“I’m not afraid to say I’ve not imagined it. I wouldn’t say I do it regularly, but it’s one of my dreams. If we can be the first team in a long time to win a trophy the players get their own place in Newcastle’s history – and that’s where we want to be.” This was Eddie Howe’s response when asked about ending our long wait for a trophy during his time on Tyneside.
On Wednesday night, we travel to Merseyside to take on Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup, bidding to book our place in the third round after four second round exits over the past five seasons.
Steve Bruce’s Newcastle lost at the first hurdle this time last year, as Burnley won 4-3 on penalties after the two sides couldn’t be split over the 90 at St James’ Park, but we come into this one with momentum and hope following Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Man City.
Howe will be forced into changes, with there being bumps, bruises and several tired bodies in the camp after that huge effort over the weekend, but he’s clearly planning to take cup competitions seriously.
“It’s very important”, he said while speaking to the press on Tuesday morning. “I made that clear in pre-season. I want to see a team that wants to win every game we compete in and every competition is treated with the same importance. I hope that’s reflected in our performance tomorrow.”
Let’s hope that shows on Wednesday night, as even a second string Newcastle United should have too much for a Tranmere side currently 17th in League Two.
Team news
Callum Wilson (hamstring) and Ryan Fraser (groin) look set to miss out after having scans on potential injuries this week, while Dan Burn is out through concussion.
Matt Targett was “very close” to making the Man City game so has a chance of returning, but there’ll be no Jonjo Shelvey or Kell Watts, who are both recovering from surgery.
Elliot Anderson could make his first start for the club, however, with Howe hinting at rotation after Sunday’s tough test on Tyneside.
On potential changes, Howe said: “There will be changes to the team but I believe in the squad that I have. A lot of players are fighting to play in the Premier league. Outstanding individuals, outstanding players, outstanding characters. I’ve got no doubts about bringing players in. The mentality has to be right. That’s everyone. We have to realise these games are very important and we’re desperate to go through.”
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Dummett – Willock, S Longstaff, Anderson – Ritchie, Wood, Murphy.
In goal, Martin Dubravka should get a chance to remind Howe what he can do after losing his place in the Premier League, with the same applying to Jamaal Lascelles at centre-back.
Federico Fernandez could make a rare start if he’s managed to train this week, however Sven Botman could be the man to partner our club captain – especially when he started a few games alongside Lascelles over pre-season.
Emil Krafth seems the obvious choice at right-back, while Paul Dummett could come in down the left if Matt Targett misses out and Jamal Lewis isn’t deemed fit enough to start after playing no part in our pre-season friendlies.
In midfield, Sean Longstaff will surely come in after failing to start any of our opening three games so far, with Elliot Anderson also in line for his full debut against a side he scored against in April during that brilliant loan spell at Bristol Rovers.
Bruno and Joelinton are due a rest and must be protected after putting in a massive shift on Sunday, meaning Joe Willock may keep his place after he was taken off with 20 minutes to go over the weekend.
In attack, Jacob Murphy and Chris Wood seem fairly nailed on to start, with Wilson and Fraser out, and ASM unlikely to start three games in seven days. On the right, Miguel Almiron is the sort of supremely fit player who could play again, however Matt Ritchie may well come in down the right. He played this role a few times over pre-season and is capable of putting in some good crosses for Wood; who thrives on balls into the box.
Prediction
Whether we play a surprisingly strong side or rotate heavily, I expect this confident, fit and focused Newcastle side to have too much for a Tranmere side currently struggling in the fourth tier of English football.
We’ve lost at this stage in four of the last five seasons, but I think we’ll put that right here with a no nonsense win at Prenton Park.
Anderson to impress and Wood to score in a Carabao Cup away win for Eddie’s Mags!
Prediction: Tranmere 0-3 Newcastle
There were a couple of threads earlier that I posted on, This was about expectations.
My expectations.
in 2022 our form puts us in CL position
Will this continue? probably not.
However, looking at the CL positions City with Haarland are winning comfortably.
Liverpool will come good and qualify but they need extra energy in Midfield as Milner Henderson are past it.
Chelsea are not yet a unit. Spurs look like they did last year. overly reliant on Kane and Son
Arsenal however have appeared to have stepped up a notch.
So City, 1st Liverpool and Arsenal 2nd and third, any order.
with US, Chelsea and Spurs 4th to 6th again any order
Brighton best of the rest. 7th
Nobody else to worry about.
So yes, Cl a possibility but Europa more likely.
PremAndUp(Quote)
The other was about selling Miggy to Everton.
Like any question it depends upon the money.
Lets suppose we have £60m to spend on three players, but trying to loan one. So we have £30m to spend on each of two players.
This is beginning to sound like a maths question from high school.
Sell Miggy for £30m now we have £90m to buy two players. Pedro for £30m
Loan a player and splash £60 m on whoever.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I wonder if Mike Dean will be at the game? I think so. He is such a fake that he will go just to pretend he is not a Liverpool fan.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I am off to Florence in 2 weeks and looked to see if there was a football game on but it is the fcn international break. I bought a Fiorentina purple t-shirt instead.
I am doing my snob stuff and going to the Uffizi Gallery to see The Ascension of Venus and a painting I have wanted to see for a while by Peter Paul Rubens. In my opinion the Uffizi is the best museum in the world. It is the home of the Rennaissance FFS. Better than The Tate and The Met in NYC and The Louvre. Better than The Prado in Madrid as well.
Doing a wine tasting with local sourced cured meat and pecorino cheese.
I am such a snob 🙂
I am also going to get a pizza to mix with the hoi palloi. Local, but probably Napoli style. That’s my favourite 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Blondie have just released a box set of 124 songs with 39 previously unreleased recordings.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have also been to Leeds and Torquay so I cant that much of a snob!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – it sounds fantastic mate, but can’t you get old fashioned fish & chips there, or ride a tram?? – no you can’t … Beamish remains the best museum in the world!! 😂.
Hope you have an amazing time mate. I’ve still not done any of Italy yet but plan too in the next few years.
Sharpy17(Quote)
West Ham and Manure are really splashing the cash! Wet spam sign Emerson!
Be good to see a few of the under 23s on the bench tonight with a chance to come in. Bondswell did well in preseason. Ndiweni could be good up front, or Nunez perhaps? Let’s see. 0-4
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yeah you can. I am taking a tram into Florence and they have really good fried seafood. I have been to Italy about 10 times. I won’t bore you with too much advice except to say that parking is unbelievably, ridiculously bad. It will drive you nuts, it has driven me nuts a few times 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – my cousin is married to an Italy lad & he and his family are great. The missus and I looked into getting married at Lake Garda but opted for St. Lucia instead & we fell in love with the Caribbean from there on.
We always look at the obvious city break for Rome & Venice & my dad & his wife have been to Venice a few times – but for one reason or another we always end up somewhere else.
One reason is the dog & he’s getting on now – I always like having a holiday with him too. So we do the Caribbean & usually a week or 2 in the UK – usually Northumberland (I’m up on Holy Island this week).
Weve looked at a cruise around Italy and the surrounding islands as well but I don’t much fancy cruising either.
Its not lost on me how lucky we are to even have those decisions to make mind.
Sharpy17(Quote)
With tonight’s game, I’d even consider moving Dummett to CB and playing Bondswell or Lewis (though I’m not sure on Lewis fitness) and rest Botman.
I have no concern about playing a second string team for this fixture coz I feel like the work ethic runs throughout the squad now – and there would be enough in that team to get passed Tramere I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agreed, Dummett to LCB
We could even play Ritchie at LB
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sharpster! That will be fun. Last time I was back I did a ‘Tour of the North” it included Holy Island and Seahouses, and Craster. There is a pub across the street from the kipper smokehouse that I have always intended to go to but never have. I have a great picture of Dunstonburough castle though.
Anyway, me Mam had never been to the Lake District, so we did the tour of the north 🙂
It was Hexham, Hadrian’s wall, Keswick, Windermere, Trossachs, Loch Lomand, Inverness, St Andrews, Edinburgh, NE Coast, Malham Cove, Whitby.
I am not sure if she liked it, but I did 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I was also driving around the USA during Covid because I thought it would be quieter – and it was. Yellowstone blew my mind!
The Grand Canyon all looks the same. It is so vast that when you drive 5 miles the scene doesnt really change. Amazing though! I drove like 60 miles on the rim. In awe.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So we have bid £58m for Isak according to SSN breaking news.
B loody West Ham have bid for Paqueta too which I really am p issed about
kimtoon(Quote)
We cant get all of them Kimtoon.
I have never even seen either of them play!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
i agree mate my worry is he might try and get bruno to come to londen
icedog(Quote)
Also, Sharpy: I will give you a tip on where to stay. About half a mile north of the bay at Seahouses is a great place. It is only about 100 quid to fit 3 people and has a really nice courtyard. It looks out on the North Sea and has a big bar with a telescope to see the Farne Islands. The breakfast is great as well. I absolutely loved it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Manager of the hotel is a Mackem called Malcolm.
I am not sure if he appreciated me calling him “Malcolm the Mackem”!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah me too Ice
kimtoon(Quote)
Not sure about this one at all. £60m for Isak is a big risk. He looks clumsy to me but what it probably means is that Wilson’s hamstring has gone again.
Worst news is Paqueta going to WHU for half that. Pisses me off.
georgio(Quote)
Who knows what goes on behind the scenes.
Apparently there have been bids for Miggy and Lewis.
Have we received encouragement about a loan for Pulisic
There could be funds for both
PremAndUp(Quote)
Either way it seems Wilson is out for a fair bit
PremAndUp(Quote)
In fact if he is out long term then we need Isak and Pedro and forget everything else
PremAndUp(Quote)
Cheer up Mike Dean. You don’t seem very clean. A sweaty lying Tranmere fat fck supposed supporter but a real Liverpool fan.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ll be we’ll pi.ssed off if Paqueta goes to fuc.king Wet Spam. 😡. Seems a lot for Isak but we have to trust Dan Ashcroft and assume he knows what he’s doing. Still hoping for a Chelsea loan too. Pulisic or Gallagher ideally
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Eric – we had a week in a cottage at Boulmer before coming up to the Island.
I love Northumberland and have stayed most places to be honest, visited pretty much everywhere at least once and even took a flight in a little 2 seater plane from Eshott airfield and saw it from the sky 😂.
My ambition is to move up this way once the boy is up and sorted – maybe around 10yrs time.
We’ve been to the Lakes once – Troutbeck area. It was nice, but it wasn’t Northumberland.
We went to Scotland for 2 weeks last summer – a place called Girvan not far from Trumps Turnberry – West coast and that was beautiful as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well we went out walking for a few hours and this transfer carry on have really blown up hasn’t it!!.
I thought the Isak one was little more than a rumour – quality player but didn’t see it happening. Didn’t see us paying that much & thought he’d end up at a CL club to be honest – will be an excellent signing if it comes off.
Regarding Paqueta – I’m not sure he has ever actually been a target for the club has he???.
I feel like the fans & media have all made him one coz he had a BBQ at Bruno’s.
I’m not saying I don’t want him or that I don’t think we SHOULD sign him, just that I’m not sure he’s on Eddies list.
We shall see what happens, but I still have faith in them. They drag their bleedin heels, but do seem to be getting it right in the end.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bit of a gap between WH offer and Lyon’s Valuation.
Think there is time to play on that deal
PremAndUp(Quote)
It’s a lot of money for Isak, we could of gotten Pedro and Paqueta for that. Hope the lad has as much potential as they say he has .
Would love us to hijack the Paqueta deal.
kimtoon(Quote)
I know you lot like Paqueta and I don’t dislike him, but I hope we still get Pedro if we get Isak.
I was banging on about Pedro before it was in the media that he was a target. I honestly think the lad has so much potential with the right team & manager. I think Howe would definitely be the manager to develop him the right way & he’d thrive playing the type of football we are now playing.
I think it was Eric that said before that maybe there’s a chance we get all of them – Isak, Pedro & Paqueta – that would be over £100m like.
I read earlier today that Miggy has a £60m release clause though – so if Gordon goes to Chelsea, maybe Everton activate that clause & we get an unbelievable about towards those signings there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
in amongst all the transfer hype I note Howard Webb, is coming back to be a PL ref.
A Previous job .. head of Saudi Arabia referees. Wonder if he’ll have the vitriol we see directed at nufc fans
Back to transfer and I wonder if paqueta has ever been a nufc target for West Ham to hijack as opposed to an easy trope for click seeking media.
I hope getting forwards is the priority for nufc
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Are you mad Go West? Do we really need another over 50+ year old Ref in Man Utd’s Howard Webb? Did you watch Slow Mike Dean and Fat Boy Moss over the last few years!!! Webb is 51. They do not allow anybody to Ref a CL game who is over 45.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I said earlier I had no concerns about playing our second string team coz the work ethic runs through the squad – the players are working but the drop off in quality is plain for all to see – I still thought it would be enough for a struggling league 2 side like.
Targett doesn’t look fit & I think it was a mistake playing him.
Lascelles & Darlow are poor. Dummett doesn’t play enough.
Longstaff is one of the worst midfielders in the league imo. Ritchie should have been moved on long ago, and Woods – well I think it’s all been said already.
Young Anderson is the only one that looks like he might be able to get us back in this game imo.
Back to being a tough watch though.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jesus, this ref needs to show some balls and some cards. That was a red card tackle on Darlow. Lascelles smashed in the face, Krafth off on a stretcher! 😡😡🤬🤬.
And our fuc.king team playing shi.te. Longstaff , Murphy, Ritchie they can go! Only Anderson is showing any balls at the moment.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are sh.it!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yep raging mad here at the ref, how many of our players will he let Hemmings crock before he gets the red out.
The Krafth one was bad enough but the Darlow one actually made me wince.
kimtoon(Quote)
AND THIS SITE IS FUC.KING SHI.TE. how the hell can we have a conversation on here for Fu.cks sake? 😡😡😡😡😡😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly I got your details and I am gonna have to open a new tab to see this comment after I post too.
Like you said it’s hard to have a conversation.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have yours now Kim.
This ref is shocking! 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That was hard fought. Ref was dreadful. Absolutely dreadful. So we’re our team. Some awful performances there.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
There’s a new thread already. 😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)