Rafa Benitez has just announced the team to play at home to Huddersfield this afternoon.
This game is a relegation 6 pointer and one we must win if we are to get away from the relegation zone soon.
And Rafa will give Miguel Almiron his first start for Newcastle at St. James’ Park this afternoon and he starts alongside Ayoze Perez – who is another man in form at the moment.
And as expected Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden retain their positions in central midfield after some excellent recent performances.
In our predicted team for today, we had Paul Dummett in for Florian Lejeune.
TEAM NEWS
Here’s how Newcastle United line up for today’s @premierleague game against @htafcdotcom. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/m1Olt6u79K
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 23, 2019
Miguel Almiron – makes home debut today
This is what Rafa has said about Huddersfield in the lead up to the game:
“I’ve said before that every game for us is like a final.”
“Huddersfield is the first one, people are expecting ‘Oh we have to win’ but it’s the Premier League.”
“We have confidence and obviously we know that, if we win these two games we will be closer to staying up.”
“But my estimation is still the same, carry on what you have been doing, approach this game with confidence, believing that we can get the three points and see what happens.”
A vast majority of Newcastle fans are expecting us to win this game – we hope they are right.
Howay The Lads!!
320 comments so far
manxpie
Feb 23, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Comment #281Great win couldve been 6 or 7 unbelievable saves and the woodwork stopped that
Almiron was great adds wat we have needed for YEARS!!
Perez seems to have upped his game and gained some pace from somewhere
Longstaff motm for me tho looks a hell of a player
Mindshaft
Feb 23, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Comment #282Perez and Almiron work well together, Longstaff motm for me although Hayden did a lot of the dirty work
Good display… finally – bring on Burnley
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 4:56 PM
Comment #283As good as the front three were, Longstaff is my MOTM. That lad looks like he’s been playing the game at this level for many a year. He’s still got lots to learn of course, but what a player he is. Having him and Almiron in the team between now and the end of the season is going to make watching us play so much more pleasurable.
chicousa
Feb 23, 2019 at 4:58 PM
Comment #284So many MotM candidates: Lejeune, Perez, Longstaff, Rondon….
But Almiron gets my vote today! I think he is exactly what this club has been missing. Vision, calmness in and around the box, unselfish, non-stop work rate, pace to burn and a team player! Brilliant home debut!
IrishRob
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:02 PM
Comment #285I’m almost in tears after watching that. God I missed that type of football. Miggy is going to be a superstar, and man oh man does he bring the best out of everyone. Him and Perez look like they played together for years.
Bladey
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:02 PM
Comment #286Credit where credit is due
Very good performance
ASH IN RAFA IN
GeordieinOhio
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:02 PM
Comment #287Longstaff & Miggy MOTM! both were outstanding, miggy defos a team player. very annoying to watch Atsu & Kennedy come on annnnnnndddd nothing from either one.
JP...from The Rock
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:04 PM
Comment #288Almirón is exactly what this team has been missing for years or perhaps decades. Brilliant signing and so happy he’s ours.
Now we need to secure Rondon and Rafa long term.
We have the foundation of a very good, yound and hardworking team with pace.
After Rondon we should look to sign a couple of electric wingers and a ST to replace Joselu to take us to the next level.
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:05 PM
Comment #289Can’t wait for the next game now. Burnley will be flying after their earlier result against Spurs, but we should be just as up for it. It’ll be a totally different game obviously and give us a much better idea of how good we are for the rest of the season. Surprised Almiron stayed on for as long as he did with the Burnley game in mind. Very pleased it’ll be on NBC again over here.
DaveD1000
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:05 PM
Comment #290Miggy changed the shape and play of the whole front end and that shot when he was running at keeper early doors… Longstaff reminds me of young Scholes in unflapableness (spellcheck doesn’t like that word)
Nufc-83
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:06 PM
Comment #291Miggy is the missing piece of the jigsaw and the no10 type player I have been moaning about for at least 2 years. Amazing game.
I do think hayden is playing well but Ki was our player of the season before he left and him and Longstaff would offer us the most in cm.
lukes26
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:06 PM
Comment #292newcastle looked different w/almiron on the pitch. the energy was palpable
farwell diame, one of my favs, but longstaff, hayden,ki can play dm at a high level. this is the first time in maybe a 7-8 years newcasle have such quality in depth (with exception being at rb)
ronaldo aarons
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:08 PM
Comment #293Coral
@Coral
·
20m
6 – No Newcastle player has created more chances in a single Premier League game since the start of last season than Miguel Almirón vs. Huddersfield.
Today was his first game at St. James’ Park.
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:13 PM
Comment #294It’s hard not to get carried away after that, and I know the remaining games will be a much tougher test for us, but the weekend is going to be so much more enjoyable after that performance. I’ll have a little spring in me step until the next game 🙂
Dennis Twice
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:15 PM
Comment #295Attack Toon attack, attack!
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:19 PM
Comment #296You don’t break up a CM pairing that is chiming as well as Hayden and Longstaff currently are. CM is a position as much about dynamics and understanding of the pair as much as the individuals comprising it.
Shelvey/Diame played in such harmony for 6 months last season, failed to get going this season.
Hayden/Longstaff give us much more mobility, both cover a lot of ground and look fresh, neither dallies on the ball and they’re both capable of contributing going forward in differing ways and are defensively good in differing ways too. That felxibility in not having strict playmaker/ball winner roles gives the opposition more to think about. They’re complementing each other very well and shining as a result.
Ki is the only one that can feel slightly hard done by. He was performing well in a team that wasn’t, but not enough to warrant breaking them up now.
Always liked Hayden even at his nadir, I never got on his back because I knew he had potential, just other things going on affecting his game it turns out. Ever since he;s cleared the air when he got sent off he’s been back to hsi best, at PL level for the first time.
Will be sad to see him leave if he keeps this up.
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:19 PM
Comment #297Chancel agree what a buzz man. Almiron and longstaff are outstanding.
Almiron brings so much out of everyone, Rondon,Perez and Miggy is going to cause problems.
Longstaff is our CM now after today its signed sealed delivered for me like pure class from a ypung geordie lad.
Pleasure to watch today lads smiles all round.
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:20 PM
Comment #298Nuno Espirito Santo is moaning about the ref after their draw today. He’s got a bloody cheek after our two games against them this season. Some people have very short memories!
chicousa
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:21 PM
Comment #299Only a bit after 9am here, but gonna crack open a celebratory ale! 😀
HWTL!!!
kc2012
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:21 PM
Comment #300What a performance from each and every single one of the lads Today.
Almiron….Wow, what a little diamond of a player. For a lad who must feel huge pressure after being our record signing and taking the massive step up from the MLS he looks like he could quite easily walk into most teams in the Prem. It’s like he sees his next move well before the defenders even realise the balls heading his way.
Longstaff and Hayden….Both brilliant again, a very good and solid partnership and massive credit to Hayden because I’ve slated him before and he’s been one of our best players since the turn of the Year and I actually think it’s important now to convince him to stay next season.
The rest of the lads….No complaints whatsoever and even Kenedy looked good after a tough few Months for him.
Well done the lads, playing against 10 men or not they were all brilliant.
Oh and one more thing….RAFA is GOD (but the bald Spanish version in a suit). Top bloke
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Comment #301Chico lad buzzin for you mate enjoy your day. HWTL!
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:25 PM
Comment #302If Hayden still wants away in the next transfer window then we might get a few million more for him if he keeps playing with this kind of consistency. I’m worried about the likes of Man City or the big German clubs (who seem to be sniffing around our league for exciting young prospects) coming along and turning his head. We could get some serious money for him, and Ash will know this, but I’d rather have him in the team than fifty million quid sitting in Ashley’s bank account for him to buy another high street chain. The swine.
chicousa
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Comment #303Genjikai
Enjoy your day too! Today finally cleans away the anger and frustration of that last second equalizer vs the Wolves last match! Cheers to all of you bloggers over there in the Toon!
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Comment #304Just after midday here. Might have a sneaky Jack n Coke with my lunch. I usually want to have one because we played crap or were robbed by the ref, but this one will be a celebratory drink, which I hope to repeat a few more times this season.
DaveD1000
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Comment #305Twitter
Trends for you · Change Change trend settings
Almiron
11K Tweets
Perez
57.2K Tweets
#NEWHUD
Mark Douglas, NUFC 360, and 6 more are Tweeting about this
#NUFC
Mark Douglas is Tweeting about this
Miggy
2,928 Tweets
Rondon
5,581 Tweets
Messi
282K Tweets
Burnley
38.8K Tweets
Sean Longstaff
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Comment #306Wait until the lads properly gel with Almiron.
Man im so excited.
He deserved a goal today same as longstaff.
Sad Frog II
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Comment #307Evening now here and i am very very drunk! ….now cas we win, get a reason always!
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:33 PM
Comment #308Sad frog 2 where you from?
Jib
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:34 PM
Comment #309The posts are getting more incoherent as the alcohol
starts kicking in
ha ha ha
😀
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:35 PM
Comment #310Jib i would agree but sad frogs 2 post are always like that.
Mind you i wouldn’t blame anyone turning to the bottle being a toon support. We all have our releases.
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:36 PM
Comment #311Jib what did you think of miggy there?
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #312Btw did Bobbybee get to make the game?
Hope he got to see miggy play there like
Optimistic Magpie
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Comment #313Lots of people doubted if Migs could handle the Prem due to the physicality, well I guess he answered that question.
For me though Longstaff and Hayden are just cool as shite in the middle, but Sean gets my vote as best player so far this season, composed doesn’t panick with easy flowing passes with a threat for goal from outside the box.
He is the Michael Carrick we missed out on years ago, I hope Ashley isn’t thinking Sean is his new cash cow.
MA leave the kid alone, don’t you even fcuking think about it.
Tonyd3b54
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:44 PM
Comment #314Anyone have a match replay?
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:44 PM
Comment #315There seems to be a quite a few post from the states, are yous geordies and moved over or are yous from the states?
Have we got a good following in the states?
Genjikai
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:45 PM
Comment #316Optimistic magpie,
Give him time to settle….
Jib
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:46 PM
Comment #317Genjikai
He’s got a very quick brain
The more he plays and trains
the sooner the lads around him
with switch on to his wavelength
It can only get better
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:52 PM
Comment #318Originally from South Shields but I’ve lived in the States for over a decade now, mainly between Connecticut and Massachusetts. Other than watching games at SJP, I really miss Greggs pasties and Dicksons saveloy dips. I could murder two or three of them right now actually!
Chancel My MBembaship
Feb 23, 2019 at 5:57 PM
Comment #319Haven’t found many Toon supporters over here. There was a dad wearing a Newcastle beanie hat at my eldest son’s school when I lived in Salem, MA and he was from the Beamish area originally, but I haven’t seen anyone other evidence of fellow Mags in my neck of the woods. There’s a pub down in New Haven, CT that has Premier League get-togethers, but it seems mainly the ‘big’ teams like Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, etc. I might try heading down there one weekend to see if there’s more of our lads over here.
JackBall
Feb 26, 2019 at 10:11 PM
Comment #320great win. two in a row and two in a row that we did not need to sweat the last 10 minutes