Match Day Thread Newcastle vs Man Yoo

Thought I'd be a bit cheeky and get in early and do this as I've never done one before!

Sunday 11th Feb
Kick-off is again at 2.15pm to fit in with the demands of Sky TV
Ref: Craig Pawson

Ref Watch: ****er with the whistle this weekend for us is the one and only Craig Pawson who also took charge of the earlier fixture between the two clubs earlier in the season which ended in a 4-1 defeat for us. Stats are as follows:-

Apps (17/18) - 18
Yellows - 70
2nd yellows - 3
Straight reds - 2
Pens given - 5

Sunday will be his 4th outing in the middle for us this season, which is 2 more than Jesus Gamez has managed for us this season

Huddersfield (a) - Lost 1-0
Liverpool (h) - Draw 1-1
Man Utd (a) - Lost 4-1

Hoseay brings his current crop of Red Devils to SJP and prepares to lock horns with the guy he replaced as Chelsea boss back in 2013.

You only have to go back as far as 2015/2016 season for the last time we managed to take some points from them at SJP in a 3-3 draw, you have to go back a bit further for a win on home soil (11/12 season).

Points on the board as quickly as possible are needed but unlikely to come in this fixture being realistic about it. Three of the four teams below us all have home fixtures this weekend so we could well find ourselves in the bottom 3 by the time the weekend draws to a close.

News on the fitness of Islam Slimani will be eagerly anticipated, as will the whereabouts of Joselu, fingers crossed he's still under the weather with whatever ailment sidelined him at the weekend. Reports of it being severe bruising to the arse cheeks following a kicking from several first team players as well as the manager following his ****-show against Burnley are unconfirmed.

Assuming Slimani is fit, we may well line up as follows:-



Subs: Darlow, Clark, Gayle, Merino, Hayden, Murphy, Atsu

Prediction: 3-1 to the visitors

 

Only change I'd make to that team would be Ritchie out Murphy in but other than that good effort, if you're looking for inspiration though maybe take a look at one of Chippys Matchday Threads

 

much better than chippy's efforts

 

This is a match thread - ACS take note.

 

Had a quick look at a few of them beforehand. Looks like ACS can't really be arsed from what I could tell, so I figured owt more than the score would be an improvement

 

I think the best idea here would be to try to keep it tight and for that reason I'd be tempted to go 3 at the back and get wing backs into play. I'd then have three across the middle and Perez off Slimani up top. Perez drops deeper and works hard to should be a good combo.

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Would have to pick Joselu if Slimani's not fit.

Expect Rafa to do something similar-ish, but a bit more 5-4-1.

 

You are lucky if you get the name of the opposition.

 

Like this line up

 

Best we could do:

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Slimani masterclass. 3-1 to the lads.

 

**** thread.
0-4 defeat.

 

I can’t see anything but a 2-1 win

 

Dunno about that line up, some wierd mis-shapen number 6, with Kennedy too far back and 3 central midfielders.

As much of a buffoon Clark was, he's been than Lejeurne and Mbemba for me, and we need more width on the wings, that formation's too heavy in the middle. No sure about plunging Dubravka in yet either:

so something like:

-----------------------------------Darlow---------------------------------------
Yedlin--------------Clark------------------Laecelles------------Dummett
Murphy------------Diame---------------Shelvey---------------Kennedy
-------------------Perez-------------Slimani--------------------------------

Gayle (groan!) in for Slimani if he ain't fit, and Ritchie on for Murphy in second half if Murphy ain't doing it

 

Dubravka

Yedlin
Mbemba
Lascelles
Dummett

Shelvey
Diame

Murphy
Merino
Kenedy

Slimani

Job done. Easy win.

 

If this game is not a draw then it's probably going to be won by United

 

Is everyone REALLY sure they want Dubravka starting? He's completely inexperienced in the Prem and only has a handful of international appearances, starting against Man U in his first game would be a bit of a baptism of fire.

On the positive side though, he's ****ing HUGE.

 

At least he hasn't been scarred by previous encounters with Man U

 

Love that front 6 mind, i think that could cause a bit of trouble

 

We’ve bought him because there is a problem at goalkeeper. Rafa seems to have really wanted him so he must rate him. Regardless of oppo I think we need him in. If it turns out he’s turd we’ve lost nothing because Darlow has had a shocking few games now.

 

Can't think of a better team to make my debut against than Man Utd in all honesty. We're at home as well so it's not like he's walking out into the cauldron of Old Trafford. Darlow has made some howlers in the last few games that better teams would have punished us for...granted we still haven't won them but against better opposition we wouldn't have picked up points like we have luckily. He'll have had 10 days to train with his new team mates so they'll have a fair idea of what he's about by now...and vice versa!

 

I literally didn't see the '6' til you said it.

It's 3-5-2, with wing backs, mate. I think we need to overload the middle 'cos ManYoo don't use wingers. They constantly cut inside, it's where all Lindgards goals come from.

If we go 4-4-2, just like we have many times, we'll get comfortably beaten. We need to play to strengths and 4-4-2 ain't it.