Merry Christmas to all Mags! We hope you’ve enjoyed your day with friends and family ahead of the main event – Newcastle’s Boxing Day trip to Leicester City!
As Eddie Howe said in his Friday morning press conference, the best gift he could receive this Christmas would be three points at the King Power Stadium!
In what will be our first Premier League game since that mid November win over Chelsea, we’ll be looking to pick up from where we left off prior to the World Cup, keep the momentum going and maintain our place in the top four.
We’ve won our last SIX games in all competitions, moving into the quarter final of the Carabao Cup – where we’ll face Leicester next month – after a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in the last 16.
Mix that with a productive mid-season training camp in Saudi Arabia, two friendly wins and a relatively clean bill of health, I’d say we’re heading to the Midlands in good shape. We were rusty against the Cherries, lacking that cutting edge in the final third, but winning, dominating possession, pressing well and keeping a clean sheet when well below your best is a sign of a good side!
Leicester endured an awful start to the season, but they have been quietly impressive of late, winning six of their last seven games in all competitions, conceding just one goal in the process.
Team news
Alexander Isak (thigh) has been ruled out of our final two games of 2022, but Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin are both available for selection.
Emil Krafth and Paul Dummett are expected to miss out once again, with the former still a long-term absentee after suffering an ACL injury.
For the hosts, Toon target James Maddison is a doubt, while Jonny Evans, Ricardo Pereira, James Justin and Ryan Bertrand have all been ruled out by Brendan Rodgers.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.
The back four picks itself at present, with Burn currently the preferred option at left-back after Botman and Schar have built a formidable partnership in the middle.
Hopefully Trippier and Pope can continue to be models of consistency after returning from England duty, with Wilson also in contention to return to Howe’s starting XI after starting in our Carabao Cup win over Bournemouth.
Longstaff and Willock are both in good form and should continue alongside Bruno in the middle, meaning it could be one of Joelinton or Saint-Maximin out wide. The latter is our difference maker and finally fit again, but big Joe is a key player who tends to start when fit.
If I had to put money on it, I’d back Howe to stick with the set up that’s helped us to six straight Premier League wins, meaning ASM could be limited to a cameo role at the King Power:
Prediction
Prior to the World Cup, we were a team on a mission. Relentless with our pressing, rock solid defensively, scoring goals and regularly great value across our five straight wins over Everton, Spurs, Aston Villa, Southampton and Chelsea.
As mentioned earlier in the piece, Leicester have plenty of quality and arrive in much better form. They’ll be no pushovers – especially if Maddison is fit to play – but I can’t help but feel Eddie Howe’s Mags will have too much for the Foxes.
Willock to score again in a Boxing Day win in front of the travelling Toon Army!
Prediction: Leicester 1-2 Newcastle
Olly: your team is probably right. I was thinking that ASM would start but it is hard to see who Eddie would drop as they have all played well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am going to say this again as the thread moved on. 5 of the front 6 were available to Bruce. Bruno is the only addition as Isak has hardly played. The pundits and journos never mention this because it would make them look stupid for the 2 years years that they covered us before Eddie joined.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Whose name do you put on the back of a shirt to get fans excited?
In America it is Pulisic and I think it is a no-brainer to sign him.
In Saudi and Asia, I think it is Ramos. The Portuguese who took Ronaldo’s place.
I would sign both before James Maddison. Although I do like Maddison.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC i like Maddison a lot but hes a attacking m/f,we need a defensive m/f to replace the snail paced Shelvey
icedog(Quote)
ERIC hope your keeping safe mate,report up to 35 have died in the USA
icedog(Quote)
Just seen a predicted end of season table
City 84
Ars 81
Liverpool 69
Man utd 68
NUFC 67
Spurs 66
Chelsea 61
Brighton 59
Couple of observations
1 -66 to 69 pts is awfully close to call
2 Below ave points up top
3 we are only predicted 37pts from the last 23 games 1.6ppg which is pessimistic
4 milestones to watch. next two games, what happens in January.
If we did continue to get 2ppg then we would have 76 pts
PremAndUp(Quote)
Ice: I watched the forecast and did any shopping before the storm hit. Then I knew it was only a few days so I stayed in. Luckily didnt have to travel this year. My guess is most of the deaths were on the roads. There was ice in the deep south and they dont know how to cope with it. They are always showing clips of cars sliding around in Memphis or Atlanta whenever a storm gets that far south.
It is changing today and will be unseasonably warm by the end of the week with winds off the gulf coast.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
we have 23 to play, win 12, draw 6 lose 5 = 72 pts
That seems doable
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem: I think it will come down to the head to heads. We have Arsenal home and away, Liverpool, Spurs and Man U at home.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Although Leicester wont be easy, dont they usually give us Man U away on Boxing Day?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
One benefit of the WC break as a fan is that today I feel a similar anticipation to august at the start of the season and with the dogs walked the pub beckons
I’ll be a little let down with anything less than a win but my gut still senses a draw
HWTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Merry Christmas everyone.
I see Wilson is out again. We do need another striker in the squad I think as he’s so unreliable it’s incredible. He needs to be a player who is only expected to play half the games. He will be a great second choice.
Good news that Maddison is out. Be a tough game but we are capable.
Stuart79(Quote)
No Wilson and no Maddison, maybe Maddison is not playing as we are bidding or about to?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Isak has been injured a long time too which is worrying! £63 million for another sick note? I hope not.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So no Wilson at all today he’s unwell and Isak still not ready. ASM doesn’t start either. Let’s hope Miggy’s found form is still going strong and Wood has his shooting boots on then.
We do need another forward and not a sick note either.
kimtoon(Quote)
I suppose it is a silver lining that Wilson is out through illness rather than injury. Probably picked it up against Bournemouth as they had 10 players ill so who knows how many of those playing had the virus as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
whoo hoo pen
kimtoon(Quote)
C’mon Chris
Get in lad
kimtoon(Quote)
Canny start. Think Wood is a penalty expert
Stuart79(Quote)
Wow
Stuart79(Quote)
That’s about the clearest pen I have seen in a while. Wood scoring might shut the Toon Review up for a while. Even when we win by 3 they spend 15 mins saying how **** Wood is.
MIGGY MIGGY MIGGY
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Miggyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
2.0
kimtoon(Quote)
O m g what a start. Miggy is fast becoming a superstar
Gilly Toon(Quote)
get in Joelinton
0.3
kimtoon(Quote)
Amazing first half. Three great goals and could’ve been more. Dare we dream that we have our entertainers back?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Excellent win! Second! At least for a day or so.
Gilly Toon(Quote)