This is the news we didn’t want to hear today – that Michael Owen is missing from today’s line-up – after picking up a groin strain in training on Friday.
So Alan Shearer makes the one forced change to the side which beat Middlesbrough 3-1 on Monday night, with Oba Martins coming in for Owen.
We can only assume Oba is fit enough, and maybe Lovenkrands and Carroll can replace him if he feels his groin too much during the game.
In fact we’re a little surprised Alan didn’t go with Peter Lovenkrands to start, and bring in Oba in as an impact substitute in the second half. We assume Oba is feeling OK about his groin, which would be good.
Shola Ameobi is brought in as a substitute.
Nicky Butt will be captain of the side this afternoon, as he continues in midfield alongside Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez and Danny Guthrie.
Habib Beye, Sebastien Bassong, Steven Taylor and Damien Duff form a flat back four – the same defense that played so well on Monday night.
Former Newcastle favorite and Academy graduate, Aaron Hughes, starts for Fulham at center-back.
Howard Webb is the referee, and let’s hope he doesn’t do anything stupid in the game.
This is again do or die for Newcastle United – a win would be fantastic and a defeat would be just too hard to take.
We’ll be back after the game, and let’s hope the lads play this game as though their lives depended on winning it – and hopefully if they do that – it should be enough.
Whatever the Hull City result today at Bolton, a Newcastle win would be fabulous.
Howay The Lads!!
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Steven Taylor, Sebastien Bassong, Damien Duff, Nicky Butt (c), Kevin Nolan, Danny Guthrie, Jonas Gutierrez, Mark Viduka, Oba Martins
Subs: Fabricio Coloccini, Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Alan Smith, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands, Andy Carroll
Fulham: Mark Schwarzer, Paul Konchesky, John Pantsil, Brede Hangeland, Erik Nevland, Zoltan Gera, Danny Murphy (c), Diomansy Kamara, Aaron Hughes, Dickson Etuhu, Clint Dempsey
Subs: Pascal Zuberbuhler, Andy Johnson, Bobby Zamora, Olivier Dacourt, Julian Gray, Toni Kallio, Chris Baird
Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 52,300
293 comments so far
Toon_Factor
May 16, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Comment #1Owen injured- SURELY NOT. Oh well Martins is much better anyway and Lovenkrands too for that matter, he should come on around 60-70 mins and play 3 up top. Come on lads 2-1 to the toon!!
dougnufc
May 16, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Comment #2Great line-up, hope Shola doesn’t get involved though.
Norn Iron Magpie
May 16, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Comment #3Happy enough with the line up.
dougnufc
May 16, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Comment #4Owen injured – Does it mean he has played his last game for us?
ObaFan2
May 16, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Comment #5Sorry, had to laugh when I heard this and after all the waffle talked about Owen this week about being able to help rescue our season etc.
Ah well, come on the TOON
Let’s hope Oba’s fighting fit 🙂 oh and Dukes 🙂
Ed Harrison
May 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Comment #6Owen has not scored since January – and there’s only one game left after this game today – so he’s hardly done much to save us this season – has he?
Norn Iron Magpie
May 16, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Comment #7dougnufc
Very interesting thought. Could well be.
ObaFan2
May 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Comment #8Ed, although I like many others were so excited when Owen signed I will not miss him if/when he leaves this summer 🙁
Man U champions 🙁
bakerbaker
May 16, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Comment #9http://iraqgoals.net/ch3.html
Should work; reasonable quality.
Really pleased about lineup and feeling quite optimistic for once.
Norn Iron Magpie
May 16, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Comment #10Man ure are the champions again. Owen wont be missed today.
Toon_Factor
May 16, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Comment #11ObaFan2
are F a forgot about the match damn it!!!!
ObaFan2
May 16, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Comment #12Toon_Factor, you didn’t miss much tbh, if anything the Gooners were the better team.
Fans Should Own The Club
May 16, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Comment #13Nerves: On.
Big Dave
May 16, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Comment #14Norn Iron hows u today mate I must say im not as nervous today as the last few games. Toon_Factor 2-1 is what i am going for. Lets get it on, oh any links yet lads
NepToon
May 16, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Comment #15any other links besides the iraqgoals one??
Rodzilla
May 16, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Comment #16Hangover: On.
Brain: Frazzled anyway.
….gona avoid all scores and hope the game is on Sky Game of the Day. Failing that, it’s Match Choice for me at 10pm.
COME ARN!!!!
Laters………
Obafan
May 16, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Comment #17Strange to see Owen get injured now. Don’t mind it at all, cause Oba will havfe lots of confidence after his goals against Boro.
A bit disappointed to see ManU take the title today, cause they will use their B-team at Hull next week. But if we win and Hull loses today it will not matter at all.
Good line-up and I hope Mc Loven will be brought in in the 2nd half.
Howay the lads!!!!
Norn Iron Magpie
May 16, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Comment #18Hows things Dave? Knew you would be on soon. Not to nervous myself i think we have a bit more confidence today im lookin for martins to take people on because when oba is hot nobody can touch him, Hope his groin holds up though.
DrNewcastle
May 16, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Comment #19Hey who had the stream from freepodcast?? where is that? that is a good stream!!
COMMON ON LADS!!!
Regards from Norway
dub sea
May 16, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #20its supposed to be on this but there showing manure trophy ceremony at the mo
http://www.veetle.com/viewChannel.php?cid=4a0d017b77088
Soren
May 16, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #21Good team. Hope Oba will bag a few today!
Howay the Lads
BT9MAG
May 16, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #22Ed – I think it makes sense to start with Oba rather than McLoven…Oba is out and out striker whilst McLoven can play a variety of positions and therefore can fit into any line up (regardless of scores/position/tactics)
Ross
May 16, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Comment #23why are all the effin streams for our match still showing man u being presented the trophy, i dont care!.
still nervous bout today, but have faith, of course. Howay the lads!
batty
May 16, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #24any more links lads
Fans Should Own The Club
May 16, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #25Hangover: On.
Nerves: On.
Links: Off.
Anybody have a link? Fughing veetle is showing Man U stroking their trophy.
Obafan
May 16, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #26Every stream is about ManU. Where is NUFC’s game???
beyethegreat
May 16, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #27it must be great to be champions the lucky b_______s
howay the toon lets forget about them and stay up
Rodzilla
May 16, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #28…thought you would be there Bats?
dub sea
May 16, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Comment #29i hope it comes on veetle…its a top qaulity stream
Ross
May 16, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Comment #30iraq goals just changed to our game lads.
As i expected, the lads are wearing the new kit.
http://www.iraqgoals.net/ch3.html
Rodzilla
May 16, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Comment #31It’ll switch on veetle once manure have stopped their trophy bukkake
Fans Should Own The Club
May 16, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Comment #32http://www.justin.tv/futbollll_9
Found one.
ToonRich
May 16, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Comment #33We’re on iraqgoals now 🙂
The Original Todd
May 16, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Comment #34what’s with the kits?
Obafan
May 16, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Comment #35I’m annoyed, how long is this ceremony going to take. Why not showing the games and show the ceremony after the 3pm games.
Ridiculous.
dub sea
May 16, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Comment #36effin man u. i feel sick watching. imagine if we won in 1996….who knows how history would have turned out
Fans Should Own The Club
May 16, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Comment #37Don’t like the new kits. Too much white–the black ones were better.
Ross
May 16, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Comment #38Todd-its this seasons new strip, obviously just getting it out in the open to encourage people to buy, went on sale thursday i think?
Fans Should Own The Club
May 16, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Comment #39If only Viduka were always fit…
The Original Todd
May 16, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Comment #40Fans (37) I agree. Too much white