Speaking to Keith Downie outside our Benton training base before Friday’s press conference, Howe perfectly summed up where we are at heading into this weekend’s game.
On the Man City display and the challenges ahead, he said: “The energy was there, the quality was there – I think the mentality was there. So, the challenge for us is to find that consistently.”
Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the Champions was everything we wanted to see. We looked like a high-intensity, all-action, physical, organised and brave team again, delivering an encouraging response to that 3-1 defeat at Fulham and a start to the season full of patchy (if not poor) performances.
The question now is can we make that level of performance the new normal. Not just at St James’ Park and not just against one of the big boys, but away from home and when up against a side we’re expected to beat, if we turn up.
Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments
Team news
Alexander Isak (toe) has been ruled out again and Martin Dubravka (bruised knee) is set to miss out. In better news, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar are all expected to be OK, but Callum Wilson (back/hamstring), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) still missing. Matt Targett (eczema) is back in training so could return to the bench.
For Everton, it remains to be seen if Jarrad Branthwaite will play after a knock in training just days after his comeback game in their 2-1 win over Palace last weekend. Nathan Patterson, Armando Broja, Youssef Chermiti and Seamus Coleman have been ruled out.
Predicted XI: Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.
With Pope, Schar and Trippier passed fit, Isak ruled out, Willock, Tino, Longstaff and Kelly playing in midweek and Gordon given most of the night off, I’m pretty certain we’ll see the same 11 that drew with Man City last week.
Match prediction: Everton 1-2 Newcastle
This won’t be easy. Yes, we’ll be buoyed (hopefully) by a vastly improved display against Man City last Saturday, but we’re yet to really turn up in any of our away games this season and face an Everton side rejuvenated from their first win of the season last weekend and the prospect of new owners.
I’m hoping we kick on and look like the REAL Newcastle we know and love – high-intensity football where we’re physical, organised and aggressive in our approach – but I’ve got a feeling they’ll limit the space for Gordon to work in and turn it into a bit of a scrap.
However, with their injury issues at the back resurfacing – Branthwaite and Mykolenko both missing out would be a huge blow – I think we’ll nick it.
HWTL!
Harking back to Howe’s press conference today, something that jumped out at me was the emotion he hides so well and occasionally we get a glimpse of.
just because he doesn’t leap around like some over excited tigger with shiny teeth or run up and down like a primping little puppet doesn’t mean he has no emotion.
Look at him and listen to his words about SJP at about 32 mins today .. emotion is riven into him and his words
“Not sure how it does it .. the atmosphere .. the look of it .. it’s a beautiful thing “ nicely stated 👏👏👏
Jonesy(Quote)
Anyways onto the game. Goodison is not a good ground for nufc ( 3 wins in last 20) including last seasons debacle.
This is a game to win to stay in touch with those at the top and build on a good performance against manc given the upcoming run of games.
Nufc do struggle against teams who invite them on which Everton will probably do, so it’s hard to see anything but A close, attritional game.
Looking forward to seeing what tonali & guimaraes can do to build a partnership in MF
Jonesy(Quote)
Tricky game this, on paper you would think we will win, but we don’t always fare well against the toffees.
kimtoon(Quote)
It will be a tricky one. Keep thinking about that horrible 3-0 defeat there last season. We need a performance today. Away form has been terrible for a season and a half. That must stop. Hat trick from Gordon today.
I actually cannot remember the last time a toon player scored a hat trick! Years ago!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
FFS
kimtoon(Quote)
Offside
kimtoon(Quote)
pen for sure
kimtoon(Quote)
Right decision
kimtoon(Quote)
I hate T.rex sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much
kimtoon(Quote)
Poor pen unfortunately .. didn’t even need his tiny arms
Jonesy(Quote)
Awful penalty. I think the crowd got to him. A tricky game so far. We e been sloppy with some passing, particularly Trippier… giving the ball away too often.
Second half will be very difficult, the toffees are fighting hard.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Nufc Should be in front as better team. Mix of sloppy passing a lack of composure cost them first half. Hope it doesn’t bite them in the ‘rs.
Hall continues to find his feet nicely
Jonesy(Quote)
Lucky . . that’s a pen
Jonesy(Quote)
Really poor in the final third today. Awful penalty, and too often either a poor final pass or when in just lashing at the ball – both Gordon & Bruno guilty of that.
Not a penalty for Everton. Burns does not make contact with DCL – he kicks the back of Burns leg.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We really Lacked a striker today. Very poor in the final third and I had a strong feeling that we would regret that poor penalty. It’s a point and we didn’t lose but for all our possession we did very little.
And what’s happened to our corners? We had at least 10 and didn’t threaten little arms with any of them. Awful on set plays again.
Gilly Toon(Quote)