Under pressure Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has just named his team for the vital game at the Hawthorns tonight against West Brom.
And Rafa has made five changes to the side with Darlow coming back into goal for Elliot, Mikel Merino starting and Chancel Mbemba coming in at left back for Javier Manquillo.
Joselu keeps his place up front, and Dwight Gayle drops down to the bench – so it’s all change for Newcastle tonight.
Jonjo Shelvey is left out of the side with Hayden and Merino in central midfield.
Rafa has changed almost half the side that started on Saturday.
The Baggies are 3 points behind us in the Premier League and a win for Newcastle tonight would see us pull 6 points ahead of them.
We have lost four games on the trot and the last game – the 3-0 home defeat to Watford – was our worst display of the season.
So tonight is a great chance to get things together with our first win in five games.
Karl Darlow – back in goal
Here’s the side:
TEAM NEWS: Here’s how Newcastle United will line up at @WBA in the @premierleague this evening (kick-off 8pm GMT). #NUFC pic.twitter.com/X59CA7lIXC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 28, 2017
But two in five fans think we’ll suffer our 5th defeat on the trot tonight.
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458 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:03 PM
Comment #1I can’t fcukin believe it!!!
Lindisfarne
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:03 PM
Comment #2Joselu loan striker!!!!
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:03 PM
Comment #3Oh dear.
Lindisfarne
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:03 PM
Comment #4# lone
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Comment #5Wish he was a loan striker.
AncientC
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Comment #6WBA: Foster, Nyom, Gibbs, Robson-Kanu, Evans (c), Livermore, Rondon, Phillips, Barry, Hegazi, Field
Subs: Myhill, Jacob, McClean, Burke, Rodriguez, Krychowiak, McCauley
Jail for Ashley
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Comment #7What’s happening on that front, is he trying to make some warped point.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Comment #8RAFA
No Mitrovich
Bloody stubborn Joselu better score!!!!!!!!
SPRINGY
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Comment #9Tbh was so fixated on joselu still in the side i didnt notice elliot and manquillo dropped!!lol…..good to see mbemba back in.
Lindisfarne
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Comment #10Fresh legs in midfield
AncientC
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:06 PM
Comment #11Kinda shocked Gayle was dropped. That has to be the first time Gayle has been dropped by Benitez—when fit and raring to go that is.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:06 PM
Comment #12New Theory.
Rafa wants out. He can’t do the dirt on the fans. He’s asking us to turn on him so he can get the he’ll out of dodge 😮
Toonfan8
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:06 PM
Comment #13Rafa is certainly blind man, He dont like to score goals…
toontaff2
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:06 PM
Comment #14Join in!
https://youtu.be/-r9oQke56H4
ronaldo aarons
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:06 PM
Comment #15To be fair, Joselu Perez partnership worked with merino feeding them rather than shelvey. Would have liked to have seen mitro start of course but I can see this team as a bit of going back to what worked previously. Hayden, merino and Joselu, Perez.
Glad to see mbemba back. Undeservedly got the chop.
Lindisfarne
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:06 PM
Comment #16just clocked the goal keeper too LOL
Jail for Ashley
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Comment #17Charlie,
He has to or there’s going to be a nasty feeling if we lose.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Comment #18Surprised to see Shelvey dropped!!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Comment #19Most be going for a 0-0
ronaldo aarons
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:08 PM
Comment #20Lol, I never noticed Darlow either. Think he’ll do well, just prone to the odd error here and there. He should be focussed throughout so think he’ll be fine. I can see rondon bullying our cbs a little mind with no jamaal.
YoungMag :P
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Comment #21Joselu doesn’t play too badly with Merino in the team. Got a good feeling about this team. Glad Mbemba is back, Darlow too!
JDdubai
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Comment #22Its actually quite pathetic now
Rafa is putting his stubborness and pettiness ahead of what is best for the team, no way Joselu should be in ahead of Mitro or Gayle. His own beef with Mitro, whatever it is, is now punishing the team.
And it cant be a trust issue surely, as Shelvey came straight back in after his stamping ban and is as much a liability as mitro is.
lesh
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Comment #23A MESSAGE TO ALL RAFA CRITICS
Results are not going well as we all know and I’m sure that nobody is more aware of that than Rafa – and I’m confident that the players are well aware that performances have not been good enough.
Fans have the right to be critical but some of it is a bit over the top.
By showing increasing discontent with Rafa and the players available to him, the on-going criticism will only lead to him walking – and that would suit Ashley down to the ground.
Some posters are doing exactly what Ashley wants – get rid of someone who knows more about football than any who’d consider taking his place.
Think about it – things are bad enough, yes?
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Comment #24FFS – what a terrible choice – Joselu and Darlow.
Online Guy
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Comment #25ELLIOT half a second out of Kilter with the rest of the planet glad Darlow is starting . I Was expecting it …hoping.
WBA 1 v 2 Newcastle United.
Lindisfarne
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Comment #26“”Always believe in……Karl Dar-low!
LGFUAD21
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Comment #27There’s changes and enough of them to suggest Rafa knows the 442 didn’t work.
Still that guy up top again. He’s becoming more untouchable than messi is at Barca.
sing in the corner
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Comment #28HOWAY the lads!
A few blood vessels bursting at tonight’s team I think.
Deep breaths JfA..
Shelvey benched IS the right decision after his captain’s performance on Saturday.
Hope Ritchie and Yedlin have straightened things out too.
We can win this..!
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Comment #29Lesh – Mitro is avail. We have persevered with Joselu and Perez and look at what they have done
Toonfan8
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Comment #30I can see why fans of Inter, Napoli and Real hate him now. I see he is so stubborn…we are not going to score and they will score atleast one
Online Guy
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:12 PM
Comment #31Lesh,
thanks for your help last week..I cleared everything..it still came back ..more of an issue for Ed’s site I would say..It’s gone now. Sorted. Cheers mate.
catchy in norway
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:13 PM
Comment #32i’m not getting the point he is trying to make
ShirebrookToon
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:13 PM
Comment #33Meltdown started already I see
Our Toon
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Comment #34Stubbornness again picking joselu, wow just flipping wow. Hopefully he proves me wrong but I said the other day rafa is forcing fans to the on him by constantly picking a player that just doesn’t work
World class manager, let’s hope so
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Comment #35Dropping 4 is a good sign that no one (except Joselu) is guaranteed a place.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:15 PM
Comment #3644 minutes
Colos love child
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:15 PM
Comment #37any chance of a decent stream tonight
BlacknWhiteBarmy
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:17 PM
Comment #38What is it with the club – its reported that Newcastle United left-back Liam Gibson has agreed the terms of a new contract with the club, according to the Football Association. New documents registered with the governing body show that the defender, 20, signed a fresh deal with the Magpies on 26 September.
Why no announcement – at 20 surely he should be pushing for hte 1st team
mindcompressor
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:18 PM
Comment #39I can’t believe it… So we are going for 0-0, coz Joselu cannot score or belive that Merino or Perez can score. Otherwise… we can’t win this. Quite strange that Gayle is dropped… At least he score twice in last 3 matches (even that one was dissallowed). Joselu offers nothing.
Average_Contents
Nov 28, 2017 at 7:18 PM
Comment #40Joselu again ffs!
I’d heard he’s stubborn but fcuk me Rafa, how far are you going to take this?
Gayle scores then gets dropped? For the ineffective Perez.
Wouldn’t of bothered me Perez starting if it was with Mitro as they work well together imo but with Joselu, it just doesn’t.
If he changes the attack it’ll be Gayle and not mitro. It’s infuriating.
Glad Merino’s back. And Hayden. Need the bite in midfield against brom.
Is Barry starting? The old Cnut always plays outta his skin against us.