Steve McClaren has given his news conference for the game against Spurs at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon and the head coach has said the team will go there fully focused and intent on putting in another good performance and getting something out of the game.
Last Sunday could have been a watershed game for Newcastle against Liverpool and with 90% in our poll expecting us to lose against Jurgen Klopp’s team – it was a shock that we won 2-0 and we played very well too – especially in the second half.
Steve also reported some good news on the injury front with both Rolando Aarons and Cheick Tiote close to a return to action, but they will not be available for Sunday´s game.
Steve McClaren – good news on injuries
This is some of what Steve has said today:
“We go there to Spurs fully focused and intent on giving a performance and getting a result.”
“We need to follow Liverpool up at White Hart Lane. We need to put in a performance if we are to get anything.”
“Spurs are a good team. They have a good squad of players and they play with a very high intensity.”
“If Spurs weren’t in the Europa League they would be title contenders.”
“Cheick Tiote and Rolando Aarons are ‘very close’ to returning to training, but won’t be available for Sunday’s game.”
“Squad-wise we are the same as we were last weekend. Tiote is a couple of days away, Aarons also. Lascelles is out on the grass.”
Cheick Tiote missed last Sunday´s game but it´s looking like both he and Rolando could be available for the game after Tottenham – which is a relegation 6 pointer against Aston Villa at home.
It´s good that those two and probably Jamaal Lascelles will now be available for the tough holiday schedule – which is going to be very important for the club.
No word on Mike Williamson who pulled a hamstring on his second day back after his loan spell at Wolves.
Steve McClaren would not talk too much about the transfer window in January and we still have four very important games to play before the end of the year – one of the worst years in Newcastle´s great history as far as results go.
Tottenham play tonight against Monaco at home in their final Group J game of the Europa League and they have already qualified for the knockout rounds and are currently 3 points clear at the top of the group with 10 points from five games.
So maybe we can catch them after a tough Europa League game?
Hope so.
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
Bambams
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:11 PM
Comment #1I hope we are looking to bring in established experienced players ( CB and striker at least) .
I am fed up reading reports we are looking for players ‘ For the future’.
stuart no9
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:18 PM
Comment #2Off topic and im sure everyone has read this before but its still a shocking read and to think that man owns our club .
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/09/how-sports-direct-effectively-pays-below-minimum-wage-pay
Sliema
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:33 PM
Comment #3Jesus Christ, a couple of injuries and it really shows just how threadbare our squad is of actual proven players. Years of underinvestment hasn’t been patched up in one window. January will be interesting, hopefully?!?!
Sliema
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:33 PM
Comment #4Who thinks we will actually spend any money in January? And how much?
Jib
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:38 PM
Comment #5Stuart
You have led a very sheltered upbringing if you think that piece of tittle tattle journalism in the Guardian is shocking.
jazzyp
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Comment #6Sliema
Another 50 mill please wouldn’t go amiss .
And spend it on proven quality rather than potential
stuart no9
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:46 PM
Comment #7jib — i dont get you . why ? so its not true ?
stuart no9
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:50 PM
Comment #8jib — if you think thats not a shocking way to live in 2015, what kind of vulgar society do you belong too ?
banjax
Dec 10, 2015 at 3:59 PM
Comment #9Ashley must realise by now that the player method recruitment they use based on what the chief scout says is now defunct. Any experienced manager coming in ( and worth their salt) won’t give us a second thought if they couldn’t at least nominate their choice. Questions have to be asked about the slide in ambitions of our once great club following Kevin Keegan’s resignation. Everybody knows Ashley is the wrong owner for a club like ours, but that said, we are stuck with him, but at least even he should realise his appointments and advisors need changing along with his attitude to the supporters who stand by the club through thick and thin.
BeeGuy
Dec 10, 2015 at 4:26 PM
Comment #10First, Tiote comes back & gets injured in following game. Aarons starts to train and has a practice field injury. Gentlemen, please prove me wrong.
Poor Williamson. Has anyone been verbally abused for what he cannot be than this man? From the day he got here, it has been unfair of what has been expected of him. The GM should take the abuse for being unable to bring in someone qualified and leaving the Manager to have to use him.
Transfer Sage
Dec 10, 2015 at 4:30 PM
Comment #11Stuart
The man is disgusting. He has no respect for people who work for him so it’s no wonder he has no respect for us as fans.
How on earth can a man be worth 3 billion and not want to pay his employees a decent wage.
He’s the same as many in that position though, it’s sickening really. Nobody needs that much money, he could easily pay a better wage and not use zero hour contracts.
Half the problem is we as a country allow people to operate in such a way.