I usually dread the international break, but it was actually quite nice knowing that Newcastle United couldn’t find a way to ruin my week over the past fortnight.
One lingering frustration is the fact Bruce remains in charge. Any other club would’ve got rid and found a replacement over the break, but instead we have seen Mike Ashley show blind faith to a two wins in 20 manager who’s only stuck about to avoid missing out on his £4m pay-off.
Next up – Spurs. Jose Mourinho’s record at St James’ Park is pretty awful and his current team haven’t been much better at times over the past few months, but recent displays without our top scorer – who we’ll be without again – make you question if we have enough quality to beat them. I say that because we’re clearly lacking brains or a master plan on the sidelines!
If our dressing room is hungry to put things right and not stuck in hangover mode from the Brighton defeat or the fact Bruce is still in charge, then we might still have enough to get a big result against this Spurs side.
That said, our last game was supposed to be a six-pointer we were bang up for and look how that panned out!
The question is, will we see a side ready to get behind Steve Bruce now they know he’s going nowhere, or will we continue to fold like a side sleepwalking towards relegation?
Team news
- Allan Saint-Maximin – Bruce confirmed in his Friday presser that he’d trained all week and “could be involved” after recovering from a groin injury.
- Callum Wilson – Is behind ASM in his comeback from a hamstring injury and seems likely to miss out and return instead for next week’s trip to Burnley.
- Martin Dubravka – Missed two Slovakia games through illness and has just become a dad, however he’s expected to be fine for this one.
- Isaac Hayden – Ruled out for the season with a knee injury; however it’s good to hear he will NOT require surgery.
- Miguel Almiron – Bruce says the international break has allowed him to get back up to speed, with the Paraguayan clearly not 100% in that 3-0 defeat at Brighton last time out.
- Fabian Schar – Remains out with a knee injury as he continues his recovery from surgery.
For the visitors, star man Son Heung-min has recovered from a hamstring injury, left-back Sergio Reguilon has been passed fit, while Matt Doherty and Ben Davies have been ruled out. Not the news we wanted to hear, meaning their left-side will be back to full strength for this one!
Predicted lineup
(4-3-1-2): Dubravka – Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett – Hendrick, Shelvey, Willock – Almiron – Saint-Maximin, Fraser.
Hendrick IN, Hayden OUT? – It’s not the swap we want to see, but Bruce somehow seems to have Hendrick ahead of the two Longstaff’s in the midfield pecking order. Personally, I’d bring Sean Longstaff back in, however he’s played just 14 minutes over the past two months!
Saint-Maximin IN, Joelinton OUT? – It remains to be seen if ASM will be fit enough to start, but with this one looking set to come too soon for Wilson, Bruce will need the Frenchman’s spark to beat Spurs. Not only that, we need to change things up after that dismal display at Brighton – a game that saw our £40m Brazilian have a stinker. A front three of Fraser, Almiron and ASM would see us go without a recognised striker once again, but their blend of pace, creativity and explosiveness might just hurt a Mourinho side that don’t like to be ran at.
Elsewhere, Federico Fernandez may just earn a recall if Bruce decides to switch up the defence, while Jacob Murphy, Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle will be hoping for rare starts after failing to make the XI that failed to turn up at The Amex almost two weeks ago.
Match prediction
Had Wilson been fit, we’d have received a boost big enough to make many believe we might just pick up a surprise result.
Saint-Maximin’s return could lift our spirts and give us that match winning maverick that’s been missing over the past month, but the loss of Hayden will be a big blow in the middle of the park – especially if Bruce opts to replace him with Mr Anonymous Jeff Hendrick.
Not only that, Son Heung-min has been passed fit and could have a field day if we defend as we did at Brighton last weekend – and that’s not even factoring in the goal machine that is Harry Kane!
A reaction to that pathetic display at Brighton would be nice – especially when we may need to pick up points from games like this to survive – however I’m expecting very little when Wilson won’t be around to save Bruce’s bacon.
Let’s hope they prove me wrong and this is the start of an unlikely turnaround that saves us from slipping into the second tier.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham
Follow us on Twitter (@NUFCBlogcouk) and on Facebook HERE
Shelvey as well man!!. Gives a freekick away on the edge of the box then a sloppy pass that gets Kane in – so poor!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yet he’ll continue to pick him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Should not be losing this game
kimtoon(Quote)
Willock on Krafth off
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I’m not as daft on Rafa as some, but I agree that we were better organised under him.
That said, we are talking about PL footballers here & they really should be capable of defending better & communicating better than what we are seeing here.
Rafa also acknowledged though that both Shelvey & Gayle weren’t good enough & weren’t near his best starting 11 – the latter being loaned out for Rondon of course.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Murphy going off, Manquillo on
kimtoon(Quote)
Because his alternatives are Gayle & Carroll – they’re all sh!te.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Rafa was definitely right about them two mate, Rondon streets ahead of Gayle and Shelvey is a once in a blue moon player
kimtoon(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
Ritchie to joe to willock
bang
kimtoon(Quote)
Now then. Can we keep it
Stuart79(Quote)
Now fecking hold on lads, do not , i repeat do NOT concede
kimtoon(Quote)
Brilliant from Willock, making the run & putting himself in to get the finish.
Oh Longstaff man!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Donkey did well to head ball back across.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Free kick and here’s Bale ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
???
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’ll do. Right can we even win this???.
We should have with the chances we’ve had!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
lol mate
kimtoon(Quote)
Point it is then, my god we are crawling to the finish line
kimtoon(Quote)
I would have taken a point before the game.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No Grealish for Villa.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah me too
kimtoon(Quote)
C;mon Villa. Is Grealish back?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Need Manure and Villa to help us now
If Fulham win they go above us on goal difference
kimtoon(Quote)
The Donkey had a strange game. He played pretty well and the ball didnt bounce off him like it usually does. Took his goal well and kept the ball alive for the second. Still, had a couple of chances he could have done much better with.
I would give him a 7 today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No mate, was meant to be but pulled up in training
kimtoon(Quote)
Reckon we all would have taken a draw at the start, can going 2-1 behind, you have to say it’s a point gained – but we could have and should have had the beating of Spurs today – that would have been a huge 3 points in the battle with Fulham.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Wilson back for Burnley. We can beat Burnley.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Not sure what to make of Longstaff’s performance. Middling?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agree, think if we’d had Wilson instead of Gayle we’d of won
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I’m no fan of Bruce and want him gone as much as the next fan – but I think there are a number of bang average players underperforming & getting away with it coz the fans can’t stand Bruce.
I know people are on about Kraft as CB – but Dummett was at fault for both their goals today mind.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Played 3 at the back today, but had 22 attempts at goal … it shows it doesn’t have to be a defensive/negative formation.
I have to say I’m a big fan of Joe Willock as well. I think he’s exactly the type of midfielder we needed – I’d love to sign up him if we could.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Did VAR even look at Kanes second, it looked off to me.
kimtoon(Quote)
I said earlier in the week that despite Bruce I thought we could get something from this game. Still dont know what the hell he was doing. Are Fernandez and Clark injured?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy Thought Krafth was at fault, all he had to do was boot it out
kimtoon(Quote)
Don’t know about Fede mate but assume he gave Clark a rest after international games and Fraser has a groin strain apparently.
kimtoon(Quote)
I can understand Bruce holding players back who had been on international duty. That team today was ballsy. If that had backfired he would have been crucified. What day is it today? There would have been no resurrection for the cabbage from our fans if we had lost today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Mitrovic v Mings should be a good battle
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – Dummett was most at fault imo. He left Kane & didn’t communicate with Lascelles – it didn’t need to get as close as Kraft – but yes, having got to him, he should have put his foot through it … BUT, it should have been defended better before that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Said in commentary that Fede pulling up in training .. the 2 days we DID train and players still get injured ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bruce just said in his post-match that there was nonsense “up here”. WTF is he on about? We were on a run of 2 wins in 20. It is still a run of 2 wins in 21. He even just called the Brighton game a debacle so how can he say that it is nonsense for him receive criticism. The man is still deluded.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce still thinks that HE is the victim in all of this.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Is there any reason why the site doesn’t refresh with the latest comments on match days??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I can just see Mitro scoring and helping Fulham to a win here. Fulham are really up for it.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
It’s a Newcastle site… everything to do with our team is sh.ite ??
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Mitro ffs 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
What a **** goal to give away
Well that’s us in the drop zone
kimtoon(Quote)
Get in Villa
1.1
kimtoon(Quote)
And again
villa 2.1 up
kimtoon(Quote)
3.1
Watkins
kimtoon(Quote)