Newcastle will look to get back on track on Saturday when they entertain high-flying Portsmouth at St. James’ Park.
Harry Redknapp has done just great again for Portsmouth and they are not only a good team, but they also play some attractive football.
However, as Harry is probably only too aware, Newcastle always seem to play well against Portsmouth, at least at St. James’ Park, and have won in recent seasons, every time.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp – knows it will be difficult to get anything on Saturday
Portsmouth’s last win at St. James’ Park was a 3-1 opening day defeat on August 20, 1949. Since that defeat Newcastle have won 19 and drawn four of their 23 league meetings on Tyneside, including 11 wins in the last 13 encounters. That record looks even better when you include last season’s 3-0 Carling Cup win at St. James’ Park.
So history is on our side and we’re sure Sam will let his players know just that – and hopefully that will help spur them on with what has to be all 3 points on Saturday. We want to see the team play against Portsmouth as though their lives depended on it.
And when we hopefully get those 3 points against Pompey, Sam has to tell the players there’s just no way we can lose to Sunderland in the next match – which happens to be at the Stadium of Light. We’re good enough to capture all 6 points in the next 2 games – but we have to play our hearts out – and none of this Reading nonsense. So it looks like our first away win of the season can actually come at Sunderland.
If we can do that, we’ll be well positioned and we then have lots of games coming up before the end of the year. But hopefully before then, at least our defense will be sorted out.
Readers can comment on the team and the probable score on our Newcastle United Forum – where we encourage debate on various topics – including every one of our games. Let’s know what you think the team should be – and the likely score – at the very least.
Comments always welcome.
12 comments so far
Hadji
Oct 30, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Comment #1This is our game for sure
4-0 for Newcastle
bobby
Oct 30, 2007 at 4:40 PM
Comment #2ed- if we beat sunderland it would be the second away win. we beat bolton opening day of the season. 🙂
bobby
Oct 30, 2007 at 4:42 PM
Comment #3ed, second away win of the season, we beat bolton opening day remember? 🙂
bobby
Oct 30, 2007 at 4:43 PM
Comment #4sorry about dupicate post, it crashed and i reposted again as i wasnt sure if it worked.
Tooninexile
Oct 30, 2007 at 5:14 PM
Comment #5I’m not so sure that Pompey will be so easy this time although we may nick it by the odd goal.
As far as our trip to the great unwashed is concerned I’m not confident that we will win but am confident we won’t lose. So a draw then!
Rich
Oct 30, 2007 at 5:21 PM
Comment #6I think itl be close, hope we dont under estimate Pompey, theyl finish 6th or 7th, going for a 2-1 win!.
iain
Oct 30, 2007 at 5:30 PM
Comment #7we will have to score twice to beat them imo.
Leo
Oct 30, 2007 at 6:57 PM
Comment #8my my my, the pompey have improved over the last couple seasons, its not going to be an easy game my team for them would be
harper
beye rozehnal faye enrique
milner emre barton nzogbia
martins smith
bench given cacapa taylor butt owen
unless viduka is fit then play him on the bench rather. smith would then swap be on the bench rather than taylor
the reason behind my defence would be that they are fast strong defenders and with the strong and speedy pompey players they will compete with them.
portsmouth have a strong defence but i fancy oba and smith to open them up with their fantastic partnering
Brisbane Mag
Oct 30, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Comment #9A win against Pompey is likely, but Sunderland away may be a little more difficult. I’m going for a draw as neither side will want to lose that one……
azza jones
Oct 30, 2007 at 10:01 PM
Comment #10Im not sure about the lineup this weekend…..
I would go for
Given
Beye Cacapa Taylor Enrique
Milner Faye Emre Zog
Smith Martins
Bench – Harper Owen Roz Barton Butt
I think we need Faye in the middle this week against Papa Diop & Muntari who are big and stong….For me Barton wasnt very good last week I think he is better coming off the bench to replace Emre around 65-70mins if we need a goal or to shore things up and add some Bite in Midfield!
This weekend is going to be a big test Im hoping for a win but I can see a score draw!!!
Hammy
Oct 30, 2007 at 10:33 PM
Comment #11Would love to see the Toon shaft Portsmouth……..Redknapp has never had a decent word to say about us…usually tips us for a loss in his “column” in The Sun ( hockle…….. spit).
While I’m on Redknapp bashing……anybody else sick to death of son Jamie boring everybody rigid with such cockney pearls of wisdom as………
“I think Peter Schmeichel will be a father-figure for Kasper.â€
Nice one Jamie, for your info he is……..c’mon Sky sack the muppet!!!!!!
iain
Oct 31, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Comment #12i didnt realise that pompey are playing blackburn tonight in the carling cup then coming to play us on sat.
surely that has to be in our favour, as weve found out so many times in recent years how badly midweek games can affect your peformance come the weekend with toon putting in some shocking performances after midwekk uefa games.