Rafa Benitez has just named the Newcastle starting eleven for the important game against Huddersfield Town this afternoon and he gives a debut to Mohamed Diame and also Chancel Mbemba returns to the side to partner captain Jamaal Lascelles at center-back.
But Matt Ritchie is on the bench and that’s probably rotation from Rafa – and Matt will be back against Reading on Wednesday night.
We should probably get used to maybe at least three changes when we are playing two games a week and we have five games over the next two weeks.
Newcastle(4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles (c), Paul Dummett; Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey; Vurnon Anita, Mohamed Diame, Rolando Aarons; Dwight Gayle
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Ciaran Clark, Jack Colback, Matt Ritchie, Ayoze Perez, Adam Armstrong
It’s the usual 4-2-3-1 formation and Ciaran Clark is on the bench and the former Villa man could even get a run out depending on how the game is positioned in the second half.
Having Shelvey and Diame in the side will give us a lot more power and a lot more creativity up front than we had against Fulham in our first game and Sissoko as expected – is not included in the squad.
We must win our home games this season.
This is what Rafa has said about today’s game:
“Because of the fans, because of the stature of our Club, we know that every game will be more difficult.”
“But if you want to go up, you have to adapt to these situations.”
“We know that Huddersfield will give everything, so we have to do the same and hope that we are better than them.”
“We know that we have to improve from Fulham and the main thing is make sure that every time we are improving a little bit and that we are much better.”
“Then, we can approach games with the confidence that we can win.”
17 in 20 fans think we will win this game this afternoon.
Hope so.
Howay The Lads!!
367 comments so far
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:13 PM
Comment #361Stop with all this it’ll come good nonsense ffs! Haven’t you learnt anything?
That’s precisely what got us into a state last season.
Urgency needed! When we stopped with the softly softly approach back end of last season, because it was now or never and reality couldn’t be ignored, we went on a little run towards the end. They rose to the challenge.
We need to challenge them and call them out. Patience has been tried to death at this club and it never works!
Get on their backs early, it’ll either make or break them. Can’t handle, ask for a move so we can get somebody that can. Though that’s another argument, because aside from Ritchie, Diame and possibly Hanley, I wouldn’t have bought any of the others. Recruitment has been poor.
It’s up to us to do it because the dressing room is sorely lacking in those no nonsense types. Lascelles would be a good vice-captain under a more experienced head. He acts the part, but the pressure is clearly getting to him now he has been formally given the leadership role.
Soothsayers – OUT!
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #362Its only 1 game, its only 2 games, its only 10 games, its only 25 games, its only relegation.
Tsunki
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #363Not too many people here I would have liked as co-passengers on the Titanic.
lukes26
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #364I love how this blog was full of people saying Aarons would tear up the Championship and Sissoko wasnt good enough
where are those people now?
I have to say that Kets may be right…Riviere only scored the one goal for us..but did look useful when he played. Makes decent runs…gayle didnt do that last week
GeordieTwo
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Comment #365I guess my point is we have played 2 matches and there are 44 left YMFB mate. I haven’t found a way to watch the matches so I’m not suffering through it the same way but I don’t give up after 2 matches. Yes, we will have to play better, that’s obvious. There will be issues for a few weeks but the window isn’t even closed yet. We have Mitro and Krul to come in as well. I’ve been harping on about getting a senior striker for what seems like forever as well. The club should have pegged out the money required to get one weeks ago.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:17 PM
Comment #366Ameobe u need to wake up how many do u want this season before its to late wake up and smell the coffe bumb and dumba come to mind
GEORDIE69
Aug 13, 2016 at 5:27 PM
Comment #367Dear Rafa,
I love you, but I know my club better than you. Change your awful formation to 4-4-2 and watch us dominate games.
Kind regards,
Chris Miller