Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has just named his side for the tough game against Fulham this afternoon at St. James’ Park.
Fulham beat us 1-0 away in the first game this season and this is Rafa’s one year anniversary at Newcastle so it would be extra special if we can win this game.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s how Newcastle United will line up against @FulhamFC today (kick-off 3pm GMT). #NUFC pic.twitter.com/cK7C0gpbvs
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 11, 2017
So Atsu gets a start on the wing and finally Dwight Gayle starts again after last starting at home to Aston Villa – so we have a number of goalscorers in the side with Mo Diame back too.
That’s a strong starting line-up against Fulham.
Both Murphy and Mitrovic are on the bench and maybe Aleksandar will get a run-out in the second half today?
This is what Rafa has said about Fulham leading up to this game:
“Fulham are an attacking team. “It will be a challenge because they are an attacking team who create chances.”
“Their offensive stats are great but they concede goals. It will be an open game. Good for the fans.”
“We are so good away it seems we aren’t good at home.”
“We have a good home record. It could be better – it must be better.” “But it is not easy when teams come to defend.”
About four in five fans think we will win this game so it will be a huge disappointment if we cannot get all 3 points.
Howay The Lads!!
427 comments so far
Munster Mag
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:20 PM
Comment #41Oh. Come on ffs
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:20 PM
Comment #42These commentators don’t help the mood. Awful, dour souls that don’t create any sense of occasion.
BenArfa the magician
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:22 PM
Comment #43Really a shame Yedlin is out they have a lot of speed going forward
masterp1983
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Comment #44Anyone got a radio link for people not in the North East?
AncientC
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Comment #45Accurate passes: Fulham 144. Newcastle 41.
What the hell.
RUNAWAY777
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Comment #46this team is playing like shit raffa get out there give them a good kick up the arse now before fulham get a second and the game will be over the way fulham playing.
Toon Tang
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:24 PM
Comment #47Surely the ‘sitting off them, letting them have all the possession’ tactic should only be used away from home and not every match. Whats happening?
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Comment #48we have been playing like this the whole season,so just relax
Corv
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Comment #49#43masterp1983
Radio commentary on Nufc.co.uk for everyone…
Toon Tang
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Comment #50I’ll relax when i’m dead damn it…
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Comment #51aluko will surely score and finish this game
catchy in norway
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Comment #52radio link in my first post
firebug666
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Comment #53Another NUFC shocking performance so far, were at home ffs, time we started to show that.
cyprus
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Comment #54Not sure I agree that teams sit back at st.james, Jack. They take the game at us, usually.
RUNAWAY777
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:29 PM
Comment #55all this good work away from home collecting 9 point will mean nowt if we lose this match brighton and huddersfield will be rubbing there hands at fulham beating us.
catchy in norway
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:29 PM
Comment #56we have a bad attitude problem in our squad, i believe they think they just have to turn up and someone will win it for them.
our passing is shocking
firebug666
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:30 PM
Comment #57Huddersfield just scored
RUNAWAY777
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:31 PM
Comment #58hudderfield 1..0 up
ilovetoon8788
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:34 PM
Comment #59Absolutely dreadful.. We are royally gonna screw up the good recent results with a lost here.. At home too, which makes it worst.
BenArfa the magician
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:34 PM
Comment #60Why is it most teams we play especially at home take the game to us and we collapse? Teams aren’t scared of us and 9/10 times play much better football, press us back whilst our team full of much better players can not do the same?
firebug666
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:35 PM
Comment #61Our biggest problem is not being able to play football against other footballing teams, they are better than us all over the pitch.
lochinvar
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:36 PM
Comment #62Huddersfield 1 up
Average_Contents
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:36 PM
Comment #63We’ll, that was shite.
Plenty of time left yet but by the sounds of it we’re just lumping it forward. With Gayle upfront.
JamesToon
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:37 PM
Comment #64Fulham doing to us what we should be doing to them.
We just can never seem to get going at home, making options and playing fluid football, we did it a bit in the first half against ipswich, brentford, qpr. I dont get whats wrong.
We need an advanced playmaker in the summer, someone like cairney
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:37 PM
Comment #65bring on murphy before its toolate
lochinvar
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:37 PM
Comment #66I’ve stayed at home to move tons of soil – sons of toil is what supporting NUFC feels like
RUNAWAY777
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:39 PM
Comment #67raffa get out there and earn your corn 52,000 should not have to put up with this every time where at home do they know these fans will spend there last penny getting to the match that shit on the field should be docked there wages for this crap there serving up and whos the traget man up front today.
dannitoon
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:39 PM
Comment #68More terrible home tactics…. ffs drop colback for murphy n play diame from deep….
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:40 PM
Comment #69this bloody 4231 stinks
toon kk
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:40 PM
Comment #70We’re a nervous team at home, visiting teams lift there game against us, something we struggle with.
BenArfa the magician
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:41 PM
Comment #71Far too defensive at home we should be attacking making away teams sit back.
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:41 PM
Comment #72formation not right
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:41 PM
Comment #73Seems like Fulham are having the best of both worlds. Better in longs spells of possession and creating openings and countering our impotent attacks with pace.
Awful. Do we still have a team fundamentally comprised of bottlers?
St James should inspire us. but seems to inspire fear in our own.
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Comment #74and our manager istooblind to see this
AncientC
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Comment #75Are there any other radio links. The nufc.co.uk link is choppy. It’s not too bad at first, but after the commentary breaks up for about the 100th time, it starts to grate.
Zekalea
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Comment #76howay lads calm down we will be fine…
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:42 PM
Comment #77What happened to the team that scored at home inside 60 seconds after beautiful flowing football?
MAUTITOON
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:44 PM
Comment #78the fans don’t deserve this dross rafaz
JDdubai
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:46 PM
Comment #79Same issues that we have had all season with Rafa – too defensive and not going 100% from the kick off. Other games we have managed to find a way to sneak a draw or a win, could still happen today but those who say we are already promoted or keep thinking we will turn up and win every week are delusional.
We arent that good if we look at it without rose tinted glasses.
toon kk
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:46 PM
Comment #80We’re just playing the Rafa way,a style he’s opted for in the second half of this season.