That rumor this morning that Jamaal Lascelles would not be in the squad today turned out to be correct and in come Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez for their debuts in central defense.
Yedlin comes in at right-back, so the back four is entirely different in each position than last week at Cardiff, and this cannot be good news against such a top side like Chelsea.
Ki comes into central midfield for Jonjo Shelvey who has picked up a knock in training.
And it looks like Rafa will play a back five today.
Very sorry about the initial confusion – I didn’t see Dummett was in as captain.
I’m not having a good day today – but maybe Newcastle will!!
The lack of depth in the Newcastle squad is something that Rafa Benitez had talked about all summer.
TEAM NEWS
Here’s how Newcastle United will line up for this afternoon’s @premierleague game against @ChelseaFC. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/3TWG9yTQwu
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) August 26, 2018
Most of our fans think we will lose this game – but you never know.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
143 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:49 PM
Comment #81Jail
I hope they come away very happy!
TomaKaThor
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:49 PM
Comment #82Any faint hope of springing a win have diminished wIth Shelvey being out, and with Lascelles out and a debut for 2 defenders my hope has all but gone.
Essex Geordie Bill
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:51 PM
Comment #838 minutes to KO, back at half time, later chaps.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:52 PM
Comment #84Mendacious gutter press saying Lascelle’s dropped because of a dispute with Rafa over tactics. Total codswallop.
The reverence Lascelles has for Rafa is well documented. Don;t for one moment believe he would suddenly be so disrespectful and arrogant as to suggest he knows better.
Bad news having both him and Shelvey out, hopefully just minor.
Gonna go for an optimistic 2-2 and a bit of a mad match.
Dennis Twice
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Comment #85Attack Toon attack, attack!
Jib
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Comment #86Best result for us with the simultaneous fixture to ours
would be a Fulham/Burnley draw.
davetoon
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Comment #87We need to try and attack chelsea today. Arsenal could have scored 6 against them last week.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:54 PM
Comment #88Most media outlets reporting the bust up story now so regardless of whether it is true or not it will be the narrative.
Bambams
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:55 PM
Comment #89I am bricking it…..
Just hope the two injuries are ‘injuries’ and nothing more sinister.
Oh to be a Newcastle United fan
lesh
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:55 PM
Comment #90Jiblets
I do believe that the question about Chi’s BBC letter was raised in this thread – is that not reason enough to respond to it.
And, can we take it you’re posting from the comfort of a Bishop hospitality suite at SJP? Or even SJP? Or even on your way there or more likely, from hyem?
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:55 PM
Comment #91Itll be bishop with this story to get the media to focus on that instead of the protests rafa has just said its an injury and so is shelveys who’s been playing through pain for a few weeks
Id rather trust him then some rag!
ilovetoon8788
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:55 PM
Comment #92Prediction
Newcastle 0 Chelsea 5
Pottsclock
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:57 PM
Comment #93Well….given the situation I would say it is unlikely that the team have done much training in this formation. Here’s hoping for the best and let’s see some passion from the new players. At least the weather is with us.
Douglas
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:58 PM
Comment #94I am an optimist.
Newcastle 1 Chelsea 0 after 10 minutes.
Newcastle 1 Chelsea 7 after 96 minutes
Toon Tang
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:58 PM
Comment #95Finally we see some new signings. Rafas been listening to me.
Rotonda heights
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #96Always seems with Ashley we’ll forever be the underdogs whoever we play. Shocking difference in squad values today. If only he’d sold to the Mansours but greed got the better of him again.
ronaldo aarons
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #97Ilovetoon1988 full season predictions
Newcastle 0 – anybody else 5
[Insert Team] 5 – Newcastle 0
And repeat.
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #98Fernandez looks nervous as fusk already!
Lindisfarne
Aug 26, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Comment #99Also glad to see Murphy and Rondon starting.
lesh
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Comment #100Essex
So your suggesting that DubaiM might read the runes too?
Mmmm, a shrewd and not unexpected response from you and none from DubaiM ……
Mister Tuff
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Comment #101dubai – good stream so far – cheers.
Toon Tang
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Comment #102Gianfranco radioing in some chicken alfredo’s
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:01 PM
Comment #103Well in ritchie
RUNAWAY777
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:02 PM
Comment #104Sorry lads hope iam wrong but this looks lambs to the slaughter you can not take them two players out the team and you’ll get something out a game like this one and for those that said Watford would be in the bottom 3 you really need to have another look there playing some decent stuff my bets down before a balls kick enjoy the game we’ve got it on in cape verde .
ilovetoon8788
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:02 PM
Comment #105@ronaldo aarons
No I never predicted that. I’m realistic.
This match with the fall outs of our key players means a thrashing. 3 nil loss will be a good result.
Mister Tuff
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:03 PM
Comment #106spoke too soon – now buffering.
Jib
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:07 PM
Comment #107Hell of a pace this game is being played at
davetoon
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:08 PM
Comment #108Positive signs early. Glad were not sitting too deep
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:12 PM
Comment #109Diame started well, good vision and pass out to the LW on a couple of occasions.
Douglas
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:12 PM
Comment #110OK, so I got that bit about Newcastle 1 Chelsea 0 after 10 minutes.
I still have hope that it will only end up 1-7 though
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:12 PM
Comment #111Rondon not doing much running or closing down, dummetts getting loads of space just need to use him
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:22 PM
Comment #112A soporific affair so far.
RUNAWAY777
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:23 PM
Comment #113Someone please tell me what rondon is doing different to mitro rondon look just lazy no challenges no peace another dud i would say if you get your chance you would take so your in the team for the next game i dont rate this rondon .
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:28 PM
Comment #114Wicked cross from Dummett.
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:30 PM
Comment #115Hazards got more chance of injuring himself with the way he goes down!
davetoon
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:33 PM
Comment #116Nice team job on Hazard. He’s going to feel it after this game
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:34 PM
Comment #117Unlucky rondon good opportunity tho
davetoon
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:36 PM
Comment #118Dammmn massive chance for Rondon
manxpie
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:38 PM
Comment #119Mitro scores again
Canuck Mag
Aug 26, 2018 at 4:39 PM
Comment #1202 headers in 2 mins for mitro