The dust has settled on Sunday’s derby disaster, and the pain, anger and sense of frustration at THAT pitiful effort at Sunderland still remains.
It won’t go quickly, and it won’t be ‘put right’ all of a sudden if we beat Fulham on Wednesday night and progress to another Carabao Cup semi-final, but there’s no doubt our next three games between now and Boxing Day will go a long way to improving what is an understandably agitated fanbase right now.
Losing is one thing, but losing the way we did in a Tyne-Wear derby was unacceptable, with just about every element of our game off, whether it be tactics, team selection, intensity (or lack of it), technical delivery or fight to make a real fist of a game that wasn’t going our way.
Eddie Howe is under pressure and the players owe us one, upping the importance of upcoming games against Fulham, Chelsea and Man Utd as a hectic period shows no signs of slowing down with the success or failure of this consistently inconsistent season on the line.
Reflecting on Sunday and speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s match as he sat down with the media on Tuesday morning, Howe said:
“I understand it (the criticism). All I urge the supporters to do is what they’ve always done since I’ve been here and that’s support the team when they’re playing.
“We have a huge group of games to come and we have the opportunity to still make this an amazing season so while we’re in that position while everything can still be positive we have to attack it with all of our efforts combined.”
“Part of my job is to remain very level. If you don’t and you join the emotional rollercoaster that football brings, you can damage relationships which are hugely important.
“I have to be constructive in my feedback and criticism which I will endeavour to do because we have to be very honest with the players and they have to be honest back with us.
“Then we have to find a way forward and we have to find a way to get consistent results which is what we’re still searching for this season.”
Team news
Dan Burn has been ruled out for up to SIX weeks after suffering a broken rib and punctured lung on Sunday, while Kieran Trippier (hamstring) and Emil Krafth (knee) are out until the new year.
Sven Botman (back) is making ‘good progress’ but isn’t ready to return just yet, while Nick Pope (groin) could return for one of our games this week and Jamaal Lascelles is back from a muscle injury.
Yoane Wissa is pushing to start and Will Osula’s ankle issue remains a mystery, with the Dane not mentioned by Howe in his most recent press conference.
For Fulham, they’ve just lost Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze to AFCON, while Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz remain out.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Wissa, Barnes.
OUT: Miley, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade IN: Joelinton, Barnes, Murphy, Wissa
Starting up top, I may be wrong on this and medical staff may decide he’s not ready to start, but 50-60 minutes of Wissa may be needed, not only to build up our £55m striker’s match fitness but give Woltemade a much-needed rest after clear signs of fatigue over the last week.
Out wide, Gordon and Elanga should be dropped after last Sunday’s horror show from both, giving Barnes and Murphy a chance to stake their claims for a starting spot once again.
In midfield, I fully expect Joelinton to return if fit enough. If not, it’ll surely be one of Willock or Ramsey down that left. As for Tonali, it’s hard to say if he needs games to get back to his best and regain match sharpness or a rest, although I’d suggest the former may be what he needs after a ‘bitty’ last few months due to illness and injury.
At the back, we have no real options to change it with Burn, Botman, Trippier and Krafth all out, with Pope the only possibility if he’s recovered from a groin injury in time.
Match prediction
Newcastle have won seven of their last eight home games, with the one draw coming via Spurs’ stoppage time levellers earlier two weeks ago.
Under the lights, with a point to prove and a lot of making up to do, I think we’ll find a way past a Fulham side missing several key players.
The pressure will be on and I’m expecting St James’ Park to be noticeably flat in the build up, but history suggests we win home games like this – and we’ll have to if we’re to avoid the wheels falling off this season.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Fulham
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
3 points against the Mackems or progression in the cup?!.
Well it shouldn’t need to be 1 or the other – but if it were, I do think I’d pick a win over Fulham.
BUT … and I hate to think it – getting knocked out of our cup immediately after a Derby defeat – that’s season derailing imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It does not matter who we play Sunderland, Carabo Cup or FA Cup what does matter is when players do not fight for the shirt win or lose.
What we had on Sunday and some other matches was players almost sleep walking into games thinking they just have to turn up believing they can win.
That is totally unacceptable from any fans perspective it is interesting that some of the players who have been given massive contracts are the ones who have been the worst.
It looks as though some playing for a transfer.
Joseph(Quote)
Chelsea rested their entire team, played a night early and we play them the early kick off on Saturday. Has to be full rotation tonight!
Scott(Quote)
Completely agree Sharpy. I hate the phrase “must-win” honestly, mostly because you hear it every week in football for one club or another and so what does it even mean. This definitely feels like one, and one where a performance is owed by everyone on the pitch tonight (maybe Wissa being the exception). I think Eddie has huge credit in the bank with what has been achieved so far and the cup win, but lose this game and things will really get nasty – far too many calling for his head after Sunday (IMO).
Newkie(Quote)
We have to give this a go. It’s a route into Europe if we can win it, not a preferred competition in Europe, but Europe all the same. League performance, if we keep on as we are, will not get us there.
I think we will see a win tonight. I’m saying 2-0. Fulham have key players missing at AFCON.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We could be worse off we could go back to the Ashley days. or good old Steve Bruce days,I know where I prefer to be or is it just me? true saying the more you have the more you want
Icedog(Quote)
Very true mate, very true!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Interesting lineup. 6 changes. No idea who the fullbacks will be. Sky are suggesting Murphy as right back and Livramento on the Left. Hall is not in the squad. I think we may see Miley play at fullback, and Murphy in his usual spot, with Ramsey in midfield rather than left wing attacking as Sky suggest. For me it’s,
……. Ramsdale
Miley…. Schar … Thiaw … Tino
Bruno … Willock … Ramsey
Murphy … Wissa… Barnes
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That’s the way I would play it mate anyway
Icedog(Quote)
Exactly, a lot of fans have short memories.
kimtoon(Quote)
I really want to know what’s going on with Harrison Ashby. Surely he cannot still be injured? He looked good in preseason.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Wissssaaaaaaaaaaa
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Wissaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
proper goal scoring instinct
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
FFS man 🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Apart from the goal, it’s been back to the usual sloppiness. Need better in the second half.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Tino injured by looks of it and Hall out with hammy problem
kimtoon(Quote)
The defending for their goal was a total mess they had three players running into the box our our midfielders 3 miles behind them where’s the bloody defenders that should be tracking them ffs
Icedog(Quote)
Midfielders
Icedog(Quote)
Lewis Mileyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Mileyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Well done lad he’s had a good game too
kimtoon(Quote)
Better
kimtoon(Quote)
We do not do things the easy way do we? F’king hell … left that late but what a header from Miley! Semis again!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I was resigned to penalties there to be honest! Murph and Miley were excellent tonight.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Miley deserved that motm
kimtoon(Quote)
Thank you Miley I will be able to sleep tonight ‘your a hero’!!!
nutmag(Quote)
Manchester City in the semifinals. Home tie first. Would rather have the away leg first but hey ho!
Gilly Toon(Quote)