Well, a lot has changed since our last match preview!
We’ve beaten Leeds – securing our first away win of the season – had a warm weather training camp in Saudi Arabia, signed two Premier League proven players, a £40m Brazilian, axed three players from our 25-man squad and look all set to appoint Dan Ashworth as our new director of football.
Things are finally looking up on the pitch, although this feel-good factor will only be maintained should we produce the goods in what promises to be another humungous game at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.
An out of sorts Everton side come to town with Frank Lampard in charge and a few new signings under their belts, with reported Toon targets Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli both arriving on deadline day.
This has given them a lift, as did their FA Cup win over Brentford at the weekend, however we also have momentum on our side going into a game that could leave us just ONE point behind the Toffees with a win.
It’s the first of two huge games at St James’ Park this week, a chance to make it back-to-back wins, an opportunity to drag Everton into a relegation battle and see our January signings on display at St James’ Park.
Let’s hope we can step up and deliver!
Team news
Bruno Guimaraes and Matt Targett could both make their NUFC debuts, while Dan Burn could join them in doing so if he overcomes a toe injury.
Joelinton has overcome a groin injury that saw him limp off at Leeds, however Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Federico Fernandez and Callum Wilson have been ruled out, with the latter now expected back for the ‘last few games of the season’ at best.
As for Everton, midfield dynamo Abdoulaye Doucoure and defender Ben Godfrey have been ruled out, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to return after training over the past few days.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Targett – Shelvey, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
Martin Dubravka – Earned his first clean sheet on the road at Leeds in what was an assured display by the Slovakian.
Kieran Trippier – Showed his class in that 2nd half at Leeds and is one of the first names on the team sheet. Let’s hope he keeps Demarai Gray quiet.
Jamaal Lascelles – Appears to be fine despite holding his hamstring at Leeds. Many believe he should be dropped but I can’t see Howe leaving out the captain!
Fabian Schar – Dan Burn could take his place in the side before long, but with him nursing a toe injury and Schar our MOTM at Elland Road, I think the Swiss international keeps his place here.
Matt Targett – With Dummett injured and Lewis axed from the 25-man squad, the Aston Villa loanee could slot straight in. Saying that, Javier Manquillo has given Howe something to think about after some assured displays at LB.
Jonjo Shelvey – Put in a disciplined display at Leeds and grabbed the all important winner. Howe seems to be a big fan, so he seems likely to keep his place above Willock (who was much improved at Leeds but may miss out here).
Bruno Guimaraes – Howe suggested he may need time to adjust to PL football, but he looked a million dollars for Brazil last week and has to start if fit.
Joelinton – Limped off at Leeds but is fit and ready to play. Hopefully the big man can put in another dominating display in this deeper midfield role.
Ryan Fraser – Ran himself into the ground last time out and is improving each week under Howe. Now he just needs to add goals and assists to his game…
Chris Wood – He was a handful at Leeds and won no end of flick-ons. Hopefully he can go one step further in this one and bag his first goal in black and white!
Allan Saint-Maximin – Could have real joy against an ageing Seamus Coleman. Let’s hope we see more Maxi magic, with him needing to step up in Wilson’s prolonged absence.
Predicted Everton XI (4-4-1-1): Pickford – Coleman, Mina, Keane, Mykolenko – Gordon, Allan, Gomes, Gray – Richarlison – Calvert-Lewin.
Match prediction
I was more confident prior to Everton appointing Lampard and winning convincingly in the FA Cup to ease tensions on Merseyside, but still back us to get the job done in this one.
Doucoure will be a huge miss for them in the middle of the park and I’m backing Bruno to dazzle on his debut, with Targett and Trippier to also offer that balance we’ve so often lacked at the back.
Wood to get off the mark and our new boys to impress in a home win on Tyneside!
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Everton
HOWAY THE LADS!
I said on the last thread that Everton have 5 points from the last 10 games. That’s 5 from 30. Lampard better be a miracle worker! There’s no way that Dele and VDB are match fit either because they simply havent played.
I reckon as long as Burn’s toe is not bad, then he starts. A decent game from the CBs at Leeds cannot wipe out the rest of the season where you could drive a 10 ton truck through the middle of our defense. I will say until I am blue in the face – Lascelles has been our worst player even though he has had some serious competition for that from Miggy.
But, I cannot end on a negative note. I think Bruno will inspire us to a 3-1 win. I would really like Joelinton to score, or even Miggy to give the lad some confidence. These are the 2 players that were most Bruced in my opinion so I want them to succeed.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
You show a midfield three with Shelvey at the base as the DM, a role Bruno will surely fill.
This would then have Shelvey playing alongside Jo . I think that Jo and Willock on form or Jo and Miggy for energy would be better than Shelvey as Bruno can do everything Shelvey can
PremAndUp(Quote)
Win our next two games and we can start to breath, lose them both and optimism will be hard to find
PremAndUp(Quote)
Everton’s form is even worse than I thought. I lifted a couple of stats from The Mag. They have 6 points from the last 42. That is 14 games and they have lost 10 of them. VDB has only started 4 games in the last 23 months.
I dont get what this love-in with Lampard is. Yes, he was a very good player but he is pretty inexperienced at PL level. He lost his first Chelsea game against Man U 4 nowt so there wasnt a “new Manager bounce” there. When they sacked him he was on a run of 2 wins in 8 games. He is not immune to going on bad runs. Tuchel won the Champions League with that EXACT same squad.
I am not saying he is a bad Manager, but I dont think I have seen enough to decide.
Then there is Lawro. He pretty much came out with the famous last words that Everton are too good to go down. I dont think their squad is any better than ours and Cavert-Lewin is a doubt again.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I am seeing some fans saying that Bruno should be saved and come on as a sub so he can see how much the fans will appreciate him by the rapturous applause. Wouldnt the same be true if he started and had a good game and then went off to an ovation? Some are saying Eddie intimated that Bruno would be held back. He said nothing of the sort. He was deliberately ambiguous. He said what all Managers say when they get a player from another league, that it will take them time to adjust.
The main thing is to win the game, not show our love to a player who most have never even seen. It could spur him on to play well, but after watching his news conference he seems a very level headed guy who has that inner drive that all great players have. He is contracted for 5 years, he is our player no matter the applause he gets in his 1st game.
If at 6.45pm tomorrow night Bruno is not in the team I will not have been proved wrong. I will say he should be in the team and the private jet shows they want him in the team. If this happens, I will say Eddie Howe made the wrong decision. If that is me being a know-it-all then so be it.
All that matters is that we win the game, not that Bruno gets a Shearer-style welcome.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I agree Prem, Shelvey as back up. Let’s not forget he is also a walking ticking time bomb. Bruno as holding playmaker to set the pace.
Big Joe to add muscle and presence.
St Max to cut in from wide left, Willock with timed runs into box and Ryan for the crosses to Woody. Great mixed box of flair there.
I agree Lascelles unlikely to be dropped (just because he is Captain and you can’t underestimate unsettling the dressing room harmony mid season) so it will be him and hopefully Burn, toe dependent.
Lascelles will revert to squad player or more likely be sold in the summer.
We need this result badly, more than Everton and all the signings need to click immediately. It’s a big ask and regardless of form, Everton have a decent squad on paper with new manager bounce. Could be a tricky one but I’m hoping Eddie and his team have the formula right and get us the win that shuts a lot of mouths up and I jects solid belief into the cause. HWTL
Shamrock(Quote)
People have very short memories. Lachelles cost us the Watford game when his feet were stuck to the ground and he fluffed a simple clearing header. This is supposed to be what he is good at and is supposed to partially make up for the bad positioning, slow turning and rash challenges.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
There is no excuse for us not winning tonight, I dont care about a new Manager bounce or whatever. That recent Everton form has been bottom of the league form never mind relegation. They were correct to sack Rafa after 6 points from 42. I dont think even McClaren or Ugly John Carver had such bad runs. If Everton go down, the Scouse Mackems will be correct in blaming Rafa and I dont care that he didnt have any money – he knew that going in.
Now Eddie Howe has had almost what is like a pre-season to work with the players. Yes ,there are some injuries but who of them would actually make the team? Only Wilson. We had the 2 postponed games and then 18 days to prepare for Everton. Coaching is supposed to be Eddie and his lieutenants’ strength and they have had plenty of time recently to do that. Time for a special performance to add to the 3 points. The Blue Bindippers are there for the taking whatever apologists and “Friends of Frank” in the media say.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Hmmm, sitting on the last thread…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Seems we have a long wait for Dan Ashworth. Only now going on gardening leave. Why didn’t he leave months ago so he could take up this new position with us sooner? Strange.
Worried now about tonight’s game too. Everton rejuvenated?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We need Man U to get their act together tonight at Burnley. I have no idea how they are 4th because they are a complete shambles. Just some of the things going on are the Greenwood and Lingard situations. Then there is McGuire who is even being slated by his own fans and the Emperor with no clothes. They are seeing only the negatives in him now. And Ronaldo! Man U fans are even saying that time might have caught up with him and he also seems not to be able to play with Bruno.
Oh, I forgot about McFred. That is a mid-table midfield.
But we still need them to do us a favour tonight.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Talking of new manager bounces, will Bruce have one? He certainly has the shape for it. For those of a certain age, a spacehopper. WBA are 6th and Sheff Utd 10th but there is only 3 points between them.
Some will tell me to move on from The Cabbage but I will be interested to see his reception after his failure at Villa. I know they are rivals with the Baggies, but I think the familiarity with Bruce from being in the same city means he will have a very short honeymoon, if any. He also managed Birmingham so they are probably sick of seeing his ugly face, especially since I am sure The Birmingham Evening Post covers all 3 teams.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Think about it, Bruce is on a hiding to nothing unless he gets promoted this year. WBA are currently in a playoff spot but will not get automatic promotion. The likelihood is they drop down the league or fail in the playoffs. Then next year, the teams that go down will be a lot better and better financed than the teams promoted this year. It could be NUFC and Watford who you know will spend money, or even Everton. Norwich are yo-yo and Burnley are hard to beat.
It is promotion or bust this year for Brucie-Boy. Should be interesting to see what his pundit pals say if he goes on one of his patented death spirals.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Worried about tonights game, have a nasty feeling we’ll lose.
Oh and Kurt Zouma needs placing in the nearest lion/tiger enclosure possible so he can try bullying and abusing a feline nearer his size. What an absolute piece of s*** he is. RSPCA please remove those poor cats from him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim: whatever punishment he gets from the club or even the authorities I think Zouma will not play in England again. Even his own fans will boo him and every away ground he goes to I think they might have to stop the game if he plays.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I havent heard anybody mention the point I just made. The fans will force Zouma out whatever punishment he gets elsewhere.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I know we have been linked with everybody, but I think we were linked with Zouma in Jan. Imagine the uproar if we signed him after that? That’s partly why I say he is done, and I think most people would say the same for various reasons – the acts themselves, the fact it can be considered criminal, the stupidity of posting it on social media, the fact that a kid was there and the example it set, and the future fan reaction if he ever sets foot on an English football pitch again.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I cannot believe Bruno is not starting. It makes no sense and Eddie is making a mistake.
Glad to see Willock, and I still hope we win.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
So Bruno and Burn on the bench. ????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Alli, Calvert-lewin and Van Der Beek also on the bench.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
streams anybody?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Max is p!ssing me off tonight. Keeps running into traffic & I don’t think he’s completed a pass yet.
We’ve got players in good positions & Wood waiting for it in the middle & he ends up losing position.
He needs to start playing with his head up & looking for team mates!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
mina should of got a yellow for that
kimtoon(Quote)
Shelvey you ********
kimtoon(Quote)
foot4live.com
Shamrock(Quote)
We are sloppy
Shamrock(Quote)
I wrote on here earlier today that I’d not start Shelvey because he is a ticking time bomb. Lucky not to go off there
Shamrock(Quote)
OG , how many goals has lascelles cost us
kimtoon(Quote)
??? f*cking Shelvey giving stupid bloody freekicks away again!!!
GGEEEETTTTTT IIIIINNNNN!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have been **** so far. Lucky to not get a red and deserve to be behind.
Shamrock(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
og Holgate via Lascelles assist 😆 😆
1.1
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh! Hopefully we wake up now. Need a result bad. Get Shelvey off
Shamrock(Quote)
Did you see the T-Rex Mackem doing his petulant child screaming routine at his defenders for our goal!
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Doing much better. Come on lads
Shamrock(Quote)
I dont think Shelvey has played that badly.
Kimtoon: Police are now investigating Zouma.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
That’s his thing
Shamrock(Quote)
Joelinton gets his feet tangled up but it was behind him.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Sham: I would hate to play with the T-Rex with his histrionics. I am surprised one of his teammates hasnt smacked him.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Pretty even but we have had the better chances. They’ve already used 2 subs. Not trying to jinx anything but havent noticed Deli much.
They are putting 3 on Maxi every time he gets the ball.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
I thought Shelvey played really well apart from that stupid yellow card. Quite even so far. Need to make more of our chances though. Shocking defending again from us. ?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are playing ok defensively & in midfield but little to nothing clicking up front.
Max needs to play with his head up imo & start looking to create rather than just dribble.
Finally we are a threat from set pieces thanks to Trippier.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Willock seems to be more active tonight. Agree that maxi needs to look up and pass. Wood is a passenger at the moment.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Lets have Bruno in for Shelvey before he puts us a man down. He’s a great talent but just can’t trust the ******
Shamrock(Quote)
Come on then. HWTL
Shamrock(Quote)
where is VAR for that handball
kimtoon(Quote)
Schar with a poor tackle now on a yellow
kimtoon(Quote)
Same place it was for Shelveys horror tackle
Shamrock(Quote)
Being sloppy again
Shamrock(Quote)
Why didn’t ref allow play on
Shamrock(Quote)
That Pickfords bloody lethal mind, nearly took his head off there
kimtoon(Quote)
T-Rex Mackem took his own man out.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Frazer
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s 4 in 8 games for Fraser against Everton.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
If we can win this it will be huge
Shamrock(Quote)
I think Willock, Trippier & Fraser have been excellent so far tonight ??????
Sharpy17(Quote)
That was great play by willock
Shamrock(Quote)
Yeah agreed. Willock can be the Lingard we were hoping for off used right
Shamrock(Quote)
*if
Shamrock(Quote)
Oh come on Manure ffs
Shamrock(Quote)
Sounds like Weghorst having a good game for Burnley and almost scored just now after assisting earlier. Fair play
Shamrock(Quote)
Well done Targett
Shamrock(Quote)
Get Bruno on. We are starting to get fatigued
Shamrock(Quote)
Can’t believe them stinking mancs like, it’s effin Burnley ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
Trippierrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
kimtoon(Quote)
They have fouled Willock a lot.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Trips. Legend already.
Massive win ? if we hold on
Shamrock(Quote)
now he brings Bruno on ffs
He better not get injured for the sake of a few minutes
kimtoon(Quote)
***
Shamrock(Quote)
Trips looks injured. Not ideal
Shamrock(Quote)
Crikey ASM is brilliant though
Shamrock(Quote)
Bruno showing his class already
Shamrock(Quote)
HUGE win, make no mistake
well done lads
kimtoon(Quote)
Boom! Massive win. HWTL
Shamrock(Quote)
Well, I got the score right even if I did think that Bruno was a cert to start.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
ASM motm without a doubt, he’s something else, really deserved a goal tonight.
That scoreline has helped our goal difference too.
kimtoon(Quote)