Rafa Benitez has just named his side for this afternoon’s 4th round FA Cup tie at Chelsea.
Rafa has made a few surprise selections with Sadio Haidara, Chancel Mbemba and Henri Saivet starting this game.
We expect the formation will be something like 5-4-1.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s how #NUFC will line up at @ChelseaFC in the @EmiratesFACup (kick-off 1:30pm GMT).
Starting XI: Darlow, Manquillo, Mbemba, Lascelles (c), Clark, Haïdara, Shelvey, Saivet, Hayden, Ritchie, Gayle.
Subs: Woodman, Yedlin, Dummett, Diamé, Atsu, Murphy, Joselu. pic.twitter.com/SBBxT7PbB8
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 28, 2018
The rest of the team is not too surprising with Dwight Gayle in the lineup.
It looks like subs Yedlin, Dummett, Diame, Atsu, Murphy, and Joselu will start the game at home to Burnley on Wednesday night.
Henri Saivet – starts the game today
Here’s what Rafa has said about the game today:
“I think we have to find the balance. I always say we can progress in any competition, in this case in the FA Cup, if we have the squad strong enough to compete.”
“We will see if we can do it, but I will use the squad, for sure.”
“Every game is important, but obviously, we know how massive it is to stay in the Premier League, because of all the money around and then you can improve your team if you have more money.”
“We will use some players that were maybe not playing, and obviously some that were. I need to find this balance between players with match fitness and players who are not playing too much.”
“I am sure they (Chelsea) will consider this the most important competition for them right now.”
“The league is very difficult for them, they are out of the Carabao Cup, so I think it is a priority for them.”
“I think it will be a very strong side in front of us.”
As Rafa hints at, the FA Cup is not a priority for Newcastle this season, the league is, but it’s always good to win games.
About one-quarter of our fans think we can win this game today – let’s hope they are right.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
308 comments so far
manxpie
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:03 PM
Comment #41shut it jail!
davetoon
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #42I love it how troy deeney is listed as ill with an expected return date of jan 31.
He’s obviously leaving. Just praying its tous.
Chancel be a fine thing
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #43Toonbrother,
What’s going on? Pull yourself together man! Who is gonna abuse Ritchie if you’re not here? What would Collocini say?
hibbit
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #44as much as i love cup football this season it’s just a distraction staying in the premier league should be our one and only aim
but not watch it, what kind of fans are they ?????
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #45In actual fact I am not that fussed if Ashley is playing a bit of hardball over Jorgenson not sure he’s a good buy at what they want.
The Brazilian sounds like a better unknown EPL quality player.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Comment #46Munster,
Pardew fielded a weakened team when we were tenth and safe, never going to finish higher or lower than tenth. That’s the difference. And bar Haidara and Saivet how is it a weakened team?
toon kk
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #47Expect a poor % from us and a defeat.
Then look forward to our next game where we have a chance of nicking a point.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #48Is Akinfenwa playing (played) this weekend, if not can we take that as another sign.
Mag :P
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #49Ayyy just woke up in time for the game. I was kind of hoping that Mbemba was in midfield with Hayden in the back 5.
Anyways, let’s see how haidara and Saivet get on.
What’s happening with Merino?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:06 PM
Comment #50ADHD EGB here, 23 Minutes to KO
manxpie
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:07 PM
Comment #51jail have we got a very weak squad or not?
Jail for Ashley
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:07 PM
Comment #52Bill,
Stop leaving your phone left unattended, an autistic child with ADHD keeps picking it up every twenty minutes telling us how long it is till kick off.
Munster Mag
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:08 PM
Comment #53It’s certainly crazy that a guy goes from 3 to 20 Mill. If he had scored a good few in Spain / Italy this season that wud be OK so I can see why Ashley is reluctant but desperate times etc. We cud have got him for 12 in the summer. As for mitro, he must have made a pass at Mrs benitez
hibbit
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Comment #54i’ve never seen Jorgenson play so dont know if he’s a good buy or not !!
but the tactics with this transfer very typical of Ashley
toon kk
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Comment #55Jail
MA told p45 what the priority was, he stuck to the regime!
Pards was a yes man and stuck to the rules.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Comment #56manxpie,
Yes we have. Very weak.
Munster Mag
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Comment #57Jail, fair point, I hadn’t read the full team. It was a somewhat hypothetical question 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:10 PM
Comment #58toon kk,
Aye, true dat!
manxpie
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Comment #59so how is playing saivet and hiadara with a grand total of about 2 games in 2 years playing for us not weakening the team?
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Comment #60Jail
I know, the little bug*er keeps nipping in when I’m not looking. 🙂
AncientC
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:12 PM
Comment #61I don’t see the point in playing Haidara, he will be off at the end of the season anyway. Unless Benitez wants to get one last look at him. Pedro will certainly give Haidara a test.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:13 PM
Comment #62ADHD EGB here, 17 Minutes to KO and Yaaah Booo to you jail!
TudorCrisps
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:13 PM
Comment #63Any links like you bunch of filthy animals?
Shoulders knees
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:13 PM
Comment #64Here’s hoping my lad behaves today! He’s a guest of Chelsea today 🙁
Jail for Ashley
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:14 PM
Comment #65Munster
It’s not hypothetical at all, it was yet another completely unnecessary dig at the manager in which was very easily answered.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:17 PM
Comment #66Any have got to go out now to beat some trees up so don’t know when I’ll be back on.
HWTL HWTF HWTR HWTBRS.
The Newcastle Armchair
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:17 PM
Comment #67Come on the Toon!!!
I’m expecting another 4-3 thriller with the Ameobi winner out of nowhere!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:19 PM
Comment #68Damn he’s found me and is going to chuck me out so.
ADHD EGB here, 11 Minutes to KO and Double Yaaah Booo to you jail! 🙂
manxpie
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:19 PM
Comment #69Talking of ameobi this made me chuckle yesterday
https://twitter.com/PTLeather/status/957275233047728129
AncientC
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:19 PM
Comment #70Conte made a huge mistake letting Costa go. Chelsea are not the force they were last season. This game shouldn’t be as one sided as the Man City game.
Dennis Twice
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:20 PM
Comment #71Attack Toon attack, attack!
Shoulders knees
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:21 PM
Comment #72Anyone think it’s strange Rafa didn’t know how many changes he’s made?
Chancel be a fine thing
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Comment #73Looks like minimum 10 behind the ball, Ritchie as defensive no.10, looking to get Gayle away with a Shelvey ball over the top. Yedlin would be much better in terms of improving our attacking threat IMO. It is a second string of sorts with one eye on Burnley, that much is obvious.
Rob
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:23 PM
Comment #74C-dog. Run with what you like im not anyone else but me. Rob.. as in Rob robson, live in crammy, 28, work as a sparky offshore. Nothing to hide, nothing to gain from pretending to be anyone else or hiding behind an avatar or alias. You dont buy that i dont realy give a sh!te. Believe what ever makes you sleep better at night
Online Guy
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:24 PM
Comment #75Nufc-83
You amuse me ..Accusing me of hijacking your account ..taking on your name and posting stuff ! Hahaha
Your funny. Your trying to wriggle out of you reporting people to Ed ..you did it yerself !..now you say it was me posing as you ! Hahaha
Everyone can see there was no Nufc ..with a little n. What an excuse.
I wish you no ill as your funny trying to scrape out of it ..hahaha. good luck Kidda.
Let’s hope we shock Chelsea today.
Chancel be a fine thing
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #76Manx
Yes, saw that too, brilliant.
hibbit
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Comment #77enjoy the game lads
Rob
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Comment #78Tudorcrisps. Try the app livenettv or 12thplayer.com. bigjim sugested modbro earlier to if any help
Munster Mag
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Comment #79Jail it was a valid question. But no question of rafa is valid to you. Which is odd.
TudorCrisps
Jan 28, 2018 at 1:28 PM
Comment #80Cheers rob