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
The overrated Frenchman
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:50 PM
Comment #81I’m curious too why Gamez is not getting game time. Seems a more logical choice than Anita at RB, although Anita has done a job there before of course. He is supposed to be a “leader” type and all, and with our captain not playing that would have been helpful in the defence you’d think. It’s not like he’s a dud player Rafa has inherited.
jimiley
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:51 PM
Comment #82He could drop anybody apart from Ritchie coz they have all been crap. This team is not a patch on 2009 team. The best I am expecting is a play off place. 10 million for Gayle??? Come on man. He looks like Bellamy but thats where the comparison ends. Not in same class. We specialize in lightweight midgets.
Our Toon
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:55 PM
Comment #83Anita has already done more than janmaat at RB. Gayle was never a red card, blatant handball simple yellow.
Good start from us, quick and straight out of the blocks
santoon
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:56 PM
Comment #84our team too lightweight this year too easy to get pushed off the ball and looking for a free kick
mindcompressor
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:56 PM
Comment #85http://calcioitalia.stream/channels/skys1.html
showing something from different games… maybe will be more of NUFC
howay the lads!
msk21dec
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:01 PM
Comment #86Realistic signings would be crouch.. Berahino.. Giovinco. Cant we get David villa from the mls? I wish we gt masuako instead of west ham. Hes a quality left bk trust me
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:02 PM
Comment #87duffy with another own goal lol who were saying we should have gone for him instead thats 3 in 3!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Comment #88If you change it over to Sky Sports News they are showing every goal and even chance of the championship games
Have showed a few of our chances but we have not had too many of them unfortunately
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Comment #89😆
The few nutters on here that said they’d rather have Duffy than Hanley – bloke has scored another OG tonight 3 in 3! Outstanding!
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Comment #90Have you been on the Brown Ale msk?
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Comment #91Get in there, Hayden
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Comment #92Hayden get innnnnn!!!
Our Toon
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:03 PM
Comment #93Get in Hayden
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #94yeeeeeesss hayden!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #95YASS HAYDEN!!!
ShirebrookToon
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #96Get in!!!!
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #97Woooo!
Hayden – like the kid from what I’ve seen.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #98Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!! Some luck finally!!! Get in Hayden.
toon kk
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #99Get in
MAUTITOON
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:04 PM
Comment #100ISSAC WHOOOOOOOOOOO????????????/
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:05 PM
Comment #101good finish that this is more like it
davis_toons
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:05 PM
Comment #102yeah!!!
NUFCPaul
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #103Has Kets morphed into msk with all these unrealistic signings?
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #104Smart finish!
Bit more of that needed, taking shots early.
Obviously 3pts is paramount, but could really do with hammering them.
Nufc-83
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #105Hayden will be a great signing one of the best players so far along with Richie this season.
Moonraker15
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #106Get in Isaac! Don’t the lads look great in those black and white shirts ?
Our Toon
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:06 PM
Comment #107OMG Duffy has just scored another own goal, 2 OGS in the same game ahaha
NUFCPaul
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:07 PM
Comment #108Time to start chanting the Hayden Races!!! Get in there boy!
Jordan0123
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:07 PM
Comment #109The link @26 leads to nothing for me apart from SS1 showing little bits and bobs. Is anyone actually watching the match?
stephen1971
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:07 PM
Comment #110haydon is walking the walk, in full control , would love to see goofy on the score sheet
ShirebrookToon
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:07 PM
Comment #111Shane Duffy another own goal 2-0 Cardiff lol
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #112haha and again 4 in 3!!!!!!
thats gotta be a record id be checking his betting patterns
toon kk
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #113Duffy scored two own goals making Cardiff 2-0 up.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #114Am I reading that right?
Another OG for Duffy – got to be a record 4 goals 3 games…… in your own net!
Anyone that said we should buy him – delete your account.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:08 PM
Comment #115No links? anybody have radio link?
manxpie
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:09 PM
Comment #116jordan its just commentary from the radio
Rafa Revolution
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:09 PM
Comment #1174 ogs in 3 games jeez
thebionicMAG
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:10 PM
Comment #118https://www.spreaker.com/user/onnradio/newcastle-v-reading?tab=messages
Nufc-83
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:11 PM
Comment #119Haha that’s incredible about Duffy can’t wait to see that he must be gutted
kevymartins
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:11 PM
Comment #120Someone is streaming it on Twitter