WE DID IT. Newcastle United have finally won a game of Premier League football this season!
It took 15 attempts, but in a game we simply HAD to win, a first half strike from who else but Callum Wilson was enough to beat relegation rivals Burnley.
The result, which also delivered our first clean sheet of the season, takes us up to 10 points for the season, meaning we could end the weekend just three points from safety if Watford and Norwich lose to Man City and Spurs, respectively.
Eddie Howe made two changes from Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Norwich, seeing Jamaal Lascelles and Miguel Almiron replace the suspended Ciaran Clark and absent Ryan Fraser – who was missing from the squad entirely because of a ‘minor’ hamstring problem.
It was good to see Miggy back in the side, however it was a real surprise and slightly baffling to see Fernandez remain on the bench when the team sheets were released at 2pm.
The visitors were on top early on, looking quicker to second balls and more confident in possession. We looked slow to react and nervy on the ball, leaving the atmosphere at St James’ Park on a knife edge.
Thankfully, Maxwell Cornet limped off just after the half hour mark – a welcome sign given his bright start – and Wilson gave us the lead just 10 minutes later, pouncing on Pope’s inability to hold a high ball and finishing brilliantly.
It wasn’t the first time we’d taken the lead in a league game at St James’ Park. We did so against Norwich, Brentford, Spurs, Southampton and West Ham, yet on every occasion we came away without a win, drawing three and losing two of those.
It had to end differently this time, and thankfully it did!
We came out in the second half much better and had several waves of attacks at the Gallowgate End, keeping Burnley pinned back at times with a string of successive corners.
Nothing came of our spells of pressure in the end, with Almiron having a goal-bound shot blocked and a low effort trickle just narrowly past Nick Pope’s far post.
So, it would rely on grit, hard work and a dogged defensive effort to see this one out as Burnley began to throw high balls into the box.
After a shaky first half display on his return to the side, it must be said that Jamaal Lascelles was a man mountain in the final 45. He won just about every high ball hoisted towards him and dealt with the dangerous Chris Wood brilliantly to justify his selection today.
Jamal Lewis also grew into the game with an outstanding display at left-back. He was quick to stop crosses, got stuck in, seemed more positive in possession and showed his athleticism and energy by offering us an out ball on the overlap in the second half.
Joelinton was key once again and never stopped running, as he continues to look like a man possessed – for all the right reasons – under Eddie Howe!
The atmosphere when the full-time whistle went was one of sheer relief and elation. After a long wait for a win and some miserable results since we’ve been allowed back inside stadiums following the COVID pandemic, this was much needed in more ways than one.
Let’s hope Man City (currently 1-0 up at the time of writing) do a job on Watford in the 5.30pm kick off tonight, with fellow relegation rivals Norwich travelling to Tottenham tomorrow.
Up next for us, a tough trip to Leicester City next Sunday – followed by Liverpool away and Man City at home!
GET IN!
Pleased we won but we made hard work of it. Why oh why do we insist on hitting long balls forward in the air, especially as Burnley were equipped with big strapping players at the back. Such tactics only surrender possession to the opposition which ends up putting us under pressure.
Groucho(Quote)
I was one who looked at that starting 11 and my heart sank when I saw Lascelles in and Fede dropped. But credit where it’s due – Lascelles was excellent today – our back 4 overall played well today.
The work Howe is putting in with them is clear & we are far more enjoyable to watch – though I do think we started slow today & were bullied in that first half.
I agree with the player ratings – but moreover I agree that Willock & ASM are performing a slightly different, more disciplined role – but it’s paying off.
We should have had a penalty against Arsenal which could have changed the game imo. Clark getting sent off had a massive impact against Norwich – so today was the first time we could properly see us as a team – and whilst we started slow, I think we controlled most of the second half.
Of the games coming up, I don’t fear Leicester or Everton, but it’s going to be tough til January now like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
By the way – what a finish from Wilson though ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Great win! But my god, I aged another 10 years! So used to us throwing away a 1-0 lead that was so nerve wracking! But we won..
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I said on the last article, but we only have 1 win so far and yet we are still only 6 points off 11th place ??♂️.
I know we have a tough run of games, but I don’t really fear Everton or Leicester – I don’t think it would be a shock if we could get points from those games to be fair.
If we can keep our in touch for the rest of the month and get some players in come January then I’m sure we stay up. Forget the 40 point mark – to stay up we just need to have more points then 3 other clubs – just 1 point more would do it ??♂️.
I really believe in Howe and think he pulls this off.
Sharpy17(Quote)
First 25 mins we were poor, getting bullied exactly as expected we would be but we slowly got a grip on the game and once we scored it was all us really. We had 10 corners and I’m disappointed we didn’t get a return from them.
We looked a tad nervous in the last 5mins or so, to be expected at just 1.0 but it did my nerves no good what so ever.
Lets hope this can instill some much needed confidence and be the momentum we need to get out and stay out the bottom 3 and then address things in January.
kimtoon(Quote)
I think we deserved the win but Burnley are a tough team to play against. They play like an Alladyce team. We always had trouble against him, even when he was at the Mackems. So glad to finally get a win, not only for league position and general enthusiasm of supporters but also to hear that stat about Derby being the only team with no wins in … to stay up. I am sure we will still hear it a bit, but not in every newspaper report and TV commentary. Over here in the US I think the commentator mentioned it about 5 times.
I thought Shelvey was OK on corners. Some were a bit overhit but most were whipped in. I have been saying for ages that he should be force fed videos of of Alexander Arnold and Ward Prowse to see how it’s done. We know he has the talent but too often he was sending in those floaters in previous games which just invited the opposition to head them out. Did it really take Howe and his coaches to explain this to him and, if so, what were the Steves and a Graeme doing for all that time?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Another thing I noticed was how happy the new owners were when we scored. The fact they were even there was a big change 🙂
As for the upcoming games, I dont think they are all right offs. City have been beat by Palace and Liverpool needed a last second winner today. Everton should be a strange atmostphere as Rafa has been deified by certain bloggers and certain sections of our fans. It has always been my opinion (shared with Sharpy) that this was a bit OTT, but he will get a good reception, if he is still there 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
In 1939 at the beginning of the 2nd World War Churchhill said this about Russia’s involvement: “it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”.
We have our own Russia in ’39 and his name is Joelinton.
In our recent matches I have watched as he has received the ball and there have been half groans in the crowd followed by sighs of relief when he does something good. I think we have all wanted this lad to do well because he seems like a trier. But you cannot deny most of us also wanted him dropped and that even with the last few games of him doing well 90% of his time on Tyneside he has played shyte.
Some even wondered if there was a clause in his contract that said he MUST play because he was an Ashley choice. Then we all wondered if he had been “Bruced”, played out of position and negligently tried to be converted to a number 9.. And that he couldnt really be this bad if Julian Naglesmann was playing him at Hoffenheim!
Eddie is now saying good things about Joe and I trust Howe a lot more than Fat Steve. So, there could be something there but what we have seen for 2 years has not been great, has it?
We cannot rewrite history and say his career at NUFC has been anything other than a disaster so far with a slight glimmer of hope recently. I have been his biggest critic on here but I always wanted him to do well, and still do.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
In the spirit of the season, and the fact Jesus was born in a stable, I will stop calling Big Joe “Donkey”. BTW, I am an athiest but see nothing wrong with wishing goodwill to all and counting one’s blessings.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Everton fans are staging a walkout on the 26th minute as a protest against the owners. These things hardly ever work but it should be interesting to see what happens.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric – Everton are a prime example of owners with money but no plan. They have put over £200m into the club but have had 6 managers in the time Klopp has been at Liverpool.
I don’t rate their squad at all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m gonna watch Villa v Leicester today, not been too impressed by Leicester this season. I know they have injuries & it’s been difficult for Rodgers to get a starting 11 out that he wants.
They are going through a tough patch and we could get something from that game if we can carry the moral from yesterdays win ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I dont think we are going down. Having watched Eddie Howe close up for a short while I think he has it in him to make up for the Bruce/Jones/Steves coaching debacle. What he did with Bournemouth was close to what Chough and Peter Taylor did at Forest/Derby. What Shankly/Paisley did at Liverpool and what Lord Ferg did at Man U.
What Eddie did at B’mth was close to a miracle.
I watched the documentary “MINUS 17”. They were bottom when Howe was appointed and had a 17 point deduction. Close to going out of the league entirely. Young Eddie had never managed before and was 30 at the time. He was appointed fulltime on New Years Eve after 2 losses and with the bailiffs at the door. He paid some players wages out of his own pocket!!! They survived and then he took a crappy little club to the PL. Amazing.
He had a short detour to Burnley where he did OK but not great. What people dont know or realise is that his mam was dying at the time. She was a single parent with 3 kids so can you imagine how that was for him when he was in Burnley and she was on the South coast suffering? Howe grew up the hard way. I know he sounds a bit posh, but he is not posh.
Even if we get relegated, this man, Howe, is the person we should stick with.
BUT, I dont think we will go down.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Probably our least effective performance of the last thread games but we won and that was the most important thing. Just wish we didn’t have the run of fixtures that we have now. Although Leeds have got just as tough a set of fixtures.
Stuart79(Quote)
Eric – I was watching the Norwich game the other night and Joelinton made a lung bursting run to provide cover at RB again – it was in the last 10 minutes of the game and he’d worked his socks off all game.
The camera cut to Howe and he was shout ‘Joe’ – must have shouted 4/5 times to get his attention and you could see him mouth ‘that’s f*cking brilliant son son’ with a real gritty look on his face.
I remember thinking – I bet Joelinton loves that!!. He made sure he knew he was pleased with him – and that gets players on side. That gets players want to run through walls for you and it spurs the other players on.
We’ve seen how hands on Howe is with the training – the players look like a different group already and he’s only had around a month with them – with an isolation in there too.
Results have went our way in terms of keeping teams in touching distance today.
December is a tough run, but we can’t write games off. These are ‘nowt to lose’ games so let’s see if we can nick a few points. If we can get 4-6 points in the rest of December then it’s game on imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watching Leicester so far & 2 stand out thing – 1. They can’t defend set pieces at all – we need quality deliveries from those.
2. Their defenders do not like players running at them with the ball – so Max & Miggy could have a field day.
Villa are showing them little respect here and Leicester are flustered.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Whoa, what a brilliant save by Martinez!!!!
Save of the season for sure.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: We have Leicester and Everton coming up. Leicester look midtable quality unless Vardy scores 20 goals a season. Everton are 15th. There is also Man U who have very good forwards but a pretty **** defense and the worst central midfield of the so-called BIG SIX. We have chances here to not be cut adrift.
Man U just so overpaid for their defenders. Shaw is back to Mourinho “Fatty Shaw”. Obi-Wan Bissaka is athletic but not that good. They sort of double paid for McGuire. He is their Lascelles – lunges in and is a mistake waiting to happen. But Lascelles cost 4 mil and McGuire cost 80 mil. The other centre backs are about as good as ours and have mistakes in them, like ours. But Man U paid 30 mil apiece for them. It is a fragile team with some really good attackers. I am not giving up on that game, whatever our record against them for the last 50 years has been 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric – Man Utd have made really hard work of their results so far this season – again today a 1-0 win thanks to a Fred goal. I think Lpool & City are inevitably going to be tough games – do we rest players in those games?.
I do think there are chances against Everton, Leicester and Man Utd.
I know we are far from flush with attacking options, but is it worth resting Wilson & ASM against Lpool & City with it being such a busy Christmas period?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
On a completely seperate note. My son has always been a fan of I’m a Celebrity & it’s always done my head in. But this year David Ginola is a ‘camp mate’ & is brilliant on it.
Firstly it is great to see him so well after his heart attack – he’s in great shape!!. But secondly it’s meant I have been able to relive my youth and show him footage of Ginola in a toon top – which in turn has sparked his interest in NUFC ?.
So it hasn’t been the buy out of the richest people in the world, the arrival of Eddie Howe or the prospect of signing some top players … it has been David Ginola in I’m a Celebrity ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see Sky have made a real big deal about the Saudi GP today as well – no call for that to be knocked on the head or not shown on Sky was there?!?!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
I watched it and there were ARAMCO signs everywhere. Probably will be on our shirts next year. Are we supposed to be where the line is drawn for morally dubious owners? It is pretty easy to counter the other teams’ arguments against us when they themselves are are owned by Oligarchs, the UAE or Qatar.
UK Govt is quite happy to sell arms to Saudis still. And F1. These moral highground hypocrites should get an F U. I dont really get how they cannot see the hypocracy.
I think the consortium made a good move in hiring such a likable manager as Howe. It will be hard for the other teams fans to hate us. It would be like hating Kevin Keegan or a puppy.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Just got home from 2 weeks in hospital to see wilson score. Happy days!
Eric do you think it was bloody bruce who created the donkey? Lad looks decent player now.
georgio(Quote)
Hope everything is better with your health. I honestly have no idea what went on with Joelinton. Probably a number of factors including moving, learning a new language and being played out of position. But nobody knew his right position really, we just knew the pressure of being a No. 9 and probably the fee seemed too much for him.
Are we all ready to say he is a different player now? Who the hell knows. But as I have said, we were not wrong in saying he has been shyte for 90% of the time.
I really like the fact that the fans seem to be giving him another chance.
Actually, I would say that Bruce was a massive part of the problem because we played 8-0-2 hoofball with Joelinton isolated for most of the game and with no-one to pass to.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Georgio – hope you’re ok now mate.
I think Bruce and Rafas approach didn’t help Joelinton at all. Set back and counter attack – lack of possession and limited build up play and passing football.
We are a footballing side now – limited as we need better players, particularly in the middle (CB & midfield) but this style is suiting a few players better imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
georgio,hope your getting better mate
icedog(Quote)
Does anybody think Rafa will get sacked if they get beat today?
I think he has another 3 games, but the Blue Bindippers dont want him there so it will be a challenge.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric – skin of his teeth job there mind mate.
Equally, Arsenal are so inconsistent.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see all the Sports Direct signage is gone from SJP. Finally! And a very good draw for the FA cup too with Cambridge at home. I hope the FA cup is not a distraction though. I’d love to do well but survival is a priority this season!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
A win is cause for optimism and puts us on 10 points from 15 games. You only really need a point per game to stay up so we are not that far off the pace. There has been so much pessimism from pundits saying we will be relegated and pointing to stats of starts historically which say teams that start like us hardly ever stay up.
That is them WANTING us to go down. And that is them CHEERLEADING in absentia of their best buddy Steve Bruce. They have an agenda against Newcastle United and NUFC fans for whatever reason. Most have no connection to the club but still talk about us.
These pundits ignore that we were managed by a cabbage and his brussel sprouts – The Steves and a Graeme. They also totally ignore the transfer budget we will have to turn things around in January. Instead, they point to other clubs not being willing to sell to us. BOLL0CKS! They will take the money quicker than a Tory MP. We all know this, but the pundits, and particularly Brucie’s pals, love to put us down.
Am I being paranoid? I dont think so. But the bottom line as I said is that we only need a point a game. A shock result at Leicester would change things. Remember we were 4 nil up last year even with the cabbage! We have to stay up to shove it in the faces of the likes of clickbaiters Danny Mills and Gabby Agbonlohor. Even Simon Jordon who likes to come off as all intelectual but is still on a fishing trip every time he opens his gob about NUFC.
Some NUFC fans dont help either, looking at other teams and calculating what games they have to lose to help us out. That is not the way it works. We have to get the points on the board – a point a game – and others will fail. I dont care which one it is, some team will go into a slump. It is always the same.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
That was a very long winded way of saying most pundits have an agenda against us and that we have to take care of our own business 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Some questions –
* why do they take their shirts off when they score?
* why don’t they have their shirts and boots on when they are subs/on the bench? And why dont they tie their laces when they are sat there?
* Why are there so many Scottish co-commentators when they havent had a good player since Dalglish and Souness? Davey Provan. Who the fck is that?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Great to see those s hite direct signs come down, perhaps we can start getting some proper revenue for adverts now.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: hopefully those are the last vestiges of Mike Ashley and he is gone and done. My fear is his parting gift might be relegation. That would really just typify his time as owner, that his specter hangs over us even when he is gone.
You probably know I live in the US but I was back in Newcastle quite a number of years ago before the Fat Man did the dirty on Keegan. I went to one of his shops, I think it was in Eldon Square. I had the expectation that it would be like the old Dixon Sports when I was growing up or Lillywhites in London. It was like a jumble sale with no staff really seeming to be doing anything. It gave me a realisation that Ashley did stuff purely on price and that was probably what we could expect at NUFC.
We did really become Tat Direct United or maybe Car Boot Sale United under him.
I cant remember what I went in for but I know I was only in there for about 2 minutes and came out with a NUFC mug. I know this because I am drinking out of it now as I type. I was never one for jumble sales or the old quay side barrow boys and that’s what Tat Direct said to me. How did he get so rich 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I’m blown away by the fact we have hired a recruitment company to find our MoD – are they really that incapable of finding one themselves??.
But even if I accept they aren’t, and actually it’s the right thing to do – why the F has it taken them this long to realise that??? with 3 weeks before the January window opens – a window so important to how our season may go!!.
Whilst I think they got the right man in Howe, they made a bit of a pigs ar$e about the process – and seem to be again … I have my doubts about Mandy & her fella.
Sharpy17(Quote)
i would think theres no better judge on players than big Al,get him on board i say
icedog(Quote)
Sharpy: we should all be watching A Christmas Carol. Obviously the Fat Man is Scrooge but he is still infecting the present and should be much more Jacob Marley (past). And the future? What happens to Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchet with the new owners? Will relegation put them in the poor house along with Graeme Jones?
Eddie Howe is the kindly nephew in the films.
Obviously Steve Bruce will not be in the poor house!!! Maybe a spa to take some weight off? Brucie’s spa and sun house in Portugal?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Tiny Tim is definately Paul Dummett, standing near the fire place on crutches.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
That would actually be a good allegory for NUFC. The ghosts of Chistmas past, present and future. Just because we are at Christmas and at such a crossroads. Hopefully somebody smarter and funnier than me can write it. But I might give it a shot nearer Xmas 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Jacob Marley is definately Derek Liambas.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I hope the game goes ahead. Leicester have 7 players out but are not saying who has Covid or who are regular injuries. They are also playing in Naples on Thurs. They wont really have much time to prepare for us and we will have had plenty of time to prepare for them!
I think we have a decent chance here. Their most important player – Vardy – is 35 and Rodgers has admitted he cant play every game.
I am sure we will be massive underdogs with the bookies, but there are omens that point to us getting a win. Leicester were a bit of a bogey team for us but then we went 4-0 up in the corresponding fixture last year.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
That 4-0 was amazing. What a night. Just have to watch Tielmans he’s some player. A point would be good.
georgio(Quote)
That game was Bruce’s best game for us by a long way. It made you think that maybe Jones was making a difference. Unfortunately, this year has shown it was a fluke and Jones was another Bruce apologist.
Still, it the Eddie era now so I need to forget about the Steves and the Graeme who is still there in the short term.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
https://youtu.be/y0L2VU0S3-E
I could watch these all day long. The players working hard, Howe hands on with them – and ALL with smiles on their faces.
No footage of Brucey training sessions found yet but I’ll keep looking – maybe if I search under punch ups ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nah Sharpy: you should be looking in the gardenening section under cruciferous vegetables. Specifically cabbages for Brucie and brussel sprouts for his cohorts. Brucie said the Steves were in charge of coaching the defense and Jones the attack. He never mentioned midfield which might explain why we always hoofed it to an isolated Joelinton. I am serious, that is what the fat t0sser said, he only mentioned back and front and ignored the middle.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Sunday’s going to be an easy one to call for the team selection innit – unchanged.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Leicester are down 3-2 on 54 mins. I am watching the game and they might be as bad as us at the back. C’mon Napoli 🙂
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
It is also tipping it down with rain and they have their 1st team chasing the game. Whatever the result they will be absolutley knackered when they face us.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
That couldnt have gone any worse for Leicester and therefore any better for us. They are out of Europe. Vardy missed a glorious chance at the end but more importantly for us he played 93 mins. They played in a monsoon with a depleted team.
Now let’s see if the PL call our game off.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
8 Spurs players tested +ve for Covid and their game called off.
Not sure if we will be playing on Sunday by the looks of this.
Teams told to reintroduce “emergency measures”. I am not sure if fans will be allowed in.
I reckon IF, IF we play on Sunday it will be our last game with fans for a while.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Is anyone going to actually follow any new rules our government set anyway ?
Given their utter contempt for joe public and their one rule for them and another for us , it would be a brave PM to ask for more restrictions given the latest revelations .
kimtoon(Quote)
Anybody that has ever read anything I write on here knows that I said the NUST attempt to get donations to buy part of the club was a dead end from the start. The fans were only ever going to get any say if the owners let them have a say. The goal of buying 1% was always pie in the sky. But now there is a pot of cash sent to them by niave fans. What do you do with it? NUST said that if their plan didnt work (which it never had a chance of) they would donate the money to charity. So which charities? And what are they waiting for? Ashley is gone, so WTF are they waiting for?
My ideas on where the money should go are pretty much local based initiatives and NUFC related:
1. Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
2. Food Bank. They seem to have match-day presense and it is a good cause.
3. Set up a foundation and make it ongoing for the people who are already donating. Let people continue to donate if they want to. The beneficiaries would be like the Make a Wish Foundation but not for Disneyland or something like that. Something closer to home like paying for a family day out or a trip to a match for a school team. Same concept, just closer to home!
I would actually donate to number 3 even though I poured scorn on the NUST hare-brained scheme of buying part of the club.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Duped!!! I never got this buying 1% of the club deal or how they conned themselves and seemingly smart people like the guys at NUFC.com and Warren Barton into thinking it was ever viable. It never made any sense to me.
All money now should be released and paid to charities as they said it would be.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Schar out – Fede has to come in doesn’t he?! ??.
I’m happy for Brentford to win tonight – playing Watford who are only 3 pts above us. Brentford are 7 ahead – may a draw to keep them both in touching distance but just for how it would look in terms of points, I rather keep teams close for now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Is Boris really as stupid as he looks? That would be impossible right. That haircut for a start? Looking on from afar and just seeing clips on TV and reading the papers he seems to act like Sh@ggy from Scooby Doo. Chasing around and going nowhere! His next PM quastion time will probably consist of him saying ZOINKS. And when asken a follow up saying “I refer the honorable member to my last reply of ZOINKS”.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I think we need Watford to lose tonight. This season, I don’t care where we finish as long as it’s 17th or above. Survival is the goal this year and I’ll be happy with that, knowing we will be able to start afresh in the summer. We need to be in the prem to attract some decent players in, and it will be a few years before we can get the really decent one to come!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh, and if that is not all the doom and gloom you need, there is a recession coming as well. US inflation is at a 40 year high which means increased interest rates. The stock market and housing market are vastly above the levels they should really be. This will get a lot worse.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Hey Gilly, I bought a camera. A Nikon Z50 (mirrorless). Tiny compared to DSLRs. My phone actually takes great pics but you cant really see the screen in sunlight.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Anthony Martial wants out of Man Utd in Jan – double bid for him and Jesse Lingard?.
Martial and Wilson would give us good options up front I reckon. I know he hasn’t pulled up trees at Man Utd, but I think he’s a confidence player and played more regularly and I think he’d be a very good player.
I think Man Utd would let him go too. I think they will want to build a pot of money for whichever manager comes in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Been thinking about this latest Covid stuff as it relates to NUFC. I think the PL will do all they can to keep our game on against Leicester. They will not want to give the Govt any more of an excuse to introduce more fan restrictions.
We dont even know how many Leicester players have Covid and how many are regular injuries.
We do know that the PL will do all they can to help Spurs. With their game off, it means the PL will not want other games postponed.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
There are 17 people at Spurs who have tested positive for Covid. This is 1st team, staff and juniors.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Arteta has asked for clarity on the rules for when a game should be called off due to Covid. Arsenal had to play against Brentford at the start of the season when they had 4 players out due to Covid. They lost 2-0. Not sure if he is implying that there is one rule for Spurs and another for the rest. What I had seen previously is that if you could put a team out then the game should go ahead. Spurs have 8 players out with Covid so that is a close call.
I actually think they probably should be allowed to call their game off but I also think under the previous “rules” that it is not clear.
Same for Leicester. I dont know how the PL might rule and we dont even know how many of their players had a positive Covid test. If I was Rodgers though, I would want to postpone the game because his players must be exhausted after the Napoli game. As I have already said, I watched it and it was tipping down with rain but also very intense as the loser would go out of the Europa League competition. That is ultimately what happened to Leicester. Their players must be totally drained mentally and physically which means this is probably a good time to play them. They played their best 11 bar maybe Lookman who was left at home for an unspecified reason.
I am not playing down the Covid factor here but you would think that there would have to be more than 4 cases for this to be called off because the PL went ahead with the Arsenal game I just mentioned when Arsenal had 4 cases.
I have read that there is a meeting next week of all PL teams to discuss the ever changing Covid situation. That will be after our game against Leicester.It will be interesting to see what happens. I dont think the PL will call off the Leicester game this late, will they?
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Hope not Eric, it’s our best chance to get points.
kimtoon(Quote)
We have won 3 of our last 4 away to Leicester so hopefully we can continue but having said that Leicester have beaten us more times than any other PL team they have played ! Vardy is still a threat but they are very susceptible to headers this season, conceding 7 so far so corners are key today, Lascelles may get one or Wilson hopefully. Hope our midfield are on it today.
kimtoon(Quote)