March is here, and it’s going to be a massive one.
After four straight domestic defeats at St James’ Park, capped off with us pressing the self-destruct button in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Everton, we have two more huge home games this week and a March full of vital fixtures.
Premier League meetings with Man Utd, Chelsea and Sunderland – all of which are so important to keep our European hopes alive – along with an FA Cup fifth round clash with Man City on Saturday and a two-legged tie with Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.
To save a season in danger of slipping away, we have to improve at both ends of the pitch and find an answer to our recent woes at home, with Eddie Howe under pressure to find a solution after getting it all wrong on Saturday.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, Howe had this to say ahead of another important game on home turf:
“We want to be consistent. We want to be our best in every game so it’s a frustration for all of us. We are trying to find solutions to every problem we have.
“The players and my staff did a really good job of trying to bring it back to that. We did some good work on the training pitch (on Monday), one of the rare opportunities we’ve had to do that, and today will be the same.
“It’s highlighting themes and mentality to our performance that will help us in our next run of games. They are all pivotal games. The games we have, we have to try and be positive and relish those games.
“We can’t play with any fear, need to go and attack the games and be as positive as we can be.”
“Our intention in every game is to get into them, be a proactive team rather than a reactive team. Attack them. They have tweaked things tactically; they have a really good atmosphere there.
“You can see an upturn in their general performance; they have some really good players. It is a chance for us to rediscover our best form at home.”
Team news
Jacob Ramsey has recovered from sickness and should be OK, although Nick Woltemade (sickness) hasn’t trained, leaving him a major doubt for the match.
Tino Livramento is “close”, but this game may come too soon. Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth remain out.
For Man Utd, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire should be OK after illness forced them off in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Palace, but Lisandro Martinez looks set to miss out alongside Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu.
Predicted XI
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall – Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.
OUT: Pope, Burn, Woltemade, Elanga.
IN: Ramsdale, Botman, Barnes, Murphy.
Match prediction
Since Michael Carrick took temporary charge, Man Utd have won six and drawn one of their seven Premier League games, picking up 19 points in a period that’s seen us accumulate just four!
They have the form on their side and come into this 15 clear of Newcastle and up in third – but we do have home advantage under the lights. The question is, will we take advantage to turn around what’s become a worrying run of results on Tyneside.
I think we’ll respond, but our leaky defence worries me against an in-form Benjamin Sesko, the best No.10 in the Premier League in Bruno Fernandes, and two difference-making wide men in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Man Utd
Howay the lads!
As soon as the first sentence came up about March being a massive month, I can’t read the article! It’s ridiculous but I never want to know who we’re playing more than one game ahead. Two maybe…though preferably one at a time.
But I wanted to comment a bit. I feel that Eddie WILL do better with a lot of the squad next season. Of course it’s the World Cup but hopefully he’ll have more time with last summer’s additions to make it all meld together. Also, the Champions League is exciting but also a curse too! Wonderful, but too many games. Keep the faith!
Adam(Quote)
The home games under the lights don’t have the same positive effect on results .. here is hoping for the best but expecting the worst .. Eddie’s body language and demeanour at the press conference felt like a demoralised unhappy manager .. let’s see if he can turn this around
Mike(Quote)
Because the “attackers” in Wissa, Elanga and Woltemade have been so poor the midfield and defensive players have been forced to contribute more in forward positions which leaves a hole behind the fullbacks and behind the midfield and defence, hence we conceded more goals.
Trippier and Burn are too slow to cover and Tonali, Hall and Thiaw have been run off their feet trying to cover for their expeditions forward.
It seems a negative formation but 5-3-2 may be the best solution bearing in mind what we have available and Howe’s total reluctance to give younger players a chance even when the no risk opportunity exists.
As for Pope a new keeper is the only solution.
Joseph(Quote)
I think March fixtures will help us out. We will soon be out the FA cup and Champions League and then only the league to focus on. Not that I want us out of the competitions, but with current form, I cannot see us beating City in the FA cup or Barcelona over 2 legs in the CL. Home advantage is no longer an advantage. This month will see our season disappear I think.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And tonight, we play one of the red septics. Darlings of the FA. You just know every decision will go for them, no matter how contentious or controversial. If there’s an opportunity to send one of our players off, it will happen, if there’s an opportunity to give Manure a penalty they’ll get it, and we will be denied. Our lads best shave their heads and cut those toe nails because you just know they will be offside for any goal we have the audacity to try and score.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly Toon:-
And although they are billions in debt they are still allowed to spend as if there is no tomorrow plus Covid corruption they got away with.
Joseph(Quote)
Absolutely mate!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
It feels like a lot of our players attentions are with the WC rather than our seasons end – maybe I’m being unfair but that’s how it feels to me. Playing for themselves & their WC place – avoiding injury and playing their own game to audition for their national managers.
I’ll put money on Tino & Bruno being fit for our last 6 or 7 games.
Again, maybe unfair but Bruno is out in Brazil having a little family holiday coz he’ll be busy this summer – coz which other player is allowed to just leave for their native Country with a thigh injury or hamstring or whatever it is.
Posting regular in the pool with the kids or out fishing!!.
Where’s the squad togetherness there?? Why isn’t he in the stands or on the training ground supporting his team mates as club captain???
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – that’s a good point mate. I feel like Bruno has earned a break given he’s been almost ever present for us but with where we are right now and especially with Lascelles having exited recently then surely part of his job as captain is helping sort out this mess? Would be different if we were winning every week but come on…people might not have liked Lascelles and yes he barely played for us at the end but I bet he wouldn’t be holding back on some of the performances on the weekend. Putting more pressure on Trips to do it and tbh he needs all his time to focus on his own game!
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – honestly mate I’ve not had a days sick leave in the last 5 years – and the reason it’s 5 years is because I was forced to be off in isolation with covid (BS).
I’ve earned a break – but if you want to pay my £150k a week or whatever he’s on, then I’m there morning, noon & night – captain or not.
They are probably all ready for a break – so will get it coz they won’t go to the WC, others won’t.
But imagine that locker room when you just been beat by Everton, the fans are booing & you check you’re insta to see your captain dressed to the 9s heading out with his missus.
Hard for Howe to ask more from them when he’s let Bruno off to go sun it up like 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There was always a load of nonsense about Bruno’s hamstring injury, if it was a grade 3 tear as was suggested in Brazil, which is a complete rupture or detachment of the muscle or tendon it typically takes 3 to 6 months to heal, with some taking up to a year if you need surgery.
They have either underestimated the extent of the damage to suggest he will be back before the season ends.
Or underestimated the damage which is even worse.
Joseph(Quote)
Joseph – he’s a question though, irrespective of the extent of the injury – which member of the medical staff thought he’d recover the quickest by taking his wife & 2 kids back to Brazil 🤔
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy 17 :-
Could it be the the one who wrongly diagnosed Botmans injury or has he fallen off the cliff à la Putin or hotel balcony😂
Joseph(Quote)
Not looking forward to tonight at all.
kimtoon(Quote)
Can’t stand Manu. This game has come at a potentially bad time with us in poor form and then in their best form for years.
It will be intriguing to see how we balance wanting to be intense and aggressive but also realising that our best approach may be to let them feel confident and push forward with the ball and we hit them on the counter. Going to be tough, but I really really hope we get it right today. Cmon the toon.
Howe the toon(Quote)
I’m very apprehensive too. It’s the small hope that gets you. It’s going to feel so good if we can do it tonight
Howe the toon(Quote)
Sharpy – I know what you mean lad, I’m usually the same re days off, but can’t compare mere mortals like ourselves with footballers 😂 it’s a strange one, I mean he is an asset and surely the club should be able to look after him better when he is here, which is essentially all that matters given he’s our player. Still with our medical team, maybe the strategy is get him as far away as possible and hope for the best. Look at what’s happened with Miley, we must have had the worst medical staff in the league for about 25 years now!
Newkie(Quote)
This is the most infuriating thing – to my understanding there is no restriction on spending on the support equipment and staff. I know they have spent and improved things…but if money is no object why don’t we have the BEST staff, the BIGGEST support team and the BEST equipment. Surely we could blow everyone else out of the water with wages offered for these staff. Would rather spend on players etc but if they change the rules to restrict us then we should find ‘solutions’ to use our wealth in more creative ways
Howe the toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Just got back home. Hope we get something here
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Very good start but we have to score
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh my days, why is it so hard to score
kimtoon(Quote)
Forest have levelled v City
kimtoon(Quote)
What did I say? What did I f’king say? Any opportunity to give us a Red… cu.nts
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Never a dive that. Bast.ards
Gilly Toon(Quote)
FFS that’s not a dive man, funny we were on top they had to find a way of shafting us
kimtoon(Quote)
Pen given to us, but VAR looking now
kimtoon(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
Now, do not concede .
kimtoon(Quote)
Get innnn Penalty… Gordon gets it.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Oh good god
kimtoon(Quote)
9 mins … NINE, corrupt basta..rds bound to happen. Sh.ite
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sick of the refs in the PL
kimtoon(Quote)
Absolute joke. Where is that added time from? Ramsey is touched and didn’t even call for a penalty anyway – so not a dive on two counts. How long do we have to put up with this ****
Howe the toon(Quote)
Really good performance. Although Tripps is a total liability (not punished yet but will be).
Such a shame the ref has done their best to ruin this.
Sitting in and playing on the counter isn’t necessarily the worse thing for us in the second half as we tire. Tall order to get a result though..
Howe the toon(Quote)
They will be knackered for the second half. Don’t understand how we cannot hang on to a lead, I am sick of our defensive frailty . And where did all the extra time come from ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Ramsey will miss next game now
kimtoon(Quote)
Banks is the T**T who didn’t give Gordon a penalty against Chelsea yet sends Ramsey off for that.
Wants F*****G shooting!
Just hate the refs and var !
Joseph(Quote)
Our refs and var are corrupt criminals. I said, on here this afternoon, the ref would find a way to give us a red card! Shocking decision once again. We cannot win with 11, how the the hellwill we survive with 10.. and Ramsey was excellent in midfield too.
Not to mention, Joelinton being a total a’hole applauding the ref when he got a yellow card. he’s a red waiting to happen too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Forest get a point from City
kimtoon(Quote)
*** golden chance
kimtoon(Quote)
If we don’t get something from this then I give up, we have been by far the better team, even with 10 men.
kimtoon(Quote)
Now Gordons looking iffy hamstring ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Need to really concentrate this last 10 mins or so.
Osula on for Gordon, Elanga off Murphy on
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s our speed merchants gone off
kimtoon(Quote)
Please do not lose this
kimtoon(Quote)
This is stressful
kimtoon(Quote)
What a save Ramsdale
kimtoon(Quote)
Do not let them score
kimtoon(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
What a fuucking goaaaaaallllll Osula
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Get in !!!!!!!
Now hang on!!!
Joseph(Quote)
Thank god for Ramsdale just a minute before.
5 mins extra time
kimtoon(Quote)
Please do not concede now
kimtoon(Quote)
Tonali off Botman on
When is he gonna blow ffs 7 mins now
Just blow the **** whistle
kimtoon(Quote)
Job done, deserved win
10 men brilliant, Tripps had a great game
kimtoon(Quote)
How good does that feel. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Brilliant performance. Well done boys.
Howe the toon(Quote)
Oh my word. We won! How the hell did we do that? What a goal from Osula. Cracking win.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Brilliant save from Ramsdale….are you watching Pope!
That’s more like it.
Joseph(Quote)
That F’king ref added 18mins to the game. 10 first half and 8 second. Seriously?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Ramsdale was excellent tonight.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well done newcastle united I’m so proud of the team today. Especially down to 10 men I have always classed manu as scum over Sunderland. A great win
Terry(Quote)
Are the Howe out brigade going to give him any credit for tonight?
PremAndUp(Quote)
PremAndUp:-
I think Howe’s tactics and inability to change things are rightly questioned rather than fans wanting him out.
For those who want him out, you would have to find someone better which wouldn’t be that easy.
Joseph(Quote)