Both Newcastle and Wolves will be trying to stop losing runs in the league on Saturday at Molineux. Wolves have lost their last two Premier League matches, away to both Liverpool and Watford. They also only managed a draw in the FA Cup this past weekend, but that was against Manchester United.
Newcastle are winless in the last three in the league and failed to get the job done at Rochdale in a 1-1 draw. We now sit just five points above 18th place Bournemouth in the table but are only five points from Wolves, who are in seventh.
We’ve received a massive fitness boost this week with six injured players involved in full training in Miguel Almiron, Ciaran Clark, Andy Carroll, Paul Dummett, Dwight Gayle, and Jetro Willems.
While it looks like this match may be too soon for Jamaal Lascelles and Allan Saint-Maximin, they are making progress. Saint-Maximin has been running while Lascelles is in Dubai as he gets closer to making his return.
Steve Bruce should be able to select a strong team with the six players returning as well as having Matt Ritchie back. However, the next week is going to another tough one with three matches, including the FA Cup replay on Tuesday and at home against Chelsea on Tuesday.
Hopefully, we’ll see a reaction from the lads on Saturday at Wolves, and they can pick up a result. Wolves are an excellent side who picked up a point at St James Park earlier this season. Maybe we can do at least the same at Molineux.
How Will Newcastle Fare At Wolves On Saturday?
- Loss (66%, 1,530 )
- Win (17%, 405 )
- Draw (17%, 385 )
Total Voters: 2,320
116 comments so far
Munster Mag
Jan 8, 2020 at 11:29 PM
Comment #41Jail thanks for clarifying that it’s one rule for benitez and one rule for bruce. As Lil has indicated, there is no evidence that Bruce has signed up with sod all ambition for nufc. If he was singing Ashley’s praises publicly, had sent out a weakened team in the FA cup, and was in the bottom 3, your opinions might be worth considering. But so far, you are simply bashing Bruce because he isn’t as good a manager as Rafa. Nobody wanted him, Ashley is the problem, rafa was not without fault, but stuff that, hang Bruce. Obviously he shud be burning it up with his amaze balls Brazilian centre forward.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 8, 2020 at 11:31 PM
Comment #42Tsunki,
Yeah. You want good football, better options were available. That isn’t saying Rafa isn’t the best we have had since SBR, he was. I make no bones that I would have preferred a more progressive manager that set up in a more entertaining way. I still want that, nowt has changed on that front between Rafa and Bruce.
Take away the constraints, I would want someone other than Rafa or Bruce. I suggested Nagelsmann when he was barely heard of. He now has Leipzig breaking up the Bayern/Dortmund monopoly.
What were the vastly differemt circumstances? Keep us up, on what we want to sign regardless of if they suit? Same constraints. Yet to see if Bruce can have more say in who signs. Yet to see if he will accept what he is given and tow the line once he has seen what he needs.
Rafa over Bruce, anyday of the week. Blaming Bruce for the constraints and lack of squad options to play a better, higher possesion game, ludicrous, unless you also complained about Rafa for the same.
In the same vein, crazy to not complain about Bruce’s style if you did about Rafa’s.
Munster Mag
Jan 8, 2020 at 11:45 PM
Comment #43Alternatively put, if you didn’t complain about Rafa’s football why are you moaning like bejeepers about Bruce? If Rafa had the same 11 as Bruce does now, would we be looking at good football or compact low risk football.
Nicky the ball tosser
Jan 8, 2020 at 11:55 PM
Comment #44Not to bash Bruce, who I think would be ok if given a better all-round squad, but if Rafa had this group of players, then very most likely the defense would be tighter, we’d be more clinical on the counter, and the attack would have quite a lot more than one or two goals between them in what is it, 80 odd collective matches.
toon22
Jan 8, 2020 at 11:57 PM
Comment #45Munster
Every time you try and defend your past view on Rafa , while pretending to have the same views nowdays just digs the hole youve made that little bit deeper
Right now youve made yourself look an utter fool at best
And people say im repetitive
toon22
Jan 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM
Comment #46How many flags have we seen supporting the traitor ?
Im guessing they are all wrong too
Munster Mag
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:06 AM
Comment #47Not at all Frog. You’re confused. I’m not saying SB is any great shakes. But he gets mullered because his football is poor, amongst other stuff. I think the two managers are pretty similar in football style, with similar teams. But rafa is put up with Kevin keegan by some on here and Bruce is castigated despite having similar points total.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:06 AM
Comment #48Nicky,
Possibly, but this is a poorer squad than last season, and there were several games in the first half of last season we didn’t get a shot on target.
Better organised under Rafa, yes. No question about it. More creative, not first half of the season. More clinical, down to better options up front, which Bruce had zero control over.
Differemce would be marginal, but goal difference, amd conceded would definitely be better.
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:07 AM
Comment #49Munster
You spent years hoying pelters at Rafa
YEARS
We now have a guy who you seem to love, your message is exactly the same rubbish the PR shove out
Keep digging that hole
😉
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Comment #50The fans saw exactly what Jabba did to him
We also can see what the traitor represents
Hes a yes man and will do everything Jabba wants to make him that bit more money at the clubs expense
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:11 AM
Comment #51Or is the 10k and rising season tickets being given away
The end to wor flags
The ground having 0 atmosphere
The protests
None of these things are enough for you to see whats going on ?
Your happy with the 2nd worst manager in prem history stumble through each game without a clue
Nicky the ball tosser
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:12 AM
Comment #52I don’t know Lil, I’m sure we’d have conceded fewer, certainly allowed fewer shots on target, and the number of goals we’ve had from the front three has to be among the lowest in the history of top flight football. They aren’t bad players, but they certainly aren’t firing anywhere near as well as they are capable of. I think Rafa would very likely have gotten more from them, the return has been astonishingly poor.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:13 AM
Comment #5322,
Not sure, but also far less anti Ashley since people decided to have a go at Bruce. Bruce is definitely more complained about on here than Ashley now. Bishop has earned his coin wirh this, and even ardent anti Ashley fans can’t seem to see the focus drifting….
You accused me of being PR the other day, until Lesh said otherwise. You miss the point that I keep trying to make, that by having a go at Bruce, the real problem is getting an easier ride. Bruce will be aiming for better, amd giving it his all, but Bishop and Barnes will have expected his appointment to ease focus on Ashley.
Give Bruce a break. Get back to focussing on putting pressure on Ashley. Bruce will be gone when Ashley goes, so don’t worry about him.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:18 AM
Comment #54Nicky,
Conceded fewer, conceded less shots, no argument. Scored more, none of them are goalscorers. Schaar was third top goalscorer last season, Clarke joint fourth. Perez scored most of his goals after anouncing he was leaving.
We would have scored more this season if Perez was here instead of Almirom or St Max. We would have scored more if Rondon was here instead of Carroll and Joe. That isn’t the manager. That is the technical ability and end priduct of players.
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:21 AM
Comment #55Lilongwe Geordie
Yeh your probably right
The problem is Jabba and his goons arnt going anywhere
The traitor celebrated the mackems scoring against us at SJP
He has took us back to the days of Carver, truly dark days
Im not going to sit back and watch the traitor tear our club a new one in exactly the same way he did every other club hes near destroyed
The message your asking me to swallow is near exactly what the PR want people to think so you can see why i might question your motives
Jabba simply aint leaving, id rather keep something left of the club till he does
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:22 AM
Comment #56Its not just me who thinks this way
Look at he crowd we do get these days, theyve lost interest even watching it for free
If somethings not done we will end up in the same boat as the mackems
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:26 AM
Comment #5722,
The traitor, as you call him, isn’t tearing our club a new one.
My saying that the problem is Ashley, and the complaints/protests should be aimed at Ashley is the same as the PR? I thought the PR stuck up for Ashley?
Bruce is a shield, blame him for all our problems if you want. But that is quite likely the reason he was appointed.
Honestly, do you think that focus has shifted more to Bruce than Ashley for fans? Who benefits from that happening, other than Ashley?
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:26 AM
Comment #58So lets imagine we by some miracle stay up this year
Whats the plan for next year , Jabba going to blow his wad on another bunch of player he wants to gamble on ?
How many season tickets do you think he will sell next season, now they advertised they are free now.
The fans have left the club, it will get worse by the day with the traitor as manager
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:28 AM
Comment #5922,
What do you keep of the club by turning focus towards a symptom, and relieving pressure on the cause?
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:28 AM
Comment #60Lilongwe Geordie
Jabba aint leaving unless he is forced to legally
Aiming protests at him is pointless
Right now our problem is the utter incompetence we have running whats left of the club
Your asking whats left of the supporters to just give up and stop caring, might as well shout at the sky
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:31 AM
Comment #61Lilongwe Geordie
Jiving Jabba greif hasnt done a thing in 13 years
The only thing thats hurt him is the protests
He found a way of hiding that
Right now, today the biggest problem is the traitor. IF he stays for any length of time we are getting relegated
What do you propose that will shift Jabba ?
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:34 AM
Comment #6222,
Eh?? So why do you put anti Ashley posts if it is such a waste of time? People who believe Ashley is the main problem and focus on him have given up on the club?
The problem we have is utter incompetence running the club? Is that not Ashley? It certainly isn’t Bruce. Say Bruce goes as you want, who comes in? If Bruce is the incompetence running our club, I presume you expect Charnley and Ashley to appoint better?
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:34 AM
Comment #63Jabba has his PR smooth over his circus
He has his lawyers making sure the media leave the whole story well alone
The traitor is under real pressure right now, we can get at him via his proxy
Who do you think will be willing to take the job once he goes ?
Lets see who Jabba can get to replace his front man
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:36 AM
Comment #6422,
Less bickering and infighting between fans would be a start. Show potential buyers it is worth buying. Will it work? I don’t know. But essentially what you are saying is we accept Ashley and just blame Bruce.
That is the opposite of what I have understood you to be fighting for.
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:36 AM
Comment #65Lilongwe Geordie
I agree with you
Right now his weak spot is his terrible manager
Who will take the job if he leaves ?
Right now its where the PR are most at work, they know whats at stake
Strike where it hurts
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:38 AM
Comment #66Lilongwe Geordie
Jabba wont sell ever unless he is forced to
Potential buyers have come and gone 10 + times
Right now his weak spot is the traitor, its why the PR are so heavily involved
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:38 AM
Comment #6722,
Someone will always take the job. We will be no better or worse off. It isn’t the manager that is the problem.
So accept Ashley os here, but make it hard for his managerial appointments is your aim now?
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:39 AM
Comment #68Once this little calamity winds down im more than happy to go back to bothering his PR where it obviously hurts him the most
Im not fussy where that might be
Munster Mag
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:40 AM
Comment #69Frog you need sleep. Back to the pond with you.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:41 AM
Comment #7022,
Bruce is his strong point, and focussing on him eases any pressure on Ashley.
We will probably stay up, Bruce will stay, Ashley continues his easy ride, more fans start to accept Ashley as you are doing, and round and round we keep going to nowhere.
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:42 AM
Comment #71Lilongwe Geordie
Thats not what happened last time, they really struggled to get anyone in
That was while the team look ok too
The next guy will be walking into a disaster zone, utter carnage
Who do you think will take the job next time ?
If you cant see its Jabbas weak spot right now we may have to agree to disagree
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:44 AM
Comment #72Bruce is his strong point, and focussing on him eases any pressure on Ashley.
Think the fans disagree with you there
The guys a muppet of the highest order, in 6 short months he took a promising team and near destroyed it
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:45 AM
Comment #73Lilongwe Geordie
10k season ticket holders say your wrong
Im sure there will be more next season that also think your wrong
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:45 AM
Comment #7422,
You are advocating not protesting against Ashley and turning on Bruce. A shift of focus, bring someone in who can be an object of hate.
You are basically promoting what will likely have been a key aspect of the thought process by Bishop for Bruce’s appointment?
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:46 AM
Comment #75The PR want to take the pressure of the traitor
He is there weak point right now
So they want us to focus back on Jabba to give him a breather
Dont think ill bother, dont think anyone else will either
lesh
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:47 AM
Comment #76Lilo
Could it have been that Rafa was under instruction to off load players to get the head count down before Barnes would allow him to buy? Were that the case, the likes of young Ivan would’ve been an obvious choice. Life’s like that, we win some we lose some or in Ashley’s case when he’s running NUFC on the bones of its backside, the club loses. Don’t blame Rafa when his hands were tied.
It’s down to the old finances again as is everything with Ashley.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:47 AM
Comment #7722,
You clearly don’t seem to understand, he is a strong point because the fans aren’t happy with him. He takes pressure away from Ashley, the actual problem, as you have just confirmed for your own actions.
toon22
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:48 AM
Comment #78Who is going to come in and sort the mess ?
Took them ages to drag the 2nd worst guy in prem history in
Ok im fine with your views, your welcome to them
I simply disagree
😉
Lilongwe Geordie
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:50 AM
Comment #79Lesh,
Rafa was right for the club and the player to allow Ivan to leave. For me, that is a huge tick in the positive column for Rafa. Which is what I said above. Toney would be having a poorer career and be heading to non leagie jad he staued here and not played. He now has a decent career, which may progress to the Prem, although I doubt it. I think that is down to Rafa, contrary to Toney saying he never got a chance.
lesh
Jan 9, 2020 at 12:50 AM
Comment #80Jeez
Munster’s been working for his corn today. Has Bishop got him on piecework while tied to one of Ashley’s zero hour contracts.
Poor sod, what a way to have to feed the bairns.