After Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford was met with boos at the full-time whistle, Newcastle travel to North London to face an equally out-of-sorts Spurs side.
It’s a battle between one side who are awful at home (Spurs sit 17th in the ‘home table’) and another side who are awful away (Newcastle sit 16th in the ‘away table’), with both managers crying out for a win to salvage their seasons.
For Newcastle, we now sit 12th, as close to the relegation zone (10 points) as the top five. Confidence is low, we’ve conceded 10 goals in our last three games, there is a total lack of cohesion in attack and pressure is mounting on Eddie Howe, who needs to find answers, but also for his players to step up massively.
With three more away games to follow Tuesday’s trip to Tottenham, our season is in danger of getting worse before it gets better, making this a massive opportunity to stop the rot and shift some momentum back in our favour after such a damaging defeat over the weekend.
Speaking to the media in his Monday morning press conference, Howe had this to say ahead of the game.
“I always try to be honest, whether we played well or badly. I was really disappointed on Saturday with the result; the performance wasn’t at the level we wanted it to be. We tried to take ownership of that and now focus on the future.”
“We have to defend better. When you look back at the last run of games, we haven’t defended our goal well enough and that’s cost us those games. We need to find solutions to our defensive vulnerabilities and we need to be more clinical the other way, so it’s a bad mix and that’s a big issue for us.”
“The unity is always important; we still have that. The supporters on Saturday were incredible for us, that is never taken for granted. But we must earn it and continue to have the respect of our supporters. I am confident we will have a positive response, and thank the supporters for their loyalty.”
Team news
Lewis Miley (dead leg) will be assessed, with his return feeling vital given Kieran Trippier’s struggles at right-back, while Anthony Gordon (hamstring) is hoping to be back in the squad after training on Monday.
Joelinton (groin) has been ruled out once again, with Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth also absent.
For Spurs, Thomas Frank will be without suspended captain Cristian Romero and 10 other senior players, with the following all ruled out for an injury hit Tottenham side:
- CB: Cristian Romero (Suspended)
- CB: Kevin Danso (Ankle)
- RB: Pedro Porro (Thigh)
- LB: Destiny Udogie (Thigh)
- LB: Ben Davies (Ankle)
- CM: Lucas Bergvall (Ankle)
- CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (Hamstring)
- CAM: James Maddison (Knee)
- RW: Dejan Kulusevski (Knee)
- RW: Mohammed Kudus (Thigh)
- ST: Richarlison (Thigh)
The only boost for Frank will be Djed Spence’s return, giving them a much-needed option at full-back with Porro, Udogie and Davies all ruled out.
Predicted XI
(5-2-3): Pope – Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
OUT: Trippier, Willock, Murphy, Wissa.
IN: Burn, Miley, Elanga, Gordon.
If Miley and Gordon are fit enough to start, I’m sure they will. Trippier needs protecting, for his and the team’s sake, and Gordon’s pace could also hurt a Spurs side missing so many players through injury.
I expect Howe to bring Burn back in, opting for a system similar to the one that caused PSG all sorts of problems, taking Wissa out of the side after Saturday’s stinker and replacing Murphy with Elanga, who has looked much sharper in recent games.
Barnes may need a rest, however. If so, I could see Woltemade back up top, hopefully benefiting from Gordon and Elanga’s energy and pace either side of him.
Match prediction
Put very simply, Spurs are awful at home and Newcastle have been awful away. In one respect, I’m hopeful we can capitalise on their injury crisis, yet we come into this low on confidence, in awful form, shipping goals and struggling to create, leaving many to fear we will be the latest team to let an out of sorts side look good.
My heart says we’ll dig deep and find a way to bounce back, but my head expects a 1-1 draw that will do little for either side.
Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
Let’s give Eddie a chance to turn things around. I’m not impressed with the summer signings. Especially how much they cost the club financially. I expected a lot more from them and they have let Eddie down. Injuries have played a part in a difficult season. I hope things start to improve
Terry(Quote)
Let’s hope this is the match where we do them, 7-0. 😂😂😂😂🤷🏻♂️
I’ll be seeing the doctor tomorrow morning… 😂😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Whai i fail to understand is this horrid reluctance to kick the damm ball in front of goal, do the hard part of getting the ball near the goal and just no finishing at all, it feels like either they are not to shoot at goal or they are allergic to shooting….KICK THE DAMM BALL!!
John Ferguson(Quote)
Howe decided on the signings so you can’t blame top class players like wissa elanga Ramsey and Nick.. it’s his job to manage the team strategy and tactics
Mike(Quote)
Absolutely! I’ve noticed that too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Mike :- Howe is responsible for the signings, but I don’t think they were all his first choice preferences.
Players who didn’t want to join us were tempted by more lucrative deals by the big 6 or were persuaded by the big 6 that what they had to offer was more attractive.
We spent £200 million plus on 5 players and I believe we could have obtained 3 of the players we were after for the same money which would not have impacted our transfer funds but given us the quality we needed.
As for a centre forward £55m for Wissa was a very bad strategy in terms of his age 29, and his Isak like attitude to Brentford, it should have been a non starter.
Elanga, Woltemade, Ramsey and Thiaw have time on their side.
A bolder earlier move and “cough up” for Trafford could have secured his services.
OUR TRANSFER DEPARTMENT NEEDS AN OVERHAUL THEY HAVE TO GET DEALS DONE!
Joseph(Quote)
Completely agree but I think Wissa isn’t fully fit, he nearly had a goal on Saturday but for a great goal line clearance , I want to give him a bit more time. Elanga and Ramsey are improving slowly but surely and it’s important to remember Eddie has little time between games to really affect change. We are definitely shot shy outside the box though, I would love to see more volleys and speculative shots tried, all this sideways passing drives me nuts .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon:-
At 29 years of age will Wissa be fit in 6 months time? next year?
If he is training every day with the squad he should be fit already.
I agree we are totally shot shy, and inaccurate ie, Tonali’s woeful effort on Saturday and he had plenty of time to set himself, just sums up the ineptitude in front of goal.
Joseph(Quote)
Spurs are poor at home & Newcastle are equally poor on their travels.
Both managers are under fire at the moment – if ever a game had a bore draw written all over it, it’s this one.
But the amount of players Spurs have out going into this one – we need to be winning it imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brentford with Wissa were a lot more direct. With Mbeumo & Shade they used to get the ball forward quickly & utilised their pace.
We don’t play that way. We are slow in our build up – knocking it sideways, and depending on our wingers – but that’s not Wissas strength – nor is it Wolts.
Wissa was meant to be Wilson’s replacement – but we know he wasn’t first choice. It was Delap or Pedro – the younger development project. Wissa was more a good last resort option – but because we’d missed out on the others & Wilson was leaving, Brentford knew they had us bent over.
Isak demanding his move obviously threw things further down 💩 creek.
I mentioned it yesterday, but Elanga & Ramsey – or the need for them, were forced on us because of PSR.
I’m sure Howe would have kept Anderson & Minteh if we weren’t forced into selling them.
What’s mad is that we spent almost twice as much on those 2 than the profit made on the sales – so how does that work?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Joseph – j think the trouble with the Trafford deal was that City – 1. Had a buy back clause and 2. Had a huge % sell on clause meaning Burnley made more selling back to City than to us for £35-40m.
There have been numerous clubs and agents who have said we have offered a higher fee for players who ended up elsewhere because the terms offered by the other club was better for the player – there is nothing we can do about that.
Until that is addressed there will never be fairness in football.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gordon as striker again! 🙄😳. Ffs! What does Osula need to do to get a game. Three strikers on the bench. And Trippier starts again. Oh dear. Are we going to see yet another loss on the road and do Spurs a big favour?
Hall on the bench too, so Burn at LB.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So Tripps starts tonight
kimtoon(Quote)
Quite bold going this defensive – it needs to pay off because if we concede in the first ten again we’ll need to make at least three subs immediately! Spurs have struggled with a low block but equally can we be organised enough in the middle not to let them play through us? Strategy will be counter attacks and corners, not pretty but I don’t care how it looks, we need a win.
Newkie(Quote)
WTF, Tripps starting. Speechless.
I guess we are just armchair ‘experts’ and don’t have a clue.
Howe the toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Here we go then
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We are all over them and need to capitalize or we will pay the price.
kimtoon(Quote)
Who is coaching our players how to sheet. It’s literally your job to be able to kick a ball.
Been pleased with Elanga and Tripps working well together so far.
Howe the toon(Quote)
We are terrified to shoot.. if only we had a striker…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Get innnnnnn. Willock!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
GetinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnWillock
kimtoon(Quote)
Hang on VAR
kimtoon(Quote)
Get fuuucked! Thats not offside man.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
Level, games corrupt
kimtoon(Quote)
See, nothing Eddie can do about decisions like that
kimtoon(Quote)
Get innnn. Take that one off you fuuuuckers
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Absolutely 👍
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
now try taking that away
kimtoon(Quote)
Gilly Snap lol
kimtoon(Quote)
Again with Var and Taylor … never offside .. that was level.. so f’king corrupt man these officials 😡😡😡
Well in though Thiaw! Now can we hold it?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Hard to judge that half. I think we have been good – notably better ball retention.
But spurs have been woeful. And prob their lack of pressure on us has resulted in the better ball retention.
Please don’t throw this one away. Please
Howe the toon(Quote)
👍😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I just don’t understand why we are so afraid to shoot from out the box… pas it around multiple times then give it away…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I thought the lines were drawn from the point on the player from which they can score. So not the hand
PremAndUp(Quote)
That’s what drives me nuts Gilly, it’s slow and predictable , just want someone to let fly, why not have a punt.
kimtoon(Quote)
So sick and tired of biased commentators as well.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Me too
kimtoon(Quote)
How are we not 3.0 up
Missing too many chances and 3 pen appeals.
kimtoon(Quote)
We are going to let them back in here …
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Effin ref man
kimtoon(Quote)
What did I fuuuking say? 😡😡😡😡😡😡
Bunch of clowns
Gilly Toon(Quote)
ffs
Jammy sods, don’t deserve that
kimtoon(Quote)
Need to get a goal now cause is a real kick in the teeth
kimtoon(Quote)
Diving bastards, cheats
kimtoon(Quote)
Get innnnnn Ramsey
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We really need to be more clinical
And Ramseyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
kimtoon(Quote)
justice
kimtoon(Quote)
Now finish them
kimtoon(Quote)
God Spurs are ****. If we don’t win this one they should just relegate us, deduct all the points and send us to the Conference League. Surely, SURELY this one is in the bag!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
optimist(Quote)
Tonali is starting to worry me, he’s gone to pot lately
kimtoon(Quote)
Bruno down
kimtoon(Quote)
Gutting if Bruno is injured this late in the game
kimtoon(Quote)
West ham 1 .0 up v man utd and Chelsea drawing
kimtoon(Quote)
You just know Taylor will go past 6 mins
kimtoon(Quote)
Finally! That was a very hard watch!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Game over
Exhausted now
kimtoon(Quote)
I have zero confidence in our team to defend a lead, but finally we did. Not good seeing Bruno going off like that though! Hope it’s not serious but I bet he’s out for Villa now.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Me too… my heart cannot keep going with games like this.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And Rayan scores again for Bournemouth. 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)