The Newcastle defense was very dodgy from the off at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and it looks like two of our best defenders may be fit and ready to play tomorrow against Leeds United at St. James’ Park.
DeAndre Yedlin is definitely available and gives us more thrust down the right wing and Ciaran Clark has been our best defender this season and he may be available to play.
We’ll assume both Yedlin and Clark will start tomorrow.
DeAndre Yedlin – will start tomorrow?
Here’s the team that Rafa could start against Leeds tomorrow night.
Darlow
Yedlin Lascelles (c) Clark Dummett
Shelvey Hayden
Ritchie Perez Gouffran
Murphy
We like Issac Hayden a lot and he can play in central midfield and make a difference to the team with his class.
Ayoze Perez has played well at home and we need some goals from the Spaniard in these final five games of the term.
Rafa may start Mitrovic up front, but whoever plays there must play well and take their chances – hopefully.
We’ll go with Daryl Murphy from the start but would expect Aleksandar to get some playing time in the second half.
We must register a win tomorrow night so we can all celebrate and go daft.
Then that would then be a really good Good Friday.
Howay The Bonnie Lads!!
Comments welcome.
58 comments so far
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 14, 2017 at 12:51 AM
Comment #41Been a while…. Got engaged and have a lot of planning to do for the traditional ceremonies here where i have to re-propose in front of around 100 people and participate in various cultural gifts, dances and traditions….
Been some ups and downs since I was last on. Still very much on course for promotion, the minimum requirement for this season given our squad, resources and manager. Hasn’t been a stellar year, but the lessons learned in training and on the organisational side will pay dividends next year, provided we keep nucleus of the main 11 or so players(which I think we will).
I fully expect us to finish the job off and secure ascot in the top tier next season. If that assumption is correct, what are expectations? People talk of a lot of signings, or 4/5 top quality. Personally, I’d be happy just consolidating our place next season and being upper bottom half. I’d be delighted with higher, but I’d rather we built well and sensibly, which can rarely be done in one window.
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 14, 2017 at 12:52 AM
Comment #42ascot = a spot….
Lilongwe Geordie
Apr 14, 2017 at 1:01 AM
Comment #43Apparently I chose to make my return when nobody else is around….. Back into the wilderness I go then…..
Tsunki
Apr 14, 2017 at 1:13 AM
Comment #44Don’t go Lilongwe, you are on the Ian Toon Approved List of Quality Bloggers. I notice he didn’t put Belfast on that list though. Strange one that, must have been something serious for him to fall out of favour. I think Ian should give Belfast his £5 back for that.
one fine day
Apr 14, 2017 at 4:41 AM
Comment #45rafa bingo line up
Darlow
Yedlin Lascelles (c) Clark Dummett
Shelvey Hayden
Ritchie Perez Gouffran
Murphy
a copy and paste from ed for me ..just praying Clark/ hayden are fit .
picked what i think rafa will go for but would prefer to see sammy in for goufrann to run at them .
maybe him or atsu will get 30 to run at some tired legs
same for mitro as i think Murphy will be effective for 70 only
score
1.0 will do me
Do not care if it goes in off dummnets arse as long as we win .
All that matters right now
Lindisfarne
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:06 AM
Comment #46Mitro
Atsu / Diame / Ritchie
Colback / Shelvey
Dumm / Lascelles / Hanley / Anita
4 – 1
Nufc-83
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:25 AM
Comment #47In my opinion Atsu must start he is one of our only players who can do something a little out of the ordinary which is why we are so one dimensional. We have nobody in the centre who can pick the ball up and turn in tight spaces in the area between the opposition midfield and defence. All our play goes through the wings and we have dummett and gouff on the left who can’t beat a man or carry play forward quickly. I would not know who to pick out of Murphy or mitro as it seems like a close call but either will be fine.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:25 AM
Comment #48Very confident with no goalie there, or is Mitro in goal and no striker???
Congratulations Lilongwe, the place hasn’t been a hive of activity of late and especially not at midnight. People saying we need a complete o erhaul of the squad are exactly the same people who are sayi g this team would get murdered in the Prem but in the same breath saying we should be steamrollering this league with the players we’ve got???
Tsunki,
Belfits was third on the right honorable Ian Toons list of approved bloggers.
Mag52
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:29 AM
Comment #49Jail.
If you’re going to bring religion into your blogs (not a good idea), try to get it right.
Good Friday is usually seen as the day Christ was crucified, not resurrected.
Mag52
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:32 AM
Comment #50No goalie Lindisfarne ?
Could be an interesting tactic !
Jail for Ashley
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:34 AM
Comment #51Nufc-83,
I think Atsu would start for exactly the reasons you say if he wasn’t so incosistent.
cyprus
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:34 AM
Comment #52This, as all remaining games, will be a hard one. Always hope for a win but I think we’ll scrape a draw. Amazingly, Leeds actually need a win more than us.
Then we’ll need 6 more points, which we’ll probably scrape with the odd 1-0.
So, yes, full of confidence 🙂
sing in the corner
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:35 AM
Comment #53Lindisfarne
Don’t think you will be far wrong with that lineup.
Personally I’d like to see Murphy start. He deserves it ahead of Mitro, in my opinion, pound for pound on their contributions this season. Also Mitro looks a different player coming on halfway through the second half to the one who starts..
Lindisfarne
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:36 AM
Comment #54Jail
Dohh! Goal Keeper Sels, no Darlow…..I don’t want to be too overoptimistic, if I am not allowed to say things could be better!!!
cyprus
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:37 AM
Comment #55Hope Yedlin, Clark and our only international CF start.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:42 AM
Comment #56Mag52,
Seems a funny to celebrate that mind!
Lindisfarne
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:43 AM
Comment #57Sing
Its a coin toss between the two strikers, Murphy also looks a lot better coming on. It may have been because of the desperate long balls in the last match but Mitro looked more dynamic, in control and he could have possibly turned a corner. If he can score in all the remaining matches, his frustrating season will disappear.
MadisonToon
Apr 14, 2017 at 3:40 PM
Comment #58Darlow
Yedlin Lascelles Clark Dummett
Shelvey Hayden
Ritchie Diame Atsu
Mitrovic
I hope Yedlin’s ready and Mitro and Atsu get the nod. Not bothered by Diame or Perez as neither has been particularly helpful so far. Would love Hayden instead of Colback but am a bit worried that Colback may sneak in there again. Will just have to wait and see. HWTL