree with Olly and my head says 1-1, but my heart says a 2-0 win. I am going with the 2-0 and neither Joselu nor Perez to score 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Olly, good read and I agree re: the message it sends out when players in obviously poor form are allowed to be automatic starters. Mitro has to start for me.
You are on a role with these threads now and the oppo view is not a new idea, but gives us something different and it’s consistent. Thanks for your work.
I will be very concerned if this ends in a draw. We NEED to win these games at home and I am hoping the players realise this and go the extra mile. This was one of the games between now and the end of the year I predicted as winnable, contributing towards 12 points between now and then. To drop points here would be disastrous.
I am guessing 2-0 Toon because Rafa and the players will be very keen to make up for the last performance. We lacked ideas and work rate and they know this game is vital.
Lets hope the lads show up.
shamrock(Quote)
I enjoyed the oppo view this week and do like the combined line up question. Yedlin seems to be rated by other fans.
shamrock(Quote)
Don’t know if Richie is carrying a knock as has work rate has really dropped off a lot lately,need to get though this game,it will give something to take us through this bloody stupid international break
Icedog(Quote)
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/newcastle-united/story/3257165/rafa-benitez-no-intention-of-bringing-jack-colback-back-into-newcastle-plans
Have a read of that Ice. 2 articles in one, both good reads. Revitalising the International breaks is definitely needed.
shamrock(Quote)
Icedog(Quote)
Rafa really is brutal. It’s great to see.
Stuart79(Quote)
Another one puts the knife in Paul Ince says the toon will go down
Icedog(Quote)
I think he feels the same way with Mitro,he wants him gone
Icedog(Quote)
kimtoon(Quote)
What did Ince say? That we are a Championship squad that won’t score enough goals? Maybe so, but I think Rafa still makes us very hard to play against and we will get a striker in January even if that means selling Mitro and Gayle to fund it. Gayle will be very valuable to a team in the Championship playoff spots.
I see this Championship squad talk constantly used as a stick to beat us with but we are not alone there. Same applies to Huddersfield, Burnley and Brighton who we lost to away. Then there is Swansea, Bournemouth, Stoke, West Brom and Watford even if they are punching above their weight. They all have a lot of Championship quality players even if they did come from foreign leagues.
Then you have yer West Hams and Palaces who have spent a lot but probably unwisely.
There are about 12 squads that are very similar in quality but what we have is the experience of Rafa and his coaches. Would any of the teams I have named swap their Manager for Rafa. Too right, they all would.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC Ince said Rafa, Hoots,mr Roy will go down this year,of coarse he didn’t mention his son team as Kim said imo it would be them before us
Icedog(Quote)
As much as it worries me about our non-scoring strikers, we are in the same boat as a lot of teams. We have scored more goals than:
Palace – 4
Bournemouth -7
Everton – 7
Swansea – 7
West Brom – 9
Huddersfield – 9
Southampton – 9
Burnley – 9
Of course if this takeover does not go through and Fatman remains stingy then Rafa could walk and all bets are off. However, if Rafa really has given up on Gayle and Mitro he could provide his own funds by selling them.
Who do we get though? The teams I have listed will be looking for a striker as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My prediction for relegation before the season started was one of the promoted teams, I think I said huddersfield. Swansea because they lost their 2 best players and Clement wouldn’t produce another miracle. And I think either Stoke or Bournemouth, probably Bournemouth.
I will stick with that even though Palace have been terrible. Hopefully them and Everton continue to struggle so we aren’t dragged into it.
You really can say that 10-12 teams could be relegated as they have similar quality.
Palace have Spurs away next 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks mate! Appreciate the comments on the preview and oppo opinion.
For anyone interested, here’s the ‘Opposition Opinion’ article I wrote after my chat with Bournemouth fan John this week:
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/11/03/the-opposition-opinion-bournemouth-h/
A decent insight into our opponents here. Good to get the thoughts from someone who doesn’t see things from black and white eyes too!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Olly: I read your opposition view and if they really are **** at set pieces then I would say get Clark on at right back and also Mitro. Just flood their box with big lads.
I have a suggestion for Perez as well. If he is going to fall over all the time at least try to get touched by the opposition to win a free kick.
I will make a prediction for the Man U combined 11 – none of our players will get in, maybe rightly so. Or Lascelles at a push.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Depends on what toon team turn up today as to how we do. Rafa will want last weeks result righted and hopefully the lads too.
Going for a hopeful narrow win.
kimtoon(Quote)
At least the international friendlies are decent opposition, all the same I do hate the way it keeps breaking up the season. All this stop start, stops you gathering momentum.
kimtoon(Quote)
It stops Rafa rotating as well. We end up with a settled team because a lot of them get a 2 week rest once every 5 weeks or so. The ones that would have been rotated in – Mitro, Memba, Clark go off on International duty.
Last year, with 46 games, you really wouldn’t know who would start from week to week. That was Rafa’s stated policy, he said that playing so many games caused injury so he deliberately limited players’ starts. This year Perez has started every game.
I would at the very least like to see Clark start today. When he was bought it was as a central defender AND left back cover. I would actually prefer MBemba because I think he has given us the most threat going forward, but I don’t that will happen.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
England look like they have the makings of a decent team and hopefully they won’t come down to earth with a bang against Brasil and Germany. I read an article yesterday that they should build around a core of Spurs players because they know each other. Mr. Roy sort of tried that but Harry Kane was exhausted and he let Rooney run the show. I think it is a good idea because there are quite a few of them – Dier, Rose, Winks, Alli and Kane. Plus Kyle Walker who was there until recently. You can then slot in a few from Man City and Liverpool who play the same type of game – Stones, Delph, Sterling and Lallana and you have most of the team.
England always picked their best players and tried to develop a system to accommodate them. Why not pick the system and pick the players for that? We would end up with young and fast and hopefully plodders like Henderson would not have a place.
We are certainly not going to out technical and out pass Germany and Spain so why try.
Of course it will probably end up the same as always and a Medusa will turn up in the dressing room and turn all the players who are playing great for their clubs into stone.
That’s enough England. We have a game to win today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Had to laugh at Joey Barton after Ince said we would go down,Joey said Ince cannot get a job in football because he is to fat
Icedog(Quote)
😆
kimtoon(Quote)
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/giant-130-tonne-fatberg-cleared-underground-sewer-epic-nine-week-operation-152805962.html
WOW, hope our footballers realise they could be doing a far worse job for much less pay.
Give them sewer guys a big rise I say.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shields GazetteVerified account
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Mikel Merino facing several weeks on the sidelines at Newcastle https://trib.al/oPf7nPe #nufc (Pic: PA)
not good news
kimtoon(Quote)
oh god.now theres a good job for Colback keep him busy until the window opens 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Bristol city up to 3rd after winning the severnside derby 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
oh yes, tailor made that mate, he played for Scum so he’s used to being around ***** 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Perez dropped, Mitro on bench and Gayle starts, plus Hayden starts
kimtoon(Quote)
Glad Defoe is on the bench. He always scores against us!
Interesting from Rafa going 4-4-2. Everyone has called for it so let’s see. I suppose if you can’t play that formation at home against Bournemouth when can you…?
Stuart79(Quote)
I doubt it will actually be 442. We’ll see. I’d have dropped Joselu instead of Perez.
We should win but i”m going for a draw. HTL!
georgio(Quote)
Well let’s see how Gayle does with Joselu beside him.. his first start I think this season? Looking forward to this one. Expecting a reaction after that **** on Monday.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
will it be 2 up front though ? doubt it , but with 2 forwards starting we ought to get something .
kimtoon(Quote)
bright start, Ritchie lively
kimtoon(Quote)
I’ve done some twisting about Rafas team selection and formation in recent weeks. Good on ya Rafa – he obviously felt Burnley was a mistake and has addressed it. Hope I’m proved right, but the 3 points are still the most important thing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newcastle have created more in the opening five minutes than they did in 90 at Burnley on Monday.
Just lifted that from BBC Sport – now I know it wouldn’t have been difficult, but that’s the difference in formation and playing attacking footie – and that’s what will get SJP making noise.
Sharpy17(Quote)
How the hell have we not scored yet !
kimtoon(Quote)
Don’t like this, when you are all over the opposition and their goalie is on fire then you score a disallowed goal 🙄 I can smell a fluky goal coming for them, you just know it’ll happen.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gayle wrongly ruled offside. Shelvey not quite getting his passes right.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Two really good saves by Begovic and Ritchie hit the post before Gayle tapped in and was level but leaning forwards so the linesman called it against him. Typical.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
5 shots in opening 17 minutes
kimtoon(Quote)
Ritchie back on form, nothing coming off for Shelvey. Playing very well overall. Much better than Palace and Burnley games.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
need to score though Eric, we really do. B/mouth will not be so poor second half, in fact they are already coming into the game.
Mitro on for me, they’ll **** themselves.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gutted by that disallowed goal. Clearly a wrong decision. ?? once again ****** by the officials. Have a bad feeling now. We need 2 goals I think. Atsu and Ritchie both playing well.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
If Liverpool hit form today it could be the end for Bilic.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
c’mon ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
Would Mitro not do better with the crosses Ritchie is putting in today ?
Joselu not getting a sniff at mo.
kimtoon(Quote)
This is perfectly set up for the sucker punch now 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
can we please put Mitro on before it’s too late
kimtoon(Quote)
They are getting plenty of chances now, not anywhere near as industrious as we were first half.
Refs a ****** too
kimtoon(Quote)
2 poor sides
kimtoon(Quote)
perez on joselu off, still no Mitro
kimtoon(Quote)
watch Defoe score now
kimtoon(Quote)
murphy on, I give up
kimtoon(Quote)
Mitro defo gone in jan, no point hanging around here
kimtoon(Quote)
Knew it
kimtoon(Quote)
Rubbish that. I love Rafa but Murphy before Mitro is daft. Murphy gave the ball away 4 times in first 5 minutes he was on apparently.
kimtoon(Quote)
Today’s results make or start bang average. We’re the worst of all promoted teams.
Stuart79(Quote)
So ATSU injured along with Lascelles.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ffs I just knew that was going to happen. Screwed by the linesman today. Cannot believe that Rafa is still not playing Mitro. Gutted. That was a real sucker punch. ?????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
We now have a tough run of games. We are desperate for this takeover – if not we will struggle. Probably stay up but it will be close.
Stuart79(Quote)
£5M Joselu
£13m Murphy = £18m, couldn’t we of gotten a half decent forward for that ?
Woods cost Burnley a reported £15m
kimtoon(Quote)
Unfortunately you were dead right Kim
Groucho(Quote)
No excuses, but as usual they got every 50/50 call. We will now see negativity during the international break.
Kimtoon, Murphy was tackled to give the ball away, they were not stray passes. He looked off the pace though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Crowd were chanting for Mitro today
kimtoon(Quote)
Exactly, he’s a lightweight, out of his depth. Has to bulk up and not get pushed off the ball so easily. I know It was Atsu’s injury that meant he had to come on but perez before Mitro I do not understand. Two late losses is hard to swallow, especially as they couldn’t string 3 passes together first half 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Murphy’s twin scored for Norwich today.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I can see quite a few negative reports coming from papers and blogs. Probably rightly so. This is so close with all the 1-0s. There is going to be a log kam between say 10th and 17th so I am a bit pissed off that we didn’t hold on for a point.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Last season the 8th team had like 45 points and it looks like this will be the same. Bournemouth have an easy run of games so they could easily be mid-table by the turn of the year. Swans look in trouble though and Palace have Spurs away.
It is becoming ever more obvious that we need a striker and if Rafa doesn’t trust Mitro then just sell him. Or… play him for at least half an hour at Man U as we will probably have nothing to lose.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Next game Man Utd away ?
Stuart79(Quote)
Really pissed off with the ref, lino and the fact Mitro’s not getting a sniff tbh.
If we aren’t sold by Jan, we could be in big ****.
kimtoon(Quote)
Merson just said he thought Gayle was onside
kimtoon(Quote)
Well we are in the **** now because we have a tough run of fixtures coming up. We have only played Liverpool and Spurs so far. All the rest have been bottom half teams. Gona be an awakening of the wrong kind between now and the end if the year. Really needed the win today. No excuse not to win at home against Bournemouth. Really disappointing.
shamrock(Quote)
spot on Sham, I am so disappointed, that first half was crying out for the physical presence of Mitro. He’s gonna have to play him against manure if we are going to have any chance up front.
kimtoon(Quote)
Lee RyderVerified account @lee_ryder · 6m
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Lascelles has left the ground on crutches
🙁
kimtoon(Quote)