City on Wednesday night was a strange old game but never one we expected anything out of – so much so a 1-0 defeat felt like a decent result! Tomorrow’s game is very different.
Brighton have enjoyed a solid start to the season, but they’re very much a side we could see in the relegation scrap come May next year, making this one a bit of a six pointer. Rafa rotated on Wednesday and it was with this one in mind, putting real emphasis on our ‘big guns’ to return and rally the troops onto 3 points.
There’ll be some renewed positivity and confidence around the place going into this one – with West Ham away a huge win and Wednesday a commendable effort – but we’ve got to keep that going and covert performances into points.
The defeat to Man City was our FIFTH straight home defeat. Another against Brighton would see us back to square one, setting the alarm bells ringing once more, but a win will see us leapfrog Brighton and send us to the Britannia on Monday with our tails well & truly up.
These are the sort of games that we must be winning if we’re serious about staying up this season. The lads owe us a win and I’m hoping (and praying) they’ll step up and deliver the goods.
The Team
The team that started vs Man City – (5-4-1) Elliot – Yedlin, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Manquillo – Murphy, Diame, Shelvey, Aarons – Joselu.
Rafa played the above side with tomorrow’s tussle with Brighton in mind. I’m expecting some big chances here with this lot having done an awful lot of work off the ball just 48 hours ago.
We’ll almost certainly revert to 4 at the back. I expect Mbemba to drop out and Lascelles to continue alongside Clark (who was another rested in midweek). Dummett is our best left-back and barely put a foot wrong on his return, but I’m not expecting him to start 2 games in 3 days after 5 months out.
Merino, Ritchie, Atsu and Gayle all had to settle for a place on the bench on Wednesday, but I expect all four to return to the starting 11 tomorrow. The return of Atsu and Merino could be particularly key, with the former running rings around West Ham and the latter looking much like the Merino we know and love in his last start at Arsenal.
Diame has played the full 90 against West Ham and City so I’m fully expecting him to be rested. Could Saivet return to the side alongside Merino? I fully expect the latter to start, but Saivet’s involvement will most probably depend on Hayden’s availability – however Henri probably deserves another shot after his promising display at West Ham.
Shelvey alongside Merino is another option, but I’m not convinced Rafa will go for that? It’d certainly be the forward thinking partnership many fans would like to see.
Up top we could well see Gayle and Joselu play together again. They caused West Ham problems last Saturday and seem to get the best out of each other – however that has sometimes been to the detriment of the team, with 4-4-2 tending to leave us more open than Rafa would like to see us.
Perez has barely featured in the last few games. With rotation a necessity during these busy periods, he could well come back into the fold tomorrow.
The Opposition
New number 10 Pascal Gross has to be seen their star man this season (from an offensive perspective at least), bagging 4 goals and 5 assists and being at the heart of all they do good going forward. He works his socks off too so he’ll be one to watch.
They’ve been pretty resolute at the back too when I’ve seen them and tend to keep in games, with towering centre-back pairing Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy appearing to have built a strong partnership. Joselu has won more headers than any other player in the Premier League this season, but he’ll do well to get much joy out of these two tomorrow.
Form
Newcastle – 15th (18 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 1 / Drawn: 0 / Lost: 4
Brighton – 1st – (21 pts) – Last 5 in the league / Won: 1/ Drawn: 1 / Lost: 3
Team News
Benitez has suggested Hayden is a ‘maybe’ for tomorrow’s game, but Lejeune, Mitrovic and Gamez have all been ruled out.
Merino, Atsu, Ritchie and Gayle are all expected to return after being rotated on Wednesday.
Brighton have no new injury concerns, with midfielder Steve Sidwell set to be their only senior absentee.
Predicted Line-ups
Newcastle XI – (4-4-2) – Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo – Ritchie, Merino, Hayden, Atsu – Gayle, Joselu.
Brighton XI – (4-4-1-1) –Ryan – Schelotto, Dunk, Duffy, Suttner – March, Propper, Stephens, Izquierdo – Gross – Murray
Head-to-Heads
We may have done the double over them last season, but we’ll be looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat earlier in the season at the Amex. Interestingly, we’ve failed to score in 4 of our last 6 encounters with them..
Match Prediction
A huge game and big opportunity to end the year on a high and make the most of one of the more ‘winnable’ games we’re going to get this season.
I’m quietly hopeful about this one, but we can’t take Brighton lightly. There’s no room for complacency given our recent home record and precarious place in the table, but I have a feeling the the confidence boost from West Ham away and the midweek rotation could serve us well for this one.
Lascelles’ return has shored us up at the back and the return of Merino, Ritchie, Atsu and Gayle should freshen things up at the other end – with all four having looked sharp in their last few outings.
They’ll be bang up for this and will be a tough nut to crack, but I fancy us to get the job done to end our dismal home run. If we can put in the shift we did on Wednesday, stay compact and show the sort of attacking threat we did at West Ham, I’m confident we can get back to winning ways at St James’.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 Brighton
Howay the lads!
3-0
Stuart79(Quote)
I’ve been drinking by the way… 😳
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m backing us for a solid win.
shamrock(Quote)
Have you been on the drink too, Sham? 😕
Stuart79(Quote)
No . Night shift!
I think the team is playing with renewed drive and Incan see a solid win for this one.
shamrock(Quote)
I agree, Sham. Started against Arsenal.
Stuart79(Quote)
Win is a must .
kimtoon(Quote)
I anticipate a very tight game. We desperately need another win and so do they although they would be happy with a point. 2-0!
georgio(Quote)
Well they beat us down their place, but stats wise we had double the chances they did. We have to find a way of putting the ball in the back of the net – and I think that’s why the likes of Gayle, Ritchie and Atsu were rested a bit against City.
We have to win, coz we can’t hand Brighton points when a relegation battle is on the cards.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Final point on the City game. Some fans saying we didn’t try to win. What they mean is we didn’t try to win the way they would have done. Rage tried to win the game but using a different approach to some fans would have done.
Reckon that explains it.
Stuart79(Quote)
got to be rag talk,Shelvey to Spurs cannot see that
icedog(Quote)
Stu, Sky are twisting cause we didn’t let them have the goal fest for City they wanted. I saw a post on a site before the match and the game was being broadcast to something like 30 plus countries, it’s a huge embarrassment for sky that a team like City didn’t produce the goods for them, and easier to make the Toon the scapegoat. It wasn’t embarrassing what we did, it was actually very clever of Rafa but they’ll never admit it or the Rafa haters. Jog on the lot of em I say.
kimtoon(Quote)
snap their hands off mate, he’s a liability imo
kimtoon(Quote)
Stoke have joined the race to sign Danny Ings. Well we can forget that then. Practically every PL club offer better terms than us.
Stuart79(Quote)
think he would prefer to work with Rafa,loan deal you have to cover their wages anyway
icedog(Quote)
You’re assuming we’d pay the loan fee, Ice.
Stuart79(Quote)
Without doubt mate cheapest way for jabba
Icedog(Quote)
Rafa not even wanting to discuss transfers in his presser. He has in the past. Does he know already the writing is on the wall?
Stuart79(Quote)
Elliot out of game with injury
Icedog(Quote)
bad news that, not got a lot of faith in Darlow, who’s gonna be on the bench Freddie ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Here’s a stat for you. Rafa has lost 6 of his last 10 Premier League games. He had lost 6 of his 110 before that. Shouldn’t that say to Ashley he needs to shore up the team. THE TEAM, not the squad, which is pretty much what happened in the summer where only Merino has been an upgrade.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Guess so mate
Icedog(Quote)
With Seagull, I don’t see it is an easy game. Every single game is not easy. Other teams in PL probably think we are the easy one to beat. So as long as we win, I will be pretty happy.
funrafa(Quote)
It will be a very tough game,Hoots is nee mug
Icedog(Quote)
Before the Man City game fades from memory I was thinking a bit more about Gary Neville’s comments. Not only was he the one who lost 7-0 at Barca but he was also a big part of the England debacle at the Euros. Mr. Roy let Rooney run the team but surely Gary should have stepped in and said that was the wrong thing to do. And Harry Kane taking corners. Where was Gary’s insight there?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Hoots is a very good manager and has achieved a lot with Brighton.
I also think he looks at Newcastle with a personal point to prove for sacking him after he got us promoted despite the club being a total mess at the time. He wasn’t doing awful in the PL at the time they replaced him either.
Their strength is Duffy & Dunk at CB in my opinion – we need our forwards breaking them down if we stand a chance.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I still don’t get why some teams let their best player take corners. I can see Barca with Messi as they often play it short and Messi is, well, short. But **** used to have Van Persie taking them, and there are numerous other examples. I think Gerrard would sometimes do it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Your dead right mate,we took Hanley when we-should have went for Duffy instead
Icedog(Quote)
To be honest whether it’s Darlow or Elliot is largely irrelevant. They’re much of a muchness. Both have positional issues and make bad choices. I’m not too bothered Elliot is missing.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’ve just read Rafa’s comments on the transfer window. He doesn’t sound optimistic at all. This will not end well.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stoke also in for Sturridge.
Stuart79(Quote)
Rafa says he is looking at loans but nobody wants to release players on loan. So there is no money. Going to be a tricky season.
shamrock(Quote)
Regards Liverpool’s Van Djyk purchase. I get he feeling they’re spending the Coutinho money. They’ll have a better defence but a worse attack. 😕
Stuart79(Quote)
I agree and that’s how I read it. But if that is the case I am now wondering what the hell Staveley is doing?! I understand from a business point of view but does she have the clubs best interest at heart if she’s prepared to risk the club going down to get a cheaper price?
Stuart79(Quote)
Before Staveley takes over, she is not supposed to have the club’s best interest at heart. That is the current owner’s job.
funrafa(Quote)
I see Ashley asking for unrealiatic terms. Maybe she is backing off and seeing if we are a PL club in the summer – in which case the deal gets done early and the future is in her hands.
Or… If we go down she looks elsewhere…
shamrock(Quote)
Sun reporting they’ve hit an brick wall with neither side willing to bend. Was always the risk. The closer it gets to the end of the season and the closer we look like getting relegated the less it’s worth but if we do stay up and he wants more money then Rafa will leave.
Stuart79(Quote)
Takeover won’t happen imo, I really don’t think he really wants to sell anyway, why would he so long as he gets what he wants from the club with paying out as little as possible. He will never change and once again will gamble with the clubs status, he’s a fat greedy pig who deserves all bad luck that comes his way, just a shame us fans will suffer too.
Meanwhile it’s -38 in Minnesota !!! wow
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim I agree mate but I live in false hope that someday a take over will happen. Maybe I’m being naive but its got to be better than Jabba being here for another 10 years with no money for transfers and Rafa walking etc.
Stem(Quote)
The fan’s have been great but the owner is garbage
Stem(Quote)
According to reports I’ve read today there is £50m between getting this deal done – £50m!!!.
To us that’s a fortune, but to billionaire business people that’s chump change isn’t it?!?!?!!! It’s 2/3s of Virgil van **** for god sake!!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy , and the relegation clause he apparently isn’t happy with .
kimtoon(Quote)
Charlie Nicolas is such a **** and they are wondering if there is a retrospective ban for Murphy’s ‘ disgraceful tackle ‘ now there’s a surprise. Funny no one mentions Rooney’s off the ball elbow incident the other week.
kimtoon(Quote)
not a brain cell between em that panel, well, maybe le tiss .
kimtoon(Quote)
quiet on here for a matchday
kimtoon(Quote)
I’m here Kim… I see Saivet is not even on the bench which is a tad surprising after his performance at West Ham.
I’m nervous for this one as it’s a must win game, as are all the games now against lower half teams… Brighton are fighting as well and have a bit more bite than we do I think. Well we will see soon enough.
Takeover looks less and less likely… ??☹️
Dubai Toon(Quote)
just gone on Newcastle site to listen to audio from radio newc and it’s radio Gloucester rugby talk wtf !
HWTL anyway
kimtoon(Quote)
HWTL
shamrock(Quote)
Ah football on there now tfft
kimtoon(Quote)
Why is it so hard to find streams now!
Newkie(Quote)
You can get them but they just infect your pc mate, I never bother anymore just listen to radio new com
kimtoon(Quote)
everton losing
kimtoon(Quote)
Really need to bury these chances
kimtoon(Quote)
Paul Ince is watching and reckons Brighton the better side. We are not creating much and looking static.
shamrock(Quote)
Well, that sounded pretty poor
kimtoon(Quote)
What a really **** half of non football … dreadful. It’s on Bein sports but Arabic commentary which is just awful. Corners are 5-0 to Brighton … we are **** and toothless.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Brighton were th3 better side. We just keep giving away the ball. Cannot hold onto possession
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Radio newc guys saying game is very cagey and B&HA passing the better but end product poor. Wide play poor from both teams apparently and Yedlin going missing in defence again.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ashley has to get some quality into this team, pure negligence if he doesn’t.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gayle can’t buy a goal
kimtoon(Quote)
Perez on for ritchie
kimtoon(Quote)
I have a feeling that a team will go down on goal difference this year. Just because the moron pundits were railing against us for the tactics against Man City.
Chelsea 4
Stoke nil
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is so tight bottom.
Yes it is Eric. As one gets on in years, one needs a very good tailor to make adjustments as it were.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well that was complete and total *****. ????????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Results are not great for us. However… Chelsea 5 nil up against Stoke. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Nevilles and Carra you c@nts.
Big Fat Sam revival didn’t last long, although they are not our relegation rivals.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DT: they didn’t show it here. Was it really ***** as you say?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Only Atsu can come out of that with any credit. Seemed the only one trying. Even Merino was ****.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Swans win !!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes Eric, it was really that *****.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Bit of a **** day. Bournemouth win.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bournemouth win, Swansea win…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Even the fucking mackems get a win. ???☹️☹️☹️
Dubai Toon(Quote)
meh
kimtoon(Quote)
Can you please fund a few quality players mr Ashley or **** off
kimtoon(Quote)
Not good enough. Home against relegation rivals. A side we finished above last season. Should be winning these games.
shamrock(Quote)