It’s been a tough few days for Newcastle United, who lost by an aggregate score of 7-1 last week, but we all know how quickly things can change in football.
After a blip in the league and ongoing concerns over our away form, we return to St James’ Park for a Champions League decider against AC Milan.
Put simply, these are the permutations heading into the game, followed by Eddie Howe’s brilliant comments ahead of Wednesday’s 8pm kick-off under the lights.
- We’ll come 2nd if we win and PSG don’t win at Dortmund (a PSG draw sees us pip them on H2H)
- We’ll come 3rd if we win and PSG win
- We’ll come 3rd if we draw
- We’ll come 4th if we lose
Eddie Howe’s pre-match press conference:
“We are desperate to stay in this competition first and foremost. Our intention is to do everything we can to try and win the match. We worked so hard to get to this position in the first place, we gave everything last year to try and achieve this level of football, we do not want to give it away lightly.
“Being under the lights here, in the UEFA Champions League, is always very special. We have something to play for, something to gain. To be here with some kind of destiny in our hands, European football still in our hands, I think we would have taken that at the start of the group. We can control our performance tomorrow and we will make sure we give everything we can to try and win.”
“The fans have been there for us this season, we are going to need every voice, every person can make a difference for us. We need to create an atmosphere, the supporters have never let us down at home. They have really driven us on, in tight games, they have really given us the ability to carry on. We are going to need that again.
“Let’s make it a magical European night. They (the fans) can only do so much, so we have to do our bit for them.”
Team news
Anthony Gordon and Sean Longstaff should be fine despite failing to train on Tuesday and Callum Wilson is fit again, but Martin Dubravka (shoulder) is a doubt, with the game coming slightly too soon for Dan Burn and Harvey Barnes. It’s not clear where Sven Botman is at after Howe’s tight-lipped ‘update’ on Tuesday.
Nick Pope, Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy and Matt Targett remain absent with longer term injuries, while Sandro Tonali will miss out against his former club as he continues to serve his suspension for gambling.
For Milan, Rafa Leao and Okafor look set to return, but Thiaw, Bennacer, Kalulu, Kjær, Sportiello, Caldara, Romero and Pellegrino are absent, with the Serie A giants struggling for fit centre-backs.
Predicted line up
(4-3-3): Karius – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
Prediction
We may be going through a tough patch and have struggled on the road this season, but we’re a different animal at St James’ Park – especially under the lights and in need of a response following two straight defeats.
This side has bags of character, we have a couple of players back, will be wounded animals from that pathetic decision in PSG and the atmosphere promises to be electric.
Who knows if a win will see us into the last 16 or secure a Europa League spot instead, but I see us taking three points and finishing the group phase with a big performance, leaving all eyes on Dortmund who may need to do us a favour.
NUFC Blog prediction: Newcastle 2-0 AC Milan
HWTL!
Two reasons why I think its important to win the game;
1 of 2. Build a good feeling ahead of three winnable games that may just keep them competitive for euro places
2 of 2. Get some additional cash for squad investment
3 of 2. It’s the fkin champions league
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Yes important not to go out with a whimper .
kimtoon(Quote)
Huge game, and if we perform like we usually do at home and can win and get into the next round the last week will be forgotten. Let’s try and win it anyway and if we end up in the Europa we can rotate and give more kids some game time, and if we’re out of everything then we don’t need to worry about rotation!
Newkie(Quote)
Nice to see you on NEWKIE
Icedog(Quote)
Cheers Ice, good to see you still knocking around pal
Newkie(Quote)
Even if we make Europa from this group – it’s more than most thought from the group of death – and that was before all the injuries!!.
But if we lose & finish bottom, we will still have got more CL points than Man Utd and in a far harder group.
Whatever happens, our toe dip back into CL has been brilliant so far & Howe is definitely still the man to keep building with!!
Good to see you Newkie 👍🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Providing we don’t play like zombies as we have done away, we should at least get a draw, which is probably less than we deserve overviewing the group
PremAndUp(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Settled and ready.
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
pacey game. Not quite in sync up top and Milan look sharp going forward
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Oh my .. almiron .. he had to score
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Brilliant goal that from joe
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s how to use a right foot. BoomBigJoe
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Excellent first half that!!
Great lay off by Miley & stunning finish from big Joe 👏🏼👏🏼
Can we play every game at SJP please!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Superb first half and fantastic goal by big Joe. Miggy so wasteful. He had to score that. Very nervy. Milan have the players to hurt us if we let up. We will need more goals I think.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
People still blaming Dubravka? Fkin mugs 😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
Fucking hell … gutted. Should’ve subbed Miggy instead of Gordon. Hey ho.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Dubravka comment should be me, mods I literally posted in Sharon’s name you need to sort that asap
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie(Quote)
Absolutely gutted.
I know I said Howe is the man earlier & I stand by him – but that was so naive!!
Tonight was never a must win – but it was always a mustn’t lose!!.
We lost it chasing a second goal & ended with nothing!!.
We should have left with at least Europa tonight – especially going 1-0 up.
I know the lads threw everything at it tonight but I’m so annoyed & disappointed right now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy not Sharon
Newkie(Quote)
The site admins ( not Olly), don’t give a flying F ..uck about the blog chat side of this site.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Blx. No doubt the unpicking of that will be brutal. Disappointed of course, but we go again at the weekend.
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
gutted
kimtoon(Quote)
The thing is, if those corrupt officials hadn’t stolen the points from us in the PSG game, we’d at least have Europa League. Absolutely gutted at that. Should have pulled Miggy not Gordon. I think Tino and Gordon did well, and MotM for me was big Joelinton.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And this site. Fucking sh.ite …. .. sorry Olly, you’re wasting your time with these lot! Take your talents somewhere else mate. This lot only care about piling on the vids and ads to get as much money as possible.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
**** it, I’m allowed one rant.
I’m steaming with Howe!!. We completely lost our discipline with 20mins still to play. It highlighted his inexperience & nativity in European football.
We needed to keep control of the game & wait for our chance to come – instead we turned it into a basketball match with Schar going on wild runs & leaving huge gaps in behind.
Stay in control, stay compact & if it happened then wonderland. If not, we’d have bagged Europa & from that group & with all our injuries – that would have been a big achievement still.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That makes sense but how the F*** WAS I ALLOWED TO POST UNDER SHARPY’S NAME? WHAT’S happened here literally me and sharpy were talking here ten years ago this never happened
Newkie(Quote)
Now I’m getting Newkies details.
Absolute shower this site like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Low quality details at that but wtf is going on lol used to be a quality site
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – the site has gone to the dogs mate.
There’s never an issue getting articles & advertising up mind 🤔.
Feel for Olly coz I know how much commitment he has to the site – he’s the only one that posts on here too. The site owners don’t bother, nor do the other article writers – imagine that 🙄.
It’s a real shame to see the regulars fall away but I’m afraid I’m becoming one of them too now. I’ve posted tonight but think that’s the first time this week.
The owners are the Mike Ashley’s of the blog world – run on a shoestring & turn a profit 🤑 absolute joke.
I agree, cut your losses Olly and find a site where the owners appreciate you.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Genuinely like
Newkie(Quote)
Feels like it Sharpy lad, can’t say I quit here because of the changeover yonks back (not that it helped) but this isn’t exactly making me miss it wtf like… I shouldn’t be able to post my ideas under my own name let alone yours 😂
Newkie(Quote)