After a hectic international break full of UEFA Nations League fixtures and World Cup qualifiers over in South America, football finally returns to St James’ Park this weekend.
We beat Burnley 3-1 in a huge win for Steve Bruce last time out, and we’re back for another home game here – this time against a Man Utd side in dire straits, both on and off the pitch.
Their fans are up in arms about the lack of summer signings, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer is under real pressure as they sit 16th in the table and their players are on the ropes following that horror show at Old Trafford last time out – a game that saw Spurs smash them 1-6!
After they emerged as one of the driving forces behind ‘Project Big Picture’ – or should I say ‘Project Power Grab’ – it really would be nice to get one over Man Utd this weekend.
Thank goodness that plan failed, although it’s still an absolute farce that we’ll have to pay £14.95 via PPV to watch this legally. I’m starting to wonder why I’m still paying for a season ticket and Sky Sports subscription…
Back to the game itself. We beat them in this fixture last season via a piece of Matty Longstaff magic, and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again this time around – especially when you consider their form and our new-look attack.
Team news
Steve Bruce has confirmed that everyone returning from international duty is ‘OK’, meaning it’s good news for Fabian Schar, Jamal Lewis, Miguel Almiron, Ryan Fraser, Emil Krafth and Jeff Hendrick.
Jamal Lascelles is also back in contention after returning to training, but the game will come too soon for Paul Dummett, Ciaran Clark and Matty Longstaff – who are all set to play for the U-23’s on Monday.
Elsewhere, Martin Dubravka, Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle remain out, while Sean Longstaff is sidelined through illness.
For the visitors, Anthony Martial is suspended, Edinson Cavani ineligible and Harry Maguire touch or go with a hamstring knock. Bruno Fernandes could also play, despite concerns he’d be forced to quarantine.
New left-back Alex Telles is in contention to make his debut, while Dutch midfielder Donny Van De Beek could make his first league start.
Predicted line up
Predicted NUFC XI (4-4-1-1): Darlow – Krafth, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lewis – Fraser, Shelvey, Hayden, Saint-Maximin – Joelinton – Wilson.
The only decision Bruce has to make in defence may be at centre-back. Does he bring Lascelles back in or keep faith in Schar – who did pretty well against Burnley before coming off with a shoulder issue.
I personally think Lascelles always starts if fit, so seem him coming back in, especially when Schar’s just played three games in 10 days for his country after a few months out.
Krafth will keep his place at right-back after a solid display against Burnley, and it sounds like Lewis will be OK – despite missing Northern Ireland’s final UEFA Nations League game earlier this week.
In midfield, Shelvey and Hayden seem nailed on. Hendrick isn’t a winger and I’d like to see Fraser come in – he looked very sharp for Scotland and scored in his last outing – but I can see Bruce sticking with the Irishman, especially when Man Utd could have Alex Telles and Marcus Rashford as a double-threat down their left.
In attack, Saint-Maximin should start down the left, Joelinton won’t lose his place after putting in one of his best displays in a black and white shirt against Burnley and will almost certainly play just behind top scorer Callum Wilson – who’ll be looking to add to his tally against a leaky Man Utd defence.
The opposition
Here’s a few ones to watch in Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side:
Harry Maguire – The centre-back and Red Devils skipper is in a bad place right now and looked like a broken man after being sent off early in England’s 0-1 defeat to Denmark just a few days ago. He’s under huge pressure and Callum Wilson is a man in form. A bad mix for the man Steve Bruce signed at Hull!
Bruno Fernandes – If passed fit to play (there’s doubts around whether he’ll have to quarantine after being in the same camp as COVID-positive Cristiano Ronaldo), he’ll be the man they turn to. He’s been brilliant since his arrival in January, pulling the strings behind the front three and being involved in just about everything they do well in the final third.
Marcus Rashford – With Anthony Martial suspended and Edinson Cavani not yet eligible, it’ll be up to the England international to provide the firepower in the last line of attack. With him likely to operate down the left, it could be a big test for one of Krafth or Manquillo!
Predicted Burnley XI: (4-3-3): De Gea – Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles – Matic, Pogba, Fernandes – Rashford, Greenwood, James.
Prediction
Based on form, fitness and momentum, we’ll never have a better chance to beat them – and I think we just might!
Several of our star men are well rested – not playing three games over the past 10 days like some Man Utd players – and we should be smelling blood based on their shocking display against Spurs last time out.
If Wilson and ASM can pick up from where they left off, we can cause this lot all sorts of problems. We will, however, have to be at it defensively, as they still have the quality to hurt us – even without a few key men in attack.
Let’s set up to have a go and put pressure on their shaky defence and feeble midfield from the off. The OGS honeymoon period is over and they’ve shown in the last two league games how vulnerable they are.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Man Utd
HWTL!
Follow us on Twitter (@NUFCBlogcouk) and on Facebook HERE
3:1
Yusuf(Quote)
I was foaming with Bruce and his park the bus approach against Spurs.
I expect us to play more cautious against the bigger teams – I get that. But I can’t accept that all out defending, zero attempt to press the ball, let alone attack.
He won me back a bit with the Burnley game, but it’ll be how he goes up against the top 6 for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – I expect a very similar display today unfortunately. Even against a Man Utd side under pressure and actually not that good. Can we sit back and keep them out for 90 mins? Unlikely but that will be the plan.
One positive about Covid is I don’t have to be in the stadium to watch it. I can just turn the tv over and go and open another bottle of wine.
Stuart79(Quote)
1-1 tonight. Bruce has lost the plot if he starts Joe or Hendick instead of Almiron and Fraser.
georgio(Quote)
Hendrick
georgio(Quote)
Team is probably correct as Schar and Miggy played in the internationals.
For Man U Fernandez seems to have gone off the boil a bit and supposedly had a row with mcguire. Pogba is on about Madrid again. And their replacement for martial wouldn’t make the bench at liverpool or city – slow Maya, James and Lingatd.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
De Gea made another mistake for Spain. Their defense is really off form so we have to attck them.
Not sure what to make of mcguire. Is he an 80 mil lascelles?
Shaw should have been sent off against Spurs.
Rashford, greenwood and fernandez can still hurt us. The rest are upper midtable. Even pogba because he hardly ever turns up and seems like he can’t be arsed again.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean, would you swap st max for dan james? Or even hayden for fred.
Lingatd was ok once but I would pick Miggy or fraser over him now. Supposedly had some family issues but he seemed to get obsessed with his own image to me. Thus the clothing line and OTT social media presence.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That supercomputer is a bit of a joke. It revises its predictions every month. It is all based on these new stats as well which are pretty boring. I glaze over whenever I hear xG.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pickford should have been off. He is a liability.
You can still be sent off even if there was off side before the foul.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
NewcastleASM. tests positive for virus ffs
Icedog(Quote)
Un b loody believable
that’s us buggered for tonight then
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s a shocking challenge from Richarlson mind
kimtoon(Quote)
Liverpool winning
kimtoon(Quote)
Was stuck on last thread again 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Where did you find that Ice? I can’t find anything.
georgio(Quote)
Hang on Pools 3rd offside lol
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s from twitter mind
Icedog(Quote)
it was also on facebook but i take this **** with a pinch of salt
icedog(Quote)
Ice, think it would of been on SSN or 5live by now if true mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
thats what i think mate,beats me why people do this ****??
icedog(Quote)
i just hope Bruce does not sit back and try to contain them we need to be right on the front foot
icedog(Quote)
Ice, i would get straight in their faces, nowt to lose. If we are gonna lose then do it fighting at least i say.
kimtoon(Quote)
thats only way to go,i think the first goal will be very important
icedog(Quote)
Stuck on the last thread. Again. ??
Just got iptv, let’s see how it goes tonight. Was buffering a lot this afternoon ☹️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Radio or dodgy link for me tonight.
kimtoon(Quote)
GIlly,I’ve had mine four yrs never had buffing,depends who you got it from,most good lads give you free trial first,did you get it onto your smart tv?
Icedog(Quote)
So Fraser on the bench ??. What does he need to do to get a start
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yes got it on my smart tv. Let’s see how it goes. I thought only 1 source but seems to be many!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That s a pretty defensive set up from man u. 2 defensive midfielders.
Pogba and van de beek on bench. No Greenwood.
Trying not to tempt fate but you let me as a Nufc fan choose the Mufc team for tonight it would be close to that one.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Fair play to Bruce, he’s went with the team that turned Burnley over.
Approach the game in the same way and I’ll be happy. I’m not saying I expect us to win – just be seen to be trying!!. This is defo a frail Man Utd side with numerous players down on there confidence – it’s a good chance to take the points today ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s live on talksports
https://talksport.com/radioplayer/live/
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
kimtoon(Quote)
Shaw og lol
kimtoon(Quote)
We’ve had worse starts ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Haha Get in! What a start! Imagine the atmosphere now. No, actually don’t. It’s depressing.
Stuart79(Quote)
The early goal could now make them even more defensive now like ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
I love VAR 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Of all the people to level
fecking slabhead 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Manure all over us by sounds of it, depressing.
kimtoon(Quote)
Darlow doing well
kimtoon(Quote)
Apart from first few mins, it was a pretty rubbish first half. Need to up our game in second half! Are Joelinton and Wilson playing? Hendricks rubbish too at the moment.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Time for Miggy and Frasers pace
kimtoon(Quote)
Like to see ASM on the right give slab head something to think about
kimtoon(Quote)
Cheating bas tards
kimtoon(Quote)
Well done Karl
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh Jesus, can’t stand this
kimtoon(Quote)
I might be biased but I’m not having that as a pen. Great save justice prevails
Stuart79(Quote)
NEVER a penalty that ?????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
BS pen decision!! – good save Karl Darlow.
Enjoying this one like. It’s back and forth – Man Utd have had the lions share – which you’d expect – but we’ve had chances and still look dangerous
Sharpy17(Quote)
If Dubravka was fit now I wouldn’t let him straight back in. Darlow has been excellent this season.
Stuart79(Quote)
Time to hook Joe for me, he’s not contributing enough imo.
Can’t believe Darlow looks injured. This could turn into a keeper crisis with Dubs set back.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Darlow injured needs to go off surely
kimtoon(Quote)
Darlow will be totally screwed if he isn’t taken off
kimtoon(Quote)
FFS
kimtoon(Quote)
NOW HE BRINGS ON MIGGY WHEN WE’RE LOSING 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh that’s frustrating as ****!!.
To go from it being our freekick to conceding a goal is so disappointing.
We know that’s their game, counterattack – good first to be fair but it could be a point thrown away there like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yip, point thrown away ??♂️??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bruce out
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s a shame coz that score line flatters Man Utd imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So Dubs and Darlow both injured
We’re screwed
4.1
Oh dear 😳 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
We give Man Utd a game tonight – or more of a game than we give Spurs imo.
But with 10 mins to play he should have shut up shop. Moved Schar to a back 5 to protect an injured Darlow.
Oh FFS another goal lost on they counter. That’s poor!!.
To be 1-1 with 10mins to play and loose 4-1 is terrible!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
No words …. ????????????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I know Bruce doesn’t like his tactics questioned – but to not spot the danger of the counter attack & shut up shop in the last 10mins – that to me is what has lost us the point tonight and turned a respectable score line into a bit of a pasting in the end.
He just doesn’t seem to react to how the game is going.
I know we are talking different leagues here, but watching the City v Arsenal game before it – Pep and Arteta never shut up. They were on the touch line barking instructions to their players the whole game through.
Sharpy17(Quote)
just sack him mike before he takes us down.
What to do about the keeper situation too.
Is that kid any good ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Jesus Christ! What the hell happened…
Stuart79(Quote)
So Hayden had tweaked his hammy first half yet got sent out for the second half !
That is ***** management .
kimtoon(Quote)
Miles Starforth
@milesstarforth
·
11h
Steve Bruce: ‘We were horribly naive towards the end. They’re arguably as good as anybody on the counter-attack with what they’ve got.’ #nufc
No Steve, you were horribly naive with your tactics and negligence of continuing to play clearly injured players.
kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t believe the result flattered Man Utd, Sharpy. They had about 30 attempts. They basically had all the possession and chances.
Stuart79(Quote)
Interesting article on covid/pandemics, basically says it’s likely to become endemic .
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/pandemics-end-different-ways-never-081544203.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Could anybody see us getting it back to 3-2 after being 3 nil down against Spurs?
Stuart79(Quote)
Aye, Kim – like flu. Makes the lockdown more idiotic and calls for further lockdowns idiotic madness of the highest degree and irresponsibility.
Stuart79(Quote)
not really stu, we need to try and suppress it if we can or the NHS will be completely over run, what with winter flu as well.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – We tried to suppress it in April and look where it got us. Right back to square one. We delayed ill people’s deaths, that’s all. But at what cost… Let’s assume we don’t have a vaccine for a few years. How much is too much destruction of the economy?
Stuart79(Quote)
Delayed ill peoples deaths, ok , sure they wouldn’t want a few more years or months, weeks even.
As irritating as it is having to keep putting restrictions in place i suspect it’s the only way to stop it running riot,though as you say long term it won’t get rid of it.
Now if we had a world class track and trace system we might get a handle on it .
kimtoon(Quote)