The comfortable win against a good Wolves team last time out has seen up climb the table and perhaps we can begin to look upwards rather than glaring perilously at mid-table.
What was striking about the manner of the win against Wolves was the way in which the ball was progressed on the counter. It will be in transition where Eddie Howe’s Mags will need to be sharp again as they return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since that agonising penalty shoot-out loss in the League Cup quarter-final.
Howe insists his side have “learned” from that experience ahead of the trip to under-fire Chelsea.
“It was a difficult night; we did a lot right. It was in a time we were struggling with a lot of injuries; I think we learnt from that, through every difficult experience there is a positive,” Howe said.
“Chelsea have definitely improved throughout the season, they have got better and better, they have top quality players and an outstanding manager. We know it will be a very difficult game against a team that is dangerous.”
The Toon boss has set his sights on a place in European competition next season and said: “We have got a bit of form behind us; we are looking to recapture our very best performance levels. We have really high expectations of ourselves. I am determined to try and achieve the maximum that we can and get back into Europe.”
Team news
Kieran Trippier will miss the forthcoming game and our FA Cup quarter-final trip to Man City after sustaining a minor calf injury against Wolves. Nick Pope is likely to return next month and Matt Targett is close to return. There is no change to news of long-term absentees Callum Wilson (pectoral), Joelinton (thigh) and Sandro Tonali (suspension).
Chelsea will be without Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill after both picked up injuries against Brentford. Conor Gallagher is ill and may miss out too, with Christopher Nkunku absent once again.
Predicted XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Willock – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
Livramento replaced Trippier in the last game after he was withdrawn and ended up grabbing his first goal in black and white. The young full back will start and I expect we will be discussing his performance again after the match.
I also suspect Almiron will replace Murphy in the starting line-up in order to put Chelsea’s shaky defence under more pressure.
Prediction: Chelsea 1 – 1 Newcastle
Both teams have stuttered this season and Pochettino faces the real problem of losing the fans with a couple more poor results.
That being said, Chelsea still possess quality – even if it is stunted – and Newcastle’s luck at the Bridge in recent years has not been spectacular. Realistically, I’d say a point is most likely.
HOWAY THE LADS.
From the last Discussion thread.
Unsurprisingly I’m confused by all the transfer rumours.
Neto would strengthen the RW but is that a priority?
Ederson as an 8th CM, really?
Lloyd Kelly on a Free makes sense, he strengthens the Left side of the defence.
But the right side is a priority with no young RCB behind Schar.
The real priority is a striker or two to replace Wilson
And a GK or two to replace Dubravka and Karius assuming they leave.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I would say with Schar & Lascelles signing contract extensions – maybe RCB isn’t seen as such a priority for now. Maybe we have someone in the reserves they are looking to develop or maybe their target could be better got next summer 🤷🏼♂️.
I would say RWF and CF would be the priority for me. If we can get Neto I think that’s a brilliant upgrade on Miggy who imo is a real weak link in our team.
I’d probably agree on GK too but I don’t think that’s as urgent as RWF or CF.
Sharpy17(Quote)
From last thread Gilly I spent my youth in Benwell had my first drink in the green tree pub
Icedog(Quote)
So if Karius and Dubraka both leave. Gillespie is never going to play a minute, so who is Pope’s back-up?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Is Dubravka definitely leaving? I don’t really care about Karius or Gillespie to be fair.
If they leave then yes we’ll need to get a replacement in – but Pope is still number 1 for me.
If we get Neto he’s a first team player – a new keeper would be a back up one so yeah the important one for me is RWF
Sharpy17(Quote)
How much do you reckon we have to spend ?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Neto off injured
PremAndUp(Quote)
Not sure mate, but Pope only cost £10m I think. Meret is on a free from Napoli
Sharpy17(Quote)
as a GK there is also Trubin at Benfica £25m and only 22
Meret might have his 1 yr option invoked, but good shout.
PremAndUp(Quote)
as an alternative to Neto there is Bakayoko at PSV 6g and 8 assists this season and only 20.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Neto has always been a sick note keep off
Icedog(Quote)
Prem – I’m not saying it has to be Neto, though I do like him a lot. I do think a Miggy upgrade is probably the most necessary though.
Then the Wilson replacement. Kelly on a free would be a cracking addition to our defence.
If we can keep Dubs next season I’d favour that for 1 more season coz I think RWF & CF might cost so back up keeper could wait.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m old fashioned. I like to have a squad of 3 strikers, 3 keepers and two each of the other nine positions.
Much as I agree that upgrading RW and LB are a priority we can’t play without strikers or keepers because we only have one and he’s injured.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I get what you’re saying mate, but everyone wants to play now. You can maybe get away with 3 keepers but when you consider we only have Karius & Gillespie coz Woodman & Darlow left wanting regular football – likewise Dubravka is talking about leaving coz he knows if Pope is fit he plays.
Similarly with CFs. We’ve been pretty fortunate (for want of a better word) that when Wilson has been injured Isak has been fit & visa versa.
I could see Howe being happy with 2 forwards and the Gordon or someone like Minteh able to fill in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy
That may be acceptable for the next season, but long term, you cannot gamble that you won’t have two keepers injured at the same time. And you certainly can’t go into a game without a keeper on the bench.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I’d be happier if Murphy was on in place of Miggy. I think I’ve made my feelings on Miggy well known, but I think Murphy against Cucurella wouldn’t have been a good contest.
I also think early balls in against Chelsea CBs like Murph put in for our 2nd against Wolves would be a nightmare for Disasi & Chalobah – Miggy slows that play down.
We shall see – HWTLs
Sharpy17(Quote)
HWTL
Re Neto, no thanks, can’t stay fit, Ice is spot on there. No more sick notes.
kimtoon(Quote)
Burn beat for pace again but that a pathetic clearance by Botman 😡😡😡
Sharpy17(Quote)
Where’s my comment?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
There’s not much more annoys me than short corners when we have Botman, Burn & Schar all waiting for a cross like 😡😡.
Now Gordon looks crocked – looked like he pulled something 10 mins ago & they moved him to the right – now it looks serious 🤦🏼♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
Has there ever been more biased commentary? Sick of it. And they are chopping lumps out of us and no decision. Do they need to break Tinos leg to get a foul?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Brilliant from Isak
kimtoon(Quote)
Wow what a finish!!!
Isak better be careful – he’s quickly becoming one of my favourite NUFC players of all time!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gilly, yep Cucurela or what ever his name is has fouled all half, they are hacking Tino at every opportunity ,taking it in turns.
Botman is a lucky guy with that offside
kimtoon(Quote)
Gordon looks like he’ll be out a while too now.
kimtoon(Quote)
Great goal from Isak. More of that please.
Just once I’d love to have non biased commentators and pundits.
That first goal was a shocker. What’s Botman doing? Awful. Gutted at Gordon getting injured. Hope it’s not a bad one. Feel for the lad.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Pundits… scouser, Cockney **** and on commentary a Man United man. Really?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Didn’t look good did it Kim 🤦🏼♂️
Agree with Botman too, doesn’t do well under pressure that lad like.
I’m also agreeing with Prem – GK upgrade has gone up my list of priorities coz Dubravka is too big a drop off – really poor that half
Sharpy17(Quote)
FFS
kimtoon(Quote)
And now they smell blood
What an utterly s hite season, one injury after another and our defense has turned into a shadow of itself .
kimtoon(Quote)
I don’t know what message Howe has sent them out with at half time – but we have come out absolutely awful!!.
Dubravkas positioning for that goal was terrible.
This is an awful watch!!
Eddie said pre kick off our aim for the rest of the season was to get our performance levels back to where they were … any chance of starting tonight like?!?!?!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Waste of a throw in that
kimtoon(Quote)
Horse **** absolutely horse ****!!.
Dubravka is a waste of a shirt!!. Take him off & play rush keeper for me.
I desperately want to stay loyal to Eddie but these performances are making it very difficult
Sharpy17(Quote)
And Palmer just takes the ball off Bruno’s toe – TV off!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jesus this is awful! Has someone replaced Botman with a Sh.ite double? Defence is awful. 🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
wow what a shot from Murph the magic man
kimtoon(Quote)
interesting last 6 mins
kimtoon(Quote)
Amazing goal from Murphy but overall an awful performance. There will be no European football next year for us.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Great strike by Murphy but we made a really poor Chelsea side look good tonight.
That’s awful football. It was before the Wolves games & has been pretty much all of 2024 – I’m starting to wonder if Howe has taken us as far as he can?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Tino was my MotM by far tonight.
Gilly Toon(Quote)