This is the team Bruce has selected for the match today against Leicester City. As usual, we were way off in our prediction. To think we had Kelland Watts in the starting eleven, and he hasn’t even made the squad.
TEAM-NEWS ?
Steve Bruce has named his starting XI to take on @LCFC at St. James' Park this afternoon. ????#NUFC | #NEWLEI pic.twitter.com/p7YfOQsPtm
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 1, 2020
It’s just two changes from Everton with the surprise selection of Yoshinori Muto, who comes in for Andy Carroll. Javier Manquillo resumes his role at right wing-back.
Bruce is going to go with Florian Lejeune in the back three after his struggles this past weekend. Joelinton and Fabian Schar also shake off knocks to keep their place.
This is the starting eleven that Brendan Rodgers has decided on. It’s the third start for former Magpie Ayoze Perez against us. But there’s no Jamie Vardy to be found, which is good news.
LEICESTER XI V NEWCASTLE: Schmeichel, Chilwell, Söyüncü, Fuchs, Evans, Pereira, Maddison, Ndidi, Tielemans, Ayoze, Iheanacho #NEWLEI
— HITC Sport – Live (@HITCsportLive) January 1, 2020
The Foxes sit in second place in the Premier League while Newcastle are in 11th. A loss today could really see us tumble down the table, but it is what it is.
A good performance is expected, especially taking into consideration what happened in the away fixture earlier this year. Hopefully, we’ll get a pleasant surprise, and the lads can start 2020 on the right foot.
Howay The Lads!
199 comments so far
hibbit
Jan 1, 2020 at 2:56 PM
Comment #41Jib
you not at the game,well that’s a surprise,
have you been to any this century,
no i thought far to busy on here to attend games,
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 1, 2020 at 2:57 PM
Comment #42Love it people say we dont pass and move under Bruce
Did we under Rafa!!????
hibbit
Jan 1, 2020 at 2:57 PM
Comment #43no i thought not far to busy on here to attend games,
AncientC
Jan 1, 2020 at 2:59 PM
Comment #44Muto up against Evans could get interesting. You would have to expect Leicester will play a high back-line.
Ron Knee
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Comment #45Not much atmosphere here
A bit of New Year’s Day by U2 on the tannoy. Not much atmosphere yet – guess plenty of fans are outside? Very weird, feels like it’s about 1.30, not five minutes before kick off. (Chronic)
JP...from The Rock
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Comment #46Muto starts! Now that I did not expect, should be interesting. Game on!
Rotonda heights
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #4783
rafa wasn’t long ball so why is bruce doing it then, didn’t take long to change.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:01 PM
Comment #48I hope they don’t boo Ayoze he doesn’t deserve that! Was a loyal servant and left in good terms.
TomaKaThor
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #49Perez looks about 40
Rotonda heights
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #50charlie
yes and perez linked it rather well more often than not.
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #51Not expecting anything today – so 2-0 Newcastle, Muto 2 goals.
Uncertain Toon
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Comment #52Lejeune must feel ok in himself. Don’t think he’s the type of bloke who would risk it if he was carrying something, especialy with his recent injury woes
ilovetoon8788
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:03 PM
Comment #53light years behind leicester now. will get a rollicking today.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Comment #54Blimey that was close, a clear header from a corner parried away by Dubz.
ilovetoon8788
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:05 PM
Comment #55Ron Knee
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:00 PM
Comment #45
Not much atmosphere here
A bit of New Year’s Day by U2 on the tannoy. Not much atmosphere yet – guess plenty of fans are outside? Very weird, feels like it’s about 1.30, not five minutes before kick off. (Chronic)
====================
the plastic fans will sing for the TV during our next away game.
Unused Substitute
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:05 PM
Comment #56Willems is a liability, whatever people say. Two saves for Dubravka already.
Lindisfarne
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:07 PM
Comment #57Perez reminds me of Alf
https://images.app.goo.gl/ypC1smrjiVFZqTZcA
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:09 PM
Comment #58Yeah we don’t havevPerez now and how many people who booed him wish he was still here!!!
davetoon
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:10 PM
Comment #59Shocking start. At least we didn’t concede.
Unused Substitute
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:11 PM
Comment #60Long balls not landing where they should. Save number 3.
Unused Substitute
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:13 PM
Comment #61Muto is putting a shift.
peterk3
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:13 PM
Comment #62muto in the shop window
peterk3
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:15 PM
Comment #63Can dubravka not keep hold of the ball
JP...from The Rock
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:15 PM
Comment #64Dubravka should have kept hold of that shot.
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:18 PM
Comment #65I like Muto and have always found the extent of his omission a bit puzzling from Rafa and now Bruce, when Perez left he was the player most like him in the squad offering similar work rate, ability to win it back high up the pitch and win free-kicks. Not too shabby in the box too. Just never had 5-10 PL starts in a row.
Lindisfarne
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:18 PM
Comment #66Not bad start
JP...from The Rock
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:19 PM
Comment #67Leicester without Vardy are not the same team and not as threatening. We can get something out of this. Let’s get at them!
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:20 PM
Comment #68Need to try and get some sustained possession. I know it’s not our primary strategy, but you have to have a couple of spells to ease up the pressure and mix it up.
Not making many inroads on the counter so far.
Munster Mag
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:20 PM
Comment #69Mackems one down
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:21 PM
Comment #70See the following up by Muto. That’s poacher instinct.
Novocastrian66
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:22 PM
Comment #71This is painful.
TomaKaThor
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:23 PM
Comment #72They are winning all lose balls far to easy
JP...from The Rock
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:25 PM
Comment #73Unlucky Joelinton. That’s better.
AncientC
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:25 PM
Comment #74Majestic stuff from Shelvey.
Bambams
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:26 PM
Comment #75Nothing up front ! We are just no threat to opposing teams.
TomaKaThor
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:26 PM
Comment #76Not enough support for Shelvey
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:27 PM
Comment #77Just not got the bodies in support when we counter. Shelvey and Muto did good work then needed more options and they didn’t come.
OH FFS JOELINTON!
Don;t get much for £40m.
Reilly
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:27 PM
Comment #78fkin hell
TomaKaThor
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:27 PM
Comment #79Lol wtf happened there
peterk3
Jan 1, 2020 at 3:28 PM
Comment #80This is absolutely shocking