Rafa Benitez has just announced his team for our third league game of the season tonight – at home to Reading.
Ciaran Clark comes into central defense and he partners Chancel Mbemba. with Grant Hanley and captain Jamaal Lascelles on the bench tonight.
There are three changes from the team that started on Saturday against Huddersfield and the captain tonight is local boy Paul Dummett.
Newcastle: (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Vurnon Anita, Chancel Mbemba, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett (c); Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey; Matt Ritchie, Ayoze Perez, Yoan Gouffran; Dwight Gayle
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Daryl Janmaat, Grant Hanley, Jamaal Lascelles, Jack Colback, Rolando Aarons, Adam Armstrong
The holding midfielders are again Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey and would you believe it – Yoan Gouffran starts on the wing.
We can only think he’s been impressive in training and of course can track back well – maybe he can get another goal for us tonight.
Matt Ritchie is on the other wing and Ayoze Perez takes up the number 10 position behind striker Dwight Gayle.
Daryl Janmaat is given a rest and utility man Vurnon Anita comes in at right back – where he looked very good at the end of last season.
Maybe right back is Vurnon’s best position these days?
The bench is very strong with no room for Jesus Gamez tonight.
This is what Rafa said yesterday about how Newcastle must improve on the first two games – both defeats:
“We know that we have to keep working hard. We have to have confidence in ourselves, but at the same time, we know that we are strong and we have to show this on the pitch.”
“We have had some chances – not too many – but we have to take our chances. We have made some mistakes – not too many – but we have paid for them, so don’t make these mistakes.”
“We have to improve almost everything, because we could have got results in both games, but we didn’t do enough to get the three points.”
“We know that it’s a question of improving the defense, improving the middle, improving the attack, and if we have players that can make the difference with the quality.
“Or we need the team working as a team to make a difference, we have to do it and we have to start tomorrow.”
“It wasn’t the best start – it was really bad in terms of results – but still, I think that at the end of the season we will be fine, we will be good, we will be where we want to be.
“It’s a long, long season, and we know that it is just the start. We have to fix things, but I have confidence that we will do well.”
A low 56% of fans think we will win this game tonight.
We need a win tonight to get some points on the board.
Howay The Lads!!
324 comments so far
JamesToon
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:47 PM
Comment #1F*** me gouffran really rafa??!!! Christ lascelles dropped as well, he really isnt afraid to ring the changes!
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:48 PM
Comment #2Interesting team line up
JamesToon
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:50 PM
Comment #3At least hes being played in his actual position hahaha
SPRINGY
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #4surprise that mind…..good!….to many times last season players were playing after poor games,consistent poor games.
county down magpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #5Anyone any ideas on links to the game via Kodi?
FollowFollow
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:51 PM
Comment #63 games, 3 CB pairings. You can’t do that.
Jib
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #7I think Rafa has told the squad that for the first few games everyone gets a start.
AndyMac
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:53 PM
Comment #8This team selection smacks of panic to me !
Jib
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:54 PM
Comment #9http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-reading-live-11762941
matt11_25
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:55 PM
Comment #10I think it’s smart to keep using our depth while also showing that failure is unacceptable. Squad depth is an advantage we have over most teams, long season ahead and it will be very useful.
Interesting quote from Rafa before about changing the style of play from long ball due to no target man.. makes me wonder why that was ever the style of play.. and does he plan on changing back to it when mitro returns??
Toonces
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:56 PM
Comment #11Best chance for a livestream might be to see if someone in attendance periscopes the game.
Jib
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:56 PM
Comment #124-2-3-1
matt11_25
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #13Cmon shelvey boss the match!!
JAMSHA
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #14Good team Apart From Dumdum an sels, Would Have Started Darlow and Gamez, Still Dnt Understand Why 1 Lone Striker
——————-Sels
Anita———-Mbemba—-Clarke——–Dumbo
——————-Hayden
Ritche————-Shelvy————–Perez
————–Gufo———–Gayle
Mister Tuff
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:58 PM
Comment #15Ian Toon – stop your blog mischief by praising certain posters – your ulterior motives are known’
Posters will be extremely concerned about what you are up to – must be like getting the black spot from Blind Pew.
Sly dog tactics are not required on a football blog.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #16Maybe it will be on kodi? Can anyone check? I’ll search for it to.
Wandering Geordie
Aug 17, 2016 at 6:59 PM
Comment #17Good call by Rafa to drop Lacaselles- Was starting to believe in his own S Taylor like hype. Goufran in? Well Rafa must have seen something to start him. If we win I will be shocked.
Bambams
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Comment #18Rafa not frightened to change a team.
Quite refreshing.
SPRINGY
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Comment #19ymfb
theres a link to the game on sports devil but whether its on is very doubtful….but u never know
JAMSHA
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:01 PM
Comment #20JamesToon
Anita Cant Play On Wing ,Aarons Is Just Like Sissoko, Plays 1 Game Good Nxt He’s Invisible, Rather Try Gufo, Could Do The Job For Us, Insted Of Keeping Him On Bench An Giveing His Pay
Jib
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #21county down magpie
Anyone any ideas on links to the game via Kodi?
Try asking Tsunki and Belfats
😀
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #22Lascelles has made costly error 2 games so glad hes dropped rafa showing hed drop any1 good management. Glad janmaat not playing. Think we are missing a focal point striker tbh someone like shearer and demba ba and viduka etc. We shud spend big and go for benteke or bony. If promoted they cud be our main striker so makes sense to spend big now. Can we get jedinak from palace? Adebayor? What bout striker who scored winner in final for portugal
AncientC
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:02 PM
Comment #23Reading will come out of the blocks fast and try to pressure early on. I think we could see a goal inside the first 15.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:03 PM
Comment #24My worry on Lascelles being made captain was that he he couldn’t be dropped if he had the armband. I should have feared not.
SPRINGY
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:03 PM
Comment #25msk
has jedinak not left palace already?
bishopmag
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #26https://www.spreaker.com/user/onnradio
Radio online up 🙂
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #27Shelvey cant play 2 man midfield. Should have gone darlow. Anita mbemba clark dummet. Ritchie hayden colback aarons. Ayoze gayle. 442 with colback or hayden licensed to go box to box
FollowFollow
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:04 PM
Comment #28Glad to see Anita in over Janmaat. He thinks quicker, has more urgency about him. Janmaat slows it all down, saps the energy from the team and crowd.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Comment #29Gouffran always gives 100% and puts a challenge in so him on the left hand side would be good as he will have license to attack with Dummett behind him
But I would really like to see him up front because that is his main position !!
mindcompressor
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Comment #30Any chances fir tv stream?
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #31Not sure if jedinaks been signed up by any1 thats why i put question mark. Personally id bid big for benteke or bony. Get crouch aswell. And berahino. That way we sorted for championship and premier lge if we get promoted. Id also love giovinco for creativity. Roberto pereyra going to watford is a good player for creativity too.
stephen1971
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #32just watch gouffron have a blinder, looks a bit defensive again to me though, i must say i like anita too and i think he,s where he plays best tonight, any streams ?
matt11_25
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #33Not all these drops are due to form guys.. ritchie didnt start last game mind
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #34can’t see there being any linkes on Kodi seeing as the games isn’t on Uk tv nor overseas tv, could be wrong though but it’s highly unlikely.
Reckon we will pick up the 3 points tonight, Gouffran adds more steel for me. Will help Dummett out a lot aswell.
toon kk
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #35Rafa genuinely has no idea what our best player’s / team is. Our best player’s from last season have gone. We’re left with a mixture of players Rafa doesn’t know. It will be a matter of who impresses in training. It could take some time for him to discover exactly what our best team is.
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #36Ah yh jedinaks gone aston villa. Just on ssn
bettyswallocks
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Comment #37Jail……. That’s the point of having captains who are rotatable.
RolandoOverhead
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Comment #38It’s a surprise, but then back to back defeats in our first 2 matches was a surprise too.
Looks like Rafa is possibly basing his teams on performances in training, lets hope that faith is rewarded!
Jib
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:09 PM
Comment #39http://www.redstream.me/watch/football/21029/newcastle_united-vs-reading
Why Mexicans should be interested in our game I don’t know
SPRINGY
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:10 PM
Comment #40msk
i think i read the other day jedinak had gone and bolasie would be next…..could be wrong though mate.