Well, we lost a game against Bournemouth, we couldn’t win against Liverpool when we should have and have fallen 5 points behind the leader Man City in the league table. Things aren’t going our way, with the injury list as big as it can get and some very unfortunate red cards shown to us. And to top it off, we get to play the third game in a week against a very physical, aggressive Newcastle side away from home.
But, I’m sure Arteta would be showing our last visit to St. James’ Park when we were shoved (Gabriel – Bruno), had verbal altercations (Rice – Bruno) and wrong ref/VAR calls were given (the only goal of that game). There’s only one thing we can’t control, but we are going to counter their physicality with our ‘Dark Arts’ and I’m sure players Kai Havertz would have been giving lectures.
It’s a very important game for us, Newcastle are vulnerable at the moment and if we manage to win, it keeps us in the title challenge.
Team News
In the team news, Big Gabi is doubtful to make it to the playing XI after missing out the game against Preston. William Saliba is the only surety in that backline, after serving the red against Liverpool which he picked up in the Bournemouth game. Ben White has picked up a joint injury and didn’t train this week, so he could also miss out. It will be a conundrum for Mikel to pick the back 4. Kiwior, Zinchenko, Saliba, Timber are available for sure, Thomas Partey could make it at the RB if Mikel tries to be smart and sacrifices one of Kiwior or Zinchenko.
Odegaard, Tomiyasu, Tierney and Calafiori will not be available.
Zinchenko made the Preston game so he is most likely to start at LB position And Timber should start on the right side. It’s going to be a very tough, physical, intense game and I hate to say it but Calafiori was more suited for this than Zinchenko. Newcastle are a tough team and they play a good attacking, pressing game. Kiwior dropped a good performance against Preston and if it’s up to me, I would rather see him play than Zinchenko.
Midfield? It’s going to be usuals – Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino. Partey still has his footballing vision intact but he has lost some of his athleticism and is pushed off the ball very easily. In a physical game, we need players than can shield the ball from opposition and take those blows without affecting one own’s performance. Declan Rice can do that but Partey can’t. I would rather fix Rice as a DM, Merino by his side in the defensive duty and let Nwaneri play an advance role like Odegaard used to do.
Front 3 should be back to basics, Marts, Havertz and Saka. Lets not try to be smart here.
Wrapping Up
We had beaten Newcastle 4-1 at home the last time we played in Premier League. Havertz, Saka and Kiwior were on the scoresheet with the 4th goal being an own goal from Botman. Willock scored from the Newcastle side. We had lost the first tie when Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal was the highlight of the day. The ball was out of play, ref and VAR decided it wasn’t and it was given a goal against us.
We have a problem physically if Ben White is not available today. Newcastle and Bruno G in particular are going to be physically intimidating. Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey can sustain that a bit but we need someone to be on offensive side. Havertz is the only one left with ‘Dark Arts’ and I would surely miss Ben if he don’t make it today.
I want us to thrash them, humble them a bit at their home and I want us to move closer to the top of the league.
Right, that’s all for today. See you during the match.
Hi Ambarish
Something you didnt mention – it is the early game of the day with a 12.30 kick off – we seldom perform well in early games. The Takems are not performing to expectations so will be up for a physical contest to fire up the early crowd – no doubt there will be a lot of shirtless Geordies in the mild weather.
Shirtless Geordies NORG…and there was I, just tucking into some particularly greasy fried eggs for breakfast.
I have no sympathy for the trials of Newcastle fans. A shit, trophy-less team whose expectations far outweigh their club’s abilities. Always a pleasure to beat them. I agree with you that the early kick off won’t help. I assume they would have flown up to the northern wastelands yesterday so freshness won’t be an issue. A two-nil incident packed win I predict.
And don’t get me started on their owners who politically make Trump sound like Roy Hattersley after an especially big mug of Horlicks. 🖐️🔪🖐️🔪
Good piece Ambarish. You have an impressive grasp of the details to go with your journalistic writing style.
Iffy reds and dodging refs are only a small part of our current malaise, Ambarish if you can count them at all, I don’t and see them as excuses.
I’m in TRVL camp who has explained in recent posts exactly why we are where we are; poor recruitment to be chiefly to blame. Ditto not playing Ethan in more games.
MA is 100% to blame for our plight and no one else. Players’ form have dropped and our Jose tactics don’t suit our PL title capable winning squad.
I agree with KP I dislike the regime of Saudi Newcastle. I read something about the crown prices not being happy so Eddie will need to do something with no wins from his last 5 games.
Eddie will set them out to wind us up so there could well be a red card or two today, with this season’s new laws being interpreted to the letter of the law by the refs who are under more pressure than ever to get things right. Last week a game had 12 yellows in a well mannered game, but the silly yellows were given and the players and managers should know better.
Whether they will this lunchtime we will have to see in just under 3 hours. I also get the ref consistency complaints from the silver foil brigade, but things even themselves out and have already if those people are honest with themselves.
MA makes his luck or dies on the poor recruitment hill, because he’s only got Ethan as his wild card right now and a player who can curls the ball into a top corner with ease.
What we can’t give is our little Fawlty Towers Manuel like manager more excuses: he’s had enough over the last 5 years and is committing the same mistakes still from his rookie days.
I see a very bad tempered 2:2 with MA red carded when losing it with the officials and embarrassing himself and the club. Zinchenko isn’t our level and never was; ditto Jesus.
It could be worse, but I’ll take a point from the end of the footballing PL world in the North.
Injury free would be a good result for us too.
KP
Newcastle is the east side of the Country version of Liverpool. Friday nights are full of mouthy drunk females wearing short skirts and covered in fake tan. I have been to a few games at St James and usually we were the victors. The site of a row of huge fat bellies is enough to put anybody off food especially a fried egg floating across a plate of grease.
Both Fotmob & Live score have Big Gabs, Jesus, Calafiori, Tomi and Ode as injured with sick-note KT our perma-croc.
Means White, Saka, Merino, Saliba, Timber and Kiwior are all fit to start.
If so, only a win is acceptable.
There is one standout highlight of games between Newcastle and AFC. Who can forget the magnificent goal scored by DB10 – assisted by Robert P.
For those who are rugby inclined, the autumn internationals kick off in earnest today with England v NZ, where it’s hard to see how we win this although the Kiwis have dropped a level from nigh on unbeatable, to open to be got at, as the Springboks have done recently.
https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2024/
We have started well…
Damn.. we are gonna Howe’s job don’t we
We’ve been going through the motions and let Isak get between our CB duo.
Said Newcastle would want the win but long way to go.
Funny how you and zi see the same game differently Ambarish 😂
We haven’t asked any questions of Newcastle just content to keep the ball with no real intent.
Newcastle have more directness hence the goal.
21 minutes in and no shots on target with 4 off target with 61% possessions shows we have nothing up top. Now relying on set pieces again
Newcastle look most likely to score again. Timber can’t cope not our midfield that can’t defend and create.
They have found a way to get over our pressing – just lift the ball and Gordon / Iska would do the job… At the moment, we don’t have an answer to this…
That was a brilliant ball from Saka, where the fuck was Havertz at? In defense?
Set piece almost worked but shit in open play
How did that not land in the nets… The footballing gods are not with us today
Too early to sub Trossard out?
We need Nwaneri
For Nwaneri Ambarish good call
Bruno G trying to kick Merino and getting injured? LOL
Tony
Yes, we are going to see Nwaneri IN very soooon
Levtomento has got Marts in his back pocket. Needs subbing too
Hope so Ambarish the kid is special
Martinelli used to do the most atrocious and score goals. Brazilian samba football. Looks like ElB has finally managed to file away all his creative edges.
Now Martinelli just has speed.
Not surprising ,I’ll call Arteta a graveyard of talents.
Havertz had 10 passes 8 successful made one tackle and that’s it for 40 minutes so no wonder we don’t score.
Brilliant Hoopah
Howe taking notes on how to draw fouls and get somebody red carded.
LoL
Guys, Thomas Partey read our blog.
This game needs us with 3 at the back and 5 midfield including wing backs to win the midfield
Parters having a blinder 😂
Partey’s
Hoopah,
He is gonna bring his bodyguard at half time.. it’s not too physical for him yet.
No shots on goal so deserve to be losing.
We’re way off the pace Arteta really needs to get us playing a lot quicker and Havertz needs to get in the middle and give us some options.
Beyond that can someone tell me what the point is of having Zinchenko on a couple of hundred grand a week if he can’t come in as back up left back?
Marc, it’s because no one wanted Zinchenko when MA tried to offload him & Jesus with no takers.
Agreed we need Kai up top as a 9 and Nwaneri in midfield take off Merino and let Partey and Rice hold the DM spot on the pivot. Let Nwaneri create with one of Rice or Partey.
Keep the full backs in wingback to drop back to make a 5 or move forward tp support Saka Havertz and Marts.
We are overrun in midfield which was how they scored.
Eddie Howe who hasn’t won a game in the last 5 has better tactics than MA. Not by much but they’ve looked the better side, as Marc says we need to get out of 2nd gear…..