Today’s game marks the first official game under new interim manager Joe Kinnear, and most Newcastle fans are hoping for something out of the match, and a win if at all possible.
The good news is that Everton have lost all three league games at home this season, and played in the UEFA cup last Thursday evening, so with any luck they will be out of form, and tired too. 
If that happens then we may have a chance of a win, but really it will depend more on how Newcastle play than what Everton do. We’ve been promised by captain Michael Owen and manager Joe Kinnear that the Newcastle players will be full of fight. We expect every single player to put in an honest and good shift tomorrow afternoon.
That is something that has been missing for a while now, and if we can do that, and Everton are not at their best, we may well surprise a lot of people. Certainly it seems like Joe and the coaching staff have done lots of good work with the players this week, especially on the defense, and also on getting the lads to talk to each other and help each other on the field more.
Joe Enrique and Danny Guthrie are both back, and we expect both to start. But Habib Beye unfortunately is still struggling with his Achilles injury, but should be ready for our next game two weeks tomorrow, at home to Manchester City - another 3 points hopefully.
We expect Joe to announce the following team:
Shay Given
Geremi, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique
Damien Duff. Nicky Butt. Danny Guthrie. Charles N’Zogbia
Michael Owen (c), Xisco
Subs: Steve Harper, Shola Ameobi, David Edgar, Sebastien Bassong, Claudio Coloccini, Ryan Donaldson, Nile Ranger
Right back is a problem spot without Beye, but we expect Joe to go for experience with Geremi, since he played there quite a few times for Chelsea, after all. We expect Danny Guthrie to come in as a straight swap for Claudio Cacapa, who looked a little pedestrian in the middle of the field last week.
Danny Guthrie should be a good addition to the team, and we may be able to get a hold of central midfield tomorrow, something we failed miserably to do in the first half last week against Blackburn.
The defense also needs to be a lot better than we’ve been for the last few games, and we’ll be looking for sound games again from Nicky Butt, Michael Owen and Damien Duff. We certainly cannot make any more stupid mistakes on defense, like last week, when both Blackburn goals were preventable.
One of the few bright spots last week was the wing play of Duff, who looked great again on the right, and young Charles N’Zogbia is also starting to show up well, now he is back in his best position on the left wing.
Fight, determination, character and passion is what we look for tomorrow from the players, and if we don’t get that, it will be hard to win the game.
But we feel quite positive about tomorrow’s game, given the good week Joe has had to inspire the lads and get their heads back on football. We expect a good performance and we’ll be disappointed if we don’t get one.
Howay The Lads!
56 responses so far ↓
1 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:19
I’ve heard he may pick Ameobi…hope not.
2 micknufc // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:24
howay lads we need points now,i hope joe has give them a right going over
3 ERIC CRAMMY MAG // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:32
howay the toon 7/2 worth a tenna of anybodys cash
4 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:33
on paper it will still be a good team we put out tomorrow (apart from ameobi). but the thing is that the team has played with a complete lack of confidence and direction in the last few games. hopefullybthere will be some improvement coz having joe kinnear is better than having nobody
5 Lintoon // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:38
Have we signed Fabricios brother without me noticing. I wonder why Claudio Cacapa is not on the bench and Collocinis brother made it
6 ToonEskimo // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:38
According to SSN Gerry Francis has been asked by Kinnear to assist in the coaching at the club,
why don’t we just take the magpie off our shirt and put a freaking cockeral on instead!!!!
7 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:44
calm down tooneskimo, we need all the help we can get at the moment. anyway we just need to hang on n ride this shitty period out, cause in a few weeks time it is highly likely that we will have new owners and KK back
8 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:44
There isn’t a Magpie on our shirt, it used to be in earlier badges though I think.
9 ToonEskimo // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:47
You’re right 51 times, late 70’s I think,
v neck, big collar…..I’m sure somebody will tell us exactly when the badge changed….
10 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:50
yeah why do we have sea horses on our badge lol. i actually really like our badge tho n i’m used to it now so wudn’t want it changed. we’ve had our current badge since the early nineties, before then it did have a magpie however i do think our current 1 looks a lot better
11 A.L 9 // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:52
Clever Toon I read somewhere before that the Sea Horses represent the conection with the sea because of the shipbuilding.
12 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:53
when gazza played for us we had the magpie badge. when KK played for us the badge had no picture it was just made up of the letters NUFC
13 norn iron magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 0:57
I didn’t know gerry francis was workin at stoke. Clever-toon-lad. Agree totally. It can only get better mate
14 Black and white forever. // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:05
“clever-toon-lad” You are right. But the “C” was below the “NUF” at right angles and the magpie was inside of the “C”. If memory serves me correctly.
15 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:05
well ive jst saw that couple of papers tomorrow are printing that keegan has told some of the players he could well be back! apparently he was at a charity golf thing hosted by steve harper on thursday. also says that a member of the public asked him if he was coming back and he replied “watch this space”
16 norn iron magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:06
Agree with post 7. Always wondered about the sea horse things. When i was at school i used to design new badges on my books. Teachers used to give me grief.
17 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:13
A.L. 9 - That would make sense.
18 norn iron magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:14
Interesting stuff sorry folks. Im new to this blog. Been reading it every morning. We are the best fans in the land. Coming fron Northern Ireland everyone supports man u scum or liverpool. So i get a lot of slagging down the pub and at work. Now most people feel sorry for us.
19 norn iron magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:17
‘Watch this space’ sounds good.
20 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:20
norn iron mag - I’ll always have sympathy with our fans from outside the North East who have to put up with people who support big 4 clubs and such.
21 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:23
the south africans definately want KK back and i think he will if the take over. but it might be sum1 else who ends up buying the club, just depends who makes the best offer to ahley i guess
22 Winston P // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:29
I hope whichever team Joe puts out 2moro gets an good reception and the crowd gets behind the team and gaffer.
A few good results could clear some clouds over St James.
23 Dan13 // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:31
I’m undecided if I want Keegan back,
yep he’s a great guy, manager and motivator.
However, I still am a bit worried about his rep for walking out, his principles sometimes take over too far.
24 cause I got the girth // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:31
The Newcastle Utd crest is modeled on the city’s coat of arms, which has the sea horses on! The sea horses represent our past connections with the sea and the castle represents the castle keep, ye knah, next to the high level. So there you go, learn something new everyday!
25 Black and white forever. // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:35
As long as the lads give at least 100% out on the pitch later today, I will be happy.
We are in tough times. Poor results of late, but I look on the bright side of things. YES we are in a poor league position, YES we have no full time manager, YES our club is out for tender to the highest bidder. This is the lowest that we have been for a long time. BUT things will only get better, we need time with a decent manager and sufficient funds to achieve the managers ambitions.
Well as D:Ream sang “Things can only get better”.
26 Gordon // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:40
Right didn’t impress Bobby Robson:
“Kinnear has received some fresh criticism for his tirade against the local written press on Thursday and that it has come from Sir Bobby Robson will not help Kinnear. “I think the anger was genuine,” Robson said, “but he [Kinnear] needs to be bigger than that. I found it all a bit unsavoury and in my view he let the club down.”
“If he hoped the confrontation would motivate his players, I’m not sure it will work,” the former Newcastle manager added. “Senior professionals like Shay Given, Damien Duff and Michael Owen aren’t suddenly going to become inspired by their manager swearing at some reporters. To them it’s irrelevant.” ”
77% Impressed - shameful
27 norn iron magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:47
New owner new manager a fresh start. Still not sure about KK coming back. My heart says yes but my head says no. The mid 90s are long gone we were the big spenders then. So many teams are super rich. Not sure if alan shearer will be in charge for a while maybe 5 years. Very interesting info post 23.
28 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:53
I’ve always thought the City’s motto ‘Fortiter Defendit Triumphans’ (Triumphing by Brave Defence) should be added to the club badge somewhere. Then again, when have we ever triumphed by brave defence?
29 norn iron magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:53
Bobby Robson is from the old school. A proper gentleman. Im sure my grandad wouldn’t be impressed either.
30 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:53
keegan is still a very good manager with a great football philosophy. n any manager would have done the same in his position with the way he was being undermined. even wrenger n fergie (the 2 bet managers in the world) have said he was right to walk n that they would have done the same
31 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 1:58
lionel messi is the best player in the world by miles! i know that has nothing to with the toon but just thought i’d mention it cause i am sick of people saying c. ronaldo is the best when he can,t be compared with the glorious messi
32 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:03
Personally my favourite player in the world is Kaka, but he hasn’t been in form for a while now so I’d agree that Messi is probably the best in the world. I think Iniesta has the potential to be the best as well.
33 Black and white forever. // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:03
Anybody else think it would be daft to stick Bassong on for the first half instead of Geremi? Fair enough he is not a natural left back but neither is Geremi. Bassong is faster and younger. Still needs to learn about playing in the premiership but that will come in time with matches.
34 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:04
keegan was with us for 5 years the first time and 4 years at man city wich is pretty long in nowdays football. hopefully he will come back and give us a good 3 years then hand over the rains to shearer who will hopefully also turn out to be a good manager playing good football, coz he could then be our manager for 20 years if he’s good
35 Black and white forever. // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:04
Should have read right back.
36 Gordon // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:04
@clever-toon-lad - Messi is brilliant - but when has he scores 40+ goals in a single season?!
That’s a major factor why CR gets so much praise.
37 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:06
messi lot better than kaka. it is not opinion it is fact. he will end up coming close to maradona
38 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:09
gordon its not just about scoring. zidane only scored 10 a season but every1 knows he is 1 of the greats. great achievment by ronaldo last season but messi’s football brain is far superior
39 51times // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:15
That’s what they say about every good young Argentine.
40 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:20
messi isn’t just good, he’s amazing! altho yea they hav in the past compared players to maradona that were nowher near.
i hope everton are knackered tomorrow from playing away in europe on thursday
41 clever-toon-lad // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:26
a mint fact: sunderland’s squad has cost more to assemble than arsenal’s squad!
lol well spent keano!
42 Gordon // Oct 5, 2008 at 2:28
Personally if I could take either the best winger in the world (in Clever-Toon-Lad’s opinion: Messi) or add FORTY goals to my side by taking Ronaldo I’d have to go for the latter.
I love Messi, but he doesn’t have as much as end product yet. Simple fact.
The future could be ever better than Ronaldo’s though - who I think has a suspect temperament and horribly oversized ego.
43 MichaelOWaN // Oct 5, 2008 at 4:58
As long Ameobi doesnt start, we should have some chance of winning the game.
44 matt(the original) // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:06
well, yall think ameobi’s better than ronaldo?
man, cant wait for smith to get back from injury
at least we have our flying irish winger
and former lyon centerhalf who captained them to five consecutive league titles
and good ole stevie boy on 35k a week.
ha. sorry guys, ive had a few.
like to see more of nacho though. maybe a start??
45 Tom // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:12
Ah, Claudio Coloccini is on the bench I see Ed? Excellent! :p
Also, sorry, but Steven Taylor should not be in the team at the moment. He has put in some shocking displays, isn’t all that good to begin with, and does not deserve to keep walking into the team as he seems to be! Bassong should be alongside Coloccini, and Taylor should be dropped to sort his head out.
46 Edd Case // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:34
I really wish he drops Taylor, who’s made some absolute howlers recently - and plays Bassong instead.
Other than that, on paper, the team looks promising.
Lets just hope that we don’t have to go 2-0 down first before we start to play some football.
47 Nick 69 // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:54
messi is a lot lot better than ronaldo IMO, messi is also 2 or 3 years younger than ronaldo, ronaldo was nowhere near as good at the age of 20/21 as messi is now!!! i personally think bojan could well become the best player in the world in a few years aswell, hes absolutely awesome aswell
48 Nick 69 // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:55
can i just point out that although i cannot stand shola, he did do a LOT more in 45mins than xisco did the whole match against blackburn, xisco is absolutely terrible!!!
49 Dutchmag // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:59
Newcastle have made an offer for Stefan Nijland.
50 Guinea Mag // Oct 5, 2008 at 11:18
Ed, the team looks good although Bassong should get a start based on his last few games; i.e. played better than Taylor who needs the kick up the pants to realize he’s replaceable….
Something tells me Taylor may start at RB and Bassong as CD as Kinnear prefers tall players in his side; i.e. is Taylor the new Vinnie Jones?
Hoping for 3 points as Everton are certainly beatable!
51 Ageordiedoonsooth // Oct 5, 2008 at 12:32
The current badge on the shirt represents the clubs close links with the City of Newcastle. The difference is the 3 castles on the shield have been replaced by black & white stripes and the latin underneath replaced by the words Newcastle United. The Castles represent the “New Castle” & the seahorses that Newcastle is a city closely linked to the sea & shipping
52 xfer // Oct 5, 2008 at 12:38
Claudio Coloccini, our new player?
53 Dutchboy // Oct 5, 2008 at 12:47
Stefan Nijland will be coming to Newcastle as Dutchmag says.
54 Dutchboy // Oct 5, 2008 at 12:48
Stefan Nijland is coming to Newcastle.
55 Turkish magpie // Oct 5, 2008 at 14:09
@ ed lol claudio coloccini:)
56 Tom_Toon // Oct 5, 2008 at 17:37
Dutchboy - Nijland has only just signed for PSV and we cant sign him till jan anyway.
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