Newcastle (H) - Sun 8th May, 16:30 | Pre-Match Thread

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Cracking game right at the end of my first year as a seasoncard holder. Nearly got trampled by a police horse before the match because I was 9-years-old and not looking where I was going - thankfully my uncle (no longer with us) grabbed me by the arm just before I walked into its path, haha.

Can still remember Wanchope scoring his header, oddly enough, long ago as it was. Seem to remember it being the first goal he'd scored at the new stadium as well and then he immediately got another two when we battered Everton on the last day of the season when we were already safe.

You forget how good that Newcastle team was - playing in the Champions League, Bobby Robson in charge, Shearer up front. Was a big achievement at a vital time. 2004 and 2007 are the closest we came to relegation during the John Wardle years (god bless that man) and big 1-0 wins over Newcastle kept us up both times.

James replacing Seaman in Jan 2004 probably also contributed to us staying up that year.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

James replacing Seaman in Jan 2004 probably also contributed to us staying up that year.

That sentence sounds quite medical.
Staying up due to the replacement of seaman?

 

[Mike N]

The victory under Keegan at home is one of my favourites. Proper atmosphere and really important win. We had some good players in that team.

 

[14aguero]

The players probably will be able to hold their nerves until the last match of the weekend. I am not sure I can.

 

[jamesha]

Just the league to focus on makes things a lot simpler. We will get four wins and be champions again.

 

[wolviedinho]

Is Pogba and Haaland available? ;)

 

[lasereyes]

Dipper fans make me laugh talking about us playing Aston Villa last game and the 'Gerard' factor!! "Why will he be playing"? F'kin idiots.

They made the same argument about Rodgers in 2019

 

[Mick_]

As a Newcastle fan I think my expected scoreline is 3-0 and anything better than that will feel like a win. We are a much better team now than when Howe first came in as it's taken him time to work on the players. I don't think we're on the beach yet but we're not good enough to get anything from this unless something really stupid happens.

Our defence can make mistakes and I think your forwards will get behind us with ease after the first 15 or 20 minutes. Our wide defenders are very slow, our central defenders with both have a mistake in them. Bruno is really good for us but he will need better players around him before he'll make a difference against a quality team like you. Shelvey is slow, he runs as if he's trying to drag a bus up Everest and he can't tackle, if he does tackle he's likely to get a card.

I think Joelinton and Bruno will do OK but get outnumbered in the middle. Saint-Maximin is a strange one, he's tried to pass more lately and has become less effective. I prefer the greedy Saint-Maximin as he can do some damage when he runs at teams. He probably needs a pre-season to work on his passing rather than changing his game during the season. Wood will probably start as he holds the ball up well but is unlikely to score, he's more likely to be flagged 20 times for off-side than score a single goal.

Wilson and Trippier would make a huge difference to us and I think both will start on the bench and might get on at some point, I think when they get on, if they do, it will be too late to do anything more than get some match fitness.

I don't think you or Liverpool are going to drop another point so the league is yours this season.

 

[chaddblue]

Just the league to focus on makes things a lot simpler. We will get four wins and be champions again.

Agree. Dippers having 2 cup finals in 6 games equals dropped points in the other 4 games

 

[lmhblue1]

They made the same argument about Rodgers in 2019

My favourite from that season was when they kept banging on about Conor Coady playing against us and then he scored.................. an own goal.