My initial report seems to have disappeared or been destroyed – that must be omen we will win this game.
Here it is again.
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Rafa Benitez had just named his team for his home debut as the Newcastle manager against Sunderland in the local derby this afternoon and Andros Townsend, Chancel Mbemba and Jamaal Lascelles all start in what is a 4-4-2 formation.
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez will be the two strikers up front.
Teams:
Newcastle (4-4-2): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles, Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko, Jonjo Shelvey (c), Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Steven Taylor, Vurnon Anita, Henri Saivet, Siem de Jong, Emmanuel Riviere, Papiss Cisse
Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Vito Mannone; DeAndre Yedlin, Younes Kaboul (c), Lamine Kone, Patrick van Aanholt; Jan Kirchhoff; Fabio Borini, Yann M’Vila, Jack Rodwell, Wahbi Khazri; Jermain Defoe
Substitutes: Jordan Pickford, Billy Jones, John O’Shea, Lee Cattermole, Ola Toivonen, Jeremain Lens, Dame N’Doye
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)
It’s great to see Chancel Mbemba back in the side and he should make a big difference at the back.
Papiss Cisse is also back from injury and on the bench along with Manu Riviere – so Rafa is looking for goals this afternoon.
With Steven Taylor on the bench it looks like Jamaal was preferred to Taylor in central defense and Vernon Anita is dropped and it could be that Gini Wijnaldum moves into central midfield with Jonjo Shelvey, who captains the side.
This looks a very strong side, with Jack Colback, who is on 9 yellow cards, continuing at left back.
This is what Rafa has said about the game this afternoon.
“We know how big the derby is for the city and for the fans,” “It’s massive for both teams and we have to make sure we enjoy it but also give everything to win.”
“The main thing for me is the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands, because that is what makes the difference.”
“The fans are crucial for us. At this stage we know the fans will be disappointed if someone makes a mistake but it is important that we stick together and every fan gets behind the players on the pitch.”
“They will be pushing for us to make a good start to the game and they will be important in determining how we approach the game.”
“At the same time, we need to stay strong in defense and show a bit more going forward. This game is about the players and the fans – if we have everything going well we can score goals and win this match.”
Three fans in four think we can win this very crucial game this afternoon.
358 comments so far
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:37 PM
Comment #1Scums look more up for it. Hope we are just warming up.
yorkshire_magpie
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:38 PM
Comment #2Mitro shuda scored
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:39 PM
Comment #3phew
toon kk
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #4They look the better or at least the most likely to score.
zimtoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #5another unnecesary foul by colback nearly cost us a goal
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #6come on lads
no colocinni
with a bit of grit we can get all three points
davetoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #7Colback almost costs us another goal from another unenecessary free kick
Rotonda heights
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #8colback doesn’t learn does he and mitro still can’t hit a barn door,
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:41 PM
Comment #9crikey shelvey what are you doing
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:42 PM
Comment #10someone explain to me how shelvey is captain ahead of gini
thats just so unjust
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:43 PM
Comment #11townsend is wonderful always delivers gorgeous crosses
sissioko should have done better there
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:44 PM
Comment #12Colback’s a dunderhead
manxpie
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:45 PM
Comment #13mitro wrestled to the ground has to be a penalty!!!
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:45 PM
Comment #14colback is all over the place
toon kk
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:45 PM
Comment #15Townsend our best bet, Colback could be a liability giving free kicks away
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Comment #16Colback is going to blow this for us
zimtoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Comment #17stupid colback again
The next Mike Williamson
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Comment #18Any links?
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Comment #19WTF was that between Mbemba and Shelvey, faffing for 30 seconds and led to Elliot having to just clear his lines.
Take Colback off, he’s an idiot. Anita has played LB, get him on.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Comment #20Colback is having a stinker. And we look so nervous and poor. Sunderland look like they might just take all 3 points again.
davetoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:48 PM
Comment #21Colback is a liability
Rotonda heights
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:48 PM
Comment #22is colback the stupidest footballer ?
Munster Mag
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:49 PM
Comment #23Why the f… Is sissoko on left??????
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:49 PM
Comment #24Rafa needs to take him off
Bring on anita before the situation detonates
toon kk
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:49 PM
Comment #25Defoe is far too quick for us.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:49 PM
Comment #26We’re getting outplayed. LB area is shambolic. No positional sense, no communication, no composure.
manxpie
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:49 PM
Comment #27borini is a little pussy like!
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:50 PM
Comment #28SHelvey is not a natural DM
He and Gini are struggling to get a hold in midfield
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:50 PM
Comment #29Townsend and Sissoko looking sprightly
As usual for Mitrovic – must do better – not involved currently.
matias
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:50 PM
Comment #30Here`s the predicted card for Colback. Positive is we`ll get tp be without him. Just has to stay on field today.
Nufc-83
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:50 PM
Comment #31Glad coldback is suspended he did it against Leicester constant free kicks that’s how we went a goal down. Same again today he is the new Williamson and Simpson bang average championship player
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:51 PM
Comment #32Our defence are bricking it. Mbemba’s distribution has been woeful.
bladeuser
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Comment #33Colback P@@@ off back to scumberland also mitro is pants
ASH OUT COLO OUT SHEEP ? OUT RAFA IN
davetoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Comment #34This is a horror show. Pray we can make it to halftime without conceding
Obertans_on_roids
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Comment #35Anita in for Colback all day long.
zimtoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Comment #36we are being outplayed and sunderland are now targeting colback for an early sending off
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Comment #37our central midfield is non existent!
Rafa can’t allow this continue
Average_Contents
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:53 PM
Comment #38How many fcuking times colback you little knobend FFS!
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:54 PM
Comment #39Defoe schooling our CBs despite having a big weight and height deficit.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:55 PM
Comment #40Completely outplayed by Sunderland today.