Last week’s win at Leicester was huge, allowing us to sit back and enjoy this one – a game that looked set to be a relegation six-pointer just a few weeks ago.
Both sides are in decent form and have pulled away from the struggling pack, although Southampton need this win a little bit more than us, being two points closer to the relegation zone than ourselves and knowing one last win would all but secure survival.
Our final four fixtures are generous – seeing us play three bottom half sides with Brighton and Fulham still to come after the Saints – but this one won’t be easy.
Hassenhuttl has got as many wins (8) in his 18 games in charge as Southampton’s last two managers racked up across 52 games (Mark Hughes 3/22, Mauricio Pellegrino 5/30), with their recent win over high-flying Wolves and unfortunate defeat at Old Trafford showing how we mustn’t take them lightly.
That said, we’ve just come off the back of a huge win at Leicester and can finally play without fear at St James’ Park on a day that could yet mark Rafa Benitez’s penultimate home game on Tyneside.
Let’s just hope we can channel that in the right way, however, with the survival-securing win last Friday creating the risk of some having one eye on their summer holidays.
Predicted XI
To keep in short and sweet, I can’t see him changing the side that got all three points in a brilliant all round display at Leicester last week – and rightly so.
There’ll be calls for Yedlin and Shelvey to return, but do Manquillo and Ki really deserve dropping?
Diame must start TWO of our last four remaining games if he’s to trigger a new one-year contract extension. If Rafa wants to keep him and the Senegalese midfielder wants to stay then you’d think he’ll be given the game time to avoid losing him on a free, but that situation seems very much up in the air as things stand.
The likes of Muto, Atsu and Kenedy will also be hoping for game time in the final few weeks now our safety is practically secured, but I can’t see Rafa changing this *too* much.
Preferred NUFC XI – (3-4-2-1) – Dubravka – Schar, Lascelles, Dummett – Manquillo, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie – Perez, Almiron – Rondon
The Opposition
Here’s a few ‘ones to watch’ in Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side:
Nathan Redmond – The winger looks like a player revitalised under Hassenhuttl, scorig 7 goals and making 5 in his 17 games under the new boss. He could be the big one to watch in this one.
Danny Ings – He struggles with injury, but when he’s fit (and he is now) he’s a very handy player. Has great technique and surprisingly good link up play and vision for a striker.
James Ward-Prowse – Aside from Kevin De Bruyne and Cristian Eriksen, I’d back this guy above anyone else when it comes to set piece delivery. He’s also found some form in front of goal recently
Yan Valery – The young full-back looks good going forward but a little erratic defensively. Miguel Almrion could get some joy here if he’s in the mood.
Predicted Southampton XI – (5-3-2) – Gunn – Valery, Yoshida, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand – Ward-Prowse, Sims, Hojbjerg – Ings, Redmond.
Tip 1 – Redmond anytime scorer or Valery to get booked seems a decent shout if you’re fancying a flutter or use any of the best USA online casinos.
Team news:
Both Lejeune and Longstaff will miss out once again following season-ending knee injuries but, aside from that, it doesn’t seem like Rafa has any fresh injury concerns.
For the visitors, £18m centre-back Jannik Vestergaard looks set to miss out, but Mario Lemina and Yan Valery may be fit enough to start.
Alex McCarthy, Matt Targett and Charlie Austin could are all touch and go after struggling to train this week with minor knocks.
Prediction
It could be Rafa’s penultimate game at St James’ Park and a win could take us up to 12th if results go our way, so there’s no excuses for the players to be on their holidays after last week’s big win.
Southampton have enjoyed a huge upturn in form since Hassenhuttl came in so will be no pushovers and much better in attack than they were under Mark Hughes, so that combined with their slightly more pressing need for a win may see them get something here.
Heart says another big win – and potentially Benitez’s last at St James’ Park – but my head’s fancying a high scoring draw.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Southampton
Howay the lads!
(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)
Tip 2 – In a game where both teams will be looking to win and finally make sure of survival, a punt on us to win but both teams to score could be a wise call for anyone looking at online pokies Australia.
Saints have failed to score in just two games in 2019 (all competitions) which makes it pretty likely they’ll hit the back of the net again on Saturday but with our impressive home record, we should still have enough about us to see off Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side.
All I’m looking for now is decent performances. A draw looks most likely.
Stuart – your piece on climate change protesters was stupid in the extreme. Maybe you don’t have kids or grandkid’s futures to think about.
georgio(Quote)
Well firstly I have no time for people who purposely set out to disrupt innocent people trying to get along with their everyday lives. I also don’t have time for people who try and impose their views and policies on other people. Finally these people are morons and weak and cowardly morons at that. The UK is one of the cleanest countries on the planet and has made great strides to reduce its C02 emissions. Why don’t they go and protest in China which is one of the biggest culprits of emissions. I’ll tell you why, because they’d end up in jail and would get a beating. Like I said, cowards but also plastic greens.
Don’t disrupt people’s lives to force your view on people. Nowt stupid about that.
Stuart79(Quote)
Oh cr@p. Most of the pundits and Chronic reporters are going for a NUFC win or a score draw. There hasn’t been a premier league draw in a month so I suppose we are due. Nobody is picking Southampton though and their form has been good, and I get very nervous when everybody lines up the same.
Still, our home form has been good and we should have got something from Palace so I will join the crowd and go for 1-1.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have been thinking about these Matt Ritchie rumours which Rafa says are cr@p anyway. But still, he turns 30 in September so what can we seriously expect to get for him? 10 million? He has 2 years left on his contract so NUFC are in control but I would offer him a 1 year extension and probably a small raise. He was bought in The Championship so I doubt his wages are that outrageous and where are we going to get a versatile replacement for that money.
He is a fit lad so I think he can play until he is 33 and he hardly ever gets injured. I think that is a big factor in what he is worth to NUFC. I like Dummett, Gayle and Shelvey but they all seem to be out 6 weeks every year and that should be factored in to decisions. There is no way I would sell Dummett though as he has seen a specialist about his hamstrings and we have to see if that has fixed him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The NUFC accounts seem simple this year so even Chris “the intern” Waugh, who is doing a Q & A at the moment on them, can understand it. There are none of the manipulations of losses and wage bills that went on last year and that Chris repeated like they were true reflections of what was going on all the way up to now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – I’m with you on this one mate. I think it’s a credible reason to protest, and I’m all for freedom of speech and the power to protest – but these people are going about it the wrong way. When you cross the line and start committing crimes and putting innocent people at risk (public and police officers), then you only do your cause a damage. I also agree with Stu that whilst the likes of China continue the way they do, our efforts will make little difference (that’s not to say we should still make them though).
I think matters like global warming would be better tackled with us as part of the EU … but that’s a different one altogether – and politics should be kept to a minimum on a football site ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
This might be heresy but if the club are true to their word I don’t see their current stance on transfers to be unreasonable. They are saying that they are generating 50 million a year in free cash-flow and that Rafa can have it. But that it must cover transfers, Agent and PL fees. They also say he can have the proceeds of players sales. They did this before when Carr and Charnley were in charge but picked McClaren as Manager.
They are also saying if Rafa wants to spend big money they want it to be similar to the Almiron deal where there is potential for sell on. I don’t blame them here either as any established player now costs a fortune. Even kids like Rice and Sancho are quoted as 50 million plus.
Then they are saying they will give him leeway for lower priced older players. I don’t see much problem here either if we sell Clark or Gayle, for example, and replace them with similar priced players.
I really don’t see much problem with the NUFC terms and most clubs that Rafa could go to would have a Director of Football so he would have less say than he has here. Everton and Leicester have a D of F.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A big concern I have against Saints is Redmond versus our RB/RWB. I don’t think Yedlin or Manquillo are good enough to contain him – or even keep pace with him for that matter.
If Saints have any sense, everything will come down that side.
I think they have a very good team, and their new manager is making his mark already. If they get a decent forward in this summer, I think they will compete with those 7-12 clubs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think Rondon has done a great job for us this year but I don’t see that he is good enough to be a deal breaker here. I wouldn’t buy him anyway unless he retires from international football.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also think Almiron gets on the scoresheet tomorrow as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I make no apologies for talking about the accounts because it tells us where we are and where we are potentially going. Fatty has said he is not putting in his own money so the accounts are key. They might seem complicated but there are only 3 numbers that matter:
1. Revenue = 178 million
2. Operating Cost = 119 million
3. Wages = 93 million
From this we can deduce that NUFC cost 26 million a year (ex-wages) to run and that will not change much going forwards.
The wages are the main cost and they have even been reduced this year giving the ability to increase them as we spend on a few more expensive players.
And revenue won’t change that much as long as we are in the PL. It will probably increase in the near term as I think they are re-doing the overseas TV deals.
The numbers are pretty easy then. 178 million minus 119 million = 59 million.
But we have to account for extra wages for better players which will probably knock about 10 million off the annual spend. So, Charnley’s figure of 50 million sounds about right.
Call me naïve, but I think NUFC and Charnley are being truthful and transparent about NUFC’s financial situation for once.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
With you on all that mate, hoping he doesn’t start Yedlin, really don’t rate him at all.
On the climate protesters, it’s a noble cause and yes change has to come if we are to protect our planet for our kids futures but they are going about it wrong imo.
Winding up every day folk and stopping them getting to work won’t win any friends i’m afraid.
And what to do about the countries who carry on polluting regardless ? As Sharpy said we are better applying pressure within the EU.
As for the UK , I understand the UK is not on course to meet it’s carbon footprint target which is sad but at least we’re trying unlike China .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Back to footie
2.1 tomorrow, miggy to get his first goal 😀 he’s getting closer every game . Rondon with the other from another FK.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Remember we are looking backwards a year with the accounts and if Ashley is telling the truth about not paying back his permanent loan there should be substantial cash funds in the bank now. If we made a profit of 50 million last year then it should be more for the year ending June 30, 2019. I think the biggest PL money comes in at the beginning of July so we will have cash to spend.
The Chronic of all places did a good article showing how we compare with Leicester, Everton and West Ham and we are in a pretty good position. We all make about he same money but they probably have better squads. They also have a lot higher wages so we have the lee-way to buy new and better players that they don’t unless their owners fund it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I reckon we are in pretty good shape as we will also have 2 PL loans. We will not be wasting one on Kenedy and Rondon will either be permanent or somewhere else.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am sticking with NUFC and ignoring all politics. We have Southampton and Rafa’s future to worry about. I know I went on about Man U but that is because I am enjoying the fact that I don’t see them winning the PL for at least 5 years.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gayle now on 23 goals and has missed a few games as well as been played as a left winger for part of the season. A goal every 116 minutes. He is also not their penalty taker so all from open play. 6 in their last 3 games.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I still disagree that Championship is definitely Gayle’s level. I thought he was very unlucky for us last season and also missed a few games as well and didn’t trust his hamstrings in others. When he was fit he was a handful, provided an outlet for Shelvey and created space for Perez.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
In depth article on the accounts from The Mag. Says again that we had 50 million extra last year (2017/18) and ballparks 70 million for the year ending June 2019. That is what I have been saying all year that my “back of a napkin calculations” were that we were earning 50-70 million more than we were spending. I surmised that Ashley was paying off his loan but that is only partially true as they are now saying the money is available for team building. Remember this only brings us up to June of this year and next year if we are still in the PL we will generate another surplus of about 70 million.
Knowing Ashley we will not spend the money until it comes in and he will want to keep a big cash buffer in the bank. If we wanted to we could spend a lot more than the allocated 50 million in the summer. However I will be happy with that as long as they stay true to their word and spend the full money generated from players sales and not just the first installments. That could easily be 35 million alone from Shelvey and Gayle and another minimum of 20 million from bits and pieces like Clark, Darlow and Murphy.
We are in great financial shape, I just hope that Rafa is not too stubborn. He has to realise he will not get everything he wants but it looks like they are giving him most of it. IF THEY STICK TO THEIR WORD.
https://www.themag.co.uk/2019/04/essential-reading-as-chris-holt-dissects-the-newcastle-united-2017-2018-accounts/
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am assuming we are keeping Hayden. Rafa should have dinner with Hayden and tell him some home truths about football. How they are very fortunate to be in their positions and one of the sacrifices they must make is to spend time working away. Rafa has been in Liverpool, Milan, Naples and Madrid as well a Newcastle. I don’t think he moved his family with him for most of these jobs.
Double Hayden’s salary and I think he stays. He was bought as an Arsenal reserve in The Championship so he must be on about 20k a week max.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bored, so some predictions:
Newcastle are set up financially to join the best of the rest. If Rafa stays we will comfortably finish top half and maybe better.
Chelsea and Arsenal have better good players than Man U and can push on with better defenders. Chelsea, especially have better youth players. Top 4 next year for both.
Spurs squad is too thin and they will find it hard to replace Erikson and Alderweldereid even with the money they receive. That stadium will be an anvil around their neck and they will drop out of the top 4 next year. When Bale left they reinvested the money on dross and that might happen again.They got lucky with the current crop.
City and Liverpool will fight it out to be Champions for at least the next 2 years.
Ole has a maximum of a year and Pogba will never fulfil his potential. I am not even sure if the Glazers will trust Ole and Ed with much more than player sales. They shouldn’t as both should be replaced.
The survivor of Cardiff and Brighton will be relegated next year. The other 2 relegated will be promoted teams.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The press and pundits are still having a collective w@nk about Spurs’ new stadium. What they are not seeing is that the Emirates cost a third of the price and held Arsenal back for 10 years. That was at a time when only Man U were richer and Liverpool about the same. They really only had to compete with 2 other clubs and started with a great squad, so Champions League was almost assured. Spurs now have to compete with 5 richer clubs and maybe even Wolves and Everton.
Nobody is saying this, they are lost in the sound quality and ability to pour 10,000 beers in an hour and are missing the true reality.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Spurs and West Ham have done the square root of f-all for 50 years and they are still plastered over every national newspaper’s back pages every day as if they are still relevant. Spurs won an FA Cup 16 years ago. They are almost as much of a nearly team as us. But if you counted the column inches about Spurs and NUFC it would be 10 to 1. More has been written about their stadium alone this year than about NUFC. I suppose they are having relative success but they will turn into Arsenal and most likely without the trophies and probably without their current best players because they will have to pay 150 million a year to pay off the stadium.
I suppose it was always this way with the London-centric media it is just easier to see just how many stories there are on WHam and Spurs when scrolling through a newspaper website than flipping through the back pages. At least we don’t see pictures of the players arriving at training in their cars every days – that would be in The Daily Mail and the players would be Man U.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m still trying to process the fact that Lee Charnley thinks we’re having a good season. Let that sink in. That tells you everything about the clubs thought process. How can a manager really stay at a club that thinks 15th, still not safe from relegation with 4 games to go is a good season?
Stuart79(Quote)
Stuart: Rafa played another card yesterday saying he is willing to wait at home for someone to come calling with a good offer. Threatening NUFC in no uncertain terms, as he should. He knows Managers get sacked and sooner rather than later there will be an opening. If he quits, I have said before I think Sevilla is a great fit. Their Manager has leukemia and should be moved upstairs. Nobody can work fulltime with that disease. I have seen it up close because an ex-girlfriends Dad had it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart and Sharpy – I agree with Kim that politics should pretty much kept off a football blog. I don’t think either of you have got to grips with what an absolute calamity climate change is going to have on the planet. You’re right about China, India, US etc but the kids that are protesting on London streets are doing the only thing they can, here at home. Good luck to them I say.
Could be a tough game today. 1-1 would do me.
georgio(Quote)
They could pitch their tents up in Hyde Park. They’d achieve more. Currently they’re just antagonising people which does their cause no good whatsoever.
Stuart79(Quote)
Georgio – it’s not the ONLY thing they can do though is it, let’s be honest?!. You don’t change the world by smashing it up and pi$$ing people off mate. I’m fully aware of the effects of global warming and my family (including my 10yr old lad) does our bit. But I can’t condone what these protesters are doing, whatever their cause.
Sharpy17(Quote)
They’re not smashing anything up. However we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. 🙄
georgio(Quote)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/15/extinction-rebellion-activists-threaten-bring-london-standstill/amp/
Sharpy17(Quote)
Happy Easter everyone and for the non believers, enjoy the chocolate and break . 😉
Remember to recycle all the cardboard, plastic and foil from those eggs.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – ? a great message. Sadly I am at work all weekend, but I did get a chocolate egg off my boy. I say chocolate egg coz it was just that!! The sod has eaten the packets of M&Ms that should accompany it ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watching City v Spurs … is it too much to hope for another goal fest, or does this have 0-0 written all over it?!
City will want to win, and need to to keep their title challenge up, and Spurs are deadly on the counter attack so fingers crossed
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – ? a great message. Sadly I am at work all weekend, but I did get a chocolate egg off my boy. I say chocolate egg coz it was just that!! The sod has eaten the packets of M&Ms that should accompany it
Ha ha , that’s kids for you mate.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – I was quietly proud of him and knew before he even gave me the box – the massive grin on his face ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Strange 1st half, City/Spurs. Neither team have looked particularly good. Perhaps they are too familiar with each other now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric Sykes
April 20, 2019 at 13:34
Strange 1st half, City/Spurs. Neither team have looked particularly good. Perhaps they are too familiar with each other now.
possibly, Spurs have had the better chances oddly enough and a pen appeal turned down now.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Sharpy, he’ll go far your lad 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Advantage City,
Over to you Liverpool
KIMTOON(Quote)
On the climate change issue, interesting take from Janet Street Porter here
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/easter-extinction-rebellion-protests-remind-115517960.html
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim – I love that fact JSP didn’t miss the irony of Emma Thompson FLYING in just to get her face in the media!! I mean doesn’t that make sense?!?!?!!! Why not organise your own protest in the States – a Country with a big deal of clout in global politics.
I’m all for passion, and like I say, freedom of speech and protesting is fine with me – if it’s done in the right way.
I wonder how many of these protesters are prepared to go on and form a political party for people to get behind and vote in if they want to – then they can be in a real position to make a change.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wonder how many of these protesters are prepared to go on and form a political party for people to get behind and vote in if they want to – then they can be in a real position to make a change.
Great point Sharpy.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Isn’t that the green party though ?
KIMTOON(Quote)
Last on politics from me but while we wait for our game.
We need to ditch first past the post in this country to effect any real political change. Too many MP’s are too comfy in the big two parties . No voice for folk who don’t support Con or Lab, you end up voting for one of them as to not waste a vote and try to get the lesser of the two evils in as it were.
KIMTOON(Quote)
useful point for hoots boys
KIMTOON(Quote)
for the politicians
https://www.facebook.com/JonathanPieReporter/videos/598929320611854/UzpfSTU3MzA1MTgzNDoxMDE1NjA1NTkzNTc3MTgzNQ/?sk=h_chr
Enjoy
PremAndUp(Quote)
Hope we squeeze a win today. Unchanged team, not that Rafa has many options…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Looking forward to the game
PremAndUp(Quote)
Do we think that was a pen for us, looked like Almirons shot was blocked by a hand to me, no way Taylor was gonna give us owt though.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Miggy looks up for it today 🙂
KIMTOON(Quote)
How the **** is that not a red card 😯
KIMTOON(Quote)
how guilty does ward prowse look
KIMTOON(Quote)
Have never liked the Saints
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Perez
KIMTOON(Quote)
Very nice goal.
HELLS BELLS , Have the saints players been instructed to go out and nobble perez and miggy, it sure looks like it.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
perez again
WE WANT MORE
another fine goal from Ayoze that, great cross from Rondon too
KIMTOON(Quote)
matchday and i’m alone wtf
KIMTOON(Quote)
Must have been the politics driving people away 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nah, I’ll keep you company, but I’m only following a text feed.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Fantastic first half and great goals from Ayoze… Ward-prowse should definitely have seen red, shocking decision! However Keys thinks it was correct decision… knob! More of the same in second half and this is ours. Hope we don’t sit back though, as Southampton are still dangerous and could hurt us if we let them in.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I read the match thread in The Mag last week and there were about 100 posts with one lad accounting for about 25 of them. Can’t remember his name but he spent the whole game criticizing Perez. I reckon he feels like a real pratt today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DT: does Keys actually know anything about football or is he just biased against NUFC?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Commentator said: “ball with Paul Dummett, joined NUFC at the age of 9. Alan Pardew said he would never make a PL footballer. He has more than 100 PL appearances now”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyone know what the little scarf logo meAns on the players shirts this game…? Never seen them before
Dubai Toon(Quote)
We are going to ***** this up.. ???
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Gutted for miggy, that’s him for the season then.
We are turning to **** here now
KIMTOON(Quote)
NUFC have changed their facebook profile picture to the same emblem
PremAndUp(Quote)
Looked like a knee in the back of Almiron’s leg but his reaction seemed like it was more than that?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
we look nervous now and with Miggy’s pace and Schar now off we have lost something. If only Ki’s shot had gone in, at 3.0 they would of struggled to come back.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Hat trick
get innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
KIMTOON(Quote)
Perez hattrick. Have to look up who that lad on The Mag was last week slagging him off 🙂 Might get on there and have a word 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A bit nervy second half but we hit we had the better efforts, hitting the post and that Hayden shot.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
safe as houses
Perez motd rightly so, played a blinder .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Above Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cracking game in the end. First hat trick for us since Wynaldum when he put 4 past Norwich in 2015… ??. MotM Perez… well done lad. Now to sort Rafa’s contract.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Brighton Goal Difference 11 better than Cardiff. Worth another point! I wonder if Andy Gray will be criticizing Hughton’s “negative” tactics to keep scores down like he did Rafa?
Eric Sykes(Quote)