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
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:51 PM
Comment #41When I first saw AC play I thought we have a winner there, now getting the same feeling for Toney, just a gut feeling.
Nufc-83
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:53 PM
Comment #42I believe the biggest issue we have at the moment is moving players out as its likely we will sign nobody until we free up a large portion of wages.
Just watched the Mainz game and seriously anyone who thinks Mitro is good enough to play in the premiership or will be good enough needs to start following a different sport. I see all the time people saying his hold up play is good but its actually very poor and he always struggles to find a man once he brings it down (people just want to believe as he is relatively big he is good at holding the play up). He has literally not one good trait/ability to speak of. At least Riviere had a bit of pace and chased everything down jeez mitro is god awful.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:53 PM
Comment #43Just re-posting this for the benefit of geordieracer.
Ancient who did Spurs score 11 against?
geordieracer
Lots of likes on your request but no actual helpful answers. C’mon chaps help him out.
AncientC
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:55 PM
Comment #44EGB: Tottenham beat Hull 1-7… prior to that beat Leicester 1-6.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:56 PM
Comment #45Cheers ShirebrookToon but that only says he may go and not that he has been sold as Jib states!
EGB – I’ll let you off this time – not like the NUFC official to make a mistake NOT 🙂
bladeuser
Aug 2, 2017 at 12:56 PM
Comment #46No two ways about it that’s a nailed on relegation side you know it and I know it
Two top class strikers are needed for a start mitro was a bit part player last year he is not a natural finisher and rafa knows it
So if Gayle gets injured and he is seceptable to hamstring pulls you tell me this team is not going down
IF there are signings I will reserve judgement if not I am surprised rafa is part of this suicide squad
ASH OUT
Nufc-83
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:02 PM
Comment #47Bladeuser calm yourself down there will be signings we just need to move the deadwood out. We will definitely sign another striker no doubt and I am praying we get a number 10 through the door.
Jib
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Comment #48martoon
It will be in the Chronic shortly
geordieracer1980
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:07 PM
Comment #49Hail Wor Ashley
I didn’t mean my post to come across negative; there is lots to like about some of the players we have at the club. But I think going in to the season with 1 inexperienced defensive midfielder is a unnecessary risk. I rate Hayden and he clearly has bags of potential, but if he is to realise that at NUFC, he needs serious competition that can help him along. If Hayden is out, we are looking at Colback as his back up. I didn’t just mean we needed experience, but proven top level quality experience. Colback isn’t proven to be anything other than inept at the top level, which is why we need to get these sort of players out, because one injury and we are then relying on there guys. And that isn’t what I would call quality competition for young Hayden. So yes, I 100 percent feel we need top quality experience in the middle of the park. Ditto for GK. Darlow and Elliott are decent keepers. Solid enough, but an area we can certainly improve upon quite easily.Like I say mate, I’m no being negative. I feel I am stating the obvious in saying we need more quality down the spine.
Also, I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but I think Matt Ritchie could well be our most effective Number 10 if given a run there. I’d personally like to see Aarons and Atsu down the flanks. Both have the ability to take a man on and get in behind the full backs.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:10 PM
Comment #50Ok Jib – I’ll keep an eye out for it. Does this make you an ITK? 😀
geordieracer1980
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:12 PM
Comment #51Essex Geordie Bill
Cheers mate. I could easily enough watch a stream of the match at home but I’d prefer to go out for a pint and watch it.
Jack Root
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:14 PM
Comment #52We’ve far too negative a fan base. I’m with the likes of Bobby and Hail.
WW
Much earlier, he Is right. A season ago (last season) the- Average basic first-team pay in the Premiership was £2,438,275, or £48,766 a week. That is close to double the average wage in La Liga, which is just more than £1.2m per player per year, or £24,786 a week.
Transfer and thereby wage inflation has markedly escalated. WW is probably being conservative.
The transfer budget has always included player wages and agent fees. We also have on- going carrying costs of players that we want off the books.
At this time £50 million expended budget is very conservative.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:19 PM
Comment #53Have to go out, hopefully back in time for game, if only on NUFC radio.
magspuggy
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:20 PM
Comment #54Im so glad i dont have too sit next to the moaning minnies at church.
Why support the club if you hate eveything about it from the owner to the team ??
For your own mental health go find something that makes you happy and give up the toon.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:33 PM
Comment #55Jack Root – a bit unfair to take wages from the transfer budget surely these are part of the running costs of the club. Which I would have thought are funded by ST sales, Sponsorship deals, Commercial income etc. I think Rafa himself once said he had a transfer budget and a wages budget.
Ron Knee
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:38 PM
Comment #56Lee Ryder
Jamaal Lascelles and Rob Elliot involved today as expected #nufc
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:40 PM
Comment #57So we are sending out a Championship team to meet probably a title-contender…I have to see this game
…it will be good have an indication on where we are
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:42 PM
Comment #58Ron…it will be interesting to see if Lascelles is all fit…there was big concerns earlier about his general fitness
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:45 PM
Comment #59Just to give an update from our consultation at the midwife’s offices earlier today…everything is fine! We are expecting a baby girl in a few weeks time and it will be a home birth (that’s gonna be fun 🙂 lol )
toon kk
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:45 PM
Comment #60MA finds it hard to run a club at premier league level, although he’s happy with the income side he can’t quite get his head around the financial side of the outgoing running,The championship sat nicely into his idea of the cost side. The sudden step up is a shock to the Cashley system!!!!
geordieracer1980
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:50 PM
Comment #61Congratulations Jesper. My wife is due to give birth in November to a wee girl too…our first. All the best to you sir.
martoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 1:55 PM
Comment #62Jesper – tell your wife not to go into labour when the Toon are playing otherwise you’ll have a conflict of interests 😀
Rotonda heights
Aug 2, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Comment #63I totally agree that we should not get involved with these inflated and obscene prices.
The failed carr experiment with his french fancies on long deals has shown that wages are indeed a huge factor to take into consideration.
I guess I just don’t like hearing rafa saying we’ve missed out on supposedly very attainable players as his first targets. I guess the reality is it was probably only semedo, abraham and caballero. still that’s almost a third of a team.
dannitoon
Aug 2, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #64Why the negativity towards SDJ… only injuries have ruined his toon careerer.. his talent is un questionable.. i remember the reaction when we bought him…. a champions league player who for when at PSV he tore man city apart..
If he stays fit and gets in the groove, along with Gayle we could have a cole/beardo esk partnership…
tomellifred360
Aug 2, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Comment #65Looking at the team and the bench I feel we have a stronger squad than when we were relegated from the premier league, but a slightly weaker starting 11. Glass half full or half empty?