Newcastle United are on a decent run of form, having taken 7 points from our last 3 games. In the game at Craven Cottage last Saturday, it was our first away win since the first game of the season, when we beat Bolton 3-1. Last Saturday’s game was also painful to watch, whoever you are – in fact it was very painful.
But during the last week we noticed that a win is a win, and we felt pretty good all week with the 3 points.
Today, Newcastle United have a wonderful chance to make it 3 wins in a row. That’s because we are at home to the very worst team in the Premiership – Derby County – who also happen to be bottom of the league and 7 points adrift of the second bottom team Wigan. It just so happens we play Wigan in our next game, on Boxing Day. Derby have just 6 points, and half that number came from their win against Newcastle United at Pride Park, earlier in the season 1-0. That was one of the worst performances of the season for Newcastle, unfortunately.
That in fact is the third good reason why we should go all out today, not just for a win, but for a good win, and send the Newcastle fans home for Christmas in the holiday mood and ecstatic. That’s the very least the fans deserve, after the wonderful way in which they have supported the team this season.
It will not be easy, we know that, but please enough is enough – Derby County are not Arsenal or Manchester United. Apologies to all Derby County fans reading this. This is honestly not meant to be a personal attack, but we are just making a point why our team must win today. 😀
We’re sure the Newcastle fans will be very patient this afternoon, but the players and Sam must deliver the goods. And if they can do that, then at least for the next 3 days everything in the Newcastle United garden will be rosy, in fact very rosy indeed. We may even be able to write some stupid stories about finishing in the top four in May.
As far as team selection goes, we have a good chance to put our most attacking team out today. Why is that? Simply because Derby are the worst side in the league, have already leaked 39 goals in their 17 games, and have only scored 6 times all season. Hey, we may be able to get a clean sheet too.
If we cannot attack Derby County tomorrow from the very first whistle, then we’ll not attack any team this season. We should go after Derby’s weakness, and that’s their defense. This is the Magpies side we’d like to see take on Derby County today:
Given
Beye Cacapa Taylor Enrique
Milner Butt Barton N’Zogbia
Smith Martins
Subs: Harper Rozehnal Geremi Viduka Emre
But we know Sam will not pick that team, although he should if he wants to go into the holiday program with a good win. The team we expect the big man to put out today is:
Given
Beye Cacapa Taylor N’Zogbia
Geremi Butt Barton Milner
Smith Martins
Subs: Harper Rozehnal Enrique Viduka Emre
As far as Derby County are concerned new manager Paul Jewell told the official Derby County site yesterday:
“ What we need is to start showing more belief in the final third.”
“It’s easy for me to tell the players not to play with any fear because they are human beings – but that’s where they need to get their heads right.â€
Paul Jewell has several injury concerns. Andy Griffin (our former right-back) and Stephen Pearson are doubtful, while Rob Earnshaw and Dave Jones have also picked up injuries. It looks like Matt Oakley will also undergo a late fitness test.
The likely Derby County team for today is:
Bywater, Mears, Moore, Leacock, Davis, McEveley, Oakley, Barnes, Teale, Howard, Miller
We actually got the result right last week. Our 1-0 win prediction finally came off against Fulham. As most of you know that was only because we spent a couple of long nights going through the form, and then running lots of computer programs on the game. Or was that the one we picked out of the hat just before we wrote the preview?
Well, never mind, today is a lot easier for us – we expect Newcastle to win easily 3-0.
Comments very welcome.
We also want to welcome all Derby County fans to our site today. 😀
13 comments so far
Tripp
Dec 23, 2007 at 3:35 AM
Comment #1I’d like to see us come out in the 4-4-2. I think it plays to the players’ strengths better. I’ve watched the Fulham game 3 times this week (don’t have any good books to read and it’s been bloody cold and icy so I can’t go out and juggle around) and the forwards just don’t get good service. Martins looked particularly adrift. Only a handful of balls were sent his way (granted the thru ball by Barton should have been a breakaway, Oba just mistimed it). Duing the first 10 minutes that Emre was on the pitch we regained the edge (of course, the next 10 minutes saw FFC apply some sustained pressure and Cacapa did well to save us on a number of occasions). I’d like to see him play 90 minutes, but his track record as a sub is actually pretty good so, perhaps a 60th minute substitution is about right. I don’t mind Milner on the left because I think, particularly against DC, he’ll be able to cut back and cross with his right foot. He delivered a very nice cross to Barton in the Fulham game like that. He clearly prefers that foot, it’s a shame that he’s not on the right. I’d pay 50 quid to talk to SA about his team selections. I hope we come out guns blazing and attack attack attack. That’d be a nice xmas present.
Howay the Lads!
Kevin
Dec 23, 2007 at 4:19 AM
Comment #2Obviously we all hope for a 6-0 drubbing. But DC showed us last time around that no team in this Premiership will allow us to just walk on the pitch and win for nothing. We’re not that good and they’re not that bad. And while we played an awful game last time, and many fans will think of it as a one off, we need to come out onto the pitch today with a HUNGER, and with PRIDE. If we stroll out there thinking that a win is already in the bag (like we did last match) then we will draw or lose. And we CANNOT afford to draw or lose against any more bottom of the table sides.
I think Ed got the teams spot on and expect Martins AND Barton to shine today. I’m hoping Taylor plays well enough to earn that elusive contract and Given gets me a nice fat clean sheet for my fantasy team.
COME ON LADS! Three points and we could be stepping up the table!
Indian toon
Dec 23, 2007 at 4:51 AM
Comment #3DERBY DEMOLITION. its definetly goin to be a 2-0 win.
Bobby Ollox
Dec 23, 2007 at 5:25 AM
Comment #4You know what – we have the eyes of the world watching us today, and we have every opportunity to claw back some of the damage to our reputation this season.
We have a team who have played together for half a season, and are improving week after week – playing against a despondent and demoralised DC – we have a home match, at a time of year when the fans will behind the team – we have the added incentive of revenge against the humiliation of our earlier defeat to them.
There is no reason why we cant go out and show the world what football means to newcastle, on the pitch and on the terraces – I expect, I demand a positive, committed , passionate performance from both.
Indian toon
Dec 23, 2007 at 6:25 AM
Comment #5ALL I DEMAND IS ATTACKING FOOTBALL. I WANT ATTACKING FOOTBALL . I WANT ATTACKING FOOTBALL.
jeremy9
Dec 23, 2007 at 6:42 AM
Comment #6The game I saw last week was probably one of the most boring games I have ever seen. I really hope I don’t have to see a game like that again. I’m guessing 2-0, or 3-1 win for us.
Does anyone know a good website where I can stream this game, or any and all premier league games for that matter. Thanks.
Jinal
Dec 23, 2007 at 6:46 AM
Comment #7Bearing in mind that the optimism i’ve had in these “blow over” games has really turned around to bite me badly, I’m just taking whatever comes.
I’ll be cheering and shouting towards my little computer screen nonetheless.
HOWAY THE LADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ausgeordie
Dec 23, 2007 at 8:32 AM
Comment #8I dont want to see a game like last week but if it finishes the way the last one did I’ll be over the moon. What we need to do is go into this one looking to improve our goal difference. We need to get into positive figures bearing in mind aston villa are on 8 and we are -2
Sean
Dec 23, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Comment #9I’d like to see something like this as we are at home to a crap team :-
……………………….Given……………………….
…Beye…….Cacapa…Taylor…….Enrique…
……………………….Butt…………………………
……………….Barton……Emre…………………
……Martins…………………………..Smith……
……………………..Viduka………………………
Play like a 4-3-3 because last week when viduka came on we looked dangerous, the same could be said about the birmingham match. So we’ll have smith winning the header, Viduka holding it up then either playing in martins or laying off barton or emre for the shot. 3 very good passers of a ball in midfield and 3 good headers of a ball up front. What does everyone else think?
P.S – ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!
newcastle fan
Dec 23, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Comment #10i hope we win before crimbo
i think we should sign santa cruz from blackburn insted of benni:D
newcastle fan
Dec 23, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Comment #11given
beye cacapa rozehnal enrique
milner butt barton n’zogbia
smith martins
we should win 2day 3-0
liam
Dec 23, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Comment #12………………………..Given……………………………….
………Beye….Cacapa…Rozenhal….Enrique………
…………………..Butt……..Barton………………………
……Milner…………………………….Emre……………
…………………..Smith……Martins……………………
liam
Dec 23, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Comment #13Maybe we should sell viduka back to middlesborough as he is not happy and neither are we, i thought he’d be a good signing but i was wrong. get crouchy or defoe
Come on the toon 2-0