Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has named his team for the third of four games over a nine-day holiday period; we play Brighton at St. James’ Park this afternoon followed by a match at Stoke City on Monday afternoon.
A number of players return to the starting line up including Karl Darlow, who comes in for the injured Rob Elliot – and Clark, Richie, Hayden, Atsu and Gayle all return.
It looks strong team for the game today against Chris Hughton’s side.
TEAM NEWS: Here's how Newcastle United will line up against @OfficialBHAFC in the @premierleague today (kick-off 3pm GMT). #NUFC pic.twitter.com/tTdArFwkTW
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 30, 2017
We almost had the team correct put had Chancel Mbemeba in at left back for Paul Dummett.
It looks like Rafa will play 4-4-2 with Gayle and Joselu up front and still no place on the bench for Henri Saivet.
Karl Darlow – back in the starting eleven
Three fans in four think we can win this game and all 3 points will move us up the league table and away from the bottom three.
Wins are what will save us this season, and we have a chance to win our next three league games against Brighton at home, Stoke away and bottom of the table Swansea at home.
Howay The Lads – we need the win!
Comments welcome.
662 comments so far
AncientC
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:02 PM
Comment #1Brighton: Ryan, Bruno (c), Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, March, Gross, Murray
Subs: Krul, Goldson, Schelotto, Kayal, Izquierdo, Baldock, Hemed.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:02 PM
Comment #2Good side, only change I would have made would have been Joselu for Shelvey. Look to dominate the midfield and set Gayle loose.
Let’s hope they click. Need Ritchie,a
Merino and Gayle all on it today to get a win.
ilovetoon8788
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:03 PM
Comment #3what wrong did saviet do? he played better than Hayden ever had for NUFC and is immediately banished from the squad.
its frustrating but I hope rafa knows what he’s doing and gets 3 points.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:04 PM
Comment #4On paper our squad looks way better than theirs.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:05 PM
Comment #5Hope Hayden steps up today. He’s been really poor this season.
geordiemark
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:05 PM
Comment #63-0 to the toon
DubaiMicky
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment #7Looks like we’ll be going for it from the off.
Toon 3.0
msk21dec
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment #8happy with line up except for hayden rather have shelvey and merino in midfield. juve played with 2 mid beginning of season so went with 3 midfielders and have kept 8 clean sheets in a row. think we should go 3 in midfield hayden shelvey merino it might work for us. our wingers are crap at crossing so could play gayle and atsu supporting joselu slightly inside from wing and let yedlin and dummet provide the width. just an idea
RUNAWAY777
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:08 PM
Comment #9See i got ritchie atsu merino and of course dummett as many said he would not start.
RUNAWAY777
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:09 PM
Comment #10DubaiMicky so dummett must have come through that game ok mate
manxpie
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:12 PM
Comment #11hayden is defo due a decent game been shocking this season
bets on when he picks up a yellow? first 10 for me
great to see manquillo dropped aswell, should tighten the defense up
martoon
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #12Agree with msk21dec – I would have like to have seen Shelvey & Merino in the centre but pleased to see Dummett at left back – I wasn’t sure he could manage 2 games in 3 days.
masterp1983
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Comment #13Rafa must have his favourites. Poor Saivet has a great game but as he wasn’t a Rafa buy, he is back in the wilderness. Doesn’t ever seem to pick on form which is so strange to me.
Munster Mag
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:19 PM
Comment #14No saivet? I thought good managers reward good performances.
BenArfa the magician
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:20 PM
Comment #15Dummett may be a bit rusty today against Knockhart but a rusty Dummett is still 10 x better defender than Manquillo.
DubaiMicky
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:20 PM
Comment #16Yeah, good news for us Runaway
sparky55
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #17Lesh
I have strong ties in the city and spend one week a month down there. When I was down there just before xmas everyone I spoke to who has been approached by Ashleys representatives and himself to raise money for everything he’s been doing told me the deal was done just before he stunned up the 300 million in cash to complete the 900 million land and property deal.
As I’ve tried to explain on here a couple of times before it was impossible to raise that kind of cash with no borrowings without selling shares or borrowing against shares or by raising cash from improved equity from his existing property portfolio or raising money from bonds.
He has not sold any shares because he has to declare any such sales and he hasn’t
He hasn’t borrowed money against shares because Debenhams, SD and addidas have not gone up in value enough (only adidas have) and no way he could have raised 300 mil that way
His property portfolio value is flat from 18 months ago so he hasn’t got the money that way either.
If he raised money on the bond market again it would have to be notifiable.
NUFC has no debt (only to Mike Ashley) so every penny raised from the sale goes to him personally.
The only way he could have raised that much in unborrowed cash was in the main from the proceeds from the sale of NUFC and everyone in the city knows that.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Comment #18Newcastle United (4-4-2): Karl Darlow; DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett; Matt Ritchie, Isaac Hayden, Mikel Merino, Christian Atsu; Dwight Gayle, Joselu.
Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Javier Manquillo, Chancel Mbemba, Jonjo Shelvey, Mohamed Diamé, Jacob Murphy, Ayoze Pérez
36 Minutes to KO
ilovetoon8788
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:24 PM
Comment #19Best news is, dummetts back. Top quality defender but very underrated.
Shelvey offers nothing aside from Hollywood passes and does nothing else but is lauded as potential England call up. What a joke. No wonder only relegation threatened West ham are interested.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:26 PM
Comment #20Almost second guessed Rafa, playing Hayden instead of Shelvey!
the ledge
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:27 PM
Comment #21Come on the toon army! 3points will make my weekend.
Ron Knee
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:27 PM
Comment #22“9 of #nufc’s Championship winning side start today. 14 of the 18 in the squad were present throughout that season. Manquillo, Merino, Murphy and Joselu weren’t.”
the ledge
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:29 PM
Comment #23Agree on shelvey doesn’t put in enough of a shift and when the Hollywood passes don’t come off he don’t over much.
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Comment #2427 Minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:35 PM
Comment #25Is there a live audio today, I’m on the NUFC site but no sound!
Also looked for streams but can’t find any!
RUNAWAY777
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:35 PM
Comment #26Only got two wrong on team saviet and mbemba no one could tell what would happen to ellott so got 9 rite
DubaiMicky
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:38 PM
Comment #27Mr Bill, go to batmanstream dot net, suggest you use the NBC stream, it’s better
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:39 PM
Comment #28Sound just come on!
It’s Rugby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21 Minutes to KO
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:43 PM
Comment #2917 Minutes to KO
Belfast
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:45 PM
Comment #3015 minutes KO
DubaiMicky
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:45 PM
Comment #31Hope this works
http://live.livewidget.net/streamvideo10/newcastle-vs-brighton-live-stream-4550023.html
toon22
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:46 PM
Comment #32Imho Rafa wants to sell Savient,since he seems to have had a good game its probs means its easier to sell him atm
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:48 PM
Comment #3312 Minutes
and I seem to be getting some BBC west country prog not NUFC live!!!!!!!
Munster Mag
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #34Happy with dummett there. Good defender, good man rafa
lukes26
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Comment #35Gayle’s been really good lately..I think he’s due a goal or two.
Glad Dummett’s back, though Manquillo did an adequate job on the left for me.
Gross and Murray are decent players for Brighton..I think Newcastles defense is superior though ..should be points for us
toonbrother
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:50 PM
Comment #36Hope Ritchie finally starts contributing to the team
Zero goals this season is a shocking stat for a winger given the number of minutes he has played
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Comment #378 mins 52 seconds
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:52 PM
Comment #38It’s just been in sky -the referee has confirmed today’s game is ‘head height’
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:52 PM
Comment #39On sky
Frank pingles come sock
Dec 30, 2017 at 2:53 PM
Comment #40No confirmation if it’s ‘rush keeper’