A huge 10 days await for Newcastle United, who have one vital Premier League game, two Carabao Cup semi-finals and up to three players to sign between now and January 31st.
This was tipped to be a quiet month on the transfer front, despite ongoing links with a midfielders, wingers and a host of young right-backs, but we now have a forward to sign following Chris Wood’s sudden move to Nottingham Forest.
Back to matters on the pitch, results earlier in the week have only given us a bigger incentive to take all three points at Palace. Third place Man Utd dropped two points at Selhurst Park thanks to Michael Olise’s superb 90th minute strike, while Spurs – currently fifth – lost 4-2 at Man City despite going into the break 2-0 up.
As a result, we now have a game in hand on Antonio Conte’s men and will go EIGHT points clear of Tottenham with a win at Crystal Palace today. With Liverpool and Chelsea also set to take points off each other in the lunchtime kick-off and Man Utd travelling to the Emirates on Sunday without the suspended Casemiro, this weekend feels like a big chance to boost our top four hopes.
Palace will be no pushovers, however. Here’s what Eddie Howe’s had to say about tonight’s 5.30pm clash in South London:
“The two games we’ve had against them have been very tight. It’s always a tough place to go.
“We go there in good form but we don’t underestimate the challenge. Patrick Vieira is a very good manager and they have some very dangerous players.”
Team news
Bruno Guimaraes has travelled with the squad and declared himself fit to feature – incredible news and a huge pre-match relief given he went off in tears last weekend in fear he’d suffered a serious ankle injury.
Jonjo Shelvey (calf) and Matt Targett (heel) are ‘three weeks’ away according to Howe, Emil Krafth (ACL) remains out and there’ll be no Chris Wood following his move to Forest.
For the hosts, Patrick Vieira will be force to go without first-choice centre-back Joachim Andersen, who has been ruled out with a calf strain.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Joelinton, Longstaff, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Murphy.
Bruno Guimaraes may have declared himself fit, but I don’t see Howe risking him from the off – especially when we have the first of two cup semi-finals to play next Tuesday.
I can therefore see Joelinton moving back into midfield alongside Willock and Longstaff, with Jacob Murphy getting his chance out wide.
Having heard a few pre-match whispers, it sounded like he will get the nod ahead of Allan Saint-Maximin at Selhurst Park.
The back five picks itself on a night that sees Nick Pope searching for his NINTH consecutive clean sheet in all competitions and I’d also expect Callum Wilson to get the nod ahead of Alexander Isak; who is still being eased back into the fold after three months out.
Prediction
Considering we can go eight points clear of fifth with a win, I don’t expect complacency to creep in here.
Bruno will be missed if he’s not fit enough to start and Crystal Palace have plenty of tricky customers, with Zaha, Eze and Olise all tough to contain at their best, but we boast THE top performing defence in European football right now and could benefit from Andersen’s absence at the other end.
Almiron to get back on the goal trail in a tight win over the Eagles!
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Newcastle
I think I would ignore the “whispers” about Murphy. Maxi or Isak to start.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hope so Eric. Bruno? Wouldn’t be surprised if he starts. If his ankle is OK then he’s certainly fit enough. If his ankle is not OK he wouldn’t be in the squad.
georgio(Quote)
Are we sure about Tripps. Didn’t he cut his foot badly when he was stamped on.
If Howe is protective them Bruno and Tripps on the bench with Manquillo RB.
I suspect Isak off the bench after an hour.
Like his song btw
PremAndUp(Quote)
Palace are terrible for fouling , hopefully they don’t target Bruno if he starts.
kimtoon(Quote)
I seriously dont know what anybody sees in Anthony Gordon. Hopefully it is a smokescreen as we pursue other targets. One of the Everton fan channels, Toffee TV, hate him. When they do player ratings he usually gets a 3. He is not even starting! Also, we would be mad to go for him this window as he will be cheaper in the summer if Everton get relegated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Speculating about speculation is fun
If the Murphy whispers are right is Howe thinking about the semi final by keeping st maximan /isak on the bench ??
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
In the biggest game of Super Frank’s Managerial career he doesnt pick Anthony Gordon.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Liverpool v Chelsea has been an awful game of football.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’s two more teams we don’t need to worry about
PremAndUp(Quote)
A Klopp-Potter. A specialist in mediocrity
PremAndUp(Quote)
I think when it comes to Gordon you’re definitely buying potential.
He’s shown flashes of a good young player but is in an Everton side struggling badly & with a lot of expectation on him.
He’s 21 and I think he’s seen as back up/competition for Miggy. The lad has a workrate about him & he has a right foot – where Miggy is all left footed.
We aren’t buying a player that will knock anyone out of the first team but will add depth & improve the quality of the squad – he’s better than Murphy & Fraser imo.
I think he’s a player at a young age that Howe could work with and develop too.
He wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice, but I trust them & can see why Gordon is being considered – if he actually is & it’s not just paper talk.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I like my podcasts – 2 I like in particular are ‘high performance’ with Jake Humphrey’s and the other is ‘diary of a CEO’ with Steven Bartlett.
The latter has recently had Jesse Lingard on and what a little tool his is. Pathetic, petulant, self untitled man boy – so pleased we steered well clear of him like.
I’d also add my favourite podcast is Athletico Mince with the brilliantly funny Sir Bob Mortimer 😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy my daughter loves Athletico Mince .
kimtoon(Quote)
West Ham in the lead
kimtoon(Quote)
Bowen gets a second
bye bye Frank
kimtoon(Quote)
I am watching West Ham/Everton. I dont know exactly what Everton are doing. They are passing it sideways.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Apparently Bruno has declared himself fit! So it sounds like he’ll be starting and Joelinton LW (so no Murphy)
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
🤣🤣
You’re in a rich vein of humour and please keep ‘em coming
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Somebody coming from London are the whisper,not a clue,could it be the Watford player we tried to buy last yr
Icedog(Quote)
same old lineup
PremAndUp(Quote)
Or a Chelsea player
kimtoon(Quote)
I am going to burst into a George Michael song just for you… Careless Whispers
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A bit of a bummer if West Hem end up getting Super Frank the sack. he played for them. I think his Dad did as well and his Uncle ‘Arry Managed them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This will not be easy. They’re a good side palace! 1-0 to us.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
They are having a fanfest at Universal Studios in Orlando. Thousands of PL fans turn up from all teams. They are now interviewing Shearer, Given and Harper at the moment.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice – I’d be happy if it was Joao Pedro but surprised at the same time. Watford are going ok in the EFL and Pedro has 8 goals/2 assists in 20 games for them – so a key player in the chances of promotion – which would bring a lot more money than selling him to us in Jan.
I know it’s speculation but possibly the young RB from WHU?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hope for a quick start from us today – an early goal would be great and just a nice controlled win would be a perfect Saturday evening
Sharpy17(Quote)
Took Palace just 3 mins to collect their first yellow
kimtoon(Quote)
Need to make this control of the game count
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
That’s a second yellow & sending off all day long that!!. He stepped into the path of Wilson – how was he not send off there?????
Sharpy17(Quote)
Would of been fuming if they had gotten a goal then , it’s been all us
kimtoon(Quote)
Well palace should be down to 10. We should be taking these chances once again, missing opportunities… hope we don’t regret these.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Plenty mags at the fanfest. Picturing the carnage if that was in the uk 🤣
Controlled game mostly and a little wasteful again. Wilson looks fitter but getting bullied a bit up top
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Passing in the final third has been so poor by multiple players today like
Sharpy17(Quote)
0.0 again
kimtoon(Quote)
Really frustrating watch today.
Dominant performance again but the final pass and quality in the final 3rd has cost us points again.
Another clean sheet and another game unbeaten for Howe – but that game was there for the winning imo, we were just lacklustre in that final 3rd – very disappointing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Very disappointed at that. Many missed chances.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What’s happened to our goal scorers? Since Boxing Day we’ve been poor in front of goal.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
World cup ruined our momentum
kimtoon(Quote)