12 months on from Eddie Howe’s arrival, the unambitious Newcastle United we once knew under Mike Ashley is already unrecognisable.
He arrived when we were winless and stuck in the bottom three. Now, a year on from his appointment, we sit third in the Premier League, are unbeaten in our last nine games and go into our Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace full of confidence, hope and momentum.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday morning, Howe had this to say ahead of the game:
“In every competition we enter, we want to try and give the best presentation of ourselves. I said very early days here that my dream is to try and win something for Newcastle and that hasn’t changed.
“We want to win, we want to progress and we’re ambitious that we can dream and dream big. That’s what I’ve tried to encourage at the football club and the players have embraced that. They mirror my thoughts.
“There’s no dead games here. Every competition is huge.“
One thing is clear. We are heading into this game determined to win and fully focused, with Howe dreaming of delivering a trophy on Tyneside and the players embracing his drive to perform in every competition.
Team news
Kieran Trippier has been passed fit despite feeling his hamstring on Sunday and Callum Wilson is still a “little run down” after illness forced him off at half-time at Southampton.
Joelinton is back from suspension and Karl Darlow fit again, but Alexander Isak (thigh) and Emil Krafth (ACL) remain out.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, Targett – Shelvey, Joelinton, Anderson – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
We are clearly taking cup competitions seriously these days, but a much changed team doesn’t mean a weak one, as I expect those who come in to be desperate to impress after a series of unchanged sides.
I think Nick Pope will keep his place in goal, mainly because I expect our back four to be much changed. I see Matt Targett coming in at left-back, Dan Burn moving across and partnering Jamaal Lascelles and Kieran Trippier keeping his place just to keep some familiarity to our defence. That said, it would be no surprise if Javier Manquillo starts given the hamstring scare we saw at Southampton.
In midfield, Jonjo Shelvey could make his first start of the season alongside Joelinton; who will be fresh after a one-game ban gave him a rest on Sunday. The third slot in midfield is harder to call. I think Bruno will be given a night off – he’ll be shattered after recently becoming a Dad for the first time – so think it’ll be between Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson. The latter might edge it, as he surely needs game time in the cups to justify our decision to resist a summer loan.
Up top, Chris Wood seems certain to replace a “run down” Callum Wilson, with Allan Saint-Maximin making his first start since August. It’s hard to know what Howe will do with ASM, but he’ll only build up his match fitness by playing games and has trained over the past fortnight. On the other flank, Ryan Fraser seems a decent bet to start and will be eager to impress after Jacob Murphy has edged him out of the side in recent months. Almiron is like the Durraccel bunny so could go again, but he’s another that could be protected for Saturday after he was forced off with fatigue at St Mary’s.
Crystal Palace’s one to watch: Ebere Eze – It remains to be seen how much Vieira will rotate, but he’s a superb player and the man making them tick in recent weeks. He’s elusive, glides with the ball and offers that sprinkle of quality from open play and dead ball situations.
Prediction
Palace are a good side who’ve come into form after winning three of their last four games, but I fancy us to keep the run going with another victory here.
The players are on a high, Howe is desperate to give the fans a cup run and we’ll have plenty of fresh legs and fringe men who’ll be desperate to impress.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Crystal Palace
It is hard to predict. I don’t see any reason to rest Pope as Goalies dont do that much running around anyway and Darlow is not fit. I see 5 changes, mainly because several players need a rest before Chelsea:
Tripps
Schar
Bruno
Miggy
Wilson
I tried to figure out the replacements but will leave that to Howe, AND OLLY 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My reasoning!!!
I think we rest our 30 years olds and the essential players for Chelse, who are Bruno and Miggy. That’s the reason for my 5 sit on the bench players. You could put BDB in that group, but I think Targett is like for like at LB so Burn can play in the middle tomorrow.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t think Anderson will start. Just a gut feeling, no explanation!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Of course I want to win both remaining games – but if we were resting players for either game, it would be the Chelsea game.
Not because I think the Chelsea game is easier – but defeat to Chelsea and we will still be top 4 through the WC break – defeat to Palace and we’re out the cup.
I think we can win both – but I get players may need resting, especially the players going to the WC.
I really want a cup run this season – so Palace is a must win for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I have never cared about the League Cup. It was always like the LD Vans Trophy, Texaco Cup or whatever Sunderland competed in last year.
They have totally devalued the Wembley experience of an FA Cup Final. That was an all day experience when I grew up.
Now they have Championship playoffs, FA Cup Semi-finals, Mackem Trophy Hunter games, etc.
It used to be an event, all day on the BBC with Bob Wilson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I agree it’s not as prestigious as the FA Cup mate, but it is one of only 3 domestic cups in England & to get back to Wembley, whatever the means – I’m bang up for that.
I know that defeat to Cambridge last season still really sticks in Howes throat – so I think he’ll look for cup runs as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would playing our strongest team for this game – even if it meant a slightly weakened team against Chelsea.
Not because I think Chelsea is an easier game – but because I’d place more importance on a win against Palace than Chelsea – that’s not to say we can’t win both of course.
But defeat against Chelsea and we still go into the WC break in the top 4 🤷🏼♂️. Defeat to Palace and we’re out the cup.
I’d be happier coming back 4th and in the cup than 3rd and out of it – 3rd and in the cup would be better again of course – but you get my point 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well that’s weird. I wrote that second post first and it came back with an error message – but then dropped about an hour or more later 🙄🤷🏼♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have watched a few Everton fan youtube match reactions just to have a laugh but more so to see what they think of Anthony Gordon who I said we would be mad to sign. They hate him. They think he is a fraud built up by the media. This is exactly what I said. He has pace and can do a Cruyff turn and that is it. But you can see that in a lot of Sunday League players. They want him out of their team and would bite anybody’s hand off who would offer 40 mil now. Please not us. Chelsea, he is yours!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Can I mention The True Geordie? He said something inappropriate and then defended it with things that were just as inappropriate (I only watched 3 mins of his apology because it was cringeworthy). You have to be careful on the internet Brian, no matter how many fans you have!
I liked the rants against Bruce and Ashley and thought his interview with Shearer was great.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The True Geordie stuff is religion based. His apology was really pathetic, but I will move on.
A few years ago, there was a mass shooting in a place of worship in Wisconsin. Somebody murdered Sheiks thinking they were Muslims. It was in Waukasha where I had been many times for business.
It made me think even more deeply about how you should not stir up racial and religious hatred.
I do not believe in God. I think religion is something we should all get over now except it brings some communities together. But I think there is as much hatred as love in faith now. And explaining everything by saying you “believe and have faith” is not really and explanation.
If that was the case, we would all be Mormons worship aliens and Joseph Smith.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m not sure Howe will rest many players. After Sat they have a very long rest. And so do we. I can’t get into this WC. England are currently ****. It’s totally the wrong time of year. It’s messing with our wonderful season and it’s in bloody Qatar. Roll on Boxing Day!
georgio(Quote)
c r a p
georgio(Quote)
Georgio: I think Southgate has been really lucky with the draws for the Euros and WC, He has built a team around someone who is not worth building a team around – McGuire – and hoped individual pieces of brilliance would bail him out. It has for the most part.
BUT, BUT, the Euros were pretty much a home tournament for England with the big games played at Wembley. Most home teams at big tournaments reach the latter stages for whatever reason. Gareth doesnt have this advantage this time around. Let’s see if he can beat the 1st decent team he comes up against? He couldnt even beat a cr@p Croatia team at the last WC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not even sure that England will beat the USA who are building for 2026. They have the youngest squad and have pretty much written off Qatar in favour of the next WC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What I just said about Eng and USA is not negative. It is about Gareth building his whole team around the limitations of Harry McGuire. We are fckd if he doesnt change this mindset.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We have 3 centre backs because McGuire is slow and immobile.
We have Rice as a screen because McGuire is slow and immobile.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There has been an announcement of additional capital invested in NUFC of 100 mil+.
That is the absolute minimum if Liverpool are worth a supposed 4 billion.
These Saudsis are not playing around and when we get into Europe we will be in the top 6 teams in the world, never mind the PL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bl00dy hell. I don’t think I have seen anybody quite as driven as Eddie in football after that interview. Pep and Fergie are the others in the modern era. Maybe Clough and Shankly when I was growing up?
Paisley was a God.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Probably the best Eric – God I mean.
georgio(Quote)
England 26 man squad announced on Thurs, Do we have anybody better than McGuire? Yep, BDB. Will Southgate pick him? Nope… We could go with a back 4 with BDB and play to our strengths which is the attacking players but Southgate will play a very limited central defender and build the team around that. He has the mindset of Gareth himself as a player, limited but usually functional!!! Until he fails.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gareth Southgate will double down on his commitment to McGuire. Just like the True Geordie doubled down on inappropriate comments about Muslims by repeating a slur about Jewish people. If you are in the media now Brian, you have to know the rules FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If someone wants to believe in a religion, fine.
If their religion says don’t do something, then fine don’t do it
But don’t believe for one moment that what you believe it has any creedence with anybody else and certainly don’t believe that you have any right to impose your views on anybody else.
If you want to find out exactly how much value your opinion has try it on me, hopefully you will survive to learn from the experience, but don’t bank on it.
PremAndUp(Quote)
The rules are Brian, that if you say something inappropriate about an ethnic group you cannot get yourself out of it by saying inappropriate things about another ethnic group. My advice, if you dig yourself into a hole, stop digging.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem: I will sit down one on one and debate religion with anyone. The problem over here is that they will probably have a gun and quote 2nd amendment rights 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem: people forget history. They assume that now is the way it has always been when women could not vote until 1922 in the US. They look at a book that is 2000 years in the making and with multiple translations and literally assume it is “gospel”. At the same time there were Thor and Druids and then witch tials in Salem, Mass.
I don’t blame people for not understanding thunderstorms, earthquakes and droughts 500 years ago but I do now when they have cars, iphones and the internet.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
My answer to any religious nut is always – DINOSAURS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is pretty simple. Humans didnt live in the time of dinosaurs and there is unequivocable truth that dinosaurs lived on earth, so if God created the earth and man in his image then why didnt they live together? Like Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney on their keyboard?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem: I was in Portland, Maine and some God Squad tried to stop me to convert me. I said – you are talking to the wrong person here. I then went out to get a coffee and they were still there and tried again. I said, once more, you are talking to a non-believer who has a car and an iphone. I think Henry Ford (sort of, he made them available to the masses) and Steve Jobs created them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
BUT…
I would have a hard time arguing against creationism if I tried to trace the lineage from T-Rex to Jordan Pickford.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Octopuses always confused me. I don’t really understand how they “evolved” but I also dont understand why a “super-being” would create them either.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m probably more ‘open’, whatever.
There is an esoteric spiritual path and I have been fortunate enough to have studied and practiced with several masters in different traditions, Buddhism, Yoga, Shamanism, Sufi, Healing. I even spent five years living in a Buddhist community and spent some time at the college of healing.
One thing is clear is that all the teachers teach variations on the same theme, and it is clear from my own experience that you cannot put those experiences into language. Which kind of handicaps the teachers. They can teach the path, but not the experiences. So They use parables and stories to illustrate it. Unfortunately those who can benefit from this are a small minority. Most hear the stories and fail to understand them and then assume they are literal truths. It is my belief that all religions are founded by literalists with no understanding of the spiritual path and rely upon dogma.
Shame really because following the spiritual path from whatever tradition if guided by a good teacher, and there are many who aren’t, brings a lot of benefits to the practitioner.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem: I wish I could believe. It woud be so much easier and I really think it brings benefits to many people.
Whenever I think of religion I think of knowledge and the axiom – is it justifiable, true, belief? Of the 3, I think only BELIEF qualifies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anderson starts. I wish it was being played in the US, but it isnt.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The spiritual path is experiential. It can be taught and the pupil will experience what the teacher teaches so it is duplicatable. These are key steps in scientific method. However to clarify, whilst all religions have the teachings of an esoteric path, most don’t teach it or even recognise it.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Any streams tonight? Cannot find it anywhere.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Also Prem: I have just had an epiphany that you helped me reach. I quit smoking more than 20 years ago by going to a hypnotist. The only bad thing in my life at the moment is that I drink too much.
It worked for smoking, so I dont see why it wouldnt work for alcohol?
Before I went to the hypnotist I was very skeptical of everything remotely spiritual or religious. I still dont believe in horoscopes 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Give it a try, I also drink too much. Not OTT but most nights if I’m drinking it will be maybe 5 or 6 units
PremAndUp(Quote)
Looks like it’s radio tonight. 😡😟😟
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Prem: this was 25 years ago. I went into the hypnotist with a pack of tabs in my pocket, came out and threw them in a bin. I have never smoked a single cigarette since, to this day.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well done.
Interesting that Anderson is playing wide left rather than CAM, wonder what his best position is
PremAndUp(Quote)
THANKS PREM; whatever you did you, have made me realise that drinking too much alcohol is just a habit and can be fixed. I will fix it. Thanks again!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hang on Maxi is playing make that WR for Anderson
PremAndUp(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Well that sounds like a messy first half. I hate it when I cannot see the game. Listening on the radio is not the same. We need to step up in the second half.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Come on man lads!!. Arsenal and Spurs getting beat – 2 big teams going out there!!.
City winning but beat Chelsea so there’s another big un gone.
Liverpool struggling against Derby as well …. COME ON BOYS!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
NICE SAVE POPE
kimtoon(Quote)
smashed it Tripps
kimtoon(Quote)
well done joe
kimtoon(Quote)
Botman doh
kimtoon(Quote)
well done pope, that was a **** pen though
kimtoon(Quote)
*** Bruno, wtf
kimtoon(Quote)
toon win
3rd pope save from another awful pen
kimtoon(Quote)
O M G shocking match but fantastic Pope! Through. I hate penalty shoot outs. Bruno WTF? 😳😡😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well we made hard work of that like!! But we are through with at least 3 big teams out tonight.
Come on Derby!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gutted Liverpool went through on penalties like.
But we progress and Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea & WH all go out – we may get a cup run after all 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
There’s a new thread up guys.
Gilly Toon(Quote)