On Wednesday, Newcastle are set to atone for their FA Cup loss at the hands of Manchester City. The 2-0 defeat just over a week ago brought a rousing FA Cup romp to a feeble conclusion.
Despite City’s dominance on the day, two mistakes contributed to our undoing, and without a packed St James Park behind the lads, the result wasn’t a massive shock.
Newcastle carry a six-game unbeaten streak in the league to the Etihad and a terrific chance to continue the push to finish the season in the top half of the table. Though a chance at European competition next season seems out of reach.
Manchester City are coming off a loss at Southampton after dismantling Liverpool 4-0 last week. They sit comfortably in the second spot and should secure a top-four place with a few more results.
However, their Champions League fate is still up the air until the appeal of their two-year ban on UEFA competitions is decided next week.
Steve Bruce will likely be without Allan Saint-Maximin who, along with Issac Hayden and Sean Longstaff, was confirmed as being injured after the West Ham draw.
Saint-Maximin was due a rest after starting the last five matches; however, it would be a boost if he can somehow make the bench on Wednesday.
We’ll also see if Bruce risks Jonjo Shelvey for what would be the 3rd start in just over a week. Jonjo has been outstanding this season and rescued a point in the home fixture against Manchester City with his stunning 88th-minute strike.
117 comments so far
toon22
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:44 PM
Comment #11-0 the toon
Miggy to score
Kevin Vegan
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #2Repost, missed the bus…
I really do think by far the biggest reason for our improved results since the restart is the fact that we’ve had an easy run if games and some luck.
Sheff U were very poor from the restart and went down to 10 men in a game that was looking like a draw.
Villa we were poor for large spells,
city we got smashed,
Bournemouth was a comfortable result and to be fair one of our best performances of the season but against strugglers without 2 of their biggest goal threats
we were poor against west ham.
8 points from a newly promoted side with 10 men and 3 teams in the bottom 5 is not all that impressive to be honest. Solid results but not staggering, and mostly very average performances.
Munster Mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:48 PM
Comment #3Jail, just to be clear here, I didn’t gang up on KV and he knows this. Nor did I use inappropriate language. I found the whole Egan thing a bit ‘look at me’ and said so. I don’t agree with stuff he posts about lascelles and Bruce, but that’s OK, and it doesn’t mean I am ganging up. When the heavy stuff was going on I wasn’t even logged on, I think I was out fishing. So get stuffed, we all know you are a genuine bully. Go ask Jesper, who got tired of making you look stupid. I’m getting tired of it too.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:51 PM
Comment #4Bring back Jesper.
Munster Mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:51 PM
Comment #5Kev, did you see the rafa game when he played City? Jonjo turfs the ball at the keeper. Bruce’s awful effort v City but rafa got no criticism. Why?
Munster Mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:52 PM
Comment #6Jail, so you can laugh at him for helping his wife? Guess he wasn’t a proper rig man like you?
Jail for Ashley
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:52 PM
Comment #7Obsessed. Not half.
toon22
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:55 PM
Comment #8Jail
You think he might have a wired shrine somewhere
With effigies of Rafa everywhere?
The mighty wyn
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:55 PM
Comment #9Just watching the Pompey play off game – Derek fazackerly ex nufc coach still going strong
Australian Pie
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:55 PM
Comment #10Kevs posting since Ed’s crack down has been absolutely fine and actually quite enjoyable, nothing but football.
Long may it continue
Australian Pie
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:56 PM
Comment #11Rafa vs Bruce, argh the simplest question that can’t seem to die
Rafa greater than Bruce
Bruce has done really well given circumstance
Bruce is beneath our aspirations
Insh'Allah
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Comment #12KV #49 Re managers “Results only tell a very tiny part of the story.”
You’re the sort of person that thinks all kids who took part in a race deserve a medal as there’s no such thing as losing aren’t you.
Overall, just look at win percentages over a period of time – then tell me that the best managers aren’t the ones with the highest win percentages.
On that basis Pep is by far and away the best manager in the EPL’s history, he’s on in excess of 72% wins.
But hey, winning is just a very tiny part eh?
Jail for Ashley
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Comment #13toon22,
Voodoo dolls and a dartboard more like 😮
Harrogate mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Comment #14Little lad on grandads knee..grandad he says..did you bring anything back from the war…yes says grandad..a German helmet..jeez says the lad..you bring anythin else..a luger pistol says grandad can I look at them says the lad..no they’re hidden says grandad. .oh go on grandad..ok says grandad. They’re in the airing cupboard behind the tank….Jesus grandad..you got a tank as well
Kevin Vegan
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Comment #15Munster
As I said mate, I’ll happily discuss Bruce’s management in isolation but I don’t really see any point in comparing his management of the team to what has gone before. I’d much rather focus on where the team is now and what we need to do to improve. I don’t dislike Bruce as a person, but as a manager he has had a lot of time to try to learn the role and demonstrate he is cut out for a job inbthe premier league, but can’t think that I’ve ever seen his sides play great football, and what we’ve seen on the pitch this season hasn’t been up to scratch most of the time. With some of the individual talent we have in the team, that can only come down to poor management.
Kevin Vegan
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:03 PM
Comment #16Insh’Allah
Going by win percentages as you suggest, we should currently be one place below southampton in 14th and Steve Bruce is one of the worst managers in PL history…
Kevin Vegan
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Comment #17Thanks AP, really good of you to say so 🙂
peter5199
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:09 PM
Comment #18missed the bus? I missed the week!
The ledge
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:09 PM
Comment #19thats 3 times now
Mund
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Comment #20Just hoping to stay in the game as long as possible but City will be hungry so could be bested by a few, hope i’m wrong tho.
Mund
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Comment #21beaten*
The ledge
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:11 PM
Comment #22sorry 4 times now
Munster Mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:13 PM
Comment #23Rafa, there’s 4 for you ledge
Kevin Vegan
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:13 PM
Comment #24Peter,
You got there in the end though! In reply to your comment, 8 points in 4 games is decent, I had quietly hoped for 10 points there personally but my head was saying we’d take 6-8. It wasn’t a bad run at all but nothing to get too excited about in terms of performances. I think we’d have been looking at 6 if it wasn’t for sheff u going down to 10 men though, which would’ve been a bit disappointing from those fixtures.
The ledge
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:14 PM
Comment #25Sorry munster that’s 5 Australian mentioned him as well pal
carltoon
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:14 PM
Comment #26Kevin I’m sorry if you think I was bullying you. Thought we were having a good discussion, it’s the season ticket issue has been done to death, and I for one don’t want to get back into, everyone to their own. You don’t go have never had one and that’s fine by me.
Sir Swlabr
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:14 PM
Comment #27I have nothing to say, but I’ll say it anyway!!
peter5199
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:15 PM
Comment #28KV, come on…. SB has produced more than any of us expected. 8 points from 4 games and…. before the lock down we were not exactly in trouble.
And…you did say he put a great team and tactics out against Bournemouth
Give credit where it is due.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:15 PM
Comment #29I recently found an entry in a monastery records book that said.
‘on this day of our Lord 7 July 1720, the good novice Jib did clean out the fish pond’
So over 300 years old, who knows, strange coincidence though!
carltoon
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:16 PM
Comment #30I was a bit shocked by that government statement, hope it has no impact on any takeover, if there’s even a one in progress.
Kevin Vegan
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:16 PM
Comment #31Carltoon
I don’t know where that came from but I definitely didn’t say anything about you bullying me, think somebody else came up with that idea and everyone just went with it. Likewise I hope there’s no hard feeling the other way, and I certainly wasn’t trying to show any disrespect or tell anybody what to do. All good as far as I am concerned 🙂 thanks very much
carltoon
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:17 PM
Comment #32Anglo pin up! Hope you don’t want me photo. Ha ha 🙂
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:17 PM
Comment #33carltoon
I’ve forgotten just what was the season ticket discussion about? 🙂
carltoon
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:17 PM
Comment #34Ok Kevin.
Munster Mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:18 PM
Comment #35Kev were you equally disappointed with much of Benitez ‘s football? During his prem time it was broadly similar to Bruce. Did you wince when jonjo shot (?) at the city goalie and none of our lads wanted the ball? I did.
peter5199
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:18 PM
Comment #36Sir Swlabr
That is a statement I agree with
carltoon
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:19 PM
Comment #37Bill! Now now, I’ll send ya a signed photo if ya a good lad
Munster Mag
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:19 PM
Comment #38Carltoon the statement looked worryingly unequivocal
Mund
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:19 PM
Comment #39carltoon you did nothing wrong all you did was stick up for what you believe in 🙂
The ledge
Jul 6, 2020 at 7:19 PM
Comment #40AH Jesus munster will you give over thays 6 now lad Lol .
Kevin dont feed him ha ha ha