There was some good news for Newcastle with Rafa Benitez saying that central midfielder Isaac Hayden will probably be available for the game against Brighton on Saturday afternoon at St. James’ Park.
Isaac has been out for a couple of games.
But Mikel Merino did return from injury last night along with Jonjo Shelvey who served his two-match ban for being sent off late in the home game against Everton.
But it seems that center-back Florian Lejeune is still not fit with a slight injury to his foot, which he picked up in training.
We hope that’s not the same foot that kept him out at the beginning of the season after he was severely tackled by Harry Kane in the first game.
But Aleksandar Mitrovic and Jesus Gamez are still not fit.
This is what Rafa has said about the injuries:
“Maybe Hayden will be available.” “Aleksandar Mitrovic no, Jesus Gamez no.”
“I think that maybe Hayden will have a chance.”
“Lejeune had a kick in the training session and has a problem with his foot.”
“I don’t think that he will be available.”
We wonder if Henri Saivet will come back into the squad on Saturday?
Comments welcome.
160 comments so far
YoungMag :P
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment #121Munster
If it’s not fair to label catchy and the like ‘rafa outists’. Why is it fair for them to call us ‘rafa clappers’?
It’s okay having a balanced opinion, but even with a very decent result against a world class team the negatives are being compiled by the same exact posters. It’s almost as if Rafa can do no right.
I accept that he makes weird substitutions at the wrong times sometimes, that’s my main gripe with him. But I’m not on here pointing that negative out 24/7 because I appreciate everything he has done for us and I still believe he is the best manager we have ever had. It’s easy to point out all the things he has done wrong after the fact, but why are they NEVER pointing out the good things he has done? It’s a clear agenda and it’s pathetic. Support the fcuking team and the manager ffs.
hibbit
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:09 PM
Comment #122jimiley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:01 PM
Comment #117
That performance was pitiful. That most embarrassing show probably ever as SJP
obviously hasn’t been to many games in the last fifty years if he thinks that was the most embarrassing game ever
Our Toon
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Comment #123Jail
I know what he’s won, I wasn’t questioning that. I was questioning the person that stated he won 3 European cups. When I was growing up European cup was main cup competition which was then replaced by the champions league. So he’s won the European cup once.
Very good record in the cups from rafa
Tsunki
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:10 PM
Comment #124jimiley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:01 PM
Comment #117
That performance was pitiful. That most embarrassing show probably ever
Yes jimiley, you and your crew did us no favours at all with your performance.
jimiley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:11 PM
Comment #125Hibbitt you a total moron. I suppose you enjoyed the game?
Jail for Ashley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:11 PM
Comment #126Jimiley,
Has your wife tried to poison you?
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:13 PM
Comment #127Who played as SJP – https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Sarah_Jessica_Parker_at_Miami_Rhapsody_30th_Anniversary_Celebration.jpg/1200px-Sarah_Jessica_Parker_at_Miami_Rhapsody_30th_Anniversary_Celebration.jpg
jimiley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:14 PM
Comment #128Jail
You have been banging your head on those bars for too long.
Our Toon
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:14 PM
Comment #129Jimiley
The first 30mins wasn’t good but once we got to grips with what we were trying to do it became better. I think we’ve saved legs to key players for the more important games.
My biggest gripe was Shelvey shooting from kick off, after the 30mins we got the balance between defending and carrying a little threat just right. Anyway we have more important games that we need to get results from
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #130jmiley, you a cry baby.
😆
YoungMag :P
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:18 PM
Comment #131Awh boo hoo jimiley.
No doubt you’d be crying as you are now even if we had won or nicked a point.
True to form.
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:19 PM
Comment #132I would rate losing 3 players to red cards, 2 for fighting each other v Villa
or being beaten by Liverpool 0-6, up there.
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:22 PM
Comment #133And those are just for starters!
http://payload302.cargocollective.com/1/16/535601/8348326/PP_joke1.jpg
jimiley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #134Young Mag
I know you are a true supporter when you can be proud of that performance.
Bobbybee
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:28 PM
Comment #135I’m at a total loss as to what some people expect Rafa to do with a Championship team playing against well established PL teams?
Merino apart, and he’s not the finished article yet, Lascelles and… Mmm. Stuck already!
Will any PL teams try to buy any of our first team, apart from those two? Doubt it very much.
This team simply isn’t good enough. Yes, they try their hearts out – something we ask for and expect – but they’re Championship players and most will return there when they leave us. Or, unless we buy in January, go back there with us.
How can you not see that? Do you think that playing in the PL automatically makes you a better player than you are? It doesn’t. Neither can Rafa turn them into PL players without PL quality around them to help them improve.
This team simply isn’t good enough because it’s basically the team that came up.
Nor can you blame Rafa’s signings. You get what you pay for and he was given no money to improve the team. Do you think he wanted Joselu? Or Manquillo etc? He had to take what he could get.
The gulf in class was there to see last night. The difference between bargain bin buys and Harrods quality.
There’s times when we need to be totally realistic and this is one of those times. We’re simply not good enough for this league and survival will be down to one man and one man only.
He could’ve walked but hasn’t because he still sees the potential in this club. Getting through this season was always going to be a struggle. That’s not me saying so now, I said it last May when we won promotion. The gap between PL money and Championship money is huge. Brighton and Huddersfield spent more than us and that speaks volumes.
We are what we are and no amount of wishing will change that.
YoungMag :P
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:30 PM
Comment #136How dare you throw the ‘true supporter’ card at me.
Atleast I’m trying to support the team and Rafa.
Wtf are you doing?
And yes, I’m proud that our team that cost £300 million less than city’s only lost 0-1.
You’re not even considering why we set up like that. It’s just gone over your head. Who the fcuk cares what other supporters or pundits think about how we setup? The bottom line is it almost worked.
Learn to fcuking support you clown.
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Comment #137Come on, Bobby, you must have been embarrassed by our pitiful performance, though 😉
c-dog
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Comment #138Good to see Big Mo getting recognition in the last two poles for his hard working performances. It’s very evident we lack any real premier league quality so all as the players can do is be disciplined by playing as the manager wants them to and working hard. He epitomizes this in both his lack of quality and his excellent work rate.
YoungMag :P
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:34 PM
Comment #139Agreed Bobby.
In all honesty you’re better off not wasting your time.
It’s so obvious as to why we are where we are. But people just want to btich and complain.
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:35 PM
Comment #140jmiley, as a true supporter, guess you were at SJP, whilst making all your thoughtful, incisive comments at the same time? Tut, tut – you a fool 😆
toontaff2
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:37 PM
Comment #141Lots of Toon fans, on here or not, are from all over the world and I’m wondering where you hail from, to actually insinuate anyone is or is not a ‘true fan’?
I do have my suspicions…………….
YoungMag :P
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:38 PM
Comment #142Toontaff
It’s okay, because I’m not hounding Rafa out I’m not a true fan.
The irony.
lesh
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:39 PM
Comment #143Tsunki @23
C’mon, admit it, your post was submitted to gain affection. Welk, you succeeded with 23 love hearts so far.
🙂
jazzyp
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:41 PM
Comment #144Jimiley
If Nufc make you this unhappy as it obviously does,Step back and choose a different hobby mate.
You never have anything good or positive to say about Newcastle and I ain’t having a go just stating facts pal
Jail for Ashley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:41 PM
Comment #145Those same half a dozen posters that bitch about everything are the same lot who told us week in week out that this team would get murdered in the PL unless there was serious investment. There wasn’t serious investment so why do they now expect is to be much higher in the league.
lesh
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:41 PM
Comment #146Tsunki
Apologies – it was your post @27 that’s drawn all the ?, all 23of em.
lesh
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Comment #147Tsunki
Apologies – it was your post @27 that’s drawn all the hearts, all 23of em.
lesh
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:44 PM
Comment #148YoungMag @121
Catchy (by whatever name) and Munster haven’t a positive thought in their heads.
Tsunki
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:46 PM
Comment #149All right all right lesh what do you want? Another heart? Ok there you go 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:48 PM
Comment #150I only got fifteen 🙁
Tsunki
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #151The reason I’m pleased about that lesh is not self congratulation, because others have put it way better than me. I’m pleased because it shows that sense is not lost on an intelligent core of NUFC fans.
Tsunki
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Comment #152In fact as my post pointed out, just check out whose posts are appreciated. The reasonable ones. The nutcases only muster a few because they back up each other and evidently judging by some posts vote for themselves.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:53 PM
Comment #153Tsunki,
It is evident from the support given to the team and manager at the final whistle that the dirty dozen match day goons to not represent the opinion of the vast majority in the ground.
geordiesteve520
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:54 PM
Comment #154repost (totally missed the boat)
How audacious a move was it from Guardiola to bring on Jesus for Kompany after 11 minutes? Anyone with less confidence in their (and their team’s ability) would have brought on Mangala but no, he brought on the best youngster in world football! It was stomach churningly hard to watch but we worked our socks off and nearly snatched something. GNev, trying to get Murphy banned too! Anyone else think Gayle should have taken his touch and stayed up? There was no way Danilo could have tackled him fairly if he did.
YoungMag :P
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:54 PM
Comment #155I’m just gonna start avoiding the blog when they are on in force. It’s just super depressing.
L Toon
Dec 28, 2017 at 2:56 PM
Comment #156Bobybee
Here here
hibbit
Dec 28, 2017 at 3:07 PM
Comment #157so jimiley i’m a moron ??
i just wonder what title you deserve after reading though your latest outbursts ….. lunatic works me !!!!
lesh
Dec 28, 2017 at 3:07 PM
Comment #158Tsunki
‘…It’s sad but it’s the legacy of an outgoing opportunist businessman who has rode this club on its own limited resources while taking all the riches of worldwide advertising’.
You forgot to mention the property he’s shifted into Mash Holdings.
Talk about theft – but in this case, the greedy hot’s done it legally!
I really hope that PCP manage to screw Ashley to the floor and force him to restore the clubs assets portfolio to where it was before he got his grubby paws on it.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 28, 2017 at 3:08 PM
Comment #159Young Mag,
I read pretty much every post on the blog when I get a chance to catch up but I don’t bother reading back on the match day ones. They’re so bloody predictable. The same lot who post very little during the week just showing up to vent their spleens. Like jazzy said to Jimiley, if it makes you that unhappy find something else to do.
lesh
Dec 28, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Comment #160* greedy hot’s = greedy git’s……
Tsunki
Your post about the difference in positive feedback (ie total hearts) amassed for constructive comments as against the total gained by the neggars was a point well made.
But whether the hyper-critics even understand what you said is questionable. They’re either stupid or mischief-makers – or more likely, both.