Newcastle manager Chris Hughton makes as many as four changes to the side which beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on Wednesday night, with full debuts being handed to Wayne Routledge and Patrick van Aanholt.
Chelsea defender van Aanholt only came into Newcastle yesterday, but the lad starts at left back this afternoon, in place of the injured Jose Enrique (hamstring).
But there is no Jonas Gutierrez this afternoon, so we assume Chris doesn’t want to take any risks with the Argentine, who was slightly injured on Wednesday night – and that’s probably a wise decision with so many games coming up.
Routledge came off the bench to make his debut on Wednesday night, but gets his first start this afternoon, after looking more than good in his first action for the Magpies on the right wing.
But a surprise is captain Nicky Butt returning to the line-up, as does Ryan Taylor, who is back from suspension. With this personnel Newcastle may line up in a 4-5-1 system.
Taylor comes in at right-back, Mike Williamson continues alongside Fabricio Coloccini at the center of defense, and is preferred to youngster Tamas Kadar, who has looked solid lately.
Routledge and Danny Guthrie will be the wingers this afternoon, Butt partners Alan Smith in the center. Kevin Nolan will play in a withdrawn forward role off Andy Carroll, which hen usually plays in these away games.
Fitz Hall, who arrived on a loan for the rest of the season from Queens Park Rangers on Friday, is named among the substitutes, along with Tamas Kadar and Peter Lovenkrands, who both started against Crystal Palace.
And would you believe that Nottingham Forest were finally beaten today at Derby County, by 1-0, although WBA won at home 3-1 against Sheffield United – so a win could take Newcastle 6 points clear of Forest with a game in hand.
That’s Forest’s first league defeat since they were beaten at home by Blackpool 1-0 – and that was back on 19th September.
It’s a great opportunity so let’s hope we can take it.
Howay The Lads!!
TEAMS
Leicester City: Chris Weale, Michael Morrison, Wayne Brown, Matt Oakley (c), Andy King, Matty Fryatt, Bruno Berner, Martyn Waghorn, Richie Wellens, Paul Gallagher, Jack Hobbs
Subs: Robbie Nielson, Ryan McGivern, Nobby Solano, Steve Howard, Lloyd Dyer, Conrad Logan, Danny N’Guessan
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Ryan Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Patrick van Aanholt, Wayne Routledge, Nicky Butt (c), Alan Smith, Danny Guthrie, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll
Subs: Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Nile Ranger, Fitz Hall, Fabrice Pancrate
163 comments so far
Kevin
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Comment #41HUGE. RED CARD. COME ON LADS
Kevin
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Comment #42Routledge with a brilliant, quick run to set that foul up. He looks promising.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Comment #43Shot Bru-
I agree m8. Routledge is really lookin good on the ball
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:52 PM
Comment #44I sure am tired of seein long balls…
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Comment #45wtf was that pass from carroll???
Shot Bru
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Comment #46Williamson looks solid in the air and his positioning when defending set pieces is really good..mind you it looks as though he doesn’t have much pace.
Kevin
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Comment #47Nolan is the link between Carroll and the mid line – he must make himself more affective
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Comment #48idk about aarnholt or whatever his name is- enrique is WAY better, but he’s fillin the gap ok so far
Tom Mo.
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Comment #49NICKY BUTT IS AWFULE
Tom Mo.
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Comment #50AWFUL*
Steve_48
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Comment #51Our 1 month loan signing at left back is not impressing me one bit. Given the ball away and bottled a couple of tackles already.
We’re just lacking a little creativity from midfield relying on brute force
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Comment #52*whistles* holy crap… that was intense
Steve_48
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Comment #53Apologies, take it all back, crackin save and decent strike on goal
Kevin
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Comment #54Lucky at the back – great shot from the young dutchman defender.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Comment #55Steve-
Yeah we’re badly missing Jonas and Enrique.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Comment #56Great save by van aarnholt though.
Kevin
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Comment #57we must get through this half without conceding – i’ve got all the confidence we’ll score in the final third of the match when their legs have gone.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Comment #58Gettin real tired of seein them take shots…. Let’s get Nicky Butt off. We’ll immediately score 3 goals.
Steve_48
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Comment #59OHurley; spot on we have very little down the LHS tonight. trying to go through the middle and there’s very little wing play
Shot Bru
Jan 30, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Comment #60Hughton needs to be more positive and go 442 now leicester are down to 10 men, no point playing with 2 defensiv midfielders. RTaylor is awful at rb.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Comment #61Looks like we gotta watch that right flank… they’re gettin the ball down it with ease…
Steve_48
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Comment #62Shot Bru – agree, need to make the extra man count as well as they’re bound to shut up shot and take one point. After Forrest’s defeat we really could do with 3 tonight and then again from the game in hand to really pull away
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Comment #63Yeah- let’s go 4-4-2 immediately lol.
Really really really wish we were lookin better down the Left.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Comment #64Good lord, they’re playin dirty
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Comment #65let’s go lads!!
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Comment #66and another corner. I like the way Danny Boy takes his corners. Low and direct.
jimiley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Comment #67What does Mr Butt contribute?
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Comment #68Crackin shot by Routledge!!
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Comment #69jimiley-
Butt contributes fck all. lol
The Entertainers
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Comment #70The Foxes fans coulnt have said it better….
“Priemer League? Your having a laugh!”
“Priemer League? Your having a laugh!”
“Priemer League? Your having a laugh!”
SHOCKING!
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:07 PM
Comment #71Yeah, let’s bring Nile Ranger on for Nicky Butt, play Nolan as an AM and Smith as a DM and score some f’n goals
jimiley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:07 PM
Comment #72In this league NUFC is hard to break down but they are such a negative team. I love them to death but Ido not enjoy watching this team play. it’s like watching Stoke or Wimbledon except they were/are better.
Steve_48
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Comment #73We just lack creativity, plain and simple, need to be pulled off at half time, instead of oranges 😉
Shot Bru
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:09 PM
Comment #74get jonas on the left and Butt off, we need to make the pitch wider and make leicester work more, put guthrie at rb take taylor off and bring ranger or lovenkrands on. I agree Steve this would be a huge 3 points if we could get it today
Andreas
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Comment #75“Dreaming”:
Revert to 4-4-2. Butt off -> ANYONE on (but would like Ranger). Guthrie off -> Loven on.
Steve_48
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Comment #76iraqgoals just gone off – anyone else?
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:12 PM
Comment #77Shot Bru-
spot on m8. We’re playin too narrow. We should be utilising Routledge much more. And yeah- get Butt OFF. Get Jonas ON. We’re missin’ the Bull at the back, but van aarnholt ain’t bad so far. He just needs to settle in. He looks nervous.
Shot Bru
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:12 PM
Comment #78Mine has gone off as well…bummer!
The Entertainers
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Comment #79Ist half:
Harper: Thank God we have him
Taylor: SHOCKING
Williamson: Very average, not PL class
Colo: Average
VA: Bright spot
Routledge: Done very little
Smith: Cant string a pass
Butt: See Smith
Guthrie: Average
Nolan: Bloody Hell is he playing
Carroll: Hes flicking everything on to no-one?
CH: Tactics against 10 men, keep playing the long ball to Andy and no-one support him. Keep the tempo as quick as Ashley getting his wallet out!
Its a shame we can only have the 3 subs to come on, because i would half over half those players off.!
Our only hope is Chris grows some balls and goes 4-4-2 with 2 yes 2 wingers.
Jonas for Butt
and
Ranger for Smith
jimiley
Jan 30, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Comment #80Butt and Smith in midfield. What do you expect? They would not get a game in Coventry’s midfield. I would rather play a few exciting yet unreliable kids and lose a few games, and not get promoted, than watch this crap. Hughton are you listening? Playing the boring old men is not working. The results are starting to turn. Keep playing Mr Butt and you can pick up your P45 in May.