Jonas Gutierrez, as expected, will make his Newcastle United debut tonight at the very stadium he has played at for the last three seasons.
The Argentinean starts in midfield alongside Danny Guthrie, Nicky Butt and James Milner for the opening game of the Mallorca Summer Cup against Hertha Berlin.
Also new signing Sebastien Bassong is included on the Newcastle bench.
Steve Harper,as expected will start in goal, with Geremi, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa and Charles N’Zogbia forming the back four. That’s a different looking back four from the first few games, especially with the full backs.
Interesting that Keegan is giving Geremi a try out at right back, where he has played many times before, and which may even be his best position.
Interesting also that Charles N’Zogbia is being given another game at left back – and perhaps Kevin is starting to like what he sees in Charles in that position, since the young French star can still come through and score goals, as he proved last season.
Danny Guthrie gets another start in central midfield with Nicky Butt, with Milner and Gutierrez presumably the wide men, and Milner may start on the left.
After his fantastic game at Hartlepool we’re a little surprised Damien Duff is not getting a start tonight – but maybe Kevin is holding him back for Sunday night.
Shola Ameobi and Alan Smith again start up front in the absence of Owen, Martins, Carroll and Viduka.
It’s a pity Kevin didn’t bring young 18 year-old Italian Fabio Zamblera along for the experience, given all the striker injuries we have right now.
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Claudio Cacapa, Danny Guthrie, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner, Alan Smith, Jonas Gutierrez, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Shola Ameobi, Steven Taylor
Subs: Jose Enrique, Damien Duff, David Edgar, Frank WIafe Danquah, Ben Tozer, Tim Krul, Mark Doninger, Ryan Donaldson, Jonny Godsmark, Sebastien Bassong
Hertha Berlin: Christian Fielder, Claudiano Bezarra Kaka, Teve Von Bergen, Sofian Chahed, Santos Cicero, Marko Pantelic, Rafael Caetano, Mark Stein, Rodneo De Lima, Bryan Arguez, Fabian Lustenberger
Subs: Jaroslav Drobny, Srdjan Lakic, Valeri Domovchyski, Maximulian Nicu, Sasha Bigalke, S.Radjabali Fardi, Lennart Harrtmann
Referee: Ivan Gonzalez
Attendance: tbc
Hertha Berlin – tba
202 comments so far
yet_another_indian_toon
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Comment #81CF, CF, CF. Thats what KKK wants….
Jon69
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Comment #82So wanted Shola to prove people wrong… Have to admit I was wrong! And as for Smith, is he really playing? Jonas could be a star though.
Great Website, BTW.
Toonboy
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Comment #83Midfield playing very well,Milner looks like he needs afew games under his belt imo,we would be 3 up if we had decent strikers on the pitch,some up 45mins Steve
Neville Brewis
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Comment #84Can’t find this game help, I have friends around for the 20.00 kick off only 4 mins to go.
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Comment #85front 2 might as well have stayed on the beach, f’g clueless…but was that ever going to be anything different, might as well play duff up front…or given!
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Comment #86neville it kicked off at 7!
http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/fri1.8/Hertha_Newcastle.html
Channel 11
D.C.
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Comment #87Jonas has looked pretty good for his first game. And you can leave N’Zogbia with Smith and Shola as far as I’m concerned. Far as I can tell his attitude still sucks and he still won’t defend at LB. Still thinks he’s bigger than the team, IMO.
Neville Brewis
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Comment #88GM Oh no I have just looked at the posts! Thank you so much, at least I did not miss it by two days like the euro semi final.
Toonboy
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Comment #89@Neville
What do you mean cant find the game???
Its on setanta
keeganjr
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Comment #90ameobi(bambi) and smith has to be sold. they are crap.. have to get some pace in this team. guthrie looks like a great buy with spiderman
Neptoon
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Comment #91spiderman has been class all of first half. very hard worker and good defensively too
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Comment #92u aint missed much…you need sop cast installed
Neville Brewis
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Comment #93Toonboy I looked on setanta there were adverts when I put it on-still are. Thanks D:
obafan
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Comment #94Guthrie is looking a tidy player and great work-rate from spidey!
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Comment #95@keeganjr — who the f would buy them, best we could do was get them away for 500k pos 1mill dont even think they are SPL standard !
Tommy K
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Comment #96Sholas not been that bad, hes isolated its like we’re playing with 10 men with Smith.
Also Shola might not be the quality we need but at least he wins free kicks, where as Smith gives them away.
keeganjr
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Comment #97our to buys this summer are the two best players on the pitch… wake up MA
Neville Brewis
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Comment #98AARGH its talking about sunderland now-oh here we are thanks lads.
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Comment #99anyone any info as to the new buy???? 12 hrs and counting KK or rather MA !
normski1930z
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Comment #100smith has been hopeless in that first half….. please one of the glasgow teams come and take him off our hands for say giz a purpley and a black jack….
keeganjr
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Comment #101We have some crap teams in norway who can use them…mohahah
keeganjr
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Comment #102lokomotiv scored against chelsea 1-1
reillers
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Comment #103Conceded 65 goals last season only less then Reading and Derby..oh goody.
Neville Brewis
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Comment #104Normski whats a purpley jack black?
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Comment #105reillers – only scored 45 !! more worrying
Jon69
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Comment #106@Tommy, sorry but much as I’d love to back Shola, he has all the striking prowess of a middle aged one legged Koala on tamazapan. Face it, it’s time to to the decent thing. But you’re right about smith…
And we still need a creative CM!
reillers
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Comment #107GM..Isn’t that just a fantastic wee record. I’d, personally rather to concede less then score more, if you know what I mean. But knowing Keegan he’ll be happy once we outscore a team, concede one score two type of attitude.
Man U conceded the least goals last season and they won the thing. In my opinion you tighten up at the back and the goals will come.
51 games without a goal for Smith, going back to Man U.
keeganjr
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Comment #108guthrie is an excelent passer
steve
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Comment #109Geremis passing a bit wayward to say the least
Isaac Hunt
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Comment #110Shola injured. Who’s coming on for him? Should be a right laugh
Isaac Hunt
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Comment #111Duff’s on
GEORDIE L3G3ND
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Comment #112u hav 2 giv smith another chance, if u remember correctly he woz given a central midfield role last season, which is not his best position, at his former clubs, he woz used as striker, tht is y man utd signed him, they must hav thought he woz gud enufff upfront
and as for shola ameobi, yea he is a bit clumsy, but he is good in the air and he played good wen played alongside shearer, so perhaps all he needs is a player he can play well with,
and from wht we hav seen so far, a smith and ameobi partnership is not doin so well, but i hope 2nyt proves me wrong,
COME ON THE TOON!!!
reillers
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Comment #113Was that..no it couldn’t have been I thought I saw Taylor defending something. I’m loosing it a wee bit. LOL!!
steve
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Comment #114shot be hertha – deflected off taylor – duff comes on for ameobi
Hertz
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Comment #115milner just cant cross !
steve
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #116header about a foot over the bar – goal kick to toon
GM
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #117shola off complete and utter plank
Dondatta13
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Comment #118Nice to see Keegan completely ignore Shola Bambi-obi when he was subbed lol …. Thats it Kev, pretend ya busy passing on new instructions hahaha quality!
Toonboy
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Comment #119great run from Duff,just what we need.
Isaac Hunt
Aug 1, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Comment #120WHaaaa? Duff on target