Our biggest game of the season so far and one Steve Bruce won’t be able to hide behind should things not go our way.
With no wins on the board and two beatable sides in Watford and Wolves coming up before another international break in October, this is a chance to kickstart our campaign that we can’t afford to miss.
It’s also worth noting that relegation rivals Watford could go seven points clear of us already with a victory at Vicarage Road.
Too early to worry about being cut adrift? Maybe, but we have an ugly run of fixtures over the festive period, putting huge pressure on an out of form side to deliver over October and November if we fail to grab our first win of the season here.
We’ll come up against a few former Mags in Moussa Sissoko and Danny Rose in this one, but the real one to watch will be Ismaila Sarr.
The Senegalese winger is rapid and the one gamechanger capable of hurting us like Allan Saint-Maximin can at the other end.
Hopefully, the Frenchman wins that battle with a little help from his Toon teammates, with us needing to improve defensively and get more bodies around ASM at the other end when opportunities arrive to hurt the Hornets on the break.
Team news
- Joe Willock – Out with a toe injury and ‘touch and go’ for next week’s trip to Wolves.
- Jamaal Lascelles – Out with a thigh injury picked up in 1-1 draw vs Leeds.
- Callum Wilson – Remains out with a thigh injury. Expected back after October international break.
- Jonjo Shelvey – Remains out with a calf injury.
- Paul Dummett – Also missing with a calf injury after suffering a recent setback.
- Martin Dubravka – Back in training but won’t be available for selection for a “couple o weeks.”
- Freddie Woodman – Out with a muscle injury. Hasn’t trained this week.
For the Hornets, Ben Foster looks set to start with no.1 stopper Daniel Bachmann expected to miss out again, while Spanish right-back Kiko Femenia could keep his place after overcoming a muscle injury that forced him off last week.
Predicted line ups
(4-4-1-1): Darlow – Manquillo, Fernandez, Clark, Lewis – Murphy, Hayden, S Longstaff, Almiron – Joelinton – Saint-Maximin.
(4-2-3-1): Foster – Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose – Kucka, Sissoko – Sarr, Cleverley, Dennis – King.
With Lascelles out, another midfielder injured in Joe Willock and Bruce praising how we played after changing formation last Friday, it feels like we might move back to a four-man defence for this one.
With that in mind, I can see Fernandez coming in for the skipper and Lewis replacing Ritchie; who surely wouldn’t cope with Sarr’s pace if played on the left of a back four. Saying that, I would not be surprised if Bruce sticks with Ritchie…
In midfield, Hayden could partner Longstaff – a partnership that worked well when the latter first burst onto the scene. Hayden has started at the back in each of our last two, but he’ll surely be needed in the middle of the park and pushed up if Bruce does revert back to this formation.
In attack, we need to target Watford’s lack of pace at the back, so I hope to see Jacob Murphy come back in.
Based on what we saw of Danny Rose during his loan spell on Tyneside last year, Murphy could get the better of the ageing ex-Mag – who is expected to start at left-back.
Down the other side, I’d like to think Bruce will use Almiron’s pace and energy to help whoever is at left-back up against Sarr. After all, the Paraguayan did a brilliant job defensively at Old Trafford but also showed his quality on the counter, playing a key role down the left in setting up Manquillo’s goal.
In attack, I expect Joelinton to keep his place after his improved display against Leeds, meaning Saint-Maximin could play just ahead of him in more of a free role – as he did to dangerous effect in our last away outing at Man Utd.
Match prediction
I think we’re going to edge this.
A lot may depend on how we cope with Ismaila Sarr – who could be licking his lips against either Ritchie or Lewis – but I feel our pace on the break could hurt what is a pretty slow Watford back line.
We need to defend better for the entire 90 minutes, but play as we did in that first hour at Old Trafford in our last away game and I can see us getting some joy here – providing Bruce does field quick countering-attacking options in ASM, Almiron, Murphy and/or Fraser.
This theme has faded in recent times, but Bruce has a habit of finding a win when he really REALLY needs one, and this feels like one of those weeks.
Prediction: Watford 1-2 Newcastle
Watford are not that good. I watched them at Norwich and they were average at best.
But, if Olly is correct, we will be playing with 4 wingers. Who will get in the box unless St Max beats 4 players and gets in there?
At least Murphy can take a free kick.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think we need Longstaff to now show us if he is any good or not. This is the game! He played well with Hayden under Rafa and it has been more than 2 years since his injury. Time to show us what you have got Sean or join your brother at Aberdeen.
Having said that, Bruce will probably play Hendrick 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Best chance we have is to attack, as we can’t defend to save our lives!
Could get plenty crosses in with this formation worry is Joelinton couldn’t hit a barn door sitting on the latch.
Joseph(Quote)
Of the team above, I’d take Almiron out and move Joe to the left – he’d provide better cover for Lewis.
I’d put Gayle up front with ASM.
I’d also consider playing Hendrick alongside Hayden.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I want us to beat Watford. I have seen some saying that getting beat in the next couple of games would cause Bruce to resign or get fired during the international break. B0llocks. We have got Bruce until at least Christmas so we should cheer the lads on and want us to progress.
You can cite the Rafa replacement of McClaren but Rafa put homself forward for the job and Carr and Charnley were in charge at the time and wanting to save their own skins. Ashley is a different kettle of fish. You can never predict what he will do, except maybe the opposite to what is good for the club.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am getting up to watch the Man City/Chelsea game at 6.30 am. You would have to say that is as good as it gets even though it is oil against Oligarch. But the players are good!
Then it is as bad as it gets…
An Ashley/Bruce team against the playoff winners who were very lucky to beat Norwich. The playoff winners normally go straight back down!!!! So a relegation 6 pointer in week 6 FFS.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I have never had my lips sunburnt before. That’s a new one. In New Mexico I was at 10,000 feet at one point so the air was thin. For reference, Ben Nevis is 4,400 feet. I think it was the thin air that caused the sun burn.
Anyway, I got talking to a barman and he told me a woman passed out the day before because of altitude and one drink. He said she went red as a cherry and fell off her chair.
I didnt feel any alcohol effects at all, just the sun burnt lips.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
He’s playing a 4-3-3 with Willock starting.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Predict another draw simply cause we are away .
1.1
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well lets hope playing Willock doesn’t aggravate his toe even more resulting in a longer lay off.
KIMTOON(Quote)
HWTL
KIMTOON(Quote)
Any links
Gilly Toon(Quote)
GETINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
LONGSTAFF
great stuff, was wondering when, we’ve had enough corners/chances
KIMTOON(Quote)
60% possession to us so far !
KIMTOON(Quote)
Ritchie yellow, has to be careful all game now .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oh Maxi, just shoot early, no fancy stuff
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well a great first half. Hope we don’t regret all those missed opportunities. Longstaff playing really well. We should be at least 2 maybe 3 up
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Why didn’t Danny Rose play like this for us?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We should mate, hope we don’t drop off our intensity .
KIMTOON(Quote)
need another, fluffing chances and great saves from Foster
KIMTOON(Quote)
ffs 1.1 and all them chances squandered, knew it. Be fuming if we go on to lose this like. What has happened to our solidity at the back under Rafa .
KIMTOON(Quote)
We.l you could just see that coming…. ??????????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Unbelievable isn’t it but so Newcastle, oh could be saved by VAR poss offside
KIMTOON(Quote)
still 1.1
right c’mon just get the winner ffs
KIMTOON(Quote)
Murphy ffs
KIMTOON(Quote)
Our decision making has to get better
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well my 1.1 was right but oh my we should of won that 3 or 4 .1
chances wasted and it will ultimately cost us come end of season. If we had Wilson we’d of won.
KIMTOON(Quote)