Newcastle take on Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup tomorrow night inside an almost empty St. James’ Park.
It would have been some sight to see the stadium packed full for this game, but it will not be like that because of restrictions imposed by the severe coronavirus pandemic.
Newcastle must be strong at the back, and we have shown some attacking prowess in the last few games, but it will be a very tough game for us.
Steve Bruce and some of our players are fighting to stay on at Newcastle for next season if we get new owners coming in, which now seems very likely.
So there is some motivation for the team.
Bruce has managed to get 4 points from our first two games, and tomorrow the game must be decided one way or another, and it would be a shock if we can get through – but it’s possible.
Anything seems possible – good or bad, with Newcastle.
This is some of what Bruce (shown above) said yesterday in his press conference for the game:
“Let’s see if we can get in and around the top 10.” “Then it would be a truly good season for everybody.”
“Any of it now, even a quarter-final, let’s be fair, is great.”
“Against Man City – a great team – it would have been good for us to be in front of a full St James’ Park for a cup tie.”
“It would have been terrific. There’s no disputing that it is strange.”
“It is strange for even you guys watching, it is different no doubt.”
“A lot of people put in a lot of work to get this far.”
“We’d love a packed St James’ but now we have to be at our best. We will have to be because they are a very good team.”
“Things above us we can’t influence. What we can influence is on the field.”
“It looks as if they are runners-up in the Premier League and they won’t like that.”
“The one thing they are, is they are serial winners.” “They won the FA Cup and they seem to own the League Cup.”
“They are a very good side. We will have to be at our best and they will treat the cups as something to look forward to.”
“They have the Champions League and I’m sure they will turn their attention to the FA Cup too.”
Only about a third of our fans think we can win the game tomorrow.
Comments welcome.
25 comments so far
Jib
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:43 AM
Comment #1It seems to me that when Ritchie plays Miggy is not as involved
Against City I’d leave Ritchie out and bring in Almiron for his pace
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:44 AM
Comment #2Jib, from previous:
Jetro’s had a lot of injuries through his career. It would be a massive risk taking him on permanently if we aren’t going to sign another LB, too.
JP...from The Rock
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Comment #3Could you imagine we win the cup? Lol
Part of me doesn’t want to under AshLie as he’ll take the plaudits, but on the side I’ve wanted us to win something for years. Tough one.
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:47 AM
Comment #4No brainier with Jetro for me get him in we need another LB anyways including him. As long as he comes back fit and minimum risk of recurrence.
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Comment #5JP
I got scolded for saying I’d rather not win the cup than win it if I had a choice.
For them exact reasons I don’t to win owt with Ashely as owner. We won’t hear the end of it from Ashely to pundits to other fans winding us up especially the mackems.
Rather it be under the new regime
Kevin Vegan
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Comment #6A draw’s no good here so I think we need to take that into account with our team selection. We have 5 subs to use so I’d save some of our speedsters for late in the game. Start Lazaro and Ritchie on the wings, dig in and try to keep city running as much as possible early on, work their back line with balls over the top into space and hope that a trio of Gayle, Almiron and ASM arriving on 55-60 mins will give us enough extra gas in the tank going forward to find a way through on the counter. I can’t see us working the ball into their box with steady build-up play, and a draw is no good here, so that would be my approach. Bit of a risk but I can’t see a lot of othee ways through this city team.
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #7George Caulkin
Everyone thinks so. Even bein were briefing at the start of the week just gone that a decision was imminent according to their info (not sure how they’d know). Yet here we still are. The decision, when it comes, will have to be watertight and legally that will be complex. But ?????
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #8Emoji was at the end
JP...from The Rock
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Comment #9My team for Sunday. We are really weak in CM. Without Hayden we’re even worse. Shelvey doesn’t do enough and we really have no more options. I’d give Saint-Maximin a rest and bring him on Second Half.
—————————Dubz———————————
Manquillo——-Fernandez——-Lascelles——-Rose
Lazaro—-Hayden / M.Longstaff —-Shelvey—-Almiron
—————Carroll———-Gayle / Joelinton—————
Mister Tuff
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:55 AM
Comment #10Draw in the Quarter Final of the FA Cup. Really. I do wonder sometimes about the folk who post on here.
Mund
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Comment #11Link to full convo goes over a few days to this morning
https://mobile.twitter.com/GeorgeCaulkin/status/1276795658993876992
Jib
Jun 27, 2020 at 9:58 AM
Comment #12Bruce might elect for 5 at the back for this game to start off
Three of the back five that started against City in November
are missing Clark Dummett and Willems
Shelvey played the full game and scored our last gasp equaliser
JP...from The Rock
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Comment #13Looking at my lineup- I probs would put Scar in there for Shelvey if we nick a goal and bring Ritchie on second half to defend the “lead” lol
Jib
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Comment #14Mister Tuff
Draw in the Quarter Final of the FA Cup. Really. I do wonder sometimes about the folk who post on here.
I was thinking the same
No replays at this stage of the compo
Jib
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:04 AM
Comment #15Well done to LPool they deserve it
BUT
Why oh why do Sky Sports have to go into overkill ?
even the LPool fans must be getting a tad embarrassed about the
non stop stuff by now
geordietom
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:06 AM
Comment #16fffing bus moved …
morning people … its that time …
i’m confident and i’m staying confident about the takeover happening at our club …
jimiley
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:06 AM
Comment #1730 years of hurt since Liverpool won the league.
Let’s not mention two champion leagues and two runners up and numerous cup wins and lots of top 4 finishes.
Compare with our 30 years of hurt. We have won nowt. 1955 since last cup and 1927 the league.
A joke.
Now the powers that be might reject the Arabs. Well how come they can have a Russian mutation billionaire who 10 years prior was a student and an Arab in charge at Man City.?? Because they are fit and proper that’s why.
Any rejection of the toon would be to maintain the top few status quo. We cannot have the stupid mags rocking the boat.
Any rejection of the toon would show the league to be fixed. A rejection of the toon means I am finished with footy. Corrupt or what.
Let’s hope it goes through
geordietom
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:08 AM
Comment #18What happened when Donald Trump went vegan?
Cornwall.
geordietom
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Comment #19A Farmer in Cornwall see’s a bloke drinking from his stream
He shouts, “Wozzon! Ee den wanna be drinkin dat, t’is fulla horse piss an cow shit”.
The bloke says “I’m from london and just purchased a property in the village can you speak bit slower please”.
The Farmer replies “If – you -use – two – hands – you – won’t – spill – any”!!!!!
Swanny
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Comment #20Could really do with some positive news today, the takeover seems to grinding to a halt.
Thought we were playing today, woke up thinking it was Sunday.
1- 0 Win tomorrow, Andy Carroll to net a winning header.
Respect
jimiley
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Comment #21Reason for 12 week deliberations?
Stonewalling.
The league is terrified to reject the Saudis because they would sue the pants off them. So they delay and delay in the hope the Saudis get pissed off and walk away.
I hope Staveley stays the course and forces the league to make a decision. Then sue the pants off them
onmeedsun
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Comment #22This takeover is the first real one as Ashley has accepted an offer, which is now legally binding if they pass the test and transfer monies. I am convinced it will go through, but suspect the PL are trying to get formal intent from Saudis to stop the piracy. It would be a dereliction of duty to do nothing. Yes 11 weeks is ridiculous but at the moment it’s not really hurting us.
magpie6699
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Comment #23jimiley – Fairs Cup 1969 – = Europa?
jimiley
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:22 AM
Comment #24Magpie
Fair enough.
I was thinking domestically. League and fa cup comes before Europa to my mind but owt would do
jimiley
Jun 27, 2020 at 10:28 AM
Comment #25How come Liverpool can attract top players? It’s used as an excuse at Newcastle that top players will not go to the north east but Liverpool is a much bigger tip. Get the right manager and the finance and they will come. Eg keegan. The reason they do not now come is a total lack of ambition