It’s always difficult to predict a side to play in the next game because it’s very hard to read Rafa Benitez – even after his press conferences.
But it’s clear Dwight Gayle is not in the squad until he gets his confidence back that his hamstring is indeed OK.
There’s a chance that Rafa could bring back Rob Elliot in goal although he seems to have supported Karl Darlow since his mistake with Paul Dummett on Saturday that cost us a goal and 2 points against Bristol City.
Rob Elliot – could return for tomorrow’s game
That 2-2 draw was very hard to take, because we should have had 3 points against the 4th bottom side who have been struggling for over two months in the league.
So here’s a team Rafa could start tomorrow night and we have made 5 changes from the side that started against Bristol City on Saturday.
Elliot
Anita Lascelles (c) Clark Dummett
Shelvey Colback
Ritchie Diame Gouffran
Murphy
The two big changes that Rafa may not make for tomorrow’s game are to bring Rob Elliot back in goal and to play Irish International striker up front in place of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who gave us very little last Saturday.
It really depends on how Elliot and Murphy have been training and how good they have looked.
But it’s Vurnon Anita and his experience back in after that ankle injury at right back for DeAndre Yedlin – and Mo Diame in for Ayoze Perez in the number 10 role – again more experience for the tough game.
In the same way Yoan Gouffran comes back in for Christian Atsu because of his extra experience.
So we have made 5 changes from last time out.
What’s your team to play Brighton & Hove Albion?
Comments welcome.
126 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:09 PM
Comment #41carl /Ian – as for “know nowts” I seem to recall you posting that Sissoko was a good player a potential Yaya Toure and that nobody would pay £25 million plus for him.
Erm wrong, wrong and wrong.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:11 PM
Comment #42toon kk,
You remind me of that robot in Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy,Marvin. Or the cowardly lion from Wizard of Oz, maybe that hen who thought the sky was falling down.
Mister Tuff
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:13 PM
Comment #43Carl (the little “c”) as for me being moderated – never the case – another lie from you.
Tsunki
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:14 PM
Comment #44Oldgit should be along any minute to defend yet another “quality” poster who has had a hard time at the Vengeant, wringing hands of the blog bullies, thugs, oafs, dolts, bumpkins, yokels, ne-er do wells, buffoons, pugilists, wide boys,…….
toon kk
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:15 PM
Comment #45Jail
Who are you?? The wizard? Have you got a yellow brick road in front of your house?? Ha ha
Mister Tuff
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:17 PM
Comment #46carl (the little “c”) I note you never take part in the bingo or having a go a prediction.
A lot on the blog do for a bit of fun.
Your spite and hatred obviously results in you not taking part but you will take the opportunity to criticise those who do.
Give it a rest- troublemaker.
toon kk
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:22 PM
Comment #47Jail
Just realised your the scarecrow, see you in Oz! !!!!!!
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:25 PM
Comment #48Brighton play more attractive football and are a joy to watch, spoken like someone who rarely watches them
They are a solid counter attacking team with 1 flair player
And we play like Bolton…LIKE BOLTON (little LOTRs reference for anyone whose interested)
toon kk
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:28 PM
Comment #49Good goal from Vardy
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:29 PM
Comment #50If you think Brighton are rubbish you need to go to the opticians.
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:30 PM
Comment #51Ffs Liverpool, every time i want you to win you mess it up.
Ron Knee
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:32 PM
Comment #52A penny for Ranieri’s thoughts!
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:33 PM
Comment #53Opticians must be very busy in the North East with some of you on here.
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:33 PM
Comment #54Direct me to where I said Brighton were rubbish welsh…i will wait though I imagine u will refuse to comment further as per usual
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:34 PM
Comment #55Imagine bring a Swansea fan crowing about attacking football haha
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:34 PM
Comment #56See why didn’t these Leicester players play like this under their former manager.
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:35 PM
Comment #57Well you obviously don’t rate them.
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:37 PM
Comment #58Swans did play attacking football as it goes, that’s why they finished in the top half nearly every season.
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:38 PM
Comment #59Ok welsh show me where I said I don’t rate Brighton…
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:38 PM
Comment #602-0 Leicester.
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:39 PM
Comment #61That was a good goal by drinkwater.
toon kk
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:39 PM
Comment #62What a goal by Drinkwater
welshgeordie9
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:40 PM
Comment #63Well put it this way then, who’s played the better football out of the two teams.
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Comment #642 top half finishes in the PL in ur history based on sideways passing…each to their own I suppose
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:45 PM
Comment #65Newcastle, we’ve also won more games and scored more goals as it happens
manxpie
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:45 PM
Comment #66The Leicester players show Wat utter twats they are lol
Would love it if they lose it now
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:46 PM
Comment #67welsh
How many times have u watched Brighton play?
Tsunki
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:47 PM
Comment #68Looks like a big pill to swallow all that “no problem with Ranieri” guff.
optimistic prime
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:49 PM
Comment #69I predict more of the same.
The team seems to play reactive rather than proactive. We need to impose ourselves more in the early stages instead of letting the opposition get a footholed. errors and poor play from certain players is costing us a lot atm.
The errors I can take given the constant pressure, a little less would be nice but the consistent poor play of certain players is unacceptable. I don’t understand how certain players get chance after chance and others barely get a sniff.
toon kk
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:50 PM
Comment #70Welshie
The thing is most Newcastle fans like to think we’re better than we are, we’re doing a job in the championship and no more.
I always say it as it is,we’ve been average to poor for several games now.
Last season we were sh.t to Rafa steadied the sinking ship.
Will we get automatic promotion? Hope so but remains to be seen.
Ron Knee
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:51 PM
Comment #71“Leicester players may say they had a point to prove after criticism. Critics could say #LCFC players have actually proved THEIR point.”
Belfast
Feb 27, 2017 at 8:58 PM
Comment #72Never lost the dressing room apparently hehe. Proved in just 45 minutes it was the correct decision.
Our Toon
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:01 PM
Comment #73It’s going to be a tough game tomorrow, we’ve played Brighton a couple of times over the past 3 / 4 years and lost each time. I’m hopeful of a win but that’s down to our away form. If we take a point I’d be happy with that.
Martoon do you keep the predictions of posters on here? It would be interesting to see what ppl have predicted and whether it’s consistent with contributions now
Our Toon
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:02 PM
Comment #74Belfast
It’s quite sickening to watch them play this way, maybe going back to last seasons tactics has helped and a very poor first half by Liverpool.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Comment #75Errors
Because we play sideways backwards football which invites the opposition on too us – so we end up passing back to Darlow who hooooooofes it upfield to Mtro who half the time cannot be bothered to head or out like Saturday.
Saturday were at home against a team low on considence.
We have kick off Colback passes back twenty yards we try to go then we fart about backwards sideways and in the first 5 minutes we passed it back to Darlow three times.
And our lazy buggers at the back cannot be bothered to go short or find a space to get a pass out from Darlow to start a attack.
You watch how many times Dummett, Clark and Lascelles pass the ball sideways until Shelvey has to drop deep to pick the ball up.
Being a sad I have started counting back passes I counted 12 back passes in the first half and with theat amount of back passes – the law of averages dictate Darlow or the defence are going to get in a mess.
manxpie
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Comment #76So the Leicester players would rather get relegated
than play for their manager!
Disgrace of epic proportions
WWSBRD
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:06 PM
Comment #77Our Toon
We beat Brighton earlier this season and prior to that was cup games (where our aim was not progress)
Clematis
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:17 PM
Comment #78Oh, we’re so bad and Brighton and Huddersfield are so gonna womp us….
We are the league’s top scorers. We have the 2nd best defensive record in the league. We beat Brighton at home, who were pure horse shit.
Our away form is un-fcuking-believable, yielding 2.30 points per game.
Now tell me who should be fcuking worried.
Our only concern is the twat who will referee the game, Sir Bobby of Madley who is a Huddersfield fan. How this is allowed is beyond the pale.
Our Toon
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:20 PM
Comment #79Wwsbrd
I’m talking about games at Brighton not games at SJP. We lost to them twice in the cup when we were in the prem.
Our Toon
Feb 27, 2017 at 9:21 PM
Comment #80The lad ndidi has been different class, was he Ranieri last signing in January?