Today is a big day for Newcastle United and Birmingham fans as the two team meet tonight at St. Andrews in what promises to be a real relegation battle between two teams facing the drop.
We are getting a little fed up of saying we haven’t won in the last 12 league games, but maybe we’ll get a chance to change that after the game. That’s not to say it’s now 13 games, but that we can register a win and break our duck this year.
We won 2-1 at St. James’ Park with a dramatic last minute winner form Habib Beye, and those were certainly much better times for the club and the fans. We were grumbling then about not being higher up the league. We’re worried now that we don’t fall even further down into the relegation mire, which we’re already in of course.
The weekend’s results for Newcastle were a little bit of a mixed bag, being good on Saturday with Sunderland, Reading and Derby all being beaten by just one goal. But yesterday saw both Fulham and Wigan win. Bolton were on the wrong end of the result with Wigan, so they are still 3 points behind us.
But it’s about time we didn’t have to rely on the results of other teams and we did something to help ourselves - like get a win.
The team selection is going to cause some heartburn again we think for the Newcastle faithful. This is the side we’d like to see put out tonight:
Harper
Beye Faye Taylor Enrique
Duff Geremi Barton N’Zogbia
Owen (c) Martins
Subs: Forster Smith Diatta Viduka Butt
We just think Oba Martins must start this game - that’s what we want to see, but we’re not sure that’s what Kevin will do. We still think he’ll keep faith with Alan Smith. 
If that happens we’ll want Smith to get a couple of goals, and then we’ll acknowledge (quickly) that Kevin knew what he was doing all along with Alan. Certainly his fighting qualities are needed tonight.
Here’s the team we think Keegan will pick.
Harper
Beye Faye Taylor Enrique
Duff Butt Barton N’Zogbia
Owen (c) Smith
Subs: Forster Geremi Diatta Viduka Martins
We have to be honest about this game and we do not have a good feeling about the result. We’ve seen teams over the weekend show great fight and spirit. That’s something that’s been missing from our repertoire. Birmingham may have the best spirit of any team fighting for safety in the Premier League, and Manager Alex McLeish is well known for getting the best out of his squad.
He’s starting to do that, and just remember how he had Scotland playing out of their skins against Italy, while he was Scotland’s manager.
Our big concern tonight is that our lot will be outfought by Birmingham. We desperately want the team to win and want to be positive, but we also have to be honest, and say what we think.
We hope the players will prove us wrong and show the fight that is required. We really need to see another Blackburn (0-1) or Arsenal (1-1) type performance - but with a win this time.
The club desperately needs a win, but we’ll even be happy even with a draw, and then we can slaughter Fulham on Saturday. 
A defeat isn’t even worth thinking about.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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58 responses so far ↓
1 Hammy // Mar 17, 2008 at 12:53
If that is the team it’s disappointing to have your better players twiddling their thumbs on the bench while Kev and Terry sit scratching their heads.
I’d love to see Smith dropped just to prove that Ashley isn’t sh@gging him on the side……
Roll on tonight……
2 Jimmie // Mar 17, 2008 at 12:57
Belive this will be the team for tonight:
Harper
Beye - Taylor - Faye - Enrique
Smith - Barton - Butt - Duff
Martins - Owen (c)
3 John // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:09
jemmie i hope your wrong , but i think your probably right…Back to the sam days. Playiong smith Right wing , of even free role..
4 HeronMag // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:10
I am very, very worried about this one.
It’s time for Joey Barton to start showing what we paid £5m for his services.
As for Alan Smith, he needs to bag a hat trick.
Come on KK, we need to see Martins start!
5 geordie in taipei // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:12
Well milners out so he’s gotta play Geremi on the right wing really. He will hopefull play duff on the left and Zogsin the middle with Barton…..i actually think we might do alright tonight….win or draw ..im not usually too optimistic…it maybe that ive just been drinking free guiness at a st.patricks dat party in Taipei..being neither chinese or irish that has filled me with hope…..but i reckon it may be ok tonight.
6 toonhitman // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:13
if thats the team god help us, this really worries me has keegan lost the plot
7 Leo // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:15
jimmie i believe that probably will be the team… which worrys me a bit but hey lets just wait and see
8 toonhitman // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:19
if keegan plays smith does this prove keegan has lost it what do you think
9 Rich // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:22
I think the team tonight will be
Harper
Beye Taylor Faye N Zogbia
Barton Smith Butt Duff
Owen Viduka
Subs: Forster, Geremi, Martins, Cacapa,Enrique
I prey im wrong but i think this will be it!!
10 Jimmie // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:26
I think it important to say that it is the team I BELIVE Keegan will field, not the team I would pick… Smith nor Butt would not make it in my eleven..
11 toonhitman // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:26
im debating wether to give setanta sports £10 to watch the match then again i might just spend it on some cans and listern to it on the radio
12 HeronMag // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43kk_Ffv0JA
PLAY MARTINS!
13 ToonKing // Mar 17, 2008 at 13:40
dunno what to think about today, i really hope KK fields a different team. We MUST get the draw at least.
My only wish is that we don’t see Smith on the Right wing. Other then that i really have no other desire.
Let’s hope for a win, we need it like air. 6 hours to go.
14 Davies // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:08
If Obafemi Martins starts up front I’ll eat my head. Let’s be honest, Smith is going to feature somewhere in the team. If he’s up front, I may have to have a brief cry before the match starts.
15 Toonlad // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:16
I hope when I tune in at 5am Tuesday morning over here, (and maybe have to listen to a commentary in Mandarin or else some obscure dialect eg Sunderland or other foreigners) it will be worth it, because all I will see in front of me is a scoreline that begins to suggest Brum are going home with their tails between their legs. Being eleven blokes, I suppose they should be going home with their tails in that position, regardless.
Give me some points lads and I will gladly rejoice in the loss of sleep! Give me a starting side without the likes of you know who…(the Blond Bombshell and his mate Hairy Butt) and it will be a time of great celebration. Praise de Lord!!
16 THELONGSHANKS // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:20
HARPER
beye,taylor,faye,enrique
geremi,barton,zogbia,duff
owen,martins
This is a great team and if we played this until the end of the season we will be safe.Fat chance cuz smith and butt are definate starters.
17 steve // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:27
Anything other than a win probably means relegation for us, a defeat will be catastrophic and leave us with a huge mountain to climb with players confidence at a really low ebb for the Fulham game who will come to St James full of themselves after defeating Everton.
We can do it but it probably means KK has to drop Smith at the very least
18 ELFER // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:30
disagree and this will be the team KK picks:
Harper
Beye Faye Taylor Enrique
Duff Butt Barton SMITH
Owen (c) MARTINS
Subs: Forster Geremi Diatta Viduka N’ZOGBIA
19 Jimmie // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:35
Duff on the right and Smith on the left?? hey wake up , Sam is long gone… = )
20 ObaFan2 // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:43
Never been this nervous for a long time before a game.
If Oba plays then I’m not that bothered if Smith plays behind the front 2………. I’d prefer he was dropped tbh.
Another player I have doubts about is Taylor but again hope he plays well especially with Faye next to him helping him out.
Time to stand up and be counted, every outfield player has to prove their worth and show their fight for their club.
If Enrique is again picked on as a weak link then Zog or Duff should drop back and help whenever neccesary.
Come on the TOON.
21 AlexW // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:44
harper
beye faye diatta enrique
duff barton geremi n’zogbia
owen/martins smith/viduka
thats our best team i would imagine
22 Hilly // Mar 17, 2008 at 14:46
I think Joey Barton’s form could well make or break this game for us. He hasn’t looked very good as of late and the service into our forwards has suffered because of it. Our width is decent right now. If Barton can provide us with the link through the middle, I think we have a very good chance of winning tonight. Provided Owen can put something on goal…
23 James // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:07
It boils down to this :
If he picks Butt and Smith yet again (like we all fear he will), then we will lose
If he shows some balls and decides to start the game with 11 men by dropping Butt and Smith, then we will win
Upto you KK.
But if you continue to show faith in Butt and Smith we will be relegated - FACT
24 Betting on the Toon // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:12
Surely Martins has to start tonight? He was very good when he came on last week and deserves to be given a chance alongside Owen. Tonight is one of those games when the senior players (Barton, Owen and Duff in particular) need to stand up and be counted and it will all be about character. A defeat and it will be a real struggle to survive. The season hangs on this result - a win and that can be built on but lose and the confidence could take another irepareable knock.
25 ObaFan2 // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:12
Imho Butt has a footballing brain, he can see the pass or interception but he cannot complete most of the time.
Smith however is like a headless chicken, running around aimlessly and getting yellow cards and for some reason he has forgotten where the oppositions net is.
Our midfield has been terrible for most of the season, unable to help cover the back four and unable to supply the front two (in general,some exceptions but not many).
26 ObaFan2 // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:14
Oba is the only player who can make something from nothing.
He has to play.
27 James // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:17
ObaFan - what use is being able to see a pass but not being able to complete it? Butt is the biggest liability in the whole team.
—Against Man Utd he gave the ball away 59 times.
–Against Blackburn he gave the ball away 37 times
–Againt Liverpool he gave the ball away 24 times.
–Against Arsenal he gave the ball away 33 times
This puts enormous pressure on the team that we can do without.
28 daiv // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:20
Butt, Barton and Smith = defeat. Simple as that. If KK picks the side you predict Ed, he is a moron and we will lose. Move on to Fulham. We have to win that game. We can beat Brum but not with the team predicted
29 daiv // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:21
Spot on James.
30 Leo // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:28
how did you get that info james? please tell me you didnt sit and count them? i tried once at a home game and got sick to death. he is a liability…
anyone know of a good place to get my car serviced in the north east? just benfield want 350quid for a major service and am not stumping that much out…
who do they think i am… newcastle
31 Howie // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:32
if martins,nzogbia dont play in favour of butt/smith i expect a 2-0 defeat. if they play we might be able to get a 1-1. if someone offered me a draw right now i would take it immediately.
32 toonhitman // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:37
come on the toon must win this game the neet ,no excuses
33 James // Mar 17, 2008 at 15:39
Leo - I counted. My mate I would put bets on to guess the number because it is always so high. Sad but true. If Butt always plays and screws up the team I may as well try to make money out of it.
Does anyone know if he has actually been dropped this season? I know Smith never has, though not sure about Butt. As far as I know the only games they have missed are the ones they have been constantly suspended for.
Another good game we played was guess the minute that Smith gets a yellow card. Always a sure fire bet
34 simen // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:09
I’m really looking forward to tonight, but with mixed emotions I’m afraid :S
Must say I agree with Ed about his team:
Harper
Beye Taylor Faye Enrique
Duff Geremi Barton N’Zogbia
Owen Martins
I actually think Geremi has been awful this season, but he has probably gained some confidence in Africa, i hope!
A win today would be absolute fantastic! Come on lads!
35 Mighty Mouse // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:23
Harper
Beye, Diatta, Cacapa, Enrique
Faye
Geremi, Barton, Zog
Oba, Viduka
36 Mighty Mouse // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:25
no room for sentiment
and I’m assuming Diatta and Cacapa can reform their partnership from Lyon a few years ago
37 simen // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:27
Saw the video HeronMag. If Martins plays like he did last year, hes magnificent!:) I remember him last year, when he had up to three, four players around him and still got away! Sometimes i couldn’t believe my own eyes;)
When Roeder backed him he played extremely well, but i think his confidence has dropped an awful lot since last year, and the Inter days. Hope he can get it back with a brace today!
38 ObaFan2 // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:27
Where did I say I wanted Butt in the team?
Selective reading fgs
39 faustino // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:44
Butt won’t play and Smith will imo.
Smith and Owen to score in a 2-1 victory.
40 Leo // Mar 17, 2008 at 16:48
has anyone noticed how when west ham announced their new technical director the press are like, west ham have been scouring the world for someone to take the job and they will work well together to find good transfers etc…
but when we announced wise vetre and jiminez it was all, they are going to destabalise keegan etc… bloomin arses
41 kenyan ronniezog // Mar 17, 2008 at 17:19
am a kenyan magpie and i and other kenyan magpies cry all the time after the match due to keegan’s “misselection” for the sake of newcastle fans please play this team today harpe,beye,faye,diatta,enrique,geremi,barton,n’zogbia,duff,obafemi,viduka
42 stantos // Mar 17, 2008 at 17:27
I have been coming to terms with the fact that we re going down now for weeks. If we dont its a bonus. I m fed up of having my balls ripped and stamped on by the pathetic idiots we have playing for us. 3 nil loss tonight minimum we re down.
43 Edd Case // Mar 17, 2008 at 17:35
Harper
Beye Faye Taylor Enrique
Duff Geremi Barton N’Zogbia
Owen (c) Martins
Subs: Forster Smith Diatta Viduka Butt
YES to the above - however, like many of you, I think Smith and Butt are unbelievably still starters.
44 CRAIGG // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:22
Some really nice words from Maik Taylor about the king:
“Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor believes his former boss Kevin Keegan’s confidence will not have been affected by Newcastle’s dismal sequence of results since he returned to the Magpies.
Taylor is a massive fan of Keegan after playing under him at Fulham after he dropped down two divisions to link up with the former Liverpool legend.
Taylor has no doubt Keegan will revive the club’s fortunes - particularly with the squad at his disposal. But he will have no room for sentiment when the two sides meet as City are also desperate for points in the battle for survival. The Northern Ireland international said:
“I loved playing under Kevin Keegan. I was in the Premier League with Southampton when Kevin took me to Fulham and I wouldn’t have dropped down two divisions for anyone else.
But it was Kevin Keegan with his enthusiasm and everything else so I did it.”
“We had a fantastic time. We achieved promotion from what is now League One, won the title with six games to go and broke records along the way. He gets you believing in yourself, feeling on top of the world and ready to take on anyone. ”
“It is great for your confidence, the things he says about you. Every game you play you don’t look at the opposition because you are so fired up about yourself. That is the mentality we went out with at Fulham because of Kevin and I am sure that is the mentality Newcastle will go out with. He’ll be rallying his team and having them looking up the table rather than looking over their shoulders. ”
“The way he is about the place is very infectious. At Fulham, his will to win rubbed off on the players.”
“I think football is better for having him involved again and I wish him all the best - but we’re fighting for survival as well and we need to take the game to them on Monday and get the points. I hope they get out of it but not at our expense. First and foremost I hope that we stay up but I don’t think Newcastle will go down with the squad they have.”
I think we will take something tonight, But a loss in my opinion is not catastrophic as i cannot honestly see Bolton or Fulham getting near 38 points, The must win games are Fulham, Reading and Sunderland at home.
45 scott9 // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:25
hahahahaha its quite funny how we all hate smith and butt with a passion yet they are the first names on the team sheat
46 scott9 // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:25
i would play the team that ed has put on this article apart from i would maybe rest taylor for diatta
47 subz // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:35
As someone said the other day, ” If it’s broken you need to fix it.” Not fixing the glaringly obvious has left us in this situation, and the more it continues, the more you have to think that something is going on behind the scenes.
If an unchanged side walks out tonight, I might actually cry, We will go down on the current form of a few players!
SO PLEASE GOD, LET THERE BE A LIGHT ON IN KK’s HEAD.
48 Spyro a.k.a Dragoner // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:40
Come on the toon!
49 Spyro a.k.a Dragoner // Mar 17, 2008 at 18:42
I actually would like to see smith play today as he can be useful in games where we need to fight, however, if he is playing crap i would like to see him subbed by the 60th minute latest, forget butt, he can come on in the last 20 to 30 mins if we are a goal up and need to break up the play
50 obafemiMartins // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:02
dont know bout everyone else fellas, i cant wait. i havent had butterflys like this since the cup finals. i think we will win 3-1 tonight and i dont ever get confident about games. just been watching oba on youtube, WOW! this man has got to play. c’mon the TOON.
51 Griff // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:07
VIDUKAS STARTING.
52 big pea ov the weab // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:14
any 1 got a link to game
53 obafemiMartins // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:16
WHAT A F***NG TEAM!!!
54 obafemiMartins // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:19
WHAT A TEAM, WE REALLY ARE GOING FOR IT. OBA 2, VIDUKA 1, MO1, 4-1, CMON OBA RIP THEM APART
55 Hobs // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:19
Harper
Beye, Faye, Taylor, Enrique
Geremi, Butt Barton
Martins, Viduka, Owen
Official
And the subs..
Forster, Carrol, Zogbia, Smith, Cacapa
56 CRAIGG // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:25
Now that is a Kevin Keegan side!!!
57 CRAIGG // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:30
Hate to say i told you so but ive said all week that smith was starting as Viduka and Martins were injured
Not a totally faultless team
If i was playing 433 with the available players I would play :
———–Harper———–
-Beye-Taylor-Faye-Enrique-
–Barton-Butt-N’Zogbia–
Owen—Viduka—Martins
I would start Zog over Geremi But as good a toon side as ive seen in ages!!!!
58 Hobs // Mar 17, 2008 at 19:35
Let’s just hope that Barton will provide us with the creativity needed in midfield, so that the strikers aren’t starving. If the midfield doesn’t work we’ll be stuck with long balls towards Viduka
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