Newcastle manager Alan Shearer is forced to change his back four with Habib Beye (hamstring) and Sebastien Bassong (suspended) not being available, and as expected David Edgar and Fabricio Coloccini come in for this crucial game.
And Damien Duff maintains his place at left back, with Jose Enrique on the bench, and that’s a good move by Alan, given Damien is more than solid there, and Jose hasn’t played for 3 weeks.
As we had hoped, Danish striker Peter Lovenkrands replaces Jonas Gutierrez in midfield, and Peter can score goals of course, which we need today.
And the good news is that captain Michael Owen (groin) has passed a late fitness test and takes his place on the bench.
We’re not sure he’s 100%Â fit for today, but no doubt Alan will use Michael in the second half if we need goals.
Michael – on a personal note – this is a great chance for you to save Newcastle if you get on today – please play out of your skin for the team.
The bench is strong, but Nile Ranger didn’t make it – these lads Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi, Michael Owen, Alan Smith, Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez are on the bench and any one of them could turn out to be the hero for the Magpies today – as long as someone does. 😀
Our hopes are sky high, but our reality, in truth, is quite low as far as a win goes – but we’ll take the miracle today.
Howay The Lads!!
TEAMS:
Aston Villa: Brad Friedel, James Milner, Nicky Shorey, Curtis Davies, Carlos Cuellar, Gareth Barry, Craig Gardener, Stilyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, John Carew
Subs: Steve Sidwell, Nathan Delfouneso, Zat Knight, Emile Heskey, Nigel Reo-Coker, Brad Guzan, Marc Albrighton
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, David Edgar, Damien Duff, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt (c), Kevin Nolan, Danny Guthrie, Peter Lovenkrands, Oba Martins, Mark Viduka
Subs: Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi, Michael Owen, Alan Smith, Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez
Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: tbc
485 comments so far
TheToonKing
May 24, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Comment #361geordie deb, i feel the same way , lately i was watching the games with pity, just waiting for us to pass away……words can not describe how sh1t we were this season, relegation is more then deserved……
Let’s hope we can rebuild and come back……..what a day……i’m gonna get drunk tonight…
LATINAMERICATOON
May 24, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Comment #362jjj.
i agree on butt, tells it all when he gave away 8 penalties at the start of the season… shocking! however, he was always first on the team sheet
beyethegreat
May 24, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Comment #363reillers i disagree they players did try they just werent good enough
Rodzilla
May 24, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Comment #364THE KING IS DEAD!!
LONG LIVE THE KING!!!!!!!
TOON TOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugh de Payen
May 24, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Comment #365Newcastle will still have a fair amount of ‘media pull’, even in the Championship and hopefully that’ll attract a decent owner. Someone who’ll take the club at a reasonable price, fund it properly and sensibly and put in place a manager with a 5 year plan to rebuild.
The only spanner in the works will be if Ashley refuses to sell the club.
reillers
May 24, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Comment #366I’d like to say the Championship will make us look good..but eh..
toonoholic
May 24, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Comment #367gunner we appreciate your concern, but honestly piss off.
apanzhafran
May 24, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Comment #36816 years as a fan of newcastle united, 16 years of premier league football have finally come to the end thanks to Mike Ashley, we will back again for 2010/2011 season! Toon Army for life!
Fan from Malaysia
Thump
May 24, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Comment #369I’m not even sure how I feel right now. I hope that Keegan understands what he’s done, though.
Michael12
May 24, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Comment #370Ashley most costly mistakes were bringing in KK and then getting Shearer who has no managerial experience let alone relegation experience.
Shearer came in on April Fools with 8 games to get now with hindsight 6 points and he only managed 5 less than a point a game. Now we are the fools.
Rodzilla
May 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Comment #371I’m gona find out where Phil Brown lives
LATINAMERICATOON
May 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Comment #372Gunners… good to hear some support from another supporter. The chanting of the mancs at the hull game is discraceful. i will be cheering arsenal on next year for the league
Stevo
May 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Comment #373Chin up! We all knew it was going to happen it just wasnt set in stone. Championship it is then…NUFC NUFC NUFC NUFC!!! Your club needs you now more than ever! I for one will support this club til the day I die!
Oleg G
May 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Comment #374Like alot of others said. saw this months ago.
but was hoping for the best. its a shock, but not a big one. it was in the making for along time.
see you in august guys. don’t worry. so what if we are down. lets hope that not for long.
Anon 878
May 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Comment #375I’m with Geordie Deb on this one. I’m gutted, but relieved. It’s over now. Time to get on with it and rebuild. We’ve certainly got the youngsters and now we can get rid of the crap.
The key is keeping Shearer on and keeping the finances stable.
There were a lot of bad decisions made by the club, especially by Ashley. Though I think too much credit has been given to him in terms of decisions. Ashley made the mistake of surrounding himself with yes men who had no clue what they were doing.
And let’s be honest. Even if we stayed up, we’d be back in this position. The overpaid junk would stay, nothing would change and we’d barely bring anyone in. At least this gives us a chance to start anew, with some young talent.
We’ll be alright. Our spirit will keep us going at this point.
I’ve got this tearing feeling in my heart that is not pain, but a feeling of sweet redemption that will slowly gather over the next year.
Everybody better watch out, because when we come back up, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Fans Should Own The Club
May 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Comment #376Now that we’re relegated, it’s a real chance at fan ownership because the price will drop.
I can’t say I wished it would happen, but now that it’s here, we have to live with it.
Anybody know when the first game of the Championship season is?
reillers
May 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Comment #377Would just like to say cheers to Shearer, he should incredible bravery taking over in a desperate situation when he had no business being asked to put in that position.
He gave it a lash, but to be honest, he was down a river without a panel against a rushing current.
Cheers anyway lad. A legend true and true.
Marty-Toon
May 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Comment #378Terrible………..
We only needed 1 point in the last 2 games and we canny manage that.
Disgrace….MA has made some terrible mistakes but
Tis the players that are to blame all season
Relegation is what we deserve
Stevo
May 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Comment #379P.S – Phil Brown you mackem sh*t
dougnufc
May 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Comment #380This feels so unreal. Watching Steven Taylor cry makes it look like a dream. Never in a million years I thought we would relegate. I am heartbroken.
Premier League, farewell but not goodbye.
Big Dave
May 24, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Comment #381Keep the faith
Rodzilla
May 24, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Comment #382Michael 12, the buck stops with Ashley. He pulled all the wrong strings (on a footballing level Stardust, if yer watching/listening).
RyanToon
May 24, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Comment #383just gutted lads.
ill be there next season. you make sure you fcuking are!
gorskino10
May 24, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Comment #384I think the OG summed up our luck we dont get any of it, but to a comment earlier about watching someone terminally ill playing :p, this is what i think im sorta relieved that we can get rid of all of the players pritty much but then some who i love like Martins im not happy about :(, the problem will be is we will get EVEN crappier players if we go down all i hope for is many youngsters from our Youth go through like Ranger etc…
and its going to take many years to do up again which is annoying :(, but lets hope Ashley goes and someone who LIKES or even understands how a club runs comes in that all i wish for which isnt to little i hope.
LATINAMERICATOON
May 24, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Comment #385shearer isnt to blame!
he came in, he never claimed to be an experienced know it all manager all he claimed to do was to rally the troops. the guys that are to blame are shepherd and ashley! our owners and board have always been our problem
Hugh de Payen
May 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Comment #386Shearer can’t be blamed for this Michael.
He’s only had 8 games with a poor squad and no opportunity to strengthen it.
Truth is, we don’t really know how Shearer will perform as a manager yet. Personally, I suspect he’d do okay but that’s yet to be proven.
ObaFan2
May 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Comment #387gunners, appretiate ur words of wisdom, we do know we will continue but the fact is our owner, a die hard gambler, has gambled our premier statuship away and needs hanging for it.
It’s sad for the players that will go, like Oba, Bassong etc BUT WE WILL REJOICE WHEN THAT FAT F*** SELLS OUR CLUB and not before.
Toon_Factor
May 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Comment #388I cant stop crying
Rodzilla
May 24, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Comment #389Cheer up TC. We all knew it was gona happen, really. Take positives from negatives. Ye divnt last lang in this warld unless ye dee.
At least we have a competitive league next year….
……ONE WE CAN WIN!!!!!!!!
TOON TOON!!!!!
toonoholic
May 24, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Comment #390toon factor same here .
Geordie Jayne
May 24, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Comment #391ObaFan2 I completely agree
LATINAMERICATOON
May 24, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Comment #392people i would like to thank this season.
Shearer
beye
taylor
gutierrez
enrique
I prefer not to say a word to the rest of the players
gorskino10
May 24, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Comment #393Toon Factor – i know how you feel but am i emotionless that i just can’t feel sad, i am a little but most of it is relief to get rid of these players who fustrate me. i love how a club used youngsters I.E Junior Stanislas (WEST HAM) etc… i would care if we got promoted or up i would just love to build a young team.
geordie deb
May 24, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Comment #394Rod
Agree mate. It’s done. Let’s look to the future. We’ve been there before and we will be back up soon no doubt about it. Mass clear out of the expensive journey men, get some astute buys, bring in some of the youngsters, hopefully mgt stability, fans to stay behind the team and we will be back
batty
May 24, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Comment #395MOST OF ALL THIS WILL GET RID OF THE FANS WHO ARNT REAL TOON FANS
Geordie Jayne
May 24, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Comment #396Phil Brown has nothing to celebrate we saved his arse
Stevo
May 24, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Comment #397NUFC NUFC NUFC NUFC!!! Your club needs you now more than ever! I for one will support this club til the day I die!
Graxel
May 24, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Comment #398So sad, off course, I would prefer us to stay, but I think that this may be positive in the long run.. Out: Coloccini, Owen, Duff, Butt(hopefully), Ameobi(Hopefull) Viduka, Beye and Jonas..
Build up a new team with youngsters and a whole new mentality at Newcastle. Resonable wages and real passion!
We totally deserved to get relegated…
hitman
May 24, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Comment #399ASHLEY SELLUP,this tw@ has destroyed this club,the penny pinching anticts of this bloke has sunk us,not kk leaving not the fans,ashley is to blame plain and simple.
jimiley
May 24, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Comment #400We are crap and we know we are. We will stay crap as long as MA is at NUFC. We must get him out.