Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has just announced the team for the tough away game at Derby County this afternoon and there’s a surprise with Jonjo Shelvey starting for Newcastle in midfield.
Newcastle: Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle
Subs: Darlow, Yedlin, Lazaar, Clark, Hayden, Perez, Mitrovic
So there goes our theory of Shelvey only starting in home games.
🙂
Newcomers Yedlin and Lazaar are on the bench and it’s rare that Isaac Hayden doesn’t start for Newcastle these days.
But Rafa is relying on players he knows at the club and will likely introduce the more recent arrivals slowly over the next few games and as we know – there are plenty of games coming up thick and fast.
It’s close to the team we had but we had Gamez at left back and Hayden in for Shelvey.
This is what Rafa Benitez has said about Derby County:
“I think they’re a good team. They have a good manager with experience, and I think that they will be at the top. How high, I don’t know, but they will be at the top end of the table,”
“We know that they have experience in this league, and they were doing really well. When you have a good team, it’s just a question of time that they will start performing.”
“Hopefully they can wait another week, we can do well, get three points and after, I will wish them all the best.”
“It’s always important to keep winning. When you talk about winning mentality, it’s not just that you are winning, it’s also that you approach every game thinking ‘we can win – we have to win’.
“It’s football, so anything can happen, but to go with the confidence that you can win is crucial if you want to stay at the top. We have this mentality.”
About seven fans in ten think we can get a win at the iPro Stadium today.
We need the win this afternoon.
Howay The Lads!!
235 comments so far
Hail Wor Ashley
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #201Woooooooooooooo!
Take that!
Another 2-0 prediction correct.
Blackley and Brownlie
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #202Clean sheet’s important. Keep it tight.
ilovetoon8788
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #203What a cross by shelvey though. They never saw that coming.
toonking
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #204Goal.
2-0 another3points
Son of Geordie
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:21 PM
Comment #205You beauty
AncientC
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:22 PM
Comment #206You have to love the timing of that goal, just as the fans were thumping out the support from the corner.
toonking
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #207Certainly not had to put the effort in great thing is we’ll have the energy for mid week
ShirebrookToon
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:24 PM
Comment #208Well done lads!
toon kk
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #209Great three points after a struggle
Hail Wor Ashley
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #210Another efficient, solid, organised performance.
Feels odd as an NUFC fan.
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:25 PM
Comment #211YaaaaaYYYYY!!!!
lesh
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:26 PM
Comment #212Oxygen masks to the ready – 2nd place on GD
lukes26
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:26 PM
Comment #213excellent win since our better players were off their best & still easily beat one of the better championship sides
BandB
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Comment #214That’s going to be Rafa. Learn to love it.
He’s like one of those no-fuss Victorian generals that dawdled to the relief of anywhere, but got the job done and was never going to be involved in a last stand round the flag.
BandB
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #215Oh!
And…..
Yay!
manxpie
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #216lascelles motm? really? definitely shelvey for me
Belfast
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #217Get in! That was a strangely very satisfying win haha
WWSBRD
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #218Brilliant awareness from Shelvey for the second but Derby what were u doing Christ completely switched off
clinath@ed
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #219Great result lads. Genuinely thought we’d get nowt tonight. Derby are very poor, and apart from a sloppy few minutes looked very tight and professional.
Are we in the top two now?
ilovetoon8788
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #220Just brushed aside 2 promotion contenders with a boring performance. Efficient.
Belfast
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Comment #221Grinded it out. Anita top notch again.
Bobbybee
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Comment #222That’s how to win the Championship. Get in front, frustrate, then hit on the break. A masterclass from a manager still learning in this league! 😉 Quality game management and an overall great team performance. Not every game will be flash, that’s Rafa at his best. He beats teams. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s likely to be one of our more difficult away games, yet we played it to perfection. Onwards and upwards.
ilovetoon8788
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:33 PM
Comment #223The biggest advantage we have in this league, is not the players. Its a truly world class manager at our disposal.
Laurent Robert 32
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:33 PM
Comment #224Solid team performance away from home against a fellow promotion hopeful.
Great stuff.
Legolas
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:34 PM
Comment #225Professional performance and great win. We look solid all over the pitch. Shelley MOM for me. Brilliant in the middle tonight.
The overrated Frenchman
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:34 PM
Comment #226Shelvey and M’Bemba clearly our best two. Anita had a good game, Colback and Gouffran both put in a shift, Lascelles and Dummett OK. Diame, Ritchie and Gayle largely ineffective. Sels is a worry. Rafa’s substitutions were smart.
magscar
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:35 PM
Comment #227Potential banana skin avoided. Poor game but never felt worried as in recent seasons. Good team performance which covered some tired play from Diame amd Gayle. 3 Good points 🙂
welshgeordie9
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:37 PM
Comment #228Bobby
Well said mate, excellent performance.
Ron Knee
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:37 PM
Comment #229SDJ scored a goal today!
Hail Wor Ashley
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:40 PM
Comment #230With you on Mbemba 1st half, but 2nd half he was the only momentary dent in our armour in the back 4. That misjudged headed clearance the only mistake from any of them.
Some good signs Rafa is fully aware of player’s weaknesses and is working to improve them. Shelvey much more considered in his selection of pass, frequency of killer passes attempted reigned in. Colback didn’t give away any silly fouls from my recollection.
Blofal
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:40 PM
Comment #231It’s not all about possession and beautiful football. It’s about winning. And today Rafa set the team up to win.
We gave them possession and defended well to start. Then after Gouffran’s goal we threatened on the counter and nicked a second. It was a tactically perfect game for the opposition we were facing.
Legolas
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:40 PM
Comment #232Overrated Frenchman, that’s the only niggle I have Sels does not fill me with confidence. Carlow is a better keeper by a mile. IMHO.
Legolas
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:41 PM
Comment #233* Darlow.
JP...from The Rock
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:43 PM
Comment #234Great result and performance!! Anita, Gouffran, Lascelles and Shelvey all had a great game. My man of the match is between Anita and Gouffran. Well done lads very well played, solid and played as a team containing one of our strongest rivals away from home. 2nd in the league now onwards and upwards with Rafa!
HWTL!!
clinath@ed
Sep 10, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Comment #235Have you all seen Armstrongs goal. Genuinely talented young man.