Our biggest game of the season to date? I think it has to be.
With Fulham now turning promising displays into points, I fully expect them to put away an awful Crystal Palace side on Sunday – but it’s all about us now we enter the first of FOUR winnable games.
Beat Wolves and we’ll remain at least three points clear of Scott Parker’s side before they face Spurs, Liverpool and Man City. Considering that tough run of theirs coincides with winnable games against West Brom, Aston Villa and Brighton for us, you can start to appreciate why this could be a significant weekend one way or another.
Our display at Man Utd was good for 55 minutes, yet we still conceded too many cheap goals, couldn’t make the most of a real off night for the Red Devils and allowed our heads to drop as soon as they made it 2-1 against the run of play.
Performance levels have improved since Jones arrived, with big wins over Everton and Southampton proof of that. The question is, are we able to capitalise on this run of ‘winnable’ games without a certain Callum Wilson?
There’s no doubt his absence blunts our attack, but we’ll have to hope Dubravka’s return gives our defence a boost and that Saint-Maximin can produce that match-winning magic on a regular basis while we’re without Wilson’s goals.
Team news
- Callum Wilson – Out with a hamstring injury and ‘three or four weeks’ away says Steve Bruce.
- Javier Manquillo – Spotted in training on Thursday, but remains to be seen if this one will come too soon for the Spaniard.
- Fabian Schar – Out with a knee injury. Has had surgery and is now on crutches.
- Federico Fernandez – Has trained all week and is ‘available’, however Steve Bruce has suggested this one might still be a ‘bit early’ for the Argentine.
- Joelinton – Limped off at Old Trafford last weekend but has been declared fit for this one.
The visitors will be without tricky attacker Daniel Podence, giant centre-back Willy Boly, star striker Raul Jimenez and left-back Marcal.
Predicted lineup
(4-3-1-2): Dubravka – Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett – Willock, Hayden, Shelvey – Almiron – Joelinton, Saint-Maximin.
Bruce refused to give a definite answer on the goalkeeping situation in his press conference on Friday, but The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards claims Dubravka is all set to come in for Darlow.
Our stand-in stopper has been brilliant in the Slovakian’s absence, however the time has come for us to start our best players – and Dubravka is one of them. The big thing he adds for me is the ability to organise his defence in front of him, being more vocal and a greater calming influence than Darlow.
At the back, it seems like this one will come just too soon for Manquillo and Fernandez, but I would not be surprised if Dummett comes in at left-back. Bruce insisted that our rarely seen Geordie would have a big role to play over the run-in after he helped keep Southampton at bay a few weeks back, so he could be tasked to deal with one of Neto or Traore – wingers who’d be fancying their chances should a fragile Lewis keep his place!
I don’t see any changes coming in midfield – despite the fact either of the Longstaff’s would be far more capable of pressing than Shelvey – and think we’ll also go with the same front three that started at Man Utd.
Most would sooner see Gayle or Fraser start in Wilson’s absence, but the former struggled badly and Chelsea and the latter made zero impact from the bench at Old Trafford, so I can see Joelinton being given the nod. For what it’s worth, I thought he did a decent job before he was forced off, with us immediately looking more disjointed the moment he made way.
Match prediction
Wolves have won three and drawn one of their last four league games, however I did watch them in their 1-0 win over Leeds last week and they were VERY fortunate to win. They could’ve concede two or three on another night and only got on the scoresheet themselves via a freak own goal.
The likes of Neto and Traore are the big danger men and could punish our clear weakness at full-back, not forgetting the fact they are often a tough nut to crack defensively and competitive in midfield, however there is one thing we SHOULD have over them – motivation.
We are a side scrapping for survival and head into this knowing the importance of a win, where as Wolves might just be resting on their laurels slightly after a few good results helped them move away from the drop zone and into mid-table obscurity – not back in the race for Europe.
I think we might struggle to break them down and fear for our full-backs at the other end, so can see this one ending in a low-scoring draw.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Wolves
I hope you are right about Dummett starting Olly, mate. I havent given up on Lewis, just think Dummett is better suited to a scrap.
I am pretty sure we will see Shelvey start.
The only other change I think we will see is Carroll for Donkey-Joe.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I mean, if you are going to start Shelvey you have to give him somebody to pass it to FFS. He has one skill at this point and it is an instinctive pass. So you need Gayle or Carroll if he plays!!! You don not need dribblers like St Max or Miggy, that doesnt suit Jonjo.
Do I have to explain this to Brucie and the the rest of the Steves or will Graeme Jones do it?
#KeepShelveyOffFreeKicksandCorners
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just read an article on Football365 where their MD and chief pundit said NUFC are the worst side in the PL. That is not true.
We have the worst manager in the PL.
We have the worst coaches in the PL.
We have the worst set piece takers in the PL.
We certainly DO NOT have the worst players though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Craig Hope
@CraigHope_DM
·
2m
Exclusive: NUFC academy director Joe Joyce is stood down from role after his wife raises dispute with club over treatment of their son while he played for Under-18s. Steve Harper is now interim academy boss, meaning Steve Bruce has lost a first-team coach.
kimtoon(Quote)
Perfectly sums up our club, Kim. Rotten to the absolute core.
I just laugh now.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sad state of affairs Stu .
kimtoon(Quote)
The academy seems as mismanaged as the 1st team. There was the Beardsley fiasco. Then I think we got someone from Leeds who was experienced but lasted about 2 months. I think Dawson took over but he is now with the 1st team. Why didnt he go back? He was only supposed to be stand in for Agnew I thought. We already had a goalkeeping coach with the 1st team so I am not sure what Harper did anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We also dont know who recruited Jones. There is no way that it was Bruce. He would not recruit a caretaker in waiting. The rumour was that it was Carr.
Then you have the PR guy, Keith Bishop seemingly involved in decisions.
It really is a mess and started well before this with Wise and Jiminez who had undisclosed roles.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see the US have said they believe MBS was responsible for approving the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Hardly a revelation but none the less not a good look. Although interestingly the US government have essentially let him off Scott free. What does that tell us…
Stuart79(Quote)
A tiny slap on the wrist. They have a massive arms deal with the Saudis to protect. The defense companies have a lot of lobbyists. Then there is the destabilization of the middle east which the US did most to foster. The Saudis are the main US ally against Iran. It is a bit of pick your poison/dictator – a sadistic Prince or an Ayatollah who thinks all non believers are nothing better than worms.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here is a link to Psychology Today describing passive-aggressive behavior. It is Steve Bruce. I believe that Bruce deep down knows he is a **** Manager. How could he not with his record. But he has to bluster his way through and make excuses. He is usually outwardly confident but then he will say the other team are great. Even Sheffield United. Just wait until we play West Brom, he will make them out to be Bayern Munich.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/passive-aggression
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I do not think Bruce is the nice guy that some make out. He is in the ex-footballer clique who all say the same thing and stick up for each other. It is the ultimate old boys club, they attend dinners, play golf, go on talk sport and the BBC podcast. Its an easy way to make a living after sport and why shouldn’t they all be happy about that! Most dont want to rock the boat. Roy Keane and Souness might be exceptions but they are just miserable gits full stop so they cant hide it.
@BruceIsAFake
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce isn’t a good manager. That’s not a personal attack and anybody who personally attacks Bruce a just silly and idiotic. His limitations as a manager/coach are being exposed. That’s all I’m bothered about.
Working at Jabba’s NUFC isn’t quite impossible but it’s certainly difficult and eventually we will always get relegated. It’s not possible to have the minimum target of avoiding relegation every season and achieving it. You will skirt too close and drop.
Next season will be worse whatever division we’re in. If we’re in the PL then we won’t have any money to spend and if we’re in the Championship then I really have no idea what Jabba will do but I will be astonished if there are more than 20,000 fans turning up if Jabba is still owner. We won’t get promoted.
Stuart79(Quote)
Apparently what the US has on MBS is still all circumstantial evidence so nowt new. Biden is flexing his muscles nothing more. Did he order it ?probably. but they will never totally prove it.
A heinous crime but lets not kid ourselves that other countries including ours don’t commit these assassinations , they just do a cleaner well hidden job, mostly, unless it’s Russia and their penchant for poison . 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Stuart: I think you are being kind to the “silly and idiotic” who do the personal attacks. I would call them FcK-wits, morons and more. They have to be some kind of stupid to think they will not be tracked down in this day and age if they make death threats. Alex Bruce said his Dad received death threats. I am guessing in the mail since he is not on twitter. Have these clowns never watched an episode of CSI Miami?
Anyway, I think we can question Bruce’s ability and maybe sanity and also ridicule him. Threats are a different matter.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: What do you mean by personal attacks on Bruce?
I think I am within my rights to call him duplicitous, devious, disingenuous. I can call him out on team selections and the moronic press conferences. Are these “personal attacks”. I even think it is OK to call him Mrs Doubtfire or Cabbage Heed which is getting closer to the line of personal rather than professional. I would back any fan who threw a cabbage onto the pitch as long as it was not aimed at the Corbridge Cabbage.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If fans are allowed into the ground again and we do get relegated we should have a Brussels Sprouts day. Easier to get past security than a cabbage but sends the message. I am assuming the Fat Man will not sack the slightly-less-fat-man whatever happens.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The club’s just an empty shell at the moment. Bruce is the only mouthpiece unfortunately.
Ashley’s not involved. Charnley is Mr Invisible. Bishop and Barnes aren’t there. What a way to run a respected institution.
georgio(Quote)
Jon jo’s birthday today and my 60th tomorrow, i hope we both have a good one.
pretty please.
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh and Wilsons birthday today too, shame he can’t celebrate with a goal.
kimtoon(Quote)
So my friend just text and said “get in, WBA winning.” Shouldn’t we be worried about them catching us…?
Stuart79(Quote)
WTF is this politician speak with Bruce – “quietly confident” we will stay up!!! Just say “I am sure we will stay up, we have the players to do it”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: if the Baggies stay up there would have to be a whole new solar system created just to contain Big Fat Sam’s head.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Saying you are sure we will stay up is not like Ugly John saying he was the best manager in the world. It is having confidence in your players and staff as well as yourself. It is not OVER-confidence like with the pickled walnut with hair.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I just find it like Bruce getting the excuses in rather than expressing confidence. I know other Managers do it, especially Mourinho with Kane and Son etc, but what does Bruce have to lose? Build the players up. Say, we have a good squad, St Max is back and Callum will be for the the run in. Why the negative attitude? Why stress who has been out like he did? He is an excuse machine.
Brighton are the weirdest team. They outplay teams and lose. If they had Wilson they would be 10 points clear of us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stu – I still feel confident WBA have too much to do.
But, everyone has been thinking it was down to us or Fulham – after today I think there is a real strong chance Brighton take that last spot – that’s WBA and Palace they have lost to in their last 2 games.
Losing to teams around you in a relegation battle destroys confidence and will make it so much more difficult taking points from the better teams – especially as so many of them still have chances at CL and Europe spots.
We have 5 of our last 13 games against teams around us. If we can win at least 3 of those and maybe a few draws – I think that would be enough this year – but only because we’d be depending on other teams being worse than us again.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brighton & Fulham each only have 2 games from their remaining fixtures that are against teams in the bottom 6 – and one of those for both of them is against us.
We have 5 games against bottom 6 teams from our remaining fixtures.
Now I’m obviously not saying they are guaranteed points – far from it. But they should certainly be more achievable than against teams chasing the top 4 spots – and of course if we take 3 points from those games it not only strengthens us, but weakens them.
We have to go into those games hell bent on taking the 3 points. I don’t mean desperate to the point we are over anxious and **** it up – but with a die hard attitude of we won’t be beaten. I’m not sure Bruce is the man to get the boys into that mind set – or should I say, I’m sure Bruce isn’t NOT the man.
Something from tonight’s game would be great for confidence going into that run of games.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric, your criticism of Bruce isn’t necessarily personal. Not quite as personal as your “Ugly John” quips against Carver anyway… He deserves all the criticism he receives for his shockingly out of date football views and tactics and also for what he says. It doesn’t make sense and is contradictory.
I hold very little expectation tonight. I just can’t see where the goals would come from and I can’t see us keeping a clean sheet.
Stuart79(Quote)
I imagine Dubravka comes in tonight and drops a clanger
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m sorry but how does Joelinton continue to get picked? We’re playing with ten men right from the off.
Stuart79(Quote)
Is me calling Carver Ugly John or a pickled walnut with hair worse than you calling Asley Jabba? 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is he really playing Donkey-Joe as a number 9? Not sure what the formation is otherwise. Wolves like to play on the break so we dont really need a holdup player on the halfway line which is what Bruce does with JokeLinton.
Alreet, one last chance you Brazilan waste of space. Get in the box, score a hattrick and prove me wrong – at least for a week.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My prediction is a draw. Wolves are not that great without Jota and Jiminez.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Dubravka is back in goal then… let’s see how that works. That will be end of the Darlow for England calls too. Oh well. He plays for us so had no chance anyway… Fraser on the bench again? Carroll and Gayle on the bench again? Who’s picking this team? ***
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh, he might have gone back to the 2 false 10s which nobody could understand what he was talking about anyway?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gilly: I thought Darlow did a great job and never really rated him before this year because he was all over the place sometimes. He fixed a lot of that and would still be ahead of the Mackem T-Rex in my England team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yet again Bruce and his contradictions: he complains about not having had ASM and Fraser available together and when he does he never plays them both.
Stuart79(Quote)
Hopefully we attack because I wouldnt pick any of Krafth, Lewis or Lascelles in our back 4.
We could play Hayden at right back, risk Fernandez in the middle and Dummett at left back.
There are options but the cabbage wont use them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
*** almost
kimtoon(Quote)
Should have scored that.
Stuart79(Quote)
Would have been a good goal. What a shame.
Stuart79(Quote)
ffs offside
kimtoon(Quote)
Balls Miggy down injured
kimtoon(Quote)
Have we played our game now? Wolves starting to come back into it. Get the feeling the players think “ah we have it a go and couldn’t get a break through.”
Stuart79(Quote)
If only we had a striker … ???????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Need Bruce/Jones to make some half time adjustments because Wolves sort of took over for last 20 mins.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see we have a new strategy though which is great to see. Instead of passing it back to Darlow, now they pass it back to Dubravka. Will this new secret tactic work I wonder.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yes changes needed, i would try to get Fraser on if possible, Shelvey is so bloody slow again .
kimtoon(Quote)
Our weak links were showing up in the final 20 mins as Shelvey and the Brazilian Donkey disappeared and Lascelles was making a few mistakes which we all know he is prone to.
Need a refresh. Get the Donkey off and Shelvey as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I just have no idea what Joelinton brings to the team that Gayle doesn’t. Gayle is very good but at least he has a strikers instinct.
Plus Almiron injured. We’re ******
Stuart79(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
Finally someone who can hit the target. I thought it was Joelinton at first but then had a word with myself
Stuart79(Quote)
Get in. Dont just sit back though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
maxi done now
brilliant
kimtoon(Quote)
We might not score another goal all season without Almiron, ASM and Wilson
Stuart79(Quote)
Dropping like flies!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kraft injured too. That’s three injuries in a match. That’s about the third or fourth game this has happened under Bruce. Can’t be a coincidence.
Stuart79(Quote)
Was coming. Pretty sure we lose this 1-2
Stuart79(Quote)
depressing
kimtoon(Quote)
Pretty sure Bruce has his excuse now with the injuries. Won’t be his fault though that we keep getting multiple injuries.
Stuart79(Quote)
oh joe ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
£40m
Stuart79(Quote)
i would take 1.1 now
kimtoon(Quote)
well done dubs
kimtoon(Quote)
proper under the cosh here
kimtoon(Quote)
0ne measly point
meh
kimtoon(Quote)
A point just not good enough. Hope Palace do us a favour which is ridiculous. Bruce will have his excuses but he needs to take responsibility for the position we’re in.
Stuart79(Quote)
This is pretty much what everybody thought – a point. Just have to look at how serious the injuries are.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
***, well that was a surprise .. not… great goal from Lascelles but I think Dubs should really have saved their goal. A bit frantic at the end but as usual we ended up regretting the missed chances. If only we had a striker … just watch Fulham win tomorrow. This is getting sickening now. And so many fuc.king injuries to our best players.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Stuart: Palace are a very strange team. They are almost as bad as us but somehow get points when they shouldnt and give up points when they shouldnt. I have no idea what will happen with them and Fulham. Benteke actually scored recently FFS and he is in contention with the Brazilian Donkey for worst forward in the PL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Our conditioning team want sacking, our fitness levels are shocking
kimtoon(Quote)
Well that was exhausting!!.
We struggled to create with any kind of quality in the final third with Almiron & ASM – without them we pretty much played in our half.
Almiron is so important in that high press. Hopefully he was a precaution coz he played out the end of the 1st half.
ASM didn’t look good though.
Kraft hopefully won’t matter coz I think Manq is as good as back.
How the HELL did Joelinton miss that chance put on a plate for him by Murphy though?!. I honestly can’t figure it out – the lad just has no luck – but he should have placed it in the bottom right rather than hit it directly at the lad on the line.
I was disappointed with Dubravka as well, but will give him the benefit as it’s his first one back & he may be a bit rusty – but I’m gonna say Darlow saves their goal.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – we play most games without the ball for 70% of the game so the players do more running than probably every team in the league. It’s hardly surprising the players are knackered.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – how does Bruce pick Joelinton instead of Gayle. At least Gayle has a strikers instinct.
Stuart79(Quote)