It’s another big match for Newcastle as Crystal Palace travel north to St James Park on Saturday. It’ll be a battle between two teams currently mid-table.
We’ll look to get back on track after the loss at Burnley last weekend while our visitors will try to continue their unbeaten ways. The Eagles haven’t lost in four matches, taking 8 points out of a possible 12.
Both teams have significant injury concerns with Newcastle sweating on the fitness of Miguel Almiron, Ciaran Clark, and Jonjo Shelvey. Crystal Palace will be without a few key players like Jeffrey Schlupp, Gary Cahill, and former Magpie Andros Townsend.
A lot will depend on how Thursday’s training session goes with Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almiron set to take part. If they cannot go, we’ll likely see something similar set-up wise to what we saw at Burnley. Hopefully, the home crowd can spur the lads on to a better display.
We don’t think Bruce will mess around too much with the formation from the start. He’s likely to remain with the 5-4-1 with Andy Carroll spearheading the attack. If that’s the case, it will be Andy’s first time starting consecutive games this season.
The loss last weekend didn’t affect our league position too much. We are still in 11th just 4 points behind Tottenham in 5th. Crystal Palace are now in the 9th spot but only one point ahead of us.
This is another chance to jump into the top half of the table and get back to winning ways. We think the lads can do just that despite the injury concerns.
What Will Be The Result In Saturday's Match Against Crystal Palace?
- Win (55%, 655 )
- Draw (24%, 284 )
- Loss (22%, 262 )
Total Voters: 1,201

47 comments so far
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 1:39 AM
Comment #1OK, “prediction:” probability of a loss 50%, draw 30%.
NY Mag
Dec 19, 2019 at 1:54 AM
Comment #2Unused,
So the deduction would be…..your 20% for a win?
I would be more positive than that, I’m going 60% for a win.
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 1:56 AM
Comment #3I think blaming players is misplaced. IMO 80% responsibility of our playing dour (anti) football goes to the way we are set up by our one dimensional coaching staff and 20% on our ownership’s inability to bring in right players. The same team in the hands of more tactically competent coaching staff would have played a much better football, I’m sure.
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 1:57 AM
Comment #4Good: there’s one more into the %age game now!
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:02 AM
Comment #5NY @2: just to clarify, the 50% call I made would 90% depend on how we handle Zaha.
NY Mag
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:05 AM
Comment #6Unused,
Now you’ve completely lost me with %
😀
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:09 AM
Comment #7No, I’m into % game: not mind game. Goodnight NY…
The next Mike Williamson
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:19 AM
Comment #8we need two or three players who can pass and i dont mean recycle possesion as ki does. then we can begin to have some build up play. we seem to only bring in players who are fast but have no other skills, big but have no other skills, or can run about but have no other skills. nobody can play. nobody can do one twos. nobody is using their brain. we just look at physical abilities. this is what the england acadamies used to do too and why our national team has been full of these types.
The next Mike Williamson
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:25 AM
Comment #9this is the most boring team ive ever seen. we need a new manager. in the modern game its the likes of mourinho, ancellotti, and benitez who are slowly becoming the dinosaurs. bruce is so far behind the dinosaurs i dont know what he is. all i know is i wouldnt want to go stand in the cold for 90 minutes to watch his team even.if it was free. id pay to go if biesla was there.
next season, tickets will be massively down. who wants to pay for boring football with a manager you dont believe in whose only plan is to try to leave things as they were.
NY Mag
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:37 AM
Comment #10Unused,
I didn’t understand you in the first place so I’m kinda OK that you’ve dissed me.
I would prefer it to be different – but, each to their own……
The next Mike Williamson
Dec 19, 2019 at 2:39 AM
Comment #1125% win, 60% draw, 15% loss
100% we are boring and barely string two passes together. its a must win.
if we go down playing this type of football its unacceptable. hiring this type of manager is unacceptable in 2019.
DubaiMicky
Dec 19, 2019 at 4:15 AM
Comment #12Townsend, another player we lost due to the incompetence of the NUFC hierarchy.
Great player, reminded me of Les Ferdinand.
cyprus
Dec 19, 2019 at 4:49 AM
Comment #13Hoping for an emphatic win which will bring peace and a lovely Christmas.
But, when will our annual losing streak begin? We may be at the start of a little run, though I definitely hope not! Should it happen, expect some epicaricacy 😉
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 5:05 AM
Comment #14NY @10: I just didn’t want to tax you too much so that you lost your sleep and saved the mathematical discussion for tomorrow?
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 5:09 AM
Comment #15Question mark = 😉
Don’t know why I can’t inser emoticons straight from the keyboard of my mobile phone. Help, anyone?
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 5:16 AM
Comment #16I did it! I did it!
And also I came to realize that the input interface here is too primitive for my advanced mobile phone. OK, not seriously.
Goodnight/ good morning or whatever and see y’all bickering and complaining bunch in a few hours.
Lindisfarne
Dec 19, 2019 at 6:15 AM
Comment #1750/50 win
75% draw
37% lose
162% i am wrong
Lindisfarne
Dec 19, 2019 at 6:53 AM
Comment #18Saw this and immediately guessed the stats under Rafa were probably the same, or only slightly better.
Rafa Facts
?
@FactsRafa
Newcastle under Bruce
Lowest amount of passes [20th]
Lowest amount of corners [20th]
The 2nd lowest amount of crosses [19th]
The 2nd lowest amount of shots [19th]
The 2nd lowest amount of goals from inside box [19th]
And in 3 matches failed to have a shot on target?
Lindisfarne
Dec 19, 2019 at 7:03 AM
Comment #19So Penfold is carefully inspecting the biscuit aisle and is looking for those closest to their sell by date, completely oblivious to the amount of time wasted and the variety that is required.
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 7:04 AM
Comment #20Yet we are 11th in the real world
I think that demonstrates the relevancy of stats perfectly
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 7:18 AM
Comment #21“Lindisfarne
So Penfold is carefully inspecting the biscuit aisle and is looking for those closest to their sell by date”
That remark looks particularly stupid when you consider we
got Almiron , Saint Maximin , and Willems in the last 2 windows
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 7:33 AM
Comment #22One thing that no one seems to have picked up on
Rob Elliot was our substitute GK v Burnley
No sign of Karl Darlow and he’s not listed as injured
If we moved Darlow on and got some decent dosh then
made Nathan Harker our 3rd GK it would free up a squad
place as Harker qualifies as an under 21
hibbit
Dec 19, 2019 at 7:59 AM
Comment #23Christian Atsu:
“We have lost some games away from home but we are playing very well and creating more chances.’
“The fans are fantastic in supporting the team.
“Playing at St. James Park is very good and when the opponents come here, because of the noise and fans, they’d be a bit scared and they give us more confidence.
“The fans come to the stadium and the atmosphere has been great.
“With this support we can go far and hopefully our home form will continue.”
Mindshaft
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:03 AM
Comment #24I doubt we’ll make a big signing in Jan although we may get a loan player – we’re 11th with the job half done, club has given away tickets to fill ground – more likely we’ll save the money for next summer and try and make a big signing to get season ticket holders sold.
Is it a gamble given we are pretty much relying on defenders to score and ride our luck most games ( Watford / Brighton / Spurs / Sheff U/ Bournemouth etc).
We may be 11th but the stats show we are playing terrible football , least possession, least completed passes, least shots , least chances created ..not hard to see a fall coming
hibbit
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:07 AM
Comment #25has someone in the london press/pr office wrote this for Atsu just to read to the press,
because no one that’s been, played or even watched our last 4 games could in all honesty write crap like that and expect folk to believe it ,
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:10 AM
Comment #26hibbit stop copying and pasting from the Mag you saddo
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:18 AM
Comment #27Mindshaft
There’s little doubt that (with one or two exceptions ) we are being run on a shoestring
However to me it has all the hallmarks of a business being trimmed down for a sale
Fingers crossed that there is stuff grinding on in the back-ground
martoon
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:21 AM
Comment #28Mindshaft @24 “more likely we’ll save the money for next summer and try and make a big signing to get season ticket holders sold”
That’s not quite true because a lot (probably the majority) of ST holders are on the DD scheme and so you have to decide in February whether you are going to renew or not.
martoon
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:24 AM
Comment #29Jib @27 – I admire your optimism but is that not the way Ashley runs his businesses anyway?
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:25 AM
Comment #30Lindisfare @18: GA turns out to be THE factor that affected our league position most remarkably during Ashley’s time. Other factors what we, the deluded, consider as indicators of good football (you listed) comes close.
That made me even more appreciative of Rafa’s tactics; he organized us into a unit that does not concede readily. That tightness is wearing off, though.
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:32 AM
Comment #31Martoon
I cannot put my finger on it
Things just have a different feel to previously
martoon
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:39 AM
Comment #32Jib @ 31 – I really hope you are right but after so many false dawns I’m not going to raise my hopes just yet!
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:42 AM
Comment #33“Unused Substitute
That made me even more appreciative of Rafa’s tactics; he organized us into a unit that does not concede readily. That tightness is wearing off, though.”
Not really
In the last 10 games since the aberration at the King Power stadium
W5 D2 L3 GF13 GA11 17 points from a possible 30
hibbit
Dec 19, 2019 at 8:57 AM
Comment #34the irony of 24/7 Jib calling me a saddo LOL
c-dog
Dec 19, 2019 at 9:09 AM
Comment #351-0
Joelinton
Jib
Dec 19, 2019 at 9:10 AM
Comment #36the nonsense of hibbit faking an original thought
LOL
hibbit
Dec 19, 2019 at 9:16 AM
Comment #37didn’t try to pass it off as an original thought i put it up as a quote and a taking point.
and it wasn’t from the mag i got it from the same place they took it from ????
geordietom
Dec 19, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Comment #38https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jetro-willems-people-waiting-newcastles-17431049
Unused Substitute
Dec 19, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Comment #39Jib @33: in my (and many other’s) perspective our entire performance this season is an (not “a possible”) aberration. We just kept thriving on our incredible luck and other’s misfortune.
Rotonda heights
Dec 19, 2019 at 9:27 AM
Comment #40Jib
You can prattle on about X,Y and Z but when it comes to NUFC you’re in my house. You have zero empathy with real NUFC fans, from rubbishing KK to your endless love in with Ashley. Trying to bully real fans who hate the man and everything we currently stand for just illustrates how out of touch you are with the feelings of genuine supporters.
Lindis has just shown you those stats but you just bluster on regardless. Democracy doesn’t mean you’re right, it means most people who understand football don’t share your views. You’re a grey man who shamelessly champions mediocrity at every turn.
Was selling strawberry lane in the best interests of the club? Was hiring Bruce in the best interests of the club? Was rejecting the Mansours and BZG in the best interests of the club.
https://www.themag.co.uk/2019/12/ayoze-perez-says-it-was-all-about-ambition-and-lack-of-it-at-newcastle-impossible-to-argue-now-newcastle-united/
You a NUFC fan , are you – – – – – – -!!!