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
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Comment #41Springy youre right hes gone to villa. I only wanted him cos he looks like a leader and we have none
Jib
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:12 PM
Comment #42Betty
As Jesper would say
Vi er nødt til at rotere kaptajner
SPRINGY
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:13 PM
Comment #43msk
thats a bugger mind….will be a good player for them in this league,thought he’d went abroad…oh well.
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:14 PM
Comment #44Rafa not impressed with Janmaat? Nice one.
davis_toons
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:15 PM
Comment #45“captain Jamaal Lascelles on the bench tonight” – this is why he is consider one of the best manager. (with balls)
Of course, his resume shows and prove it. Rafa all the way.
..but good is his selection on defences? the players he selected have got to prove themselves that they can be worthy to be in the team.
Rafa doing fine tuning..still shifting players and trying out players.
Captain will still be switch around, till the best man is found.
Really needs Shelvey to perform and leads the team for the money that he is worth in the middle of the field.
Hope he can prove something with his 3rd game out.
FollowFollow
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Comment #46Jedinak superior to all of our DMs (and we have a few).
Nufc-83
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Comment #47I have not seen gouffran do anything of note out wide ever. Granted Aarons didn’t play well on sat but at least he has done well from the left in the past.
Shouldn’t change the result we should still win comfortably but Christ been saying that every game so far,
Nufc-83
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #48Kevy how can you be wrong you answered the question already the games not shown live anywhere in the world so how will some on get a link to nothing?
Geez it’s like banging your head against a brick wall with you lot!!
AncientC
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #49Thanks Bishopmag @26
Macas
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #50Nobody has been dropped. Just simple squad rotation from Rafa
Nufc-83
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #51Would rather jaanmat gone wide and Richie swapped wings than see gouffran play!!
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #52Nufc-83 it’s pretty obvious that Paul Dummett gets tore a new one when the likes of Aaron’s is played infront of him, Gouffran tracks back and helps defensively so Dummett won’t get burnt and beat from pace every single time and they can get free crosses in, just attack with Richie and use Gouffran to stop leaking goals. Don’t understand why we don’t just sign a LB already.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #53bishopsmag,
Thank you very much. You have made my night.
jimmygscot
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #54Gouffo will do a job. He works hard and gets the odd goal. the Championship is his level.
Just hope the defence can look solid.
keeleytoon
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:26 PM
Comment #55I’m calling Gouffran to get Motm today haha! Any one else? Would be a laugh to see it happen.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:26 PM
Comment #56Who is the captain?
geordie157
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Comment #57Have to say I quite like that line up, better balance to the side. Need a performance from shelvey tonight!
Hope gouffran plays well, I think he’s a decent player at this level.
Nice to see Rafa has shown players that they can be dropped even if they are the captain.
No Gamez in the squad, I thought he was considered a bit of a coup when we signed him?
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Comment #58@NUFC-83 there has been times before when the games isn’t televised anywhere yet there has been linked, I think the linkes where through them recording it for highlights an stuff so there is always a small chance.
keeleytoon
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #59Dummet is the cpt i think. @ 56
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #60For right back we should have gone for bruno peres but hes gone roma now. Would love darmian from man utd. Wont schweinsteiger play for us for 1 season lol. Some say daley blind isnt fancied by mourinho. He could be our left bk
colwell
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #61Thank fcuk Ritchie is playing our only decent attacking threat. We certainly have squad depth but fcuk me its mostly utter shite.
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #62@msk . U mad bro?
Come on be realistic man.
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:31 PM
Comment #63cheers bishopmag!
well looking at that bench we need a few attackers really poor!
glad it’s goof on the left actually at least he puts a shift in and we know wat he’s about could be decent in this league tbf and anita isn’t in midfield is a plus
beermonkey
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:31 PM
Comment #64kodi sportsdevil streamsport.me
they have a link in there dunno if it works yet
Nufc-83
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:31 PM
Comment #65Kevy that’s simply not true as they can’t hack into the highlights 🙂 only explanation would be someone is showing it and most people such as nufc.com did not find it but that won’t be the case.
I thought dummett was solid defensively and that was the reason for playing him if he now needs cover then send him the conference now cos he sure can’t attack.
colwell
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Comment #66Would give Riviere a chance, he’s stronger and quicker then Perez who has been w@nk so far thinks he has 10mins on the ball caught out everyt ime. At least while Mitro is out Riviere gives us a presence up top.
bettyswallocks
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Comment #67Bishopsmag…….. You’re a star . Well done.
Jib…. This is your area of expertise. Where were you when we needed you most. Very disappointing.
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:34 PM
Comment #68I’m out of the city, will the online radio cut out at kick off as it usually does?
Budge123
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:38 PM
Comment #69Might be for the best RR if it does! ?
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:41 PM
Comment #70rafa use the link at 26 that works throughout
Our Toon
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:42 PM
Comment #71Call it what you want; dropped or rotation, rafa has called it right with lascelles
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:43 PM
Comment #72Thanks Manxpie
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:45 PM
Comment #73ourtoon aye i think the captain went to his head a bit not in an arrogant way but looked nervous as hell before the fulham game, he’ll come good again tho
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:46 PM
Comment #74no worries thank bishopmag he’s provided the link lol
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:46 PM
Comment #75Get in Gayle
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:47 PM
Comment #76ffs handball
James RS
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:47 PM
Comment #77Sels in goal again omg and drops LAscelles and Janmaat . I’m doubting again .
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:47 PM
Comment #78ffs i thought that was the start we needed!!
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Comment #79Gayle should have been sent off for that. Maradona type hand ball.
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:49 PM
Comment #80just seen it proper blatant like