Tomorrow’s game at Leicester gives the Newcastle team an opportunity to show how good they are, with this game being televised live around the world.
In what has been a successful week in the transfer market for Newcastle United, especially the last couple of days, Newcastle have brought in four new players. That’s in addition to the earlier signing of Danny Simpson form Manchester United.
Wayne Routledge of QPR and Mike Williamson from Portsmouth have both been signed to three and a half year deals, and today the Newcastle club announced the loan capture of QPR defender Fitz Hall, through the end of the season.
Also this morning, Newcastle said they had signed Chelsea’s 19 year-old Dutch left back Patrick Van Aanholt, on loan for a month, as cover for the injured Jose Enrique.
So things are looking up right now at the club,. and we are still hoping for Victor Moses to arrive.
We know that Real Madrid may be interested, but he’ll never get a game there, and we understand he is keen to play first team football – which he will get at Newcastle United. It’s a no-brainer for the lad isn’t it? 😀
With all this good news anything but a win tomorrow afternoon at Leicester City will be a disappointment.
But let’s make no mistake, the Foxes will give us a very tough game tomorrow afternoon in the late game – the game kicks off at 5:20 pm local time.
Manager Nigel Pearson will have his side ready against his former club, just like he did when Leicester came of Newcastle on the last day of August, and outplayed us for much of that game, but Newcastle eventually scraped by in that game and won 1-0.
And there’s a good chance that Newcastle will start three of their new players tomorrow with Mike Williamson, Wayne Routledge and Patrick Van Aanholt all in the frame to start the game.
Williamson showed on Wednesday night, that we may not miss Steven Taylor too much when he’s out injured with injured knee ligaments, and if Mike keeps playing the way he played Wednesday night, he’ll be pushing strongly for a first team starting place .
In fact when Steven returns he could slot in at right back, if Coloccini and Williamson continue to play well over the next several weeks. What a back four that would be !
Newcastle have a boatload of injuries right now with Barton, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique, Danny Simpson and Shola Ameobi all out injured.
However, Ryan Taylor is available again following his one game ban for being sent off last Saturday at WBA, and Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez has recovered from his slight injury of Wednesday night.
We don’t even know if Geremi has returned from the African Cup of Nations – which reminds us – we need to move Geremi out of the club by next Monday, and that will help cut the wage bill.
Chris Hghton will still have some selection decisions to make, and we think the following side will start the game:
Harper
Taylor (R) Coloccini Williamson Van Aanholt
Routledge Smith (c) Nolan Gutierrez
Carroll Lovenkrands
Subs: Krul Kadar Tozer Butt Guthrie Ranger Pancrate
That starting eleven may be a little hard on Tamas Kadar, who has looked solid in the last couple of games, and Tamas could start tomorrow in either full-back position tomorrow, and it wouldn’t surprise us.
He started at right back on Wednesday night and then switched to left back when Frenchman Fabrice Pancrate came on to replace the injured Jose Enrique.
So Tamas has already played across the back four for Newcastle, and we continue to believe this boy will have a great future at the club.
But that’s a good starting eleven, and we’re looking forward to seeing how Routledge performs tomorrow , since he looked threatening when he was on against Crystal Palace, and of course set up Ranger’s injury time goal. to seal the points for the Magpies.
He looked very good, but the surprise performance of Mike Williamson, who gave a sublime performance of skill and coolness in his debut, stole most of the headlines.
We also liked the way Mike kept talking to young Tamas Kadar, and it showed he’s not only a good player, but he also has good leadership skills – her could turn tout to be a great singing for the club, but yes – it’s just one game after all.
With Routledge and Gutierrez as out and out wingers, the side is starting to resemble the one that Bobby Robson had in place at the club some 7 years or so ago.
We’re nowhere near as good as that side of course, but Routledge will help with creativity, which has been lacking this season, and it was good news to hear that Joey Barton will return to full training on Monday.
We hope Joey is a changed man when he gets back, and no doubt the lad will want to contribute to the side, after being out for several months with a foot injury, in what may well become a promotion season for the Magpies.
But this will only become a reality if we keep our feet firmly on the ground, and not carried away with our success.
So the battle to promotion continues tomorrow afternoon, when we hope we can come through successfully, in what promises to be a very tough test against the Foxes.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
96 comments so far
batty
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Comment #81well like i say mactoon miss ya ur 1 of the better posters 😉
geordielad880
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Comment #82i admit when im wrong your just a cock head batty
batty
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Comment #83nite lads not u geordielad880 ya smelly gresy arse ole
MacToon
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:48 PM
Comment #84looooool nite trouble
batty
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:48 PM
Comment #85geordielad880 ur just a dirty mackem lairing scumbag
geordielad880
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Comment #86lol nite batty, come on the toon for tomw!!!!!!!!
batty
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Comment #87nite geordie
geordielad880
Jan 29, 2010 at 11:53 PM
Comment #88if newcastle can score first tomw, i dont think leicester will reply, they have a poor scoring record
ksmit
Jan 30, 2010 at 2:11 AM
Comment #89ahh…. unfortunately live over the whole world does not include Canada… while this makes no difference to most it is heart breaking for me!
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 30, 2010 at 4:20 AM
Comment #90geordielad880, you are dead wrong on nile ranger my friend. The kid is only 18 and he has bags of talent.He has pace like a gazelle, handles the rock pretty good, and his finishing needs some work but he will get there. He is only 18!!!!! I don’t understand why you are so down on the lad.
Sgt. Heagerty
Jan 30, 2010 at 4:23 AM
Comment #91Predction for the match, 3-1 toon. I think we will be hard pressed to keep a clean sheet with our back line looking like a M.A.S.H. unit. But i think we have struggled in league play recently to put it in the onion bag and we are due. Look for lovenkrands to add to his account, Nolan will punch one in, and either Carrol or ranger late….
ginkoh
Jan 30, 2010 at 4:44 AM
Comment #92I don’t care how we play as long as we get 3 points. I think our new comers will get the chance to impress tonight especially Routledge and Williamson
baro
Jan 30, 2010 at 4:57 AM
Comment #93Alan Smith, Routledge, Nolan,
One of these lads will score tomorrow…100%
The Entertainers
Jan 30, 2010 at 8:27 AM
Comment #94Tough game today, Leicester have one of the better home records.
Expect CH to revert back to his favoured 4-4-1-1 formation for away games.
Have to stay optimistic…….
Hopeful Derby can snatch a point against fierce neighbours Forest and the Blades take a point at the Hawthorns.
As for us (the only game worth worrying about) i can see a hard fought, if again a slightly dull 0-1 win……….
I hope that Carroll plays and we can see for prehaps the first time this season a winger in Routledge, how can consistantly produce crossess for big Andy, who dominates in the air!
Edd Case
Jan 30, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Comment #95Well, I’ll be at the Walkers today, I’ll (as always) come back on here tonight and give you my verdict on what I’ve seen.
Really hope we play well. I can see CH playing a 4411 formation without doubt (or even 451)
Still, this will really be the first time in a long time (hopefully) that we’ll have two very good wingers on either side – just hope the final ball is good because I think whoever starts up front will bang ’em in.
Howay The Lads.
geordielad880
Jan 30, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Comment #96Im not disputing that ranger has bags of potential, just saying i think he will end up been championship level, reminds me of jay bothroyd alot, I hope im wrong, but doesnt have a good strikers instinct for me, always wants to pass it, instead of shot, you can say its cos he is 18, but you either have it or you dont!