Another tough test awaits this new-look Newcastle United, with last weekend’s meeting with Liverpool now followed by an equally tough trip to Man City!
Pep Guardiola’s side arrive on the back of truly devastating defeat on Wednesday night, where they threw away a late lead and lost in extra time to be dumped out of the Champions League semi final stages by Real Madrid.
It was a gruelling 120 minutes in the end and a complete and utter collapse that will have taken a lot out of them both mentally and physically.
But, with the Premier League title now the only piece of silverware on their minds now the Champions League dream is dead for another season, will Newcastle come up against a battered and bruised Man City or a wounded animal ready to get back on track?
Personally, I fear it’ll be the latter, meaning we’ll have to be at our very best to stand any chance of returning to Tyneside with an unlikely result.
We’ll also have to learn from last weekend’s defeat to Liverpool – a game which saw us struggle to create, lose the midfield battle convincingly and come away fortunate to have conceded just one.
These are free hits for Eddie Howe in some respects, however it’s also a good test of how far we’ve come – and where we want to go in the future – as we take on against Europe’s elite for the second week running.
Team news
Fabian Schar is facing a late fitness test after failing to train all week (as of Friday), meaning Jamaal Lascelles could well return.
Callum Wilson is expected to return to the squad for the first time in 2022 after training all week, however it remains to be seen if Kieran Trippier will feature – as Howe says he’s slightly behind our number nine in his comeback from injury.
Elsewhere, Ryan Fraser looks set to miss out again with a hamstring problem that could keep him out for the remainder of the season.
For the hosts, Kyle Walker and John Stones could miss out at the back, with the former picking up an ankle injury in their UCL defeat to Real Madrid in midweek.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Krafth, Lascelles, Burn, Targett – Guimaraes, Shelvey, Willock – Almiron, Joelinton, Murphy.
OUT: Fabian Schar and Allan Saint-Maximin – IN: Jamaal Lascelles and Jacob Murphy.
As Schar hadn’t trained all week when Howe spoke to the press on Friday morning, it feels unlikely that he’s risked against the league leaders.
With that in mind, it seems Lascelles could return to the side. It’s not a game that’d suit him and I do wonder if we’d move to a three-man defence – which would see Krafth or Dummett come in at centre-backs – however Howe could be bold and stand by his favoured formation.
Elsewhere, the risk-reward of starting Saint-Maximin against Liverpool didn’t quite pay off. Not only that, he’s caused some unwanted drama by suggesting in a recent interview that he’d have much more assists if he was playing with better players. Howe didn’t seem too enamoured by that – even if some of his comments were taken out of context – so I could see Murphy replacing him for this one.
The former Norwich man is more limited offensively than ASM, but his ability to work back and still offer some pace and drive on the break could appeal to Howe.
Predicted Man City XI (4-3-3): Ederson – Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko – Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne – Sterling, Jesus, Grealish.
Match prediction
Being brutally honest, I think we might be on the end of some Man City backlash.
They might have bottled their Champions League semi final a few days ago, but they are closing in on their fourth Premier League title in the last five seasons and will be a wounded animal desperate to get back on track after Wednesday’s heartbreak.
A grim prediction for anyone travelling to Manchester for this one, but I think this will be a one-sided affair that sees us spend huge periods without the ball and on the back foot!
Prediction: Man City 3-0 Newcastle
Ha ha ha
4 nil Brighton
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Wah wha weeh wha.
Brighton drew against Hereford to stay in the league 25 years ago. Otherwise they would have been out of the Football League altogeher.
Now they beat Man U 4 nil in the PL.
Eric+Sykes(Quote)
Eric – Sky bet offered a price boost for Ronaldo to have 1+ shot on target in 90mins – should be printing money that one … NAH!!, that’s how bad MU were today. I’m not putting it all on Ron either there to be fair, and I’m not taking anything away from Brighton – good on them, great day for their fans.
But these ex MU players turned pundits seem to think ten Hag will come in and they’ll be back in a season or 2. That club is an absolute mess. The players are a disgrace & the vast majority need shipping out.
There’s not a club deserves it more ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
As for our game, I think the Lpool game highlighted – you NEED Joelinton in that midfield!!.
He’s no good up front & our midfield is weaker without him in it.
If we aren’t playing Wood I’d rather play ASM through the middle with Murph & Miggy either side and leave Willock out.
We need Joelintons physical presence & tenacity in our midfield – which in turn will free Bruno up a bit more to be more of an offensive threat.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy
You’re right about our midfield Big Joe and Bruno have to be there.
Next season, do we play with a proper DM lkie Kamara against the top teams, and a proper attacking midfielder like Paqueta against weaker teams ?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Deary me Manure
KIMTOON(Quote)
That was a massive nightmare. I missed my flight to Florence. I . forgot my keys and went home to get them and missed the ferking flight. I was going to sleep in the airport and try the next day. I didnt really fancy it though.
Can watch NUFC against Man City now. Another catastrophe ?
Got a refund and am now going to Copenhagen and Florence in Sept.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Blimey Eric
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric – Copenhagen is beautiful mate, not a bad outcome to a nightmare ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I expected a tough game against City after their defeat to RM anyway, but Lpool drawing last night – you expect that will only focus them all the more.
They could move 3 points clear & my concern is their GD is pretty similar too – so I dare bet they’ll want to win convincingly.
Think Klopp is out of order criticising Spurs approach last night like. They were defensively rock solid & still had the better chances to win the game.
It’s up to him & his players to find a way to beat Spurs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
jesus that was a nasty challenge
KIMTOON(Quote)
he’s gonna upgrade to a red
KIMTOON(Quote)
Leeds players losing their cool
KIMTOON(Quote)
I can only see a loss for us today. The way things are going, it looks very much like Leeds will be the third relegated team. Sad as I like them in the prem. Everton have found a bit of form at last.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Happy Mother’s Day Kimtoon. It is on a different day in the US – today!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
C’mon Leicester. Everton have 3 of the biggest w@nkers in football – T-Rex, Richarlison and that little sh!thouse Anthony Gordon! The PL would be much better off without all of them but I fear it will be Leeds for the drop.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am still laughing at the ManU loss. That was the only upside of me missing a flight, that I got to watch that!!! Ronaldo’s face was a picture every time Brighton scored.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If Everton stay up it will be because of the Mackem T-Rex not Super-Frank.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
wow didn’t see Leeds getting back into it
KIMTOON(Quote)
Bl00dy hell. Pickford is literally and figuratively saving Everton’s season!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thank you Eric. Watching the game next to Lewis as he’s a bit fitty today due to a cold.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric, has he made a load of saves again ? I am watching Leeds
KIMTOON(Quote)
Trippier and Wilson both on the bench. That’s good. No Shelvey or Schär. Longstaff and Lascelles start. ?. I hope we don’t get beat by too much!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
He was totally brilliant and kept them in the game for a win.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Oh well, not really surprising
KIMTOON(Quote)
Eric, didn’t think I could hate t.rex anymore , he’ll be having problems getting his head through the door more than ever nosw.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Smallest player on the pitch scores after the ball goes over 6-7 BDB. I dont think Burn could have done anything about it.
Wood should have scored earlier though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pathetic!!. The smallest forwards in the league heading the ball round our defenders like they aren’t there ?.
Also the 2nd time in as many minutes that Maxi is just watching Cancelo run passed him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – dead right about Wood – he can go for me. Total waste of £25m
Sharpy17(Quote)
I keep thinking Bruno is Shelvey since he dyed his hair blonde.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Wood offside
**** it
KIMTOON(Quote)
Don’t like it
KIMTOON(Quote)
Maxi is doing my nut in.
Lascelles looks poor
KIMTOON(Quote)
Gab Jesus always looks so quizzical with his eyebrows.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
****
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dubs should of held onto that
KIMTOON(Quote)
Longstaff and Joe just standing there watching whilst 3 City players react and blast the ball into the net. Been playing quite well otherwise. Shame
Shamrock(Quote)
The idiot commentators always say that 2-nil is the most dangerous scoreline. No it is not! I would much prefer 1-nil and 4-nil is much more dangerous for the losing team!
Unless you are Real Madrid playing Man City, then 2-nil is very dangerous for the Blue Mancs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s like men against boys this like. I know they are still going for the league & we are effectively done for the season – and I know the last time we beat City away England won the WC. But we are miles off even competing with this City side.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I didn’t see an offside in there for our disallowed goal and Wood! WTF was that? Shocking.
And wtf Is going on with the set? I have to keep adding my details every comment. ?????
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Site
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well that was a tough watch. Very poor first half. I know there is a gulf in quality but it’s massive!!. They haven’t got into 2nd gear.
We have so many bang average players. If Longstaff gets another contract I’ll be livid!!.
There is probably on Burn, Targett, Bruno & Joelinton who id keep from this lot.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Can we keep it at just the 3 please lads
kimtoon(Quote)
Got to be honest. St. Max is a selfish *** and I’m not a fan. Might realise his potential yet but he deliberately chosen not to pass to better options so often and loses the ball, sometimes putting us in very vulnerable situations. Would not mind him leaving for a few quid, but not convinced we’d find a buyer in the £50m range people have mentioned lately. Probably half that?
Shamrock(Quote)
My prediction was 3-1 City.
I might take the 1 for us away 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yes I have to keep entering my details too Gilly and the emojis have gone awol
kimtoon(Quote)
Maybe with more quality around him we’d see a better version of him, but his instinct is to go for glory and screw everybody else. Very little team ethic and most top players combine graft, talent and team work to become successful. He needs to give his head a wobble or sod off.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, inclined to agree re ASM, his team work lacks for me. Opposition teams have him sussed and have for a while now.
kimtoon(Quote)
Jesus really does look so quizzical. It’s his eyebrows. He just came off and looked like a confused schoolkid. It is almost like Abcellotti with that one raised eyebrow.
Wilson is back!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Nice to see Wilson back. Such a shame he is made of glass as he is a good striker
Shamrock(Quote)
The first 10 mins of the 2nd half we had 1% possession – ONE!! and completed 0 passes – ZERO!!.
That was just prior to us allowing City to score one of the easiest goals I’ve ever seen!!.
I want to say play for pride – but it’s even more desperate than that really.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It gets boring watching Man City when the just f@rt around.
Great save from Dubs.
Tripps is back as well.
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Burn gives a penalty away here – then gets sent off!!.
He’s lost his head again shouting and swearing at the ref.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wouldn’t be playing any of our just back from injury players at all today, why risk it,games lost anyway.
Save them for Arsenal.
kimtoon(Quote)
Burns walking a tight rope here
kimtoon(Quote)
Do you reckon they can still do this Super League business like? – then Man City & Liverpool can f@ck off and give the rest of us a chance!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Burn needs to be careful. He has lost his head.
Shamrock(Quote)
Now there’s a thought.
kimtoon(Quote)
Already Wilson getting in better position than Woods
kimtoon(Quote)
4 it is then ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh dear
kimtoon(Quote)
Well we made a few sloppy decisions today and showed a lack of discipline at times. Looked better after Wilson came on.
Not going to lose sight that City are one of the best 3 or 4 teams in the world, but this shows how much of a challenge it will be to transform this squad under FFP and compete at those levels. Very very difficult. FFP exists to safeguard the big boys’ monopoly on the game as much as it does to protect teams from going under.
Shamrock(Quote)
Absolute f@cking disgrace!!.
Every f@cking one of them!!.
I’m disgusted in our team today like. City never got into 2nd gear today. They walked the ball round our shower of sh!te bunch.
I don’t expect to beat them at their place – but that was embarrassing!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m getting very pis.sed off with this site! Comments disappearing and my sign on details disappearing. ?????????
****** off(Quote)
I’m gutted by that performance. Shocking. Errors all over. Embarrassing capitulation there. We had chances and wasted them. At least half that team can fuc.k right off. ????????
****** off(Quote)
Dreading Arsenal now.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
The pundits are talking up Man City – we didn’t give them a game as far as I’m concerned.
We can recognise how good City are by all means – but I go back to that stat – in the first 10 mins of the 2nd half we had 1% possession and completed 0 passes. That is not a team challenging for the ball & competing, let’s be honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)