We have our second friendly in Germany this afternoon at Wolfsburg, and after that, we play Verona at home on Sunday afternoon, and that’s our preseason over.
Then we start a week on Sunday at home against Tottenham who were runners-up in the Premier League last season.
It’s going to be very interesting to see how we do against Spurs but from what we see from Rafa Benitez he is quickly zoning in on what the team will be to start that game in 11 days time.
Jonjo Shelvey – could be captain against Spurs
Rob Elliot will likely be in goal and with Jamaal Lascelles injured it looks like the two center-backs will be new-boy Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark.
We really like the look of Lejeune – he looks a class player.
The full backs look to be DeAndre Yedlin and Paul Dummett although Jesus Gamez has looked solid and he could even start at left back.
We expect Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey to start in central midfield although Mikel Merino will be pushing Isaac for the holding midfield spot once he’s fully match-fit.
The two wingers are likely to be Ritchie and new boy Jacob Murphy and of course up front is Dwight Gayle.
Rolando Aarons could force his way into the starting eleven although he would be an excellent impact sub.
Siem de Jong hasn’t been entirely convincing in the number 10 spot, but we expect him to start with Perez or Diame two players who could fill that position.
So the team is looking like this for the Spurs game:
Elliot
Yedlin Lejeune Clark Dummett
Shelvey (c) Hayden
Ritchie de Jong Murphy
Gayle
We put Shelvey as captain, so he has more responsibility for the side.
There are only two new players there in Lejeune and Murphy, and we’re sure Rafa would have expected more new players to start in the Spurs game – but it hasn’t worked out as expected.
Not yet anyway.
A win against Spurs would really be something.
What would your team be for Spurs?
Comments welcome.
65 comments so far
coatesy17
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:29 AM
Comment #1Id guess at this team but with Aarons starting ahead of Murphy, Who will come on!
geordieracer1980
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:32 AM
Comment #2I’d also love to know what pubs in Newcastle city centre will be showing the game. Cheers lads.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:32 AM
Comment #3A little previous Ed to be discussing the starting team against Spurs with a friendly today and another next Sunday! I’ve a feeling the team today will be experimental but next Sunday he may play his preferred line up for at least the first half anyway which should give us a strong indication of the team against Spurs!
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:38 AM
Comment #4I’d expect Atzu to start with Murphy coming on either later in the game or if we had an injury.
Don’t think Aarons will be getting starts for a few games, I think Rafa will ease him in slowly.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #5Martoon
You may be correct, but I suspect we will see more clues to his starting line-ups today and Sunday with a lot less subbing happening.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:43 AM
Comment #6Yeah I expect Atsu to start on the LW. Deserves it really for his good run of form back end of last season.
WWSBRD
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:49 AM
Comment #7Rotonda
We cant just ignore the agent/player fees mate, all the journos close to the club will tell u its closer to the 45-50 mill mark that we have spent when those are taken into account
Jan Stavik
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:53 AM
Comment #8De Jong to start? That highlights the fact that this squad needs improvements… Diame will probably start, though.
Our Toon
Aug 2, 2017 at 11:57 AM
Comment #9Whatever the figure was being bandied about earlier in the summer, have we gone back to including wages, agent fees etc as part of the transfer budget?
OneAlanShearer
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Comment #10I’m going for this rafa bingo selection
Elliot
Manquillo Lejeune Clark dummett
Shelvey Merino
Ritchie de jong Murphy
Gayle
ToonRich
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Comment #11Draxler could be on his way out of PSG if Neymar arrives…loan move anyone!!
toon kk
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Comment #12Just shows how we need strengthening when you have players like Diame in the squad.
Our Toon
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Comment #13Rotonda
I have very little faith in Ashley and a lot of faith in rafa, unfortunately Ashley runs the club and rafa reports to Ashley so the chances if us getting our way out of this window is not likely.
Patient we remain but what will the excuse be at the end of the window if we don’t sign quality?
Before the window almost everyone acknowledged we need quality, that then moved onto we have bought some good players, now it’s wait till the window closes….when that happens we will hear we have enough quality no doubt
ToonFanAbroad
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:02 PM
Comment #14Sat at AOK Stadium now waiting to get in ?
WWSBRD
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:03 PM
Comment #15Our Toon
I never read we had stopped including wages as part of our transfer budget? As for fees they have always been included in that budget
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:07 PM
Comment #163 Hours 52 minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Comment #17I really hope that Diame doesn’t start at No. 10, he’s always looked hopeless there but actually looks good enough as second choice to Hayden.
geordieracer1980
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:12 PM
Comment #18For me, the spine of our team need strengthening badly. I totally understand why Rafa wants an experienced keeper. Neither Elliott nor Darlow are of the required quality for me. Woodman certainly has the potential to be our number one for a number of years and he is already pushing for the number 1 GK at the club. And at such a young age that is mightily impressive. A Reina to come in and be our number 1 and for Woodman to learn from him would be an ideal scenario. I still think a top class defensive midfielder would be great as well. We lack anyone of real quality in that position. As much as I like Hayden, again, we need proven top level quality and experience in that position. Ditto for a strikers role. If those positions are strengthened accordingly I would be much much happier. As it is, we are light on quality and experience.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Comment #19ToonRich
We’ve got as much chance of us getting Draxler as I have of walking on the Moon!! 🙂
Macas
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:14 PM
Comment #20Diame gets a lot of stick on here, and on his form last season he probably deserves it. However he has played regularly in the Premiership before and may just surprise a few people next season. Compare that to Hayden who gets over hyped a bit, and has never played at that level before. Hayden did well in patches last season but also had a lot of games where he was fairly anonymous. It will be interesting to see how both perform, but I don’t think we should write Diame off just yet.
AncientC
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:21 PM
Comment #21Tottenham scored 13 goals in their last 2 PL away games. Hopefully the summer holiday will break their form.
toon kk
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Comment #22One of the things that will be so exciting to watch next season will be all our back and sideways football, I’m sure it’s not Rafa’s intentions but with the lack of quality in the team we hit a brick wall so the only option is? Yes you guessed it, back and sideways.
Jib
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:23 PM
Comment #23Ivan Toney on loan to Wigan Athletic
Grant Hanley sold to Birmingham City
(Thank god for Redknapps propensity for buying crap)
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:24 PM
Comment #24How can you want an experienced DM to come in ahead of Hayden?
He’s on an upwards trajectory, why would you want to stunt that? Done nothing to warrant sitting on the bench for a season and given the opportunity has every chance to be in the reckoning for an England call-up by season’s end if he stays injury free. Hes the best we’ve had in that role for years. So bloody shortsighted. Name me a realistic one for starters that is a clear upgrade. Colback is experienced and he’s shite.
All we need for me is another ST and a left-footed LB to compete with Dummett. A GK if Darlow leaves which I doubt will happen.
I don’t understand this pervasive negativity!
I can only think it’s down to some thinking we were going to come straight back up, splash £100m+ and expect us to be top 8 right away, in which case you set yourselves up for a fall.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:25 PM
Comment #25If that’s the team we start with do me a favour lads find me some good prices for Tottenham to score a bag full on match day anybody agree with that .
cyprus
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:26 PM
Comment #26Do a close up of that picture… Is it Shelvey or an imposter?!
Anyway, that team you put there is too weak for the PL, Ed.
I’m sure there are at least two top players coming in. A 9 and an 8 and/or 10.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:27 PM
Comment #27Essex Geordie Bill @16 – Having another senior moment? 😀
The match KO is 4 o’clock local time but 3 o’clock our time -so you’re an hour out!
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:28 PM
Comment #28Eh, I’m out until match day you bunch o’ depressing gits. Where’s Bobbybee when you need him?
RUNAWAY777
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:31 PM
Comment #29If I have a bet it’s to win my heart will always say toon but to win money you have to back the strongest team .
Spotlight Kid
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:33 PM
Comment #30For the first time I’m with Ashley on the keeping purse strings tight. We have had an endless procession of overvalued mediocre players of late given ludicrous contracts, perhaps as substitutes for real trophies, who end up languishing on the bench or training with the unproductive academy. Millions squandered speculating that one of these pains is a gateau, and can be sold on to subsidise the loss made on the others. In the process it has blocked the youth system, overburdened the wage payments and given the club an Ashley style spare tyre of worthless ‘blubberballers’ who will never make the first team, are paid silly money, yet can’t be sold.
If all this this season does is clear off this debilitating excess of dead wood and allow the club to become lean and trim again, with a functioning U23 and youth system, then that WILL be success in my eyes – even if the price is relegation.
SeanNufc87
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:34 PM
Comment #31I really hope he uses the friendly today or next weekend to try two up front or try mitro in the number 10, he obviously doesn’t rate him as a striker so why not get him in a link up position. Let’s face it he can’t do much worse than Mo.
kc2012
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:37 PM
Comment #32Talking about betting on your own club to get hammered on the opening game of the season though really?
AncientC
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:37 PM
Comment #33“For the first time I’m with Ashley on the keeping purse strings tight. We have had an endless procession of overvalued mediocre players of late given ludicrous contracts”
Exactly why the purse strings should be loosened. It was keeping the purse strings tight that saturated the squad with cheap imports on bloated wages. Buy cheap, buy twice.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:37 PM
Comment #34Jib @23 – Where did you see about Hanley to Birmingham – I can’t see it anywhere?
ShirebrookToon
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:39 PM
Comment #35http://futnsoccer.com/2017/08/02/newcastle-defender-reportedly-set-for-championship-move/
Mag52
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:39 PM
Comment #36.
As the weeks tick by, first to the start of training following the summer recess (gone), then to the start of pre-season matches (gone), now to the first PL game v Spurs (fast approaching) and a ‘disappointed’ Rafa is still looking to buy the quality players he knows he needs to compete in the PL, we hear the likes of Bobby and Jib pouring scorn on the ‘doom mongers’ for even suggesting that all is not going to plan.
If, by the time the transfer window comes to an end, and we are still clearly under strength, it’ll be quite interesting to see their take on the situation.
AncientC
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:41 PM
Comment #37Yes, tone it down until the transfer window is closed. Unfortunately, it will be a little too late to complain and call for money to be spent by that time.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:42 PM
Comment #38Martoon
I did actually wonder if it was their local time not ours, so not a total senior moment. 🙂
The countdown on the NUFC site says 3 hours 17 minutes so they have got it wrong as well.
toon kk
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM
Comment #39Spotlight
You well maybe with MA, I know what you’re saying but he has been the victim of his own downfall. Buying second rate players or chancers is a risky business, they can still cost good money, don’t play to a high enough standard then your stuck with a player on a long contact that’s not good enough and no other clubs want.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Comment #40Ancient who did Spurs score 11 against?
geordieracer
Lots of likes on your request but no actual helpful answers. C’mon chaps help him out.