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
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:55 PM
Comment #41Defence aren’t giving the rest a solid platform.
davetoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:57 PM
Comment #42Fat Sam has them well organised
keeleytoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:58 PM
Comment #43how does sissoko keep starting!??!?!?!?! hes so poor!!!
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:59 PM
Comment #44gini coming into it now
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:59 PM
Comment #45Perez and Mitro not doing enough.
Both not sharp enough to goings on around them.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:59 PM
Comment #46That’s better from Perez. Always much better in and around the box.
Townsend our best so far.
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:59 PM
Comment #47good man mitro
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Comment #48raylor!!!!
Munster Mag
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Comment #49Awful
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Comment #50Raylor taking his jacket off 🙂
manxpie
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Comment #51come on over the wall!!!
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM
Comment #52good attempt shelvey
AncientC
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:01 PM
Comment #53What a difference Mitro and Perez make. The team is actually going forwards and looking extremely dangerous.
sing in the corner
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:02 PM
Comment #54So fortunate to be still level lads. Hopefully it means it’s gonna be our day…
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:02 PM
Comment #55such an exaggerated reaction by kasri
Obertans_on_roids
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:03 PM
Comment #56We have to be winning more loose ball in midfield, Gini not working hard enough.
keeleytoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Comment #57please take sissoko off at half time, worst player by a mile already today
sing in the corner
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Comment #58Too often we are receiving the ball standing still. More movement!
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Comment #59the fans need to get into this more
put the ref under pressure
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:05 PM
Comment #60Kirchhoff baa been outstanding for Sunderland. No way through for us past him.
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #61two yellows for us
Munster Mag
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #62Rafa hasnt a notion putting sissoko on left. We look dreadful
manxpie
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #63they’re all pussies going down like they’ve been shot
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #64Midfield nowhere when Borini took that.
Mbemba decided he’s not good enough to take it off him fairly.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #65Overall Sunderland has been better. Kirchhoff is absolutely their rock in midfield. We are lucky if we go in HT at nil nil.
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #66sunderland signed wisely in january
kirchoff is an absolute beast
contrast that with pointless signings like doumbia and saivet
manxpie
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #67janmaat must have about 2 brain cells fair enough if they’re are baring down on goal but in that position absolutley stupid!!
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #68Mitrovic easily bullied again.
Need something in behind. Cisse on or Perez allowed to play further forward.
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Comment #69chancel looks rusty
Munster Mag
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Comment #70Abysmal. Zero effect from rafa
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #71Sunderland January signings will keep them up.
How many of our 80m signings are actually playing?
c-dog
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #72Such a lack of intelligent forward thinking players in our side.
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #73omg mbemba pass the flipping ball you moron
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Comment #74Gini can’t take the pace of this game in that position. Looked good against Leicester as the game wore on and slowed, not hacking it today.
Mbemba having an almost mare.
AncientC
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #75Wijnaldum has been great on the ball, but looks very static. Not chasing to help attacks, or chasing back to defend.
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #76Saivet can’t start.doumbia might as well go back to Russia. Dreadful signings. Sunderland January signings have been outstanding for them this game.
toon kk
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #77We’re skating on thin ice here, they’re definitely the better side. We’ll probably be down to 10 men before the games over.
zimtoon
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #78now both our wingbacks are on yellow cards
toonbrother
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #79colback calm down fgs
ilovetoon8788
Mar 20, 2016 at 2:13 PM
Comment #80It’s amazing just how good Sunderland January signings are. We are an absolute disaster today. And the crowd is getting impatient.