Newcastle face what could be a very tough game at Reading tonight, and will do well to get all 3 points against an in-form Reading side.
It looks like Enrique is OK again after missing the 4-1 win against Blackpool on Saturday due so some bug he picked up.
However, Tamas Kadar has an injured hamstring and will not be available for selection.
This game is probably the most difficult game remaining for the in-form Newcastle side this season, with the other games being Plymouth (A), Ipswich (H) and QPR (A) on the last Sunday of the season – May 2nd.
We have to think that Newcastle manager Chris Hughton will field the strongest starting eleven possible tonight, and this is the team we expect Chris to pick:
Harper
Simpson Coloccini Williamson Enrique
Routledge Nolan (c) Guthrie Gutierrez
Carroll Lovenkrands
Subs: Krul Kadar Butt Barton Taylor (R) Ameobi Best
That team and subs is exactly the same as for the Blackpool game, other than Enrique replacing Kadar in the starting line-up.
There’s no doubt that Newcastle are full of confidence right now, and that the subs bench is also extremely strong.
And therefore, we don’t think Chris will play a defensive line-up tonight, and expect him to play ina 4-4-2 formation, and attack Reading.
But Reading have done very well this year, and as we pointed out yesterday had some great results in the FA Cup, beating Liverpool, Burnley and WBA before eventually falling to Aston Villa 4-2 at the Madejski Stadium, but not before Shane Long had put them 2-0 up at half-time.
We watched nearly all those games, and Reading looked a very good side.
So they will not be afraid one little bit of Newcastle, as apparently Blackpool were on Saturday, according to their manager, and we can expect a tightly contested game tonight.
A win by Newcastle will give them a points total of 95.
Second-placed WBA, who are also promoted back to the Premiership, can only match that total by winning their last 3 games, and since Newcastle’s goal difference is so much better at 51 compared to WBA’s 39 – it essentially will give Newcastle the CC Championship League title.
It’s not mathematically certain however, so we guess nobody will say we have won the league after a victory tonight.
But we’ll be Champions if we win tonight – that’s a 99.99999999% certainty – approximately. 😀
Bottom line- we expect it to be a tough game tonight.
Comments welcome.
112 comments so far
lesh
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Comment #1Approximately 99.99999999%? Approximately? Can you not be a bit more precise Ed?
jesus
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Comment #2im leavin at 4 o.clock from bournemouth to the reading game!??? 🙂 woop woop
lesh
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Comment #3Whether an attacking line up or not, Carroll, Lovenkrands and Nolan are all within a whisker of each other in the goals tally and they’ll all be up for scoring in an attempt to wrest get the top-scorer badge.
The next few games surely promise a goal feast.
Toontastico
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Comment #4Completely agree Ed, TBH with the form Reading are on and with our record there I’d take the draw now, but that is definately our strongest line up so we could nick it, just a shame I cant watch it live anywhere.
Would be great to break the 100 points barrier this season which I can see them doing, would be a crackin achievment after all the crap.
lesh
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Comment #5And, if Shola gets on, he’ll surely want a slice of the goals too!
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2010/04/13/ameobi-can-make-late-run-for-top-gun-award-72703-26230683/
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Comment #6Think sholas got to start for me, god hope he dont play loverboy the (little waster) this game again.Shola riped these apart at st james.
peterktoon
Apr 13, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Comment #7any links? 🙂
Turkish Magpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Comment #8Peterktoon- Thers the 1 by whitley bay that used 2 be Spanish City 😉
alkinou
Apr 13, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Comment #9NUFCELITE
I think you’re really harsh on him. Agreed he had a bad game against Blackpool but who never has one. He’s been great otherwise and he brings with his pace and runs something that none of our other strikers brings.
Toon Sweden77
Apr 13, 2010 at 1:34 PM
Comment #10Well there are certainly competition up front with Carroll, Lövenkrants and Shola all in good goalscoring-form.
lesh
Apr 13, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Comment #11Hey Turkish
Yup, there’s the links by whitley bay that used 2 be Spanish City and further up the coast, some links at Amble.
You in Turkei and if so, where?
Turkish Magpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Comment #12Hey Lesh, At the moment i’m currently in North Shields 😛
But when i do go and stay in Turkey (from June til October) I Stay in Bodrum (June til August)and Antalya (August til October)
peterktoon
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Comment #13http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOk5JzzgnfI&feature=related great song 🙂
lesh
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:24 PM
Comment #14Turkish, you couldn’t find two spots further apart – well, unless you want to split your time beetween Bodrum and Van!
Sadly, I haven’t been able to get for a few years now, but my heart’s still very much in Patara – despite the mosquitos and the sand flies! There are bigger pests in the UK I think you’ll agree?
Guess you’ve found that the black and white goes down well with the Besiktas fans – may be a bit tricky with the Fenerbace supporters though.
BT7MAG
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:25 PM
Comment #15alkinou, don’t worry about NUFCLITE he is a mackem with a bit too much spare time on his hands…
milburn
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:35 PM
Comment #16Turkish Magpie- see you there, Im off to Lara Beach in August. Hot or wat !!
HamarMagpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:39 PM
Comment #17Ed, why do you list Kadar as a substitute when he has a hamstring strain? If that’s the case there is no point in putting him on the bench. I expect Smith (if fit) or Tozer in his place.
Cockney Magpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:55 PM
Comment #18I know its a bit late but whoever said we should sign Kevin Doyle… that was a great shout, quite pacey, good finisher and a great work rate, also what does every1 think bout bringin scotty parker back?
Cockney Magpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Comment #19i think we cant go far wrong if we sign.
K. Doyle
MG Pedersen
either O’Hara or S. Larsson
S.Parker
and a back up for enrique
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Comment #20alkinou / what do u know prick
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Comment #21BT7MAG // so what if i am knobhead
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Comment #22u will be straight back down
Cockney Magpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Comment #23also what about Andre-Pierre Gignac anybody?
AngelOfDeath
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Comment #24@Cockney Magpie: If we can get Andre-Pierre Gignac ,i will be over the moon,dude.
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:09 PM
Comment #25NUFCELITE is a mackem HAHAHAHAHAHA
Explains why he is a w@nker then!
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Comment #26Ed you need to block some of these fellas all workeys mates coments not mine is 19 20 21 workey if you reading this i will warn you once i have a lot of internet mates and carry on with ya sh it noob i get them all to log on you blog and ruin it
najikhin86
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Comment #27@Cockney Magpie: talking about Gignac, I bought him in FM and he was superb! I would want him to sign for us. 🙂
but in real life I reckon that other bigger clubs might go for him if he is available!
Shot Bru
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Comment #28Cockney Magpie Gignac is a good player who would no doubt cost a bit in fees and wages. I also like the look of the Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz who plays for Mclaren’s FC Twente, pretty versatile who can play AM and as a ST, again he wouldn’t come cheap. Finding a goalscorer on a budget is gonna prove to be a difficult task for CH, maybe he’s better off going with what we’ve got up front and concntrate on strenghening other areas of the squad.
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Comment #29alkinou not just 1 game he has had were he has missed a lot of chances
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Comment #30NUFCELITE – Give it a rest man. Do you realise how silly you sound? Shall I post your racist remarks on here?
Ed knows us, we were on here before he went back to work and closed this place down,and we know he puts a lot of time and effort into this blog.
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Comment #31It’s only fair he knows what you are like, and there is proof of it.
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Comment #32toonsy you a baqd man siting behind ya computor next home game we meet up at a pub somewere you can tell me to my face
The-Ciaran8
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Comment #33@NUFCELITE
No where your not wanted tbh, Whats thaat Second lowest points total in premier league history ayee?
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Comment #34On topic – I would be very happy with a point to be fair. Reading have really turned it around from their early season form and have been virtually unstoppable since Christmas.
Plus a draw would increase the chance we could win it in front of SJP crowd, and I think that is something we would all prefer.
Whumpie
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Comment #35Ok, and we’re backintheroom…
Children. Honestly.
I think Smith, Barton and Shola will all get a run-out tonight given how recently we played. I’d love to see Smudge score. Just love it.
But then I’d love to see Barton become a nun in Kurghistan too.
Tough game tonight; 1-1 or possibly 1-2 if we take our chances and the absence of their captain causes them problems.
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Comment #36NUFCELITE @ 31 – See, comments like that make you sound pathetic. By the same token I could turn it around and say your just being a hard man behind a computer.
But remember, I’m not a mackem, I haven’t racially abused people, and I haven’t dished out the threats. Carry on, you are showing your true colours!
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:31 PM
Comment #37toonsy were youi want to meet
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:32 PM
Comment #38Whumpie – I’d like Smith to score in a home game. I think the vast majority of fans want to see him score and it has become like a cult willing if you will.
For him to do it at home would mean a bigger audience to see it.
toonsy
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:33 PM
Comment #39NUFCELITE – Grow up man.
NUFCELITE
Apr 13, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Comment #40toonsy not me needs to grow up, using my name on comments that arnt mine