I watched both games on Wednesday and it just wasn’t the same.
But we will be very happy with every win Newcastle can pick up in these last 9 games of the season.
We have a tough game against Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals coming up and they looked very good against Arsenal in their 3-0 win on Wednesday.
But anything is possible at St. James’ Park – even without our fans.
Out first game back is on Sunday against a good Sheffield United side who drew away 0-0 at Aston Villa.
Steve Bruce’s press conference is expected to start around 10:00am today.
The Blades have a couple of players likely to come back from injury on Sunday – Jack O’Connell and John Fleck: they both missed the game against Villa.
Chris Wilder (shown above with his friend Steve Bruce) has done an excellent job at Sheffield United and he had this to say about his two missing players today to Yorkshire Live:
“It was a huge blow for both of those to be missing,”
“It’s a difficult one from my point of view. We are not a Man City who can pick a team an hour before kick-off,”
“We have to work on stuff, we have to organize stuff to put plans in place to compete, so that coming out was disappointing.”
“Fortunately, they are contact injuries and not soft tissue injuries.”
“The commitment of both players – Flecky goes in for a challenge at Hull City in the last minute and I am looking at him thinking you can’t do that.”
“But he trains and plays in that way and that’s taken him though his period at Sheffield United.”
“Jack O’Connell collided in the last minute of a session on Monday.”
“I believe Flecky will be back for Sunday, Jack we are just waiting on.”
We have already beaten Sheffield United 2-0 away this season although we carried some luck in that game.
But another win is what we need, which will take us to 38 points and a little closer to safety this season.
Howay The Lads!!
32 comments so far
Jib
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:40 AM
Comment #1A draw would be fine for our first game against a side who have
a full game under their belt.
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:41 AM
Comment #2If we ain’t sold by then I think we will struggle
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Comment #3JIB
Who refunded the ST s ?
lesh
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Comment #4Froggy
NUFC refunded the season tickets!
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #5Yeh but who gave the go ahead is the point ?
The Saudis ?
The Turd ?
Who
Anglo Saxon
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #6Think the lads will be on a good win bonus to get the first game win out the way, fingers crossed.
c-dog
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #7Traditionally we start pre season very sluggishly
I fear for us here
Insh'Allah
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #8Jib (from previous), was it Pedro?
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Comment #9If it’s the Saudis they surely are able to make a comment if they can spend the clubs money
lesh
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Comment #10And for sure, if the takeover goes belly up because the EPL pull the plug, you can’t blame Ashley – it won’t have been his doing. However, if it did collapse, we’ll never why – unless Staveley withdraws or Ashley’s decided he’s had enough and cancelled the sale-purchase agreement.
RobLeenio
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Comment #11A draw would be fine, we only need three points to guarantee safety IMO. However, I’d rather do it with a win first up and then sit back and relax for the rest of the season.
It’ll be interesting to see how Bruce sets the lads up – all of the warm-up games they’ve played with a 4-3-3 or variations of that, so a back four looks likely which should see us further up the pitch pressing.
I’d go Lascelles and Lejeune in the CB slots with Manquillo and Rose at full back. Hayden, Shelvey and Bentaleb in midfield should give a good range of passing and protect the back line and then ASM, Joe and Miggy up front.
Could be Schaer starting at the back, with Yedlin at right back, maybe even Lazarro for Hayden or Bentaleb, but the front three I reckon are nailed on.
Dubs as GK, obviously.
Jib
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Comment #12well done Micky
‘Twas indeed Mr Beardsley
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:50 AM
Comment #13Wernt the clubs accounts frozen due to the sale ?
What’s changed ?
RobLeenio
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Comment #14Toon22 “Yeh but who gave the go ahead is the point ?
The Saudis ?
The Turd ?
Who”
Maybe both in agreement with each other?
Not sure what point you’re trying to make, honestly.
lesh
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Comment #15Froggy
Unless the consortium own the club, they can’t spend the club’s money though they could agree to the club doing so.
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #16Lesh
People here said that wasn’t possible any of that
Seems likely now don’t it
Jib
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #17They took on Bruce
Converted him from a midfielder to a CB
and rejected Pedro for being too wee
toon22
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #18Lesh
Yeh they could but without comment
Sounds unlikely
Mund
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:53 AM
Comment #19Munster
If he is to be believed then it’s a lot mate
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Comment #20Rob
Gotta have Fede at CB with Lascelles for me, Fede was outstanding this season and if we go with back 4 Id want our 2 best out and out defenders in there.
Dubs
Manq-JL-Fede-Rose
Shelvey-Hayden
Lazaro-Miggy-ASM
Joe
think Bruce will find a way to have Bentaleb in tbh but the above is what i would go for.
DaveD1000
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:55 AM
Comment #21Morning campers
are we all waiting with baited breath to hear Bruce issue pearls of wisdom?
hibbit
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:55 AM
Comment #22toon win 2- 0 and safety
takeover announcement 😀
Mund
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Comment #23Frog go back under your rock because you ask then you get told but you never accept anything.
So what’s the point in your existence on the blog??
Who are you spouting this to? Do you really want to get the backs up of fans of the club you say you love? None of it makes sense
Jib
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Comment #24toon22 reminds me of Oblio
The hero of Harry Nilsson’s The Point
Bills Son Is Back
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:57 AM
Comment #25toon22
I’d start preparing a grovelling apology because the takeover likely won’t be announced this week….
But I’m fairly certain it will be next week.
simon376
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:59 AM
Comment #26Jib
If only Keith had been manager then. Know he enjoyed managing Bruce, would have been in his element if had Pedro as well.
Anglo Saxon
Jun 19, 2020 at 9:59 AM
Comment #27Just hope Henderson doesn’t have as good a game against us as he did against Villa, he’s a handy keeper.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 19, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Comment #28RobLeenio,
I reckon three points to “guarantee” safety is massively optimistic. I think we’ll get another 8.
DaveD1000
Jun 19, 2020 at 10:02 AM
Comment #29I hope the ref has new batteries in his watch
archaeomag
Jun 19, 2020 at 10:02 AM
Comment #30They will attack us to be sure
“I believe Flecky will be back for Sunday, Jack we are just waiting on.”
Manager never commit it’s the old
” it looked like serious break – we’re waiting on the doctors to see if he can play in the final “
hibbit
Jun 19, 2020 at 10:06 AM
Comment #31jail i think 3/4 points is all we need for safety but i’m hoping for 8/10
simon376
Jun 19, 2020 at 10:31 AM
Comment #32Just seen a BBC News tweet saying Government urged to block take over until piracy is sorted. If that is the case, does it mean gone past the premier league and people asking Government to step in as a last chance to stop it?